by Alexa Riley
I didn’t think, I just dropped my hand basket full of food and started to run. My Swiss Army knife is in my boot, but my pursuer carries a gun. I’m outmatched and I’m not taking chances, especially because I might be carrying a new life inside me. Carver watches me from the window, so I knew as long as I got outside, I would be safe. And that’s where I am now. I’ve just broken free of the sliding glass door and I’m gunning toward our building when I hear my king let loose an unholy sound that stops pedestrians in their tracks.
Without turning around, I know the pimp is probably wondering if hell has opened up and set a demon free, but I don’t stop to confirm. No, I keep running, my knees almost giving out when Carver slams out of our building onto the street, wrath contorting his features and making him seem twice as large as usual.
People in the neighborhood have learned to love Carver since he left the woods and we moved in together in town. He rescues cats from trees, helps little old ladies with their bags and makes everyone feel safer, in general. They know if he’s angry, it’s because I’m somehow in jeopardy…so instead of running away, every head on the street turns in my direction. Based on their shocked expressions, I’m still being chased by the man. I pick up speed.
“Lainey!” bellows Carver, beating a fist on his chest. “Mine!”
Another few seconds and I’ve reached him, sobbing in relief when he pushes me behind his wall of a body. “That’s him,” I whimper, clinging to the back of his shirt. “You can’t kill him, though. Please. They’ll take you away from me.”
I have no idea if Carver hears me or not…and now all I can do is hope the situation turns out okay. Peeking around his right side, I watch the pimp skid to a halt in front of us, his face draining of color. “Jesus Christ.”
“As far as you’re concerned, I might as well be,” Carver grinds out. “Because I’m going to decide whether you live or die.”
Noticing his audience, the man draws himself up to his full height, which is still two feet less than Carver’s. “I paid good money for her.”
Carver’s back muscles ripple against my cheek. “How much? I will repay you and you will never think of her again.”
“It won’t be enough,” the man spits. “I would have made a fortune off her.”
That statement turns out to be a mistake. Carver stalks forward, despite my pitiful attempts to hold him back. He circles the pimp’s neck with a fist—and lifts him clear off the ground. “Look me in the eyes. Do you think I would allow you to take her from me? If you actually succeeded, do you think there’s a place on this earth you could hide that I wouldn’t find and tear you apart?” His ear-splitting growl sends several spectators running. “If you haven’t left this place in two minutes, I will snap the head clear off your body.”
“Fine,” chokes the man, his lips beginning to turn white. “Fine, just…just p-put me down.”
Carver tosses the man like a rag doll into the street. I watch from my position at Carver’s side as he stands, trips, gets up again and runs to a white Honda. As my would-be pimp peels out of town, I circle around to the front of Carver and hold up my arms. He boosts me up and I wrap both legs around his thick waist, my wrists locked behind his neck. “Thank you. I’m sorry you were scared,” I whisper, laying kisses on his neck and cheeks. “It’s over now. Take me home.”
Minutes later, we’re inside the apartment. Carver still hasn’t said a word, but he appears ready to snap. And I know just how to make him better. How to remind him I’m his. Only his. Forever.
Chapter Thirteen
Carver
Fury pulses hot in my veins. The need to commit murder burns me like an inferno. How did I resist killing a man who chased my girl and claimed to own her? The only thing that stopped me was having witnesses. Lainey has worked so hard to make them see me as more than a beast. I could disappoint her or allow them to try and separate us. I’m most definitely a fucking beast right now, though. My fists are shaking, my teeth bared, ready to rip out someone’s throat.
My rage takes on a lustful edge when Lainey presses her hands to my chest. Beneath her touch, my heart slows its hurtling rhythm and grows attuned to her. Beat, beat, beat. My head is still teeming with malice, but Lainey loves her control. And I love giving it to her, even when I’m full of rage. This time, though, I’m not so sure I can let her call the shots. I’m on the goddamn razor’s edge of my limit.
Without saying a word, she trails her fingertips down to my belt buckle, unfastening it, before lowering my zipper, the metallic zing filling the room.
“I am not rational right now, princess,” I moan, my hips tilting forward involuntarily when she fists my cock. “I’m afraid to take you when I’m like this.”
“I’m not,” she says, stroking me slowly. “I’m never afraid. Even when I was running away from that man, I wasn’t scared. I knew you would come.”
“You should not have been made to run at all.” I bury my head in my hands and squeeze, trying to rid myself of the image. “It is killing me to know he exists. To know there’s any man walking this earth who thinks they have a claim on you…”
“Who is the only man with a claim on me?”
“Me.” I lean down and grind the word into her hair through my teeth. “I am.”
A shudder moves Lainey. Her grip grows more insistent, massaging my cock from root to tip with maddening twists. “I need you to show me, though, Carver.”
As Lainey’s trust in me has grown stronger, the more she has allowed me to conquer her in the bedroom, no questions asked. But she always has the ability to make me obey her whims on a dime—and we both know it. If she says stop, my hips freeze and I endure the torture. Whatever I have to do to remind her she’s not trapped. Right now, though, I can see in her eyes, she’s giving herself over, no holds barred. I have free rein over my girl right now. She is no doubt trying to heal my fractured sanity. Trying to refocus my anger into love…and even fully aware of what she’s doing, I’m powerless to do anything but let her. Although “let” isn’t really the right word, because I lift her off the ground, take three giant steps, then lower her to the bearskin rug in front of the fireplace.
Christ, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Big eyes, fastened on me. Her golden hair fans out around her face, her thighs raised to give a peek under her skirt at the ruffled white panties beneath. Panties I slid up her legs this afternoon, before lowering her skirt to cover what I own. To hide it from prying eyes. God. The need to renew my possession clouds my blood like squid ink.
I drop down to my knees in front of her. “Spread your legs.”
“Yes, my king,” she whispers, letting her thighs drop open.
Her breath races. As I watch, moisture appears on the material of her underwear, making the cotton cling and outline the delicious lips beneath. I cup my left hand over that sweet mound and squeeze, using my grip to keep her hips down when they shoot off the floor. “Mine.” I strip the panties off her body in one quick motion, tossing them away. Then I lean down and snap my teeth over her glistening cunt—once, twice—knowing I must look feral and not giving a fuck. “Mine.”
“Yes.”
I rip her shirt down the middle with my bare hands, exposing her bouncy tits. Her shuddering belly. I’m on the verge of telling Lainey the rest of her belongs to me, too, but I meet her eyes…and it’s not necessary. She already knows. And the love shining back at me starts an earthquake in my gut. “I could have lost you.” I fall forward, supporting myself on my forearms. “If I hadn’t gone back to the window—”
“Shh, Carver—”
“You will never be injured,” I shout at her. “You will never die,”
“Deal,” she whispers, sliding her fingers into my hair. “You, either.”
“I exist for you.” I’m still shouting, but I can’t seem to stop. Locking our mouths together, I rear back with my hips and pound home, growling at the way her fingernails turn to claws on my scalp. “God, I need this.” I ease out t
o the tip, then grind back into her wet heat. “Need to come in that sweet, little pussy. It never stops taunting me. Not for a second.”
“It’s yours to play with, daddy,” she gasps, the force of my thrusts driving her up and back on the rug. “Come inside me as deep as you want. I won’t tell.”
“Fuck. Fuck.” My balls grow unbearably heavy with what feels like melted steel. Our games never fail to drive me to the brink faster than expected, and this time is no exception. I pin her knees at her sides and bury my cock between her legs with brutal thrusts, again and again, my mouth sucking at her neck. Leaving marks.
Her tight flesh begins to spasm around mine and she starts to wiggle around beneath me, little mewling noises filling the air between us. “Carver. Daddy…” Her thighs lock around my waist, hips rising to meet my drives. “Oh, please. Please. Oh…”
“Who protects you?”
“You,” she rasps, her body stringing tight as a bow. “My king.”
I pump deep and grind my base on her clit. “Who fucks you?”
“Only you.”
“Who loves you?”
“You!” Lainey screams, her body vibrating with an orgasm. “God. Oh, God. I love you, too.”
“Coming inside my princess,” I grit out, my cock jerking to let out the seed. Knots in my lower back and stomach loosen, that insistent, lust-crazed pressure easing. And it should spell relief for me, but I want to brand her with more than my body. I press our heads together and let her feel me shake. “Feel what you do to me? You make your giant tremble,” I say against her mouth. “That’s nothing compared to what you do to my heart. Nothing.”
She kisses me, moisture leaking from her eyes. “You do the same to mine.”
My heart brims with contentment. The kind that lasts forever.
Epilogue
Lainey
6 months later…
I dig through my makeup bag trying to find my pills.
“Carver,” I call out, and he's there within seconds. “I can't find my pills,” I say as I rifle through the medicine cabinet thinking maybe I put them away. Carver starts looking, too. “I swear they were right here.” I went on the pill after we found out I wasn’t pregnant. Wanting to still have little bit more time to ourselves but lately I’ve been second guessing it.
I point next to my toothbrush, which is where I always leave them. They never move from that spot. Carver lifts up the bathroom mat as if they could somehow have fallen under there. I study his movements around the bathroom as he looks behind the shower curtain and my suspicions are raised. I smell something fishy as I watch him look for my pills in the craziest places.
I clear my throat to make him look at me and wait for him to turn around. I put my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes. “Carver.”
A hint of a blush coats his cheeks. I had a feeling this was coming and I’m not even shocked. Nor do I even really care. Having his babies isn’t something that’s scary for me. I just wanted to wait until we were settled.
“You don't need them and I don't like them,” he finally says, his voice low and defiant. “They keep me from breeding you. I don’t like that they stop me from making you mine.”
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “If we have a baby I can't give you all my attention,” I remind him.
“I want a family with you, and that means sharing your attention.” He caresses the small patch of skin above the waist of my jean shorts. “I know you want a baby, too. I want to see your belly round and pregnant.”
“You want me to get fat and waddle around?” I laugh. I love my caveman.
“You could use some more meat on your bones.” His hands move to my hips now, gripping me on both sides.
I’ve always been small, but I still find reasons to provoke him. I love when he goes a little crazy.
“You don’t like the way I look?” I glance up at him through my lashes and watch as his eyes grow big and I see him start to panic that he might have upset me.
“You’re perfect,” he says before clenching his jaw.
“Well you just said—”
He cuts me off by picking me up and setting my ass on the bathroom counter.
“I want something that’s both you and me together.” He cups my face with gentle hands and I see the pleading look in his eyes.
“I like the sound of that,” I admit. This man is my everything. “All you had to do was ask.”
His eyes light up and he has the biggest smile as he carries me from the bathroom to our bed. His face hovers over mine for a moment and he opens his mouth but closes it. He looks like wants to say something, but he can’t spit it out. Finally, he shakes his head and says it.
“You haven't been taking birth control pills for a while. And I don't think that was a stomach flu you were having,” he admits.
“Are you serious?” I smack his arm.
“I know it was wrong, I just…” He trails off, but his eyes are soft while his grip is firm.
I should be mad at him, but I can't find it in me. Not when he looks at me like he is right now. His eyes are filled with so much hope.
“You think I’m pregnant?” I ask, a seed of hope growing in my heart.
He lowers his face to my stomach, pushing up my shirt and placing a kiss there. “You haven’t bled in months.”
I try to think back to my last period, and I’m shocked to realize he’s right. How did I miss that?
“If it’s a girl I pray she looks just like you.” I smile down at him as he keeps placing kisses on my stomach.
“What if it’s a boy?” I comment, and his whole body stills. I see fear flash across his eyes. “Sweetheart?” I ask, wondering why he’s so scared. It’s written all over his face and it’s not something I’m used to seeing.
“I’m big. A son of mine would be too big for you to carry.” He’s so concerned that I can’t help but laugh.
“If I can take you, I’m sure I can have your giant baby boys,” I snort as he narrows his eyes. “Besides, we don’t even know if I’m really pregnant.”
“I know every line of your body. You’re pregnant,” he confirms. “I’ve known for a few weeks.” He kisses the side of my neck, trailing down toward my chest. “I know everything about you.”
The past few weeks of slow love-making add up. Normally he can be pretty aggressive, but lately it’s been soft and sweet. Not that I mind. It doesn’t matter how he takes me because I’m always happy when we’re together.
“That’s why you’ve been so careful with me.”
“I’m always careful with you.” His gaze meets mine.
“You’re always sweet with me, but lately…” I trail off.
His hands go to my shorts, and he unbuttons them and slides them down my legs. “You’ve given me the greatest gift in life, Lainey. You’ve given me your body and you’re going to give me a child. I’ll show you I’m worthy of such a gift with every touch of my hand.” He moves between my thighs, kissing his way to my pussy. “With every touch of my lips.”
My gentle giant spreads my lips and runs his tongue against my clit. I moan as I clutch his hair with my fingers and he shows me exactly how much he loves me.
Epilogue
Carver
Nine months later…
I hold our son and then look over to Lainey. Both are sound asleep. The delivery was difficult for her, as we all knew it would be. Our son was thirteen pounds and her little body wasn’t able to have a natural birth. She’s been on bed rest the last few weeks, but I haven’t minded. I’ve been able to have her all to myself.
I’ve been busy at work, but I’ve got enough crews to cover so I could take off time when Lainey needed help, and then I was on hand after our baby was born. He’s completely perfect and I can’t stop holding him. Lainey says I keep hogging the baby, and she’s probably right. I can’t help it, though. He looks just like her. He’s going to be big like me, but he’s got her eyes and her chin, and I can’t stop smiling.
I didn’t know I could love something so much until I saw Lainey. Now that she’s given me a child, that love has somehow grown. Impossible though it seemed, she’s domesticated me in every way. Now she shows me how to use a smartphone and takes me to cook-outs with friends. I didn’t think this life was possible, but I would do anything for my Lainey. And now I know I would do the same for our son, Phoenix.
Lainey likes the name because she says it represents us. I agreed, because I never want to see a frown on her face. As long as she is in my arms when I go to bed at night, she can always have anything she wants.
Phoenix sighs and wraps his hand around my finger. My heart warms. Now there are two of them to pull at my heartstrings.
Epilogue
Lainey
Five years later…
I peek out the window wondering when the mailman is going to get here. Normally it’s every day at two, but it’s fifteen after two and still nothing.
If he doesn’t bring my package everything is going to be ruined. I glance over at Phoenix, who is sound asleep on the sofa. He crashed out early today for his nap. His daddy took him out for an early fishing trip.
When he got home I’d sent him on his way with a list of things that needed to be done. He didn’t question me, happily taking the list and giving me a hard deep kiss. Normally I’d do all those things, but I needed him out of here.
He likes to keep me home so he was all about looking after the list of items to keep me locked away at home, even more so now that I’m knocked up again, with our second child. Another little boy. I have a feeling this might be our last. Carver gets so worked up when I’m pregnant, which doesn’t even make sense. He loves getting me pregnant and seeing my belly round, but he also worries himself too much.