by Tia Siren
I didn’t even want to think about what could’ve happened. I just wanted some alone time with Joanna while we both absorbed the past few days and thought about what was to come next. I was cleared of all charges, including that false sexual harassment suit Sid had admitted filing under a series of fake names just to get the workers’ union upset. He had hoped it would be enough to encourage me to drop Joanna in favor for my business, but money wasn’t worth a damn thing at the end of the day if I was sleeping alone in my bed without Joanna alongside me.
A light snowfall trickled down from the deepening sky. Soon it would be dark out and the stars would appear in the sky. Nothing sounded better than pulling Joanna into a much-needed hot shower to wash away the past two days from our skin. Maybe even a damn bath again just to soak all her aches away. Her beautiful skin was marred with welts and bruises from the past few days of being manhandled by Sid. The only thing that kept me from wanting to murder the jackass with my hands was the prison bars he now sat behind.
It was a funny thing to think about how many people he had thrown behind those bars over the years. Now he was trapped by them because of his own sick and demented ways. Karma truly was the biggest bitch and asshole combined in the world.
Ashton pulled the SUV up the driveway after pounding in the passcode on the gate. Not that I really needed it anymore, though. The one person I worried about the most was in custody now.
I felt Joanna let out a relieved breath as her eyes focused on the warm lights of the mansion. It had never felt better to be home than it did right now. I unlocked the front door to let everyone inside, but Ashton lingered back in the cold evening air.
“I’m going to head out,” he said. He nodded to Joanna, who smiled back at him. “I’m glad you’re okay, Joanna. I’m glad you were able to come back here tonight.”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for anything else from you. Thank you.”
She started up the stairs in the direction of my room. I turned back to look at Ashton with a frown.
“You can stay here tonight,” I said, raking my eyes over his exhausted eyes. “It’s really no problem. There’s a guest room. More than one actually.”
A smile tugged at Ashton’s lips. “Yeah, I know. I just know that the two of you will be busy getting reacquainted with one another. Not sure if I really want to be around for that.”
“I don’t blame you,” I said, laughing. “Thank you for everything. I can’t ever repay you for the way you helped me out.”
“You would’ve done the same thing for me,” Ashton said, shrugging. “I know you would do it if I asked you to help me. Consider that enough of a repayment.”
“Call me if you need anything. And don’t fall asleep at the wheel.”
“Don’t fall asleep up there either,” he said, grinning.
I grinned wolfishly while Ashton retreated down the porch steps in the direction of his SUV. After shutting the door, I slid the lock into place before shrugging out of my coat to hang it up on the coatrack.
Alone. Alone at last without any damn fears hanging over our heads like a dark cloud in the distance.
I could hear the water running through the pipes as I climbed the stairs two at a time with surprising energy. Adrenaline still rushed through my veins, and I planned to use every bit of it by making love to Joanna before both of us crashed back down to reality.
A pile of clothes sat at the end of the bed. Steam rolled out from beneath the door as I shrugged out of my own clothes with a relieved sigh. The fabric of my shirt felt stiff and grimy from the sweat of the past two days. There were also bloodstains from when I had punched Sid hard in the nose to stun him.
I glanced down at my swollen knuckles with a sigh. I didn’t need both hands to feel Joanna, but my hand ached painfully. I stepped into the bathroom naked to slip into the shower stall. Joanna was curled on the floor with the spray of water blasting her squarely in the back. Her hair was already drenched, and soap suds disappeared through the shower drain while her hands worked the strands of her hair.
I took a seat on the floor right next to her. Wordlessly, she scooted over to make room so that we could both use the shower spray. We sat there for a long time while we scrubbed away the grime clinging to our skin and hair. Finally satisfied, I turned to look at Joanna, who lifted her head to peer at me through puffy, red-rimmed eyes.
“I love you,” she whispered, reaching forward to clasp my chin. “I thought I was never going to see you again, Bastian. I really thought—”
“I know,” I said, reaching up to grab her hand and kiss it tenderly. Tears were filling my eyes as I gazed at her naked form sitting next to me. “I was afraid I would never see you again either. He—he didn’t…”
“No. You came in time to stop it from happening.” The corner of her lips quirked up with a small smile. “My savior. You saved me from him. You put him behind bars.”
“You put him behind bars, Joanna. It was your testimony that put him behind bars, not just mine. I would’ve gone to jail if you hadn’t been brave enough to tell them the truth.”
“I think some of those officers suspected it,” she said. “They didn’t act awfully protective or surprised by anything.”
I nodded in agreement. Sid’s former partner was a living testament to that. Scanning Joanna’s face, I searched for permission. Every inch of my body longed to have her as mine again, to prove my love for her the right way. Not that sick and fucked up way that Sid had tried to twist around in Joanna’s mind.
Joanna nodded mutely when she realized what I was looking for. Our lips met in a soft kiss at first, a feathery light one where we both just relished the feeling of each other. Passion soon took over me, though.
Our kisses grew heated, hotter than the spray of water against our backs. Joanna twisted her body to straddle me. She pressed her bare breasts against my chest while trying to minimize every inch of air between us. I gladly accepted the weight of her taut body against mine while our tongues tangled together in a familiar dance of lust and deep passion.
The tiles were warm against my ass. Her hands gripped the back of my neck while I peppered the bruises on her skin with soft and soothing kisses. Unable to sit on the hard floor any longer, I picked both of us up from the floor to carry us into the bedroom. I twisted the shower off quickly. Neither one of us cared at that moment that we were both drenched with water from the shower. All that mattered was our bodies arching against one another’s in desperate need.
I took my time trailing kisses down the front of her chest. I memorized every little detail that I could find. Each sharp intake of breath was followed with a moan. I savored the way her hips rolled when I pressed my tongue against the core of her and the throaty cries of pleasure that escaped her lips when I sucked her hard to an earth-shattering peak.
Although nothing, absolutely fucking nothing, would ever replace the feeling I got when I first eased myself into the tight heat of Joanna’s core. Nothing beat the way her breathing hitched as I filled her to the very hilt of myself. I savored the delicious feeling of her thighs squeezing my hips as she wrapped her legs tightly around my waist in wordless encouragement to keep going faster, harder.
Passion blinded me while we both clasped at each other frantically. Our lips clashed together feverishly in a kiss. Joanna’s moans and pants filled my mouth while I thrust inside her wildly, possessively.
What was the difference between Sid and me? I craved the dominance of Joanna underneath of me, but it was a delicate balance of letting her be in control as well. I wanted to bury myself inside her, and I wanted to keep the rest of the world shut away from her. I just wanted it to be the two of us at all times, but we had to face the reality of going back to the world again. We had spent too much time in a fantasy together, and while I loathed the idea of it ending quickly, I inwardly noted that we were free to no longer hide our relationship from the rest of the office. I could kiss her any time I damn well pl
eased without the fear of it getting back to Sid.
I slowed the pace of my thrusts to press a tender kiss between her furrowed eyebrows. I knew that deep down inside my heart, I loved this woman more than anything in the world. I would give up my life for her, and I had put myself on the receiving end of Sid’s gun to protect her. That was the difference between the two us. I had my fucked-up demons clawing at my back that wanted me to push her away, that screamed for me to push her away while I still could.
The only difference was that I refused to listen that voice anymore. I had no intention of letting heartache ever burden Joanna’s heart again. I would spend the rest of my life making sure she was loved and cherished the way she deserved to be.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips, rolling my hips back to pick up the pace again. “I love you so much, Joanna.”
“I love you too, Bastian. More than you’ll ever know.”
I threaded our fingers together while I took us both to our peaks. We arched against one another in a mutual release of pleasure that burst through us. I could almost feel Joanna’s soul tugging at mine at the same time I soared through the wintery night before coming back down to earth.
We lay there, exhausted, for a long time, feeling like we were full of lead. I barely managed to pull the sheets back for Joanna to climb into bed next to me before gathering her into my arms. The blankets and sheets settled around us while the fire in the fireplace crackled soothingly across the room.
I tightened my hold on Joanna’s slender form as she snuggled into me with a contented sigh. I felt sleep take her quickly before it took me, too.
Chapter 40
Joanna
One month later
“Holy shit, girl,” Sabrina said. “Who knew that five fucking minutes would take so damn long?”
I stared down at the pregnancy stick as it sat on the edge of the sink. Five minutes felt like a lifetime even though I had a deep gut feeling. I knew it would be positive. I could feel the change that many women talked about during the first few weeks of their pregnancy. Swollen boobs. Missed period. The nausea that came and went without any rhyme or reason to it.
“It’s taking way too long,” I agreed, glancing up at Sabrina, who was pacing behind me in the employee bathroom. “Thank you for sneaking out with me to get this test. I just had to know before Bastian came back from his meeting.”
“It was a bit tricky doing it,” she said with a smile. “I had to fake period issues with Mr. Burke while I dashed out the door for the local corner store. I don’t think he’s ever been more uncomfortable with me until now.”
I held back a laugh because I could just imagine Bastian’s face at that. He treated all the female staff in his office fairly and with respect. But he didn’t want to know any personal issues. The only issues he had concerned himself with were my morning bouts of nausea that had started up over the past week. He insisted that I go to the doctor to get checked for food poisoning even though I suspected what it was.
“What if you are pregnant?” Sabrina asked. “Do you think Bastian will be okay with the news?”
“Absolutely,” I replied without a single shred of doubt. “He’ll be ecstatic. We’ve talked about having a family in the future. This wasn’t planned, granted, but I don’t think he’ll be upset at all.”
“You realize that your mother is going to shit a brick, right?”
I rolled my eyes at that. Now that I definitely didn’t have any doubts about. It had been almost too much for my mother to process what had happened to me. She didn’t want to believe it no matter what evidence was slapped in her face. It wasn’t until my father returned home to explain to her that Sid had duped them both into thinking that he was the good guy that she apologized to me for taking the wrong side. I’m still wary of Bastian though, Joanna. It’s not right sleeping with someone who is supposed to be your boss.
“Her logic doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “I tried to point out to her that there are married couples who work together just fine. She didn’t want to hear any of that, naturally.”
Sabrina’s lips thinned in exasperation. “Well, she’ll have to just accept shit sooner or later. If you’re pregnant, then she’ll really have to get over it.”
“Eventually.”
The timer on my phone went off. Sucking in a deep breath to calm my wavering nerves, I picked up the stick and then grinned down at the results. I knew it. I held it up to show Sabrina, who let out a shriek of excitement before she embraced me tightly. We both hugged and did a small dance in the bathroom.
“I’m so excited for you,” she said, beaming. “This is great news. After everything that has happened, I can’t wait to shower this baby with affection.”
Pregnant. The word washed over me pleasantly as I stared down at the smiley face that said positive.
“I have to tell Bastian,” I said. “He’s about to leave his meeting. I know he’s going to be ecstatic over this.”
I tucked the pregnancy stick into the back pocket of my pants while I followed Sabrina out of the bathroom. We both could barely contain the grins on our faces as I returned to my desk in front of Bastian’s office. I nodded to Roger, who was busy chatting away on the phone, when he lifted a hand at me in greeting.
After coming back to Burke Management, I had taken over the role of Bastian’s personal assistant. It was much easier to have me handling Bastian’s schedule since we were together every single day. I knew what his days consisted of and how he liked to keep his days balanced. Plus, I was the only one in the office who knew how to handle his moods when everything went wrong. For that part, I knew the entire office was grateful.
I waited patiently for Bastian to appear from the conference room at any second. A baby after these past few months was a blessing. Sid’s trial was set to begin soon, but luckily, the judge had allowed the option of me writing a statement instead of being there in court. That part of my life was now behind me. I wanted to cherish every single day for what I had in my life now with Bastian.
We both wanted to move forward past the shadow of Sid in the background. I had never felt freer as I watched the conference doors open. A few men trickled out to leave the office, potential contracts that were visiting Bastian’s office. His capital management office had been gaining even more steam over the past month, something that I knew greatly excited Bastian, who felt less of a need to be in the office twenty-four seven.
I spotted Bastian coming out of the conference room with Ashton right on his heels. He saw me standing in front of his office doors with a wide grin plastered on my face.
“You look happy,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “What’s put you in such a good mood?”
“I have some exciting news for you,” I said, barely containing my excitement. “I just found out this morning.”
“Really? I have some exciting news to share, too.”
“You do?” I asked.
The smile on Bastian’s face grew as he set his briefcase on top of my desk. He cleared his throat then to gather everybody’s attention. Confusion filtered through my own excitement as I looked over at Sabrina, who looked equally confused. The only person who didn’t seemed confused was Ashton. A knowing smile spread across his face as he took a step back while everyone gathered around us.
“I wanted to announce two promotions for a particular employee here in the office,” Bastian said as he gazed over at me with twinkling eyes. “She has been with me for several years now, and I trust her more than anything in the world. I am promoting Joanna to be the vice president of Burke Management.”
A chorus of cheers and claps broke out. I stared up at Bastian in shock while his grin only grew even more. I was speechless. I had no idea what to say.
“Bastian,” I started, shaking my head at him. “I have no idea how to run this office. This is your dream, your business.”
“You’re also a part of that dream now,” he said, then grasped my hand tightly in his. “
I have another promotion to announce that also involves you.”
My heart soared to the top of my throat when Bastian sank down on one knee in front of me. Gasps filled the room, followed by excited murmurs. I stared down at him in utter shock as he pulled out a small black box. He opened it slowly to reveal a glittering ring nestled inside.
“My next promotion involves a serious commitment,” he said. “A commitment to each other for the rest of our lives. Joanna, would you do me the honor of being promoted to my wife?”
“Yes,” I whispered, shaking like a leaf in the wind. Tears blinded me as Bastian slid the ring onto my finger before he swept me up into a tight embrace while everyone clapped.
Breathless from the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I stared down at the beautiful ring that glittered on my finger. It only made sense for me to tell him my own little surprise that would quickly grow within the next nine months.
“I have a surprise for you, too,” I said thickly. “It’s not as beautiful as the ring right now, but it will be the most beautiful thing in the future someday.”
Bastian’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. I pulled out the pregnancy stick to hold out for him to take. He glanced down at the stick in the palm of his hand before realization spread across his face.
“You’re pregnant?” he choked out as tears filled his eyes. “We’re going to have a baby?”
“We’re going to have a baby,” I said through my own tears.
He swept me up into his arms again. This time, he pressed his lips against mine in a passionate kiss that had a few catcalls ringing out. I pulled back to smile up at him while he reached out to rub at my stomach with a wide smile.
“To our family,” he whispered. “Nothing will ever hold us back from each other now.”
I smiled down at our hands, which rested on my stomach. “Nothing will ever hold us back.”
