Heart of Conviction: Nathan (Conviction Series Book 1)

by Aly Nichole

  Sade was perfect and tonight needed to show her how perfect I could be for her. It wasn’t our first date, but something was different. Fuck if I knew what it was. Our first date was a movie, and then we went back to my apartment. It wasn’t anything exciting or memorable.

  I tapped my finger against the menu while my teeth scraped against my bottom lip. I wanted this to go perfectly. Sade needed to feel how much I cared for her and how serious I was about us. She was mine.

  “Everything looks so good.” Sade wiggled in her seat.

  I smiled. God, she was too fucking cute.

  “Let’s get a little of everything and split the plates.” I offered. I had never been here, but Ira took Red here and said the food was terrific.

  She shifted in her seat and sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “If you’re sure.”

  “Absolutely.”

  I sat my menu down on the edge of the table, and Sade placed hers on top. The server came by quickly and put sample orders of everything. I knew nothing would go to waste, and what we didn’t eat, I would take a doggie bag later. I didn't care how much money I had. We didn't waste food.

  Sade sipped on her drink. Her eyes darted around, never landing on one place too long.

  I cleared my throat. “What would you be doing if your parents didn’t make you choose?”

  She didn’t hesitate to answer. “I would have gone to nursing school, become an RN.”

  My head bobbed up and down. I could see her being a nurse. She was a caretaker and wanted to help everyone, even at the expense of herself.

  “Why didn’t you?” I asked. My gut told me it had a lot to do with her brother. If I ever met the man, I was going to make him suffer.

  “I started working two jobs to keep Zac and me afloat. I knew working two jobs and going to school wouldn’t be possible, and I needed the jobs more than school. And then one night of fun, and suddenly I had to worry about a baby.”

  I thought about all her sacrifices for a man that essentially sold her to pay his debt. Her life would be so different. Would I ever have met her otherwise?

  Her shoulders lifted, almost saying it is what it is. “What about you? Did you ever want to be anything other than a doctor?”

  I laughed when I thought about my ambitious teenage dreams. “I considered the NFL when I was fourteen. Football was a religion to Mick, Ira, and me. But honestly, after Trisha, there wasn’t anything else I ever wanted to be.” I waited for the inevitable pang when I said Trisha’s name, but it never came. Huh.

  Her hand rested on top of her belly. “You still haven’t explained your family other than it’s complicated.”

  I still felt that complicated was too simple when attempting to explain my family dynamics. “Yes.”

  She leaned comfortably in her chair, and her brow raised expectedly.

  I shook my head. “You asked for it.” I cleared my throat.

  “My mom had Ira and me when she was a teenager. The sperm donor was some guy named Tyler. Tyler had two more kids with two different baby mamas after he left my mom. Now, when my dad, Liam, and mom got together, it was just the four of us. Then Ira became best friends with Mick. Mick essentially lived with us because his mom was sick, and his dad refused to stay home. When his mom finally passed, they adopted Mick from his dad.” It was more like dad bought Mick from his piece of shit father, but I didn’t want to go down that road.

  She nodded along.

  “Later, the twins were born, Mase and Maddi, then Lily and Wyatt. When Ira was about eleven, he wanted to know our two siblings, Julie and Sara. We found them, and Mom and Dad made connections to the people they were staying with. Because of circumstances, Dad and Mom ended up adopting both Julie and Sara. And that made nine of us.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow, so your mom and dad took in your sisters just like that?”

  I shrugged. “My mom has a big heart. I think she wanted to save people because no one saved her when she needed it.” My mom’s savior complex used to be a sore spot for me for years, but after therapy, I learned Mom needed to help people.

  “What do you mean?”

  I blew out a breath as our food came out and set everything in front of us. We picked up our forks and started digging in.

  “My mom’s dad kicked her out when she graduated high school. Said she was an adult and she’d have to suck it up.” I was just two. I didn't remember much, but Ira talked about how bad it was. My memory began when we were older, and our mom was a twig from skipping meals to feed us.

  Sade’s jaw popped open. “That’s horrible.”

  I nodded. “It’s why my mom has a savior complex, I think. But it’s better now, and if he let her stay with him, I wouldn’t have my dad. And I wouldn’t have my siblings.”

  My mom always told me her struggles were worth it to have the family she hand-picked. We never heard from her dad, not after all these years. I wondered if he was still alive. I was sure Dad probably knew because he always kept track of those things.

  “Just to make sure I understand.” Sade set her fork down and ticked off her fingers. “Mick was adopted, You, Ira, Julie, and Sara all share the same bio dad, but only you and Ira share the same mom. Masen, Maddi, Lilli, and Wyatt are Liam and your mom’s biological kids.”

  “Yes, that’s right. But we don’t distinguish. We are Liam and Danni’s kids. We’re all Valentines.” I tried to keep the annoyance out of my tone but after years of the media and random people on the street it was hard.

  The media liked to make it sound that some kids weren’t truly my dad’s kids. Hence why my dad hated the press and avoided it when he could.

  Her brows pinched in the middle. “I would never say otherwise. Do you know much about Tyler?”

  My mind wandered to the man who easily gave us up. “I know he was half Mexican, half Black. And he got out of prison a few years ago after doing ten years for assault. That’s all I really know.” I shrugged. I didn't want to talk about him. He was nothing and had no place in my life.

  Sade’s eyes roamed over my face before she gave me a sad smile. “You’re a better man without him.”

  I nodded. “I got the best dad in the world.”

  My mind conjured different ways I could blow up the blue abomination as I parked next to it. The fucking thing gave me nightmares, and I needed to get Sade to stop driving the damn thing.

  I knew it was a trigger having someone I deeply care about driving a beat-up car. It’s what Trisha had been driving when she died.

  “Stop glaring at my poor car. The guys at the center said it was fine.” She huffed and went to open her door.

  I couldn’t have her opening her door. I lunged out of mine and ran around the car, and got the handle before she could. Or she knew what I was doing and waited for me.

  Sade’s eyes were bright blue, and the corner of her lips pulled up. I shrugged and took her hand and helped her out of the car.

  I managed not to give her death trap another look and walked her to her apartment. Could I persuade her to get another car? I could get her a nice van or something. She will have two kids, and Princess started school in the fall. She needed the room.

  I wrapped my arm around her and tucked her into my side as we made our way up to her place. Part of me hoped that I could spread her out and feast on her all fucking night and into the dawn when we reached her home. And in the morning, I would negotiate a new vehicle.

  Her door shut behind us, and she pounced on me. “I need you, Nathan.”

  I grunted in her mouth, and we fought for domination. My hands went to her ass. I flipped up her dress and caressed her flesh underneath. Fuck, it was silky, and I needed to fucking bite it.

  Moving my hands, I swept Sade into my arms, carried her bridal style to her room, and set her on the bed.

  I flipped up her dress and ripped her black laced panties. I couldn’t wait anymore. My tongue plunged into her wet heat and moaned. The tang of her arousal was hot on my tongue.

  S
ade’s hands latched onto my hair and pushed me closer. “Oh god, Nathan.”

  I pulled away, and Sade whined. “Oh, I’m not done with you. I need you stripped.”

  I pulled her up and quickly discarded her dress to the floor, and her bra followed. Finally, just like in my dream, she was spread out so fucking perfect.

  Her body flushed with need. Her aroused peaks begged for my mouth.

  “Nathan, you have too many clothes on,” Sade growled.

  I chuckled, “I’m sorry, Angel, let me fix that.”

  My hands grabbed the bottom of my shirt, and I lifted it over my head and tossed it to the side. I smirked and slowly worked my hand down my chest and abs and flicked the button opened on my pants.

  Her lips parted, and her tongue traced her bottom lip.

  Slowly I pushed down my pants and left my boxers on, which tented from my swollen cock.

  “See something you like, Angel?” I asked, grabbing my dick and stroking it through my boxers.

  Sade nodded. “Stop teasing me. I’ve been dreaming about this for way too long.”

  Fuck. I climbed on the bed and hovered myself over her. My mouth poised over her ear. “So have I, Angel.” I bit her little lobe and made my way back to her wet pussy. “First, you’re going to come on my tongue, then on my dick.”

  “God yes.” Her hips bucked toward my face.

  I smirked and eased two fingers between her pink lips. As I pumped in and out, I watched her face morph.

  I needed to taste her again. I moved my mouth and sucked her clit.

  “Nathan.” she moaned and moved her hips, needing more.

  I curled my fingers and licked and sucked more. Sade’s body tensed, and her thighs clenched tightly against my head. I could feel her hot core tightening against my fingers.

  “That’s it, Angel, come all over my fucking tongue.”

  She screamed out my name as she came.

  I sat on my heels and stared at my angel in her after orgasm glow. My eyes caught her belly twitching violently, and my stomach dropped. Shit. My hard dick deflated. Her orgasm rocked her body, and it might have been too much in her third trimester.

  I went to the bathroom instead of getting my dick wet and grabbed a cloth to clean Sade up.

  Her blue eyes watched me.

  “What about you?”

  I shrugged. “This was about you, baby.”

  I wanted to feel secure and happy. Hailey was thriving under Nathan’s attention and having a home where no one waited for us.

  I hadn’t seen or heard from Trey, and I was happy. I should have been anyway, but I couldn’t help sensing the other shoe was about to drop.

  I felt horrible. I was paranoid and scared when Nathan was officially introducing me to his family. I met most of them already, but the Valentine family had weekly dinners, and I was expected to attend.

  My head turned. Nathan smiled at my daughter in the mirror. I thought us dating would be uncomfortable when I went in for my check-ups, but I was more at ease and Nathan kept his professionalism.

  He flirted with me and pecked my lips, but he had a nurse check my dilation and made sure everything was still on track.

  I blinked. Oh god, the man was delivering my baby. “How weird is it going to be when I go into labor?”

  Nathan’s jaw set, and he side-eyed me. “You thinking about going to another doctor?”

  I tried not to laugh at my poor man. “No, but it’s still weird. You might be down there in my holy land and ruin any future sexy time.”

  He barked out a laugh. “Oh, babe. Don’t worry. I’ll still go to the holy land after I see little man born.”

  Would he really? I had doubts from the videos I had watched. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

  “Angel. I’m a doctor, and I’ve seen it all before. And—” He cleared his throat. “—I don't think I could handle another doctor delivering little man.”

  My body jerked, and I stared at him. Was this an alpha male possessive thing or something else? Should I ask him?

  “If you’re sure.”

  He nodded. “Positive, I would freak out if anyone tried.”

  My breath caught as he turned and pulled up to a gate. Nathan leaned out and hit the keypad, and the monstrous thing slowly swung open, revealing a long winding driveway. Oh, Jesus. My heart thumped loudly against my chest as Nathan drove past the gate.

  It was a lifetime, or maybe a few minutes, but at the end of the drive was a massive house. I sank into my seat and stared out the windshield. The house was brick with matching pillars lining the front door. It was easily three stories and attached was an enormous garage. Not that cars were parked in the damn thing.

  I couldn’t wrap my mind around what I saw. I had forgotten all about his famous family and how wealthy they are. He never flaunted it, and I easily put it to the back of my mind. But as I stared at the monstrosity of a house, it all rushed back.

  “Nathan, I can’t go in there.” I was a broke single mother. Jesus, I’m wearing second-hand clothes from a consignment store. I would look like a street rat next to his family.

  Nathan’s brow pinched in the middle. “Why not?” He sounded genuinely confused.

  I looked over at him. He was wearing a plain tee and athletic shorts, nothing fancy. But the overwhelming wealth of the house had me second-guessing everything.

  “Nathan, I look like a homeless woman. I’ll embarrass you.” I dejectedly whispered.

  Nathan shook his head, “No one in this house will judge you. My mom’s going to beg you to marry me and make me an honest man.” He winked and a cocky smirk played on his lips.

  My face heated. Jesus, this man. “I doubt she will want that.” There wasn’t much on Google about Danella Valentine and what I knew was from Nathan’s story. But what mom in their right mind would want a single mom with two baby daddies to marry their child?

  He snorted, “You don’t know how much she would.”

  I huffed. He’s nuts, and this was going to be a disaster. “Okay, can you get Hailey?”

  Hailey slept in the backseat, her neck cricked to the side. Only kids could get away with that.

  Nathan smiled, looking back at my daughter’s sleeping form. “Of course I will.”

  We walked up and his hand went to my back. The door opened, and Liam stood in the doorway with a t-shirt saying best papa and drawstring shorts. His green eyes twinkled, and a gigantic smile broke on his face.

  “You better hurry, Nate, before your mother has time to put balloons up for you bringing someone to dinner.”

  Nathan’s head tilted back and laughed. “No way, hurry, Sade. Mom has them hidden there for random shit. She has a lot of time on her hands now she’s retired.”

  “I’m so telling on you,” Liam teased.

  Nathan pushed past his dad. “Ma, Dad’s trying to blackmail me!” His voice echoed along the pale hall of the entryway.

  Pictures, newspaper clippings, and various awards lined the walls. The house might have screamed wealthy elite, but the walls spoke of a humble family.

  “Wow,” I whispered.

  “What are you hollering about?”

  My heart picked up. Danella Valentine was nothing like what I expected. She had on a tank and plain shorts. Her hair was in a messy ponytail, and she had very little makeup. Her hazel eyes appraised her son and husband, both wore matching grins.

  She turned away from them and gave me a wide smile. “Hi, you must be Sadie. Half my children are talking up a storm about how you tamed my workaholic wild child.”

  Heat raised in my cheeks. “I don’t know about that.”

  Danella chuckled. “Too modest, perfect for my Nathan.”

  Nathen rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Now, who is this pretty young lady in your arms?”

  Hailey smiled, glowing under the attention. My heart squeezed. My parents had no interest in their granddaughter—another thing I couldn’t give her.

  “Hailey.”


  “Nice to meet you, Hailey. You want to go play with Beck and Lia in the playroom?”

  Hailey wiggled in Nathan’s arms. He laughed and set her down. Hailey took Danella’s hand, and they walked away from us.

  I felt Nathan’s palm on my lower back. “Let’s go to the dining room, and you can meet the rest of the fam.”

  “Just follow the noise. I’m getting a drink” Liam walked away and disappeared in the opposite direction of his wife.

  Nathan pushed me forward. “Are you doing okay?”

  I looked up. His eyes were full of concern. I swallowed, “I’m adjusting.” I answered honestly. It was a lot: this house and everything. I took a deep breath. It was okay, I met most of his family already, and they were terrific.

  We walked further into the house and followed the noise as Liam suggested. Nathan guided me into a room that made banquet halls cry. The walls were light-colored with dark trim. A massive dark table was dead center and so many people sat there. A smaller table was off to the side.

  “Hey, where is my biggest fan?”

  I squeaked, and Nathan’s chest vibrated against my back. It was Masen Valentine, the damn man who was the star of the only show my daughter watched religiously.

  Nathan swooped in and saved me. “She’s playing with Beck and Lia. You know, in your old room, because Mom and Dad don’t love you enough to keep it.”

  Masen jumped up. “Mom visits me on every set. She hasn’t even seen your office yet!”

  I wanted to laugh at the childish behavior of two grown men.

  “Enough, we know who Mom loves the most.” Maddison flicked her gorgeous red hair off her shoulders and her brow raised.

  Nathan rolled his eyes. “Angel, let me formally introduce my family to you.” He tugged my hand and pulled me further into the room.

  I bit my lip and let Nathan do whatever he planned to do.

  “You already know, Ira, Red, and Wyatt.” He waved his hand dismissively.

  “Next to Ira is Mick. Who calls himself a doctor, but it just sports, so can we really call him one?” Nathan’s face had a face-splitting grin.

  I recognized the man from when Nathan saved me from Trey. He pointed to a man with brown eyes and hair to match.