Page 59 of The Spare (The King Dynasty #2)

Chapter thirty-five

Peaches Are Good

W rapping my arms around her I bring her close to me. "Shhh," I shush her gently, pressing my lips to hers in a chaste kiss, cradling her against my chest.

It's the next morning. I let her sleep in, and she woke up moaning, writhing under the covers.

Last night was the longest I've ever seen her come. It's also been the hardest I've pushed her body since we've been married. I stroke my hand down her hair, and though her arms are wrapped around me, I'm sensing a withdrawal I'm not sure I'm comfortable with.

"Would you like a bath?" I murmur. Her head shoots up to mine and her eyes widen. I bite back a grin, smoothing a fingertip over her lips. "A real one."

She lets out a relieved breath and then nods her head, staying quiet. Seems I've fucked all the sass out of her.

Five minutes later she's in the tub and I bring her a glass of water and a Tylenol. "Thank you," she whispers hoarsely.

I watch her carefully as she takes the medicine, seeing her nipples, slightly red from me sucking on them half the night, poking out of the water.

Not able to help myself, I dip a hand in and cup her breasts, fluttering my thumb over the tip and tilting my head at the way she bites her lip and whimpers when I roll it ever so gently between my fingers.

"You did so good last night," I praise her, seeing her sink further into the tub.

She draws her knees up until they poke out of the water.

My eyes nail themselves onto the bruises there, and I take my hand from her breast and rub them gently.

Her head turns lazily to the side, and she meets my eye.

I move my hand up to her tender neck, the skin slightly abraded from my belt.

It's not wintertime yet so she won't get away with wearing a turtleneck.

I twist my lips. "We're all supposed to go to your mom's place today. "

She heaves a deep sigh, her eyes turning to the water in front of her. "Yeah, I remember. I'm supposed to be bringing the chocolate chip cookies."

The air becomes silent and thick with tension. I bring my eyes to her and place a finger to her cheek, turning her to face me. "Melody, are you okay with what we did last night? "

Time itself almost stops as I hold my breath, waiting for her reply.

Her eyes snap to mine, and she holds my gaze for a few beats of time, a flush coloring her cheeks.

She looks away before wetting her lips. "I loved it," she replies tentatively.

But I know her well enough to know by now that it's only shyness that's causing her to sound like this.

I reach out, pulling her to face me again.

She tries to jerk away, but I grip her tightly.

"No, don't look away. Not for this." I wait until her eyes meet mine again.

"Baby, I know that you're shy, and I love that so much, I really do, but I need you to be brave and do this one thing for me.

Have this one conversation with me, and then you can go back to being shy. I just need to know. Are you sure?"

Her eyes search mine, her fingers tremble on my wrist, but I don't let her break my eye contact.

"Because I fucked you really, really rough, baby. And if I h-hurt you-" My voice catches as emotion takes me over. Fuck, I'll never live with myself.

"No," she says sharply, reaching out to put her fingers on my hand. "It actually hurt so good." Her voice trembles with nerves. "I asked for it. I wanted it, Mason. Everything you did felt so good." She rubs her fingers on my lips as her own tremble. "So right."

Leaning forward I press my lips to hers. "We should have had a safe word baby. That's my bad," I mumble against her lips. Pulling back I allow her shy look and even her sinking further into the tub until the water covers her chin. "Pick one."

"A safe word?"

I nod. "Yes, baby. If you want to have sex like how we did last night, then this is the only way I'm comfortable. So, I need you to pick one."

A line appears above her brow and she thinks hard. Suddenly, a smile crosses her face. "Peaches. "

I put a hand to my mouth to stifle my urge to laugh. "Allright. Peaches it is." Chucking her under the chin, I stand and remove my sweatpants, stepping into the tub behind her.

I chuckle low in my throat at how hard Melody's blushing as we stand outside Donna's front door, waiting for her to open it. I hold the platter of cookies in one hand, keeping Melody tucked under the opposite arm and playing with her fingers.

I'm leaning down to her ear, about to tease her about how she almost levitated off the bed last night when I playfully licked her ass when the door opens, forcing my spine to straighten. I wipe the sheepish look off my face quickly, but I think Donna still saw.

"Baby!" Donna's joyful smile never fails to be contagious. We're all smiles as she steps into Melody and wraps her up in a hug, then me.

"Hey, mama," I greet her. She squeezes my arms and slaps my bicep playfully. "I see you, you can try, but you'll never be able to out muscle me."

I laugh. "I wouldn't even dare, mama."

I don't bother telling her the only reason I'm so defined today is because I spent all night using her daughter as a piece of workout equipment.

"Well, don't stand outside like strangers.

I really need to get you guys a key, don't I.

" She's all smiles as she ushers us into the house.

It's a stone one-story Mcmansion on a very prestigious side of town in a gated community.

Isobel wanted her to move in with them, but she put her foot down, to Hendrix's happiness.

The woman is clean, and I always smell bleach whenever I come over.

Tonight's no different, though there are other scents mixed in.

"Hmm, smells like tacos?" I guess.

"Yes, and I got stuff for buffalo chicken dip, too!"

I flick her an amused look, seeing Melody fiddling with her jacket that's currently covering up the state of her neck. "Oh man, mama, you spoil me."

She really does.

"So who's all here?" Melody asks.

"Everyone. You are the last ones to arrive, as usual," she stresses, making me chuckle. "Here, give me those. I'll put them in the kitchen. You two go say hi to everyone. They're in the living room."

She takes the platter of cookies from me, and I nod at Pablo, the security guy Hendrix gave her four years ago and never took back.

He sits off the foyer area, doing something on his tablet.

Stephen joins him, and I have half a mind to dismiss him for a bit.

But the last time I did he'd explained that he and Pablo are good friends, so I leave it optional whenever we're all together.

We walk into the living room hand in hand, and Father is the first one to catch my eye, surprisingly enough.

"Hey, son," he says, "How are you?"

Did the world stop turning or something?

I arch a brow and wet my lip, unsure. "I'm okay, Father; how…uh…how are you?"

He nods, giving me a small smile. "Doing okay. Doing okay."

Well, that's fucking odd. I blink, my eyes sliding to Hendrix who has a minute frown on his face. I bend down to Melody's ear. "Is Father seriously going to act like the last time we were all together we weren't at each other's throats?"

"Who cares," she whispers back, "just go with it. "

She steps out of reach to bend down to give Isobel a hug who looks like she's about to pop open all over the living room. My eyes rise, before flicking to Hendrix again. No fucking wonder he looks like death.

"Hey, uh, Izzy. When are you due, hermosa?" I ask, bending down to kiss her cheek.

"Yesterday. I was due y esterday, Mason."

I ignore her irritated tone and grin. "Really? Shouldn't you be in the hospital then?"

She rolls her eyes. “No, jerk, I have two more weeks to go."

"Ohhh." I sit, pulling Melody down next to me when she's done giving out hugs. "So are you going to the Balducci-Scognamiglio wedding this Sunday?"

"I plan on it. I have to go…"

I nod. "Maybe the baby will come early and spare us all the hassle of going."

Father gives us all a stern look when we look too happy for his tastes.

"We will do no such thing. We're all going to the wedding to express our gratitude and solidarity, and the baby is coming exactly when he's supposed to.

End of." Father motions with his hands like that's the legitimate end of it, and I can't help laughing, bringing his eyes to mine.

"So, how's life?" he says, flicking his eyes to Melody, who has adopted a rather strange smile. She tugs at the hem of her jacket again.

"It's fine," I toss to Father, glancing around and not seeing mama. "Hey, where's Madre? Did she not come?"

He gets an uncomfortable look on his face that makes my eyes narrow. "She's in the kitchen with Donna."

His eyes go a little wary as he turns his head to look towards the kitchen door, and for a second he looks a little lost. I throw a look at Hendrix who just gives me a small shake of his head in a 'don't say shit' look.

"Ah." Bending down to Melody, I nudge her arm. "Baby, just take it off. I can tell you're hot."

She shakes her head. "Nu-uh. I'm okay."

"Dinner's done!" Donna yells from the kitchen.

Everyone gets up to make their plates, and by the time it's our turn, Melody's face is bright red, and she's got a light sheen of sweat on her face.

It isn't until we sit at the long dining room table that Madre leans over, saying, "Honey, you're sweltering. Take your jacket off."

I roll my lips, seeing she's not holding hands with Father like she normally does. I peek at Teresa who's glancing at where their hands are usually linked with a small frown on her face.

Melody throws her a fake smile. "I'm fine-"

"Oh, for fuck’s sake. Take the goddamn jacket off before I have a heat stroke, you stubborn bitch," Isobel snaps, causing Hendrix to choke on his food.

"Isobel!" Father exclaims sternly, his eyes wide. "Was that necessary?"

But I feel sorry for her. She looks insanely uncomfortable, and her face is red as well. Sporting a scowl and fanning herself with a collapsible fan looking like she might, in fact, actually have a heat stroke.

"I'll turn the air down," Donna says, getting up and disappearing down the hallway.

When Melody gets over the shock of her sister's outburst, she unzips her jacket and then slides it off breathing an audible sigh of relief. But then all hell breaks loose right as Donna sits down and opens her mouth to say something, but my mother’s shocked gasp causes her to glance sharply at her and snap her mouth shut .

"Mija, what's happened to your neck?" Madre asks.

Father's eyes go wide before flicking to mine, then back to Melody. Then back to me. Then to Hendrix, and back to Melody again.

"It's nothing," she mumbles, putting her hand to the abraded skin. With her other hand, she picks up her wine glass and sips it as everyone stares at her in shock. And then at me ….

I keep my gaze impassive. Though I want to grin remembering how it felt to put my belt around Mel's neck. I chuckle, trying to cover it with a sip of my drink.

"Melody, maybe you should get that looked at," Donna says, leaning in to get a better look and squinting her eyes. "That might be a rash."

"It looks like you got bit by something. Mason, why didn't you take her to the doctor?" Isobel asks in an accusatory tone, curling her lip at me and looking like she's about to leap across the table at me.

Hendrix gives Isobel a warning shake of his head, telling her to stay out of it. Except Teresa leans in next, and Melody visibly stiffens. I put my hand on her thigh, leaning in as the women all start bickering about what kind of rash it might be.

"Baby, calm down-"

But it's no use. Melody slams her palms into the table, the move so reminiscent of Isobel's tantrums that I instinctively snatch the knife from in front of her. And mine.

"I like rough sex, okay?" she shouts, giving us all a glare. My eyes slide to hers in disbelief. "It's none of your business! Now stop asking me."

Oh the irony.

I can't help but put a hand to my jaw and chuckle. "Damn," I whisper, clearing my throat.

The table goes so silent you could hear a pin drop. I put my hand on her back, letting her know it's okay. She stares in shock at the plate in front of her, and just when I'm sure she's about to get up to run away, a rough sound at the end of the table gets our attention.

To my utter shock, Father laughs. He's hunched over his plate, holding a napkin to his mouth and roaring into it. He carries on and on.

Everyone stares as Father completely loses it, tears streaming down his face, laughing so hard that even Madre is staring in shock. We all gawk, never having seen him laugh like this before.

Hendrix and Teresa trade looks before meeting my eyes, and Teresa starts giggling, leaning forward to pat Father on the hand. His face is bright red, and it only gets worse as everyone else joins in.

Mariah looks down the table, chewing on a mouthful of food. "Mommy, what's rough-"

"No! No, no, no, no!" Isobel shouts over her, and Hendrix gets an irritated look on his face, tossing his napkin to the table and then putting his hands to his face and scrubbing.

And this time it's my turn to dissolve into laughter. Except like Father, I don't try to hide it.

When we leave, Teresa gives us stern instructions on how to dress for the long awaited Scognamiglio-Balducci wedding, wanting us to come as a united front and not embarrass her with colors that don't correspond. The uptight witch.

And Father gives me a hug.