Page 41 of Control Line

Chapter Fifteen

Dinner was fantastic, dessert even better, but if the Malones didn’t wrap it up soon, Barney was going to take Zee upstairs and fuck her in Grant’s old bedroom.

He squeezed her knee under the table, hoping she would get the hint and stop answering inane questions and making small talk. He was glad she’d missed his intention.

No matter how desperately he wanted her, he would never ask her to not be herself, to be less Zee. That’s what others had done. Besides, her compassion for other people was one of the many things he loved about her.

It was getting easier and easier to admit the truth to himself. Soon, he’d be able to tell her with words and deeds without panicking or freaking out.

Mrs. Malone was looking at Zee like a daughter. And even though he wanted to be inside Zee more than he wanted to breathe, he wouldn’t take that away from either of them.

Barney wanted that for her; acceptance, love. She’d had no family other than the Army and Billy and now, both of those were gone in one way or another. The Malones were the closest thing she had, and the best she could ask for.

Hell, they were Barney’s family, too. He’d lost his family when he was barely old enough to be on his own. Other than the Malones, Derek was the only person he’d considered family. Maybe the odds ran out on Derek and he’d died anyway. That would explain why he couldn’t find him after all those years.

He hadn’t thought about him in forever, not since he’d stopped trying to find him. Thinking of his makeshift family brought him back to mind. Barney needed the distraction as the Malones chatted with Zee about everything and anything, so he let the memories take over.

It still stung that Barney didn’t warrant a goodbye from the man he considered a brother. A man he cared enough about to let him use his insurance when the chips were down. It took him years to get over it and even longer to admit it had changed him. Before Derek left, Barney wasn’t as distant as he was now. Losing Derek hurt, and he’d kept everyone at arm’s length ever since.

Damn you, asshole. Derek was partially to blame for this morning even. He was the last person he said I love you to, and he left within twenty-four hours.

Zee flinched under his touch. The Malones saw it, too. Mr. Malone shot him a look. Barney placed both hands on the table and the older man gave a slight nod.

“Well, I guess I’d better let you kids get going.” Mrs. Malone stood, the rest of the table following suit. When they got to the door, they turned to thank the Malones. Mrs. Malone put her arms around her husband’s waist. “Oh, Greg, they make such an adorable couple, don’t they?”

“Were not—” Barney cut Zee’s denial off with an arm slung around her neck. He might as well start the with a small audience and work his way up.

“We do, don’t we? Of course, Zamantha is so beautiful, she would make a cute couple with any man she chose, but I’m glad it’s me standing here.”

Three sets of eyes turned to him with different emotions swirling in them. One with joy, one with shock, and one with warning. Barney took each one seriously.

All four of them stepped out on to the porch, saying goodbyes. Walking Zee to her car, and driving home, was an excruciating exercise in patience.

With a sigh of relief, he pulled his keys from the ignition and grabbed the manila envelope off the seat next to him. That was a problem for tomorrow.

Tonight was about Zee and Barney. No Billy, no asshole who stole his identity. No one else, just the two of them.

Zee stood in her open doorway in invitation, and he wasn’t turning it down. His long stride double-timed ate up the distance between them. With one hand, he grabbed her neck, leading her back into the dimly-lit interior.

He kicked the door closed behind him while frisbeeing the envelope onto her table, he hoped. He feasted on her mouth and locked the door behind him at the same time. Multi-tasking was hard when his blood supply was headed south.

He’d just gotten his free hand around to her neck when she started pushing up on his arms, trying to remove his shirt.

Aiding her, he divested her of hers, too, before returning to the kiss. They kicked their shoes off and dropped their pants while they were bump and run kissing. Their combined desperation would cause some bloody lips but neither minded.

With great effort, Barney freed his mouth. “We should really talk, doll. I owe you—”

“You don’t owe me anything. We are what we are, no matter what that is, and I accept it. . .accept you, as is.” Barney stalled at her words. Wasn’t that all any man could ask for? Yep, he definitely loved her.

He hooked his thumb in the waistband of her underwear and shoved them down, wiggling them all the way off. Moving his hands up to cup her cheeks in his hands, he stared into her warm brown eyes. “You are amazing.” He kissed her senseless, then spun her around, pressing her cheek into the door as he freed his cock.

“I am one lucky man,” he rasped into her ear while he rubbed his cock back-and-forth through her wetness, sure to hit her clit with every stroke. “I can’t believe I’m the one about to fuck you up against this door.”

With the last syllable, he bit the exposed area where her shoulder met her neck and drove deep inside her. Zee wasn’t a passive participant as he pounded into her. She thrust her ass out until he was hitting the spot deep inside her with the cross piercing along the head of his cock.

“Shit, shi. . .” His own curse cut hers short as her body started stroking his cock. Barney lifted his mouth and stared at her profile pressed into the door. Her mouth was open, no sound, but panting came out. She was in the throes of passion and she was exquisite.

Roughly, he grasped her chin, drawing her gaze to his through the corner of her eye. “Look at me when you come. I want no doubt who’s making you feel this way.” He crushed his mouth to the side of hers and fucked her through both their orgasms.

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