I didn't leave until late afternoon, because I wanted to avoid Brion's stare should he see me limping. Anyone who saw me when I woke up would know I was thoroughly fucked the night before, and it was embarrassing. I couldn't let him see me that way, not when I knew he had a soft spot for me. It would be like rubbing it on his face. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Dashiell asked, standing next to me. He didn't go to work, so he would escort me to my house. He claimed he would only be at peace if he saw me walking up the front porch, unharmed. “I doubt that.” Shaking my head, I checked the time on my wristwatch. I still had enough time to reach the house and prepare lunch for my babies, who would be excited to see me, before they returned from school. I wanted this to be a surprise, which was why I didn't tell Brion. He would undoubtedly tell the kids, which would make the surprise irrelevant. “Not if I knelt?” He tried once more like he had been doing since we w
I faltered, my gaze dropping to the floor. Brion's words struck a chord, and I knew I couldn't hide the truth forever. I just wanted to let it out, so I wouldn't feel bothered by it. Benita was the one I would have told, but I felt there were things one shouldn't tell someone they are not that close to. We are close, don't get me wrong, but not close enough for me to seek advice from her. She would only tell me to live in the present and not let the past define my relationship with him. I know her enough to know what she would have said to me. Benita would have advised me to let go of the past and pursue a relationship with Dashiell if I was certain he had changed. She wouldn't even think about it. "Nova?” Brion's voice softened, coaxing me to open up. " What's wrong? Are you worried because of the text? You don't have to be, though. Didn't I promise to keep you safe?" "It's not that." I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “It's just…things with Dashiell are complicated.”Brion's
I looked at Brion for a long time without responding because I couldn't think of the right thing to say at the moment. I couldn't tell him I had already seen how things would work between Dashiell and me, for real this time. Instead, I smiled. “How have you been doing?”“Great.”He didn't blink at the change of topic, almost like he appreciated it. I bet he would take anything at the moment if it meant we wouldn't discuss Dashiell."Why didn't you go to work?” I got up from the couch and walked over to him. “Is there a reason for that?” I sat next to him and placed my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes. I'd missed this. While Dashiell had a way of making me feel at home with him, Brion had a special power, too. Unlike Dashiell, being with him makes me want to act like my normal self. “Someone has to be here for when the kids return. Mara has a test today, so she's not coming over. I had to stay at home to prepare lunch for them.”My heart went out to him. Once more, guilt took ove
“Huh? There's nothing in the kitchen? Why didn't you tell me that earlier?” I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the frustration seeping into my bones steadily. “You never asked.” Brion stood up, his movements fluid and effortless, and said, “Let's go get groceries.” His eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement, illuminating his face and making him look years younger. “I could use some fresh air,” he added. I hesitated, unsure if I was ready to face the outside world, but he was already heading to the door, grabbing his keys and wallet as he went. “Come on,” he called. I followed, feeling the warm sun envelop me like a gentle hug as we stepped outside. The brightness was almost blinding, but Brion's hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a reassuring gesture. We walked hand in hand to the grocery store. The streets were quiet, the only sound was the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of cars. "There's nothing more calming than taking a walk in this weathe
We walked in silence, the only sound the rhythmic beating of my heart, torn between two loves, two worlds. As we turned the corner, Brion's voice broke the silence. “Do you want to pick the kids up from school with me?”"I doubt that's a great idea. I want to surprise them. Picking them up from school doesn't sound like the best way to go about that.” Smiling, I took the bags from him. “Aren't you taking the car with you?” "Of course I am.” He took the bag from me once more, frowning. “I will take you home before picking them up.” “Oh.”I didn't argue with that because there was nothing in it. As we strode down the street to the house, I kept stealing glances towards him, wondering how life would have been if I had met him before Dashiell. Would it have been easier to make a choice? Would I have chosen him without having to mull over it?When reached the house, Brion opened the door, gesturing for me to enter. “Thanks,” I said, smiling, and he smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the
“I didn't know how much the kids are getting affected by my choice,” I said, breaking the silence between us as I glanced at him. Brion stopped what he was doing to look at me. He looked surprised by my words. He was not expecting me to say anything. I bet he thought we would complete the task in silence because I didn't want to chat with him. “What made you think so?” His question made it seem like he was walking on eggshells. "Willow made me promise not to leave again. They thought I would leave should they turn their backs. It was sad listening to my baby. I didn't know they would be this affected by my actions.” Brion stopped what he was doing to focus on me. There was a small smile on his lips as he looked at me. “I didn't want to tell you about it, so you wouldn't feel I was burdening you. The separation is affecting the kids, Willow mostly. She once told River that you abandoned them because they always demanded things. Didn't you notice they stopped asking for things whenev
DASHIELLI dialled Ben's number, pacing in my sitting room. I would have called him last night had I not been occupied. This morning, I spent most of the day begging Nova to stay back, and I didn't have any chance to call. However, with the house empty, and my mind constantly drifting towards my wife, I decided to sort through the recent problem.He answered on the first ring. “I apologize for not contacting you since the last time we spoke. I have been busy with the task you sent me. It's just….” “Just what?” I interrupted. I didn't have the patience to wait for him to arrange his words. “It's complicated. I traced the men I told you about, only to discover I'd been following the wrong trail.” “Is that something you should tell me??!” I was fuming with rage. “Aren't you the best tracker in the entire city? Why are you making it seem like you are a kid in this craft when you are the best??!” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling frustration seeping into my bones. Who would hav
I raised an eyebrow at that. “Then why did Nova suspect you? If you are not the one, why are you trying to get the suspicion off you? Don't you think it will only make us doubt you more? Telling me you know nothing about this proves you are the one.”How else did she know we were suspecting her if she wasn't the one behind everything happening?Lilith's expression turned guarded. “That's complicated. But I assure you, Dashiell, I'm not the one threatening your family. I don't have any interest in you anymore.” She reached out to place her hand on mine, but I took my hand back, glaring. “You don't have to look at me like I'm the bad person when I'm not. There's someone else doing all this. I'm innocent. The only thing I did was try to hurt Nova five years ago, that's all.”I studied her, searching for any sign of deception. “Who is, then?” "Well..." Her eyes darted around the coffee shop before focusing on me. She leaned forward as if afraid the walls might carry her voice should she
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