Chapter 60

60

Lena

"Sooo, you and JJ?" Karma bursts out as soon as the door has shut behind the men.

"OMG, you guys are so cute together," Summer chirps.

My head is still reeling from that kiss. To think, it's just a meeting of lips, but JJ turns it into an erotic art form. I could probably come from just his kisses. An experiment I can't wait to try. In fact, I have come from just his kisses—to my lower lips.

"Lena?" Karma's voice cuts through my thoughts. "Earth to Lena, hello!"

"I'm here." I brush my hair back from my forehead. "Gosh, is the air conditioner working in this room or what?"

Karma and Summer look at each other, then they burst out laughing.

"What?" I stare between them. "What did I say?"

"There's nothing wrong with the temperature in here. It's you who's all heated up," Karma chortles. At least she didn't cough after laughing this time, which is an improvement, right?

"Oh." My cheeks heat further.

"So, you guys made up then?" Summer asks through her wide grin.

"It would seem that way, yes," I say slowly.

"You moving in with him?" Karma sits up, and Summer slides pillows behind her, while I pat down the sheet around her.

"I'm fine, you guys. I'm not an invalid, really," Karma protests.

"You shouldn't be exerting yourself. Doctor's orders," Summer points out.

"Sitting up in bed is not exerting myself."

"Umm, sorry, but you don't get a say in this. Not after what you've pulled on all of us." Summer scowls at her sister.

"So, you're going to be okay?" I turn to Karma. "You and the baby are fine?"

"We're fine, and hopefully, will be fine throughout the pregnancy." She tips up her chin.

"It's still a high-risk pregnancy, and things could flare up again," Summer points out.

"As could happen in any pregnancy." Karma scoffs.

"It's not in every pregnancy that the mother's health is in so much danger." Summer's chin wobbles. "Why did you do this, Karma? I mean, I know why you did, but still—" She places her palms on her bump. "I know how much you want this child, but I don't want to lose you."

Karma holds out her hand and Summer takes it.

"I know I'm being selfish, and putting all of you through so much worry, but I really want this baby, Summer. When he or she is finally here, everything will be worth it." Karma says in a soft voice.

"You're so brave, Karma." I reach for her shoulder and squeeze it.

She releases Summer's hand and settles into the pillows. "As are you, for pursuing what you want."

"You mean JJ?"

She nods.

"Don't know if I'm being brave or foolish. We're such different people. We come from different backgrounds, and of course, the age gap?—"

"Doesn't seem to be a problem for either of you," Summer chimes in.

"You're right; it's not."

"Does Isaac have an issue with it?" Karma cups her chin in her hand.

"Nope, he thinks JJ and I are better suited to each other."

"There you go." Summer claps her hands. "Things couldn't have worked out better. And this means you'll be part of the Sisterhood of the Seven."

"Technically, JJ isn't one of the Seven, or one of the Sovranos," I point out.

"He's the bridge between the two." Summer drums her fingers on her bump. "He's the man both sets of seven respect. They trust him. It's why Sinclair didn't throw Michael out when he turned up at our place with JJ for Ava and Baron's wedding. Of course, the fact that Karma was with him may have helped." Summer laughs.

"JJ does have the kind of gravitas that allows him to hold his own against both Michael and Sinclair's larger-than-life personalities." I place the tips of my fingers together.

"Put the three of them in a room, and no opponent has a chance," Karma agrees.

"So, you going to marry him?" Summer asks.

I laugh. "Hold on, you guys are going too fast. We haven't had a chance to discuss all of that yet."

"Guess you were too busy making up for lost time, eh?" Karma cackles.

"Something like that." I fold one leg over the other. "Also, I'm not in a hurry to get married. I'm happy to take each day as it comes. We need to get to know each other a lot better first."

"He's crazy about you. He can't take his gaze off of you when you're together. And I bet he watches out for you even when you guys aren't together."

I tilt my head. Can't refute that. JJ's possessive protectiveness is like a warm blanket. I have to admit, it makes me feel cherished and wanted. Reinforces the fact that I belong to him. I should find it cloistering, but strangely, I don't. Somehow, it's reassuring.

"He gave me space when I asked for it," I finally say.

The sisters exchange another glance.

"What? Out with it, you guys."

Karma snickers. "You do know he maneuvered things so you'd move into the house set between both of ours."

"It's still my own place."

"And it's adjacent to two of the most secure locations in all of the city."

"Right." I lower my chin to my chest. "Right!" I sit up straight. "This way, he ensured I was protected."

Summer nods. "Security for our place is set up by Karina Beauchamp, who works with Axel, Michael's brother, who also has his own security firm, and who looked after the security arrangements for Karma and Michael's home."

"And those arrangements extend to my current place, so I was doubly protected," I exclaim.

"Yep," Summer agrees.

"Smooth move, if you ask me. You can't fault him at all on this," Karma offers.

"Wait. It wasn't JJ who suggested this place, though, it was you," I turn to Summer.

"And who convinced you to accept the offer?" Summer tilts her head.

I drag my fingers through my hair. "Isaac. You don't think JJ suggested to him that he should?" I glance between Summer and Karma. "He did tell Isaac." I firm my lips.

"You can't blame JJ for doing everything by the book and still getting his way."

I laugh. I can't help myself. "He's one smart alphahole."

"They all are." Summer chuckles.

"Alphaholes. Every last one of them," Karma agrees.

"Talking about us, ladies?" JJ's voice sounds from the doorway. Footsteps approach me, and before I can turn, JJ's warmth surrounds the chair I'm sitting in. He squeezes my shoulder. "You okay?"

I glance up at him. "Never been better."

The skin around his eyes crinkles. Something passes between us, and our gazes heat. A pulse licks to life in my lower belly. His grip on my shoulder tightens. I lick my lips, and his gaze drops to my mouth. His nostrils flare.

Someone clears their throat. I tear my gaze from JJ's to find both Summer and Karma staring at us with knowing looks in their eyes.

"Ah—" I clear my throat. "Guess we should leave and let you all catch up as a family."

"Family?" Both Michael and Sinclair ask at the same time, twin expressions of consternation on both of their faces.

"You guys are bros-in-law. Did you forget?" JJ drawls.

"Trying my best not to dwell on that, ol' chap," Sinclair finally says.

"Do you have to keep reminding us of it?" Michael scowls.

I sense the mirth roll off of JJ, and it's such a refreshing change. I like seeing him like this—more relaxed than he's ever been before. Of course, it could also be due to the sex we had recently. I squeeze my thighs together, and his grip on my shoulder tightens.

"We'd best be off." There's an urgency to his tone, and I know he's thinking of how we left things earlier in my bed. Truthfully, I can't wait to be alone with him, either.

"Take care of yourself, Karma." I lean over and kiss Karma's cheek.

"I'm here to make sure she does," Summer says grimly.

I glance in Michael's direction to find his gaze fixed on Karma's features. There's so much love, mixed with a tinge of anger, but also, helplessness. Gosh, he knows he doesn't have a choice but to bend to Karma's will in this regard. Is that what happens to alphaholes when they meet the right woman? Do they fall so completely that they become helpless in front of their other half's resolve? Is that how JJ will be?

We drive in silence, JJ at the wheel. Come to think of it, he also drove from the hospital to my place during the earlier trip.

"Where's your chauffeur?"

"I told him I'd call him when I need him."

I frown. "Thought you preferred it if he drove the car?"

"I prefer to be alone with you."

"We had privacy with the window pulled up between the front and back compartments of the car."

"I wanted to drive you."

"Oh." Not sure what I should say to that. Maybe best to be silent? I glance out the window. When we turn toward Hyde Park, I realize we're headed to his place. He didn't tell me he was taking me there. He didn't ask me if I'd prefer to go to his place over the house I've been staying in for the last week. Admittedly, I prefer his place; it feels more like home. As we take the road that skirts around the park and turn into his driveway, a calmness envelops me. How weird. I take in the tree line on either side, the rows of wildflowers which crowd the center of the slope on one side, the duck pond on the other. He drives around the fountain and we come to a stop in front of the three-story Victorian building. He switches off the engine, and we sit there in silence.

I glance out the window on my side at the turrets on the south side. That's where Isaac has his studio.

"He's moved out," JJ murmurs as if he's read my mind. I wouldn't be surprised if he could. The man has an uncanny way of always knowing what I'm thinking. "Got a place of his own in one of those hipster-ish new areas, which I'm not sure even qualifies as London."

"If you mean Dalston, it very much is in London." I glance at him sideways. "Your age is showing."

He narrows his gaze on me. "In this case, I don't mind. I'd love to have him stay longer with us, but I'm not unhappy that he moved out."

"No?" I tilt my head.

"I want to have time with you, to get to know you. To make you laugh. To find out what you like to do. To cook your favorite dishes. Play your favorite music. Take you to the movies on a date."

"You mean, you'll take me to an actual movie in a cinema instead of watching it in that big-ass cinema room you have in the basement?" I tease.

He winces. "That's the only civilized way to watch a movie, but I thought you'd appreciate a real date."

"And you'll take me to Mickey D's for dinner?"

His expression morphs into one of horror, before he composes his features. "If that's what you want."

I burst out laughing. "Relax, I'm not cruel enough to put you through that. Besides, we don't have to do every single activity together, do we?"

"For you, I'll go to a McDonald's, or better still, have a chef come home and prepare you the exact same burgers using the same recipe."

I blink. "Isn't their recipe a secret?"

He stares at me.

"Right, do I even want to know how you'll swing that?"

"It's all legal, if that's what you're asking."

"I have no doubt it is," I say, and I mean it. JJ has a past that makes him morally gray, but when it comes to me, he'll never risk putting me in danger.

His features soften. "I know you'd have preferred for me to ask you if you'd move in with me, but I'm not giving you a choice about it."

I can't stop the surprised laughter that bubbles up out of me. "If you'd asked me instead of bringing me here, I'd have thought you'd been kidnapped and replaced by an alien."

He arches an eyebrow. "That some kind of pop culture reference?" His Brit accent deepens.

"Something like that." My grin stretches wider. "You're kinda cute when you go all hoity-toity on me."

"You're always cute, and sexy, and gorgeous, and beautiful. You're the most intriguing woman in the world. The most fascinating, the most beguiling."

My cheeks grow fiery.

" Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, Did my heart fly at your service." He glances between my eyes.

"The Tempest," I say softly.

"It's true. I'm not a romantic. I wasn't looking for love or for an emotional connection. Then you swept into my life, and it's as if my past finally let go of me. You made it possible for me to dream, to hope, to open my eyes to possibilities. By just being who you are, you changed me. And it was sudden, but it was also so real, so natural. So much a part of me. I saw you and realized my life as I knew it was over, and for the better. I met you and knew I belonged with you. That we were going to be together. Doesn't mean I accepted it. I fought it with everything in me, even as my instincts confirmed it was my last bastion. My last attempt to hold onto my individuality, myself, my identity, for soon it would no longer be mine."

"JJ…" I swallow. "I?—"

He leans over and presses his fingers to my lips. "There's something else you should know. Something that I've been meaning to tell you but haven't found the courage to, until now."

My heart begins to race. My throat closes. "What is it?" I swallow. "You can tell me anything."

He takes my fingers in his. "Promise me you won't hate me."

"Nothing you do could make me hate you." I turn my palm up and interlink our fingers. "Now, tell me already."

"You know when you thought it was Isaac in your room making love to you while you were sleeping?"

"It was Isaac, and how do you—" I stare at him. "JJ, you didn't..."

He nods. "It was me. I crept into your room, and you were there, and I couldn't stop myself. I slipped into bed and finger-fucked you."

I pull my hand from his.

"And the time you slept in my office when we were working on the presentation? I said I wouldn't make a move on you?—"

"But you did."

I don't need to see the look of contrition on his face to know, of course, he had.

I shove the car door open and step out.

The door on JJ's side slams, and he rounds the car toward me.

"I thought we couldn't be together, and if that was the only way I could have you, then I wasn't going to deny either of us."

I begin to pace. Back-forth-back.

The silence stretches.

"Lena, say something."

I turn to him and link my fingers together. "I knew it was you."

He blinks. "You did?"

"That time in my bed? I suspected it. It was how you held me. The confidence in your actions. How you maneuvered my body, how you knew what to do to make me come and?—"

He looks at me expectantly.

"I never climaxed with Isaac, before that night."

His lips curl in a satisfied smirk. "But you came when I made love to you."

"I did. And then there was your scent." I close the distance between us, lower my face to his chest and sniff. "Sherry oak and cinnamon, with a dash of dark chocolate. It had to be you."

"You never mentioned it."

I raise a shoulder. "My subconscious insisted it was you. But my rational mind insisted it couldn't have been. And yet… I knew."

"And you guessed I'd made you come in my office?" He tilts his chin.

"I woke up feeling so relaxed, despite the fact that I'd spent the night on your couch. And that morning, you were acting more grouchy than normal, so I made a calculated guess."

He notches his knuckles under my chin so I have no choice but to look up into his face.

"Do you forgive me for what I did?" He searches my features.

"Do you feel sorry for what you did?"

He hesitates, then squares his shoulders. "No. I'd do it all over again."

My lips twitch. "That's what I expected you to say."

"So, you do forgive me?"

I search his features. "This morally gray space you occupy, that's your appeal. If you were any different, you wouldn't be you."

His eyebrows draw down. "You haven't answered my question."

I hold his gaze. "There's nothing to forgive."

Tension drains from his features. "I am what I am, Lena. But I promise I'll always take care of you. I'll protect you. I'll ensure you're always happy. That you never fall short of orgasms."

My smile widens.

"That you look forward to each day with a smile. That I'll do my best to make all your dreams come true. That you'll always feel secure. I'll never do anything to hurt you, I?—"

"I love you."