by Jenika Snow
I lifted her up, turned her to face me, and looked her in the eyes.
“Say it.” I demanded she tell me, needed her to say the words.
“I’m yours.”
Yeah, you really fucking are.
Epilogue One
Jana
Six months later
I walked through the club, the sights, smells, and entire atmosphere making my body tingle. It might be considered just a strip club, but the energy that rushed through this place was like a living entity. It made everyone who was in here feel alive, feel wanted.
The people who worked here weren’t just employees. They were all like family, helping each other, trying to stay afloat like everyone else.
Although I didn't dance at Cole's business, didn’t strip anywhere for that matter because of how protective and possessive he was of me, it was no hardship.
Truth was stripping wasn't what I wanted to do in my heart anyways. It was what I was good at; it was what paid my bills. But after knowing what I really wanted to do, that I had the support of the man I loved, I followed my dreams.
I applied for a position as a dance instructor at a local ballet company in the city. And I’d just come from the interview, with a job offer in hand, and the future looking brighter every moment.
I lifted my hand and waved to some of the girls I passed, and continued to make my way toward the back where Cole's office was. I knocked once before pushing the door open. I saw he was on the phone, and the fierce expression on his face told me he was wound tight over something.
That had this wanton feeling rushing over me, and I smirked, if only to myself.
He looked over at me, and I saw the pleasure fill his expression. He was happy to see me, and that made me feel like a loved woman.
“Marcus, no. I need those files sent over today. If we plan on merging, it has to be completed this week.” His voice was hard, pissed, but I knew how to make him feel better, how to make him relax.
Over the last six months a lot of things had changed. I had moved in with Cole, and although some would say that after only knowing a man for six months, moving in with him was the last thing I should've done, it felt right and perfect.
He treated me like his queen, like the world should fall to its knees and kiss my feet … worship me.
Cole certainly did.
He was older, more experienced, but he never made me feel anything but loved and respected. He’d encouraged me to go to this interview, to show them how incredible I was as a dancer, and not take no for an answer.
He was my rock, and I knew I was his as well.
I wanted him in my life forever. I didn't know what the future held for us, but I knew that before Cole came into my life, I hadn't actually been living.
I'd only been surviving.
But I refused to let Cole pay my way. I worked for him, for the club. I’d learned the bookkeeping and was an assistant to the accountant. That gave me pride, stability, and strength to know that I contributed to this relationship and didn't just ride his coattails, despite the fact he’d told me plenty of times he wanted to take care of me. I was an independent woman. I always had been and always would be. I wanted to be equals with Cole, and he made me feel like that every step of the way.
I continued walking toward him, and when I was behind his desk and he was facing me, I sank to my knees. I saw the surprised expression on his face. That turned me on even more.
While he was still on the phone, I unzipped and undid the button of his slacks. I pulled the flaps aside, reached in, and grabbed his already hard dick. He was huge, thick and long, and already had pre-come forming at the tip.
My mouth watered, my throat tightened, and with one look at his face, I lowered myself and engulfed his cock.
I circled my fingers around the base of the shaft, and with my other hand I reached below to cup his balls. I took in as much as I could, but with Cole being so large and thick, I could only take half of him in.
I started gagging when the tip of him hit the back of my throat, but I knew that turned him on, and that was renewed when he lifted his hips slightly. He pushed his cock deep in my throat, and I felt my eyes water. My pussy became soaked, my inner muscles squeezing on their own. I lifted my gaze and stared at his face as I continued to suck him off.
As the minutes moved by, his groans became deeper, harsher. I forgot to lock the door, so anyone could've walked in and saw what I was doing, but that had a thrill moving through me. I wasn't an exhibitionist by nature, but the very fact that someone could see the dirty things I did with the man I loved made me excited.
And then I felt his whole body tense. I knew he was going to get off. I renewed my efforts, hollowed out my cheeks, and ran my tongue along the underside of his shaft. I sucked him hard and deep, willing him with my body and my moans to come for me. I wanted him to fill my mouth with his seed, to make me swallow it all, to have it slipping out the corners of my lips.
And when he finally did come, I swallowed it all. I pulled away, his cock slipping from my mouth, the length still semi-erect. I knew from experience with him that he could get hard again for me in an instant. But instead of doing that, he helped me to stand, pulled me onto his lap, and just held me. He pushed my long hair away and kissed the side of my neck sweetly.
I let myself sink against him, his warmth, strength, and everything about him making me feel whole.
It was so strange not knowing that you’re missing something. But I knew I’d been missing something monumental the moment I became Cole’s.
“Tell me how your day went, baby.” He continued to kiss my neck. “Tell me how the interview went, although I already know you got the job.”
I pulled back and looked at his face, smiling at him. “How do you know I got the job? For all you know they could have laughed at my dancing skills.”
He growled low, and I loved that primal, animalistic side of him.
“Fuck no, they would have never laughed at you.” He tightened his hold on me. “And I knew you got the position because you're an incredible dancer. They would've been idiots not to hire you.”
“Well…” I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I was deliriously happy, not just because I did get the position, but because Cole was mine. “Yes, they said if I wanted the job it was mine. They actually want me to start next week.”
Cole pulled me in for a tight hug, and I absorbed the feeling. When he moved back, I could see the love in his face, could see the support written across his expression.
“I love you,” he said in his deep voice, the one that always made me feel so very feminine.
I knew without a doubt, knew until the very end of the earth, that my happiness was with him.
I always knew, and would always know, exactly how loved I was.
Epilogue Two
Cole
One year later
A year and a half had passed since Jana walked into my life. I wasn't the same man I’d been before she came along, didn't even try and pretend like I was happy before that. It wasn't until her, until I looked into her eyes that I knew what living was really like.
I’d always been a man known for his strength and unwillingness to bend. But for the woman I loved, I would break in two.
I would show my weakness, would let her know that there was no other person on the face of this earth that could ever make me feel the way she made me feel. And I would show her that, prove that to her, until I drew my last breath.
I stared down at the small baby blue box that I held. The ring inside was three carats; a single solitary princess-cut diamond. But no matter how beautiful the ring was, it didn't compare to Jana. It would never be good enough for her.
The sound of the front door opening and then closing filled the house. My heart was beating so fast that I felt it pounding against my ribs. I was a strong man, knew how to handle stress and pressure. But in this moment I felt so fucking scared, so weak.
I started bouncing my l
eg up and down, my nerves taking control. What if she said no? What if she wasn't ready?
Even if she wasn’t ready for marriage, I had all the time in the world. For Jana I would wait until there was no time left, until I was taking my last breath. But having her as my wife would be a dream. Having her as the mother of my children would make me complete. I wanted my babies inside of her, wanted to see her get big with the life we created.
And when she rounded the corner and saw me sitting on the couch, I saw her focus go down to the box I held. She seemed frozen in place, her dance bag over her shoulder, her hair in a messy bun. She was a little sweaty from work, but God, she looked so good. She looked so damn beautiful.
“Hey?” She took a step closer and dropped her bag to the floor by her feet. “Cole? What’s going on?” I could see she was nervous, could see the way her pulse beat frantically below her ear.
I stood and walked toward her, not about to make this drag on. I've had this ring for the last six months, wanting to ask her for that long, wanting to hear her say yes. But I’d wanted her to get established in her career, to be happy, and feel safe with me. I knew she was happy, because I strived to make that possible. But that didn't mean she wanted to get married.
Before I lost my nerve—because this was the scariest fucking thing I'd ever done in my life—I dropped to one knee, lifted my hand, and popped open the top of the ring box.
“Jana Helena Banks. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than I want you.” I took the ring out, set the box down, and held her hand in mine. “Having you in my life has been my greatest accomplishment. You already make me the happiest man alive, but having you as my wife would be incredible.” I slipped the ring on her finger, not sure if I was even doing this right but not about to stop. “Will you marry me?”
She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes watering. I didn't know if those were good or bad tears, but I stayed on my knee, looking up at her, letting her take her time.
“Yes,” she finally said.
I stood and pulled her into my arms. “There is nothing in this world more important to me than you.” I pulled back and cupped her face, knowing that without Jana I would be a shell of a man.”
She cupped the side of my face, her smile sincere, genuine. “I love you too.”
This woman loved me, and fucking hell if that didn’t make me the luckiest man in the world.
The End
ALPHA MALE (A Real Man, 14)
By Jenika Snow
www.JenikaSnow.com
[email protected]
Copyright © June 2017 by Jenika Snow
First E-book Publication: June 2017
Photographer: Wander Aguair
Cover model: Jace Dean
Photo provided by: Wander Book Club
Editors: Kasi Alexander
Line Editor: Lea Ann Schafer
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.
Layla
For the last two years Lachlan has been my personal bodyguard. Although I don’t feel in danger and don’t need someone constantly watching me, because it’s Lachlan, I can’t help but feel safe.
I love him.
He’s big, strong, and deadly. Anyone stupid enough to cross him learns that swiftly.
But I’m too afraid to tell him how much I want him. I’m too afraid to tell him that I crave him.
Lachlan
I was hired to be her bodyguard, to make sure she was safe because her father is a senator. But even if her father hadn’t hired me, I wouldn’t have been able to leave her alone.
I love her, want her as mine, and I need to show Layla that she was meant for me.
I need to show her that if anyone looks at her, speaks to her, or thinks they have a right to touch her, I’ll lay them out and not think twice.
She is my world, and no one but me will have her.
I’m done waiting. It’s time I make Layla mine.
1
Lachlan
I watched Layla. Always. But it wasn't just because that was my job. It was because I wanted her, fucking badly. I wanted her to be mine, to never know the touch of another man, to look into my eyes and know I’d take care of her.
“Lachlan, location check-in.” Rocco’s voice came through in my earpiece.
“South building of Pearson Hall. Layla should be heading back to the estate within the next ten minutes. I’ll check in once en route.”
“Copy that.”
I leaned against a tree and watched as Layla spoke to some little asshole that I knew was in her economics class. The possessive side of me wanted to come out and stake its claim right then and there. Hell, I didn’t want anyone looking at her, let alone speaking with her.
I clenched my jaw as I watched him reach out and brush a strand of her hair from her shoulder. I wanted to go over there and beat the little fucker to the ground, but I had self-control, was trained to only make a move if absolutely necessary.
Me going over there and being a caveman, throwing her over my shoulder and stalking away to make my claim, was a bad fucking idea.
Even that small gesture pissed me the fuck off.
She was my job, or at least that’s what I tried to tell myself to make it easier to be around her. But being her bodyguard for the last two years made that an impossible task.
Her father, Jonathan Lancaster, was a senator. Even before that, his connections and social standings had made the wealthy tycoon take extra precautions to protect his family, which resulted in him hiring bodyguards twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
I’d been Layla Lancaster’s—Jonathan’s daughter—personal bodyguard for the last two years, before her father took office. I’d already deemed her as mine, even if I hadn’t been a man and told her.
She’d been eighteen at the time I was assigned to her, freshly graduated from high school and starting her first year of college. And from the moment I saw her, she was all I wanted.
From the moment I saw her, I knew she would be mine.
And I’d made sure during that whole time that she was always my priority, my permanent station. The very thought of somebody else protecting her didn't sit well with me. I wanted to be the one that looked after her.
She ended up walking away from the douche and heading to her car. Layla was stubborn, and I wanted her because of it. She was independent, which drove her father insane. That included her refusing to have a driver, which was what Jonathan Lancaster wanted. Instead she drove herself wherever she felt like going.
She could be a force to be reckoned with, and it made me want her more.
But the one thing her father would not budge on was her having a bodyguard.
And I was always here, because fuck all to hell if anything happened to her on my watch.
Layla
I felt him watching me. I always felt him watching me. Lachlan was always close to me, always making sure I was protected. He was this big, imposing man, intimidating and powerful, the bodyguard my father insisted I needed. At first it had infuriated me, made me feel dependent, not like myself.
But the truth was that feeling quickly diminished. For the last two years I’d been in love with Lachlan. I also knew nothing would ever come of it. I couldn’t be with him, not without causing issues with my father. At least I assumed there would be issues. It was that uncertainty that had me keeping my mouth shut and never telling anyone how I felt.
It took
a few minutes to get away from Dean, one of the guys in my economics class, who was insistent I go out with him. He’d been pushing me for a date for the last month.
I headed to my car, knowing he was following me, feeling his gaze on me. When I got to my vehicle, I stopped at the driver’s side door and turned to look around. Although I knew he was out there, Lachlan was very good at keeping himself hidden. Maybe he thought his presence was unwanted, or he was trying to be professional. Truth was I wanted him close, but I was too afraid to actually admit that to anybody but myself.
Telling anyone that I had feelings for Lachlan, that I loved him wouldn't be good in the long run. I loved my family, my father as well, but his standards and morals were old-school.
Lachlan and anyone who worked for him were his employees, the help. Although we had money, my father saw us as more than we were. I hated that about him.
I climbed into my car but didn't start it right away. I sat there for a few minutes just watching the students go in and out of the main building. I had insisted that I didn't want nor need a driver, even though my father wanted me to have one. But I’d agreed to have a bodyguard, as long as he didn’t interfere with my life.
That was before I realized I’d fallen in love with mine.
I finally started the car and headed toward the estate. I’d wanted to stay in the dorm, but again, my father had been too paranoid about that. I didn't fight him on everything, because I knew in his heart he was just worried and looking out for me.
I glanced in my rearview mirror a couple minutes into the drive and saw a dark SUV following closely behind. My heart beat harder, faster.