Willing Captive (31 page)

The judge smiles,
“’Course not. Just doing your duty.”

Terah takes hold of Nox’s hand, clearly trying to save him.
She says to the judge, “I’m sorry, do you mind if I steal them away
for some photos? Mom’s getting snappy happy
.”

The judge chuckles,
“Not at all, dear.” He turns to us both. “I hope you have a long
and happy life together. Truly, I do.”

With that, we leave
the courthouse and make our way to a local park.

A gazillion photos
later, we head to the restaurant for our wedding dinner with our
family. And when we get there, Nox pulls me back a little. “I don’t
want any crying, babe.”

What?

Shaking my head, I
ask chuckling, “Why would I cry? I’m so effing happy, you
dork!”

“
Yeah, well-” Nox looks passed me and smiles, “Yeah. You’re
gonna cry.”

Turning, I gasp in
shock.

No
way. No
way
!

Rock and Boo stand there
, dressed to the nines, ready to celebrate with us.

And, of course, it
happens.

My eyes tingle for a
whole second before I cover my mouth with my hand and burst into
tears.

Boo rushes forward,
dressed in a long tawny-pink number. She looks great. Taking me in
a warm hug, I feel her body shake with mine. Crying happy
tears.

Rock pulls her away
from me a second, only to wrap me up tight. He looks good in slacks
and a grey shirt. Wiping my tears away, I announce, “You two look
so effing hot!”

Boo barks a laugh,
“Damn, Deedee. Never thought I could see someone look so beautiful
before, but…” She motions to my very plain wedding dress and
shrugs. Rock finishes for her, “You look like an angel, babe.”

My heart warms.

I’m so happy right
now!

Clare comes forward
with her hands on her hips and wide eyes, “Adam, we’re going to
have words later. Why didn’t you tell me they were coming?”

Rock smiles big and
opens his arms to her, “Mama!”

Boo knocks him
aside, “Wait in line, bub!” Then she runs to Clare, “Mama!”

I should’ve known
they’d met before. Mama talked about them when we went to visit her
that first time, but had never said she’d actually seen them in
person.

We approach our
table, and everyone is introduced to each other. We spend the next
hour chatting away and having a great time.

It’s relaxed and low
key.

And I love it.

Nox and I decided to
go against tradition. We wanted a small wedding and we wanted to
pay for it ourselves. I know I come from money, but this was
important to me. My independence means everything to me.

Everyone orders what
they want for dinner (which is something my dad insisted on paying
for and Nox agreed on) and I sit back a moment, taking in
everything around me.

Looking around, I
smile softly. Terah and Jon talk closely together, holding hands.
Boo and Rock talk loudly and animatedly, obviously arguing about
something stupid. Like always. Mom and Dad chat away to Clare. And
Nox…

I turn to my
husband.

I find him watching
me with that gorgeous crooked smile in place.

Leaning close to me,
he says, “Hey.”

Moving even closer
to him, our noses touch, and I whisper, “Hi.”

He kisses my lips
gently, and my eyes close in sheer delight. I sigh through my nose
and kiss him deeper. Pulling away gently, he asks on a grin, “So
when are you gonna give me babies?”

Almost choking on my
tongue, I laugh quietly, “Not anytime soon. Maybe in a couple of
years. You know, when I’ve had enough time to enjoy you.”

His hand rests on my
thigh and he squeezes. “I’m down for that.”

Smiling like an
idiot, I rub my nose against his. “Good. Because even though I love
kids, I’m not ready for them yet.”

Kissing my lips
once, he utters, “That’s fair, baby. Whatever you want, I’m good
with.”

Suddenly, he asks seriously, “Are you happy?”

My heart expands and
warms.

“
Yes. Completely.” I lose my smile. “Are you?”

He thinks a moment,
his brows furrowed. “Can’t think of a time I was even half as happy
as today.”

My heart stutters
and I get dreamy-happy.

I watch as he looks
around the table and smiles. Turning back to me, he wraps an arm
around my shoulders and pulls me close. Kissing the top of my head,
he utters, “Nothing’s gonna beat today. Got everyone I care about
close, and that’s never happened in my life. I hate to say it,
babe…” Looking at me with dead seriousness, he continues, “Never
thought I’d be glad about having to protect someone. But, fuck me,
I totally am. Hate what we went through to get here. But…we’re
here. And that’s all I care about.”

Leaning my forehead
into the side of his chin, I say softly, “Love you, Nox.”

He sighs, “Love you
more, princess. You have no idea how much.”

I close my eyes
tightly, put a hand to his thigh and squeeze.

Yeah.

I’m pretty sure I
do.

Epilogue

Two years later…

Nox

Coming back from my
run, I huff and puff while I make my way into our house.

My heart pounds.

Today was a good
one. I beat my personal best and I managed that on my new
prosthetic running leg.

It’s so fuckin’
cool. It’s an L shaped piece of carbon-fiber that makes me bounce
more than run.

And I’m loving it.
But I’m tired as hell now.

Lily and I bought a
house not too long after we got married. She was right. The
apartment was too small. We needed a place where I could have a
room as a gym, and eventually a nursery.

Our house is a
modest four bedroom home in the suburbs.

It took Mitch a
little time to have my money cleaned and put into an account in my
real name. Regardless of how much money we have, Lily insists on
working. I don’t think this is a bad thing. In fact, I like that
she knows what she wants. Although, I am surprised as hell that she
went back to work with her dad at Flynn Logistics.

She’s working her
way up. And fast. In the past year, she’s had three promotions.

And this isn’t
because she’s Daddy’s girl. It’s because she works damn hard, and
she’s smart as hell.

I’m so proud of
her.

I, however, am
retired.

I’ve worked enough
in my young life to realize that I was missing out on too much. So
now, I enjoy my life with Lily.

“
Lily?” I yell this into the kitchen.

No answer. Walking
down the hall and out the back door, I find her. Smiling, I take a
look at what she’s doing and chuckle.

I walk down the
steps to her, and take the clothes out of her hands. “Let me do
that. It’s too high up for you.”

Lily smiles at me
like I’m her hero.

Always her hero.

All I did was hang
some wet clothes for her.

She asks, “So? How
was it?”

Still catching my
breath, I huff out a laugh. “Like running on water. So damn good. I
don’t think I’ll ever take this one off.”

And she grins,
“Maybe I can give you a reason to take it off.”

My brows rise.

Turning, I ask
hoarsely, “Oh yeah? How baby?”

Looking left, then
right, she crooks her finger. Leaning down to her, she reaches up
and cups my cheeks. She presses her lips to mine, and I breathe her
in.

My wife is
amazing.

Pulling back a
little, she whispers, “I’ve got an itch that needs scratching.”

Playing with her, my
face turns serious. “Where is this itch?”

The apples of her
cheeks flush pink.

I love when they do
that.

Licking her pink
lips, her smiling, green eyes meet mine. “I need to show you
somewhere I can lie down. The bedroom would be a good place to
start.”

A good place to
start?

Shit.

She had me at
itch
.

Turning, her hair
swishes down her back, and I feel myself start to harden.

Fuckin’ love that
hair.

I watch her ass sway
as she walks up the steps, and into the house.

Tired?

Nope.

Not anymore.

***

Lily

After this
afternoon’s spectacular love making, Nox left me to sleep it off.
And I needed it.

The man is
insatiable.

…
Oh, who am I kidding?

I’m just as bad.

Maybe worse.

Recently, it’s
gotten really bad. I feel like such a hussy! But my husband loves
me, and is always willing to help me scratch my itch.

Smiling like an idiot, I feel a small sharp pain in my
belly.

Ooh. That was not so
nice.

Then another. And
another.

Standing on wobbly
legs, I make my way out to the hall.

Looking down at my
feet, my eyes widen to the size of saucers.

Oh shit.

***

Nox

“
Mom, I can’t tell her to stop working. It makes her happy. Do
you think she’d even listen to me if I asked?” I say into the cell
phone.

Mom responds, “She won’t listen, but it doesn’t mean you don’t
have to try. She’s in a delicate stage at this point, baby.
You helping her out?”

Somewhat proud of
myself, I state, “Hung the washing for her just this
afternoon.”

“
Nox.”

I can almost see
Mama’s smile, “That’s my good boy.”

Leaning back on my
chair, I admit, “I like helping her, anyways, it makes me feel like
I’m doing something.”

“
Nox.”

Mom replies, “Oh
baby, you’ve already worked too hard. You deserve a rest. Enjoy
your time at home. You never were a lazy man. Maybe you could
volunteer somewhere if you feel like you’re not doing anything
useful.”

“
Nox.”

I purse my lips as
my brows rise. “That’s actually not a bad idea, Mama. I’ll make
some enquiries come Monday.”

“
Adam Christian Taylor!” Lily shouts.

My brows furrow.
“Hold on, Mama.” Turning to my wife, who stands at the end of the
hall, I ask, “What is it, princess?”

Sniffling and smiling, she states, “My water just
broke.”

My mouth gapes.

Lily takes one look
at my face and bursts into laughter, covering her mouth with her
hand. Placing the other hand on her swollen belly, she nods.
“Seriously. Just now.”

Suddenly panicked, I
shout into the phone, “Lily’s water just broke, Mom! What do we
do?”

Mama chuckles,
“Oh baby! It’s finally happening!” She suddenly becomes stern.
“Don’t you panic, boy. Ya hear? You stay cool and calm for your
wife. She needs you to be strong right now so she can leech off of
it when she doesn’t have any strength left inside-a
her.”

My mom’s smart.

Immediately calming,
I look over to a smiling Lily and state with a grin, “Gotta go,
Mama. Having a baby.”

Mom clucks, “You
send Lily my love and call me as soon as he or she is here.”

“
Okay, Mama. Love you.”

“
Love you too, baby.”

Lily bites her lip
and says, “I think we should go.”

Standing, I take the
keys to the car, pick up the pre-packed overnight bag, and walk
over to my wife. Kissing her on her smiling lips, I agree, “Yeah,
princess. Let’s do it.”

Wrapping her arm
around my waist, she squeezes tightly and hisses out a breath.
“Dammit, that hurts!”

And I can’t help but
chuckle.

I think she said the
same thing the first time we made love.

***

Rock

Dear Uncle Rock,

My name is Rocco
Lennox Taylor.

We haven’t met
before, but my mom and dad talk about you and Aunt Boo all the
time.

I was born only last
week and I have a favor to ask.

You see, I need a
set of godparents. According to Mom and Dad, there aren’t a finer
pair of people for the job than Aunt Boo and yourself.

Maybe I should tell you a little about myself. I weigh ten
pounds
even and am almost 20 inches long. I have
spiky black hair, and my daddy’s blue eyes.

I love to eat and
sleep at this point, not much more.

If you think you’d
like to take this mission, we’ll be celebrating my Christening in
two weeks at our local church, here in California.

My daddy says you
know where we live, and that you’re always welcome.

Mommy says if you
can’t make it, it’s okay. Aunt Terah and Uncle Jon are acting as
backups just in case.

I really hope you
can make it. I’d really like to meet my namesake. If not now, then
soon.

Lots of love,

Rocco

P.S. My fingers are
way too tiny to be writing. This letter was written by my
mommy.

“
Shit.”

My
eyes blur and my throat thickens
.

I re-read the
letter.

Covering my face with a hand, I cry like a little
bitch.

Clearing my throat,
I wipe my eyes, take the letter, and walk out of my room.

Smiling, I yell out,
“Boo! Got some good news, babe…”

The End

A message from the author:

Hi guys,

Thank you for reading Willing Captive. This
is a standalone novel but Lily and Nox will make a short appearance
in my upcoming novel, RAW. You can help me an awful lot by leaving
a review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Thanks again. Your love and support mean
everything to me.

Belle xx

***

SURPRISE!!!
Here is a short teaser to my upcoming novel, RAW. RAW is a dark
romance and will be released in 2014. This exchange is between Lexi
and Twitch.