by Leaona Luxx
My last words waver, as I watch tears run down his face. He stands, picking me up as I cradle in his arms and carries me through the door. Thayer stands with Hardy’s arms around her, and I notice she’s crying as we pass.
“We’ll lock up,” Hardy calls out.
We say nothing. Malone doesn’t even stop. Now in the bedroom, he sits me on the bed and goes to the closet. Returning with his tee shirt, he replaces my clothes with it and puts me higher on the bed. Finally joining me in the bed, he takes me in his arms and holds me so close, I think we’ve become one.
He’s mine. Nothing else matters; doubts, fears, and anger evaporates, and finally my heart doesn’t hurt. Turning to him, I snuggle to his neck. Throwing my leg over his, my arm around his waist, I don’t think his hold can get tighter. He peppers my head with kisses. The tears come faster, harder, and Malone holds me until they run dry. We fall asleep, sated in each other’s arms and love.
Light pours through the windows; it’s afternoon. Malone didn’t go to work. There’s been no interruptions. No phones. No one has come over. Nothing. Assuming Thayer sounded the all clear, everyone has steered clear of us all day. Guessing the ‘no news is good news’ mantra is being exercised.
Feeling a little tug around my belly, I know Malone is awake. But my stomach has other plans as the somersaults of happiness begin. Well, babies, that makes three of us happy that Daddy is here. Malone splays his hand on my ever-changing stomach as he kisses the back of my head.
“Do you really believe I would chance missing a minute of this with you? Do you really think any other woman could fill your spot so easily? I love you more than you will ever be able to love yourself. I love you when you ugly cry. I love you when you’re crazy. I love you when you’re scared and feel the need to run.
“I love the way you feel against me. I love the way you touch me as if I’m not real. As if, I’m the prize here. I love you so much, in so many different ways. I would never hurt you. I will never hurt you, I love you too much. When you hurt, I hurt. I know you believe I kissed Montgomery. I didn’t. I belong to you— whether you want me or not— I’m yours. You are mine, and I want you to belong to me, just me. I can never apologize enough to you for what’s happened, but I will do anything you want or need me to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Kissing my head again, he continues to stroke my belly. I know what he can do, at least a few things. Most will take time. Turning to face him, I lay my hand on his jaw, he’s crying. I’ve never had a man cry before, I’m pulled closer with his arm.
“You are my prize. Never will I believe you’re mine. I’m crazy with jealousy. I’ve never been jealous nor have I ever been so hurt. Watching her kiss you, touch you. I’ve never felt so wretched in my life. I was empty or I thought I was. Every time your face came to mind, my chest would ache. I thought my heart was decimated, but it was missing you.
“Right now, I just need to know what I don’t know. Why was she there? Why didn’t you have a shirt on? Did you sleep with her? Did you kiss her back? Do you love her?”
Searching his eyes, I can’t see anything but the same look I find every morning he wakes me up. The same look when he watches an ultrasound. The same look as he watched me laugh in the restaurant: love. Malone looks at me with love.
“I have no idea why she was there, I didn’t ask. I didn’t care. I was called at the office to look at the condo, I thought you had contacted a realtor. I went in to tidy up, expecting a realtor or someone to buy the condo. I had been on site all morning and decided to change my shirt. Before I could get it over my head, Montgomery was standing in front of me. I don’t know how she got in. I was so shocked I guess I didn’t ask. I did not kiss her. When I put her out the door, she turned and latched on, but I tore her hands from me. I did not sleep with her, nor do I want to. And I would never. Of course, I don’t love her, you own me. I’ll never love another woman.”
His lips are so close to mine. He looks in my eyes, finally, and he kisses me. It isn’t fast or slow. It doesn’t devour nor overtake. This kiss is perfect. It’s all the love he feels for me, and I return it with mine.
“Hadlea, I could never want another woman. I love you,” he declares as he kisses me again.
One
Where the fuck are they? Thayer promised she would text me when they found her. Looking at my phone again, I’d a missed call from Smith, I dial him. “Smith.” There would be no small talk today.
“One. My track on the car has them arriving there a few minutes ago. Hardy has her car en route to her home. Still nothing on Delaney, just a few years back. She doesn’t exist. I’m calling in favors, and I’ll let you know what we find.” Hanging up the phone, I check it for texts.
“Hey, man. You good?” Chord asks as he comes to stand beside me.
Hands in his pockets, he actually looks like Cal. Cal told me to have patience with Hadlea, that Mom had run from him. The reasons were different, but she had run.
“No. I fucked up. Knowing Hadlea, I should’ve had someone else go to the condo. I have no clue how Montgomery knew I was there. It wasn’t Monty that arranged the appointment either.”
Chord nods. “You were set up.”
Yes, totally. “Who and why is what I need now. And Hadlea at home.” Chord reaches for his phone as it buzzes.
“Hardy. He is. Good deal. Any word from Thayer or Aksel? All right, I’ll tell him.”
I can barely contain myself. “Hardy has her car home. No word. He’ll be at Lea’s if you need him. Lath and Hawk are there. They said to hang in there and they love you.”
I love those boys. My phone beeps twice with incoming texts from Thayer.
Thayer: We have her.
Thayer: On our way.
My heart begins beating faster.
Me: She okay?
Thayer: Kinda.
Me: I’m at Mom’s. Hardy’s with the boys. Let me know when she’s safe.
Thayer: Will do. She looked for you. She won’t admit it, but she did.
Me: I love her.
Thayer: I know.
My heart falls out of my chest. Why did she look for me?
“They got her?” Chord asks.
“Yeah, man. My girl’s coming home. Thayer said she looked for me, so I don’t get it.”
Frowning, he puts his hand on my shoulder. “Why not? She loves you. She’s hurt. I’m not sure she gets hurt. Lea’s very protective. You got to her, and she got scared. I think she was looking for you because you told her you would always be there, even when she said no. She wanted you there, but couldn’t ask for you to come get her.”
Who the hell stands before me? “What the fuck? Since when did my baby brother get so insightful?” He’s wearing his shit-eating grin, asshole.
“I never knew what love looked like until I looked at you. Hadlea said that to you. I looked and she was right. The way you love her: slow, patient, kind, caring and with so much understanding. She’s never been shown that, so it’s gonna take some getting used to. I hope when I fall in love, it’ll be like this— a love worth deserving.”
Well, damn. My baby brother has grown up. “You know why I didn’t go after her, why I couldn’t?” Chord shakes his head. “Our first three disagreements. Hadlea told me not to tell her what to do. That no one would ever tell her what to do again. I couldn’t go, she had to come home on her own. She will have to tell me she wants me. I need something from her, but not until she gets this shit straight.”
Giving a knowing nod, Chord adds, “Your marriage sucked ass, man. I get it, you need more from Hadlea. Just make sure she gives you what you need.”
I couldn’t agree more. “She will, as soon as she allows me to love her.”
***
“I just need to see her. I can’t leave, I can’t. I need to be close to her, man. Please, just let me see her. I’ll wait in the sunroom.” Hardy is all bulldogged up. What the fuck?
“What the fuck are you even doing here? She’s hurt. Sh
e’s cried all night, she’s been vomiting, she hasn’t eaten. You will not upset her anymore. If she gets upset, it will kill you. And then, you’ll be pissed you got her upset.”
Hardy’s right, I’m a fucking idiot. Why did I come over here? I should’ve waited for her to ask.
“Just go FaceTime her for me.” Thayer steps out.
“Go see her but you have to leave as soon as you do. Don’t wake her. She keeps asking for you in her sleep. We’ll do the FaceTime so you can watch her the rest of the night.”
Somersaulting, my stomach reacts as anticipation of seeing her hits me. Hadlea’s never been so upset, so heartbroken. At the time, I couldn’t understand why but Chord has me thinking. She’d never put value or love with anything. Relationships were closely guarded and only with a select few. She was finally letting me in and this happened. I wanted to go to her, hold her all the way home but she had to come to the realization that she wants to be here, with me.
Hadlea lay in this bed, whimpering in need, but denied herself of the simple act of seeing me. Her self-preservation kicked in, and the boys knew it, also. She needs to protect herself the way she always has.
Leaning over her, I brush a stray curl from her face to let her know it will all be okay. “Shhhhh, baby. I love you. Even in the dark, I’ll always find you.” Her features seem to relax; she let’s go of whatever held her hostage in the deep corners of her mind. Why can’t she just let me love her, let me be everything for her?
Morning comes and she’s here, touching me. Tracing my jawline, pressing her soft sweet lips to me. I sense her and catch her scent— floral, like freesia— before I feel her touch. Easy and loving, as if she’s touching her child, Hadlea lay her hand on mine. I can’t help myself as I begin to cry. It’s no longer about making her love me; I know she does… I can feel it in her touch. Loving me with her soft kiss, the way her eyes search mine to understand her, to know that she loves me.
Once telling me, I was never in question, I now realize what she was saying. Loving me was never going to be a problem but allowing herself to be loved would take extreme effort. A love that could withstand her demons needed to be a great love.
Putting my t-shirt over her head, I notice for the first time, her growing stomach is getting too round for them. I’ll go buy more, as long as I can say they are mine is all that matters. She is perfect in them; I want her so badly but so much needs to be discussed first.
We sleep until early afternoon, thankful she rested without any murmurings or fretting. We talk but it only leaves me with more doubts and fears. I’m not sure who set us up. I’m not sure who Delaney is, but I know neither set well with me. I can’t forget, of course, there’s Montgomery; she’s always around. Montgomery lurks in all my shadows.
Looking at her green eyes, all I can think of are the fields of green in Dublin. She keeps looking at me, searching mine for answers. My girl needs to know I love her, want to keep her. Taking her mouth, I slowly work my way around it. Tender and loving, my taking of her would make her think I gave to her instead of taking from her soul.
Feeling her beside me has me in knots, touching her makes me crazy. Tracing down her back and across her hips, I pull her closer to me. Taking her leg, I hitch it higher as I roll her to her back, careful of her growing stomach.
I don’t care if the world falls apart, as long as it falls around us. My tee shirt has ridden up, showing the bottom of her belly and perfect light pink panties which are too adorable. Kneeling between her legs, my arms over her shoulders, I lean in kissing her.
“This belly gets any bigger, we’re not going to be able to do this.” She looks between us with a frown. If she thinks that’s going to stop me, she’s so wrong.
“Baby, as long as you will, we will.” Those soft lips accept mine with a moan. Helping her shrug out of my tee, she lies squirming in her panties. I practically rip my shirt off and cover her body with mine, kissing as I go. I take hold of those panties, relieving her of them.
My cock gives its full attention to her as she lay there, gorgeous. Belly swollen with my seed, longing in her eyes; she wants me. Taking her foot in my hand, I place kisses on her toes, just to watch her squirm more. Working my way up her legs, I press my lips to her calves and the bend of her knee. Up the inside of her thigh, Hadlea’s moans turn me inside out, damn. I will never get enough of her. Hadlea surprises me when she growls.
“Malone, I love you but so help me, if you don’t soon give me your cock, I’ll hold you down and take it. I need you.”
What the fuck does a man say to that? With a groan, I position myself so close I can feel her heat. “Hadlea, baby tell me how you want this.” Raising up on her elbows, she responds in a breathless moan.
“Fucking hard, babe. Fuck me hard.”
“You got it, woman.” Filling her with one quick motion, I watch as her eyes roll back. Biting her bottom lip to suppress’ her moans. Dragging my shaft back slowly and fully, she’s so wet my cock glistens from her arousal. I go full tilt once again, hitching her leg up around my waist until she moans louder.
Pulling and pushing into her pussy as she hugs every rugged inch of my cock. Clenching and releasing it like a vice, a suction of desire keeps me deep in her. Not a word is spoken. We are beyond words now; the need for one another too strong, primal even. I need to claim her as much as she wants to be claimed by me.
Hammering into her with thrusts that make us pant and moan, I reach between us and use my thumb to circle her clit. It’s slick with wetness, helping slide my callused pressure on her. Hadlea fists my hair, slamming her lips to mine. Claiming my mouth, as her orgasm rips through her body; giving two more thrusts, I begin to fill her. Kissing her until we both gasp for breaths.
“I love you, Malone. I’m trying to let you love me; please don’t give up.”
No fucking way would I ever give up on her—she is it for me. My beginning and my end, everything. “No way, baby, never. You’re mine.” She straddles me as we kiss, my cock still buried deep in her. “I love you. I need you in my life. Please, talk to me. About anything, everything. Your thoughts, feelings, the weather. Your darkest fears, your deepest feelings. If I piss you off, come tell me. Stand up for yourself, just like you would for those boys. Like you would for me, baby. This is us, you and me against the world. Forgive me for my fuck ups. I’m going to fuck up, I’m sorry. This is new to me too, Hadlea, I’m learning. But know this above all else, I love you and all of our children. We’re in this together, no one else.” She must see what she needs because she kisses me with so much love, I have no doubt this is something we needed.
We stay in bed the rest of the day, sleeping, eating, kissing, and fucking. This woman is not about making love right now; I need to keep her pregnant.
We spend some time talking about our conundrum. “Nope, didn’t know Delaney at all before the hospital. She was so angry at first, but then she changed. Monty has always been a bitch to me, but she says she still loves you, so I get that. I could’ve pulled her blonde for kissing you… bitch.”
Surprised by Hadlea’s declaration, I kiss her hard. “Fuck yeah, baby. My little bad ass. No fighting until you deliver, though, please.” She elbows me away as she sits up.
“So, we were set up?” frowning as she asks.
“I do believe we were. Now, who and why are the next questions.” Hadlea starts moving again. “Where you going?” She grins as one foot hits the floor.
“Umm, pee.” Once the second foot is down, she mutters, “And ice cream.”
My favorite smile stretches across her face as her eyebrows shoot up. God, I love her.
“Go pee. I’ll get the ice cream and meet you back here.”
She waddles to the bathroom. “Whip cream, too. For now, and later.”
Stopping to look over her shoulder, she flashes a grin and a wink. Damn. This pregnancy is going to wear me out, fuck yeah. I grin back and go get the whip cream. And the ice cream.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I hear Malone’s cell as soon as he yells to answer it, so I do. “Hello?” I wait for a response, but the phone goes dead as Malone comes through the bedroom door.
“Who is it?” he asks as I set the phone back down.
“They hung up.” We jump as the phone rings again. Malone reaches for the phone at the same time he pinches my ass making me jump again.
“Woods.”
He’s so freaking cute, but his face begins to twists, and it makes me worry. Leaning closer to him, I try to make out what is being said. Suddenly, he ends the call.
“I need to go to my site at South Myrtle. I’ll call the boys to come sit with you.”
Malone is tugging clothes on with lightning speed and so am I.
“I’m going with you. In it for life, babe.” He stops dead in his tracks, and I ready for the ensuing argument.
“No, Hadlea. It could be dangerous.”
Standing in front of him, I leave no room for argument, this is us. “Yes, I know. I’ll never be far away from this point on, Malone. I’ll die without you, so it might as well be with you.”
Malone says nothing as he pulls my back against his chest to kiss my head. Hand in hand, we go to his construction site. I call Hardy and Cal on the way, and they agree to meet us at the site.
As we pull up, Aksel stands with the police. Malone helps me from the truck, taking my hand as he looks around cautiously, which makes me scan our surroundings.
“Hey, One, sorry to have called. I still think it may be worth it although the police say they see nothing.” Aksel meets Malone with a handshake and a kiss on my cheek. “Hey, Mom.” Cal drives up as Malone starts to question Aksel.
“Just tell me what you saw, and we can decide if it’s worth it.” Hardy now joins us as Aksel pulls his phone out.
“I got it on video, but I didn’t show the cops. I just figure this is for family.” He hands his phone over to Malone.
“Good job, dude.” Hardy chimes in as Cal walks to Malone’s side to watch the video.
