Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Curtis hadn’t let her get away without a fight. Literally. Bambi had tried to ditch out on him, but he’d made it plenty clear that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Apparently, he’d driven his car to the clubhouse, so he’d insisted on taking Beau with him back to his place so he could gather some things he’d need to stay at hers. That had forced her to follow behind him.

Now, his car was parked beside hers in her driveway, and Curtis was in her shower getting ready for bed.

It was so late, and Bambi was too exhausted to continue arguing with him. So she had settled in and was now feeding Beau, nodding off while sitting up in the middle of her bed.

She’d done it numerous times before, but that was just the norm for motherhood. No one else could pop out their boob for her and get the job done, so the responsibility fell on her alone.

Bambi reflected on the night and the clubhouse. She had expected it to go so much worse than it had that it’d been a relief not to be confronted with any kind of drama. Country had been the peak of her anxiety when he’d appeared, looking all brooding and contemplative. But he’d surprised her too when he’d simply said a few words and walked away.

Guess he was over it…

At least they’d gotten out of there without anything bad happening. She was thankful for that. The town had really gone downhill since she’d last been there. It had only been a year, but she’d lost count of how many vagrants she saw walking the street and not-so-covert drug deals she saw happening right out in the open on her drive in.

It was upsetting to see how fast things had deteriorated in her time away, but that was what happened when crime lords moved into the neighborhood.

She was happy to have gotten out when she did. Now she hoped Curtis would do the same. Hopefully, he would see what life was like here and how peaceful it could be and would move closer. She meant what she’d said. She wasn’t ever moving back. It was just too risky, and she had too much going for her here, now, to pull up roots again.

“You look like you’re half asleep,” Curtis observed as he entered the room. He was shirtless, showing off his lean, sculpted physique.

But Bambi was so tired, she couldn’t fully appreciate the view.

“That’s because I am,” she replied, then yawned. Instead of climbing into bed with her, rolling over, and going to sleep, Curtis surprised her by coming to her side of the bed and holding out his hands.

She gave him a funny look and he said, “Looks like he’s asleep, dollface. Give him here and I’ll tuck him in.”

Bambi looked down and, sure enough, Beau was fast asleep. She hadn’t even realized he’d stopped suckling. Man, she must really be out of it. Mechanically, she handed him over and covered herself up, then slipped down beneath the blankets as Curtis took care of putting their son in his bassinette.

He was so good with him. She was still surprised by his quick and seemingly easy transformation into fatherhood. It was impressive, and also very attractive. If she wasn’t so exhausted, she would jump to show him how much it turned her on to see him in his new role.

Dressed in only a pair of boxers that rode low on his hips, Curtis pulled back the blankets on the opposite side of the bed and climbed in. As if he’d done it a hundred times, he lifted his arm and pulled her in, tucking her up against his side as he’d done so many times before when they’d just been hooking up.

Bambi was too tired to argue. Plus, it was nice being in his arms again. He was warm and the feeling was comforting. She’d missed this, missed him, and missed what they had together.

It was easy to fall back into old habits with him. Tough as he might be when he was with the brothers, Curtis Nash was a total softy when it came to her. That wasn’t lost on her. After everything she’d seen in her time with the club, Bambi was well aware she was the exception to the rule.

She was nearly asleep when he started talking.

“I know you think I’m an asshole for pushing my way in,” Curtis said softly into the dark. His thumb on the outside of her arm teased her skin lightly. “Shit, maybe I am. But I want what we had back, Bambi. There hasn’t been a single day since you left that I haven’t thought about you.”

“I thought you were mad at me,” she said faintly, afraid to speak above a whisper for fear not only of waking Beau, but also that she might break the fragile balance they seemed to have struck.

“Oh, I was. But I can’t stay mad at you, dollface. That’s impossible, and I wouldn’t want to anyway. It would take too much energy,” he said with a low chuckle.

Bambi tucked her hand under her cheek, flat against his chest, and listened.

“You’re my girl, Bambi. Always have been. When you left, that shit left a hole in me bigger than a shotgun blast, and I thought I would never forgive you. But then Gabby came rolling in talking about how she’d run into you while shopping and suddenly I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“See, I had been trying my damnedest to get you out of my head, and I thought it would work if I gave it enough time, but I was failing, and it only got clearer when a couple of the boys said that you had a kid. And all I could think was some other motherfucker had put his hands on my girl, and I knew then and there I wouldn’t be able to rest if I didn’t find you. I had to see it for myself.”

“So you’re not mad anymore?”

“I’m still mad,” he said with another laugh. “But I’m not so mad. Just a little residual lingering in the recesses. But that’ll go away as soon as you tell me I can stay. Because, dollface,” he said, hooking a finger beneath her chin and turning her face up toward his, “I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Maybe ever. You need to be prepared for that.”

“You want to stay because of Beau or me?” she asked. She wanted to believe he really wanted her like he said, but she was afraid all of this was some kind of act of retaliation designed to upset her and the balance she’d struck in her world.

“Both. I’ve always wanted you. Beau is just an added and unexpected bonus.”

“You’re saying all the right things,” she said cautiously.

“But…”

“But all this stuff happening with the club… I know Quick ordered the women and children to leave until the club can deal with the problems it’s facing. So what does that mean for you? For us? I won’t allow Beau to be a part of that.”

“And he won’t be. Neither of you will be. You won’t ever have to worry about that. Like I said before, I’ll protect you. That’s why we’re here now. This is the safest place for you both to be. You were right, and I recognize that. I just pushed because I wanted you with me no matter the cost, but I was wrong. This is what’s best.”

Bambi couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was such a stark contrast to their argument. “What’s with the sudden change of heart?”

“It’s not so sudden. I’ve been thinking about what you said for a while, and when I had to go back to the clubhouse tonight and was thinking about taking our boy there with me, it felt kinda wrong. Not that I didn’t know I could keep him safe, but I realized that you had a point. It’s not the safest place for him to be right now. Maybe down the line, when things have calmed down and we don’t have to worry about Cruiz and the weasel within our walls and all that. But not now.”

Bambi nodded faintly, unsure if she should even respond. He was on her side now, and she felt as if her speaking could potentially ruin that delicate truce.

“Sometimes I’m wrong,” Curtis told her. “And when I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I was wrong, dollface. You had a valid reason to say what you did and I wasn’t open to listening at the time. But I am now, and you were right. Next time, instead of fighting, I’ll make sure I’m listening.”

“Oh, Curtis,” Bambi sighed, feeling the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. Maybe they could make this work after all. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. I don’t want to fight with you. I never have.”

“Is that the real reason you left without a word?” he asked. “Because you knew I wouldn’t let you go?”

She nodded. “Yeah.” She thought she’d made that clear, but if he needed it to be reinforced, then so be it. “There were a few factors that made my decision for me, but that was a big one.”

“Hon, don’t ever be afraid to come to me again. I’m a reasonable man…most of the time,” he added with a light laugh. “But I am willing to listen. It takes two to make a relationship work, and listening to one another is a huge factor.”

“Is that what this is, a relationship?” she asked, almost afraid to hope.

“That’s what I want it to be,” he said firmly. “I guess it depends on you, though. What do you want this to be?”

She tilted her head back again so she could meet his eyes. “I want the same thing. Beau should have his father here, and I want you to be here to see him grow up.”

“And I plan to be. I won’t miss any more of his firsts. But that’s not exactly what I asked. What do you want, dollface?”

“I want you,” Bambi whispered.

Curtis studied her for several heartbeats, reading the message in her eyes, and she imagined him seeing how much she’d missed him, how much she’d longed for him, and how much she needed and wanted him now.

Without a word, the hand he held her face with tightened, applying enough pressure to hold her in place as he leaned down. When his mouth met hers, any exhaustion Bambi felt melted away in an instant, leaving behind a wave of scorching heat that blazed throughout her body.

An involuntary moan crawled up her throat, filling their conjoined mouths, and Curtis returned it eagerly, his tongue diving into her mouth with zeal, licking and tasting her as if she were the most delicious thing he’d ever had.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, and Curtis rolled her onto her back. He followed, his legs splitting hers open wide so he could settle between them. His hand traveled the length of her torso, stopping when it reached the hem of her nightgown. His mouth never leaving hers, he gathered the edges and lifted the scant material until she was fully exposed to him.

When Curtis’s bare chest met hers, Bambi’s core clenched. She loved the feel of his weight pressing down on her, the scalding heat of his flesh against hers. She thought of all the times they’d shared moments like this, but for some reason she didn’t understand, this felt like the most important one of all.

This felt like coming home.

“Why are you wearing a bra?” he muttered against her mouth before moving down to her throat, his lips lightly suckling.

“It’s a nursing bra, so I don’t leak all over everything.”

His head popped up, and when Bambi looked into his eyes, she saw a little glimmer of something in them. An idea, she thought. Something dark and downright sinful.

“I want it off,” he said fiercely, and before she could agree or disagree, he had released the front clasp, bearing her swollen breasts to his greedy eyes. “Oh shit, I knew they were bigger but… Shit. Wow.”

His open appreciation made Bambi feel both shy and sexy. She knew her body had changed considerably since they’d last been together—not counting the sex on the couch the other day. Then, she hadn’t given him a full view of herself, hadn’t exposed her every new curve or stripe.

Now, there was nothing and nowhere to hide. He was seeing her completely. And she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about that just yet.

Curtis cupped one of her breasts, gently massaging it. Then he looked up at her, his eyes questioning. “Is this okay? They don’t hurt?”

They always hurt, but right now, in this moment, Bambi didn’t feel anything but pleasure. “No, it’s okay,” she told him honestly. “I like your hands on me.”

A small, crooked smirk appeared and Curtis licked his lips. “I want to taste them.”

Bambi arched her back, an automatic response to such a sensual request. “Please…”

He dove down with as much eagerness as he had whenever he kissed her, and Bambi released a keening sound the moment his hot mouth wrapped around her aching nipple. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and her heels pressed into the mattress as he began to suck and lick, his hips rocking against hers, his thick cock grinding against her cleft.

Bambi felt the warmth of milk spilling down her side, the heat of her juices soaking her panties. Without warning, the orgasm had her in its grips, rocking her body completely. Bambi couldn’t hold back her screams even if she’d wanted to. Her mind and body were lost to the sensations that racked her, turning her world into a moonless night full of pleasure so profound, she saw stars behind her closed eyelids.

She wasn’t sure how long it lasted, but as she came down from the euphoric high, Curtis was fitting himself against her opening and pushing inside. The feel of his cock stretching her sent her rocketing off into another unexpected orgasm, another tidal wave of sheer bliss gripping her, and all Bambi could do was ride it out.

“Damn, baby, you’re even more responsive now than before,” Curtis said with wonder as he pounded into her.

Bambi couldn’t form words even if she wanted to. Lacing their fingers together, Curtis raised her hands above her head and held her gaze as he pushed and retreated from her body, his pelvis rubbing against her clit and building yet another orgasm.

“Oh God,” Bambi moaned, shaking her head as she felt it build inside her yet again. She wasn’t sure she could take any more.

Curtis grinned. “You gonna come for me?” he asked her, but she couldn’t answer, so he answered for her. “Yeah, you are. My big, fat cock is going to make you come. I can’t wait to feel how your tight little cunt squeezes me. I’ve been dreaming about being buried inside you since you left, and now I’m in you again, and I can’t wait. Come on, dollface, come for me. Give my cock a hug.”

“Oh God! Curtis!” Bambi shouted, the orgasm overtaking her once again.

That was when the baby started crying. He must have been shocked awake, but for the first time, Bambi wasn’t inclined to leap up and rush to his aid.

And neither was Curtis.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he hissed, his head lowered, his eyes shut tight. His hips flexed harder and faster, going deeper than before as his own orgasm claimed him. “Holyyy shitttt,” he gasped as he spilled inside her.

Collapsing on top of her, Curtis tightened down around her, framing her body with his as he hugged her against him. They were both breathing heavily, the sweat and bodily fluids making their skin slick and the air heavy.

Beau’s cries had faded into a whimper, sleep once again staking its claim.

Still inside her, Bambi felt Curtis’s cock give an occasional jump, still somewhat hard despite the fact it should have been as drained as they both were.

Lifting his head, Curtis’s bleary eyes met hers and the gentle smile he gave her as he petted back her damp hair made Bambi’s chest feel tight.

“That was amazing. You’re amazing,” he told her adoringly, and Bambi returned the smile and the sentiment with a soft kiss. As they peeled their bodies apart and began the cleanup process, it didn’t escape her notice that Curtis kept a close eye on her, constantly casting her looks that Bambi wasn’t sure how to decipher.

When she reached for her nightgown, he stopped her with a hand on her wrist.

“Leave it off,” he urged.

“Why?” Confusion set in. Bambi wasn’t a troll, but she wasn’t so comfortable with her body anymore as to want to show it off. She was still regaining her pre-baby figure. Well, as much as anyone possibly could.

“Because I like looking at you, and I want to feel your naked body against me tonight.”

“But…” Bambi reached for an excuse. “I’ll make a mess,” she said, waving a cursory hand over her breasts which had already begun to do exactly that.

“I don’t care. I like you this way,” he insisted. “I want to see all of you, feel all of you.”

“Curtis…”

“Is it because you’ve changed?” he asked, hitting the nail on the head. Seeing in her eyes that he had, he moved to kneel over her. “I love your body, baby. I love your soft curves and these giant tits,” he said, eyes flaring once again as they dipped to look at them.

Bambi laughed. “You’re crazy.”

“No…just in love.”

The room was utterly still as they looked into each other’s eyes. Had she heard him right?

“What?”

“You heard me, dollface. I’m in love with you.”