“Gonna see Connie off, then I’m gonna put Bryant down for a nap and then I’m going to stick this in your mouth to get his name out of it.”
“Oh my,” I jest, sighing happily. “Oh that just sounds God awful, sir.”
He pinches my rear just as the doorbell sounds, and Connie comes bounding down the stairs.
“Bye guys!” she tries to yell but Kane has vanished from my path and appeared in hers faster than The Flash.
“I don’t think so,” Kane grumbles and I hear the door swing open. “Oi! You! Kid!”
“Daaaaad,” Connie hisses and I have to stifle my laugh.
“You ain’t gonna come greet my daughter at the door, she ain’t goin’ on a date with you,” Kane barks and I snatch up Bryant before he can squeeze between his daddy’s legs and escape.
“I was just getting the flowers from the back seat, sir,” the boy says with a nervous tone.
“Good man.” Kane winks at Connie whose white cheeks are bright red.
“I hate you,” she mouths at Kane who only grins bigger.
“I’m AJ, Arnold Junior, it’s good to see you again, sir.” The boy raises his chin, trying to look confident as he extends his hand to Kane who shakes it. Then he hands the flowers to Connie and stammers, “These… uh… are for… uh… you.”
“Thank you,” she murmurs, her cheeks even redder. I cannot control my grin. This boy has it bad for her. It’s so sweet.
“We’ll take those and put them in your pretty vase in your bedroom won’t we Bryant?”
“Yessss,” he says one of the only words he can say as he tries to grapple the flowers from my free hand.
“Well, you both have fun now,” Kane says but his tone screams fake. “Be home for ten.”
“I will make sure she is home by then, sir.”
“You have such lovely manners, AJ,” I say gently to help soften this moment.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Kane laughs at my expression and shuts the door after shoving Connie out of it. “Ma’am.”
“When did I become a ma’am?”
Kane scoops both Bryant and me up in his big arms and Bryant grabs at his hair just because he likes to pull it. Bryant looks more like me than his dad, which is nice because Connie is Kane’s double which obviously means she is stunningly gorgeous. She turns heads with her beauty. I’m hoping Bryant won’t be a heart stopper like his daddy, I couldn’t live with the stress.
Although Kane often tells me even though he hated me he always said I was the hottest girl in school. Ren confirmed that admission too. So maybe we’ll be screwed either way.
“Babe?” Kane calls, snapping me out of my daydream. “Give me your eyes.”
I do, looking deep into his ocean blues and he must see something in mine because his soften and he kisses me tenderly, like I’m made of glass.
“Hey Bryant, reckon your momma knows how much I love her?”
“Yessss,” Bryant answers and my smile reaches my eyes.
“Bryant, reckon your daddy knows how much I love him back?”
“Yesss,” Bryant answers again, while squirming to be put down. I do so and watch him run to the closed door in search of his sister.
Kane kisses me hard and fast and then we part. He grabs Bryant for his nap, I put the flowers into water in Connie’s black, twisted vase. Even her vase is goth. Then I let Kane drag me into the bedroom and take every name of every man I’ve ever mentioned right out of my mouth with his cock. Kane Jessop now a family man, will always have a vicious taint to him that I’ll never stop loving for as long as I live. I vowed it five years ago and I meant it.
THE END
HAVE YOU READ…
BROKEN
by A. E. Murphy (Excerpt)
“You shouldn’t be working in your condition.” I wince at the sound of his voice and turn to face him, two cups of coffee in my hands. “You look exhausted.”
I stare at Nathan and then I look away. “Why are you here?” Please leave, you look too much like him.
I place the drinks on a tray and slide them towards my boss.
“I followed you,” he states without hesitation. “I didn’t realise your pregnancy was so far along.” His familiar brown eyes flick to my protruding stomach.
“I didn’t realise you cared,” I say and it’s supposed to sound snappy but my voice sounds dead and flat. Exactly how I feel inside.
Nathan leans on the counter, chewing his lip like his brother did. It makes my eyes burn. “Where are you staying?”
“Why are you here?” My life isn’t his business. He didn’t care about his brother so why should he care about me? Not to mention the fact he assaulted Caleb the last time we saw him. “You live hours away. What do you want?”
“I asked you a question.” A muscle in his jaw jumps, his eyes narrowing with irritation.
“And I asked you three.”
“If you don’t want my help then fine. It’s on you, not me.”
My mouth drops open. “I never asked for your help and no, you’re right. I don’t want it!”
He shakes his head and stalks away. I don’t realise all eyes are on me until the moment he leaves and I stop thinking about how much he looks like Caleb from behind.
“He’s such an arsehole,” I say to my boss, who frowns at the door where Nathan just exited. “I’ve met the guy once before and he just swans into town… what a bastard.”
“Who is he?” My boss asks with raised brows.
“Caleb’s older brother by two years.”
“Maybe you should’ve accepted his offer.”
I laugh once and stare at my boss incredulously. “He didn’t offer to help. He just asked me where I was staying. And this was after he’d already walked away once.”
“It sounded like he was offering to help then.” He gives a small shrug. “But I only heard half of the conversation.”
I relent. “He did, in a strange way, but… he’s infuriating and mean.”
“He’s also the only option you have right now. Hear him out. See what he has to say. Not many people would care about their family members’ woes and you’re technically not family.”
I want to slap him. I know I’m hormonal but he doesn’t have a clue what I’m going through right now. He doesn’t understand the complexity that is Caleb’s childhood. He doesn’t get it, so maybe he should just let me work, sign my cheques and stay the hell out of it.
Work goes slowly and I’m glad for this as my night is still uncertain. When I’m done here, I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ll go to Sasha’s for the night. I know she won’t mind. I just don’t like putting on people, but either way I need to stay somewhere.
I text her to let her know and, as suspected, she agrees.
What have you done to me, Caleb? Why am I doing this alone?
I’m thinking about it again. I need to stop thinking about him.
Every time that I do my body trembles, my hands especially shaking.
It’s tough but I’ll get through this. I have to for our baby’s sake.
Is it wrong that I’m hoping for a boy? I want him to be a boy so I can look into his eyes every day and see his father smiling back at me.
What kind of a life can I give him now, though? I have nothing to offer him.
Deep breaths, Gwen, deep breaths.
After half an hour of driving aimlessly, I fill up the tank and head to Sasha’s. As I’m taking the turn towards campus, I notice a large black car following me. It’s definitely him. Christ this is becoming irritating.
“What does he want now?” I say out loud and pull over when he flashes his lights twice.
His body moves with ease and grace as he climbs out of his vehicle and strolls towards me. After a few attempts, I finally manage to stand by the door of my own vehicle. I still have to tip my head back to look at him. Much like I did with… no I won’t go there. I focus on the brisk chill in the air instead.
“Problem?” I as
k, trying not to sound as exasperated as I feel.
“You shouldn’t be getting in and out of a car that low,” he remarks and already I want to hit him.
“Well it’s not like I have another option is it?”
He frowns. “Follow me. We need to talk.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you.” I try to get back in the car, but his hand closes around my arm and effortlessly tugs me away. “What?”
“Please?” He grits out and I can see just that one little word takes a whole lot of effort for him to say.
“Fine,” I relent. It’s not like my day can get any worse. “What’s this about?”
“Follow me and you’ll find out.” He places his hand on my back and the other under my arm to support me as I sit. I’m not sure whether to be irritated that he touched me, or relieved that my arse didn’t hit the car seat as hard as it usually does.
I wait for him to drive ahead before following directly behind him. He leads me quite a distance; I’m lucky I stopped for petrol.
We finally pull into a swanky hotel set on the edge of town, one I’ve never even been inside before. It’s not my thing. I like simple and basic beauty, not elegance and fine china.
After parking beside him, he climbs out and this time helps me up and out of my vehicle. I didn’t realise how hard it was until he started assisting me. He’s right, the car is low.
“Come,” he orders and leads me inside with his hand gripping my arm. I’m nervous as to what he wants. Does he want to help me or is this some kind of ruse? Is it a way for his family to ensure that they get the child I’ll be birthing soon? The thought makes me nauseous.
I almost want to turn around and run.
When we enter, we go straight to the desk. The woman takes a look at me and my stomach before training her eyes on Nathan. There’s no small amount of admiration and lust there, that’s for sure.
Ewww.
“Send up some tea and something to eat that’s safe for pregnant women.”
Seriously? I give him a look, but he ignores it and propels me towards the elevator.
It’s awkward, quiet and uncomfortable as we ascend. I find myself wanting to rock on my heels or whistle just to disturb the silence.
As soon as the doors open he takes my arm again and leads me through the patterned beige hallway. I huff, sick of being led around in silence. Again he ignores me.
Once inside his fabulous room, he takes my coat and hangs it by the door before leading me to a large and expensive looking couch. It’s black, pure black, with silver scatter cushions. It looks amazing. “Sit.”
I guess I’ll sit then.
He doesn’t. He shrugs off his jacket and hangs it by mine, undoes his buttoned shirt sleeves and rolls them up to his elbows. Is he planning on delivering the baby? This thought almost makes me smile. Not quite but nearly.
“Okay.” He rubs his hands together, drawing my attention to the black leather gloves that cover them, and sits on the coffee table only four feet away from me. He’s wearing gloves again. Was he wearing them earlier? I can’t recall. “You have nowhere to live. I have space.”
“Come again?”
“I think it’s appropriate that at this point in time you stay with me. I live only a few hours away in a very nice and quiet village only an hour’s drive from London. Just until you get back on your feet. I think you’ll find my home to be of good taste,” he says calmly and I can’t help but note that he talks weird.
“W… what?”
He sighs. “You do speak English, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Then listen to what I’m saying.”
“I am listening, I just don’t get it.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I’m missing work to be here right now. I don’t appreciate your blatant lack of respect.”
Scoff. “I don’t know you well enough to respect you and so far you’ve been nothing but rude to me. Not to mention the fact the last time I saw you with Caleb, your fist was connecting with his cheek. Forgive me for not wanting to be all smiles to such an arsehole at such a difficult period of my life.”
His glare is open and cold. “I understand you’re hormonal, but I never want to hear such language. It’s improper for a female to curse.”
“Fuck you,” I murmur, feeling even more irate.
“You’re carrying my brother’s child.” His hands fist between his open knees, his cold brown eyes staring into mine.
Acknowledgments
To Jami Kehr, thank you for your endless notes, your fast reading, and your love of this book that matched my own. Without you I don’t think I would have finished this one, especially not this soon.
My sister Siobhan, a hero in my eyes.
To my amazing ARCy Beasts who read and reviewed my last release, Dance or Die. Thank you so much, your generosity and support of my words is so very humbling.
Abby Johnson Capps, Adriana Noriega, Amanda Anderson, Andrea Morgan, Beth Butts, Charlotte Austin, Clare Harrison, Diane Norwood, BJ Steele, Heather Packer, Jami Kehr, Jessica Covey-Wannamaker, Laura Marrero, Laura Petersen, Lauren Ackerman, Magdalena Korczyńska, Miz Biheiv, Nicki Nicole Michelle, Shannon Garner, Tania Emma Shrimpton, Tania Renteria, Victoria Full, Molly Dowers, Booksaholic, Krystal Uppole, Samantha Farrell, La Sra De Galvez, Kristy Gilliland Odom, Gizel N. Alvarez.
While I’m writing this acknowledgement, it is 13/04/2020, we are in the fourth week of the lockdown in the UK during the horrific pandemic that has struck the globe. We all know it as Covid-19. At the moment so many people are dying every single day. It is devastating. So, I want to say how grateful I am to our key workers, our drivers, shelf stockers, cashiers, nurses, doctors, etc. who are all still risking their lives for our country. Without you our world would not keep on keeping on.
I hope the next time I’m writing my acknowledgements Covid-19 is a thing of the past.
Stay safe and healthy guys. Keep washing your hands, even without a virus. Hygiene is everything.
About the Author
A. E. Murphy is the queen of sarcasm and satire, she likes long walks in the park, as much as ice cubes like to chill in a roasting oven. She’s effortlessly independent and so good at adulting it’s unfair on the rest of the world. She only napped twice today and has only avoided the dishes for three days before making the child slaves do them this morning. Winning! Her favourite hobby is writing, her worst hobby is reading through that writing. Also, she has three cats that carry toys to the top of the stairs and drop them down so they can chase them. They do this repeatedly in the middle of the night. Who cares if she has work the next morning? Not the cats, that’s for sure. And if it’s not the cats doing the waking, it’s the toddler crawling into bed with her and pulling individual hairs from her scalp with pudgy little fingers for comfort.
This is likely why she’s in a constant state of grump unless there’s chocolate and coffee. P.S. Please leave feedback, if not on the book then on this ridiculous bio she wrote herself. It’s the least you can do seeing as she’ll forever talk in the third person now. Alex loves her readers. Alex says thank you. Alex smiles.
Contact
Website
aemurphyauthor.com
Twitter
twitter.com/A_E_Murphy
Facebook
www.facebook.com/a.e.murphy.author
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Email
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Also By The Author
Standalone Novels
Masked Definitions
HIS FATHER
STEPDORK
NAKED OR DEAD
DANCE OR DIE
Becoming His Mistress
VICIOUS
Seas of Seduction
Seizing Rain
Freeing Calder
The Little Bits Series
A Little Bit of Crazy
A Little Bit of Us
A Little Bit of Trouble
A Little Bit of Tr
uth
A Little Bit of Guilt
The Distraction Trilogy
Distraction
Destruction
Distinction
The Broken Trilogy
Broken
Connected
Forever
A Broken Story
Disconnected (Dillan)
Sweet Demands Trilogy
Lockhart
Lockdown
Unlocked
Colouring Books
NAKED OR DEAD colouring book edition
Laurie’s Life Lessons a colouring book novella (Becoming His Mistress Spin-off)
Audiobooks
NAKED OR DEAD
HIS FATHER
BECOMING HIS MISTRESS
Vicious Page 33