No Regrets: Jani Kay (Firebird Trilogy Book 2) (25 page)

I leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped me with her palm against my chest. My heart beat so rapidly that she had to feel it thundering against her hand. Okay, so she wanted to talk first before we made out. I could deal with that.

Her breath hitched. “But that’s all I can give you, Alain. My heart belongs to Maxwell. I can give you friendship and support, no more. The change in your circumstances hasn’t changed anything for me. I can't go to France with you because my place is with Maxwell.”

She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs away from me. My mouth dropped open. I didn’t see it coming. I was so sure she’d choose me. Maxwell was a temporary rebound option. She couldn’t be serious.

“Cherie, I can't believe what you’re saying. You don’t need to protect me any longer. I want you by my side—”

“Alain. Dammit, listen to me. All this time I've been ignoring my true feelings for Maxwell. I've run away, denying how strong they were, my mind at war with my heart. But my gut, it always knew that Max was the one. And now, I know with absolute certainty; it's easy for me to choose my path forward. It will always be the one that runs alongside Maxwell’s.”

Merde
. I couldn’t argue with this, even though it wasn’t anything close to what I wanted to hear her say.

“So this is it? Your final decision?” I felt numb, my world falling over.

“Yes. After today, we won’t talk about this again. I hope you can accept that and move on. Someone out there is waiting to make her very happy. I wish you that, Alain. In spite of how you hurt me, I’m over it because I found what I truly wanted...needed...in the process.”

The sincerity and honesty in her voice convinced me that this was true. It was too late for me. There wouldn’t be an
us
. My heart shredded, mourning the loss of what could have been if I hadn’t made one stupid mistake.

“I wish you happiness, Rebecca, but if Grant breaks your heart, I’ll have to kick his ass. Make him pay in the
worst
way possible.” If I laid my hands on him at that moment, I’d rip his fucking head off. He’d stolen my dream woman from under my nose. I wanted him to die a slow and painful death.

Although I was perfectly serious, an amused smile twitched her lips. “I’ll hold you to that—as a friend, Alain.” She cleared her throat. “Um...there’s one more thing we need to talk about.”

My head jerked up. What more was there possibly to say?

“You’ve changed your mind already?” Humor was the only way to walk out of here without making a fool of myself. She smiled at my weak attempt, but her eyes remained serious.

Her hands twisted together on her lap. “I have a favor to ask. I hope you will say yes.”

“Anything for you, cherie, you know that.”

“Don’t be so quick to agree. You don’t know what it is yet. But...it's really important to me, Alain.”

“Of course. Tell me—”

She drew a long breath into her lungs. “It's Chloe. I don’t know exactly what happened in your car. I don’t really want the details either.” She bit down on her bottom lip.

“Chloe?” Just the mention of her name sent a shiver of desire down my spine.

“Yeah. I need you to promise me you’ll stay away from her. Please, Alain.” Her eyes pleaded with me.

I sucked in a breath. “Why would you ask me that, Rebecca?”

“Because I can sense the attraction between the two of you. Because Chloe is impulsive and hardheaded. Because I don’t want her to fall head over heels in love with you.”

I jumped up from my seat, unable to sit still.
Merde
. There was no way I could make promises I couldn’t keep, especially not to Rebecca, and especially not about her sister. Anything else, I’d agree to, but this...

“So
this
is the reason you sent Maxwell and Chloe out. Not because I had a chance of winning you back.”

She nodded, a deep frown marring her forehead. I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose as I considered my reply.

Rebecca’s earlier words stuck in my mind.
Listen to your gut
.
It knows the answers better than your heart or mind.
It was starting to make sense. The right answer came from a place of strength. Finally, I understood what she meant, but I also had to be true to myself. If everything we’d been through was a lesson, it was time I learned.

I opened my eyes, searching for hers. It almost looked as if she were holding her breath. I shook my head. “I can't do that and it not be a lie. I don’t understand it...it's the strangest sensation. When I'm around Chloe, my world lights up. I've pushed it aside up till now, focusing on fixing my mistake with you. There is something...inexplicable. All I can say is...Chloe messes with my head.”

Rebecca’s lips drew to a thin line. She narrowed her eyes, studying my face. “So you won’t promise me?”

“Cherie, if you don’t want me, I don’t understand why you won’t let me explore where things could lead with Chloe.”

Her eyes blazed. The fire was back. “Could it be because you’re a man who’s thinking with his dick? You may be
exploring
, but what if you break Chloe’s heart. I can't stand by and watch it happen. I've already caused one of my sisters harm because of my inaction. I'm not letting that happen again.”

Hands in pockets, I paced the room before coming to lean against the fireplace. “Rebecca, that’s ridiculous. What happened to Lily is completely different to this. There is no comparison. Besides, weren’t you the one to agree with me that you were the only one who could decide about us? The same applies to Chloe, my dear. It's up to her.”

“Don’t hurt her, Alain. She would never have crossed your path if it weren’t for knowing me.”

I crossed my ankles as I rested my elbow on the mantle. “It's not your responsibility nor your burden.” I rubbed my chin. “What if it turns out to be exactly what Chloe and I need. You would be the catalyst of something wonderful. Have you thought of it like that?”

Her eyes widened. She shook her head. “No. All I'm thinking of is avoiding damage. Wouldn’t it be strange though...to be with Chloe after...us?” She cocked her head sideways, waiting for my reply.

I frowned. “Chloe is not you. If your fear is that I'd be fooling myself to believe she can replace you, that’s not true. I see her for who she is, independent of you.” I placed my hand over my heart. “Looks are only one part of the attraction. It’s what lies inside that counts most.”

“Well, see, then this conversation isn’t wasted. Chloe has admitted her attraction to you—not that a blind person couldn’t see it.” She shrugged, exasperated. “I just...I want her to be as happy as I am. For her to find the right man for her.” Her eyes bored into mine. “Is it you? I don’t know.”

I let out a long breath. “Neither do I. At the moment, I have a lot going on. I need to clear my name—sort out things before I can think of a new beginning. I will go from here and do that first before I pursue any other woman. You have my word. I hope it's enough to set your mind at rest.”

This conversation was nothing like I'd expected, but one good thing came from it. I was pointing in a new direction. Although it was without Rebecca, I had hope that love was somewhere on the horizon for me. Because I wanted that. I wanted happiness. A family. A woman who loved me above all else.

Rebecca glanced at her watch and pushed up from the sofa. “It's getting dark. I need to find Maxwell. I'm sure he’s stewing in his skin. I need to tell him how much I do love him. I wish you well, Alain. I hope you can find happiness.”

I kissed her on both cheeks, melancholy settling in my heart. This was goodbye. I finally got it.

I
couldn’t be happier—under the circumstances, of course. We still had things to sort out, but as far as the people who mattered most in my life were concerned, things were turning out well. Lily was out of danger and out of hospital. She had a man who was falling for her, a good man who would take care of her like she deserved. Chloe, well, she was just Chloe, strong, independent and a woman who went after what she wanted. If she’d made up her mind about Alain, I was almost more scared for him than for her.

And Maxwell had told me he loved me. I'd been waiting for those words, and since he’d said them, I kept repeating it over and over in my head like a lovesick schoolgirl, basking in the glow it brought to my being. I couldn’t help smiling like a fool, and I was sure I even smiled in my sleep.

We started out fucking and ended up making love. It was sweet and tender, slow and hot. Beautiful.
I never want it to end
. Never wanted to wake up from this dream I was in.

Since Maxwell had arrived in Germany, we’d hardly been apart. Besides the times he excused himself and went off to the downstairs study to take care of business, we spent most of our days in one another’s company. It couldn’t last. At some point, the harsh reality of normal life would claim us both and we’d have to get back to routine, work and the outside world, but for the time being, I was content living in my bubble.

I woke up with a hand caressing softly over my skin, and fingertips brushing over the crests of my nipples. Feeling them respond to the touch even though my brain wasn’t on board yet, he chuckled softly as I yawned and stretched out. Somewhere between sleep and waking, I moaned softly and gave my body to him willingly. He took his time, exploring every inch of my skin with lips, hands, and fingers.

Arching my back, I pushed my mound into the hand now settled between my legs. It wasn’t possible to be turned on this much, yet one touch of his fingertips feathering over my smooth pussy had my legs falling open, waiting for his magic touch to ignite the fire inside me that would never burn out.

He slid down my body, pushing my legs further apart, opening my core to him. My heartbeat sped up, knowing what was next. I clutched the sheets in my fists...waiting.

One long swipe of his tongue over my clit and I knew this was the way I wanted to wake every morning. “Hmmm,” he hummed from between my legs, “what a beautiful morning when my baby is wet for me already.” His stubble scraped along the tender flesh of my inner thighs, reminding me where he’d been for most of the night. The mixture of pain and pleasure was exquisite. I would never tire of having Max own my pussy in any way he wanted.

“Max,” I groaned, clawing the sheets tighter as he ate me like a starving man. Good God, I didn’t think I was capable of another orgasm after the multiple times I'd come during the night, yet my body responded to every lick, suck and flick he lavished on me.

“God, you taste good,” he mumbled, as he lifted my legs onto his shoulders. Legs trembling, he fucked me with his tongue until I screamed his name and spiraled into yet another orgasm.

“You’ll wake everyone in the house,” he chuckled as he came up. I didn’t care. I wanted everyone to know.

He grabbed hold of his beautiful cock, pumped it twice, and settled it at my entrance. “Oh, God, fuck me, Max,” I urged, needing the friction to finish what he’d started. My legs gripped around his waist and pulled him closer, greedy for his cock. Holding on to his biceps, I pushed back as hard as he thrust into me.

This was where we belonged. Together. A perfect fit, made for one another.

He leaned in and kissed me, the musky scent and taste of myself on his lips.

“I love you, baby, so fucking much,” he said as he broke the kiss.

Our eyes locked.

“I love you, too, Max.”

“Don’t ever run again. Promise me.”

“I won’t. I want to be with you.
Always
.”

Silence.

“Marry me.”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

“Oh fuck, come, baby. Now.”

“Oh, Max, yes.”

He fucked me. Hard. Fast. Urgent.

Chests heaving. Panting.

Our souls entwined, becoming one.

M
y heart sang. She said yes.

The best day of my life. Nothing could top this. Nothing.

“Baby, you make me so happy.”

“I’m happy, too, Max.”

“Mrs. Rebecca Grant. I like it.”

“Me, too.”

I buried my face in her hair, inhaling her so she became part of my DNA. I pulled out of her slowly, the warm sticky liquid oozing out and running down her thigh. I’d fucked her raw and now it was time to clean her up. I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the shower.

She was going to be my wife. This time it was real.

No more running, she promised. Thank fuck for that.

I set her down on the counter while I turned the water on and waited for the temperature to adjust. She watched me from under her lashes, her lips swollen and her hair tangled in that just-fucked way I adored. She had a glow about her that melted my heart.

I stole yet another kiss while we waited, cupping her breasts in my hands, their weight just perfect in my palms.

“Let’s get you clean before my cock has other plans.”

She laughed. “Surely not? Haven’t you had enough yet?”

“Baby, I can never get enough of you. If I fuck you every day for the rest of my life, that still wouldn’t be enough.”

“Hmmm...such a greedy boy,” she teased.

“Only for you, Rebecca.”

I swept her off the counter and stepped into the generous shower cubicle, ready to take care of her. I soaped her body and washed her hair, kissing her skin, mouth, and pussy as I went. She relished in my attention, giving me access to every part of her.

Once I was satisfied that we were both refreshed, I turned the faucets off and wrapped a towel around my waist before drying her body in the biggest fluffy towel I could find. I dried her hair in a smaller towel, before wrapping it high on her head. I loved that she allowed me to take care of her in such an intimate way.

“Max, shall I ask the staff to bring breakfast to the balcony? It's so lovely outside.”

“Yes, my love. Do that while I dry off.”

She disappeared into the bedroom, giving me time to shave. I didn’t want to cause the sensitive skin between her legs further damage than I’d already done, because there was no way in hell I wouldn’t crave her taste again later. I smiled at my image in the mirror. All these years of waiting had been worth every second now I had her. I hummed a tune as I shaved, unable to keep the joy hidden inside.