Chapter 15

15

Natalie

I groan as I pull up in front of my house, behind Piston’s black truck, before placing my forehead against the steering wheel.

Today sucked. I love my job, I do; I love how the kids get excited and create art, but today I wanted to crawl up in a ball and hide.

Eleven-year-old Patrick and Timothy, normally the best of friends, got into the biggest fight I have ever seen for boys that age.

Heck, Timothy had a split lip, for Christ’s sake, and what was it all over? A deflated soccer ball.

Shaking my head, I grab my bag, climb out of my car, and head to the front door.

I know Piston is in here with Cooper, and I dread how my husband has made my little brother love him. It’s always “Piston this” and “Piston that.” Cooper adores the man, and the day he’ll no longer be around will break that boy's heart.

Next month, we’ll be married for three years, which means we'll have only two years left, unless I can convince Steal to let us off early. Though, every time I request a meeting, he’s conveniently busy.

I don’t want to lose Piston. Having him close these past few weeks reminds me just how much I’m in love with him, but I can’t keep seeing him in my space….

It hurts too much.

Just as I get to my door, ready to open it, my phone goes off twice, and I sigh, grabbing it out of my coat.

I roll my eyes at the first text.

Henry: I approve of your husband.

Seriously, he approves? When did he even meet Piston?

I frown, trying to think…then it hits me; fricking Christy and her big mouth.

Shaking my head, I move click of his message thread because, yes, I had to add his contact info now that I look after Cooper. I go to the next message, and snort.

Unknown: Come on, Natty. I miss you, and I know you miss me. Will you meet me tonight at Celia’s bar?

I delete the message from Chris.

He’s become more persistent lately. Maybe the women around New York have finally realized what a dirtbag he actually is.

Shaking my head, I pocket my phone and walk into the house. The smell of cheese hits my senses, and my stomach growls, reminding me I didn’t get to eat my lunch; instead, the two boys’ fighting knocked it on the floor.

Grumbling under my breath, frustrated by being home later than normal, I hang my bag on the hook, place my keys in the bowl near the door, and look up when I hear the chatter.

My heart flutters, my stomach tightening when I see Piston at the stove, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants, and looking behind him at my brother, sitting at the breakfast bar, his homework out in front of him.

“I just don’t get why math is so hard,” Cooper whines, and Piston smirks, his dimple popping out.

I just smile wide. Throughout college, Piston was the one who got me through math, a subject I still regret adding to my courseload.

“Lucky for you, Coop, your brother-in-law is a math whizz,” I say, getting their attention, and I admit reluctantly, “It's because of him that I managed to pass that class in college.”

Piston grins but furrows his brows when he looks at my hair.

Cooper inquires, “Uh, Sissy, why do you have yellow paint in your hair?”

I wince and slowly open my coat, showing them that my white wrap dress is also covered in yellow.

I say, “I may have bumped into the shelves in the storage room after the meeting with the parents, and a bucket of yellow paint fell on my head.”

Cooper bursts out in laughter while Piston wraps his arm around his stomach, and bites his fist. I narrow my eyes at his shaking, tatted body.

“I swear, Piston, if you laugh at me…” I warn, and he laughs, loudly, I might add.

With a growl, I walk over to him with purpose, and his eyes widen before he runs for it around the breakfast bar. I pick up pace and go the opposite way, and before he can realize what I’ve done, I wrap my arms around his body, spreading yellow paint all over him.

Cooper laughs loudly, nearly falling off the stool, while my husband, instead of getting mad, wraps his arms around my body, holding me close. I melt, giving him some of my body weight.

“Hard day, Diamond?” he asks.

I nod and admit, “I didn’t even get to eat my lunch; the boys knocked it off the table when they started fighting.”

He grunts, and then his chest rumbles against my ear. “Why don’t you grab a quick shower? I fixed the thermostat this morning so the water will be hot, and dinner should be ready by the time you get out.” I nod, and he squeezes me tighter and mumbles, “The black shirt I wore today is on the bed….”

I relax into him even more with a happy sigh, making him chuckle a little, then kiss my head.

Without thinking too much, I leave his embrace and kiss my little brother's head, who smiles wide at me, before I go to my room. I do, indeed, find the shirt he wore today. My eyes tear up as I lift the fabric to my nose, inhaling his musky scent with a hint of pine.

This is why I can’t keep doing this.

He’s making me want to keep him, but I know I can’t, not when he doesn’t trust me, and not when I’m broken….

A few hours later, I’ve just put the last dish away while Piston deals with my father, letting him know how Cooper's evening went.

See what I mean? A girl could get used to this, and it’ll hurt when he’s not around anymore, especially when I have to deal with Henry again. During dinner, Piston decided he’ll be doing the handovers from now on.

I hear the front door shut, and I swallow hard.

So far, since Piston has been here, he’s kept himself busy fixing the house up for Bulldozer’s sister. I have a feeling tonight he’s not going to do that, and considering he’s only in a pair of sweatpants, with some yellow paint on his chest, he’s not going out.

I quickly wipe down the counter, ensuring the kitchen is tidy, when I feel his presence.

He’s leaning against the breakfast bar, arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted, but his eyes are eating me up.

My hair is down, and I’m wearing a pair of shorts and his shirt that covers the shorts.

“I like you in my clothes,” he admits, and I snort, replying, “I know. You kept leaving your shirts behind back in college. I have roughly twenty of them in my closet, and no, you’re not getting them back, including this one.”

He chuckles and pushes off the bar before walking toward me. I don’t move even as he gets in my space, gripping my hips. I stay rooted, enjoying his closeness.

“They’re yours, Diamond,” he mumbles, his eyes drifting over my face before locking with mine. Then he asks, “Why are your cupboards bare of food, Nat?”

I wince internally, give him a sheepish smile, and admit, “I don’t get paid until next week, and after dropping a couple of meals accidentally, and having to buy takeout for Coop, I’ve not been able to afford to go shopping.”

He frowns. “But you have your bank card….”

Ah, crap.

I clear my throat, give him a sweet smile, and quickly reply, “I haven’t used it. Actually, I cut it up the same day you gave it to me.”

His eyes cloud over, and I brace myself as he utters through gritted teeth, “So this house, your rent, your bills, food, car, phone….”

Shit. “I pay for it myself,” I answer him.

He nods but doesn’t look pleased before he steps back, his body heat leaving me, making me cold. He grabs his phone off the counter, pressing the ON button. I suck in a breath at the sight of a picture of us at a frat party. It’s his screensaver, and the picture I have on my shelf. He unlocks his phone, but he ignores my reaction, and puts his phone to his ear, his gaze connecting with mine.

“Marcus, do me a favor and go to the grocery store and buy enough food to last at least two weeks.” My eyes widen as he listens to whatever Marcus says, then replies, “Yeah, the main things are meats, milk, bread, you name it. I need to fill my wife’s cupboards and fridge.”

Son of a ? —

“Piston!” I snap, and I run toward him.

He grins and runs toward the living area, saying, "Yeah, I want it all first thing tomorrow morning. Bulldozer has the address.”

I don’t flipping think so!

I tackle Piston, causing us to tumble over the back of the couch.

I squeal in shock while he grunts, his arms instinctively going around my body, and we fall onto the couch, then roll onto the floor with a thump , my body landing on top of his, making him groan.

I try to lift my arm so I can grab his phone, but he tightens his right arm around me, and I gasp. “I would say sorry, but you shouldn’t have done that.”

He lets out a shocked laugh, dropping his phone. I groan; the line has gone dead. I fall back on him, causing him to choke out a laugh again, and we make eye contact.

Smiling, he brings his hands up and cups my cheeks, his eyes shining as he mumbles, “My clumsy fucking Diamond,” before his lips press against mine.

My eyes close instantly, my body melting.

Piston’s arms hold me tightly as he pushes his tongue into my mouth, tangling with my own. I tilt my head and deepen the kiss, and he turns us so I’m on my back, and ever so gently, he grabs the edge of my shirt, and pulls it up.

When I don’t fight him, he breaks the kiss and lifts the shirt over my head, before bending down, and taking my peaked nipple into his mouth.

I gasp and arch my back as he bites down and sucks hard, before giving the other one the same attention. His hands hook the waistband of my shorts, lowering them down my legs. He moves back and removes them before laying his body over mine again.

I wrap my legs around his waist, feeling his hard member through his sweatpants as it presses against my bare core. I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his lips to mine, kissing him hard.

He groans when I push my tongue inside his mouth, tasting him, and I feel his hands move between us. Suddenly, I feel the head of his member against my entrance.

I lift my hips, and he takes my cue, pushing into me with one hard thrust.

I gasp, breaking the kiss as I throw my head back in pleasure, and his lips go to my neck, sucking and biting as he pulls his hips back, then thrusts in hard and fast.

Already, I can feel my belly tighten, months without a proper orgasm hitting me.

“Oh God,” I moan as he hits my G-spot, and he drags his hands up my arms, unlinking them from behind his neck, then linking our fingers together. He presses them beside my head on the soft rug I’m suddenly glad I splurged on.

“Fuck, Diamond,” Piston grunts as I tighten around him, my orgasm closing in, then he presses his lips against mine again, his tongue instantly in my mouth, and I moan, sucking on it as I lift up to meet him, causing him to thrust harder.

My core tightens, my walls fluttering as my clit pulses. Wetness gushes between us, and I throw my head back and scream, the pleasure too much but oh so good .

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Piston shouts as he slams forward and stills, filling me with his hot seed, keeping his hips against mine as his head goes into my sweaty neck.

My chest heaves as he grips my fingers, not letting me go.

I croak, “I think I need another shower,” making him snort.

My emotions are all over the place, my eyes blurring with tears.

It’s been so long since we connected this way, and my God, have I missed it…missed him. I know we should move apart and disconnect, but I just can’t. I love him; I love him so much my heart hurts.

Gently, Piston moves his hips, his member still hard as he runs his lips over my neck to my chin, before we lock eyes.

His gaze warms, seeing my tears. He runs his nose against mine silently, then presses his lips against mine in a soft, passionate kiss.

He moves his hips with slow, deliberate thrusts as he tangles his tongue with mine, making love to me on the carpet until I’m writhing underneath him, coming again and again. He’s showing me with his actions how much he’s missed me as well.