The fucking idiot. If he kills me, he’ll go to jail and no one will be there for Gwyneth.That’s when I hear her hysterical cries for her father to stop, but he’s too far gone to listen to her.Or anyone—aside from the demons in his head.My lungs burn and I swallow the chlorinated water in my attempts to get some air. My grip loosens from around his arms and black dots fill my vision.Ah, fuck.I thought he’d try to kill me. But not that he’d actually succeed.Still, all I can think about is Gwyneth’s tear-streaked face and how she’ll probably lose both of us now.Me to death.King to jail.Then she’ll be all alone again.The pressure of King’s hand disappears from my head and I think I’m crossing over to the other side, but then soft palms grab me by the cheeks and lift me up from the water.I gulp in a sharp intake of air and splutter water as I cough up everything that I swallowed. The scratch and burn in my throat don’t disappear, but none of that matters.Not when Gwyneth is hol
But I nod again, because if she doesn’t, he’ll turn the crazy up a notch.She hesitantly places her hand in his and he pulls her out of the water in one sweep.I take a breath and start to climb out. When I’m halfway there, he jams his foot against my chest and shoves me back into the pool again.Motherfucker.“Dad!” I hear Gwyneth’s shriek when I resurface, coughing from the water again. At this rate, I’m not getting out of here. But hey, it’s better than being drowned.I swim to the edge and he’s waiting up top with a dark expression on his face, probably ready to push me again.But I climb out anyway.Before he can act on his plans, though, Gwyneth steps in front of him, holding her hands wide apart. “Stop it, Dad. Please, stop.”“You stay out of it. I’m going to deal with you later.” He starts to push her away, but she keeps her feet planted long after I’m out of the pool, dripping all over the ground.“I can’t stay out of it, because this is about me, too. I chose to be with him.
KingsleyPeople spend their entire lives avoiding crime—or try to.Not me.I knew that I’d do it one day. That at some point, the crazy genes, as my father and his bitch of wife called them, would catch up to me and I’d snap.That’s why I chose law. It definitely wasn’t out of a warped sense of justice. I just had to learn law to get around it and apply self-restraint so that I didn’t end up murdering someone accidentally.Or intentionally.It’s been easier with Gwen around, because I have someone to focus on, someone not to get caught for. I had to raise her, to be the parent my own parents weren’t. I had to be the person who protected her from the world.But I couldn’t protect her from my motherfucking friend.Ex-friendbecause I’m going to blow his brains out in about five minutes.I always knew I’d kill. I just didn’t know it’d be the man I considered a fucking brother.Nate and I didn’t start our friendship the conventional way. We were rivals for way too long, then we saw similar
In the past, Nate was never the type to hold back, not for any reason. But right now, he’s lessening the blow of his punches, no matter how much I hit him, and I don’t think it’s because I’m still recovering from the accident.The same damn accident that caused me to leave Gwen alone with him and the fucking woman who gave birth to her.When we’re finally spent, I roll to sit against the chair while Nate winces and leans against the wall, his legs outstretched in front of him.He wipes his face and grunts. “Fuck you, King. Fuck you for being a goddamn motherfucking dick.”“And fuck you for stabbing me in the back. She’s a fucking kid. She hasn’t lived yet and you ruined everything.”“She’s not a fucking kid. She stopped being that a long time ago, but you keep overprotecting her to keep her with you forever. She’s strong and knows how to take care of herself, and you need to start getting used to that.”“Shut the fuck up. You don’t get to tell me how to treat my own daughter. You will
Her head snaps up and the green in her eyes rushes forward. “No, Dad. No. He didn’t use me. Never. If anything, I made the first move, okay? I kissed him on my eighteenth birthday because I had this major crush on him that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I told myself it was wrong. I even wrote the wordcrushon my list, but I couldn’t desensitize myself to him. Still, I tried, I really tried, Dad. I dated and went out. I forced myself to think of him less, but it became more. My feelings were unrequited for such a long time that I hated myself for having them. But you know what? I’m not going to apologize to you or him for the way I feel. I love him and it’s none of anyone’s business. It’s mine and I choose to have these feelings, Dad. I chose to love him. No one made me do it.”She’s breathing heavily, chest rising and falling in a frantic rhythm, and a tear slides down her cheek.Fuck. Fuck.Fuck!She’s too far gone for the motherfucker—whose death I will make the most painful po
GwynethDad came up with a plan.Or more like expulsion.He told Nate to go to the Seattle branch of W&S; it’s been around for a couple of years and has been growing noticeably. That way, he can stay away from me.It’s not that Dad cares about the Seattle branch, it’s that he wants to separate us with everything he has.Over the past week, he’s been setting things in motion for the separation of property and threatened Nate to shred the power of attorney agreement. Nate did it because he’s been mostly placating Dad. Besides, he doesn’t need power of attorney now that all properties legally belong to my father.Then Dad insisted that he divorce me, and that’s when Nate said no. He also said no to leaving because, “Fuck you, King.”Those were his exact words the other day.I don’t see him much anymore, because Dad has kicked up the overprotectiveness a notch. Obviously, I intern with him now and he takes me everywhere, including to his ruthless showdowns with Susan that he usually doesn
“I miss you, too. I…it hurts, Nate. Everything hurts.”“I’ll make it better. I promise.”“But Dad—” The words come to a jolting halt when he places a finger to my mouth.“Don’t mention him when I’m about to fuck you.”A wildfire erupts in the bottom of my stomach and I gulp as he slowly removes his finger from my mouth and replaces it with his lips. I open up with a moan, reveling in how my nerve endings erupt to life.I’ve been dead for so long and my resurrection to life hurts in a bittersweet kind of way.For someone who doesn’t do kissing, Nate is the type who swallows you whole with the mere act. There isn’t an inch of me that doesn’t belong to him right now. And the dominant way he grabs me by the hair and neck to deepen the kiss turns me delirious.As if that’s not enough, he trails his lips to my neck and sucks on the skin of my collarbone. I hiss in sharp intakes of air, feeling the hickey already forming.“I’ve fucking missed your vanilla scent.”“I thought vanilla was borin
“No. Look at me while I fuck you, wife.”I open my eyes and our gazes lock as he thrusts into me slow and long and deep. So deep that he hits a place I didn’t think existed.With each roll of his hips, he not only fills up the emptiness, but he also engraves himself into that large space in my heart that he’s been occupying for years.The space that kept growing without my permission and wouldn’t stop.His lips find my forehead, my cheek, my nose, my collarbone as he whispers, “You’re so fucking beautiful. So fucking addictive. So fucking mine.”And then he claims my mouth, his tongue emulating the same depth of his cock. They both pick up speed, his tongue and his cock, making the table hit the wall with each powerful rock of his hips.He kisses like he fucks, with maddening urgency and impeccable control. He kisses like he never wants to separate his lips and tongue from mine. And I’m a goner for his possessive dominance, for the way he handles me with sure command, for the way he k
EpilogueRachelSeven months later.I’m heavily pregnant, and I feel like the broad side of a barn. I can’t see my feet. I can’t feel my ass. I’m just fat everywhere, and I love it so damn much. I haven’t had the easiest pregnancy, but it’s been wonderful nonetheless because my dreams have finally come true.After we made-up, things went into hyperdrive. Max settled in New York, buying a huge apartment for us to share, and I moved in with him right away. We converted one of the spare bedrooms into a nursery, and my boyfriend has been going crazy furnishing it with a crib, dresser, and a plethora of stuffed animals that our baby won’t be able to play with until he’s at least a year old. But even if it’s over the top, I love it. Max is beyond excited to be a father, and I’m so happy that that’s the case.Not only that, but Max has cut back on his traveling because he wants to be here for me and the baby. Don’t get me wrong: my boyfriend is absolutely in demand, but he restricts his busi
“I know,” she says in a muffled voice. “And I’m so sorry for the mix-up.”I merely wipe her tears away with my thumb.“Rachel Champion, I can’t believe you think I’d take up with a brat like Katy when I am desperately in love with you.”At that, she looks up, her eyes wide and surprised.“What did you say?” she whispers.But my motivations are true, and I pull her against me once more.“I love you, Rachel. I think I fell into lust that first afternoon when I came upon you sunbathing by the pool. But it turned into something more during the time we spent at the cottage, and now, I want to be with you, sweet girl. Permanently.”She sobs even harder, and I stroke her hair and continue.“I’ve been trying to figure out how to get in touch with you over the last few days, and came up with nada, so honey, don’t be angry, but I went to your parents’ apartment and got your address.”She gasps then, staring at me.“You told Maurice about us?”“Your mom, too,” I say with a small smile. “Thankful
MaxI rush to the East Village like a madman. I wouldn’t be surprised if my hair is on fire, I’m that desperate. But when I come to Rachel’s apartment building, I pause for a moment. There’s no sense in looking like a crazy person, even if I am one.Fortunately, one of her neighbors exits right when I’m entering, so I don’t have to buzz up. Instead, I climb the rickety stairs to the third floor and stand before Rachel’s door with my hand poised. Then I knock in what I hope is a firm, assured manner.To my surprise, the curvy girl answers immediately. She must have been expecting take-out because she’s got her wallet in one hand, already open. But then she gasps, her eyes wide.“Max?”I look at her for the first time in far too long and notice all the little things. She’s gorgeous. Her hair is in a messy bun piled on top of her head, and she’s in baggy sweats, but they don’t do anything to conceal those sassy hills and valleys. If anything, she looks better natural like this, and very
MaxIt’s been seven days since Rachel left in the middle of the night to go back to New York to deliver a baby. It’s been six days since I last talked to her. Five days since I got called away for a last-minute job doing make-up for a young debutante. Evidently, Katy Mellon is graduating from high school and wanted her hair and make-up done professionally. She’s a brat, but the job paid well, and I decided to take it.But now, I need to talk to Rachel. I’ve called her a million times, but she never picks up. Not only that, but my emails and texts have gone unanswered. What the hell?As a result, it’s come to this. I’m standing in front of her parents’ apartment building, ready to ring the bell. I need to get in touch with his daughter, and now Maurice is my only hope. Surely he won’t kill me for dating his daughter. Or will he?I groan into my hands. Of course he’s going to kill me because a man never expects his oldest friend to bang the little girl he raised. And I did it on his pro
My best friend gazes at me from the video screen with a concerned look on her face, likely because I’m pale and trembling.“I’m pregnant,” I say without any preamble.Her jaw drops. “The test results came back!”“Yes, they did. I am absolutely, one hundred percent pregnant. They did a blood test and all that.”Laurelin’s eyes go wide as she bounces her baby on her knee.“Holy shit, Rach. Do you know if it’s Danny’s child? Or Max’s?”I let out a slow exhale.“It’s Max’s for sure because Danny and I didn’t have sex for months before we broke up.”She lets out a big breath. “Oh, thank God.”“Small favors, right?”She nods.“So have you told the father yet?”I take a deep breath.“No, not yet. I mean, it’s just so unexpected! This whole thing, I don’t even know how to describe it. We were only at the cottage together because of a scheduling mistake by my parents!”Laurelin nods.“Yes, but Max knows how babies are made. And you did say you guys were going at it like rabbits.” I nod, biting
RachelI wake up the next morning feeling groggy and out of sorts. My muscles are sore from falling asleep in a weird position, and I stand to stretch. Oof! I need a massage, but that probably won’t happen today. Instead, I get up and head into the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower. The water feels good pounding on my frame, and by the time I’m dressed and made-up, I’m feeling more alive.I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. The date on the milk is only one day out, so I open it and lift it to my nose. But the smell makes me so nauseous that I literally gag and run to the sink before pouring it out with my nostrils pinched shut. Ugh, that was so gross and I flush the entire mess with a bolt of water from the faucet. How disgusting.I decide to cook some eggs and waffles, but those also make me horrifically sick, so I give up and just nibble on some dry crackers. I wonder if something’s going around?At that moment, Laurelin calls and asks if I want to meet her for sushi at
RachelAfter four blissful days and nights wrapped in Max’s arms, suddenly I’m leaving. One of my clients has gone into early labor, and I have to get back to the city asap.I wake Max in the darkness of the pre-dawn morning. At first, he’s sleepy and growly, but then he sits up when he sees I’m dressed and packed.“What’s going on, sweetheart? Is everything okay? Are your parents okay?”I smile in the darkness.“Everything’s fine. I just have a patient who’s in labor really early. I need to head back to the city.”He lets out a breath and says, “Okay, give me a few minutes, and I’ll drive you.”I shake my head.“No no, it’s okay. Go back to sleep. Rest. I do this all the time, so I’m used to getting dragged out of bed for false alarms. The baby probably just wants to make herself known, so she’s kicking up a storm right now. It’s fine.”“You sure?” he asks, frowning.“I’m positive. Go back to sleep. We’ll talk soon.”He nods.“Okay. Will you be back tonight?”I sling my pack over one
Suddenly, it strikes me. Rachel’s absolutely beautiful. Not just her face and her curves, but her soul is gorgeous. I find myself regretting the fact that soon enough, life will take us on our different paths. Rather abruptly, I interrupt.“How long do you think you can stay at the cottage?”Rachel’s face falls a bit at the change in subject. She laughs, but there’s a regretful undertone to it.“To be honest, I probably need to head back before the weekend.”My heart contracts. Fuck. It’s already Tuesday, which gives us only a few more days together. Suddenly, I want her to stay, and I want our idyllic vacation to continue forever. But she can’t because there are babies waiting to be born, and I can’t either, because I have a business to tend to. So instead, I school my expression into neutrality.“Of course. A job is a job, and these kids come when they feel like it.”She merely smiles faintly. “Yes, that’s true. But what about you, Max? What does the next chapter hold for you?”I lo
MaxOur food arrives, and we dig in, the conversation dying down a bit. In the middle of her lobster roll, Rachel looks up and blinks.“Do you ever miss being in one place? After a lifetime of travel, do you think you could settle down?”Wow, that’s a big question, but this woman already means a lot to me, and she deserves an honest answer. I sit back from the table for a moment and just look at her pretty features. “I don’t know. I never did, at least not until recently. The Max Wyndham brand has been around for a while now, and it’s pretty established. I don’t have to hustle the way I used to, that’s for sure.”Rachel nods, her eyes wide.“Of course, everyone knows you, even people not in the beauty industry. You’re huge, Uncle Max!”I nod.“Yeah, and it keeps me on my toes. I have a deal with Sephora where I need to do an appearance whenever they open a new store.”Rachel gasps, her brown eyes wide.“But there are so many Sephoras, and they’re always opening new locations all over