DASHIELLI couldn't keep the smiles off my face. Reasoning back to how well I communicated with Nova during the meeting made me proud of myself. Standing up for the idea when others thought it wasn't the best made me feel so happy. I wanted to scream it out to the world, but I couldn't. No one, aside from me would know how much this meant to me.Sighing, I tapped my index finger on my desk, reflecting on the smile on her face. It was the first time she had genuinely smiled at me since she returned. The smile wasn't as forced as the ones I was used to. She was genuinely happy, making me feel accomplished for causing such an expression on her face. I have never been this happy before, not even when my father signed off the company to me after I completed my studies. Having her smile was an accomplishment. It showed I was getting close to my plans, to get her to change her attitude towards me. It doesn't seem like it would be a simple thing to pull off, but I'm determined to do whatever
I frowned at her response, not buying it at all. She didn't seem like she was crying over something not relevant, but I didn't pursue the matter. She would have told me about it if she wanted me to know. We weren't friends after all. I couldn't force her to do that. Shs owed me no explanation. “It's okay.” I patted her on the back. “Just let it out. Whatever's eating within you. Trust me, you will feel great when you do.”She looked up at my remarks, her eyes widening as she stared at me, stunned. She wasn't the only one, though. I had never been a good comforter. Lilith always made fun of me because of that. But at the moment, I felt like an enlightened monk. Seeing her look so sad made me want to comfort her. “Come on. You can weep how much you want. I won't judge.” And she did, bawling out her eyes until a few of the pedestrians walking down the overpass cast glances at us, thinking I caused her problem. We were lucky none of them stopped to ask why, or even called the cops o
NOVAA bouquet was waiting on my desk for me when I arrived. When I saw it, I assumed Dashiell was the one who placed it since he was the only one who could do something like this, but I discovered he wasn't the one after reading the card the flower came with. Benita sent it. I took the flower off my table and walked over to my dustbin to dispose of it, but couldn't bring myself to get rid of them. Groaning in frustration, I returned to my desk with it and placed it back the way I saw it before I sat on my chair, so I could stare at the flower. If she thought sending a bouquet with a card would make me forgive her easily, then she had more than enough surprises coming her way. Things like this don't cut it for me. I was still lost in thoughts when I got a knock on my door, and Benita stepped in, with her gaze on the floor. She closed the distance between us and walked over to my side, still with her gaze averted. Frowning, I watched her, waiting for her to say something. “I'm
DASHIELLWhen I left my office to meet my favourite kids in the world, I thought nothing would happen. I just wanted to go over to meet River. But most importantly, I wanted to see Willow. I'd heard so much about her from the time I spent with River, and I was eager to meet her. Who would have thought I would end up being paired with them as their father? I didn't want to be dragged into it at first, afraid I was overstepping, but when I saw the sad expression on River's face as the other parents read a passage for their children, I stepped onto the stage to act as their father. Though the kids didn't seem that thrilled to see me, they were glad I was there to help. Glaring at the blank paper, I tried to rack my brain on what to draw, knowing I wasn't that good with my hands. If only there was a way to get through this without having to draw, I would have taken it. But that was the least of my problems. As I watched Willow, I couldn't help but notice how much she looked like me. H
NOVA“Uhm… I greatly appreciate your help.” I smiled at him, praying he didn't realize how forced the smile was, and how much I was trembling. We had just concluded the drawing when he asked me to meet him outside. At first, I didn't want to go with him. I wanted to lie that I had something to take care of with my kids, but I knew it would only make him more suspicious. The earliest I get things out of the way, the better. It didn't seem like he knew Willow was his. If he had known, he wouldn't have calmly sat with them. Hell, he would have confronted me about it the moment I showed up. He wouldn't have waited this long to talk to me. Right? I wiped my palm on my suit jacket as I watched him, waiting for him to say something. Aside from the time he asked me to meet him outside, Dashiell hadn't said a word to me since I arrived, which was odd. I glanced around, noticing how deserted the place was. With the parents and the teachers out in the hall, there was no one in the playgrou
All the blood drained from my face. My heart skipped a beat, only for it to thump loudly in my chest. Clenching my fists, I tried to regain my breathing, but it was difficult for me. “They are my children, right?” He demanded, his voice getting harder. “You lied to me, Nova. You told me they weren't bloody mine! You made me think my babies were dead!” “And?” I folded my arms, glaring at him. “Even if they are yours, what will you do? Accuse me for keeping you from your kids? Fight legally for kids you wanted to bloody get rid of?!” I was stunned by my outburst, but I masked it. The anger I felt at the moment overshadowed my fear. “Why are you acting like you care when you don't? We bother to know how you feel about them!” I yelled at him, finally letting all my bottled emotions out. "You are a bloody hypocrite, Dashiell!" “What the hell are you talking about?” He took a step back, gulping as he watched me with narrowed eyes. “Why are you accusing me of something I didn't do? Why
After filling them in on who Mama Kaka was, I went over to sign them out, before I took them towards my car. Willow got her lollipop while they took River's drawing to paste on the wall after getting my permission. I wanted to refuse but saw how much River's eyes sparkled at their offer, which was why I let them have it. After all, I had more than enough of his paintings hanging on my wall. If I needed more, I would just ask him to draw one for me to paste on our wall, to show off to any who might visit us. “Are we using your car or mine?” Dashiell asked when we walked over to him. He drew away from his car, smiling as he glanced towards my babies, who shyly waved at him. "I will drive my kids. We will follow your car,” I said, not missing a beat. There was no use thinking about it. He looked disappointed. I could tell he wanted to be in the same car with us. However, he didn't protest about it. Nodding, he walked over to his car while I helped my kids in and buckled them up for
I stayed there for close to one hour, and by the time I left, my eyes were puffy and my throat dry. Talking became painful for me. I drove back to the house, while Dashiell returned to wherever he had in mind. He knew I needed a moment to myself, and didn't strike up any conversation with me. He just let me be. At home, I left the kids with Mara and retired to my room, so I could cry to my heart's content without being disturbed. I plopped down on the bed and closed my eyes, letting everyone wash over me. …. I took a leave from work to avoid being bombarded with questions. I looked like a zombie. My eyes were bloodshot, and the dark circles around my eyes were alarming. Having stayed up all night, thinking back to the precious time I spent with Mama Kaka, I barely had sufficient rest. I slept at the crack of dawn, but it wasn't enough to soothe my soul. After I had my bath and an ice cream, I felt good. Even though the weight of Mama Kaka's death was still there, I felt lighter.
It seemed like the Nova who was acting like a saint downstairs, the one who cared about his health and wanted to take things slow, had been transformed. In her place was one who didn't care at all about anything else but getting her pleasure. My panties were soaking wet already, my pussy throbbing, eager to get down and dirty with him. I doubt I would be down to anything else that didn't include getting on my back with him between my legs, pleasuring me as if his life depended on it. The palm that was on my breasts drifted down. My breath stopped as he slid his hand into my panties. I was wet and ready for him. My responsiveness should have scared me, but it didn't. I didn't even think of how odd it was that I stayed for five years without being touched by another man, only for me to start feeling this damned aroused after just a month without his touch. Had he somehow made me a slave to his passion? I'd heard stories like this, but never thought someone would make a woman love them
“Fuck, Nova,” he growled, his voice getting deeper and sexier. I loved it. Everything about him was so tempting. I didn't think I would ever feel that way for him, but here we were, years after we got married, finally in love with each other. Back when I left the country, I never imagined such a day would come, but it seemed I was wrong all along. I rubbed my fist from the tip to the bottom, still looking at him. Even though his eyes were shut, I loved staring at his face, to know his expression. It was my way of knowing if he was getting into this like I was. I repeated the action once more, running my tongue around the tip of his dick, sucking it in. He groaned, cursing under his breath. Smiling around his dick, I wrapped my fists around him, stroking from the tip to the bottom. His scent, so musky and delicious, aroused me. I was wet and ready to have him make love to me as he promised, but at that moment, I needed to feel him in my mouth, take him deeper until he came. I wanted
I bit my lower lip, peering up at him through my lashes. I felt the flush go from my neck to my cheeks the more intense his gaze became, like he was staring into my soul, seeking answers I couldn't give with my mouth. He reached over to me and rubbed his thumb on my lower lips, his gaze fixed on mine. “What should we do, Nova?” His whispered voice washed through my body like a balm, reaching deep into my spirit. “You are sick,” was all I could manage to say. “You can't —”“It doesn't mean I can't satisfy you, Nova. My legs are yet to heal, but that didn't mean I can't pleasure you, can't make you moan my name as your pussy clamp down on my dick.”My breath hitched in my throat at his words. Gulping, I peered into his eyes. I didn't know how to respond to those words, to the desires swirling deep in his gaze as he placed his hand under my jaw and lifted my gaze towards him. “Dashiell —”“Do you want this just as I do?” He whispered, his breath fanning my face as he came closer. The w
Brion was discharged three days later. Unlike the past few days, he could stand now without being tired or helped. The doctors believe he will recover well at home. After getting discharged, I took him and the kids back home. Dashiell was still getting treatments. They would have discharged him with Brion had it not been for his legs. The doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital for a week more, to check on his recovery. I just prayed everything would work out perfectly. Two weeks later, I drove him back home. Amaya came over to stay in the hospital with him so I could return to work. We had been gone for days, and the shareholders were making snide remarks about it, so I had to return to take care of the office while he recovered. The past few weeks have been a busy one for me. There were piles of work waiting on my desk for me when I returned, and I had to also combine it with Dashiell's. Had it not been for Benita's help, I would have drowned in work. She was such a darling, h
The doctor removed the IV drip before I could visit Dashiell. Ben led me by the hand, keeping me steady as he took me over to the room. Brion and the kids hadn't been alerted yet, so they didn't know we were back. My phone was off, so I hadn't gotten a call from him — yet. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before he called the police to report about me.The moment I opened the door, my eyes locked with that of a shocked man. Emerald eyes bore into mine the second I stepped into the room. "Nova?” He whispered, his voice shaky. He looked like he was imagining me because he lifted his right index and rubbed furiously on his eyes before it landed on me. “You are real?”I nodded, as tears rolled down my eyes. Dashiell was a shell of himself. Just a few days in captivity, and he had gotten so lean, I hardly recognized him. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his cheekbones jutted out sharply. I was frozen, staring at my lover, and imagining how much he had suffered to l
When I came to, I was lying on a bed. The scent of disinfectant in the room made me realize where I was. I slowly sat up, grimacing at the pain in my arm. I had a bandage wrapped around my biceps, one that was stained with blood.The monitor next to me beeped as if it could sense my discomfort. Wincing, I leaned on the bed as I looked around the empty room. From the looks of it, Ben took me to the clinic I left Brion in. Heaving out a breath, I closed my eyes as images of the last time I was awake assaulted me. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. Snapping my eyes open, I looked towards it as it opened and Ben stepped in. “Thank God you are awake,” he said as he walked over to my bed and sat beside me, relief etched on his face. “Welcome back. You've been out for hours.”"Hours?" rubbed my temples, trying to clear the fog. “What of Gabriella?”“Dead. You did a pretty good number on her. The police have agreed to rule it out as self-defence. As she was an offender, it's not
“Where is Dashiell?” I asked after a few seconds, still wondering why she hadn't attacked me. I figured all it would take was a little talk before we get down to business. “Dashiell?” She made a face at that before a knowing smirk took over. Getting up, she glanced towards the stairs, which seemed like it had seen better days. The stairs didn't look like they would last for another year before caving in. Just like the rest of the house, it was dying — most times, I always believed houses were entities. She snapped her fingers and three men appeared from a door behind where she stood, their chest bare, showing off muscles that must have taken years to build. My heart skipped as I gripped the pistol in my hoodie tighter. I knew it was about time for the fight. But I doubt I could take the men on. Gabriella alone? I could. “Do you assume the gun you hid in your hoodie will help you, darling?” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the sides. "How?" I was dumbstruck by the question. “How
It looked just like the place someone as shady as Zoey would be. As I approached, I noticed the overgrown yard and weeds sprouting through cracks in the pavement. Nature had reclaimed the property, wrapping vines around the porch pillars. I slowed my pace, my senses on high alert. Something felt off. Though Ben's hidden presence reassured me, my heart continued to thud like a bass drum in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped onto the porch, the wooden boards groaning beneath my feet. The door creaked as I pushed it open, and I called out, “I'm here.” My voice echoed through the empty corridor. At first, nothing happened, until I heard a rather familiar voice asking me to come forward. I looked back at the place Ben was likely hiding in before I fully stepped in and closed the falling door. I shivered as I walked forward, guided by the dim lighting in the hallway before I arrived in the sitting room. A figure sat perched on one of the sofas, the minute I walked in. “Hell
I got dressed for the operation. We didn't return to the hospital because I didn't think it was necessary. Brion would undoubtedly try to talk me out of my plans, which was why I didn't attempt a return there, not until we had gotten everything sorted. Today, I vowed, would be the day I bring Dashiell back home. He had stayed too long with Zoey. It was time for him to return, to his home, to me and the kids.“Ready?” Ben turned to me, lifting a brow, when I stepped out of the motel I checked into to change out of my clothes. I had a bulletproof vest under a hoodie.To cover my guns, I stuffed them into the pockets of my hoodie, waiting until I got an excellent location to conceal them. “Ready,” I confirmed, adjusting my hoodie to ensure the bulletproof vest wasn't visible. “Well, as ready as I can, for a dangerous mission,” I added with a smile. Though I was feeling as nervous as hell, and it felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest, I acted like I was okay. Yeah, perfectly