Devil's Deal

by Michele Arris

  To that, he merely nodded, then gave a glimpse at Bailey and observed how her previously cheerful features were now muted as she watched him.

  “Your mother mentioned that you’ll be in the area for a couple of days. You can join us for dinner before you leave?” Nancy looked between him and her daughter. “Perhaps Sandy could accompany you on your plane when you two head back east.”

  Again, when no reply was returned, her narrowed eyes drifted across the room, betraying her fixed smile before she said, “Don’t forget, I want to see you before you leave. Come along, Jack.”

  As the couple walked away, Lucas gave a look at Sandra and noticed how she held a scathing glare on Bailey. Bailey was no longer looking his way. She’d been pulled into a discussion with his mother and his mother’s sister, Aunt Patricia.

  “Lucas, I may have misjudged Bailey.” Sandra stepped over to his side. “Tell me something, is she splitting her time between you and that hot, sexy man she was hanging on at the art competition?” Seeing the tendon flex in his jaw, she cracked a corner-lip grin. Evidently there was no sense in her playing nice anymore. Bailey was here, which meant her pursuit of him was pointless.

  “Is next weekend the other guy’s turn with Bailey?” she asked with a taunting smirk.

  “Tread carefully, Sandra. And I suggest you break the news to your parents to not put any stock in us becoming the happy couple they envision.” A brief scowl crossed her features, before she returned her bitter grin.

  “I see you’ve stuck your poor mother with the task of entertaining Bailey tonight. That’s cruel.” She tsked and shook her head. “Lucas, I understand your intrigue, really I do. She’s a novelty for you, one might even say exotic in a way, but she doesn’t know you the way I do, how fast you bore of your female toys. You forget how well I know you.”

  Lucas cut her a hard side look. “You just can’t help being a bitch, can you?”

  A hint of a shrug. “There was a time you didn’t seem to mind.”

  “A man would tolerate just about anything when getting his dick swallowed.”

  She glared at him with a tight smile. “Once the novelty of having black pussy wears off, Bailey will learn rather quickly. You know where to find me when she does.” Her hand came up to touch his shaven cheek, but he caught it, and squeezed. She winced, yet maintained a smile. “I won’t even hold this lapse in judgment against you.”

  Lucas dropped her hand and smiled back. “Sandra, that’s very magnanimous of you. By the way, do you like the jewels Bailey’s wearing? It was painstaking selecting just the right stone for her. It took me damn near an hour. I’m rather pleased with my choices. You know, Gavin reminded me that I was in my teens the last time I personally chose a gift for a woman of interest.” Lucas dipped his eyes to the diamond studs in her ears and then back at her narrowed glare. “Kara is very efficient. She does a great job handling tasks with which I care not to concern myself.”

  “You bastard!” Sandra hissed low through tightly clenched teeth. “I guess you know I fired your little bitch,” she jeered. “I’ll see to it that no firm will want to hire her. You’ll see.”

  “The only one who will lose is you,” Lucas shot back. When Bailey mentioned that she’d been fired, he was ready to snatch the damn company away from Sandra and hand it over to Bailey. Discovering that Bailey was pregnant was the only reason he stayed his hand ... for the time being.

  “You forget that I practically own your father’s company, which includes yours. If I discover that you’ve tarnished Bailey’s professional reputation, I’ll handle things, and you know I’m damn stellar at handling things.” With a smile, Lucas straightened his tie, saying, “Um, Bailey did say she was interested in starting her own interior design business. There may be a client list that she’s already familiar with.” He turned before her and came in close. “Don’t ever think to fuck with me or my lady,” he warned with razor sharp firmness, and then his smile easily returned. “I believe dinner is about to start. I should go collect my lady before my aunt talks her to death.”

  “Fucking asshole,” Sandra hissed, seething in anger. “Bailey will find out soon enough.”

  “And yet, you still want me. Enjoy your dinner.” Lucas grinned and strolled off.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Bailey was enjoying herself. The lobster melted in her mouth. The vegetables were steamed just right. Lucas’s family as well as Brad’s were very welcoming. Everything was perfect ... except for the cold, crossed looks she was receiving from Sandra and her parents across the table. Why were they here anyway? It was a dinner party meant for Chelsea’s and Brad’s families to get to know one another. According to Lucas, the Callaghans had no family ties to either side, though they strived for such a bond with the Marxes. Bailey being here put a large kink in their chain.

  “Let me put them out.”

  Hearing Lucas beside her, she pulled her eyes away from Sandra’s venomous stare. The woman looked as though she was imagining slitting Bailey’s throat. “It’s not worth it.” She took a bite of her three-layered lemon streusel crumb cake. “Let’s just enjoy the evening.”

  • • •

  Lucas gave the Callaghans a sharp look, to which they each immediately looked away, understanding clearly his intentions. He wanted to tell them to get the hell out, but Bailey didn’t want him to draw attention to the situation. Dismissing the ass-hats at the other end of the table, he brought his attention back to his lady beside him. Though he wanted to crack the bastard’s skull for ogling her, Lucas had to admit that Jack Callaghan was right, Bailey looked stunningly beautiful tonight. Hell, she’d look gorgeous in a potato sack.

  During their shopping trip, he’d insisted that she find a dress similar to the one she’d worn at the art competition in order to wear the jewels. This one had thin spaghetti straps and, unfortunately, no side slit, but was otherwise similar in color and design.

  His index finger lightly traced the outer curve of her left ear to the large, sapphire trillion-shaped stone wrapped in diamonds at her lobe and dragged a finger featherlight on down the side contour of her delicate throat, skating along the fine chain holding the matching pendant resting upon her silken skin. She pushed his hand away with a shy glance over at his mother across the table who winked at them.

  He knew that his PDA was making her uncomfortable in view of his family and Chelsea’s intended family, but he couldn’t keep his hands off her. He was drunk-stupid in love, unable to imagine his life without her. That now included the child she would bear him. The very thought made him damn near giddy with joy. Abruptly, he pushed back his chair and dropped down to one knee, acting exclusively on his feelings, his love for the woman seated beside him, carrying in her womb his first child. The entire room fell silent.

  Bailey’s eyes widened. “Lucas, what are you doing?” she whispered and looked around the table. Utensils were held paused in midair and conversations were halted midsentence. Everyone’s expression matched hers—shocked.

  Taking hold of her shaky hand, he adjusted the tennis bracelet on her wrist before he kissed the back of her hand. “Bailey—”

  “Oh my!” she breathed out, gaping back at him.

  “I know this isn’t the right time and place for this.” Lucas looked at his sister.

  Chelsea bounced excitedly in her seat. “Yes, Lucas, right place, right time.” She shooed him with her hand, beaming happily. “Go on, go on.”

  He met Bailey’s glistening eyes that brimmed with what he hoped were happy tears. “When I didn’t know where you were, it was as if my life had been stripped bare down to my very soul. Those weeks without you were the worst of my life. I never want to experience that feeling of emptiness ever again.”

  Several around the table asked one another what he meant by that, for everyone was intently listening to him on the verge of proposing to her.

  “I want us to build a life together. I want to wake up every morning to your beautiful face and for it to be the last
that I see before I close my eyes each night. My life, my soul, and all that I am I offer to you. Bailey, will you marry me? What do you say, princess?”

  “I say yes, Lucas! Yes!” With tears spilling over, she threw her arms tight around his neck and kissed him. The entire room stood, clapped, and cheered. His mother rushed around the table, kissed, and hugged them. Chelsea cried happily and was held by Brad. Landon, Cam, and Justin ceremoniously let out screeching whistles and hoots.

  Lucas noted Bailey’s attention was fixed where Sandra and her parents sat—the seats were empty.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  “I’m thinking doves.” Nena smiled on screen. “One hundred white doves would take flight just as they exited the church and white rose petals covering the walkway to their white limo.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of paper lanterns on the beach,” Dinah said. “Thousands of colorful sky lanterns lit up over the ocean upon the moment they have their first kiss as husband and wife.” She smiled dreamily. “It would be beautiful, Nena.”

  “Dinah, you can’t very well see lit lanterns in the middle of the afternoon.”

  “It’s an evening wedding,” Dinah told her.

  “No, it’s an afternoon wedding. I’ve already reserved the church. Picture it, Dinah, my idea will be lovely.”

  “Imagine, Nena, the moon casting down.” She sighed with a look heavenward. “So beautiful. And a band! An entire orchestra ensemble.”

  “Yes!” They both screeched and laughed, heads thrown back.

  Bailey sat at the table beside her future mother-in-law, her head slumped, propped up by her hand in front of the computer screen as they FaceTime chatted with her mom. She looked on while they debated over her wedding arrangements. Her wedding. A sigh. They were turning her special day into a three-ring circus. It was getting out of control. They’d been at it for over an hour. A wide yawn of exhaustion could no longer be contained as they started discussing menu choices. Warm hands came down on her shoulders. She looked up and smiled. With eyes closed briefly, she rubbed her cheek against the back of Lucas’s comforting, supportive touch.

  “Hello, Lucas, dear,” Nena said on screen with a cheery wave.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Walters.”

  Dinah looked up at him. “Have a seat, son. We’re discussing the wedding arrangements.”

  “I can see that. I’m going to put my fiancée to bed. You ladies carry on.”

  With a look at Lucas, Bailey rose from her chair and mouth silently, “Thank you,” then turned back to the computer screen. “Night, Mom. Love you.”

  “Love you too, sweetheart, get plenty of rest.” Her mom blew her a kiss on screen.

  “Good night, Mrs. Marx.”

  “Good night, darling.”

  Receiving a hug and a kiss upon the cheek, Bailey soaked up the genuine affection felt from her future mother-in-law.

  “Good night, Mother,” Lucas said and kissed her cheek.

  As they headed up the stairs, Dinah called, “Bailey, remember we’re going shopping with Chelsea in the morning, so rest up.”

  “Okay.”

  Settled in bed, she stared up at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of the elaborate wedding plans. She took a breath and exhaled slowly to try to wash away the tension and the weariness along with it.

  Lucas drew her into his arms. “If you’d rather not stay here at my mother’s, we can go to my place ... our place. It’s only about thirty minutes from here.”

  “No, this is fine. She lifted her head from his shoulder. The blinds were up; the moonlit night filtered in soft light and shadows. “I like sleeping in your old room. It’s kind of special in a way.”

  “Then what’s on your mind?”

  His hand caressed along her stomach. He’d been doing that a lot lately as if mentally soothing his child. “It’s these wedding plans. Doves and sky lanterns and orchestra bands. It’s way over the top. I would just as soon go to the courthouse and be done with it.”

  He drew back, brows lifted. “Be done with it, huh?”

  “I don’t mean it like that. I just don’t need all the fanfare. She shifted and slid on top of him, stretching out upon his heavily muscled frame. I just want to be your wife. I don’t care about all the extreme hooray.”

  “Then do what you want. Don’t you ladies say it’s your day to have as you see fit?”

  Arms crossed upon the bare expanse of his chest, she rested her chin on her hands. “Yes, but—”

  “Why is there a but? You should have the wedding you wish.”

  “You would be okay with that? A courthouse ceremony, I mean?”

  “Woman, I would marry you in a grass hut,” he said as his fingers threaded beneath the satin string of her thong and circled the rim of her vagina opening before thrusting in a finger.

  Bailey rocked her hips on his skillful digit as she asked, “What about our parents?”

  “What about them? They had their weddings.” As he pushed her panties down her hips, he added, “Our wedding isn’t about them, love. Have the type of wedding you want.”

  She slid off her panties and lifted her body just enough for him to peel out of his boxer briefs. Then he reached between her legs and guided his cock into her slick channel. Straddling him, she sat up, pulled her tank over her head, and began a slow ride upon his length as she said, “Let’s do it.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  On a beautiful California morning, just before ten, Bailey stood before the magistrate, holding Lucas’s hands in hers. Sienna stood behind her as witness. Behind Lucas were Landon, Gavin, Daxton, and Sean—his brothers. Lucas had not chosen one best man. He’d said each one of those men were just that.

  Bailey gave a look over at her mother, father, and Caleb, then Dinah, Chelsea, and Brad. All wore expressions of joy. That said, her mom and Dinah weren’t happy that they wouldn’t get to throw the wedding of the year. They’ll get over it once the baby comes, Lucas had told her.

  Him dressed in a perfectly tailored dark gray suit and her in a simple white dress and matching pumps, they listened to the magistrate as he began.

  “Bailey and Lucas, today, surrounded by your friends and family, you celebrate one of life’s grandest moments as you join together in a vow of marriage.

  “Lucas Grayson Marx, do you take Bailey Elaina Walters to be your wife, to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”

  “I do.” Without the slightest hesitation, his cool gaze remained steady upon her.

  “Bailey Elaina Walters, do you take Lucas Grayson Marx to be your husband, to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?”

  “I do.” She felt Lucas’s light squeeze of her hands in his.

  “Rings please,” the magistrate said. Bailey turned to Sienna who handed over Lucas’s smooth platinum band, while Lucas retrieved her ring from his inside coat pocket.

  The magistrate looked at Lucas. “Please repeat after me,” he began. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  Lucas repeated his vows as he slid the seven-carat, canary-yellow, princess cut solitaire surrounded by white diamonds on her finger.

  It was Bailey’s turn. She repeated the words as she slipped the band onto Lucas’s finger.

  “With the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  The magistrate’s last words were redundant as Lucas had already pulled her into a forever-long kiss. When he finally drew away, he whispered, “You’re all mine now, Mrs. Marx.”

  Bailey smiled. “Mr. Marx, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Epilogue

  Lucas came awake to the sound of his private line ringing on the nightstand. He glanced at the digital clock next to it, its numbers illuminating bright blue: 1:31 A.M. Bailey was asleep, half draped over him with her leg wedged between his. Her wild curls covered her face and fanned out across his chest.

 
They’d spent the day at his mother’s, where Lucas caught up on work while his mother and sister insisted they take Bailey shopping for baby things. Bailey had stated it was too early in her pregnancy to start shopping, but it was like his mother and sister to not take no for an answer. Following their shopping spree, having purchased enough baby items for triplets, the trio visited the spa and ended the evening with dinner. They wore his wife out.

  Holding her to him, he checked the phone display. Sienna. “It’s three thirty in the morning, East Coast. That’s late even for you,” he answered sleepily.

  “It’s Kevin.”

  Lucas flinched, jaws clenched. If this bastard is trying to get to Bailey … He wanted to reach through the phone and give him another ass kicking. “That explains how you got this number, but not why you have Sienna’s phone,” he sharply grated, and Bailey stirred at his gruff tone. He stroked her back, and she snaked her warm, nude body tighter around him. Her soft skin rubbed against the hairs on his body, kindling a heated friction that got him aroused. Caressing her smooth buttocks, he gritted into the phone, “Well?”

  “I’ve been trying to reach Bailey.”

  “I have to hand it to you, Kevin, you have fucking stones calling me for Bailey,” Lucas growled.

  “And you need to stop thinking the world revolves around your ass!” Kevin barked back.

  Lucas could hear someone tell Kevin to keep it down. “What do you want?”

  “Look, Sienna and Faith are in the hospital.”

  “What!” He looked down at Bailey when she stirred again.

  “Lucas, who is it?” she mumbled sleepily. He rubbed her back, and she released a deep sigh, nuzzling against his chest. “Babe, we need to sleep. Get off the phone.” Her lean body stretched out practically on top of him.

  Gently untangling their limbs, he got up, padded quietly to the bathroom, and closed the door.