Protect

by Bailey, Sarah

  “You coming in with me?” she asked, putting a hand on my arm. “We should really talk about this.”

  I sighed and got out of the car without answering. The two of us walked to Bensons hand in hand. She’d tucked the scans in her handbag and was smiling the whole way. Me, on the other hand, I was feeling like another bomb had been dropped on the two of us.

  Barely a minute after we’d stepped into her office, Fi dashed in.

  “Show me, show me, show me!”

  Jen sat down at her desk and left me pacing by the windows. Fi came around the desk looking like Christmas had come early. Jen pulled out the scan photos and handed them to her. There was a long moment of silence before a squeal erupted out of her sister’s mouth.

  “Oh my god, you’re having twins!”

  Hearing another person say it out loud made me feel queasy.

  “I knew it. I just knew it. This is so exciting, Jen. I’m going to be an aunty to twins. Who’d have thought!”

  “All right, calm down.”

  “How are you feeling? Are you excited?”

  Jen looked over her shoulder at me with a frown on her face.

  “I’m fine… Hold on…”

  She got up and walked over to me, putting a hand on my arm.

  “Hey,” she said quietly. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “Is it?”

  I couldn’t help it. Tension coiled inside me even though she was right there and she calmed me usually.

  “Yes. We can do this. I know it’s scary, but we’ve got this.”

  She let go of my arm and reached up, stroking my face.

  “We have each other, Brent. I love you and you love me.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “And we both love our babies. Nothing else matters.”

  “How can you be so calm about it?”

  She gave me a soft smile. Shit. The sight of it made my heart thump. The way she always looked at me now as if I was her everything had taken some getting used to after she’d spent so long hating on me.

  “I have you.”

  I couldn’t help smiling.

  “Is that all it takes then?”

  She shook her head.

  “No, but I know you’ll protect me and the babies with your life. Knowing you have my back and you love me, that’s all I need.”

  If she wasn’t careful, she was going to make me get all emotional. As if I couldn’t love this woman any more than I already did. Jen had changed so much over the past few months. She’d grown and seemed so much freer. Like all of her burdens and past hurts weren’t weighing her down any longer.

  I leant down, pressing my forehead to hers as I cupped her face.

  “I do love you, so fucking much.”

  “And I love you.”

  “We’re going to be okay.”

  She nodded, the smile on her face widening.

  “We’re having twins. Shit. Two babies. They’re going to be so beautiful, just like their mother.”

  Twin spots of red appeared on her cheeks and fuck if that wasn’t adorable. Jen really was everything to me.

  “What if I want them to look like you?”

  I snorted.

  “Well, I won’t complain either way.”

  She kissed me then and in those moments of us being locked together, I felt like it would all be okay. We could get through this just like we’d gotten through everything else.

  We pulled apart when we heard a loud sob across from us. We looked over at Fi who was full on ugly crying.

  “You two are just so… perfect,” she whispered.

  Jen rolled her eyes and pulled away from me.

  “Oh shut up and stop being such a big baby.”

  She walked over to her sister and pulled her into a hug. The girls smiled at each other when they pulled apart.

  “Okay, so why is this like crying central in here?” James said as he walked in with a raised eyebrow.

  “You know what women are like,” I replied, coming over and putting an arm around Jen.

  She scowled at me before turning back to her brother.

  “Brent and I are having twins.”

  James’ face lit up and he came over to us, taking the sonogram photos out of Fi’s hand.

  “Oh well, that’s going to be a fuck ton of work, but congrats.”

  “Thank you baby bro.”

  “Now we’re just missing Dante,” Fi said with a shrug.

  James’ grin got wider.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

  The next moment, our older brother strolled in with Logan attached to his chest like this was a normal occurrence for him to bring his son into the office.

  “What are you doing here?” Jen asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Am I not allowed to check on my company and my siblings?”

  “You are, but none of us expected you here today, especially not with my nephew.”

  He shrugged, coming over and taking the scan photos from James.

  “You think I forgot you were having a scan today… Oh shit, you’re having twins? Well, good luck with that. Logan is enough work as it is.”

  He shoved me on the arm and winked before grinning.

  “Wipe that smile off your face. Don’t forget, we live in the same house,” I retorted. “And we’ve babysat Logan enough times now so you’ll have no choice but return the favour.”

  That made his expression drop immediately.

  “You expect Liora and me to look after three kids at the same time?”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  “Fine. I suppose it’s only fair. Christ, our family is getting bigger by the fucking day.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” Fi asked.

  He smiled and shook his head.

  “No, I just didn’t think I’d see the day, you know. After everything he did to try and tear us apart, we’re still all together and look at us, having families, running Bensons. Did any of you think we’d be here now?”

  “Not me,” James said.

  Fi shook her head and Jen shrugged.

  “Right, well, all of you are coming home tonight for dinner and no excuses. We need to celebrate. Don’t forget to bring Ellie and Jensen.”

  With that, he handed the scans back to Jen and strolled away. I rolled my eyes. Typical fucking Dante, but in all honesty, I was happy. We were a family now. All of us.

  “He’s never going to stop being bossy,” Jen said.

  “Yeah, well, imagine how Liora feels when he gets all demanding,” James put in.

  “I don’t know, I think she’s into it.”

  She waggled her eyebrows at her brother and he laughed.

  “You really have no idea.”

  And with that he walked out, leaving me alone with the girls who looked at each other with confusion written all over their faces. I was definitely not about to enlighten them about what James meant. They really didn’t need to know about their older brother’s proclivities. I knew far more than I’d ever wanted to.

  “I don’t even want to ask what that was about,” Fi said. “I better get back to work anyway, but seriously, we have to plan now you’re having two babies. You’ve got to get so much stuff.”

  Jen rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t remind me.”

  She gave her sister another hug before Fi gave me one and disappeared from the room. I tugged Jen over to her desk chair and sat down with her in my lap, my hand stroking across her stomach.

  “My babies are growing in there,” I whispered.

  “Our babies, you mean.”

  “Yes, our babies. Two of them. No doubt they’ll be a handful just like their mother.”

  “You love how much of a handful I am.”

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “Do I now?”

  She stroked my jaw.

  “Mmmhmm. Don’t forget, you’ve called me a madden
ing woman who you still want to pin down and fuck regardless. And told me how crazy you are for me on several occasions.”

  I grinned before tucking a hand around the back of her head, my fingers tangling in her dark hair.

  “Oh, I most definitely want to hold you down and fuck you, repeatedly.”

  Jen’s sex drive was still crazy at the moment, but you’d never hear me complaining about it. Even if she occasionally fucked my cock raw with all the sex we seemed to have.

  “No one else is allowed that privilege.”

  “I should fucking well hope not. You’re mine.”

  She leant forward and nuzzled her nose against mine.

  “And you’re mine.”

  “Yes, Mistress Jennifer. Are you going to punish me for making you think otherwise?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Shut up.”

  “I’ve always been yours. You stole my heart, remember?”

  “I’m keeping it safe, don’t you worry.”

  She grinned and jumped off my lap, strolling away to the door which she closed and locked, giving me a wink. She shut the blinds next. As she walked back over to me, she had a very sly smile on her face. Before she straddled me in her chair, she hitched up her skirt, exposing her lacy underwear to me. I wrapped my hands around her pert arse, pulling her down towards me.

  “You really are an insatiable little minx,” I growled as she reached between us and stroked her hand down my rapidly hardening cock.

  “Am I? Oh well, I suppose if you don’t want it, you just have to say.”

  “I never said that.”

  She grinned, her blue eyes twinkling. Making quick work of my jeans, she tugged out her prey, making me groan. She didn’t bother taking anything else off, just peeled aside her underwear and sunk down on me inch by inch.

  “Jen,” I hissed. “Fuck.”

  Her face buried in my neck, peppering kisses across my skin as I gripped her arse and encouraged her to ride me.

  “Shit, I love your cock,” she breathed against my skin.

  “Is that so?”

  Her lips trailed up my jaw until they met mine. Her breath dusted across them as she teased me with barely-there kisses.

  “If I tell you how much, you’re not allowed to let it go to your head.”

  “No promises.”

  “So annoying, but fuck it, no one has ever filled me up or fucked me the way you do. I need it, so fucking much. God, Brent, you drive me crazy.”

  The urgency in her voice and the way her hips ground against mine only made me harder. Fuck, I needed to come in her so bad. I reached in between us and stroked her clit, making her groan louder.

  “Shh, firestorm.”

  “But it feels so good,” she whimpered.

  I chuckled, wishing we were at home so she could make as much noise as she wanted. Our bedroom in the flat had been finished first so we were able to fuck in peace.

  She picked up the pace, holding onto my shoulders as her head fell back, her dark hair splaying out across her back.

  “Shit, Brent, fuck.”

  Her body started to convulse around me and I knew she’d let go. Fuck, she looked so beautiful in the throes of ecstasy. She had this glow about her, setting my whole world alight. Watching her come all over my cock had my own climax rapidly approaching. Everything stilled right before the first wave hit. I couldn’t help being in awe of the love of my life for that small moment. Then I let go, grunting out her name as bliss washed over my skin. Everything about Jen was perfect. And everything about this moment was magical.

  She panted as she came down, her head dropping onto my shoulder. I stroked her hair and held her close. My beautiful pregnant fiancée who set my world on fire the moment she walked in my life all those years ago. I loved this girl to death. And I’d protect her and her family to the very end. Just like I’d vowed to do when I first came into the Benson’s lives.

  I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for the rollercoaster ride of emotions I’d go on with them. They really were my family. I might have Cam, Dad and the kids, but the Bensons were more than just blood. They were the family who’d welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like I really was home.

  And right here, with Jen by my side, I knew I’d found my place in this world.

  “I love you,” I whispered. “I love you until the very end.”

  “I love you too.”

  Epilogue

  Jennifer

  I clutched Dante’s arm, checking my dress yet again because I was worried it wasn’t perfect. Fi looked back at me, her blue eyes shining.

  “You look beautiful. Don’t worry.”

  She knew I was nervous without me even saying anything.

  Fi looked radiant in her red dress, her hair falling down her shoulders in soft waves with a bouquet of white lilies in her hands to match mine. On her left hand, she had the most perfect ring. A simple white gold band, a round cut diamond in the centre with smaller diamonds running down the band next to it. Jensen had asked her to marry him a few months ago. Honestly, I’d told him to get a move on several times, but when it finally happened, it was the most romantic thing he’d ever done for her.

  He’d got Ellie to close Frankie’s to the public for the night to celebrate their first year anniversary. Then he’d got down one knee and asked her to be his wife. Fi cried her heart out after she said yes. I’d never seen her so happy in my entire life. And it set me off too. I’d still been quite heavily pregnant at that point, so crying was pretty much a given.

  But that wasn’t the wedding we were at today. No, it just happened to be mine and Brent’s, which is why I was nervous as fuck. I shouldn’t be, since marrying the love of my life was exciting, but I couldn’t help it.

  “She’s right, you do look beautiful,” Dante said, giving my hand a squeeze.

  “Don’t make me cry!”

  He grinned and shook his head. The music started up then. Fi gave me one last glance before she walked into the ceremony room behind Brent’s three nieces, Crystal, Jaqueline and April, who were our flower girls.

  “You sure you want to marry Brent? I can whisk you away at any time.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Yes, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  His eyes twinkled. Dante had been amazing. Him and Liora had been there every step of the way throughout my pregnancy and had helped Brent and I with the twins when they arrived. He gave me one last nod before we both stepped forward into the room and began to make our way up the aisle.

  Liora was sitting with Logan in her lap and my two baby girls, Calliope and Maia, in their pushchair next to her. They looked so much like their daddy with beautiful hazel eyes, but they had my dark hair. I loved those two girls even if they were a handful. Hardly surprising given how many times Fi and I had given our mother a run for her money. I couldn’t think about them right now. Today was about becoming Mrs Coleman.

  Brent stood at the end of the aisle, a huge fucking grin on his face which would normally piss me off, but right now, I was happy to see him. He looked so handsome in his dark grey suit with a white lily in the lapel. Hell, I loved this man so damn much.

  In no time at all, we were standing next to him and Dante handed me over to his best friend, giving him a slap on the back in the process.

  “Look after her.”

  “I will. With my life.”

  He grinned and moved away to stand next to him. He was giving me away, but he was also Brent’s best man, just as Brent had been at his wedding to Liora.

  Brent’s beautiful hazel eyes shone as he stared down at me.

  “You look so beautiful.”

  I’d chosen a very simple lace A-line dress with long lace sleeves with a plunging back. No veil, but my hair was half up with tiny little flowers running through it.

  Thankfully I’d managed to shed my baby weight for this occasion. The girls had been born early, but t
hat was expected with them being twins. They’d had to stay in hospital for a couple of weeks before we were allowed to take them home given they were preterm. We’d been so happy when we could finally be a family with our two girls.

  “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

  He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

  “You ready?”

  I reached up and cupped his face.

  “I’ve been ready for this since the day you asked me.”

  His smile was electric.

  Yeah, I was ready to become Mrs Coleman. Most definitely ready.

  We both turned to the registrar who gave us a smile and started the service.

  Time to tie the knot and make this official.

  ***

  The ceremony was one of the best moments of my life. I’d stared at him the whole time, barely hearing what the registrar was saying, repeating what she told me at the appropriate moments and desperately wanting to be closer to Brent all the while. Getting to say I do to the man I loved made me cry, but it was the kiss which had my knees buckling and my heart melting. I’d finally got everything I wanted. Brent was my husband. The man I’d wanted deep down since I was fifteen years old. Perhaps fairy tales really did exist. But I’d never tell anyone that. They might think I’d gone soft. Perhaps I had but being with the love of my life had changed me in so many ways. And our two perfect daughters had brought me more joy then I could even begin to express.

  My entire family was congregated together by the top table along with all their partners, including my babies and my husband. We hadn’t invited a huge number of people. Just close family and friends along with some of our employees who were an important part of the day to day running of the business. It had been everything I ever wanted for my wedding.

  I watched my family laughing together and couldn’t help smiling. We’d come such a long way in the past few years after Dad’s arrest. That moment had changed the course of history in so many ways. At least for us it had. We’d all grown so much.

  Dante and Liora had Logan who was growing up so fast. They were still as happy as they had been when they’d first got together. I don’t think anyone could ever say their relationship was orthodox, but it worked for them. Dante might always be overprotective and completely stubborn, but he was also my big brother and in a lot of ways, my parental figure. To see him settled and happy after everything he’d been through made me happier than I could ever express in words.