by Riley, Alexa
“Maybe.”
I laugh and shake my head as I reach for the waist of my pants.
“Seriously, Cooper?”
I pull out the necklace I’d taken out of the box before I went to rescue her. I hold it out and her mouth falls open in shock at the sight of it.
“I know this means the world to you. Enough that you risked your own life to get it.”
“I’m so sorry—”
I shake my head to stop her from talking as I open the fixed chain and put it around her neck. “It’s not a ring, but that will come just as soon as I’m able to get out of this bed.”
She sits up and looks at me with wide eyes. “Cooper, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re going to marry me. I love you so damn much, Jules, and I want you to spend the rest of your life with me.”
Tears begin to form in her eyes as she leans down and presses her lips to mine. They’re soft and sweet. She moves on top of me, and though my shoulder screams in protest I hold on to her and move my body against hers.
“Is that a yes?” I ask, and she nods.
“Yes, of course it’s a yes! I love you so much, Cooper Ross. From the moment you stole me, I’ve been yours.”
“Good. Now bunch up that dress and get on my cock.”
She pretends to be shocked as I pull at the material until it’s around her hips.
“Are you serious? What if the nurse walks in?”
“She’ll see the heart monitor equipment is working just fine.”
I push her panties to the side and slide between her wet folds. We both moan when I enter her and she slides all the way down onto me. Her hips rock and I groan as she tells me to be still. I want to flip us over and fuck her hard, but there will be time for that later.
Right now all I want to do is be inside of her and connected as much as possible until the end of time. Is that too much to ask for? Thankfully we’re left alone and I have a sneaking suspicion one of my brothers is stationed outside of my room for this very moment.
I come inside her and hold her close until she falls asleep on my chest. I can’t help but think about how fucking lucky I am that she was the one in that parking lot that day. I know her value and what she’s worth to me, and I’m never going to take that for granted. She’s mine until the end of time, and there’s no going back.
Epilogue
Jules
One year later…
“Cooper.” I moan my husband’s name as he thrusts into me.
He’s been all over me since yesterday. Okay, I’ve been all over him too. I had my six-week check-up yesterday and the doctor gave me the all-clear. I think Cooper’s working on putting another baby inside of me already and I’m totally okay with that. After growing up without a family of my own, I want a big one. Even if this one is pretty big already with all of Cooper’s brothers.
“I can’t stop,” he groans into my neck as he pumps in and out.
“No one is asking you to.” I dig my fingers into the muscles of his back. My legs are wrapped around him tightly as he starts to thrust harder.
“Are you sore?” His words come out in a strangled plea.
“No,” I reassure him. Maybe I am a little, but not enough to stop. No way are we stopping. I don’t care if we’ve done it almost a dozen times since the doctor cleared me, I want more.
“Liar,” he says before his lips come down on mine and his tongue slips into my mouth. I moan as my orgasm builds and I get closer.
“Give it to me, buttercup. You gotta come so I can.”
“So bossy,” I moan, pulling my mouth from his. My back arches as the orgasm floods my system.
“You like it.” He smiles at me. I do.
I don’t know how he can manage to be bossy and sweet at the same time, but he does. He’s always what I need.
I cling to him as the pleasure takes over and he drops his mouth to mine to keep me from crying out. He doesn’t want anyone to hear what we’re doing, though I’m sure they know.
I feel his release deep inside of me, but he doesn’t stop. I clench my pussy around him, trying to get every drop.
“Fuck,” he growls, and I let out a small whimper when he pulls his hard cock out of me. “We have to stop.” He drops his forehead to mine as he tries to catch his breath.
“I know.” I pout and he kisses me all over my face.
“Two hours is all they’re getting,” I laugh because I want to see Cooper tell the girls and his mom they only get to have two hours for this baby shower. It was already moved once because little baby Grayson wanted to come into this world early. He and his daddy share the same patience, it seems.
Grayson was a big boy and I wasn’t surprised, considering Cooper’s size. He was just shy of ten pounds and four weeks early.
Cooper grunts as he pulls his body from mine and his eyes travel down to where my dress is bunched up around my waist. He pounced on me the moment I walked out from our master bathroom and I’m pretty sure he was waiting for me to finish getting ready. I slipped away to take a quick shower while Cooper’s mom Vicky took care of our little one. I thought Cooper was gone since the guys were supposed to have the afternoon together. I had a feeling they weren't going anywhere. If I’ve learned anything about Cooper's band of brothers, the ones in relationships never go far from their wives.
“I think we just made our daughter,” Cooper says smugly, making me laugh as I sit up.
“We have all the time in the world to make babies. But I know you love practicing.” I smile up at him as I try and fix my dress. He steps back and helps me down from the bed. He tucks his hard cock away and I watch him the whole time. “I’ll take care of that later.”
I get up on my tiptoes to brush my mouth against his and his hands go to my hips to pull me close.
“Later,” he says against my mouth, and I sigh, wanting to do it now.
“Are you leaving?” I ask, sliding my hands up his chest, wanting a little more of him before he goes.
We’re never apart much because I like being close to Cooper. I don’t know if it’s a side effect of being taken or because I just love being at home with him. I don’t really care, I just want to be together.
I also don't have panic attacks with him close by. He settles something inside me and with him I always know I’m safe. Maybe it’s something I should work on, but Cooper seems to enjoy it. I’m lucky he owns his own business and I can bring baby Grayson to work with us when Cooper needs to go in or I need to do some office work.
This last year has been perfect, and though I’d never say it out loud I’m thankful to Warren. He sent me running and that path led to me Cooper. He’s my husband and my everything. I never thought running away would bring me here, but I guess I was just running home.
“The boys and I are making some barbeque out back. I’m not going anywhere.” He gives my ass a firm squeeze. “I don’t care if it’s a baby shower, I’m coming because it’s my baby and you’re my wife.”
“I’m not fighting you on it.” He acts like I’m going to kick him out of our house. “I want you here and I love your barbeque,” I tease.
He smiles and his eyes dance with mischief. He smacks my ass and laughs.
“I love you!” I shout as he walks with me out of our room.
“Love you, too, buttercup,” he says as he strides through the house.
He stops when he gets to the living room and puts me back on my feet. I see people all around us, but my focus is on my husband. He brings his hands to my face and cups my cheeks.
“Thank you, Jules.” He drops his forehead to mine and the room goes quiet. “We didn’t know who you were that day, but I knew the moment you turned around and your eyes met mine you were one of us. You are as much a part of this family as any of us. We’re your family now, my little hostage.”
“Willing captive!” Mags chimes in from somewhere, helping break through some of my tears as I smile.
“Sister,” Tracks offers as a t
itle, and he has my eyes watering again.
“I love you,” I tell Cooper. “All of you,” I say louder, and I hear it multiple times across the room. They’re better than any family I could’ve ever dreamed of.
Cooper gave more than just himself the day he took me. He gave me everything.
Epilogue
Cooper
Fifteen years later…
I run my hand down my face and check my watch again. “It’s been two minutes,” Jonas chuckles.
I narrow my normally easy-going gaze on him and he lifts his hands in a bullshit apology. He’s poking me on purpose. He’s bored or he’s hoping I crack first because his wife is with mine. All of our wives are out together for a girls’ night while we’re supposed to be having a guys’ night. Instead we’re sitting around a poker table in my basement, not playing poker.
“Isn't retirement supposed to make you more laid back?” Jonas says it with a half-smile.
I get it. It’s fucking hilarious that I’m worked up to go get my wife and bring her back home. People said the crazy need I have for her would fade over the years, but people are stupid. If anything I’ve gotten worse.
Before she came into my life I didn’t know what I was missing. Now that she’s mine I know I couldn’t exist without her. That woman is my everything and gave me my family. She gave birth to our son and three little girls.
“I’m enjoying retirement. I’ll just enjoy it more when my wife's under me.”
“Jesus, Dad.” My eyes snap over to my son Grayson. He stands up from the sofa and drops the Xbox controller.
Track is silently laughing in his spot on the sofa next to him.
“Shit. Forgot you were over there.”
Grayson shakes his head. The boy is fifteen and he knows how I am with Jules. I’m sure one day he’ll find a woman of his own and be the same. The kid is like me in every way and sometimes it’s fucking scary.
“Going to go check on the girls,” he says as he walks out of the room.
It’s my turn to smile. Thank God I had my son first. He helps me keep an eye on the women in our lives. All three of our little girls are beautiful just like their mom.
I walk over to the refrigerator that’s filled with beer and open and close the door without getting one. I might have to go at any moment to get Jules. They rented some party bus thing to take them out, but I’m picking my wife up and that’s that.
“Relax. We know everyone in the bar they’re at,” Jonas reminds me.
We do because it’s the only bar that’s down in the middle of the warehouse district. The only people that go to it are people who work around there. It’s the only way to know the place exists. It was pretty smart on Pattie’s part when she opened the place. It’s surrounded on all sides by warehouses and she has her pick of thirsty warehouse workers.
“I’m guessing you didn’t see how they were dressed.” I turn to look at Jonas.
“I brought my wife over here,” he reminds me. Yeah, his wife showed up in jeans and a sweater. I think. I wasn't paying close attention. I just know when they left they were all in dresses.
“Yeah, then they went upstairs and got ready before they took off.”
“What?” Now Jonas is standing up and he’s not finding this shit so funny anymore.
Track holds up his phone. “You think I don’t have eyes on them?” All of us move to the sofa and with a few flicks Track takes the feed from his phone and puts it on the large TV. The screen fills with images from the bar I’ve been in a few times over the years.
The place is packed and right there in the center of the bar are our women, all sharing a giant table together. I watch as Mags hands Jules a shot glass and she takes it from her and throws it back. I can’t take my eyes off her.
“It looks like no one is bothering them,” Walsh says with a deep exhale.
I look at the people around them and I recognize most of them. My eyes zero in on some guy who looks barely old enough to be in the bar. Grayson looks more like a man than this kid, but his face seems familiar.
“Who’s that?” I point to the boy watching my wife too closely.
“That’s Dean and Kim’s boy, Sam,” Levi says and it clicks.
I’d forgotten about the kid. I thought he was off at college or something. They only had one child since both of them worked in my warehouse.
“Jules babysat him a few times,” I recall.
She was always good with kids. Sometimes some of the workers would get in a bind and have to bring their children with them to work. Jules always let them come up to the office and hang with her. The warehouse wasn't a safe place for kids to be running around in and my wife always had a soft spot for little ones. And an even bigger one for moms who were actually trying, which was so unlike her own. Still, even knowing who the kid is, I don’t like the way he’s looking at my Jules.
“Think Sam has a thing for the babysitter?” Jonas jokes, and I grit my teeth.
“Didn’t you sleep with your babysitter?” Levi looks over at Walsh, and I’m going to fucking lose my mind in a second.
“I’ll punch you right in the mouth,” Walsh says to him, pointing a finger.
I reach out and grab Walsh’s shoulder so he doesn't hurt Levi.
Walsh’s babysitter did try and sleep with him when he was about fifteen. She was there to watch Walsh’s sister and that shit did not end well because Walsh has only ever been with one girl and will only ever be with one girl. The two of them have been going strong since the third grade when she moved to town and he declared he was going to marry her. Which he did as soon as they were both old enough.
I watch on the video as Sam gets up from his seat and heads for my wife.
“I’m done,” I say, heading for the stairs.
“Thank fuck I wasn't the first to cave this time,” I hear Track say from behind me.
I know they’re all following me, and when we walk outside everyone jumps into their own trucks and we head to the bar. I curse myself for getting a house a little ways out because it takes almost fifteen minutes before I’m pulling up to the bar. I take no time getting in there once I’m parked.
I swear she can sense me. I haven't even gotten to her yet and she’s turning from Sam to lock eyes with mine. A smile spreads across her face and I clear the distance between us in two long strides. I pull my wife up from her seat and she wraps her arms around me. I give Sam a hard stare and he books it out of here.
“That Sam just cost me fifty bucks, didn't he?” she asks against my neck where she’s burying her face. She gives me a small kiss there before pulling back to look up at me. “You broke first. Damn it, I was sure I was going to win.”
“Kiss me and tell me what you’re talking about.” She starts to open her mouth to speak. “In that order.”
She fights a smile and I bury my hands in her soft hair and press my lips to hers. When I pull back, her lips are swollen and her eyes are filled with lust.
“Now tell me.” I loosen my hold on her so I can sit down on the stool and pull her onto my lap. I might have shown up on girls’ night, but that doesn't mean the night has to end. I’ll sit here all night if that’s what she wants to do.
“I bet Mags that Track would break first,” she admits. “It was worth the fifty though. I’ve been missing you all night.”
Neither of us like being apart—never have. We know how scary it is to be separated.
“Love you, buttercup.”
“I love you, too, Cooper.” She brings her mouth to my ear. “When we get home I wanna be your hostage,” she says, and my cock jerks under her ass.
I fight not to slide my hand up her dress because there are too many people watching and I don’t want anyone seeing those sweet, sexy faces she makes when I play with her pussy.
“Anything you want, buttercup.”
She might have started out as my hostage, but I made sure she never wanted to leave.
THE END
Sheltered
&nbs
p; by Alexa Riley
Blair Rosewood is preparing for her first day at her new job. She left her trailer park town to go to college and make something of herself. Now she’s in Charleston, South Carolina surrounded by people with money and she’s going to have to keep up. She hasn’t exactly ended up where she wanted, but she’s going to make the best of it.
But one night everything changes. Suddenly she’s taken from all that she knows and is being held captive by a man who is beyond obsessed with her. He’s created a paradise for her with no escape, and he won’t allow an inch of space between them.
How can he know so much about her? How can he look at her like he owns her? How can his big hands hold her captive yet be so gentle? How can she resist?
Warning: She’s been captured by a beast who refuses to let go of what he wants. But this brooding alpha has secrets of his own, and he’ll do everything he can to protect her from them.
Prologue
Ryker
He didn’t deserve her. I knew that from the beginning. One look at her, and I knew she was too good for for him. Hell, she was too good for me too, but I still had to have her.
I’ve done my share of bad things, but this is probably the worst. It’s funny, though, because I haven’t lost a wink of sleep over it. And not for one second have I regretted my decision.
Even now as I watch her, I know what’s coming. I have to put an end to this, and she won’t like it. But I swore the first time I laid eyes on her that I’d do whatever it took to make her mine. And if that means breaking the law, then so be it. All I care about is if she’s in my arms in the end.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s a fighter. She’s going to fight me, fight for control, and even fight herself. She won’t want what I’m giving her, but eventually she’ll take it. Because she won’t have a choice. There will be no other option but me.
