Chapter Eighteen
DEE
Three Weeks Later
Life’s been a whirlwind lately. The guys are tied up with interviews and small shows nearly every day, while Anna, a very sick Sia, and I handle the finer, final details for the wedding in a little over a week.
Mummy and Dad have visited a lot, and we even had dinner with Colt’s mum, where I got to meet her properly. She’s lovely, and it’s a shame we don’t see her often, but I decide that needs to change with more family dinners.
Mummy is over, and so is Anna. We are discussing the bachelorette party. I don’t want anything massive, but, of course, they have other ideas.
“Dee, you have to have a stripper,” Anna declares dramatically, tossing her hair like she’s starring in a reality show.
“It’s a rite of passage into married life.
It’s the last time you can have a naked man grinding in your face without judgment.
It’s a socially acceptable sin. Once you’re married, babe? Strippers are out of bounds.”
I laugh, leaning back into the sofa, eyeing her over my coffee mug. “Oh yeah, because Colt’s definitely gonna be cool with some random dude wagging his junk inches from my face. That’ll go down real well.”
Anna smirks, unfazed. “Maybe it’ll awaken the beast in him.”
My eyebrows lift, and I glance out the window thoughtfully. Now there’s an idea.
Because while things between Colt and me have been fantastic—intimate, healing, and yes, passionate—they’ve been a little soft.
He’s still so careful with me. And while that’s beautiful in its own right, I miss the fire.
The raw, possessive, dominant Colt who used to bend me over the kitchen table just because I looked at him the wrong way.
I’ve dropped hints—hell, I’ve begged with my body—but every time, he pulls back, afraid of hurting me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love making love with him. But damn, I miss getting fucked by him too.
“Dee?” Mum’s voice cuts through my wandering thoughts.
I blink and shake my head. “Sorry, what was that?”
“Stripper. Yay or nay?” Anna presses, grinning wickedly.
I smirk and nod. “You know what? Yeah. Why the hell not?”
Anna claps her hands like a kid at Christmas, while Mum’s cheeks turn a distinct shade of rose. She tries to hide her grin behind her teacup, but it’s no use because she’s just as into this as we are. Honestly, she probably wouldn’t mind a lap dance herself.
“Awesome. So, policeman or fireman?” Anna asks as if she’s ordering dessert.
I grin. “One of each?”
She lets out a loud “whoop,” pulling her phone from her pocket and strutting outside like she’s just brokered a major deal.
“I can’t wait to see Colt’s face when he finds out,” I mutter.
“Oh, your father won’t be all that thrilled either,” Mum says, chuckling. “But what’s a hen’s night without a little scandal?”
I laugh, the sound soft and warm. “You’re not wrong.”
Her smile turns tender. “I just want you to know how proud I am of you, darling. Colt is perfect for you. Even your father’s finally seeing it. The way Colt’s looked after you since the accident? That’s the kind of love most people never find.”
Emotion wells up in my chest, and I blink it away. “Thanks, Mum. It hasn’t always been easy, but somehow we always find our way back to each other. He makes me feel…” I pause for a moment, “… like I can handle anything.”
“And you can,” Mum says with conviction. “Just remember that when things get hard. A love like yours? It’s unbreakable.”
I nod, trying not to cry. Before I can speak, Anna strolls back in with a smug grin.
“Okay, we’re locked in. One hot cop, one smokin’ fireman, both arriving Friday night at eight p.m. sharp. You’re welcome.”
“You’re a menace,” I tease.
“And proud of it.” Anna flops onto the sofa, kicking off her heels. “God, I need a girls’ night. It’s been way too long since I drank irresponsibly and danced like an idiot.”
“Same,” I say. “I can’t even remember the last time I got tipsy.”
“Well, worry not, my bride-to-be,” she says dramatically. “I’ve organized frozen cocktail machines, fountains of cosmos, and enough tequila to sink a fucking cruise ship. You’ll be so hungover Saturday morning, you’ll regret being born.”
I groan. “That’s the part I don’t miss.”
“But admit it,” she says, raising an eyebrow. “You kinda do.”
“Fine. A little.”
Colt’s bachelor party is scheduled for the same night.
While we’ll be at the manor, tucked away from the world, the guys are heading out into the city—VIP lounges, private booths, all the perks that come with being rock gods.
And as much as I trust Colt, part of me can’t help the flicker of anxiety that sparks deep in my chest.
All it takes is one obsessed fan.
One flash of chaos.
One scar on my body to remind me how quickly it can all go wrong.
Still, I push it aside.
Tonight is about celebrating.
We spend the rest of the afternoon putting the final touches on everything—flowers, playlists, signature cocktails, backup plans. Anna is a machine, and honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without her.
Eventually, Mum heads off, and Anna and I sink into the sofa, exhausted but satisfied.
Everything is finally organized.
The wedding.
The parties.
The details.
All that’s left now is to live it.
The front door creaks open, and we both turn. Colt steps in, eyes sweeping the room before they land on me, and just like that, my heart does that ridiculous thing it always does when he’s around. I smile, warmth flooding my chest. I’ve missed him today more than I expected to.
He walks around the back of the sofa and leans down, brushing a soft kiss to my lips. “I missed you today,” he murmurs before climbing over the back and sliding in beside me like a damn teenager.
I lean toward him, ready to kiss him again, but before I get the chance, Hux throws a playful punch to Colt’s arm and drops down beside him, interrupting the moment.
Colt’s attention shifts to his brother, and the connection between us snaps for a beat.
I sit back, lips still parted, with a slight frown tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Something’s off with Hux.
He’s joking around, sure, but I’ve known him long enough to see past the bravado.
I glance at Colt, silently wondering if he’s noticed too.
And if not, he will soon, I am sure.
“So, they’re releasing the song tomorrow, yeah?” Hux asks, glancing between Colt and me like he’s testing the waters.
Colt gives me a soft, apologetic look before turning his attention back to his brother.
“Yeah. Rob’s sending it out to the radio stations tonight.
Hopefully, by the weekend, we’ll see how it charts.
If it lands, it’ll be our first hit since, well, you know.
” He doesn’t look at me, but his hand finds mine and squeezes gently.
I squeeze back, a quiet reassurance. I’m okay. I’m proud of him, of all of them. They’ve come a long way back from the wreckage.
Before the conversation can drift any further, Sia walks in, and my smile instantly fades.
She looks awful.
Her skin is pale, her eyes dull, and she’s definitely lost weight. The usual fierce energy that surrounds her is nowhere to be found. Instead, she sits gingerly on the coffee table in front of me like she’s made of glass.
“Hey, Mama,” I say gently. “Still not feeling the best?”
She exhales and nods, brushing hair from her face. “Yeah, some bug I can’t shake. Doc says it’s nothing contagious, but the nausea’s kicking my ass.”
Dingo hasn’t taken his eyes off her—not once.
His jaw is tight, concern carved deep in every line of his face.
He’s concerned, and that worries me. The Sia I know doesn’t let anything slow her down, so the fact that she’s even sitting here, looking like she barely has the strength to show up, speaks volumes.
“I hope it clears soon,” I say, offering a soft smile.
She nods, but her expression doesn’t shift.
Eventually, the rest of the guys start to head off, leaving behind their usual wake of empty mugs, crumbs, and a half-eaten pack of cookies.
Don’t get me wrong, I love them like brothers, but they’re absolute chaos when they descend en masse.
And Hux? Well, ever since that night with Colt, he’s still guarded around me.
Polite. But distant. I don’t blame him. I hurt his brother, and that kind of thing doesn’t disappear overnight.
Once the house clears out, Colt threads his fingers through mine and tugs me toward the stairs. Princess trots after us, her little feet padding against the floor.
“We’ve got that appointment tomorrow, yeah?” he asks as we walk into our bedroom.
“Yeah, Anna and Johnny are coming too. The doctor wants to start the embryo transfer counseling, since it’s a whole process before we even get to the implantation stage.” I strip off my shirt and walk into the ensuite, already tugging at my jeans.
Colt follows me in, eyes locked on my body like it’s the only thing in the room that matters.
He steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, bare chest pressed against my back. “I can’t wait to hold our baby in my arms,” he murmurs against my skin, lips brushing over my shoulder. His voice is low and reverent, but there’s a hunger behind it too.
“I know,” I whisper, turning in his arms to face him. “Sometimes I still can’t believe Anna and Johnny are doing this for us. It’s the most selfless thing anyone’s ever done.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve known Johnny forever, but I never thought he’d be so chill about me knocking up his wife,” Colt says, smirking.
I smack his chest. “Don’t say it like that. It freaks me out.”
He chuckles and presses his nose to mine, swaying me gently from side to side. “Sorry, sorry. But you know I’m totally in love with you, right?”
“Had a hunch,” I tease.