The Legacy series: The Love series, the Wrapped series, and the Burning Souls series.

by Mj Fields

  ���Oh I���m sorry, I just wanted to see if you were asleep and if you needed pain medication. Did I scare you?��� Emma sat next to him.

  Maddox shoved something under his pillow, and his face turned red, ���No, no I am…I am fine.���

  ���Can���t sleep?��� Emma asked feeling his forehead.

  ���I���m a little sore but nothing unbearable.��� Maddox smiled shyly.

  ���Well if you can���t sleep Maddox, you must be uncomfortable, and if you are you should tell me. I don���t want you to be in pain,��� Emma closed her eyes.

  Maddox���s phone vibrated loudly, and Emma looked at him and smirked.

  ���Sorry I was just������ Maddox stopped and shook his head.

  ���Harper?��� Emma smiled

  ���Yes,��� he smiled back.

  ���How is she?��� Emma smirked.

  ���Well she���s a bit angry at me.��� Maddox swallowed.

  ���Why?��� Emma asked.

  ���Because I shouldn���t have ���I should have���well I���m literally confused about all of it,��� Maddox scowled.

  ���Okay,��� Emma���s word more a question than a comfort.

  ���About Rebecca, I should���ve told you as soon as I saw her, that���s what she says, and she���s very upset with me.��� Maddox looked down.

  ���Well alright so why didn���t you?��� Emma asked.

  ���It was a bad day, Dad had been arrested.��� Maddox shook his head.

  ���Is that really why?��� Emma asked.

  ���No,��� Maddox stood up and paced. ���I was trying to deceive her; she was unaware that I recognized her. I was waiting for her to confront me. It ended up being perfect that you left. I took a knife to bed with me. I didn���t plan on sleeping, I planned������

  ���Okay Maddox,��� Emma stood and hugged him. ���I���m not saying you went about it right, and I wish you had trusted me enough to tell me.���

  ���I trust you, I love you…I wanted her dead,��� Maddox sneered. ���So she couldn���t hurt anyone ever again, so that we could be safe.���

  Emma felt tears in her eyes, ���Maddox I understand, I do but had something happened to you���I wouldn���t have survived it, I love you Maddox.���

  Maddox felt tears in his eyes and looked down. ���I���m very sorry I disappointed you.���

  ���You didn���t Maddox. Now this is the part where I���m supposed to give stellar parenting advice and explain how dangerous your decision was,��� Emma wiped his tears away and hugged him. ���But I wanted the bitch dead too. I unloaded a gun on her, made her ���Swiss cheese���, as your father said and he would have done the same.���

  Maddox giggled and looked at Emma.

  ���I know it���s wrong to wish someone dead,��� Maddox said sadly.

  ���Yes it is.��� Emma looked down and shook her head, ���I know that���s not who you are though.���

  ���Maybe she will, someday.��� Maddox yawned and rubbed his shoulder as he thought about Harper.

  ���Meds?��� Emma rubbed his back.

  ���Please,��� Maddox laid down.

  Emma handed him his pill and water. ���Goodnight, I love you.���

  ���I love you, Mom,��� Maddox yawned.

  Emma shut his door and smiled as she walked into her bedroom.

  * * *

  Emma watched Brody sleeping; his face looked so relaxed, so peaceful.

  He is absolutely beautiful. His face could be described as oval if it were not for the cheek bones, the strong jaw line that lead to his beautiful lips, and that bottom lip that just begged to be sucked. Don���t even get me started on that chin, Emma closed her eyes and let out a breath. His eyes, ambiguous color, blue, green and dark gray when he was in his predatory jungle cat form, my favorite, Emma thought. The way he clenches his jaw and the muscles flex making my muscles flex involuntarily between my legs.

  Emma opened her eyes and Brody was sitting up looking at her.

  ���You okay Em?��� he yawned.

  ���Yep���yes…I���m fine are you? Do you need anything?��� Emma walked around to her side of the bed.

  Brody smiled and shook his head. ���You are so beautiful.���

  ���I���m tired, goodnight.��� Emma turned her back to him.

  Brody giggled and rubbed her back. ���Stubborn, beautiful, Em.���

  ���I love you. Goodnight Brody,��� Emma sighed.

  ���You need to������ Brody started.

  ���Go to sleep please,��� Emma whined.

  * * *

  Brody watched in the early morning light as Emma slept peacefully. Her lips even while she slept appeared to be smiling very slightly. She looked happy. The back of her hand rested against her forehead and her brown hair that was now adorned with little blonde rays of sunshine hit just below her shoulders. He liked it; she appeared younger than even his actual years. She wore a silk cami that hit just above her belly button with her arms positioned the way they were. He watched as her chest rose and fell slightly with each sweet breath she took. Her lips opened slightly each time she exhaled. He felt a slight stirring in his groin and smiled. He looked at the scar that was just beside her belly button and recalled the first time he saw it almost two years ago and how intriguing it was to him then and still was now. He lifted her shirt slowly exposing her breasts and looked at the scar, a distant reminder of how he almost lost her when he had left for England. He had almost lost her not only then, but every time he had gone back. New Year���s Eve when she was drugged, the early spring when he went to find her sister, when he went in search of his son, who they thought was named Jonathan, he exhaled blowing across her bare unexpected chest.

  Emma gasped slightly and lowered her hand to her chest. Brody smirked and blew on her belly causing her to gasp and roll slightly to her side facing him. She put her hand on her forehead again exposing herself.

  Brody leaned in and traced the scar with his tongue and bit lightly on her pebbled nipple.

  Emma moaned and pushed against him as he began sucking harder, she opened her eyes.

  ���Brody, damn you,��� she moaned.

  She started to push him away, and he held her hands above her head and continued to please her.

  ���Brody please,��� Emma gasped as he rubbed lightly between her legs.

  Emma closed her knees tightly around his hand, and he bit down on her nipple, triggering her legs to fall open impudently.

  ���Oh, please Brody, just please…oh god,��� Emma whimpered.

  ���Fuck that Em,��� Brody hovered over her and kissed as he squeezed her nipple, rubbing it harshly between his fingers.

  ���If you���oh damn it,��� Emma gasped.

  Brody pushed his waistband down freeing him from his white cotton pajama pants and lightly rubbed himself in her warmth.

  ���Brody I don���t want���mmm,��� Emma moaned.

  ���Just don���t move love, I���ll be careful, nice and slow,��� he slowly pushed into her.

  Emma gripped the sheets tightly forcing herself to stay still; she felt her face scrunch up.

  ���I am so pissed at you,��� she groaned.

  ���I can tell Em,��� he rubbed his nose up the side of her cheek and kissed her tenderly. ���Mmm.���

  ���Damn you,��� she breathed into his neck.

  ���Oh Em, please keep damning
me,��� he hissed.

  Emma���s back arched and she whimpered loudly as his hip circled and he hit her perfectly and she crumbled.

  ���Okay, stop, please stop,��� Emma panted.

  ���Honestly?��� Brody looked at her confused.

  ���Yes.��� Emma started to sit up.

  ���Alright then,��� he clenched his jaw and pulled out and rolled to his back.

  ���Thank you,��� Emma moaned.

  Brody laughed a deep throaty laugh and closed his eyes tightly and sat against the headboard.

  Emma laughed and scooted under the covers. ���Less exertion.���

  ���Sweet, sweet wife.��� Brody smiled as he pulled the covers off and watched her take him in her mouth, ���Fuck Em, I���m not even���damn, going to try���to make���this ���last. Awe fuck!���

  Emma moved faster using just her mouth, as he held her hair away from her face and watched, ���That���s it Em���.suck harder���fuck���just like that���.awe fuck EM!���

  Brody���s head fell back as he came in her mouth, ���So fucking good!���

  Emma sat up and smiled a big triumphant grin. ���And not a stitch popped.���

  Brody hugged her and laughed. ���I love you Em.���

  ���You better,��� she giggled and looked at the clock. ���Its very early.���

  ���I woke to a text from Collin. Tessa and the kids are going to the Cape, and we���ve been invited. I was also thinking the lake, what do you say?��� Brody kissed the top of her head.

  ���I say we talk to the doctor, and then Maddox ��� he may not want to go to the Cape.��� Emma looked up at Brody.

  He laughed, ���I think Maddox will want to, Em.���

  ���No, apparently they are at odds, she���s upset with him.��� Emma stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.

  Brody rubbed his thumb across her lip. ���Why?���

  ���Because he should have told someone immediately that he recognized Rebecca,��� Emma said and kissed his thumb.

  ���Well, I���ll have a talk������ he began.

  ���No, he only told me because I walked in and he was shoving his phone under his pillow,��� Emma giggled. ���Let him tell you…he has to know he can trust us.���

  ���He also needs to know we are a united front Em.��� Brody raised his eyebrow.

  ���Oh okay ‘Don’t tell Mom about the extra sprinkles,��� Emma said exaggerating his accent.

  He smiled at her and kissed her, ���Sprinkles are not the same.��� Emma started to object. ���I���ll do as you ask Emma, but you have to remember I have been a father longer than you have been a mother. Maddox is a fifteen year old genius I think I did something right.���

  Emma���s mouth gaped open, and Brody kissed her head and stood up and walked towards the bathroom, he turned back and laughed, ���Joking, love.���

  ���You���re insufferable,��� Emma laughed and jumped up.

  ���But I���m all yours,��� he walked to the bed and cupped her face and kissed her, ���and you are all mine.���

  * * *

  Brody sat with Clive in the office as Emma made breakfast; she was still smiling from her morning with Brody.

  ���Hey Emma, do you have a couple minutes?��� Brody asked from behind her.

  ���I do,��� she giggled and turned around.

  ���You look simply glowing,��� he said sadly.

  Emma hugged him and whispered in his ear, ���I have to tell you I had sex this morning with the hottest man on the planet, I may possibly glow for the rest of the week.���

  Brody kissed her and smiled. ���He must be one lucky man.���

  Emma laughed. ���So what���s going on?���

  ���Clive went through the package Ariel sent and in keeping my promise to share everything with you, I would like you to come have a look,��� Brody took her hand and walked towards the office.

  * * *

  Emma sat next to Brody and looked at him. He sat back and let out a breath and looked at her.

  ���Please don���t be angry with me,��� Brody looked at her with pleading eyes. ���Lots of photo���s here Emma.���

  Emma opened the envelope and pulled out a pile of pictures. Emma slowly exhaled as she went through them. There were several pictures of Ariel and Brody naked, and they were not alone. Emma went through them quickly and then came to the last few pictures.

  Brody watched Emma���s face and when she stopped and gasped he finally let a slow controlled breath release from his lips.

  Emma sat back and tried to figure out what to say and closed her eyes and looked down.

  ���Emma?��� Brody said quietly.

  ���Brody,��� Emma said opening her eyes and looking down, ���I���m not sure what to say.���

  ���I understand,��� Brody said quietly as he played nervously with his hands.

  ���Is that all that was in the envelope?��� Emma looked at Clive.

  ���No, there was a letter.��� Clive handed it to her.

  Emma read the letter as Brody began tapping his foot. When she finished she folded it and handed it to Clive.

  ���Is that all?��� Emma asked.

  ���Yes,��� Clive answered.

  ���Okay, thank you.��� Emma got up and walked into the kitchen.

  He followed her out. ���You aren���t going to say anything Emma?���

  ���I need time to think before I speak Brody,��� she answered quietly and checked the breakfast casserole.

  ���But I don���t get a minute when I am upset Emma, so why������ Brody stopped when she looked up at him.

  Emma was angry; she walked past him and up the stairs into the bathroom and started the shower.

  She undressed and stepped in. The hot water ran over her face as she closed her eyes and tilted her head back. Emma felt the burn in her eyes and she took several breaths trying to calm down, but nothing could stop the tears from coming.

  Emma cried softly so no one would know, she had to hide the pain. Her kids needed her strong and now Maddox was here.

  Emma walked out of the bedroom, and Brody stopped pacing and looked at her. ���I need to explain Emma.���

  Emma looked at him and tried to speak; as soon as she opened her mouth she felt the burn in her eyes again. She swallowed hard and shook her head no and walked past him into the closet and grabbed her clothes and dressed quickly. She walked out of the closet and tried to pass him.

  Brody took her hand. ���Em please it���s not������

  ���Not now please,��� Emma said and took a step.

  ���Emma you do not need to speak, but I���ll be damned if I���m not going to try to explain,��� Brody said harshly.

  ���I���ve watched videos, and I know you didn���t remember, not only did I forgive it but until today I wiped it out. I chose to forget it so that we could move forward. I promised myself that I wouldn���t let that come between us, our family, and our future.��� Emma took a deep breath and closed her eyes. ���You���this hurts Brody, and I feel like such a fool, stupid that I didn���t think that it wouldn���t continue. My God I saw pictures online of you at dinner���what the hell is wrong with me?���

  ���It���s not you it���s������ Brody gasped.

  Emma slapped him across the face and started to walk away.

 
He grabbed both her hands and held them firmly, ���I don���t remember Emma!���

  ���That may have been true then Brody but not since you came back. How stupid do you truly think I am? Is that what you need? I really thought you loved me������ Emma cried.

  ���I love you, damn it listen to me, Em,��� Brody���s words were a plea. ���My God Emma I love you so much.���

  He went down onto his knees and hugged her tightly. She looked down at him and he looked up with tears falling down his face. ���Please Emma, I���m begging you, just fucking listen to me. I don���t remember.���

  Emma���s tears fell down her face, and he closed his eyes tightly together.

  ���Please,��� he clenched his hands tightly around her hips.

  ���I need to get it together and feed the kids breakfast������ Emma started.

  ���Caroline is finishing up, they���re all still asleep, give me five fucking minutes Emma.��� Brody stood up and wiped his eyes, ���Please.���

  Emma stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed.

  ���The pictures of Ariel and I with the other women were taken in London, before you and I Emma. I had a wedding ring on my finger. We partied pretty hard, I can honestly say I don���t remember all that much about those photos, but I remember a fight when we woke once and two other women were in our bed. I was angry, and she promised it wouldn���t happen again. She also told me I was very agreeable to it the night before. It was during the holidays. You saw the pictures of her and Rebecca, Rebecca appeared to know the camera was there. The pictures of your sister, Ariel and I ���Emma, I promise I don���t believe I was aware of what was going on.��� Brody looked at Emma.

  ���It was Lila���s apartment, it was when you left us,��� Emma whispered.

  ���I left to protect our family Emma,��� Brody snapped and shook his head slightly.

  Emma pulled back and pulled her knees to her chest.

  ���Emma look at me damn it, I don���t fucking remember!��� he hissed.