Chapter 32
Eight Months Later
“Can I get your advice on something?” Jasper asked.
He was sitting in his office in LA, my former office. And we were waiting for Sloan to join us on our video chat. She was still easing back into work, and I was glad she was taking time to recover and enjoy baby snuggles with the newest member of the family—Henry. He was adorable, and everyone was in love with him.
“Is it about the Thailand project?” I asked.
Jasper had taken over as CEO six months ago, and it had been a relatively smooth transition, all things considered. Once I’d explained my vision for my new role and reminded the board of all the reasons why Jasper would be an excellent leader for the brand, the vote had been overwhelmingly in favor of the plan.
The board had also stopped pushing back on my marriage to Lily, perhaps accepting that my decision to step down as CEO proved that my feelings—our marriage—were real. They’d dropped their lawsuit, and we’d come to a compromise—the ten percent of shares that I’d received from my marriage would be divided equally between me and my siblings. All ten percent would come from Donahue.
That escort scandal? The rumors had been started by him, and he’d continued to fuel them. He’d actively worked to bring down the company by spreading malicious lies about Huxley Grand locations filling its bars with escorts.
When the board discovered that—through an “anonymous tip,” of course—they’d conducted an investigation. He had been stripped of his shares for trying to sabotage the company. Not long after that, Danika sold her shares. Nate had purchased them to solidify our family’s stake in the company.
I had a strong feeling the takeover scheme had been Moretti’s plan, but I had yet to discover a direct link. And honestly, I no longer cared.
“No. Closer to home, actually,” Jasper said.
Occasionally, Jasper would ask my advice, but it wasn’t a frequent occurrence. He was holding his own, and he was doing a phenomenal job. It was as if now that I’d taken myself out of the equation, he could truly find his voice.
He’d been hesitant to take on the role when I’d first suggested it, and it made me proud to see him succeed. He might not always do things the way I did, but he was staying true to the ethos of the Huxley brand while putting his own spin on it. I only wished Pops and Gran could’ve seen all that we’d accomplished—together.
“New York?” Atlas Blackwood was developing a new property there, and it was going to be a masterpiece.
Jasper glanced away and then back at the screen before leaning in. “Halle is driving me crazy.”
I leaned back in my chair, fighting a smile. “Sounds like she’s doing a good job.”
He grumbled, and I chuckled some more.
“Don’t worry. It’s temporary. Sloan will be back in a few months, and then you won’t have to work with Halle so closely.”
Sloan’s face appeared on the screen, baby Henry asleep on her chest in a wrap. “Were you two talking about me again?” she teased, looking tired but happy.
“We were talking about Halle,” I said. “She and Jasper are having issues.”
“That surprises me. I thought the two of you got on fine while you were in London during my sailing trip the summer before last.”
Jasper said nothing, but his eye twitched. Interesting.
“Enough about me,” Jasper said. “What’s going on with the two of you?”
Sloan told us about Henry’s latest developments. Jackson and Sloan were both on three months’ paid leave, as was standard for our company after a baby was born or adopted.
Conversation turned to the chateau, though they were already pretty up-to-date, thanks to Lily’s YouStream channel and our frequent chats. My relationship with them was so different now that I was no longer the boss. Now that I’d released myself from the need to control everything and protect everyone. It was freeing.
When I’d stepped down as CEO of the Huxley brand, I’d stepped into a new role with Fleur-de-Lis—a recently formed subsidiary. Lily and I were developing a line of Huxley Grand properties under that umbrella—smaller, boutique resorts at historically significant properties. It had been inspired by Lily’s efforts to restore the chateau.
I wanted to breathe new life into older properties, restoring them while updating them with modern amenities and focusing on sustainability. For our first project, we’d selected a castle in Scotland. It was a mess, but it had so much potential. And the board had given us the green light.
Sloan, Jasper, and I discussed the new SVP, the upcoming board meeting, and then I hopped on a few more calls. By the end of the afternoon, I was impatient to be outside. It was a sunny day, and I’d much rather be working in the garden.
Finally, I signed off my last call and tugged on my boots. Prince Albert and Queen V followed me outside, sniffing the ground and exploring as we went off in search of Lily. They hung back with Luc when we crossed paths, and he told me where I could find my wife.
I leaned against the chateau and watched Lily from the shade of the tarp that had been erected over the roof like a canopy. Her boots were covered in dirt, and she wore a colorful scarf I’d given her for her birthday wrapped around her head. Her hat was sitting off to the side along with her water bottle, and I wondered how long she’d been at it.
We were nearing the finish line with the roof restoration, and I couldn’t wait for the rest of the scaffolding to come down. In the meantime, Lily and I continued to work on other projects around the chateau and the grounds.
The garden was coming along nicely, and I only wished Gran were here to see it. She would’ve delighted in such a large space to plant, to grow. I certainly did. Lily and I had tried to recreate some of what the landscaping would’ve looked like when the chateau was constructed, but we’d also added our own contributions. We had a vegetable garden and were hoping to add some horses to the stables.
Every day, the chateau presented new discoveries and new challenges. But Lily and I took them in stride—together. Because we were partners.
Our latest project involved preparing the dry moat for restoration. Lily was currently working in one of the caves of the dry moat, cleaning away trash and debris. She used her whole body to attack the ground with her shovel, and I marveled at her strength. Her determination.
She caught sight of me and stilled, smiling. I rubbed at the pang in my chest, even as I smiled back. She was covered in mud and dirt, and she was beautiful.
Lily set down her shovel and removed her gloves before wiping her brow with the back of her forearm. “You just going to watch me, or are you going to help?”
I took a step closer to her, needing to touch her. “Maybe I’ll do both.”
She smirked. We both knew we were no longer discussing the work at the chateau. I gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Hi.”
“Hey.” She smiled up at me. “How was your call with the board?”
“Good,” I said. Better than good.
Stepping down as the CEO of the Huxley brand had been the right move. For so long, I’d defined myself as the head of the company that I hadn’t let myself consider anything else. Hadn’t allowed myself to want anything else.
I’d clung so tightly to the brand and my control over it that I’d nearly destroyed everything I loved in the process. My relationships with my siblings. With Lily.
“Stock prices are way up, so the board should be happy.”
“Mm.” I placed my hands on her waist. “I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
She smoothed her hands up my chest, my eyes snagging on her wedding band. She wore it every day, and I loved seeing it on her finger. “What else do you love?”
I leaned down, nipping at her earlobe. “That thing you do with your tongue…”
“The—” She bit her lip.
“Yes,” I rasped, my cock already growing hard. “And I love how passionate you are about our projects.”
“Oh.” She palmed me through my pants. “Is that what you came here to discuss?” she teased. “Our projects?”
“Among other things.” I couldn’t help the guttural groan that escaped my lips.
She clutched my shirt, pulling me deeper into the cave with her. It was cooler in the shaded alcove, but my body was on fire for her.
I palmed her breast through her shirt, hating all the layers of fabric separating us. I slid my hand down to her waistband, prying it open, smoothing my hand beneath her underwear until I was cupping her mound.
“Oh god,” she whimpered as I began to tease her clit. “Oh, Graham.”
I covered her mouth with mine in an effort to silence her. I liked when she was loud, but her pleasure was mine and mine alone. With so many artisans and workers always on the property, we needed to be quiet. Though the constant background noise of construction did provide some cover.
“I need you,” she panted. She was already close. “Need you inside me. Now.”
I didn’t withdraw my hand. I didn’t change my pace. “You can have my dick after you’ve come on my fingers.”
She moaned, her eyes rolling back in her head. She let out a string of unintelligible sounds, and I kissed her forehead, her cheekbones, her jawline. Anywhere I could reach.
All the while, she kept pumping my cock, and I was damn near ready to burst. I needed her to come—and soon. I needed to be inside her.
“Please. Please. Please,” she chanted. I wasn’t sure if she was begging to come or begging for me to be inside her. Maybe both. But on this, I would remain firm—I would always make sure she came first and often.
“Tell me what you need,” I said. “Tell me what you like.”
She held my wrist and guided me to where she wanted my touch. “There,” she moaned. And then her face twisted with pleasure as she convulsed in my arms.
“Oh. Oh. Oh,” she panted. “Oh god.” She collapsed against me. “Oh my god.” She giggled. “That was intense.”
“Good.” I kissed her forehead, holding her to me.
When my cock nudged her stomach, she asked, “Should we take care of this?”
I chuckled. “What did you have in mind?”
It wasn’t the first time we’d had sex outside, but the other times, we’d had a picnic blanket to lie on. In this storage cave, our options were limited, as was the window of time before Luc or someone would inevitably come looking for us.
She shoved down her pants and turned her back to me. “Do me from behind.”
Fuck. Yes.
She bent forward and braced herself against the wall. And her ass. My god, her ass was gorgeous. All of her was. I held my cock with one hand and palmed her ass with the other.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked. “Fuck me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I teased, then plunged inside her.
She gasped and I groaned, our sounds a symphony of pleasure that echoed off the stone walls. I bent forward, curving myself around her, kissing her neck.
“You feel so good,” I rasped. “Your cunt squeezing my cock, wanting to drain me.”
I planted one hand on the wall to steady myself and wrapped the other around her waist, needing to be as close to her as possible.
“Harder,” she begged, so I thrust inside her harder, faster, until sweat was dripping down my spine, and I didn’t know how much longer I’d last.
With clumsy movements, I sought out her clit. I circled it until she was quivering in my arms once more. She was on the brink of her release, and I held on a moment longer before a jolt of energy shot up my spine and out my cock.
“Yes.” She moved with me now. “ Yes .” Her voice was higher pitched.
I sped up my pace, unleashing myself into her. Pouring all my love and desire, my hopes and dreams, into this woman. A woman who took it all and who saw me as I was. Accepted me as I was. Loved me as I was.
She sagged against the wall, and I rested my head on her back. As we were still catching our breath, she giggled.
“That was fun.” She turned to face me, her smile bright.
“It was,” I said, pulling up my pants and righting my clothes. I helped her do the same before giving her a quick peck on the lips.
She took a sip of water before offering me some. I thanked her with another kiss and guzzled some down.
“I want to hear more about your meetings. Any news on our offer to purchase the site?”
I tried to tamp down my enthusiasm. “We got it.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her breasts against my chest as she kissed me. “That’s so exciting! I can’t wait to get started on it.”
I kissed her again, loving her enthusiasm.
Lily and I would oversee the restoration of the Scotland property, mostly from afar. And we’d continue scouting additional locations for the new line, while working to restore our chateau.
“Oh, I heard from Jo,” Lily said. “She plans to come for les Journées du patrimoine again.”
“Great. I’ll ask Carson to have the jet stop in New York to fuel and pick up Jo.”
Carson had relocated to France with us. He no longer worked for the Huxley brand; he worked directly for Lily and me. He was passionate about the chateau, and he lived in a small house in the village nearby with a French man he’d fallen in love with.
“Sloan and Jasper send their love,” I said.
“Aw. I miss them. And I miss baby Henry and his cute little chubby cheeks.”
I arched a brow. Did Lily want a baby? She’d mentioned possibly wanting children someday, but only if she found the right person. We’d been so busy with the chateau and everything else, we hadn’t discussed it since.
“What?” she asked.
“Do you…” I wasn’t sure how to ask this. I knew how I felt about it, but I found myself suddenly hesitant to ask. Afraid to hear her answer. “Do you want to have kids?”
She studied me a moment then nodded.
“Do you want to have kids with me?” I asked.
She nodded again. “Yeah. I mean…if that’s what you want.” It came out as more of a question, and I sensed she was nervous.
I took her hands in mine. “Even though we’re not married for real,” I teased.
Somehow, my grandparents had known exactly what I’d needed. And I liked to think that their marriage clause—as annoyed as I had been by it—was responsible for bringing Lily and me together.
Lily slapped my chest playfully. “Our marriage is real.”
“Hey.” I lifted my hands. “I’m merely repeating what you often said.”
She narrowed her eyes at me.
“You’re the one who said you might want to get married for real someday and have kids.”
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that.”
I furrowed my brow. Where was she going with this?
“I know you don’t like attention, but I feel like we should have a wedding redo. We could host it here, recite new vows that are more authentic to our relationship now. And invite your family.”
“But still not yours,” I said, and we shared a look.
Her family was still on my shit list for the way they’d treated her. Over the past few months, they’d called and texted a few times. Lily had yet to respond to their texts, even though they’d tried to apologize. Sadly, we both suspected it was a thinly veiled attempt to get back in her good graces so they could ask for money.
I hated it for her. And though I’d offered to do some hacking to make them pay, she said they weren’t worth the effort. She was right. I was no longer pouring my energy into things that didn’t matter.
“When?” I asked.
“Next summer.”
I shook my head.
“Too soon?”
“Too far away,” I said, pulling her to me. “I don’t want to wait that long.”
“To get married or…” She trailed off.
“Both,” I said.
She jerked her head back. “Both? As in—” Her cheeks flushed. “As in, you want to have a baby?”
“As soon as you’re ready, yes.”
She threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck. I caught her, hoisting her up so her legs were wrapped around my waist, her ass in my hands.
She held me tight, and it was only when her breath hitched that I realized she was crying. I loosened my grip, and she slid down my body to stand before me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She swiped away a tear, smiling as she did so. “Nothing. I’m just really happy.”
I cupped her cheeks. “Me too. Je t’aime , mon c?ur. ” Because that’s what she was—my heart. My love. My everything.
She grabbed her hat and water bottle. “Oh—” She held up her pointer finger. “Before I forget, I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?” I asked, intrigued.
“Close your eyes.”
“Mm. Okay. I’ll play along,” I teased, adding a seductive lilt to my voice.
“Not that .” She rolled her eyes. “Jeez. I mean, yes, I want kids. But I’m not sure I’m ready to start trying for a baby just yet. We already have so much on our plate.”
“It’s your decision,” I said, meaning every word. “But just know that when the time comes…” I leaned in, my cock making its presence known against her hip as I rasped, “I will fill your pussy with my come until my seed is dripping out of you.” She gasped, but I wasn’t done. “And then I’ll shove it back inside your greedy little cunt until you come again.”
She shivered, and when I pulled back, her eyes were glazed over. “Okay. Um. Wow.” She swallowed hard. “Maybe we should cut the day short and start trying now.”
“What about wanting to wait?” I teased.
She smirked, running her hands up my chest. “Is it selfish that I want you all to myself just a little longer?”
I slanted my mouth against hers. “Not at all.” In fact, I loved it. Loved that she wanted me all to herself.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “Now, what’s this about a surprise?”
“Oh. Right.” She linked our hands together. “This way, please.” She grinned and tugged me toward the entrance to our formal gardens.
There was a lawn overlooking them, and I paused when I noticed several metal benches that hadn’t been there before. I’d seen them, but at the time, they’d been in one of the outbuildings. And they’d been in desperate need of some attention.
“These just got back from being restored.” She pulled me closer. On each bench was a plaque.
I leaned forward, reading the inscription in the first one. When I realized she’d dedicated it to my parents, I was overcome with emotion.
“Thank you. That’s beautiful,” I said, touched by the gesture.
“And this one,” she said.
The other was dedicated to my grandparents, and a bouquet of sunflowers rested on top. It felt as if they were there with us. Watching over us, in the home that we’d created. I grabbed the bouquet, and we sank down onto the bench. I wrapped my arm around Lily, kissing the top of her head.
“I love that you did this,” I said, my throat clogged with emotion. “I love you.”
“I love you.” Lily turned her face to mine, our mouths connecting. “And this ,” Lily said as we looked out over the grounds, “is our legacy. A reflection of our past and a promise of the future we’re building—together.”
We stayed there for a while, reveling in all our hard work. In what we’d created. Of everything I’d done so far in my life, I was most proud of this. Of my relationship with Lily.
To think that I’d once been afraid of forever, when it was now all I wanted.
I kissed her again, and then she stood. “Come on. I want to show you one more thing.”
“You’re just full of surprises today, aren’t you?” I chuckled.
She led me toward our vegetable garden, and I swore I heard the sound of clucking. A chicken coop came into view, and I glanced at her.
“Surprise!” She smiled. “I know how much you enjoyed caring for Lady Lorraine, and I just thought…”
“I love it,” I said. “And I love you.”
“I love you too.” She pressed up on her toes, tilting her hat back to give me a kiss.
As I stood in the field of sunflowers with the love of my life, I knew this was exactly where I was meant to be. Lily and I had faced so many obstacles, and yet, we’d persevered. I pressed a kiss to her lips, and I was filled with nothing but hope.
* * *