Obsession (A Bad Boy's Secret Baby) (9 page)

I smiled again. Drew had obviously never fought a marine before. Drew was a big guy, definitely a gym rat and bruiser, but he was also slow and predictable. I dropped to a knee as a swing that would've taken my head off sailed easily by. He over-committed, expecting to hit and was left wide open when he didn't.

I put my fist into his nuts so hard that it lifted him off the ground.

The whole thing was over in a heartbeat.

“The fuck is going on here?” I hadn't even heard Brendan pull up, let alone walk in. I didn't actually know his rank, but he wore his full short sleeve black uniform with an air of undeniable authority.

I knew he had come back from his honeymoon, so I guess it was just a matter of time till he heard the news about Kait and me, then paid me a visit.

“Carlson. Murphy. Jensen. Get the hell out of here.” Brendan addressed the three rookies who were still untangling themselves from each other, then walked over to a man who was probably his equal, at least in rank. “Dammit, Winter. What the hell were you thinking?”

Officer Drew couldn't respond or breathe or do anything, really, except tear up and cough from his fetal position on the floor.

That was for the cracked ribs, you sonofabitch.

“Malik,” Brendan said, finally turning his attention to me. He looked proud, strong and a little exasperated at the moment. I couldn't help but be a little proud of him, even if that uniform did seem to rob him of his customary sense of humor.

“Hey Brendan. I take it you're not here for the Pass The Boot fundraiser?”

Brendan punched me in the mouth.

I was able to snap my head with the blow, it hurt like hell but it didn't break anything.

“I didn't send Winter or the others,” Brendan said, taking off his hat and belt. He placed them on one of the tool chests that lined the wall and walked back over to face me. “That doesn't mean I would've stopped them either.”

Brendan's fist would've knocked the wind out of me had I not braced for it. I wasn't the kind of man that bruised easily but that was going to leave a welt.

“Fight. Back.” He shoved me back a few steps, his growling to a louder pitch.

“No.”

Another punch racked across the face, this one cut me open above the eyes. My arms stayed by my side. Brendan's growl got louder, “Fight back, dammit!”

“I won't hit my best friend.”

There was unmistakable pop as my head snapped back from his next blow. My eyes watered immediately and blood gushed down my face. I had had my nose broken once before, but never by a person. Then he punched me two more times.

“I'm going to fucking kill you!” Brendan was screaming, becoming more unhinged. I could barely see straight, but I was beginning to believe him. He actually might.

He grabbed the neck of my ruined shirt and jerked me forward, cocking his fist.

“I can't bring your dad back. I'm sorry.”

I braced for the next blow, but it didn't come. Through the watery the haze of tears and blood that covered my eyes I could see his face. Brendan's arm was still cocked and shaking, but he was crying.

A call came over both Brendan and Drew's radios. I couldn't make out the code that was used, but I knew the location. It was an apartment building in the area that I used to ride my bike past as a kid.

Drew finally responded, giving a labored E.T.A. He hadn't nearly recovered, but he was at least picking himself off the ground. He grabbed hold of Brendan's uniform as a crutch to stand up.

“Fuck him. We'll finish this later.” There was agony in Drew's voice as he whined to Brendan. Brendan didn't let go, so Drew had to pry his hand off me. “Two-one-seven. We gotta go!”

Then they left.

I just slumped by the wall and bled. My phone had buzzed in my pocket a few times, but I hadn't had the inclination to check it. A call for more fire trucks went out over our radio. I guessed that the fire probably spread to the next building in the factory.

I hadn't bothered cleaning myself up yet. There wasn't a rush to do anything, Earl and the guys weren't coming back any time soon.

Kait's shriek echoed through the firehouse.

I thought I imagined it, I probably wasn't thinking straight. She had run up to me a moment later and I realized that it wasn't a dream. Not even all the gore in my eyes could hide her soft, pretty face.

Was it already eight? Kait said something about swinging by with some takeout, but I couldn't remember clearly.

“Oh my goodness, Mal are you alright?” She sounded very worried.

“I'm alright.”

“Like hell you are! I'm calling the police.” Kait's shaking hands fumbled with her phone. I put a hand over hers when she pulled it out of her purse, stopping her from using it. 

“That's not a good idea.”

A look of confusion washed over her at why I wouldn't want them to come. Then, like sudden thunderstorm, her sharp chestnut eyes hardened and darkened.

“Brendan.” The word was lightning, crackling across her lips.

Mal

––––––––

“Y
ou can look now.” I tied off and cut the surgical suture, then dropped the tools into a bowl for sterilization.

“Why couldn't we have just gone to the hospital?” Kait shook her head, refusing to uncover her eyes.

“This is nothing, I've had worse.” Aside from the stitches above my eyebrow and some swelling, my face wasn't that bad. It was the blood that made it look worse than it was. The worst part was resetting my nose. That hurt worse than the original break.

“Mal, you looked like hamburger meat.”

“And how do I look now?” I grabbed her hands and peeled them away from her face. Her squeamish concern was adorable.

Kait hesitantly opened one eye, then relief washed over her and she hugged me.

“You look less like hamburger meat.” The squeezing tightness of her embrace reminded me why I had come back in the first place. For as strong as I was, sometimes I needed that reminder. “I'm going to murder my brother for doing this to you.”

“Easy on the ribs.” I adjusted her arms so they avoided them.

“Sorry!” Kait let go completely but I caught and repositioned her arms into a better angle instead. “Wait...” She leaned back to look at me, a look of realization marred her soft features. “That accident you got into, that was Brendan too wasn't, it?”

“He's still going through a lot of stuff, Kait.” I flicked my eyes away. I had every reason to hate Brendan by now, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. There were too many good memories.

“I'm so tired of this!” Kait fumed. “I lost my father too! You don't see me going around and beating people up. This is crazy.”

“No, you put up walls instead.” My hard gaze recaptured her eyes. “I'd rather take ten more beatings than not know what's going on with you.”

Kait didn't respond, her lips pursed tightly together. Even taking a pummeling by her brother wasn't enough for her to open up to me. If I was going to get anything out of her I had to make her trust me.

I walked over to the main doors, the sun was setting over a row of one-story brick stores. The sky blazed with a maelstrom of dying color.

“I ran away once. It was about a month after we left Springfield. Tonya had taken us to live in her new boyfriend's house in North Carolina. I was hell bent on coming back here.”

Kait followed, stopping a few steps away. Her worried expression gradually diffused into one of pained curiosity. “What happened?”

“I hadn't eaten in a few days because I spent all my money on a bus ticket that only got me about halfway. When I finally made it into the state I was arrested for stealing food from a supermarket.” I chuckled dryly, remembering how obvious I had been about it. “Once they found out who I was, I was sent back to N.C.”

“That had to be before you turned eighteen. Why did you wait so long to leave again?”

“Tonya.” There was a time when I didn't know her by that name, when she was just Mom. That time ended when I found out what she had done to Kait's family. “She didn't file the lost child report because she wanted me back. She just didn't want me telling your family where she was, in case you came after her for all the money she'd stolen.

“When the cops dropped me off at her boyfriend's house she told me that if I ever returned to, or contacted anyone from Springfield she would never allow me to see Kyle again. Kyle was ten at the time.”

“And now he's eighteen...” Kait's voice sounded distant. She was finally starting to understand. Kait stepped behind me and gently wrapped her arms around my stomach. “You really couldn't come back.”

“I wanted to. More than anything. Every fucking day was a struggle, but I was all that kid had.” The memories put a hard edge into my tone. It was impossible not to get angry when I thought of how much time that bitch had stolen from me.

“Tonya was just using Kyle for sympathy,” I eventually continued. “To further whatever selfish goals she had at the time. When he was old enough to see through her lies, I went into the military. I needed money so I could afford to pay for his tutoring, after school sports and everything else I knew she wouldn't do for him.”

“Oh, Mal.” Sadness rimmed her voice. I could only imagine what must have been running through her head.

“Ancient history.” I pulled out my wallet and removed an old, worn picture. “I need you to know that I thought about you every day, Nessy.”

“Is that..?” Kait took the worn yearbook cutout. “How long have you had this?”

“I've always had it.” I turned to face her, taking her hand in mine. “Now please tell me what's been bothering you.”

“I'm— Fuck.” Kait stopped, swallowed then took a breath. Her upturned eyes watered, she was terrified. Whatever this was, it was huge. “I'm pregnant, Mal.”

Pregnant?

“Are you serious? How is that even possible? We used a condom.”

“It must have had a tiny hole in it or been defective, I don't know.” Kait closed her eyes, letting her hands slip from mine. Telling me had taken a toll on her, she obviously didn't know how I would take the news. “It's yours though, I'm positive.”

“Kait, that's, that's—” I nearly shouted, then swept her up into a very painful kiss. “That's fucking amazing!”

I was at a loss for words, but I was happy. Happier than I could ever remember being. It all just seemed to click. Reuniting with the girl I had always loved and now starting a real family, everything felt so right!

“I was so anxious that the news would scare you away.” Kait was crying, but it was finally the good kind of tears. The tears of relief and happiness.

“Scare me away? I've never had a real family before and now I get to start one with you. I love you, Ness.” I kissed her again. Not even the bitter, iron tang of blood on my lips could dull the perfection of that moment.

“I love you too,” Kait said between kisses and sobs.

I savored the taste of her tongue and the scent of the fragrance she wore. It was the same perfume from the wedding. It finally dawned on me; I knew that scent, it was the birthday present I'd bought for her when she turned seventeen.

I couldn't believe she still wore it!

It transported me back to the way I felt when I first began to fall for her. I pulled Kait even closer, despite the jagged pain in my ribs. It felt like I was breathing in broken glass, but I didn't care. Every sting made me want her more. Before I realized it I had her pinned to the fire pole in the middle of the empty truck bays. 

“The mother of my child,” I whispered into Kait's ear. My hushed words rippled through her, causing her whole body to shiver. “I love the way that sounds.”

Kait's hand popped the button on my jeans and plunged in. Her velvet grip slid along my hardening length and slowly started stroking. Kait looked up, locking eyes with me, a wicked smile spreading across her lusciously full lips. “So does your cock, apparently.”

I was taken aback at her sudden boldness. Who was this girl? She was no longer the timid, yearning thing I'd fucked at the lake. Kait was fierce. She wasn't scared or worried any more. In fact, she glowed with confidence. Some part of her was finally free and that made me and my cock extremely happy.

“Not our fault,” I groaned against her firm grip; she felt fucking incredible. It was tough to think when she squeezed tighter, dragging her hand over my engorged tip. “We both missed the way you taste.”

“Well, that's not fair.” Kait feigned a whining voice, then switched to more of a coo that set me on fire. “I never had the chance to see how you taste.”

The sound of a passing car drew my gaze past her, out the open bay doors. I needed to deal with that. If anyone saw me in here like this, I could lose this job. Kait had my prick rock hard, it tented my jeans too much to get my key out.

I kept pressing buttons through the denim, hoping the doors went down before Kait did. Had I not held her chin up with my hand, there would've been no contest. Half the neighborhood would've seen my girl's head bobbing on my cock.

If it were anywhere else I probably wouldn't even have cared.
Fuck it, let em' get jealous.
I couldn't give a damn what anyone thought of us, she was all I was concerned with now.

That, and seeing how loud I could make her scream my fucking name.

The heavy metal doors thumped against the ground, and then so did Kait. In seconds she was on her knees with my cock out and in her small hands. I loved how big I looked as she jerked me off.

“I'm going to swallow every inch of you.” She licked my swollen head.

“Careful, girl.” The pleasure of something so simple and vulgar sucked the strength out of my knees. I had to hold onto the fire pole to keep from falling over. “I don't want you to choke.”

She pulsed her eyebrows and wrapped her plump lips around my cock. Her hot tongue worked its way around my fat girth, sucking and teasing. I closed my eyes and hunched forward, aside from her pussy I'd never experienced something so heavenly.

She sucked and stroked me with both hands. My breathing was ragged, more from the blow job than the cracked ribs. Kait ate my cock like I never thought possible. It was unbelievable. Her sinful mouth guided and goaded me down a path of ecstasy that demanded I blow my hot load down her throat.