Entwined Fates: Dominating Miya (16 page)

“Guess you forgot about lunch, huh, pumpkin?” Marcone asked, but Alex detected just a slight hint of amusement that surprised him.

She winced. “Yeah, sorry.”

“What’s going on in here?” Hayden asked as he and Christian stepped into the room as well. “What the hell?”

“Oh, jeez,” Miya groaned.

Hayden’s wife, Cara, came in too and gasped at the two of them sitting on Miya’s bed, Miya struggling to hold her robe closed, Alex with his shirt off.

“Oh,” Cara said, then covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

Alex sighed and shook his head. This was so not good.

“You son of a bitch,” Hayden snarled and lunged for Alex.

“No!” Miya yelled.

Alex dodged Hayden, but when he turned to face him, Hayden’s fist connected with Alex’s jaw, knocking him back slightly.

“Damn it, Hayden!” Alex growled.

“Hayden, you guys are friends!” Miya snapped. “Dad, do something.”

“All right,” Marcone bellowed as he shoved Hayden aside. “That’s enough.”

Christian started for Alex as well, but Sidious grabbed his shirt lapel and jerked him back. “That goes for you too. Out. All of you.” Miya started to climb from the bed, but her dad pushed her back down. “Except you.”

“Look, Marcone—” Alex started.

“I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

MIYA SHOOK HER head at Alex, and he nodded, following the other guys out the door.

“Keep them in line, Cara. Don’t let them kill him,” Sidious called.

“Ha, ha. Real funny, Marcone,” Alex growled.

Miya adjusted her robe and waited.

“This is awkward,” her dad murmured.

Miya rolled her eyes, but she could feel the hot flush in her cheeks. God, this was embarrassing—her dad catching her like that with Alex.

“Dad, I’m not some teenager you caught in her room with her boyfriend.”

“I know you’re not, Miya. And truthfully, I shouldn’t be surprised.”

She frowned up at him. “Excuse me?”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Never noticed you were interested, though.”

Her face heated again. “Neither did he, until I seduced him.”

Sidious sighed. “Was that this morning?”

“No. This past weekend. I went—”

Her father winced. “Miya. Don’t. Seriously.”

Her face heated even more if that were possible. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Her dad walked over and took her hand in his, studying the ring Alex had given her. “Dorn?” he asked.

She nodded.

“At least he has good taste,” Sidious mumbled, making Miya smile. “In jewelry and women.”

Her smile widened. “I love him, Daddy.”

“Miya, you’re an adult. What you do with your life is your decision. I trust your judgment. I know Dorn’s a good man. The whole thing just caught me by surprise. Seeing one of the owners of Palivan… Never mind.” He dropped her hand and headed for the door. “I don’t even want to go there,” he added drily.

Miya chuckled softly at her dad. She followed him out the door where a very pregnant Cara stood in the center of the room, her arms outstretched. Pinned against the wall on one side of the room were Christian and Hayden. Alex was pinned on the other side. All three were held in place by Cara’s telekinetic ability.

“They went at each other again,” Cara drawled.

Sidious snickered. “You’re pretty handy to have around, Cara.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and dropped her arms, releasing her hold on the men.

Hayden walked behind her and snarled in her ear. “Just wait till I get you home, woman.”

Miya had to fight her own smile as Cara teased her husband by going, “Oooh.”

She didn’t miss the spark of amusement in Hayden’s eyes or the tiny twitch of his lips as he stared at the wife he adored.

“You,” Sidious said in a menacing voice toward Alex.

“Dad,” Miya chastised as her attention returned to her father.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Miya held her breath as her dad walked over and stared Alex square in the eye. Not many men were as tall and broad as her dad, but Alex came pretty close, and he also stood his ground, holding his own with her father. Miya had to bite back a smile at just how sexy he looked doing it too.

“Hurt her and I’ll break your neck,” Sidious growled.

“Not gonna happen,” Alex replied firmly.

“Good.” Sidious patted Alex’s cheek hard enough to make a loud noise but not hard enough to hurt. Alex scowled. “By the way, you’re on your own with the boys. And next time, lock up.” Sidious walked toward the door. “I’m headed to the bar. I need a damn drink to get that image out of my head.”

“Very funny, Dad,” Miya called. She turned to glare at her brothers. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Come on, little bit,” Christian said. “We just want—”

Miya held up her hand. “I don’t want to hear it. And stop calling me little bit! Both of you need to stop treating me like a child who needs protecting. I’m sick of it. Alex is your friend, for crying out loud,” she snapped.

“Yeah, but—” Hayden began, but Miya cut him off.

“No buts! Alex asked me to marry him. I said yes.” She held out her hand and smiled as they stared wide-eyed at the ring. Her smile faded, and her eyes narrowed. “Deal with it and play nice.”

She glanced over at Alex. He stood against the wall, fighting the adorable smile that never failed to make her weak in the knees.

“What’s it gonna be, guys? Kick my ass or what?” Alex drawled.

Both Hayden and Christian looked over at Miya as though they were afraid to do anything for fear of disappointing her.

“Are you happy, Miya?” Hayden asked.

“Yes. Very,” she said softly, before turning to smile at Alex.

He winked, making her cheeks blush warmly.

Christian sighed and stared over at Alex. “I guess if she’s going to be with a Dom, I would rather it be you than some other jerk out there.”

Alex’s lips twitched. “I appreciate that.”

“Wait. What?” Hayden said as he stared in surprise at Alex.

Christian winced at the anger that popped onto Hayden’s face. “Ah, crap. I forgot you didn’t know that.”

“I think I’ll go join Dad for that drink,” Hayden growled.

“Me too,” Christian said with a tired sigh.

“Me three,” Cara said as she smiled at Miya and placed her hand against her stomach. “At least a nonalcoholic one, anyway.”

Cara glanced over at Alex, who said softly, “Thank you, Cara.”

“My pleasure.”

Hayden frowned at Cara as she walked past him out the door. “What does he mean thank you? Did you have something to do with this?” Cara didn’t answer. “Cara,” Hayden yelled as he shut the door, making Miya laugh.

Alex chuckled as well. “She keeps him on his toes, doesn’t she?”

“That she does. And I’ve never seen Hayden happier.”

Alex strolled toward Miya with a heated look in his eyes that made her go weak in the knees. “Do you suppose they’ll ever forgive me?”

“I wouldn’t worry about them,” she murmured.

Alex stood before her, and Miya couldn’t help but admire his smooth, wide chest and firm stomach. She reached out and trailed her finger down his abs, then hooked it behind the button of his slacks.

“I think you have something else you need to worry about.”

“And what’s that, angel?”

He leaned down and softly kissed the side of her neck, making her stomach flutter madly. He tugged at the tie of her robe, and it fell open, allowing him to slide his hands inside and around her waist.

He bit at the sensitive spot below her ear. She gasped as sharp tingles worked their way up her spine. “Taking care of me.”

“That’s a definite,” he drawled as he pushed her backward into the bedroom.

The bedroom door slammed, and Alex slid the lock slid loudly into place, making Miya giggle.

Epilogue

Miya knocked softly before sticking her head into Alex’s office door. “Busy?” she asked, as soon as she spotted him behind his desk.

He looked up and smiled. “Perfect timing. I’m all done.”

He set his computer aside and stood. Miya smiled softly as she walked into the room and set her bag on the floor by his desk. She doubted he would ever truly be done, but he always put it aside when she came in, giving her his full attention.

Just like her dad did. Alex was a lot like her dad, and that made her smile.

As he walked around the desk, Alex leaned down and tugged at the edge of the bag with the tip of his finger. “What’s in the bag?”

She swatted his hand. “That’s not for you.”

He stood and looked down at her with that raised eyebrow that sent heat to every part of her body. “Did you just slap me?”

“It’s my wedding dress. You can’t see that,” she argued.

Alex’s lips twitched slightly as he leaned his hips against the edge of his desk and stretched his legs out. “Oh, I see. I don’t get any input?”

“No, but I think you’ll like it.”

Alex grasped her hands and tugged her toward him. She had to straddle his legs, but his lowered position put them more at eye level. With their hands clasped at her side, he kissed her nose. “Miya, you could walk down the aisle naked, and I would happy.”

“Ah, that’s sweet,” she said smiling, but then her smile faded. “But no.”

“Chicken,” Alex said with a chuckle. “And speaking of chicken. I worked through lunch, so I’m starving. How about dinner?”

“Dinner sounds good, but I thought you and Cara were working through that legislation this afternoon during lunch.”

“We were, but…she got on my nerves.”

Miya sent him a scathing look. “Alex, she’s pregnant.”

“Yeah, and bitchy as hell. I told her, Cara, I love you, but you gotta go before I kill you.”

Miya giggled. “Oh, Alex. You didn’t.”

He nodded, a look on his face a cross between guilty and amused. “She’s so miserable. I called Hayden to come and get her and finished up everything by myself.”

Cara had only two weeks left. Miya just hoped she didn’t go into labor at her and Alex’s wedding this weekend on Daego. But if she did, the baby wouldn’t be the first one born at the lake house.

“That also reminds me,” Alex drawled as his thumbs rubbed over the backs of her hands.

“What?”

“Babies are something we haven’t discussed yet.”

Miya narrowed her eyes at him. “If I recall, you don’t leave me a whole lot of time for discussion, Chancellor.”

Alex’s lips spread into a wicked grin. “True enough. So let’s discuss it now.”

“Okay,” she said, then took a deep breath. “I want kids.”

His expression was unreadable. “And how many were you thinking?”

She shrugged. “Two?”

“I never had brothers and sisters growing up. Four,” Alex countered.

Miya grinned. “Three.”

Alex pursed his lips and nodded. “I’m good with three, but we leave the door open for more. Fair enough?”

She nodded. “Fair enough.”

Alex laughed and tugged on her hands so she landed against his chest. He wrapped his arm around her, pinning her wrists at her lower back. He brought his lips close to hers and whispered, “Say you love me.”

She grinned. “You love me.”

He nipped sharply at her lip, making her giggle. “Think you’re funny, don’t you? Are you really going to make me pull rank…sub?”

“I love you, Sir,” she whispered.

Alex smiled and rubbed the tip of his nose across hers. “And I love you, my sexy little masochist,” he murmured just before covering her mouth with his.

They’d barely gotten into the kiss when her father cleared his throat behind them. Miya and Alex both turned to look at him as he leaned casually against the door frame.

Alex sighed and released her wrists, allowing her to bring her arms around and push slightly away from Alex. Even though her father knew they were engaged, it still made her face flush whenever he caught them kissing.

“Marcone,” Alex said drily. “As always, your timing is impeccable.”

Her father chuckled. “Sorry about that.”

“Sure you are,” Alex drawled, but amusement lit up his eyes.

He glanced toward his daughter. “Your mother and a couple of guests have just arrived on Rhinari and would like to know if the two of you are available for dinner?”

“Are you paying?” Alex teased.

Marcone snorted. “Don’t I always?”

Miya frowned. “Who’s the—”

Her cousin Jacquelyn stuck her head around the door and smiled. “Me.”

Miya screamed and ran to hug her cousin. Alex and her father chuckled. Jacquelyn’s fiancé, Haydrien, stepped around them and entered the room. “Hey, Alex.”

“Haydrien,” Alex said with a smile as he reached out to shake Haydrien’s hand.

Miya’s eyes widened. “You guys know each other?”

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

“From where?”

Alex and Haydrien shared a grin; then Alex raised his hand and scratched at his lip. “Purgatory.”

Miya leaned over and whispered in Jack’s ear. “You and I have to talk.”

Jack giggled and wrapped her arm around Miya. “Definitely.”

“The two of you can do that later. Right now, your mother is waiting for us at the restaurant with Chris and Sharna, so let’s go,” her father said as he ushered them out of the room.

Turning, she waited for Alex to catch up. He took her hand in his and lifted it his mouth, placing a soft kiss on the back of her hand. “Happy, angel?”

“Yes,” she said.

“That’s good,” he drawled close to her ear. “Because I would hate to have to flog you till you were.”

Miya laughed. “Oh, well. In that case. No. I’m not happy. At all.”

Alex chuckled and slapped her on the ass, making her yelp as she followed her father and cousin into the elevator.

“All right, children. Don’t make me separate the two of you,” her father drawled as the elevator doors shut.

Alex wrapped his arm around Miya’s shoulder, pulling her back flush against his chest. “Just try it, old man.”

“Ah, should I move to the other side of the elevator?” Haydrien drawled. “I do not want to be in the middle of this one.”

“That’s all right,” Sidious purred. “I have ways of getting even that don’t involve violence.” He glanced over his shoulder at Alex. “Isn’t that right? Boy.”