Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection

by Gianna Gabriela

  I dived at her, knocking her back into the cushions and kissing her hard and deep; the way I’d dreamed of kissing her since I was just a boy.

  My hands couldn’t get enough of her, touching and stroking, desperate to feel every inch of her. To learn the curves of her body. Her tickle spots. The places that made her moan.

  “I have waited so long for this.” I kissed the corner of her lips, tracing a path down to her neck, sucking the skin there.

  “More, Vin. I need—”

  “Ssh.” I lifted my head for a second. “I’ve got you, Mags.” I will always have you.

  Pulling away, I stood up and held out my hand. A deep frown pinched Maggie’s brow as she slid her hand into mine. Her skin was flushed, the sexy blush I loved so much streaked up her neck and into her cheeks. Fuck, now I wanted to see where else I could make her blush. But not here, not like this.

  I tugged her toward me and slid my hand around her, the other going under her legs.

  “Vinnie, what the—” I scooped her up and began walking toward the hall.

  Her soft laughter filled the air and I wanted to bottle it; it was that damn sweet.

  “Ssh,” I whispered against her ear. “You don’t want to wake Belle, do you?” Because as much as I loved that little girl, I really really wanted some alone time with her mom right now.

  Treading carefully, I carried Maggie upstairs and down the hall. “It’s the last door on the left,” she said quietly.

  Tension swirled around us, the air crackling as I toed open the door and stepped inside. I lowered Maggie to the floor, and she tried to wriggle away from me, but I hooked her around the waist and pulled her flush against my chest. “And where do you think you’re going?”

  “I just want to savor this,” she sighed. “We’ll never get this again, our first time.”

  “No, we won’t.” I kissed the end of her nose. “But hopefully we’ll get a lot of times after tonight.” My brow went up suggestively and she swatted my chest. “I’d forgotten how much you love to turn everything into a joke.”

  “And I’d forgotten how beautiful you are.”

  “Vin...”

  “Kiss me, Mags. Kiss me and mean it.” I touched my head to hers. “Kiss me and show me how much you want this.”

  Maggie touched her lips to mine, her fingers gripping my jaw. Her tongue darted out, licking the seam of my mouth before pushing inside, tangling around my tongue. I slipped my hand down to the curve of her ass and pulled her closer, so close I could feel all of her pressed up against all of me. I was rock hard, desperate to be inside of her; but I didn’t want to rush this. I wanted to take my time acquainting myself with her body. But Maggie had other ideas, sliding her hands underneath my Henley and scraping her nails down my torso.

  “Fuuuuck,” I groaned, a deep shudder rolling through me.

  “Did you like that?” She nipped my earlobe.

  “I’ll like you under me better.” I crowded Maggie until the backs of her legs hit the bed. When I was certain she was positioned right, I pushed her chest gently, sending her falling back onto the mattress. She gazed up at me with fire in her eyes. But I would risk the burn ten times over just to be with her.

  She landed with a giggle, the sound so fucking beautiful, I wanted to find all the ways to make her keep doing it.

  I fell down on top of her, taking my weight with my hands, and I kissed her again. Slow and deep, fast and hard. Teasing her with my tongue and lips. Painting her jaw, the hollow of her neck, with big wet kisses.

  “Touch me,” Maggie whispered. “Please.”

  Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. I’d dreamed of this day over and over, since I was just a boy unfamiliar with a woman’s body. There were so many things I wanted to do to her, with her.

  “Where do you want me to touch you, Mags? Tell me.” Her eyes flew open, glossy with desire, skin flushed with arousal.

  “I... everywhere.”

  My brow went up as I fought a smirk. Sliding off the bed onto my knees, I ran my hand down her stomach, finding the last button of her blouse. Making quick work of them, I moved to her jeans next, pulling them off her hips and down her legs. She looked so fucking sexy, spread out on the bed in nothing but her underwear and silk blouse. But it wasn’t enough. I needed to see every inch of her. To taste every inch.

  Crooking my finger at her, Maggie sat up, letting the blouse drift down her arms.

  “You are so beautiful, Maggie. I could spend my days just looking at you.”

  “Vin.” Her breath caught as I skated my hands around her ribs to her bra fastening. It popped open revealing her perfect breasts. I couldn’t resist leaning forward, tasting her. She almost bucked off the bed when my mouth closed around her nipple.

  “Y- your turn,” she panted. “Clothes... off.”

  Chuckling, I pulled away and winked at her as I stood up and stripped down to my boxer briefs. Our clothes lay around us in haphazard piles and I knew, without doubt, this was what I wanted. Right here. A future with Maggie and Belle.

  But first, I needed to feel her. To show her how much I loved her.

  Kneeling again, I glided my hand up her stomach and pushed gently until she was lying flat. Then I drifted my hand back down but this time I didn’t stop until I was lingering at the edge of her black lace panties.

  “Oh God,” she breathed as I rubbed her. “That is... Oh God.”

  Smirking, I hooked the material to the side and slid my fingers through her wetness. Maggie’s back arched, her soft moans filling the air.

  She was so wet, so needy, it made my heart almost burst. She wanted this.

  She wanted me.

  It was all I’d ever wanted.

  To have her look at me the way I looked at her. To have her need me the way I needed her.

  I pushed a finger into her and then another, curving them up and rubbing deep inside her.

  “Vinnie, I can’t... it’s...”

  “Ssh, baby, I got you.” Leaning forward, I ran my tongue around her clit, tasting her. It was pure heaven.

  My fingers worked her faster as I let my tongue get acquainted with her body, drawing moan after moan from her soft lips.

  “Vinnie, more, I need...” Her body tensed and then shuddered around me as she came all over my fingers.

  Working my way back up her body, I kissed her, letting her taste herself on my tongue.

  “Hi,” I said easing away to look at her.

  “Hi.” She smiled. “That was...”

  “Only the beginning. I need to feel you, Maggie.” Because if I didn’t get inside her in the next second, there was every chance I might die.

  I needed her like I needed oxygen.

  She nodded. “I want you too.”

  “Condom?”

  “I’m on the pill, and I got tested after... after I found out Rob cheated on me.”

  My jaw clenched as I muttered, “That motherfucker.”

  “Don’t.” She grabbed my face. “Don’t let him ruin this for us. I need you, Vinnie. Make love to me, please. Show me how good it can be.”

  Maggie hooked her legs around me, pressing me right against her core. Wet heat enveloped me, but she still had her panties on.

  Pulling away to stand, I inched the black lace off her hips and down her legs, throwing them on the pile of our discarded clothes. And then kicked off my boxers.

  “Now,” I said, sliding back between her legs, and gazing down at her. “Where we were?” My dick nudged her entrance, as if he knew exactly where he needed to be.

  “I love you, Vinnie, more than anything.”

  “I love you too, Mags, so fucking much.” And then I rocked into her in one smooth stroke.

  Our bodies were joined, our hearts beating as one.

  And although it had taken a lot of heartache to get here, I knew without a shadow of doubt, I was finally home.

  EPILOGUE

  Vinnie

  One year later…

  “Are you ready to go s
ee Grandpa Ford?” I asked Belle as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “Andpa Ord,” she repeated, and I smoothed her hair from her face.

  “That’s right, Princess. He would have loved you.” Grief pinched my heart. “He would have loved you so much.”

  Maggie squeezed my arm and I glanced down at her. “You okay?” she mouthed, and I forced a smile.

  “I will be.”

  The cemetery was quiet as we made our way to Dad’s headstone. It was already littered with fresh flowers and drawings from Tilly. She and my sister had visited earlier with Mom, but I’d wanted to wait for Maggie to get off work so we could come together. It was the first time we were bringing Belle.

  A year to the day since we buried him.

  It had been a whirlwind twelve months. After Rob had been arrested that day, things between me and Maggie moved quickly. I quit my job, moved home, and took a senior position at my Dad’s company. It was the least I could do given the circumstances, and Mom was ecstatic I would continue his legacy.

  Our relationship didn’t come as a surprise to most people. Mom, Teresa, and Shaun were all happy for us. It took Lucii a little longer to accept it though. I think once Maggie decided to sell the house so we could buy a place together, she knew we were serious.

  I lowered Belle to the ground and Mags handed her the small bouquet of white roses. “Here you go, sweetheart.”

  Belle took time placing the flowers. I crouched down beside her, helping as she took her time to make the arrangement perfect. She might have only been just two, but she was already a perfectionist.

  “Pincess Belle did ood?” she asked me.

  “So good, baby girl.” I leaned in to kiss her cheek.

  “Come here, Princess.” Maggie sat down beside me and pulled Belle onto her lap.

  “Hey, Dad,” I said, running my hand over the headstone. “I brought someone to meet you.” My eyes slid to Belle who clapped with glee. “I also wanted to tell you our news.” I met Maggie’s teary gaze. “We’re pregnant. The baby is due in seven months. We haven’t told everyone yet because it’s still early days. But I wanted you to know, Dad. I wanted you to know first, that I got the girl and my happy ending.”

  We hadn’t planned to grow our family so quickly, but Maggie had been sick a couple of months back and the doctor said it probably interfered with her birth control. It had been a surprise, but one I wouldn’t change for the world. I couldn’t wait to see Maggie’s stomach grow round with our child. To see Belle’s face when she got to meet her brother or sister.

  I finally had everything I ever wanted.

  And I couldn’t be happier.

  “Dadda,” Belle yelled the second she laid eyes on Rob. He walked toward us, hands deep in his pockets, wearing his usual easy smile. Only this time, he wasn’t alone.

  “Hey, Princess.” He scooped up Belle in his arms and smothered her with kisses, while Maggie buried herself into my side, a contented sigh slipping from her lips.

  There was a time I would have wondered what she was thinking; if she was looking at Rob with lust and longing in her eyes. But I didn’t need to worry any more.

  Maggie was mine, in every way possible.

  But Rob was still Belle’s father, and things had been better between the three of us since he cleaned up his act and met Aubrey.

  “Hey, guys. I hope you don’t mind, but I brought Aubrey along to meet you.” Hesitation clouded his eyes, but Mags stepped forward smiling as she said, “Of course we don’t mind. It’s so good to finally meet you.”

  “I didn’t want to overstep,” the petite redhead said. “But I’ve been so desperate to meet you both. And this little princess of course.” Aubrey turned her attention to Belle. “Hi there, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Aubrey, I’m good friends with your daddy.”

  “Dadda.” Belle beamed, reaching out for Aubrey’s hair and stroking it. “I ike you air.”

  “And I like yours.”

  We all laughed, and I tucked Maggie back into my side as we watched Belle and her father.

  At first, after everything went down with Rob that day, I thought I’d find it hard with him being in Belle and Maggie’s lives. He had rights after all. But I quickly realized that if anyone would find it hard, it would be Rob. He was the outsider looking in now. I’d gotten Maggie and Belle, I’d gotten the life he could have had. And he knew I wouldn’t squander it the way he had. That was his regret to live with.

  I needn’t have worried too much though. In the end, Belle turned out to be the thing that brought us back together. It wasn’t the same as it used to be, but we were friends again and that was more than I could have hoped for.

  “So what did you guys want to do?” Rob asked as he bounced Belle in his arms. “I thought we could go down to the Bay and paddle and then get food at The Shack?”

  “Actually,” I said. “We thought you and Aubrey could take Belle for a few hours; if you wanted to?”

  “Yeah?” His confusion quickly melted away replaced with appreciation. Maggie nodded and his grin widened. “We’d like that, wouldn’t we, babe?”

  “If you’re sure?” Aubrey added.

  “We’re sure.” I dropped a kiss on Maggie’s head. “You could spend the day at the beach and we’ll meet you at The Shack for food later? Say about five?”

  “That’s great,” Rob rushed out, hardly able to contain his excitement. It wasn’t the first time he’d taken Belle but it was usually only for an hour here or there or he visited her with us or his mom. “What do you say, Princess?”

  Belle cheered, her soft peels of excitement filling the air. We said goodbye to Belle and Rob and they wandered toward his truck, but Aubrey lingered. “Thank you; you don’t know how much this means to him.”

  “We just want Belle to be happy,” Maggie said. Her voice cracked with emotion and I hugged her closer.

  “Well, thank you. I know things haven’t been easy between the three of you but Rob respects you both a lot and I know he’d probably kill me for saying this, but he’s so happy to be in your lives.”

  Fuck. Even my throat went dry at her words. I didn’t doubt Aubrey knew all about our past but she hadn’t lived it. That was something only the three of us shared.

  “Rob has my number if there are any problems,” Maggie said.

  “Well, we’ll see you later, I guess. Thanks again and it was so good finally meeting you both.” Aubrey hurried after them.

  “Are we doing the right thing?” Maggie asked the second she was out of earshot. I turned her in my arms and gazed down at her.

  “I think so. Besides, it means we can go home and have some alone time.”

  “Alone time, huh?” Her brow rose, and I smirked.

  “Yeah, so get your cute ass in the car because the clock’s ticking and I’m going to need every spare second to show you just how much I love you.”

  “You love me?” Mags teased, pulling me toward the car, but I yanked her into me, looping my arms around her waist.

  “I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow, and definitely not as much as the day after that, or the one after that.” My lips traced letters of love along her neck.

  “You love me a lot then?”

  “Just a little bit.” I smothered a grin. “But actions speak louder than words, Mags, so get in the damn car.”

  The End.

  Thank you so much for reading Wicked Truths: A Wicked Bay Novella!

  If you would like to find out more about the Wicked Bay world, check out Wicked Beginnings, book one in the series. Available now on all platforms

  About the Author

  Angsty. Edgy. Addictive Romance

  Author of mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.

  Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two
little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

  L A loves connecting with readers. Find me by clicking through to my Official Website or clicking any of the icons below!

  WHEN HOPE ENDS

  life begins

  FREYA BARKER

  PROLOGUE

  MIKA

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Ainsworth, but on this I have to agree with Ms. Spencer.”

  The relief I feel at Judge Winslow’s words, walking out of the courtroom, is short-lived. The reality hits me in the face the moment I step into Kenny G’s holiday classics streaming into the otherwise empty elevator cab. My knees buckle and I end up on my ass, sitting on the floor with my back against the side.

  The frenzied battle waged in and out of the courtroom, these past five days, suddenly seems insignificant in the face of what’s ahead. Today, in fact. The judge ended up giving Emmett and his family until four this afternoon to say their goodbyes, and after that it will all be up to me.

  The heaviest of responsibilities my knees clearly can’t hold up under.

  The moment the door hisses open, I’m blinded by flashing lights.

  Stupid. I’d all but forgotten they were here.

  I scramble to my feet, an endeavor made more difficult with microphones and recording devices shoved in my face, and block out the questions that come at me from all directions. Hard to believe I was part of the pack not that long ago.

  I should’ve let Sam come. When I talked to her briefly this morning and she mentioned Demi—her youngest—had been sick all night, I insisted she stay home and look after her. I regret it now. Sam would’ve plowed her way through the small crowd of my peers and hustled me out of there.