Mended

  I say a silent prayer of thanks that Lucian finally told me about Cassie because Monique is relying on me not knowing. I can see the smug satisfaction oozing from her. I wonder how she knows but don’t have time to dwell on it. “I know all about Cassie, Monique, and we’re nothing alike.” She doesn’t even bother to hide her surprise this time. Of course, considering how closed off Lucian was when I first met him, I feel certain he’s never shared any of his past with this woman and she had no reason to believe he had with me either.

  I’m almost at the door after washing my hands when she says, “Cassie is very much on his mind again now. Did he tell you about our meeting today?” Dammit, I know she saw the stiffening of my spine. I might as well have held up a sign that said, “ignorant girlfriend,” because I’ve given myself away. “I didn’t think so, Lucy. You might want to ask him about it because it appears I’ll be around a lot more from now on.”

  I suck in a deep breath and open the door with a shaky hand. I carefully blank my expression before turning to face her one last time. Sniffing the air, I wrinkle my nose and say, “I’ll be sure to tell Leo that he needs to take out the trash more often because it’s stinking up the place.” As the door closes behind me, I hear a loud yell. Someone is not happy. I take a moment to compose myself before making my way on shaky legs to Lucian. My enjoyment of the evening is officially over and he has some explaining to do. I only hope I can hold it together until we leave. Right now, I’m close to breaking down.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lia

  It had taken some time for us to say our goodbyes and make our way back to the apartment. Lucian keeps darting quick glances my way. He knew that something was wrong the moment I returned from the restroom at Leo’s. I have no idea where Monique went, but she wasn’t brave enough to join the party. I was almost hoping she’d be that stupid—Rose would have enjoyed that.

  As is now almost an evening routine, he pulls me down next to him on the sofa and slips my shoes off. His fingers begin kneading my sore and slightly swollen feet. I moan in bliss, losing myself for a moment in the magic of his touch. “You have no idea how good that feels.” I sigh as I feel some of my tension draining away. “Why were you with Monique today?” His hands freeze and I have my answer. About that at least, she hadn’t lied. As I suspected, something is going on. Regardless of his past with Cassie, I know in my heart that he would break up with me before he would hurt me by cheating.

  He looks into my eyes then his gaze drops to my stomach. I can almost see him wondering if I can handle whatever he hasn’t told me. Finally, he moves again, continuing his massage. “How did you know?” He sounds genuinely curious, possibly thinking that someone in his inner circle told me. “I knew something had happened earlier. Your mood changed in the blink of an eye.”

  I know this next part will piss him off so I brace myself. “Monique was waiting for me in the bathroom when I came out of the stall.”

  He gapes at me in astonishment. “You’re fucking kidding me? I swear to all that’s holy, if she laid a finger on you—” His eyes dart over me, taking a quick inventory as if looking for injuries.

  I cup his clenching jaw, forcing him to look at me. “Luc, I’m fine. She didn’t touch me. I’m not some helpless wallflower,” I grumble. “Now, tell me what’s going on. If I had known, it would have taken some of the pleasure from her surprise ambush,” I chide lightly but mean every word. Monique had all the power tonight because she knew something that I didn’t, which pisses me off.

  By the time he finishes with all that has happened in the last week, my mouth is flapping open and closed. “I guess you didn’t see that one coming either, did you?” he asks dryly as he studies my dazed expression. “Aidan had court papers served to him last week concerning another party challenging him for Cassie’s guardianship. Max found out who April Chester really was just minutes before the hearing was to begin.”

  “Do you believe that whole story of an abusive husband?” I ask, thinking it sounds like something out of a movie.

  “Her lawyer supposedly supplied the judge with all of the supporting paperwork to prove her story. It still seems crazy to me, but Aidan needs to decide how he wants to handle it.”

  “But doesn’t it concern you as well?” I ask, surprised by his statement. If there is one thing I’ve learned, Aidan and Lucian may disagree, but they are very much a brotherhood.

  He shifts until I’m sitting in his lap with my head tucked under his chin. “Not directly anymore, no. I transferred full authority to Aidan, and he is the person Monique will seek to replace. If that happens, I could pursue legal channels to recoup some of the expense I’ve incurred through the years.”

  “Does Monique have that kind of money? I know she runs in the same social circles as you, but I just assumed—”

  “That she got there on her back?” Lucian asks, sounding amused. He hugs me to him tighter. “Don’t feel bad, I’ve always been of the same mind about her. Truthfully, she was never close enough to me to bother checking. I hadn’t intended to go after her financially, but she made a serious misstep tonight in approaching you. I know in my gut this is about more than Cassie.” He leans back until he can cradle my face in both hands. His beautiful eyes are intense as they lock onto mine. “I’ll fucking bury her if she ever dares pulls such shit again. I don’t need or particularly care about her money, but I’ll take every penny I can get my hands on if she even looks at you from across the street.”

  “Luc,” I protest weakly, “I’m fine.” I hold my arm to the side and flex my muscle. “I can hold my own against Cruella any day of the week.”

  He chuckles looking delighted with my joke. “Please tell me you called her that to her face tonight…”

  Giving him a wicked grin, I say, “You’re damn right I did…and she hated it!”

  “God, I love you,” he whispers fervently. “You’re perfect for me.” He lifts me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom before putting me gently onto my feet. We take turns removing each other’s clothes before Lucian positions me on the bed in what has become my favorite position. He is behind me, wrapped around my body, with my leg thrown over his. Being Lucian, he had researched the best sexual positions during pregnancy and this one is certainly a winner. His erection is rubbing against my ass as his hand wanders over my stomach, rubbing it lovingly before taking my sensitive peaks in his fingers and tweaking them.

  “Ah, Luc, that feels so good,” I moan as wave after wave of heat shoots to my core.

  “It’s your magic tits, baby; they do all the work for me now.” I giggle before another moan escapes me as he drops one hand to my throbbing clit. “You’re so wet for me,” he murmurs against my ear as he slides one finger easily into me. I ride his hand restlessly, needing more to push me over the edge. “Just say those dirty words that I want to hear and it’s all yours,” he rasps as his cock nudges me.

  I reach my hand around behind me until I find his firm ass and pinch it. “Stop teasing me and fuck me. I want your big cock to slam inside of my wet pussy RIGHT NOW!” I can’t believe I just said all of that to him. I should be horrified, but I’m too horny to care. He groans in what sounds like sheer bliss and I feel him at my entrance. Just as I demanded, he goes balls deep in one firm stroke, setting my nerve endings on fire.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asks in concern when I cry out.

  “No, I love it. Keep going. Don’t stop,” I shout as I push back to force him to the hilt. He remains still, letting me impale myself on his cock while he circles my clit with lazy strokes. Feeling as if I have all the power for the moment, I decide to tease him. Just barely taking him in before moving away once again. He lasts maybe a minute before I hear a muttered curse from behind me and my dominant lover takes over. My body ripples as he thrusts into me, so close to going over the edge. He is dropping kisses onto my shoulder when suddenly I feel his teeth nip the tender flesh there. That’s it—I’m flying. I have no idea if I’m caught up in one unbeli
evably long orgasm or if I’m having a string of multiple ones. All I do know is that I’m pulsing around his hard length and finally pushing him over with me.

  “Fuck!” he hisses against my neck before collapsing backward. I let myself rest in the curve of his body. “It’s always better,” he says in a voice full of disbelief.

  “What is?” I yawn, already close to drifting off. It’s well past my bedtime now and I can barely keep my eyes open.

  He strokes the curve of my hip soothingly. “Each time we make love. It’s so amazing…so different from anything I’ve ever known or experienced.”

  It should probably feel a bit awkward that I’m lying here with the man I love while he talks about past sexual encounters, but this is different. He’s being open with me, which is something I cherish. He feels comfortable enough now to talk about something personal, trusting I’ll understand what he is trying to say—which I do. “It’s the love between us, Luc. It enhances everything, including that. Or at least I feel that way.” Of course, I’d only had one dismal attempt at sex before Lucian so I don’t have as much to compare it to. But I know there is no way I could be with another man—even if Lucian and I broke up—and feel even a portion of the emotion and euphoria that fills my body when Lucian possesses me. It is and always will be because I love him completely—body and soul.

  I lie awake long after Lucian has gone to sleep, pondering everything he told me. Other than trying to upset me, I wonder why Monique went to all the effort to seek me out tonight? I have an uneasy feeling that there is more at play here than even Lucian realizes. When his hand moves to my stomach, the baby picks that exact moment to kick her father’s hand. With uncertainty on the horizon once again, our daughter reminds us both that no matter what happens, our love has created beauty and lightness where once there was only the dark.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lucian

  “Well, hey there, sugar. Long time, no see,” drawls the far-too-friendly bartender. I inwardly grimace having completely forgotten about my unfortunate trip here when I’d found out Lia might be pregnant. I’d panicked like some kind of pussy that night, taken off on her, and ended up here. The same bartender had propositioned me, even offering to include the woman I’d told her I was involved with. Aidan had suggested we meet Max here for a drink to get an update on the situation with Monique and I’d absentmindedly agreed without giving it much thought—until now.

  Across the table, Aidan has one eyebrow cocked in question as he looks from me to her. Well, in actuality, it’s more as if he’s staring at the expansive amount of tits she has on display in the tiny, halter-like top. “So, Misty,” he surprises me by saying her name, “how do you know my friend here?”

  She looks thrilled at the attention and I’m relieved when she moves closer to him, not stopping until she’s standing almost between his legs. “Well, he was in here a while back. I tried to interest him in a private party, but he was somewhat drunk. I think he was afraid of the performance thing. You know, Jack dick.”

  “What?” I sputter as Aidan begins laughing.

  “Jack dick?” Aidan asks, looking thrilled with the turn the conversation has taken.

  Misty holds her finger upright and says loudly enough for every nearby table to hear, “You know, when you’ve had too many shots and your dick just won’t cooperate.” She then dramatically drops her finger down fast enough to make my cock draw up.

  What the fuck? I’m getting my equipment insulted by a slutty bartender who I turned down. Aidan—the bastard—is clutching his sides as he laughs while Misty gazes at him as if she’s just gotten her first glimpse of Christmas morning. I had planned to throw politeness to the wind and get rid of her, but I feel like a little payback is in order here. If Aidan is enjoying her company so much, then I should be a friend and encourage it—all I can. So, instead I give them a rueful smile and a shrug of my shoulders. “It happens—I just can’t hold my liquor sometimes.” Misty is giving me an encouraging smile while Aidan now just looks confused. He knows I’m up to something. No man would ever admit to something like that willingly. “I also have a very pregnant girlfriend so I’m a bit taken. But, Misty, let me introduce you to my friend, Aidan Spencer. I think you two have a lot in common. He’s single and would have no problem I’m sure if you wanted to bring your boyfriend along. He loves to…mix things up.” By this point, Misty’s eyes are wide and she’s practically dancing in place. I’m sorely afraid that her large tits are going to pop out of her tiny top at any moment.

  “I can’t wait to tell Scotty,” Misty gushes. “We do girl-on-girl a lot, but we can hardly ever get a guy-on-guy. He’s going to love you, Aidan…and so am I!”

  “You should go call him right now,” I encourage as I see Max walk in the door. “We’ve got to have a short meeting here, and then Aidan will be free for the night.” She throws herself against Aidan, practically shoving a nipple damn near in his mouth before she skips off excitedly.

  “What’d I miss?” Max asks as he lowers himself to the other seat at the table.

  Aidan tosses a peanut from the bowl near his elbow at me and I duck easily. “Oh, nothing much. This limp-dicked fucker just pimped me out for a threesome with the bartender and her boyfriend. Now I’m going to be forced to sneak out of here when we’re done or go with Misty and hope my STD-free status remains intact.”

  Max looks from me to Aidan before signaling a passing waiter and ordering a drink. “You know, I almost want an explanation…but not quite enough to risk hearing it.”

  I snicker as Misty walks past, blowing Aidan a kiss. He squirms uncomfortably in his seat. I know he has no problem with aggressive women, but Misty has him fidgeting like a virgin on her first date. Probably the man-on-man threat. In our wilder days, Aidan and I did a lot of shit I’m not particularly proud of. We’ve shared women before. But we know each other’s boundaries. I’d have never done something like that with anyone else and I can’t see Aidan being comfortable with it either. “Just blowing off a little steam,” I finally say. Aidan flips me off from across the table causing Max to shake his head like a resigned older brother.

  Max reaches down to pull a folder from his briefcase and tosses it onto the tabletop. “This is the background check on Monique. I think you’ll find it…interesting.” He takes a gulp of his scotch before opening the file. “Monique has been around for a long time. Probably longer than you know. She attended the same college you did. Actually, you both had at least one class with her.”

  “No shit,” Aidan murmurs. “I mean, we know she went to the same school, but I don’t remember her at all.”

  Shaking my head, I add, “Me, either.”

  “Oh, she’s changed quite a bit since then,” Max, says as he holds a picture up.

  Aidan shrinks back in something akin to horror. “No fucking way!”

  I’m similarly shocked as I look at the photo of a much younger girl with frizzy hair and glasses. I study it for a bit longer and finally see a resemblance to Monique around the eyes. It’s vague, but there. “I don’t remember her from school,” I admit, “but I didn’t know even half of the people in my classes so that’s not surprising.”

  Seeming to have finally recovered some, Aidan wrinkles his nose and states the obvious, “Man, she’s had a lot of work done. She may be a class-A bitch a lot of the time, but she looks good—in and out of clothes.”

  All right,” Max says dryly, “we all agree she’s improved herself. Since neither of you recognizes her from this picture, I think it’s safe to say she didn’t run in the same circles with you in college.”

  “Hey,” Aidan complains, looking insulted. “I bagged my share of less fortunates. I didn’t discriminate…much.”

  “Bullshit,” I scoff. I’ve known Aidan most of my life and I can’t remember him ever sleeping with a girl or woman looking like Monique did back then.

  “For God’s sake, boys.” Max puts heavy emphasis on the last word as he rolls his eyes at us. “I couldn
’t care less who you’ve slept with and what your standards are. I think we can all safely assume we’ve had our share of moments we’d like to forget. Let’s just move forward and focus for a moment.”

  No sooner have those words left his mouth than a sugary voice says from behind him, “Hey, Aidan, can I get you anything else, sweetie?” Max cringes as I turn to the side to keep from laughing at my friend’s worried expression. Misty is likely to tackle him when he tries to walk out the door tonight and he knows it. I fucking love it myself.

  “Er…no. We’re all good here, Misty, but thanks,” Aidan says as he turns away from her. She leans against his back, rubbing her tits firmly against him before whispering something in his ear. His eyes grow large as he nods once and she walks off. As soon as she’s out of earshot, he points a finger at me. “You bastard. You’re dead.” Then motioning to Max he adds, “You better finish up because she said Scotty would be here in an hour to get the party started so I’ve got to get the hell out of here in thirty minutes just to be safe.”

  Max finally loses his composure and begins laughing. Aidan is normally such a suave ladies’ man, so it’s hilarious to see him scared of an overzealous bartender. She has him on the ropes, though. Clearing his throat, Max picks back up on our conversation. “Anyway, Cassie’s mother was Christina Morris. She was never married to Cassie’s father. As far as I can tell, they lived together for about four years with her taking off when Cassie was around two. She met Monique’s father, Carson Whitmire, five years later and married him within three months of dating. He was a very wealthy widower with a daughter, April, who was less than a year older than Cassie was. Carson’s family made their money in textiles and even though a lot of that type of business had moved overseas through the years, he still managed to keep their remaining two plants profitable. He was fifteen years older than Christina and was said to have worshipped her.”