I wake alone. Last night, Alaric insisted I go to bed and get some sleep, and I didn't even try to argue. Getting ready for my day, I walk down and see him sitting alone. I glance around, confused."They are out for the day. We have the house to ourselves." He looks at me and smiles. I like that. I lift the dress from my body and walk to him, his eyes widening."Baby girl." His words are quiet, and my head shakes. Moving, I climb onto him."Yes, Daddy?" Leaning forward, I bite his lip and grind down against him. His body moves quickly, flipping us until I'm below him."Screw plans." His words growled into my ear, and I pulled his shirt, watching the buttons fly off. I give up on the shirt, it's half off, moving I unfasten his trousers as his mouth moves and teases my neck.My hands push his trousers down, and I grasp his cock. His hands pull against my thong, ripping it from my body before thrusting into me.He groans and holds me against him. My body tries to move, and his hands keep
My nails are looking amazing, I smile and walk into the building."Ruby?" The woman looks at me."Yes." I smile at her."Okay, well, here's your robe; get changed into your outfit, and then Mary will do your makeup and hair." She hands me the robe and shows me to a room. I put on the lingerie and walk back out.Sitting, Mary does my hair and make-up."A special occasion, or just wanted a confidence boost?" She asks and smiles at me."Both, but mostly, I'm getting on Saturday and wanted to surprise him with the pictures." I smile at her."I'm sure he will be surprised. Are you doing just lingerie or different outfits and nude?" she asks, and I shrug."I hadn't thought; I just wanted to get some of the outfits I would be wearing on our wedding night. Maybe nude ones would be good as well? I smile as I consider it."So you must have everything sorted now for your wedding? No doubt already had it planned months ago." She smiles, and my head shakes."Actually, it's king of a whirlwind wedd
Standing in front of the mirror, I feel anxious. The dress is perfect, and Alaric was right. It is already feeling tight, so how bad would it be in another week or two?"How are you feeling?" Bex appears behind me, and I shrug. "You can't back out now. It's too late," she jokes, and I nod in agreement."I'm not backing out, Bex," I say. I just feel anxious. I've been overthinking this whole wedding since the night of the party—more Alaric than anything.Not him directly, but more if he's actually sure."You're crazy," Ivy laughs and walks in. "I told you last night; there is no way Alaric would have asked if he wasn't sure," she says before hugging me."Wait, that's what is worrying you? That Alaric hasn't considered it and won't show?" Bex stands laughing."Mock me later, please," I say as I move to sit and start putting my shoes on. "Right, I'm ready," I announce as I stand up."It's about time. The car was ready twenty minutes ago. At this rate, Alaric would have left." Bex stands
Standing with Bex and Ivy, I laugh, my head shaking at them."It's a good plan." Bex nods in agreement, it is, but I'm still unsure."And Lucas is fine with this?" I ask, unsure of how he would be."Yes, he's like Alaric and has a few locations open, so moving closer to you and Alaric isn't an issue." She smiles at me."But he has his daughter to consider." I remind her."He has; this isn't like she is in school with friends, Ruby; she's too young for that. So moving before then is more ideal," Bex replies and smiles at me."Can I have this dance?" Jake looks at me, and I nod."Oh. My. God." Bex shouts, and I turn to her, confused. "Ruby is like your stepmum." She laughs and falls off the chair. Groaning, I lean down and pull her up."Behave, don't make him feel more awkward." I laugh and push her back onto the chair."It's a good job we're staying with you and Alaric, I don't think Lucas would want her at his place this drunk." Ivy laughs, and I nod."I'm sorry but I just realised. Y
“You want me to stop?” he asks. I do, but I want something different. Looking at him, I nod, a smile forming on my face.“I don’t want this.” My words are quiet and his face becomes a picture of hurt at my words.“What do you want? I can leave if you really want?” I'm not sure if he means that or is mocking me.Looking at him, I can see the pain in his eyes.“No, I want you. I just want..." What do I want? "I want you to fuck me like you were leaving me, like that night in Jake's bed, where it was all night.His eyes look at me, and I hope that he remembers that time, that he remembers everything."The exact same?" He asks.Do I want the same or just that feeling of will I ever see you again?"I just remember the feeling of wanting you, the urgency to have you. It felt more real because I honestly thought that was the last time you would touch me."Nodding, he understands. “I can do that, no problem, baby girl.”His body slowly crawls up to me, his eyes piercing into mine, into my sou
I say in Alaric's arms and can't help but smile as I feel him remove my lingerie and step into the shower."What was that?" It wasn't what I asked for; it was better, however, so, I won't complain."Well..." His word stops, and he kisses my neck as his hands wash across my body."Well, what?" I ask, feeling tired."Whenever we had a fallout, baby girl, we never got to have make-up sex, so that was all the make-up sex I owed you." His words have me laughing. Make-up sex?It was different, and he was certainly relentless. I smiled against him as he carried me to his room and into his bed. His hand gripped my chin, and he raised my head so I could look at him."I love you, baby girl." Leaning forward he kisses me."I don't trust you right now," I say while laughing. His eyes roll and he pulls me closer. "I love you as well, though, even if I don't trust you.""Just shut it and sleep." I laugh at his words. "Now, go to sleep; it's late." Kissing me, he pulls me closer, and I find myself f
"Morning, baby girl." Alaric's voice wakes me, and I open my eyes looking at him confused, he's dressed and everything? "You slept all morning, but you need to get up and eat after everything last night." He watches me, and I move to sit up as he holds out the food.Taking it, I look at him."Before you call me more names, let me explain." He looks at me, waiting for me to confirm I won't swear. Nodding, I wait."Max got in touch with Jake. Nothing bad happened. He apologised for what happened and wanted Jake to tell you. He warned Jake, though, that Beatrix had been asking him to help her get revenge.""So you knew?" He knew all this time and kept quiet."We were told Beatrix wanted to hurt you. Apparently, it was your fault she didn't get the money. He told Jake that it was her who set fire to the car. I didn't see the issue. It's Beatrix." He shrugs, but something tells me there is more."And?" I say, waiting for the full story."I got this." He slides the paper to me. "I wasn't wi
I watch Alaric as he moves around the room."Baby girl, have you sorted it?" He looks over at me."No, I just sat there for the fun of sir," I smirk and he groans."Behave, please. After last night, behave and just answer." He looks at me unamused."I sorted it," I say, standing I walk to him and hold it out."I don't need it now, put it away. Do I look like I could do anything right now?" he asks, and I step back, looking at him amused. "Brat."Laughing at his words, I nod. Leaning forward, I kiss him. "Hand her here, then you have two hands," I say, reaching for Isla, but his hand stops me."Or, you help." He smiles and walks across the room, putting her in the crib. Pouting, I nod. "Don't. She's settled, and you're helping me. Everyone will be here soon." He moves and begins to set the table. Okay, I will stop picking on him.Walking through I begin to sort out the food, my eyes on Isla, it's crazy to think that she is already nearly two months old. Even more crazy is when I consid
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