The blood running through my veins turns to ice at his confession. “How?” I snap. “How exactly is he planning to do this?”
“He’s planted at least five nurses on the maternity ward for when you deliver the babies,” Grady coughs. “Once the twins are taken to the nursery, they’ll be smuggled out, and then the same chip we put in lover boy over there-” Grady mutters, flicking his head toward Karl. “-will be injected into them. Then if you refuse to cooperate,
‘boom,’ they’ll be baby confetti.”
Grady tries to lift his head as he laughs, and I move on autopilot, snatching the knife from Karl’s belt holster and charging him. I only remember the first thrust of the blade into his spleen.
“Bash. . . Sebastian. He’s dead. . . he’s dead,” I hear in the distance. “Come on, Bastian. There’s nothing left.”
The red haze clouding my vision slowly lifts just as Grady’s head rolls to the ground with a thud.
LIAM
After the information we forced out of Grady, we met with the Council and determined it was safest to move into our wing in the Calloway Estate. There’s a medical unit where Emma can safely deliver the twins. Security has been tripled, and no visitors are allowed outside of when Shay or Emma’s family comes to visit.
Christmas and New Year’s came and went. We kept everything very low-key. There were no grand parties or any other holiday activities, and I have to say, I like it that way.
For far too long, there’s been endless pomp and circumstance. It’s not that we should never host any events, but we will certainly do less of them once we take our seats on the Council in three years.
“Have I told you sperm-wielding dickheads how much I want to stomp on your balls?” Emma huffs from the couch in our den, eating the bowl of goat soup Shay brought her.
We’re all relaxing and watching a movie. Karl and August are both massaging Emma’s feet while she’s tucked into Rowan’s side.
She’s thirty-six weeks and is quick to remind us that our dicks are the devil, even though she’ll kill us whenever we say we’ll keep our cocks away.
“Your love language is definitely physical touch and words of affirmation,” I tease and then have to duck when a cream throw pillow sails through the air.
“Jerk,” she mutters. “How’s that for touch and affirmations?”
Springing from my seat, I stride across the room, signaling for Karl and August to move. “Someone needs to be reminded to keep their hands to themselves,” I quip, smirking.
“Is that so?” she challenges, taking my proffered hand as I help her up. Once she stands, I clasp her hand, and we begin to exit the room.
“So, you’re just gonna take her away from all of us?” Sebastian jokes, and I nod.
Rowan laughs. “That’s cold-blooded, man.”
I peer over my shoulder and smirk just as we reach the doorway, then retort, “Unapologetically so.” Then, I pull a giggling Emma up the stairs to my room and lock the door.
“Are you going to teach me a lesson now?” Emma asks, batting her eyelashes and pretending to be coy. But there’s no time for meek and mild-not tonight.
“Strip,” I order, striding for my closet. I grab four bundles of black jute rope and walk back into my bedroom.
Emma stands naked-skin flushing ros? as her full, heavy breasts rise and fall with each breath. My eyes travel down the expanse of her body, admiring the beauty that is her pregnancy. I know she’d tell me to fuck off and that pregnancy is far from beautiful. I know she’s right, but that doesn’t stop me from basking in her glow.
My dick lengthens in my black sleep pants at the thought of having her trussed and fucked. Without a pause, I step forward, dropping the rope on my bed before kneeling in front of her.
“What are you-” she begins to rasp as my lips kiss the brownish vertical line along her stomach.
Raising my hands, I gently place them on her belly as I follow the line, tracing it with my tongue.
Emma’s legs part granting me access to her pussy. I slide two digits between her spread thighs. She moans as I groan, “Fuck, you’re already wet for me, Dove.”
I withdraw my fingers from inside her and stand, pushing the digits into her mouth as I lower my head and capture her lips, sharing the taste of her arousal.
“Mmm,” she hums as our tongues tangle, but I need so much more. I need her to fall apart on my cock.
Pulling away, I pick up one bundle of the rope and face her. My chest gets tight at the thought that crosses my mind.
Can I really do this?
She peers at me. “What’s going on in that head of yours? I can see the gears in your head spinning a mile a minute.”
For her.
Inhaling, I sit on my bed and tug her in between my legs.
I’d do anything.
“I want you to tie me up,” I rush out.
Emma’s eyes widen, her gray irises triple in size as my heart slams violently in my ears. “Are you sure?”
She’s every reason to see past what haunts me. The push I need to heal. Not just for me-for the little boy gearing up to be a dad. He and I are owed peace in spades.
“Y-yes,” my chest rattles as I choke out my words. “I’ve thought about this and am ready to try.”
Worry creases her beautiful face as tears glisten before falling down her cheeks. I quickly move to swipe them away. I don’t want her to be sad.
“No, Ry, please don’t-don’t cry.”
A small smile peeks through. “I don’t know why I’m crying.” She wipes away a budding tear. “Stupid hormones.”
That makes me laugh. “Would you like me to tell you what the research says about hormones during pregnancy?”
“Don’t you dare,” she mock scolds before freeing my hair from its bun. “I. . . I didn’t expect this. It’s. . . it’s just so-I’m sorry I’m fucking this up.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.