Standing, I turn to leave."Hey."I stop and look at Max. "Hi, Max." Moving, I go to step around him, his body moving in the way."So, you and Oliver?"My eyes widen. "No! He's with Ivy." What the hell?"You looked cosy." He leans into me."We were talking; now move." I step around him, his body moving and blocking my path. He pushes the door closed. "Max, move.""Make me Ruby." He stands smirking."Move!" I push past him to get to the door, but his hand grabs me."Oh, come on, Ruby, you used Oliver and Jake's dad for revenge, so why not use me?" He moves to kiss me, my hands pushing him back. As he pulls me closer, the sound of my top ripping makes me panic.He forces his mouth on mine, opening mine; I bite against his lip, hearing him scream. His hand pushes me back before swinging and hitting my face. My head hits off the side, and I groan, watching his body fall forward."Ruby?" Bex looks at me, turning back to Max. "I will cut you open!"I groan when I hear Bex. "Don't; let's jus
We sat eating, and I explained that it was a worker error that caused him to get so many delivered. He seemed shocked that I got the manufacturer to agree to take back four hundred and refund them.I'm guessing he thought I would struggle. Seeing the history of the orders showed that Alaric's business is one of the manufacturer's biggest buyers, so my threatening to go elsewhere made them agree.He has still not spoken about what happened with Max; he's keeping that secret under tight lips. He turned off his phone when we walked in here, which I have a feeling he might regret if anything messes up at the business.I've agreed to stay at his place on the days I won't be studying, it's only for another three months, then I won't be restricted. I'm not now, but apparently, it would be wrong of him to let me skip classes."Jake never said, so what family do you have?" I assume they have family, or is it just Jake and his dad?"My parents are still alive; I also have a brother. He has two
My hands drop and begin unfastening his shirt, as the last button undoes, my hands slide along his chest, and up to his shoulders. Pushing his shirt down and off his body, I move onto his trousers.His hands capture mine, and I sulk until I realise he's lifting my dress from me. He moves until I'm laid below him, and my hands go back to unfastening his trousers. Grasping his cock, I begin to tease him slow.I'm bored of him always having control. Pushing him over, I straddle him and lower myself onto his cock. His hand grips my hip."Ruby."Ignoring him, I move his hand from my hip and begin moving against him. His head shakes and he looks at me unamused. I don't care though. I move faster, and he grips my neck, my hands stroking down my chest as I continue to fuck him.I watch as his control slowly slips away, he pulls me down onto him, kissing me deeply as his hips begin working in unison with mine. His body moves until I'm below him.Gripping my chin he stares at me. "We were meant
AlaricWalking in, I glance around, and Oliver steps ahead of me. "Max, you're needed." I watch as everyone turns and looks towards us, which doesn't help with me figuring out who the hell Max is. It's clear from the whispers they know who I am though, so maybe me getting Ruby to grab Jake that day was a mistake. Waiting, I watch as a guy walks out. He stands looking at us confused. "What the fuck do you want?" He looks at me annoyed. "To talk, if possible?" To start with anyway. He stands confused and people continue to watch. "You hurt Ruby." He laughs and steps closer. "I didn't, she's lying." Other than Oliver, I have yet to meet a single person from around here that Jake spent time with who wasn't an asshole. "The black eye says different." I step closer to him. He shrugs like he's confused. "No idea how that happened, ask her again. Watch her story change, let's be honest, it could have been any one, she goes through men quick, especially the dads." I bite my tongue to
Going through my bag I place the sample contract down."When are we sorting out a contract, you haven't mentioned it, why?""Is that what you want?" He looks at me, waiting. As I go to talk, his hand raises. "To me, we were dating. If you would rather have a contract and make it less serious, then I will agree."Dating?Sighing, he leans closer. "I didn't mention it to you because I didn't want to restrict it to that. I was happy to date you and have more than I normally would. If that isn't what you want, then fine. I will sort out a contract."He has it wrong. "Alaric, I didn't mean a contract that states this is not serious, won't move forward, and is purely about lifestyle. A few times, you have mentioned you won't go any further with me in those rooms until we have this side sorted."I enjoy spending those nights with him in that room, and I don't want it restricted. "I'm not saying we stop dating, and I'm not saying we have a contract like you had with your past submissives with
I must have been sitting here for at least an hour; the contract is on one side of me, and a notebook is in front of me. Alaric is working, so I'm trying to figure out what I want.There's a lot I want, but there's also a lot in the original contract that keeps a relationship locked and unable to progress. I don't want those added.My phone buzzes. Looking at it, I see Bex's name. An SOS message shows on the screen. It's not a SOS. She sends that when she simply can't find a dress or a shoe.Muting it, I slide it away and continue to work on the contract. A few minutes later, I hear the door and turn, smiling. I watch Alaric walk in. His eyes glance to the papers and then back to me."How's it going?" He takes off his jacket and sits down."Good. Did you get the issue fixed?" I'm not sure what it was; he just said he had to go fix something."I did."Nodding at his words, I turn the sheet and begin skim-reading the page."Ahm." I glance at him briefly before going back to the papers.
Ringing wakes me. I reach out for Alaric but he's gone. I fumble around trying to find the source of the noise. I see my phone on the bed and grab it.Hitting answer I hold it against my ear."Good morning baby girl." Morning? I groan slightly and he laughs. "I left about an hour ago, I put your phone on loud to ensure you would wake. You need to get up, eat and drive back to get home in time.""Do I have to? I could just stay in this bed and wait for you to return?" My body moves and gets comfy under the blanket."Yes you have to. Someone will be bringing you food soon, so put some clothes on baby girl. I will speak to you later, please eat." The call ends and I groan.Climbing from the bed I walk to the shower, using it as a way to wake myself up before getting dried and dressed. Just as I am finishing getting dressed theres a knock.Walking to the door a man smiles and hands me a tray before turning and walking away.I guess there is no way to get out of eating. Sitting I eat, and
I stand staring at her, unsure of what I should say. What do I fucking say?"Alaric's not married." That is all I can manage, Alaric would have said. Surely he would have?As she moves and picks up a bag, I notice the suitcase on the floor."Not that it has anything to do with you, but yes, we are." I watch as she puts a piece of paper on the counter. Do I want to look? I let my eyes fall on it and regret it instantly as it confirms he is."Jake's working till six." She smiles at me sweetly."I'm not here to see Jake." I'm not even sure why I'm here right now."Oh, sorry. I just assumed. You must be Ruby. Alaric mentioned you were his assistant. He mentioned you may call, and I needed to disappear while you solved an issue."Assistant? Why would he say I'm his assistant to her? I don't even know how to reply to that."I'm going to the toilet." That is all I can think to say. Rushing upstairs, I go into the bathroom and close the door, my body staying against it. I can't hide.Unlockin
ZadeI knew if I waited, things would go wrong, which is why I proposed to Izzy sooner than I had planned. Good job I did as if I hadn't. I was meant to be proposing right now, which isn't ideal.The room is buzzing with controlled chaos. Nurses move efficiently around us, murmuring instructions and checking monitors. Izzy lies in the hospital bed, her face flushed, hair damp with sweat, and hands clutching mine like a lifeline. Her grip is strong—stronger than I ever expected—but I welcome the pain. It’s grounding me, keeping me in the moment when I feel like I might lose my mind.“Zade, breathe,” Izzy groans, her voice strained as another contraction overtakes her. “You’re supposed to remind me to breathe, not forget how to do it yourself.”I snap out of my daze, nodding quickly. “Right. Breathe, Izzy. Deep breaths.” I mimic the motion, inhaling and exhaling like I’m teaching her something she hasn’t been doing perfectly for hours.She glares at me between breaths, sweat beading on
IzzyI can’t help but smile at Zade as he drives, his hands steady on the wheel, his profile glowing in the soft morning light. Time has slipped by so quickly. It feels like only yesterday we were grappling with fears and uncertainty, and now here we are. Zade has been by my side so much more than I ever expected. He still works, but not nearly as much as he did before. Somehow, he’s found a balance, and it’s brought us closer in ways I didn’t think possible.While he’s working, I spend most of my time at home with Sammi and baby Emmerson. It’s been heartwarming to watch Sammi and Grayson navigate parenthood together, their bond strengthening with every passing day. Watching their joy gives me hope—hope that Zade and I can have something just as beautiful with our baby.Zade has been going to counseling regularly, and I see pieces of the real him emerging more and more each week. The man beneath the armor he built to survive, to lead the mafia, to bury his pain—that man is someone ext
Zade POVI lose myself in her, time slipping away as I drink her in, the salty-sweet flavor of her flooding my senses. She collapses into the bed eventually, her body limp, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips. Even now, her walls quiver, her body still coming down as I lick the last remnants of her release.When I finally pull away, I move up her body and kiss her with a desperate need, our lips crashing together in a possessive claim. I’m hard again, painfully so, but there’s no rush. Tonight, there’s no clock ticking down, no interruptions, just us.“Alright,” I say, standing to strip the last of my clothes, my eyes devouring her sprawled form. “Let’s keep going.”She whimpers, weak from the relentless pleasure, and reaches for me, her hands trembling as they find my shoulders. “Zade,” she murmurs, but I’m nowhere near done.Izzy tastes like heaven, pure and raw, a flavor I never want to forget. My lips return to her swollen clit, teasing and tormenting her again. Her body jerks as s
ZadeAs I help Izzy into my car, her radiant smile reminds me just how much I’ve been neglecting her. I’ve been so consumed with making sure Grayson is home with Sammi and the baby that I’ve failed the one person who needed me most—her. The guilt eats at me as I start the engine, and I steal glances at her, soaking in her beauty, her strength, her unwavering patience with me.She pulls something from her bag and holds it out to me—a scan image. My heart twists as I take it, running my fingers over the black-and-white lines that outline our baby.“I’m sorry I missed it,” I whisper, the weight of regret heavy in my voice.Her smile is soft, understanding. “It’s fine. You were working and making sure Grayson was home for Sammi and the baby.” Her words are kind, but they cut deep. Missing this moment wasn’t fine, and I can’t let it happen again.When we arrive, I park and immediately step out, going to her side and lifting her into my arms. She laughs lightly, her arms wrapping around my
Izzy POVHis dark eyes burn into mine, a mixture of frustration and desire. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Izzy,” he murmurs, his voice low and hoarse.I lean in, letting my breath ghost over his lips. “Good. I want to play, Zade. And this time, I make the rules.”“You want to fuck me?” His voice is low, teasing, as his dark eyes bore into mine, a smirk playing on his lips. The sight of him, restrained and vulnerable yet brimming with raw power, ignites something primal in me. I chuckle softly, leaning in to capture his lips, grinding against him as I feel him stir beneath me.“Oh, you have no idea how much I want to fuck you,” I murmur against his lips, my voice husky with desire. Pulling back, I let a wicked smile curl on my lips. “You’re all mine now,” I whisper, my words dripping with dominance. Slowly, deliberately, I sink to my knees in front of him, maintaining eye contact as my hands glide over his thighs.His breath hitches when I reach up, my fingers wrapping around his s
IzzyIt’s been two months since we came back, and while Zade and I have grown closer, some days feel like we’re barely keeping our heads above water. The distance that came with my pregnancy has dissolved, and his promise to fuck me every day? He’s kept it. But most of the time, it’s rushed, like an obligation rather than passion.I understand why—he’s juggling too much. He practically ordered Grayson to stay home for a couple of months after Sammi had the baby, leaving him to hold everything together. Sure, his brothers are around to help, but Zade hardly leans on them. It’s as if he’s still carrying the weight of raising them, of being their protector, even now.Today was supposed to be different. It was the scan, the moment I’ve been excited about for weeks. But, at the last minute, he got a call—something urgent, something he couldn’t ignore—and I found myself in the clinic with my mum instead of him. All I got from Zade was a quick message asking how it went. No follow-up, no exc
Izzy POVThe moment Zade walks in, the tension between us hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. We talk briefly, my voice trembling as I tell him the words that have been weighing on my heart: “I’m keeping the baby.” Relief flickers across his face, but it’s not pure joy—it’s layered with fear, uncertainty, and something I can’t quite place. He doesn’t say much after that, just pulls me into his arms, holding me close. I melt into him, exhaustion taking over as I fall asleep wrapped in his warmth.When I wake, the space beside me is empty, and the bed feels colder without him. Slowly, I sit up, rubbing my eyes. My gaze falls on Zade, seated at the foot of the bed, his back turned to me. His shoulders are tense, and his head is bowed slightly, as if the weight of the world is pressing down on him.I hesitate, unsure of what to say or how to bridge the chasm that feels like it’s grown between us. Things had been going so well before all this, and now? Now it feels like we’ve b
IzzyThe moment Grayson wraps his arms around me, I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me like a storm. For the first time in hours, there’s a flicker of safety, but it’s fragile, like glass teetering on the edge of shattering. Zade’s words still echo in my mind—angry, hurt, raw—and even though I know deep down he would never hurt me, in that moment, he didn’t feel like the man I fell in love with. He felt like someone else entirely, someone I didn’t know.The sound of the door closing behind me sends a chill through my spine. Zade has left. I should stop him, run after him, beg him to stay, but I can’t. My legs feel like lead, and my heart is a hurricane of guilt and confusion.“What’s happened?” Grayson’s voice cuts through the silence, low but laced with tension. His arms tighten around me, and for a moment, I let myself break. The tears come in uncontrollable waves, and I bury my face into his chest as though I can hide from my own mistakes.“I’m pregnant, Gray,” I cho
Zade POVEvery time I close my eyes, I see her face—tear-streaked and filled with anguish. Then the memories hit, unbidden and relentless. Blood. The screams. The bodies. My parents, mangled and lifeless. Her—my ex, so pregnant, so full of life, and then... gone. The flashbacks swallow me whole, dragging me under. My breathing becomes shallow, erratic, and I grip the edge of the table to ground myself, my knuckles white.“Zade,” a voice cuts through the storm in my mind, anchoring me back to reality. I look up to see Grayson sitting across from me, his face a mixture of concern and frustration.I can’t even muster the energy to speak. I just stare at him, then down at the untouched glass of whiskey in front of me.“Did you drink it?” he asks, his tone sharp but not unkind.I shake my head. “No. But I wanted to. God, I wanted to.”Grayson exhales, leaning back in his chair. “At least you didn’t. That’s something.” He watches me closely, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re drowning, Za