Yours Book 3: Life Mastered (10 page)

chapter seventeen

Safe

Nick

I am going crazy as I pace the living room. There are men all around me, members of my security team, Luke, Noah, Wyatt, Ryan, Braxton, Craig, Andrew, and George. Everyone rushed over as soon as the news that my wife was almost run down by a car got out.

This motherfucker tried to hurt my baby. No, fuck that all of my babies. We were going to find out the babies’ sex today. I have been looking forward to it.

I know I have been distant, and Sephora has been frustrated with me, but I have so much shit on my mind, and I don’t want to bring her into it. For the last month, I have been trying to track the shadow trail that this phantom has left.

We still can’t figure out how he is doing all of this. Everyone we have spoken to swears to my face they dealt with me when conducting business, completing transactions and providing services. The genuine confusion on their faces is baffling.

They have all greeted me as if we have met before when I have never conducted business with any of them. I’ve never met them before showing up to find out what the fuck has been going on.

It has sucked up all my time, and I haven’t been that much of a husband to my wife. So when I was sitting in the middle of yet another baffling meeting and my wife called me frantic about a letter and then I hear all hell break loose on the other end of the phone I thought I was dying.

My heart literally stopped. I am still questioning whether or not it has started up again. I feel helpless as I pace the floor waiting for my wife to walk through the door.

I wanted to go to her, but Kevin and his team advised me to let Winston get her home safely. It has only been twenty minutes since I arrived home, but that is still twenty minutes before Sephora and twenty minutes too long.

I run my hand through my hair and growl in frustration again. I think I have done so every twenty seconds. At this rate, I’ll be bald by the time Sephora walks through that door.

I stop mid-pace when voices travel from the front of the house. I recognize one as Luke demanding answers. I hadn’t even noticed he is no longer in the room with me.

Before I can head in that direction, a frazzled looking Sephora stumbles into the room. I rush to her and pull her into my arms. I hold onto her as tight as I dare. I breathe her in and thank God that she is real.

When I release her, I cup her face in both my hands to look her over. Her eyes are wide and wild, and her bottom lip is trembling, but I can tell she is trying to hold it together.

I run my hands down her neck, over her shoulders and down her arms checking for scrapes or bruises. When I find none, I place my hands on her belly needing to connect with my wife and children all at once. That is when it occurs to me that something is out of place.

My eyes bounce over Sephora’s hair taking it in. She looks fucking gorgeous. My innocent little butterfly is gone. She is nowhere in sight. The woman standing before is edgy, hot as hell and new.

I palm the back of her neck and devour her lips. I groan into her mouth as she gasps and opens for me. It has been too long since I have had her since we have kissed like this. I deepen the kiss and place my free hand on the small of her back bringing her in closer to me.

I have forgotten about everyone else and that there is a room full of people surrounding us. My hand slides down and cups her lush ass that has only gotten fuller with the pregnancy. My erection is poking her in the belly as I hold her to me.

I only break the kiss when I hear throats start to clear around us reminding me we are not alone. I almost lost my wife today. Before I can do anything else, I need to make love to her. I need to feel her wrapped around me.

I have been avoiding intimacy because I have felt like I have failed her. I have brought her into a mess that I haven’t even been able to wrap my own mind around, but I need her now. I can no longer deny us what we need.

I wrap my hand around her wrist and pull her from the room heading for the rooftop. It is the only place that we can have some privacy right now. The kind of privacy I need to make her scream for me. I want to make love to my wife and then give her a good fucking.

I push open the sliding glass doors, and we walk out on the roof. I shut the door behind us and lead Sephora over to a chaise lounge. I sit on the side of the lounger and pull her in between my legs. A part of me notes that she still hasn’t said a word. I know she must still be in shock from the events that have happened, but I am going to make that all better.

“Are you okay, Baby,” I ask as I run my hands up her calves and under her dress. I caress her soft skin, up and down, making her shiver.

“They…I…there was shooting, and a car. They tried to hurt our babies,” Sephora says after blinking a few times. It is as if she is talking to herself trying to rationalize what just happened.

“I know, Sweetheart. I’m going to fix it,” I reassure her as I pull her panties from under her sundress.

I lift her left foot, removing her foot from the flip-flop then the thin fabric of her lacy panties. I love the fact that she still wears sexy lingerie even with her growing belly. I remove the other shoe and toss her panties aside when I get them from around her ankle.

I pull her down to straddle my lap. My eyes travel over her hair once again, taking in her hot as fuck new look. I push a hand into the back of the shorter hairs and lock my fingers into them.

“I love this,” I say as I bring her face close to mine. “You look so gorgeous. So fucking sexy. My sweet little Sephora is all gone,” I rasp and nip her bottom lip. “I like this woman she has become.”

I finger the right side of her hair behind her ear. I watch her eyes search my face. I keep my eyes locked on hers, and I reach between us to release my aching cock.

Sephora’s eyes fill with lust as she licks her lips. Shit, I need inside her. It is the only way my heart and mind will allow me to acknowledge she is really here; she is really safe.

I nod my head at her, and she takes it for the queue it is. Sephora moves her hips forward and sinks down onto my cock as I hold it at the base. I move my hand from my cock to her waist as we both cry out.

She feels so good, just what I need. I reach to bunch her dress up around her waist so I can watch as she rides me. Her belly is covering where we are joined, but it is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.

I tug the hand full of her hair back, causing her back to bow and her full breasts to push forward into my face. I bend my head to kiss the top of her mounds. First the right and then the left.

Sephora has already broken into a sweat. I run my tongue across her breasts to capture the salty moisture. I groan when her pussy clenches around me in response.

I can feel my cock swelling inside of her. I am so turned on. I am in awe of how much I love her with short hair. I love her long locks and the shy way she used to hide behind it, but this new look has my cock swollen in a new way.

“Yes, Baby, ride that cock,” I grunt. “I missed this pussy so much.”

“Nick, I want you,” Sephora moans loudly, despite me already being inside of her but I know what she means. It isn’t enough. Her baby bump isn’t allowing us to be as close as I need to be to her.

I release her hair and cup her face as I pull it to me to kiss her deeply. She whimpers in my mouth as I taste every corner and cavern in her sweet, warm, wet mouth. Her pussy is so wet and tight. I am at last in my favorite place, but I want to drown even more.

I grunt when Sephora lifts up and off of my shaft. She drops to her knees before me as best she can before I can protest she has me in her mouth. My head falls back and the air whooshes from my lips as she sucks me deep.

The sky has never seemed more beautiful than it does at this moment. The blues mixing with the orange and purple seem ethereal as Sephora takes me to heavenly places with her mouth.

“
Fuck
,” I hiss.

Sephora just hums around me and continues to suck on me. I lean back on my palms on the lounger and let her have her way. My eyes roll back and I shut them as Sephora’s ministration becomes more vigorous. I place my hand back in her hair and guide her up and down my shaft. My toes are curling in my shoes.

Sephora reaches for my slacks and pulls them further down my hips. I lift up to help her get them down to my ankles. I shudder when she flicks her tongue over the tip.

I open my eyes and look down at her. I nearly come on the spot when my eyes meet her golden-grey orbs. The look she is giving me through her lashes sends tingles up my spine. Seeing her mouth full of me and those gorgeous full lips wrapped around me is nearly too much.

“Yes,” I groan. “Just like that. Yes.”

It has been too long since I have come inside of her and I don’t want the first time to be in her mouth. I tighten my grip to halt her motion as she deep throats me. I have to gulp down a healthy amount of air to keep from exploding.

Sephora releases me with a pop, my precum and her saliva mixed are hanging from her lip. It is some seriously sexy shit when she licks it from her lip and moans. I lift a brow at her and smirk.

“Come here,” I command huskily. I release my hold on her hair.

My wife lifts to her feet, using my thighs to help push her up. Leaning forward I reach for the hem of her dress and pull it up over her head. I toss it away and reach for her hips. Sliding my hands up her sides, I place kisses along her belly.

“Nick,” she giggles. Her belly has become so sensitive as it has begun to stretch more and more. A smile curls my lips as I keep them pressed against her soft flesh.

I pull away to look up at her and reach to pull one cup of her bra down. Her full breast bounces free and I lick my lips. I gently pull her forward by her waist and flick my tongue over her protruding nipple.

Sucking the chocolate tip into my mouth, I get lost in her taste. I slip my fingers between her legs to feel her soaked swollen lips. My cock jerks wanting to be the one to feel her hot, wet, warmth. I don’t disagree with him.

Pulling away, I release the buttons on my cuffs and pull my shirt over my head without bothering with the buttons. I turn Sephora until her back faces me. Using her curvy hips, I guide her back onto my waiting member. Once she is seated on me, I wrap my arms around her waist, pressing my chest to her back.

This is what I needed, skin to skin. Her warm body to my warm body. Sephora cries out my name as she starts to ride me. I thrust up into her, reaching for her breasts. I pull down the other cup to have access to both heavy globes.

“This is what I needed,” I hiss in her ear as her head falls back onto my shoulder.

“I need you too,” she gasps.

“I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you. I’m going to make this all right again,” I groan out.

Our pace isn’t frantic; it isn’t too hard. It is just what we both need. Her tight, wet pussy on my cock, milking it for everything it is worth. I can’t comprehend how I have stayed away for this long. I chide myself for letting my darkness creep out and blind me to the fact that my actions were selfish and hurting the woman I love, more than protecting her.

“I’m so close, Nick,” She chimes, almost singing.

I drop one of my hands to her belly as she grinds her hips into me. I bury my face into her neck and suck on it. I can feel we are going to go over together. She is so slick, and I can feel her rippling around my swelling flesh.

I release her neck from my mouth and press my forehead to the center of her back, and that’s when I feel it. The other night Sephora was ecstatic when she felt the babies move, but when I tried to feel them nothing happened. I was annoyed that I couldn’t sit and wait with her. I had to go out for a late meeting with Joe Black’s FBI connection.

However, right now. I can feel my little royals moving inside her belly. I am inside my queen, and my future is living inside of her as well, and I can feel them. All types of emotions well up inside me.

Then I feel it again. I am too choked up to say anything. It hits me hard that I am almost lost all three of the people that mean the most to me in the world. Once again, my unborn children were almost snatched from me.

I feel Sephora’s hand cover mine on her belly. When I lift my head, she is looking over her shoulder at me and her eyes reflect mine with unshed tears. Words aren’t needed at this moment. Our souls are speaking and she knows exactly how I feel.

Both of our lips part and unspoken cries of ecstasy escape our lips. They are soundless, but they say all that needs to be said as we climax as one. Sephora sags back against my chest and I capture her lips. I let everything I feel pour out into her.

“I love you,” I murmur into her mouth.

“I love you too,” she sighs. “Don’t do that to me anymore, Nick. Don’t push me out.”

“I won’t,” I reassure her. “I promise from here on out I will keep your heart, body, mind and soul safe. No more shutting you out.”

chapter Eighteen

Introductions…

Sephora

Nick redresses me after we make love once more on the roof top. Once he has both our clothing back in place he leads me back to the main living room where everyone had been gathered when I arrived home.

This time, I notice that my mom, Ettie, Kimmie, and Lilla have arrived as well. I am a bit thrown by the severe look of concern on my mother’s face. I also notice a few new additions, one of which I believe is my savior from earlier.

He is surely big enough to be. My eyes bounce between him and Wyatt, who he is standing next to, and they can be twins. At least if not for the fact that when he turns his eyes on me, they are a noticeable green, not the signature golden color the Blacks are known for.

He smiles at me and gives me a wink. “Good to see you safe, Lass,” he says. The Irish accent pours from his mouth thick and heavy.

“Sephora, I should introduce you to Cole. He is the one that saved your life today,” Nick says.

Cole moves towards us and waves his hand at Nick. He pulls me into a bear hug. “Everyone calls me Brooklyn. You’ll do the same,” he says as he places me back on my feet.

I look at him then look at Wyatt, then back at him before turning to look at Noah. Brooklyn’s laugh booms through the room. He points to himself and then circles his finger at Wyatt and his brothers.

“Aye, we look alike, we do. We are cousins. They’re all my little cousins,” Brooklyn says in response to my questioning assessment.

“Oh, sorry,” I say and blush when I realize I am being rude. “It’s nice to meet you and thank you so much for saving me.”

“No thanks needed just doing my part,” Brooklyn shrugs.

“Did you find the car, do we know who it was registered to?” Nick asks as he wraps a possessive arm around my waist.

Ryan snorts and speaks up first. “Yeah, we found out alright. Same as everything else. The car was registered to you,” Ryan replies and I wrinkle my brows in confusion.

“Son of a bitch,” Nick growls beside me.

“It was purchased today through one of the dummy companies,” Kevin speaks up with a frown.

Nick tugs a hand through his hair. “I don’t understand how the fuck this is happening.”

“Nick, what’s going on,” I ask as I look up at him confused.

He looks down at me, and I can see the war that is going on behind his eyes. I press my lips at him and dare him to shut me out again. He sighs heavily and nods at whatever thoughts he is having.

“Ry, can you explain what’s been going on to Sephora,” Nick says tightly.

“Yeah,” Ry says from his perch on the couch next to Felix who is clicking away on a laptop. “This phantom guy, it's like he has somehow cloned Nick. He is hiding so well because he is somehow doing everything as Nick.”

“It’s crazy,” Braxton chimes in. “He has businesses, accounts, properties, everything, you name it, all in Nick’s identity.”

“Everyone we talk to swears it is me. They swear up and down that I am the one that they are dealing or have dealt with,” Nick snarls.

I look up at him, but he is looking up at the ceiling with his jaw tight. Suddenly, it is like a brick hits me. All of the pieces finally fit together. I know what I have been missing.

“Oh shit,” I blurt out and Nick’s head whips in my direction. “Holy shit,” I mutter again.

“What,” Nick asks as he searches my face.

“It’s been in my face all along. I knew it. Every time I looked at that file, it was staring me in the face. I couldn’t place what it was at first, but it was nagging at me. I would stare for hours, unconsciously, not knowing why.

“Kevin, do you still have that encrypted file?” I ask moving towards Kevin and his laptop.

“Yeah, it's right here,” Kevin replies as he pulls up the file.

“Can someone get a hook up to the big screen,” I ask.

Meanwhile, I look at the file on Kevin’s screen and point out what I need him to pull up. Kevin clicks into the sub-file I am looking for, and I gasp. What was just an itch before is so clear now.

“Oh my God, the letter,” I murmur. “But…”

“Sephora, what are you babbling about. What did you find,” Nick asks in frustration.

“Oh, sorry,” I say as I continue to piece things together. I point to the mounted TV screen as the image comes up. “You’re my husband. I know you. I know your face. We were never looking for a stranger, not in a sense. Every time I looked at this file, there was something about this picture. I would stare at it for hours wondering why you looked so off to me.

“It’s the eyes. Your eyes have never been so… distant…sad…I don’t know… cold. Not even in the boardroom. You don’t have this type of look in you. Yeah, you have had sadness in your eyes, but not like his. The letter I got said something about having to stop you and him, for the babies. Stopping you both before you destroy the only family you have left or something like that.”

I shake my head as I get my thoughts in order. “They weren’t talking about the babies and me. That’s not you in that picture. That’s him, that the one who is living as you. Kimmie and I found some accounts and things that we couldn’t reconcile when we first started digging.

“I couldn’t come to you about them because I knew you wouldn’t want me to help. I followed the trail back to Ivana. You said she was homeless up until a year before she met you. You also said that you stopped tracing the money trail back then because of her and your parents’ death and the fact that you had to let it go.

“Well, I couldn’t let it go. This guy, whoever he is, has been pretty clean all these years, but Ivana slipped up once. I don’t know if she did it on purpose or not but she goofed big time.

“She had some things delivered to the apartment she was staying when you guys first met, not that long after you started dating from what I gathered. Two of the items were personalized. One to a Gavin the other to a Rick. When I found the two names, I traced everything I could as far as a year back from when you met her.

“I’m so stupid. I dismiss that photo,” I say to myself. “I thought she was smiling up at you. Oh my God!”

“Baby, what,” Nick demands as he cups my face. He searches my eyes as it all hits me.

“Kimmie’s neighbor, the one I ran into and broke my phone. He was in that photo. He was at the hospital when Lilla was born,” I gasp.

“What,” Luke roars.

“I ran right into him again. I thought he looked familiar, but his hair was different and his eyes. They were blue the first time I ran into him. In the hospital, I was thrown off because they were blue-green.

“In the picture, the one with Ivana and the Nick lookalike, he was in it too. I could only see his profile, but he was in the picture with them. Amy’s assistant said that the man who dropped the letter off had dreamy blue-green eyes,” I explain.

“Holy shit, Gavin Carbon, and Rick Carbon,” Felix exclaims as he hacks away feverishly at his laptop. “This shit is crazy, they just disappear…nine years ago, they just fell off the map.”

“Wow, this motherfucker looks just like you,” Braxton says in awe.

Nick and Luke go over to look over Felix’s shoulder. There is a scowl on both of their faces. Nick looks back at the picture on the big screen, and I can see the wheels turning as rage builds.

“He was right in our faces. We talked to him,” Nick snarls at Luke. “That’s where I recognized his voice from. It was different hearing it in person, and I was distracted by looking for Sephora.”

“I know man, that’s probably why he was so nervous and mumbling, but we had no idea. Fuck, why was he living next door to Kimmie,” Lucian growls pulling a hand down his face.

“But which one wrote the letter,” I ask, thinking out loud.

“I don’t give a fuck,” Nick snarls. “They have both been fucking with my life.”

“But why,” Lucian asks shaking his head. “Why have they been fucking with all of our lives?”

“Because all of your fathers made mistakes. All except Joe,” my mother speaks up with a trembling voice. “Wyatt, you became involved by default.”