Luke
Amber would make an incredible big sister. She loved her mother far too much for any other outcome. My conclusion wasn’t rash, but a sound determination from observation and some of the information Michael obtained for me.
Christmas in the Rayne household was a sight to behold.
Amber wasn’t locked away in her room revising. They worked around one another in the kitchen like a machine. When I tried to help, all I did was disrupt the rhythm, so I was left to observe.
Presents had been exchanged and opened. Isabella kissed me for the first time in front of Amber. It was on my cheek, but it was progress. The engagement ring was burning a hole in my pocket.
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” I said, standing up.
It was probably Amber’s boyfriend, Nolan or Gollum. I don’t know why his face irritated me so much. But I certainly did not like the smug self-righteousness when he talked. It was all so performative. I’d lived with an actress for years, so I knew.
I opened the door and found Zachary Rayne standing there. Judging by the backpack, he might stay. I recalibrated my plans for my fiancée tonight. But the way he was glaring at me, it might do him some good to listen to me breed his adoptive mother.
“Who the fuck are you?” he snapped, staring at me with the intense moral outrage of an aristocratic Victorian heroine whose virtue had been called into question.
He looked me up and down.
“Luke Newbury,” I said, leaning in the doorway to deny him access. “And you must be Zachary Rayne.”
“Whatever,” he muttered, trying to work his way around me.
I grabbed him by his coat, drawing him close.
“My girlfriend has worked exceedingly hard to make this a special day, Zach, so be mindful of your manners once you step inside this home,” I said, keeping my voice low and calm.
His wide eyes confirmed receipt of my warning.
“Oh my god, Zach,” Isabella practically screamed.
I released the selfish asshole and smoothly moved out of the way. Isabella drew him in, and for a few seconds, Zach softened.
“Merry Christmas. So glad you’re home,” she whispered, though I heard a multitude of emotions in her voice.
Zach’s eyes landed on me.
As soon as Amber appeared, his entire body filled with tension. I watched them carefully—Amber’s disbelief, Zach’s malicious eyes and tone as he spoke.
“Hello, little sister.”
I moved to shut the door, adjusting to the new and unexpected dynamics. I didn’t like that predatory look in him. His eyes were all over her. I moved quickly and slapped his back, hard enough to jolt him out of whatever perverse fantasy was playing in his mind.
“So this is your son. A fine young man.”
All her love for the boy surfaced, even after all the years he’d ignored her and likely hurt my sweet girl.
“Oooh. We are all home for Christmas,” she said, blinking back tears of happiness.
The boy seemed to be buffering, and I wondered what had brought him home.
Amber moved.
“Zach,” Amber whispered.
His face darkened, and he turned to Isabella.
Interesting. Very interesting.
“Is my room free?” he asked stiffly, as if he expected to be rejected.
“Of course. Take your things upstairs. Amber, can you clear the laundry airer out of his room?” Isabella said, her voice shaking with excitement.
“Sure, Mum,” Amber said, her voice overly bright. She moved fast, running up the stairs like she was in a teenage slasher movie.
I moved beside Isabella, holding her intimately, proving to the little nuisance that I was the alpha male of this family.
“You’ll need to be gagged tonight,” I whispered close to her ear.
Her burst of laughter made me smile, and she slapped my shoulder. I half-turned to the newcomer and smirked. With my grip tight, I began to lead her away.
“Come to the kitchen, and we can catch up once you’re settled,” Isabella called behind her.
A few moments later, I heard him going upstairs.
“I can’t believe he came,” Isabella whispered. “He was so angry after Clive died. Angry at everyone.”
I rubbed her arm before softly kissing her neck.
“You did everything you could, my darling,” I assured her.
She swallowed, her lips trembling. After a few deep breaths, she managed to compose herself.
“How do you know?” she whispered.
“Because I have never met anyone with a more loving and beautiful heart than you,” I murmured, before dropping to one knee.
The box was in my palm, and as I opened it, tears began to stream down her cheeks, her hands covering her mouth.
“Isabella Rayne, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
More tears tracked down her cheeks. She was still in her fertile window—this could disrupt the delicate hormonal balance.
“Yes,” she croaked.
I released the breath I’d been holding. She lowered her hand and I held it to still the tremors, slipping the three-carat rock onto her finger.
I heard a dull thump somewhere upstairs.
Zach would need to play nice now that Daddy was home.
I stood and cupped Isabella’s cheeks, kissing her long and hard.
So open and sweet. Pliable and perfect.
“Tonight,” I rasped.
“Yes,” she murmured, rubbing her palms against my chest.
I wasn’t sure if she was aware of it or not, but she was rubbing her thighs together. Nothing but my cock would ease that ache. The window would close in the next 48 hours.
Knocking up my wife was essential for the next phase.