Everything for Her

by Alexa Riley

  “You like it?” he asks.

  “It’s beautiful.” I almost choke when I pick up the information card about it. The bid starts at four million dollars.

  The card proclaims it to be the Devotion Stone, and I flip it over to look at the other side. There’s a note about the history of the ring.

  This ring was given to Abigail Richmond by her beloved, Baron Frederick de Mandeville. They were married in secret in 1885 because she was the daughter of a farmer, and his family didn’t approve. Frederick gave Abigail the two-carat sapphire before renouncing his title and choosing to live a modest life in the country with his wife. After 44 years of marriage, Abigail passed away on October 2nd, 1929, and Frederick de Mandeville is said to have died the next day of a broken heart. The ring has been donated by the surviving estate.

  “Oh, that’s so sad,” I say, putting the card back.

  Oz runs his nose along the column of my neck. “Why is that sad? Sounds sweet to me.”

  “I don’t know. He loved her so much. The ring should find the same kind of love again. Not be up in some auction. But I guess the money will do a lot of good though.” I turn, looking up at him. He brings me more into his body, and I wish we were home. Alone. Not so many eyes on us. They all seem to be lingering.

  “Everyone is staring at you,” I tell him.

  “No, they’re staring at you,” he corrects, and I can hear his underlying irritation.

  “Take me home then? Where only you can look at me.”

  “Fuck yes.” He grabs my hand, pulling us through the ballroom, and I can’t help but laugh. He uses his other hand to pull out his cell phone, telling his driver to pull around. I’ve wanted to leave almost from the moment we got here, and not because I felt a little out of place. But because Oz’s whole territorial act seems to get me worked up. In every way. I really can’t let him know that little piece of information, but I think he might already suspect it.

  We come to a dead stop, and I nearly run into Oz’s back when we enter the lobby of the ballroom. Oz’s hand clasps mine tighter, and I follow his line of sight to see Paige talking to an older man with short dark hair. As if stopping in the middle of his sentence, he turns a little and his eyes land on us. The same eyes I’d recognize anywhere now. Sapphire blue.

  My stomach tightens. The man walks toward us, leaving Paige standing alone. She stares at his back, her face pale and unreadable.

  “Look at our little family reunion,” the man says.

  Paige takes a few more steps toward us, but still hangs back. Watching everything. Her eyes look a little wild.

  “I was wondering if I’d see you tonight.” Oz’s voice is cold and calculated.

  “Not even going to introduce me?” The man, who I assume is Alexander, Oz’s dad, ignores Oz to stare at me. Oz pulls my arm back and steps in front of me, blocking me from the man’s view making it clear he won’t be doing that. I have to poke my head out to even see what’s going on.

  “I assume you received the paperwork today. How does it feel to have everything bought out from under you and taken apart?”

  Alexander takes a step closer to Oz, until they’re only inches apart. “I warned you, Miles, don’t fuck with me. I’ll make sure this one doesn’t wake up.”

  A chill runs down my spine at his insinuation, and before I can process what this all means, Oz is on him. He’s got Alexander by the throat, pinned up against the wall with his feet dangling inches off the ground. Alexander’s hands are trying to pull at his wrist, but Oz only squeezes tighter. His face is turning a deep red, and he’s gasping for air as he struggles to breathe.

  “You threaten what’s mine, and I’ll fucking end you. Do you hear me?” Alexander’s feet kicking against the wall are the only sound in the room. “We’re done. I’ve taken all your businesses and put them under. I’ve got piles of dirt on you a mile high, and if you so much as step foot in my town again, I’ll do more than fuck with your money. Do. You. Understand. Me.”

  Oz clips out each word at the end, but all Alexander can do is nod. His breath is coming out in choking gasps, and he’s turned from red to purple.

  Walking over, I place my hands on Oz’s back. “I want to go home,” I tell him, and I feel him release a deep breath. It takes a solid minute before he relaxes, but he finally releases him, letting Alexander crumple to the ground.

  Oz turns to look down at me, grabbing my hand once again. I look over at Paige, who’s looking at her father like he’s a pile of trash on the floor. After a beat she turns to us, and I see something flash in her eyes, but it’s gone so quickly I’m not sure if I even saw it.

  “Your driver’s out front, sir.” Captain’s words break the silence that’s fallen over us.

  I glance around, not knowing what to do, but Captain walks over to Paige and takes her hand. He looks back to us and he and Oz share a look, and I feel that there’s so much passing between them that I still don’t know. But there’s not time to explain, because Oz wants to get me as far from here, and as far from Alexander as possible.

  He wraps his arm around my waist and we walk out to the street and quickly climb into the back of the limo. I don’t fight him, wanting to put distance between that situation as much as he does. Oz wastes no time in pulling me into his lap.

  “You okay?” I ask, worried about what the confrontation might have done to him.

  “I’ve been after revenge for my mother all these years, and she doesn’t even seem to give the man two thoughts.” He lets out a deep breath. “But I knew when you came into my life that it needed to end. I couldn’t live a life where I was worried about you around every corner.”

  “I’m not scared of him, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ll keep my security and do as you guys ask if you’re worried about him coming after me,” I offer.

  “You don’t want me to let it go?” he asks, a hand coming up to cup my cheek.

  “I want you to do whatever it is you think you should do, but I don’t think Paige is going to let it go.”

  He’s still for a few seconds, as if he’s thinking about what he should do.

  “I wouldn’t stand in the way of Paige,” he tells me. He wouldn’t but I also can’t stand aside and let her walk alone. I don’t tell Oz that. Maybe with time I can bring Paige and Oz together. Make us all a family.

  “Did it scare you when I grabbed him in there? Threatened to kill him?” he asks, and I can see the worry in his eyes.

  “I’ve never been scared of you, Oz. You were protecting the people you love. That doesn’t scare me. It’s another reason I love you.”

  “I told myself I’d never be like him but I can’t help but compare some of our similarities.”

  “Oz, you are nothing like that man! How can you even think that?”

  “How can you not?” he returns, his words sounding sad.

  I cup his face. “You’d never hurt me. Ever. Think about it, Oz. Everything you have ever done when it came to us is for me.”

  “Is it? Or is it for me?” He takes my hands and places them on his chest, letting them rest there. “I stalked you when I knew I wanted you, did everything to make sure I could have you. I mapped out your whole life to lead to me, so that you would need me. I’ve even been trying to get you pregnant. Each time I took you that thought flooded my mind. That if we had a baby you could never leave me. We’d have something that linked us together forever. The worst part is knowing that I’ll never let you go. Can’t you see how selfish I’ve been?”

  I smile at that because he’s put himself in the corner. “Oz, am I like your father?” He tries to cut me off but I keep going. “Because I would never let you go either, and if anyone ever threatened you or tried to take you from me I’d kill them, too.”

  His eyes search mine. The longing to believe that what I’m saying is true is writ
ten all over his face. Has he done crazy things to get me? Yes. I could see myself doing those things, too. He’s watched me for years, and I can see why he’s gone a little crazy. I haven’t known him long either, and I’m starting to have those thoughts already.

  “I love when you take me bare.” I drop my voice and try my own seduction. I have the same need to tie us together as he does.

  I watch all the fear and worry drain from his face and body, realizing how much I care about him. His actions tonight don’t make him like his father. He kisses me softly. “I think I should make love to you for the rest of the night.” His hands roam my body. “I don’t know if this dress is going to make it home.” He growls the last part as my back hits the limo floor.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Miles

  * * *

  I hear the soft tones of my alarm, and I reach over to quietly turn it off.

  Mallory is on her stomach, her hand tucked under her pillow. Her lips are slightly parted as she sleeps, and I ache to lie there and look at her. I could watch her every second of every day and only fall deeper in love with her.

  I tuck the blanket around her and slip out of the bed silently. I pull on a pair of jogging pants and a T-shirt and make my way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

  When I get there, I call down to the front desk and make sure the arrangements are in place. Then I get to work on making my woman breakfast in bed.

  We stayed up late last night, and my cock twitches with the memory of getting her home and ripping that scrap of a dress off her body. Her curves were driving me insane all night. I took her until she passed out, and then I watched her sleep. I’d made some calls after that, and put things into motion. I couldn’t wait any longer. I’d waited years, and I was done.

  Seeing my father last night put a damper on things, but coming home with Mallory made all of that fall away. I’ve been getting away from wanting my revenge for some time, focusing only on Mallory. Each moment with her seems to lessen the anger that had built inside me over the years. She makes me want something else. Something not filled with hate.

  I was young when I began on the journey to make him pay, but as I’ve gotten older, I want to let it go. Why hold on to something so hateful? I’d rather spend my energy loving Mallory and making a life with her. Everyone is asking me to let it go, and Mallory showed me last night that I’m nothing like him. That I’ve done what I set out to do. My mother is happy and I am the man I want to be.

  The only thing that worries me now is Paige. She doesn’t seem ready to let her vendetta go, and I can’t say I blame her. She’s got her own story with him, and I’m not sure she’s going to move on anytime soon. Alexander was a different kind of man with her, and I don’t think there’s anyone out there who would deny her revenge. I still don’t even know all the details of what she went through with him. It’s one way Paige and I are alike. We’re both good at keeping secrets.

  But the time has come for me to let that part of my past go. I’m done chasing after hate, and I’m done wasting a single thought on him when I could be thinking about the woman I love. Whatever happens next with him is up to Paige, and if she needs my help I’ll be there. He’s got a lot to answer for when it comes to her, and she’ll make him pay. But otherwise, I’m shutting my book on Alexander Owens. I got the closure I was looking for last night, and I know that my family will be safe from him. There’s nothing left he can do to hurt us, and if he tried, there would be no second chance.

  I’m starting new with Mallory. I don’t want this in our lives together. For it to ever touch our children. And Ivy was right, that the cloud of revenge hanging between us isn’t as important as living in the love and making a future with Mallory. I recognize that a large part of me was scared I would end up like him, but after hearing Mallory last night I know I won’t. I would never do anything to hurt her, and I would die to protect her.

  It’s as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I can finally let go. I never knew I was holding on to so much, until I released it last night. I had my company acquire what was left of his assets and I dismantled them. His world is going to crumble. Now I feel like that part of my life is finally finished, and I can concentrate on more important things in my life. Like my love asleep in the other room.

  When I’ve finished breakfast, I decide to run to the bathroom and clean up. I sneak past Mallory, checking that she’s still asleep, and smile down at her. In the bathroom, I brush my teeth, but when I’m finished, I notice there’s no hand towel around. The cleaning lady must have taken it for laundry, so I reach under the cabinet to get a new one. When I grab one in the back, I pull it out, knocking over toilet paper rolls as I do. Reaching down to stack them back up, I see a white piece of plastic sticking out from under one. I push the rolls aside and pull it out, seeing it’s a pregnancy test. My heart hammers in my chest as I look down at it, and then suddenly the doorbell rings.

  Putting the test in my pocket, I sneak back through the room. Mallory hasn’t moved an inch. I make my way through the house, then to Chuck the doorman arriving with my delivery. I take it from him and close the door and lock it.

  I take a moment, unsure of what to do, and then decide to go with my original plan I’d begun this morning.

  From the kitchen, I take the tray of homemade waffles and berries and carry it into the bedroom. I set the tray on the bedside table and sit on the edge of the mattress.

  Leaning down, I kiss Mallory’s shoulder until she turns on her side to look up at me.

  “Hey,” she says in the sexiest sleepy voice. The sun is shining through the windows and it glows behind her like a halo.

  I run my fingers through her hair, and then trail them down her naked back, soaking in having her in my bed, wanting her there every morning.

  “Mmm,” she hums, stretching into my touch like a cat.

  I kneel beside the bed and nuzzle against her. My words are caught in my throat, and I don’t know how to get them out.

  “Oz?” she says, but I can’t answer. I keep my face in her neck. “Oz, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

  Sitting back on my heels, I look at her and she sits up, pulling the sheet across her breasts. There’s a look of worry in her eyes now, and I rush to explain.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve done this in my head a thousand times. Everywhere we go, I look for the right spot, and every time I hold you, I try to find the right words, but I can’t seem to make it sound perfect in my head.”

  “Oz,” she says, a nervous sound in her voice. “What are you doing?”

  I pull out a small box and place it on the bed in front of her.

  “Mallory, I’ve loved you from the very second I saw you. The very second. There was no hesitation from my heart that day, and I knew I had to make you mine. I may have gone about it differently than some men would have, but I wouldn’t change anything since it led me to you.”

  I reach out and take her hand, placing the box in her palm.

  “I realize that this is soon for you, but it’s been years for me. Years in the making, baby.” I smile at her, and then I see a tear fall from her eyes. I reach up, swiping it away with my thumb, and she bites her lower lip. “I’ve waited for you to see me, for you to love me and for you to marry me. Please, baby. Don’t make me wait another day.”

  I open the box in her hand and show her the ring. She gasps and puts a hand over her mouth, looking from me to the ring and then back to me again. It’s the Devotion Stone.

  “When you saw this last night, I was so relieved you loved it. I found out about it from an antiques dealer and got in touch with the estate. They agreed to sell it to me after I told them about you. And that I planned to put it up at an auction at a price I knew no one could touch. This way, the foundation would benefit from the love I have for you, and this ring would find a new home on your hand. I
want it to carry our love story for the next one hundred years.”

  Tears are streaming down her cheeks, but I stay on my knees in front of her.

  “Mallory Ann Sullivan, will you marry me?”

  She nods once, then throws herself at me, and I barely catch the ring in time before she tackles me to the floor. Mallory peppers kisses all over my face, and I feel my own eyes water. Relief and love wash over me, and I roll us over, pinning her under me.

  I take her hand and slip the ring on, kissing it and then kissing her palm. Looking into her gray-blue eyes, I see nothing but happiness, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to see there.

  “I love you so much,” she says, reaching up with her other hand and rubbing my stubble. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Even though you’re crazy obsessed and a borderline stalker.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t like it.” My smile feels as if it could crack my face in half. And the moment could not be any more perfect. Because I know she does. I see it in her eyes when sometimes I go a little too far, unable to help myself. It’s why we fit.

  Mallory laughs, and I reach into my pocket, pulling out the test and holding it up for her. “And when were you planning on telling me about this?”

  Mallory’s smile dips for a second, and then she gives me a small shrug. “Just a false alarm.”

  I look at her in confusion, look at the test, and then look back to her.

  “Baby, how is being pregnant a false alarm?”

  Her eyes grow wide, and she snatches the test out of my hand, sitting up so fast, she nearly knocks me off her lap.

  “What?” she shouts.

  She looks down at the two blue lines, and the test clearly says two lines means pregnant.

  “How is this possible? There was only one yesterday.”

  She looks up into my eyes, and it’s my turn to shrug. Like I know anything about how those tests work. “It’s two lines. It says pregnant.”