Briar Valley: The Complete Duet

32. Willow

CHAPTER 32

WILLOW

DAGGER – brYCE SAVAGE

Sifting through the countless sheets of notes I’ve written, I fist my hair and try not to freak out. I’ve been running over my statement all morning in preparation for next week’s trial.

It has frayed my nerves, and I’m beginning to regret my decision. Burying myself in work and running the town allowed me to escape the impending trial, but now that the weeks have passed, I have to face it.

Mario’s trial.

The beginning of the end.

It’s been a long time since I allowed myself to think of what he did to me, but there was no avoiding sitting down and writing out what I need that courtroom to hear.

What he did to a vulnerable sixteen year old, alone and afraid in the world in the wake of her father’s death. That scared little girl needed someone to look after her, and she was exploited instead.

“Bastard,” I whisper to myself.

The papers crunch in my hands as my fists tighten. All of the women who worked in his club deserve to see him behind bars. He victimised us all and allowed so much violence to take place.

He’s just one monster.

One of many.

Around me, the early summer breeze is warm and smells of wildflowers. I’m sitting next to the lake, relishing in the peace and quiet while the town runs through its usual Tuesday routine.

“Mummy!” Arianna shouts. “Look at what Demon can do.”

She’s playing with the not-so-small puppy behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I find her chasing her in a circle. The yappy thing is fighting to regain control of the chew toy.

“Don’t wind her up, Ari.”

“She likes it!” Arianna insists.

Sitting opposite her and sketching in his notebook, Micah looks innocent when I shoot him a glower.

“What?”

“You’re supposed to be watching her, Mi.”

He runs a hand through his unruly locks. “I got distracted.”

“By what?”

Turning his notebook around, he shows me an amazing drawing of the lake in front of us. I’m sitting at the edge of it, sketched in smoky shades of charcoal.

“You can sketch other things than me.”

“Someone’s grumpy,” he snickers.

“I’m not.”

“Can I go for a swim?” Arianna asks excitedly. “I haven’t been in the lake since last year.”

“I suppose it’s warm enough now.”

“Yay!” she screams.

She rushes back inside the cabin to get changed, leaving us alone. I fold up the papers in my hand then tuck them inside the pocket of my discarded denim jacket.

Micah abandons his drawing and moves to sit next to me, winding his arm around my shoulders to pull me close.

“Talk to me, angel.”

“I’m really not in the mood, Mi.”

He taps my denim jacket. “Is it about this? The trial?”

Sighing hard, I fist a handful of grass and pull it up. “I’m just a bit nervous now that it’s come around. The past month has gone too fast.”

“I know, baby girl. But you’re going to do just fine.”

“How do you know that? What if he gets away with it? That man is a snake. He can talk his way out of anything.”

Micah slides a finger beneath my chin to tilt my head up. “Mario is going down for his crimes, along with every other scumbag who dared to hurt you. I know it.”

“Do you promise?”

His expression falls.

“See? You can’t know that.”

“I can know something,” he argues. “You’re going to be fine, no matter the outcome. This baby is still going to be safe. We and everyone in this town will make sure of it.”

Leaning in, I rest our foreheads together, breathing in his familiar oil paint scent. “I really hope so, Mi. I’m tired of being afraid.”

He moves his hand to rub my lower back which is spasming with pain. I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable as the pregnancy goes on, and the stress is only making it worse.

“You should go in the water too,” he suggests. “I read that swimming can help with aches during pregnancy.”

“Since when are you reading about pregnancy?”

His eyes drop to the ground. “Since the day we found out.”

Feeling my annoyance soften, I softly kiss his lips. “I love you, Micah. Thank you for always taking care of me.”

“I love you too, angel. With all of my heart.”

Offering me a hand, he helps me up, and I strip off my light summer dress just in time for Arianna to return in her striped, two-piece swimsuit.

I’m wearing a bra and boy shorts which can get wet. Walking all the way inside while I’m this tired and achy doesn’t sound particularly appealing.

“Let’s go in, then, baby.”

“I’m so excited!” she squeals.

Easing myself into the water, I watch Micah strip off before helping Arianna in. He’s so stunning, carved from lean lines of muscle and tightly packed abdominals.

“Come on, squirt.” Micah holds out his arms. “You can jump.”

Screaming her head off, Arianna launches herself into the air and lands in his arms. Micah slowly lowers her into the water so the slight chill isn’t a shock.

“It’s so cold,” Arianna complains.

I float around in the water, finally feeling at peace. “It’s lovely and warm. You can go back inside if you don’t like it.”

Teeth chattering, she bobs around for a moment before squealing about how cold she is again and climbing out. Demon follows as she runs back inside to find her towel and get warm.

“So cute.” Micah laughs.

“More like a little devil. It isn’t that cold, and she made us get in.”

“Give it up, angel. She’s fine.”

Swimming over to me, his body wraps around mine beneath the water. I let my legs find his waist then entwine them around him so that he’s holding me in the water, taking the weight off my body.

“How does that feel?” he asks.

“So much better. My back is killing me.”

“You’re working too hard. Killian’s warned you about getting enough rest this far into the pregnancy. He’d kill us both if he saw you going over that statement again.”

“What Killian doesn’t know can’t hurt him, Mi.”

He snorts. “That’s true.”

“Besides, he’s working night and day on the cabin with Zach and Walker. I need something to keep me busy too.”

“Yes, but not this.”

“I have nothing else.”

He leans close to peck my lips. “You have me. Let me be the distraction you need.”

“I’ll take a distraction.”

Sealing our mouths together, I kiss him more passionately, letting my lips part. His tongue meets mine before sliding into my mouth to dance with it.

We sway in the water, our kiss increasing in intensity. Arianna doesn’t come back to disturb us, so I tighten my legs around his waist until I feel the pressure of his cock at my heated core.

“Micah…”

“Sorry,” he says sheepishly. “Can’t help it.”

“We can’t do this here.”

“No one’s watching,” he whispers, glancing around the empty greenery. “Arianna won’t be back out until she’s dried off.”

My lower belly clenches with need. They’ve been giving me regular orgasms to help with the discomfort, relieving my tension at every available opportunity. Their touch has kept me sane.

Sliding his hand up my thigh, he moves to cup my breast through the soaked material of my bra. I moan, leaning into his touch. My nipples pebble in the water.

“What do you need, baby girl?”

“You,” I plead.

“Where?”

“I need to feel you inside of me, Mi.”

He cups the back of my head, his mouth pillaging mine. “You’ll need to be quiet.”

Humming in agreement, I let his lips devour me, our tongues battling for consumption of the other. The water sloshes around us from the nearby waterfall, silencing our quiet moans.

I undulate against him, his dick pressing up against my boy shorts. Wet fabric is the only thing keeping us apart.

“You feel so good, baby girl.”

My lips touch his ear. “I’ll feel even better wrapped around your cock when you bury it inside of me.”

Micah groans. “You are the worst.”

“I’m taking that as a compliment. Now hurry up and fuck me before my daughter comes back.”

“Yes, angel.”

Hands sinking beneath the water, he grips the waistband of my shorts and pushes them over my hips. The soggy fabric lands on the bank at the side of the lake.

“I’ll leave your bra on in case someone comes,” he says roughly. “Wrap your legs around my waist again.”

Following his command, I pull our bodies flush against each other. He must kick off his boxers beneath the water because next thing I know, they’re floating on the surface of the lake.

“Classy.”

Micah winks. “You know me.”

Tossing the wet material aside to join mine, he grabs hold of my ass to hold me against his body in the water. His length pushes into me, and I shift to guide it to my pussy.

“Oh God. Mi.”

Pushing deep into my slit, he moves to pull out before sliding back in at a different angle. Open air kisses my skin, and the slosh of moving water is the only evidence of our secret tryst.

“Work yourself on my cock, baby girl,” he encourages.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull myself up and push down on his length, taking him deeper inside myself with each thrust.

“Perfect,” Micah compliments.

Our mouths lock again, lips crushing together and teeth clanging. His pumps beneath the water are slow and tender, stroking into me at a gentle pace that eases every last ache in my body.

Keeping an eye on our surroundings, I move with each thrust, seeking a release. I want to fall apart. Scream. Burst into pieces and relieve the pressure eating away at me.

“Mi, I can’t hold on for long.”

“Come for me, gorgeous.”

He slips a hand inside my soaking wet bra to find my nipple. Seeking out the hard bud, Micah pinches, applying just enough pain to send me spiralling.

“Fuck!” I squeal as quietly as possible.

He holds me tight, letting me float on a cloud of happiness in the warm water. Then his hips shift, and he slams back into me—harder this time, touching that sweet spot of ecstasy.

“You look so perfect when you come, angel.”

Pulling out of me, Micah swims us both over to the edge of the lake. He spins me around so that I’m pressed against the side, my hands gripping the lake’s edge and ass bent out for him.

“Remember, quiet,” he whispers.

Holding my waist, he pushes back into me from behind. The new position sets me off again, and I have to swallow a cry of pleasure that would certainly bring people running over.

Micah holds me tight and pushes into me, taking advantage of the position. His mouth is buried in my neck, and I can hear his ragged breathing as he roughly fucks me in the water.

“I’m close,” he pants.

“Me too.”

“Again?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

Picking up the pace, he moves hard and fast, racing towards his own conclusion. His cock is worshipping me in all his gentle brutality, over and over again.

I feel my walls clench tight around him in the water. We climax together, setting one another off until we’re both flying. Micah groans through his release as I moan loudly.

Slumping against the lake’s bank, I fight to catch my breath. Micah snuggles up against my back and nuzzles my neck from behind, his lips nipping my earlobe.

“You okay?”

“I’m good,” I hum. “Better than good.”

“That was incredible. You’re amazing.”

“Mi.” My lips stretch into a smile. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“I love you, Willow.”

My heart hammers hard. “I love you more, Mi.”

“Not fucking possible.”

I’m pulled into his arms, and he fetches my boy shorts for me to slide back on. I could float in the water forever, naked and satisfied.

Slowly getting dressed, we both climb out onto the bank, sheepish and satisfied. No one saw a thing.

“Hungry?” Micah holds out a hand.

“Starving.”

“I could totally go for some mac and cheese right now. You know the dried stuff in the packet that you’d eat as a kid?”

Laughing, I accept his hand. “Come on. We’ve got some. I’ll cook it for you.”

“Thanks, angel.”

Micah pulls me close and kisses the side of my head. I slide an arm around his narrow waist, hugging his body close to mine.

“Want me to go over your statement with you while we eat? You don’t have to do this alone, you know. We’re all here to help.”

“That would actually be good.”

He pecks the top of my head. “No problem.”

With his touch keeping me warm, the last, clinging specks of anxiety melt away. I’m safe in Micah’s arms. My future husband. The father of my child. My love. Nothing can hurt me here.

Not the world.

Not Mr Sanchez.

Not even myself.