CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

GWEN POV

Deep down, I had a niggling fear that I would be hurt again, but at this moment, rising over him to take him inside me, there was only him, only me, only us.

“God, baby. Fuck me!” He levered up as I sank over him. His lips wrapped around my nipple and sucked. I felt it all the way to my center.

I rocked over him, holding his shoulders as I slowly, then with more speed, more need, moved.

“Ah. So fucking good.” He lay back, his hands rubbing my thighs as he moved underneath me.

I rested my hands on his chest as my body ached, reaching for the pinnacle.

“That’s right, baby. Ride me. Come on my cock.”

Pleasure hit me hard, rocketing through me. “Oh yes.. oh yes Alpha daddy.” I never wanted to stop. Never wanted this moment to end.

“Yes, yes baby, fuck me.. you own me.” He bucked up, filling me with his essence. Together, we moved, drawing out the pleasure as long as we could.

I collapsed over him, catching my breath. His arms wrapped around me, holding me. I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. I fell asleep wishing it truly beat only for me.

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NOLAN POV

I was on the verge of having everything I could ever want. For so long, I thought that it had been money and raising April, and while it added to the quality of my life, having love, having a child conceived of love and raised in love, that was the pinnacle.

Holding Gwen, having her say she wanted me, it felt like I had finally broken through her walls. She had opened up to me. Not just physically, but fully. Not that she had said the words, but I swore I could feel it in her touch and the way she looked at me.

For the first time in a long time, I could see my life laid out in front of me. With graduation only five weeks away, I planned to ask Gwen to move in with me once she had her college degree. The work on the rooms in my house would be done by then.

Once she was in my home and saw that I was a changed man, maybe not perfect, but definitely better, then I would ask her to marry me. I hoped that would happen before the baby came in September, but if not, that would be okay as long as she was with me. Along with learning to understand and deal with my anger, I’d learned patience.

Feeling secure that Gwen was open to the possibility of us, I was able to refocus on business. Luckily for me, Watt was a whiz in business and the gyms were doing fine. The summer and the kids’ programs were going to be a big hit.

In my other company, things were also moving along well. The continued growing trend toward health and wellness, particularly with natural and organic foods, was a real boon to my business.

Yes, life was good.

Tonight, April and Gwen were going to be studying together and I was grateful that April was spending more time with Gwen. I had to hand it to her for how well she accepted the fact that her father loved her best friend. But more than that, I was grateful that Gwen was her friend because April was struggling over the breakup with Cole. She swore to me that it was over, but I worried that if he showed up on our doorstep groveling, she would forgive him.

I knew she was in contact with his brother, Aaron. I didn’t love that idea, but my sense was that he was suffering from his brother’s behavior too, and I couldn’t find a good reason to try and forbid April from seeing him.

Since April and Gwen were busy, I made arrangements to meet Watt at a pub we both enjoyed. I arrived a little early, and as I sat down with my drink, I got a text from Watt saying he was running a few minutes late.

I pulled out my phone to see if I had any messages from Gwen. Not that I was expecting one, but I found myself always wanting to hear from her.

"Nolan Douglas, as I live and breathe."

I looked up to find a woman in her mid-forties with a shit-ton of effort to try and look thirty taking a seat at my table.

I managed to smile because I didn't want to be rude, but at the same time, my hookup days were gone. "Do I know you?" That question was always guaranteed to upset women. They didn't like to be forgotten. With that said, I hadn't forgotten her as I was certain I'd never met her.

"You do now. I'm Mira, and I have to tell you, Mr. Douglas, after seeing you and this brief exchange, I’m shocked by all that I’ve learned.”

I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was about to be played. "Well, you wouldn’t be the first person who was shocked by anything I did."

She let out a hearty laugh. It made my teeth grind as I could see it wasn't genuine.

"Well, maybe I'm not surprised. But I am surprised by Gwen. I mean, she's smart and lovely. Clearly, you could do so much better."

Anger boiled deep in my gut, and I could hear my therapist reminding me to take a breath and count to five. I'd only made it to two. "Don't talk to me about Gwen." Who the hell was this woman and how did she know me?

"I don't mean any disrespect toward you or Gwen. It's just unfortunate that your good time with her has resulted in a lifetime commitment. She's so young, and inexperienced, if you know what I mean."

The bastard in me wanted to tell her that Gwen got my rocks off better than any woman I'd ever had. But of course, that would be gauche.

Then it came to me. This had to be Gwen’s stepmother.

"Gwen is such an independent woman. She doesn't know how to be there for an important and powerful man like you. And I'm not just talking about in bed, although that too. I know how to make you look good out in the world. I'm trim and toned, working out all the time—at one of your gyms, in fact. I know how appearances mean everything. Gwen is a nice girl, but she can’t represent your brand.”

“What are you after, Mira?”

“Like I told you. You need a woman who understands your needs and your business needs. I can do that so much better than Gwen.”