Real World, page 25
“Yes. God, yes. Caleb and Kenzie will melt down without it, and I could use some with chocolate syrup.” Dan lowered his voice. “I had a little cold-sweat moment, you know?”
“Oh, honey. That sucks. Okay. I’ll bring all the ice cream, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. I’ll be there in a few.” He hung up the phone, handed it back to Jakob, hands opening and closing on the steering wheel again.
“Why did Granny shoot at him, Dad?” Jakob sounded tiny now, as if he could barely force out his voice.
“Because he’s threatening the safety of her grandson, so far as she’s concerned. Because she was the one that your momma had to go to, to tell her that she was pregnant and the man responsible didn’t care to stand with her. Because she’s your gran and she loves you.” It probably didn’t make sense to Jakob, but it made sense to him. This was all Mel had—she’d lost her husband, her daughter. This was her whole life now.
“I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”
“You promised to talk to me before contacting him again. Follow through and that’s a good start.” Weldon almost missed the turn into the HEB. “We need all the ice cream.”
“Yes, sir. You want me to stay in the truck?”
“Nah, come on. We’ll grab Cokes and some chips, maybe a brisket to put in over the weekend, huh?”
“I like brisket.” Jakob brightened some. “I can rub in the dry rub.”
“Totally. Come on.”
They did the whole grocery store, quick as they could, because there was soup waiting for them, then checked out with a full cart.
“Did you buy all the ice cream, Dad?”
“Shut up.” So he’d bought chips and dips and salami for him and chocolate for Mel and Dan. So what?
He was allowed. He’d missed the glory of Mel shooting at Boyd the Asshole. Weldon grinned, and that turned into a full-blown chuckle. That had to have been glorious.
“What’s funny?”
“The amount of ice cream in the bed of the truck melting at a furious rate.”
“Yeah. It’s going to be summer break soon, huh?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you going to send me to prison camp?”
Weldon snorted. “You are so not funny. Also, don’t tempt my ass.”
“I thought that was Dan’s job.”
Weldon blinked, then started hooting, laughing so hard he couldn’t hardly breathe. Jakob laughed with him, the first relaxed sound the kid had made since the library.
“Remind me to beat you when I get home.”
“I’ll make a note. Child abuse at eight, NCIS immediately to follow.” Jakob didn’t understand his Gibbs obsession. Hell, Jakob didn’t obsess about people except by voice.
“Be good or I’ll make all your alert tones Minion sounds again.”
“No fair!” Jakob chortled. “You know how long it took me to get them back to normal?”
“Yep. Kept you out of trouble too.”
“Yeah.” Jakob slumped in his seat. “I—”
“Nope. We’ve hashed it out enough today. Breathe,” Weldon said.
“You still hate me?”
“Don’t be a dipshit, son. You’re smarter than that.”
“I feel like everyone hates me. Is that awful?”
He basically thought that was standard operating procedure for all teenagers, really. “I think it’s normal. It won’t be your last fuckup, kid. It won’t be mine.”
“Okay.” Jakob chuckled, the sound dry as old straw. “Melted ice cream tastes just as good.”
“It’ll hold up. I stuck it in the ice chest I keep back there.” Weldon wasn’t an idiot and he’d grown up in this shit. He knew.
“I love you, Dad.”
“Good. I love you more.” His mom always said that to him. He didn’t understand it until Jakob was born, but she was so right.
“Probably.”
When he shot a glance Jakob’s way, his kid wore a wry grin on his face. Yeah. Probably.
They pulled into the drive, and Weldon stopped to close the main gate behind them. They’d gotten out of the habit of closing it, but no more. “Hey, you want to drive to the house?”
“For real?” Jakob’s face lit up like Christmas, and Weldon chuckled.
“For real.” They hadn’t done this in an age either, but he’d graded the road this spring, and it was mostly a straight shot. Besides, Jakob wasn’t a speed demon, and he had lots of room on either side to fuck up.
“Yeah. Yeah, I want. For real.”
“Okay, hop out and come around.” He pulled the keys out of the ignition, because he was all about safety first.
Jakob came around the truck, and he locked up, then climbed into the passenger side. “Remember, right side gas, left side brake.”
“Got it. You’ll have to tell me when I’m in drive.”
“No. Drive is second to last. Low gear is last, so if you have to, you go there and work back one.”
“Okay. Second to last.”
“First you put your foot on the brake and then start the ignition. You can’t shift with the truck off.”
“Right. Right, I remember.”
Together they got the truck moving, got them parked and didn’t run down anyone. Jakob was beaming when he killed the ignition, so proud of himself.
“Good job, kiddo.” Weldon figured trust was like falling off a bike. You had to get back on.
“Yeah, that’s so cool.”
Everyone was on the porch, watching—the kids blasé, Mel tickled, and Dan looking like he’d been beaned by a line drive.
“I brought ice cream.”
“Good.” Dan shook his head, then grinned. “We made soup and crescent rolls.”
Maddie and Emma were already crawling in the truck and unloading. “Ooh. Brisket!”
“Are we gonna have coleslaw with it, Daddy? And potato salad?” Kenzie came to him and clung to his pocket.
“We are. And Brown and Serves.”
He’d bought four boxes of those.
“You’re the best, Daddy.”
“He is, huh?” Dan winked at him, coming to carry bags. Dan peered in. “Oh, chocolate sauce.”
“I got your back.” Weldon liked to watch Dan lick it off things too.
“You do. Come have soup.” Dan lowered his voice as Jakob went in the house. “Driving? Seriously?”
“Yep. He’s not bad.” For a blind kid.
“Lord. I thought Army guys got up to crazy stunts.”
“It makes him feel powerful. I like to help that, whenever I can.”
“Yeah.” Dan slid an arm around him, kissing him warmly since the kids were suddenly squealing and scrambling to get the ice cream inside.
“Thank you for dealing with all that, huh?” The temptation to ask if there was something more Dan wanted to deal with was intense and tacky and just wrong.
Didn’t stop the thought from lodging in his mind.
Dan grinned at him, green eyes going dark. “Later. I swear.”
“I do like that our minds follow the same path.”
“That’s why we’re together, babe.” Dan bumped hips with him.
“And I thought it was just hysterical lust.”
“That too. Maddie and Mel saved the soup, and Caleb has eaten his weight in peanut butter.”
“Mmm. You smell peanutty yourself.”
“Yeah.” Dan rolled his eyes like dice. “He wanted lots of hugs and shares.”
“Yummy. You’re a good guy.”
Dan snorted. “I love you. And him.”
“Good. So he wanted Jakob? You told him to back off?”
“I did. He said he just wanted to talk, and I was getting my manly on when Mel showed up like an avenging angel.” Dan made this amazing noise like a strangled dog. “She didn’t so much as hesitate.”
“She’s a granny. Of course she didn’t.” Weldon led Dan inside. “Smells good.”
“No thanks to your middle daughter.” Dan scooped Emma up and gave her a noogie, making her squeal happily. She was stupid about Dan, and it made Weldon proud to see how well Dan fit in his family. Caleb came to him, and he scooped his baby boy up, getting a peanutty kiss for his trouble.
Beer and soup, crescent rolls and ice cream—they managed to eat like ravenous beasts, and Jakob paid Emma five dollars to do dishes.
She was really intent on that horse.
“Anyone want to have a pajama party and watch a movie at Granny’s?” Mel asked. “I bet your dad and Dan could use a rest.”
Jakob shook his head, but the others—even Maddie, which shocked the living fuck out of him—nodded and ran to grab jammies.
“Take the chocolate and vanilla with you,” Weldon told her. “We’ll work with the rocky road. There’s fluff and whipped cream.”
“I’m taking my beer too.”
“Anything you want, Annie Oakley.”
Mel flipped him off, easy as you go. The kids all giggled, then trooped off with Mel as if her trailer was the Taj Mahal.
Dan stood there for a second, looking at him, looking so fucking tired.
Weldon held out a hand. “Ice cream later?”
Nodding, Dan took the offer, twining long fingers around his. “Snuggles now.”
“Yeah. I locked the big gate.”
“Lock the front door?”
He shook his head. “I want Maddie to be able to come home. She won’t sleep over there.”
“Gotcha. Hell, we can go get anyone we need to.” Dan was vibrating.
“Uh-huh. Bedroom. Now.” He needed contact.
Dan tugged him along, moving quickly. Someone else was ready to be alone together, and they had no good reason left not to love on each other.
The door clicked behind them, and he pushed the lock as he lifted his face for a kiss.
Dan gave it, lips slamming down on his. Perfect. Weldon opened right up, letting Dan take what he needed, because that was what he wanted.
Hands sliding under his butt, Dan lifted him up on his toes, pressing them together. Dan’s kisses tasted like chili, like spice, and he groaned, imagining that hot mouth wrapped around his cock.
“Uhn.” Dan pushed him back against the door, letting him hang there, trapped between a hard body and hard wood. He loved how his soldier loved it hard and fast, that Dan needed him like no one else ever had.
They rocked together, his legs up about Dan’s waist. He clung to Dan’s shoulders, not able to do much more. Dan kept squeezing his ass, fingers massaging his cheeks, rolling the muscles there.
His cock poked at Dan’s belly, hard as a rock. He was going to go off like a rocket, like he was a teenager again, like he couldn’t have it whenever he asked for it.
He chuckled, which made Dan nip his chin. “Laughing at me?”
“Happy. Even with all this. Happy.”
“Me too.” Dan grinned, resting their noses together. “Though firearms could be off-limits.”
“Yeah? You’re not going to become a doomsday prepper?”
“Nope. Not with the kids and Mel on the property.”
“Yeah.” He pulled his head back, to catch Dan’s gaze. “You okay?”
“I am. I really am.” Dan bent to nibble his neck. “I will regale you with a play-by-play. After.”
“Perfect.” His head thunked against the door. “There.”
“Right there?” Dan bit down on the spot that drove him nuts, then slid a hand between them to cradle his cock against the palm.
Oh, goddamn. He scrabbled a little, his pulse speeding up as he rocked into Dan’s hand. His breath stuttered, his body on fire. Tingling.
“Love how you want me. You act like I’m the only man on earth.”
Dan’s words made him groan, made him arch closer. “You are. Right now you are.”
“Good. I can’t get enough of you.” Dan bit again, and the sting told him he’d feel this tomorrow.
They started two-stepping toward the bed, stopping every few inches to kiss again, lick some more, rock together. Clothes started flying, and by the time they got to the bed, they flopped down naked.
Dan landed under him, and he straddled Dan’s hips, looking his fill. Broad-shouldered and lean at the hip, Dan’s tanned muscles made his mouth dry. That body had always been hard, but damn, all that recent physical work had stripped him down to lean perfection.
“God, you make me hard.” He proved his words, rubbing his prick on Dan’s ridged belly.
“Mmm. Your dick is made for sucking. Riding.” Dan had proven as adept at catching as he was pitching.
“Touching. Rubbing. What are we going to do, honey? What do you want from me?”
“Everything.” Dan panted, rocking up against his ass. “Fuck me, babe. I only want to see and feel you.”
His hips rolled, just like his eyes, and he managed to nod, his mouth dry as dust. Lube. He needed lube. Lube. Slick. Right.
God. His hands wouldn’t let go of Dan’s shoulders.
“Get the slick, honey. Please.”
“On it.” Dan half rolled to get the lube, giving him a rodeo experience.
He wiggled back, sliding between and spreading Dan’s legs so he could get at Dan’s tight little hole. Those heavy thighs shifted, Dan’s butt slipping on the sheets, giving him more access. Need took him over, and he swooped down, spread Dan wide, and dragged his tongue against the wrinkled ring of muscles. The scent here was pure male, pure sex.
“Fuck!” Dan bucked, his shout hoarse and loud.
Uh-huh. Soon. This first.
He licked again, his fingers digging into the heavy muscles of Dan’s ass to hold the man in place.
Dan writhed, trying to get closer. That heavy cock bounced not far from his face, thick and hot. He licked until Dan was wet, then he moved to suck one of Dan’s heavy balls in while he slicked his fingers.
“Oh, God. Weldon. Please.” Dan touched him, stroking his hair.
He hummed his agreement, sliding two fingers into Dan’s body. He wanted Dan crazy for it, desperate for him.
That snug passage opened just enough to allow him in, closing tight around his fingers. Yeah, he wanted in there. He pulled the slightest bit harder, tongue moving Dan’s ball in his sac.
He felt the way Dan’s balls drew up, the way those long legs shook, and he pushed deep with his fingers, filling Dan up.
Come on. Come on, honey. Ask for it.
“Please. Weldon. I need you inside me.”
Dan’s ball left his lips with a pop, and Weldon slicked his cock up, dragging the lube over his shaft. He shuddered at his own touch, then moaned when Dan rolled up a little to help.
“Not too much. I want to feel you. Every inch.”
“I just need to touch.” Dan stroked Weldon’s belly, calluses catching on the hairs there.
“I need you.” Weldon couldn’t wait another second. He needed in.
“Now.” Dan arched back, lifting his legs, and the vision took Weldon’s breath away. He pressed in, grunting as the tip popped in, the tightness stealing his breath.
“Oh.” Long, drawn out, the sound let Weldon know Dan was right there.
“Yeah. Yeah. I….” Dan’s muscles were fluttering around him, working his prick.
Dan stared up, green eyes so bright and glittering.
“Love you, you hot motherfucker.” He slammed in, his vision filled with the finest man he’d ever seen.
“Love—” Dan arched back, throat taut, mouth open. No sound came out, but Weldon felt everything Dan did around his dick.
Weldon grabbed Dan’s cock, squeezed hard. Come on.
“Weldon….” Dan’s eyes flew wide, and hot spunk covered Weldon’s hand, spattering his belly. He pushed in, slammed in hard, once, twice, and then he shot, filling Dan right up. His entire body fluttered, and he was happy that Dan caught him as he slumped forward.
Those strong arms never wavered, which was good, because every bit of tension he’d had in him was gone.
“Oh fuck, I needed that, babe. So bad.”
Weldon nodded, cheek rubbing Dan’s chest. “What a fucking day.”
“Yeah. Lord, I haven’t even asked how your meeting went. Can we snuggle a bit and have that talk over ice cream?”
“Uh-huh. Chat later. Right now I want afterglow and pillow talk.”
“Thank God.” Dan wiggled until they rested perfectly together.
He dragged one hand down along Dan’s side, petting in a long, slow motion. He loved that fine skin, far more tanned now than when they’d first met.
“Penny for them, babe.”
“You’re hot as a two-dollar pistol, Dan.”
“Yeah? You make me want to preen a bit.” Dan chuckled, touching the spot on Weldon’s neck that still burned.
“Not sorry you fell for a dad with five kids, right?” It was a tease, but he worried. Life would be simpler in another situation, and today had been way more trying for Dan than for Weldon.
“No.” Dan caught his eye, gaze direct. “I thought I would, but I don’t regret it at all.”
“Good.” And there it was. Weldon needed this.
Needed Dan.
“It is. We’ll figure out all this mess, babe.”
“Sure we will.” If there was anything five kids had taught him, it was that every catastrophe passed, if for no other reason than another disaster waited right around the corner.
Dan chuckled. “I felt totally out of my element with Mel. The kids are way easier.”
“Why? Was she psycho?”
“No. I mean, aside from the shooting thing. I just—I had had it. I was terrified she would shoot me or one of the kids.”
“I’m sorry, honey. That sucks.” Like Mel would shoot them.
“Well, now I know she’s a pretty good shot, but a lot of people aren’t, right?”
“I guess. I mean, everyone says they’re a good shot, don’t they? I’ve never met a guy that said, ‘Dude, I suck.’”
“Most of them do.” Dan nuzzled his neck.
“I can kill a snake. To be honest, that’s all I’ve ever done. I’m not a hunter.”
“I had to qualify constantly with handguns and rifles, but honestly I’m indifferent.” Dan licked his lower lip.
“I’m not indifferent to you. I’m addicted.”
“That’s amazing. It would be awkward as fuck if you weren’t hot for me.”
