“I have an older brother who is bigger and stronger than you.” She grumbles as she changes tactics and places her foot on my back and kicks me off the bed. I roll off and land on the floor with a thud. I groan and look up at her when she leans over the bed grinning at me with pure joy. “Nighty night.”
I smile up at her, reach up, I catch her wrist and pull her off the bed. She squeals and lands on top of me, our heads colliding as she does so. I swear I have not met a girl as accident-prone as her. Amazingly, she’s made it to her twenties. I shake off the blow to my head and look up at her rubbing her own with a pout. “See, I told you you’d get hurt.”
Shayla presses her forehead to my chest and groans. “You win, you imbecile.” She mumbles, and I smile, rubbing the back of her head gently.
“I always win, sweetheart,” I state matter-of-factly and hiss when she pinches the skin on my arm. &ldqu
“Shayla?” I stare at the front door to the house I grew up in, my heart beating up in my throat. “Shayla.” I blink and look over at Cole, who was standing beside me, watching me with a frown. “It’s going to be okay.” He assures me, and I inhale a deep breath to calm my nerves. He turns me so I could face him, and he brushes his hands down my arms supportively. “I’ll be right there if you need me, okay?” I nod and turn to face the door. I slide my key in the lock and hesitate until I feel Cole’s fingers lace with mine and his soft lips on my temple. I glance up at him, and he nods encouragingly. Unlocking the door, I walk into my childhood home with Cole behind me. It’s quiet, but I can hear the faint sound of the tv coming from the living room.I close the door, and I walk through the corridor toward the living room. “Mum? Sam?” I call out when I see the living room was empty, but the tv was o
“I’m fine, sweetheart.”“Cole, you’re bleeding.” I tilt his head up and take a closer look at his busted lip.“I’m okay.” He assures me with a smile. I stand up and look over at Sam.“Have you completely lost your mind?!” I scold him, and he glares down at Cole and then back at me.“No, but he fucking has! I don’t give a fuck how rich you are! You think you can come in and disrespect me in my own home?”“He’s my husband, Sam!” I shout, and he walks over to me.“And I’m your fucking brother! I’m your blood!” He shouts back, grasping my arm.“I don’t care!” I rip my arm out of his hold. “You had no right to hit him. You’re pissed off with me, I get it, but you don’t fucking touch him. What the hell is wrong with you?!”“Enough! Both of you.” Sam and I s
“Hey, look at me.” He lifts my head so I could look up at him. “They will. I will do everything in my power to make that happen. I’ll throw the biggest fucking wedding this world has ever seen if that’s what it takes.” He tells me, pulling me against him. “I’ll lay my entire fortune at their feet if I have to. It killed me watching you fall to your knees at your mother’s feet like that.” He says, pressing his forehead to mine.I sniffle, “I can’t lose my family; they’re all I have.” Cole brushes his fingers through my hair and pulls back to look at me.“You’re not going to, trust me.” He whispers gazing into my eyes.I nod, “I do.” I look at his lip and notice it’s still bleeding, and I reach up and brush my thumb over it gently, and he closes his eyes. “Your lip, it's swollen.”“I’ll live.” He says and smil
“Shayla. Will you please come over here?” I ask for the umpteenth time and watch as she stubbornly shakes her head, arms crossed over her chest. “There is nothing to be afraid of, I promise,” I assure her, but she still shakes her head eyeing Casper— my all-white stallion sceptically.“No. I can’t, I’m scared.” She mutters with a shrug.“Honey, it's just for a photoshoot. I’ll be right there with you.” I assure her, walking over to her. She lifts her gaze to mine and scowls. “People are looking, come on,” I add quietly, and she rolls her eyes.“Why do we have to do this photo shoot anyway?” She huffs, brushing her fingers through her perfectly styled hair.“Because people are curious and want to know who I married. If we don’t put something out there, they will just keep digging and chasing us around. Is what you want? To be hounded by the paparazzi
I laugh poking her sides, and she jumps giggling. “Stop corrupting my stallion, you little minx.”She grins at me playfully, slapping my hands away when I try and tickle her, “He’s my stallion now.”‘Your stallion is right here, baby.’ I want to whisper in her ear. Instead, I bury my nose into her hair and inhale her scent. “Steady girl. You have a lot to learn still before you can ride him solo.” She pouts and continues to pet him. “We better get back to the shoot. I promised them we’d be back in fifteen minutes.” I explain, and she nods disappointed. “Hold on tight.” She grips the reins and leans back against me. I whistle, and Casper takes off again, galloping through the trail back to where we left the photographers.“Hooo,” I say, pulling the reins, and Casper slows as we reach the set for the shoot. I look over at Veronica, the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine. &
“What?! Lord Hoult doesn’t know how to cook and wants me to teach him?” She drawls mockingly. “No way.” She places her hand over her heart and fans herself dramatically. “Oh, be still my heart.”I laugh heartily, reach over, and squeeze her face till her lips pucker up. “You are going to be the death of me.” I joke, she smacks my hand away and grins back at me.“The weather is amazing, how do you put the top down.” She says, looking around for the button to put the top down to the car.“It’s the blue button. Aren’t you worried about your hair getting messed up?” I ask, and she laughs shaking her head.“No! Are you kidding me? What better feeling is there than having the wind in your hair on a hot summer afternoon.”“Air con,” I utter dryly, while she pushes the button, and the top to my Maserati convertible opens.“Loosen u
One kiss.Just one kiss. That’s it. It’s no big deal, you’ve kissed before. Just breathe Shayla.I look into Cole’s eyes as he tilts my head up gently, he brushes his fingers through my hair and steps closer. I instinctively lick my lips as he leans closer. His lips hover over mine for less than a second, but at that moment, it felt like an eternity till his lips brush over mine. My eyes slid shut, and I fight the urge to moan when he presses his lips to mine with the feeblest pressure, before his tongue trails along my bottom lip—wordlessly requesting access-- which I grant him by parting my lips. Cole’s fingers curl into my hair, drawing my mouth against his a little firmer, deepening the kiss, his tongue expertly seeking out my own. When I brush my tongue over his own-- he moans, a deep throaty moan that hums through me and sucks my tongue gently. It was my turn to moan, butterflies explode in my stomach when he pulls back and suc
“Hell no!” I reply after swallowing my water he smiles and nods.“No baby, sorry to disappoint.” He says with a smirk, “The thing I wanted to discuss with you was uh, well, Shayla’s family would like to meet you and Dad. Her mother was terribly upset that we eloped, she feels she got robbed of seeing her daughter get married with the wedding and the white dress, which is understandable, of course.”Elaine Hoult looks at her son unimpressed a deadpan look on her face. “Why yes, Tristan, I completely understand where her mother is coming from because I also feel very robbed of seeing my only son get married.”“So, you’ll meet them then?” He asks hopeful, and I just watch them wolfing down a couple of doughnuts.Elaine sighs, “Yes, we will meet them. On one condition.” She leans over and looks at me, stuffing my face with doughnuts and wrinkles her nose in distaste. “Ar
Twenty minutes later, the house smelt sensational with home-cooked goodness. Cole strolls into the kitchen while his wife cooks pancakes. He wraps his arms around her from behind and kisses her pulse. “As good as this food smells, I can’t wait to eat you later,” Cole growls in her ear hungrily, making her grin. “Shh, baby, the kids are going to hear you,” Shayla whispers back, looking up at him, and he matches her grin leaning close. “They’re not even in here.” Cole chuckles, kissing her softly. Shayla wraps her arms around her husband’s neck and parts her lips when his tongue silently requests permission to meet her own. “Oh, barf. Mum and Dad are making out again.” RJ grumbles, walking into the kitchen, followed by Alaia, who grimaces as they take their seats at the dining table. Shayla and Cole laugh as they pull apart. “Now you know how we feel watching you slobber all over your little ‘friends’ you keep bringing over.” Alaia retorts, making air q
Sixteen years later…On a beautiful Saturday morning in the month of August, Shayla Hoult rolls over in the bed she shares with her gorgeous husband Tristan Cole Hoult and smiles contently. At the tender age of forty-six, he was still every bit as handsome as he always was. She lay on her side and admired him while he slept. He still looked the same—but older with fine lines that came with maturity, which made him even sexier. The stubble of his beard had specks of grey, which she loved.“Why are you staring at me?” Cole mumbles, his eyes still closed, causing his wife to start while she was lost deep in her thoughts. Shayla smiles, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly, and reaches over to brush her fingers over his cheek. Cole smiles, peels his eyes open, and blinks, looking at his beautiful wife smiling at him lovingly.“How long have you been awake?” Shayla giggles when he wraps his strong arm around her waist and drags he
I exhale slowly, and Cole sits up and turns the night light on, blinking a couple of times till his eyes adjust to the light. “My water broke,” I tell him, and he shifts and pushes the covers off himself and gets out of bed. I watch him walk around the bed to my side, and he takes hold of my hand to help me sit up.“Are you having contractions?” He questions, brushing my hair away from my face, and I nod. “What do you need me to do?”I exhale slowly when another contraction comes. I wait for it to pass before I speak. “Call my midwife, then my mum. Tell her I’m in labour, and we’ll drop Laia to her.” I instruct him, and he kisses my forehead before he grabs my phone. While Cole was on the phone, I take off my wet clothes and change into a pair of grey comfortable tracksuit bottoms and one of Coles oversized hoodies. The pain was getting worse by the minute, and I was worried we wouldn’t make it to the hospital. “Cole, we have to go. Like right now.” I whimper, and he l
“Shay.” I lift my gaze from staring at my huge baby bump and look at my husband, who rolls over when I turn the night lamp on. “You okay?” Cole questions drowsily, and I glower at him.“Why won’t this baby come out.” I hiss angrily, and Cole groans, leaning up on his elbow and looks at me, his green eyes narrowed.“Maybe he likes it in there and isn’t ready to leave just yet.” He smiles, rubbing my bump, and the baby squirms inside me at his father’s touch. My due date was six days ago, and this stubborn child is showing no indication of arriving anytime soon.“I’ve had enough.” I whimper, agitated. “I’m uncomfortable. I haven’t slept a wink in days, and I’m swollen like a beached whale. Look at me.” I complain, gesturing to myself, and Cole lets his eyes wander over me, and he smiles. “What are you looking at?”He blinks, bemused.“You just said—”“You get this baby out of me right now.” I huff, and Cole scratches his forehead, his brows fu
Shayla pulls back and looks up at me, tears flowing from her beautiful eyes. “Did you...” She trails silently, asking me if I had something to do with her killing herself off, and I shake my head.“No, I had nothing to do with that. She obviously couldn’t handle being locked up. The warden did say girls like her are like fresh meat to a hungry lion.” I explain, brushing her tears away.“I did.” I turn and look at Sam, and Shayla frowns. “I may have visited the prison. A guard there is a friend of mine, and when he found out you were my sister, he did me a favour.” He explains with a shrug, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his jeans. “It wasn’t enough that she was locked away, I wanted her to suffer, so I had my artist friend paint a photo of you and Cole kissing on the wall opposite her cell, she’d be forced to stare at it, be reminded every second, of every day that she didn’t break you,” Sam tells her. Shayla pulls away from me and runs into her brother's arms.
“That was a great party. I’m a grown arse man, and I had a blast.” Josh chuckles, sitting back on the sofa, taking a sip from his beer. I smile and nod, looking over at my mother and Shay’s mother directing the kitchen's cleaning crew. Sam comes across with baby Trey in his arms and sits on the sofa with a tired sigh.“It really was. Shayla did a great job with organising everything.” I tell him, and Josh nods, looking over at the baby in Sam's arms.“How’s fatherhood treating you, bro?” Josh questions putting his beer bottle down and taking Trey from Sam.“Tiring man, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world,” Sam admits looking over at Trey curled up on Josh’s chest. “To think I was terrified of ever having one of those, now I can’t picture my life without him.”I smile in understanding. “Yeah, they really do change your life, especially if it's with the right woman,” I state, and both men nod in agreement.“I feel so left out. I can’t wait to hol
“Happy birthday, princess.” I croon, looking down at Alaia, who just rose from her sleep. She smiles up at me as soon as she sees me, displaying her two teeth. She’s always so happy in the morning, and this morning was no different. She’s just lying in her crib, kicking back with her hands behind her head. “Good morning, my sunshine.” I pick her up and kiss her cheek affectionately. “Is my baby girl one-year-old today?” We walk out of the nursery back to our bedroom, where Shayla was still asleep. “Let’s go wake up, Mummy,” I whisper, kissing her temple and smile when I see Shayla lying on her front, peacefully sleeping. I crawl up on the bed and lay Alaia down on her stomach, and she immediately crawls over to her mother. I lay on my side and watch as she makes cooing sounds, pressing her hand to Shay’s face, who stirs from her sleep and smiles.“Mm, good morning, birthday girl.” She sighs, lifting her arm and wrapping it around Laia, who tries to crawl over her. She looks o
We see Josh and Aimee in the waiting room, along with Jo’s father, “How is she doing? Any news?”Aimee shakes her head. “Not yet. We got here not long ago.” I sit beside her, and Cole walks over to Josh, talking to Jo’s dad, Phil. “Did you look in the mirror before you left the house?” Aimee grins, her blue eyes raking over me.“No, why?” I ask apprehensively and look down at myself.Aimee laughs, “You look fucked out, girl. You could have at least run a brush through your hair.” I stare at her dumbfounded and reach to comb out my hair with my fingers.“We left in a rush,” I whisper, unlocking my phone and loading up the camera. “Do I really look that bad?” I look at my reflection in the camera and gasp a little. My face was all flushed, my hair a tousled mess, my lips were swollen, and I had love bites all over my neck. “Oh shit.” I curse, pulling my hair over my shoulder to cover up the love bites.Aimee nudges me, grinning wickedly. When I look
Later that evening, Cole and I were sitting on our bed, me on my tablet and him on his, looking through emails. “Do you not think we’re going a little overboard with this birthday party?” I ask, looking away from the tablet to him, staring intently at a document on his device.“No,” Cole utters, typing away on the screen. “What my baby wants, my baby gets.” I frown.“Cole, she’s turning one, she doesn’t have a clue what she wants. She’s not even going to remember this.” Cole looks at me and shrugs.“She’s aware of more than you realise.” He replies, his brows lifting to his hairline. “Don’t you see the way her little face lights up when she sees Moana on the screen?” I smile and nod, “Or the way she sways side to side when she hears the song.”“That is adorable.” Cole nods, smiling, and leans over, puckering his lips for me. I lean in and kiss him softly.“Let’s give our baby girl the birthday she deserves.” Cole mumbles against my lips, and I grin