by Moore, Lila
I woke feeling strangely empty. I placed my hand on my stomach; it was flat. I tried to sit up, but I was too sore.
“Don’t do that,” my mother said. “You need to rest.”
“Where’s my baby?”
I sounded drugged even to my own ears. It was like my tongue was having trouble cooperating with my mouth.
“He’s fine. He’s sleeping in the nursery.”
“Where’s Nate?”
My mother sat down beside my hospital bed; she looked quietly furious.
“What is it? Where is he?” I asked.
She didn’t respond. She knew it upset me when she criticized Nate’s absence so she bit her tongue, but I could see her anger in her actions. She rose to her feet quickly and started to rearrange my bed sheets.
I was used to this sort of behavior. When my mother became angry about Nate, she hardly talked to me, and when she did it was always in clipped, short exchanges. It had been over a month since we’d had an in depth conversation about anything. Nate was always the sticking point. I trusted him to return; my mother had lost faith in him.
“You almost died,” my mother said matter-of-factly. “Your blood pressure skyrocketed. They had to perform an emergency C-section. I wasn’t sure you were going to make it.”
Her voice broke. I reached out and took her hand.
“I’m okay and the baby’s okay.”
She nodded and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Did Nate leave?” I asked.
“No,” a voice said from the doorway.
I turned to find Nate leaning against the doorframe. He’d been listening to our exchange. My mother glared at him from the corner of her eye.
“He’s here-for now,” she said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Nate responded.
“We’ll see,” my mother said skeptically.
“Please don’t fight.”
“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll wait outside.”
My mother walked out of my room, closing the door behind her. Nate sat down on the edge of my bed. He looked tired. He had dark circles under his eyes and his skin was pale.
“You look worse than I feel,” I said.
Nate laughed. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Has my mom been giving you a hard time?”
He smiled weakly. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“She’s been pretty angry at you. She was starting to worry that you’d never come back.”
“Were you worried?”
“No. You told me you’d come back and I believed you.”
Nate squeezed my hand.
“Where’s Jackson?” I asked, suddenly feeling panicked. “I overheard them talking about kidnapping me.”
Nate’s jaw tensed. He looked angry. “They let him go.”
“What? He’s free again?”
“No. Now he’s in custody. He broke his agreement. They offered him full immunity if he confessed everything he knew about the security firm we were working for. He also agreed to work undercover and report back to the CIA. The company we were working for was involved in shady business in the Middle East. Their agenda conflicted with our government’s. Apparently, several important missions were ruined because of the security firms meddling. Anyway, they wanted Jackson to go undercover at the company, but Mia convinced him that you were a problem.”
Nate looked away as if he was ashamed. I’d tried to convince him for months that Mia was a liar. It was obvious he didn’t believe me until now.
“When the CIA got word that Jackson and Mia returned home, they sent me to follow them,” Nate continued. “It didn’t take long to figure out they were planning on killing you.”
“Why?” I asked, interrupting him. “Why were they so determined to get rid of me?”
“Mia…” A distant look clouded Nate’s expression. “She doesn’t like to lose.”
“I’ll say…”
“You ruined her plans and humiliated her. Something inside her snapped. It didn’t really hit me until the paternity tests came in, but you were right about her. She was stringing me along, trying to convince me that Jackson’s baby was my own.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have a real family now.”
He smiled and kissed my hand.
“What about Mia? What happens to her now?”
“Jackson was taken into custody. He broke his agreement. He lost his immunity. Mia’s on her own now. I reached an agreement with the agency. I’d continued to work for them if I was allowed to prove Jackson had broken his agreement with them. In exchange, I get to keep you in my life and Mia gets relocated somewhere far away. She’s on her own now. We’ll never hear from her again.”
My earlier prediction had come true; Mia would spend the rest of her life bitter and alone.
“Will Jackson stand trial for war crimes?” I asked.
“Probably not. The military doesn’t like it when stories about dead children make the news. Besides, Jackson knows a lot about our country’s black ops program. I suspect he’ll quietly disappear along with Mia.”
“They won’t kill them, will they?” I whispered.
“Jackson… maybe. Mia, no. She’ll be sent away with the baby. A new identity will be given to both of them and hopefully we’ll never hear from them again.”
“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
“No. It’s not good enough.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re leaving.”
“What? Where are we going?” I asked.
Excitement and alarm twisted in my stomach leaving me jittery. I wasn’t sure I wanted to flee but I trusted Nate to make the right decision.
“As soon as you’re able and the baby’s big enough to travel, we’re moving overseas.”
“Where?”
“Germany. I’ve been working there for the last few months. It’s safe. There’s a lot to do, good schools, good food. You’ll love it. I promise.”
Everything was happening so quickly.
“Just like that? We’re leaving?”
“We have to. It’s the only way we can be together and I can guarantee your safety.”
I’d never lived away from home before, or spent significant amount of time away from my mother.
“Your mom can come and visit us,” Nate said as if reading my mind. “It’s only a plane ride away.”
“She’s not going to be happy about this.”
“Her biggest fear is that you’ll be forced to raise our baby alone. I would never let that happen. I told her I was committed to you and the baby. Once we move, she’ll see that I’m serious. She’ll be relieved.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“We’re going to make this work, Liv. I promise. I’ve asked a lot of you. You were patient with me when I wasn’t right in the head. You trusted me when we were in danger. And you waited for me when I had to go away.”
I felt something slide onto my ring finger. I looked down to see a gold band
“It’s my turn to repay the love you’ve given me,” he said.
I twisted the ring around my finger. It had been a long journey, but we were finally here. It wasn’t easy, or painless, but love never is. Now that we were at the end it felt bittersweet. I was stronger, a bit wiser and maybe a bit more cynical. I’m not sure I’ll ever be a ruthless survivor like Mia. But maybe that’s a good thing.
“Will you leave with me, Liv?”
I smiled. No matter how long I had to wait for him, or who I had to fight, I would always be Nate’s.
“You know I can’t say no to you. I love you. And I’ll always wait for you no matter how long you’re gone.”
“That’s good because I love you and I’m counting on proving it to you forever.”
The End
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS TITLE, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:
My Stepbrother the Sheikh
The Sheikh is trouble.
Devastatingly handsome, arrogant, rich a
nd desperate for an heir, my stepbrother Sheikh Idris has set his sights on me. After offering me a small fortune to bear his child and secure his family fortune, I find myself at his mercy.
It all seemed so easy: I give him a baby in exchange for a big payday. Simple, right? Wrong.
What was supposed to be strictly business has turned personal. I find myself fantasizing about his exotic, good looks and foreign culture. Half the time I can’t decide if I want to slap him or throw him down and have my way with him. But one thing’s for sure: I’m finding it harder and harder to say no to his demands.
The Billionaire’s Baby Auction: Bought By My Stepbrother
“Say it… Say you want this,” he demanded.
The annual billionaire charity auction is an old tradition among the rich. Women are bid on and purchased for the evening by wealthy men. Often they spend the night having dinner and socializing, but sometimes it leads to more. Several girls find wealthy husbands, or benefactors. I found something more, something unimaginable…
After being purchased by my billionaire stepbrother, I found myself promised to him and the dark secrets he hides. I should have resisted his charms and fled, but he won’t stop until he possesses my curvy body. Sometimes pleasure is worth the pain, but once I discovered the real reason he purchased me from the auction, I was left wondering if the sacrifice was too great.
Gentlemen Bastards
When I took a job at one of the country’s best companies I had no idea I’d find myself at the heart of a high stakes mystery involving a billion dollar trust fund and a wealthy family’s dark secrets…
Three billionaire brothers: impossibly handsome, rich and infuriatingly arrogant.
They’re my bosses and they work me to the bone. When I suddenly found myself at the center of a fierce competition between them, I couldn’t help but suspect something was off. The men were determined to claim me as their own and they were willing to pay. They offered money, a promotion, anything my heart desires— if only I choose one of them. I knew it was too good to be true.
The deeper I delve into the family’s past the more suspicious I become, but it’s too late to back out now. I’m in too deep and worst of all I’m starting to find it harder and harder to resist their charms.
Being swept up in a wealthy family’s drama is bad enough, but fighting off the desire they’ve ignited in my heart may prove to be the greatest battle yet.
Author’s Note: This full-length, HEA romance novel can be read as a standalone, though a sequel is planned. Enjoy!
An Heir For My Billionaire Stepbrother
“I want you to be my girl. I want you to carry my baby.”
When my handsome, older stepbrother inherited a billion dollar trust fund, I couldn’t help feeling jealous. Until I discovered there was a catch: he can’t collect the money, unless he has an heir. Now he’s desperate to find a girl to bear his child.
I’m a big girl and a bit insecure, but I’m determined to make my forbidden crush a reality by giving my stepbrother exactly what he desires. With a baby and a billion dollar fortune at stake, my innocent crush could lead to ruin.
But I don’t know how much longer I can resist…
My Stepbrother’s Rules
Growing increasingly bored with my status as a junior reporter, I was eager to sink my teeth into a meatier story. When a new club opened in town, rumors swirled about what went on inside. Tales of domination, submission and more intrigued and frightened me. When I pitched the idea of a story about the seedier underbelly of the club to my editor, he was thrilled. I was tasked with going undercover to get the real story.
Inside the club, I watched wealthy, handsome men seduce and dominate beautiful women. I was just settling in to watch a salacious show when I received the shock of my life: my hot, domineering stepbrother Alex was in the audience! When our eyes met, he looked furious.
After failing to convince me to leave, we found ourselves in a private room. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was submitting to my new Master— my stepbrother!
Our relationship is volatile and dirty; if anyone finds out, our lives will be ruined. We’re finding it hard to stay away from one another even though we know it’s wrong. Even worse, I think might be falling for my new Master. How long can our relationship last before the truth is uncovered?
My Possessive Stepbrother
My stepbrother is determined to possess my curvy body and I’m finding it hard to say no…
I’ve resisted my stepbrother’s charm for years. Handsome, charismatic and hopelessly overprotective, he’s chased away every boyfriend I’ve ever had.
I’m the only woman he cares about and he won’t stop until he possesses me completely. Our forbidden desire is too great to deny. Will it be our downfall, or the beginning of a new future together?
A Baby For My Billionaire Rockstar Stepbrother
When our mouths touched a fire sparked inside me. I thought our first kiss would be awkward and timid. Instead a hunger consumed me like a wildfire.
I never planned to have a baby with my stepbrother. My innocent crush turned into forbidden lust when my handsome, billionaire stepbrother Alec’s band was in town. One of the world’s most famous rockstars, he’d grown sick of phony groupies and people looking to take advantage of him. Alec was desperate to find a real girl… someone like me.
When he proposed I have his baby, I was shocked. I soon found myself eager to explore our forbidden attraction, but the world of a rockstar is full of temptations. Now I’m full of uncertainties. Can a baby keep him grounded, or are we headed for a world of trouble?
The Babysitter: Bound
“My husband wants to play with you. So do I. Will you let us play with you?”
When my professor asked me to babysit, I thought I’d be in for a quiet night alone with his kids. Little did I know, he had other plans. When I arrived at his house, he dropped a bomb: he doesn’t have children. He introduced me to a woman he referred to as his, ‘wife,’ but I’ve never known him to be married.
I’ve had a crush on my professor all semester, but when he revealed that he and his wife wanted to tie me up and take me at the same time, I was shocked.
Reluctantly, I submitted to their babysitter fantasy. Now, I’m desperate for more.
My Stepbrother’s Twisted Game
“Tonight we can be whoever we want.”
My stepbrother Hunter and I have always had chemistry. We’ve lived in denial about it for years, but when we received invitations to a billionaire’s masked charity ball, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to live out our taboo fantasies. There’s just one problem: when I arrived at the ball, Hunter was nowhere in sight.
After a steamy encounter during one of the night’s more bizarre attractions— a dreamlike sex show— a masked man swept me off my feet. He led me into a private room where things turned hot quickly.
Lost in the throes of passion, a lot can go unnoticed. The shocking secret awaiting me behind the man’s mask was almost too much to bear.
Trained For His Pleasure
“The truth is: I’m curious,” I said. “About what?” “What you do with these women. Would you show me? I want you to dominate me.”
Untouched and innocent Kate wasn’t sure what to expect when her best friend set her up on a date for her twenty-first birthday. Her excitement soon turned to disappointment when she found out her hot, alpha male date was actually an escort.
Kate refused to believe he was genuinely attracted to her curvy frame, but he wouldn’t stop pursuing her. Agreeing to a date, she soon found herself in his playroom, the subject of his steamy, erotic desires.
Being dominated by the handsome stranger gives Kate a rush of self-confidence, but leaves her wondering about the nature of love, lust and obedience. Are the feelings she has for him real? Or the product of their steamy, dark chemistry?
VISIT LILA MOORE’S AUTHOR PAGE TO DISCOVER MORE.
If you haven’t signed up for
Lila’s newsletter yet CLICK HERE! You’ll get exclusive access to free stories, updates on new releases, ARCs and more.