Luke runs his hands over my hair as my arms wrap around this beautiful sweet girl, trying to keep her warm and soothe her with my voice. “She’s incredible,” Luke murmurs, though I don’t think he’s talking to me. Hell, I’m not even sure he realizes he’s said it out loud.
The midwives give us a quick moment with our daughter before taking her off my chest to get her cleaned up, checked over, and weighed.
I keep my eyes locked on her as Luke bends down and presses his lips to mine. “You did it,” he tells me.
I can’t help but look up at the man who had changed my world for the better. “We did it.”
His eyes soften as he looks deep into mine. “I love you,” he says. “You’re going to be the best fucking mommy this world has ever seen.”
A smile brightens up my face and I can’t help but laugh. “I love you too.”
Dr. Thompson finishes up between my legs before walking over to our little girl and sweeping her up off the scales. She comes back over to us and looks down at our girl. “Does she have a name yet?” she asks.
I look up at Luke as he slides his fingers through mine. “Yeah,” he says. “This is Azalea Grace Hayes.”
“Well then, little Miss Azalea Grace,” Dr. Thompson says as she lays her down in my arms. “Welcome to the world.”
With that, Dr. Thompson and the midwives walk out of the room to give us this moment together as a family for the very first time.
My heart aches with the overwhelming love I have for this child and I find it physically impossible for me to pull my eyes away from her.
Luke climbs into the bed beside me and presses his lips to my forehead. “I don’t know how you did it,” he tells me. “But somehow you’ve opened my eyes to a life that I never knew I needed and I owe you the world for that, and I swear to you, Lexi, that the second I get you out of this hospital, I’m going to marry you because I don’t think I can possibly go another day without you being my wife.”
My eyes water as I look up at him. The emotions flowing through me are too great for me to even put a proper sentence together, so I nod. “I love you so much,” I tell him again.
“I know, babe,” he says, running his fingers down the side of my face and pushing the hair away. Little Azalea lets out a yawn and closes her eyes like the angel she is. “Why don’t you rest too?” Luke says. “You’ve both had a big day.”
The exhaustion takes over me and I hardly have a chance to respond before my eyes are growing heavy. With that, I fall into a deep sleep, holding my baby, while my man holds me.
The end.
Sneak Peek
Jace – Rebels Advocate (Book 4)
Chapter 1
Cami
I step off the plane and the relief is instantaneous.
I’ve spent the last six months living it up on beaches and exploring the wonders of the world. I mean, I’ve been to hundreds of destinations so I guess that qualifies me as one of those hoity-toity bitches who always shove their opinions right up other peoples asses.
You know, when someone says “Oh, I’d really love to visit so and so county,” and you pull out your big girl knickers and the arrogance of an asshole before replying with, “Oh, no, no, darling. You couldn’t be more wrong. You should be visiting….blah, because… blah.”
I mean, nobody cares for my opinions on the places I’ve been, they want to experience it for themselves.
My opinions suck.
My whole freaking trip sucked.
I suck.
I’d like to think that I’m this sophisticated world traveler who has her shit together and that my trip was long awaited and well thought through, but truth be told, I was running. The man I’ve been so desperately in love with for the past two years shattered me. He tore me to pieces… and I ran.
I couldn’t stand the pain of constantly having my heart broken. Over and over again. I mean, how pathetic am I to have fallen for the one man who is incapable of pulling his head out of his ass? Well, I guess he was able to pull it out at least halfway to tell me he loves me, then, BAM. He shoves it right back up there and leaves.
How stupid was I to have gotten into bed with Jace King?
It was easily the best night of my life. He made me feel things that a woman shouldn’t be capable of feeling. I mean, the way he moved had me desperate for more. He was like an avenging angel thrusting every ounce of pleasure he possessed upon my body. In-fucking-credible.
One thing is for certain. Jace King is an animal in bed… in all the right ways. It was delicious. He is nothing short of a sexual deviant. His body is carved from the hardest stone and his eyes are like the fucking sun.
He’s the man I had hoped to spend the rest of my life with, and at that moment, I thought I was going to.
I was so sure it was finally going to happen. I was sure he was finally getting past whatever ridiculous excuses he’d built up in his head. He told me he loved me and finally touched me in the way I’d been craving from him for over a year and a half. He made me feel alive.
He made me feel safe.
Come morning, he tore me to pieces and walked out the door.
I couldn’t stand being the pathetic girl who always goes back for more, who allows a man to dictate her life. It’s like a never ending cycle between me and Jace. He pulls me in with those eyes and that smile. I fall for him all over again. He makes me believe there’s finally a shot for us. He pushes me away. I break.
And…. Repeat.
Over and over and over again.
That morning, after he walked out the door and took my heart with him. I crumbled. I cried and I hated myself for how weak I’d become over this man.
Without even thinking about it, I booked a flight and accommodation for the next six months. I probably would have gone longer had my bank account allowed it, but I had to get away.
I slipped away during the night and didn’t tell a damn soul. I deactivated my email accounts and my Facebook page. I left my phone and tablet on the counter. I wrote a note to my best friend then I locked the door and left.
He had pushed me away for the last time and I gave him exactly what he wanted. I disappeared.
I didn’t tell a soul that I was leaving but I explained it all in my note to Rylee... well mostly. I told her I had to get away and I won’t be back for a while, I apologized and let her know that I’ll reach out every now and then to let her know I was alright.
I never did.
I can’t imagine how much she hates me right now. Rylee and I have been friends forever. We’ve never gone a few days without talking and I know she’s going to be so upset with me, but she has Cole now, so she would have been ok.
I just couldn’t bring myself around to talk to her. She would have asked me what I was doing and why I’d left, but I couldn’t talk about it. Every time Jace entered my mind, my heart broke all over again. So, I avoided it altogether.
I didn’t give anybody a way of contacting me and now that I’m home, it’s time to pick up the pieces.
After flying here and there and never allowing myself a break, all I want to do is get home to my apartment. There’s so much I need to do, but first, I just want to sleep.
I hail down a taxi and the man helps me to haul my shit into the back. After giving him my address, I sit in the back with my head falling off my shoulders, mentally going through all the things I’m going to have to do.
I was the most irresponsible business owner and left my store for six months. I mean, I have my girls who run the place and are more than capable of keeping things together, but I can’t even imagine what a shock it must have been for them. They would have had to pick up a lot of slack and I’m going to owe them big time. Hell, I haven’t even checked in, who knows if the place is still running. Though, I know even with Rylee hating me right now, she would have checked in and made sure they were alright.
I’m going to have to check in with my parents and let them know I’m alive. I’ll have to make sure all the bills
are paid and the electricity to my home is still on.
Hell, there’s just so much to do. The thought is too daunting so I push it aside and try to clear my mind. I can worry about it all tomorrow.
Right now, my only thought is about paying the driver and getting my ass up to my apartment.
The second he drives away, I lug my suitcase through the door and over to the lift before waiting patiently for it to come down and take me home.
I hit the button for level three and close my eyes as it takes me up. I’m so close to my front door. I can practically smell the freedom of my bed just a few steps away, but those few steps are exhausting and seem like a lot of work.
I drop everything at the door and begin rifling through my handbag for my key. My fingers finally curl around the metal and I don’t waste a second before jamming it into the lock.
I wiggle it a few times and have to drop my handbag on the floor so I can use both hands. What the hell? Why isn’t it going into its stupid little hole?
I wiggle it a bit more before double checking I’m trying to open the right door. I look up and down the hallway and even check the big number three on the wall to make sure I got off on the right level.
It’s definitely my door.
I yank the key out to check that it’s not broken or has any rust or something that could be causing it to jam, but there’s nothing. The key looks as good at the day I got it.
I let out a frustrated groan and drop my keys back into my bag before letting my forehead fall against the door with a bang. I stand here for a moment, contemplating why everything has to be so damn hard for me.
A tear comes to my eye as all I want in this world is to get inside my home and rest, yet even that seems impossible. The frustration is almost too much to bear and I bring my fist up and slam it against the hardwood of my door. “Fuck you,” I tell the door.
My whole body is jolted forward as the door opens before catching on the chain. I try to catch myself against the door but end up smacking the side of my face into the wood.
I push myself back with a cringe as I try to work out what the fuck is happening and how the hell the door just opened by itself.
“What the fuck do you want?” A deep voice questions from the other side.
What the fuck? Is somebody in my home?
I look through the small slither of the open door and right there, staring back at me is a dirty old man. I gasp and stumble back a few steps. “Who the hell are you?” I shriek.
“That’s none of your damn business, now stop making suck a racket out here and get lost, I’m trying to sleep.”
“Excuse me?” I grunt, stepping closer to the door once again. “This is my home. What the hell do you think you’re doing in it? You need to leave. Now.”
“It’s my home now, princess,” he says with a scoff before slamming the door shut in my face.
What the fuck is going on here? “Hey,” I demand, slamming my fists on the door, over and over again. “Open the fucking door.”
“Fuck off,” I hear him call back from inside.
I stare at the door dumbfounded. I mean, what the hell is this? Did I seriously just get home to find a squatter living in my apartment? Sleeping in my bed. Using my bathroom. Scratching his ball on my couch.
For fuck’s sake. Is this punishment for being such as ass to all my friends?
Holy shit. What am I going to do?
I grab my bag off the floor and start searching through it for anything that could help. My fucking keys are useless. My lipstick isn’t going to do much. My iPod would probably help to calm me down a smidge, but apart from that, I’ve got nothing.
I can’t even call the police because I don’t have my phone. I was a stupid ass and left it inside this stupid apartment where this fucker is currently living. I mean, my car keys are in there too. My whole life is in there.
“Fuck,” I curse before slamming my fist against the door one more time. Think, think, think, Cami. There must be something I can do besides standing out here all day and waiting him out. I mean, this guy could be dangerous for all I know.
“What’s all this noise out here?” I hear a voice from down the hallway. I glance down and see my neighbor, Kelly, sticking her head through the door and looking right at me. “Oh, Cami. It’s just you. What are you doing here?”
“I just got back from my trip,” I tell her. “There’s a squatter living in my apartment.”
“What?” she grunts. “Are you serious? I hadn’t seen you in so long that I figured you’d moved out and this asshole was my new neighbor.”
“No,” I tell her. “I certainly haven’t moved out.”
“Shit,” she says wide-eyed.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Can I use your phone? I’m going to have to get a little help with this one.”
“Yeah, sure,” she says before ducking back into her apartment.
I grab my suitcase and handbag off the floor before walking down to her place and standing by the door. She appears a moment later with her phone in hand and she passes it over. I get straight to work, first calling Cole, who doesn’t answer, then Rylee, who naturally, also doesn’t answer. “Shit,” I grunt.
I don’t know Caden or Luke’s numbers off the top of my head and there’s no way in hell I’m calling Jace. “They’re not answering. I’m going to have to go and find someone,” I tell Kelly who gives me a sympathetic smile.
“Maybe you should try the police?”
“Yeah, I probably should,” I say, but to be honest, I just don’t have the energy to deal with all that. “I’ll give them a call if my boys can’t handle it. Do you mind if I leave my bag inside your door?”
“Of course,” she says as she reaches forward and wheels it in beside her entryway table. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
I give her a thankful smile and head straight back over to the lift with tears pooling in my eyes. How the hell did I get so unlucky?
I get myself back down to the busy street I live on and quickly hail down another taxi. Not able to remember the actual address of Cole and Rylee’s place, I navigate the driver around every little bend until he pulls up at their front door. I ask him to wait while I dash out and knock on the door.
I wait for a moment before knocking again. Nobody answers though I don’t know why I’m so surprised. It’s the middle of the day. Rylee is most likely at her club while Cole is probably at Rebel’s Advocate.
With a sigh, I get back into the taxi. I don’t want to tell him to go to Rebels Advocate, but unfortunately, it’s my last option.
Ten minutes later, the taxi comes to a stop before the building I promised myself I’d never step into ever again.
I hop out of the taxi and thank the driver before sending him on his way. I mean, out of Cole, Luke, and Caden, one of them should be available to drive me back, even if I have to wait a little while.
I take a step towards the door and the dread fills me. What if he’s here?
I didn’t want to see him so soon, in fact, I was kind of hoping I’d never have to see him again. Just the thought of running into him and having to face everything that happened between us is way too much to handle right now. I need at least a decent sleep and a few bottles of wine before I can climb that mountain.
I let out a shaky breath and push through the doors.
The first thing I notice is that it’s deathly quiet here today. I mean, it’s like a fact that this place is never this quiet. I look around the front reception desk where Jess usually stands but she’s not here so I look past her desk into the front office. Nothing.
Shit. I was kind of hoping I could avoid walking deeper into the place.
I walk into the main part of the gym and look around. There are a few guys using the weights and a lady on a treadmill, but none of the boys. “Cole?” I call out. “Are you here?”
Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Shit.
I search a little deeper. “Cole?” I call out again
. “Luke? Caden? You guys here?”
I turn to walk down to their offices when I come to a startling halt. He stands right there, leaning against the doorframe to his office with his arms crossed over his wide chest, staring at me as though he’s just seen a ghost.
My heart pounds in my chest and I fear it may beat right through my rib cage. I don’t dare move, or maybe I just physically can’t, all I know is that the second I saw him I became paralyzed. Everything about me just stopped, everything apart from my racing heart.
His eye stare into mine and I can’t help but notice just how good he looks, but who am I kidding? He always looks good. That’s the charm about him. It the reason he first drew me in. Add the personality and the smile to the mix and your putty in his hands.
Just seeing those eyes have flashbacks of the last time I looked into them coming back to haunt me. The way his body would press up against mine. The way he held onto me like I was his reason for breathing. The way my nails dug into his skin when he pushed me over the edge.
I try to shake the memories from my mind, but I can’t. I never will. They’re here to torture me for all of eternity.
His eyes narrow and from that tiny movement, I can already tell how this is going to go. “You’ve got some balls walking in here, Cameron.”
The comment has the fire building within me. How dare he talk to me like that, especially after the hell he’s put me through. “At least I have a set of balls,” I quip.
His jaw clenches as he instantly picks up on the fact that I’m calling him out for being a damn pussy. “What are you doing here?”
I don’t want to play his little game and to be honest, I’m way too tired to draw this out. “Is Cole around?” I ask, ignoring his question.
“Nope,” he says.
I let out a quiet sigh. “Caden or Luke?” He shakes his head ever so slightly. “Shit,” I groan. I’ll have to deal with this on my own. I guess I’ll be calling the police after all. “Right, ok… well, I guess I’ll see you later.”
Luke: Rebels Advocate (Book 3) Page 19