Salvaged (Embracing #2) Read online

  I sit in the SUV and cry while Liam talks to Ads. When I first started visiting Addie, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. How do you just forget about your best friend of twenty years? You don’t. I’ve learned to live without her and it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

  My cell phone vibrates. It’s Nikki. Perfect timing.

  “Hey, bitch bag. How are you?”

  I laugh because I know exactly what her comeback will be.

  “Hey, hoe bag. How are my girls doing?” she asks.

  My girls love their Aunt Nikki. She spoils them. She just sent them both Ohio State University cheerleading outfits. I’m still not sure if I should tell her that the baby might not be Liam’s.

  “They’re good. They’re with my and Liam’s moms right now. I had a doc appointment and we stopped by to see Addison. When are you coming out for wedding shopping?”

  “Everything okay? I worry about you after everything you’ve been through. How about next Friday? Will that weekend be good for you?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. Just a checkup. Everything has healed fine. Umm, yeah, that’s great actually, and I need a spa day for sure. Well, I will text you later this week. I love you, sweets!”

  I sigh. I miss her and really wish I could talk to her about this right now.

  “I love you, bitch face,” she replies.

  That’s how we know we love each other. We’ve always called each other names like that. Always will.

  I see Liam wiping his eyes and walking towards me. He doesn’t go to the driver side; he comes to my side and opens the door. I turn to face him. As he wraps his arms around my waist, I feel his body trembling. He is crying harder than I’ve ever seen him cry.

  “Baby, what is it? I know you miss her. I miss her too. She is with us. She is in our hearts, and both of our girls have a piece of her,” I say, pulling his face into mine.

  Hell, who am I fooling? A few minutes ago, I was crying just as much as Liam and probably will again before the night is over.

  “I don’t want to know. I don’t want the test done. He is mine, baby. I know he’s mine. You are mine, so he is mine. Please don’t take the test. I can’t stand the thought of you or baby bean being with him.”

  “Oh, Liam, is that what this is about?”

  “Yes and no. Damn it, I miss Addison, my parents, and hell, even your dad. Coming here always upsets me. What if we have the test done and he isn’t mine? Then what? I know what I want you to do, but do you know what you want? Do you want to be with him if baby bean is his?”

  “Look at me,” I say, grabbing his face. “Don’t you ever think I don’t want you. Yes, I fucked up. I had sex with Evan and fell in love with him, but I don’t love him the way I love you. You are my whole world, Liam Anthony Ellis. You hear me? You are it for me, always have been. This doesn’t change anything. If I do have the test done and the baby is his, then we will see if he will sign his rights over. If he doesn’t, we can leave the country so no one will find us if you want. You aren’t losing us, ever. Now, let’s get home. We have a bet, remember?” I take his bottom lip between my teeth.

  “We got this, baby. Team Ellis is in full effect.”

  “That’s my Liam. Yes, we have this! Now take me home so I can get a foot rub.”

  ***

  Liam won the damn bet, unless our mothers are hiding all the baby stuff they bought. So, two days later, we give the girls to my mom. When we’re finally back home and alone, I get ready to oil myself and my sexy man up. He’s lucky I’m pregnant or we would be playing twister while oiled up. Yeah, we did that once. I was terrified he broke his hip. Now he refuses to try that again.

  I haven’t told him yet, but I’m not taking the test. I know I should, just to know, but deep down I feel like baby bean is Liam’s. He has to be. Yes, there’s that doubt, but as of right now, all I want to do is prove that I love my husband and want to spend the rest of my life making him happy.

  “What are you doing in here? You hiding all that baby oil from me?” Liam says. “Damn, you are the sexiest woman on earth. Can we get pregnant again after baby bean is born? I love it when you’re pregnant and in my bed. I love you just the way you are. Now, satisfy your beast.”

  “Oh, so I can put the oil back, seeing as how you just said you love me the way I am. I can handle that, but can you handle what I’m going to do to you? These hormones have me wanting some kinky stuff. You down for that?”

  “Wait…um…did you say kinky? As in what kind of kinky? I know you can be a little bossy, but you aren’t a freak, beautiful. You’re too sweet, but hearing the word kinky roll off your tongue has the bulge in my pants ready to feel exactly what you want to do to me.”

  “Get your ass in my bed, mister. I want you to beg for this umm…sweet pussy. Oh hell, you’re right. I can’t talk like this. What I planned to say doesn’t sound good right now. So I’m all yours. Do as you please.”

  “That’s my girl. Now, you go lie down. I have something you’ll like, I promise.”

  Chapter Seven

  Liam

  I watch her walk to her side of the bed, letting her think I have the baby oil, but I don’t. I go to the kitchen and grab strawberries and chocolate sauce instead. When I come back to the bedroom, she’s lying on the bed. She’s on her back with one leg crossed over the other. I’m glad she’s all mine. No one will ever touch her again. I will do whatever it takes to make her happy, to make her never want any other man.

  “Hmm, you look so goddamn sexy lying in the middle of our bed like that. I can’t wait to get this oil all over you. The things I can do while you’re all oiled up…I’m hard already just looking at your body. Do you know that you are the sexiest woman ever and I’m the luckiest bastard alive?”

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. You know I’m not a fan of the oil. I’m the lucky one, Liam. My love, you have it all and any woman would love to be yours. I don’t deserve you at all. I’m very thankful that I have you. Oh, I also have a surprise for you.”

  She pulls a couple scarfs from under the pillow.

  “Uh…You planning on tying me up? Well, I think I can let you do your thing first and then I will do mine. It might get a little messy. Forget the baby oil. I have strawberries and chocolate sauce, which equals awesome sauce.”

  “Oh, that’s perfect. Now you lie back and let me take care of you for once.”

  She pushes me back, takes a scarf and ties it around each wrist. Then she ties me to the bed. I could get used to this. I can get loose if I really wanted to, but I’m not going to let her know that.

  She finishes tying me up and smiles as she eats a strawberry. Then she takes the chocolate and drizzles it all over me. Once she covers my body with chocolate, she gets up and gets another scarf.

  “Uh oh, what are you doing, love?” I ask. She smiles as she walks towards me with another scarf.

  “Tsk…tsk…tsk…No questions. I’m just having a little fun. Now relax and let me love you. I promise you’ll enjoy it and you will be begging me to do it again. Be still and let me do this.”

  She ties the scarf around my eyes. I can feel her straddle me. I’m so hard, and not knowing what she’s going to do makes me even more aroused. Jesus, I’m going to lose my shit quickly.

  She kisses my lips, then works her way down. She stops at my neck and nibbles all around it. She moves back up to my ear and whispers, “I’m going to make you so horny, you won’t be able to do anything but beg me to make love to you.”

  “Li, you already have me begging. The chocolate is kind of cold.”

  “Oh, trust me, I will clean up every drop of chocolate and make you nice and warm.”

  Then I feel her licking my chest. She licks all around my nipples and makes her way down to my abs. I can feel her tongue swirling all around. I can’t help but groan.

  “You like that, babe? Trust me, I’m just getting started.”

  She slides down my body. She takes my length in her hand and starts stroking
. Just as I groan again, I feel her lips wrap around me. God, I want to touch her. I lie there, thrusting in and out of her mouth. She makes a humming sound as she takes me deeper. I can feel the back of her throat opening up for me. Not being able to control myself, I’m getting ready to come.

  She replaces her lips with her wet heat. Ahh, she can’t take it any longer either. I want to rip my hands away from the bed. I need to hold her and make love to her just as I have wanted to all day.

  “Hmm, you feel so good inside of me. I cleaned up all the chocolate. I hope you liked it.”

  “Baby, please untie me. I need to touch you. I can’t take this anymore.”

  “You want to be untied? Then do it yourself, ’cause right now I’m not stopping what I’m doing. It feels so good. I don’t think I ever want to move from where I am.”

  I jerk one arm loose and uncover my eyes. Holy shit, she has chocolate all over her body. She’s riding me and rubbing her breast. Her blonde hair is in a messy bun on top of her head. She has her head tilted back and is enjoying the ride.

  Seeing her beautiful body, baby bump and all, covered in chocolate puts a smile on my face. “You look hotter than I imagined. Now it’s my turn.”

  I grab her waist and pull her down harder on me. I prop myself up on the bed while I pump in and out. With my other hand, I rub her breast, then lick her nipples. When I start biting them, her moans send me over the edge.

  “Oh, fuck…Liam, I think I just had the best orgasm ever. Please go faster.”

  She cries as I hold both sides of her waist and thrust as hard as I can. She’s screaming so loud. Hearing her call my name over and over, almost in a chant, has me so ready to fill her up.

  “Baby, your pussy feels so good. I love the way you squeeze it around my cock when you’re getting ready to come. You ready for it? You want it nice and hard?”

  “Yes, please give it to me. I need to come again. Please, Liam,” she begs. She moves faster, panting harder.

  “You. Are. Mine. Lila. You hear me? All mine. No one will ever be able to be inside of you ever again. Ever. Just me, baby. Tell me you only want me, always and forever.”

  “You, no one but you, always. No one will ever…hmm…Good God! No one, just you,” she says as we both come in unison. She falls on top of me, breathing heavily.

  “You sure do know how to make a girl scream. That was fucking hot as hell. We need to use that awesome sauce more often.” She licks the chocolate off of my face.

  “Yeah, we do. It wasn’t the chocolate, though. It was you. You’re so beautiful, you and your heart, mind, body, and soul. I think we need a shower now.”

  But she won’t move. She lies there, rubbing circles on my chest.

  “You should get a new tattoo. I want another one, but I better wait ’til I have baby bean.”

  “And just what kind of tattoo do you suggest I get? I guess I can have Ashton give me one?” Ashton works as a tattoo artist in his spare time. He’s covered in tattoos.

  “No, Ashton isn’t coming anywhere near your body with a tattoo gun. I’m not sure; maybe you should get something representing your time in the Army on the other arm or down the middle of your back.”

  She gets up and heads to the bathroom. I hear the water turn on and then I hear her crying. Jesus Christ, these hormones, I tell ya. I walk in the bathroom and find her sitting on the toilet, tears running down her face.

  I sit on the side of the bathtub. “What’s wrong, baby? Are you okay?”

  “Th-There isn’t any toilet paper on the roll and I can’t get up to get it.”

  “Li, that’s why you’re crying? Over the damn toilet paper? I thought something was wrong. There is a whole pack in the closet. I’ll grab it.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  I need a damn night out alone or with some friends. All this hormonal crying is depressing. I love my wife, but I hate that she cries so much.

  ***

  I need to go into the office and work some, which is okay with Li. She has big wedding plans with Nikki this weekend. When the two of them get ideas in their heads, they shop and plan ’til it’s perfect. So I get ready, leave my three beautiful sleeping girls in bed, and take a jog. Then I head to work.

  “Hey, Ashton. How’s things with you, man?” I ask as I enter my office. He follows behind me. I can tell something is wrong with him. He’s been quiet and standoffish lately.

  “Good morning. Not much, man. Just tired of the shit Christabella is doing. She is back to her old habits and you know I don’t mess with that shit and damn sure don’t want it around my son. I packed all of her shit, but she says she will change, so we’ll see. What’s going on with you and Li? Don’t tell me nothing because it’s written all over your face, man.”

  I sit down at my desk and run my hands through my hair. I sigh and look at my cousin. I hope I can trust him with what I’m going to tell him. I can’t keep it bottled in any longer; my mind is going crazy.

  “Lila cheated on me and the baby might not be mine,” I blurt.

  Ashton grabs the back of the chair and almost falls trying to sit down. “What the hell…Li cheated on you? Who in the hell would she cheat with?”

  “The one and only Evan Martin, of course. It happened when she was in New York City. It also happens that she had just stopped taking her pills because we wanted another baby. I guess when she was on her little trip she needed to…Well, you know the rest. It makes me so damn sick to know he had his hands all over my wife, and then to have his bare dick inside of her…It took everything I had at the hospital not to break his neck. Of course, now that she’s confirmed it, he will know that I know when I see him. That’s if I ever do.”

  “Damn dude, that’s fucked up. I don’t know what to say. I never thought she would be the type to do that and to do that to you. I know when you were missing, she and Evan were really close. I know that she had feelings for him and was engaged to him. Does anyone else know?”

  “Nope, just you. I know I can trust you not to say a word. My mind has been all sorts of fucked up. Get this; it wasn’t the first time. She slept with him when she went back to NYU to withdraw, then in the guest house, while we were all in the main house, the day of her father’s memorial. The last time was five months ago, when she went to Heather’s wedding.”

  I pause to gather my words. “I just don’t get it. What the fuck is so special about him? She says she loves him, but not the way she loves me. I just need a break. I need a guy’s night out. I love my wife and I pray to God that’s my son, but I’m so tired. I have all this shit running through my mind. I also need to figure out what we are going to do about getting this investigation service going. I’m ready to be distracted and a new job will do just that.”

  “You’re stronger than I am, brother. I can’t believe she would do all that shit to you, though. But in all honesty, man, she was a confused basket case while you were gone. I know you’re back now and she should have broken all ties with that fucker.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Why don’t we go out for some drinks tonight? There’s this new bar—well, a strip club—that I heard was a nice hang out spot. About the new business, I’m ready. I’ll see what’s up with our man, Kade, and see if he is still down.”

  “You want me to go to a damn strip club? It isn’t the one you met your wife at, is it?”

  “Hell no, this is a new one. No one except you and Eric know that’s how I met her. Please never tell Li or anyone else. Can you imagine what my parents would say? They’re already giving me hell because I invested in Toom’s tattoo shop; I now own half. And if they found out I married a stripper I knocked up? I would definitely be disowned.”

  “Ha, I still can’t believe she suckered you into marrying her ass, but you got a wonderful son out of it.”

  I pat my cousin on the shoulder. He’s a good man. His wife is a little on the crazy side, but he is a good father and takes great care of his son, AJ.

  “All right man, I need to get some work done,�
� I say. “Text me the details and I will meet you tonight.”

  Ashton goes to his office. I call Li to check on her and the girls. She isn’t going to work today. I really wish she would just take time off, but she’s one of the top lawyers at her firm.

  The work day actually goes pretty quickly. Lila and the girls brought me lunch. I told her I was going out with Ashton, but she doesn’t question me at all. Hell, I rarely go out anyway. Well, without her, that is. I thought our life was perfect. I just don’t get why the hell she did what she did. It runs through my mind constantly.

  ***

  Ashton sent me a text with the name and address of The Peephole. What a name for a strip club. Lila is out with her mom and the girls. I text her to tell her I’m having drinks with Ashton. She still doesn’t question me. I never keep secrets from her. Apparently, she keeps secrets from me, though. I would never do anything to jeopardize our family. I love that woman more than any goddamn thing in this world. I’ll tell her it’s a strip club tomorrow.

  I’m supposed to meet Ashton in the parking lot on the left side of the building. I arrive there a little early, so I lean up against my car to wait for Ashton. This place is huge; it’s in the upper class area for sure. I’ve never seen a strip joint look this nice anywhere, not even in Vegas. I started to text Li and tell her where I am, but I let my stubbornness kick in and decide not to.

  I really hope she is truly done with Evan. Deep down, I wonder if she gets the opportunity to be with Evan again, will she? I know I shouldn’t think like that, but damn, she fucks him every time she sees him.

  I need a strong, stiff drink. I just need to let loose. I see Ashton’s car pull up, but he isn’t driving. I look closer and see Christabella is behind the wheel. What the hell? Is he bringing her? Fortunately, it looks like she is just dropping him off.