by James, Lylah
With a knee on the mattress, I leaned forward and pressed the warm cloth between her thighs, wiping away my seed.
Julianna hummed in response and her eyes fluttered close. “Tired?”
She let out a big yawn in response. “I’m really sore.”
My lips twitched. My wife was insatiable during her pregnancy. Julianna wanted sex all the time and she didn’t care where it was or if it wasn’t an appropriate time to attack her husband.
Like yesterday, she had straddled me, bouncing up and down on my cock while I was on the phone with my father. Not that I was complaining.
I guessed we were making up for lost time – three very long years.
After making sure she was clean, I threw the cloth into our laundry basket and then brought her the plate of guavas, honey and whip cream she had asked for.
Weird pregnancy cravings.
I wasn’t sure how that would taste, but I didn’t question her choice.
I was about to pass Julianna the plate when her face twisted. Her body tightened and then she gasped. “Oh, no.”
My eyes darted between her legs, finding a wet spot. Julianna flushed, her eyes growing wide and she sat there, appalled.
I acted on instinct, as I bent forward and lifted her off the bed.
“It’s okay,” I soothed, gathering her in my arms. “Let’s get you in the tub and I’ll change the bedsheets.”
“Wait,” she said softly. “I don’t think I peed the bed.
I blinked, confused. “Huh?”
Her eyes met mine and she swallowed. “I think my water just broke.”
Thud. My heart leaped in my throat.
“Ready to be a daddy?” my wife asked, smiling.
Fuck no.
But I nodded, nonetheless. Because it didn’t matter if I was ready or not, my son was coming.
Six hours later, Cameron Theodore Spencer made his grand entrance, wailing at the top of his little lungs. Almost like he rejected the idea of being pulled out of his safe and warm cocoon.
Julianna sagged against my chest and I curled my arm around her. “He’s here,” I said to her. “You’re so fucking amazing, Princess.”
I had watched her go through an intense labor in the last six hours and she left me in awe with her strength and perseverance. Fuck, I was madly in love with this woman.
Cameron was still screaming, thrusting his tiny fists into the air. Rani wrapped up my crying son in a yellow blanket, like a burrito, before she placed him in Julianna’s arms.
The moment he was in her arms, his cries quieted down. Cameron blinked up at his mother, mesmerized. He let out a hiccup, his lips pursing as if he was debating if he should cry or just enjoy his mother’s embrace.
Our son.
He had my black hair and nose and…his eyes were grey, like his mother’s.
My wife let out a choked sob, laughing through her tears. “Look at you, my sweet little angel,” she whispered. “So strong and stubborn like your daddy. What am I going to do with the two of you?”
My shoulders shook with silent laughter. “You promised me four more babies.”
Julianna leveled me with a glare. “Two.”
“Four,” I shot back.
Her lips pursed. “Three.”
“Deal.”
Julianna rolled her eyes before passing me our son. I cradled him in my arms, bringing him closer against my chest. We stared at each other, quiet and serious.
My chest tightened with various emotions crashing through me like a wave. But the most prominent feeling was violent protectiveness for my son.
A part of me and a part of Julianna.
I would tear the world down if anything were to happen to him.
“Hello, son.” He hiccupped at my voice, his tiny fists flailing.
My wife leaned into me, letting her head fall on my shoulder.
“Julianna,” I started.
“Hmm.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “We are not Arabella and Elias or Sierra and Jonathan, or Camille and Lucas, or Mackenzie and Elliot.”
The four tragic couple of this cursed castle.
Julianna laced her fingers through mine, squeezing. “Fate had been cruel to us. I made choices that I’ve lived to regret. We both made mistakes. We had to fight for our happily ever after. In the end, I chose you. You chose me.”
“We’re Julianna and Killian, and we deserve our happy ending,” I said to my wife.
This wasn’t a pretty fairy tale.
Our love story was messy and flawed – a twisted tale.
But it was perfect in the most imperfect way.
THE END
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Vivvi, how do I ever thank you? You’re my rock and a piece of my heart. Thank you for loving my characters, my babies, just as much as I do, if not more. You’re the moon of my life.
My wonderful editor Rebecca – your patience is admirable. Thank you for not hating me. You worked with me on such a tight schedule. It’s insane but you legit made this book possible. I thought you kicked me to the curb, but you didn’t. For that – I am forever grateful. Thank you for holding my hand. You were my emotional support system.
Brianna Hale, if it weren’t for our writing sprints, I would have never finished this book. Thank you for being the friend I needed when I was at my low.
My parents, thank you for your never-ending support and love.
To my girl, Cat…seriously, what would I do without you? Suse, you’ve been there, supporting my craziness and I love you even more. You made my book pretty – thank YOU!
Special thanks to my STREET TEAM! I’m so amazed by how dedicated you guys are.
Huge thanks to CANDI KANE PR – you’re a gem and I’m so glad I trusted you with my book baby because you did magic!
Maria at Steamy Designs: You killed this cover! So gorgeous and everything I wanted!
To the bloggers and everyone who took their time to promote this book, you are awesome! My big thanks to you. To my beautiful readers, a huge thank you to every single one of you. My lovelies. Your never ending support and love has taken us on this path. Thank you for standing with me through all my craziness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lylah James uses all her spare time to write. If she is not studying, sleeping, writing or working—she can be found with her nose buried in a good romance book, preferably with a hot alpha male. Writing is her passion. The voices in her head won’t stop, and she believes they deserve to be heard and read. Lylah James writes about drool worthy and total alpha males and strong and sweet heroines. She makes her readers cry—sob their eyes out, swoon, curse, rage, and fall in love. Mostly known as the Queen of Cliffhangers and the #evilauthorwithablacksoul, she likes to break her readers’ hearts and then mend them.
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BOOKS BY LYLAH JAMES
Tainted Hearts Series
The Mafia and His Angel: Part One
The Mafia and His Angel: Part Two
The Mafia and His Angel: Part Three
Blood and Roses
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part One
The Mafia and His Obsession: Part Two
Truth and Dare Duet
DO YOU DARE? (Book one)
I DARE YOU (Book two, the conclusion)
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