Acts of Atonement: A Single Dad Age Gap Romance (Men of WRATH, Book 1)

THE HOUSE IS deserted with random cups and plates strewn throughout, signaling it’s cleanup time. I’m in charge of the food while Ashley picks up the back yard and William does the living areas. All in all, it’s a smooth transition getting the house back to its normal condition.

I’m putting up the last of the leftovers when William walks into the kitchen.

“Hey, beautiful.” His smooth voice cuts through the silence.

“Don’t you ‘hey beautiful’ me. I haven’t forgotten how you threw me under the bus with Uncle Ren earlier.” I wave a finger in his direction.

“I had to tell him something other than the truth. Did you want me to tell him I’d just been slapping your pussy?”

“William!” I shriek before quickly putting my hand to my mouth. “Dammit. You’re going to make me wake up the kids.”

“They’re out cold. Party wore them plumb out.” William waggles his brows as he comes around the kitchen island, closing the distance between us. “That means they won’t be able to hear your screams as I ravage your pussy.”

My mouth hangs open at his boldness. “What about Ashley?” I manage to whisper as William snakes his arms around me, pressing his lower half into the back of mine.

“She went out with the guys.” William pulls my hair to the side and trails open-mouthed kisses along the exposed skin of my back. Taking one end of the tie to my halter dress and pulling, William exposes my bare breasts to the cold air. “Said they were hitting up a bar in Malibu. Which means” —William turns me around slowly, biting at my chin before hovering his lips over mine—“they’ll be staying out until well past midnight.”

A moan escapes me as William flicks his calloused thumbs over my hardened nipples. “Mmmm. That feels good.”

A delicious shiver runs through me. Needing to feel more, I grind myself on William’s thigh as he continues his assault on my nipples.

“Not yet, naughty girl.” William nips at my shoulder before hoisting me onto the counter, laying me down on the cold surface. Inch by inch, William lifts the material of my sundress, exposing my bare pussy.

“What do we have here?” William’s greedy eyes stare intently at my naked flesh. “Looks like someone’s prepared.” His tongue darts out, wetting his lower lip and punctuating the action with a bite.

“Mmhhm.” Actual words escape me, because who can formulate words at a time like this. Not me.

I arch my back as William’s strong hands rub up and down my thighs, stopping only to squeeze and pry them farther apart. Settling himself between them, William pulls me closer, lowering his mouth to the flesh just above my knee and depositing a wet kiss. He kisses his way up my thigh until his full lips are hovering just above the apex.

“Please,” I whimper, unable to help myself.

William pulls away, a sultry smile dancing on his lips. He cups my bare pussy with his hand, squeezing it before quickly issuing a loud slap.

“Mine.” He growls as he lowers his lips to my aching cunt, teasing the folds apart with a flick of his tongue. “Every inch of you is mine. Say it,” he demands before finally spreading my lips apart with his thumbs.

“I’m y—” My words cut off as he lowers his warm wet mouth to my pulsating clit, sucking it for all it’s worth. “Holymotherfuckingshit.” A string of profanity rips through me, every sense of propriety I once possessed gone.

Running my fingers through his hair, I grab hold, riding his face like he’s my very own mechanical bull. He continues to suck and tease relentlessly, my body climbing to that peak of release where everything goes black and all else is forgotten.

My pussy clenches, grasping onto air, wanting to be filled, needing to be filled. At that moment, William thrusts three fingers into me at once, curling them up and reaching that magical spot he knows so well.

Instantly, my head falls back and my eyes roll as the most delectable warmth comes over me, leaving me shuddering in its wake. Moments pass as my body recovers from the sexual strike William just delivered to my pussy.

“Mmmmmm. So good.” I pat William on the head and he chuckles.

“I’m not a fucking dog, though I’ll fuck you like one if you’d like,” he teases while lifting me off the counter and carrying me out of the room. “As much as I loved our impromptu kitchen session, it’s time I take you on an actual bed.”

William

I’m fucking her tonight, come hell or high water. The urge to take her in every way imaginable has consumed me to the point where all I see is her, and that shit needs to end now. I can’t even go on a run without thinking of how good her pussy will feel as it strangles my cock.

Imagine me. Running down the street. Full hard-on in effect. I’m scaring the poor neighbors.

“What’s so funny?” Bella scrunches her nose as she looks up at me, her big doe eyes full of wonder. Little does she know how thoroughly fucked she’s going to be in a couple of hours.

I pull her closer to me before responding. “Just happy this moment is finally happening. I’m sick and tired of the universe interrupting us with baby monitors, nosy sisters, and concerned uncles. Fuck all that. Tonight, you’re mine.”

Bella giggles, her full tits bouncing in my face, tempting me to take them into my mouth. Laying her gently onto the bed, I do just that. Pawing her right breast, I squeeze, lowering my mouth to the pink little point and swirling it with my tongue. Her soft skin tastes of sin and virtue combined, and fuck if I can’t get enough.

Taking the hardened bud between my teeth, I gently tug, eliciting a moan from the beauty beneath me. I run my hand along the curves of her waist, giving her gorgeous tit one last suck before making my way up to her neck and inhaling deeply. Her scent of amber and vanilla will forever remind me of home. That’s what she is, my home. If I had any doubt whether or not the shit I feel for Bella is real, therein lies my answer.

I run my lips along the curve of her neck, savoring the feel of her soft skin against mine. Overcome with need, I take her flesh into my mouth and issue a bruising suck, wanting to mark her, needing to show the world that she’s mine.

“William,” Bella whimpers, rolling her hips into me as her hands travel south, sliding my briefs down and allowing my throbbing cock to spring out. Bella’s eyes go wide and her mouth drops open as she takes me in for the first time. “My god. Are you sure you’ll fit?”

I chuckle, enjoying her reaction. “Oh, it’ll fit. And it’ll feel damn good too.” I take the head of my cock and rub it up and down her slit, teasing her.

Bella mewls as she follows my movement with her hips, chasing my dick like it’s the last drop of water in the desert. Unable to withstand any more taunting, she grabs my forearm and pulls me down as she makes her demand. “Get inside me, now.”

My cock twitches at her plea, needing to please her just as much as it needs its own release. I move to grab a condom out of the nightstand but Bella’s small hands stop me.

“No. I want to feel you. All of you.”

I nod, unsure if this means she’s on the pill or if she wants my baby, not giving a fuck either way. I’d give this woman the moon if she asked.

My dick bobs of its own accord, knowing it’s just about to enter heaven. Taking it in my hand, I slap the head against Bella’s beautifully bare pussy, swollen and glistening with her arousal. She’s ready.

I slip my hands under Bella’s ass and bring her to me, sliding her slick pussy right onto my throbbing cock.

Holy fuck.

It takes everything in me not to come at that very moment. Bella’s pussy is the tightest wettest thing my dick has ever felt, and will ever feel for that matter. I’m done. This is it. She’s it. Life after Bella does not exist as far as I’m concerned.

Bella’s hands explore the ridges of my abs as she grinds herself on me, slowly sliding her delicious cunt up and down my shaft with every arch of her back.

“Fuuuck.” I grunt as I begin to feel that familiar tingle in my balls.

Needing to regain control, I pull out and place Bella on all fours, but the sight before me is just as gorgeous as the front.

“So damn perfect.” I breathe as both hands land on either side of her hips, digging my fingers into her flesh.

Bella pushes herself back, wiggling her ass in response.

Thwack! “Your ass was begging for it,” I tease before thrusting my cock into her without warning. I can tell I’ve hit her sweet spot because her whole body collapses into itself right as I slide over that magical bundle of nerves.

Keeping one hand firmly gripped on her hip, I run my other hand up her taut stomach and onto her nipple, rolling it between my fingers as I continue thrusting hard and deep into her.

I look down at my cock, sliding in and out of her, soaking wet with her arousal—and I swear I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight. “Come for me, baby. Show me how good I make you feel.”

Grabbing her hips in both hands, I flip her over, needing to see her face as she comes. I tilt her ass up, positioning her just right, quickening my pace as I slam myself into her hard. Bella releases a string of curse words letting me know she’s about to explode.

“Look at me, baby.” I coax her into opening her eyes. “I want to see that gorgeous face of yours as you unravel for me.”

Bella’s channel begins to contract around my cock, milking it for all its worth and taking every last bit of self-control I had with it. Unable to hold back any longer, I come hard, spilling into her as our bodies meld into one, both of us shuddering from our intoxicating release.

Falling to the side, I roll her on top of me, wanting to feel her skin against mine and needing to know that this is real. Because, holy fuck, how could something this good be real?

We lie there in comfortable silence, reveling in the aftermath of our intense pleasure. This one moment of ecstasy gave me more clarity than any other sexual encounter ever has.

A year ago I would’ve sworn up and down that this, what I just felt, was not real. That nobody could experience a combination of love and lust so extreme that it left you wanting for nothing more.

“That was… exceptional.” Bella looks up at me, her silver eyes glimmering in the dim light of the room. “I’ve never…”

“Me neither.” I roll her over, peppering her face with kisses and pinning her body underneath mine. “So… are we going to be giving Harper a sibling, or are you on birth control and didn’t tell me? Just so you know, I’m okay with either of those options.”

“You’re okay with getting me pregnant?” Bella’s eyes go wide and her brows reach her hairline. “I’m so young and we just started this, besides, I’m on birth control.”

I kiss her tenderly, slipping a hand behind her head. “Those things might be true, but I really don’t give a damn. At the risk of sounding trite, I think I love you.”

“You think you love me?” Bella swats at my chest as she arches a brow.

“I know I do—I love you, Isabella Moretti. There is no one on this earth I’d rather call mine. No one has ever managed to make me feel what you do. And trust me, I’ve been around the block.”

Bella laughs a full-bellied laugh as she rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Only you could ruin such a beautiful moment by reminding me of your previous man-whoring ways. It’s a good thing I love you too.”

My entire body warms at her words, feeling truly blessed to call her mine—even if it has to be a secret for now.

After another two rounds of mind-numbing sex, Bella and I fall asleep. I’m in the middle of a dream when a vibrating sound causes me to stir. Disoriented, I open my eyes and look toward the sound. My pants are at the foot of the bed with my phone illuminating one of the pockets.

I move to grab it, stepping out of the room as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake Bella. Looking down at my phone, I see that I’ve missed a call from Mariana as well as multiple calls from Ren.

Shit, if he only knew what I’d been doing when he called.

I bite the bullet and call Ren first.

“Hey,” he shouts, the sound of club music blaring through the phone. “Hold on, let me go somewhere quiet.”

After a minute, the music starts to die down, leaving only Ren’s heavy breathing. “Okay. I got a call from the local PD back home. They pulled a car out of the river and think it’s the same car that hit Isabella and her mom three years ago.”

“Holy shit,” I utter in disbelief. “Tell me everything they said. Word for word.”

“They’re still looking for the registered owner of the car, and get this… they don’t think it was an accident.”

A cold shiver of dread runs up my spine as the silence stretches across the line. Unable to say anything, I just stand there.

Without notice, a feminine voice cuts through the quiet. “Mr. Hawthorne, why don’t you come back to bed? I miss you.” Bella wraps her arms around me from behind, running her hands up my abs and onto my chest.

Fuck. I’m pretty sure Ren just heard that.

“What the fuck is going on, William? Was that Sprout?! What in the actual fuck! I’m going to fucking murder you!”

Yup. Ren definitely heard.

I clasp on to Bella’s hands with my free hand while I try to calm her uncle. “Look, Ren, it’s not what you think. I was going to talk to you about—”

“She’s a fucking teenager, William. Have you lost your goddamn mind? For fuck’s sake, her father is in the hospital right now. How could you take advantage of her like that?”

“Ren, it’s not like that. I love her. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

“You’re just lucky I’m not in front of you right now. Your mouth wouldn’t be able to spew out the bullshit it’s spewing because I’d be beating it in. You’re batshit crazy if you think you love her…. How, William? How can you love her? She’s still a fucking child!”

“Bella stopped being a child the day she watched her mother die. In the blink of an eye, she went from being a carefree teenager to a surrogate mother of twins. We’d like to think that we’ve helped with their upbringing, but the truth of the matter is that those now seven-year-old boys are thriving—despite the shit life has thrown at them—because of Bella’s care and attention.” I can hear Ren’s ragged breathing letting me know he’s still there, so I continue. “Bella has continuously taken on copious amounts of responsibility that far exceed her physical age, without issuing one damn complaint. Open your eyes, Ren. She isn’t a little girl anymore, she’s a woman. A woman that I love and appreciate.”

“I don’t know, man. I can’t fucking see straight right now. All you’ve said makes sense, but I just can’t fucking see it.” Ren’s voice comes out choked, as if trying to stuff down the anger that’s surfaced with this new revelation. “I need to talk to Sprout. Listen to her side of this sick and twisted thing y’all have.”

“Do not talk about our relationship like that. I understand you’re her family but I will not let you degrade what we have. It’s real and I won’t have anyone making Bella feel like we’re doing something wrong.”

“It is wrong, William. She’s eighteen. One year younger and it would be punishable by law. I can’t. I can’t talk to you right now.”

“Ren? Hello?” I look down at my phone and see that he’s disconnected the call. Finally turning to look at Bella’s face, I see she’s gone pale.

“It’s okay, baby. Everything is going to work out. Ren just needs a little time to process. It sort of caught him off guard.”

Bella’s face goes from ghostly pale to flushed. “It’s my fault. I didn’t know you were on the phone. You were so quiet, I thought you were just standing here.”

“It’s okay. I know your uncle. We’ve been best friends forever and I know that eventually he’ll understand.” I try to reassure her, but his last words have me questioning my own belief. “For now, let’s just enjoy the fact that the kids are still asleep and get back into bed.”

Bella squeezes her eyes shut and scrunches her nose. “God, I hope you’re right. I couldn’t bear it if I lost Uncle Ren too.”

“I am right.” Tugging her to the bedroom, I wink. “Now let me be the big spoon to your little spoon.”