by G. Bailey
"Yeah, but you aren't. What’s the problem?" I reply.
"Stay the fuck away from her," he threatens but doesn't move to attack me. He could punch me if he wants, which I have no doubt he does. I saw Emilia this morning and last night. We can't keep our hands off each other as we make up for the time we spent apart.
"That isn't going to happen. You should give her the divorce she wants," I reply. "You don't love her."
"And you do?" he remarks and laughs. “You left her pregnant and alone, and fucked off for years.”
"Of course, I fucking love her, and I am not explaining my past to someone like you. You wouldn't be here talking to me if you thought I was temporary in her life," I reply.
"I can't get divorced at the moment; it would sink my career. I won't give her up because Arthur gave her to me in exchange for letting him do whatever he wants. I make sure no one ever knows about his work," he says.
"Emilia isn't your toy," I growl out, getting annoyed with this idiot. "She isn't yours."
"But Parker is. I'm on the birth certificate. I'm his dad, and I will take him from her if she leaves me," he threatens, and for the first time, I see him as a threat.
"And I’d kill you if you tried," I say, meaning every word. I've killed for less.
"Keep you and Emilia quiet, and there won't be a problem. Got it?" he demands.
"Eric, you need to think about what the right thing is to do in this situation. You know it isn't you and Emilia staying married when she loves me. I won't stop Parker being in your life, he loves you but Emilia? She deserves to be free to make her own choice," I tell him. “I won’t let you control her. No one deserves that.”
"See you around, Luke," he says, walking off into the shadows of the car park. I watch him go, wondering if he will take any of my advice or if he will continue to be an idiot. I'm pretty sure it is going to be the latter. I get into my car, ringing Emilia's number before I start the car up.
"Hey," she grumbles as she answers the phone.
"Hey sweetheart, you alright?" I ask.
"A little tired," she says, yawning and I realise I might have woken her up. "But missing you."
"I miss you too. Eric just came to see me," I tell her, wanting to be honest and hating that he will be heading back home to sleep in the same house as her. I tighten my hand on the steering wheel, knowing it's irrational to be jealous. She doesn't love him or even like him. Their marriage is nothing but paperwork.
"What?" she asks, waking up for that.
"Nothing bad happened, we just talked," I honestly reply.
"You know I love you for not fighting him, right?" she says, sounding relieved.
"I know, sweetheart. Go back to sleep, I just wanted to hear your voice and tell you," I say.
"Okay, I will. I'm tired. See you soon, Luke," she says, yawning. I say goodbye before putting the phone down and starting my car. I hope one day I will be driving back home, to my real home with Emilia and Parker.
131 Emilia
"Oh god," I moan, rolling my hips as Luke grips them tightly, his head thrown back as he enjoys being inside me. I'm so close to the edge, every movement pushes Luke's cock in and out me, feeling absolutely amazing. Luke lifts his head, flipping us over on his bed and pushing deep inside me as he kisses me. Our tongues battle against each other as he thrusts in and out of me, his hands buried deep in my hair as we both lose control. There’s nothing but the sound of our skin slamming against each other, our breathy moans and groans for a long time as we are perfect at this moment. I cry out as my orgasm slams into me, and Luke finishes deep inside me only moments later.
"Emilia," he groans against my lips, slamming into one more time before collapsing at my side, pulling me to his chest.
"We should go back downstairs for the welcome back party," I breathlessly say, hearing the music downstairs. Izzy and Blake got back about two hours ago, and we all threw them a welcome home party. Luke dragged me upstairs to show me his room not long ago, but I'm pretty sure everyone knew what we were going to do.
"We should," Luke says, grinning, proud about his distraction from the party. He kisses me once more before getting up. We clean up and pull our clothes back on before walking out Luke's room into the corridor. Izzy runs past us, heading straight for the bathroom and slams the door shut behind her. Allie runs up the stairs, grabbing my arm when she sees me.
"Sorry, Luke. Girl time. Go downstairs!" she tells Luke, who just shakes his head at us as Allie opens the bathroom door and pulls me inside. Allie quickly runs to Izzy, pulling her hair back as she throws up in the toilet and I close the door behind us. I search the cupboards until I find a cup and fill it with water. I hand the water and a towel to Izzy when she calms down after flushing the toilet, sitting on the floor.
"You're totally up the duff, aren't you?" Allie asks as Izzy sips the water after wiping her face with the towel.
"Yes, I did the test last night in the airport, and I don't know how to tell Blake," she admits.
"He will be over the moon, Hun,” Allie gently tells her.
"Yeah, he will be. Blake adores you, and you both will make great parents," I say.
"We just didn't plan this. I'm on the pill, and I'm sure I took them. Although the wedding was stressful, I might have gotten confused one day," she says, muttering to herself.
"Just tell him, babe. We will be there for you," Allie says, offering Izzy a hand to lift her up.
"Okay, I will tell him. I can't keep it a secret for much longer anyway," she says, her voice shaky.
"I can't wait to see this little one. With you and Blake's good looks, she is going to be stunning," I say. I can just imagine her blonde hair, blue or green eyes.
"You think it's a girl?" Izzy asks me, her hands going to her stomach after she puts the towel and drink down.
"Call it an instinct," I say, walking to the door after Allie. Izzy looks nervous but follows us out, and down the stairs. We stay with Izzy as she walks around until we find Blake with his mum in the dining room. Blake turns and smiles at Izzy, offering her a hand.
"I'm pregnant," she blurts out the moment she takes his hands, and he coughs on the drink he just sipped. Blake's mum cries out, before bursting into tears but I can't do anything but watch how Blake falls to his knees in front of Izzy, placing his hands on her stomach over her shirt and very gently kissing it.
"I love you. Thank you," Blake tells Izzy, making us all want to cry. Izzy goes to her knees and wraps her arms around his shoulders, bursting into tears. Luke stops next to me, smiling down at me.
"Maybe that will be us one day. I'd love to see you pregnant," he says, and I slide my hand into his for only a moment, knowing we can't risk Parker seeing us together.
"I'd like that too," I whisper, knowing we have all the future in the world to fight for.
132 Luke
"I'm happy you finally decided to come with us," Seb says as I lock the car and look up at the nursing home, feeling more than nervous to see my mum. I've seen photos, but it's not the same as actually seeing her.
"She isn't the devil, mate," Elliot says, smiling at my obvious worry.
"Come on," Harley says, chuckling with Elliot. Seb can't hide his smirk as we walk up the steps to the doors of the nursing home. We wait for the staff to open a door for us and let us in.
"The King boys! Ah, you bought another one today, did you?" a woman says from behind a white desk, smiling widely at us all.
"Deerie, this is our youngest brother Luke," Harley introduces me, and Deerie stares, wide-eyed.
"We've heard a lot about you," she says. "I'm glad to finally meet you. Now all of you sign in here, and I’ll take you to her. She is having a very creative day today."
"A good day to bring Luke then," Elliot says, signing the sheet. We all sign it, and Deerie takes us through several doors and into a cosy bedroom. A woman I just about recognise as my mum sits on the bed, drawing with a pencil on a sketchpad. She doesn't notice us as Deerie goes back to the door.
&n
bsp; "Give me a buzz when you want to leave," she says, pointing to the buttons and screen on the wall before leaving. I try to remember everything Harley has told me about our mum these last few weeks. How she was found on a beach with a severe head injury with no memory of her life. Then Arthur found her, kept her drugged up so even when her memories came back, she was too out of it to escape her life. Harley said she’s better these days, but the head injury means she needs a closed environment with twenty-four-hour care.
"Go and talk to her," Seb says, pushing me closer. I walk over, trying not to feel freaked out by her and what she might say, and by the emotions my mum still makes me feel. I cried so many nights as a child, begging for her to come through the door and save me from my dad. Harley looked after me the best he could, but it’s not the same as having a mum around. I remember countless times I used to sneak into a local park and just watch mothers laughing and loving their children. I wanted that more than anything. But she never came back. I sit on the bed next to her, looking down at the drawing of London's Big Ben tower clock in impressive detail.
"Hey, Mum," I say, my voice quiet and croaky when it comes out. She very slowly looks up at me, her eyes widening before she drops the pencil and sketchbook onto the floor. Elliot is quick to pick it up as she slowly lifts a shaky hand and places it on my cheek, staring so deeply at me that I can't move.
"My baby. Luke," she whispers. "My baby."
"I'm not so much a baby now, Mum," I reply.
"No," she whispers and wraps her arms around me. I'm not sure how long we hug each other in the silent room, with my brothers silently watching. I don't know when it hits me that my mum is here, and she never left me. I won't run from her anymore. The past is just that, the past, and I need to move on from it. Eventually, I pull away from the hug to talk to her and quickly realise she talks much like a child does and gets lost in her mind very quickly. When it’s time to leave, we all hug her and promise to come back soon before walking out after Deerie comes to let us out. I rest against my car, looking up at the surprisingly beautiful building.
"You alright?" Harley asks, unlocking his car but not getting in it. Elliot and Seb wait for my answer, which I don't really know how to give.
"I will be," I reply, which is the best I can do right now.
"Let's go home and get takeout. We could use a brothers night, don't you think?" Harley asks. Elliot and Seb agree just as I nod, knowing Harley is right. I could do with a night in with my family.
"I’ll come back with you every week from now on," I tell Harley as he opens the door.
"You're a good man, Luke. I'm proud of you for that choice," he says. I don't want anyone proud of me for anything.
"Don't be proud of me. You don't know anything," I say, pulling my door open and ignoring his confused expression. I rest my head back on the leather, knowing I need to be careful. Harley can't find out the truth, not yet. He would ruin everything.
133 Emilia
I rest back on the sofa, taking a nice relaxing moment to myself after feeding Parker dinner and forcing him into bath time before getting him to bed. I swear my lovely boy will come with any excuse not to go to sleep. Eric is nowhere to be seen again, as usual. It annoys me because he says he wants to be a dad to Parker, but he’s never around. I pull my phone out, smiling at the flirty text Luke sent me and one of those baby scans from Izzy, showing me her stunning little black and white baby. I know scans can’t be stunning, but somehow hers is.
"Can we talk?" Eric asks, nearly making me jump out my skin because I didn't hear him come in. I glance behind me as Eric walks into the room and goes to sit next to me on the sofa, never actually touching me which I'm relieved about. He looks stressed, like he has run his hands through his hair a million times and his shirt is undone, no tie to be seen.
"What about?" I ask.
"Kate is pregnant," he says, and I frown at him for a moment, wondering who she is, and then I wonder if Kate is his assistant. "And I love her. I didn't want to fall for her, but it's different than anything else I've ever felt. I really love her."
"You love her?" I question, trying not to laugh at the irony of the situation.
"I know," he says, and then he laughs to my surprise. "I've been a fucking stupid idiot recently. I was terrified of losing Parker. I really love him more than anything else in this world. These last few weeks I've tried to stay away, distance myself because I'm scared you and Luke will take him."
"Thank you for being honest with me," I say, surprised by this turn of events.
"Don't thank me. I've been shit with you," he says. "I should never have taken out my own fears on you or threatened you."
"No, you shouldn't have, but I want us to move forward from this like adults," I reply.
"Same, so I'm moving out. I’m giving you the divorce you want. The house is yours, well Parker’s, because I can't take it from him," he says, and my mouth falls open in shock. I can only stare at him as he smiles at me.
"Really?" I whisper.
"I only want Parker in my life in exchange. Can he come to mine every other weekend and once a week after school in the week he isn't over?" he asks. “And I want to see him on birthdays and at Christmas.”
"Yes. I promise," I say, offering my hand for him to shake. He gently shakes my hand, before letting go and standing up.
"I'm sorry for everything," he says.
"I'm not. You looked after me when I needed someone, and you are a good dad. Parker and your new baby are lucky to have you in their life. I'm not sorry about that," I say. “Thank you for being there for me, for loving Parker, and never making him feel like he wasn’t yours.”
"Thank you for saying that. I'm going to pack. For what it is worth, I did try to love you once; I just couldn't," he admits. I nod, knowing I tried the same. You can’t force love; it doesn’t work like that.
"Then love Kate. I was never yours to love, but she is," I say.
"Yes, she is," he says, softly smiling in a way I've never seen before. He walks out of the room as I rest back on the sofa, and just smile. I'm free from one of the chains in my life. Not only free but happy. I pull my phone out, calling Luke and waiting for him to answer.
"Hey, sweetheart," he answers after a few rings.
"Can you come over to mine in about half an hour?" I ask, knowing I want to see him, and Eric should have left by then.
"Your house? Really?" he questions.
"I'm getting divorced, and I want to celebrate," I say.
"You didn't kill him or something, right? I highly doubt Eric would have just let you have a divorce," Luke remarks, shocked.
"He had a change of heart, sort of. He got his assistant pregnant, and he’s moving out," I explain.
"Well, that changes things. God, I’m happy. I’ll be over soon," Luke says.
"Good. I want to show you how much I've missed you," I say.
"Damn don't say that. I have half an hour to wait until I can touch you," he groans, and I giggle.
"Bye, Luke," I say, putting the phone down. I aimlessly walk around the house until I hear Eric walking down the stairs and I come out of the kitchen, watching him open the door. He looks back, nodding once before leaving. I should feel sad that my husband just walked out, but I don't. Not even a little bit. He isn't the man I want, and he could never be. I go upstairs, checking on Parker, who is sound asleep, and knowing it is going to be difficult to explain all this to him in the morning. I might ask Luke to stay in the morning so we can explain it together. Who knows, it might help Parker’s reaction. I strip out of all my clothes, pulling on a silk dressing gown and tying it up as the doorbell rings. I leave my room and go down to the door, pulling it open to see Luke waiting there. Luke looks as handsome as always in a leather jacket, jeans, and big boots. I like this more casual dress sense than the suits he wears a lot. Even though he looks so handsome, there is something more about this moment as I throw myself into his arms and he catches me, kissing me. Luke walks us into the house as
we kiss, making our way to the left and into the kitchen. I'm sure Luke wanted a lounge, but the kitchen will do. Luke pulls my dressing gown open after sliding me on the counter, his eyes widening at my lack of clothing.
“I love your tattoos, you know that?” he says, stroking his fingers over my tattoo on my arms and my thighs as I look at his.
“Didn’t you want to be a tattoo designer before?” I breathlessly ask.
“I did,” he mutters, making me shiver as he runs his eyes all over me.
“Maybe you still can, and then you can do some for me,” I say, his eyes widening in clear desire at my suggestion. He pulls my hips to the edge of the counter and lowers his head, his tongue diving deep between my legs. He licks, sucks, and teases my clit as I lie back on the counter, holding his hair and moaning loudly. I cry out as Luke teases me into an orgasm before pulling his head up. He frees his erection, pulling me to the edge of the counter and sliding a hand to my ass before thrusting deep in me.
"Luke, fucking hell," I moan out, feeling so sensitive.
"God, so fucking tight and perfect. You make me want to come the moment I’m in you, you know that?" Luke whispers into my ear as he thrusts in and out of me, pounding me into another orgasm in a matter of moments. "I could fuck you forever." Luke groans, biting down on my shoulder a few thrusts later, holding my ass tightly in his hand.
"I'm glad I invited you over now," I mutter, and he laughs, lifting his head from my shoulder and meeting my gaze.
"Me too, sweetheart," he says, kissing me gently. "Now where is your bedroom because I'm not done with you yet."
134 Emilia
"Where are you taking me then?" I ask Luke, who arranged for Parker to sleep over at Harley’s and then told me we are going out on a surprise date.
"Get in the car and you’ll see, won't you?" he says, and I laugh, doing as I am told. Luke drives us for about half an hour to a small town and parks up on a busy street.
