Next to Forever: Shattered Innocence Trilogy Book Three

by Long, A. L.

  Closing her eyes, Dylan wondered what it would be like to have a baby in their life. Her dreams began to fill with white picket fences, big blue balloons, and stuffed tigers and bears. Dylan continued to dream about playmates and birthdays. Then her dream swayed into a different direction. Chloe entered her dreams. She was standing outside the white picket fence with a knife in her hand. As she walked through the gate, Dylan just stared at her, unable to move. Then it happened, the knife plunged inside her. All Dylan could hear were the cries of a child. The cries of a child she hadn’t yet given birth to.

  Screaming from the dream that seemed so real, Dylan placed her hand on her stomach, knowing it was just a bad dream. Rade had told her that Chloe went crazy at the police station and that she would more than likely spend her days in an institution. Dylan knew she was crazy. As much as she hated Chloe, she hoped that she would find peace with herself there.

  Rade came flying down the stairs, hearing Dylan’s screams. When he got to the couch, she was sitting up. Rade sat beside her and took her into his arms. “I heard you screaming, Dylan,” Rade said ,worried.

  “I had a bad dream. I dreamt that Chloe was at our home and she killed our child. Just like she stabbed me. I could hear the baby crying,” Dylan explained, wiping away the tears that had fallen.

  “It was only a dream, Sweetness, Chloe is never going to hurt you or our child again,” Rade assured her.

  “Rade,” Dylan began, turning her body towards him. “I know we haven’t talked about the baby, but I need to know that you want this as much as I do.”

  “I know I said that I didn’t want any children, Sweetness, but something changed. You lying in that hospital bed with our child made me think about how lucky I was to have both of you. I want this baby more than ever,” Rade confessed. “I’m thinking about selling the house in Hampton Bay. I want to buy you a home that we can have together. To build happy memories. Something closer to the city, but out in the country.”

  “Really, you would sell the house you love so much for me?” Dylan asked with sadness.

  “For us, Sweetness. You, me, and the baby,” Rade confirmed.

  “Let’s get married Rade. I don’t care where.” Dylan demanded, out of nowhere.

  “Are you sure? What about Lilly and your dad and Sally? Don’t you want them to be there?” Rade asked understandingly. He didn’t want Dylan to miss out on the wedding she really wanted.

  “Of course, I do. I didn’t mean right now. I just don’t want to wait any longer than I have to,” Dylan replied.

  “How long do you need to get everything ready?” Rade asked. More than anything he wanted to make Dylan his. He didn’t care where it was done.

  “A couple of weeks. Maybe less. I just need to make a few calls and make sure Lilly can be here,” Dylan confirmed.

  “Okay, I can live with that. I love you, Sweetness,” Rade said, kissing Dylan lightly on the lips.

  *****

  “It’s hard to believe that two weeks have already passed by,” Lilly said as she looked down at Dylan.

  “We did it, girlfriend. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without your help,” Dylan confessed, taking Lilly by the hand that held the veil she was about to place on Dylan’s head.

  “Okay, No tears. You’re going to ruin my masterpiece. Are you ready to put that gorgeous dress on?” Lilly asked, wiping away her own tears.

  “Yeah. I can’t believe you brought it from Paris for me. How did you even know that I would like it?” Dylan asked.

  “Because I know you. Now let’s get it on you and see how it looks,” Lilly ordered.

  Dylan carefully stepped into the dress, while Lilly carefully worked the silky material up her body. Pulling the delicate material around Dylan’s neck and zipping up the back, Lilly smiled at how perfectly the dress fit her. It was like it was made for her. The dress was elegant, with a beaded halter neckline and a trumpet style skirt, and a long flowing train edged with the same beads. It was breathtaking alone, but with it on Dylan, it was mesmerizing. She looked like an angel in it.

  “Dylan, I have never seen a more beautiful bride,” Lilly confessed with a tear in her eye.

  “Thank you for knowing me so well, Lilly. It’s beautiful,” Dylan said, hugging her friend.

  There was a light knock on the door. Lilly walked over to the door and opened it. Sally was on the other side. As she stepped into the room, Sally took in a deep breath, placing her hand over her heart. “Oh my God, sweetheart, you’re absolutely beautiful,” Sally said with affection. “Everyone is waiting for you. Are you ready?”

  Dylan nodded her head and stepped out of the room. Rade and Dylan decided to hold the wedding at the Hampton home. They thought it was fitting to spend one last time at the home Rade loved so much before the new owners took possession. Walking down the staircase, Dylan spotted her dad dressed in a black tux and blue bowtie. Dylan wanted Rade to wear the tie that had brought so many wonderful memories. It was only fitting that her dad and Evan wore the same shade of blue. Looking at her dad as he waited for her to reach him, Dylan could see the love in his eyes.

  Pulling her in for a hug, Ray said, “You look absolutely beautiful, pumpkin. You look so much like your mother did on our wedding day. Are you ready?”

  “I am,” Dylan said as she looked at her dad with teary eyes.

  As Dylan and her dad stepped onto the patio she could hear the sound of violins playing Jason Mraz “I’m Yours.” As Dylan took in her surroundings, she had to admit that with the help of Lilly and Sally, they did a wonderful job in putting everything together for the wedding. Every seat in the ceremony area was occupied. Most of the guests she knew, but there were also some that she didn’t recognize. The weather had been perfect for the wedding. Walking between the perfectly positioned rows, Dylan smiled at the guests as they rose to their feet. Smiling as she passed them, she held her gaze to the one man that would change her life forever. Soon she would be Mrs. Dylan Matheson.

  Ray gave Dylan a kiss on the cheek as he handed her off to the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. As the ceremony began and the minister said the traditional ceremonial pledge, it came time for Dylan and Rade to confess their love to each other. When the minister let the guests know that they had written their own vows, he looked to Dylan to proceed.

  Looking at Rade, with her hands held by his, she began to confess her love. “A chance meeting, that was what my father said the day he met my mom. With so much love, they gave life to a young girl who grew to be a strong, yet stubborn woman,” Dylan smiled as she continued. “That woman fell in love with the most amazing man. A man who has shown her what true love really means. I love you, Rade, with all my heart. I see you in the sun that wakes me every morning. I feel you in the breeze that touches my skin. You are my everything. You are my heart, my body, and soul. For that I am thankful because that one chance meeting brought me to you.”

  The minister looked over to Rade, giving him his cue to begin his own vows to Dylan. “My precious Dylan. I knew from the moment I saw you, you were an angel sent to rescue me. You’ve shown me what it means to be loved. Through the love that you have given me, I found myself again. You once said something to me that I will never forget. It allowed me to find the one thing I thought I would never have again. For this, I vow to show you every day what you have given me. So my promise to you is this; Never will I leave you. Always will I hold you tight. Forever will I love you. You, my Sweetness are my heart, my body, and soul.”

  After the vows were exchanged there wasn’t a dry eye among the guest. As Rade place the ring on Dylan’s finger and Dylan placed the ring on Rade’s, their love for each other was finally sealed.

  “Mr. Matheson, you can most definitely kiss your wife,” the minister said as the guests cheered.

  EPILOGUE

  “Sweetie, you have to go ask your daddy,” Dylan said, looking into her son’s eyes, reminding her so much of Rade.

  “But, Mommy, Dada say
s no.”

  “Isaac, you need to listen to what Dada says,” Dylan replied, completely drawn to his sad look. “Tell you what, you can have half now and half after supper.”

  Dylan watched as Isaac’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Breaking the cookie in half, Dylan watched as his tiny fingers took hold of the sugary treat.

  “What do you say, Sweetie?” Dylan asked him.

  “Tank you, Mommy,” Isaac said, taking off with his cookie in hand.

  She would never be able to refuse him. Rade was constantly after Dylan for spoiling their son. It had been only yesterday that she caught Rade doing the same thing. When those hazel eyes looked up at her, she couldn’t help but give in to his demands. Like father, like son.

  Dylan thought about all the hearts he was going to break when he got older. Lost in her thoughts, she watched as her phone began vibrating on the counter. Picking it up, Dylan looked at the caller and smiled.

  Rade: Are you ready for tonight?

  Dylan: I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

  Rade: When is Lilly coming over to watch Isaac?

  Dylan: At eight.

  Rade: Perfect. Miss you already.

  Dylan: Me too!!!

  Dylan thought it was adorable the way Rade texted her, even though he was only a few feet away in his study. Setting her phone down, she continued working on the financial report for the new app that Malcolm had been working on. Malcolm had been one of the people Dylan had hired as the new tech guru. Since she took over the new Spectrum Facility, which was now Tetralogy Innovations, nothing but positive things had happened. Rade, Keeve, and Mason had faith in her to run the company so Dylan felt it was only fitting to name it after the four of them.

  Since giving birth to Isaac, Dylan spent most of her days working at home, so when Rade suggested they have a weekly date night, Dylan was all for it. Since their marriage two years ago, they set one day a week for play. Everything about their life was perfect. The house that they picked out together was close enough to work, yet far enough away from the city to enjoy the country life. As soon as Rade saw the house he knew it would be perfect to raise a family. It wasn’t as large as the home he had in Hampton Bay, but it was beautiful nonetheless. There was plenty of room to have a family, with five bedrooms and four baths. It gave them room to grow. Evan even came over and helped Rade build a tree house before Isaac was even born. Dylan knew that it was more for Rade’s benefit than for little Isaac’s.

  Having ten acres of land, Rade also thought how nice it would be to build a horse stable and fill it with a couple of horses that he and Isaac could ride once he was old enough. There was so much of Rade that Dylan saw in the little man, and she knew that Rade loved him with all his heart.

  Maria came into the kitchen just as Dylan was powering down her computer. Maria was a great help with Isaac. She wasn’t only their housekeeper, she was also little Isaac’s nanny during the day.

  “Senora Dylan, little Isaac has been fed and bathed. I’m going to take off. See you mañana,” Marie said, grabbing her things.

  “Good-bye, Maria, See you tomorrow,” Dylan replied.

  Walking into the study, Dylan was greeted with a picture perfect sight. Rade was holding his son in his arms while working on his laptop. Dylan guessed he was getting him ready to take over his business one day. Stepping closer to them, Dylan said. “It’s time for bed, sweetie.”

  “Mommy, Dada teach me puter,” Isaac said excitedly as he pounded his little finger on the keys.

  “That’s wonderful, sweetie, but time to go to lala,” Dylan said softly.

  “Otay. Wuv you, Dada,” Isaac said as he gave Rade a hug.

  “Love you too, big guy,” Rade replied with pride, kissing his son on the head.

  Dylan took Isaac from Rade. “Dinner is ready, I’ll put him down, then we can eat,” Dylan said as she left the study.

  After Dylan was satisfied that Isaac was settled comfortably in his crib with his favorite stuffed animal, she headed down to the kitchen. Rade was already there dishing them each a plate of Maria’s famous Mexican casserole.

  As they were finishing up, the sound of the doorbell chimed. Rade pushed from his seat to answer the front door. Lilly had arrived to watch little Isaac. Rade had been looking forward to this day all week.

  Rade and Dylan left their home twenty minutes later on their way to the place Dylan loved, now that all the bad stuff was gone. Helping Dylan into the car, Rade kissed her tenderly as he reached over to make sure she was safely buckled in. Rade still had his Martin. It was the one thing that didn’t change.

  Half an hour later they were at The Castle, ready to begin their night together. Rade assisted Dylan out of the car and up the concrete steps to the iron door that Dylan was so familiar with. Once inside, they were greeted by Dane, who was now more of a friend than the Master of the house that held so much pleasure.

  Leading Dylan up the stairs to their favorite room, Rade had an evening planned that Dylan would never forget. Closing and locking the door behind them, Rade commanded, “Strip and get on your knees, Sweetness.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Let’s see if we can make some more babies.”

  Dylan smiled at his words. If he only knew that he was going to be the proud father of twins.

  About the Author

  My passion for writing began a little over two years ago when I retired from a nine to five job. Even though I enjoyed working, I wanted something different. It was then that I decided that I wanted to write. Romance and passion is a topic that everyone desires in life, and it is for that reason I decided to write Erotic romances. Finding my niche as a romance writer has not only filled my heart, but also has kept me young. When I'm not writing, I like to spend time outside taking long walks and sipping wine under the stars.

  Watch for A. L. Long Newest Series:

  Jagged Edge Series

  More books by A. L. Long

  Next to Never (Shattered Innocence Trilogy)

  Next to Always (Shattered Innocence Trilogy, Book Two)

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