Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
DASH
I stand up and shake Brooklyn’s father’s hand and we say goodbye as we exit his office.
I didn’t want to talk to him in the other room with everyone else in there.
I wanted to speak to him privately and our conversation didn’t take long.
Once it’s over I decide I’d have more fun in the kitchen with Brooklyn than I would trying to make small talk with a bunch of strangers.
On my way to locate the kitchen, I see the grand staircase beyond the foyer.
There’s a blond woman at the top glaring at me with a cold expression.
She’s got her hair pulled back in a severe knot that looks like it’s meant to flatten out the wrinkles around her eyes.
She’s dressed in all black with dark red lips, and as I approach the stairs she descends them.
“You must be Dash.” Her tone doesn’t invite conversation, and when she gets to the next to last step she holds out her hand like I should kiss it. “I’ve heard all about you.”
I stare at her hand, and although I don’t want to be rude, I have a suspicion that this is Brooklyn’s stepmother, and for that alone she doesn’t deserve my good manners.
“Not from my Brooklyn, I’m certain.” I smile as politely as I can, but she doesn’t miss the slight dig. “You must be Victoria. And I’ve heard all about you.”
If it’s possible, her face gets even tighter as she presses her lips together and finally decides to drop the hand I have no plans on touching.
She doesn’t move from the step she’s on and I have a feeling it’s so that I won’t be able to look down at her.
With her on the stairs and me below her, she has the ability to look down her nose at me.
“I’m sure Brooky has told you all kinds of wonderful stories.” Her smile is as cold as her heart. “But to be honest, the real gossip is that from what I’ve been told, you’re in the market for a mare.”
“Excuse me?” I feel my eyebrows pull together in confusion as she puts a hand on her chest.
“I’m sorry,” she says, but she’s anything but sorry.
“Aren’t you looking to stud yourself out?
From the whispers I’ve heard you’ve got to produce a little bundle of joy rather quickly, and I’m guessing my stepdaughter was all too eager.
” She tilts her head to the side as if I’m a child.
“Those extra pounds must have finally paid off.”
Anger burns through me along with embarrassment for Brooklyn. I never wanted her to get involved in all of that bullshit. As soon as I met her, I knew she was different, but this is how I repay her kindness. By putting her in the middle of their gossip pit full of vipers.
“Watch yourself,” I warn, unable to control my temper.
She cuts her eyes at me and I clench my fists at my side. What Brooklyn told me about Victoria was kind compared to what I’m seeing in front of me now. There is no illusion of duty or obligation, only pure evil and vengeance.
“Oh Dash, I think you’re the one who needs to watch it.
Although I would love a Belmont as a future son-in-law, I’m afraid you’re not getting off that easy.
” I don’t like the threat she’s giving me as she walks down the last few steps and breezes by me.
“You see, Charlotte is breaking the news to your precious incubator right now, and knowing Brooklyn the way we do, the shame she will bring on this family as an unwed mother will be a heavy burden.”
I open my mouth to speak and she giggles like a teenager as she waves my protests away.
“So if there’s a chance you’ve knocked her up already, we’ll have the DNA tested and you’ll empty your pockets for my grandchild.” She chokes on the last word but raises her chin in challenge.
Fuck, this is all spinning too fast. I need to talk to Brooklyn. Just as I look around for the direction of the kitchen, I see a flash of dark hair coming from that direction.
“Brooklyn,” I breathe as I walk to her, but the second she looks up, her tearful eyes meet mine and my chest is crushed. “Let me explain.”
She opens her mouth but then snaps it shut and shakes her head as she tries to walk past me. Anger and frustration bite at my heels as I jump in front of her and block her way.
“No, we’re not doing this again. You’re not running from me.”
“Dash,” she says softly as she comes to an abrupt halt, nearly hitting my chest.
I hear that rotten giggle again and I look over to see Victoria leaning against the banister as Charlotte slowly walks out of the kitchen to join her mother.
“No!” My voice is louder and clearer this time and Brooklyn snaps her head up to look at me. “We are not doing this again. I’m not going to lose you because of a misunderstanding.”
“What’s to misunderstand?” she asks, and though I might be completely desperate, it sounds like there’s a shred of hope in her voice.
“I wanted to tell you in private, I was going to tell you all of it. I didn’t mean for it to happen like this.”
I hear the front door open behind me but I don’t turn around to see who it is. I don’t give a fuck right now. The only thing I care about is making Brooklyn understand and keeping her from running from me. If everyone at this party hears this, then so be it.
“What’s he doing here?” I hear Charlotte hiss to Victoria.
Brooklyn looks back at them and then past me to the person who just walked in. “I know that guy,” she says, mostly to herself, and I finally peer over my shoulder to see my cousin Josh walking in like he owns the place.
He sees me and his steps falter for just a moment before he continues on his path to where we’re standing.
“Cousin!” he says with his arms stretched wide, like he’s going to hug me. “Great to see you here.”
“You know him?” I ask Brooklyn, ignoring Josh, and she nods slowly.
“He came to the school last week asking me about enrollment.” She blinks a few times and shakes her head. Then she leans closer and whispers, “He gave me the creeps.”
I turn around to face Josh and position Brooklyn at my back. For all the shit hitting the fan right now, I feel her move in close to me and place her palm against my shoulder. Good. I need her on my side right now.
“I’ve been looking for you,” I say through gritted teeth, and he drops his arms and cocks his head to the side.
“Why didn’t you just call me, Dash?” His smile falls just a fraction as he looks beyond me to Victoria and Charlotte. “You know I’m always happy to help with whatever difficulties you’re having.”
That motherfucker has the balls to wink at Brooklyn before he slicks his dark hair back out of his face.
“I’m done playing with you, Josh.” I crack my knuckles and some of the color drains from his face.
“As of a phone call this morning, I’ve got enough evidence of your embezzlement in the company bank account to send your ass to prison.
I was going to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you fucked around and messed with the woman I love. ”
He spurts out a few words and then holds his hands up. “Let me explain.”
“There’s nothing left to explain. Not only were you skimming money off the top, but you created the fake profile to trick Brooklyn’s roommates into thinking I was still on the market.
Geoff emailed me the information this morning from the dating app and their records.
You didn’t even bother to cover it with a different email, you stupid fuck. ”
His face is turning bright red now as he looks around the room. “You won’t get away with this. I’ll have my lawyers crawl up your ass.”
“You’ve gotten caught with your hand in the cookie jar.
The feds are at your house right now. You’re finished, Josh.
The trust is voided based on felony charges, and whether Brooklyn is pregnant or not, you’re out of the running.
” I lean in a little closer and smile so big my teeth show.
“You lose, cousin. The company is mine.”
Before he can say other word, there’s a sound to my right and I see Brooklyn’s father speaking softly to someone in a suit.
The guy who must be security comes closer to us, but Josh takes off out the door before he can catch him.
I ache to chase him down and beat his face into the driveway, but I don’t want to leave Brooklyn’s side.
Not when she’s hurting and I still need to explain to her.
“You love me?” she whispers, and I turn around to hold her in my arms.
“I should have told you everything about that contract before it got this far.” My voice is solemn but firm.
“But I fell so fucking hard and none of it mattered. I love you, Brooklyn. I loved you at first sight and went deeper with every second I spent with you.” I touch my thumb to her cheek and graze it along her soft skin. “When I said I’m yours, I meant it.”
“I love you too.” She bites her lip as she fights a smile and leans in to my touch.
“I will give everything up if you just say the word. I never wanted Josh to have the company, but I don’t want it either if it means you won’t be by my side.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
I wrap my arms around to make sure and I look into her eyes. “Never?”
“Never.”
“Marry me.”
She stiffens in shock for half a second before she beams up at me. “Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not asking, I’m demanding. Love me forever, Brooklyn. Marry me and be mine.”
“Yes.”
She doesn’t get the word out fully before I’ve swept her up in my arms. I kiss her and she laughs as I spin her around.
The sharp sound of a throat clearing has me coming back to reality. I stop and stare at where Brooklyn’s father is standing next to Victoria and Charlotte, and they’re staring at us like we’re wild animals.
When I spoke with Brooklyn’s father, I told him my intentions of marrying his daughter. And while he was nice enough, the disinterest in his eyes made me realize that although I was trying my best, none of them would ever do the same for my Brooklyn. They don’t deserve her light or her kindness.
“I’m assuming Josh was an invited guest by one of you two?
” I nod towards Victoria and Charlotte. They don’t deny it, so I nod, not needing confirmation.
“I see how the news spread so quickly then.” I pull Brooklyn into my side as I look down at her and then back at the family that took her for granted.
“You have all missed an opportunity in your life that you’ll never get back. ”
Without another word I take my love with me and we leave the mansion just as more guests arrive.
My driver is ready by the car and opens the door as soon as he sees us. I carefully help Brooklyn into the back before I tell him to take us home and enclose us in the back.
“What did you mean back there?” she asks softly as I pull her into my lap.
“The part about loving you?” Her cheeks blush, and I lean in and kiss them.
“No, about them missing an opportunity?”
I stare at her and then cup her face in both my hands.
“How do you not see how perfect you are?” I kiss her softly before I rest my forehead to hers.
“They’ve missed an opportunity to have your light around them, Buttercup.
They’ve missed the chance of a lifetime to be in your presence.
You’re never going back to that house again, and you won’t be their punching bag.
You are too fucking precious and they have no idea what they’ve squandered by letting you go. ”
“Dash,” she whispers, and I slide my hands down her body.
“I will never allow anyone or anything to come between us.” I shove her dress up and her bare thighs spread on either side of mine. “Even now I want to go back and tear that house down brick by brick.”
“I love you, Dash.” She rocks her hips closer to where I need her most and I groan.
I reach between us and free my cock as I lift her up and slide her wet heat onto me. “Fuck, I love you too.” I groan again when the tip of my cock finds her hot entrance. “I need you.”
She hisses as I thrust in balls deep, and I kiss her to swallow her cries.
My tongue moves against hers and my cock swells inside of her sheath.
She’s so fucking tight that I have to wait a second for her to adjust to my size.
Even after all the times we made love, she’s still gripping me like it’s the first.
“Goddamn,” I growl as I try to control myself. She’s clenching around me and rocking her hips, but I still haven’t caught my breath. “Slow down.”
She whines and, fuck, that makes it worse. I’m too on edge after that confrontation and I can’t hold out for her if she keeps doing that with her pussy.
Rocking her hips again, I bury my face in her neck and try to take a breath.
She’s too hot, too tight, too fucking sweet.
With one last clench of her pussy, I grunt out my orgasm into her and I feel her body tremble with desire.
I reach between us and rub her clit as I hold her still and that’s all it takes to send her over the edge with me.
Is this what love is like? The inability to hold back and the raw need just on the surface waiting to take a breath? With Brooklyn in my arms I don’t know what else there’s left for me beyond this moment, but I want all of it with her by my side.
“I love you.” My voice is hoarse but she leans back to look at me. “You’re mine, you know that, right?”
She nods as I kiss her again, just because I can. “You’re my reward for going through all of this.”
“Your reward?” She laughs and the sound hits me directly in the heart.
“My sweet reward.”