The Malone Brothers Boxed Set

by S. L. Sterling

  "You look like you've seen a ghost, Mia. What the hell. Aren’t you excited to see your own brother?" Grant asked, standing in front of me, June and the kids standing behind him.

  My eyes got blurry as the tears built up in them, and I wrapped my arms around my brother. I had never thought I meant that much to Grant until he stood here in front of me. He had carted the whole family across the states just to be here to celebrate our engagement.

  Everyone was quiet as we stood there, me crying into my brother’s chest, him hugging me tighter than I ever remembered.

  "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. When Bryce called and asked us to be here tonight, we couldn't say no. You mean more to me than you will ever know," he whispered in my ear.

  A deep sob escaped my chest as I held him tighter. "Thank you so much for coming."

  "All right, you two, break it up. If you weren't related, I'd swear you were trying to steal my woman," Bryce said, getting up and shaking his hand, everyone laughing.

  I finally grew quiet, looking around the table at everyone. It was the first time we had all been together in years, and it finally truly felt like home. I had found my place. I had just been lost for the past fifteen years, trying to find my way back to where I belonged.

  I quietly excused myself from the table and headed toward the washroom. When I was on my way back to the table, I felt someone grab me from behind and pull me back into them.

  Bryce wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek. "Were you surprised?"

  I looked over to where everyone sat and nodded my head. "You did this?" I asked.

  "I did. We've been talking for a bit now. We have been planning this since the night I called and asked him for your hand," he whispered, kissing the edge of my ear.

  "You asked my brother?" I asked.

  "I did. I figured it was only the proper thing to do. I mean, you don't know where your father is, and your mother, God rest her soul, is gone. He was the next logical choice. I told him when I was planning it, and he promised me he would be here to celebrate."

  I looked up into my future husband’s eyes, and for the first time in my life, I had never been so sure of anything.

  Epilogue

  Mia

  We lay together on the couch, the fire burning and soft music filling the room. Outside, the winter storm raged on, covering everything with snow.

  I giggled. "Doesn't this remind you of the first time we were here?" I asked. We had decided to spend our two-week honeymoon at the lake house, and just like the first time, the day before we were to leave to return home, snow decided to fall, trapping us here.

  "Yeah, it does. I guess that is fate’s way of telling us our honeymoon isn't quite over yet." He laughed, kissing me. He pulled away when we heard a gust of wind outside. "It's getting pretty wild out. I should probably bring in a bit more wood, sweetie," Bryce said, removing his arm from under me and sitting up. "I'll be right back. I don't want to have to fight my way through all that later." He grabbed his hoodie from the couch and threw it over his head.

  I watched him go and pulled the blanket around my body. Even though it was warm inside, I was cold without him. He brought in three armfuls of wood and dropped them in the wood box, filling it, and threw another log on the fire before returning to my side.

  "You barely touched your wine. You all right?"

  "Yeah. My stomach is a little upset tonight," I answered, getting comfortable again as he slid in beside me. "Cold out there?"

  "It's more than cold. I would suggest the hot tub, but I think we might freeze," he said, kissing my forehead.

  "It's okay, I'm exhausted," I said, yawning. "Did you want to go to bed."

  Bryce laughed out loud. "Babe you don't need to ask me twice," he said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. "I could use a little stress relief."

  "You can always use stress relief." I laughed, kicking the blankets off me.

  We had barely made it down the hall and he had already stripped my T-shirt off, leaving it in a pile on the floor in the hallway as he held me in his arms, kissing me hard.

  "Fuck me, you are going to be the death of me, woman," he whispered between kisses.

  I could already feel him hard against me. He threw open the bedroom door and held me as I walked backward to the bed. He pulled the drawstring on his lounge pants, allowing them to fall to the floor, his hard cock saluting me.

  I sat up on the bed, teasing his cock with my tongue as he stood before me. He fisted his hand in my hair as I continued to deliver little licks to the head of his cock, licking the bead of precum off him.

  "Fuck. Don't tease me. Take it in your mouth," he hissed.

  I looked up at him, my eyes teasing him as I continued with the torturous little licks.

  With his free hand, he held onto my breast, rubbing his thumb over my nipple, his touch running a chill through my body. He gently pinched my nipple through the fabric of my bra, causing me to jump. He stopped immediately. "Did I hurt you?"

  I shook my head. "Just a little sensitive is all. Slow down," I whispered. Everything about me felt sensitive tonight.

  He pushed me gently back, gripping the waist of my silk pajama pants and pulling them off me, and he crawled in beside me, shutting off the bedside light and pulling the blankets around us. I straddled his waist and felt his hands run up my back and flick the clasp on the back of my bra, his fingers grazing my shoulders as he pulled my bra down and off me, my nipples instantly hardening at the coolness of the room.

  Bryce sat up and took one of them in his mouth, sucking and licking. Again, a sharp intake of breath and a jump stopped him. "Baby are you sure you are okay?"

  "Yeah, just slow down."

  "Come then, lay down." He guided me off him and I lay back into the mattress. He propped himself up on his elbow and met my lips, kissing me slow and positioning himself in between my legs. Kissing me deeply, he slid his way inside of me and started thrusting slow and deep.

  Everything about me felt heightened, and within minutes, I could already feel myself getting tighter around him, finally screaming out my orgasm as he emptied himself inside of me.

  I lay wrapped in his arms. "You sure you're okay?" he whispered, kissing the side of my neck.

  "Yeah, I'm okay." I closed my eyes. We had just gotten married. I wasn't sure how he would react to the news I had to deliver, but I didn't want to wait any longer.

  "You remember how I went to see Dr. Price just before we left? I wanted him to renew my birth control."

  "Yep, did you remember to pick up your prescription before we left?" he murmured sleepily.

  "No."

  "No, sweetie, you know how I hate wearing condoms now. Both Hunter and Carter warned me once I went bare, I wouldn't go back." He chuckled.

  "Sounds like your brothers." I laughed.

  "Well, I don't want to go back," he whined, tickling my side and causing me to wiggle away and scream. "You feel way too good."

  "You don't have to," I murmured.

  He went quiet, releasing the hold he had on my side. "Mia? What do you mean?" He questioned, raising up on his elbow and turning on the bedside light so he could see me.

  I looked up at him, a smile falling on my lips at the questioning look on his face.

  "Really? I'm going to be a dad," he whispered.

  I was sure I saw a tear in his eye as the words fell from his lips.

  I nodded my head without saying anything and bit my lower lip. "I know we talked about it and everything. I know you wanted to wait and travel..."

  He placed a single finger up to my lips. "It doesn't matter, baby. Now, next year, never...it doesn't matter. It's going to be an amazing journey, fun and exciting. Get excited, sweetie, we are going to have an amazing adventure together."

  The End

  Finding Forever With You

  Finding Forever with You

  Copyright © 2020 by S.L. Sterling

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright r
eserved about, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of the book. This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Disclaimer: This book contains mature content not suitable for those under the age of 18. It involves strong language and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are consenting adults over the age of 18.

  ISBN: 978-1-989566-07-7

  Editor: Brandi Aquino, Editing Done Write

  Cover Design: Sarah Paige, Opium House Creatives

  Created with Vellum

  1

  Sophie

  The heat from the morning sun was hot as I made my way down the street to Aroma Mocha. I was on my way to meet Jenna for our usual Saturday morning coffee date.” Normally, we walked to Aroma Mocha together after our yoga class, but she couldn't make it this morning. Instead, I made my way to the local cafe and flung my mat under my arm as I pulled the door open and stepped into the amazing smell of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked cinnamon buns. I looked around the dining area for Jenna, and when I didn't see her, I made my way to the counter and placed our usual order, then took a seat in our usual booth. I pulled my cell phone from my yoga bag and quickly checked my messages. I had just finished replying to someone at work when I spotted Jenna entering the small cafe. She spotted me right away and waved as she made her way through the crowd, her cell phone pressed up against her ear.

  "I'm sorry, just a second. It’s Matt," she mouthed as she pointed to her phone.

  I smiled and slid out of my jacket while waiting for my vanilla latte and blueberry muffin to be delivered. I tried not to pay attention to Jenna while she spoke to Matt, but it was impossible. My best friend looked so happy, and I loved how her face lit up as she listened to whatever it was Matt was saying. The excitement in her voice was almost contagious when she responded to him. I wondered what it was like to be as happy as Jenna was. I hadn't had a decent relationship in years—well, honestly, never, but who was counting.

  Jenna beamed as she hung up the phone and tucked it into her purse and turned her attention towards me. "Good morning," she sang. "How was yoga?"

  "It was yoga. You know, the usual—downward dogs and tree poses. It would have been so much better with you there."

  "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry about that. It was a crazy week, and I needed this morning just to lounge around with Matt."

  "Yeah, sure, whatever. You know, I recall someone who so desperately wanted me to join yoga she spouted about how it does a body and mind good to de-stress. Now I go more than her."

  "You are right, I did say that, but let’s just say that Matt does his best to make sure I stay good and de-stressed." I couldn't help but roll my eyes as she giggled.

  "How's Matt?" I questioned, doing my best to change the subject.

  "He's good." She got quiet for a moment, a soft smile coming to her lips. "I should probably tell you that I think I might be in love." Jenna swooned. "He is just everything I have ever wanted. I seriously have to ask myself what made me wait so long."

  I let out a laugh, leaned across the table, and whispered, "You waited because you were convinced that he was a player."

  "I did not. That was what you said."

  "You are such a liar! I told you to take the chance."

  Jenna laughed as she stirred her coffee with her biscotti. "So tell me, how's everything going with Ralph?" Jenna asked, taking a bite of her coffee-soaked treat.

  I looked around the cafe and laughed. "Ha, don't ask. The man is all tongue. I can't even fathom what he'd be like in bed because I can barely get past a kiss."

  Jenna began laughing uncontrollably. "Oh God, that reminds me of that guy I dated in university. Do you remember? What was his name?"

  "Scott. Who wouldn't remember? But now look who you have," I said, raising my eyebrows suggestively. Jenna had started dating Matt, one of our close friends, not too long ago. I'd always thought that they would be perfect for one another and was so glad that they had finally taken the plunge.

  "And look how long it took to find him."

  "At least you found him. I'm just stuck with tongue," I murmured, crossing my eyes and sticking out my tongue. We both laughed.

  Truth was, I had struggled in every relationship I'd had, the longest lasting just over a year and ending just as I had come off the hardest year of my life. I was convinced now more than ever that I was destined to be alone. I had just celebrated my thirtieth birthday and felt that lately my biological clock was ticking, but without a serious relationship, there wasn’t much I could do about it.

  "What about one of our circle?" Jenna asked, snapping me back to our conversation.

  "What about them?" I questioned.

  "Well, you say that ultimately you want a baby, right? You don't sound super keen on staying with Roger, or the Tongue as you call him, so, what about one of our circle? It takes all the risk out of it. I mean, you at least know who the guy is, what he looks like, what he is like."

  "And we are going to kill that idea right now."

  "What? Why?" Jenna asked innocently.

  "Because you are being ridiculous." I shook my head. "The whole idea of that is just not going to happen."

  "No, I'm not. What about Brent? I think you two would make a lovely couple. Or Shawn. Oooh, or Dave. He has an eight-pack most girls would kill to touch," she said, raising her eyebrows.

  "Oh my God, just stop." I laughed, hiding my face in my hands.

  The door to the cafe opened, grabbing Jenna's attention, her eyes lighting up at whatever idea she had now.

  "What?" I asked, taking a bite of the still-warm blueberry muffin that I'd been craving all week. Jenna's eyes were still trained on whoever had walked through the door and was at the counter. I turned just in time to see the sexy Chase Malone leaning against the counter ordering his morning coffee, and I looked back towards Jenna, seeing a silly grin on her face.

  "Why not?" She shrugged, her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree.

  "Why not what?"

  "Why not Chase?"

  "Why not Chase what?" I could feel my heart start to beat faster at what I hoped she wasn't trying to suggest.

  "O.M.G! Pull your head out of the sand. He is as single as they come, and he is not looking to settle down anytime soon. He's hot, sexy, smart… Borrow some of his best swimmers and be done with it."

  I almost spit my coffee all over Jenna at her suggestion. "Oh my God, no!" I said, balling my napkin up and throwing it at her.

  "What is wrong with that idea?? What girl on the face of this earth wouldn't want a night, or hell better yet, a few nights with Chase Malone. Seriously, out of all the guys, he'd be your best bet. I've heard he is dynamite in the sack."

  I looked up towards the counter and saw Chase give us an innocent wave.

  "Seriously, Sophie, come on, just do it."

  "Seriously, Jenna, just shut up already! He's my best friend," I gritted out in embarrassment just in time for Chase to slide into the booth beside me.

  "Good morning, ladies," he greeted, reaching across the table for the sugar. "What are you beauties up to on this beautiful day?"

  "Trying to help Sophie solve her relationship crisis."

  "Oh my God, shut up!" I said, burying my face in my hands.

  Chase looked at me, smiling. "Oh, Soph, you are too cute. You think you have a relationship problem?"

  I looked to Jenna for help, since she was the one who’d started this whole conversation. "Go ahead, Sophie, share with Chase." She grinned.

  I shrugged and looked at him. "Perhaps."

 
"Perhaps, Sophie, it's more of an asshole problem," he said, winking and pinching my outer arm, trying to lighten the mood just as his cell phone went off.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I questioned.

  "It means that you need to find a nice boy.” He winked, “Well, ladies, I have to run," he announced, "the world of law is awaiting me. See you ladies next week."

  "Absolutely, we wouldn't miss it." Jenna grinned.

  I glared at Jenna as she watched Chase leave the cafe. When she finally turned her attention back to me, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Seriously? You think this is funny?"

  "Oh come on, lighten up. I'm trying to help."

  "Okay, okay," I said, laughing and squirming at the same time. "Perhaps you are right. Maybe I just need to find myself a nice man, but not Chase."

  "Okay, not Chase. But I'm not going to sleep until we find you someone!" She giggled, shoving the last piece of biscotti in her mouth.

  We sat and talked for a good hour after Chase had left, and finally, after parting ways, I decided to take a walk through the park near my house. I loved walking in early spring, listening to the birds chirp and smelling the crisp air. As I walked, I could still hear Jenna's suggestion at the forefront of my mind. As much as I hated to admit it, she did have a point. I was comfortable with my male friends, and I knew them all well, and perhaps Chase wasn't such a bad choice.

  I shook the absurd thought from my head, crossed the street, and entered my apartment building. I took the elevator up to the twentieth floor and opened my door. I dropped my purse on the floor just inside the door and slipped my shoes off. I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of orange juice and immediately saw the flashing light on my phone. I dialed into my voicemail while taking a drink of the sweet liquid. The first message was from my boss reminding me of a meeting on Monday morning; the second was Ralph.

  I drank down the rest of my orange juice and was just about to call Ralph back when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket. Looking down at the screen, I saw Chase had left me a message.