She looks down at her hands, her bottom lip trembling. “I can’t.”
“And that’s why you have to leave. Move on. You can’t do that here.”
She nods slowly but doesn’t look up.
“Listen, I want you to be happy like I am. Find that someone you deserve...because that someone is not me. I belong to Alexis now and I always will. We have a family and we will be married in the near future.”
She looks up at this point and finds Alexis and Brayden. I find them too, taking in Alexis’ tear streaked face.
Chelsea sucks in a breath and covers her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry, Bryce. I...I just thought that we...” She momentarily shuts her eyes and shakes her head. “You’re right, I’ve acted terribly. God, I need to leave. Shit! I’m sorry.”
She turns and heads for the door with rapid speed. I take a step forward, my intention to chase her down. I don’t want her to leave in the state she is in. Hesitating for a mere second, I pause, fearing that if I do go after her, I will give her the wrong impression.
Alexis hands me Brayden. “Here, take BB. I’ll go after her.”
I watch her run off while wiping her eyes.
* * *
Minutes later, Alexis walks back into my office. I’ve already placed Brayden down in his bassinet, and he is—as per usual—fast asleep.
Standing up from my seated position behind the desk, I make my way around to the front of it and lean my arse against the edge. “How is she?” I ask, worried about the answer.
“Devastated—“
“Shit!” I run my hands through my hair in frustration. I really didn’t want it to end this badly.
Alexis steps up to me and takes my hands in hers. “Devastated...but she’ll be okay. You gave her the wakeup-call she needed.”
Letting go of her hands and placing mine on her hips, I guide her closer and press my mouth to hers, the taste and feel of her body instantly heeling my apprehension.
“Believe it or not...,” she whispers, pulling away from my mouth—the loss of her tongue, agonising. “You did her a favour.”
I rest my forehead on hers and momentarily close my eyes. “I know. But I feel terrible.”
“That’s because you have a big heart.”
“A heart that belongs to you and only you. I wish you would realise that.”
“I do...now.”
She tilts her head up to kiss me once again, and I welcome the invitation eagerly. No one makes me feel what Alexis makes me feel. No one ever has. It’s as though we are two kindred spirits; two halves of a whole.
“Jessica told you didn’t she? You won’t confess because if you do you admit she broke patient client confidentiality, I get that.”
“No, she didn’t,” I admit sheepishly. “I heard your entire conversation through the baby monitor.”
Still secured in my arms, she leans backward and looks at the monitor then back to me. “Did you not think to switch it off?”
“I was going to, but when you started talking about being afraid of losing me because of what Rick did, I just had to listen. Hunny, I would never...EVER do what Rick did to you.”
A tear falls from her eye, slowly sliding down her cheek. I stop its decent as it reaches her jaw and place a kiss where it had been only seconds ago. It kills me to think that what Rick did shortly after Alexis gave birth to Charlotte is the result of her no longer having faith in herself. Fuck! I want kill the arsehole.
“You, my love, are perfect in every way,” I say, kneeling down before her. I lift her top, bunching it just under her breasts. “Every. Single. Bit of you,” I reiterate in between placing kisses along her stomach.
“Even this new stretch mark here?” she asks, pointing to the pale pink scar on her tummy.
I drag my tongue along it and watch her close her eyes, not sure at this point if they are closed due to discomfort or pleasure. “Especially this one, because this one signifies what you endured to give me the most precious gift imaginable.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A few weeks after jumping Alexis’ Chelsea-hurdle, she is nearly back to her old self. I couldn’t be happier. Although, she has been hitting the gym quite hard, and as much as I don’t like seeing her treat her body so harshly, I figure it’s best to stay out of it. I don’t want to dampen her improving mood.
Standing at the window in my office, looking out onto the balcony to where she is utilising the weight machine, my dick throbs in anticipating agony. I’m almost at the point of having to go knock the top off of it just to get some relief. I desperately want to be inside her, having not made love to her for nearly four weeks due to her post birth healing.
I suck in a breath and growl like a friggin’ bear as I watch her legs open and close, her abductor muscles flexing and taunting me. Right now I wish they were closing and clenching around my head while I taste her sweet pussy, followed by them tightening and clamping around my hips as I fuck her senseless. Jesus, fucking Christ!
Adjusting my raging hard-on, I shuffle to get some relief, but my relief is short lived. She stands up then grabs her towel and bottle of water, and I watch with perverted delight as she drags the towel across her forehead, over her face and down her neck. I’ve never wanted to be a towel so much in my bloody life.
She presses her drink bottle to her lips and tilts her head back, gulping the water and quenching her thirst. A little bit of the water misses her mouth and travels down her chin to fall on her chest and down in between her breasts. Now, I want nothing more than to be that droplet of water. Fuck! I need her.
Stalking her like she is prey I’m about to devour, I walk along the windows to my office, not taking my eyes from her mouth-watering form. My dick seems to have a mind of his own, escalating his request to explore her depths. And believe me, I’m more than inclined to grant his ardent appeal.
She turns, bends over, and places her water and towel back onto the ground. And I can’t help but pause my pacing of the window to stare at her arse which is primed and in position for me to grab hold of. I’m completely done for—Cock-stunned and fuck-ready.
“That’s it!” I groan.
Eagerly striding toward the door which leads into the apartment, I’m halted with the ring of my phone.
“What now?” I growl at the plastic telecommunication device from hell; the bane of my existence.
Walking back to my desk, I hit the speaker button and bark like a vicious animal. “What?”
“Bryce, sorry, have I caught you at a bad time. Is everything alright?” Arthur asks, concern manifesting in his voice.
How this man finds the most inappropriate times to interrupt never ceases to amaze me.
“Yes, Arthur, everything is fine. But I am in the middle of something,” I say through gritted teeth as I watch Alexis now performing knee raises on the Power Tower.
Her gaze travels to my window and she struggles a smile as she strains to lift her legs.
I smile back.
“I’m sorry, but this can’t wait. There has been an incident downstairs on the casino floor.”
Eyes still trained on Alexis, I watch as she blows me a kiss. Fuck!
I drop my head back and close my eyes in heated frustration. “What kind of incident?”
“Armed hold up at one of the cashier booths, Sir.”
Breathing in deeply, I turn around and take a seat at my desk. “Which one?” I ask, as I access the casino’s security feed through my laptop.
“Booth six. Dale has the assailant in the holding cell, and the police on their way.”
I find the security files for Cashier Booth Six. “How long ago did this happen?”
“Approximately five to seven minutes.”
I click on the file date-stamped eight minutes ago and begin to watch the feed. Not before long, I notice an agitated Caucasian male pointing a hand pistol at Selena; one of my long-term employees. Selena is a 54 year-old mother of three and has been working for me for over twelve years.
&
nbsp; “Shit! Is Selena okay?” I ask, running my hands through my hair.
“She’s a little shaken, but she’s fine.”
“How the hell did this creep go unnoticed?” I question, furious that our state of the art facial recognition software and highly trained security officers were unable to prevent this attack.
“I don’t have all the details yet, but obviously we will have to review the entire event. Dale is waiting for you in the cell, but if you are busy—“
“No, I’ll be there. Just give me minute.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
I hang up from Arthur and drop my head in my hands.
“Is everything alright?” Alexis asks as she makes her way toward my desk with Brayden against her chest.
The sight of both them rips my aggravation away like tearing off a Band-Aid.
“Yes, everything is fine. But I have to head downstairs for a moment. There was an armed hold-up on the casino floor.”
“Shit! Is everyone okay? God! Nobody got hurt, did they?”
Putting my arms out, I indicate I want to cuddle my son, and Alexis obligingly hands Brayden over to me. The mixture of his pure baby-smell and the soft scent of Alexis’ perfume, has me feeling at peace once again.
I sigh a little and answer to put her at ease. “Selena, the cashier who bore the brunt of his threat is apparently a little shaken. I want to go and see if she is alright and gather a few more details as to how this happened.”
“Of course, I’ll cancel my afternoon with—“
“No, don’t do that. You deserve an afternoon of pampering with your friends. It’s long overdue.”
“It’s okay. It’s only hair, massage, and some waxing. It really isn’t that important.”
“Hunny,” I say, as I touch the side of her face. “You’re going. I promise this won’t take long. And anyway, I’m looking forward to a bit of just-me-and-the-kids-time.”
The buzzer to the door sounds, interrupting us.
A huge smile covers her face. “You are, are you?”
Instantly, I sense her smile and tone of voice holds hidden meaning. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She takes Brayden from me and, like always, the feeling of loss is unpleasant.
“Nothing,” she replies, clearly full of shit.
I would’ve interrogated her further, but she opens the door to my office and is nearly thrown back by a massive bunch of baby-blue and white balloons.
Lil—the bearer of those balloons—awkwardly stumbles through the door. “Hello, congratulations! Let me see, let me see,” she squawks while letting go of the helium filled bunch she is holding.
The balloons hit the roof and bob around.
Following Lil through the door is Carly, Jade, and Steph, who is holding a big green dinosaur and a bunch of flowers. They all gather around Alexis and Brayden and coo at my little man like he is the most adorable sight to be seen. Well...I can’t really blame them...he is.
Smiling, I shake my head and get ready to head out the door.
“Where’s Tash?” Alexis asks, disappointment appearing across her face. “Don’t tell me she can’t make it.”
The girls all laugh, except for Lil who just rolls her eyes and places her hands on her hips. “She refused to ride in the elevator with the balloons,” Lil deadpans.
Alexis looks to the roof and cracks up laughing. “Oh yeah...I forgot she has a phobia of balloons. Funniest thing ever.”
Phobias are far from the ‘funniest things ever’, I should know. But balloons? Yeah, that is pretty amusing.
Just as I’m about to kiss Alexis and Brayden goodbye, Tash enters the room and gives the spot where the balloons have rested against the roof a very wide birth while eyeing them suspiciously. “Keep those fuckers away from me. I swear, Lil, if you pull the shit you just pulled downstairs with those evil things again, I will cut you. I’m not kidding.”
“That’s my cue to leave,” I announce. “I’ll be back soon.”
I kiss Alexis and Brayden goodbye and then head out of the room. As I’m walking to the elevator, I hear Alexis ask what shit Lil pulled.
“She locked Tash in the car with them,” Steph explains. “It was hilarious.”
“Yeah, ha ha...very funny,” Tash responds. “I’m scarred for freakin’ life.”
I smile and shake my head, but soon frown at the thought of being locked in the car with a clown. That shit is just not funny.
* * *
After spending a little time with Selena and praising her for staying calm and following protocol, I reaffirm that she was at all times safe by reminding her that all cashier booths are bullet proof. But regardless of her now settled nerves, I choose to send Selena home on extended leave and organise some counselling for her. Despite the fact it is company policy, I want her to be well looked after.
I’m then briefed by Dale—my head of security—that the assailant is a desperate drug user and not the sharpest tool in the shed. I make it very clear that I want a full rundown of exactly how a shady character—looking the way the dickheads looks—got into the casino in the first place and then leave Dale to handle the aftermath with the police.
* * *
Opening the door to my apartment, I find Alexis breastfeeding Brayden while sitting around the lounge with her friends.
“I swear, I shot milk a good metre away,” Steph says proudly.
“Yeah, well I could write Jade on the shower screen,” Jade explains as she grabs at her breasts and mimics the lettering of J.a.d.e.
What. The. Fuck?
“Yuck! You two are disgusting. I’m not having kids for that reason alone. No one should be able to write their name with liquid from their boobs,” Carly interjects.
I tend to agree with her.
“Oh grow up,” Lil grumbles. “When you have that much milk in your ducts, you can’t help it. It just squirts out.”
Feeling the need to end this conversation before I hear something I will never be able to wipe from my memory bank, I make it known that I am standing in the room. “Ladies, sorry I took so long.”
I head over to Alexis, kiss her forehead, then cup Brayden’s head in my hand and rub his earlobe with my thumb. Hearing what sounds like a loving sigh, I look up to find Steph staring at me all dreamy, like a bloody schoolgirl. I give her an awkward smile just as Jade elbows her in the ribs.
“Here you go, Daddy,” Alexis says, handing me my very milk-groggy son. “He needs to burp and he also needs his nappy changed. I should only be gone for three hours. Ring me if you need anything and I’ll come straight up. If he happens to get hungry again or I’m running a little late there’s backup milk that I’ve expressed in a bottle in the fridge. He’s got a little nappy rash, so don’t forget the cream and—“
“Go!” I demand, kissing her worried face and stopping her rant. “We’ll be fine. Won’t we, Bray?” I ask, giving him a fist-bump. “Go and enjoy yourselves.”
“Bye kids,” Alexis calls out, Nate and Charli reciprocating their acknowledgement by shouting back.
Carly links her arm around Alexis’ and practically drags her to the front door, Tash giving her arse little smacks on the way there. I’m momentarily jealous, wanting to be the one giving her arse small smacks, not only with my hand but with my hips and...
Brayden’s little cry snaps me out of my light bondage fantasy of Alexis. “Shit! Burp, that’s right,” I murmur to myself. “Sorry, buddy.”
I drape the burping cloth over my shoulder and hoist him up gently, patting his back as I walk upstairs toward his nursery. Seconds later, he lets out a noise that I’m fairly sure was not solely a burp.
“That did not sound good, Bray,” I state, a little concerned. “That sounded wet.”
Passing Charli’s bedroom, I find her lying on her stomach on the floor, colouring in. “Hey, Charlotte. What you doin’?”
“Drawing Addison a best friend picture. Do you like it?” she asks, holding up a pink piece of paper cove
red in girly pictures and sparkly shit.
“Yeah, it’s...girly.”
Charlotte giggles. “Of course it’s girly, silly. Addison is a girl. I can’t give her a boy picture.”
As per usual, the little lady is correct.
“No you can’t,” I say with a smile as I turn and head toward Brayden’s nursery.
“Um...Bryce?”
“Yeah,” I call back, twisting around.
Charlotte screws up her face and points toward me. “You have baby spew on your back.”
I twist further and catch a glimpse of a white trail down my shirt. “Gee...thanks, Brayden, just what Daddy has always wanted. Come on, looks like we are both getting changed.”
I walk back out of the room.
“Can I help?” Charlotte calls out.
“Sure.”
We enter the nursery, and I automatically smile at the Space theme Alexis and I agreed on. Stepping in here reminds me a little of being in the Observatory. Painted on the walls and roof are constellations, planets and spaceships. Okay, so the spaceships don’t remind me of the Observatory but the rest does.
Right before I lay Brayden down on the change table, he lets one rip, except like the burp beforehand, it sounds incredibly wet.
“Please don’t tell me you did what I think you just did?” I groan.
He grunts a little, reinforcing that, yes...he did.
“Err, what’s that smell?” Charli whines, pinching her nostrils.
“What do you think it is?” I ask, not really requiring an answer.
“Brayden, did you just do poo poo in your nappy?” Still pinching her nostrils, Charlotte drops her head close to his face. “Poo poo is for the potty.”
He widens his eyes at her closeness, seemingly to adjust his tiny vision.
“He’s a bit young for the potty, Charlotte.”
“Starlight’s a baby and she uses the potty.”
Who the fuck is Starlight?
I look at her a little perplexed. “Who’s Starlight?”
“My baby doll.”
“Oh.” I don’t really know what to say to that.
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