Page 94 of King of Hearts

My heart broke a little bit. She wasn’t defensive or being mean. She finally understood that I wasn’t going anywhere and we needed to figure this out for the sake of her son.

“I tried to leave so he wouldn’t be.”

The sun broke through the clouds, offering a little bit of warmth. The fire roaring near our legs was still warmer. Juan was inside with Alex while his mother and I had stepped out to the patio to chat. It was mid December and my twenty-first birthday. A date that had held such fear for me all those years had turned out to be nothing but perfect peace. Juan woke me with a searing kiss, which led to us dry humping. I still hadn’t been cleared by the doctor for sex, but we’d been touching, kissing, and sucking like crazy. Dry humping in our underwear had become one of our favorite pastimes.

I always finished Juan off with my mouth, and while he always wanted to reciprocate, I wasn’t ready to have him near me in that way yet, so he’d take out his cock and let it fill the space between my legs while I wore my underwear. Then I’d rotate my hips and grind against him until I was screaming. After our orgasms, Juan took us to breakfast; he’d even bathed and dressed Alex for me. Fatima, Mallory, and Decker, along with my mother and Charlie, were on their way for my birthday dinner, but before then, Anna wanted to make peace.

“I know you did, and that’s how I knew you were the one for him. He never would have risked so much for someone who didn’t mean this much. I will never interfere in your relationship again, and I hope in time, you can grow to trust me…and allow me to love Alex like she’s my own grandchild.”

I reached over and grabbed her hand in mine. “Of course. I want nothing more than to have that. Juan and I will marry one day and have more kids. I want to have a good relationship with you before that happens.”

We hugged and talked about Juan’s plans for the family. Hector had talked to me about Juan’s dream for El Peligro, which prompted me to ask Juan about it. I ended up crying from how proud I was of him and how badly I wanted to partner with him on making it better. Anna cried too, and I watched as the worry for her son began to lessen and eventually drift away.

“You ready for your big night?” Juan walked up behind me, his hands going to my hips, his lips to my bare shoulder. I moved my hair to the side as he took up residency in his favorite place. We danced like this, him behind me, holding me. We watched Alex sleep like this. It was often how he let me know he wanted me. I loved this position.

“Did you know Kyle is coming and bringing that girl with him?” Juan teased, biting my earlobe.

I spun in his arms. “She forgave him?”

Juan shrugged. “They might be coming as friends, but they are coming. I told them to bring their mom too and decided we’d just turn this into a big Christmas party. Also, you have a visitor,” Juan whispered, brushing his lips against mine.

I stiffened in his arms. The only people I wanted in my life were in this house or on their way.

“He’s downstairs, on the back patio.”

Panic surged forward. “Alex?”

“She’s safe, and I’ll be there if you want, or not. It’s your call.”

“I want you there.”

Juan kissed me. “Okay.”

* * *

Holden worea suit that was too big for his body. Not by much, but I had grown used to seeing Juan in his tailored suits. He paced the patio, near the fireplace, his long stride seemingly nervous with every step. He also had flowers with him.

Oh boy.

“Holden,” I said by way of greeting.

Juan had walked me out but hung back toward the bar, where string lights hung overhead, illuminating the glass bottles and different tumblers. He was close enough to hear, but not too close that Holden would feel threatened.

“Hey…wow, you look beautiful. You don’t even look like you just had a baby.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant. I had tiny stretch marks that had shown up after I gave birth, under my clothes, along my inner thighs, and on my sides. Juan kissed them every chance he got, but I very much felt as if I’d just had a baby. My body had changed significantly.

“What brought you out tonight?” I asked, trying to be polite.

He jolted forward, handing me the flowers. It brought him a few steps closer to me.

“Thank you.” I accepted them as gracefully as I could. I wanted to ask where the gift for his daughter was, maybe a pack of wipes or a little wad of cash to help out?

“Look…I wanted to…” He suddenly looked over at Juan, who was staring at Holden while he stirred his drink. “Does he have to be here?”

I laughed. “Yeah.”

He narrowed his eyes on Juan but finally moved on. “I wanted to come and tell you that I’m ready to step up. I want us to be a family.”

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