Twenty-two
ZAC
I’ve always attempted to give Bray and Ella a family Christmas and follow on with the traditions that mum and dad had started. Christmas has never felt as complete as it did today though; Alyssa joining our little family has made today more than I could have ever wished for.
I haven’t been able to wipe the smile from my face all day, seeing Alyssa enjoy herself so much, knowing that she said yes, without a doubt, to being mine forever. It makes me fucking happy. I can’t remember a time I’ve been happier than I am right now in this moment.
Alyssa yawns as she snuggles into my chest. “Tired, baby?”
Burrowing in deeper to my chest, she says, “Mmm, who would have thought Christmas could be so tiring.”
Standing, I lift her into my arms. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
“I can walk, you know. You don’t need to put your back out carrying me. Put me down.”
Laughing, I hold her tighter. “Never, I will never let you go, and please, I could lift ten of you and still not put my damn back out.” She gives up her protest and relaxes into me.
Laying her on the bed, I undress her so she can sleep more comfortably, leaving her in just her panties. I make quick work as I undress and climb in behind her, holding her in my arms.
“Sweet dreams, baby. We’ll have tomorrow together,” I tell her. She’s already out of it as she murmurs something in response.
The last few days have been bliss. I’ve spent almost every waking hour with Alyssa, wanting to get in as much time before we both go back to work today.
I tried, very unsuccessfully, to get her to quit and come work at the club with me.
If it wasn’t New Year’s Eve, I think I would camp out at the hospital throughout her entire shift, just waiting for her.
As much as I want to do just that, I can’t.
New Year’s is a big night for the club, and I can’t continue to palm my responsibilities off to Bray and Dean.
We’re also holding the first fight since the holiday break.
Bray’s been training like crazy the past few days, shredding the holiday weight he put on—his words not mine.
I’m also keen to get back to work and expand on the hunt for fucking Caitlyn.
It’s been nearly three weeks since she trashed Alyssa’s room at her townhouse and there hasn’t been a sighting of her.
No more threats have been delivered either.
But I know something is coming. I can feel it in my gut.
The sooner we catch the crazy bitch, the sooner I can relax and know my girl is safe.
Alyssa’s alarm starts blaring on the bedside table. She reaches out, blindly swatting at her phone. Laughing, I roll over top of her and turn the alarm off.
“Morning, sunshine.” I kiss the top of her head. “Don’t move. I’ll get your coffee.”
I hear her mumble something incoherent as I walk out of the bedroom.
Returning with her coffee, it does not surprise me to find her sound asleep again.
I take a sip of the sweet crap she calls coffee and then put the cup down.
Leaning down, I gently roll my lips over the top of hers, urging her mouth open with my tongue.
She doesn’t disappoint. Opening for me, she meets my tongue with strokes of her own.
“Mmm, you taste divine,” she says as she slowly comes to. Laughing, I pull back, pulling her up into a sitting position.
Handing her the coffee cup, I suggest, “Drink up, sunshine. Just think, if you quit your job and come work at our club, you won’t ever have to wake up at these ungodly hours again.”
“I’ll be fine once the caffeine hits my system.” She continues drinking, purposefully ignoring my suggestion. I’m not giving up though. I know I’ll wear her down, eventually. From what I’ve seen and heard from her friends, she doesn’t even like her job.
“I’m gonna hit the gym for a bit. Do you need anything before I go work out?”
“I’m good. I’m just going to finish this coffee and have a shower.”
I kiss her once more. “Okay, but I’m just down the hall if you decide you need me to wash your back, or your front, or your hair.”
Laughing, she says, “I think I’ll manage, but good to know you’ll wash all those hard-to-reach places.”
Leaning in, I kiss her again. I don’t think I’m ever going to get enough of her kisses. It’s like a drug and I’m addicted.
“Anytime, anyplace, babe,” I say with a wink and leave her to get ready.
I’m not surprised to find Bray already in the gym as I enter. Jumping on the treadmill, I start my warm-up. Bray eyes me suspiciously.
“What happened? Did Lyssa kick you out already? If so, I want her to get custody of me in the divorce.”
“Fuck off. There won’t ever be a fucking divorce, idiot.”
“Then why the hell are you up at this hour? I haven’t seen the likes of you this early for well over a month.”
“Alyssa’s going back to work at the hospital today.”
I shrug, like it doesn’t bother me at all that she’s going to work and I won’t be able to be with her all day.
“Shit, man, is that safe? I mean, we still don’t know where the fuck Caitlyn is hiding out,” Bray questions.
Like I haven’t fucking thought of that already. “I tried to talk her into quitting and coming to work at the club, but she won’t have a bar of it.”
“Well, at least now I know why you’re in such a cheery mood.” Bray smirks.
“She also wants to drive herself to work in her car,” I grunt as I speed up the treadmill to a slow jog.
“What time is she planning on leaving?” he asks.
“In about an hour, around six. She’s doing a twelve-hour shift and is meeting me at the club when she finishes. Why?”
Shrugging, he grabs a towel and wipes his face. “I need to visit a mate at the hospital. She can give me a lift.”
I nod, knowing full well he’s full of shit. He doesn’t have any mates in the hospital, but I’m grateful for the lie if it means she won’t be driving by herself.
“Thanks, man,” I say as he makes his way out of the room.
After punishing myself for forty-five minutes in the gym, I wander back into the bedroom in search of Alyssa.
She should be just about ready to leave.
I find her sitting on the edge of the bed, bending over, tying the laces on her joggers.
For a moment, I just stand in the doorway, enjoying the view.
I forgot how damn good she looks in those scrubs.
Then again, Alyssa would be hot as fuck in a burlap sack.
Groaning, I adjust the growing erection forming in my shorts. Alyssa finally looks up, pausing momentarily where my hand is adjusting my cock.
Smirking as her eyes meet mine, she asks, “Good workout?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I make my way to her. Kneeling on the floor in front of her, I trail my hands up her legs from her ankles up to her inner thighs.
“There are much better ways I prefer to get my cardio in these days.”
Alyssa laughs while attempting to push me away.
As her hands meet my chest, I think my heart literally stops for a minute.
There is something huge missing from her left hand.
My eyes should be met with a fucking diamond on that hand, a huge fucking diamond that I put there just a week ago.
Grabbing her hand, I rub her ring finger, her bare fucking ring finger.
I take a deep breath before gritting out, “Where the fuck is your ring, Alyssa?”
As much as I try to get my voice to remain calm, I don’t succeed. I know my words come out harsh.
She looks down at her hand, then back at me before answering, “Zac, I can’t wear that ring to work.”
I hear her words, but they make absolutely no sense. “Why the fuck not?”
Staring at her hand, I’m racking my brain for reasons she would not want to wear my ring out in public. Has she changed her mind already? I don’t think I’d survive if she says she doesn’t want me anymore.
Alyssa reaches up, touching my face, and pulls my eyes up to meet hers.
“Zac, honey, I’m still marrying you. There is nothing in this world that could stop me from wanting to marry you.
I can’t wear my ring because it’s just too big—it’s not practical.
I have to put gloves on and off all day.
I won’t be able to do that with the ring on. ”
Although I feel like a weight has been lifted, knowing she’s not leaving, I still don’t like the thought of her walking around without the fucking ring on her finger.
I want the world to know she’s taken and taken by me.
There’s also the fact that that particular ring has a GPS tracker in it.
I know, not my finest moment putting a tracker on my fiancée, but given the circumstances, I think if I ever had to actually use it, I won’t regret putting it there.
She of course does not know that her ring has this extra feature.
There is no way I’m letting her walk out of this apartment without that ring on her.
Standing up, I ask her, “Where is it?” as I look around the room.
Alyssa walks into the walk-in wardrobe and retrieves the ring from the island bench.
I don’t tell her that she just left a four-hundred-thousand-dollar ring sitting around like a piece of costume jewellery.
I’d never get her to wear it if she knew that stone’s value.
Instead, I open a drawer and pull out one of my gold chains.
It’s thin enough and long enough that she can wear it under her shirt.
Threading the ring through the chain, I then place the chain around her neck. Alyssa doesn’t move; she doesn’t question my actions. Once the chain’s clasp is secure, I tuck the ring into the inside of her shirt, letting the stone rest between her breasts.
Damn, for a moment, I’m lost while staring down into her cleavage; that is, until Alyssa clears her throat.
“Thank you. I didn’t even think to put it on a chain.”
Wrapping her arms around my waist, she buries her head into my chest. I hear her inhale and I smile. I love that she always inhales my scent like it’s her favourite scent in the world, even though I’m pretty sure I come second to the scent of coffee.