Black (12 page)

My man.

Twenty-Six

Maxwell

Three months later…

“Elle!” I bellowed up the stairs, my heart galloping too fast in my chest as I waited for her. I knew she was up there, and I’d drag her down over my shoulder if that was what it took to get her to me. “I’ll be right back.” I gestured to the gentleman at my side, leaving him alone in my library before taking the steps up to my and Elle’s apartment two at a time.

I reached the landing just as she turned the corner to come down.

“Elle.” My eyes trailed up her creamy lace-clad curves, from the slim silhouette gathered at her ankles to the full curve of her breasts under the beaded neckline.

She was beautiful, and she was mine.

The incessant throb of my cock pounded in my dark slacks before I pushed back the raging lust that simmered inside me whenever I was around her. Today was not the day. At least not yet anyway.

“Ready to be mine?” I took her hand in mine to escort her down the stairs. Her dad wasn’t here—she’d insisted she hadn’t wanted him present anyway—so I would walk her down the proverbial aisle, a book aisle in this case. I would be her everything. Her escort, her protector, her savior, her husband.

“I was yours the first day we met,” she purred and then placed a kiss on my nose when we reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Shall we start?” the man I’d chosen to unite us for eternity asked politely, his eyes glancing up to mine and back over to Elle’s.

I turned, her hand firmly locked with mine, thinking I’d never let it go come hell or high water. I was hers. “Ready to tie yourself to me forever?” I winked, more than eager to get on with the show and tie her to me officially.

“I already did.” Her heart-shaped face curved as one palm trailed down to the soft swell of her abdomen.

“Elle…?” My eyes darted from her chestnut gaze to her stomach and back again.

“You’re going to be a daddy, Maxwell.” She wound her hands around my neck and pushed up on her toes to plant a slow kiss on my lips, stealing my breath and taking my life with every heavy heartbeat. “I’ve been dying to tell you that.” She wiped at her brow as if she was relieved. I smiled, thinking this was exactly the reason I loved her so much. “And I can’t wait to tie myself to you,” she finished before placing a quick kiss on my chin. “You’re going to be a great daddy.” And if it was even possible, I fell in love with her a little more with every word.

My beauty.

My love.

My
Elle.

Epilogue

Maxwell

I laughed at the belly giggle that erupted from Emma's lips as I tickled her sides in my lap. Her giggles were like a song on my ears, her chestnut ringlets as soft as silk, and the button of her nose my complete undoing.

Just like her momma. “Daddy, Daddy!” Emma Elizabeth Black squealed and wiggled in my heavy arms. “Tickle me again!” she cried and when I did as she asked, she laughed so hard tears leaked from the edges of her dark lashes. I'd just finished reading her
Winnie the Pooh
again, the same beat-up edition I'd held as a kid and the one she made me read to her every Sunday afternoon. It was her favorite story and I had a feeling she was going to grow up to be just like me.

My little girl. She'd just turned three years old at the beginning of the summer, and we'd bought her the largest stuffed pony we could find, until I could buy her the real thing, she'd said with a charming little smile. She had me wrapped around her tiny little fingers and I loved every single second of it. The truth was Elle had saved me, and fatherhood had been the cherry on the sundae.

“Almost dinner time,” the siren song to my heart called before soft rosy lips dusted across my cheekbone. I inhaled the soft scent of strawberries and my muscles went lax. Elle.

“How's Momma doin’?” My eyes crinkled in the bright sunlight as I peered up at her from my perch on the rocking chair.

“Good. Tired. This one has settled on my bladder, I think.” Elle rubbed at her massively protruding belly and it made my heart do an awkward flip-flop in my chest.

“And how's my boy?” I smiled deeply as I ghosted a palm across her abdomen, cupping my son in my hands.

“He's healthy as a horse.” Elle chuckled and traced her fingers into my longish hair, scratching her fingernails across my scalp and causing a sigh to fall from my lips in contentment.

This, right here, was everything I never knew I wanted in life. Everything I never knew was mine to have.

My family.

“How about we help Momma set the table, Em?” I heaved the squirming toddler in my arms and stood on the small steps that overlooked downtown.

We were still living above the library, but not for long. I'd just purchased a plot of land outside of town to move our now rapidly growing family to. I was knee-deep in construction plans and planning to add a small stable on the property, home to the pony I promised to get Em for her next birthday. She was a spoiled little girl and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I'd be sad to leave the place I called home all these last years, but in truth, this man wasn't me anymore. I had so much more to live for now, and while we would still keep the apartment above the library and Elle would help out as my assistant when she could, I couldn't wait to move us into our forever home. My forever family. Without them, I didn't know what kind of man I'd be, but they made me a better one, each and every day.

“Mmm...the only thing more beautiful than your body when I met you, is your body with my baby inside you,” I hummed, dancing my hands across the swell of my wife's overly pregnant belly later that night. I mouthed the words to “Winnie the Pooh” softly against the creamy skin of her stomach, singing to my unborn son. Maxwell David Black, Max for short. I was so anxious for him to make his appearance in the world. A soft sigh escaped Elle's lips as she adjusted in our bed. “Tired, Mama?” I ended my song, a song I sang every night to the little guy, just like I'd done for his sister.

“Tired but happy.” She pushed her fingers through the locks of hair at my forehead.

“I think I have something that will make you happier.” I pulled the delicate strand from behind my back and draped the brilliant diamonds and polished ivory pearls across her beautiful belly. Long overdue, but I’d taken my time searching for the exact replica of the necklace her mother had given her and her father had pawned all those years ago.

“Maxwell.” Tears welled in her eyes as her fingers threaded through the stones. “How did you find it?” One hand went to her mouth and I knew then the years of searching had been worth it. Anything to put that look on her face was worth it.

“I’d go to the ends of the Earth and back to make you happy.” I nuzzled into her rounded stomach and grinned, my heart feeling fuller than it ever had. The soft snores of a sleeping toddler and my wife’s tears of radiant happiness. “Loving you was what I was put on the planet to do.” I stroked her jaw before placing a reverent kiss on her cheek. “Ya know, I think I’ve got an idea to get that little guy out,” I whispered, fingertips up the nape of her neck, watching as shivers erupted and raced across her flesh. I gently pulled the antique necklace from her hands and tucked it safely under her pillow. I knew I’d find her fingering it later, reminiscing with the strands.

“I think I've got an idea what that plan entails.” Elle laughed, but her smile tipped up in just that way, her eyes twinkling and stirring my appetite to life.

I'd been terrified to fuck her in the beginning, afraid to hurt the baby, but once the doctor insisted no harm could be done, in fact promised it would be good for the pregnancy—I’d happily obliged my raging libido.

“You're so perfect. So sweet,” I hushed as my hands twisted into her dark locks, pulling her lips to mine so I would taste her. “You're my everything, you and them. I can't picture my life without any of it. I'm so thankful you're my forever, Elle Black,” I husked before plunging my tongue into her mouth as my hands trailed down her waist, pulling up the soft silk of her nightie to reveal her smooth curves to my greedy hands.

“I love you so much. You saved me,” Elle whispered between reverent kisses across my lips and jaw, her hands twisting up my biceps and wrapping around my neck.

“Jesus, I can't go without you. Not a single day.” My voice grew strained as she positioned herself on top of me, her legs straddling my hips, my cock aching behind my boxers.

Elle had recently said it was easier for her to be on top, and I’d found it was a new position I loved. Watching her ride me, the pretty hair falling in waves around her face, her breasts full and lush bouncing before my eyes and begging to be fisted in my palms.

“Let's see if we can get that little guy out.” A rakish grin graced my face before I wrapped my hands around her neck and heaved her against my chest, thrusting my tongue between her sweet lips and pressing my cock between her hot legs.

One of her hands fumbled between us and she pulled the cotton of my boxers down my thighs enough to reveal my cock, throbbing and vertical, ready for her warmth. Her knees settled on either side of my hips and then, very slowly, so slow I nearly lost my mind, she slid herself down onto me, and I was home. Sheathed in her searing hot warmth, my mind slowed and my body growled with passion and raw, primal want.

She was mine.

Elle's curvy body rocked and hummed rhythmically, driving me insane with all the things I didn't know I wanted in life. She was heaven on Earth and God's own gift delivered straight into my palms. I'd just had to learn how to take care of her the right way, the way she deserved.

“Maxwell...” Her soft voice curled around my insides, her pants driving my orgasm on as it burned and hummed for release.

“Elle.” My hands trailed up her torso and pulled her down to me, skin on skin. I needed to feel her. All of her hot body pressed against mine, our skin searing at the touch as if we were fire and water coming together in a glorious combustion.

“Maxwell...” Her lips dusted across my shoulder as her nails dug into my chest.

“Yeah, baby. Give it to me. Give me that beautiful groan that tells me I own you and every orgasm you've ever had,” I husked as my hands fisted into her hips, her body rocking against mine before her thighs clenched and her form trembled, soft sighs and a low moan accompanying her release.

My own orgasm bunched and burned low in my balls as I shoved one hand through her dark curls, wrapping my other palm at her nape and pulling her lips to mine, tasting all the sweetness she offered on her pretty pouty lips. My muscles tenses and my kisses grew more demanding when I finally released inside her body, a thousand tingling sensations rocketing off in every direction and clouding my brain with all the love I had for her.

“Maxwell?” She trailed fingertips through my hair a moment later.

I ran a palm up the soft curve of her back, following the dips of her spine before my racing heart finally calmed enough to reply. “Yeah, baby?” I said through a dreamy haze.

“Maxwell,” one fingertip trailed across my softly parted lips, “I think it's time.”

My eyes shot open and caught hers, shimmering with dreamy amusement.

“Really?” With gleaming eyes, she nodded, her hand cupping her belly, tucked against my abdomen. “Well, let's go get our son.” I grinned recklessly, then placed a long kiss on her lips, conveying to her everything I felt but didn't have the words to say. “You are my forever, Elle. I never want to go on a day without you. My world was shrouded in darkness before you became my sun. You are my everything, you and our babies. I love you.” I placed a final kiss on her lips then wrapped her fingers in mine, my eyes burning with overwhelming emotion.

“Maxwell...” Her eyes swam with tears. “I love you so much.” She launched herself into my arms and gripped my neck in a bear hug.

I ran comforting circles across her back, just like I’d done the last time she'd been in labor with our little girl. “Told you I could get the little guy movin’,” I teased.

She chuckled and swatted my chest before cupping my cheeks in her hands and kissing me on the nose. “What would I do without you?”

“I can promise you, you'll never have to find out.” I squeezed her hand tightly, enjoying this one last moment with her before we became a family of four.

It'd taken a whole lot of love, but she'd finally tamed the beast in me. My Elle.

THE END.

Please turn the page to read the first few chapters of my next release,
White,
coming late May.

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WHITE

A Sexy, Modern Fairytale

(
Note:
This is an
unedited
, uncorrected proof of
White
. All scenes are subject to change and/or further editing.)

By
 

ARIA COLE

chapter one

I shuddered, pulling the blanket around my shoulders, feeling my knees quake in the impossibly high heels that felt awkward and numb on my feet.
 

“I’m so sorry, Evie.” My foster brother, the oldest of the gang, Julian, wrapped his hand around my neck and squeezed. A comforting gesture he’d been doing since I was six and he seven.
 

“It’s alright. I knew it was coming.” I wiped at a stubborn tear and pushed my hands down the impossibly short sequined fabric that tickled the tops of my thighs. I hated this getup. Hated that I was being forced to do this. Hated my life.
 

I grew up in a world few could fathom and none should ever have to. It was dark, cold, ruthless. It was sex, drugs, and violence in all its extremes. I was raised in a foster family with three other misplaced boys, and without them, I couldn’t stand tall for today.
 

For tonight.
 

For the moment I would be sold to the highest bidder.