Standing, we walk to the desk. I watch the woman take the form."Welcome to the business, Bex; you can use the services now." Yeah, totally damn different, we walk away and I look back at the woman."Okay, what? Explain." Bex chuckles."She took my forms and said, 'Ah, Ruby, welcome.' Then she said sorry and that I was registered.""Maybe Alaric had a feeling you would join, so told her to watch out for you?""Maybe, who is your friend? He hasn't stopped watching you for the past half an hour, and all you were doing was ticking boxes." I smile at her."His name is Lucas, he's hot."I laugh. "After an hour of talking, you have his name and that he's hot?" She should have more than that."He didn't run and isn't scared of me. He's five years older than me and has a daughter." I still hearing her words. "She's young, two to be exact.""And her mum?" I don't know why but red flags just floated in my mind."Don't, a woman was talking to him. He's not lying. The mum died, so no, he isn't ch
When I reach Kian, he smiles at me."Everything okay?""Yeah, he was checking that I had actually done research before coming back.""Based on how you spoke to me about it, you have." He laughs, and I nod. "This way." He picks up the key, and I follow him."Ruby, stop." I stop on the stairs and turn to look at Alaric. "Come with me.""Alaric." We're not meant to be doing this."Now, Ruby!" God, the way he said that makes me want to kneel and agree."It's fine, see you around." Kian smiles and walks back down the stairs and away."We're not meant to be doing this." I look at Alaric. His hand reaches for mine, and he guides me through the building, I watch as he scans his hand, and steps into a hall. Soon after, he stops at a door and scans his hand again.Opening the door, he walks in with me right behind him."Alaric, you..." My words are stopped as he kisses me. Pushing him back, I fought to remember what I was going to say. "We agreed this couldn't happen.""This is different." I la
"You're shaking." His voice comes from behind me, and I nod. I am, excitement is building up, and he has done nothing. The feel of his fingers running down my back makes me moan.I can feel him circling him, his finger stroking along the exposed skin as he does. Slowly, his mouth begins to kiss the areas of my body that are exposed. Each circle of me he does, his fingers and mouth touch my body.The feel of leather stroking my body begins, and he continues to circle me. As he reaches my back, it lifts from my body and swings, hitting my ass. Moaning, I push forward as he keeps going, each time the flogger drags across my body before swinging over my ass.He stops in front of me, his hand unzipping the dress. I feel it drop from my body, his mouth teasing my breasts as his hands grasp my ass. He continues the sweet torture, kissing, biting and sucking against my breasts and neck, and my body shakes within his hold.Moving, he goes back to dragging the flogger around my body, swinging
We walk through the hall. I don't even need to turn to know his eyes are fixed on my ass. I do, though, his eyes raise, and he smirks."You need to stop wearing things like this here.""Would you rather I was nude?" He pulls me to him."Don't tempt me to say yes."Smirking I nod, and turn back, opening the door I can't help but smile."Ruby." I freeze, seeing Jake, and hear the door close behind me. I don't move. I have no idea if Alaric is still there, but the door has a glass panel. I turn and look behind, unable to see him. "Ruby."Turning, I look at Jake. "What?" My word is quiet. "Why are you here?""You avoided me all week. You said you were busy, but come here?" He stands, looking around the room."Jake, you need to stop following me.""If you had answered, I wouldn't need to.""I don't have my phone with me, Jake." I left it at home so I could avoid his calls. "How did you find out I was here?""Ivy said you were with Bex but wouldn't say where. I rang Lucy, and she told me wh
She stops the car, and I see Alaric's."He just can't keep away." She grins at me."Behave." Getting out, I walk to his car and see him."How do I get into his little party? The guys on the door won't let me in because I'm a parent.""You won't; some of the people will be doing drugs, Alaric, so they won't let anyone in who they see as may cause an issue." I know what he means. "I will go and ask him to come out.""No, I can't get you involved." His head shakes."Alaric, I'm involved, and I will get in no problem.""Fine, get Bex to follow. If Jake comes out, he will be in the car with me." I nod and wave at Bex, and she nods, knowing what I mean. Sitting in the car with him, he stays quiet."They wouldn't even pass on a fucking message.""Because the place is locked down. It's private, and only certain people can enter, or a lot of cash." He stops the car and follows me to the door."Ruby, you know the rules.""He's waiting out here. I'll speak to Jake." The guys nod and move out of
This weekend went quickly. Granted, I stayed at home and avoided people, more while I debated what I was going to do now.As I walk into the building, I see people turn and look at me. The whispers get louder as I pass by people. I find a seat and open my laptop.I begin to do work, not missing the stares and constant whispers. Putting on headphones, I block out the noise and focus on the screen.A few hours later, a tap has me turn. Taking off the headphones, I look at Oliver."Hey." He smiles at me and sits opposite me. "How are you?" He looks at me, then around the room."Fine, Oliver, honestly.""So, you and Jake's dad?""Don't." I'm not wanting to talk about it.He chuckles and nods. "Come on Ruby, you can't fuck his dad for revenge and expect no one to talk.""I never fucked him for revenge. I kissed you for revenge. His dad was purely for me." He stills at my words. "Did you want something?""Well, yeah, there's a party tonight, why don't you come?""No." I'm not a fool."Ouch.
Throwing the clothes into the case, I grab the shoes."I'm back!" I hear Bex and watch her walk in. "Why are you packing!" She moves and pulls the shoes out of my hand."Did you have fun?" I smile at her."Great, amazing. My parents were annoyingly frustrating, like my brother. Now, why are you packing?" She glares at me."I figured I would go to see my parents." She moves, and I dodge the shoe she throws at me."No!"I laugh and pick the shoe up. "Bex, I'm coming back." She relaxes slightly."Okay, good. That doesn't mean you should go, though. You owe them nothing."She's right. "I know I owe them nothing; things need sorting, though. In-person, not over the phone." At least this way, I know I tried."Well...I'm coming."Standing, I hug Bex. "Thank you for the support, but no. If I go with anyone, I will use them as a shield. Depending on how it goes, I might be back tonight.""You realise running won't help?" I look at Ivy as she stands by the door."I'm not running." Running would
I haven't moved since they left the room. Coming here was meant to fix things, but it seems to have made everything worse. I want to believe that staying will give me a chance to fix things. Surely, they will be in a better mood tomorrow.Even I know that is bullshit. Standing, I grab my bag and leave. Staying the night feels wrong. They are only letting me stay because it's late. Driving back, I consider everything.Alaric took things the wrong way, I was trying to help after I made everything worse. Stopping at my place, I quietly go to my room. If Bex hears me, she will be right in here asking everything, and right now, I don't want that.Taking out my phone, I hit the number."Boudoir Bunny.""Hi, is Mr Hendrix in today?" I've tried every night if I wasn't there in person."Just a moment, please." I wait, listening to silence. "Who is it?""It's Ruby." Again. The line goes quiet."Sorry, he's not in." Why do I feel like he is and that's a lie?"Can you please pass on a message whe
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