I’M JUST WALKING OUT OF the salon when I get a text from Colton. Today’s only a half-day for me, so it’s nearly three o’clock. It’s not very often that I have the pleasure of getting off early.
Seeing his name flash across the screen causes my body to flood with anxiety and lose that small bit of freedom that getting off early brought me.
Exhaling, I open up his text and read it, hoping that it’s not about his family dinner tonight.
Colton: Tonight is dinner at my parents’ as usual. You’ll be there, right?
Avalon: We’re on a break, Colton. Remember?
Colton: Yeah . . . but my parents don’t know that and I don’t want a reason to alarm them if we’re only on a break. Please come.
Avalon: Idk . . .
Colton: Please. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s only dinner and you don’t even have to sit next to me. They’re expecting you and will be disappointed. I’m only asking this and then I’ll give you your space.
Feeling guilty, I know that I’m going to end up agreeing to go. It’s not that I feel bad for Colton, but his parents have been nothing but good to me. They’re going to be expecting me, and it would be rude to stand them up.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Avalon: I’ll be there . . . for them, Colton. Nothing is changing between us so please don’t push it and make me uncomfortable.
Colton: You have my word, Marie.
Colton: Shit!
Colton: I meant Avalon.
Avalon: See you around 5:30.
Shaking my head, I get ready to shove my phone into my purse when it vibrates again.
“Dammit, Colton.”
I unlock the screen, expecting it to be Colton, but it’s from a number that I don’t have saved in my phone.
Unknown: Avalon . . . come to my house tonight. I’ll be set up and ready by 6.
Avalon: Umm . . . who is this and why am I going to your house tonight?
My heart jumps to my throat when the next message comes through.
Unknown: Royal . . . that tattoo.
Avalon: Did you ask for my number? And I can’t.
Royal: Yes . . . And why not?
Avalon: Well . . . your damn brother guilt tripped me into going to your parents’ house for dinner tonight.
Royal: Even your text messages are tense. Didn’t my brother ever fucking relieve your tension? And just fucking tell him no. You don’t owe him.
Avalon: Hah! I’m not even going to answer that. And I know I don’t owe him. It’s out of respect for June and Ken.
Royal: I knew that stiff asshole wouldn’t know shit about pleasuring a woman. I’ll see you later.
Avalon: I can’t come . . .
A wait a few minutes for a response from Royal, before putting my phone away and heading home to get ready for this awkward dinner that I really don’t want to go to.
All I really wanted to do when walking out that door was to go home, eat junk food, and watch reality TV.
Now . . . all I really want to do is take Royal up on his offer for that tattoo. He just has this weird way of making me want to drop everything and have this crazy little adventure that being around him always seems to bring.
Instead, I’ll be spending the night feeling awkward at a family dinner that I really don’t want to be at, and pretending that everything is normal when it’s anything but.
COLTON IS SITTING ON THE front porch when I arrive at his parents’ house. He immediately stands up and puts his phone away.
“Hey, baby. Thanks for coming.”
I nod and turn my head to the side when he leans in to give me a kiss. “Hey . . . Sorry I’m a bit late.”
He clears his throat and loosens his stiff collar. He never wears a damn shirt without a collar and it drives me nuts. “No worries. Mother is just setting the table and I was finishing up some business.” He pauses for a second and stares at me, taking in my yellow dress. “How have you been? We haven’t talked in days. It’s weird.”
I smile small and answer him honestly. “Good. I’ve been pretty happy.” And I have. I’m happier than I have been in a while now.
His jaw ticks in anger, before he turns away and opens the screen door. “Good to hear,” he says flatly. “Let’s get this over with.”
Walking into the kitchen, I’m greeted by Ken, who is already seated at the table. Just like his son, he’s dressed in a blue, collared, button-down shirt.
“How are you, Marie? It’s a pleasure seeing you, as always.” He stands up, flashing a stiff smile. “Please, take a seat.”
Waiting to see which side Colton’s going to sit on first, I take a seat opposite of him after he sits down. “Good to see you too, Ken.” I glance at Colton from across the table. “I’m doing well. Just keeping busy at the salon.”
Ken nods his head and looks at Colton, but doesn’t offer a response.
A few awkward minutes later, June walks in carrying two huge bowls of pasta and sauce. “Hey, kids. Hope you’re hungry.” She smiles at me and then over to Colton, looking confused to see us across the table from each other. “Alright, this is different. Let’s eat before it gets cold. There’s plenty, so dig in.”
I wait for June to take a seat, before saying my usual thanks; the one I give them every week at dinner. “Thanks for having me for dinner again. I appreciate your hospitality and the food looks delicious.”
“Oh, honey. We’re always glad to have you.” She peers over at her husband. “Right, Ken?”
Ken nods in agreement and places his napkin over his lap. “Of course.”
We all start digging into our food, eating in this awkward silence that we’ve all grown accustom to, until the front door opens, surprising us all.
We all look over at the doorway, at the same time, as Royal walks in dressed in a white V-neck shirt, showing off all of his glorious tattoos and a pair of ratty old jeans.
My heart begins to palpitate, practically leaping out of my chest when his eyes meet mine and he runs his tongue over his lips.
Without saying a word, he walks into the kitchen and then returns with a plate and silverware, taking a seat next to me and digging into the food while everyone at the table watches him uncomfortably.
Ken clears his throat a few times, trying to get his attention, but Royal just ignores him and starts eating.
“Royal,” Ken says tensely. “What are you doing here? A little notice would have been nice. What if we had not made enough dinner? We have a guest.”
Royal looks up from his plate and shoves a bite of spaghetti in his mouth.
“Your father is right, Royal. We weren’t expecting you. It’s rude to just drop in unannounced.” She makes a disgusted face at his long hair falling to the side of his face. “And it would’ve been nice if you had at least pulled your hair out of your face. We don’t want it getting in the food. It’s unsanitary.”
Tilting his head, Royal gives his mother a dark look, before brushing a hand through his hair and slicking it back. “Ken is not my fucking father.”
Feeling uncomfortable for Royal, I turn to him and smile. I’ve never seen a family treat their son as if he’s unwelcome, and it makes me sick to my stomach to witness Royal in his position. “Nice to see you, Royal.”
He smiles back and then looks across the table at Colton, cocking a brow. “How’s it going, brother?”
Staring daggers at Royal, Colton slams his fork into his plate, stabbing at his food. “It’s funny how you decide to show up for a family dinner for the first time in two years. Don’t you have better shit to do, like break up a bar fight or drown in whatever poison it is that you drink at that dirty bar?”
Royal lifts a brow, but just shrugs off Colton’s words as if his opinion doesn’t matter. I don’t blame him. Who is Colton to judge, just because his brother doesn’t live the same lifestyle as him?
“Marie, honey,” June says. “Why don’t you move across the table by Colton? Sorry for the interruption.”
I sit up straight and look around the table, making sure they all see my disgusted face at their behavior. “I’m good. I’d rather sit here, thank you.” I turn to Royal. “Would you like more noodles? Here.” Without waiting for a response, I fill his plate back up with noodles, showing everyone that I’m in no hurry to get rid of Royal.
Assholes . . .
Royal’s hand grips my thigh from under the table as he slowly pulls me closer to him. I don’t think anyone else seems to notice, except for maybe Colton, who growls under his breath while watching his brother’s every move.
Ken looks up from his plate a few times to watch Royal as he eats his spaghetti. His eyes widen as Royal smiles at me and then reaches over to my plate to take a bite of one of my meatballs. “You should move across the table, Marie. Royal here doesn’t have any manners.”
“Her fucking name is Avalon,” Royal corrects him.
Picking up the meatball that Royal bit off of, I place it in my mouth and chew slowly. “It’s fine. I don’t have a problem with sharing. I have too many meatballs anyway.”
I jump and grip the edge of the table when I feel Royal’s hand glide up my leg, pulling my skirt up along the way.
A shaky breath escapes me when I feel him spread my legs open with his pinky and thumb and cup my mound in his rough hand.
“You okay,” Colton questions, looking as if he’s about to stand up.
“I’m fine, Colton.” I hold up my glass of ice water. “I just spilled a few drops of water on my legs. It was an unexpected sensation. That’s all.” That’s no lie.
Royal growls next to my ear and quickly slips two fingers inside of me, causing me to moan against my fork and almost drop it.
I feel as if I’m about to come if he makes any movement. A part of me wants him to stop, while the other part has needed release for a while.
Looking across the table at Colton, Royal starts pumping his fingers in and out, going harder each time Colton gives him a dirty look and grinds his jaw. Being quiet has never been so hard.
Within minutes, I’m clenching around his thick fingers, my intense orgasm sending a surge of heat shooting through my body and a tingling sensation begins in my feet.
“Royal, your plate is empty. I’m sure you have business to take care of,” June says, while looking between the two of us with suspicious eyes.
Taking a few quick breaths, I look the other way and try to catch my breath, hoping that his parents didn’t catch on to what just happened under the table. It was so quick that I’m hoping it went unnoticed.
“I think that means you can fucking leave now,” Colton spits out, while locking eyes with Royal. “You haven’t been welcome here for years, so say goodbye to my girl and leave.”
Royal pushes his fingers in me as deep as he can and smirks, before pulling out of my throbbing pussy. Then he stands up and sucks his fingers into his mouth; the ones that were nowhere close to the food . . . but maybe no one noticed. “Fucking delicious. Thanks for dinner.”
Ken and June watch hard as Royal pushes his chair under the table, locks eyes with me, and then turns and walks away.
I sit here with my heart pounding and my pussy shamelessly throbbing as he disappears out the front door.
Making a quick decision, I stand up and push my chair in. “Thanks for dinner, but I have to run.”
Colton stands up fast as hell and rushes over to stop me, with his parents watching us in confusion. “Don’t fucking leave. He wasn’t even invited. Stay.”
I let out a small laugh of disbelief. “I can see what a great family you all have here. Thanks for having me, but unfortunately I don’t think I fit in here. We’re just different people. I think I’ll leave with my friend. Have a nice night.”
With that, I rush out the door to find Royal leaning against a huge black truck. He lifts a brow and bites his bottom lip as his eyes roam over my heated body. “Follow me.”
Pulling his eyes away, he hops into his truck, watching me from his rearview mirror as I jump into my jeep and prepare to follow him home.
I have no idea what the hell just happened in there, but I think I liked it . . . Shit!