Always You

by Stephanie Rose

  My blood ran cold. Bella’s been in some kind of danger with Marc before? Had Robyn been investigating the house on weekends and saw something? No, I was sure she would have told me. My breath caught as I waited to see what Robyn meant. She did seem sure she could ‘shut this down’ today. Lucas took my hand under the table and laced our fingers together. I gripped his hand as I braced myself.

  She opened her laptop and walked it over to the judge. She was logged onto Facebook, which I found to be odd.

  “Every single weekend that Mr. Christensen had custody of his daughter over the past couple of months, he was actually out the entire weekend. There are posts and checkins at various bars, clubs and parties, often both days and almost always both nights of the weekend. You can open the tracking information in each photo to view the date, time, and place it was taken. Since he’s returned from Chicago, he hasn’t acted like a father wanting to be close to his daughter. It’s obvious he hasn’t attempted to spend any time with her while she was supposedly in his care.”

  “Are you fucking serious? You’re tracking me on Facebook? This has to be some kind of violation.” I almost felt bad for Marc’s lawyer as he dragged Marc back to his seat.

  “I’m not going to warn you again.” The judge looked pissed as hell as he glared at Marc and his mother.

  “If it’s on social media, anyone can see. All rights to privacy are lost when someone posts their every move. The one thing to note that’s not on his Facebook page are any pictures of his daughter since he’s been back. In fact, the only mention of her over the past three months was the night before Bella got sick in the coffee shop. He updated his status to read, ‘I’m on kid duty. Looks like the weekend is going to suck for me.’”

  “Why are you going after Marc? She’s the one who practically has a live-in boyfriend while she’s still married to my son. I have no words for this situation.”

  Jeannie was out of control, and after everything she’d done it would’ve been sweet to see her hauled off in handcuffs.

  “I have a couple of words.” Lucas whispered in my ear. I turned around and he winked at me. I managed a smile and squeezed his hand.

  The judge looked irate. I didn’t know if Marc’s Facebook was going to be what cracked the case open or if it even had any validity in court, but Robyn’s plan was certainly getting under Marc and Jeannie’s skin.

  “Fuck this!” Marc yelled and looked over at me. “She can have sole custody. I’m not going to answer to anyone for what I do on my own time. It’s a free fucking country.” He turned to his mother.

  “I’m taking the full-time job in Chicago. I went along with this because you begged me to, but I’m not dealing with this aggravation. You want to see Bella, work it out with her yourself.” Marc grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the courtroom.

  Robyn slid into her seat next to me. Marc was a hothead, and hated to be told what to do. He never wanted custody. Once he realized the inconvenience Bella would be to his lifestyle, he threw his hands up and walked away. His mother did boss him around sometimes, but in the end, Marc looked out for Marc. Robyn played him perfectly.

  “Holy shit, you’re good.” I whispered in Robyn’s ear.

  She shrugged in response. “It’s what I do. I fight for the happy ending that people deserve. Sometimes, you need to be a little creative.” She squeezed my hand and turned to face the judge.

  “Sole custody of Isabella Christensen remains with her mother, Samantha Christensen. Marc Christensen’s appeal for joint custody is dismissed.” The judge frowned at Jeannie.

  “Grandparents are supposed to protect their grandchildren, not hurt them for their own selfish reasons. You should apologize to the little girl who has been made to suffer needlessly because of your actions. Any visitation rights to Isabella that you will have in the future will be at her mother’s discretion.”

  It was over.

  I left the courtroom lighter, like a brick had been lifted off my chest. I hugged Robyn with tears in my eyes. I had no idea how to thank her.

  “No need to get weepy.” Robyn teased as she grabbed my shoulders. “I told you I would shut things down today. Now go home and tell Bella she can look forward to weekends again.” I laughed as I wiped my eyes.

  Lucas slid his arm around my waist and kissed my forehead.

  “My little mushball.” I jabbed him in the side with my elbow and he laughed. I could see the relief in his face, too.

  “Work has been texting me so I need to call and see this is about. And you,” He picked Robyn up by the waist and kissed her cheek. “Thank you so fucking much.”

  As Lucas walked away, my tough as nails lawyer giggled like a schoolgirl and blushed.

  “You’re a lucky woman, my friend.” Robyn put her arm around me as we stepped outside.

  Three months later, things had settled into a wonderful normal. Robyn worked on finalizing my divorce, making sure that Marc was required to pay child support. I didn’t care, I’d always provided for my daughter just fine by myself and wanted no more delays. My marriage had been over for a long time and I needed to get the state of New York to agree. It was time to move on—officially. Robyn insisted that even though I may not need it, I was still entitled to it. If Marc didn’t want to actually pay, she said she could arrange to have the money come directly out of his paycheck. I made a note to never get on Robyn’s bad side.

  Lucas drove Bella over to Julianna’s for a sleepover. I sat at my kitchen table, looking through the real estate section of the Sunday New York Times Lucas now felt compelled to buy every week. I perused through the new listings each week to appease him for the time being.

  My cell phone rang, and I saw Robyn’s name on the screen. I rolled my eyes at what the next possible issue could be.

  “Hey, lady. What now?” I couldn’t hide the irritation in my voice at what could be up this time.

  “That is not a very happy greeting considering what I have to tell you.”

  “Don’t tease me, Robyn. Did it happen? Am I divorced?”

  “Signed, sealed, and delivered. I checked today. You’re free!”

  “As in done, final, as in—”

  “Legally okay to finally marry the man of your dreams? Yep, all clear as of this moment.”

  My mind was spinning. I was afraid to believe it. After almost a year and a half since Lucas and I reconnected, there were finally no more barriers or complications.

  “Well he has to ask me first. Thank you. I keep saying this but I have no idea how to repay you for all you’ve done.”

  “Stop, please. Thank me by getting married ASAP and having lots of blue-eyed babies.”

  “Maybe we’ll name a couple after you—I’m sure Lucas wouldn’t mind.”

  “Lucas wouldn’t mind what?” I jumped as Lucas snuck up behind me.

  “You didn’t hear the news? I’m single!” Lucas froze in place, having the same reaction I did when Robyn told me. A slow smile spread across his face as he pulled me up to stand.

  “Single? The hell you are!” He snatched the phone from my hand. “Robyn, she’ll have to call you back.” I heard Robyn laughing as he ended the call.

  Before I could say anything, his mouth was on mine. It was the kind of searing kiss that made my knees weak and my panties damp. He was so damn good with his mouth. We broke apart, my eyes still closed.

  Lucas trailed kisses down my neck, and I yelped when he bit my ear lobe.

  “This calls for celebration, don’t you think?” He whispered in my ear as he continued to nip and lick his way across my collarbone.

  “Yeah, I can start dating again.” He stopped kissing me and slapped me on the ass.

  “You’re a bit of a smartass, aren’t you?” I giggled as Lucas pulled me closer.

  “I can make us a nice dinner. We have the house to ourselves tonight.” I ran my hand along his jaw.

  “I would take you out, but I’d be pawing at you all night long and we’d end up running back home anyway.” His
lips went back to my neck, and a moan escaped me as I laughed.

  “And that’s different from any other night we’ve gone out, because?” He swatted my ass again and cocked an eyebrow at me.

  “You’ll see.”

  We ended up just ordering in and watching movies on the couch. It felt so good to be able to breathe. I was free from my marriage to Marc, and really wanted to make things permanent with Lucas. All he had to do was ask.

  I rested my head on Lucas’s chest while he played with my hair.

  “You aren’t upset we didn’t go out?” Lucas asked as he rested his chin on the top of my head.

  I looked up at him and shook my head.

  “No, I like to be groped in the privacy of my own home.” I expected him to laugh, but he just nodded.

  “Hey, you okay?” Lucas looked tense for some reason. I would think he felt the same weight lifted off his shoulders that I did. He could give up his apartment and officially move in. I was afraid maybe he was having second thoughts.

  “Know what I was thinking?” Lucas asked. “That night I met you at the bar. God, you were stunning. You were always beautiful, but there was something about you that night. It was always there, I was just too stupid to see it all those years ago. I had a feeling I was done for by the time I walked you to the train. I spent the next three months trying to be your friend when I was falling for you a little more every day.”

  I sat up next to him and kissed his cheek.

  “I was done for the day you walked into Daina’s yard on the Fourth of July.” Lucas smiled and looked away.

  “When you told me that day in Starbucks that you wanted to take a chance on us, I knew. I knew then you were it for me. I couldn’t imagine being away from you or with anyone else—ever. I would never let you go. I got to know Bella, and then I fell in love a second time.” He smiled at me and my eyes filled with tears.

  Why is he bringing all this up? Unless he’s …

  “I belong to you, I always have.” Lucas stood up from the couch and reached into his back packet. He pulled out a black velvet box and got down on one knee. My heart went into my throat as tears streamed down my face.

  “And I want everyone to know that you belong to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you, Bella, and me to be a family—an official one. I love you. It was always you. Samantha, will you marry me?”

  He opened the box, and I recognized the pink diamond ring he caught me drooling over at the jewelry store. I sobbed so hard, I opened my mouth to speak and nothing came out. What were the chances I’d actually get the one thing I wanted most for my entire life? Lucas was my dream come true.

  “Don’t do this to me again. If you can’t speak, just nod.”

  I laughed and tried to swallow the tears so I could speak.

  “Did you really think I could ever say no? Yes! Yes! A million times yes!”

  Lucas breathed what looked like a sigh of relief and slid the ring on to my trembling finger. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.

  “I can’t believe you remembered this ring.” Lucas raised his eyebrows and gave me a sideways glance.

  “I actually got it that day. Remember when I went back in to get my phone?”

  I hit his arm. “You little sneak. Wait, that was months ago. You’ve had the ring all this time?”

  Lucas nodded. “I wanted to wait until your divorce was final. Once I got this ring on your finger, waiting to marry you would have been torture.” Lucas brought me back to his lips, then trailed kisses down my neck.

  “So, want to get married this week?” I asked. Lucas stopped kissing me and looked up at me strangely.

  “This week? Where?”

  “City Hall. I think we can get the marriage license the same day.”

  Lucas looked disappointed, and I was confused. His happiness was palpable just a moment ago.

  “Babe, what’s wrong? I thought you’d want to get married right away, but I understand if you want to wait.” I ran my hand down his cheek, and he shook his head.

  “No, I definitely don’t want to wait. But I think we deserve better than City Hall, don’t you think? Plus, I think my mother and sister would be pissed off at me if I did that. They’d want to be there, at least.”

  “Even if you’re marrying me?” His sister wasn’t my biggest fan.

  “My mother loves you. And my sister will be apologizing to you the next time she sees you, I promise you that.” Lucas kissed my ring finger.

  “Okay, but not big. I want our wedding to be about you and me, not the party.” Lucas wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer.

  “I would agree with that. I have a friend who owns a loft in the village. It’s a nice place for a small party, and we could get married there, too. I’m selfish. I want to see you in a sexy dress, preferably strapless, and enjoy taking it off you at the end of the night.” Lucas gave me a soft kiss and nibbled on my bottom lip.

  “That sounds nice, actually. Ask him if he has any openings in the next couple of months.”

  Lucas wrinkled his nose at me.

  “I may have talked to him already and set things up; we just needed a date. All you have to do is look hot and show up.” I pulled back and raised my eyebrows.

  “That sure I’d say yes?” I smirked at him.

  Lucas shrugged and kissed my forehead.

  “I had a good feeling.” I laughed and kissed him again.

  “You planned everything? I’m impressed; I didn’t think guys liked going to weddings, much less planning them.” Lucas’s brow furrowed, and rested his forehead against mine.

  “I’ve waited long enough to marry you. I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. Now…”

  Lucas moved his hands from my waist to the hem of my shirt, inching it over my head.

  “We should practice for the wedding night.” Lucas ran his hands down my chest, and gave open-mouth kisses across the tops of my breasts as he pulled down the straps.

  “We’ve been practicing for a long time, Lucas. I think we’ll be fi—” My voice trailed off as he sucked a nipple into his mouth.

  “Never know when you’ll learn something new.”

  Tomorrow was going to be a big day. Nothing about our lives would really change, except my last name. Lucas somehow managed to put everything together in a couple of months. He even took care of the menu and flowers. It was a small guest list. All I needed to do was pick out a dress and show up. I had no idea what to expect, I hadn’t even seen the loft we were supposed to get married in. It was a formality more than anything, but knowing I would be Lucas’s wife tomorrow thrilled me. After all my years living with a miserable frog, I was finally getting the prince I always wanted.

  I wrapped my arms around Lucas’s waist and nuzzled into his chest as we lay in bed together.

  I rested my chin on Lucas’s chest, propping my head up to look at his face. He ran his fingers through my hair as I kissed across his collarbone and up his neck. He had the sexiest Adam’s apple, and I loved how he squirmed when I nibbled on it.

  “Time for me to go.” Lucas tried to sit up, but I pushed him back down. I didn’t want Lucas to leave—at least not yet. He was supposed to stay at his apartment and meet me at the loft tomorrow. As of yet, he still didn’t have a buyer. He’d asked couple of his cousins that were attending our wedding to stay there tonight instead of renting a hotel room.

  “I bet I can convince you to stay a little longer…” I brought my lips back to his neck, searching for the spot behind his ear that usually made his entire body go limp. Lucas shrugged me away before I got there, and groaned.

  “You’re not making this easy. Aren’t we not supposed to be together tonight anyway? The whole ‘bad luck to see each other before the wedding’ thing. You know I hate being away from you. I’ll be sleeping in my old bed thinking of the first time you stayed over. Amazing how that seems so long ago and like yesterday at the same time, right?”

  Now I really didn’t want him
to leave.

  Lucas sat on the edge of the bed as he pulled his jeans on. When he stood, I sat up on my knees and inched my hand down his chest.

  “You sure you want to leave me?” I pretended to lower the sheet that covered my naked body, and Lucas laughed. So much for my seduction skills.

  “You are not playing fair tonight. Are you, Mrs. Hunter?” Lucas smirked at me. For some reason, calling me ‘Mrs. Hunter’ made my legs fall apart. Tease.

  When Lucas ran his thumb over my lips, I opened my mouth to suck on it. His eyes got hooded and a sexy moan escaped him.

  Sensing I might be winning, I grabbed his hand and slowly took his index and middle finger in my mouth, sucking on them like a Popsicle. His fingers almost touched the back of my throat before I pulled back, inching them out of my mouth while making circles with my tongue around his fingertips. Lucas looked like he stopped breathing, and blinking. I cocked an eyebrow at him, my silent promise to repeat the same treatment—only lower—if he decided to stay.

  I let my sheet drop, and Lucas closed his eyes as he let out an audible sigh. I raked my nails down his chest and over the hard ridges along his abs. When I unbuckled his pants and wrapped my hand around his hard cock, Lucas’s breathing hitched. Seeing him this affected by my touch made me feel powerful—and I loved it. As I inched my hand up and down, Lucas’s jaw clenched and the expression on his face intensified.

  “Get on all fours. Now, Samantha.”

  I almost squealed. Not only was I victorious, but I coaxed alpha Lucas to come out.

  I scrambled on the bed to do as I was told. Lucas came up behind me and pulled me back by my hair. My heart raced as he licked along the outside of my ear.

  “You don’t play fair. In fact, I think you play dirty. Very, very dirty.”

  “I could keep playing dirty all night, baby.” When I leaned back to rub myself against the hardness at my back, Lucas let out a sexy growl.

  I so won.

  “My sweet girl went bad. When did that happen?”

  “Just take me, Lucas. Please.” It was hard to tell by the begging my voice how recently Lucas had already taken me. It was less than an hour ago, yet I still needed more.