Gone Away Home (Bringing Home Trouble)

CHAPTER 5

DUSTIN

Zayla frowns at me when I walk into her office, again, but I can’t help it. We’ve been wrapped around each other for a few days now and I don’t want to be away from her. Not after I spent the last 14 years running from her and my feelings.

With us on the same page and everything out in the open, I can’t seem to peel myself away from her. I want to soak up her warmth, love, and beauty. Really, can you even blame me?

She’s grown up so much, which I knew had to have happened, but it is still something I’m finding hard to wrap my head around. The more time we’ve spent around each other, the deeper I’ve fallen in love with her. While it’s true no one is perfect because we all have flaws, I’m certain she’s perfect for me.

I feel settled in a way I’ve never felt before now that I’m with her. The entire time we lived under the same roof in high school was a constant battle of control, resentment, and guilt. There was no way I had the emotional maturity to reconcile all my emotions.

Running felt like the only option and, maybe, it was.

Now that I have the grace of time, space, and experiences I wouldn’t have had if I had stuck around Jasper Ridge, I can see we needed the time apart. That’s not to say I didn’t pine for her and hold her close to my heart because I did. Even after the letters stopped. Even when the only updates I could get sometimes were from glimpses on social media and in offhanded comments from Dad when I would muster up the courage to call him.

It wasn’t nearly enough.

And now I’m starving for all of her time and attention. I won’t be apologizing for it either.

“Dustin,” Zayla’s voice is a mix of derision and amusement, “I really do need to get some work done today. I can’t have you hovering over me while I do it.”

I narrow my eyes at my woman while pouting slightly, “Are you going to be editing any sex scenes?”

She huffs out a laugh which makes her entire being light up and I soak it up. “Maybe,” she smiles shyly, the look in her eyes coy as fuck.

Trying to get myself under control while running my fingers through my hair is not easy. I desperately want to haul her over my shoulder and take her back to her room. Then I could strip her down to nothing and show her a sex scene that’ll leave her shaking, breathless, and begging for more.

“Don’t you dare,” she giggles as she points at me. “I know that look. You can not go all alpha male on me right now.”

“Fine,” I hold the word out, letting her know just how put off I am by her declaration. “I’ll let you work,” I grumble.

Fuck. The smile she gives me has my heart skipping a beat before pounding inside my chest. She’s gorgeous when she smiles.

I remember always being a sucker for her smiles, especially the time before our parents dropped their news on us. There were times when I would take certain routes in the school just to make sure I’d get the chance to see her while hoping for one of her smiles.

Once the families were blended, those smiles were few and far between. How did I not notice it before? How could I have been so blind to everything she was trying to hide? Yeah, I was a teenager with far too many hormones and my own hurt to contend with, but I also thought I was all alone in my feelings.

Now, it doesn’t matter because we’re here and there’s nothing that could make me walk away from her. People can fuck off if they have an issue with us being together. We’re going to build a life together and that’s all there is to it.

Internally I smirk because I’ve poked around her place and haven’t found any evidence of her being on birth control, at least not pills. It’s entirely possible we’re already working on our future family. Just the thought of her being pregnant with my baby has my cock thickening behind the fly of my jeans.

I don’t try to hide the bulge or the way I reach down to adjust myself. The peel of laughter coming from my woman has me stalking toward her slowly. Seeing her so carefree, so full of joy, satisfies me in a way I can’t even begin to describe.

When I reach her, I grip the arm rests of her chair and cage her in. Her brown eyes dance with mischief and I can’t help but kiss her. I don’t steal it from her since she gives it willingly. I swipe my tongue past her lips, wanting her to remember and feel the press of our mouths long after I leave her to work in peace.

If I could tattoo myself across her, I would do it in a heartbeat. I’ll have to settle for imprinting myself as deeply in her soul as possible. It’ll be enough.

If anyone tries to get in the way of our future, I’ll fight. For her. For me. For us.

I was a coward, a kid who didn’t know any better, when I left. Now I know what I want and how important it is to grab life with both hands and not let go.

“Damn it,” I growl against her lips as I pull away, “now I’m hard as stone. You wouldn’t want to help me out with that, would you?”

When I wiggle my eyebrows, Zayla laughs and shakes her head. She might be saying no, but the way she’s biting her lip tells me she’s considering it. My head drops back on my shoulders after I stand up and will my dick to calm the fuck down.

I’ve already been buried inside of her as much as possible over the last few days. I’m capable of giving her a few hours to get some work done. I think. Maybe.

“I’m going to head out for a little while. If I stay here, I’m not going to leave you alone,” I admit and look at her to catch her eyeing the bulge in my jeans. “Not helping, sweetheart,” I grit out.

Her brown eyes turn nervous when she pulls her gaze away from my dick and looks up at me. “Where are you going?”

“I was thinking that even though I have money saved up, which we’ll be talking about using to get a bigger house,” I give her a pointed look to tell her I’m serious and to not question it because I see the way her eyes go big and round, “I’m not good at sitting around and doing nothing. I was thinking about going over to the shooting range. It might have changed, but they were always looking for instructors. I’m qualified.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re more than qualified,” Zayla mutters, her eyes turning hungry as she looks at me.

“Don’t tempt me,” there’s a warning in my voice.

She mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key, but then she puckers them, clearly wanting another kiss. There’s no way I can deny her, but I do keep it chaste.

“See you soon. I love you, Zayla.”

“I love you, Dustin,” she whispers back, a hint of awe still coloring those words, the same way they have every time we’ve said them since I showed back up in town.

I feel the same fucking way.

It doesn’t take long to get to Precision Point Shooting Range and I still the moment I step inside. It looks exactly the same way it did 14 years ago when I left town. Going shooting with Dad was something we did since I was old enough to be responsible and understand that guns aren’t toys.

Since he had guns in our home, he wanted me to always be safe around them. We used the time at the range as a way to bond and stay connected. After he married Janice, he still made time to take me to the range. Even though I resented how everything went down for a long time, I missed my time here with him a lot while I was serving.

I’m surprised as hell when I see Jasper Porter behind the counter as I step deeper into the store. His dad used to run the place back in the day. I always called him Mr. Porter and I have no idea what the man’s first name is.

Jasper and I were in the same year at school, and we were pretty good friends. At the end of senior year, we talked a lot about enlisting, but I knew life was going to take us in different directions because we were interested in different branches.

I know he did end up serving, I had heard about it from Dad, but I haven’t seen or talked to him since I bailed on all things Jasper Ridge. Honestly, I thought it was easier that way. I’m starting to see that maybe it wasn’t, and I ended up punishing people who didn’t deserve it. All because I couldn’t handle the feelings of resentment festering inside of me.

Thinking about the way we would poke fun a Jasper for being named after the town, literally, I find myself chuckling softly. Jasper’s head snaps up and his eyes go comically wide.

Before I know what’s happening, he’s launched himself over the counter and closes the distance between us in only a few strides. I’m engulfed in a hug that feels like a welcome home, one I didn’t even realize I was missing.

“What the fuck? Dustin fucking Bramlet. What are you doing home? How long have you been back? How long are you staying?” His words come out rapidly and they make my head spin a little bit, but it also makes me laugh.

Jasper was a good guy and it’s clear, with only a few questions, he’s become a good man. I shake my head and smile at my friend.

“Actually,” I smirk at him, knowing I’m going to knock him on his ass with my answer, “I’m back for good. I’m done and discharged,” I admit. His eyes widen and I find myself leaning forward conspiratorially and whispering, “I’ve only been back a few days, but no one really knows yet.”

He shoots me a look that says I’m full of shit. As he narrows his eyes, he crosses his arms across his chest and stands with his feet shoulder width apart. It’s such a military stance that I find myself itching to match it.

“I bet I know someone who already knows your home.” He tilts his head to the side slightly as he assesses me. “Yeah, I bet she’s the reason you came home in the first place. Finally ready to face what you’ve been running from for all these years?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I try to deflect.

Not for me. If it were up to me, I’d tell everyone that Zayla is mine. But I don’t think she’s ready for that yet and the last thing I want to do is push her. Not when there’s so much at stake.

I can’t lose her now that I have her. It would destroy me.

Jasper makes a humming sound. “Bullshit,” he drawls like he has all the time in the world. When I don’t say anything, the silence stretches before a grin slowly forms on his face. “If you’ve come back after all this time to claim Zayla, I’m happy for you. It’s about fucking time.”

My mouth falls open before I can brace for his words, but I snap it closed again quickly. My voice is low with an edge of warning even though we’re all alone in the range’s shop as far as I can see, “How the fuck do you know anything about that?”

“Please,” he huffs. “I might have been a kid back then, but even I could see how you looked at her. The only reason I never brought it up is because I figured you felt like it couldn’t happen because your parents got married,” he shrugs one shoulder like his words don’t have a concussive force. He gives me a sharp look. “You did come back for her, right? You’re not going to keep up with the act of you being family and shit, right? Because you’re not and you deserve to be happy. You both do, but definitely her.”

“Of fucking course I came back for her, and nothing is going to stop me this time. She’s mine. Has been since I saw her on her first day of high school. Shit just got in the way that was beyond our control and then I took the coward’s way out because I thought it was for the best.” I shake my head, pissed at myself for all the time we lost even if it was probably the right thing to do. “Why do you say she definitely deserves to be happy?”

“Man,” he holds the word out and scrubs a hand along his jaw, “you might not know this, but I left not long after you. I didn’t see her before I left, but when I came back?” He looks away and his eyes glaze over slightly. “She always looks so sad. I thought maybe something happened, but now I’m thinking she was missing you. No matter how much she tried to pretend, I could see it was mostly an act. She hasn’t been happy in a long time.”

“Fuck,” I bark out, feeling like the knife lodged in my gut is being twisted the other way now.

Jasper’s voice is curious, “What are you going to do when people give you shit for being together? What if your parents freak the fuck out?”

I stand up at my full height, shoulders back and my chest puffed up. “They can all go fuck themselves. She’s mine and has been for 17 years. I’ll be damned if I walk away from her again.” I seethe, “Not fucking happening.”

“Good,” he claps me on the shoulder. “Now, I have a feeling you didn’t come in to see me, so what can I do for you?”

With a sheepish smile, I rub the back of my neck. “Mr. Porter was always looking for qualified guys to work here. I was wondering if it’s still the case.”

Jasper’s laugh fills the range’s shop. “Fuck, yes.” He holds his hand out to me, and I shake it. “You’re hired.”

Just like that I’ve reconnected with an old friend, one who doesn’t seem to hold it against me how I just up and left, and a job. My plan to reintegrate into life in Jasper Ridge is happening just how I planned. I’m sure shit will go sideways at some point. I’m going to make sure Zayla, and I are solid before it happens.

Nothing is tearing us apart.