Lost Hart, page 26
He deserved his family, and they deserved him.
And they all deserved a wonderful, happy life together.
Because they’d certainly fucking earned it.
Chapter 26
Eighteen months later …
Stacey rolled over to her side and opened her eyes. The enormous picture windows in their bedroom had the drapes pulled open completely—they were rarely closed since they looked right onto the lake—and the morning sun was high and hot, beating into their room.
It was going to be a beautiful, perfect July day, she just knew it.
The clock on her nightstand said it was only about six thirty, and when she tuned in to the house, there were no noises or warbles of children asking for Peppa Pig or Cheerios. Maybe her children were sleeping in.
It had been a late night for all of them last night.
It would undoubtedly be another late night tonight.
She was about to snuggle in deeper to her pillow and close her eyes for a few more minutes of lovely sleep when a big, warm hand gripped her around the waist and tugged backward. She let out a little squeal until an iron bar prodded her in the butt.
“Well, good morning to you, too,” she said, giving her butt a little shimmy.
Chase growled behind her and nipped the shell of her ear. “It can be a great morning, if you get my drift.” He thrust harder against her and with his free hand went to work on her pajama shorts. He only pulled them down far enough to access what he needed.
“Door’s not locked,” she said, relaxing and closing her eyes when he traced an erotic path across the top of her shoulders with his tongue.
“I can be quick and quiet if you can.” The head of his cock pressed against her center, and she tilted her hips back to give him easier access.
He took that access and drove into her.
They both let out a moan and a sigh when he was seated inside her fully.
“Nothing better or harder than a morning chub,” he said, gripping her breast from behind and starting to move inside her.
“Not going to argue with you there.”
He was hitting all the right spots inside of her, making her body hum and getting her close quick, just like he promised.
The man was an insatiable beast. He could go for what seemed like hours if he wanted to, or if a quickie was necessary, he could give her a rapid but satisfying wham, bam, thank you, ma’am just as easily.
His quiet but manly grunts behind her only had Stacey getting to her own pinnacle faster. She pushed two fingers down between her legs and worked her clit with rough circles, every so often pushing her fingers farther between her legs to feel him sliding in and out of her, thick, wet, hard and veiny.
Bright lights began to flash behind her closed eyes, and her lower belly grew hot. Every time he twisted her nipple between his thumb and finger, her body would quiver and her pussy would squeeze.
“You close?” she asked.
“Anytime you’re ready, babe.” His teeth fell to the back of her shoulder, and he nipped, causing a zap of pain to shoot through her body and land firmly in her clit, morphing instantly into a beautiful, warm bloom of pleasure.
“Gonna come,” she said with ragged breath. “Gonna—”
She couldn’t even get that word out. She came before the word did, and then no words could come out at all. Her eyes squeezed shut, her body tensed and her back bowed. The wave of the orgasm crashed into her with full force, taking her for a ride.
Chase stilled behind her, opened his mouth wide and chomped down hard on her shoulder. She felt his cock pulsing as he shot his hot load into her pussy. His deep, baritone grunts heightened her own pleasure. Her fingers worked double-time on her clit. Her orgasm kept going, the first one rolling into a second, then, right as she could tell Chase was on the way down from his climax, she started to come down from hers as well.
They were so in sync.
But she liked to think they had been since day one. It just took him a bit longer to realize it.
When they’d both finished, Stacey slid out of bed and padded barefoot across the parquet flooring to the master bathroom. She peed, washed her hands and pulled her pajama shorts back up before returning to the bed. When she slid back under the covers, Chase pulled her back into being the little spoon. He had tugged on his boxers, and there was no longer a steel rod trying to turn her into a human shish kebab.
“You ready for today?” she asked, snuggling in deeper to his warmth and love.
He kissed her neck. “Absolutely, you?”
“It’s wedding day!” Connor shouted, flinging their bedroom door open.
“It’s wedding day!” Thea echoed.
Both children clambered onto Chase and Stacey’s king-size bed and stood at the end of it.
“Why are you still in bed?” Connor asked, his blue eyes wide with panic. “We have so much to do before the wedding. So much to do.”
“So much to do,” Thea said, shaking her head, before getting down on her hands and knees and crawling until she was between Chase and Stacey. Chase was forced to let go of Stacey, and Stacey was forced to move out of the way and roll over.
“We were cuddling, you know,” Stacey said, giving her daughter the stink eye.
“My turn cuddle Daddy,” Thea said, lifting Chase’s arm and wrapping it around her so she was now the little spoon. “You cuddle Connor.”
“Such a daddy’s girl,” Stacey said, pretending to pout.
“No time for cuddling,” Connor said. “We have chairs to set up, tables to decorate. I mean, Mum, you need to get your hair done, your makeup. You can’t get married looking like that.” He pointed to her and made a face.
“Looking like what?” Stacey asked her cheeky offspring.
“Freshly fucked,” Chase mouthed with a big grin.
“Like you just woke up,” Connor said exasperatedly.
“We have time, sweetheart.” She opened her arm wide and encouraged Connor to slow down his runaway train of a brain and come lie down next to her. “It’s a small wedding, just the family and a few friends. We have lots of time.”
“Yeah, I know,” Connor whined, but he slid under the covers and snuggled into her without complaint. “But I’m just really excited.”
“We going to be a famiwee,” Thea said with a nod.
“We already are a family,” Chase said, kissing the top of Thea’s head. “Just ’cause your mum and I are finally getting married doesn’t make a difference. I’m still your dad, she’s still your mom, and we all still love each other.”
“Yeah, but a wedding makes it official,” Connor said, his tone laden with authority.
There was extra significance to the day besides Chase and Stacey finally getting married. Today was also the day Chase’s adoption of Connor and Thea was finally official. He would, after today, legally and completely be their father.
They were all going to change their names to Hart as well.
She held no emotional attachment to her maiden name of Saunders, especially considering her parents wanted jack-shit to do with her anyway, and no way was she going to saddle her children with Ted’s last name, particularly since she refused to go by Gordon since the day she found out he was a two-timing wife collector.
“It’s a big day for sure, little man,” Chase said. “And I’m so glad you are going to be my best man.”
“I’m Mommy’s rice maid,” Thea said, contorting her body enough that she could run her hand over Chase’s bald head.
“Bridesmaid, honey,” Stacey corrected.
Thea only nodded.
“Can we go watch Paw Patrol?” Connor asked, wriggling out of Stacey’s arms and moving to sit toward the end of the bed.
Thea pried herself out of Chase’s arms and went to sit next to her brother. “Yeah, Pawtrol, please. Cheerios, too.”
“I can get the Cheerios for her,” Connor said.
Chase yawned and nodded. “Go turn on the television, and I’ll cast it from my phone. Just give it a minute.”
Connor leapt off the bed and sprinted down the hallway to the stairs.
His thunderous clomp clomp echoed around the house.
“Turning it on!” he bellowed.
“Get up soon, okay, guys?” Thea said, sliding off the bed carefully and then heading off in the same direction as her brother.
Chase had his phone out, and he was getting ready to cast Paw Patrol to the living-room television.
“Think that will buy us fifteen more minutes of sleep?” Stacey asked, turning back onto her other side and snuggling into her spot as the little spoon once again.
He set his phone on his nightstand and wrapped his arms back around her. “Hopefully.”
“Are you excited about today?” she asked, placing her hand over his hand and letting their fingers naturally lace together.
“I am. I’m excited to officially call you my wife. And to have those adoption papers signed and legit.” His deep inhale of her hair made her smile. “Though I’d be just as happy without. You’re already my wife in every way that matters, and those two are already my kids in every way that counts, too.”
“I agree.” Pieces of paper and pomp and circumstance were great, but in their hearts, in their souls and to the whole world, they were already everything that a family should be. People who loved each other unconditionally, for better or worse.
It hadn’t taken long for her kids to start calling Chase Dad, and when Thea said “Dadda” before she said “Mama,” that pretty much sealed the deal for all of them.
“I thought I’d lost my heart back in Lima,” he said gruffly, his voice suddenly hoarse and strained.
She tried to turn in his arms to see if everything was okay, but he wouldn’t let her. He held on tighter to her though, as if she might suddenly slip from the bed or vanish into thin air. His fingers dug into her flesh and his chin rested possessively on her shoulder.
She heard him swallow and take in a deep breath through his nose before he cleared his throat and started speaking again. “I thought I’d become so screwed up that nobody could love me or trust me again. That I was too broken and damaged to ever be good enough for someone to call their husband or father.”
Tears behind her eyes burned just like the raw ache in the back of her throat. She tightened her hold on his hands. Both of them now were holding on to each other for dear life.
Her heartbeat picked up and her breath stuttered a moment. “But you found my heart, buried deep down, and you brought me back from the darkest depths of hell with your love, stubbornness and determination. You believed in me when I’d all but given up on myself, and for that, Stacey, I will be forever in your debt.”
“No debt. You gave me back my son, have given our family a wonderful life, and restored my faith and trust in men. We’re square.”
She needed to look at him. To see him and only him as they spoke.
She loosened her own old on him and swatted his hand gently to release her, waiting until he let go and she could spin around to face him.
What she saw was the face of a changed man.
A found man.
The love she had for Chase ran so deep, so pure and true, she was overwhelmed and sobered by it every damn day. The man was a part of her. Every beat of her heart beat for Chase. He was in her marrow. An extension of her soul. They were one now, and today, getting married in front of their family and friends would only strengthen that bond.
She felt it every single dad, how hard he tried.
How much he loved their children and their life.
And she saw that love staring back at her now.
He was obsessed with her as she was with him.
Two addicts, unwilling to quit, because without their fix, they were nothing. Shells of their former selves.
Sure, she could live her life with her children, without a man or a husband, but she didn’t want to. She wanted Chase and the family they had more than she’d ever wanted anything in the world.
She cupped his cheek and ran her thumb over his lips. “You’re my heart, Chase Hart. My soul. My other half.”
He grabbed her hand from his face and kissed her palm. “I love you, Stace. I love our family, and I can’t wait to marry you today.”
With hot tears of pure joy stinging her eyes, she smiled. “It’s the first day of the rest of our life.” Then she leaned in and pressed her lips against his. “And I happen to think it’s going to be one hell of a great life.”
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TORN HART
THE HARTY BOYS
BOOK 3
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CHAPTER ONE
Fuck, sweet and sour pork was goddamn delicious. Particularly when he didn’t have to share his six-person combo meal with anyone.
Rex’s stomach grumbled, demanding to be filled.
Every last bite was for him, and he was more than okay with that.
Was there anything better than the smell of Chinese food wafting up from the back of your vehicle?
He sure as fuck didn’t think so.
Well, maybe the smell of Chinese food wafting up from the back of your vehicle while a woman’s head bobbed in your lap in the front seat.
But he only had one of those things currently, and his angry belly was winning out over his full balls and lonely dick.
Especially after a long fucking day at work—he’d been up since four and on the job by five—followed by an hour at the gym hitting the punching bag. He’d earned every damn carb that he intended to consume tonight and then some.
He’d have to make do with his fist tonight. He was too tired to send out messages to women he knew would be interested in a little no-strings fun.
Maybe tomorrow night.
With enough Chinese food to feed a family of six, and a six-pack of beer from a local microbrew in the back seat of his truck, he was gearing up for a satisfying evening alone.
It was late Wednesday afternoon, but considering he started work before the sun was up, he’d put in a full day and then some. He was going to head up to his apartment, grab his dog, Diesel, and take him for a quick piss outside. After Diesel did his thing, they’d head back inside, he’d feed his dog, strip down, have a shower and nut one out. Then, finally, at long last, he’d sit in his incredibly expensive recliner, put his feet up and eat a fuck-ton of chow mein and sweet and sour pork, drink his beer and watch a riveting documentary on the Discovery Channel while his dog snored and farted at his feet.
Was there a better plan out there?
There sure as fuck wasn’t.
Unless of course, while he did all of that, a beautiful woman’s head bobbed in his lap.
Again, tonight he’d settle for the chow mein and beer, followed by his fist.
With his belly continuing to grumble like an angry bear woken up mid-hibernation, Rex pulled his big, black Chevy into his parking spot behind his apartment building and turned off the engine.
Thank fuck the weather was starting to get better.
Spring had arrived and with it, longer days, warmer weather and the heady and sweet scent of blossoms on the air.
Always on the alert, even when he wasn’t on the job, he scanned the parking lot as he climbed out of his truck, slammed the door, then opened the back cab to grab his beer and dinner.
He’d been in his apartment for nearly two years, and so far, nothing weird or nefarious stood out to him. It was a decent neighborhood, not too far from the University of Victoria, and the building was only about five years old. The majority of his neighbors were students, but nobody was rude, loud or obnoxious. And the odd party he heard didn’t affect his sleep at all.
He’d been to hell and back during his time with Joint Task Force 2 and the special operative team he and his brothers joined after their stint in the Canadian Navy. He could sleep on a concrete floor next to a mosquito-infested swamp while ten other men farted and snored around him.
If he was tired, he could sleep.
He tossed his coat over his arm, grabbed his gym duffle bag, and heaved the Chinese food and beer out of the back seat of his truck, his keys in his teeth as he struggled and juggled all his shit before finally getting to the lobby door. He’d done this over a hundred times, this exact same scenario. You’d think he’d have figured out a more productive and effective way to carry all his shit.
He was just checking his mail when the sound of sobs and sniffling drifted down the hall, followed by the sweetest smell of wild strawberries and summer sunshine.
He’d always had the nose of a bloodhound.
As a kid, he could usually guess what his mother was making for dinner simply by how she smelled when she picked up him and his brothers from school.
He glanced up from where he was scrutinizing a misaddressed letter only to come face-to-face with a beautiful woman with tear-stained cheeks and red-rimmed eyes.
She was stunning, tall and lithe, with feminine curves, long auburn hair that coiled down just past her shoulders and wide, deep-set hazel eyes. Eyes that were filled with sadness as tears continued to fall. She looked up at him, her nose red, while her cheeks held a rosy glow.
Rex had never met this woman, but he’d seen her around the building—only from a distance, however. She liked to run on the weekends, and he liked to watch her leave. She pulled off Lulu Lemons like no woman he’d ever met.
He instantly felt the need to protect and find out what or who made her cry and make them pay.
He wasn’t sure how he could fix her, but he really wanted to try. Those weren’t just tears from a sad movie or seeing a three-legged dog on the side of the road. Those were tears of pain. Heartbreak. Devastation.
