Shattered Vows (The Denton Family Legacy Book 2) (9 page)

It was an order she was happy to comply with. He gripped her hips, and guided her over him. She straddled his hips, and Abel held onto his cock, telling her what to do. The tip of his cock pressed her entrance, and she sank onto his length, moaning as he filled her.

He returned his grip to her hips, stroking her. “You’re the one in charge, babe. Take what you want, ride my cock.”

Harper held onto him, and lifted herself up and found a slow pace that kept him partially inside her. When she got more comfortable with how much was inside her, she took a little more.

“Oh, baby, make me earn it.”

She chuckled. “You sound like a porn star.”

“With how you’re panting, you sound like one, too,” he said, winking at her.

He gave a little thrust, which had her moaning. Abel touched parts of her deep inside that startled her.

“Oh, fuck,” she said.

“That’s right. Give it to me, babe. Fuck my dick, and take what you want.”

With his guidance, Harper fucked her man, her husband, staring into his hazel eyes, falling even deeper in love. When he couldn’t stand to wait any longer, he gripped her hips, driving in deep. She screamed his name, begged to come, and he made her finger her pussy.

Touching herself, Harper came alive, and knew this was what was right. Being with Abel, falling in love with him, this was her future.

“I’m going to come,” he said.

She came with him. Abel flooded her pussy with his release, and when it was all over, she collapsed over him.

“I think I’m dead to the world right about now,” he said.

Harper chuckled. “I never knew it could be like that.”

“Only with me. No one else will be able to give you what I can give you.”

She looked up at him. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re my husband, and I expect you to take your husbandly duties seriously.”

“I do. You’ve got no problem with that.”

****

“Any news from Abel?” Charlotte asked, entering her husband’s office. Since Landon had nearly gotten expelled from school, Maddox had been spending more time at home, taking over with dealing with Landon. It had been over a month since the boarding school threat, and so far, it seemed to have helped.

“They’re coming back home tomorrow.”

“Does he sound happy?” she asked. She didn’t agree with the lies her son was spinning to the girl. Harper had a right to know what she was getting in to.

“Yeah, of course he does.”

“Has he told her?”

“No. I’ve got a feeling he’s not going to either.”

“This is going to blow up in his face,” Charlotte said, taking a seat on the sofa. She watched her husband, the man that had put her through so much and she still loved with all of her heart, walk toward her. He took a seat on the sofa. She noticed that lately he looked tired more often.

“Yes, it will blow up in his face. Even as a young boy, Abel was stubborn. He always thought he could get away with everything. He couldn’t.”

“No, he really couldn’t. This isn’t about fighting, or climbing trees and not being able to get down. This is a young girl who doesn’t even know what she wants to become, Maddox.”

He sighed. “I know. It reminds me of us.”

“Which is what scares me. If he’s not careful, she will run, and he’s stubborn enough that he’ll hurt her in the process of getting her back.” Charlotte rested her head against his shoulder. “Do you think Gideon has found the one?” she asked.

“No. Gideon’s just out having fun, and fucking about. The woman he’s spending time with eases him, but she’s not the one.”

“Is it wrong that I worry not only for my sons but for the women they touch?” She didn’t mean a physical touch.

“I know. We have seen what damage can be done when you make yourself love someone, and then find the one for you.” His own brother was one of them.

Rubbing at his eyes, he kissed the top of her head. These were all worries he wished he didn’t have to think about. The Denton legacy meant he had no choice. He was the oldest son, and one day Jacob would take over.

“Do you know what is worse?” Charlotte asked.

“What?”

“I feel for Tamsin. She’s never going to know what she is missing. She’ll never feel what you feel, or what I do.”

“Maybe there will be a man out there for her,” he said, hating it. Tamsin was his baby girl. No man would ever be good enough for her.

“Thank you for being understanding.”

The hand on his chest moved down, and Maddox smiled. It had been too long since they were together, and with his door shut, and Tamsin in bed, now was a good time to remind his wife how much she aroused him.

Chapter Nine

One month later

“You’re in a good mood,” Jacob said.

Abel glanced over at his brother, and smiled. “Harper’s going to be waiting for me when I get back home.”

“Does she still go back to the apartment she shares with her friends?”

“Yep. During the week when she has classes. Sometimes she comes back to my place though.”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?”

“Let her stay away from you. I couldn’t live without Lou.”

“Oh, she’s not alone. During the week, I stay with her, and then over the weekend I’m with her. It works.” Abel had tried to sleep without her. The first week back when she had to catch up on all of her classes, he’d stayed at his apartment. For two nights he tossed and turned. In the end, he’d gone to her place around four in the morning, and demanded that she sleep with him. A tired Abel was not a nice Abel. Several people had lost a limb due to his tiredness.

“What about the blood?”

“I get changed at the casino. I use Dad’s office.”

“That’s not going to last forever. You’re going to have to tell her. Dad’s worried. Mom’s worried.”

“I get it. I get it. Everyone is worried, and they don’t need to be.”

“Why not?”

“It’s not that important for her to know. I figure I can protect her, deal with work, and she’ll never know.” He was also hoping that the number of times they had been fucking had gotten her pregnant. She hadn’t mentioned a menstrual cycle, and it had been a month. He was counting on the Denton sperm to knock her up. Once she was pregnant, he wouldn’t have to worry about her going to school or work. He’d take care of her. The more he thought about what his mother said, the more he agreed with her. Harper was a natural at taking care of people. She would make a wonderful mother.

“You actually believe it’s possible for you to go on living like you’re a random guy.”

“It has worked this past month. I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t.”

“We live with the threat of getting killed.”

“So? It won’t hit out at her. I promise.”

“Abel, you’ve got to tell her.”

“I don’t tell you how to deal with Lou. I never interfere. I know Harper. If for a second she knew who I was, she’d divorce me.”

Jacob sighed. “If you don’t tell her, she’ll divorce you.”

Their father had already pulled him into the office to warn him, and now his brother. In fact, everyone from his mother to his sister had warned him about telling her. He was getting tired of being ordered around. Really tired of it.

“I know what I’m doing.”

They pulled up outside of the red zone. It had been a long time since they had been here. Jacob had taken over caring for the brothel while Abel had been on his honeymoon, and that had lasted the past couple of weeks.

You’ve got to tell her.

Abel hated it. Providing he didn’t think about the dangers that his life posed, he didn’t see a problem with keeping her in the dark. He knew he had to tell her one day. Every time he went to tell her, she’d turn that beautiful smile up at him, and he lost all fucking thought.

“I will tell her, Jacob,” he said.

His brother turned toward him. “I get why you don’t want to tell her. I do understand that you want to keep this between the two of you. Once you tell her, it’s going to change everything. I know what you’re going through. So does Dad. Even I wish Lou and I had a moment of what you’re getting to share with Harper. I do. You haven’t got to explain what you do, tell her what a shitty day you have. Lou knew who I was. She knew what I did. I didn’t get the chance.”

“Thank you.”

“But, as much as I’d love to have what you and Harper had, I’m pleased I don’t have to have the conversation with Lou what you’re going to have. When I go home covered in blood, Lou stands with me in the shower washing it off. She eases the cuts on my knuckles, and she doesn’t beg me to tell her about my day. Harper, she wants to know about your day. To her, you’re just a regular guy. You’re hurting her by not telling her the truth. I feel sorry for you, because you may never know what it’s like to have a moment like Lou and I do. She understands me, and even after her brother, she loves me. I hope one day you can understand what I’m trying to tell you.”

Jacob climbed out of the car putting an end to the conversation.

Abel got out, hating that he’d been forced to see his own problem. Sure, he and Harper were having a great time. He loved her, and she was falling in love with him. It wasn’t the real him though, not all of it. She was falling for what he wanted her to believe was him.

Deirdre was waiting for them, and Abel didn’t offer her a smile or a wink.

“Hello, Deidre, any news?” Jacob asked.

“None. I didn’t know you were coming today, Jacob. I thought Abel would be taking over.”

“He is. I just want to bring him up to speed.”

“I heard you took some time out,” Deidre said.

“I got married.”

He saw her freeze into place. “Oh, congratulations. Do I know her?”

“No.” Abel wasn’t about to take the time to talk with her about Harper. She wasn’t part of this world, and he wouldn’t talk about her, not yet.

“Deidre has been having some trouble with a pimp, Douglas. I’ve got some of the boys stationed around the streets.”

“You haven’t ended him?” Abel asked.

“That’s not my job,” Jacob said.

No, it was Abel’s job to go hunting and find the scumbags that threatened the Denton name. This had been a role he begged his father for. Abel liked to cause pain, and staring at his brother, he understood why it was important for Harper to know.

“I better go and start hunting then.”

It was going to be a long night. Instead of getting home by eleven, Abel didn’t even make it home by two, or by three. His work life was going to catch up with him.

****

“Hi, Mrs. Denton, I mean, Charlotte. Have you heard from him?”

Harper paced up and down his sitting room. The dinner she had prepared was still sitting on the table. She hadn’t eaten anything, and decided to wait. Now at three in the morning, the fear, the panic was starting to set in. She had called her two friends, and they hadn’t heard from him. They had been the ones to suggest she call his parents. She only knew Charlotte’s number.

“Who?”

“Abel. He said he was going to be home by eleven, and with it just past two, I’m freaking out. Is this normal?”

There was silence on the line, and her heart started to pound.

“Let me call Maddox.”

Before she could say anything the line went dead. Sitting on the sofa, she tried to think of a logical explanation.

“He had to work late. It’s a casino, and clearly they keep their own time frame. He’s just working late.” Tapping her lip with the phone, she shook her head. “Or he could have decided to have a drink after work. If he is drunk, I’m going to be so pissed!”

The phone rang, and she jumped, nearly dropping it.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hey, Harper, it’s Maddox.”

“Hi, I’m really sorry to have bugged your wife. I’m just really worried. Do I call the police? Do I have to wait for him to come home? Do I leave it twenty-four hours? I really don’t know what to do.”

“Abel is with Jacob, and they’re just sorting out a job. Abel is fine. You should get some rest, okay? Just relax. Don’t worry yourself.”

“That’s it? Why is he with Jacob? I thought he worked at the casino.”

Again, more silence.

“I will let Abel talk to you, sweetie. He’s perfectly fine. Abel knows what he is doing.”

“I’m not saying he doesn’t.”

“Harper, I need to go.”

“Oh, yeah, okay. Take care.” She hung up the phone, and placed it on the coffee table. Sitting back on the sofa, she stared at the door. Something wasn’t right. No one would tell her exactly what Abel did, nor what he was doing. Why would he not be home at eleven? Why wouldn’t he call her?

Grabbing one of the pillows that for decoration on the sofa, she held it against her stomach. Time continued to pass, and slowly, she fell asleep.

It didn’t seem long before the door being opened woke her. Glancing at the clock she saw it was five in the morning. Abel entered his apartment, and he turned toward her. He looked tired.

“Hey, baby,” he said.

Harper sat on the sofa, curled up in a ball, holding onto the pillow. “Hey,” she said.

Her voice sounded hoarse even to herself. She had actually cried herself to sleep.

“Dad told me you called, that you were worried.”

Harper looked toward the food that was still on the table. It probably had horrible flies crawling all over it. “I made dinner. You said you were going to be home by eleven.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Work—”

“What were you doing?” she asked, cutting him off.

“I was working.”

“Doing what exactly? What took you to five in the morning to do?” Was she being a nagging wife? She didn’t know, and right then, she didn’t care.

“Work.”

“You never tell me about your work. You don’t talk about it. I don’t know what you do, yet you know every single second of my day. I talk about school, about work, about everything. What is so damn special about your job that you can’t tell me?”

Licking her lips, she stared at him, hating how this moment was making her feel.

“I can’t.”

“You can’t, or you won’t? You know what is stupid, I could search your name on the internet and it would probably tell me who you are.”

“Don’t,” he asked. “Please, don’t.”

“This is scaring me, Abel. I’m actually scared right now.”

“You don’t have to be afraid. Please, just give me a chance.”

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and got up from the sofa. Moving toward the table, she picked up the plates, staring down at the food. She had been cooking for over two hours to make the perfect meal, all for nothing. “Is this how our life is going to be? Me waiting at home worried, not knowing where you are?”

“No.”

“Tell me what you were doing.” She walked toward the kitchen, dumping the food in the trash. It hurt a little to see the food going to waste.

“I can’t, babe.”

“This is what I can’t do. I can’t sit around waiting for you to get home, especially when I’m worrying about you!” Throwing the plates into the sink, she watched them shatter, and stared at them. The plates were exactly how she felt inside.

Abel moved up behind her grabbing her shoulders. “My work, it’s—I, I locate people that have threatened my family.”

“Threatened?”

“Yeah, I go and see what they want, do a show of force, and that’s it. I swear. The guy who had threatened my family, he was a little difficult to find.”

“Why can’t I just search your name?”

“Because I want you to trust me, Harper.”

She spun around. “How do you expect me to do that with all the lies?”

He licked his lips. “Just believe in me. Believe that I know what I’m doing. Have a little faith.”

Harper placed her hands on his chest, noticing the change in his clothing. “Why did you change clothes?”

“I spilled coffee down it.”

“I could have washed it.”

“You don’t need to worry about it.” He cupped her face, tilting her head back, and claimed her lips.

The moment his lips touched hers, all thought fled her brain. Her pussy went slick, wanting him inside her. Her nipples grew hard and heavy.

“I’m sorry I’m an asshole. Let me make it up to you, baby,” he said. He kissed down to her neck, sucking on the pulse beating rapidly. She loved it when he did that. Harper found it hard to resist anything when his lips were on her, making her beg for more. Over the past couple of weeks, she had found that her body only ever came alive for Abel. No other man had the power to awaken her like he did. He was slowly working his way into her heart, and into her mind. She loved him, there was no doubt. It was moments like tonight when she found it difficult. Her parents had an honest marriage, neither of them causing the other stress.

Abel wrapped his arms around her, picking her up, and leading her toward their bedroom.

Fight tomorrow.

Love tonight.

Just feel him.

He let her go, and she tugged at his shirt, wanting him to get as naked as she was. Abel dealt with her clothing, and within seconds they were both naked.

Abel pushed her toward the bed, and she fell on top of the sheets, moaning as his hand slid between her thighs, touching her pussy.

“You’re so wet for me.”

“I need you, Abel.”

“I’m so sorry for being an asshole. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Then shut up and fuck me.” Grabbing his face, she pulled him down, kissing his lips. He fingered her pussy thrusting in and out. She was so wet that his finger moved inside her easily. Biting her lip, she tried to contain her moans, but Abel wouldn’t allow her.