by Mia Knight
“What are you going to do today?” Gavin asked.
“I’m going to swim, eat, nap, and that’s about it,” she said.
He yawned and nuzzled her as she ate. “Sounds like a full day.”
Four hours later, she waded into the lagoon after putting Nora down for a nap. The only sound was that of the birds calling to one another and the gentle lap of water. She could almost imagine that she was on her own private island. Fish wove around her ankles and darted away, scales flashing in the sunlight. Her toes curled in soft sand as her hands swished through the water. She stood waist deep in the enchanting mint green water and took a deep breath before she dived.
She sliced through the water, arms and legs moving in unison. Her lungs burned as she kicked toward the surface. She splashed the water and laughed out of sheer joy. The beauty of this place healed something broken and tarnished inside her, and her heart felt full. She floated on the water, which was still as a lake, and stared up at the sky, which seemed a more vibrant shade than the one back home.
“Lyla!”
She raised her head and looked toward the shore. The staff had set up a table, chairs, and an umbrella in the water. Blade and Gavin were already seated. She swam up to them and easily slipped into her seat and couldn’t stop smiling.
“I love it here!”
Gavin’s mouth twitched. “You don’t say?” he said dryly as he handed her a glass of wine.
She sipped. “Everything tastes better here!”
Blade shook his head and placed his phone on the table, which had a live video of Nora. The staff waded into the water in shorts and trays laden with food. It was bizarre to eat on fine china with gold utensils when she had water lapping around her waist, but she would take it. She noticed some of the server’s eyes drift over her scars. She detected sympathy and curiosity, but nothing more. The locals truly accepted them as they were.
Through Gavin, she had been exposed to fine and luxurious experiences, but this was another level. The first course was artfully arranged finger food. These were foods she had tried before, but there was a tropical flair to everything that made the dishes unique and flavorful. Even Blade complimented a steamed shrimp dumpling covered in orange sauce. She didn’t realize she cleaned every plate until she caught Blade and Gavin staring at her.
“What?” she asked defensively.
They glanced at each other but didn’t answer. When Nora woke from her nap, Blade fetched her. When Lyla tried to take the baby, Nora clung to his chest.
“You should wear a pouch, Blade,” she teased.
He gave her a deadpan look as Nora braced her tiny feet on his massive thighs and smacked his bare chest. The servers brought the next course, and Lyla leaned forward eagerly to see the spread. She caught the furtive looks the servers cast between them and wondered about it. As they walked away, she heard one of them say, “Threesome.” What the ...? She burst out laughing.
“What?” Gavin asked.
She dropped her head back and couldn’t stop her hysterical giggles. She, Gavin, and Blade—a polyamorous couple. Holy smokes. The worst part was, it was a rational conclusion. Blade joined them for what was considered to be a romantic lunch. Not only that, he had Nora on his lap, where she was clearly content. If they saw her with him this morning, it was no wonder they were confused.
“I think she’s had too much sun,” Blade said.
She took a deep breath to compose herself but snickered when she saw their bewildered looks. Oh my God, the thought of Gavin and Blade …
“Excuse me,” she choked and slipped off her seat into the water.
She dived deep and skimmed the sand with her belly as she swam. When she came up for air, she was still laughing. That turned into a shriek when something dragged her under. She swallowed a mouthful of salt water and came up gagging and gasping. Gavin appeared in front of her.
She splashed his face. “What the hell!”
She kicked off his belly but didn’t get far when he grabbed her leg and reeled her back in.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“You nearly drown me to find out why I’m laughing?”
“I wanted to make sure they didn’t drug our food, which would make sense since you ate most of it.”
She glared at him. “If you want more food, order it, killjoy.”
He pinned her against him while he waded deeper so she couldn’t touch the bottom.
“Now, what’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“Lyla.”
“You’re not going to like it.” He eyed her expectantly and she groaned. “Gavin, you don’t want to know.”
“I have a sense of humor.”
“No, you don’t.”
He scowled. “I do.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure.”
He pinched her ass, and she yelped.
“Fine!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and glanced back at the shore before she whispered, “They think we’re a couple.”
“We are a couple.”
She glanced pointedly at Blade and then back at him. “We.”
He still didn’t understand. She tried to smother her mirth against his neck and failed miserably. She figured her meaning finally penetrated because his arms flexed around her.
“That’s ridiculous.”
His tone was dismissive rather than angry, which showed how much he trusted Blade. Gavin could be jealous of her ex, Marcus, or any other male who got close to her but never his second in command. Blade’s loyalty was absolute.
She cupped Gavin’s face. “If only they knew what a possessive psycho you are.”
He’d left his shades behind, so his hazel eyes were bare. The reflection of light off the water made them appear otherworldly.
“Maybe we should show them how exclusive we are,” he said as he ran his finger along the bikini top.
She felt a trill of alarm. “What are you talking about?”
“If they see me fuck you while Blade watches and takes care of the baby, it’ll make his position clear.”
She jerked. “You wouldn’t.”
He lifted her and forced her legs around him.
“Gavin.”
“What?” he asked lazily as his finger slipped beneath the thin ties of her top.
“We are not having sex in front of anyone, least of all Blade!”
“Why not?”
She gawked at him. “You can’t be serious!”
“I told you once that I’d fuck you in front of an audience so they could see the way you respond to me. I’d come inside you and let them watch as my cum dripped out of you.” He tugged the tie on the back of her top. “There’d be no mistaking who you belong to.”
She pressed her chest against his as her top came loose. “Gavin, don’t you fucking dare!”
He grinned devilishly. “Convince me.”
“What?” He tugged on the strings while she grappled to keep them. “I’m going to kill you!”
“What will you do to make me stop?”
“Anything,” she said quickly.
He stopped yanking on her top and she shoved away and tread water while she secured it. She rarely showed her chest, and here she was, in a bikini. Of course, he had to take it one step further and threaten to fuck her in front of people. His gall knew no bounds.
“I’ll collect later,” he said with a satisfied smile.
“Jerk,” she retorted as she swam toward shore.
Blade handed Nora to her when she took a seat to finish eating. Nora was fascinated by the water and kept trying to dive into it. Gavin swam out of the alcove to explore and returned when she and Blade were finished with their meal. She gave him a drop-dead glare which made him laugh as she left the table and finally waded into the water to Nora’s delight.
Lyla stood on their private terrace just outside their bedroom and watched the sun set. She tried to imprint every color in her mind since her camera couldn’t do it justice. Her
starving soul drank it in.
Gavin wrapped his arms around her from behind, and she leaned back against him.
“You know how I never ask you for anything?” she murmured.
He settled his chin on her head. “Debatable.”
“What have I asked for?” she demanded.
“There’s two dogs in my house.”
“You love them!”
“Your ex is still breathing.”
“You hired him,” she muttered.
“And I still allow you to speak to your crazy cousin.”
She smacked the massive arms wrapped around her. “You’ve been saying that since we got together, and you love Carmen.”
“She’s a bad influence.”
“She is a bad influence. That’s why she encouraged me to date you.” She screeched when he bit her neck.
“That’s the one good thing she ever did,” he growled.
“And she saved your daughter’s life.” And mine, she thought. “You bitch about her, but you love her like the sister you never had.”
He grunted and kissed his bite mark. “What do you want?”
She turned in the circle of his arms. “I want an island,” she said bluntly.
He looked beyond her to the sunset. “An island, hmm?”
She tapped his chest nervously. She had never asked Gavin for anything extravagant. She didn’t ask for jewelry or designer labels, but the peace she experienced here—that was worth asking for.
His hand smoothed over her bare back as he contemplated the view. She wanted to plead her case but remained quiet instead. She didn’t need an answer now, but knowing that she could come back anytime, that she had her own haven waiting would make anything she experienced in Las Vegas bearable.
“We’ll look tomorrow. There’s a bunch of tiny islands all over the place,” he said.
Her mouth sagged. “Really?”
“Of course. You think I can’t see for myself how happy you are here?”
“But … you’ll really buy me an island?”
“I promised you paradise.”
“You meant figuratively.”
“I mean it whatever way it needs to be.”
She shoved him into the room and knocked him backward on the bed. She covered his face with kisses.
“You are the best husband ever!”
She gave him a kiss with tongue. His hand slipped beneath her bikini bottoms. Things were just starting to get dirty when his phone rang.
He tensed. “That’s Marcus.”
She rolled off him. “You better get it.”
He walked out of the bedroom to get his phone while she danced into the luxurious bathroom and stared at the foolish grin on her face.
“You want to come to my private island?” she asked herself.
She grinned and stripped off her bikini. The massive shower could fit five people. She stepped under copper showerheads and let the waterfall make her squeaky clean. She changed into a flowy nightgown and sat on a lounge chair on the terrace. The only light came from the pool and jacuzzi. She looked up at the stars.
“I can feel things changing,” she whispered to Nora who sat between her thighs. “Things are falling into place.”
Maybe their luck was changing. Nora gave her a serious look and spoke gibberish as she played with the silky material of her nightgown. She kissed Nora’s temple and rocked her until the baby slumped against her. When Nora began to drool, she rose and put her in the connecting room and closed the door. She heard the shower running as she leaned against the open doors that led onto the terrace and sent pictures to Carmen and Aunt Isabel.
“What the hell is this?”
8
She turned and saw Gavin standing in the doorway leading to the bathroom. He had a half empty pack of birth control pills in his hand. The cloud of contentment she had been floating on evaporated. Oh, fuck.
“How long have you been on these?” he asked.
She licked her lips before she said, “A month.”
Her heartbeat thudded in her ears as he stalked toward her. Even as her body tensed for flight, she forced herself to stay where she was. He held the packet between them as his eyes shot daggers at her.
“Where the fuck did you get these?”
Her body tingled with alarm. Just when she thought she’d hit a sweet spot in life, fate had to cut her feet out from under her to let her know life wasn’t a fairy tale. It was an existence filled with ups, downs, and explosives.
“Where did you get it?” he shouted.
Nora’s muffled cry reached her ears. She immediately tried to step around him, but Gavin gave her a short shove that made her stagger back and blocked her way. When she looked into his eyes, the hairs on the nape of her neck rose.
“Fucking answer me, Lyla.”
It was an indication of how far gone he was that he didn’t tend to Nora. Normally, one peep was all it took for him to drop everything to soothe his daughter. Right now, his daughter’s distress made no impact upon him. He was completely focused on her and not budging an inch.
“We’re back to this?” he hissed
He tossed the packet on the floor and stomped on them.
“Gavin!”
When she leaned down to pick them up, he jerked her upright. A bolt of pain shot through her arm. She dropped her phone, which slid across the floor. He backed her against the wall and slammed his fists into the wooden panels on either side of her head.
Nora’s cry escalated into a piercing scream that she was sure carried to the other guests on the resort.
“Gavin, back off.”
He put his hand on her throat. When his hand flexed, she felt a spurt of fear.
“You think I’m playing around? I’m not. Answer my fucking question before I beat it out of you. You haven’t gone to a doctor. Who gave them to you?”
“I already had the pills. They’re the ones the doctor gave me after we married,” she snapped and yanked at his wrist with no results.
“You mean the ones you asked for?” he asked softly.
She glared at him. “Yes.”
The door opened. She couldn’t see beyond Gavin’s bulk, but there was only one person who dared to enter.
“What the fuck, Gavin?” Blade asked.
“Get her out of here,” Gavin ordered and then smothered her with his body. “Nora, not Lyla.”
She heard the soft tread of Blade’s footsteps as he crossed the room. Nora’s wails got louder when he opened the door. Blade’s gravelly voice softened as much as it could as he comforted her. Gavin didn’t move an inch as Blade came back into their suite. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Blade standing several feet away with Nora in his arms. Her baby reached for her, for once not placated by Blade. Once more, she tried to move, but she was completely immobilized and the grip on her throat kept her from talking to Blade or reassuring Nora.
Her eyes pricked with tears as she glared at Gavin. The vacation was over. Three days of good and then she came crashing back to reality. He went from loving husband to merciless ass so easily. The brutal rage in the hazel depths promised her that she would be punished for lying to him.
“Get the fuck out,” Gavin snarled.
“Gavin—”
“Out, Blade!”
“Don’t make me fucking kill you,” Blade said in a menacing voice she had never heard from him before.
Blade slammed the door so hard it shuddered in its frame. Gavin rested his lips against her temple in a mockery of affection as the hand against her throat trembled.
“Every time I think we’re on the same page, every time I think I have you where I want you, you do something that makes me feel unsure of you again.” His tone was soft, almost gentle, which made his words all the more chilling. “I’ve fought long and hard for you. Now, tell me why you’re guarding your body against having more kids with me and don’t you fucking lie to me.”
His hold loosened so she could get take a full breath. She’d kno
wn if he discovered the pills, he’d be angry, but she hadn’t expected him to go on a rampage. If they had been home, Blade would have sedated and locked him in the basement. Instead, she was going to have to face the monster with no backup.
As if he could read her thoughts, he said, “No one’s going to save you. Now, talk.”
“You won’t understand,” she said hoarsely.
“I know I won’t understand! How could you do this to me? How could you lie to me?”
“I’m not ready.”
“I fulfilled my end of the deal. You told me you’d stay with me if I gave up being crime lord. Now, you give me what I want.”
“We have Nora.”
“I want more kids. I said so right from the start. I asked you less than a week ago if you took a pregnancy test. I’ve never hidden the fact that I want more. Why the fuck are you holding back on me?”
When she didn’t respond fast enough, he gripped her chin and lifted it. They glared at one another. He leaned down so she could see the beast watching her.
“You make me feel more than any other person on the planet. You should take care that you don’t push me too far,” he warned.
“Don’t threaten me,” she hissed.
“You don’t know how close I am to putting my hands on you.”
She raised her chin. “You already have.”
“Tell me why, Lyla.”
“It’s my body,” she whispered.
“Is that what this is about? Your body?” Before she could answer, he muttered, “That’s not it.”
“It is my body!”
“You carried Nora well, and you know I don’t care about the stretch marks or scars. That’s life.”
“The scars are part of our lives, not everyone else’s.”
“What does that mean?” When she didn’t answer, he shook her. “Talk to me, damn it!”
Her husband hadn’t grown up in the same world she had. He was born to fight and kill for what he wanted. She fell into a gray category he didn’t know how to deal with. She would never be sure that he could control himself when his emotions were roused.