Chapter 43 #2
“And your mother, also his mother, Vivian Vale, has been proved unfit to be his guardian and therefore has been denied custody of Connor.” Again, a statement. One of which I provide no comment.
I wait with bated breath for the verdict. “I hereby give you full custody of Connor Vale.” He slams down the gavel three times before rising from his stand.
Overjoyed both Connor and I jump up and down in each other’s arms, squealing with excitement.
Tears of joy fall down my face. I’m sure my mascara has me looking like a raccoon but I’m too thrilled to care.
When our jumping comes to an end Connor says happily and a tad out of breath, “I love you so much, sis, and I’m so proud of you.”
On cue the tears fall harder.
Then a small boxy object presses in the center of my back. Turning, I laugh and cry at the same time as I see Nico holding a tissue box. “Connor said you would need these.”
I pull out a couple tissues and dab my eyes before pulling out more to blow my nose.
“Thank you, Nico, for everything.” My voice is choked with emotion.
He smiles at me, dismissing me with a hand waved in the air. “You’re a friend, Grace. You never have to thank me.”
Connor then tugs excitedly on my hand. He’s bobbing back and forth on the balls of his feet. “Come on, sis! Oak is waiting for us!”
And then we’re off.
He runs out of the courtroom with his hand in mine, pulling me along behind him. I hear the faint chuckle of Nico behind us as he gathers his belongings.
Connor lets go of my hand the exact moment he sees Oak. With Oak’s arms wide open and his knees bent Connor jumps in his arms. “We won!” Connor shouts. Oak twirls him around in the air. Oak’s smile is brilliant, rivaling the sun, as Connor laughs with joy.
When Oak sets him down on his feet he ruffles his hair. And Connor doesn’t even pretend to be annoyed. He’s so happy. “I had no doubts, champ.”
“That’s because my sister is the best,” Connor gushes.
Tears press at the back of my eyes yet again. Oak’s eyes meet mine across the holding area and I have never seen them shine so brightly. There’s something in there that never was hope. “Yeah,” he agrees gruffly, looking directly at me, “she is.”
Oak beckons me over with a crook of his finger and a come hither stare. And I don’t walk, I run to him.
He catches me in his arms, as he always will, and holds me close. I bury my face in the crook of his neck as he presses kisses to the top of my head.
Framing his face in my hands I tilt my head back to look at him. And I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his beauty. He always makes my heart race.
“How does it feel, baby, to win the battle you’ve been fighting for so long?”
I press a soft kiss to his lips. “The battle we won,” I correct him.
He smiles against my mouth. “My Grace,” he muses, “my fighter for life.”
My fingers then tangle in the ends of his hair. “Shield and sword, remember?”
“How can I ever forget?” He presses a hard yet tender kiss to my lips. Before we can get too lost in each other we hear the clearing of a throat.
My face immediately reddens as we break apart. Refusing to put me down Oak turns with me in his arms.
Nico watches the both of us with amusement. “You might want to celebrate at a later time.” His eyes then glance at Connor. Then, he waves his finger around the place, reminding us of where we are.
As if I couldn’t get any redder my blush deepens, I feel it travel down to my chest. Unhooking myself from Oak, of which he allows, I send Nico a shy smile.
“You’ll send me the bill later?”
Nico scoffs. He places his hand over his heart, feigning to be wounded. “I can’t believe you just asked me that. Seriously, Oak, I’m highly offended.”
Oak, well past his antics only shakes his head. “Nico.”
“Pro bono, Oak,” he answers with finality.
Oak nods his head in response.
“Thank you,” I say again, gratitude swallowing me whole.
He sighs playfully. “What did I say, Grace? Friends. We. Are. Friends,” he repeats slowly. “Always glad to help.” He winks at me and I hear Oak grumble.
My beautiful possessive caveman.
I pat his chest. “Down now, big guy. He means no harm,” I say teasingly which only earns me a grunt that makes me laugh.
Oak throws his arm over my shoulder and throws his other one over Connor.
And it’s the feeling of unity that makes my heart feel as if it’s going to fucking burst.
Because now it feels permanent. Connor and I have found somewhere we belong. We found our own family. A brighter future.
“Want ice cream, champ? Your disgustingly favorite mint chocolate chip?” Oak asks as he ushers the both of us out of the courthouse.
Connor sticks his tongue out at him. “You only hate it because you have horrible taste.”
Oak winks at me with a salacious smirk. “I have exceptional taste. Matter of fact I can still taste my favorite sweet on my tongue.” Oh my fucking God. No he did not. “Can’t wait for seconds.”
“What flavor is that?” Connor asks innocently while I’m going up in flames.
“Honey,” Oak answers and I damn near drop my jaw to the ground.
Oak unlocks his truck and opens the back door for Connor. Before he gets in he makes a face at him. “That can’t taste better than mint chocolate chip.”
Oak laughs, the joke lost on Connor. “Trust me, champ, best flavor ever.”
Needing this conversation to end now before I die I say to Connor, “Put your seatbelt on and keep it on.”
“Yes, mom,” he says, shaking his head, but there’s happiness shinning in his eyes.
After he puts his seat belt on I close the door. Then, placing my hands on my hips I pin a glare on Oak.
“What?” He tries to act innocent but knows damn well what.
“Honey, really?”
He wraps his arm around me and pulls me flush against him. “In truth, you taste even sweeter than honey.”
“Oak,” I warn.
“The kid has no idea, Grace. You really going to stay mad at me for a sexual innuendo?”
I pretend to contemplate it, keeping a stern expression. I bite down on my lower lip and a low grunt rips from the base of his throat.
Releasing my lip with his thumb his eyes are molten with desire.
“And if I do?”
“I don’t think you’ll want to, baby.”
“And why not?”
He opens the passenger door and as he lifts me up to place me in the seat he says in my ear, “Because I’ll keep taking you to the edge without ever giving you release.”
“You wouldn’t dare edge me, big guy.”
He smirks. “Why not, baby?”
“Because you’re not the only one who knows how to play that game.”
“Well then,” he says as he straps me in, “I guess we’ll see who begs first.”
I raise a challenging brow. “It won’t be me.”
“We’ll see,” he says confidently.