by Kasey Martin
Never!
Chapter 17
SASHA
I can’t say when I woke up this morning that I expected my day to be so eventful. But that’s exactly what it was. From me securing Yohan for the biggest show in the gallery’s short history, angry make-up office sex with Sawyer, Raven’s water breaking at dinner, and now the official “I love you” had been exchanged for the first time; it’s been an adventurous day, to say the least. However, I can honestly say that I feel much better that my best friend finally knows my secret. It was hell avoiding her so that I wouldn’t spill the beans. I’ve never been good at keeping a secret except when I spent two lustful months with Sawyer two years ago. But that was an easy one to keep since I thought telling anyone would cause multiple people to be hurt.
However, now that more people know that Sawyer and I aren’t just dating but actually married, I have to figure out a way to explain to my parent’s why their only child eloped, with a man they have never met, while they were on their summer vacation without telling them. My mother is going to kill me.
I sucked in a deep breath, trying to forget about my parents, but the feeling of anxiousness was still there. Raven had been in the delivery room for almost an hour. When we arrived at BHM, Dr. Delgado was already here waiting. He confirmed that Raven was fully dilated, and she was quickly whisked away to the delivery room. I hope and pray that everything was okay with her and the baby.
“You okay, Céile?” Sawyer’s deep rumbling voice came from above me. I was still curled in his lap. I can definitely confirm that Sawyer’s arms are my favorite place to be.
“Just a little worried about Rae,” I responded, leaning back to look into his gorgeous face. For the first time this week, I really looked at him. I don’t know how I hadn’t noticed how tired his green eyes looked.
I have been so self-absorbed; I hadn’t even considered how all of this had affected Sawyer. He came in with his cape and saved a hoe, and my ass didn’t even have the decency to ask him how his business was going.
Just because he hadn’t brought up Patrick Abbott again and I hadn’t heard from the man since he left the gallery after threatening me, didn’t mean he wasn’t somewhere lurking. Men like him didn’t go quietly into the night. They waited patiently for their vengeance.
I took for granted that Sawyer would handle my situation, and I went on living my life. I felt like shit and an ungrateful wife. I have to be better.
“Babe?” I rub my hand down his face, and he gives me a tired smile, “Are you okay? Like your business, and you know… other stuff?” I whisper the last part because I know we can’t talk about his “other stuff” in public. Even if we are in the Bishops’ hospital’s secret wing, I don’t want to violate some unwritten mob rule.
“Yes, Céile. My business and ‘other stuff’ are just fine. There’s no need for you to worry about any of that.” Sawyer chuckles and kisses my forehead. I nod, but I frown because I know he’s lying. His eyes didn’t twinkle, and the chuckle was flat. Something was definitely off with my husband.
“I know we can’t get into a deep conversation about it right now, but I can tell that something is bothering you. I’m your wife, and I love you. I want to make sure that you’re okay. If you can’t go into detail, I understand.” I say with all sincerity. I want Sawyer to know he can confide in me. This relationship is different from any other one I’ve had in the past. I want him to know that he can trust me. We don’t have to make the same mistakes we did before, and communication is the key to that.
Sawyer searches my face for what I’m not sure, but whatever he sees makes him smile. He nods and lifts my chin up. His soft pink lip feathers across mine, and my eyes briefly close involuntarily. Before I can enjoy the feel of his lips, they’re gone.
“Sweet Sasha. I love you too. We’ll talk later.” He kisses me once more. This time he deepens the kiss. His eager tongue invaded my mouth with strong, passionate strokes. I moan, and I try desperately to reciprocate the kiss by giving him all of me.
When I feel his length hardening beneath me, I release a groan. It was much louder than I intended because I hear a deep chuckle come from behind me.
“Son. You might want to take that to somewhere more private.”
If my skin allowed for my embarrassment to show, I would be bright red. My father-in-law is standing behind me while I grind on his son, like a nympho, in public. I feel like a teenager being caught making out. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Although the Ward is private, there are still plenty of people here right now.
Sawyer and I are sitting off to ourselves, so it was easy to forget we aren’t actually alone. When we first got here, I quickly went to the elaborately decorated restroom and cleaned myself up. I hadn’t gotten the chance after having car sex then having to quickly leave the restaurant.
Once I emerged from taking care of business, Sawyer had secured us a semi-private spot away from the Bishops’ family and their men. Brennan had made himself scarce, and I hadn’t seen Flynn since I got off work.
And because I’ve been surrounded by men who intentionally make themselves invisible, I forgot that we aren’t alone.
“It was private enough until you got here, interrupting us.” Sawyer grumbled, and his father laughed louder. I went to move from Sawyer’s lap, but he held me still and frowned down at me.
I widened my eyes in a “let me up” expression, but he just held me tighter. I swear his ass is so bossy.
“I waited for ten minutes for you all to come up for breath. Didn’t seem like that would be happening anytime soon, so…” Mr. Nash shrugged without regret.
I cleared my throat and pasted a smile on my face before turning to address Sawyer’s father, “Mr. Nash, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Sasha, nice to see you too. Welcome to the family.” His smile was broad as he pulled me from Sawyer’s lap and engulfed me in a warm hug.
I was surprised by the action. I had only met the man a couple of times, and that was before Sawyer and I were official. It’s not like we were able to date before we got married, and Raven also mentioned that she wasn’t particularly fond of the man. But he’d always been nice enough to me, so I wasn’t sure what to make of him.
Before I could delve into Conrad Nash’s behavior, Lennox rushed in the room with a humongous smile on his face and tears in his bright blue eyes. Raven and Lennox decided to wait until delivery to find out the sex of the baby, so I was anxious and super excited.
“It’s a girl! Seven pounds three ounces!” We all cheered in delight at the news.
There were rounds of hugs and congratulations given to Lennox and cigars given out. The Ward’s mood was completely different from the last time I was here when Raven’s father had been shot. I’m glad that this time the occasion was a celebratory one.
***
We stayed at the hospital long enough to meet my Goddaughter and to visit with an exhausted Raven. Motherhood looked good on her already. Pilar Jade had beautiful caramel skin with bright blue eyes and a perfect little pout. Her head was covered in inky black curls. And she already had everyone wrapped around her little finger, and she’d only been on Earth for an hour.
I promised Raven before we left that I would visit her tomorrow. Now we were home, freshly showered, and in bed cuddling. As exhausted as I felt when we left the hospital, I was unable to go to sleep for some reason.
Now that the excitement was over, I couldn’t get Patrick Abbott out of my head. I have a feeling that I should’ve been more worried than I have been. Even with Sawyer’s larger than life presence, he couldn’t be everywhere at once. And he said he thought his first wife was killed.
“Céile, talk to me. I can feel the tension radiating off of you.” Sawyer was right. My shoulders were by my ears. I was so tense, and for the life of me, I couldn’t relax.
“Did Patrick Abbott just disappear? If he was such a big threat that we had to get married in a week, why isn’t he putting up more of a f
uss?” Sawyer let out a loud sigh, and I knew that this subject wasn’t something that he wanted to talk about. But we were done brushing over problems. We are better than that, and we needed communication for our marriage to work.
“He sort of disappeared.” Sawyer answered cryptically.
“Is that code for you killed him?” I questioned, honestly. We weren’t in public anymore, and I know my husband took all the necessary precautions. Our house was a fortress, so I know our conversation would be private.
“No, Céile. I didn’t kill him. I just lost track of his movements a few weeks ago. He’s actively avoiding detection, and I don’t like it. That’s why I sent Darby back to the states to find his slimy ass.” I nodded my head. I knew that Darby was gone on business, but I didn’t ask why.
When “business” was mentioned, that meant Irish mob deals. The real estate business was always referred to as Nash Industries. I learned quickly to differentiate the two.
“Should I be worried about him? I know that I’ve been really selfish, and I’m truly sorry about that. I let you handle all of my bullshit and never checked on how anything was going. I’ll be better, I promise.” I made the vow with conviction lacing my words.
I would be a better wife to my husband. Sawyer was a powerful man with a lot on his plate. I know he needed my support in any way that I could give it even if it were just a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on.
“No! Absolutely fucking not!” He growled the answer. Before I could blink, his big muscular body was on top of mine, with his weight smashing me into the mattress. I knew then that my question had triggered the monster.
I placed my hand on his cheek and rubbed his five o’clock shadow. His intense gaze softened a little, but the beast was still lurking. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pushed up enough to kiss his lips.
“Okay, I won’t worry about him. But I still worry about you, so please don’t shut me out. And when I ask you how your day is or how’s business, I want a real answer.”
Sawyer sighed before kissing my lips. He looked me deep in my eyes and nodded. “Alright. But just know, you never have to worry about your safety. Flynn is there for a reason. He’s the best at what he does, and he’s training his replacement. There isn’t a time that you aren’t being protected.”
Sawyer’s words are reassuring, and I relax. I have to remember that even though I don’t see a lot of men guarding me, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. It would look suspicious if a real estate mogul’s wife ran around with multiple bodyguards, so they’ve been trained to keep an extremely low profile. However, it’s easy to explain Flynn’s presence because a multi-millionaire’s wife would need at least one guard.
“I love you, Sawyer Nash.” I peck his lips with a smile.
“I love you, Sasha Nash.” He presses his erection into my panty covered pussy, and I moan. He kisses me so deep that I feel light headed when he’s finished.
We’ve had sex twice already today, and with the slightest touch, my pussy is gushing like a water faucet.
“Are you sore?” Sawyer asks from the crook of my neck. He places sweet kisses down to my collar bone and back up to my ear. He sucks the skin right above my collar bone into his mouth, and I know I’ll have a hickey.
“A little.” I finally answer. But I continue to grind into his hard dick growing wetter and wetter. It’s my body’s automatic response to his when we’re this close. I couldn’t stop my body’s movement even if I wanted to… Which I don’t.
Sawyer unwrapped my legs from his waist, and I pout. I’m not too sore to have his big dick stretch me wide. But before I can complain, he slides down my body and moves my panties to the side. The long lick that follows has me gripping his hair and riding his face for dear life. I love this man!
Chapter 18
SAWYER
After the hospital last week, everything changed with Sasha and me. We are closer than we have ever been, and I am more in love with her each passing day. Sasha is such a beautiful sweet soul, and her love is the light that I need in my life. She balances out the soulless monster that can order a man’s death or kill without thought. My wife calms the storm that has always raged within me.
The only thing hovering over our heads was the lack of information I was able to find on the Wilcox group. The company had been established for roughly ten years and owned several properties. There was nothing suspicious about their accounts, which Darby hacked, so it looked like they were a dead end.
We were able to trace Abbott and keep eyes on him. He was laying low in some small town in Texas. And although Darby hadn’t figured out where he’d disappeared to when we couldn’t find him, at least we know where he is now.
Abbott hadn’t made any other moves toward Sasha, her business, or even Founder’s, so I made the call to let one of my other guys sit on him, and Darby return to Founder’s. Nash Industries was doing well here on the island, and I was able to broker several deals.
We now owned land that surrounded the hospital, and we have plans to build a physical rehabilitation center, a pediatric center, and a building for counseling. It is worth millions of dollars, and I even decided to consult on the building plans.
I haven’t done any work as an architect since I was promoted two years ago. I miss it sometimes. Drawing buildings and structures was always comforting for me. Creating something nobody has ever seen before then watching it being built gives me a feeling like nothing ever had before.
I sit in my new office of Nash Industries and admire the view of downtown. My “other” office is in a warehouse by the port. As a matter of fact, I spend more time there than I do this office. The port office is an integral part of the family business. It’s not too far from Sasha’s gallery.
Right now, I’m working on investment properties that we can convert into luxury boutiques in the downtown area when my phone rings. When I answer it, the gruff voice has me pausing.
“Meet me at the office at the port.” His growly voice rings in my ear before he hangs up the phone. It is a very rare occasion that the man even talks to me, but I don’t think he’s ever called me directly. Markos is an enigma, a very unstable and dangerous enigma.
We may not talk on the phone, but we are business associates. And if Markos wants me to meet him at the Port office, then some shit has either gone down or about to go down. Either way, I grab my phone and tell Brennan to bring the car around.
I make it to the Port office in fifteen minutes, and Markos is there with a beat up man lying hogtied on the floor. I run a hand down my face and breathe out slowly. I don’t know why the hell Markos has this guy here, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before I found out.
“Markos, what the fuck, man?” I sigh as I go to my desk and open the bottom drawer. I pulled out a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. I pour a generous amount of liquid into each glass and hand him one.
Markos downs it in one gulp, and I sit down and take a sip. My gaze shoots over to the beat up man when he groans. I sit up in my seat when I recognize his bruised face.
“He was sneaking around the gallery last night after it was closed. Bambi was there alone.” I frown at Markos’ words. Neither one of our women should ever be alone, especially at the gallery.
“What the fuck do you mean she was alone?” My voice is a low growl, and I have a very distinct feeling that I’m going to have to kill a motherfucker today.
“I found the extra guard dead after Bambi came back because she’d left something at the gallery.”
“Why the fuck am I just hearing about this? This was last night!” I’m livid. I jump up and go to the groaning man and start kicking him.
“Why in the fuck have you been hanging around? I told you to leave my wife alone! Speak up, Austin, you piece of shit!” I yell! My control is slipping with each kick I land on his body.
How did I not know about any of this? When I dropped Sasha off this morning, two of my men had done their usual sweep, and nothing was out of place. How in
the hell did Austin Thomas kill one of my men? He was a sniveling lawyer who did more kissing ass than he did litigating.
“I’ve already asked him these questions,” Markos says entirely too calm. I should’ve known it was a reason why the man was lying tied up and not already dead. It’s not like Markos is known to have any self-control or a conscience for that matter.
“He was just being a fucking stalker. He has pictures of everything. He’s been following your wife for a long time. I’d kill his ass if I were you.” Markos throws a phone down on the desk. “He didn’t kill the guard, but he saw who did, though. That’s why he’s not dead.”
“Who killed the guard?” The answer Markos gives me knocks me off my feet. I’ve been betrayed by someone I trusted. I never saw it coming.
“Time to clean house, Nash,” Markos says as he rises from his seated position and heads toward the door. “Next time, I won’t clean up your mess, asshole.” Markos throws over his shoulder before leaving.
“Thanks! You crazy motherfucker!” I holler at his departing back. A clean house is an understatement. Everyone involved in this shit is about to feel my fury! Everyone!
***
“Darby!” I bellowed his name as I entered the floor of the warehouse. I left Thomas passed out on the floor of my office. His ass is as good as dead.
I went through the pictures on the cell phone, and the shit is disturbing. Austin Thomas had been following Sasha even before they began dating. The images ranged from her day to day life at the gallery, running errands, to even Sasha at her parent’s house. There were even pictures of the gallery itself, which raised red flags in my mind. However, the longer I looked, the more the pictures became sexual in nature. Close up shots of Sasha’s breasts, of her legs, or of her bending over. Thomas was completely obsessed with her. The problem is, there’s only room for one obsessed Monster in Sasha’s life.
