Chapter Twenty-Five
chapter twenty-five
KIRA
“Violet, let’s go!”
“Okay,” Violet says, jumping up from the couch. “I need to grab my iPad!”
It’s been two weeks since Ryder surprised us both with the device, and I have a feeling I’m going to have to set some limits on it. Luckily, she’ll be starting school full-time soon, and she’ll be busy. I wanted to chide Ryder for purchasing something so expensive, but the smile on my daughter’s face stopped me. To him, it wasn’t about the cost, but about making her birthday memorable and all about her.
We went to the park so she could ride her new bike, and when we got home, I made her favorite dinner. We had her favorite cake for dessert, and then we played her favorite games before bed. And even though Ryder insisted on paying for everything, it felt good to know that I had more than enough money in the bank to provide it all for her myself.
When the weekend came around, our friends came over to celebrate Violet’s birthday again. We spent the day in the pool, and Ryder rented a bounce house. We grilled burgers, and afterward, we sang “Happy Birthday” to her again with everyone cheering. I took pictures, and then I did something I hadn’t done since I ran away—I texted them to my mom.
I spoke to Ryder about it when he mentioned Violet had thought she saw Brian, and we decided that I was done hiding. My relationship with my mom was barely hanging on by a thread as it was. That night, I called her, and we spoke for a long time. I thanked her for everything she had done to help me escape and told her about my new life in Texas. She asked when she could see us, and I promised that once things settled down, I would get her a flight to come visit.
“Mommy!” Addie squeals, lifting her arms so I can pick her up.
We’ve been home the past week since I’ve been nervous about leaving, but the girls are getting a bit antsy, so when Marie asked to meet up again, I gave in. Jacob, my bodyguard, will be driving us and will stay close—but not so close that it’s obvious—in case Brian shows up.
We meet at the coffee shop, and Marie hugs me, saying it feels like we haven’t seen each other in forever.
“I know! It’s been crazy. Between serving my ex with divorce papers, going away for the Fourth of July, and?—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Marie grabs the hand I was waving in the air and gasps, “Are you … engaged?”
“I am,” I gush.
“But you’re still married.”
The tone in her voice instantly puts me on the defense.
“I know, but that’s only because of Brian. Once he signs the papers, I’ll legally be divorced, and Ryder and I can get married.”
“Mommy, can we go to the park?” Violet asks.
“Sure.” I look at Marie. “Would you like to join us?”
“Of course. It’s a beautiful day out.”
I give the girls their chocolate milk, and we walk outside toward the park with Jacob following far enough behind us that I don’t have to explain anything to Marie.
When we get to the kiddie play area, Violet jumps out of the stroller and runs straight for the slide while Addie says, “Out, pease !” so I can help her out.
I’ve only just picked her up, and I am about to place her on her feet when a masculine voice that still haunts my nightmares speaks my name, making me spin around.
“Brian,” I gasp. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s time to come home,” he says, his voice calm, like he didn’t beat the crap out of me and then throw me down a flight of stairs and leave me for dead. Like I didn’t file a restraining order against him and run away the moment I found out he was going to get away with what he’d done.
“You’ve been playing games long enough,” he continues, his eyes—the same color as Ryder’s yet so different—locking on me. While Ryder’s hazel eyes are warm and comforting, filled with love, Brian’s are cold and devoid of any emotion.
He reaches out to grab my arm, saying, “Get your daughter, and let’s go,” and I stumble back with Addie in my arms.
I’ve come a long way from the woman I was when I was with him, and I won’t allow him to touch me in any way. He lost that right the moment he hurt me, and that will never happen again.
Sensing my distress, Addie whimpers, “Mommy,” and instinctually, I tighten my hold on her.
“Don’t come any closer!” I demand just as Jacob steps between us.
“That’s enough,” he says to Brian, who looks shocked to see another man defending me.
He must’ve followed me here, but since Jacob kept his distance, Brian didn’t realize I wasn’t alone.
“Who the fuck are you?” Brian hisses. “Holy shit, Kira, you’re really whoring yourself out, huh? First the accountant and now him.”
Oh my God, he’s been following us—or at the very least, he had me investigated. Which makes sense since he found me here.
“Mommy!” Violet screams, running to my side. “You get away from my mommy!” she yells.
“I’m going to tell you one more time,” Jacob says. “Either leave or I’m calling the cops. You’re already breaking your restraining order. You can leave without causing a scene, or we can do this with a scene. It’s up to you.”
“Mommy, Mommy!” Addie whines, trying to get my attention.
“Shh, it’s okay, Monkey,” I murmur, refusing to take my eyes off Brian. I don’t trust that man not to do something stupid, and my only goal right now is to make sure Violet and Addie are safe.
Brian glares at me for several seconds, but he must realize this isn’t going to end how he wants because he nods once and raises his hands. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”
With his threat lingering in the air, he turns and walks away, leaving me shaking like a leaf.
I sit on the bench with Addie in my lap and Violet by my side. “It’s okay,” I tell them both, needing to say the words out loud to calm myself down.
“Kira,” Marie says, reminding me that she’s still here since she hasn’t said a word this entire time, “what is going on?”
“That was my ex,” I choke out. “Brian.”
“It sounds like he’s very much still in love with you.”
I whip my head around to look at her. “Excuse me? No, he’s crazy and abusive.” My hands and voice are shaky, but I’m doing everything I can to hold it together, not wanting to upset the girls.
“Or he’s desperate,” she volleys. “Love makes people do crazy things.”
Remembering everything Marie has told me about her ex, I inhale a deep breath, realizing that maybe she’s been through more than I know. Because there’s no way anyone in their right mind would say that everything Brian has done to me was out of love.
“Do you think maybe things are going too quickly?” she asks. “You’re still married, and yet you’re engaged to another man, and his daughter is calling you Mom. I’m worried about you.”
Marie places a hand on my elbow that’s meant to be comforting, but mixed with her words, it’s anything but. She’s had a problem with Ryder from the first time we met, and now, even after knowing Brian was abusive, she’s trying to convince me to … what? Go back to him?
“I think you should consider getting your own place,” she continues. “What’s your email? I can send you some listings. I have a friend who works in real estate.”
She pulls out her phone, and all I want to do is get away from here—from her. But since I don’t want more conflict, I rattle off my email and then stand so I can make my escape.
“I’m going to go,” I tell her. “The girls and I are shaken up, and I think it’s best if we go home.”
“Okay,” she says, standing as well. “If you need anything, I’m here. And I’ll send you those listings tonight. I know you believe being with Ryder is the right thing for you, but I think you should consider your options. You don’t want to move too fast and?—”
“I get it!” I snap, having had enough of her. “Jacob, can we go now?”
“Wait,” Marie says, eyeing the guy curiously. “Who is that?”
“The man Ryder hired to protect me. I need to go.” Without waiting for her to respond, I set Addie into the stroller while Violet climbs in, and then we take off.
Thankfully, Jacob is driving because I don’t think I’d be able to. When we get home, Ryder’s car is in the driveway, and he’s waiting for us by the front door.
Since I haven’t told him what happened yet, I glance at Jacob, who says, “I texted him once your ex was gone.”
“Thank you,” I murmur. “And thank you for what you did.”
“It’s my job, ma’am. I’ll also be filing a report, so you’ll have to do so as well. That way, it’s on record.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
I get out, and Ryder is already at my door, pulling me into his arms.
“Fuck, baby,” he mutters. “When he texted me, my heart sank at the thought of that asshole being anywhere near you and our girls.”
“You did the right thing, hiring Jacob. I was so scared, and if he wasn’t there, I don’t know what Brian would’ve done. But he was.”
While Ryder grabs Addie, I get Violet. Since it’s nap time, we lay the girls down, but instead of going downstairs, I lie with Violet for a little longer, thinking about everything that transpired today.
I knew Brian would come for me. It’s not in his DNA to let this go. That would be the equivalent of him losing, and men like him don’t like to lose.
One of the reasons why I left my mom behind was so that he would leave her alone. Now, instead of it only affecting me and Violet, I’ve dragged Ryder and his precious daughter into the mix.
“Hey, you okay?” Ryder whispers, sticking his head inside.
I glance at a sleeping Violet and nod, then carefully climb off her bed and meet Ryder outside the door.
“I thought maybe you fell asleep in there,” he says, taking my hand and guiding us over to his room.
“I was just thinking,” I tell him honestly.
He lies on the bed and pulls me into his arms. “About what?”
“Us … Brian.”
Ryder quirks a brow and sits up slightly. “What about us?”
“He’s not going to stop, and I don’t want this to affect you and Addie.”
He sits up all the way and pulls me into his lap, encircling his arms around my waist, and I swear I’ve never felt as safe as I do when I’m this close to Ryder.
“We’re in this together,” he says, tipping my chin so I’ll look at him. “We’ll handle it together. Don’t go putting ridiculous thoughts into that beautiful head of yours. I’m here because I want to be, and I don’t want to be anywhere else. Him breaking the restraining order only helps our case. You and Violet and Addie are safe, and you’ll stay that way.”
He flips us so I’m on my back, and his mouth meets mine, kissing me so hard that it takes my breath away. Quickly, our clothes are removed, and then Ryder’s lips are back on mine, sucking, licking, nibbling.
He parts my thighs and pushes his fingers into me, his mouth never leaving mine as he fingers me hard and deep. Unlike when he makes love to me, he’s ravenous, desperate, and I know that despite him promising to keep us safe, he’s scared … of something happening to us, of me leaving him. Of the entire situation being out of his control.
“Hey,” I say, palming the sides of his face. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Addie. We’re in this together.”
He sighs in relief and nods. “Together,” he murmurs before kissing me again.
His thumb finds my clit, and he massages it with just enough pressure that, within seconds, I’m climaxing around his hand.
He waits for me to ride out my orgasm, and then he spreads my legs with one hand while gripping his hard shaft with the other. He strokes it a few times and then pushes it into me.
Instead of fucking me, he watches as his thick shaft slowly enters me, filling me deliciously, and then pulls out, taking my pleasure with it.
“Ryder,” I breathe, lifting my hips, “I need you inside me now.”
He drops down, his hands landing on either side of me, and then pushes into me, this time not stopping until he’s all the way in. His mouth devours mine, tasting me, while his body moves against mine in a slow rhythm, coaxing another orgasm out of me.
This time, when my release hits, Ryder comes as well, his cum coating my insides.
“Soon,” he whispers into my mouth. “Soon, you’re going to take that fucking implant out so I can fill you with my babies.”
When Brian used to talk about me getting pregnant—not knowing that I was on birth control—I’d get nervous, the thought of another man leaving me while I parented on my own in the forefront of my thoughts. But when Ryder says it, I can imagine it. Him spoiling me, being a hands-on dad and husband. Family trips and holidays. Watching our children grow up together.
“Soon,” I agree, realizing that Ryder’s so much more than just my fiancé—he’s my best friend.
And I know when he said we were in this together, he meant it. And I have no doubt that when we take the next step, he’ll be right by my side.