Chapter 52
Dax
Of course, she crosses her arms and looks away, but I can’t stop thinking about what I overheard. It’s not all fake, and I have a chance. She purses her lips shut, and I know she’s waiting for me to talk first.
“I don’t want you to go,” I say softly. I meant what I said about burning Selene’s house down, but I don’t voice that threat. I already know someone who can do it. Of course, I can’t do it with Selene in the house, unfortunately.
“I’m done with it, Daxton. I’m tired.” She lets out a breath. “I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of lying to everyone, and I’m tired of being used.”
“I never used you. I would never do that, and I never gave a damn about the motel chain. I was ready to let it go, and then I met you. Our marriage has nothing to do with business.”
“You also treat me like dirt, and you think I’m easily controlled and manipulated because of my history.”
I sit next to her and rest my hand on her knee. When she doesn’t push me away, I continue.
“I’m sorry for a lot of things, but I never treated you like dirt, Cori.
I never meant to hurt you or make you feel like I was using you.
I’m not. Never. I married you because I wanted to.
Because I fell deeply in love with you so fast that I couldn’t think of anything else.
” Her eyes widen, but I nod my head. “It’s true.
That’s the reason, and I figured I could get you to fall in love with me, too.
You wanted me, and I knew you enjoyed being with me.
I took that and ran with it. I had no idea about the history with your parents and Devin.
Had I known, I wouldn’t have done it. I would have found another way, but when I realized it, I convinced myself I did the right thing and that I could be your person.
I could show you how much I valued you and how important you are to me. ”
“You just want everything your way.” She crosses her arms and looks away.
“What the hell is my way?” I snap. “Not a single thing. If it were up to me, we'd plan vacations and family photo shoots in color-coordinated outfits, instead of this civil war. The truth is, I’ve been worshipping you since—”
“Since you kidnapped me?”
“Yes, I did, and you said you were done with the lies. So, be done. You enjoyed being with me that time and every time after that. Even before those first few days, there was no one else for me. You’re all I've thought about since I realized you were following me. Since then, I gave you everything, and you tried to manipulate my feelings and steal my dog. That’s bullshit. ”
“Yeah, and you didn’t do anything to earn my wrath.” She rolls her eyes to the ceiling.
“I told you both to stop bringing up old shit!” Mom yells from the other room. “He did what he did, and you did too. It’s even. Enough. Neither of you is a saint. It’s all water under the bridge.”
“Can we start over, Bella?” I run a hand over my face. “I want the woman I had from the time we were in Chicago. You said it wasn’t all fake.” I take her hands in mine. She whimpers, but she doesn’t try to pull away.
“It wasn’t,” she reluctantly admits. “It backfired because I liked that version of us. I meant what I said to Haddie. I was happy.” She closes her eyes as if the admission pains her.
“Happier than I’ve ever been, and it wasn’t because of the things.
I was happiest when we talked, and you listened.
It felt nice when you showed interest in designs, and I appreciate you wanting me to go to fashion school.
” She shivers as if she’s cold. “That made me really happy.” She lets out a shaky laugh.
“That’s why I decided to ditch my plan to bring you to your knees. ”
I bring her hands to my lips and kiss the back of them.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I won’t apologize for marrying you. That’s the one thing I won’t do.”
“That’s old shit, Daxton. What are you going to do from now on? Do I need to come in there and knock your heads together?” Mom yells again. “You’re both getting on my nerves, I swear.”
“I will be a good husband to you from this day forward. No games. No manipulation.”
“No lies, Daxton. I can’t—”
“No lies. I promise. I want us to be together without you threatening to leave me.” I stroke her cheek.
“I’ve always wanted you. Since the moment I realized you were following me.
You became everything.” I kiss her hands again.
“Beautiful, sexy, smart, ambitious, and just the right amount of toxic.” She lets out a giggle.
“You keep me on my toes. I never wanted to take your power because I love you the way you are, even the toxic part.”
“You are a good husband. You have been since the beginning, but I don’t know, Daxton. Maybe it’s best if we go our separate ways.”
“That won’t work for me,” Mom snaps from a few feet away. “Do you think good husbands grow on trees? They don’t. Do you know the amount of work it took for me to raise him to be a good man?”
I pull her out of her seat and put her on my lap. My arms wrap around her waist.
“That won’t work for me either. Will you be my wife, Bella?” When she remains silent, I ask, “Will you choose to marry me this time? I’ll be your husband, your protector, your best friend and—”
“The best friend role is already taken.”
“I’m serious. No more games or one-upmanship. Just you and me, together, doing all we can for each other. I promise to be the best man you can ever ask for. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll be there for you, loving you through everything. All you have to do is let me.”
She closes her eyes, and I imagine she’s either fighting or accepting my words.
“Let him, sweetheart,” Haddie orders.
“I want to. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m scared. Each time I'm on the edge of getting what I want, the rug gets pulled from under me, leaving me with nothing.”
“I won’t let that happen. It’s my mission to give you everything you want. Be my wife. Let me love you. All you have to do is let me. Put the armor down, sweetheart. You don’t need it anymore. I promise to be the barrier between you and the world.”
Her eyes fly open, and they lock with mine. The uncertainty is still there, but it’s not as strong as it was moments ago. There are unshed tears in her eyes.
“Let me,” I repeat.
“I think I can do that.” A single tear slides down her smooth cheek.
“I’m tired of fighting, and when I was pretending to be your wife, I fell in love with you, too.
” My hands cradle her cheeks, and I put my lips to hers.
She offers no resistance and kisses me back.
She wraps her arms around my neck and pours everything into our kiss.
“Does this mean you forgive me?” I whisper the question in her ear so my mother won’t hear.
“Do you forgive me for trying to manipulate you? It was wrong, and I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry you found out.”
“He forgives you, honey,” Mom answers on my behalf.
“What my mom said. And?”
“And I’m sorry for giving away that stupid dog, but that was my idea. Don’t blame Selene for that.”
“Finch is the smartest dog in the world. She’s smarter than most humans. I forgive you, but your cousin is not innocent. I don’t want to talk about her. Tell me what you want.”
“I want to be your priority.”
“Sweetheart, you are. You’ve always been.”
“I want to be a spoiled wife.”
“Done.”
“And I don’t just mean I want things. I want you to listen to me. I want you to side with me, even when you think I’m wrong. You can tell me I’m wrong in private, but defend me in public. Can you do those things?”
“Without question.”
“Now, what do you want?”
“Babies.”
“Daxton!” She tries to get off my lap, but I hold her in place.
“Good one, Daxton. I second that.” Mom claps her hands.
“I told you I have no maternal instinct,” Cori whispers in my ear. I assume that’s so my mother won’t hear. Then she takes a deep breath and says, “But.” My body coils in anticipation. “We can revisit that in six months. I’m not saying no, but I need a little time.”
“Deal.” I stand with her in my arms and almost collide with my mother, who was hovering right outside the kitchen. Mom pulls us into a hug. She kisses my cheek and Cori’s.
I drop my wife on the bed, but when she starts to undress herself, I pull her hands down and lift the shirt over her head myself. Her breasts spring free, and I cover them with my hands. Her nipples pebble, and I yearn to take one in my mouth, but not yet.
I undress her and remove my own clothes. Once we’re both naked, I lie on top of her and suck on the skin at the base of her neck. My hand slides down her smooth belly and into the apex of her spread thighs.
I spread her lips apart and slide two fingers inside her wet pussy. She moans and throws her head back. I take my fingers out and put them to her mouth. She sucks greedily, but I pull them out and put them in my mouth.
“Let me get on top.” The words are barely out of her mouth before I flip us over, putting her on top of me. She kisses my mouth before kissing her way south.
I almost combust when her hot mouth wraps around my dick. She’s never done this before, and I believe it’s because she knows how much I want this. She wraps her hand tightly around my shaft and takes my dick so far that she gags.
“Do that again.” She does. She sucks me until I explode in her mouth. “Swallow it all,” I command. When she does, I say, “Now, come do what I wanted you to do the first day we met. Come sit on my face.”
“I’m hungry.” Cori yawns and stretches. The blanket dips, and her nipple is exposed. I wrap my mouth around it.
“I got something to fill you up.” I pull her closer and throw her leg around my waist, but her stomach growls. My dick hovers at her entrance, and I slide in. “I’ll be fast.”
I fuck her again for the third time. She whines and moans in my ear. She comes quickly, and so do I. I slide out and roll onto my back.
We shower together, and after dressing, we walk down to the kitchen with our fingers intertwined.
We both miss a step when we find my mother in the kitchen, her back to us, stirring something in a pot. But the most shocking part is seeing Selene at the counter, cutting vegetables for a salad.
“Mom, what are you still doing here? And you let her in?” I point dismissively at Selene.
“You brought me here, son. How did you expect me to get home? I caught up on all my shows and made dinner, and this sweet girl showed up.”
“I came over to check on you, Cori, but I guess you’re okay.” Selene arches an eyebrow and looks at her cousin. “Haddie asked me to stay and help her cook dinner.”