Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

J asmine

Electricity crackling every muscle and tendon, shifting through my veins like wildfire. It only happened when I was close to one man.

The man I loved.

As soon as I opened my eyes, he was right there.

“You’re not a mirage. Are you?” I managed, my voice tight.

“I’m not a mirage, baby. I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry. I just… I should have called.”

Braxton took my hand into his, pressing my knuckles against his lips. “You’re safe and alive. That’s all that matters.”

I didn’t feel that way. I felt like a shit for leaving like I’d done, refusing to contact him even after my mother had encouraged me. I’d been afraid and angry, hurt and confused. When I’d found out about the baby, I’d come close to panicking. “I’m so sorry. I was horrible to you.” Emotions unlike I thought I’d ever experience hit me hard.

“You were frightened and pushed. Including by me.”

“How can you be so understanding?” Tears formed in my eyes.

“Oh, I assure you that you can make it up to me when you’re feeling better.”

I touched my stomach, uncertain he knew. “I…”

“I know about the baby and he’s fine.”

It took me a few seconds to understand what he was saying. The shit-eating grin and look of relief on his face provided all I needed. “Him?”

“A baby boy. I was thinking we could call him Braxton Royal, Junior.”

“Not on your life. There will be no juniors in our little family.” Everything ached inside and I was so tired, but the joy filling me was more healing than what any doctor or hospital could provide.

When he bent down to kiss me, a moment of panic washed in. “Santini did this. I know he did just like he killed my father.”

“You’re right, baby, but you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about that. He’s been taken care of.”

I felt my entire chest stiffen. “You killed him?”

He laughed, kissing my lips and backing away. “You helped me realize I’m many things including merciless but I’m not a killer. It didn’t hurt that my two brothers were there to yank me back into my place if I even dared fall out of line. They reminded me all I had to lose, which is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“Then…”

“He confessed, well, to me. But I was recording it and let’s just say his ass won’t see the light of day again for a long time.”

A sense of relief flooded my system. “You’re sure?”

“I’m positive. Now, you need to get some rest.”

“What about Maggie?”

“She was used as a bargaining chip. Her father was a man considered an enemy. The man was trying to discredit your father by sending you to me. It would seem there was an entire network of powerful men, one betraying the other. That’s just my guess.”

Sadly, it made sense. “Oh.” What else could I say?

“Now, rest.”

“Wait. I need to say something to you.”

The way he peered down at me was enough to keep me rattled. “One thing. You are going to learn to obey.”

He had a way of disarming any situation. I’d found it interesting that of all the people in my life. “Only if you’re a good boy.” It was wonderful to hear him laugh. I’d pined away for him for months, both my mother and Ashton calling me a fool. In overhearing what he’d said about my father, my sense of loyalty had kicked in. It had taken both women to explain alpha men were like that.

And I yearned for his protective state, determined to beg him back into my life. “I love you, Braxton. I know it’s hard for you to love anyone but I just wanted you to know. It doesn’t need to mean anything.”

His entire expression softened. As he brushed hair from my eyes, his with tears in them, I felt even more overwhelmed. “That means the world to me. When you disappeared, I almost lost my shit. I searched every fucking continent trying to find you. I love you. I love both of you. Now that I have you again, I’m never letting you go.”

One year later

Time had flown by, the entire year full of joys and more happiness than I felt I deserved, as unexpected as it was amazing. I’d moved to San Diego, living with the man of my dreams. We’d concentrated on becoming parents, but he’d also established me as a business owner. I’d even hired Ashton to work in the gallery, her knowledge of art far greater than mine. She’d been a godsend since the birth of Camden, allowing me to concentrate on motherhood after his arrival kicking and screaming into this world.

It had also allowed me to get to know the man I loved.

And the one who loved me.

We had no plans to marry yet, but I envisioned that would eventually come when we were both ready. For now, we were enjoying sharing a home and a life.

I was enjoying yet another beautiful day in San Diego, the weather spectacular. A light breeze, a lovely gentle ocean, and a bright sun. I’d pulled out a blanket and beach umbrella, ensuring the little tyke wouldn’t get burned. He was an active child, including at night. That left me sleep deprived, but it didn’t matter in the least.

There was no way I could be any happier.

Even my mother had come for a visit, which couldn’t have shocked me more. Maybe there was something to this family thing.

As always happened when I felt his presence, I took a deep breath, doing nothing more than enjoying the electric vibrations. “I thought you had important meetings today, big business to accomplish.” The fact he’d gotten Santini on tape spewing off his horrible deeds had led to a quick conviction, the man serving several life terms behind prison bars. When he was finished doing his time, he would be extradited back to Australia for crimes committed there.

If he lived that long.

“There’s nothing more important than being with my babies.”

As soon as he growled, I pressed my finger to my lips admonishing him. “Shush. You’ll wake the baby. This is the only peace I’ve had in a few days.” Which was the truth. Camden adored the ocean, the sound of the water lulling him to sleep.

Braxton sat down beside me, doing his best to be as quiet as possible. I was shocked not by the two glasses of wine in his hand in the middle of the afternoon but by his change in attire.

He’d left in a fancy suit. Now he was in shorts and a tee shirt. “Wow. You look hot.”

“This old thing?” he teased, handing me a glass.

What I’d learned in being around the man was that after all the time we’d spent getting to know each other over the last few months, just being around him, enjoying nothing more than something simple like this was everything I needed or wanted.

“So, I was thinking,” he said after a few minutes had passed.

“Uh-oh. Scary.” I pushed my arm against his.

“Very funny.”

“So what were you thinking?”

He nodded as he kept his stare toward the water. “That we should have more kids. Lots of them. What do you think?”

I choked on the sip of wine, never expecting he’d enjoy being a father as much as he had. But the way he’d doted on Camden had been magical.

Almost as much as the man.

“I think we could discuss that if you’re serious.”

When he didn’t say anything right away, I wasn’t certain if I’d hurt his feelings. I found out the answer when he took the wine from my hand, carefully placing both glasses on the sand and pushing me down to the blanket.

“I think you’re going to need more lessons in obeying my every command. Many more lessons, but for now, I’m going to show you how serious I am.”

I’d never expected to find a knight in shining armor in my whole life, nor a man I could fall head over heels in love with.

But as he captured my mouth, the passion roaring between us, I was glad for once I could say I was wrong.

He was my savior.

My protector.

My lover.

And my everything.

The End