Bump and Run (Wide Open #6)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Charlie

The sound of the doorbell caught me off guard. Jones was out with Ollie, finding a suit for our wedding, and as temptedas I was to go with them, I wanted to be surprised when we got married. I already had something to wear that I had overnighted from Boston, and it had arrived an hour ago. When I got up to answer the door, I noticed that there was no alarm system or camera. I made a mental note to have one installed immediately. Especiallywhen I opened the door and found my father standingon the porch.

“How did I know I would find you here? Are you not going to invite me inside?” My father raiseda brow at me.

I narrowed my eyes. “No, I’m not. What do you want? If you’re here to tell me to stay away from Jones, you can save your breath. It’s too late for that.”

“Is it?” Dad smirked. “I think once you hear what I have to say, you’ll change your mind.”

When pigs fly. “Leave,” I grunted, then started to shut the door.

“What if I told you that I approve of this so-called relationship?” Dad asked, and that stopped me from slamming the door in his face. “I mean, the whole LGBT-whatever will look good for me. That I have a son who is out, and I am more than supportive of him. Not to mention a stepson. That might be a little taboo, but I can work with that. People will eat that up.”

I wanted to punch that smirk off his face. “You will not use me or Jones for your agenda.”

“It’s either that or you marry Beverly. You decide.”

“How about you go to hell instead?”

Dad chuckled. “I know that you’re going to be with him no matter what happens. You’ll leave behind all your riches because you’re in love, or whatever you think this is. You’ll somehow convince people that I’m the bad guy, that I wouldn’t let you be with Jones because I didn’t believe in your bisexuality. Some people will believe that, but others, well, they won’t be as kind to you. Neither one of you will have a career. Alice will have to go back to working at the diner I found her in and—”

“Say one more word, and I’ll knock your dentures out, old man,” I warned, stepping toward him. “You don’t get to come here, to my house, and threaten me or the man I love. Not his mother or his friends. You’re scared that everyone is going to find out just what a monster you really are.”

That fake smile on my father’s face didn’t even falter. “Your house, huh? Last I checked, this house was in Jones’s name. I can take care of that, too.”

“Get out.” I shoved at his chest and felt pride in watching him stumble back. “Stay the fuck away from me, Jones, or anyone else I know. If you ever threaten them again, I will end you. If you come near Jones, I will make you suffer. Do you understand?”

Dad brushed imaginary lint from his shirt. “Think about what I said before you do something crazy. ”

“Eat shit.” I slammed the door in his face before he could spew anything else out of his dirty mouth and then I began to pace the house as I worried about my future. And about Jones.

Into the living room, out onto the deck near the pool, back inside, through the kitchen, and into the living room again. Up the stairs to Jones’s bedroom, and then right back down again. This was bad. Really bad. I didn’t care about the money. I would live in a cardboard box on the side of the road, if that’s what it came down to. But not Jones. Jones deserved everything and anything. I wouldn’t let my father ruin him or his mother. Tears burned my eyes at the thought of what that would do to him. He would never be the same. He was too sweet, my little golden retriever.

“Honey, I’m home!” Jones’s cheerful voice traveled through the air as he entered the house.

I rushed down the stairs and grabbed him in my arms, swinging him around. His laughter was nearly contagious.

“Did you miss me?” He placed his palms on both sides of my face. “What’s wrong, Charlie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I shook my head. “Nothing, Bashful.”

“Don’t lie to me.” He struggled in my grip, and I reluctantly placed him back on his feet. Jones narrowed his eyes as he watched me. “What did your father do now?”

I grabbed his hand and tugged him into the living room. I sat down, and when Jones climbed up into my lap, I couldn’t help but feel more relaxed. “He came by. ”

“What!” Jones exclaimed. “He was here, at the house? What did he say? Did he do something? Charlie, did he hurt you?”

I was so lucky that this man had agreed to give me a second chance. “The only way that that asshole could hurt me is by hurting you. And he’d never live to see another day if he did.”

“What did he say this time, Charlie?” Jones leaned his forehead against mine. “I don’t want him to hurt you, baby, because you’re my everything. I’m going to... Well, I don’t know what, but I’m going to do something to stop him.”

I closed my eyes. “I love you.” His lips ghosted over mine. “He wants to use us as some gay agenda for his campaign.”

“Or what?” When I didn’t answer, Jones sighed loudly. “What did that butthead threaten us with this time? It can’t be worse than all the other times. Gosh, I don’t like him. Maybe I even hate him, and that’s a terrible thing to say. But your daddy is not a nice man. I should call Mama and make sure she’s okay.” Only he didn’t move from my lap. Instead, Jones’s fingers combed through my hair, soothing my worry. “Talk to me, baby.”

My skin broke out in goosebumps. I loved it when he called me baby. “That he would support us if he could use us in his bullshit. I won’t let him, Jones. He’s a dick, and he’s only trying to get more control over everything that he possibly can.”

“And he said all this where? Outside or in the house?”

“Outside. I wasn’t about to let him into our home.”

Jones trembled against me, and when I finally met his gaze, his eyes were wide. “Our home. ”

“Shit, Jonesy, I mean your home. This isn’t my place, but I just—”

He cut me off with a kiss so searing that my brain nearly short-circuited. Jones never took control, but right now he was dominating me, and I didn’t hate it. His hands tipped my head up, and as he angled it to the left, he shoved his tongue between my lips and curled it around mine. He rocked his hips against me like his body had a mind of its own.

Jones whined when I pulled away.

“Slow down. Remember what I said, Bashful.”

Even though my cock was totally against that. It would love to have another go at this beautiful man that was currently straddling my thighs.

“Charlie, please.”

“No one is going to tear us apart ever again. We’re getting married, and I’m prepared to give up the world for you if it comes down to that.”

Jones pouted. It was so cute when he did that. I wanted to kiss the shit out of him. “I don’t want you to give up anything.”

“You’re not asking me. I want to. You and me, Jonesy. You and me.” I cupped his scruffy jaw, dragging my thumb over his bottom lip. “No touching until we’re married.”

He huffed playfully. “You really love me.” His hazel eyes sparkled like the moonlight.

“Yeah, I really do.” I tilted his head back. “More than anything.”

Jones surged forward, his mouth landing on mine. “Please, Charlie, touch me. I want you so bad.”

“Sorry, Bashful.” I shook my head. “I think you can wait until Friday. That’s only a couple of days away. Then I’ll drain every last bit of cum from your balls and leave you in haze of pleasure and lust. Proving to you just how much I need you.”

His lips curved up into a smile, and his cheeks grew pink. “Promise?”

He leaned forward to nip at my chin, and his teeth dragged over my skin. My already hard cock twitched in my jeans. It was going to take every single ounce of strength to resist him.

“Cross my heart,” I assured him and then kissed the shit out of him because I could. He was going to be my husband, after all. I watched as Jones climbed to his feet. “Where are you going?”

He shrugged. “You said you wouldn’t touch me, but you didn’t say I couldn’t touch myself.”

“Don’t you dare,” I growled.

But when Jones only winked and headed toward the stairs, I rushed after him. I grabbed him around the waist and swung him up into my arms.

“You’re a little shit. Don’t tempt me.”

Jones giggled. “But you still love me.”

“I will always love you.” I smacked his backside, and he wiggled in my arms. “No touching yourself either. I mean it, Jones.”

“Or what?” He raised his brows.

“You want me to punish you, is that it? Maybe tie you down and smack your ass until you cum all over yourself? Until you beg me to fuck you? Or maybe I’ll edge you for hours, bringing you so close to pleasure over and over again, until you’re crying, begging me for relief?”

Jones groaned. “Yes.”

“Yes?” I stared down at him, taking his blown-out pupils, his open mouth, and flared nostrils. “You want me to do that to you?”

He nodded. “Please, yes, all of those things.”

When Jones kissed me, his mouth hot and wet against mine, I would agree to give him anything he asked. He tasted sweet, like cherries. He made me want to be a better man. Give him the world and hold him on a pedestal. Worship at his feet. And I would burn down the world for Jones Matthews. Give up all of my riches. Became just an ordinary man who was lucky enough to have found the love of his life.

“Friday, baby,” Jones murmured. “Friday, I want you to make me scream for you.”

Oh, you have no idea what I’m going to do to you on our wedding night,” I answered.

I couldn’t wait.