But I don’t concede, even after she explodes into a thousand pieces, shattering and landing as if I didn’t just blow both our minds. “Please, Hale, please,” she implores, and I believe it’s for me to let go with her.
Slipping a hand between our bodies, I strum her clit tenderly, wanting, no needing, her to come again for me. With me. “Come with me, darlin’. Soak me again.” She mewls low in her throat as she attempts to squirm away, the pressure too much, the feeling too great. “Come for me.”
“Hale!” She screams at the same time as I unload inside of her. The walls of her cunt strangling, trying to force me out, so I push farther in, and it’s the most satisfying orgasm of my life.
“Fuck, Laken, you’re perfect. Absolutely perfect for me.” I could never have imagined a woman like her for myself.
Twelve
LAKEN
How did this happen?
Hamilton, Montana
“Are you sure about this?” I look back at Hale from the sidewalk two stores down from my parents’ grocery store. They have no idea I’m coming—we’re coming—or how the divorce hearing went. I kept them in the dark because, as scared as I have been over the last year, they’ve also suffered. Too much.
“Darlin’, unless you tell me to take a hike, I’m ready for anything with you.” How he always knows the right thing to say is beyond me.
He brushes a hand down my recently shortened hair. I got it cut yesterday afternoon, wanting something new. Something to signify my new life. I’m concerned they won’t recognize me after all this time. “Stop worrying.” Hale takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist.
Walking the rest of the way in silence, he maintains contact, giving my fingers a squeeze of encouragement as he pulls open the door. The same jingle from my childhood chimes as we enter, and standing at the first till, laughing with Mrs. Gladstone from the bakery, is my mom. “Mama.” I cry the word out, barely audible, but she hears me anyways.
“Laken!” Her excited scream grabs the entire store’s attention as she drops the cabbage in her hand. I watch as it falls to the floor and rolls to settle against the wall. “Ward!” She screams again, rushing over to me. “She’s home!”
Throwing my arms around her, I’m enveloped in the feeling of love. Of being safe. Alive. “Mama.” I sob into her shoulder as she squeezes me so tightly, I can hardly breathe.
“I can’t believe you’re home. When did you get here? Is it safe?” Her rapid-fire questions are mixed with sniffling.
“Baby girl.” Daddy’s voice has me pulling away to capture his wise-beyond-his-years expression.
“Hi, Daddy.” His gaze drifts to Hale, but he doesn’t ask questions, not yet. Gathering me in for a bear hug, a hug I had no idea how much I missed until right now. Nobody does it like my daddy does.
Drawing back, I accept the tissue my mom hands me and wipe the tears from my face before stepping back and reaching for Hale. “Mason and I are divorced now. He’s gone from my life.” I still can’t believe the amount of money awarded to me. I have no idea what to do with it all.
“We saw the news. The things he did to you.” Mama clenches her hands together before my dad places an arm across her shoulders in comfort. “You never told us. Not the worst of it.” It’s not an accusation but regret. Hurt even. Because I know she blames herself.
“I didn’t want you to worry. I’m okay now; that’s all that matters. I’m free, Mom.” And that’s all I’m going to focus on.
“Who’s this then?” Dad nods at Hale, a glare in his eyes.
“This is Hale Decker. We met a couple months ago in Jacksonville–”
“You’ve been in Florida?” Mom gasps. They have no idea.
“For a little bit, I’ve been. Hale, these are my parents, Wade and Elisa Cooke.” Mom shakes his hand; Dad continues to glare.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” That sexy drawl of his seems more pronounced than when we’re at home.
Home.
Staring up at Hale, I notice him watching me and realize, probably not for the first time but certainly the most enlightening time, just how much he has come to mean to me. Home is wherever Hale is.
Gripping each of their hands, I smile—a contended one, a real one—and tell them both, “We’re going to the house. I’ll make dinner, and we’ll talk then.” Kissing their cheeks, I don’t give either of them a chance to argue. Leaving the store I grew up in and came to love as much as anything, I feel a renewed determination to reclaim my life with Hale by my side.
I have my freedom thanks to Andrea and her team.
I have a future thanks to Hale.