Now, it was time to write my own story as a single mother. Dash had left me plenty of money and I planned to continue working. I practiced saying, “Things just didn’t work out with the baby’s father…” and tucked myself in to binge-watch something on Netflix. This was going to be my new normal; missing a man I barely knew, while preparing to parent his child alone.
I wished I could say I didn’t think of him every minute of the day, but he didn’t call so I pat myself on the back for being right about him. He had his family back. He didn’t need me, our child, or anything else.
It was sad, but at times reality is sad. I was a big girl, I told myself I could handle it… and I could, but I didn’t want to. After six episodes of This is Us, there was a knock at the door. It was a little past eight o’clock in the evening and my heart started to race.
Could it be Dash? It was unlikely; he’d be still swept up with his family. Was it one of the drug cartel coming to kill me? I truly hoped not. Most likely it was the neighbor giving me a piece of mail they’d got by mistake. We must’ve had a very loopy new mailman, or my neighbor was lonely. Either way, I dreaded answering the door, but I dragged myself to do it because there was a tiny, remote chance it was Dash.
When I opened the door, my heart fell. It was a delivery man. I did think it was weird for him to be delivering so late.
“Hi, are you Imogen Grant?” he asked in a kind voice.
“Yes,” I said, skeptical and trying hard not to get my hopes up. I was already so close to an emotional breakdown, it was hard holding my head together.
“I have these for you,” he said, ducking away from the door to bring an enormous bouquet of flowers up off the ground. The flowers were as tall as he was.
He handed them to me and I put them on the table next to the door. “Can I have you sign this please?” he asked as he produced a well-worn clipboard with a pen hanging on a string made of knotted rubber bands.
I signed it, numb and dazed, he thanked me and left. I closed the door and just stared at the bouquet before I had the courage to open the attached note. When I finally did open the note, it said:
“Come back, Imogen. The castle is too big to live in without you and our child. Don’t run away from this, we already know how badly that turns out. I need a zombie slaying princess who is a great psychologist and will be a great mother. Get your ass over here!
- All my love Dashell”
Epilogue
Dash
Imogen did eventually come back to the estate. I gave her a few months to get to know me and the family better, and she finally agreed to live with us here. It was a risk jumping into a new relationship so quickly, but in my heart, I knew she was the one from the moment I rescued her from the ditch.
We decided to start again, this time properly, which meant I had to call her Jeni around her work friends, but I was given permission to call her Imogen at home. It was all about compromises. We decided she would continue her work as would I, even after our baby was born and I appreciated her being a child psychologist because she was amazing with DJ and Ally and helped them embrace all the changes in their lives with beauty and grace.
We discovered that we were having a son, which I was thrilled about and couldn’t wait to meet. At our intimate gender reveal party, which was just with Gloria and her boyfriend, Lydia and Imogen’s feisty Gramps, the kids and ourselves, Imogen opened a box full of blue balloons that filled the air around us.
We were very busy planning a baby shower, but I did go to the authorities and while it took time to catch him, Mark was eventually charged with fraud, and manufacturing and trading of illegal street drugs, and was sentenced to prison with the heads of the Minneapolis drug cartel. The minute I saw Mark in an orange suit being carted off to his jail cell, a thousand-pound weight was lifted from my shoulders. Finally, I could live again. Apart from spending time with my growing family, living to me also meant diving into my work. I had a lot of success with the trials for my cancer drug. We were on the road to a medical solution that would, at the very least, prolong the life of some cancer patients. We hadn’t cured cancer, but we were getting closer and I vowed to make it my life’s work to find a cure.
Imogen convinced me to open up my mountain house for all of us to use on weekends and we build a road to her grandpa’s place so that we could visit him often. His health had taken a positive turn with all the kids and bustle about him every weekend, and despite his continuously cantankerous disposition, I could tell he secretly loved having family about.
What wasn’t a secret was how much Lydia loved it. She was always cooking something amazing for us. The person though, who was most happy next to Imogen and me, was Gloria. She had a wonderful boyfriend who had just proposed marriage and she accepted, but more than anything she was free to start her own life and family.
There would never be enough words to express my gratitude for all she’d done for me, so, while it was only a small token of my appreciation, I built them a house, made to their specifications on the same block as ours and we were in the process of building another cabin between Gramps’ place and mine.
Life truly couldn’t have been better. I was with the woman of my dreams, I was doing work that would help humanity and Imogen promised we’d continue to grow our family for years to come. I thanked God every day for sending an angel to rescue me.
Jeni
At the end of September, we gave birth to a little boy who we named Liam Michael for Gramps, whose name was Liam, and Michael for Dash’s late wife Michelle. The kids loved their baby brother and I adored being a mother.
I knew I’d like it, but I didn’t know how much I’d love it. I found my true calling. I continued to work as a psychologist after Liam was born because I still loved my job, but I felt like I was missing so much of his life at the office, so Dash built a home office for me and I started my own practice. It was perfect; I could have lunch with the kids and see DJ and Ally after school, breastfed Liam when he needed it and plan for baby number two or actually four if we were really counting.
After Liam came, the house was louder and crazier, but also more perfect. When Liam was a bit older, and the houses in the mountains were finished we spent our first Christmas together as a big family. Gramps and Lydia were there as well as Gloria, her new husband, Dash Jr., Aleksandra, and Little Liam. In order to celebrate all of their accomplishments over the last two years, Dash and I went on a mountain climbing expedition to the hill where we first met and “fell” in love.
At the top of the mountain in the freezing cold, overlooking the world, Dash dipped down on one knee and asked me to marry him and I gleefully accepted his offer.
“I hope we fill the halls of our home with laughter, love, and lots of little feet so that we’ll never be lonely again. Just us and all of our little zombie killers,” he said with a smile.
Life, while it may always have its ups and downs, was pretty perfect. Every time I get stressed or worried about anything, I look at what we’ve built and I realized we can move mountains together.
THE END
Dear reader,
Thank you so much for reading my book! It’s passionate readers like you that allow me to live my dream and do the thing I love most on earth, which is writing books and entertaining people. As a way of saying thank-you, I’ve included several bestselling bonus stories for you – be sure to check them out!
Four Reasons to Come
Prologue
“Isabella, I’m heading to work. Do you need anything from the store for dinner tonight?” Kirk asked as he waited on the other side of my bedroom door.
“Beer … Kirk, get beer,” Stanley said as he lay next to me. “You know we always need beer.”
“Yeah, of course I was going to get beer, and I’m not talking to you, Stanley. I’m asking Isabella what we need.”
“Could you get some garlic bread?” I asked as I jumped up out of bed and opened the door to talk with Kirk for a minute. “Oh, and I’d really
love some red wine. I’m not picky, you know that babe, just get what looks good.”
Kirk grabbed me and pulled me close to him. His hands were cold but still felt delicious as he held onto my ass and wouldn’t let me go. Kirk was the type of guy who had no filter between what he was thinking and what he was doing. When he wanted a kiss, he came and got one, when he wanted to make love, he made sure I knew that as well. I liked Kirk because of his openness and how he wore his heart on his sleeve all the time.
“Mmm, I can’t wait to have you tonight. It’s my night, right?” Kirk asked and then didn’t wait for me to answer before he started to kiss me.
“Kirk, get going, you’re going to be late for work, and I’m losing my patience,” Stanley said as he climbed out of the bed naked with a fully erect cock and stood next to me in the doorway.
“Fine, I’ll see you guys after work,” Kirk finally said and gave me one last kiss before heading out to work.
I shut the door behind me, and before I could turn around, Stanley had me pressed up against the door with his bulging body ready to please me. Stanley was shy and quiet in the real world, but in my bedroom, he turned into a testosterone filled stud.
“I’ve only got a few minutes before I have to get to class,” I warned him.
“You’ll get to class on time,” he groaned as I heard him unwrapping a condom and sliding it on. “Bend over the bed baby. I want to see that ass of yours in the air.”
“Oh, I love it when you take charge of me like this,” I said as I did exactly what he asked of me.
“Mmmm, your body drives me wild. I can’t control myself when I’m around you. I feel like an animal devouring his prey,” Stanley said in primal tone that was so hot I felt my body dripping with excitement. “Your ass, God your ass, I want to be in your ass.”
“Okay, go ahead,” I said willingly.
Stanley was new to staying with me at my apartment, but I loved how adventurous he was. He made me want to try new things. Probably because I knew he was shy and quiet in the outside world, it made our sex life even more exciting.
“Really? I can do that?”
“Stop asking, I said yes. I want to feel you inside. Now,” I ordered.
He didn’t hesitate a moment longer as he pressed his body against my ass and dribbled lube onto me. He was hard like a stallion as he slowly moved into me, and I grabbed the sheets and tried to relax.
“Ooooooh,” I moaned as I took him in. “Yes,” I said when my body finally accepted his. “Yes, yes, yes,” I pressed back against him, urging Stanley to move freely.
“You feel so good,” he said.
He grabbed my hips and thrust me back and forth as he took charge. I loved to see Stanley taking what he wanted, no concerns over anyone else, just loving my body and making me happy.
Our thrusts became faster as Stanley’s excitement built up, and I reached down to play with my clit to entice the situation. Harder and harder he moved, and the excitement built up quickly for me.
I loved sex. There was no question about it. I loved sweet making love sessions as much as a good hard fuck. I honestly didn’t understand women that couldn’t enjoy all types of sex. There was so much release of tensions and anxiety that came from having sex; it was why I kept more than one man in my life, to fulfill all my needs. Not just one type of sex.
As Stanley and I moved together and finally released, I felt more than just a sexual release. There was a calmness that came over my body, and I loved it. I was ready for my day of classes.
“Wow babe, that was intense,” Stanley said as I was getting into the shower.
“I know; I love it when we try new things. It’s really hot.”
“I’ve got a final today. I’m really stressed out about it. But that just helped release so much tension,” he said as if I didn’t know.
“Yep, definitely a tension releaser. I’m finishing up classes next week and then looking at my grandparents’ house. I’m thinking of just moving down there and enjoying the quiet life. Are you still considering coming with me?”
Stanley and I were the closest of all the guys. He was the only one I had actually offered to let move with me. Not that I wanted a traditional relationship with him or anything like that, I just thought he would be a fun guy to have around as I transitioned to my grownup life.
“I don’t think I’m going to go,” he said with so much trepidation that I knew he’d been thinking about it for a while. “I might look at it next summer, though.”
“Come here,” I ordered him as I stood with my blonde hair soaking wet and the shower running down my body. Stanley did as I asked and stood at the edge of the shower. “You can come at anytime. You know how I feel about you and us. I’d love to have you there, but I know you’re looking for something a little different.”
“Thanks Isabella. I love you so much,” he said and then gave me a quick kiss before heading out for the day.
Living with three guys wasn’t at all a traditional life. I knew this, and I didn’t care at all. Life was just too damn short to be worrying about what was right or wrong all the time or trying to build a life that didn’t make me happy.
Throughout my four years of college, I’d managed to carve out a little world for myself that did make me happy. I had amazing men around me who always looked out for my best interest and made me feel loved and cherished. As I transitioned to a new world and new life, I hoped I’d be able to find that balance again someday soon.
“Um, Isabella, are you in there,” I heard Sam say as he stood outside the bedroom.
“Yes baby, come on in.”
“I, uh, was going to see if you wanted a ride to class today.”
“Oh, Sam, you’re always so sweet to me. I would love a ride to work,” I said as I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a hug.
“Isabella, you’re so beautiful,” Sam softly whispered in my ear. “Can I take care of you really quickly?”
“Sam, I’ve got to get to class.”
“Just five minutes. I need to taste you, please,” he asked sweetly.
Sam was my oral king. He loved giving me oral so much that he made me love it even more than I ever had. I held his hand, walked over to the bed, and crawled onto the sheets and then laid back for him.
Slowly I spread my legs while he looked down at me with so much desire that I got soaked with excitement. Sam loved to look at me. He liked the lights on, and when I spread my legs for him, he always took a minute to admire my body before he crawled onto the bed to please me.
He started kissing my toes and moved slowly up my inner thigh as his lips took their time with me. Sam let out a low moan of pleasure with each kiss and then switched over to my other leg and did the same thing.
His tongue finally found my center in the delicious spurt of liking and sucking that Sam was known for. His tongue expertly played with me in a way no man had ever been able to. In under five minutes, I found myself grabbing onto his hair and thrusting my body toward him as I urged him to continue.
“Yes,” I said without realizing it. “Yes, fuck yes,” I moaned.
Sam just had a way of bringing me to explosion that was so deep and powerful that I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t slow it down. I had to release, and sure enough, I did. My clit thrust into his mouth as he grabbed a hold of it and sucked hard.
He didn’t let go. Sam held onto me, and the more I bucked against him, the more he refused to release. My body soaked with pleasure as I came over and over again in his mouth. By the time we’d wrapped up our morning fun, my legs were shaking, and I had to guzzle a liter of water.
“Wow, Sam, that was so fun,” I said when I finally got the chance to get dressed. “I love that you decided to come live here this semester.”
“Isabella, you’re so amazing. So sexually free. I couldn’t say no to you. I’d do anything you asked of me, you know that.”
“I know Sam. You’re such a sweet man. Someday you’re going to make a very amazing husband.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I just know there is a perfect girl out there for you.”
Sam and I had already decided that we weren’t the right match for each other. Sam wanted a traditional marriage. He wanted a wife and kids and the whole white picket fence. That wasn’t the life I imagined for me, though. That wasn’t what I wanted.
As my college life was ending, I’d considered that I might try just having one boyfriend. It made me sad to even consider such a thing though because each of the men in my life had a special place. They were different and exciting with special talents. Why on earth would I settle for just one man when all three made my life so complete?
It was hard to find men who were agreeable to the life I wanted, though. After four years of college, I’d finally managed to find the perfect combination for my life, and it was a little scary to think of moving into my grandparents’ old house and starting all over again. But I was hopeful that I’d find another group of men that found the value in worshiping me and loving me without requiring monogamy of me. What if there was an even better group of men, a more perfect match out there?
Chapter 1
“I’m fine Willow, the taxi just turned down my street.”
“I’ll just stay on until you get inside the house.”
“Seriously Willow, I’m not going to get murdered in two blocks. It’s Bain, Missouri for gosh sake!”
My ability to humor Willow and her mothering significantly decreased the tireder I was. We had been friends for most of our life, but she still didn’t think I was capable of taking care of myself. When I had a few guys living with me, she tended to calm down a little with her worry, but lately I’d been on my own, and that was causing a lot of tension. Of course, Stanley was still nearby, though, he’d decided to move in down the street and not with me, though. He was trying to find a wife, which wasn’t at all what I was looking for in life.
Damaged Love Page 17