Becoming His Collection

by Haley Monroe

  “They are okay. All three of you are okay.” He lifts my face and kisses my nose and then my mouth. I’m so thankful for his words that I kiss him back. My hands press against his chest and I cling to the fabric of his dirty shirt.

  I wish I could stay in the blissful moment, but I need more information. I break the kiss and look up into his beautiful eyes. “Did you call the police? Did they find Samuel?”

  “Yes, baby.” He nods, sitting back he lifts my hand to his mouth. He kisses my fingers one by one. “The ambulance got to us only moments after you passed out. The nine-one-one dispatcher sent the police out to the house. I stayed for questioning while the ambulance rushed you here. We were all worried because of the amount of blood you’d lost. After just a few questions, the police knocked on the doors by your house and believe it or not, he actually answered the door like he didn’t think they’d be looking for him. They’ll need you to go in and confirm that it’s him, but they are holding him at the station for now.”

  “Oh my God.” I close my eyes and say a silent pray of thanks for how everything worked out. That my babies are okay and Samuel is in custody instead of running free to grab me again. “How’d you know where I was? How’d you find me?”

  “Your voicemail, I’ve been calling you all day. When you didn’t answer I assumed you’d just got busy at the house and forgot to check your phone. I got home and Steph said she hadn’t seen you all day so I was coming to collect you.”

  “I’m so glad you did.” I grab his hand and squeeze it tight. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t.”

  “Don’t think of that, sweet girl.” He shakes his head and closes his eyes. It seems like he’s trying not to think of it himself either. “All that matters now is that you are safe and the babies are okay.”

  “I want to sell the house, Daddy.”

  “Good.” He grins. He shifts his body to the side and pulls a small box from his pocket. “I know we’ve talked about getting married and I don’t want you to think that it’s just because of our babies.”

  “I don’t.” I smile. “You convinced me the first time we spoke about it.”

  “Good girl.” He opens the box and inside is the biggest rose colored diamond I’ve ever seen. It’s surrounded by small, white, glimmering stones all set in a pale white gold. “Hannah Moore, will you be my wife?” I nod like an idiot and slap my hands over my mouth.

  “Yes, Daddy! Yes, I’ll be your wife.” He pulls my hands from my mouth and kisses me. I’m laughing and crying, but he kisses me still. His fingers hold mine and when we pull apart he slides that gorgeous diamond on my finger.

  “For the rest of my life, until there is no breath in my lungs, I will always find you in time. I will always be there for you and do everything in my power to take care of you.”

  I wrap my arms around his neck and hide my face in his shoulder. He’s too perfect, I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m so fucking thankful I did.

  Epilogue

  March

  The music begins to play and the softness of it soothes my heart. I look beside me and Steph is grinning. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears of happiness. “Ready?” She asks, her arm locked around mine.

  I glance down at the swell of my belly. It pushes out the layers of white lace covering my body, making me look like a whale princess. My free hand rubs my swollen belly and I smile back at Steph. “Mmhmm.” I take a deep breath and we begin with one foot stepping in front of the other.

  The doors open and Steph and I march down the short aisle of the courtroom. Jacob is standing before the judge. Waiting for me with a look of love written all over his face. I swallow tightly as we get closer to him. This perfect man, this perfect life that’s falling into place right before me, is crazy!

  In the five months since we found out about the twins and Jacob gifted me with the most perfect ring, we’ve sold my house and I’m now fully moved into the castle. Miranda couldn’t explain why she’d never showed up that night and we haven’t really spoken or seen each other since. Steph has jumped into Miranda’s place with gusto. She’s there for me at every turn.

  I had to leave my job a few weeks ago, the twins are getting too heavy for me to be on my feet all day and I’m okay with that. Instead of selling clothes, I just laze about the castle all day. Reading, painting, watching trash TV. It’s like I’m on a pregnancy vacation. I decided I didn’t want a big wedding or to make a big fuss so here we are, at the court house with the Justice of the Peace. Just Jacob, Steph and I. We’re a team now and family. They are all that matters to me.

  We stop in front of Jacob and he takes my hands in his. He kisses my cheek and the music stops. The man before us begins to speak. I know his words are important but I can’t focus. I’m lost in the look of love in Jacob’s eyes.

  When it’s my turn to repeat our vows, I say them on autopilot, like when you’re driving and don’t know how you got to where you are. Jacob’s hands are tight around mine and his smile is so genuinely happy. I’m so happy.

  “I now pronounce you, Husband and Wife.” The man says and I blink like I’m just realized I was driving out of control. Steph claps her hands and lets out a holler. Jacob’s hand holds my chin as he kisses me. Our first kiss as a married couple. It’s magic, the whole thing. We break apart and a small, happy laugh bubbles from my lips.

  Jacob thanks the man and together, all three of us, Jacob, Steph and I, march back the way we came.

  I went from a lost submissive with an eating disorder and horrible self-esteem, to a happy wife, a soon to be mother and a very happy little girl.

  The End

  Becoming His Christmas

  1

  “T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house,” Jacob read aloud to the restless two year olds who were wriggling and giggling under the covers of their parent’s massive bed. “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” His hand reached out to tickle at a moving lump in the blankets. The high pitched squeal that ensued told him he’d located his daughter, Lacey.

  “Sounds like more than a mouse is stirring.” Hannah chimed, while carrying a tray of hot cocoa into the room. Tiny white marshmallows bobbed in the chocolaty mix but only two mugs had steam rising from the rims, while the other two remained lukewarm. The perfect temperature for impatient toddlers.

  “Yeah well,” Jacob shrugged with a smile. “I’ve never actually been that great at getting them to go to bed.” Hannah’s head shook as she tsk-ed her handsome husband. Master realtor mogul and ruler of her life, but he couldn’t get his own children to settle down enough for bed time.

  “Rar!” Landon bellowed, as he popped his head free from the covers. His little hands were curled up to imitate the claws of a wild beast. Hannah’s eyes grew wide with mock surprise and she gasped loudly. One hand releasing the tray she held clasped to her chest.

  “Oh my goodness,” she wheezed. “You ‘bout scared the life outta me.” Her gestures had the affect her little boy was looking for and he threw himself back with laughter. “You know Santa is still watching to make sure the two of you behave while he’s delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls.”

  “Santa?” Lacey asked, pushing her static coated hair out of her face as she too crawled from under the covers. Landon’s giggles had died now and he looked up at his parents with a straight face. His rosy cheeks and big blue eyes always tugged at Hannah’s heart. She didn’t have any idea just how much she could love someone, until her twins came into the world. She thought loving Jacob was her hearts capacity, but these two instantly showed her differently.

  Two years and seven months ago, Hannah almost thought being pregnant would be the end of the world. Now she knew that it was only the beginning of really seeing the world. Everyday things that she took for granted became magical in the eyes of her growing babies. With each of their new discoveries, she began to rediscover the world too.

  “Mmhmm.” Hannah hummed, with a straight
face. She sat down on Jacob’s thighs. His hand came around her waist naturally to rest on her hip. His nose dipped into the crook of her neck and he nuzzled her skin as he inhaled the sweet scent of her shampoo. “And if you want to be on that list of good boys and girls who get toys under the tree tomorrow morning, you’ll drink your cocoa while Daddy finishes the story and then you’ll go right to sleep.” She kept a straight face, looking at each child as she spoke.

  “I’m not sleepy.” Lacey groaned, through a yawn.

  “Me either!” Landon yelled, jumping to his feet to bounce on the mattress. Lacey, in her matching Christmas pj’s also got to her feet. She was slightly unstable as Landon made the bed dip and bounce with his jumping, but with her arms held out, she managed to match his jumping. Her brown hair flopped up and down, her pink cheeks matching her twins.

  Jacob cleared his throat and both toddlers dropped down to their bums. They hated to disappoint their father and the look on his face definitely indicated displeasure. Hannah tried to keep a straight face when her kids turned their puppy dog eyes on their Dad. “Santa will still come, right Daddy? He still thinks we’re good even if Mommy doesn’t, right?” Lacey’s lower lip stuck out and she even let it wobble a little for effect.

  “Oh yes, princess!” He gushed. Hannah turned a scowl toward him that made him chuckle. Princess used to be her nickname from Jacob before Lacey came along and stole the show. Hannah knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of the new little princess. Jacob’s hand moved back to rub over Hannah’s lower back and curved down toward her bum. “Santa knows you two try to be good.”

  “Pfftt,” Hannah blew a raspberry and Jacob’s hand quickly spanked at her hip making everyone but Hannah laugh.

  “But, you must do as your Mother says. Finish your hot cocoa and we’ll head to your room. We’ll wash your cute faces and brush your little teeth then start the story over.”

  “Yes, Daddy.” The pair replied in unison. Hannah loved their sweet little manners. Both children scooted forward until their small legs hung from the side of the bed near Jacob’s. Hannah handed each child their cocoa and together as a family, they all sipped at their mugs and talked about what tomorrow would bring.

  For the last two years the kids had been too small to really enjoy Christmas, taking more joy in the boxes that the toys came in than the toys themselves. This year Hannah was looking forward to building family traditions that they could carry out each year after this. She’d bought them matching elf pajamas that they put on as soon as Jacob returned home from work, and after dinner they baked cookies for Santa Clause while dancing around the house to classic Christmas songs. Sprinkles and icing covered the kitchen counter top but the joy in her kids’ faces made the clean-up worth it. She’d sent Jacob and the twins upstairs to prepare for bed while she cleaned the kitchen and fixed the hot cocoa to top off the night, but apparently all they had managed to do was mess up her bed.

  Once their mugs were empty, Hannah and Jacob followed the twins down the hall to the junior master suit. There were plenty of rooms in the castle for the twins to each have their own, but right now they were still young enough to enjoy the company of the other at bedtime. She looked forward to the day when they’d wish to separate and she could help them decorate their rooms according to their own personalities. She often wondered who they would be when they grew up.

  Would Lacey love horses into her teenage years and beg her Daddy for a pony of her own? Not that Jacob would take much convincing. He would probably have a stable built out past the tennis court and fill it with horses in every color, if it was his little princess’s wish. Would Landon always want to be a monster and take joy in things that scared him? Maybe he’d grow up to be a famous film director and make all the best horror movies. Was it possible that the twins would grow up, following in their father’s footsteps and take over the real estate world?

  “Let me help you brush your hair princess.” Jacob offered to Lacey as she shuffled into the bathroom she shared with her brother. Hannah looked around and the state of the bathroom made her smile. The perfectly clean bathroom that use to be kept for Jacob’s guests was now littered with bath toys and the vanity full of crazy colored toothbrushes and children’s hair products.

  “No, I do it by myself.” Lacey grinned and snatched the hairbrush before her father could pick it up.

  “Okay, princess. Can I at least spray it for you?” He asked, picking up the bright blue bottle of detangler with the purple cap. Lacey nodded and Jacob began to soak her hair in the fruity smelling, magic spray.

  While Jacob helped Lacey with her bedtime routine, Hannah tackled Landon’s. She smoothed out his soft brown hair and helped him wash his handsome face. She loved how much he took after his father. She knew he’d grow up to be just as handsome as her loving husband. She helped the little man brush his teeth and they giggled as he swished bubble gum flavored mouth wash around his mouth.

  Hannah and Landon were finished long before Jacob had managed to get Lacey’s long hair into a braid that suited her. The mother and son dashed off to Landon’s bed and wiggled under the covers. They snuggled while waiting for the other two. “I love you more than the water in the sea.” Hannah whispered into Landon’s hair.

  “I love you more than the air in the sky.” He replied.

  “I love you more than the leaves on the tree.” Hannah smiled.

  “Um, I love you more than,” he looked up at her as he thought about what would prove his love more than his mother’s. “The monsters under the bed!” He laughed loudly when Hannah gasped and tucked her legs up against his.

  “That’s a good one.” She tickled his sides and his laughter made her heart happy. Jacob looked a little worn out when he finally left the bathroom. His hair was sticking up like he had raked his fingers through it more than once. His little princess skipped her way to her small bed beside her brothers, flicking her perfect braid from side to side.

  “I love you more than the stars at night.” Lacey beamed.

  “I love you more than all the days in history.” Jacob added with a wiggle in his brow. He helped Lacey under her covers and sat next to her. She leaned into his side, her small head resting just under his pecs as she hugged him tightly.

  “Daddy,” Lacey chuckled. “That’s the best one.”

  “Yes, because Daddy loves you three more than anything you could ever imagine.” He looked over to smile at his wife. She held tightly to Landon with matching smiles on their faces.

  “Yeah, yeah.” Hannah giggled with a roll of her eyes. “Can we read the story now and get to sleep before Santa passes right over the house.”

  “Hurry, Daddy!” Landon yelled, pulling the covers up to his chin. “Hurry.” His voice lowered to a whisper the second time.

  “Alright, here we go.” Jacob cleared his throat and held the book up so that both Lacey and Landon could see the detailed pictures. The twins grew quiet as they listened to the story this time. Hannah stroked her fingers through Landon’s hair, loving the sound of her husband’s voice and the soft weight of her son against her side.

  Jacob read the tongue twisting story perfectly. Never messing up a word or getting tangled over the way it rhymed. By the time he was finished, both twins were rubbing at their eyes and fighting little yawns. He closed the book and carefully pulled himself away from Lacey. Laying the book on their shared end table and tucking the covered around her small body. “Snug as a bug in a rug?” He asked. She nodded with a sleepy smile and then he kissed her forehead. “Goodnight princess. Sweet dreams.”

  “Night, night, Daddy.” Jacob and Hannah switched places. Hannah smoothed back the baby fine hairs at Lacey’s forehead and rubbed the tip of her nose against the tiny nose of her daughter.

  “Sleep tight, sweet girl.” Hannah whispered.

  Jacob used his hands to repeat the same action he’d done a moment ago to Lacey’s bed, for Landon. He tucked the covers under his son’s sides and kissed his f
orehead.

  “Snug as a bug in a rug?” He asked again.

  “No,” Landon grinned. “Snug as a monster under the bed.”

  “Of course.” Jacob chuckled. “Goodnight my little monster. Sweet dreams.” He stood up and reached for his wife. Hannah had lost a lot of her pregnancy weight but had kept enough of it to remain soft in places she wasn’t before the babies. He slide his arm around her waist and pulled her lightly back against him.

  “Remember to stay in bed and go straight to sleep. Santa can’t come if you’re awake.” Hannah told the twins who both quickly squeezed their eyes shut. Jacob led Hannah to the hallway. He flicked the light switch and together they watched the twins’ room go from brightly lit to a dark space with twinkling stars on the ceiling.

  Hannah pulled the door slightly shut, behind her Jacob rested his chin on her shoulder. His hands roamed over her ass and up her sides, slowly sneaking his way towards her breasts. “Is Mommy ready to give Daddy his Christmas bedtime routine?” He asked in a husky whisper. Hannah leaned back into Jacob’s chest, her head tipping to the side as she smiled and ground her bum into his crotch.

  “Ah, but has Daddy forgotten?” Hannah whispered back.

  “Forgotten what?” He nipped at the tender flesh of her neck which made her suck in a sharp inhale.

  “We have to put the gifts under the tree.” She reminded him, feeling his cock begin to swell under her grinding hips. He stepped to the side, pulling her out of view of their children’s room and pressed her against the wall of the hallway.

  “That shouldn’t take long.” He groaned in her ear. His tongue licking teasingly at her lobe. Blissful tingles skittered through Hannah’s system.

  “It wouldn’t, if you had found time to put the toys together over the last two weeks like I had asked you to.” Hannah took a sadistic pleasure in delaying Jacob’s fun. She’d reminded him every night that week, that some of the toys they’d purchased for the children were rather tricky to piece together so she needed his help. He kept telling her he would get to it well before Christmas and she needn’t worry. Now here they were, on Christmas Eve with his hard cock pressed against her ass and instead of heading straight for the play room, she’d be dragging him off to the garage to fight with plastic for the next few hours.