Page 158 of Forbidden Heroes

I’m shaking, barely able to draw air into my lungs and he raises to his elbow and connects our gazes.

“I stand corrected,” I say.

“About?” And I love the puzzled look and cocky smile on his face. The two together pull a smile from me.

“THAT…now that was the best orgasm of my life.”

He laughs, the sound deep and so heartfelt I can see it in his eyes.

“I guess I’ve set a standard. Now I’ll have to work harder each time to make sure I beat the last.”

“That’s some serious goals,” I counter, but before I can challenge him to a do-over, he has my lips captured in a searing kiss.

“You’ve made me happy and I can’t remember the last time that’s been true for me. Thank you, angel.”

I take his face between my palms. “You didn’t exactly give me a choice. You made me see what I would be missing. Forced me to realize running from my problems wasn’t the answer. And the best part, you made me see not everyone is out to use and hurt me.”

He takes my hands in his and he places a tender kiss over where I’ll wear his wedding band one day.

“I love you, Allison Shade. If you doubt anything else in life, never doubt my love for you and my insatiable need to make you happy. I’m going to spend an eternity shooting my hot load into your body and making babies. I want as many as you’ll give me. I can’t wait to see you grow plump with my baby. Merry Christmas, my angel.”

My heart nearly bursts at his confession. How crazy is life? This morning I feared for my very life and then like some Christmas miracle or as if my guardian angel knew who my soulmate was, I’m being cherished and loved. “I love you, too, Mason. I don’t know how something so deep as love can move so quickly, but I’m not going to question whatever guardian angel is looking out for me this time. I’m right where I need to be thanks to them.”

I already feel the weight of my terrible childhood lift from my shoulders as I look into the future with the man I love. I rest a hand on my belly and I can’t wait to start adding to the love.

Epilogue

Allison, six months later

Istep off the top floor elevator and turn toward my husband’s office at the end of the hall. We made it official on Christmas Day. It’s amazing who jumps when a man as wealthy as Mason picks up the phone.

Within a couple of hours we had everything we needed to make us man and wife at our front door complete with a priest, ring, and a gown.

It wasn’t fairytale level but it was my fairytale and I couldn’t be happier.

Today marks the end of my first trimester and we have a doctor’s appointment in an hour to check up on our little miracle baby, and I can’t help but pause a moment to consider all that has happened in such a short time. My uncle has all his assets frozen and all his crimes are being investigated. I have a feeling they are going to uncover more than just the handful of doctored documents and audio recordings I handed over. Time will tell, but I can’t say I care what happens to him. He’ll get what he deserves.

Soon after Christmas I learned more details about Mason’s mother leaving him and his father shortly after his tenth birthday and my heart broke. I made a silent promise to fix that wrong no matter what it took and to be a better mother to our children. We have a lifetime together and I plan on using every second loving my family.

I’ve enrolled in college and will start my courses this fall. Before our little bundle of joy arrives, I’ll be well into my studies with a bigger handle on what I need to do on that front. Nothing can keep me from being a very hands-on kind of mother and I’ll find my balance between my degree in business and graphic design and motherhood as time goes on.

After I graduate, Mason has promised me a place within Savage Ink. In fact, he’s already signed over half his stocks and ownership to me and we now co-own his billion-dollar marketing company. A wedding gift, he says, but I won’t lie. It took some getting used to. I still can’t believe how deeply he trusts me, something I will take to my grave before breaking. I trust him just as much so I guess it balances out.

Everyone has already left for lunch as I make my way down the empty hall. I pause and fight against my bout of morning sickness and I don’t notice the man standing beside me until he puts a hand on my shoulder.

I turn, surprised. He’s lucky Mason hasn’t spotted me yet.

“Hey sweetheart, you lost? I haven’t seen you before. Maybe I can help.” He’s tall, a little bulky, and round in the middle and I can tell he prefers beer and chips to a gym and steak.

And he’s right, I normally take the boss’s private elevator straight to his office, but today I felt like seeing some of the company I co-own and its people. Mason is always talking about them like family so I feel compelled to get to know the people who work for us.

“Hi,” I say. “No, I’m good but thanks.” I turn to go but he stops me again with a hand on my shoulder and leaves it there this time. I’m only three months pregnant so I don’t blame him for not knowing I’m an expecting mother, but the large rock on my damn finger should clue him in. I raise my hand and wiggle my ring finger in his face.

A deeper fear than I could ever instill in another person blanches his face white and I know my husband is standing behind me.

“The woman said she was fine. Now take your goddamn hand off my wife before I do it for you.”

The other man backs off and stumbles over a plant as he makes his way to the elevator.

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