by Brynn Paulin
“Elijah hasn’t said much about them.”
Great, here it comes…
“Well, he’s still angry with them. As soon as he turned eighteen, they up and left to be missionaries in Guatemala, and he’s really not in agreement with their calling.”
That was an understatement. They’d abandoned everything, including their only child. I didn’t fool myself into believing it had nothing to do with my worry about Cricket leaving me. It had left me with a few deep-seated but mostly hidden issues.
“That must have hurt,” she quietly observed, studying me.
I shrugged.
“Shall we finish dinner?” Grand said, retaking his seat. I held out Cricket’s chair for her before sinking into my own. “I hope you don’t listen to a thing that fool said.” He jerked his head toward the door Kevin had been ushered out of. “I find you just as perfect and delightful as Elijah does. I have no trouble seeing why he’s so taken with you. Those great-grandbabies will be stunning.”
“You know it’s weird how obsessed you are with me having kids?” I said, while my fiancée blushed.
He waved his hand at me. “Gender lines are stupid. I want descendants.”
I glanced at Cricket. “Grand is very progressive.”
“I am,” he defended. “You don’t hear me telling your girl here that she should abandon her career dreams and pop out babies for you. Her goals are admirable, and I think she should pursue them with all her might.”
“While she’s popping out children for you to bounce on your knee?”
“Well…”
“I’d like to say,” Cricket interrupted, lifting her hand to stop us, “this discussion of popping out kids is a little disturbing.”
“Of course. Sorry.” Grand looked anything but remorseful. I could practically see him calculating how long it would be until Cricket and I provided his next progeny. “So the wedding?” he asked.
I groaned and dropped my face into my hand.
Cricket giggled. “Let me start school first, and we’ll see.”
* * * *
“I like your Grand,” Cricket said once we were back in the limo. Having spied his library when we’d come in, she’d sidetracked him into a discussion about books and authors. They’d still be discussing the merits of Bronte versus Austen if I hadn’t announced we needed to go, since we had an hour and a half drive back home.
“He’s something.”
“I can’t believe he knows so much about Harry Potter.”
“He’d tell you it’s because he’s a Ravenclaw.”
She laughed, and I pulled her onto my lap. “You okay?”
Her brow furrowed. “Yeah. Why?”
“It’s been a rough day. There’s whatever happened earlier… And Kevin…”
“Oh. Yeah, I’m okay.” She laid her head on my shoulder. “It helps to have my big bad protector looking out for me.” She shrugged. “But it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with for years. Ella and her friends could be besties with Kevin. Same rhetoric and script. I just have to remind myself that for every one of them, I’ve met dozens who aren’t jerks.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
She shrugged again.
“Your stepmom is a plastic surgeon. Pretty well-known. Why didn’t she ever…?”
“Fix me?”
“You don’t need to be fixed,” I snapped.
She patted my chest. “It’s okay, Brix. I’m not offended. She wanted to. I refused.”
“Why?” He lifted a hand. “No judgment. I just want to know your thoughts.”
“It’s…complicated. I felt like she and my dad were implying I wasn’t good enough as I was—and really, maybe if I had done it… Maybe I wouldn’t have been pushed outside their circle like I was. I mean I’ve been there but so peripheral.”
“Oh, Princess.”
“And then there was also…other kids. They made fun of me for years. Then if I went and had surgery or a procedure, which might not have erased the scars, they’d make fun of me for doing that. It’s dumb, but I didn’t want to give them more ammunition. They tormented me enough when I tried to cover it with makeup.” She huffed a weary sigh. “And I was afraid of getting my hopes up then having them dashed if it failed. Then mostly—”
She broke off, her voice ragged with emotion and her breathing breaking apart.
“You don’t have to—”
Her fingers covered my lips. “I… I do.” She took a deep breath. “Mostly, and probably the strangest reason, at least to someone outside, it’s a connection to my mom. It happened when she died. I was in the car with her when the accident happened.”
My arms squeezed around her, and my eyes closed as her pain filled me. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“And you’re still living it every day.”
“Not as much lately.”
I met her tear-filled eyes. “I can be your oasis.”
“You already are.” Turning, she straddled me, and I was taken back to our first time in this limo. This time, my princess knew exactly what she was doing as she rocked that hot, little pussy against my fly. Her head dropped back with a moan, and I thanked all the stars that I’d had the foresight to have up the divider between us and Lance.
Since we hadn’t gone home before dinner, Cricket still wore the pencil skirt she’d had on for the office. It rucked up to her hips as she moved over me, giving me a clear view of the delicate pink panties covering my treasure. One of my hands gripped her thigh, guiding her while the other stole to that bit of fabric separating me from what was mine. I pushed it to the side and stroked my thumb over her wet crease.
“Yes, Elijah,” she groaned. “More.”
Happy to oblige, I delved deeper to find her clit. I wanted her to fall apart here in my arms. Needed it. I think we both did. It had been a rough day. I desired nothing more than to make it better. To give her everything. All of me. All of our future. All the pleasure she could endure.
It didn’t take long before she was shaking in my arms and calling out my name while I tormented her clit. The fly of my pants was soaked from her cum, and I didn’t give a fuck. I just needed in her. As if knowing that—probably just wanting that—Cricket tore at the button of my pants, seeming almost as anxious as I was to have my cock free. I kept fucking her with my fingers. With a lift of my hips to help, she yanked down my trousers and boxer-briefs enough to get me free.
“I want to ride you.”
“Yes,” I answered. Gripping her hips, I moved her over me, and she sank down with her mouth in a pleasure-filled O. “Oh, fuck,” I groaned as her tight, wet heat squeezed around me. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“Yes, fuck,” she whispered against my lips.
My hand buried in her hair as I kissed her deeply, devouring her while she moved on me. My woman felt so damn good, and all I could think of—what little thought it really was—was emptying myself in her, claiming her again, marking her so everyone knew she was mine.
“I am yours,” she gasped, and I knew I must have said at least part of that aloud. Did it make me a caveman? Fuck if I cared.
Pressure gathered at the base of my spine. I couldn’t hold off much longer.
“Come again for me,” I urged, thrusting harder while I bit down on her shoulder through her clothes.
“Oh my God,” Cricket yelled. Her pussy clamped around me, a vise drawing out my very soul as I empty into her.
“Holy fuck,” I muttered into her neck as we both wilted into one another a few minutes later.
“Yeah…” she breathed.
“I think I’m going to earn a world record in frequent flyer miles this fall.” There was no way I’d go weeks without her. Just the idea of it made me ache inside like nothing ever had. She wasn’t abandoning me, but it felt damn close. I was such a mess sometimes. “I fucking hate Michigan State right now.”
“Too bad they won’t get their wish. I’d like to see this fancy-pants plane of you
rs sometime, by the way.”
“Fancy-pants? You’re such a smartass.”
“Smarty pants; smartass. So confusing.”
“Well, I have some ideas for the rest of the ride home. It involved your ass and no pants at all.”
“Didn’t we just do that? I mean, unless I’m hallucinating, you’re still inside me.”
I laughed, my cock twitching. I’d be full-on fucking her in minutes. Then I latched on to something she’d said. “What do you mean they’re not getting their wish?”
“I’m staying. I talked to the university here and to the administrators of my scholarship. I’ve been accepted and my scholarship can be transferred—although, I might need to take out a loan to pay for the first semester because of short notice.”
“Babe, I’ll pay for it. I’ll pay for the whole four years. I just want you here.”
“You don’t need to do that—”
“Don’t argue with me,” I interrupted. “I’m funding whatever isn’t covered. It’s my fault you’re staying.”
“I don’t know if I’d say it’s your fault. You don’t seem surprised.”
“Of course not. They were salivating to get you. Do you have any idea how rare you are? Talented, beautiful, brilliant, hard-working.”
“You’re severely biased.”
“I think your record speaks for itself. And anyone who isn’t a fucking blind asshole can see how amazing and gorgeous you are.”
“You’re very sweary tonight.”
“I’m very in love with you.”
Her eyes misted up. “I love you, too, Elijah. You’re stuck with me, you know?”
I rocked my hips, ready for round two. This time, I tipped her onto the seat and moved over her. “I can’t think of anything better.”
Chapter Thirteen
~ Cricket ~
Dazed, I walked down the sidewalk toward the subway. Brix didn’t like me taking public transportation, but I hadn’t been able to get hold of him or Lance all morning. It was strange since Brix usually answered my calls before the first ring ended, but today, all my calls had gone to voicemail. There had been no responses to my texts.
Apparently, something big was going on in the office. I’d told Brix I had a doctor’s appointment this morning for a checkup and I’d be in late-morning. It was time to get my next shot. So after making love this morning, we’d parted ways with my promise I’d go to my appointment in one of the courtesy town cars his building provided.
I’d figured Lance would pick me up. Guess not.
My hand covered my stomach as the news I’d gotten screamed through my head.
Pregnant.
Pregnant. I was having Brix’s baby.
I knew he wanted that. We’d talked about it the night we’d gone to dinner with his grandfather. Brix wanted me to have his baby ASAP, but after some discussion, we’d decided it would be better to wait. So, I was supposed to be getting my next birth control shot this morning. Too late. Apparently, my last one hadn’t stayed effective to the end. Brix must have knocked me up the first week we were together.
Things had been on an even keel this past week, but this news would knock everything off-kilter. At least, until we adjusted. I couldn’t say I was upset, just worried about how I’d handle everything.
Brix would be thrilled. I knew that. And his Grand… When we’d seen him a few days ago, he’d been on the give-me-a-grandchild kick again. It was funny; he was more concerned about that than whether or not Brix and I married soon. When we’d mentioned it, he’d waved his hand and said he knew the wedding was a done deal, but kids would take some work and he wasn’t getting younger.
Smiling, I tried to reach Brix once more. If nothing else, I wanted to let him know I was taking the train to the office. Better that he find out now than he freaked out later.
Again, no response.
My brow furrowed and worry wormed itself in. Something had to be going on. It was totally unlike him not to at least text back, even if he was in a meeting.
Concerned, I called one of my least favorite people, but she was a necessary evil at this point.
“What do you want?” Diana demanded after I told her who it was.
“Can you give a message to Mr. Brixton, please?” I could take the high road and not rise to her bait.
“No,” she scoffed. “He’s busy with your replacement. Don’t even bother coming back. He told me to clear out your things. You’re finished. He hasn’t been answering your calls. Maybe, you should take the hint. There’s a reason he’s not taking your calls. He had a nice long talk with your sister this morning, and she told him all about your games. He’s through with you.”
“What?”
“Are you deaf and stupid?”
Oh, enough of this bitch. “Let me talk to him,” I growled.
The single laugh she huffed was full of ridicule. “No. Did you really think he loved you? That’s rich. You’re such a joke.”
Before I got in another word, she hung up.
What. The. Hell?
Suddenly, absolute fear Ella had gotten to him and made him believe her lies gripped me. My body went cold, my hands shaking from the tension. I’d given up everything for him. I’d changed everything. I’d given him everything. And I was pregnant. This couldn’t be happening.
The train ride was a blur, my stomach in a constant knot that grew tighter and tighter as the car rocketed through the tunnels beneath the city. I tried to text Brix again as I hurried through the brightly lit station, the oppressive summer humidity and my tension making me queasy. Someone slammed into me, knocking the cell from my hands, then yelled at me to watch out. A kind man, about my age, handed it back to me, a regretful smile on his face.
“Here you go,” he said. “I don’t know how good it’ll be anymore.”
Looking down, I saw the screen was shattered. Of course. I shook my head, tears filling my vision. God, this day!
“Hey, you can probably get it fixed at one of those repair places,” he tried to console me. “Don’t cry.”
“Just a bad day,” I said, still shaking my head. I held up my phone. “Thanks for this.”
I headed for Brix’s office, about four blocks from the station. A midsummer heatwave had hit, and my clothes clung to my skin. The skyscrapers around me blocked out any chance of a breeze. With the added heat from the crowded streets, I felt lightheaded and ready to vomit. I just wanted to get inside to the air-conditioning and Brix’s reassurance.
My agitation built higher with every step, not helping the situation. I took deep breaths, trying to fight off the nausea, but the problem was, I could barely breathe let alone inhale deeply. The acrid city smells and cloying scents from food carts didn’t help, either.
I doubted it was morning sickness, as I hadn’t been sick until now. It was nerves. Just nerves. And fear. I needed to calm down.
Getting to the bottom of what Diana had said and the issue of not being able to reach Brix were in the forefront of my mind when I stormed into the building. I marched up the flight of four steps from the door to the main lobby. Already overwrought, I almost screamed in fury when I got there. Ella stood at the landing, arms crossed as she stared at me in all her elegant, disdainful glory. She looked entirely unsurprised to see me.
“What did you do?” I demanded, shaking my broken phone at her. “What did you say to him?”
Ella smirked. “Wouldn’t you like to know? I told him the truth about you, Beast. I told him all about how you attacked me, how awful you always were to my friends, the mean things you do to people—all the things you’ve gotten away with.”
Fury filled me. How dare she! “I… I never have, and you know it! What did you tell him?”
“Stop it!” Ella yelled suddenly. “Sto—”
Mouth open in disbelief, I stared at her aghast as she launched herself down the stairs and tumbled to a stop at the landing. Dropping everything, I rushed after her everything.
“Why did you push me?” s
he screeched. “What have I ever done to you?”
What hadn’t she done?
“What are you talking about? Why did you do that? Are you hurt?”
Security ran over just then. A pair of cops who’d apparently been at the deli, dropped their takeout bags and dashed over, as well.
“What happened? Are you all right?” the first officer asked Ella, shunting me to the side. I fell on my ass before I clambered to my feet.
“We’ve called for a medic,” one of the security reported.
“Miss, what happened?” the officer asked.
“She pushed her,” Diana yelled, pointing at me. I hadn’t even seen her until now.
“I didn’t.”
“You did. You’re angry that your ex is with her, and you attacked her. I saw it all.”
“It’s true,” Ella sniffled. “She’s always been jealous of me. I never thought she’d do this. Why did you push me? You could have really hurt me! And what is that!” she screeched. “You stole my ring.”
Reaching over, she wrenched my engagement ring off my finger.
Several sets of cold eyes turned on me. So much for being innocent until proved guilty. Apparently they had proof enough.
“I didn’t do anything,” I whispered. But no one would listen to me. My day went from horrible to worse as I found myself roughly handcuffed for assaulting Ella. “There’s a camera. Check the recording,” I insisted. “Call Elijah Brixton, the owner of the building. I didn’t push her!”
No one listened.
I was arrested, jerked outside and shoved into a car, a victim to Ella once again. This time, there was no one to help me. The only bright spot, though it was pretty dim still, was the cops taking my ring from Ella since it was evidence.
* * * *
Jail sucks.
No one answered my calls. Not Brix, not my father, not Aldan.
After being brought into the precinct, they sat me with someone who asked me personal question and tried to get information about my “crime.” It was pretty obvious they didn’t believe me and also didn’t really care. Apparently, they were charging me with a hate crime—that’s what assault fell under—and it came with a whole host of preconceived prejudices. No one wanted to listen to my assertion that I hadn’t pushed Ella. In truth, if I was as busy as these people, I might not have either. I mean, someone throwing themselves down the steps is pretty unbelievable.
