Unbreakable Hearts
(The Broken Series #3)
By
Amanda Bennett
Copyright © 2013 By Amanda Bennett
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Cover art by Robin Harper/ Wicked By Design
Check out other books by Amanda Bennett
Time To Let Go
Beautifully Broken (The Broken Series #1)
Breaking Beautiful (The Broken Series #2)
Misguided Heart
This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)
This Trust of Mine (Raine Series #2)
This Heart of Mine (Raine Series #3)
Coming Soon
Faithless SEPTEMBER 2013
When I Fall OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
Unknown Christmas Title DECEMBER 2013
(All dates are subject to change)
You can find Author Amanda Bennett at the following:
www.authoramandabennett.com
www.facebook.com/authoramandabennett
www.twitter.com/spoiledbrat81
www.goodreads.com/author/show/6550967.Amanda_Bennett
A huge thanks to everyone who constantly supports me and reads my books. You all are amazing beyond belief.
A special thanks to:
Jenn Foor (Author) Rebecca Donovan (Author)
Thank you for all the support.
Robin Harper (Cover Artist)
Thank you to all of my new friends on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Y'all are amazing, wonderful people.
A HUGE shout out to The Rock Stars of Romance, y'all ROCK!!!
Thank you to all the book bloggers that have helped spread the word for all of my books and that have taken the time to read and review my work. I seriously couldn't have asked for better people in my life:
Denise & Nic w/ Flirty and Dirty Book Blog, Swoon Worthy Books, Sugar and Spice Book Reviews, Into The Night Reviews, I Heart Books, The Book Hookers, Hardcover Therapy, Morning After A Good Book, Bridger Book Blog, The Sub Club, Winding Stairs Book Blog, Sandwich Making Bitch Book Blog, LeBook Squirrel, Totally Booked, Book Crush, and The Little Black Book Blog, just to name a few
To my #1 fan and amazing new blogger Tamsyn Bester (The Secret Book Brat) You are an amazing person and I am proud to call you my friend.
A HUGE thanks to my beta readers and amazing new friends. I could not have finished this book without y'all:
Cami Holt-Krystyniak (my amazing editor and an even more amazing best friend) and Mechelle Lovell-Jackson (you rock!)
Table of Contents
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Epilogue
Prologue
Sometimes I find myself wondering if I could possibly love this man more than I already do. And then, he looks at me in that way and I just know, I could and I do. Watching him with Charlie has now become my favorite thing. I just can't take my eyes off of them. She is a spiting image of him and I wouldn't want it any other way. My hands instinctively fall to my burgeoning belly and I can't help but hope he looks just the same.
I stood staring in complete amazement out the kitchen window. The big wooden structure staring back at me as I smiled knowing that he had done this for me, for us, for our little family. The tree house stood for everything we were and will be. It was everything I remembered it to be. Its sleek structure stood unfazed by time and weather, just like us.
One
Gray
Theo and I woke up at the ass crack of dawn this morning, to get the tree house from my old house. I swear I thought I was going to break my back, and nearly did, but it made it all worth it, just seeing her face at this moment. I knew she wasn't looking directly at Charlie and me now, but I could see it in her eyes that we were on her mind. If this old weathering structure brought that much joy to her, I was willing to practically break my back every day. I tore my eyes away from my breathtaking wife when our daughter started squealing next to me. I looked down just as her bluish-grey eyes caught mine, and my heart melted. She was definitely a replica of me, but I could see so much of Bennett in her as well. She was beautiful and all mine.
At twenty months, Charlie was already on the move and getting into everything she possibly could. I bent down to pick up her small fragile body and lifted her into the tree house. She let out an adorable giggle when I did so, and I couldn't help but laugh along with her.
"You like you're new toy, baby girl?"
She just shook her head and her tiny, copper brown ringlets pelted her in the face, making her giggle even more. I tugged on the zipper of her puffy coat and followed her inside the small structure. Once inside, she went straight for the couch in the middle and curled up into a tight ball. Not wanting to wait to hold her again, I pulled her onto my lap and started running my fingers through her hair. Within minutes, she was out like a light. I smiled down at my precious baby girl and sat back in amazement.
I still found it hard to believe that everything had ended up the way it did. Granted we still had our ups and downs, but we were all on the mend and there was nothing that could break us at this point. Still to this day, I would lay my life down for my girls and soon to be son.
Bennett had been doing absolutely wonderful since the whole ordeal with Raylon. She was almost always in good spirits and I think she was finally starting to sleep a little easier at night. I still worried myself to death, but I was slowly starting to realize that there was nobody left to hurt us anymore. Theo and I had tried for a couple of months to track down Raylon's sister, but we never could find her. Bennett knew she was still out there somewhere, but never worried too much about a run in with her. She knew that Theo and I had tried to find her on multiple occasions, but I never told her that I still had one of my private investigators keeping his feelers out, if and when she decided to make an appearance.
Not too long after making the decision to leave the force, Theo and I played around with the idea of opening our own private investigating firm. It didn't take long to agree that it was the right thing for both of us. With the leftover money I had from my parent's estate and what Theo had been saving, we had more than enough to start it up and still have money to support us until business picked up.
Surprisingly enough, our little company took off almost immediately. We signed a contract with the Connecticut Police Department and a couple other private security companies and everything was going really well. I love being home with my girls and being able to wait on Bennett while she carries our other miracle. It seriously has been a dream come true. I'll admit I was being extremely overprotective as of late, but I just couldn't imagine what I would do if something ever happened to my family. They were my entire world and nothing would ever stop me from doing whatever was necessary to keep them safe and happy.
Charlie started to stir and the wind had picked up quite a bit, so I stood to take her inside and lay her down for her nap. Every step I took closer to the house, the more I could feel her presence. It was amazing h
ow my body reacted to this woman and it thrilled me to no end.
I slid open the back door and peeked my head inside. When I couldn't see Bennett anywhere my breath hitched in my throat. No matter how safe I knew we were, I still panicked when I couldn't see her. When my body started humming, I knew she was close. Seconds later, her grey eyes were locked on mine and my body instantly responded. She gave a small wink as I made my way up the stairs to Charlie's room, and I swear I almost broke into a full on sprint.
I gently placed Charlie in her crib after removing her jacket, and placed a small kiss to her temple. Just before closing her door, I whispered I love you and then made my way down to my wife.
Two
Bennett
I was getting more and more tired everyday and today was no exception. I wanted to have this baby already. I wanted to see what he would look like, and hold his tiny body in my ready hands.
Only one more month. I just needed to remember that it was a blessing to even be pregnant again, so I could wait a little bit longer. Once Gray and Charlie disappeared into the tree house, I had made my way into the front sitting room. More than anything, I needed to rest my overly swollen feet. I think I dozed off for a few, because my eyes flashed open when I heard the back door creek open. When I caught sight of Gray, there was only one thing on my mind, and I was going to get it whether he wanted to or not.
The minute his foot hit the last step, I all but ran into his outstretched arms. My lips slammed into his and he wasted no time sliding his tongue across my bottom lip. I eagerly gave him entrance to my mouth, and as our tongues intertwined with one another, I was instantly floating. My hands slid into the back of his hair, pulling and tugging as I tried to pull as much of my body as I could into his. I could feel his excitement growing against me and my panties were instantly flooded with wetness.
I slid my hands along the hem of his shirt slowly and meticulously, making sure to graze his tight abdomen with the tips of my fingers. Our mouths were still moving in sync with one another and he never broke contact, until he pulled back to remove his shirt. My eyes went wide, as I took in the sight of my extremely muscular husband. Before he could reclaim my lips, they slowly started making a trail of kisses leading down to his nipples. My tongue circled around them briefly before finishing their decent down to his waistband.
I quickly unbuttoned his pants with my deft fingers. I slipped my fingers between the waistband of his boxer briefs and his waist, giving a small tug, causing them to fall to the floor, pooling at his feet. I looked up from under my lashes and gave a wicked little grin. I'm pretty sure he knew exactly what I was about to do. I grabbed the base of his erection and lowered my lips over the tip. I started at a slow pace, but the more I felt him growing in my mouth, the faster I wanted to go. Just as I could feel him tightening between my lips, his hands clasped around my biceps and pulled me to my feet.
"My turn." He whispered, and I almost lost it.
Gray grabbed my hand in his and led me over to the couch in the front room. Before I could protest, he placed a pillow where my back would be and gently laid me down. His eyes raked over my still fully clothed frame, before coming back to rest on my eyes. With out a single word, he undressed me and lowered his head between my legs. I was as big as a house now, so I couldn't get a good view of him and I was disappointed. I loved to watch Gray devour me, locking our eyes as he explored every inch.
I could feel my walls beginning to tighten when he suddenly appeared above me. He licked his lips in anticipation, just before covering my mouth with his. My hands tore down his back, just as he pushed his way inside of me. I let out a loud sigh and let my head fall back against the armrest. Sex this pregnancy was more pleasurable than normal. The sensitivity of my body was beyond heightened and always aware of him. He started to pick up the pace as I felt myself greedily clench around his length. I dug my nails deep into his shoulder blades, letting out a loud pleasurable scream.
Gray followed just seconds behind me, giving me one more orgasm before he flipped onto his side. We lay speechless next to one another as our erratic breathing began to even out. My eyes began to flutter shut and I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to evade sleep much longer. Gray traced my jaw and lips with the tip of his finger and just before I fell into a peaceful slumber, I heard him whisper I love you.
Three
Gray
I slowly pushed myself up off of the couch and made my way into the kitchen. I took one last look at Bennett's sleeping form and let out a satisfied sigh. This was exactly what I had pictured for myself from that first day, almost a million years ago, when I first laid eyes on the girl that moved in next door.
We had been through so much, maybe too much in the last few years, that I was ready to have everything we could ever dream off. I was just starting to get the ingredients out for dinner, when my phone started ringing in my pocket. I quickly pulled it out, not wanting to wake my girls.
"Hello?"
"Hey man, how's it going?"
"It's going. What's up?"
"Nothing, Hannah and I were just wondering if you guys could get a sitter for tomorrow night?"
"Theo, I-"
"I know, Gray, but don't you think it's time to get her up and out a bit? Hannah really wants to go to this new restaurant downtown, and she's refusing to go unless you guys come with."
"I'll ask Bennett, but I can't guarantee anything. Honestly, I don't even know who we could get to babysit. Bennett doesn't trust anybody just yet." I knew Theo understood to an extent, but he wasn't fully grasping that Bennett wasn't too keen on leaving Charlie's or my side.
"Okay, how about we have just the girls go and you and I can stay in and watch the baby?"
This definitely sounded like a much better plan. “I think that's a better idea. I'll talk to Bennett as soon as she wakes up. Hopefully she will go without a fight." I laughed knowing that it wasn't going to be as easy to get her out of the house as I was making it seem.
"Cool, well let me know. I'll tell Hannah that you'll have Bennett call her. Good luck."
"Thanks, man. Talk to you soon."
I ended my call with Theo and slid my phone across the kitchen counter. I definitely had my work cut out for me. I started dinner a few minutes later and the aroma of my homemade pasta sauce must've woken my beautiful wife, because she came bumbling up to my side a few minutes later.
Her tiny arms snaked around my waist, falling just shy of being able to clasp together. Her belly was getting so big she could barely even manage to tie her own shoes, let alone wrap her arms around me.
"Stupid belly." She muttered.
I turned in her arms and picked up her tiny body, setting her down on the countertop behind her. "Well, I love your belly." I placed a kiss just below her ear and continued to make my way down her neck, stopping just short of her collarbone. She had let her head fall back, granting me better access to her neck, but I wasn't giving in that easily. "So, my love, I have some good news."
"You're going to keep kissing me?"
I let out a low chuckle, "Maybe if you're good. Theo called and Hannah wants you to go to a new restaurant with her tomorrow night." She raised her head so she was now staring me right in the eye, but before she could react, I cut her off. "It's one night and it's only for a couple of hours. Theo and I will be here with Charlie, so you won't have to worry about her. Bennett, you know I love you, but I think it's time you started getting out of the house more." Her pleasant amused look was now one of fierce disdain. Every time I brought up her needing to get out of the house, this is what happened.
She wriggled her eight-month pregnant ass off of the counter and under my arms. I caught her by the elbow just as she started to make her way out of the kitchen.
"Don't touch me, Gray. If you know what's good for you, you'll just let me be for now."
I quickly let go of her elbow and threw my hands up in mock surrender. I swear she was the most stubborn woman I had ever met.
Whe
n dinner was ready thirty minutes later, I made my way upstairs to grab Bennett and to see if Charlie was up from her nap. I didn't find Bennett in our room, but heard her melodic voice floating down the hallway. I couldn't quite make out what she was saying, so I quietly made my way over to Charlie's open doorway. Bennett was sitting in the rocking chair with Charlie tucked tightly into her side. I turned and pressed my back against the cool wall, listening in on what Bennett probably thought, was a very private conversation between her and her little girl.
"I've loved him for as long as I can remember. Your daddy was always trying to get my attention and even though he didn't know it, I was always paying attention. Your daddy is an amazing man and I only hope that one day you meet someone just like him. I know sometimes it feels like Mommy is overprotective, but I really just want you to be safe. I know Daddy would never let anything happen to you either, but how do I make sure nothing happens to him? I just want to protect you both, but how can I do that when I can't even find the courage to leave the house?"
I turned the corner with a frown firmly placed across my lips. I took in the beautiful sight of my eight-month pregnant wife and our tiny little girl. They were all I ever needed in life and I couldn't wait for the day that our bouncing baby boy joined our growing brood.
I made my way over to Bennett, kneeling right in front of her feet.
"Bennett, you know I don't want to push you into doing anything you don't want to do, but even your doctor thinks it's time you started living your life again. I will never let anything happen to you, or our precious little growing family. You know that, right?"
Her hand came up to cup my cheek and I pushed my face against it. "I know that, Gray. Trust me I do, but I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to any of us. We've been through too much for me to act careless and carefree."
"That's just it Bennett," I cupped her face in between my hands, "Don't you think we've been through enough in our lives thus far, that maybe, just maybe everything is finally how it should be. There's nothing left for you to worry about. He's gone, Button. He can't get you anymore, not unless you let him."
Unbreakable Hearts (Broken Series #3) Page 1