Forever and Ever (Complete #1-7)

by E. L. Todd

  When I reached their mansion, I parked in the massive driveway then headed to the front door. My bag was over one shoulder. I felt like a child about to attend a sleepover. All I needed was my Ninja Turtles pajamas and I would be set.

  Before I knocked on the door, Trinity answered it. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” It was hard not to smile when I saw her face. She was the light of my life, the only thing that could take me out of a bad mood. “Come in.”

  I stepped inside then left my bag in the entryway.

  “What did you bring?” she asked.

  “Clothes for tomorrow.”

  “I hope you brought pajamas,” she whispered.

  I didn’t bother responding.

  “Slade?” Mike’s voice carried from the kitchen.

  I sighed then looked at Trinity. “Here it goes…”

  “It’ll be fine.” She grabbed my hand and walked with me into the kitchen.

  “Hello, Slade.” Cassandra hugged me then kissed me on the cheek. “It’s nice to see you.”

  “It’s nice to see you too.” I returned the embrace then stepped away.

  “Please join us for dinner.” She had a bright smile like Trinity. Her eyes were just as green.

  “Thank you.” I knew my manners, but I hardly used them. Now that Trinity was my girlfriend, I actually had to be polite, unfortunately. “I would love to.”

  “Take a seat.”

  I headed to the table. Mike was sitting down with his brandy next to him. He rose to his full height when I reached him.

  “Good evening, sir.” I extended my hand to shake his.

  He took it. “I like this side of you. You actually have manners.”

  I smirked. “I can be pretty charming when I try.”

  “I guess it makes it more meaningful.” He returned to his chair then watched me.

  I moved to the seat beside Trinity. “Is this seat taken?”

  “By you.” She gave me a nice smile so I wouldn’t be nervous.

  I sat beside her then moved my hand to her thigh, being affectionate with her like I usually was.

  “How’s the shop?” Mike asked.

  “Good. But my dad isn’t letting me do anything fun.”

  “You’re an apprentice,” he said. “You’re not supposed to do anything fun.”

  “I’m realizing that…”

  Cassandra set the table and poured three glasses of wine. Mike stuck to his brandy.

  After we all sat down, we began to eat.

  “This is really good, Mrs. Preston. Thank you for making it.”

  Trinity stared at her food but couldn’t stop smiling.

  Cassandra chuckled. “You’re very sweet, dear. But if I told your mother you were capable of giving a compliment, she wouldn’t be pleased.”

  “My mom knows I like her cooking,” I said. “I show her by eating it. I don’t need to compliment her.”

  “It doesn’t hurt,” she said quietly. “And don’t call me Mrs. Preston. Cassandra is more than fine, Slade.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  Mike ate his food, glancing at me a few times. He didn’t make his look unknown. Sometimes the look was threatening and other times it wasn’t. “So, why do you want to sleep here?”

  I figured he’d already had this conversation with Trinity. But I guess he wanted to have it with me too. “I want to sleep with her. I miss it.” I didn’t sugarcoat it or downplay my meaning. He wasn’t stupid. He obviously knew I slept with her every single night before we moved back home. I wasn’t going to be a pussy and deny it.

  Mike ate his food and hid his thoughts. His eyes were cryptic and difficult to read. “That’s it? Just sleep with her?”

  I knew what he was asking. “Yes, sir.” I kept my hand on her thigh. “I haven’t slept more than a few hours at a time in the past three months.”

  “Aww…” Cassandra smiled while she picked at her salad.

  “Maybe you should get a real job so you can get your own place.” He drank his brandy while he stared at me.

  I took the insult in stride. Mike and I got along, and he accepted me for his daughter, but that didn’t mean he would stop being protective of her. “I’m going to take over the second shop. However, there are a lot of things I need to learn first.”

  “However?” my dad asked with a smirk. “Whoa…someone knows big words.”

  I took the hit and didn’t snap. “I did receive a bachelor’s from Harvard…”

  “That your dad paid for…and who’s giving you a business you didn’t even earn.”

  I would always be polite to Trinity’s family because I loved her so damn much, but I had my limits. And I had reached them for the night. “You’re one to talk. You inherited a billion-dollar company from your dad without doing any work to earn it.”

  He put his glass down and annoyance burned in his eyes.

  Cassandra placed her hand over his. “You started it, babe.”

  That seemed to calm him down slightly. He unclenched his jaw.

  “If you have a problem with me sleeping here, I’ll leave. I didn’t try to go behind your back and sneak in, and I didn’t ask Trinity to leave the house. I told you what I wanted from the beginning.”

  “No. Actually, she did. You didn’t ask me a damn thing.” His eyes narrowed on my face.

  “Then I’ll ask now. Can I sleep on the couch with your daughter? If your answer is no, I’ll leave.”

  Trinity sighed. “Dad, you really need to knock off your attitude. Mom and I are getting sick of it.”

  That seemed to bring him back to earth. When it came to his girls, he was soft. He’d do anything they asked. “I apologize for my rudeness, Slade. Trinity is my little girl. When it comes to her, I’ll always be…unpleasant.”

  “Good,” I said. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  He gave me a look I’d never seen before. Approval and appreciation shone in his eyes. Then he looked down at his food and ate quietly.

  Trinity squeezed my hand encouragingly then picked at her food. Most of her plate was untouched, and she only ate a small amount. Her mom was the same way. The only person who seemed to have an appetite in the family was Conrad.

  After dinner was finished, Cassandra carried the plates to the sink.

  “It was excellent, baby.” Mike kissed her cheek.

  “Thanks.” She gave him a special smile then turned on the water.

  I came up beside her then grabbed a plate and started washing it. “Let me help you.”

  “You’re sweet, dear. But don’t worry about it.” She took the plate back. “Join the others in the living room.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded then glanced over her shoulder, seeing that we were alone. “For what it’s worth, I love you for my little girl.” Her eyes twinkled when she looked at me fondly. “Don’t let that bear scare you off.”

  My heart flooded with warmth at her words. I usually only got approval when I worked my ass off for it. Cassandra gave it to me freely and with a smile. “Thank you. It means a lot.”

  “Of course, Slade.” She turned back to the dishes and began to scrub.

  I headed into the living room. Mike was in the individual recliner, and Trinity sat on the couch.

  “Baby, can you grab me a blanket on your way?” she asked.

  I grabbed one from the cabinet then came up beside her. Then I pulled the blanket over both of us. She snuggled into my lap just like she would do if we were home alone. Her head rested against my chest and she wrapped her body with mine, not caring if her father was there.

  We watched a family movie on TV and waited for the time to go by. It was nice doing something with her family as her boyfriend, not just her friend or acquaintance. I felt like a part of her family in a new way.

  When it got late, Mike and Cassandra headed to bed.

  “Extra blankets are in the closet,” Cassandra said. She closed a few curtains then headed up the stairs.

  Mike check
ed the house alarm then came back to me. “Good night.”

  “Good night, sir.”

  “All you should be doing is sleeping,” he said in a deep voice. “If I find out otherwise, you won’t be invited over again.” He gave me a look that told me he was dead serious.

  “Of course, sir.”

  He nodded then kissed Trinity on the forehead. “Good night, honey.”

  “Night, Daddy.”

  He headed up the stairs and disappeared.

  Finally, I got to sleep with my girl in my arms. I’d been looking forward to this for so long. I was so excited that I didn’t want to sleep at all.

  “I’m going to change into something comfortable,” she said. “You should do the same while I’m gone.”

  “Okay.”

  After she left, I changed into basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Normally, I slept in the nude, so it was odd to sleep in clothes. But as long as she was with me, I didn’t care. I had to pick my battles.

  She returned wearing one of my t-shirts and my old sweatpants. She’d jacked them from me when we were leaving her house in Cambridge.

  I smirked. “You look cute in my clothes.”

  She held the shirt to her nose. “It still smells like you a little bit.”

  “In the morning, I’ll switch you. This one will stink like me by tomorrow.”

  “How generous of you.” She straddled my hips and sat on my lap.

  My cock immediately hardened, remembering our routine when we lived together.

  This was a bad idea.

  I rolled her to the couch then lay beside her. “Don’t tempt me, baby.”

  “I wasn’t.” She cupped my face and gave me a slow and deliberate kiss.

  I melted at her touch and gave in for a moment, fantasizing about her quiet moans when I made love to her. I forced myself to snap out of it. “You’re doing it again.”

  She giggled. “Whoops.”

  I got comfortable then pulled her close to me. The blanket was over both of us, and her leg was hooked over my waist. My hand moved up her shirt and to the area of her ribs. “This feels right.”

  She wrapped her arm around my waist. “It does.”

  “Good night, baby.” I kissed her forehead then pressed my face close to hers. I closed my eyes then listened to her even breathing. I missed the sound. It used to lull me to sleep.

  She clung to me like a teddy bear, needing me just as much as I needed her.

  When did this happen? When did I become so attached to her? Now I couldn’t even sleep without her. My nights used to be full of adventure and craziness. Now I spent my evenings with her, reading side by side or cuddling in silence. It seemed like I had matured by twenty years in the span of a single one. I never pictured myself this way, a monogamous man who’d given his heart away to a single woman. But that was what happened.

  My body immediately relaxed when she was in my arms. Our breathing synced and so did our heartbeats. Our minds were linked in a different dimension, on a different plane no one could ever understand.

  The idea of this love scared me sometimes, but the idea of not having that companionship, friendship, and trust with her was even more frightening. I felt like I had an ancient treasure in my hands, and everyone else wanted it enviously, but I was the only one who got to have it. But then the weight of that reality hung on my shoulders.

  I had a beautiful woman who loved me desperately, and I never wanted to hurt her. In my heart, I knew Trinity would never hurt me the way Skye hurt Cayson, even though she was out of my league and deserved a better man. Times like this, holding her in my arms while we slept, made me feel like the luckiest bastard in the world.

  Because I was the luckiest bastard in the world.

  7. You Will Be Mine

  101

  Silke

  I headed to my mailbox before I walked inside then grabbed the pile of mail. Most of it looked like junk and coupons, so I wasn’t excited to go through it. After I set my things down, I sorted it at the counter.

  One piece of mail caught my attention. “From Harvard Academy of Art…?” What the hell was that? I ripped open the envelope then pulled out the letter. In a wordy invitation, it explained that one of my sculptures had been nominated for an award. And I was also invited to enter the piece into the annual auction.

  “No fucking way…” I read it again just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Then I checked the envelope to make sure it was addressed to me and not someone else. I loved sculpting and was decent at it, but I never thought I was good enough to be recognized for it.

  Now I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. I jumped to my feet and did a dance I would never do in front of another living soul. “Yes!”

  I took out my phone and texted Denise. Guess who’s awesome?

  Not you. I can tell you that much.

  I rolled my eyes then texted her back. Actually, it is me.

  I find that hard to believe.

  I was nominated for an award for one of my pieces. And it’s going to be sold at an auction.

  She didn’t text me back. Instead, she called me. “Seriously?” she blurted once I answered the phone.

  “Dead serious.”

  “That’s so awesome, girl! I didn’t know you were so serious about sculpting.”

  “I’m not,” I said. “I actually didn’t think I was very good. I guess I was wrong.”

  “You’re always wrong. When is the award ceremony?”

  I grabbed the paper and skimmed through it. “In two months.”

  “Char and I will be there.”

  “I don’t have to drag you?” I teased.

  “You know we’re always there for you.”

  I plopped down on the couch. “How’d it go with those two guys the other night?”

  “You know…hit it and quit it.”

  “He hasn’t called you back?” I asked sadly.

  “No, I haven’t called him back.”

  I burst out laughing. “Such a heartbreaker.”

  “Love wouldn’t be nearly as fun if it always had a happily ever after.”

  Maybe that was why I was so hung up on Arsen.

  “So, you went home with your man?”

  How did she know that? “What makes you think that?”

  “I saw you with him.”

  I didn’t deny it. “We made up.”

  “Shocking. Is he going to this award ceremony?”

  “I haven’t told him about it yet.”

  “You mean I’m the first?” she asked.

  “Yep.”

  “I am your best friend…”

  “As I’ve been saying for years…”

  “Well, I’ll let you go. I’m sure you want to call your boy toy.”

  “Yeah, but it won’t be to tell him about the art show…”

  She laughed. “Dirty bird.” Then she hung up.

  I lay back on the couch then texted Arsen. What are you doing?

  Thinking about you.

  No, you weren’t.

  He texted back instantly. I was.

  What were you really thinking about? This could go into dangerous territory.

  Something that would get me slapped.

  I smirked. Come over. I want to see you.

  I’m a busy man, baby.

  You’re never too busy for me.

  He responded instantly. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.

  I fixed my hair and touched up my makeup before he came over. When I heard the distant sound of a raging muffler, I knew he was there. Several minutes went by, and he didn’t knock.

  I opened the front door and looked out. Arsen was leaning against the rail of the stairway, his hands in his pockets. “Why don’t you ever knock?”

  “Why? You knew I was here.” He wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt. His hair was messy but in a sexy way. Only he could manage to roll out of bed and still look hot as hell.

  “Coming in or what?” I shifted my weight to one
leg.

  “I haven’t decided.” He looked down the hallway like he saw something interesting.

  “Why are you always playing hard to get?” I demanded. “It’s annoying.”

  “It keeps you on your toes.” He turned his blue eyes on me. “Give them just enough to want more.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Those rules don’t apply to me. Now get your ass inside.”

  He gave me a quick smirk before he walked into my apartment. Once he was near me, his cologne reached my nose. It was a mixture of masculinity and bar soap. He strutted through my living room and looked at everything as if it was the first time he’d been inside. “Why did you want to see me?”

  “You’re my boyfriend. I don’t need a reason.”

  He opened his mouth to speak but abruptly closed it.

  I knew what he was going to say. Out of habit, he was going to make the argument that he wasn’t my boyfriend. But he realized his error just before it was too late. “Missed me, then?”

  “I always miss you.” I came to him then wrapped my arms around his neck.

  He flashed me a look of surprise mingled with emotion. It was sudden and quick, disappearing faster than I could process. He stared down at me, his eyes lingering on my lips.

  “Why do you do that?”

  “What?” His voice was deep and low.

  “Every time I say something like that, you flinch.”

  His eyes were guarded and didn’t convey his thoughts. “It just surprises me.”

  “Why?”

  His hands moved around my waist and to the small of my back. “One day you’ll figure it out.”

  “One day?” I asked. “Are you saying it’s obvious?”

  “It’s damn obvious.”

  “Enlighten me.” I leaned closer to him then brushed my lips past his, teasing him.

  His lips parted slightly, wanting to take the bait. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe that such a beautiful woman wants me—and only me.”

  My eyes softened. “I thought lots of women wanted you.”

  “They do,” he said truthfully. “But they’ve got nothing on you.”

  Arsen claimed he wasn’t a romantic guy, but he always was when he was with me. I cupped his face and gave him a slow kiss. His lips were wet and soft, delicious. When I pulled away, I saw the heated look in his eyes. Whenever we touched, he was equally affected. “For teasing me all the time and trying to make us seem insignificant, you know how to make me feel beautiful.”