“And who’s in charge here, Kate?” Caroline asked.

  She looked me directly in the eyes. “Ryan’s in charge, obviously,” she whispered, the admission causing her to tremble.

  Caroline’s voice remained calm. “Sure, but you’re trying to establish dominance over me, aren’t you? That’s what all this ‘headquarters’ talk is really about?”

  “Sounds like you’re paranoid,” Kate said, but the smirk gave her away.

  Caroline leaned over the table. “I like you, Kate. But you can’t just walk in and take over. I found Ryan first. I brought him into our lives.”

  She reached for my hand. “Sofia was next. And you’ve just joined us. You’re still finding your place.”

  “Oh, and what place would that be?”

  “Look,” I interrupted. “I want you two to sort out your differences right here, right now. Like adults.”

  Kate looked at Caroline for a moment, nodding. Then she rose and backed away from the table.

  “Come here, Caroline,” she said, pointing at the floor in front of her.

  Chapter twenty-eight

  Caroline gave a proud shrug and stood up. Her platform sandals knocked on the hardwood as she rounded the table and sashayed up to Kate, invading her personal space with deliberate confidence.

  I stood close by, supervising. “Keep this civil, ladies,” I said, ready to intervene, though I hoped they both had more sense than that.

  Admittedly, it did look like a woman’s MMA weigh in. With her heels, Caroline was looking down on Kate.

  Sofia bunched her fists against her mouth, watching with wide eyes from her position at the table.

  Caroline stepped closer, her soft curves brushing against Kate’s tense frame. She whispered, “Kate, you’re strong as hell, but you don’t have to hide with us.”

  Kate’s nostrils flared, but she didn’t back away. “You don’t know me.”

  Caroline smiled, lifting a hand to Kate’s cheek. “But I do. It’s not that hard to figure out.” Her fingers traced a gentle line down to Kate’s chin.

  Kate trembled at the touch, her breath coming in short gasps. I could see her nipples hardening beneath her blouse, pressing against the fabric.

  Something in her wanted this—needed it, even.

  “You’re a type—the kind that always tries to be what daddy wanted,” Caroline continued, her fingertips tracing a line down Kate’s neck to her collarbone.

  “You’ve spent all these years trying to be this tough army officer, and it was all for your dad, wasn’t it?”

  She shook her head weakly. “No, you don’t know what you’re saying.”

  Caroline’s fingers drifted lower, brushing the swell of Kate’s breast. “I know exactly what I’m saying. But that’s not who you really are, is it? We know your secret. You’ve already let it out of the bag.”

  A small moan escaped Kate’s lips. Her eyes had grown glassy, unfocused, as if she was looking inward at a truth she’d been avoiding.

  “N-no,” Kate stammered, sweat beading on her forehead.

  “Kate, you don’t have to keep proving yourself,” Caroline murmured, her lips close to Kate’s ear. “You don’t have to be in charge. Don’t have to be strong all the time.”

  Kate’s legs wobbled. Her fierce expression was crumbling, giving way to something vulnerable and needy.

  “I…” Kate’s voice cracked. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, trembling violently.

  Caroline pressed her advantage. “Your father wanted a son, didn’t he? A boy to follow in his footsteps. But he got you.”

  Kate’s eyes widened, moisture gathering at the corners. Her reaction confirmed Caroline had hit the mark.

  “You’re not a son, Kate. You can’t be.” Caroline’s voice was gentle but firm. “And fighting who you really are is killing you inside.”

  Kate swayed on her feet, caught between shoving Caroline away and collapsing into her arms.

  Finally, the suppressive side of her made one last attempt to regain control.

  Her eyebrows squeezed together into a frown. “I could destroy you,” she whispered, though there was no real conviction in her voice.

  “But that’s your dad talking, not you,” Caroline said.

  Kate’s fists unclenched, her trembling hands falling to her sides. “You’re right.”

  Her eyes, glassy with unshed tears, flicked between Caroline and me, then softened as something inside her finally gave way.

  “I idolized him so much…It stopped me from taking my own path.”

  I came closer, putting my arm around Kate.

  Caroline’s hand rested on Kate’s collarbone, her expression becoming more tender. “You don’t have to be him, Kate. You can just be you. Let go.”

  Sofia rose from her chair and approached cautiously. She reached for Kate’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Is okay to want what you want. We all understand.”

  Kate’s gaze locked onto mine, searching.

  A profound silence filled the room. The only sound was Kate’s shaky breathing as years of conditioning began to crumble.

  After a long moment, Kate nodded. “I want to stop fighting it. Fighting my desires. I want…”

  Caroline smiled, stepping back slightly.

  “Tell me, Kate,” I said. “Tell me what you want.”

  She swallowed, her chest heaving as she slowly walked closer. Her hands found my shirt, pulling me closer as if she was about to whisper a secret.

  Then, she suddenly glanced at her father’s portrait, still watching us. “Hang on.”

  She walked deliberately to the picture, and, with steady hands she took it off the wall and set it face down on the table.

  A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders as she turned back toward us, a new lightness in her step. She moved past Sofia and Caroline, coming to stand directly in front of me.

  “I want to feel the way you make me feel when you’re in charge,” she whispered, pressing her breasts against me and gazing at my lips. “I feel...free when you’re in charge.”

  Looking down at her, I felt a surge of pride and protectiveness. This wasn’t just lust—I was seeing her reach a milestone in her life, freeing herself from her past.

  Kate had fought this for so long, and now she was choosing to surrender.

  “You sure?” My hand brushed her cheek gently.

  “Yes.” She leaned into my touch, closing her eyes, ready for anything. “Take me. Do whatever you want with me. Please.”

  Our lips met. Kate’s hands slid up my chest, clutching my shirt.

  “Where’s your room?”

  “Upstairs.”

  “Shall we go?”

  “Yes.”

  Suddenly, the tears that had been building up were released. Kate brushed them away, laughing quietly.

  Sofia approached, her expression warm with understanding. Caroline stood beside her, watching attentively, a gentle smile on her lips.

  Kate took a deep breath. “I’m okay, don’t worry.” She sighed, looking at each of us in turn

  Then she reached for my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine, and led us all upstairs to her bedroom.

  Chapter twenty-nine

  We all followed her upstairs to the big master bedroom.

  The king sized bed was covered in a pristine white comforter and piled with pillows.

  I watched Kate walk in ahead of me, her big ass moving inside those tight jeans.

  Her body fell against me, pliant. I kissed her slowly, my hands gripping her round rump.

  She stopped to step out of her running shoes while Caroline’s platform heels knocked on the hardwood as she came around behind Kate.

  Her hands came over Kate’s shoulders, fingers deftly unbuttoning Kate’s blouse.

  Kate turned and looked up at her—Caroline stood a full head above her now.

  “Caroline. I owe you an apology.”

  “What? Honey, what for?”

  “I’ve been rude to you, and—”

  “No! Don’t worry about a thing. I understand you were going through some stuff—”

  “Well, I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, hun. It’s okay. Come here.”

  She opened her arms, and Kate put her head against Caroline’s chest, almost making it look like a girl hugging her mother.

  Kate trembled as she returned to me, our lips connecting. Caroline’s hands returned to unbutton Kate’s blouse, peeling it off to reveal her cleavage, elevated in a bra.

  Sofia kicked off her running shoes, then flopped on the bed, watching us.

  Kate shivered under all the attention, her breath quickening as I tugged her tight jeans off.

  While I was down there, I embraced her thighs and buried my face into her heat.

  Then I yanked her panties down and watched her step out of them.

  Guiding Kate to the bed, I bent her over the edge so her hands braced against the mattress.

  Her ass cheeks, firm yet soft, jutted out, and I ran my hands over them, admiring her curves.

  Everything was on full display.

  Her plump pussy was shaved, and her puckered little hole winked just above it.

  “Look how cute her little butthole is,” Caroline breathed, standing on one side.

  Kate sucked in a breath, then laughed, dropping her face onto the blankets.

  I brushed my fingers over it.

  Kate shivered. “Oh, yes, yes, do that!” she hissed.

  I gently circled my thumb over it. My touch sent a jolt through her, and she pressed back towards me.

  Her voice was a gentle moan, higher-pitched than I’d ever heard it. “I’ve… always wanted it there,” she confessed. “Please, Ryan…can you do it?”

  I put a hand on her back, leaning forward to meet her eyes over her shoulder. “You sure, baby?”

  “Yes,” she said, her tone firm despite her blush. “I want it. I need it.”

  Caroline chuckled, running her fingers through Kate’s hair. “See? She knows what she wants now.”

  I nodded, quickly shedding my clothes. Caroline and Sofia’s hands were all over me, stroking my cock to prepare me.

  Dipping my fingers between Kate’s wet folds, I worked my finger inside until it was slick.

  And then I pushed it into Kate’s other hole, working her open slowly. She gasped, her body tensing then relaxing as I gradually added a second, stretching her with care.

  Caroline undressed and climbed onto the bed beside Kate, her hands roaming Kate’s back. “Relax your body,” she murmured, kissing the back of Kate’s neck. “Let him take you.”

  Sofia wiggled out of her jeans, then started stroking Kate’s hair. “You’re doing so good, Kate.”

  The juice dripped down Kate’s thighs. I kept gathering more, slicking her up.

  Then Caroline leaned over and sucked me, lathering my length with her saliva.

  I positioned myself over Kate, my cock hard and slick as it pressed against her. “Ready?”

  “Please,” she whimpered, wiggling her butt towards me.

  I entered her slowly, inch by inch, her tightness yielding to me. Kate’s head dropped, and I could see the side of her face.

  Her breaths were ragged as she adjusted, a mix of discomfort and pleasure washing over her face. “Oh god…It’s… it’s so much.”

  I gripped her hips, moving with slow thrusts, my own groans mingling with hers. “You feel amazing,” I said reverently.

  Caroline lay against the bed, putting her face beside Kate’s, kissing her deeply, swallowing her moans as I picked up the pace.

  Sofia’s hands wandered over my chest, her lips brushing my shoulder.

  “Yes… yes!” Kate panted, rubbing her clit frantically. Her climax hit hard, her butthole clenching around me, milking me.

  I followed soon after, a low growl escaping as I spurted inside her.

  ***

  Later, we all lay together against the mountain of pillows. Kate was snuggled against me as I stroked her hair.

  Caroline lay on the other side of Kate with the patience of a mother cat looking at her kittens.

  Sofia lay on my other side.

  Kate seemed to be processing everything. After a long silence, she spoke quietly.

  “It’s true, you know. My father always wanted a son. I felt like I disappointed him just by being born. But I tried to make him happy. I tried to…”

  She sniffled, wiping a tear away. Caroline rubbed her shoulder.

  “I always tried to be what I thought my father wanted me to be. I got great marks. Kicked ass in sports. Moved up the ranks in the army. But nothing was ever good enough.”

  “That’s tough,” I said, still stroking her hair attentively.

  “But anyway, I guess it backfired. All those years of trying to be masculine and strong, and denying my femininity… Now I’ve snapped to the opposite extreme. I guess if I’d just lived for myself from the start I’d be normal now.”

  “Don’t say that, Kate,” Caroline said. “You are normal. You’re just finding balance.”

  Sofia raised herself on one elbow, her expression suddenly earnest. “In my family, we have saying: ‘The tree that bends in the storm is stronger than the one that stands rigid.’”

  Kate looked over at her, considering this. “I never thought of it that way.”

  “My grandma was a very strong woman, but also very soft with family,” Sofia continued, her accent thickening with memory.

  “Different sides for different moments. But nobody thought she was weak just because she showed her femininity.”

  Kate was quiet for a moment. “And it’s not like I have to stop being a leader in the community, just because I like to follow in the bedroom.”

  “Strong and also soft,” Caroline said, stretching over the pillows luxuriously.

  She gazed around at the room’s finishings. “You know, this is a really nice place you’ve got, Kate. I see why you like it.”

  “Thanks,” Kate said, looking around her bedroom with new eyes. “It’s always been too… bland, though. Almost like a display home rather than somewhere to really live.”

  Caroline nodded thoughtfully. “Different spaces serve different needs. I was thinking about our headquarters debate…”

  Kate winced. “God, I’m sorry about that—”

  “No, listen. You were right about some things. Your place is bigger, and it is closer to downtown. Perfect for the community development stuff.”

  Kate looked at her with surprise. “Really?”

  Caroline continued, “But my place is more cozy. It’s where we can just be ourselves without any pressure.”

  Kate nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense.”

  “I’m glad you guys are working through this,” I said.

  I watched Kate’s face as she processed. The rigid military commander was still there, but softer now, more integrated with this new feminine side she’d discovered.

  Sofia patted her arm. “Now Kate is part of our little family.”

  “More like big family,” I murmured.

  Kate’s eyes widened slightly at the word “family,” then softened with unmistakable pleasure.

  She nestled against me, her body fully relaxed for the first time since I’d met her.

  Chapter thirty

  The grand opening of Como en Casa’s new location was in full swing.

  The place was packed with people standing around enjoying free samples of Sofia’s appetizers—locals, business owners, and even a few council members who’d survived the corruption scandal.

  Sofia had gone all out. Yellow, blue, and red balloons—matching the Colombian flag—decorated the walls alongside Stars and Stripes banners festooning the bar counter.

  Visitors even got a free glass of chicha, a traditional fermented corn and pineapple drink, which probably explained why the place was already so jovial at only 5 p.m.

  A stereo was playing salsa music while Sofia’s off-duty staff were dancing, including the grandmotherly hispanic lady who was Sofia’s right hand in the kitchen.

  Though the new space was a step up from the old restaurant, it still maintained its unpretentious charm.

  A Colombia-themed mural adorned one wall, painted by the same artist who’d done her first location.

  Sofia was in her element behind the bar, making pisco sours—a new item on her menu.

  Kate stood beside me holding one of the creamy cocktails. “Oh my god, this is so delicious!” She took another gulp.

  “Careful,” I said. “They sneak up on you.”

  “Nah, I’m no light weight.” She sipped it again. “I love these!”

  I grinned. “Come over this weekend. I’m sure Sofia would be happy to make some.”

  Caroline gave Kate a look. “You know what the secret ingredient is? Raw eggs.”

  Kate shrugged. “I don’t even care.” She finished off the glass. “I am so having another.”

  “We haven’t even had dinner yet.”

  “Dinner? Pff. That’s what the raw eggs are for.”

  A warm feeling filled me, and I was sure it wasn’t just the pisco sour. It made me happy to see Caroline and Kate getting along so well.

  It had only been two weeks since that eventful night at Kate’s house, but it felt longer.

  We all felt comfortable with each other, and Kate seemed happier than ever—capable of enjoying herself without constantly checking over her shoulder for her father’s approval.

  Caroline scanned the crowded room, her eyebrows rising slightly.

  “Hmm, looks like the whole town turned out—even the opposition.” She nodded subtly. “To my left. Other side of the room. With the baby.”

  “Baby?” I turned, probably a little too conspicuously, and saw Amber standing by an empty table. She stood bouncing a baby, her attention completely captivated by it.

  There was a look of pure joy in her eyes as she held the infant—a softness I’d never seen in her before.

  This was a far cry from the ambitious, bratty real estate agent who’d been fighting us at every turn since I’d arrived in Riverdale.

  “That’s unexpected,” I said. “Who would’ve thought Amber McAlister would be good with children?”