Forced: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (The Blackthorn Brothers Book 1) (23 page)

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Authors: Cali MacKay

BOOK: Forced: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (The Blackthorn Brothers Book 1)

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I didn’t know if I’d ever heard kinder words—and in that moment they were exactly what I’d needed to hear. It was the first time since this all started that I felt like we might actually make it through this, and I couldn’t be any more relieved or grateful. “Tell me we’ll be okay, Ash.”

He brushed my hair from my face, and leaned in to kiss me. “You have my word—we’ll be more than just okay, love. Because I fucking love you. I always have. You’re mine, Wren. And I’m never letting you go.”

The guilt that had been strangling me for the last two weeks finally let its hold slip free, and for the first time in well over a decade, it felt like I could finally breathe freely again. “I love you too. So fucking much, Ash.”

And then he was kissing me, his fingers sinking into my hair as he hauled me to him in a kiss that freed my very soul, that left me feeling whole. My tongue clashed with his as I shifted to straddle his lap, his hands gripping my hips to guide me down onto his hard cock. Yet I couldn’t help but worry that Ash was doing this out of some sort of obligation because we were now married. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“More than the air I breathe. I’ll always want you, little bird.” His mouth was hard on mine once more, as he thrust up into me, so I could focus on nothing but him, our pace all-consuming from the very start, no care given to the water splashing all around us.

And yet it wasn’t just our bodies coming together that was pushing me over the edge: it was knowing that we’d make it through this, that he loved me just as I loved him, and that he saw me for who I was without letting my past taint who he saw. What we had wouldn’t be dictated by the actions of others, nor would it be defined by how we’d been wronged.

Looking into each other’s eyes, we rode the building energy of our orgasms, our pace quickening as our kisses deepened, one rolling into the next, until I was crying out his name, my body quivering in his arms as he chased my orgasm with his. He came with a primal grunt, pulling my body down as he continued to thrust into me, filling me with his cum.

We stayed that way until our breathing finally slowed, our bodies uncoupling as I relaxed in his arms, finally feeling at peace…finally feeling whole. “I love you, Ash. With all my heart.”

“And I love you, little bird.”

Eight months had passed since they’d arrested Evan, and the trial was finally getting underway with the jury selection. It promised to be a long trial, given the amount of evidence the police had managed to find, in the long list of crimes they were now charging him with.

Though I wanted justice for myself and Ash’s father, I didn’t want either Ash or myself to have to relive our nightmare. And for once, it would appear that luck was on our side, as I listened in on Ash’s conversation as he spoke with the prosecuting attorney. And by the sounds of it, Evan had taken the deal the prosecution off
ered him, in exchange for turning in evidence against other criminals.

Ash looked at me as he repeated what he’d just heard. “So you’re telling me that Evan has admitted to his crimes, and in return, he won’t be facing the death penalty for other murders he’d committed in a different state? But he’ll be serving a life sentence instead… And what about parole? Parole is still on the table, though it would be decades before he became eligible…I appreciate you calling to let me know.”

As Ash hung up, I slipped into his arms and let him hold me tight. “Tell me this means it’s over.”

He tilted my chin up and kissed me with a smile. “It’s all over, Wren. Evan’s going to be gone for a very long time. He won’t be bothering us again.”

My hand dropped protectively to the small swell of my stomach. “I’m so relieved, I can’t even tell you.”

Ash pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me, my back pressed to his chest as his hand drifted to my belly. “That means we can focus on our family without having to worry anymore. Just five more months…”

Five more months and we’d be welcoming our first child into the world—and we couldn’t be happier, especially now that Evan was getting his due. I’d never thought I’d find happiness…never thought I’d matter to anyone…and yet I now knew what it was like to be truly loved—
and to truly love
—and I didn’t want to waste another minute of my life in the past when every minute of the present was precious.

I leaned over my shoulder and kissed him, even as his phone rang again, his lips lingering on mine as he pulled his phone out. “Hey, Locke…I was just going to call you and the others. Evan’s going away for a very long time. Yeah…he took the prosecutor’s deal. It’s done.”

But then Ash let go of me, and ran a rough hand through his hair as he listened to his brother on the other end, and started to pace. “Fuck… Are you sure he’s gone after Skylar? What do you mean? Fucking hell…he’s going to get himself killed. Yeah…keep me updated. If you find out where the hell he is, let me know.”

Ash hung up with Locke, and proceeded to curse Finn with language more colorful than I’d ever heard him use.

“I take it Finn’s not okay.”

“No…he’s not. He’s just gone to have his head bashed in, in the name of love.”

I didn’t know if Ash meant that literally or figuratively, but knowing the sort of trouble the Blackthorn men seemed to get into, especially when it came to matters of the heart, there was a good chance Finn was heading for trouble. And as close as the brothers were, I knew just how worried Ash would be.

I wrapped my arms around him, loving that he pulled me close and stole a kiss, despite his concerns for Finn. “I love you, Ash.”

He let out a sigh and managed a small smile for me, no doubt so I wouldn’t worry. “I love you too, little bird. You and this baby…you’re my whole world.”

The End

I hope you enjoyed
Forced
—and as always, reviews are greatly appreciated! Finn’s story,
Shattered
, will be the next book in the
Blackthorn Brother's Series,
and is now available
for pre-order
. Please feel free to
sign up for my newsletter
, so that you can stay updated on new releases and sales. Wishing you all the best. — Cali MacKay