I turned and looked around the huge backyard. I fell in love with the house as soon as we'd seen it. While Todd was in rehab, Brando and I had started staying at the condo. As soon as we found out that Bash could come to the States, Brando insisted on looking for a house. I thought the condo was fine, but he wouldn't hear of it. We spent days looking at enormous houses with way more room than we needed. I wanted to go smaller, but Brando wanted to go bigger. Eventually, I realized he wanted to show my father that he could provide a lifestyle befitting a Risto. I loved him for that, but it wasn't what I wanted. I went from living in a big hollow mansion to a hacienda in Mexico to a tiny studio apartment. I learned it was not the size of the space that made me happy. It was the people who shared the space with me.
After the lawyers got the paperwork settled, Ritchie and Carmen brought Bash to Charleston by plane, then Brando and I brought them to our little four-bedroom house with a quarter acre of land and an eight-foot deep pool. It was a far cry from Silverwood, but I was proud of it. Bash took to Brando right away. He had been intrigued by all the tattoos, so Brando started drawing colorful pictures on Bash's arms. They spend time together at the tattoo shop, while I took accounting classes in Key City so I could help with the business. We had become a tiny family in such a short time, that it all seemed too good to be true. Then I woke up every morning to find that handsome man lying next to me and Bash down the hall. It was more than I had dreamed possible for myself. More than I thought I'd deserved.
The back gate opened, and familiar faces entered with smiles and waves. Kids ran around the yard, spraying each other with water guns.
"Hmph, it looks like the cooks have left their posts." Jonna nodded to the guys who were gathered inside to watch the game.
"It's probably for the best," Harley said, using a spatula to flip over the burgers. "We're much better cooks anyway. Hey, what song is this? I like it." She swayed from side to side with the music.
"Well, of course we're better cooks," Ms. Annette chimed in, "but it's Carina's birthday, and she shouldn't be workin'. I'll go set them straight." Then she stormed to the sliding glass door.
"Mama, wait," Jonna called after her with a giggle, then a child started to cry, and Jonna hurried off. "You're okay, sweetie."
Inside the house, Jamie jumped up and cheered, then everyone immediately shushed him. Jamie was clearly the only non-dad in the room.
I laughed and looked around, enjoying the chaos. I wasn't the rich weirdo anymore. My life had been filled with real friends, a family, and lots of love.
****
Brando
"Happy Birthday, baby," I said and handed Carina a box. The party was over, the kids were in bed, and soft music still played through the outdoor speakers.
"What? What is this?" Her eyes went wide as she took the little box from my hand. "Are you proposing to me?" She put a hand to her chest, feigning excitement.
"I don't think I can top the first proposal." I grinned, and she nodded. When I decided to ask Carina to marry me, I wanted to keep it simple, but I needed the perfect ring. So I drove up to Silverwood and asked Madelyn for help. At first, she was surprised, but I figured it would mean something to her. Her only condition was that I didn't tell anyone she'd helped, though she still referred to me as a fool. My wife wore the beautiful ring her mother picked out and she didn't even know it. Maybe one day they could fix whatever they had broken in their relationship.
The night I decided to propose I brought Bash in the living room with us and explained to him how much I loved his mother, then I asked him if I could marry her. When I looked over Carina was in tears. They both said yes, of course.
"It was a pretty good proposal." She agreed, then pulled back the jewelry box lid. "A key?" She cocked her head to the side, then blinked several times. When understanding dawned on her, she jumped up from her seat and straddled my legs. "Is this the key to the new shop? The one right in town? It was approved?"
I nodded, and she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hung.
"Baby, that is amazing news!"
It had been hard to convince the city to allow me to move my shop to Main Street on the boardwalk. It took almost a year to get it approved. There are lots of misconceptions about people with tattoos, especially on Sea Whisper Island. Ironic for a place founded by a pirate, the original island outlaw. I had to change their hearts and minds, but I got it done. A prime location opened new possibilities for the life I wanted to give my family.
My cock twitched as Carina pressed kisses along my neck.
"What are you doing?" I asked, and she gave me that look. The one that meant she was hot for me, and I was already way ahead of her. She rocked her hips against the crotch of my jeans, her skirt already bunched around her thighs. I reached between her legs and lightly brushed the thin damp material of her panties. After pushing the barrier to the side, I slipped in two fingers, rubbing at her wetness then circling her clit. Then I stood so she could sit in the chair and I got to my knees in front of her. Our backyard fence was high, and there were no neighboring houses close enough to see us, so that meant I could enjoy my wife in complete privacy.
I pulled down her panties and put one leg on either arm of the chair. Carina sighed in anticipation as I kissed her inner thighs while pushing her skirt up, exposing her pussy. I ran a finger along her folds and pressed lightly on her clit. She gasped and moaned softly, so I leaned forward and slid my tongue along the same path as my finger. I loved tasting her wetness, inhaling her sweetness. She whimpered softly as I licked and teased her with my fingers.
"Brandon." Her moans w
ere breathy as she ran her fingers through my hair. She rocked herself against my face as she built her arousal.
"My baby is so wet," I whispered against her soft flesh before lightly pinching her sweet spot between my teeth, and when her legs began to shake with need, I sucked the tiny bud. Carina threw her head back in a soundless display of ecstasy. Her breathing increased as she opened her mouth.
"Oh. I'm going to come." She tightened her thighs around me as I licked and sucked until she cried out her release. I didn't even give her a chance to recover before I switched our positions, with me seated in the chair and her on top. I pushed down my jeans, and my cock sprang free. I spread her legs until they rested on either side of the chair again then entered her. Her pussy was still warm and swollen, her inner walls contracting and wringing out her orgasm. She threw her arms around my neck and began to ride me.
"Fuck," I groaned, thrusting up as she went down. Then I placed a hand on either side of her hips so I could control the rhythm. I wanted her to come again, so I gave it time to build. I knew her body well. Each gasp and every moan told the story of her pleasure. I reached up and pushed her hair away from her face. Her eyes were cloudy with passion as she met my gaze. Sometimes I had a hard time believing she was mine. The sexy redhead with legs for days and a permanent scowl, but if I was doing my job, that scowl didn't come around as often as it used to. I lifted her wrist and kissed my name that had been placed there forever. She lifted my wrist and kissed her name, too.
"I love you," Carina whispered, her gaze locked on mine.
"I love you, too," I replied, keeping my eyes on hers as my thrusts grew faster. So close to coming. I could tell by the way her muscles spasmed around me that she was right there with me. "Come with me, baby. Come now." As if on command, she rolled her hips one last time then came undone, gasping and moaning as her body shuddered. I pumped twice more then exploded inside her, coming in long spurts that seemed to last forever. My first thought was that I hoped we'd just made another baby. Maybe it would make it here in time for the playoffs.
Carina wrapped a blanket around us, then we reclined under the stars, holding each other close, and we stayed that way until midnight.