North Woods University

by Beck, J. L.

  “That’s exactly where you belong. In jail, in a padded cell.” She starts to struggle again, but she’s no match for me. I’ll hold her all day if I have to.

  The sirens grow closer and closer. It sounds like they’re circling us and finally, they seem so close, I wonder if they’ve driven into the building. Lily whimpers on the floor, and as badly as I want to look at her, to make sure she’s okay, I can’t. I can’t do anything but concentrate on this batshit crazy woman.

  The police seem to take forever getting inside, but I never loosen my hold on Laura, in fact, it’s like the opposite happens. Like a boa constrictor, I tighten my grip every time she lets out a breath.

  “You’re hurting me.” She cries, and I shut down completely. Heavy footfalls bounce off the walls of the hall, and I know then that everything is going to be okay. As soon as the police enter the room, I release her and watch as she stumbles away from me, sagging breathlessly against the wall.

  “Officers, thank God you’re here. He tried to kill me,” Laura starts, the lies spinning from her fucked-up web.

  The officers look between the two of us, and then Lily, who is still bound on the floor. In seconds I’m pushed against the wall, my hands pulled behind my back.

  What the fuck?

  “What the hell?” I growl as they drag me out of the room. Someone must have removed the tape from Lily’s mouth because her voice is the only one, I seem to hear.

  “No, it’s not him. It’s her! She drugged me, kidnapped me, and then she tried to kill me. That crazy bitch tried to kill me,” Lily screams, and before I can comprehend what is happening, a small body crashes into mine.

  My Lily. Mine. I wish I could wrap my arms around her. Instead, she does that for both of us. Another officer makes an attempt to pry Lily off of me, but she starts to cry, big fat tears slip down her face.

  “I love you, baby, everything is okay. Don’t worry, all that matters now is that you and the baby are safe.”

  “You, Sebastian Miller?” Someone that looks to be a detective rather than a police officer asks as he walks up to me.

  “Yes. Yes, I am. I’m the one that called.”

  The guy gestures to the police officer, “Uncuff him. He’s the one that called it in. Looks like we’ll be taking this one in.” He says, grabbing Laura’s arms and slapping cuffs on her wrists.

  Lily sighs with relief, and as soon as I’m uncuffed, I take her into my arms, kissing her forehead, cheeks, lips, anywhere that I can.

  “Do you need an ambulance?” An officer asks Lily, who pulls away and shakes her head. I want to push the matter, but don’t because honestly, I’m just so grateful to have her in my arms, to know that she’s okay.

  A few seconds later, they bring Laura out, she’s handcuffed and fighting like a wildcat, “I didn’t do anything! It was him! All him!” She screams, her tone is frantic and well, crazy. She continues to thrash as they all but carry her down the hall, only showing the cops more how insane she really is.

  Once she’s out of sight, I take Lily’s face into my hands, and I stare into those big blues of hers. Mine. All fucking mine.

  “You’re pregnant?” I ask, needing to confirm what Laura already told me.

  Tears fill Lily’s eyes, “I am. I didn’t want you to find out this way, it’s the worst way ever to reveal a pregnancy, but yes, we’re having a baby.” She pauses, her eyes darting away from mine, and I can see the insecurity pouring into the open spaces in her mind. “Do you… Do you still want me? After the baby… and everything…”

  Jesus fucking Christ, if this woman doesn’t shut her mouth.

  “Listen to me and listen to me well. You’re it for me, Lily, you’re it. Whatever I said back in that room, it was to protect you. Laura means nothing to me. It’s all you, all you. That baby inside you. It’s a part of both of us, and you’re mine, no matter what you think or feel you’re mine and I am yours. Do you understand me? I love you. I love you with every beat of my heart, and every breath that fills my lungs. I. Love. You.” I press a kiss to her eyelids, cheeks, and forehead before kissing her pink lips.

  Tears slide down her cheeks, and her chest rises and falls as if she’s struggling to breathe, “I just feel horrible like I did this. Like it was my fault.”

  “No, none of this is your fault. Laura is batshit crazy, and you’re the love of my life. Losing Amy hurt me, it felt like I lost a piece of who I was but losing you. I’d never survive that. You’re inside of me, a part of me. There is no you or me, there is only us.”

  “I love you,” Lily cries, and I pull her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. My chin rests on her head, and I vow then right in the hallway of that abandoned building to forever love her, to forever cherish and protect her. Once upon a time, I vowed never to love, never to find joy in life because I thought I didn’t deserve it.

  As it turns out, I was still waiting for my person to come along.

  88

  Lily

  “How did your grandparents handle hearing about the baby news?” Sebastian asks as he walks into the bedroom from the bathroom. He’s shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and the image before me does crazy things to my head. I want to lick those washboard abs of his and climb him like a tree.

  Clearing my throat, I say, “It was good. Better than I expected them to take it. Surprisingly, the fact that I was pregnant was still not as bad as me dropping out of college. They’re very old fashioned, I guess, so of course, my grandma asked when we’re getting married. I told her we’ve got at least twenty weeks before we have to worry about that. I’m not going to roll down the aisle. I want to walk…”

  Sebastian grins, “Is that what you want? To walk down the aisle and become Mrs. Sebastian Miller?”

  Yes! “I mean it wouldn’t be such a bad thing, now would it?” I can’t believe I just talked so leisurely about getting married but talking to Sebastian is like talking to part of me, we have no secrets.

  “No, not at all. I’ve dreamt of the day you’d become my wife,” he confesses while crawling into bed. He moves up to where I’m sitting and pulls the blanket back to reveal the tiny bump hidden beneath my nightie. He cradles it as he does every night, whispering sweet nothings to our little peanut.

  “Do you think Mommy and I should get married?” he asks, and all I can do is roll my eyes. I’m not worried about being married before we have the baby, it doesn’t bother me, but I do want it to happen someday.

  “Baby doesn’t care,” I mumble, but as soon as the words escape my mouth, I want to take them back because right there resting on my bump is a princess cut engagement ring with three diamonds in it. The air in my lungs evaporates, and I’m afraid to move, worried that I’ll knock the ring off and it’ll disappear.

  “I told you I would make you mine forever. Our love hasn’t been conventional, and the odds have been stacked against us from the very beginning, but we’ve always found a way to make things work, and that makes our love stronger than anything.”

  “Sebastian,” I gasp, unable to form another coherent thought at that moment.

  Plucking the ring from my lap he moves off the bed and drops down to one knee beside it, “Will you, Lily Kline, be my forever, my happily ever after?”

  Tears well in my eyes and I lift a hand to my lips before squeaking out a yes.

  Sebastian, of course, grins and places the ring on my finger. As soon as the ring is in place, I tug him off the ground and pull him into my arms. Our lips find each other’s like they’re two magnets being drawn together. Fire consumes my body as my need for him intensifies with each stroke of his tongue. Surrendering to him has always been easy, the desire for him instantly pooling in my core.

  “I need you,” I pant between kisses. I’m hungry, drowning in a sea of need. Sebastian doesn’t make me wait long, thankfully. He’s got my nightie removed, tossing it somewhere on the floor in a flash. With my stomach growing outward and my boobs growing heavier, I’ve become a little more self
-conscious of my figure. No longer am I as skinny, and somedays I feel like a cow, but he doesn’t care. He makes me feel beautiful and reminds me often.

  “Beautiful, so fucking beautiful…” He murmurs, sucking one of my hardened nipples into his mouth. He licks and sucks, and nibbles on the hard nub until I’m half pushing him away while pulling him back at the same time.

  “Please,” I plead, when he finally releases me, his fingers trailing down over my belly. Gentle. Kind. Sweet. His touch would have me on my knees right now if it wasn’t for this bed.

  “Mine.” The possessiveness in his voice makes me shiver. A gasp passes my lips as he enters me with two fingers, his movements are slow, leisurely, precise, and with each stroke, he brings me to life. A flush works its way through my body. It feels like I’m being burned by the sun. Scorched.

  “Come, baby, come all over my fingers, and then I’ll give you my cock.” Such a filthy mouth. Mewling into the air like a cat in heat, I claw at the bedsheets. The entire time Sebastian keeps his eyes locked on mine, and with the heat of his gaze, and the stroke of his fingers, I come alive, shattering into a million pieces. My channel tightens around his fingers, and his hiss of pleasure meets my ears.

  I’m hovering somewhere between heaven and earth when he enters me, filling me in one deep thrust, and though I’m wet, my body takes a minute to adjust to his size. In that time, Sebastian peppers kisses across my chest, making his way to my lips. Somehow, he always knows what I need, and when I need it. Once he’s sure I’m ready he starts to move, his hips move slowly at first, but gain speed with every dip inside.

  His fingers dig into the flesh at my hips as he owns me, branding our souls together. His thrusts become deeper, harder, and fire lights up my body, igniting only a part of me that he can reach, touch.

  “Sebastian,” I whimper feeling that common euphoric feeling building at the base of my neck. “I’m close…”

  “Come, milk my cock, claim me.” Sweat beads on his brow as he grinds his pelvis against my center. All over again, I go off like a firework filling the summer sky with an array of sparkling colors. Unable to keep my eyes open, I let the pleasure carry me away. One stroke, two strokes, three strokes.

  Sebastian finds his own release, roaring like a lion as he fills me with his sticky seed. All I can do is cling to him, hoping and praying that this is how it will be forever.

  “I love you,” he says hoarsely, lips ghosting against my clammy forehead, “and I vow to love you forever, even after we’re both nothing but dirt.”

  “I love you too,” I respond as he takes us and situates us under the covers, wrapping his strong arms around me. As exhaustion threatens to take over, I’m hit with this gut feeling. It makes my heart pound and my insides warm.

  Somewhere out there, I know Amy is happy and smiling down on Sebastian and me. Maybe we weren’t meant to be from the beginning, but in the end, we found a way, because love always finds a way.

  Epilogue

  Sebastian

  I watch my daughter’s blonde little curls bounce on her head as she stumbles through the backyard. Maggie got her mother’s hair; the light blonde locks fall down her back like spun gold in the afternoon sun. She hasn’t been walking but a few weeks and her steps are still uneasy. She still frequently falls, and every time, I feel like I’m having a heart attack.

  Kayla, Rem’s little girl, is only a few months older but already quick on her feet, stomping through the yard easily and steadily. She sits down right in front of Rem and me picking up a dandelion from the grass.

  Her small hand wraps around the stem of the flower, her big blues stare at it like it’s the most fascinating thing she’s ever seen. Then she puckers her lips as if she is trying to blow off the seed, but instead of air, spit flies out of her small mouth. The seeds don’t take off flying but rather fall away to the ground.

  “This is the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen,” Rem says.

  “You say that twice a week,” I chuckle. “Everything your daughter does is the cutest fucking thing you’ve ever seen.”

  “Because it is!” Rem says defensively. “And don’t act like you don’t think the same about Maggie. Our kids are changing every day, and I find every single aspect of it cool.”

  I can’t argue with that. I never thought I could be entertained and in awe about something so mundane as my girl holding a spoon for the first time, yet I was beside myself when she did. Being a dad is the strangest, most terrifying, most epic thing in the world. Right beside being a husband.

  Lily and I got married two weeks after Maggie was born. I couldn’t wait a minute longer to make her officially mine. Her grandparents finally came around and started to support her art exhibits, which I knew meant a lot to her. They were also happy about us having a baby and getting married, even though they would have preferred it to have happened the other way around. My dad and my brothers were overjoyed from the beginning, as I expected. They all loved Lily before I even knew I did.

  Rem and Jules ended up getting married a short while after they found out they were having Kayla. Marriage suits my brother well, now we just have to get Lex on board with the idea of something more than a one-night stand.

  Speaking of Lex. “Hey, assholes,” he greets as he crosses the yard.

  “Don’t talk about the kids like that,” Rem says sternly before a smile splits his face.

  Lex rolls his eyes, “Not the kids, you guys are the assholes. I could never call my nieces such foul names.”

  It’s my turn to roll my eyes, “How is life? Anything new happening?” Lex still doesn’t like to talk about his love life, or anything for that matter really. Since the girls were born, he’s kind of shut down, keeping to himself most of the time.”

  “Nope, same ole’ same ole.”

  “Good, good, so no wedding planning anytime soon?” Rem busts his balls on the daily about how we’re both married and have kids while our oldest brother doesn’t.

  Maggie staggers over to where Lex is sitting, a big smile on her face. Her eyes twinkle with excitement as she hands him a dandelion which he takes with a smile.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” Maggie falls into his lap, a contagious giggle filling the air.

  “Don’t you wish you had kids?” Rem asks, “Now that I have Kayla, I don’t think I could picture my life without having a kid.”

  Lex shrugs his shoulders, “It doesn’t bother me. I’m not ready for kids, or marriage, or anything of the like. I’m still, too…unstable, unhinged. I need to get my shit together before I think about anything like that.”

  I know what Lex thinks; that no one will love him and all of his flaws, but he’s wrong. There will be a woman that can handle him someday, that will build him up rather than cut him down. Before Rem or I can respond Lily and Jules come walking out of the house, one carrying a tray of sandwiches and the other a pitcher of tea.

  “You boys hungry?” Lily asks, and I can’t help myself. As soon as she places the pitcher on the table, I grab her by the hips and pull her into my body.

  “I’m hungry all right but it ain’t for any sandwiches,” I growl, my cock already hard and standing at attention.

  “Jesus, get a room,” Lex gags.

  “Oh, stop it,” Lily gives me a gentle push backward, and I release her even though it’s the last thing I want to do.

  Maggie crawls out of Lex’s lap and walks over to me, her tiny hands grip onto my pants, and I stare down at her, a tiny version of her mother. Never did I think I would have it all. The house, the wife, the kid, the dream job, but I do. When I lost Amy, I thought my life was over, but Lily showed me there was so much more to life. It wasn’t easy, but together we achieved greatness.

  “I love you,” I say to Maggie and then look up at Lily who is watching me with wonder in her eyes.

  “What?” I ask, pouring myself a cup of tea.

  “Nothing, it’s just I hope you can handle two.”

  “Two?” My brow furrows with co
nfusion. She can’t mean what I think she means…

  “Two babies.” She grins, “Maggie is going to be a big sister.”

  And just like that, I’m blessed all over again.

  “Congratulations, brother, Rem and Lex both say, and I set my glass down and stand taking both Maggie and Lily into my arms.

  “Thank you, baby, thank you so much for being my all, for giving me the best things in life.” I seal my words with a kiss, wondering if life can get any better.

  The End

  Coming Soon

  About the Authors

  J.L. Beck and C. Hallman are an international bestselling author duo who write contemporary and dark romance.

  Join our newsletter for MORE FREE BOOKS, as well as sales and updates.

  Sign Up

  www.bleedingheartromance.com

  Also by the Authors

  CONTEMPORAY ROMANCE

  North Woods University

  The Bet

  The Dare

  The Secret

  The Vow

  The Promise

  The Jock

  Bayshore Rivals

  When Rivals Fall

  When Rivals Lose

  When Rivals Love

  Breaking the Rules

  Kissing & Telling

  Babies & Promises

  Roommates & Thieves

  ***

  DARK ROMANCE

  The Blackthorn Elite

  Hating You

  Breaking You