Thirty-one
Esther
“I’m afraid your husband won’t ever walk again.”
“I’m afraid your husband won’t ever walk again.”
I heard the doctor’s words over and over in my head, the tremendous feeling of hopelessness I had felt as he said them so casually making the pit of my stomach churn with nausea.
“I’m afraid your husband won’t ever walk again.”
Bile burned my throat as I sat in the chair I had spent the last five days in, with Rik’s cool hand tightly held in mine, while I prayed silently that he opened his eyes, looked at me, and gave me that smile that was just for me.
The nurses had assured me that his injury wasn’t life threatening, and that when his body recovered from the trauma he would open his eyes and be absolutely fine. But how the hell would Rik be fine if he wouldn’t ever walk again? He was a strong and active man. He depended on his mobility for his job, and for life. Although he hadn’t died from the gunshot, this news would kill him when he finally woke.
“He’ll be okay, you know.” Will squeezed my hand and gave me a small, sad smile. The pity in his eyes only made me more aware of his lie. I had lost my mother three days before, my father had been sent to prison, and my best friend turned out to be a manipulative bitch who had done nothing but lie to me, so I understood Will’s concern for me.
I nodded, not having the heart to argue with him. “I know.”
“You’re both alive, that’s all that matters.”
“Hmm,” I scoffed.
Will opened his mouth to speak but I shushed him when Rik’s hand twitched. His fingers closed around mine and I couldn’t hold back the whimper when his eyes flickered and very slowly opened.
My husband was strong. The strongest. He often said he was the weakest of us both, but that was utter bullshit. Life, when we were kids, would have been so very different for me without his love and complete belief in me. That’s what made him strong, not muscle or stamina, but determined hope and total confidence that life would one day pay us back for all the shit it had dished out.
“Rik Bane,” I whispered between the sobs of gratitude to whoever had given him the courage to wake up.
“Mrs Bane,” he croaked.
The smallest, yet utterly compelling smile, that graced his handsome face seemed like the biggest, most stunning smile that had ever looked back at me.
“What the fuck happened now, little legs?”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it. Shaking my head, I leaned into him and ran the tip of my nose along his jawline. “You’re just a clumsy fuck.”
His eyes widened but his chest lifted with a silent chuckle. “Better get used to it, babe. There’s no escape now you’re mine.”
“I’ll struggle on,” I smirked. “Only because I’m in love with your cock.”
His mouth fell open and he rolled his eyes. “And all this time I was pretty confident you just liked me for my heart.”
Lifting my eyebrows at him, I laughed. “Always said you were a stupid fool.”
“Nah,” he grinned. “I bagged you, I can’t be that stupid.”
Pursing his lips, asking for a kiss, I smirked and leaned over him, placing my mouth over his. He moaned faintly. I wasn’t sure if he was in pain, or whether he was really enjoying the kiss, but he didn’t pull away or wince so I kissed him harder, relishing the feel of his soft lips under mine again.
“Higher,” he whispered.
Frowning, I did as he asked and kissed his nose.
“Higher.”
I kissed his eyes, thanking God that they were open and glinting with mischief once again.
“Higher.”
His forehead was cool under my touch and I sneaked out my tongue for a taste of him.
Frowning harder when he told me to go higher one more time, I peppered kisses along his hairline. It was when he snuggled his face between my boobs that I realised exactly what he was doing.
He winked at me when I reared back and narrowed my eyes on him. “Now who’s the stupid fool, Mrs Bane?”
Epilogue
12 months later
Esther
I squealed, my little legs unable to outrun Rik as he raced after me. His wheelchair tipped onto one wheel with the speed he took the corner, his growls enticing me to stop, turn around and straddle him.
Laughing when he snatched my wrist and pulled me onto his lap, I scowled at him but he laughed harder.
“Seriously, how the hell you expect to outrun me with an elephant in your belly and matchsticks for legs, I have no idea, little legs.”
Gasping with mock outrage, I tried to glare at him. “How dare you call our baby an elephant!”
He grinned, spreading his arms around my huge stomach. “Baby elephants are cute, babe.”
“They are,” I agreed, “but still.”
“Jesus, not again!” Knox groaned when he walked into the hub area of Memphis. “Honeymoon period was over months ago, and still you can’t keep your hands off each other…. Not that I mind if you wanna get into the serious stuff. There’s some pretty hot pregnant porn on the net.”
“You sick fuck!” Rik growled.
“You have no idea.”
“And I really don’t want to,” Rik answered, curling his lip in disgust.
“Boss.”
We turned to see Caroline strutting into the room, her arms full of files. I secretly prayed she went sideways on her stupid high-as-fuck heels, except I was never that lucky. Her long eyelashes batted at Rik and he chuckled when the low growl that left me entertained him.
“Simmer down, Mrs Bane. You know I would never touch another woman, ever. I don’t need to, you’re all I ever need.” I melted into him when he bent and kissed my belly. “Well you and Baby Bane.”
The love I had for my husband had deepened over the last year. Losing the use of his legs had only made him a stronger person. He hadn’t wilted and hidden from it, he’d accepted it and had been resolute. He’d taken a step back from the field work at Memphis, but his knowledge, intellect and grit had seen him become an even better commander. His team respected the hell out of him, me included, and, together, we all made a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, since becoming pregnant I had also taken a step back, but I enjoyed the time it gave me with Rik, and our relationship grew even stronger for it.
Life was good.
Like was damn good.
“Jesus, Caroline,” Knox stuttered, his eyes glued to her silver stilettos. “Those heels need to be making dints in my headboard.”
Caroline blushed. I’d never seen her face as red. She was always so full of herself, her confidence with every single male usually making me cringe.
Both mine and Rik’s eyebrows lifted when Knox grinned at Caroline and she glared back, the chemistry between them sparking the oxygen in the air.
“Seriously?” I whispered.
Rik shrugged. “Don’t ask me.”
I stilled and glowered at him. “Oh, yes, sorry, you’ve been there, done that.”
He smirked, his eyes lighting up. “Oooh, jealously does not suit you.”
Swatting at his arm, I grumbled and shifted off his lap but he laughed and pulled me back down. “Actually, it’s quite hot,” he muttered, pressing a kiss below my ear.
“Again?” I asked when I felt his erection press into my backside. “I’m still sore from this morning… and last night.”
He grinned, nodding. “Sex has never been better, little legs.”
Snorting, I rolled my eyes. “That’s only because you don’t actually have to do any work now, you lazy arse.”
“We need to keep you trim, babe. Especially now you’re fat.”
My mouth fell open. “It’s not fat! It’s a baby!”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Hook, line and sinker. Every time!”
We both froze and Rik’s eyes widened in surprise when liquid flooded his lap. “I know I’m good in bed, but even I can�
�t make you come without touching you.”
I looked down, panic making my heart race. “Uhh, my water’s broke.”
Rik slipped his hand in mine. “Babe, look at me.”
“Rik! My water’s broke!”
“Esther!” Gently he turned my face so I was looking at him. “It’s okay. Baby Bane just wants to meet us, that’s all. You’re ready for this. We’re ready for this. We’ve been ready for this for ever. You’re going to be an amazing mum, because you’re an amazing wife and an even better person.”
I nodded frantically, not sure I believed him. “But my water’s just broke!”
Sucking on his lips and trying to hide his amusement, he took my chin between his fingers and guided my eyes to his. “You can snap a man’s neck. You’re the only person I know who can put a bullet through the exact centre of someone’s forehead. You lick the blood off your blade after sliding it across a man’s throat. Yet, you’re freaking out about having a baby.”
“I’m not freaking out!” I choked out. “My waters broke, Rik!”
“I’ll look after you.” He nodded firmly, encouraging me to nod with him. “I’ll make sure you never have anything to fear. I’ll protect you, love you, and fucking worship you,” he whispered. “Every day that I take another breath I will be right here, by your side, holding your hand, and your heart. Your soul is safe with me, little legs. I can never promise much, but I can promise you that.”
I nodded, feeling his love surround me, comforting me. “Let’s do this, Rik Bane.”
“Let’s do this, Mrs Bane.”
And we did.
Thirteen months later, Baby Jemima Bane slid her tiny hand in mine and took her first steps.
And so did her daddy.
The End
Out now
Caged
An erotic Thriller
By D H Sidebottom
Judd Asher was taken from his front garden when he was just four years old. After an extensive search, he was never found.
Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years.
Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past.
However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her.
Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin.
Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun.
But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury.
She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.
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Dove
An erotic thriller
By
D H Sidebottom
After her mother abandoned her when she was just a child, Dove fled the only life she’d known with her younger sister, Serenity, frightened that the authorities would tear them both apart.
Leaving behind a life of poverty and constant hardship with the group of travellers she had grown up with, Dove has no choice but to turn to a life of debauchery and crime to feed their bellies and provide them with shelter and security.
Fast forward ten years and life is now so very different for Dove. Her once best friend and fellow traveller, Flick O’Kane, now a Hollywood star, appoints Dove to accompany him to a charity ball, unaware just who exactly his companion really is.
Both their lives come together in an explosion of sex, drugs and secrets. The friendship they once held close is about to be tested when their past threatens to rip them both apart and endangers not just their own lives but the very life Dove has broken her own soul for – Serenity’s.
*This is a standalone book recommended for ages 18+. It contains scenes of sex, violence and substance abuse.
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The End
Bane (Memphis #1) Page 18