Page 49 of Tempest

Kasen

I sat at the kitchen table of my childhood home and stared at the cup of tea my mom had placed in front of me. I’d been sipping on it, but my stomach was churning so bad I worried I’d throw it up.

“Are you happy?” Mom asked. “I know you had a crush on Tempest for a long time.”

I glanced up at her. “Yeah, but Dad is going to be so mad.”

She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Honey, I love your dad, but let’s be honest. That man gets mad at the drop of a hat. He’ll get over it. Eventually.”

“That’s the part that worries me,” I mumbled. “Talk about awkward family dinners moving forward.”

Mom laughed softly. “Did I ever tell you how I met your dad?”

“A little. Something about Aunt Lupita sending you to him.”

She nodded. “That’s right. She’d met him before, and when she knew I was in danger, she sent me to him for safekeeping. Although, when she showed up later, finding out Tank and I had fallen for each other pissed her off. And you know how she can be.”

I tipped my head to the side. “Only from what you’ve told us. I still don’t understand why none of us have gotten to meet her.”

“My sister did some bad things. Your dad was so mad at her. Even though he was a protector, I almost expected him to take a swing at her. It took her some time to get herself straightened out.”

“And now?” I asked.

“She calls sometimes. Not often. She fell in love. Got married.” Mom sighed and stared at the table. “She had three miscarriages. Her husband left her for another woman, one he’d knocked up. From what she’s told me over the years, she tried dating other men. Even got married one more time. None of the relationships worked out.”

“So she’s all alone?” That sounded so… sad. Even if she’d done something wrong, it was clear Mom had forgiven her for whatever it was.

“Yeah, she is. I’ve tried to talk her into moving closer to us so we could visit. I think she’s too embarrassed to see the Dixie Reapers. They all know what happened back then. And your dad isn’t the most forgiving man, not when it comes to me anyway. Your Aunt Lupita put me in harm’s way. I could have died, and that’s not something your dad will ever forgive. He still gets upset when she calls.”

“Do you think she’ll ever find love?” I asked.

“I don’t know. She’s closed herself off.” Mom gave me a soft smile. “But I hope that she’ll find happiness someday. Even if children aren’t in her future, it doesn’t mean she can’t have a good life and find a decent man. Some who won’t care about kids.”

I nodded, knowing she was right, and also wishing Aunt Lupita could find someone. Now that I had Tempest, I understood what I’d been missing all this time. My heart broke for my aunt, even though I’d never met her or spoken to her before. I didn’t think Dad would keep us from seeing her. Maybe one day she’d come visit.

A motorcycle pulled up out front and I stood to look out the kitchen window. “Shit.”

“Tempest?” Mom asked, a smirk on her lips.

“Yeah. Think I’m in trouble.”

“You said he told you to stay put. I wondered when he’d show up to drag you back home.” Mom stood and put our cups in the sink. “I’ll just make myself scarce. Time to face the music.”

This was bad. If Mom was leaving, she knew Tempest was going to be furious with me, and it meant he had her blessing to punish me. Damnit.

He pounded on the door and I tried to calm my racing heart. I slowly went to answer it, pulling the door open and staring up at him.

“What exactly did I tell you?”

“Um… To wait for you? Or something like that.”

He gave a humorless bark of laughter. “Yeah, or something like that. Get your ass on the bike, Kasen.”

I meekly did as he said, wondering just how bad this was going to be. And I found out soon enough. We’d barely cleared the front door of our home before he hauled me over to the couch and dragged me down over his knees, ass in the air. The crack of his hand was not only loud but hurt like hell. But the humiliation I felt quickly turned to something else, and my face felt hot. Who’d have ever guessed I’d get turned on by something like a spanking?

I was in so much trouble…

Chapter Fifteen

---