Chapter 7 #9
And then it happened, that moment when everything else fell away and there was only Rio and the overwhelming surge of ecstasy coursing through her veins.
She cried out his name as she came, her body shuddering with release.
Rio followed soon after, his hips stuttering as he buried himself deep inside her.
For a moment, they stayed like that pressed together, breathing heavily, their bodies still entwined. Kylee rested her forehead against his shoulder, trying to catch her breath as the aftershocks of pleasure continued to ripple through her.
Rio finally pulled back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he looked into her eyes. “You’re mine,” he said, his voice rough but tender. “All mine.”
The jet touched down in Los Angeles just after midnight.
The city lights shimmered like jewels below as the wheels screeched softly against the runway.
Rio stood up first, carefully scooping Jake Jr. into his arms without waking him.
Kylee followed, gently lifting Macy while cradling Kayla against her chest.
As they stepped onto the private tarmac, a sleek black SUV waited just beyond the staircase, engine humming, a driver already outside with the door open.
Once they were all inside and buckled, Rio reached for Kylee’s hand across the seat.
Their fingers laced together silently, a sense of peace washing over her as LA’s skyline rushed past the tinted windows.
By the time they reached the long gated driveway, Jake Jr. began to stir. His eyes blinked open just as the SUV curved around the final bend and Rio’s sprawling, modern mansion came into view, all glass, stone, and sleek lines, lit softly against the night.
Jake Jr. sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Whoa…” he whispered, staring up at the massive house. “This is an awesome hotel!”
Rio chuckled from the front passenger seat and turned around to grin at him. “It’s not a hotel, little man. This is my house.”
Jake Jr.’s jaw dropped. “You live here?!”
Rio nodded. “Yup. And hopefully, you guys can stay here for a while.”
Jake Jr. looked over at his mom, eyes wide. “Mommy, can we stay!”
Kylee laughed softly, her heart swelling with the kind of joy and disbelief that made her throat tighten. She kissed the top of his head. “We’re just visiting for now, baby,” she said gently. “But yeah… pretty cool, huh?” Jake Jr. nodded, still in awe.
Rio leaned back toward Kylee with a quiet smile. “Let’s get you guys inside and settle. You’re safe now.”
As they stepped into the warmth of the mansion, with sleepy kids in their arms and hearts just starting to heal.
Inside the mansion, the soft glow of warm lights illuminated the hallways as Rio guided them upstairs. Kylee carried Kayla, who was already drifting back to sleep, while Jake Jr. and Macy trailed behind her, still wide-eyed and sleepy but buzzing with curiosity.
“Alright,” Rio said, pushing open a door at the end of the hallway. “This one’s for Jake Jr.” The lights clicked on, and Jake Jr.’s sleepy face lit up like it was Christmas morning. “Whoa!”
The room was a miniature football paradise. The bed was shaped like a goalpost, the comforter a replica of a football field, and a wall-sized mural of his favorite NFL team spanned one side. A rack of tiny jerseys and helmets sat along the wall, and even the lamp looked like a football.
“You did all this?” Jake Jr. asked, stepping inside in awe.
“Well… I had my assistant pull a few strings,” Rio said casually, hands in his pockets. “But yeah. Thought you might like it.”
Jake Jr. ran and flopped onto the bed with a loud “YES!” and grinned from ear to ear.
Kylee’s heart clenched. She hadn’t seen her son this happy in weeks.
Rio gently placed a hand on her lower back and nudged her toward the next room. “Come on. I think Macy’s room is next.”
Macy rubbed her eyes as Kylee carried Kayla into the next room and turned on the light.
Macy gasped.
“UNICORNS!”
The walls were a soft lavender, with twinkling fairy lights strung around the ceiling.
A plush unicorn bed sat in the middle, surrounded by stuffed animals and glittery pillows.
A giant pink teepee was set up in the corner with little books inside, and the rug was a dreamy swirl of stars and clouds.
Kylee crouched next to Macy as she ran from one end of the room to the other, squealing with delight.
“How’d he do all this so fast?” she whispered more to herself than anyone else.
“I have my ways,” Rio said softly behind her, watching Macy with a smile. “I wanted her to feel safe. Like a kid again.”
Kylee turned toward him, eyes already watering. “Rio…”
He tilted his head. “There’s one more.”
She followed him down the hall to the nursery.
The room smelled faintly of lavender and baby powder.
The walls were painted with soft rainbows and fluffy clouds.
A white crib sat in the center with a pastel mobile hanging above it.
A cushy rocking chair rested in the corner with a rainbow blanket draped across the back.
Kylee stood in the doorway for a long moment, stunned. “You didn’t have to…” she said, her voice cracking.
“I know,” Rio replied gently. “But I wanted to.”
Kylee turned toward him, eyes brimming. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You and those kids… deserve to feel peace. This place, it’s yours for as long as you need it.”
She leaned into his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as Kayla stirred slightly in her arms.
For the first time in a long time… Kylee felt like she could breathe.
The house was finally still. Macy had fallen asleep curled up with a stuffed unicorn the size of her.
Jake Jr. was passed out mid-sentence, clutching a tiny football under his arm.
Even Kayla had drifted off without a fuss, soothed by the soft lullabies playing in her new nursery.
Kylee eased the door shut behind her and padded barefoot down the hall.
She found Rio outside, standing on the balcony just off the master bedroom, shirtless, leaning on the railing with a glass of whiskey in hand.
The L.A. skyline sparkled around him like scattered diamonds.
The city was loud in the distance, but up here it was peaceful.
He turned when he heard her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Are they all asleep?”
She nodded. “Out like lights.”
He handed her his glass and she took a slow sip, the amber warmth hitting her chest. “This view… this house… Rio, I don’t even know what to say. You’ve done so much.”
He shrugged one shoulder, keeping his eyes on her. “It’s nothing you don’t deserve.”
Kylee leaned on the railing next to him, her bare arm brushing his. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me before. Not even Jake.”
Rio didn’t respond right away. He let the silence settle heavy, but not uncomfortable. Then, quietly: “I saw you today. Really saw you. The way you handled those kids in the chaos… The strength it took just to get through that game without breaking down…”
Kylee looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was breaking.”
“But you held it together,” he said, turning to face her. “You always do. That’s what makes you different. Not just beautiful but brave. Fierce. That’s why I wanted you here. That’s why I wanted them here.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She wasn’t used to being seen like this. Not for what she looked like. Not for what she used to be. But for what she was now raw, vulnerable, and still standing. “You make me feel safe,” she whispered.
Rio reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “And you make me want more.”
She looked up at him, her breath catching.
“More of this,” he added. “Not just the sex. Not just the chaos. But the real shit. The late nights. The sleepy kids. The wine on the balcony. All of it.”
Kylee stepped into him, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I’m scared.”
“I know.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “But you don’t have to do it alone anymore.”
She melted into his arms, letting the weight of the day, the trauma, the fight, the heartbreak slide off her shoulders. And in that quiet night, wrapped in his warmth, Kylee let herself believe that maybe, just maybe… This was the start of something real.
Back at the house, Jake slammed the front door so hard it rattled the picture frames on the wall. He paced the living room like a caged animal, his jaw tight, and his eyes dark. He snatched his phone off the counter and jabbed at the screen.
“Get over here now,” he barked the moment Rachel picked up.
There was a pause on the other end. “Uh… now your house?” Rachel asked cautiously. “What about Kylee… and the kids?”
Jake let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Fuck her. She ran off with Mr. Rock Star. Probably thinks she’s living some damn fairytale right now.”
Rachel hesitated. “She… took the kids?”
“She took my kids,” Jake snapped, grabbing a whiskey bottle off the counter and pouring it into a
Glass like his hands needed something to do before they broke something else. “I’m telling you, Rachel, she’s not keeping them. I’ll make sure of that!
“I’m coming,” Rachel finally said, her voice low, almost eager.
“Good.” Jake ended the call without another word, tossing the phone onto the couch and downing the rest of his drink in one swallow.