by Adams, S. C.
Lexi bites her bottom lip and hurries into my arms.
“Dinner can wait,” she says as she starts pulling me down the hall.
She unbuttons my dress shirt as we go, revealing more of her sexy curves to me.
After we make love, we lie in each other’s arms.
“Lex, remember when I wanted to give you start-up money for your own company?” I ask.
She lifts her head from my chest and sighs.
“I can’t let you do that, Kane.”
“I want to help you. I’m in the position to help you, so please let me. You can pay me back if you insist, or we can become partners,” I smirk.
“Partners?” she questions.
“Fifty-fifty. I bring in the clients; you make things beautiful. What do you think?”
She heaves out a sigh and swirls a finger around my nipple.
“It sounds like an offer I’d be an idiot to pass up. But how will you have time to establish my company—”
“Ahem,” I interrupt her. “Our company.”
“Excuse me, our company,” she snickers. “You already have so many other business ventures on your plate.”
“I’m sure I’ll manage just fine.”
Lexi presses her lips to mine.
“Thank you.”
“You’re my biggest and best investment yet, Lexi Smith,” I say, running my fingers through her hair.
She smiles. “I hope I’m worth the risk.”
“I have a good feeling about you.”
“You mean about us,” she corrects, lacing her fingers through mine and squeezing my hand.
Epilogue One
Lexi
A year later.
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself. As I brush my hair, I hear Kane’s voice talking on the phone. I walk out of the bathroom and into our bedroom.
Kane smiles at me as he sits on our bed in nothing but his underwear. He pats his knee, and I sit down on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Yeah, Mom. Okay, I’ll see you…” Kane trails off. “Soon.”
He hangs up and kisses me.
“Is your mom coming to visit?” I wonder.
“She might visit next weekend,” he explains. “She wants to take you shopping.”
I laugh.
“You mean she wants me to decorate her new apartment?”
Kane isn’t as close to his mother as he is with his dad, but she has started visiting more frequently since I’ve come into the picture.
“Probably. She loves you, you know?” he chuckles against my neck before kissing me softly.
It tickles, making me laugh and causing goosebumps to form.
“I guess since my mom adores you, it’s only right that your mom loves me. But then again, everyone adores you,” I ruffle his bed head as he smirks.
Kane has made quite the impression on my friends and family over the past year. Everyone was freaked out a bit by his resemblance to Jason, but as they have gotten to know Kane, they all realize how truly different he is. Kane trumps Jason in every category.
Even my cousins have jumped on the Kane Jones bandwagon. Of course, that also means that the women in my family have a crush on my man once more. But Kane doesn’t give in to flirtations from other women like Jason did. He would never humiliate me like that.
At Thanksgiving, Briana tried to give Kane a shoulder massage after he mentioned experiencing some tension. He immediately turned around and scowled at her. But he didn’t stop there. In front of the entire family, Kane called Briana out on her shit and stood up for me.
“Don’t be inappropriate. I love your cousin, so the only woman who will put her hands on me is either her or a professional.”
My mother had especially been impressed, and no one has crossed the line since. Kane tolerates my family, but I know he thinks they’re bottom feeders. I couldn’t agree with him more. Other than my mother, I try to limit seeing the rest of my family to once a year.
We choose to spend most of our time with Kane’s father and a few close friends that he works with. And of course, Melanie and Ricky.
“Alright, I have to get ready for work,” I say, standing up.
“I do too,” he pouts. “Busy day.”
“It’s almost the weekend, babe,” I kiss him. “Are you still going to make it to happy hour tonight?”
“Yeah, we’ll take a car service. I’ll meet you at the office at five-thirty.”
“Sounds good,” I say, dropping my towel.
“Looks good,” Kane growls.
I peek over my shoulder to see him staring at my naked body. We’ve been together for over a year, and I still can’t be naked around him without him wanting to ravish me.
I wonder if it will always be like this or if this is the longest puppy-love stage in the history of relationships.
“Down, boy,” I warn as he adjusts his boxers. “We don’t have time. I have a client meeting in an hour.”
He saunters over to me, his semi-erect cock leading the way. I grab panties out of the drawer quickly and run away from him, jumping onto the bed.
“Kane,” I squeal as he leaps onto the mattress as well.
He laughs and wraps his arms around me, kissing the tops of my breasts.
“You can’t resist me. Why do you even try?” He looks up at me before taking my nipple into his warm mouth.
“Because it’s fun.” I bite my lip, loving the feeling of his teeth around my hard nipple.
I reach into his underwear and stroke him, making him groan against my stiff peak.
Kane gets on his knees and kisses my belly. I smile down at him, thinking about the baby I’m carrying. Our baby. I haven’t told Kane yet, but I’m planning to tonight at The Drunken Bucket where we first met.
All thoughts of my important news exit my brain as Kane parts my outer lips with his tongue. I let out a long moan as I brace myself by placing my hands onto Kane’s shoulders.
I remember the client meeting I have in a couple of hours. I tap him on the shoulders with both hands.
“Quick, baby. I can’t be late.”
Kane gives a nice, hard suck of my clit, eliciting a throaty sound I didn’t even know I was capable of making. Suddenly, he grabs my ass and throws me down onto the bed gently. He pins me down with his hard body as he frees his cock from his boxers. He enters me roughly and jackhammers into me over and over. There’s no more time left to tease. Kane’s hips are a blur as my entire body shakes from his furious movements.
My screams of pleasure fill the room as I tumble toward ecstasy. Kane reaches down between us and rubs my clit. His hips slow down and move in a deep, circular motion.
“Ohhh,” I wail. “So good, Kane.”
I grab his face and kiss him. As he sucks on my tongue, his fingers pinch my clit, sending me over the edge. I shudder and pull away from his mouth in order to breathe. My fingers are clawing at the bedspread, and my hips are involuntarily lifting off of the mattress as I continue to twitch.
He slowly pumps me until my orgasm subsides.
“Finish me off, baby,” Kane orders, kissing all over my chest before pulling out of me.
He lies down, and I take hold of his glistening shaft. Kane looks at me with pure need as I swallow his cock, wanting to give him the release he craves. I suck him hard and deep before pressing his dick against his stomach and taking his balls into my mouth.
Kane’s hands fly to my head as he grunts.
“Fuck, baby,” he groans, spurting all over his rock-hard abs.
I lick up the length of his shaft and up his stomach, running the tip of my tongue through his sticky seed.
“So fucking hot,” he sighs, rolling onto his side and staring at me.
I smile at him and hop out of bed.
“I’ve got to go. Get in the shower,” I command, slapping his ass.
I hurry to get dressed as quickly as possible before Kane comes back for more.
About twenty minutes later, K
ane is straightening his tie when I walk into the bedroom to say goodbye. I kiss him lovingly, give Kayla and our new puppy a head scratch, and walk out the door.
I walk into my new company and greet my assistant on the way. As soon as I sit at my desk, the phone rings.
“Lexi Smith speaking,” I answer.
“Did you tell him?”
I laugh.
“Not yet, Melanie.”
“I thought you were telling him last night?” she asks curiously.
“I know, but we both worked late, and Kane’s been so tired, trying to wrap up loose ends for when the new CEO takes over.”
“I still can’t believe he’s leaving Infinity Investments,” Melanie muses. “That must have been hard. That company’s his baby.”
Kane has always been a workhorse from what I know, but he recently wanted to simplify his life. He has plenty of other things to keep himself busy. He has his hands in quite a few outside investments like hotels, lounges, and restaurants, not to mention my interior design firm. Thanks to my great taste and Kane’s connections, the company is successful and has even been featured in several design magazines.
“Kane seems perfectly happy to let his CEO job go. I’m just worried that helping me raise a kid will mess up his plans to simplify,” I sigh.
“Lexi, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Melanie assures me.
“I hope not. Listen, my client just got here,” I say, seeing the mayor’s wife walk into the office. “I’ll see you tonight at The Bucket.”
She signs off, and the day goes by quickly, thank god. I’m eager to be done for the week. I always look forward to mine and Kane’s double-date night with Melanie and Ricky. Those two have been going strong and recently moved in together. Ricky and Kane are two completely different people, but they’ve formed a bromance that Melanie and I tease them about.
At 5:15, I pack up my things and head downstairs to wait for Kane. As I’m digging in my purse for my phone, someone bumps into me.
“Try not standing in the middle of the sidewalk,” a female voice says as she sucks her teeth at me.
I make eye contact with her and then with the guy, who was actually the one who bumped into me. I almost drop my purse when I see who’s standing in front of me.
“Lexi?” the man stares, his eyes going wide.
“Jason, h-hi,” I stammer.
“Wow, I haven’t seen you since…”
“Since before the wedding,” I say and glance over at the skinny blonde on his arm. Does she know? I make it my mission to tell her. Pasting a smile on my face, I bare my teeth.
“Hi, I’m Lexi. Jason’s ex-fiancé.”
“Hi,” she says, grabbing onto Jason’s arm even tighter.
“Do you work over here now?” he asks, referring to the Seventh Avenue office.
“Yeah, I have my own business.”
“Cool. You still living in that tiny apartment in the boonies?”
I inwardly curse him out. He’d always teased me about where I lived because it wasn’t up to his standards.
“No. I live in Madison Square Tower, actually. It’s a new development. Have you heard of it?”
Indeed he has, and his eyes bug out.
“Wow! Business is going that well?”
I shrug my shoulders mysteriously. He doesn’t need to know my boyfriend is a billionaire. Just then, Kane gets out of a car.
“Hey, sorry I’m a little late,” Kane says as he approaches.
I’ve never been so happy to see my boyfriend. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, and I can sense both Jason and his date shrinking in his shadow. Then, Kane stops next to me and kisses me right in front of Jason. Talk about awkward… for Jason, not me. I don’t give a damn what Jason Peckham thinks. He can go rot in hell for all I care. Meanwhile, my boyfriend turns to Jason with an innocent expression.
“Jason, I presume?” Kane asks smoothly, sticking his hand out to him. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Yeah,” Jason replies, staring Kane up and down. “Where did you find this guy? A cloning website? He looks just like me!”
I giggle. The similarities are staggering, but there are subtle differences. For example, Kane is an inch taller, and a bit broader about the shoulders. Plus, my boyfriend’s eyes are an intense cobalt, whereas Jason has watery, light blue eyes. My man is also generously proportioned down there, whereas Jason is average at best.
Kane chuckles.
“The resemblance is surprising, I know.”
Jason’s jaw is still on the ground, and it snaps shut at those words.
“It’s fucking weird. I guess someone hasn’t moved on,” Jason says snootily, putting his arm around his bimbo, about to walk away.
“From what Lexi tells me, she’s moved onto bigger and better,” Kane calls, emphasizing his words.
Jason turns around and glares at me. I shrug and wrap my arms around Kane with a satisfied smile.
“And when we get married, I will show up. I won’t run away like a fucking pussy,” Kane says, his raspy tone so incredibly aggressive and masculine that I wish I could have my way with him right there.
Jason turns and starts to walk toward Kane in a menacing manner, but I stand between them.
“Bye, Jason,” I say. “I hope you’re happy with how things turned out because I know I am.”
“Let’s go, baby,” the blonde says, trying to lead him away. He resists, but then turns. Good decision, because he could never take my boyfriend.
Once they’re gone, Kane takes my hand and squeezes it.
“You okay?”
I smile. “Never better.”
“Shit. Thank God he left you at the altar. You dodged a huge bullet there,” Kane laughs. “I don’t think he looked like me one whit. Cowardice makes a man ugly.
I laugh and hug him to my side as we walk to the car. As we ride to The Drunken Bucket, Kane takes my hand and stares at it for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” I wonder.
“Are you really happy, Lexi?”
I squint at him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I just want to make sure. If you’re happy, I’m happy. I want to take care of you for the rest of your life,” he says, squeezing my knee.
I put my head on his shoulder. “You’re too good to me.”
“No such thing. You’re my girl. I’ve been waiting my whole life to spoil someone,” he remarks, kissing my forehead.
And spoil me is what’s he’s been doing. Vacations, a new puppy, designer clothes ... but none of it compares to the way Kane treats me. He’s the sweetest, most amazing man in the world. All of my worries about him being a father disappears as I think about the kind of person he is.
My baby and I will be the luckiest people in the world to have the adoration of Kane Jones.
Epilogue Two
Kane
It’s my last day at Infinity Investments. They’re throwing me a retirement party next week, even though technically, I’m not retiring. I’ll still be managing my investments outside of the company, but I’ll be doing it discreetly.
Of course, the president of Infinity Investments wanted to throw a huge, grand, ballroom style party for me, but I politely turned him down. I wanted something more intimate and low-key with just the people I work with.
After cake is served, I pull Joel aside.
“Have you given my offer any more thought?” I ask.
Joel smiles. “I would love to work with you and Lexi.”
I pat his back. “That’s great news. Lexi will be so happy.”
Lexi and Joel had really hit it off when they met. If he weren’t gay, I would be jealous. Joel didn’t want to work for some other CEO, and I didn’t want anyone else looking out for Lexi and me in business. We offered him a competitive salary and a fun, laid back work environment.
“Are you nervous about tonight?” Joel asks.
“A little,” I admit.
“Lexi doesn’t suspect anything, right?�
��
“I don’t think so,” I say, hoping I did a good job at hiding her surprise.
After work, I head to Lexi’s office and am more than surprised to see her talking to Jason and some skinny bitch. Running into Lexi’s ex-fiancé today of all days strikes me as odd. The universe’s timing is impeccable. Jason seems even more pathetic than how Lexi had described him. There was something small about that guy, both in stature and personality. Some men will always be boys, I guess.
But I couldn’t resist taunting Jason and rubbing it in his face how happy Lexi is with me. And how royally he screwed up. I won’t let anyone hurt Lexi ever again. I’m fiercely loyal and protective of the people I love, and there is no one I love more than Lexi Smith.
Lexi and I are on our way to The Drunken Bucket. We haven’t been to the old dive bar in a while. We moved our Friday night happy hours to a Midtown pub instead since Ricky got a new job, and The Drunken Bucket is now out of the way for all of us.
But for tonight, I got Melanie to convince Lexi we needed to return to the old hangout for nostalgia’s sake. After all, my relationship with Lexi began at The Bucket, and so did Melanie and Ricky’s.
“I still don’t know why Melanie is so set on us coming all of the way to The Drunken Bucket for happy hour,” Lexi shakes her head as the driver pulls up to the front of the familiar dive bar.
“Yeah, but I kind of miss this place, don’t you?” I ask.
“Well, yeah. But it’s super inconvenient,” she laughs as the driver opens her door.
She gets out and I follow, tipping the driver before taking Lexi’s hand in mine. My nerves start to eat at me as we approach the entrance. I open the door for her and allow Lexi to walk in first.
“Surprise!” the crowd yells.
Lexi jumps back, and I grab onto her. She looks up at me as I smile at her.
“Surprise?” she wonders, looking back at the crowd.
My parents and her mother are on the left, along with Melanie and Ricky. Joel and his boyfriend are also there, along with Mike and his wife and a couple of our other close friends.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asks, hugging our parents. “What’s going on?”
