by Elisabeth
“McKenna?” I called out her name.
“Yes, Alex?”
“You love me that much, baby?”
I heard her sniffle.
“I miss you even more, Alex. Please, just come to me.”
“Oh, say it again, baby.”
“Come back to me, Alex.”
“You know I will never deny you anything, right?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Then, you know that since you asked me to come back, I am coming to you Kenna, and I promise to be the best man I can be whether it’s the mad boss of Nevada, Paris’ father—” She cut me off.
“Or, the best husband to me.”
I chuckled for the first time in weeks.
“Baby, your husband is on his way home.”
It was time for me to go back, whether I was back to the old me or not.
McKenna
He looked the same, yet different, as if something in him had changed. He watched me, watching him. I couldn’t move as I froze in place. He looked even more rugged than he did the first time I met him. He had his hair up in a knot on top of his head. His face looked rough as if he hadn’t slept in years. His clothes made him look less like the man I first met and more of a guy that just came from the gym. His gray sweats and white t-shirt combo complete with sneakers were weird for me to see. Alexander wasn’t a sweats and sneakers type of guy. I wondered what had happened.
“Baby…” His voice was gruff as he looked me over. His eyes widened as he stood watching me.
I knew what that surprise on his face was all about. I was pregnant and showing, not large, but the bump was evident. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone. I wanted him to be present so that I could see the look in his eyes. I was going to tell Paris, hoping it would make him wake up so he could be a big brother. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t because the nurse finally came in and made her way around an immobile Alexander. She went over to Paris, and Alexander’s gaze went from my protruding belly to his son. His eyes widened.
“Paris…” he called out, and I turned to face him as well.
I gasped because Paris’ eyes were open, and he was looking at his dad. He was waiting for his dad to come, so he could wake up.
“Old man,” Paris said.
Alexander ran over and hugged his son.
“Jesus! You’re squeezing me!”
“Oh, kid, you’re alive.” Then for the second time in my life, I heard a grown man who was called the mad boss of Nevada break down and cry. I didn’t know what to do, so I took the basin back into the bathroom.
I inhaled and then exhaled as I made my way back to them. I looked over at Paris who was now free of the grip Alexander had him in, and he was staring at my belly too just as his father had done earlier.
“This is what you wanted to tell me?” he asked me as a wide grin appeared on his face.
My eyes widened at his words. “You heard me?”
He nodded. “I could hear everyone, even Brodie’s mom. I’m going to be a big brother?” He clapped his hands filled with glee, and I just stood there with a wide grin matching his. “Congrats, old man,” Paris said as he looked over at his dad who I hadn’t realized had stood up, coming closer to me.
I looked up at Alexander. I wanted to run to him and hug him, but I kept my cool. I couldn’t decipher the look on his face just yet until he spoke.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry I left you here like this, not knowing the condition you were in. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t even know those were the words I was looking for until he said them to me.
“I don’t forgive you,” I said to him.
“I have ways to make it up to you if you’ll allow that.”
“Guys! I’m right here; I’m not deaf!” Paris exclaimed as the nurse looked him over and ran some exams on him before announcing the doctor would be in to see him.
Because of Paris, I laughed. It felt foreign coming from me since I hadn’t laughed genuinely since my whole heart left me. I looked up at Alexander whispering this time, “Did you take care of our family?”
He smiled so wide that I just knew his mouth would hurt later. His facial expression reminded me of Xena so much.
“I did; no one, nothing will ever hurt Paris, you or our future little girl again.”
“Little girl?” I smirked.
“Mmhmm, I have a feeling it’s a girl.” His smile was contagious.
“Wanna bet?” I knew it was bad to bet on your pregnancy but whatever.
Alexander leaned into my ear whispering, “Loser has to give the winner a night of blissful pleasure.” I bit my bottom lip, and he leaned farther to bite my chin a bit hard, making me release my bottom lip. Then, he gave me a quick kiss. “I love you.”
I smiled at him.
“I love you even though you’re still not forgiven.”
He gave me one of his wicked smiles.
“I look forward to making it up to you. I can think of many ways to extract that forgiveness from you.” He gave me another light kiss causing my entire body to come alive.
“You don’t fight fair, Alex,” I pouted.
He bit his bottom lip and turned to look at the doctor examine Paris. Paris looked at his dad, and Alexander gestured to the bathroom. Paris nodded.
Alexander pulled me into the bathroom and shut the door. He looked at me, caressing my neck first, then my collarbone, and down my chest until he landed on my belly.
“Thank you,” he said to me.
“For what?” I was perplexed.
“Thank you for taking care of my son while I wasn’t here.”
I reached out with my hand, caressing his cheek.
“I was taking care of our son. Our family and so were you.”
“Damn, you truly are mine, aren’t you?”
“Always, baby.”
“I missed you, Kenna. Jesus, I missed you so damn much that I thought I would go crazy before I made it back to you. You truly are a wish come true.”
“Don’t you try to butter me up. You’re still not forgiven. I’m so mad at you.”
“Mmm, you forget how much I like it when you’re mad at me. I will enjoy this, baby; I really will.”
Alexander leaned in and pulled me in for a kiss. I swear, I would have him leave for a while, again, just to have him kiss me like that over and over. I could taste his emotions as if they were mine. That kiss burned me to my core and almost made me forget my name, my age, and my identity. Alexander was dangerous, but he was dangerously all mine. Just as I felt his fingers making their way down past the waistband of my leggings, a voice broke our moment.
“Mommy! He’s up. Paris! Dude!” I heard Brodie’s little voice, and I broke our kiss.
I looked at Alex. Before he made his way out there, he reluctantly removed his hand from inside my leggings and furrowed his brows.
“Who’s that?”
“That’s Brodie. Alex, before you head out there, I’m warning you that you might actually pass out.”
“For what?” he asked, but before I could answer, he kissed me quickly and opened the door.
Alexander
We were a family. My family, I thought proudly. Then, everything froze the moment I opened the bathroom door and was faced with a person I never thought I’d see again. I stood stock still as she walked into the room just as I opened the door. I sucked in a loud breath, not sure when I would properly exhale.
No! This can’t be!
“Pandora…” I whispered.
At the mention of the name, she turned to face me, and her eyes widened. She stopped in her tracks, staring at me. We both just stood there. I didn’t see the recognition in her eyes, but I knew her. I definitely knew her, my little sister, my little Pandora.
“Why does everyone keep calling me that?”
“Everyone?” I questioned her.
“Yes,” she whispered, putting her head down, reminding me of when she used to do that every time I’d go visit her.
The pain of her disappearing, only to find her dead, caught my chest in a vice-like grip. I reached out clutching my chest as if I was in pain, and I saw the panicked look of everyone around me. I tried to reel it in, but I couldn’t. She was my baby sister, the only one I connected with before she disappeared. What had happened to her that she was found in such a state when she died? I tried to block out the image when they sent her back to my father. He pretended like it didn’t faze him, but I couldn’t pretend. When I saw her little body, I cried out. My father didn’t want to even give her a proper burial, so I had to do it.
That scarred me more than anything else. It was the reason for my hatred and venomous words toward Achilles. I was fueled with anger. Even after Achilles died, none of it dissipated. If anything, it got stronger. So damn strong I didn’t care if I died. Everyone assumed I didn’t see the arrow aimed at me in the battlefield, but I saw it. I saw everything, and I didn’t block it because I wanted to die. I didn’t want to live in such a cruel world anymore.
I just looked at how beautiful she was. I looked down at the little boy who looked like my little boy, and a crazy kind of joy filled my heart.
She looked at me perplexedly. “Are we related?” she asked.
She doesn’t recognize me.
I nodded. “I’m your brother.”
“My brother?” she asked, not too sure I was telling the truth.
It was time for the truth to be out there.
“Yes, I’m your big brother. You don’t remember me at all?”
“No,” she responded honestly.
We all stood there in a room where, through my son, we all were connected. I swore on everything I loved that I would make sure my little sister, my Pandora, would remember me. She was my family, whether she recognized me or not. If anyone knew me, they knew I loved my family, and no one could take them from me, ever again.
Epilogue
McKenna
This was it, I was giving everything to this man. I smiled as he looked at me with such lust. I almost didn’t do it. I inhaled and exhaled; this damn wedding dress was too tight on me, but like both Elani and Xena said, the dress was made for me. I smiled as I rubbed my belly for good luck. Walking out to the one song we both knew was meant for us, in front of the people we loved and knew including Alex’s men, Tank his best friend and Ales who was becoming a good friend to Alex. They were much more similar than either of them realized. There was also Elani my best friend, Xena, who was slowly coming around, wanting to find out about her brother, along with her curious son Brodie who reminded me so much of Paris, and of course, our oldest son, Paris, who was a blessing to the both of us.
I met Alexander in the middle of the dance floor as Perfect by Ed Sheeran began to play for us. I smiled even wider when he bowed before me. He wore an all-black suit and expensive looking shoes, including those sexy glasses I loved him in. Alexander righted himself, wrapping his arm around my waist. He pulled me close to him, and I knew he would never let me go.
My eyes glistened with unshed tears as we danced to a song so perfect for us. He twirled me like I was his queen made for him. Finally, back in his arms, he leaned in, kissing my forehead as we continued to dance as husband and wife. Something I knew we would be for such a long time. I sighed laying my head on his chest loving how this was made for me.
“Baby?” he called out to me. A voice I would never forget and would always be part of me.
“Yes, husband?”
“Oh, say it again,” he said, his voice an octave lower.
“Husband.”
He chuckled. “It’s a girl like I told you.”
I moved from his arms, narrowing my eyes. “How do you know that Alexander?”
“Mmm, you’re mad. So sexy.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “How, Alex?”
“I threatened the doctor to tell me.”
I tried not to, but I couldn’t help it. I threw my head back and laughed. He was something else, but I still loved him the same.
“Alex, you can’t do that.”
“I can, and I did.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
He shrugged. “I am, but there’s also something you seem to have forgotten, love. You lost the bet.” His eyes lit up with mischief.
“I did lose the bet. So, what do you want?”
“I want for you to let me take you in every which way, love.”
My entire body tingled with the look in his eyes.
“Yes, Alexander of Troy. I am yours.”
He wickedly smiled at me. “As you were born to be, love.”
*Saying “The End” may seem too harsh…so, for now, we’ll say until next time you get to read about our love. Don’t worry; we promise to name our baby after you*
-XoXo,
McKenna & Alexander
Flip to the next page. We left you a surprise.
They didn’t deserve their fate, and the gods knew it…
Achilles and Alana’s love story is available now on Kindle.
Alana
When he faced his death, I was left with nothing but a piercing heartache. I prayed to the gods for his survival, but grains of dirt sifting through my fingers was the only answer I got. Everything changed from that day forward, and my life would only be turned upside down even more.
Achilles
Her fingers sunk into the earth, and I felt them on me. I had become one with the earth, dead to the world, snatched away from Alana. I was no longer Achilles, the great warrior who was in love with a slave. I was just a man willing to search the ends of the earth until we were reunited.
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Ok, now turn the page for your Sneak Peak ??
Please Enjoy this sneak peek into Madness is Love, the story of Nate & Xena
~*~
Prologue
Five years ago
Xena
I looked down at my sweaty, clammy hands and back up at my psychiatrist. I considered him a friend, even though we both knew it was unprofessional. But, in the last two years, we ended up forming a bond as he helped me overcome the tragedies in my life. He was like a lifeline for me. Right now, I needed him more than ever. His voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked up at him. He smiled at me waiting for me to answer the question.
“What did you say?” I asked him once more.
“Are you sure you’re ready to continue on with your life?”
I nodded. “I am. I am ready to start being a mother only filled with love for not just me but my son. I want to forget about what happened, and how he came into this world. None of it matters anymore. Every night when I go home, and I look into his eyes, all I see is the love. He loves me much more than anyone could ever love me. Sometimes, he reminds me of my dad.”
I couldn’t help the smile planted on my face. Every time I thought of my dad, a great memory would pop up, but then not long after, sad memories came.
“You miss him.”
“I do. I wish he didn’t have to go like that.”
“I know, Xena, I know. Now talk to me about Brodie again,” Dr. Daniels said, referring to my son.
“My baby. I love that kid so damn much it surprises me but…”
“But what?” he pushed.
I sighed looking away from Dr. Daniels out the office window, not liking the light fall of the snow. I hated living in New York, all it brought was bad memories for me. Dr. Daniels cleared his throat prompting me to continue.
“But, I fear when he is old enough, he will ask me about his father. He will want to know how he came about into this world, and I don’t know if I can break his heart like that.” A single tear fell from my eyes, and I watched as Dr. Daniels lost his professionalism and became my friend, Matteo.
He sighed, removing his glasses, placing them on his side table. He looked back up at me, his green eyes shining brightly.
“Xena, the decisions you’ve made were difficult. No one I know professionally or personally could ever make a decisio
n like you did. No one is as strong as a woman who makes the decision to keep a child who they got pregnant with as a result of rape. You were taken advantage of by someone who escaped their punishment by running away like a coward in the night. But that didn’t make you into a bitter person. You stood strong and kept this baby, and now, you’ve grown to love him no matter what. When Brodie gets older, he will never blame you for choosing him and loving him. You are doing the best you can.”
More tears fell from my eyes; I shut them to stop crying further.
“What are you really afraid of, Xena?”
“I don’t want Brodie to hate me,” I responded in a small voice, embarrassed by what plagued me more than anything else.
I heard Matteo as he stood from his chair and walked over to the couch where I was sitting. He sat down and pulled me into him as I cried my heart out in his arms. I was so grateful to him, and he didn’t even know it. He was like the older brother I never had to protect me, but now… now, I felt safe in his arms.
“Listen to me very clearly, Xena. Brodie will never, and I repeat, he will never hate you for loving him the way you’ve loved him. I know how much you love your son, and no one on the earth can ever touch that.”
I nodded, not able to speak. We stayed like that for a while until the alarm went off, letting me know my session was over. Matteo let me go, and he looked into my eyes. His bright green eyes to my mismatched left sea-green eye and right gray eye. He smiled, wiping my tears away.
“One day, little one…”
I smiled at his nickname for me. I knew, although we were friends, he took care of me as if I was his little sister.
“One day, you will find someone who loves you just as much or maybe even more than your dad ever loved you. He will love you and Brodie; then, maybe you will understand just how much love you deserve.” He looked toward the door and back to me. “I will miss you.”