Unacceptable (5 page)

“Shhh.” He whispered, “You’ll wake up the whole freaking house, babe.”

I forced my voice to level. “I’m so close, Abel.”

“Good.” His gravely tone sent electricity up my spine. “I’m going to come with you.”

Our bodies shook and pulsed as our climaxes crashed around us.

I felt drunk, at least that was the closest feeling I could compare to how amazing I felt in that moment.

Abel pulled me to him and kissed right under my ear. “You’re perfect.”

“You’re pretty unbelievable yourself.”

“Let’s get cleaned up. Raine is going to be getting up soon.”

Abel shoved up from the bed, making his way into the bathroom. I heard the shower start and I hoped he wouldn’t mind if I hopped in with him. My body craved to be near his, even though it had been only seconds since he’d walked away; it was more than a little unnerving, but also thrilling all at once. I had never lusted before. Maybe I had never really liked a man more than just a little crush. Whatever was going on with me, my head, and my libido, for the first time in my life I was going with the flow and enjoying myself, not worrying about what my next move had to be. It was pretty incredible.

A pounding sounded on the door and I quickly covered myself with the sheet.

Abel ran to the door with a towel wrapped around his waist and threw it open. “What the fuck?”

Holt was standing in the doorway. “It’s Rave, he didn’t check in after his meeting in Riverside last night and no one can get ahold of him.”

Rave.
That name sent chills through me again.
Could it really be my dad? How many Raves existed in the world?
My body started shaking as I pulled the covers higher up my chest.

“Fuck. Yeah, ok.” Abel rubbed the back of his neck. “Let me get some damn clothes on and I’ll be down in a second.”

Holt nodded and turned to leave, but not before peeking around Abel to wave at me.

Well this is humiliating.

Abel slammed the door, grumbling to himself.

“Can I help?” I started to pull my jeans on.

“Actually, how comfortable are you with driving trucks?”

I shrugged. “Friends back home used to let me take their mud trucks out all the time. Why?”

“Would you mind taking Raine to school and maybe picking her up? I really need to handle this right away.”

“I don’t mind at all. What should I do about work?”

Abel shook his head. “I’ll handle that. While I’m gone, you won’t have to work.”

He grabbed a piece of paper from his dresser, scribbled on it, and handed it to me. “Here is the number of the house I will be staying at while I am away, just in case I don’t have cell service. Call if you need anything. Drive my truck around, we’ll grab your car when I get back into town. I don’t want to worry about you getting stranded again.”

He threw clothes on, shoved his keys into his pocket, kissed me on the forehead, and headed out the door. “I’ll check in with you guys tonight.” He called through the door before jogging down the stairs.

I hopped in the shower for a quick rinse off, rummaged through his shirts until I found one small enough to pass on me, and made my way down to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.

Right as the pot was finishing up Raine bounced into the kitchen. “Where’s Daddy?” she asked while climbing onto one of the big wooden chairs at the table I was leaning on.

Holt followed her in. “He had to go meet up with Pop, but he’ll be back soon, sweetheart.” He patted her on the head before grabbing two mugs out of the cupboard and handing one to me.

“Thanks.”

He nodded. “Thanks for sticking around here to help with her. Don’t worry about the bar, a few of the guys and Ronda are going to pick up some hours here and there. We’ll be fine. Just do what you have to.”

“Ronda’s okay with that?”

I could just picture her freaking out when they called this early in the morning to add hours to her shifts.

Holt shrugged. “She’s gonna have to be. Abel or Rich will deal with her. That ain’t nothing for you to worry about.”

“Sounds good to me, I guess.” I shrugged before turning to Raine. “What do you want for breakfast, honey?”

“Captain Crunch, please.” She sat at the table with Miss Gilda at her side while I fixed her a bowl of cereal.

Chapter 6.

“How was school today, sweetie?”

Raine jumped into the front seat of Abel’s truck, throwing her bag in the back seat. “It was ok.”

She wasn’t her normal, bouncing, bubbly self.

“What’s up, gloomy? Everything all right?”

She shrugged. “Yeah.” With a huge forced sigh she hugged Miss Gilda to her chest.

“Was someone mean to you today?”

She nodded.

“Was it a girl or boy?”

“It was a bunch of kids.”

My heart gradually started breaking. No one ever deserved to be bullied, especially a child as sweet and goodhearted as Raine.

“What were they doing?”

She shifted in her seat, staring blankly out the window as I pulled out of the school’s parking lot.

“It’s ok, Raine. You can tell me.”

“They were saying mean stuff at recess.”

“Does this happen a lot?”

I kept glancing over at Raine as her cheeks got redder and redder, her nose started sniffling, and her eyes watered. I pulled the truck to the side of the road. I took my seatbelt off and shifted so I could put both my hands out for her to grab.

She just stared blankly at me. Clearly this was not something she felt comfortable telling grownups about. I really wished Abel was there to help handle it, but I couldn’t let her be sad, it wasn’t fair to her.

“Sweetie, please tell me. I know we just met, but I think we’re really good friends. Good friends trust each other with big secrets. Would it make you feel better if I told you a secret first?”

She wiped her nose with her sleeve before nodding.

“Ok.” I sighed and finally Raine took my hands, squeezing tightly. “I was bullied so bad in school because I didn’t have a daddy. He had moved far away when I was just about your age. Kids were mean to me about it.”

Her eyes got wide, like she was shocked someone else could relate to how mean kids could really be.

“Now can you tell me your secret?”

She took in a deep breath and with a sigh of relief, she whispered, “They were making fun of me because Mommy is in heaven.”

I felt the waterworks welling quickly. Those freaking jerks at her school were little monsters. I wanted to turn that truck around and go spank each and every one of them and then tell their parents to put hot sauce on their tongues, or better yet soap like my mom used to do to me when I talked back to her.

“That’s not fair sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

She forced a smile, gripping my hands with her tiny fingers. “It’s ok. They don’t have a mommy angel and I do.”

And there ya had it: the most put together five-year-old on the freaking planet. Abel really was doing an amazing job with her.

“How about we get you home and we call your daddy to see if we can get some ice cream?”

She perked up in her seat. “Yay! Ice cream!”

Raine rushed into the house and got cleaned up as fast as she could while I called Abel.

His deep drawl came onto the line, sending chills down my arms instantly. “Hey, Crickett. Is everything ok?”

I started to pace in the kitchen. “Yeah, just got Raine home. She had a little bit of a rough day at school.”

He sighed softly. “She’s been having problems with a few of the kids in her class.”

“She told me. Can I take her for ice cream tonight? Cheer her up a bit?”

I could hear the smile on his face. “After she does her homework, that sounds like a great idea.”

“Awesome. How’s everything goin’?” I had no idea if I could even ask about what was going on with the missing club member, I just wanted to know when he was going to be coming home without sounding needy or desperate.

“It’s goin’. I’m gonna have to be out of town for a few more days than I expected. You don’t mind staying at my place while I’m gone, do you? It’s a huge help to Holt and me.”

I didn’t even have to think twice about it. “Sure. I can grab the rest of my stuff from the motel in the morning.”

“Thanks babe. I have to run, I’ll be in touch. Kiss Raine for me.”

Holt ambled into the kitchen. “Was that Abel?” He asked, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

“Yes sir.” I took a seat at the breakfast table.

Holt joined me. “Did he tell ya that he’s going to be gone?”

I nodded. “I’m going to stick around here and help you with Raine. If that’s okay with you.”

“If that’s what Abel asked you to do, that’s fine by me. We’re swamped at the garage and short staffed at the bar. It’s better if I’m there.”

“Well, I’ll hold down the fort. I really love Raine. She’s awesome.”

“I can agree to that. Oh, I forgot to tell you. I brought your car back so you don’t have to keep driving that big ole truck around town, unless you want to.”

“Thanks Holt, I appreciate it.”

Raine came down the stairs and Holt left to veg out on the couch after a long day at work. After homework and some ramen noodles, I took Raine to get ice cream in town. She was completely carefree, not showing any signs of the hurt or frustration she’d had when leaving school only hours before. When we got back home it was bath time, and then I read Cinderella to her.

Right as her tired eyes started to flutter closed, she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered, resting her head on my shoulder.

I kissed the top of her head. “So am I.”

I shifted out from under her, pulling the covers up and making sure she was tucked in nice and tight.

“Goodnight, sweetie. Sleep well.”

Climbing into Abel’s massive bed not too long after tucking Raine in, with the soft cotton sheets and one of his soft white shirts and basketball shorts on, was amazing. I plugged my phone in on the nightstand, turned off the lights, and lay there wide-eyed. I knew I should have had a beer or two before bed to relax me a little but with being responsible for someone else’s kid, I just didn’t feel right about it.

I flipped through the late night channels trying to find something just boring enough to help put me to sleep. I finally settled on a documentary about cheetahs. The monotone voice of the narrator was as good as the Sandman throwing sleep in my eyes.

A few minutes later a text rattled my phone on the wooden table next to me.

Abel: Hope you’re making yourself at home, babe. Wish I was there holding you.

Me: Your bed is a little lonely without you in it.

Abel: How’s Raine doing?

Me: Fine. Much better than this afternoon.

Abel: Good. How are you doing?

Me: Can’t sleep. You?

Abel: I wish I could help.

Me: You’ll be home soon though.

Abel: I can’t wait.

Me: Me either. I’m going to try to get some rest.

Abel: I have to be up early too. Kiss Raine for me.

Me: I will. Goodnight.

Abel: Night, sugar. Miss you.

Me: Miss you too.

Chapter 7.

The next few days droned on. Since Abel was gone, Holt was working like a dog and Raine was in school, and most of the time I was bored out of my skull.

Right as I was closing Raine’s door from putting her to sleep a little later than normal—it was Friday and I figured I could be a tad bit lenient since she didn’t have to be up for school in the morning—I heard the front door slam and the sound of voices in the living room.

Nerves crashed into my stomach when Abel’s gruff tone called up the stairs to me, “Babe? You here?”

I got freaking giddy as his boots started stomping up the stairs. “Yeah. Just put Raine down.”

Her door swung open and she ran out. “Daddy!”

Abel scooped her into his arms. “Hey sugar. You should be in bed.”

“I’m just so happy to see you!” She nuzzled and squeezed him and I saw his heart melt.

“Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”

“But you just got home. I want to spend time with you.”

He kissed her cheek and laid her back down into her Tinkerbell covered bed. “We’ll spend time together in the morning. Promise.”

“Pinky promise?” She held her tiny pinky out for his.

“Pinky promise.”

I was a puddle of goo on the floor watching how amazing he was with Raine. It made Abel that much sexier to me.

I followed Abel into his room.

“How’d everything go around here?” he asked while pulling his cut off. He threw it onto the chair and that’s when I noticed the black eye and busted up knuckles.

“Fine.” I tried to ignore it. I knew he probably wouldn’t tell me what happened, why he was in a fight, but I guess I didn’t do a good job of hiding the concern on my face.

Abel pulled a clean white shirt over his head before taking me into his arms. “Don’t worry babe, it doesn’t even hurt.”

“Ok.” That was all I could choke out before our lips were crashing together.

I gripped Abel’s shirt, pulling him into me as he winced. “What?” I quickly pulled away from him.

“Just a bruised rib. Nothing to worry about.”

“Did you at least find the guy you were looking for?”

He sat down on the bed, grabbing my hand to pull me over to him. “Yes. Everything has been taken care of and everyone is fine.”

“That’s good.”

He nodded and scooped me into his arms, moving to carry me into the bathroom.

“What are you doing?” I giggled as he sat me down on the counter.

He kissed my hair before turning on the water in the shower. “I want to get cleaned up and I figured you should join me.”

My hair was still damp from the shower I’d taken after dinner. “What if I don’t want to?” I bit my lip as he walked over to me.

“I didn’t ask, did I?”

The steam bellowed up over the glass door of the shower.

Before I knew what was happening, Abel had me in his arms, my back on the slick tile of the shower as the warm water rolled over our skin. He was gently nibbling my neck, sending chills down my body even in the warm water.

“God, I missed you.” He rumbled in my ear, grabbing a fistful of my wet hair, pulling it back to extend my neck.

I moaned as the head of his cock rubbed my sensitive clit, making my want for him to fill me again grow.

“Are you on birth control?”

I hesitated. I was, but I had never been with a guy without a condom. I’d heard it was supposed to be so much better, but it scared me. I had no idea where his dick had been.

“Abel, I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

He sighed and set me down. He knelt and started to kiss my stomach.

I let his lips brush against my wet skin. “Have you ever had sex without a condom?”

“No. But I just don’t know.”

He pushed me against the wall with one hand and started rubbing his thumb over my bud. Gently he started to lick and suck my clit. My knees buckled from the gentle ecstasy as his tongue rolled over my delicate skin.

“Oh, my, God! Abel.” I could barely stand as my knees shook. I gripped onto his muscular shoulders as he looked up at me. His eyes consumed me as the pleasure of that moment took over. Quickly my orgasm built in the pit of my stomach and crashed hard as my body shook and my hips bucked.

Abel got to his feet, kissing and nibbling on my hard nipples on his way back up.

“I can respect you not wanting to do it without a rubber, babe. You don’t need to explain it. I’m clean. I’m assuming you are too and when you’re ready I will fuck that pussy raw. I want to feel your skin on mine, but I can be patient.”

He turned the shower off and handed me a towel.

“I’ll be right back.” He threw a towel around his dripping waist and left the bathroom. He returned quickly, dropping the towel on the floor. He slowly started to stroke his erection in his hand.

“Get on your hands and knees.” He pointed down at the plush bathmat. His eyes smoldered as he watched me do as I was instructed.

The drop of pre-come released, so I slowly rolled my tongue over the soft head as his fingers laced in my hair. “Open.”

I opened my mouth as he pushed into the back of my throat so hard I choked. It was surprisingly exhilarating.

“God, I love fucking your mouth.” Abel moaned, thrusting faster and as hard as he could. I moaned too, my back arching from the pleasure of pleasing him.

He slid his dick out and pushed my head down onto the rug, slapping my ass. I heard him rip the condom wrapper. “I’ve wanted this since I had to run out of here the other morning. I have dreamed about your perfect ass and beautiful cunt. Say you’re mine, Crickett.”

I moaned into the rug. “Abel, I’m yours. Please shove your cock into my pussy.”

His thumb rolled over my clit as his teeth nipped at my ass cheek. He slowly plunged his thumb into my wetness as he pushed my ass higher into the air.

I groaned and pulled away from him, rolling over onto my back. He pulled my hips up into his as he thrust into me and my world started spinning. It was so much fucking better than anything I had ever felt. He started off slow and gentle, building momentum.

“Your tits are so fucking sexy, bouncing as I push my dick into you.”

I rolled my fingers over my hard sensitive nipples. Abel bit his piercing.

“Does that feel good babe?”

I nodded, my breath hitching as his nails dug into my hips.

“How about this?” He grabbed my other hand, taking my first two fingers and guiding them over my clit. My body shook uncontrollably as instantly an orgasm erupted.

“Holy fucking shit.”

Abel smiled. “I’ll take that as it was good too. My turn.”

Without taking his dick out of my pussy, he picked me up and pressed me against the wall.

“That was impressive.”

He bit my neck. “Sugar, you haven’t seen anything yet. The things that I have planned to do to you will rock your world.”

It only took a few fast, hard pumps before I felt Abel swell and pulse inside me as his head fell to my shoulder.

Abel carried me to the bed, climbing in next to me. He grabbed two packets of Fun Dip from the nightstand and glanced at me with a small smirk and a raised eyebrow.

“That looks freaking delicious.”

He threw a blue raspberry over to me and we cuddled, eating candy like high schoolers after prom.

My eyes wandered over his bare chest, noticing the deep blues and purples covering his ribs.

“Do they hurt?”

He shook his head, licking the last of the blue powder off of the white candy stick. “Babe, there ain’t nothin’ to worry about.” He kissed the top of my head. “I’m fine.”

We threw away our empty rappers, Abel wrapping me up in his strong arms.

“Goodnight,” he whispered.

Waking up still cradled in Abel’s arms in the middle of the night was a little awkward. The whole thing was awkward, but perfect in its own way. How do two people just fall into such a great rhythm like that so fast? It felt like Abel and I were two puzzle pieces that had finally found each other.

I wiggled out from under his arm, pulled his shirt on over my bare body, and made my way down to the kitchen, praying for a cold bottle of water.

I opened up the fridge to find one last bottle. I cracked the seal and started to chug when I was startled out of my skin by a raspy voice coming from the kitchen table.

“Who the heck are you?” asked the mysterious stranger cloaked in the shadows. I shot around to look at him, gasping for breath and nearly spitting all the water out onto myself.

I flipped on the kitchen light and my heart sank. It was like I was looking directly into my own eyes.

I started hyperventilating.

I was dizzy.

My entire body started shaking.

“Crickett? Is that you?” the man said, getting up from the table.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I spit out, stepping backward into the refrigerator as I recoiled from the man that used to be my dad.

“I should be asking you the same question.”

Abel’s large frame took up the entryway to the kitchen. “Rave? Crickett? Everything okay in here?”

“So it really is you!” Rave’s eyes got wide, staring at me.

“Do you know her, Dad?”

I couldn’t breathe. “Did you just call him…” I was about to pass the fuck out.

No fucking way.

This cannot be happening.

“Abel is my stepson.” Rave took his seat again at the table with a sigh. “And this young lady over here is my daughter.”

Abel’s face got white. He started to pace the floor. “Is he why you came to this town?”

I nodded.

“You’ve been looking for me?” Rave pulled the chair out next to him, but there was no way I could be that close to him yet. I was too freaked out, not to mention I was practically naked, standing there in just a white t-shirt. Thankfully Abel was so much bigger than me that his shirt was like a damn dress, but still, I had never felt more exposed in my life, especially with both of them staring at me.

I had imagined seeing my father again over and over for years, but I’d never thought that he’d be sitting in the kitchen in a motorcycle gang vice president’s house wearing a matching cut at four in the freaking morning claiming to be his goddamn stepfather. This was all too damn much for me to take.

“Fuck you, Rave!” I yelled and stormed out of the kitchen and straight out the front door, grabbing my purse and keys off the coffee table on my way.

“Crickett wait!” I could hear Rave running after me.

Tears were already pouring down my face as I ran down the front steps off the porch.

“Please let me explain,” he called after me, but I was already in my car, engine going.

I rolled down my window. “You had your chance to explain for years. Instead you ran up the mountain and played dad for another fucking kid? You make me sick.”

I sped out of the driveway and was just about a mile down the road when I realized that I had no idea where to go. I still had the motel room, but the key for it was back at Abel’s, along with all my other shit.

I really need to start thinking things through more often.

Quickly the headlights of two motorcycles were hot on my tail. Abel rode up next to me and started yelling at me to pull over. I was crying hysterically, shaking my head no and swerving all over the road.

All of a sudden, Rave was in front of me, braking. I swerved off the road, barely missing his back bumper, and slammed my car in park.

I was a mess. My emotions were getting the better of me.

Snot was pouring from my nose.

I wasn’t wearing real clothes.

I wanted to be mad, but I was more hurt than anything.

Abel got off his bike and came to my window. “Crickett,” he yelled through the window, “Unlock your doors now.”

I shook my head, hands glued to the steering wheel.

“I’m not asking. Let me in this goddamn car. You’re too upset to be driving. You’ll fucking kill yourself or worse, someone else.”