by Xavier Neal
What the fuck is happening today?!
Brock denies me the chance to respond. “I’m not going out on that stage any more. I’m going to be by your side as your security detail and your second in command running The Castle.”
His bold statement widens my eyes.
“It’s where I belong, baby. It’s where I’ve always belonged. The only reason you put me out on that stage to begin with was to have an example. A high standard. A variable you trusted to guide from where you couldn’t see. Now, I’m going to guide from beside and make sure nothing ever fucking threatens our lives again.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my lips.
“Wood is actually putting me in touch with some friends to eventually start a security business. As for here, I’m going to be in charge primarily of monitoring it. Upgrading. Reviewing. Insuring we never deal with another shit storm like the one we just spent months going through.”
Is it wrong I find it sexy when he gets like this? Pushy. Bossy. A bit beastly?
“I’ll be taking a few classes. Weapons Disarming, Anti-Ambush Procedures. Threat Assessment. I'll also be taking the concealed weapons course.”
This isn’t just a spur of the moment choice, I see. He’s really given this thought…This seems like the best decision…for both of us. Don’t tell him, but I will feel much more secure with him at my side than anyone else I’ve even considered hiring.
Playfully, I state, “So you’ll be packin’?”
“Baby, I’m always packin’.” His crotch brushes against me.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I ask, “Anything else?”
“Yeah, after we spend all morning making up, I’m moving my shit in.”
The last declaration drops my mouth open.
“You should close that before I put something in it.”
His dirty retort causes me to challenge, “Shouldn’t it be you on your knees begging me for forgiveness?”
“Yeah.” Brock’s eyes flare with a hunger I’m not sure I can ever live without. “Let me get there…”
We make mistakes…Sometimes shit gets a little complicated when you’re busy trying to protect the one you love rather than support them. I guess that’s something the two of us both need to learn. The difference, and when we should do which. But we’ll learn it eventually. And we’ll do it together. Because Brock’s right. That’s exactly where we belong. Together.
EPILOGUE
Brock
Three months later…
I carefully bring in the breakfast tray to where French is still struggling to wake up in our bed.
Didn’t get a new bed or sheets, but there are a few other touches of me in here now. Like that bookshelf over there. That’s mine. We got me a hat rack, which she hates, but it’s on my side of the bed so she copes. The rest of the penthouse has other little traces, more books, lost socks, and sports memorabilia in the game room. Nothing major. Told you. Don’t need a lot of shit.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
She gives me a sleepy smile. “Happy started with the midnight wakeup call you gave me.”
Fucking right I did.
Placing it on her lap, I state, “And it’ll end the same way.”
French rolls her eyes before lowering them to the spread in front of her. There are chocolate chip waffles, bacon, fresh cut strawberries, and her morning vanilla latte. She hums her approval as she reaches for a slice of bacon. “This all looks so fucking good.”
“Enjoy it,” I insist. “Fuck. It’s the only day off I could convince you to take this week.”
Same shit, different day. French is always on the grind except now she lets me be there with her. Share a bit of the load. She’s becoming accustomed to tossing ideas by me for investments. Ideas for improvements. And while she has no desire to ever expand The Castle, she likes the idea of other luxuries to keep us at the top. I’ve still got a couple of classes to go through to complete my training to be her security detail, but it hasn’t stopped me from being at her side every opportunity I get. Unfortunately, due to Wood’s wife popping a couple weeks earlier, we had to hire a stand in. He’s a nice guy, but I fucking hate it.
“Are we still meeting with Brice and Elena for dinner?”
Having a brother is fucking life changing. He doesn’t hesitate to treat me as such. They invite us for dinner though French has a harder time making it because she’s always fucking working, but comes when she can. We hang out with my nephews, Barrett and Brady, who love for me to chase them around the yard or have me read books to them. Sometimes we meet for a beer or to catch a game. They’ve been over once for dinner and drinks, but because of the rules for The Castle, they aren’t technically allowed. Uh-huh. Moving us is second on my agenda.
“Yeah. They’re gonna have his parents watch the kids and we’re going to go to that place Rhys made reservations for.”
“They have that salad I love!”
I try to stifle my groan of protest.
No fucking person should love salad like my girl does…Just fucking saying. Rhys? Yeah. They’ve…been working on shit. A lot of that going around apparently. I’ve met him. Been there for dinner a couple times. On our first meeting, I threatened him not to hurt her now that he was given a chance to be in her life. He gave me a similar warning. He’s a fairly decent man. Still keeping my guard up. No one is going to hurt my woman again. Not her father. Damn sure not me.
Once she’s had a couple bites, she peers up at me and snaps, “Are you just going to watch me eat?”
“No.”
She motions to her plate for me to take something.
I shake my head. “No.”
Her face falls to one of confusion.
“Three things.” My statement grabs all of her attention. “One, Arik is not allowed to play. Two, Hunter is not allowed to make a speech. Three, Chance is not allowed to have anything to do with the food.” The expression remains, but only momentarily. I pull the box from my pocket and place it on the edge of her nightstand.
A gasp is robbed.
“You’re mine, French. You’ve always been mine. You’ll always be mine. This is just to remind assholes when I’m not around.” My body lowers down to its knees and I open the box from its position. Once the gold colored, rose shaped with a diamond in the center, antique ring is exposed, I state, “Marry me.”
Her brown eyes swirl with the answer yet she pokes, “You’re not even going to fucking ask? Just demand it?”
“You’re fucking lucky you didn’t already wake up with it on your finger.”
She snickers and leans forward to coo. “I’m not changing my last name…”
With a smirk, I state, “Yes you are…”
Fuck yes she is. She’ll have my last name. She’ll have my last name and sign it with pride knowing she has me for a fucking life time. We may never have the fucking storybook life that other people do, but what we have is ours. It’s our fucking tale. It’s our fucking life together. It’s lived the way we want it to be. And you know what? That’s all that truly fucking matters to me…
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NEWS!!!!
French and Brock will return in ‘The Matrimony’. (Working title, subject to possible change.) This book will take place at the END of the series and also be a standalone that proceeds the events that took place in the book.
NEXT UP ON THE POLE:
Prince Chance!
Curious about Prince Arik and Prince Hunter? Check out the first two books in the Prince of Tease series today!
Prince Arik (Prince of Tease #1):
Members only.
A simple rule but a valuable one.
The Castle is the most exclusive and illusive male strip club in the country. As dancers, we're treasured like royalty and as clients, you're treated like it.
I'm the cocky, pl
ayful, green eyed dream boat whose body makes ladies hit high notes. Every man that walks out onto the stage is loved like a prince.
I'm Arik and this is my story.
This book contains adult language and content. 18 and older is advised-
-This is the FIRST in a series of STANDALONES-
Prince Hunter (Prince of Tease #2):
Members only.
A simple rule but a valuable one.
The Castle is the most exclusive and illusive male strip club in the country. As dancers, we're treasured like royalty and as clients, you're treated like it.
I'm the sweet, southern, brown eyed rope lover whose performance leaves women's hearts in knots.
Every man that walks out onto the stage is loved like a Prince.
I'm Hunter and this is my story.
-This is the SECOND book ina series of STANDALONES-
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