by Jane Henry
“God, I’d better be pregnant,” Elena announced. “Otherwise I’m gonna lose all my badass cred. I’m a fucking watering pot.”
He straightened, then leaned back against his desk, pulling her to stand between his legs.
Blake snorted. “Baby, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but I don’t think you had a lot of badass cred to begin with.”
A lie, and they both knew it, but it succeeded in distracting her completely.
“That’s what you think,” she told him, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck and pressing her lips to his. “I happen to be kissing the most notorious dominant in Boston. I’d say that’s pretty badass.”
And despite all the shit that had rained down on them, and the shit that was yet to come, Blake wrapped his arms around his Elena, threw back his head, and laughed.
Chapter 8
If Elena thought Blake was crazy overprotective and badass before he found out she might be bearing his offspring, his level of overprotectiveness now was damn near suffocating.
“Listen, Blake,” she said, with practiced patience, as he tucked her arms in her jacket and spun her around to zip it up. “Honestly, I really can get myself ready to face the biting fifty-degree spring day.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, as fifty degrees in Boston was damn near time to pull out the flip-flops and hoodies.
“Didn't say you couldn't,” he muttered in a husky growl as he finished pulling up the zipper and escorted her outside. “Just wanted you to let me do it.” Her tummy dipped as she took him in again. His blue eyes shone, the wrinkles around the edges making her heart stutter. He nabbed her elbow, tucking her close to the building-side of the street, as he intentionally flanked her right side where the cars whizzed toward the busy downtown Boston intersection. “Careful, baby,” he muttered, easing her over a crack on the sidewalk. She smiled to herself. It was cute.
It was also the first time they walked in public with each other, hand in hand, after her name had been plastered on the front page article of the Boston Star. Elena knew at this point Slay had been informed of what was going on between her and Blake, and she could only hope that Alice had somehow softened the blow. Slay was heading into The Club that night for a late night shift, and her stomach already churned knowing that she, Slay, and Blake needed to have a talk, and when they did, her older brother would very likely lose his mind. But right now she had bigger fish to fry.
The reason Blake was walking with her in broad daylight was because first, they were on their way to get some lunch, and second, this afternoon, she would receive the results of her pregnancy test and Blake hadn't wanted her to be alone when she got the news. Her phone sat like a hand grenade ready to blow as she waited for her coworker Nancy to give her the call.
Blake steered her past the big display of newspapers with The Club plastered on the front page, heading to a neighborhood Greek restaurant the locals loved.
“Okay, so I don't really get it,” she muttered, enjoying the warmth of her hand in his as they walked briskly along. “Salazar sets his crazyass cronies onto you guys because of… what? Revenge? Jealousy? What exactly is he hoping to accomplish with this shit? And why don't you just call him out and sue his ass?”
A muscle twitched in Blake's jaw as he guided her to take a right at the corner. “Don't say his name so loud,” Blake growled. “Jesus, Elena. The only reason I'm allowing you out like this in broad daylight is because I'm with you. You got that?”
“Jesus, Elena,” she mocked. “Hey, are you packing a weapon or something?”
Blake gave her a sidelong look. “You've got quite a potty-mouth there, little girl. And for your information,” he hissed, tugging her a little closer as a sketchy-looking couple walked past them, “I'm not packing a weapon, but the guy tagging us sure as fucking hell is.”
“Potty-mouth, he accuses, while cursing in the same breath,” she muttered.
He growled, actually legit growled, and for a moment she was glad she'd landed a temporary reprieve from his palm of steel, because he looked like he was about ready to tan her ass right there on the corner of Comm Ave and Main.
“Blake,” she said, stopping just a few feet shy of the entrance to the restaurant. “Take it easy, okay? There's no need to worry.”
His brows drew together as he released her hand and stopped walking, spinning her around toward him. He put both of his enormous palms on her shoulders. “No need to worry, baby? I've got the biggest drug lord in all of Boston trying to take down The Club I've poured blood, sweat, and tears into for longer than you've walked this earth. I've got my woman on my arm, about to find out if our lives are going to change forever. And I've got to face her brother, whom I love like he was my own flesh and blood, and tell him that I'm with his baby sister. And he knows what it means to be with me. He knows we don't spend our free time playing mini golf and drinking fru-fru coffee at the country club.” He ran a hand through his sexy-as-all-hell salt-and-pepper hair and blew out a breath. “But I'm not worried. I've got this. All of this. What I'm not is nonchalant about all this shit.”
She let her eyes roam over the muscles in his shoulders, which rippled under the edge of his sweatshirt before she stared into his eyes the color of dusk in winter, pools of dark blue that turned her legs to jelly. “It's okay, honey,” she said, resting her hand on his bristly cheek.
“Elena,” he said, as one hand lifted off her shoulder and curved around her neck. “No, it's not okay,” he whispered, leaning in to her as he brought her forehead to his lips and kissed her softly. “But it will be. No matter what, I give you my word. I've got this.” She closed her eyes against the rising swell of emotion in her chest. God, this man.
“Hungry, honey?” he asked.
She nodded as his eyes flitted behind her. “Then let's get some grub.” He took her by the hand again, but as they approached the restaurant, her phone buzzed. A bolt of fear raced up her chest, and she froze, unable to follow him even as he tugged on her hand. The number on the screen was from the hospital.
“It's them,” she whispered, suddenly stricken. “What do I do?”
His eyes crinkled around the edges, his voice low and soothing when he spoke. “Answer it, baby.” She swallowed, forcing her voice to work when it seemed suddenly she was almost unable to. She swallowed a second time before she answered. “H'lo?” she croaked.
“Elena?” It was Nancy. Blake's eyes held hers as she nodded to him.
“Yes?” she responded, her voice sounding unnaturally high.
“I'm sorry, honey,” Nancy continued, and Elena felt her heart sink as Blake's hopeful eyes met hers. “The test is negative. You're not pregnant, Elena.”
Elena exhaled, her throat feeling tight while at the same time, guilt overtaking her as she realized that she was both disappointed and relieved. She shook her head at Blake, tears pricking her eyes as his face fell, barely processing Nancy's voice on the other end. “See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, thanks, Nancy. Okay, see you then.”
A click, she shut off her phone, and shoved it back in her pocket.
No baby. No squealing little, curly-haired cherub that had his daddy's eyes. No little girl to dress in frilly dresses and wide-brimmed hats and baby-sized Mary Janes.
“No baby?” Blake asked. She shook her head, her heart constricting as he reached to brush a tear off her cheek. Was she crying? She hadn't even realized she was.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered, as he pulled her fiercely toward his chest, tucking her against him.
“No,” he whispered. “There's nothing to be sorry about, honey,” he said. “This just means no for now. Now, we do this right. I get you a ring. I get you a house. I face that big bear of a brother of yours.” He paused, chucking a finger under her chin. “And I put you over my knee and give you that spanking you've got coming to you.”
She laughed in spite of herself, and realized what a weight was lifted at the sound of his words. God, yes, he was right. He was so right. This w
asn't the end. This was only the beginning.
They walked in silence back from the restaurant, Elena toting a little white paper bag filled with baklava, the flaky Greek pastry layered with honey, butter, and walnuts Blake had insisted she buy for later.
“After we talk to Slay, you're coming back to my place,” Blake explained in his low, husky voice, and as they waited at the corner for the walk light to flash, he leaned down, kissing her temple before he whispered, “It's time, baby.”
Time for what? Her heartbeat thundered in her chest as she wondered what he had planned at his place. She thrilled at the chance to finally see where he lived, and knew in her heart that being taken back to his home, his sanctuary, the place where he and Josie had resided for decades, marked a decided change in their relationship. She swallowed.
What exactly did the most well-known dominant in Boston keep in his house? What awaited her? But before she could wonder at what the evening held, her mind reeled back to the present. They were only a block away from The Club, where Alex waited for them. She felt like she was a teenager, arriving home on the backseat of a tattooed, leather-clad boy’s motorcycle after curfew, prepared to meet Daddy's disapproval. Blake had grown quiet as they arrived at the entrance to The Club. Fortunately, the protesters at The Club had momentarily called it quits after her tirade the day before, and they entered via the front door without an issue.
Donnie nodded to them as they entered, his eyes sympathetic.
“Hey,” Elena greeted, and Blake gave him a chin lift.
“Master Blake, Slay's waiting for you,” Donnie said, his lips twisting in a grimace. “I told him you'd be back, and he said he'd be waiting in your office.”
“Thanks, Donnie,” Blake said, stoically escorting her past the bar and toward his office at the back. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, “Don't worry about this, baby. This is gonna be just fine. Slay loves you, and I know how to handle him. Frankly, although I respect him as my friend, I don't give a shit what he thinks about us.”
At his words, Elena suddenly felt a rising sense of injustice. “You know what?” she said, as they walked to his office, the sounds of those around them fading as the dark door loomed. “I agree with you. God, the overbearing ogre will have to accept that I'm a grown-up, and I make grown-up decisions. I'm with you. An hour ago, I'd have accepted the fact that I was carrying your baby. I'm fully prepared to pack a toothbrush and spend the night at your place, because I'm with you. Alex can fucking deal.”
Blake groaned. “Here we go,” he muttered under his breath.
She frowned, looking at him. “What?”
He grinned, his eyes crinkling around the edges. “You're stunning when you're pissed, you know that?”
She smiled back. “Aw, you say the sweetest things,” she said sarcastically.
They stood hand-in-hand, right outside the office door. “Okay, babe,” he said. “For God's sake, Elena, follow my lead, got it?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she said, nodding. “Open the door already.”
But Blake didn't. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Don't yeah, yeah, yeah, me, young lady.” His breath tickled her cheek, his large, warm hand resting on her lower back. She swallowed as her nipples tightened, her pussy clenching with need as he continued. “Your ‘get out of spanking free’ card has expired. Pass directly to jail. Do not collect $200 dollars. I'm taking you back to my place tonight, and we'll deal with the past few days the way I prefer. Right now? You really don't want to push me. You get me?”
His voice was controlled, even, as she swallowed and nodded. “I get you,” she whispered. “Now open the door already.”
“Oh for fuck's sake,” he muttered, rolling his eyes, as he twisted the doorknob and opened the office door.
Alex stood, leaning against the edge of Blake's desk, his massive arms crossed on his chest, his jaw clenched. His brown eyes positively bore through hers as Blake ushered her in. For once she wished Blake wasn’t so chivalrous that he held the door open for her every time, because now was the one time she really wanted him to go in first. Her eyes flitted to the screens on Blake's wall, as she realized that they were still on. They were always on, and damn it if Alex hadn't seen their little exchange right before they went in.
Fuck.
Blake closed the door, removing his jacket, and nodding to Alex.
“Slater,” he said in greeting, hanging his jacket up on a peg on the back of the door, then reaching for Elena's. He helped her out of it and hung it up next to his.
Alex merely glared.
Blake took Elena's hand and walked to his desk, gesturing for her to take a seat. She sat, watching the two men she loved more than anyone else in the world glare at each other.
Finally, Alex unclasped his arms, only to plant his hands on his hips and turn on Blake. “You gonna tell me what the fuck is going on, and why I woke up today to find my sister's picture plastered all over the fucking internet?”
Elena felt her anger rising as the full heat of Alex's fury was directed right at Blake. “Alex,” she began, lifting a finger, but Alex stopped her with his palm raised.
“Do not talk to me right now, Elena,” he growled. “I'll deal with you after I deal with him.”
She got to her feet, ignoring the warning look Blake shot her. “No, you will not,” she began, but Blake cut her short.
“Elena, stop,” he instructed. She met his eyes and saw the command there. Was she his submissive? Hell yeah. Elena sat. She wanted to let him take the lead here, even though her temper was rising.
Alex faced Blake. “You dom her now?” he said, his voice rising in anger. “You think it's okay to tell her what to do?”
Blake stood across from Alex, and something shifted in his gaze. Whereas before he looked calm, it now looked as if he'd made up his mind. He continued, ignoring Alex's fury. “Yes,” Blake said. “I do. Because I'm a dominant, and you of all people should know what that means. It means I lead her. It means I take care of her. I make sure she's safe, and she takes care of herself, and that no harm comes to her.”
Alex's eyes flashed as his hands flew off his hips and he took a step toward Blake.
“Don't you fucking tell me what a dominant does,” he said, pointing an irate finger at Blake. “I know what a dominant does, and that's exactly why you'll stay the hell away from my sister, because you're old enough to be her fucking father.”
Elena sprang to her feet. Forget Blake's warning to let him deal. Fuck letting them sort out their “bro code” transgressions. She was not going to sit idly by and let Alex rake her man over the coals.
“Lay off, Alex!” she hissed, taking a step toward them, and that was when all hell broke loose.
“Sit down, Elena,” Blake growled.
But the second he did, Alex's fist shot out as he bellowed at Blake, “Don't you fucking dom her!” His fist connected squarely with Blake's jaw, and Elena heard the snap from the force of the blow as Blake groaned, knocked back.
“Alex!” she shouted. “Leave him alone!” She reached her hands out but Alex was rearing back to deck Blake again. His forearm knocked into Elena as she charged at him, pushing her backward while she uttered an “oof,” falling thankfully into a seated position in the chair. Blake had recovered from the blow, somehow managed to block Alex's second swing, and shoved him backward so that Alex fell to sitting beside Elena.
“Enough!” Blake roared. “You almost decked your sister, asshole, and even though I deserve what I got, she fucking doesn't. Sit, Alex, or I'll defend myself and you don't want that anymore than I do!”
The two of them stared at each other, chests heaving.
“God, it’s like some kinda sick pissing match, and I can’t tear my eyes away,” Elena muttered, which earned her a glare from both Alex and Blake. She pursed her lips and quirked a brow. “So? You gentleman gonna continue, or are we done here?”
“Brat,” Slay and Blake said in unison, which made Elena snort, but only earned her
further glares.
Finally, Blake lifted a hand, gesturing for everyone to calm down. “Listen,” Blake began. “Honest to God, man, when I first started getting to know Elena I didn’t know she was your sister.”
“Bullshit,” Alex muttered to himself, but Blake’s blue eyes grew stormy as he fixed a stern gaze on Alex that actually made him squirm.
“Enough,” Blake bit out. “God, man, listen.”
Elena swallowed. It was one helluva dom who could make Alexander Slater do what he said, and Alex’s willingness to listen underscored just how very much Alex respected Blake.
“You listening?” Blake asked in a low voice, while his blue eyes continued to keep Alex riveted to his seat.
A muscle twitched in Alex’s jaw, but he nodded.
“Good,” Blake said. “Elena and I met online, and it was like some kinda miracle. Honestly, if we’d only known each other face-to-face, I don’t think we’d ever gotten past sparring with each other in the bar and pissing each other off. But… well, we did. Elena used to read Josie’s blog, and when I finally wrote a blog post letting Josie’s readers know she had passed, Elena offered her condolences.” Blake shrugged. “How was I supposed to know that the girl with the screen name LanieLove was the same girl who pissed me off at my very own club?”
Alex’s eyes met Elena’s, and Elena could only nod.
Blake continued. “So, we got to know each other. We wrote to each other. Texted. Chatted. I really liked her, and the feeling was mutual. The next thing you know, one day we were right here in this office, Elena was mouthing off to me as usual, and we realized that the people we were texting were the very same people we were facing.” Blake shrugged. “What can I say? I liked her. I was in too deep. I’m not sure how things would’ve gone if I’d known from the beginning that you were LanieLove’s brother.” Blake’s voice dropped. “You know I love you like a brother, Slater. I don’t need to tell you that. Honest to God, I had no idea that I was…” he paused, meeting Elena’s eyes, before he finished, “falling in love with your sister.”
