Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7) (16 page)

Ruby was still breathing slowly and deep and her voice was low, sounding more relaxed like she could fall asleep. “I want our son to have his father, Darius. The job’s still open if you want it.”

“That job has never been open. It’s always been mine.”

A smile appeared on her face when she closed her eyes and snuggled her head up against my leg like a little child. “So have I. Are you still mine?”

“I’ve always been that too. Meg meant nothing compared to you.”

“I’m sorry. I never meant to push you away. I just—”

She started to cry and her breaths were becoming panicked. “Shh. It’s all right. You need to relax now. I’m not going to leave you alone. Rest. I’m with you.”

She didn’t say anything else and I let her fall sleep right there while she held tight to my leg. I watched her for what seemed like the longest time while I got my own energy back and couldn’t believe I was holding her again. That’s when I knew for sure that Meg was right. We belonged together and my time with her just opened my eyes to it. I was now determined do everything he could to make sure it stayed that way.

I wanted to tell her about our son but I held myself back. Telling her would only make her want to see and I didn’t want her to do that until she could actually hold him in her arms. He just looked so perfect when he was so little. I almost couldn’t wait like Jaylyn couldn’t and I was glad I was here; glad we’re working through this so I could be.

Hours must have went by because the position of the sun was leaning towards falling behind the peaks of the mountains and I was still sitting on the bed I haven’t slept on in weeks, watching my beautiful wife lay asleep still holding my leg. My head finally turned from looking at her when the door cracked open and Zayden and Troy stepped in but I immediately put my finger over my mouth so they’d keep quiet.

“Sorry.” Zayden whispered as they tiptoed over to the bed. “We were going to have a repeat of last night before dinner. Want to come?”

“Does it look any way possible that I can move right now?”

“You could move her.” Troy suggested.

“I could but I’d really rather not. I haven’t been with her for weeks so I’m going to stay just like this until she wakes up and wants to move herself.”

“You’re time with Meg wasn’t enough contact for you?”

I sighed but not too loudly. “Everyone knows about that, don’t they?”

“Yeah.” Zayden nodded. “Sorry.”

“I knew it. So, who’s the one I’m going to kill for telling Ruby?”

They both looked at each other and were a little on the surprised side. “Ruby knows?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, she seems okay with it to me.” Troy said.

“She is now—I think. It was a complete misunderstanding. We were waiting on each other.”

“We found out it was like that.” Zayden smiled. “Did you tell her about him?”

“Of course not. I want her to see that for herself. I didn’t need to use that in my apology at all.”

“Then things must be fine now, right?” Troy asked.

I looked down at Ruby. “You know, I’m not really sure. She almost killed me.”

“Really?”

“Well, I don’t blame her.”

“But you’re obviously not dead.” Zayden pointed out.

“I’m too strong. She drained me but that’s about it then she seemed forgiving before the pain.”

“What do you mean pain?” Troy asked.

“She got stressed. The baby doesn’t like it when she gets stressed so he gets mad.”

“Better hope he doesn’t kill her.”

My eyes widened to hearing it. “Don’t even suggest such a thing! I’m trying to be less protective! You can’t say stuff like that to me! I don’t want to start this all over again!”

“It’s simple.” Zayden explained. “All you have to do is make sure she keeps her stress down, meaning keeping her relaxed. You know what the best way is.”

I sighed, calming myself. “I don’t know about that. I have a feeling I’ll be down on that luck for a while because of the Meg thing and I’m fine with that. I don’t deserve being with Ruby that way because of what I did.”

“What happened to you?” Troy asked. “Are you finally grown up?”

I tried to hold back my laugh so I wouldn’t shake and wake Ruby. “Maybe a little. I at least know I don’t want to lose her and I’ll do whatever she wants so that won’t happen.”

Zayden and Troy looked at each other and smiled, impressed by my behavior about this. I would have liked to gloat about it some more but Ruby started to move. We all looked at her and she unwrapped her arm from my leg and started rubbing her eyes. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Not that long.” I answered for them. “They were just bothering me about joining them outside but I said I wouldn’t wake you.”

“Oh, well, go ahead. I’m awake now. Sort of.”

I started moving for the first time in hours and turned my attention to Zayden and Troy. “Can you leave us alone for a minute? I’ll be out with my answer.”

“Of course.” Zayden said, taking a glance at Ruby. He turned with Troy and they walked out the door.

Ruby just sat there on the bed next to me quietly and I turned to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Thanks for staying. You can go with them now.”

“Where are we?”

“In our room?” She answered me with her own question like it was obvious.

“Is it ours?”

Ruby looked over and met my eyes through a pause. “Of course. I want it to be if you do.”

“You know I do.”

“Then move back in if you want. Your choice.”

I smiled and leaned closer to her. My target was her lips but she leaned away before they could touch.

“Oh.” I said, moving away. “I see.”

“I just don’t think we’re there yet.”

“No. I understand completely. No need to feel bad about it. I did this.”

“Well, Zayden and Troy are probably waiting for you. You should go to them.”

“You want to come play with us?”

“Play with you? What exactly are you doing?”

“Probably just a few runs of the course!” Zayden answered from outside the door. “You know, keep the blood going so we stay sexy.”

I laughed from hearing him outside and walked to the door, opening it. “Thanks for leaving.”

“Of course.”

“So, you want to?” I asked, turning my look back to Ruby.

“I don’t think she can.” Troy said, sharing a look with her.

“Why?”

Ruby smiled and rested her hands on the thick collar of her clothes. “It’s been awhile for him. I don’t think he’s seen it.”

“Seen what?”

I looked at Zayden and Troy and they both seemed to know but said nothing. Their eyes just moved towards Ruby and I looked too.

She had untied the sash around her waist and let the fabric settle open around her stomach. I stared at her harder than before. Her stomach had gotten bigger during our time apart and she was looking a lot more pregnant.

“Oh.” My steps led me slowly towards her and I dropped to my knees.

She just smiled and watched me raise my hands to her belly, rubbing it gently. “I don’t exactly think doing what you guys are doing is a good idea for me anymore.”

“Yeah.” I stuttered, getting up to my feet but keeping my eyes down. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t want to encourage your reckless side.”

“But I’ll still come out with you unless this was supposed to be a boy’s thing.”

“Oh, no. You can join us if you’d like. I mean, right?” Troy said as he looked over at Zayden.

“Of course. Jaylyn was going to help Adele with dinner anyway so they’ll be busy.”

Ruby laughed. “You mean she’s hungry and impatient. She’s going to get so fat.”

“In a good way.” Troy argued.

Ruby couldn’t help but laugh again as she walked around the bed to him. “You’ll say anything to make yourself feel better, won’t you?”

Zayden and I both laughed too.

“It’s true.” Troy sighed. “It’s going to be in a good way.”

“Well, I suppose you won’t noticed.” Ruby smiled. “You’ll be too focused on what’s just above all of that.”

There was a pause and we shared a confused look with each other.

“Wow, that’s sad.” Ruby laughed. “You don’t know a thing about pregnancy.”

“Should we?” Troy asked. “We know how it gets in and how it comes out. The rest of that stuff is your problem.”

“Oh, thanks. Well, I was talking about Jaylyn’s breasts.”

“What about them?”

“Whether you think it’s possible or not—” Ruby paused and looked to the door for a moment and put her voice down into a whisper. “They’re going to get bigger.”

“Really?” I wondered. “Yikes!”

“Tell me about it.” Ruby sighed, cupping her breasts in her hands. “Mine already feel like rocks.”

“Really?” Zayden laughed.

“Yeah. Want to feel?” I raised up my hand but Ruby immediately hit it away. “Not you. Just them.”

Zayden smiled from the look on my face and stepped forward. “I’ll tell you about it.” He reached his hands towards Ruby and cupped her breasts. “Wow! You weren’t kidding!” Zayden’s tone was highly delighted while he started to massage her. “Very dense! Like there’s sand in there only they’re not that heavy.”

“Okay, enough.” I sighed.

“They’re nice. I can’t seem to stop touching them!”

Ruby laughed and I pushed Zayden away with more of an angry voice. “I said enough!”

Zayden laughed too. “Relax, Darius. I wasn’t that excited. Just trying to get you all worked up. Though they were nice.”

I pushed him away farther.

“Thank you.” Ruby smiled.

“So, you ready now or what?”

“After you. I’m ready to kick your ass.”

“Oh, no, Zayden!” Troy laughed. “You better run!”

Zayden sped out the door first followed quickly by me. “Hey! That’s cheating!”

I didn’t have much hope of catching up. He was way too fast but I still planned to make him pay for touching her.

Chapter 30

Jaylyn

“Jaylyn! If you take one more bite before it’s on your plate, I’m banning you from the kitchen forever! It’s almost ready. You can wait a few more minutes.”

“I’m sorry.” I groaned, chewing a mouthful. “It’s just so good.”

Adele laughed. “When isn’t it? Put this stuff on the plates. The rolls need another minute.”

“Did you make an extra one for me?”

“I made extra everything for you. I’m still used to making a plate for Meg so you can have it since she’s gone.”

“Yay! Okay, I’m ready to help.”

I put all the servings on a row of plates and Adele turned back to the brick oven and took out the hot rolls to add to the dinners.

Everything was taken into the dining room, including all of the drinks and we sat down before anyone else came in.

“Hey, why didn’t you call us?” Zayden asked as he walked around the table to Adele.

“We knew you’d be down. Have fun?”

“Oh, yeah.” Ruby smiled, sitting in close range with Darius.

I looked over to Adele with a smile just to see them together. “We’re glad and is—”

“Please don’t.” Darius cut in. “If you haven’t noticed we like to put all the bad stuff behind us around here and not group discuss it anymore.”

“Fair enough.” Adele said as she looked at me and nodded. “It’s good to see you sitting together. We’ve missed it.”

“Damn, Darius.” Zayden said, touching the back of his head. “Did you have to do it that hard?”

“Did you have to purposely fondle my wife’s breasts in front of me?”

My eyes widened. I’m sure Adele’s did too but I was too focused to check. “What?”

“It was nothing.” Zayden laughed. “I barely felt them. I talked it up a lot more just to piss him off.”

“Yeah.” Darius sighed. “Great.”

“Well, you were just laying there all day. I had to get you moving again.”

“It really was nothing.” Ruby assured Adele. “I think he was punished enough.”

“Yes please.” Zayden agreed.

Before Adele could reply, we heard a loud banging on the front door.

“Someone’s here.” Zayden said as he rose. “Probably a message.”

Adele nodded to him and he walked out of the dining room.

We waited patiently until he walked back in, reading a message.

“From father?” Troy asked.

“Yeah. We should really tell him about the bird thing. Those messengers always look happy to have to travel a few days to hand me a piece of paper.”

Adele laughed. “Then maybe we will. He can use Honey. So, what does he want?”

“It’s about our birthday celebration. He wants us to leave tomorrow. Who’s up for a trip?”

“Is this going to be a fast trip?” Darius asked.

“I think he assumes we’d make it one. It is already the sixteenth.”

“This is a really late question but we don’t even know when your birthdays are.”

“They’re all this month.” Darius said. “The eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth.”

“You’re all born a day apart?” I asked. “That’s weird.”

“I guess.” Troy replied. “We celebrate them at the same time on the twentieth. That’s Zayden’s birthday.”

“You’re the youngest?” Ruby laughed, looking over at him.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I just wouldn’t have guessed.”

“Guess who’s oldest?” Darius smiled. “I bet you really won’t guess that.”

“You?” Adele said, looking at him.

“No. Me.” Troy smiled. “But we don’t really care too much about that since we’re just a day apart. You three are five days apart, right?”

“Yeah.” I said. “The tenth, fifteenth and twentieth of the first. I’m the oldest too. Well, out of us.”

“Then it’s me.” Ruby smiled. “And that makes Adele our little baby!”

“Shut up.” She said, rolling her eyes to Ruby’s baby voice when she said it and turned her attention to Zayden. “When do you plan to take us? Morning? Afternoon? What?”

“I don’t know. When do you want to leave?”

“I think we should leave the earliest so we have time to settle in before going right to bed. I’m sure he’s going to want to know how everything has been going.”

“All right. We’re fine with that.”

“What’s it going to be like?” I asked. “Just another one of those classic banquet type things?”

“Ah, we’re not really sure.” Troy answered.

“You don’t know what you’re own party will be like?” Adele wondered.

“Well, this year will most likely be very different because we’re married.” Zayden said.

“Oh, so you mean no fun?” Ruby asked.

“It could still be fun.” Darius replied. “You’ll be there this time and as long as you’re in something alluringly tempting, which you always are then it’s guaranteed to be great.”

“Please. Look at me. I’m not showing this figure to anyone.”

“You look beautiful.” Darius said, rubbing her belly for a quick moment. “Everyone’s going to be so jealous.”

Ruby smiled and touched his hand. It was such a joy to see them this way together again. This was the time she would really need him. The baby would be born in only a few months. I kind of couldn’t wait actually since I’ve gotten to see how much I really did love him but I’ve been trying to hold in my joy. She hasn’t mentioned anything so I didn’t think Darius told her.

“So, tomorrow morning then.” Adele said as she got up with her plate. “We’ll leave when everyone’s packed.”

“I plan on doing that tonight.” I said “It’ll be good for us to get out. We haven’t left in a while.”

“Yes, well, be it of course you have enough time to finish your second plate without having to stay up too late to do it.”

“Oh, we always have time.” I looked at Troy with my smile and he smiled back.

Adele sighed and pushed the dining room door open. “You know what I meant. Goodnight.”

She walked out and Zayden laughed to himself as he got up with his plate and glass too. “She’s always glad that we don’t sleep under you. Come on, Rift. Bed.”

“She’s said that?”

“Respectfully. Be ready by morning.”

“We will be.” Troy said.

I kind of sighed and continued to pick at my food. “I’m upset now.”

Ruby laughed. “Why? I’m glad I don’t sleep under you too.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“It’s not that big of a deal, Jaylyn. I actually don’t even hear you. The floors are all stone here.”

“I’m going to bed now.” I suddenly didn’t want to stay around here and talk about this. I just kind of wanted to get upstairs.

“Don’t be upset.” Troy said as we entered our room. “They were just playing. Besides, you shouldn’t be ashamed to be with me.”

“I’m not.”

“Then act it and just think of what all of our time together has created.”

He came over to me and put his hand gently on my stomach. I couldn’t hide my smile because I knew he was right and I was happy for it. Sharing the news would make it even happier as I’m sure Izin and Kathryn will just be thrilled to hear that it’s all of us.