by Nia Arthurs
“Technically, that wasn’t very selfless—”
“But I’m not here to use you. I’m going to love you. You. All of you. All the time. You come first. That means I’ll drop everything when you call. That means, no one else can take your place. If your entire family turns their backs on you, I won’t.”
My lips tremble. “Really?”
“I don’t do anything halfway.” He glances over. “Now that I have you, I’m never giving you a reason to leave me. You should know that upfront.”
“Fine. I accept your warning.” I fold my arms over my chest. “But we’re still going to see Steph.”
He opens his mouth.
I cut him off. “It’s not because I’m trying to be considerate. I want to give her a message.”
“What message?”
I interlace our fingers. “That she doesn’t have to worry. I’ll take good care of Uncle Brogan’s heart.”
Brogan brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. There’s a secret little smile on his face.
I rub my thumb over the back of his hands, acknowledging the scars from his past life, the evidence of his pain, his failures, and his insecurities.
My heart is full.
I drop my lips to his scars.
Brogan glances over, a questioning look in his eyes.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
I smile and rest my head against his hands.
I love this man.
My husband.
Wow.
I’m really married now.
For real, for real.
Brogan parks in front of the hospital. The moment he shuts the engine, he reaches over and kisses me.
I kiss him back, tugging at the top button of his shirt. If I could crawl into his lap, I totally would, but we’ve got a little girl to visit.
“Brogan,” I mumble, pulling back just enough to breathe, “we’ve got things to do.”
He groans. “Are you trying to test my self-restraint?”
“Come on.” I open my door and meet him on the sidewalk.
As if he can’t help but touch me, Brogan slides his hand around my waist. “We won’t take long.”
“Don’t rush me,” I pretend to scold him. “We’ll hang with Steph until she goes to bed and then…”
He tucks one of my unruly curls behind my ear. “And then?”
“And then I’m going home and taking advantage of you.”
Brogan throws his head back and laughs.
Thirty-Five
Brogan
I’m taking a nap on Saturday afternoon when I feel a kiss on my cheek.
“Brogan,” a sultry voice whispers.
It’s her voice.
Mm. Elizabeth.
I’d know her even if I didn’t hear her.
I’d know her just by the way my heart is beating faster.
Three weeks and I keep falling in love with her.
Everyday.
It gets better and better.
I mumble something.
It’s probably gibberish.
I’m still sleeping.
Or at least I’m trying to.
I’m exhausted.
Elizabeth, Lana, Mom and I have been taking shifts at the hospital with Steph. I had the late night shift yesterday and, when I got back home this morning, Elizabeth dragged me to bed.
But she wasn’t interested in sleeping.
That woman is my greatest weakness. As soon as she touched me, I pushed my exhaustion aside and focused on her.
Pleasing her.
Hearing her quiet little moans.
Dragging my hands up her quivering skin.
What can I say?
I have a smoking hot wife.
Just looking at her stirs me up.
My body burned through that excitement pretty quick though. A brutal headache descended on me, demanding I get some rest and stop pushing myself on less than two hours of sleep when my tank was on E.
Since I chose to keep loving on my wife instead of heeding the warning, I was hoping to catch a nap until dinner.
Elizabeth kisses my cheek. “Wake.” A kiss to my jaw. “Up.”
“Five more minutes.”
“Brogan, you sound like a little kid.”
“I’m sleeping.”
“How are you sleeping and you’re talking to me?” she asks sassily.
“Woman…” I growl.
Rolling over towards her side of the bed, I reach for her. My hand falls flat on the mattress. Immediately, my eyes open wide. The unease I’ve grown to despise washes over me.
It’s a habit of life with Elizabeth that I wasn’t prepared for.
I spent years after my divorce enjoying my lonely bed.
I could spread out.
Sprawl off.
Hog up every inch of my mattress.
Now?
If I reach over and Elizabeth’s not there, I don’t feel right.
I have to get up.
Have to find her.
Have to hold her.
It doesn’t matter where she is. Bathroom? Kitchen? Outside getting the mail? I’m there, my arms around her, my lips scattering kisses over her neck.
She’s humoring me for now, though I sense that she’s not used to so much affection. She’ll have to adjust. I don’t see my obsession with her wearing off any time soon.
“Baby,” she whispers, “I’m this way.”
I roll around and see her grinning at me. She’s stooping by my side of the bed, her arms wrapped around her knees and her brown eyes beaming with soft adoration.
As usual, her hair is out like a lion’s mane. I prefer it like that. She’s sexy as hell with it slicked back in a ponytail or up in a bun, but I like to see the frizzy coils framing her face.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” she smiles, “dinner’s ready.”
“What time is it?”
“Three.”
I rub my eyes. I’ve been sleeping for five hours.
Geez.
My body’s still aching.
“You need to eat something.”
I grab her and drag her on top of me.
“Brogan!” she squeals.
“I have everything I need right here,” I say, kissing her chest.
Elizabeth tries to wiggle away. “Food. You need actual food. As amazing a wife as I am, I don’t count.”
“I disagree with that statement.” I give her a wicked smirk.
She rolls her eyes. “You can’t keep skipping meals. Mama’s on my back asking why you’re not fat yet.”
I laugh.
“What? It’s true.”
“Is that why your aunts keep stopping by with tamales? They’re trying to plump me up?”
“No, they’re just like that.”
I squeeze her tight. “Your family’s awesome.”
“Are you being sarcastic?” She lifts up and peers at me with eyes narrowed.
“No, I’m serious. I love them.”
“Well the feeling’s mutual.” She sighs. “Its your fault for being so loveable. Of course they’d adore you as much as I do.”
“You adore me, huh?” I stretch my arm behind my head and look at her smugly.
“Most of the time.”
I chuckle.
I have a great relationship with Elizabeth’s family and especially her parents. Her dad feels like my own. I know exactly how my wife learned to love so openly and honestly. It’s from those amazing people.
“Now, come on.” She scrambles off me. “The food’s getting cold.”
I oblige my wife. With my arm slung around her waist and my palm pressing against her belly, I stroll with her to the kitchen.
When we sit down, Elizabeth checks her phone.
“What’s up?”
“It’s another picture of Novah on her honeymoon,” she says.
I stiffen. Though Elizabeth has forgiven Novah for her part in our misunderstanding, I haven’t. Her cousin
will need to do a lot more than a half-hearted apology and a flimsy ‘I thought it was for the best’ explanation to get back in my good graces.
“Stop scowling.” Elizabeth takes a sip of water.
“I’m not scowling.”
“Novah is family. I can’t just drop her.”
I don’t see why not, but there’s no use arguing. Elizabeth’s devotion to her family and her caring heart allows her to extend second, third and fourth chances. I’m trying to be considerate of that, but she’s someone I have to protect.
And I will.
I don’t care who it is, if they mess with her, they mess with me.
“By the way,” Elizabeth says, “Gerard took the day off today.”
“He did? But I saw him at the hospital with Mom earlier.”
“Exactly.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
I stare at her in confusion.
“Ah forget it.” She sighs. “Men are so blind.” She pulls her hair back and pouts a little. “Can you take me to the grocery store later?”
“You’ve already gotten used to being chauffeured?”
“What can I say? I’m spoiled.”
I caress her cheek. “And that’s only the beginning. I can’t wait to take you traveling.”
“Paris?”
“Of course.”
“Mumbai.”
“Baby, anywhere you want to go. Anytime.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have a job.”
I smirk. “You don’t need one.”
“I’m not quitting,” she says laughingly. “In case you’re thinking about starting that topic again.”
“You don’t have to work—”
“But I want to.” She sets her hand on my leg. “I especially like being at my desk and staring at the boss when no one’s looking.” She licks her lips. Strokes a circle on my thigh. “I like thinking about what I’m going to do to him when we get home…”
I drop my fork.
Elizabeth chuckles and puts it back in my hand. “But mostly, I like having my independence.”
“When we have kids—”
“When we have kids,” she says, still smiling, “I’ll consider staying home. I’m happy like this for now.” Elizabeth gestures to my plate and arches both eyebrows.
I eat with one hand and caress her with the other. We talk about her family, Steph, my mom and the latest office gossip. We joke about Levy’s new hair-cut and discuss her Uncle Kevin’s decision to pursue his reggae artist career in Jamaica. The hours zoom by as we contentedly enjoy each other’s company.
That’s another facet of marriage to Elizabeth that was unexpected. She has truly become my best friend. I can talk to her about anything and she never fails to make me smile.
After dinner, we cuddle on the couch—my arms around her waist, her trim legs tangled in mine—watching a movie.
“Feed me,” Elizabeth demands, opening her mouth without tearing her eyes off the television.
I toss popcorn into her mouth. She munches happily while I brush her hair away from her face and kiss her cheek.
Her skin is soft beneath my fingertips.
Her eyes are two black diamonds.
Damn.
I love her.
My lips find her ear.
I kiss the fleshy part of her lobe gently.
Then I nibble on it.
She makes a sound deep in her throat.
“You like that?” I growl.
“Brogan,” Elizabeth murmurs, her voice already sounding breathless, “focus.”
“I am focusing.”
She flashes me a look. “On the movie.”
“That you’ve seen a thousand times already?” My hand slips under her shirt. Caresses the smooth brown skin.
Up.
Up.
There.
She gasps, still trying hard to maintain her firm stance despite the way her body’s arching against me. “Brogan… Brogan, we’re just… getting to the good part.”
I lower her down into the couch. “Oh, baby, I know.”
Elizabeth abandons all arguments as I grab her thighs and wrap them around me. Her hair lying flat on the couch and her eyes brimming with desire, she rakes her fingers down my beard.
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“Thank you for coming into my life, Brogan Harrington.”
“Thank you for marrying me, Elizabeth Harrington.”
She grins.
Leaning down, I kiss her good and proper.
Her fingers dig into the back of my neck.
Her hips buck against mine.
Clothes fall to the ground like rain.
Pretty soon, we both forget about the movie.
After, I massage Elizabeth’s scalp, crush her curls beneath my fingers and listen to her soft breath. She’s lying on my chest, her body limp and weightless. I close my eyes, savouring the quiet moment.
This is exactly what I want.
A wife.
A family of my own.
My scarred hands run down her shoulders.
I’m imperfect. So broken. But I’m a better man because of her and I will never, ever take my blessing—my wife for granted.
Elizabeth glances up at me.
I read the love in her eyes.
And I know, in that moment, I’ve found what I’ve been missing and I’ll never be the same.
Epilogue
Dear Nurse Ina
Today is my last day at the hospital. I don’t think I can say goodbye in person so I’m writing this letter instead.
I wanted to let you know that you’re my best friend and that I’ll miss you.
But I won’t miss this place.
I hated being sick. I really did. There was so much I couldn’t do.
Now, I’m free. I can’t wait to play outside and run. That’s the first thing I’m going to do when I get out. I’m going to run. Really run. As fast as I can.
And the second thing I’m going to do when I’m out is visit Make It Marriage. Ms. Kayla said I could. She said she had a desk waiting for me and that, since I got Uncle Brogan and Aunt Elizabeth together, I could work without pay like Nellie did.
Oh, Nurse Ina, I can’t believe you and Uncle Brogan got Kayla, Venus and Amina to come and visit me last week. That was the best birthday present ever! They were all pretty and funny and exactly what you described.
I just loved Amina’s beautiful, dark skin. She looks like a queen!
And Kayla is so sweet and kind.
Venus has such amazing red, curly hair, but she didn’t want to tell me an adult joke. Bummer.
Anyway, I need to hurry up and finish this letter. Uncle Brogan and Aunt Elizabeth will come pick me up soon. I really love hanging out with those two. Uncle Brogan smiles a lot more now. No more frowny faces!
He’s always touching Aunt Elizabeth and looking at her like I look at Zania’s chocolate cupcakes. Aunt Elizabeth pretends to be annoyed, but she’s always smiling too. It’s too cute.
Of course they’re perfect together. I matched them. And, when I get out of here, I’m going to match a whole bunch of other people too.
Grandma Gwen said the future’s wide open and I can be anything I want. I want to be a matchmaker at Make It Marriage. Can I hurry up and be eighteen already?
Please come and visit me at home, Nurse Ina. I’d come to the hospital, but you know how I feel about there.
Oh, Uncle Brogan’s here with Aunt Elizabeth. They’re holding hands. Aw!
Anyway, bye.
Love you.
Steph
***
Keep reading to find out how you can get an exclusive bonus scene featuring Brogan, Elizabeth, Steph and the rest of the family!
Also, I have a brand new series coming out soon with an exciting twist! I can’t wait to share the sneak peek with you!
I loved to see all the Make It Marriage matchmakers through Steph’s eyes and it was lovely
to follow along the journey of a couple that Kayla and Venus matched. Brogan and Elizabeth will forever have a soft spot in my heart. I hope you feel the same! If you liked this book please leave a review now.
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Author’s Note
So… I’ll be completely honest. I started writing ‘Be My Wife’ because… I wanted a novel called ‘Be My Wife’. But I’m so happy I gave into that impulse because Brogan and Elizabeth were such a blast to learn about.
Brogan’s hesitancy to fall in love is one I’m sure many can sympathize with. We’re all imperfect and we all hurt each other—some more intentionally than others. It’s tough to build back trust when you’ve given everything only to be destroyed and betrayed in the process of being vulnerable.
Brogan’s previous marriage burned him badly (see what I did there) and he shut the door on love and happiness. That’s why I’m so happy he met Elizabeth. The premise of their union was… something not many sane people would go for, but I believe there was a part of Elizabeth that knew, deep down, she was looking at a man she could trust. And Brogan found out pretty quickly that Elizabeth was the missing piece he didn’t know he’d been searching for.
But wait. This story’s not done yet. I know some of you were hoping for a wedding scene and although I don’t normally write those, I made an exception for this couple—after all, Mama and the other aunts would not be okay without seeing Elizabeth in that princess dress.
For access to this exclusive scene (and future sneak peeks, cover reveals and book deals from me), sign up to my newsletter here.
Until the next whirlwind BWWM romance.
~ Nia
Trapped In You
SNEAK PEEK
Sneak Peek! Trapped In You Chapter One
Shanel
I open the door to my apartment.
It’s dark and empty.
