SECOND CHANCE RIVAL

WALL STREET JOURNAL & USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

M. ROBINSON
 Copyright © 2022

Second Chance Rival by M. Robinson

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 Prologue
—Tristian—

“You can’t be serious.” I abruptly stood.

“Quite the contrary, Tristian,” my grandfather argued, leaning back in
his office chair.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in all my life.”
“Then I’m urging you to reconsider.”
“The only thing I’ll be reconsidering is who will inherit my empire.”
Unable to hold back any longer, I spewed, “Let me remind you that I
helped you build this empire over the last fifteen years. Before I came on
board, Hawkins Industries was one company that I turned into several,
making all of them go public within six months. In the last year alone,
between our gross profits and our stock valuations we’ve grossed over a
hundred and fifty billion dollars. I deserve to be the CEO of Hawkins
Industries because I’ve worked my ass off for it.” Looking him deep in the
eyes, I spoke with determination, “Do you understand me?”
“It’s not personal, Tristian. It’s business. I’m just looking out for the
future of our legacy.”
“Not personal my ass! It couldn’t get any more personal than what
you’re asking of me.”
He shook his head in disappointment. “You really need to learn how to
control that temper of yours, grandson.”
I took a deep breath and cracked my neck, feeling the throbbing strain
from my pulsating jugular vein. This man knew how to push every one of my
buttons and did it without hesitation. It didn’t matter how much I’d proved
myself to him over the years, nothing was ever good enough. Now he was
pushing me to the brink of insanity, and I was just supposed to sit back and
obey like a fucking lap dog.
In my world, I was the alpha.
Except when it came to him.
“I raised you,” he reminded me like he did time and time again.
It was his go-to card, hanging it over my head for as long as I could
remember. Of course, I appreciated everything he’d ever done for me, but the
resentment of his persistent demands also grew as the years continued. His
expectations of me were getting fucking ridiculous. However, this one took
the prize.
I couldn’t believe he thought I’d just bend to his will. As if he was
simply asking me to take a meeting with a client and not alter the course of
my entire future in such a drastic manner, with a woman I hadn’t seen since I
was seventeen-years-old.
The audacity of this man knew no bounds.
He was relentless in his pursuit, determined to make whatever he
thought was right happen, no matter what or who it affected. The sad part
was that we were one in the same. I was exactly like him; he made sure of it.
I wasn’t just cutthroat—I was diabolical in the way I destroyed my opponent.
There was no rhyme or reason to my tactics. It was insanity, and I owned it.
Making them beg for mercy was what I excelled at. They didn’t call me
a ruthless businessman for nothing. I’d earned that title, and I was fucking
proud of it. I gave up everything for Hawkins Industries, and I’d be damned
if he didn’t leave it to me, I’d fight him tooth and nail if I had to.
With his latest demand, it was becoming blatantly obvious it’d come
down to that. However, for the first time in my life, I had no idea what the
outcome would be, and I hated that more than anything. I wasn’t used to not
being in control, and for a man who thrived on authority, it was wreaking
havoc in my life.
“I’ve always known what you’re capable of,” he coaxed, pulling me
away from my thoughts.
“You don’t have to inform me of what you’ve accomplished in my
companies with my money, Tristian. I’m well aware.”
“Then why are you doing this to me?”
“Here’s where we disagree, my dear grandson. You think I’m doing this
to you when in reality, I’m doing this for you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “How do you figure?”
“For one, you’re pushing forty in three years, and you still act like a
pubescent playboy.”
“What I do with my personal life is none of your business.”
“It’s my business when you want me to leave you a hundred and fifty
billion dollars in enterprises.”
“Which has absolutely nothing to do with how I carry on in my personal
life.”
“Tristian, what you fail to realize is that it doesn’t matter what you
think. The only thing that matters is what I do.
“You’re being unreasonable, Grandfather. How do you expect me to
behave?”
“Like a possible heir to my fortune which doesn’t include your
bedhopping ways. Time magazine voted you the most eligible bachelor for
the fifth consecutive year.”
“And sales skyrocket every time they do.”
“So does the media when they see you out with another model. For
Christ’s sake, Tristian. Can’t you date a woman over the age of twenty-five?
I’m sick and tired of the press making you out to be the man whore you are.”
“Again, that has nothing to do with my ability of taking your throne as
CEO one day.”
“Alright, then how about this?” He grabbed the Forbes magazine and
threw it on his desk.
There in front of my eyes was the woman I hadn’t seen or spoken to in
twenty years. She was on the cover of the lucrative magazine with the title,
“Everything Belle Montgomery touches turns to gold.”
“She’s made quite a name for herself, Tristian. Like you, she’s turned
her family’s business into several successful companies, grossing
multibillions with their revenue and stocks. I’d say she’s your biggest
competition.”
“Grandfather…” I warned with a hard edge in my tone.
“You need to consider the possibilities. Just imagine what could happen
if we merged corporations with our biggest adversary. A rivalry that’s been
going on between her family and ours for over a century could finally be put
to rest, and all it would take is two simple words expressed from your mouth
and hers.”
“I don’t need to marry Belle to make that happen.”
“No, but it does sweeten the pot. The enemy becomes the ally. I
couldn’t think of a better plan. Trust me, Tristian. We’ve been working on
this strategy for the last year. It wasn’t an idea we ever took lightly.
“We?” I snapped, confused.
Right on cue, the door to his office opened, and I was instantly caught
off guard. Which was another emotion I despised. For the first time in twenty
years, Belle’s grandfather, Chance Montgomery, who was still CEO of
Montgomery Enterprises, entered my grandfather's office and leaned against
the door.
I couldn’t help but remember the last time were we all together in this
office. The memories of that night played out in the forefront of my mind like
they were happening right then and there.
Shoving away the thoughts, I clenched, “What is he doing here?”
“I’m here because we’ve already united forces.”
I contemplated his statement for a moment before I quickly realized this
wasn’t a debate between my grandfather and me, but it was a fucking ambush
by Belle’s grandfather and mine. One I willingly walked into, exactly like the
last time.
My scowl shifted from the man I least expected to my grandfather.
“What the hell, old man? What is this? Another one of your games?”
“This isn’t a game, Tristian. It’s a hostile takeover of our futures that
solely depends on you getting Belle to say, ‘I do, ’to you.”
“I haven’t seen her in two decades. You both realize that, right?”
“Time only makes the heart grow fonder.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You two are the reason we haven’t seen
each other in twenty years. It was why I was sent away, remember?”
“Tristian, you know that’s not true. It wasn’t just Belle we were trying
to get you away from. My reasons were much bigger than that and you know
it, but look how well you turned out? It was the best thing I could have done
for you. Who knows what would have been of your life if I hadn’t
intervened?”
“Which only hurt Belle in the process.”
“Time heals all wounds. It’s water under the bridge.”
“Enough with the bumper sticker bullshit, Grandfather! What makes
you think she’s even going to go for this?”
“For one, it’s your job to make sure she does. I know the power of your
persuasion, Tristian. They don’t call you a ruthless bastard in the boardroom
for nothing. Hostile takeovers are your forte, and they’re your favorite.
Besides, getting her to marry you won’t be your biggest accomplishment.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, taken aback by what he meant with his
unnerving statement. I didn’t have to wait long for an explanation.
I just didn’t expect her grandfather to reveal…

“Giving us a bloodline heir will be.”

 Chapter 1
—Belle—

Now: Four months later

As soon as I stepped off the elevator to my office, my executive

assistant, Paige, was walking beside me with her iPad in her hands.
“Talk to me,” I stated like I did every morning, requesting my daily
agenda. It changed every day, sometimes on a whim.
I was Chief Operating Officer, (COO) of Montgomery Enterprises. It
was the second highest position below my grandfather. My primary
responsibilities were to oversee business operations, which included
marketing, human resources, sales, production, research and development,
and those were just to name a few.
Basically, I made sure we stayed on top of everything. Meaning, I had
no personal life. These companies were my entire existence, and that was all
by choice.
“Belle, your—”
My cell phone rang, cutting her off. “Hold that thought, Paige.” I
answered, “Hello.”
Minutes later, I walked into my office, kicking the door shut behind me
as I finished up the call. Suddenly I heard two words from a familiar, yet
unfamiliar voice.
“Hello, kitten.”
My body instantly turned while my feet stopped dead in their tracks,
almost giving me whiplash in the process. Our eyes met, and I was dragged
back to another place and time where he looked nothing like the
distinguished man who was prominently sitting in front of my desk, wearing
a black three-piece suit with a blue collared shirt.
Even after all this time, I was still physically attracted to him. He was as
handsome as ever with his bright, piercing blue eyes that always looked like
they could see into my soul. The facial hair he was sporting only made him
appear more distinguished. His golden-brown hair looked darker than I
remembered, but he probably didn’t spend as much time outside as he did
back then.
Tristian Hawkins.
My enemy through generations of an ongoing rivalry between our
families’ businesses. His family, the Hawkins and my family, the
Montgomerys, were gods in our town of Lexington, Kentucky. Everyone
knew who we were and how much our families despised one another.
We were the talk of the town.
Still were.
Especially after what we’d accomplished with our families ’companies
since we began working for them. The media loved to compare our
businesses. Constantly fueling the fire in a war that began several lifetimes
ago. If it wasn’t our rivalry that people were discussing, then it was the fact
that I was still single with no suitable fiancé in the wings.
Unmarried at thirty-seven wasn’t exactly fitting for the granddaughter of
the great Chance Montgomery. If it were up to my grandfather, he’d die in
his office, sitting on his throne where he was king.
For the last fifteen years, I’d bent over backward for my family’s
business that I’d expanded into multiple successful businesses. My
grandfather wanted an heir, and I jumped at the chance of inheriting his
legacy. To see Tristian in my office, a place I called my second home, was a
situation I never thought I’d find myself in.
What’s going on?
As I took him in, my mind raced with questions I had no answers for. I
hadn’t seen Tristian in twenty years, and there he was…
Sitting right in front of me with an expression I couldn’t quite place.
Although with Tristian, it wasn’t unusual to feel like I couldn’t read him. If
he didn’t want me to know what he was thinking, what he was feeling, what
he wanted or needed, then that was the end of it.
He was always in control of his emotions, even back then.
After what felt like forever, I finally broke the deafening silence
between us.
“Well look what the cat dragged in.”
He grinned, in that shit-eating way I always hated.
“And the pussy has claws,” he drawled.
Those five words had the effect he wanted, making me remember our
first encounter when I was sixteen-years-old.
 “I see the boy grew up.”
He smiled. “I could say the same about the girl. She looks nothing like
the Southern belle I left behind.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, once again taking in his words. “Are you
here for a walk down memory lane? Because I’ll save you the trouble—I
have no interest in reminiscing with you. Better yet, I have no interest in
speaking to you.”
“You’re definitely going to want to hear what I have to say.”
“Then why are you wasting my time with preludes of a past that needs
to stay there?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Does it, though?”
I ignored his query. “What do you want, Tristian?”
“Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one, kitten.”
“My name is Belle, or you could just address me as Miss Montgomery.
Considering you have the nerve to show up here. If my grandfather knew a
Hawkins was in his building, he’d personally throw you out.”
“And if he knew a Hawkins had been in your bed? What would he do
then?”
“That’s enough.”
“Kitten.” He leaned over, setting his elbows on his knees. “I’m only
getting started.”
“I don’t have time to play your games.”
“I’m not the one with the games this time.”
I flinched. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“So now you want to know?” he mocked in a condescending tone I
didn’t appreciate.
“You’ve already ruined my day, so you might as well tell me what you
want.”
With a predatory regard I was used to from him, he smirked. “Ruined
your day, huh?”
“Tristian, you’re lucky I haven’t kicked you out of my office yet.”
“I’ll test my luck then.”
For the second time in a few short minutes, he shocked the shit out of
me when he proposed…
“Marry me.”
 —Tristian—

She didn’t just stumble back, she fucking flew. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, kitten.”
“Is this a joke?” she aggressively questioned. “Another one of your little
games?”
“You used to love my little games.”
“I used to love a lot of things that were bad for me.”
Despite feeling her remark in the pit of my stomach, I acted unfazed.
Hiding how I truly felt was an acquired trait I'd learned at far too young of an
age.
“We need to talk.”
“Obviously or why else would you be here?”
“I could think of a handful of reasons, and that’s only referring to us.”
She scoffed out a snide chuckle.“ Us?”
“Would you rather I let you go in unprepared like I was?”
“Go where?” Her eyebrows pinched together. “What am I unprepared
for?”
“For the deal of a lifetime.”
“What deal?”
“The one where you carry my last name.”
“Enough, Tristian! You’ve truly lost your mind if you think that’s ever
going to happen.”
“I’ve never been more sound of mind, kitten.”
“Tristian,” she stressed through a tight jaw. “Stop calling me that. I
hated it back then, and nothing has changed. If anything, I despise it more
than I used to.”
“That’s not how I remember it.”
“Your time is up.” With that, she snapped around, angrily rushing
toward her desk. “You can see yourself out.”
I didn’t move an inch. Instead, I added, “What we want isn’t far from
reach, Belle.”
Now that she was sitting behind her desk, her gaze connected with mine.
“Oh, that got your attention, did it?”
She didn’t hesitate in asking, “How do you know what I want?”
“Because it’s the same thing I’ve always wanted and didn’t think I could
have until now.”
“Until now, what?”
“Marry me, kitten.”
“We’re back to that?”
“We never left.”
“What exactly do you think you’re preparing me for?”
I glanced down at my watch. “In about five minutes, I’m going to escort
you into the conference room where your grandfather and mine are sitting at
the table waiting for us.”
She listened intently, absorbing my every word. “And?”
“They’re going to present you with a contract they want us both to
sign.”
“A contract for what?”
“Our arranged marriage.”
“What is this the eighteen hundreds? Our families loathe one another.
Why would they want—”
I saw it clear as day. Belle had always been sharp, smart as all hell. It
didn’t surprise me in the least that she caught on before I had to share the
rest.
“They want us to merge enterprises, don’t they?”
I nodded.
She thought about it for a second. “We don’t need to get married for that
to happen.”
“There’s more.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Then out with it! What else could they
possibly want?”
I abruptly stood and leaned over her desk. In one swift movement, I was
in her face, catching her off guard. She faintly gasped close to my mouth,
only triggering all the times I’d evoked this same response out of her. It
simply reminded me what her lips felt like against mine.
Soft.
Smooth.
Filled with inexperience and lust.
The last thing I wanted was to miss this opportunity where her defenses
were down against me, so I spoke with conviction…

“They want you pregnant with my baby.”

 Chapter 2
—Belle—

Instead of shoving him away, I pushed my chair back. I hit the bay
window that overlooked all of downtown behind me, needing a moment to
collect myself.
Especially, my thoughts.
“Oh my God.” It all came crashing down around me like a ton of bricks.
“They want a bloodline heir, don’t they?”
He nodded.
“This can’t be happening.”
“It is. And the sooner you realize that, the easier this next part will be.”
I said the only thing that came to mind, “I can’t go in there.”
“Whether you want to or not, you’re going in there. There’s no escaping
this. There’s no running away from me, kitten.”
My eyebrows pinched together. “Why on earth would they think I’d
agree to this?”
“Because we’ll be partners in this merger. Inheriting everything.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like I was suddenly
dragged back to that young girl who had no say in her life.
Her future.
I’d spent years proving myself to my grandfather that I could work for
him. Graduating from high school and college with honors, making the
dean’s list every semester. Sacrificing my personal life for the reward that
someday I’d inherit Montgomery Enterprises.
Not because I was bribed into receiving what was rightfully mine, but
because I’d earned that title of CEO.
As if reading my mind, he observed, “I know how you feel, kitten.”
“Do you? Because from where I’m sitting, you look content as ever.”
“I’m not the enemy anymore.”
“Really?” I mocked. “I don’t know about you, but I sure as hell don’t
know how to see you as anything other than my rival. It’s been ingrained in
me since birth.”
“That didn’t stop you from ending up in my bed, now did it?”
 “You pompous bastard!” I shot up, pitifully governing my emotions.
“Kitten,” he coaxed, cocking his head to the side. “You should be
thanking me, not insulting me. I came here to warn you, so that you wouldn’t
feel the ambush I did.”
“That’s funny, considering it still feels like a trap. One set up by all of
you.”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know that you’re seething from the inside out right now.”
“That’s obvious! Come to think of it, why aren’t you?”
“Trust me, I was.”
“Trust you?” I spewed. “Those are fighting words, Tristian.”
“Kitten, I—”
“You were?” I interrupted, not wanting to hear his excuses. “How long
have you known about this?”
When he confessed, “For the last five months,” I almost fell back in my
chair.
“And you’re just now telling me?”
“I couldn’t confront you until I wrapped my mind around everything
they’re demanding.”
“Wrapped your mind around what? Are you really telling me you’re
okay with this? That you agree with it?”
“What if I do?”
“You can’t be serious. You?” I asserted, standing my ground. “The
eternal bachelor with his playboy ways?”
He hid back a smile. “Kept tabs on me, huh?”
“No,” I firmly stated. “But every tabloid did with your latest conquest of
the week. It’s hard to miss when it’s staring you in the face at every
newsstand from here to Washington, D.C.”
In a sincere tone I’d heard before, he expressed, “You weren’t just
another conquest for me, kitten.”
“Save those lies for someone who cares, Tristian.”
“At one point, you did.”
“I was young and naive. I didn’t know any better. You were the first boy
to ever pay attention to me. It was easy to fall for your lies.”
“They weren’t lies.”
“You wouldn’t know the truth if it knocked you upside the head.”
 “Fine.” In one long stride, he backed me against the wall and caged me
in with his arms like he’d done countless times before. “You want the truth.
I’ll give you the truth. After months of feeling the same way you are right
now, I started considering what they actually wanted, and all I could think
about, all I could see, was how fucking sexy you’d look pregnant with my
baby.”

—Tristian—

She pushed me as hard as she could, and I barely wavered. I was

expecting it. Belle had one move, and it was always to shove me away from
her personal space which was my favorite place to be. The girl I’d first met
might have looked different.
However, she would forever have a blazing fire deep in her soul. I once
took pride in making sure she was aware that she wasn’t just the
granddaughter of Chance Montgomery, and she had a mind of her own.
The woman standing before me was who I always knew she was
capable of becoming.
I was damn fucking proud of what she’d accomplished, following her
career without anyone knowing was what I did best. I couldn’t help myself.
Not with the way I left things. I never wanted to hurt her, at least not like
that. Though the longer we snuck around, the more evident it became I’d
have no say in the matter.
Our families made sure of it.
Belle was the only girl who ever meant something to me. Granted, we
were young back then. Even now, having her this close to me for the first
time in what felt like an eternity was as if no time had passed between us.
The spark.
Our instant connection.
It was still there.
Despite her pretending it wasn’t, she couldn’t fool me. Not for one
fucking second.
Reading my mind like I knew she would, she acknowledged, “You have
no right to say that to me.”
“From where I’m standing, kitten, I have all the right in the world to tell
you how I feel. You wanted the truth, so here it is. You carrying my last
name and my child isn’t a future I contemplated after I left. However, now
that it’s a possibility, it’s become the only thing I find myself thinking
about.”
Her chest rose and fell with each word I confessed.
“You always knew how to say the right things, Tristian Hawkins. It’s
the Southern gentleman in you.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, kitten. You never liked gentle.” I leaned in
closer to her mouth, rasping, “Now the question is, are you going to deny me,
Miss Montgomery?”
The sound of the door opening behind us wasn’t enough to break our
trancelike state. Neither one of us moved from the compromising position I’d
intentionally put us in.
“Good,” Mr. Montgomery announced. Her grandfather’s voice echoed
off the windows and walls. “You’re not wasting anytime in getting
reacquainted.”
I peered over my shoulder. “We need another minute.”
He nodded, grinning like a fool, and left. My eyes met hers once again.
“Are you ready?”
“No.”
“Tell me what I can do to make this better for you.”
“Nothing you can do will make this better for me, and don’t you ever
forget that.”
“Isn’t love supposed to conquer all?”
“Love?” She jerked back with wide eyes, startled by my question. “You
think love is involved in this merger?”
“I think it can be.”
“Wow,” she breathed out. “You’ll say anything to get what you want,
won’t you?”
“It’s what we both want.”
“At what cost?”
“I can think of worse things than you being my wife and the mother of
my children.”
“Children?” she repeated. “As in plural?”
“I mean, why not?”
“Are you listening to yourself right now? You sound insane. We haven’t
seen each other in twenty years, and now I’m just supposed to walk down the
aisle with you and get knocked-up, on what? Our honeymoon?”
“I was thinking more like our wedding night, but that works too.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“You already said that.”
“And I’m going to keep saying it for as long as I have to for you and
everyone else to understand this plan is absurd.”
“If it gets us the title of CEO, then it couldn’t be more logical.”
“Stop speaking to me like I’m another one of your hostile takeovers,
Tristian. I don’t want to marry you, let alone have your baby.”
“Then what, huh? Everything you’ve worked so fucking hard for was
for nothing? Because that’s exactly what you’ll receive. Not. One. Damn.
Company. You want to see one of your brothers or cousins step into the role
that should be yours?”
The truth of what would happen was getting through to her. I could see
it in her eyes.
“How is this even legal?”
“You and I both know in our world, the two of them make the laws.”
I pushed off the wall and reached for her hand. “You once told me you
wanted to prove your family wrong. Well, here’s your chance, kitten. Make a
future with me, and I’ll make all your dreams come true.”
“Sounds more like a nightmare.”

“Well…” I smiled before I spoke from experience, “You know what

they say—your best dreams and your worst nightmares usually have the same
people in them.”
 Chapter 3
—Belle—

I walked into the conference room like a woman on death row, and in a
way it felt like I was. With my heart beating out of my chest, I inhaled one
last heavy breath. I was losing my mind, but I tried to remain calm on the
outside.
Mr. Hawkins greeted, “Nice of you to finally join us, Belle.”
“I’d have been here sooner had you and my grandfather included me in
your plans for my future.”
“Our future,” Grandfather chimed in, nodding to the empty seat near the
center of the table.
I adamantly shook my head. “I want no part in this.”
“If that were true,” Mr. Hawkins countered. “You wouldn’t be here.”
I sighed. He was right. Slowly, I walked toward the chair. Fifteen steps
was all it took to make it to the seat while Tristian sat in the other empty seat
in front of me. Of course, our grandfathers were sat at each end of the long
rectangle table, looking like the epitomes of the coldblooded businessmen
they were.
At that moment, I felt like a little girl and not the successful
businesswoman I was. I desperately tried reeling in my emotions, fully aware
they could still smell my indecision. The truth was, I didn’t know what to do.
A part of me wanted to tell them all to go to hell while the other part, the
ambitious one, craved to cave.
“This is how it’s going to go, Belle.” Grandfather slid what appeared to
be the contract Tristian had mentioned in my office across the desk.“ As you
will see, this contract is non-negotiable. It states that after you’re married and
our great grandchild is born, we will sign our companies over to you and
Tristian.”
“Just like that?”
“Yes. It’s really that simple. You and Tristian will merge our
businesses, and there will be a fifty-fifty split on the position of CEO.”
Unable to resist, I questioned, “Why now?”
“Does it matter?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if it didn’t.”
 Mr. Montgomery chuckled, bringing our attention over to him.
“I like her determined spirit, Chance. To answer your question, Belle,
there’s only so much either of our organizations can take over with both of us
constantly competing for that number one spot. It’s easier to finally unite
forces. Do you imagine the press when we announce our merger? Not to
mention our other competitors. They’re going to be blindsided, having to go
back through their yearly schedules to see how this will affect their
corporations. I couldn’t ask for a better surprise to drop on them. Just
thinking about it makes me so damn excited.”
My heart sped up. I had to dig my nails into the palms of my hands
under the table as I desperately tried to keep my emotions in check, willing
myself to stay as calm as possible.
Including Tristian.
The room was spinning, closing in on me inch-by-inch.
“You know I love you,” Grandfather reminded. “I’d never put you in a
situation you couldn’t handle. Ultimately, your decision will affect everyone
in this room. A lot is riding on you to say, ‘I do.’”
I swallowed hard, digging my nails deeper into my skin.
“On top of that, publicizing your marriage and then pregnancy. Well,
let’s just say, it’s going to be a great year for us all,” Mr. Montgomery added.
“And if I file for divorce after you hand over—”
“Page five.” Grandfather nodded to the contract in my hands. “There’s a
clause in there for that.”
I opened the contract, coming face-to-face with their stipulations. They
really did think of everything.
“As you can see, if either of you file for divorce, the contract is null and
void.”
My eyes locked with Tristian’s, who still showed no emotion
whatsoever as he confirmed, “Meaning we’d get nothing.”
“So you’re saying this arranged marriage of convenience has to last
forever?” I questioned, although I already knew the answer.
I. Was. Fuming.
Pissed beyond belief.
I resisted the urge to scream and run, holding my ground.
“You’re looking at the glass half empty when you should be looking at
it half full. It’s not like we’re asking you to marry a complete stranger,
Belle.”
 “Up until an hour ago, I hadn’t seen Tristian in twenty years. That
doesn’t count as a stranger to either of you?”
“Kitten…”
My stare connected with Tristian’s.
“He has a term of endearment for you, Belle. That doesn’t seem very
unfamiliar to us, now does it?”
“You both are being unreasonable.”
“If you ask us, we’re doing you both a favor.”
“A favor?” I exclaimed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Quite the contrary, Miss Montgomery. We’re as serious as a heart
attack. I see what the press calls you—a workaholic, a woman who is all
business and no play. Is that the kind of life you want to continue leading?
No husband? No children? You want your grandfather to leave you his
legacy with the possibility of no heir? Come on, Belle. You’re smarter than
that.”
“This isn’t fair.”
“Life isn’t fair. It’s not like my grandson isn’t quite the catch. You
couldn’t ask for a better partner. He’s wealthy, successful, determin—”
“He’s also controlling, demanding, and not to mention, a complete
asshole half the time.”
“And those are only some of my best qualities, kitten.”
I was at the tipping point of exploding. It wasn’t until Mr. Hawkins
asked, “I mean, there once was a time when you were in love with my
grandson, isn’t that right?”
However, before I could snap, Tristian did it for me.

—Tristian—

“That’s none of your goddamn business,” I declared, loud and fucking

clear.
“You see…” Grandfather grinned, proving the point he wanted to make.
“You’re not even married yet and he’s already defending your honor.”
“Kitten—”
She interrupted me.“ How many times do I have to tell you not to call
me that? Wow. This ambush is off to a great start. Can’t wait to see what our
marriage looks like.”
“At least it has you thinking about our marriage.”
 “Let’s get one thing straight, Tristian. If I agree to this, it’s only because
they’re giving us no other choice. Do you understand me?”
Her defiance made my cock twitch which was a nice change of pace
from the women I was used to who couldn’t turn me on.
“Noted,” I replied, only pissing her off further.
“We’re doing what’s best for our futures, and eventually, we know
you’ll understand and thank us for it. Now let’s get down to business. The
wedding will be front page news, it will be reported in the media, through
online sources, and the news stations. It’ll be the wedding of the century. The
talk of the town.”
“We don’t need to get married to be the talk of the town, Grandfather. In
fact, it’d be nice for the town to talk about us less.”
He paid her no mind. “We’ll have reporters at the wedding and the first
exclusive photos of the two of you married will go to the highest bidder.”
“How romantic,” she remarked in a snarky tone. “Nothing says forever
like staged photos.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t entertained by her feistiness.
“The press is going to have a field day with this news, and it’ll only get
worse as time goes on. We’ll need to announce the merger first. The exposure
from that and then your nuptials will light the fire we want under our
competitors asses. It sets the tone for the future of our companies.”
“And then once you’re married,” Grandfather informed. “You can start
trying for our bloodline heir.”
“When you say trying, what exactly do you mean by that?”
They looked at her confused.
“Don’t misunderstand what I’m asking. I know how babies are made,
but you’re not insinuating we need to make them like that, right?”
“How else would you have a child?”
“Artificial insemination is one way.”
“No,” I firmly stated.
Our eyes locked.
“Excuse me?”
“We’re going to have to agree with Tristian. You don’t need the help of
modern medicine, Belle. At least not at the beginning. If you’re not pregnant
within a year, we can circle back—”
“I understand why they’re saying no.” She pointed at me. “But why are
you?”
 “That’s a private conversation.”
She scoffed out, “Private conversation? I think we left out privacy the
second we walked into this conference room.”
“I’m not discussing our sex life—”
“Or lack of.”
“Kitten…”
“If you call me that one more time, I’m jumping over this table and
clawing your eyes out.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Her sass was always amusing to me. It was
actually one of my favorite things about her.
“However you two want to produce an heir is in your hands.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” Her reprieve didn’t last
long.
There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d get her to agree to make a baby with
me naturally, so I did what I did best.
I bargained, “I’ll give you fifty-one percent of one of the companies if
you make a baby with me the good old fashion way.”
She glared at me, fully aware I’d just sweetened the pot.
Shifting her stare to my grandfather, she baited, “You’re going to allow
him to give me fifty-one percent of one of your hard-earned businesses?”
His gaze connected with mine. He could see it in my eyes—I wouldn’t
back down.
Peering back at her, he shrugged. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Fuck me,” she muttered under her breath.
Unable to resist, I confirmed, “Don’t worry, kitten. I fully intend to.”
“Then it’s decided,” Mr. Montgomery stated. “We’ll amend the
contract. It’d be better if your child was made out of love anyway.”
“I don’t love him.”
“Well, neither did your grandmother when she married me, but over
time—”
“What?”
She took the word right out of my mouth.
“We had an arranged marriage as well.”
“You’re lying,” Belle scoffed.
“I have no reason to lie to you, but if you don’t believe me, then ask her
the next time you see her.”
“I can’t believe this. Grandmother has always been madly in love with
you.”
“Case and point, Belle.”
She considered what he shared for a minute, staring down at the
contract.
With her eyes now on me, she spoke with conviction, “I won’t ever love
you, Tristian.”
I narrowed my intense stare at her. “Challenge accepted, kitten.”
She ignored my retort and looked at her grandfather. “If I agree to this…
How soon—”
“A month.”
“A month? Why so—”
“We’re not getting any younger, Belle. The sooner, the better.”
For a moment, I thought she was going to tell us all to fuck off.
I was more shocked than either of them when she actually replied, “I
want my lawyer to look at the contract before I sign it.”
Our eyes locked again.
Except this time, she argued, “There’s no challenge, Tristian. This is
simply another business deal I can’t pass up.” With that, she abruptly stood.
“I assume I can take this contract with me.”
I nodded.
“You don’t need it for your lawyers?”
In four words, I rendered her speechless when I revealed…

“I already signed it.”

 Chapter 4
—Belle—

Then: Sixteen-years-old

My laptop dinged with a new message in the teen motorcycle chat

forum as I was getting ready for my first day at a co-ed private school.
Full Throttle: How nervous are you?
I smiled as I replied to the guy I’d been talking to for the last year on
this forum I’d entered on a whim one night when I was bored. Being the only
granddaughter of the great Chance Montgomery didn’t allow for much
freedom in my life. It was one of the reasons I was only allowed to attend an
all-girls school until now.
My family was royalty around these parts, and I had to play the role of
the innocent, sheltered little girl who wasn’t permitted to do much. I was
expected to always act like a lady no matter what.
My families expectations were that I behave and abide by their rules and
orders that had been passed down for generations. Especially my
grandfather’s demands. He was still the patriarch of our family, and whatever
he said was law. As much as I craved to change that, I couldn’t.
My debutante ball was a year away, where I’d be introduced into
society. It was my rite of passage, and the closer we got to the date, the more
anxious I became. On top of the many plans my family had for my future, it
didn’t help that I was the only granddaughter of the Montgomery dynasty. I
was the baby girl they'd always wanted, and a big part of me had yet to figure
out if my last name was a blessing or a curse.
Since my brothers and cousins were already out of high school, I’d be
the only Montgomery at the academy. My brothers were all older—Tom was
nineteen, Jasper was twenty-one, Hunter was twenty-four and Brantley was
twenty-six. Given that they were boys, they were always allowed to attend a
co-ed private school. The rules were different for the boys in our family. Not
to mention, all the male cousins who were also treated differently, and by that
I meant they could do no wrong.
 If I heard the excuse, “He’s a boy, you’re a girl,” one more time, I was
going to scream. I was protected and sheltered while they were simply
allowed to do whatever they wanted.
It wasn’t fair.
Which was why my username was Rebel Rider on this forum. I could be
whoever I wanted online, and all I longed for was to be my true self. Not just
Belle Montgomery, sole granddaughter of the Montgomery dynasty.
However, I couldn’t risk people knowing my identity and it getting back
to my parents, let alone my grandfather. If they knew I was in a public forum,
they’d probably revoke my internet privileges. I couldn’t blame them.
Talking to complete strangers on the world wide web wasn’t exactly safe, but
I wanted to chat with people who understood my passion for street bikes.
From the first time I saw a bright yellow Ducati speed past our
chauffeured SUV with an orange Kawasaki Ninja racing behind it, I was a
goner. It was the most vivid memory from my childhood. For several
seconds, bike after bike raced by our vehicle at lightning speed.
The sounds of the engines roaring through the air made my heart pound
against my chest. The adrenaline was like nothing I’d ever felt before, and I
wanted that feeling to go on and never end. Even at the age of five, I knew
I’d stop at nothing to learn everything I could about motorcycles.
After the street bikes were out of sight, my father called the sheriff who,
of course, was my family’s personal friend. With a stern tone I’d only ever
heard him use in his office, he bit, “The bikers are up to their takeovers
again.”
You see, those street bike races were illegal in our town, and despite the
persuasive efforts of the community, it didn’t stop the bikers from their
illegal race wars. Through the years, they became like thieves in the night,
doing their takeovers when the towns were sleeping, but again, it didn’t stop
the incessant chatter and gossip about them.
Rumors began that the bikers were becoming younger and younger in
age. Which was yet another reason why my family refused my ongoing and
persistent request of attending a co-ed private school like my brothers and
cousins had.
Finally, luck was on my side when a scandal broke out in my all-girls
academy. At seventeen, Macy May got pregnant, and it was the talk of the
town. My parents yanked me out of school so fast it made my head spin.
I was allowed to be enrolled into a co-ed private academy like I’d
always wanted. However, it wasn’t just any co-ed private school. It was the
best because I was a Montgomery and nothing else was acceptable. It was the
same school my brothers and cousins had attended. Everything about the
academy was decadence. The best staff, the toughest curriculum, gourmet
food, and they even had the best sports teams in every division.
My family was basically their biggest donor other than the Hawkins.
If there was something else my family was known for, it was the
generational rivalry with the Hawkins family that started decades before I
was born. They despised each other, and it seemed to only be getting worse
as the years went on. At this point, I was surprised the academy wasn’t
named after one of our families.
They were wealthy.
Envied.
Powerful to say the least.
Regardless of what my family believed, though, I wasn’t naïve. I could
take care of myself, but that wasn’t going to stop them from trying to protect
me at all costs.
Full Throttle: You still there?
I shook away the thoughts and replied.
Rebel Rider: How do you know I’m nervous?
While I waited for his response, I finished brushing the soft curls of my
long, wavy blonde hair. People were always telling me that I reminded them
of a porcelain doll with my big, bright blue eyes and naturally long black
lashes that only accentuated my high cheekbones and pouty mouth. I was
curvy yet petite, owning more dresses than I knew what to do with.
Full Throttle: I might have learned a thing or two about you in the
last year.
I smiled.
Rebel Rider: Just a thing or two?
Full Throttle: Wouldn’t you like to know…
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. This was what I enjoyed about our banter
the most. Boys steered clear of me. If my brothers weren’t intimidating
enough, then my last name made up for it. I was sixteen and had no
experience with talking to boys, let alone flirting with one.
With him, it was easy. Our conversations were effortless as if we’d
known one another our entire lives. However, Full Throttle didn’t know who
I was, and I loved that fact more than anything. The feelings he evoked
always triggered somersaults in my belly that I’d never felt before.
I liked him.
A lot.
We didn’t know much about each other, but the things we did know
made me want to learn more about him. Since he lived on the other side of
the world, it was easy to confide in him about how sheltered I was and how
much I hated it. We might have bonded over our passion for bikes, but now it
was much more than that. I genuinely wanted to know everything about him,
and the feeling seemed mutual.
What I did know about Full Throttle was that he was my age and he
actually owned a street bike. A black matte Ducati 900cc Supersport Twin.
My favorite. After a month of chatting in the open forum with the other biker
fans, one night we were discussing our favorite motorcycles, and I shared
what mine was.
Seconds later, I got a private message from Full Throttle. Even when we
were chatting with everyone else in the forum, I still felt something different
toward him, a pull I couldn’t explain, so you could understand my excitement
when I saw his request to private message me. From the moment I clicked
accept and he showed me a picture of his bike, I became even more
infatuated with him.
We’d been privately chatting on the site ever since. I wanted to give him
my cell phone number so I could hear his voice, but I was too scared it’d
somehow get back to my family and I’d be grounded for life. Instead of
risking that chance and losing him all together, we only chatted on the forum
a few days a week. Sometimes during the day, other times late at night.
Full Throttle: What are you wearing?
I giggled at his question.
Rebel Rider: Wouldn’t you like to know…
Full Throttle: More than you could imagine.
I blushed, smirking.
“Belle,” Dad interrupted through the intercom in my bedroom, bringing
my attention to him.
“Come down to my office. We need to talk.”
Although my father couldn’t see me, I nodded at his request as I
answered Full Throttle.
Rebel Rider: If you must know, I’m wearing my schoolgirl uniform.
I have to go. Chat later!
 I didn’t wait for his reaction. The last thing I wanted to do was make my
father wait. It wouldn’t be in my best interest. I was already pushing
boundaries with my family on attending a co-ed school, and I didn’t want to
push my luck any further. After exiting the forum, I deleted it from my
browser history, just in case. Grabbing my backpack, I hurried downstairs.
Once I was standing in front of his office door, I knocked.
“Come in,” Dad announced.
I did, coming face-to-face with not only him but my grandfather too.
Oh no … did they change their minds?
My heart sank to the floor. This couldn’t be good. Not with my
grandfather there.
“Good morning, Grandfather.”
He simply nodded to the leather chair in front of my father’s desk.
“Take a seat, Belle.”
With each step toward the chair, I played it off like my heart wasn’t
beating out of my chest.
“Is everything alright?” I asked once I was sitting down.
“Belle,” Grandfather addressed me in a stern voice, standing beside my
father with his arms crossed over his chest, looking every bit the powerful
man he was.
They were both dressed in three-piece suits. It didn’t matter how hot it
was in Kentucky and trust me, some days were scorching, they were still
always dressed in suits.
“Belle, I don’t think we have to remind you of what’s expected of you
now that you’re attending Canterbury Academy?”
I nodded. “Of course, sir.”
“Everything you do reflects on our name. I don’t think we need to
remind you of that either.”
“Yes, of course, sir,” I repeated to my grandfather.
“Princess,” Dad intervened in a lighter tone. “We’re trusting you to
know who you need to steer clear of.”
I cocked my head to the side, confused. “Steer clear of?”
Grandfather didn’t miss a beat, stating, “You need to stay away from
Beau Hawkins’ grandson. He’s nothing but trouble. Do you understand me?”
It was like I couldn’t form other words aside from, “Yes, of course, sir.”
“As far as you’re concerned, princess, Tristian Hawkins is the enemy.”
This might have been the first time I’d heard his name, but it wouldn’t
be the last…

If anything, it was only the beginning.

 Chapter 5
—Belle—

“Thank you, Grady, for the ride.” Our chauffeur had been driving my
family around since before I was born.
“Have a great first day at your new school, Miss Montgomery. I hope
you make a lot of friends.”
I smiled at him and then slowly made my way toward the entrance of
the massive brick building in front of me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little
overwhelmed by all the students walking around me. Seeing the guys dressed
in their schoolboy uniforms was quite a sight for sore eyes. Some were more
handsome than I expected.
Especially, the guy who was suddenly running into me as I opened the
door to enter the school. My body collided with a rock-hard chest, knocking
me backward. Unable to catch my footing fast enough, I almost stumbled
onto the ground. If it wasn’t for his strong, sturdy arm wrapping around my
waist and pulling me close to his torso, I would have fallen to the ground.
My heart sped up. This was the first time I’d ever had a guy this close to
me before. I silently hoped he couldn’t feel my body’s natural response to
him.
Embarrassed beyond belief, I acknowledged, “Thank you.”
This guy was tall, probably six-foot-one, maybe two.
When he let me go, I instantly felt the loss of his touch, and I resisted
the urge to whimper in disappointment. Shaking away the daze, I peered up at
him while he narrowed his eyes at me, looking me up and down with an
expression I couldn’t read. He just stood there, all stealth-like, taking me in.
Smiling, I asked, “Can you point me in the right direction of the office?”
“Only if you tell me why you’re going there.”
I nervously chuckled. His voice was deep and throaty, stirring emotions
I wasn’t expecting.
“I’m a new student.”
“Yeah, that much I gathered.”
"Right.” I nervously chuckled again. “I guess you’d know everyone at
this school, huh?”
 “Something like that.”
I politely smiled. “My name is Belle Montgom—”
“I know who you are.”
It didn’t surprise me he was aware of who I was. Most people in this
town were.
Changing the subject, I added, “I’m supposed to meet Riley Harding in
the office. She’s supposed to show me around the school and my new classes.
My father said she was part of the welcome committee.”
“Well, you’re in luck, kitten. You’re standing right in front of him.”
Did he just call me kitten?
“But you’re a boy.”
He arched an eyebrow with an amused expression on his handsome
face.
“I just meant”—I stupidly shook my head—“I thought you’d be a girl.”
“I hate to disappoint you, kitten.” He mischievously grinned. “But I’m
all man.”
His smile was contagious. I couldn’t help but return the sentiment. We
stood there for a few seconds, neither one of us saying a word. His inquisitive
regard didn’t falter. Although his eyes didn’t move from my face, I still felt
his stare on every inch of my body. So much so that I was the first to look
away.
Bowing my head for a moment, I swept a strand of my hair behind my
ear, pitifully trying to break the unexpected tension between us.
Unable to remain silent any longer, I questioned, “Where should we
start the tour then?”
I never expected him to reply, “How about in my bed?”
My eyes widened as I jerked back. “Excuse me?”
He chuckled.“ Oh, kitten, you should have seen your face. Are you
always this entertaining?”
I was about to respond, but he did yet another thing that completely
caught me off guard. He grabbed my hand.
“What are you—”
“You’ll see.” With that, he began walking, pulling me close behind him
as I tried to keep up with his long strides.
The only thing I could contemplate was how much bigger his hand was
in comparison to mine. It didn’t take long until he was taking me into an
empty classroom. In one quick movement, he let go of my hand, closed the
door and leaned against it with his arms crossed over his chest.
What was happening?
“Are you scared, kitten?”
My eyes snapped to meet his.
Was I scared?
Yes.
No.
Maybe?
As if reading my mind, he threatened, “You should be.”
Instinctively, I stepped back as he pushed off the door. With each of my
backward steps, he met my stride. Stepping forward as I stepped back.
I swallowed hard, trying to remain calm in a situation I wasn’t prepared
for.
I did the only thing that came to mind, stating, “I think we’re late for
class.”
“And she finally speaks.”
Another step back.
Another step forward.
“Riley, isn’t this against the rules? Us being in here alone?”
“Rules were made to be broken, kitten.”
Three steps back.
Three steps forward.
“My name is Belle.”
“Kitten, it’s whatever I want it to be.”
I was running out of steps.
“If you come any closer, I’ll scream.”
He sadistically smiled. “And the pussy has claws. How about next time,
I feel them down my back instead?”
I gasped. “What are you insinuating?”
“You lying beneath me.”
“That’s quite presumptuous of you.”
“You riding my cock would have been presumptuous of me.”
My jaw hit the floor.
Four quick steps back.
Four quicker steps forward.
“Careful, kitten.”
As soon as the last word left his mouth, my back hit the wall with a hard
thud. I was dizzy, but my hands instinctively shot up to his chest, my palm
right over his heart.
His pulse was steady.
Precise.
Calm.
Not one ounce of regret was in his brazen stare. Except he wasn’t
looking at me—Riley was looking through me.
What did he want?
What occurred next happened so fast, yet it still felt like it played out in
slow motion right in front of my eyes.
Caging me in with his strong, muscular arms, he leaned in close to my
mouth. Close enough to where I could feel his breath on my lips, making me
lightheaded from the peppermint scent. Or maybe that was still from the
impact of my head hitting the wall.
Either way, I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I was barely breathing.
Then, without saying a word, he ever so lightly kissed the corner of my
lips. His mouth lingered for a moment before he pulled away to look deep
into my eyes.
I’d never forget what he asked next…
Not in a million years.
In a condescending tone, he questioned, “How’s it feel to be kissed by a
Hawkins, kitten?”

—Tristian—

She shoved me.

Hard.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect it. Although coming from her, I was
more shocked she actually had the balls to do it.
“Tristian?” she acknowledged angrily.
“The one and only.”
“You said your name was Riley.”
“Do I look like a Riley, kitten?”
“No! You look like an asshole!” Her hands flew to her mouth.
“My, my, my, kitten… That was very unladylike for a Southern belle.
What would Daddy say?”
She grimaced. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“How’s it feel to not have a stick up your ass? You’re welcome.”
“So because I don’t swear, I’m suddenly a prude?”
“You said it, I didn’t.”
“You didn’t have to say it. It was implied.”
“I also implied for you to ride my dick, but I don’t see you calling me
out for that.”
She scoffed, shaking her head. “Are you always this vulgar, or do I
bring out the worst in you?”
“I’d say you bring out the best in me.”
“I have yet to see anything that great about you.”
“If you sit on my face, I’ll show many great things about me.”
With a baffled expression on her face, she remarked, “I don’t even
understand what that means.”
“Trust me, kitten.” I grinned. “I’d love nothing more than to show you
what I mean.”
“I don’t want anything from you. I’m supposed to say away from you.”
“Daddy already warned you about me? Should I be offended or
flattered, kitten?”
“I’m not a pet, Tristian. Stop me calling me that.”
“By all means.” I lifted my arms in the air. “Try to stop me, kitten.”
“Was this your plan?” she bit out. “Lure me into a classroom to take
advantage of me?”
“Those are fighting words. All I did was peck the corner of your lips. I
hardly call that taking advantage of you.”
“Let me remind you it was an unwanted and unwarranted peck. I want
nothing to do with you.”
“It’s unladylike to lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“Then why are you still here?”
“Because…” She fervently shook her head, obviously flustered by my
question. “I… I…”
“You what?”
“I don’t know, alright? First you trick me into believing you’re someone
you’re not, and then you drag me into this classroom alone with you, and
now I’m tardy to my first class. I think that justifies my hesitation to answer
your question, don’t you think?”
“Yet you’re still here. I hate to break it to you, kitten, but this is just the
first encounter of many to come between us. Get used to me in your life.”
I backed away, never once breaking our deep stare as I spoke with
conviction…

“Because I’m not going anywhere.”

 Chapter 6
—Belle—

Now: One month later

There I stood in front of the mirror, wearing a white lace wedding dress.
The six-carat oval-shaped diamond engagement ring on my finger shined
bright against the morning sun.
The memory of when Tristian showed up at my house after we signed
the contracts flew through my mind.
I opened the door, surprised to see him standing there. “What are you
doing here?”
He took one look at me wearing my yellow silk robe and smiled. “I
thought we could have a slumber party.”
“Not a chance in hell, Tristian.”
“Careful, kitten. I could always sneak in through your window. You
remember how much you used to love that.”
I shook my head, responding in a stern tone, “You have a very warped
definition of love. All I remember is how much you enjoyed torturing me with
your cold hands in the middle of the night, waking me up from a peaceful
sleep.”
“And when my warm tongue woke you up with my face in between your
legs? That was torture for you too?”
I cleared my throat, subconsciously closing my robe tighter as I felt the
weight of his words.
“Kitten, closing your robe isn’t going to do much for your hard nipples
that are pointing right at me.”
I instantly folded my arms over my chest. “I’m cold. It has nothing to do
with your effect on me.”
“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”
“Is this why you came here? To torture me some more?”
“Are you going to deny the fact you used to beg me to come tuck you in
at night?”
 “I did no such thing!”
“Kitten, who do you think you’re talking to? It’s your Tristian.”
“You’re not mine, and you never were.”
“How long do you intend to keep this charade up?”
“For as long as it takes for you to realize it isn’t fake.”
“You’re going to be my wife in less than a month.”
“Which means nothing.”
“By law, it means everything. In twenty-five days, you’re mine, kitten.”
I rolled my eyes, throwing his own words right back at him. “Whatever
you have to tell yourself, Tristian.”
He hid back a smile. “If you’d stop acting like a brat for one second, I
could give you your gift.”
“It’s not acting. What gift?”
He smiled again. “Invite me in, and I’ll show you.”
“I’m not falling for that.”
“I’m not going to try to fuck you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Ugh… Why do you always have to be so vulgar? It’s really unbefitting
of a man of your caliber.”
“Would you like me to make love to you, kitten? Is that better for you?”
I could feel my cheeks blushing. “I’d like for you to leave.”
“Your body doesn’t want me to leave.”
“Tristian…”
“Kitten…”
His phone rang, distracting him for a second, and I used the opportunity
to slam the door in his face.
“This isn’t over,” he warned.
I smiled, not paying him any mind, going about the rest of my night.
Except, the next morning when I woke up, this ring was sitting pretty on
my finger. The bastard actually did sneak in through my window while I was
sleeping.
Did I leave it open for him?
I shook away the thought, trying to stay focused on how my life had
been turned upside down in a month. I couldn’t believe my family was able
to pull off this lavish wedding in such a short amount of time. I guess when
you had all the money in the world, time didn’t matter. Seven hundred and
fifty of their closest friends would be in attendance. Including the Hawkins’
guest list. I was blown away at how many people were invited.
 Not to mention, the obscene amount of press that was outside waiting
for their first picture of us. This wedding was a damn circus, and we were the
main attraction, orchestrated by our families. I couldn’t believe this was
happening. I wasn’t even involved in the process of putting together this
wedding and reception. Everything was decided for me. My gown was
designer—a custom made Valentino with a train that felt like it was five
miles long.
The truth was, I didn’t want to be involved. It was easier to just
relinquish control. In return, I was shocked at how much my wedding was
already reminding me of my debutante ball. Another event I despised, that
again, was organized by my family. If this wedding wasn’t enough to send
me over the edge, then the memories of that night sure as shit did. It was the
last time I’d seen Tristian and the first time I’d met the real him. Trust me,
the irony was never lost on me.
I’d spent years trying to forget that night, and now it was all crashing
back into the forefront of my mind as if it was happening all over again.
However, this time, wouldn’t be like the last when he left me without so
much as a goodbye. Now we were getting married, united for life. Tonight,
we’d try to make a baby. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had sex with
anyone, while Tristian probably screwed someone last night as his last hurrah
with being the most eligible bachelor in the world.
I wanted to hurl.
To run.
The only thing keeping me there was the title of CEO I’d receive.
Would I get pregnant tonight?
“Belle! Did you see this?” Paige rushed into the private suite of St.
Bishop’s church. The same cathedral my parents were married in.
“See what?”
“Your wedding! It’s front-page news!”
“My arranged marriage, Paige,” I corrected, grabbing the article out of
her hands.
The headline read, “Tristian Hawkins finally settles down with none
other than Belle Montgomery.”
“Ugh…” I grabbed my stomach. “I’m going to be sick.” I continued
reading out loud. “For generations, there has been an ongoing rivalry
between his family and hers, but today marks the first time they’ll be joining
forces. Tristian’s publicist confirms our suspicions that their love affair
began when they were only teenagers.”
“Oh my God! His team released a statement? Why wasn’t I told he was
going to talk to the press?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you want me to find out?”
“It’s too late now. The damage is done.” Proceeding, I recited, “Tristian
has declared that Belle has always been the love of his life. He confirms she
was the one who got away, but now he’s making sure she is his forever.”
“Awe,” Paige chimed in. That’s so romantic.”
I frowned. “Whose side are you on?”
“I’m always on your side, Belle, but come on, you have to admit … it’s
kind of romantic.”
Paige wasn’t just my executive assistant who’d been working for me for
the last five years, but she was also one of my closest friends now, and now
she was my maid of honor.
“He’s playing a part, Paige.”
“I don’t think he’s faking anything.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?”
“I see how he looks at you. There’s love in his eyes.”
“It’s not love you’re seeing, it’s control. Tristian thrives on it. I’m just
another conquest for him, so please don’t let him fool you.”
“Alright, but what happened between the two of you anyway? You’ve
never talked about him before.”
“It’s not important.”
“It’s obviously important to you, or why else would you be holding a
grudge against him?”
“You think I’m holding a grudge?”
“Aren’t you?”
“I… I… I don’t know anymore. It’s not like I ever expected him to
come back into my life.”
“Do you love him?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Did you?”
“I was sixteen, Paige. I also loved N’SYNC back then too.”
“Eh.” She shrugged again. “I was more of a Backstreet Boys kind of
girl.”
I laughed, feeling grateful I still could at a time like this. I opened my
mouth to reply, but my grandmother and mom walked in.
 “Oh, sweetheart!” Mom greeted, walking toward me with my
grandmother beside her. “You look perfect! Absolutely perfect!”
“Wow,” Grandmother breathed out, taking in my wedding gown.
“You’re stunning, Belle. Pictures aren’t going to do you justice. That dress on
you… Tristian is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
“Are you only saying this in hopes that I’ll be happy about this arranged
marriage of convenience?”
Paige spun around. “I’m going to give you guys some privacy.” She left,
closing the door behind her.
Once she was gone, Grandmother confessed, “I understand more than
anyone what you’re going through. I didn’t get to meet your grandfather until
our wedding day, so you can imagine—”
“Your wedding day? That’s horrible.”
She agreed, “I thought it was too at the time, but your grandfather was
the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“If you think I’m going to follow in your footsteps and fall madly in
love with Tristian, then let me stop you right there. The only emotion I have
for that man is hatred. Deep. Rooted. Hatred.”
“Belle…” Mom coaxed.
“Ugh! Why is no one on my side?” I threw the paper on the coffee table
and then sat on the couch. Leaning forward, I placed my pounding head in
between my hands. “I grew up with no say in anything. Not in what I wore,
who I talked to, where I went, or what I did. Nothing! I fought so hard for
this life I’ve made for myself. Proving to everyone, including our family, that
I wasn’t just Chance Montgomery’s granddaughter.”
“And we’re so beyond proud of you for that, Belle.”
“I know, Mom.”
I felt them sit beside me, placing their hands on my back. They rubbed
up and down in a comforting gesture.
“I promise it’s not as bad as you think it’s going to be. I speak from
experience. From what I’ve seen of Beau’s grandson, he’s devastatingly
handsome. Have you seen the body on that man?”
“Grandmother!” I stared at her with wide eyes.
“What? I’m married, not dead.”
“She’s right, Belle. He truly is a catch. You’re going to make the most
beautiful babies.”
“Babies?” I replied, caught off guard. “Why is everyone acting like this
marriage is normal?”
“Are you nervous about tonight?” Grandmother questioned, smirking.
“You don’t have to be anxious, sweetheart. You’re a Montgomery, and we
know how to please our men.”
“Oh my God… Please someone kill me now.”
“Do you need some pointers?”
“Grandmother, you can stop talking now.”
This was the first time she was speaking to me like this. I guessed
getting married was her invitation to openly discuss sex with me now.
“I’m just say—”
“I know what you’re just saying, and I don’t need to hear the rest.”
“Belle, there’s no need to play coy,” Mom implied. “I think it’s lovely
you’re marrying your first love. He was your first at other things too?”
“Okay.” I tensely stood. “This was a great talk. I think I’m ready to go
jump off a bridge now.”
As if on cue, the wedding planner walked in. “We’re ready when you
are, Belle.”
“I’m never going to be ready, so let’s get this over with.”

And the sad thing was, I meant every last word of that statement.
 Chapter 7
—Tristian—

The number of reporters outside of the church was fucking insane. Of

course, my grandfather was insistent on answering every question the press
threw at him as he walked into the church, making sure to pay tribute to his
family. Most of the guests I didn’t know from a hole in the wall. I recognized
the faces of the men who mattered; they were the only ones of importance to
me.
There I was…
Turning the pages, opening the next chapters of my life with a woman I
never thought I’d see again. To have Belle in my life, not just once, but twice,
wasn’t lost on me. If anything, it only made me appreciate this second chance
that much more. I tried to keep my mind focused on the present. However, I
couldn’t help but remember the last time we were at a celebration of this
magnitude.
Belle’s debutante ball.
I wasn’t supposed to be there, though that didn’t stop me. I showed up
for the girl who’d always meant something to me. From the first time I talked
to her, Belle had the ability to take me out of myself. It was easy to let my
guard down around her. Right from the start, she was different from all the
other girls. Our families rivalry might have been my initial draw to her, but it
quickly became something else entirely. Something I couldn’t walk away
from until they’d left me no choice and sent me away.
Inhaling a deep, solid breath, I waited for my bride at the altar.
Suddenly, the music began, and in walked our wedding party, followed by
Belle Montgomery.
Soon-to-be Mrs. Hawkins.
My wife.
I watched in avid fascination at how gorgeous she truly was. How she
stood out from everyone in the church, like she always did in our town. She
was stunning, stealing all the air from my lungs without even trying. Her long
blonde hair was pinned to the left side with loose curls framing her beautiful
face. The neckline of her white lace wedding gown was low in the front,
flawlessly framing her luscious body. The dress accentuated the curves of her
petite yet curvy frame with a train at least twenty feet behind her.
She looked classy.
Proper.
Angelic.
Mine.
I was captivated by not only her beauty, but by the way she was
stubbornly glaring at me as she walked down the aisle. Fully aware I was
enjoying every second of her having to come to me. I couldn’t take my eyes
off of her. There was no denying the magnetic pull I felt with her mere
presence.
It was a tightrope, my immediate possessiveness over her. Even after all
this time, the desire to own from her mind to her heart, to every goddamn
hole in her heavenly body was still there, alive and present, breathing new
life into me. Each deliberate step she took brought her closer to our future.
To me.
For the last fifteen years, I’d lived and breathed Hawkins Industries. It
was my entire life, and nothing came between that. I hadn’t seen her since the
night I’d snuck in through her bedroom window, like I was still sixteen, to
slide the ring on her finger. Now it was shining bright like a fucking beacon,
fitting her perfectly like I knew it would. Despite not seeing her until now, it
didn’t stop me from thinking about her. I craved the feel of her silky skin and
longed for her addicting scent while counting down the days until I could
claim her once again.
She felt it too.
It was why the seething glare on her face pointed openly in my
direction. She wore it proudly. It was her defiance of what was to come…
Our marriage.
It was her shield.
Her guard.
A fucking wall she’d built the size of Texas.
Once she was standing in front of me, her father lifted her veil, and I
sucked in a visible breath at her beauty. He kissed her cheek, then firmly
placed her hands in my sturdy hold, handing her over to me. The significance
meant more to me than she could ever know. I couldn’t help but find her
reaction entertaining. It was evident she fucking hated me, and I couldn’t
have cared less if I tried. Despite my lack of not giving a shit that she didn’t
want to marry me, I wanted to show her I wasn’t her rival anymore.
In my last attempt at creating some sort of bridge between us, I spoke
the truth, “You look gorgeous, kitten.”
She slightly blushed, evoking one of my favorite emotions out of her
before she murmured, “You look nice too.”
I grabbed her hand, bringing it up to my lips to kiss it. The pulse on her
wrist was beating fast against my fingers.
Unable to resist, I called her out on it.“ Good to know I still make your
heart race.”
She tried yanking her hand out of my grasp, but I held onto it tighter,
wanting to prove my point that I still had an effect on her. I didn’t let go of
her hand throughout the entire ceremony, rubbing my thumb over her soft
skin. For the next hour, we had our traditional Southern wedding. My
stubborn bride kept her concentrated stare on the minister. Her body was
tense, and never once did she glance my way.
“Tristian,” the pastor announced, letting me know it was time for our
vows. “Please repeat after me.”
I didn’t need to. I knew what I wanted and couldn’t live without
anymore. Before he began, I turned to look deep into her eyes. With the back
of my fingers, I caressed the side of her face, and she lightly gasped from my
touch.
There was no hesitation on my part. “I, Tristian Hawkins, take you,
Belle Montgomery, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward,
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
and to cherish, ’til death do us part, kitten,” I vowed, whether she wanted to
believe it or not.

—Belle—

From the moment I stepped into the church, it was one thing after
another. The guests in attendance, some I recognized, others I didn’t. I tried
to pretend as if this was just another part of my job, sacrificing my life for the
woman I’d become. The seconds turned into minutes, the minutes into hours,
the hours into what felt like days as I stood there with Tristian at the altar. I
felt as though I was having an out-of-body experience. He held my hand
throughout the entire ceremony, grazing his thumb in a back-and-forth
motion against my skin.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t calm me in a moment of pure panic. The
familiarity of his touch was evident in the way my body responded to his
simple gesture, making the ceremony move much faster. Once the minister
turned to Tristian and said to repeat after him, I thought I was going to pass
out.
I never expected him to face me and shift his hand up to caress the side
of my face. The way he conveyed his vows to me was another emotion I
hadn’t predicted. I wasn’t prepared for the effect this man still had on me.
Words couldn’t express how much I wanted to hate him, but at that moment,
I didn’t know what I felt for him. His vows felt so real, confusing his role in
my life.
Did he mean them?
And now…
The pastor nodded for me to repeat after him. Suddenly, my throat
locked up and my chest seized, tightening to the point of pain. It was my turn,
and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Instead, I played along, once
again pretending like this was just another meeting, another thing I had to do
to prove to my grandfather that I was worthy of being the heir to his dynasty.
With all the courage I could muster, I peered into Tristian’s gaze, trying
to find the boy I once loved and not the one who’d hurt me for years after
he’d left. I didn’t see either of those things. The only thing I saw was my
future flashing before my eyes.
“Belle, please repeat after me,” the minister ordered.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I was barely breathing.
In and out, Belle. One deep breath in, one deep breath out.
As if reading my body language, Tristian reached for my hands and held
them in his firm grasp. The simple caress of his touch calmed me all over
again.
I did as I was told like always, repeating, “I, Belle Montgomery, take
you, Tristian Hawkins, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day
forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,’til death do us part.”
What did I just do?
 “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—”
A deep growl within my newlywed husband’s chest erupted before he
crashed his mouth onto mine with a sudden passion I wasn’t anticipating.
Instantly, my lips burned as he kissed me in a way I’d never been kissed
before.
Or maybe I had… When he kissed me the first time.
Memories of that evening tore through my mind at a rapid speed. I
couldn’t keep up with where I was at the present time. Part of me was there
with him while the other part was sixteen and had never been kissed before.
His lips devoured my mouth, quickly making me realize this wasn’t just a
kiss.
This was all possession.
His claim on me.
It was primal.
Heady.
Dominant in every way.
His soft tongue.
His scent.
His body pressed against mine.
It was all too much.
He was all too much.
I was his now…

Whether I wanted to be or not.

 Chapter 8
—Belle—

The reception went off without a hitch. Everyone celebrated what was
supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The liquor flowed, the music
blared, and all in attendance carried on getting louder and louder as the hours
ticked by. Handing us cards filled with nothing but money. I wanted the
reception to end, but my night would only be getting started. Tristian would
make sure of it with his body on top of mine.
We did our first dance.
We cut the cake, he fed me, and I did the same.
I threw my bouquet, and Paige caught it.
I counted my small blessings that our families didn’t authorize the
removal of my garter with Tristian’s head in between my thighs, calling it
tacky and unnecessary. Instead, I handed it to him with a satisfied expression,
knowing he wasn’t exactly thrilled he wouldn’t have the opportunity to touch
me in that way yet.
He grabbed the blue garter out of my hand, but at the last second he
dragged me with it.
He whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, kitten. My face will be buried in
between your legs soon enough.”
I swallowed hard and pulled away from him.
Except, he only tugged me back against his solid chest, adding, “The
next time you deny me, I’ll fuck my come so deep inside your pussy, it’ll be
dripping out of you for days. Just so you know who you belong to.”
He let me go with a growl, pissed I won this round.
I relished in my victory for as long as I could, but in the blink of an eye,
we were in a private elevator on our way up to the honeymoon suite, which
was in the hotel where our reception had been held. It didn’t take long for the
metal doors to slide open, revealing the biggest, most lavish room I’d ever
seen. The space was enormous, covered in daises. There wasn’t an area that
wasn’t covered with vases upon vases of them, including petals on the bed.
“I had them add the daises for you, kitten.”
I couldn’t believe he’d remembered they were my absolute favorite
flower. I walked into the penthouse, knowing Tristian was stepping into the
suite behind me. Every time I heard him take a step, it mimicked my
pounding heart. Finding refuge in the bourbon that was on the liquor bar, I
popped it open and chugged down shot after shot. The whiskey burned my
lungs, making me feel numb. Exactly how I wanted to feel.
Tristian’s commanding presence instantly echoed off the walls. “That’s
enough, Belle.”
I didn’t listen until he ripped the bottle out of my hands.
“I said you’ve had enough.”
“Oh, sir,” I mocked, feeling feisty. “You’re acting more like my daddy
than my husband.”
Taking a swig of the bottle, he grinned. “Well then, I’d love nothing
more than to take you over my knee and spank your ass.”
“That’s never going to happen.”
“Never say never, kitten.”
I teased, “Do you want me to be your bad girl, Tristian?” and
immediately regretted my words.
“Not as much as I want you to be my good girl.”
Somewhere in the last few minutes, he must have taken off his tuxedo
jacket. It was hanging over the back of the couch. His tie hung loosely around
his neck while the top buttons of his shirt were undone too. He leaned against
the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, radiating so much power and
authority, I found myself sucking in a breath.
Fuck … how much did I drink?
My thighs clenched with my mouth suddenly dry.
Arching an eyebrow, he baited, “Like what you see, kitten?”
“Not as much as you do.”
“I’d like to see less of what you’re wearing. How about you be my good
girl and show me what’s underneath all that lace?”
The greedy expression on his face had my heart racing.
“Are you just going to stand there and be all you?”
He deviously grinned. “I’ve been called worse things.”
“More than likely by me.”
He scoffed out a chuckle while his fingers moved to his mouth. Back
and forth his thumb rubbed along his bottom lip with nothing but intrigue
written all over his face. Studying my stance, his turned predatory, and I
found it almost hard to breathe.
 “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to rip my dress off.”
“Who says I don’t?”
Unable to hold back, I blurted, “Whose dress did you rip off last night?
Who was your last hurrah, Tristian? Some young model who can barely
drink?”
“Jealousy looks good on you, kitten.”
“I’m not jealous. I’m just curious.”
The last thing I wanted to do was stroke his ego, so it was definitely the
booze that was talking for me.
Stupid bourbon.
He pushed off the wall. “I’ll tell you when you say please.”
“You’re asking me to beg you to tell me who you had sex with last
night?”
Our eyes connected, and he didn’t say a word.
I had no choice, giving him what he wanted. “Please.”
“See,” he bit. “Was that so hard?”
“I gave you what you wanted, now answer my question.”
“If you gave me what I wanted, you’d already be naked and riding my
cock.” Once he was standing in front of me, he argued, “What if I was with
someone last night?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“You think I could do that? Fuck another woman the night before I’m
marrying you?”
“Why not? You used to have sex with different girls all the time before
you’d see me.”
“You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?”
“I know you more than I want to.”
“Says the woman who is now my wife.”
“Are you going to answer my question?”
“I thought I just did.”
“So you did hook up with someone?”
Waiting for his response was pure and utter torture until he finally
revealed, “I haven’t fucked anyone since we got engaged.”
“You’re lying.”
“I can’t win with you, can I?”
 “That’s all this is to you. It’s all I’ve ever been to you. One big game
you can’t win.”
“You’re carrying my last name, kitten. I already won.”
“You always knew the right things to say.”
“So you love to remind me often.”
“Whatever.”
“That’s a mature response.”
“Considering you love to court women who are half your age, I think
it’s actually pretty fitting.”
“I don’t usually fuck eighteen-year-olds. Twenty-one is more my
speed.”
“Ugh. You disgust me.”
“I know what you’re doing, kitten.”
“Oh yeah? What am I doing, Captain Know-it-all?”
“You’re trying to pick a fight with me, thinking I won’t fuck you if
you’re angry with me, but, kitten, you and I both know how much I love to
hate fuck you.”
Before I could say one word.
One. Freaking. Word.
He slammed his mouth onto mine, instantly gripping onto my wrists and
pulling them above my head. I panted into his mouth, frantically trying to
gather my bearings from his tight, possessive hold, both on my lips and
wrists. My body trembled with undeniable fire.
Every part of my resolve crumbled all around us.
Breaking.
Shutting down.
With my husband’s mouth against mine.
Weakly, I thrashed around. Ignoring the pain in my head and the
throbbing in my heart. The damage he caused as he devoured my lips.
Closing my eyes, I tried to steady my breathing, my thoughts, my core.
He loosened his grip, slowly brushing his lips against mine, and caused
me to open my eyes. I saw all our memories fly through his gaze, one right
after the other.
The first time we talked.
The first time he kissed me.
Touched me.
Made me his.
 When his heated, tormented stare became too much for me to take, I
turned my face, but he gripped onto my chin and forced me to look at him
again.
“You don’t get to hide from me, kitten. Not then. Not now. Not ever.”
I grimaced, hating that he knew me so damn well.
We stared at one another for what felt like hours, both of us lost in the
past we couldn’t change.
“What are you doing to me, Tristian?”
“I’m just reminding you of what we’ve always been to each other.”
“I’m not that naive sixteen-year-old girl anymore. You can’t manipulate
me this time.”
“The only thing I want to do right now is make you come on my cock,
Belle.”
He growled, crashing his lips onto mine again. His free hand slid down
the side of my body, and in one rough, demanding tear, he ripped my dress
off. Buttons flew everywhere and fell onto the ground. My dress pooled at
our feet. I was left in nothing but my panties, garter, and heels. I didn’t have
time to register what was happening before he quickly spun me around,
shoving the front of my body against the wall.
Forcefully, he yanked my head back farther, claiming my lips with a
force that had me weak in the knees, abruptly winning this power struggle
between us. His hand went to my throat while the other flew to my hip,
gripping hard and applying ample pressure to both, wanting to mark my body
with only his touch.
The sound of his belt unbuckling, followed by the zipper echoed in the
room and vibrated off the walls. In another rough gesture, he tore the elastic
band of my panties, and they fell to my feet. There was no time to
contemplate what was about to happen.
In one swift, hard thrust, he was deep inside of me.
“Fuck,” he groaned against my parted mouth as I hissed into his, crying
out but not saying a word in both pleasure and pain.
I’d forgotten how big he was.
Digging his fingers into my ass, he rolled my hips to thrust in and out
harder and faster, determined in his pursuit of my orgasm.
“This what you want, kitten? For me to hate fuck you like this?”
I shamelessly panted my reply.
“That’s it, kitten, let me feel your sweet pussy come on my cock…”
 With every thrust, I felt the mass of his body movement inching me a
little higher against the wall. My core throbbed against his shaft while my G-
spot pulsated along the head of his dick, over and over again.
Each thrust.
Every moan.
Each push and pull.
Brought back memories I could never forget.
As much as I wanted.
As much as I tried.
They were always there, in the back of my mind.
“Tell me you’ve never thought about this. About me. About how much
you loved me fucking you just like this.”
My body shuddered the closer I got to release.
“Your tight little pussy was made for me, kitten? Should I stop and
leave you like this?”
Hearing his threat made my body combust. “Ahhhh…”
“Good girl.”
I didn’t just come down his dick, I exploded.
Seeing stars.
Galaxies.
The whole universe.
Another growl escaped from deep within his chest as I milked his cock
to come right along with me. He roughly thrust in a few more times until he
groaned out his release deep in my core.
We stayed there like that, bodies lax, breathing heavily. When I went to
move, he pulled me up instead and carried me bridal style into the bedroom. I
thought this was over. I’d survived our first sex session.
I was wrong.
He was only getting started.
Tristian tossed me on the bed and anchored my legs over his shoulders.
He took me that way, releasing his come deep inside of me…

Where he wanted it to stay.

 Chapter 9
—Belle—

Then: One month later

Rebel Rider: I. Hate. Him.

Full Throttle: What did Tristian do this time?
Rebel Rider: He completely embarrassed me during lunch. Oh my
God! I can’t believe the nerve of that guy. He’s such a jerk! I don’t
understand how girls literally throw themselves at him like he’s the best
thing that’s ever walked the earth, when he’s nothing but a bully.
For the last month, Tristian had made my life at school a living,
breathing nightmare. He was constantly bullying me in one way or another.
Stealing my lunch, knocking my books out of my hands so they’d drop to the
floor in front of everyone. His favorite was changing the code to my locker,
making me late for class. He was rude, always making snarky comments at
me. He was just plain mean. Saying stuff like my daddy wouldn’t be happy if
he saw me talking to whoever I was. Especially, guys.
Full Throttle: What did he do at lunch?
Rebel Rider: Remember how I was telling you there’s this biker
gang in my town that’s getting in all sorts of trouble for their illegal
street wars?
Full Throttle: Yeah.
Rebel Rider: I guess the person running it is from one of the high
schools here. Nobody knows who it is, though. Things got crazy last
night, and one of the members outsped the sheriff.
Full Throttle: No shit?
Rebel Rider: I know! It’s super crazy! Everyone at school was
talking about it today.
Full Throttle: What does that have to do with what Tristian did to
you at lunch?
Rebel Rider: They’re having another street race tonight. It was all
over school. At lunch, my lab partner, Travis, invited me to go with him,
and Tristian overheard. He came up to us and told Travis I couldn’t go
because my bedtime was at eight o’clock and that my daddy has to tuck
me in to read me my bedtime story. He said it obnoxiously loud, so of
course the entire cafeteria started laughing. Including, Travis. He then
backed away from me like I suddenly had the plague. It was awful.
When I turned to go off on Tristian, he was gone. I avoided him for the
rest of the day, but it didn’t matter. He changed the code on my locker
again, and I couldn’t get my books for class. The janitor had to cut the
lock off again, and I was late for 4th period.
Full Throttle: Why don’t you report him to the principal?
Rebel Rider: I can’t risk it getting back to my parents that he’s
bullying me. They’ll pull me out of school, and I’ll be homeschooled for
the rest of high school, which is probably what he wants. I refuse to give
him the satisfaction. Even though I’d love to get him in trouble, it’s just
not worth it for me.
Full Throttle: No good deed goes unpunished.
Rebel Rider: Tell me about it. Whatever. I’m still going to the street
race.
Full Throttle: What about your parents?
Rebel Rider: I told them I was studying with my friend Erica. She’s
picking me up tonight.
Full Throttle: You’re becoming quite the little liar.
I laughed.
Rebel Rider: I’m a bad girl now, didn’t you know? What are you
doing tonight?
Full Throttle: Might take my bike for a ride.
Rebel Rider: Ugh! I’m so jealous.
Full Throttle: You want to ride on the back of my bike, Rebel
Rider?
I bit my lower lip. We’d become closer in the last month. He was my
biggest confidant. I had told him more about my life than I ever had before. It
was easy to confide in him. He was always there for me, and I didn’t have
that with anyone.
Rebel Rider: Do you want me on the back of your bike?
Full Throttle: I asked first.
I rolled my eyes.
Rebel Rider: Maybe…
 Full Throttle: Just maybe?
Rebel Rider: Your turn to answer.
Full Throttle: I’d love for you to spread your legs for me.
My eyes widened.
Full Throttle: On the back of my bike, of course.
Before I chickened out, I typed back.
Rebel Rider: Just on the back of your bike?
Full Throttle: Don’t ask questions you aren’t ready to hear the
answer to.
Rebel Rider: What if I am?
Full Throttle: You’re not.
Rebel Rider: How do you know?
Full Throttle: I know a lot of things about you, Belle Montgomery.
I jerked back, almost falling out of my chair.
Rebel Rider: How do you know my name? I never told you that.
Full Throttle: You didn’t have to.
Rebel Rider: What’s that supposed to mean?
Full Throttle: Be careful tonight.
I went to reply, but he logged off. He did that sometimes when he didn’t
want to respond to my questions.
I rolled my eyes again. “Great.”
I ignored the looming feeling in the pit of my stomach and jumped into
the shower instead. After I was done, I grabbed my faux leather leggings and
a crop top. Throwing on a flannel next, I stepped into my black combat boots,
finishing off my outfit. Letting my hair flow loosely around my face, I then
applied a light layer of makeup. Some mascara, blush, and lip gloss
completed my vibe for the night.
My parents were at some charity event. I didn’t have to worry about
running into them as I made my way downstairs to the front door, where
Erica was waiting in my driveway.
“Look at you, babe! You look like a rebel!”
I smiled wide, loving that she’d called me that.
We hit it off pretty quickly in chem class, but this was the first time I
was hanging out with her.
“Are you excited?” she asked, driving.
“Is it that obvious?”
“You’ve never been to one of these?”
 I shook my head. “My parents would kill me if they knew where I was
going.”
“You’re in for a wild ride, Belle. These races are crazy! I’ve been to a
few, and I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Despite lying to my parents about where I was going, it didn’t stop my
anticipation for what was to come. We couldn’t get there fast enough. When
we pulled into what appeared to be a huge, abandoned parking lot that led to
a long road that they raced down, it was jam-packed with people showing off
their rides. From trucks to old classic cars, to street bikes.
“Holy crap!” I shouted. “You weren’t kidding!”
It took us over an hour to get into the place. Trying to find parking was
insane. We were literally out in the middle of nowhere. As soon as we
stepped out of her car, the sound of two street bikes came to life down the
road, pulling everyone’s eyes toward them.
Including mine.
The chills down my spine should’ve been a sign, a warning for me to
leave right then and there, but I didn’t. I was too busy, too consumed, too
hypnotized by the sight in front of me. Two bikers with chromed-out helmets
tore through the crowd on bright blue stunt bikes as they popped wheelies.
Not just any wheelies, though. They were standing with one foot on the back
of the jump seat handle, while their other foot slightly touched the ground
beneath them, dragging their black combat boots as they held the bikes
perfectly upright in two sharp, straight lines.
They continued on with their tricks, completely captivating me as they
performed stunt after stunt.
“Wow,” I breathed out.
I’d never seen anything like it. Not even online. They flawlessly
executed their tricks, driving the bikes like the pros they obviously were. The
crowd was losing their minds.
Out of nowhere, the sound of police sirens blared in the distance. I
immediately turned, looking for Erica, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Oh, no…”
Everyone started running, creating an immediate frenzy of panic and
chaos. While the sirens drew closer, I couldn’t keep up with the stampede,
and fell to the ground.
“Ouch! Please! Stop!” I screamed, getting trampled on the harsh
concrete beneath me.
 Nobody listened.
Nobody cared.
I was either going to get crushed and end up in the hospital, or worse—
the police station. Suddenly, one of the blue stunt bikes was hightailing it in
my direction until it abruptly stopped a few feet beside me, causing the tires
to skid across the pavement.
I stared up at him with wide eyes, panting profusely as he reached out
his hand for me to take. Now that he was closer, I could tell it was a guy who
was driving the bike.
“Uhhh…” I stuttered. “I don’t…”
The cops were pulling into the parking lot. The last thing I wanted to do
was ride off with some guy I didn’t know. However, there wasn’t another
choice. I did what I had to do.

I gripped onto his hand and jumped onto the back of his bike.
 Chapter 10
—Belle—

Once I straddled his seat, he tapped onto my leg and gestured for me to
wrap my arms around his stomach. I did as I was told. In less than a second,
he floored it. Speeding out of the parking lot at full throttle. All the blood
drained from my face when one of the cops followed us.
“Oh, God…” I breathed out.
With one hand, he clutched onto my grip, holding me tighter against his
stomach as the speedometer accelerated faster.
Eighty miles per hour.
Ninety-five.
A hundred and ten.
One twenty-five…
I couldn’t see because it was too windy. Leaning my forehead against
his back, I closed my eyes and held on for dear life.
A sharp right.
Left.
Right again.
My heart pounded out of my chest as he tried his best to lose them. He
tapped on my thigh, and I opened my eyes. He silently gestured for me to
stand with him, and I adamantly shook my head, immediately mouthing no. It
wasn’t until he signaled toward the front of him that I realized why he wanted
me to stand with him.
For a split second, I surrendered all control and handed it to him.
Squealing as loud as I could, I stood at the same time as he did. Seconds later,
he popped a wheelie. I shrieked and locked my arms around his stomach
harder than before. I hid my face in his broad, muscular back, praying that we
wouldn’t crash. The precision he needed to wheelie the bike through two
narrow buildings was a rush of adrenaline I didn’t know I had in me. The
sound of the cop slamming on his brakes echoed off the buildings, but he was
too late, crashing into the concreate structures.
I looked behind me and shouted, “I think we lost him!” over the roaring
motor of his bike.
He nodded and tapped my leg, urging me to sit back down.
 He didn’t slow his speed, sharply turning the corner into what appeared
to be a hidden back alley. My heart hammered harder against my chest.
What if he was going to hurt me?
Fear crept deep into my pores as he came to a complete stop. The high I
felt didn’t let up. One turbulent emotion rolled into another, and I simply
reacted, jumping off the bike first. From that instant, he watched my erratic
behavior as I backed away from him with my arms out in front of me.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I blurted.
He didn’t say anything as he cocked his head to the side and leaned back
against his seat, staring at me through his chrome helmet. I still couldn’t see
his face, and the longer he stayed like that, the more my insecurities took
over.
However, my rationalization quickly overcame my distress, and I felt
bad.
Shaking my head with embarrassment settling deep in my bones, I
apologized, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that… I’m just… I’ve never… I
mean, I don’t know… Wow… I suck at this.” Inhaling a deep breath, I
rambled on, “I’ve never been to a street race before. Or on a wild goose chase
with the cops. Not to mention, on the back of some guy’s bike I don’t know.”
He didn’t speak a word.
“If my parents found out I was there or here with you right now, they’d
probably never let me leave my house again. I guess what I’m trying to say
and failing at is, you really saved my butt back there. I thought I was going
get trampled or arrested, and to be honest, I would have taken getting
trampled over my parents finding out I lied to them about where I’d be
tonight.”
Still no words.
He just sat there all stealth-like.
“You know the longer you just sit there with your helmet on, the more
I’m freaking out, right?”
His demeanor didn’t change as he continued to watch me.
“Okay … good talk,” I sarcastically mocked. “Is there anything I can do
to thank you for rescuing me?”
I mostly said that to get some sort of reaction out of him, so when he
lifted off his helmet, revealing his identity, I instantly regretted my question.
“I can think of a lot of things, but why don’t you start with actually
saying thank you.”
 “You!” I seethed, feeling foolish.
“If you don’t want to say the words, then I can think of other ways you
could show me your appreciation.”
My mouth dropped open, shoving him as hard as I could. “It’s you! Oh
my God! You couldn’t have just told me that! I thought you were going to
hurt me! Screw you, Tristian!”
“Screw me?”
I went to push him again, but he grabbed my arms.
“I just saved your ass from your daddy finding out you lied to him, and
you’re telling me to fuck off?”
I yanked my arms away. “Why didn’t you tell me it was you under the
helmet?”
“Exactly when was I supposed to tell you? When the cop was chasing
us? Or before the worst thank you speech I’ve ever heard? It’s three words
—‘Thank you, Tristian.””
“You’re a jerk! You just sat there, and I was scared!”
“And still, you’ve yet to say thank you.”
“Why would you save me if you don’t even like me? This could have
been what you wanted.”
His eyebrows pinched together. “What I wanted?
“Don’t play dumb, Tristian. You’re no good at it. You know exactly
what I mean.”
“Enlighten me then.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “You want me to get in trouble, so my parents
will pull me out of school.”
“That’s what you think?”
“Why else would you be bullying me?”
He shrugged, shamelessly stating, “For my own amusement.”
“You asshole!” I yelled, blown away by his admission.
“You know,”—he smiled—“ hearing you cuss is doing all sorts of
things to my cock, kitten. You should get angry more often.”
“You’re unbelievable!”
“And I haven’t even kissed you yet.”
“Kissed me?” I spewed, taken aback. “That wasn’t a compliment,
asshole!”
“That’s not being an asshole, kitten. Now this…” He got off his bike.
“This is being an asshole.”
 Before the last word left his mouth, he was in my face. Leaning forward,
he picked me up by my waist and threw me over his shoulder as if I weighed
nothing.
“Tristian!” I kicked my legs and thrashed against his hold. “Put me
down!”
“Stop it! I will in a second.”
“Now!”
I blinked, and I was suddenly straddling his lap, sitting on the bike with
him again. Except, this time, I was sitting on his lap. Which unintentionally
caused my legs to tighten around his back, making me gasp at the
compromising position he’d put us in.
“Kitten likes this, huh?”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Since you’re going to continue to bitch at me, I’m just making myself a
little more comfortable.”
“By making me uncomfortable?”
“You don’t look uncomfortable to me. If anything, you look quite
content on my cock.”
As much as I wanted to slap him and get off his lap, I couldn’t. I hated
to admit it to myself, but I didn’t want to move. It was like I was having an
out-of-body experience. Out of nowhere, my feelings toward him felt warped,
mixing into a cluster of emotions I didn’t expect when it came to him. I
didn’t understand how I could go from hating him to wanting to stay right
where I was. In his personal space.
What was going on?
It was confusing.
He was confusing.
“Why do you do this to me? You know I want nothing to do with you.”
“If that were true, you would have left already.”
“It’s not like I can call my chauffer to come pick me up. I don’t even
know where we are.”
“We’re safe. Cops can’t find us back here if that’s what you’re worried
about.”
“How do you know?” He didn’t have to answer. The realization hit me
hard and fast. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the biker who outsped the cops last
night.”
He narrowed his eyes at me, remaining silent.
 “Where did you learn how to ride like that?”
He merely shrugged.
“And your family? Do they know?”
“What do you think?”
“Then how’d you learn?”
Again, silence.
“Is this your bike?”
He ignored my question, scolding, “I thought I made myself pretty
fucking clear at lunch today. What the hell were you doing there in the first
place?”
“I don’t answer to you. I can do what I want, Tristian.”
“Really?” he baited. “Whose lap are you sitting on, kitten?”
I glared at him.
“Street wars aren’t a place for Belle Montgomery to be.”
“But it’s a place for Tristian Hawkins to be?”
“Unlike you, I can take care of myself.”
“I can take care of myself too.”
“Tell that to the bruises you’ll be sporting after nearly getting trampled
to death tonight.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You don’t belong there.”
“Neither do you.”
He rendered me speechless when he confessed, “My dad was a biker.”
“Was?”
No reaction whatsoever.
Not one.
“Are you involved with the street wars? Are you part of the gang?”
“You know what they say…” He cunningly grinned. “Curiosity killed
the cat, Belle.”
“Is that a yes?”
“My, my, kitten. You sure want to know a lot about me.”
“What do you expect? I’m on your dick, remember?”
He chuckled, smirking.
Wanting to bruise his ego, I stirred the pot. “If you wouldn’t have scared
Travis away, I’d be with him right now.”
“Fuck him.”
“Maybe I would have.”
 His expression turned lethal.
“Oh, that got your attention, tough guy? For someone who thinks they
know a lot about me, you sure make it hard to learn anything about you. Are
you always this closed off? Or is it just me you’re hiding from?”
“I’m not hiding.”
“Prove it. Tell me something you’ve never told anyone.”
I never expected him to reply, “He died.”
I winced. “Your dad?”
He nodded.
“And your mom?”
“She died too.”
My heart broke for him. “I’m so sorry, Tristian. I … I had no idea.”
“Can’t imagine you would, but I don’t need or want your pity.”
“It’s not pity, Tristian. It’s compassion.”
“It’s bullshit, and I don’t need it.”
Unable to stop myself, I asked, “What happened to them?”
“You wanted me to tell you something I’ve never told anyone, and I did.
Two things, actually, so no more questions.”
“For how long?”
“Until the next time you piss me off.”
“Well, that could be in like five seconds.”
He hid back a smile, aware I was teasing him by trying to lighten the
mood for a second. I’d take what I could get from him. I was surprised he
even told me that much. If I thought my feelings for him were confusing
before, his confession only added to the emotions I wasn’t prepared for. That
night was the first time I’d learned how complex Tristian Hawkins truly was.
Except, it didn’t end there.
In one swift motion, he leaned in close to my mouth and rasped, “I’m
going to kiss you now.”
With parted lips, I watched as his mouth pecked mine.
Slowly.
Softly.
He kissed me for the first time.
All the fight in me was gone as if it was never there to begin with.
His lips were smooth.
His scent was intoxicating.
It was the most overwhelming yet consuming feeling I’d ever felt in my
entire life.
My heart drummed so fast.
So intense.
So needy for him.
When my body went lax, he sought out my tongue while pulling me
closer to him with his hand on the nook of my neck. No words could come
close to describing what was happening between us at that moment. The
sensations he stirred matched my emotions with each stroke of his tongue.
A soft moan escaped my lips as my tongue touched his, leaving me
breathless and wanting more. Incoherent thoughts ran rampant through my
mind. Nothing made sense. However, at that moment, I didn’t care. I fell for
whatever spell he’d put me under. Loving the way he tasted.
My core clenched.
My chest heaved.
My heart…
It beat for him, exactly how he intended it to.
From that day forward, he’d have this hold over me I couldn’t control
nor deny. All that mattered to me was how much he’d let me into his life.
Tristian became this addiction I couldn’t stop. I knew he was bad for me, but
there was no denying the connection we shared.
Trust me, I tried.
Before he gradually pulled away, he kissed me one last time with the
stroke of his tongue. My eyes must have closed at some point because they
fluttered, finding him grinning at me.
I swallowed hard, unable to move or say anything. Not when the
expression on his face made me feel like I was the only girl in the world.
Having Tristian’s attention was as addicting as having his affection. They
both went hand in hand for me. And like a feign already hooked, I wanted
more.
As if reading my mind for what felt like the hundredth time, he stared
deep into my eyes and groaned, “You have no idea what you do to me…”
I sassed, “You have a crappy way of showing it.”
“Don’t worry, kitten. I know you don’t hate me. You just think that you
have to.”
Was he right?
“Is that why you bully me? So I’ll hate you?”
“Is this what you call bullying, Belle?”
 “No. Not this.”
“What’s this then?”
“I’m not sure.”
He smiled against my mouth. “This was your first kiss, wasn’t it?”
“No.”
“No?”
“What if it was?”
“I want to hear you say the words.”
“I’m not going to give you the satisfaction.”
“Says the girl who’s still sitting on my lap. You want me to kiss you
again, kitten?”
I licked my lips, still feeling him there, and nodded.
In true asshole, Tristian Hawkins form, he declared war, “The next time
I kiss you, you’re going to beg me for it.”
The sad thing was, I had no defenses against him.

He made sure of it.

 Chapter 11
—Tristian—

Now

I rolled over to embrace my wife, finding her side of the bed cold and
empty. Sitting up, I glanced around the room. Not finding her anywhere in
sight.
“Kitten?” I shouted to no avail.
Grabbing my cell phone off the nightstand, I looked at the time. Seven
in the morning.
I texted her.
Where are you?
While I waited for her reply, I rubbed my face to wipe away the sleep
from my eyes.
My phone dinged.
None of your business.
“So fucking stubborn,” I muttered to myself.
This was not how I envisioned our first morning as newlyweds.
Throwing my phone on the bed, I jumped in the shower and got ready for the
day. After I was dressed in my suit, I called down to valet to bring me my
car.
Thirty minutes later, I was walking into her office.
“Kitten, what the fu—”
She lifted her finger in the air, signaling she was on the phone. “Yes,
Mr. Saxon. Everything is on schedule for—”
In five long strides, I yanked the phone out of her hands. “Daniel, we
just got married yesterday, and we leave for our honeymoon tomorrow
morning. If you need to know logistics, call Mark in engineering.” With that,
I hung up.
She snapped, “How dare you undermine me like that?”
“If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile.”
“That’s my job!”
 “No, it’s Mark’s job. The only job you have for the next two weeks is
riding my cock.”
“Ugh! We had sex all last night.”
“And you’re ovulating for the next six.”
She loudly gasped. “How the hell do you know that?”
“I looked at the calendar on your phone. You made it nice and easy for
me. You track everything.”
“Why on earth would you snoop at my personal—”
“I need to get you pregnant, and I don’t go into anything unprepared.”
“Oh. My. God. Just when I think you can’t get any worse, you go and
prove me wrong. I can’t believe you. That’s private information.”
“We’re married now, Mrs. Hawkins. Get used to it. What are you doing
here anyway?”
“What does it look like, asshole? I’m working.”
“Bullshit. Try again. With the truth this time.”
“Ugh! Fine! When I need to clear my head, this is what I do.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
“Just peachy before you bulldozed your way in here and started barking
orders like I’m your dog.”
“What are you clearing your head from?”
“You!”
“Me?”
“Yes, you! This is a lot for me to take all at once, okay? In less than
twenty-four hours we’ve gotten married, and you’ve spent more time inside
of me than we have spent talking. You’re on some crusade to knock me up.
Do you have any idea how much come came out of me in the shower this
morning, Tristian?”
“We’re trying to make a baby. The more of my come inside of you, the
better.”
“Is this recent research or…”
“Was I trying to fuck a baby inside someone before you?”
“Again with the crass.”
“I fuck, kitten. There’s no other way to say it.”
“You know what?” She looked down at her desk. “I don’t want to
know.”
Grabbing her chin, I made her look up at me.
“I don’t half-ass anything in my life. From the moment you agreed to
our grandfathers’ terms, I started researching the best way to get you
pregnant with my baby. You and only you, kitten.”
“You’re so romantic,” she mocked in a sarcastic tone.
“I had no intention of getting married or starting a family before you.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You were just going to stay single
forever?”
“I kept my bed warm at night, and that was good enough for me.”
“Wow, you don’t say?”
“Hawkins Enterprises is my life. It has been since I graduated from
college. The company is the only marriage I ever wanted.”
“What about love?”
“You really want to have this conversation here, kitten?”
She peered around the room. “No.”
“That’s what I thought. Now get your ass up and go home to pack. We
leave at nine a.m. for our honeymoon.”
“Where are we going again?”
“Tahiti.”
She thought about it for a second. “I don’t think I even own a bathing
suit.”
Grabbing my wallet, I pulled out my black American Express card and
threw it on her desk.
“My favorite color on you is white.”
“This is very Pretty Woman of you, but guess what? I’m not a
prostitute. I don’t need you to pay for my—”
“You’re my wife. From now on, I provide for you.”
“Got to love that caveman mentality, Tristian. I don’t know if you’ve
noticed, though, but I make as much money as you. Possibly more.”
“What you make is irrelevant to me. My job is to provide for you and
that’s what I’m doing.”
“You do realize that we’re going to be co-CEOs, right?”
“Kitten, let me make myself crystal fucking clear, so we can avoid this
conversation in the future.”
She leaned back in her seat, folding her arms over her chest in a defiant
manner.
“I am damn proud of what you’ve accomplished. I always knew you had
it in you. This life you’ve created for yourself is one that I admire.”
The expression on her face softened.
 “I don’t care what you do with your money. Invest it, save it, or donate
it to charity. Just don’t think for one second that I’m not going to provide for
you and our family. End of story.”
“You’re being unreasonable. This isn’t even a real marriage, Tristian.
The sooner you realize that, the better our household will be.”
“I’m trying to—”
“How did you just bamboozle your way into my life again? And
somehow, you still think that’s alright?”
“I never lied to you.”
“That’s a lie in itself.”
“A lot has happened since then. I wish you would realize that.”
“You think it’s so easy.”
“Things are only hard because you’re making them that way.”
“Me?” She scowled, holding her hand over her chest. “Do you have any
idea how hard it is to pretend that I’m okay with this? And now we have to
bring a baby into this mess. It’s weighing on me, okay? I didn’t think it
would weigh on me as much as it is. I’m not like you. I can’t just pretend.”
“I’m not pretending.”
“Tristian, you don’t love me. You never did.”
“Keep telling yourself that, kitten.”
“Oh my God! This is how you are! This is how you’ve always been!
With your guarded composure and your patronizing responses. I never knew
the real you. I don’t even think you know who that is. I’m a trophy to you.
It’s all I’ve ever been.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“I don’t know anything. I never did. I played your games, and in return,
I lost. Except, I never knew the rules to begin with. You think I belong to
you, not because you love me, but because you think you own me.”
“You’re my wife now. I do own you.”
“This is just a marriage of convenience!”
I got right in her face. “Not for me.”
“This is just another one of your games, and I’m not playing this time
around.”
“You. Belong. To. Me.”
“You have this warped vision in your head of what we are, of what we
were. It’s not reality. When will you see that, Tristian?”
“Oh, trust me, kitten, I know where you stand. You make that perfectly
fucking clear, but I also know what we had between us. From the moment I
first laid eyes on you, I wanted you. And I don’t stop until I get what I want.
Do you understand me?”
“We’re married, aren’t we? I held up my end of the bargain, but that
doesn’t mean I belong to you. I don’t need your money, your attention, or
your one-sided definition of love. I don’t need anything from you.”
I spoke with conviction, “You need my baby.”
“Our baby.”
I grabbed my card off of her desk. “Fine, kitten. Don’t buy anything. I
always preferred you naked instead.”
“Glad I could be used by you again.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I breathed out, shaking my head. “You make me
sound like a real bastard.”
“If the shoe fits.”
“This what you want to do for the next two weeks? Argue with me?
Then by all means,” I baited. “I have no problem fucking the fight right out
of you.”
With that, I turned and left, leaving my heart in her hands. Even
though…

She was gripping the life out of it.

 Chapter 12
—Belle—

I woke up in Tristian’s arms again. This was the second morning in a

row that I had. Since we landed on the island yesterday, he was up my ass, on
this mission to get me pregnant. He tried to initiate casual conversations with
me, but every time he did, it’d led to a fight. He was relentless in his pursuit
of trying to win me over.
The bungalow we were staying in was like nothing I’d ever seen before.
It was breathtakingly beautiful. We were right on the water, jumping into the
ocean anytime we wanted. Every room in our place had a view of the crystal
blue water in front of it. Tristian rented out all twelve bungalows for
exclusive privacy which he was taking full advantage of. Basically, if we
weren’t fighting, we were fucking.
We brought hate sex to a whole new level.
Moving half of his body off me, I tried to get up, but he wrapped his
arm around my stomach.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he hazily questioned, pulling me
back toward him, engulfing me with his scent again. He tucked me into his
chest.
Slowly, he ran his nose along the back of my neck. “I always loved the
feel of you in the morning,” he groggily added, brushing his lips against my
back.
“Why do you like to torture me?”
“This is torture?”
“It’s excruciating.”
“Don’t you want our baby to be born out of love?”
“There you go again, throwing that word around like it’s supposed to
mean something to me.”
“It meant something to you at one time.”
“I was a young, stupid girl.”
“You were a strong-willed, gorgeous girl.”
“Are you trying to get laid again? Because let me remind you, I’m a
sure thing, remember? I don’t need your lines.”
 “You were also a stubborn brat, just like you are right now. Kitten,
when are you going to let me back in? And not here”—he rubbed my core,
making me inadvertently moan—“but here”—he placed his hand over my
heart.
“That’s enough cuddle time.”
Before he could object, I propelled my body forward and rushed out of
the bed, taking the bedsheet with me. Except, that left him completely naked
in front of me. My gaze greedily took him in, from his chiseled chest to his
rock-hard abs, down to the V above his dick. Which was just as hard as his
abs, standing straight at attention.
I subconsciously licked my lips.
You’d think he’d have some sort of modesty, but we were talking about
Tristian Hawkins. He didn’t know the meaning of the word. He simply sat up
against the headboard, placing his arms behind his head.
“Kitten, you’re staring right at it. Why don’t you just come ride it
instead?”
I glared at him. “You need to cover yourself. I have an appointment for
a massage this morning. They should be here any minute.” Feeling generous,
I asked, “You want a massage too? I can call down there and see if they can
send someone up for you as well.”
“I don’t like massages.”
“Tristian, you literally walk like you’re about to get into a fist fight.
They’d work wonders on you. All the stress you carry. I bet it would do you
some good. A nice deep tissue massage. Plus, it’s relaxing.”
“Paying someone to hurt me isn’t what I call relaxing.”
I rolled my eyes. “On that note, I’m going to jump in the shower really
quick. You can tell them to set up out on the balcony. I’d like to have my
massage while overlooking the water.”
“I’ll relay the message.”
I nodded and wrapped the blanket around my body before I walked into
the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I tried preparing for my massage
by relaxing in the warm water that felt amazing on my sore muscles.
In the last three days since we’d gotten married, Tristian had spent more
time inside of me than any other man I’d been with. Not that I slept around or
anything. I’d only been with three other men aside from Tristian. Dating was
never on my mind. It was the least of my concerns. Men were either
intimidated by my success or they were trying to profit from it. It never
changed, so it was easier to let it go all together.
After I finished my shower, I put on my face creams, and my robe, and
then made my way back into the living room. I smiled when I saw the
massage table ready for me on the balcony. I walked outside and tossed my
robe on one of the chairs, then settled in onto the table with the blanket
covering the lower half of my body.
“I’m ready!” I shouted, assuming they were in the bathroom, getting
prepared.
Moments later, I heard footsteps coming toward me.
“You have no idea how excited I am for this massage. My neck and
shoulders are killing me, but so are my lower back and inner thighs,” I
informed. “If you could work those areas, please? I like a firm hand too.
Don’t be afraid to get in there deep. I can handle it.” I closed my eyes the
second I felt their hands on my shoulders. “Mmm…” I quietly
moaned. “That feels great.”
I was in my own little world, where all my senses were alert and aching
around me. I could tell I had a male masseuse based on how big his hands
were. He eased his way down my back, and I couldn’t help it, moaning
loudly. I wasn’t expecting to feel that much intensity from him touching me,
but his hands were wonderful, only leaving a trail of heat that awakened my
body with his strong movements.
He worked my neck for a bit before moving toward my lower back. I
didn’t say anything when he slid the blanket down to the middle of my butt
cheeks, thinking he was going to work that area. He did, kneading with his
knuckles at first. I started to get uncomfortable as the blanket kept getting
lower and lower until my ass was completely uncovered.
“Ummm...”
As soon as his hand slid between my legs, I jolted.
“Excuse me—”
There was no finishing my sentence. He rendered me speechless as his
hand touched my core, causing me to shoot straight up on the table.
“What the hell?” Snapping around, I pulled the blanket to cover myself
and came face to face with none other than Tristian. “Oh my God.”
He grinned, winking at me.
“I was literally about to punch you in the face! What are you doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m giving you a massage.”
I was beyond confused. “Where’s my masseuse?”
 “I sent him away.”
“You did what?”
“No one touches my naked wife but me.”
“Tristian,” I clenched in a warning. “You’re being ridiculous. Did you
think I wouldn’t have noticed? I ordered a massage, not a happy ending.”
“Now you can have both.”
“Are you for real?”
“Lay down, kitten. I owe you a massage, and I’m far from done.”
“Massage therapists aren’t supposed to touch your private areas.”
“Good thing I’m your husband.”
Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. “You’re unbelievable. You’re
worse than when you were a teenager, you know that?”
“What can I say? You bring it out in me.”
I rolled my eyes and glanced down at his dick. “You’re hard. That’s
very unprofessional.”
“Kitten, I’m a man. You’re naked, and you make sex noises while
you’re getting a massage. Be worried if I wasn’t hard right now.”
“You’re the absolute worst,” I stated, laying down on my back instead
of my front.
In one swift movement he tore the blanket off.
“Hey!”
“We don’t need that anymore. Now close your eyes and relax for me,
kitten.”
“Is this why you booked all the bungalows?”
“I wouldn’t let that fuckboy see you naked. You think I’m going to let
anyone else?”
“Please tell me you didn’t call him that.”
“I didn’t.”
Closing my eyes, I replied, “Okay.”
“I just slammed the door in his face.”
My eyes popped open. “Tristian!”
“Keep your eyes closed.”
I did as I was told while he rubbed my inner thighs.
“Where did you get the table?”
“I called down for it.”
“That poor masseuse, I can’t imagine what he’s thinking.”
“Be grateful I answered the door on my way out to the gym. If I would
have walked in to find his hands all over you, it’d be a much different story.”
“Oh, because that would have been a travesty. A massage therapist
doing his job.”
Inching higher, he rubbed closer to my core. The touch of his hands
continued their exploration on my limbs, and it ignited my nerve endings into
a smoldering fire.
“And I’m doing my job.”
“What’s your job exactly?”
“Keeping my wife satisfied.”
“Is that what you think you’re doing?”
“I don’t think, I know.”
As soon as the last word left his mouth, he began caressing my breasts
in soft but demanding touches. The lotion he was using made it easier for him
to slide up and down my breasts to the sides of my stomach.
I let out another moan.
“Does kitten want her pussy rubbed now?”
“Tristian…”
Not wasting any time, he caressed my nub, triggering me to suck in a
breath. He stayed there for a minute before he readily slipped two fingers
inside of me while his other hand pushed against my lower stomach.
“What are you do—”
“Just relax, kitten.”
Gliding his fingers in and out of me, he didn’t move his hand from my
belly, and he continued to push down as he fingered me.
“Oh, God…”
The pressure he was applying with his hand on my belly made the way
he was fingering me that much more intense. It was only a matter of minutes
before my body was convulsing, contracting, and shaking as he fingered me
faster and harder. It was an overload of sensations. I could physically feel my
core pushing his fingers out, but he didn’t let up, fingering me deeper until
my entire body came with such a force I trembled uncontrollably.
“Good girl,” he praised. He straddled my waist and cupped my breasts
then slid his dick in between them. Back and forth, he slid his cock between
my breasts. “I always wanted to fuck your gorgeous tits.”
I whimpered when he backed away, but my disappointment didn’t last
long. He bent forward and kissed my mouth while he stroked his cock. I
moved his hand and stroked him. He groaned as I twirled my grasp around
his shaft. Never once did he stop devouring my mouth. He thrust two fingers
inside of me, going straight for my g-spot that was still sensitive. The raw
uninhibited craving to come again hit me like a ton of bricks, and before my
core contracted, he grabbed his dick and thrust inside me.
I felt full like my body was made for him.
“Oh God, please don’t stop. Harder… Ahh … yes … yes … just like
that.”
“There’s my girl.”
I wanted it rough.
Hard.
Demanding.
I wanted him to brand me.
Mark me.
Make me his.
Leaving nothing but destruction in his wake like always.
“Tell me you love my cock inside of you. Tell me you never want me to
stop fucking you. Tell me or I’ll stop and leave you like this.”
The familiar response of wanting to come made its way down my core,
and I started to completely come apart again.
“Yes…” was all I could muster, not wanting to use the word love with
him.
Our breathing and panting were in sync. It only took a few more thrusts,
grunts, and groans, and we came at the exact same time.
“You’re mine, Belle Hawkins. All mine.” His tone was laced with pure
possession.

And for a moment, I allowed myself to get lost in him.

 Chapter 13
—Belle—

Then: One week later

Rebel Rider: I have to tell you something.

It was late, past midnight, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I had to
tell him the truth. Despite what might happen between us.
Full Throttle: Oh, yeah? What’s that?
Rebel Rider: I’ve been meaning to tell you. I just didn’t know how
to say it without upsetting you. Last week, I ended up going to that race
war, and one thing led to another… The cops showed up, I jumped on
the back of some guy’s bike, but to make a long story short, it was
Tristian. He saved me from getting hurt, then made sure my parents
didn’t find out where I really was.
Full Throttle: Are you okay?
Rebel Rider: Yes, no. I don’t know. He outsped the cops, and we
had to hide out in an alley for a while. We started talking. He told me
some stuff that he’s never told anyone. Or, at least, that’s what he
claimed. I guess it made my hate for him lessen a little bit.
Full Throttle: What are you not saying?
Rebel Rider: He kissed me. I’ve been wanting to tell you since that
night, but I didn’t want to make you mad. I mean, not that you should be
mad… I’m just saying, in case you would be. Things between us seem to
be getting closer, and I like you. A lot.
Full Throttle: What about Tristian?
Rebel Rider: I don’t how I feel about him, and that’s the truth. I
swear it.
Full Throttle: And the kiss? Did you like that too?
Rebel Rider: I’m not sure. I think I’m just confused because it was
my first kiss, and maybe that’s just how you feel after your first kiss. I
promise I still hate him, but ever since that night, he’s been on my mind.
He got inside my head, and I can’t stop thinking about him. Even though
I don’t want to, he’s just there. I don’t lie to you. I feel bad it’s taken me
this long to actually tell you. I know I didn’t cheat on you, but it sort of
feels like I did. I’m sorry, Full Throttle. Are you mad at me?
Full Throttle: Do you want me to be?
For some reason, his question upset me, and I reacted.
Rebel Rider: It’s not like I know your real name or anything. I
know nothing about you. You never tell me, but I’ve told you all about
me. You think that’s fair? I may not be able to stop thinking about
Tristian, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped thinking about you. I
haven’t. I think about you all the time. I can’t lose you as a friend.
You’ve become my best friend, and I couldn’t imagine not talking to you.
Can you at least tell me something about yourself? Like your real name?
Full Throttle: My real name isn’t going to change the fact that you
kissed him, Belle.
Rebel Rider: I know, but it’ll make me feel closer to you. Don’t you
want that?
Full Throttle: Who do you think about more? Him or me?
I swallowed hard, wanting to be honest with him.
Rebel Rider: I think about you both in different ways.
Full Throttle: You didn’t answer my question.
Rebel Rider: Tell me your name and I’ll answer.
Full Throttle: My name isn’t going to change our future.
Rebel Rider: What does that mean?
Full Throttle: It’s Chase.
I was shocked he actually told me. Typing out my response, I was about
to hit send when he abruptly logged off.
“Ugh!” I threw my laptop on the bed, annoyed he’d just exited our
conversation like it didn’t mean anything to him.
Was he pissed? Upset?
Needing to wash away my anger, I jumped in the shower until the water
ran cold.
What if he never logged on again? What if this was the last time he’d
speak to me?
I didn’t know his phone number or email. There was no way I’d be able
to reach him. I messed up, ruining the first real friendship I ever had with
someone. This was all Tristian’s fault. He was wrecking my life. Exactly how
he wanted. To make matters worse, he knew how to push every one of my
buttons like no one else in the world. He hadn’t spoken to me, leaving me
alone for the last week. Being at school, I felt as if I was walking on
eggshells daily, waiting for I didn’t know what from him. I couldn’t stop
feeling his lips on mine, finding myself touching my mouth more often as the
days went on.
Remembering how he felt.
Smelled.
Made me feel.
I was pissed at how reckless I’d behaved. It wasn’t me. Tristian brought
out a side of me I didn’t know existed. I hated him now more than ever. He
was the reason I was in this chaos to begin with.
Shaking my head, I threw on a tank and panties before walking back
into my room. The second I opened the door, I jolted out of my skin. Finding
the guy, I least expected there.

—Tristian—

Seeing her standing in front of me, wearing a very small top with even
smaller panties, instantly made my cock throb.
With her hand over her chest, she fumed, “You just scared the crap out
of me!”
I sat there on the edge of her windowsill while her eyes flew to her door.
“I locked it already. Don’t worry, kitten. Daddy won’t catch me in your
bedroom.”
Her gaze widened. “How did you get in here?”
“I have my ways.”
“My room’s on the third floor. How did you know where it was?”
I shrugged. “Lucky guess.”
“Unless you’re Spiderman,” she bit. “How did you get up three stories?”
“I can climb trees.”
Her mouth dropped open. “If you would’ve fallen, you could’ve killed
yourself. On Montgomery territory, nonetheless.”
“Would you have missed me, kitten?”
She stared at me, shaking her head. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t
you, Tristian? What are you doing here?”
 “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to see you.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to tuck you into bed.”
She jerked back, caught off guard. “You’ve been avoiding me all week
and now—”
“Is that what I’ve been doing?”
She cocked her head to the side, defiance written all over her pretty
face.
“You know what?” she uttered in one breath. “You are the most
confusing guy on the planet.”
“Been called worse.”
“I’m serious. What do you want from me?”
“Everything.”
“What does that mean?” she frustratingly groaned. “You know what?
I’ve always wanted to know what would happen if my daddy found you in
my bedroom.”
I grinned, looking her over with a predatory regard. “It’s nice to know
you spend time fantasizing about having me in your bed. Tell me, am I on top
or are you riding me?” I smiled, sucking in my bottom lip. “Given the choice,
I’d prefer you—”
“You have ten seconds to tell me what you want, or I’ll scream bloody
murder because you’re in my room.”
“Belle.” I sternly shook my head. “Don’t fucking try me.”
“Five seconds.”
“Kitten…”
“Three and I’ll scream.”
“So fucking scream.”
She didn’t hesitate. “T—”
I jumped off the windowsill and was in her face. My hand cupped her
mouth before she could get the second letter of my name out. Backing her
into the wall, I muffled her scream.
“You fucking brat.”
I didn’t give her a chance to fight me off. Gripping her wrists, I held
them above her head and stepped in between her legs.
Her nostrils flared, and her chest heaved, causing her tits to pop from
the seam of her top that was barely covering her in the first place.
My dick twitched, and my heart sped up.
 She glared at me, and I held onto her tighter.
My mouth was getting nice and close to my hand over her lips as I
spoke the truth. “I’m here because I want to be. Now what are you going to
do about it, kitten?”
Her eyes widened.
“Nod like a good little girl that you’re not going to scream if I uncover
your mouth.”
The brat bit my hand.
She went to scream again, but I covered her mouth.
I blurted out with no hesitation whatsoever, “I missed you, kitten. That’s
why I’m here.”
Her eyes widened again, and I swear her heart stopped beating against
my chest, never expecting me to confess those words to her.
Even her shocked response didn’t stop me from continuing. “I can’t stop
thinking about the way your tongue feels in my mouth. About the way you
taste, the way you feel, about your addicting scent that I can’t stop fucking
my fist to. I’m here because I can’t get you out of my head.”
With that, I let her go.
“You should be grateful I’m not screaming your name.”
“Oh, kitten… I’m counting down the days until I have you screaming
my name.”
“Enough with the mind games. You’ve done nothing but turn my world
upside down since the moment we literally bumped into each other. I can’t
keep up with your hot and cold mood swings. One minute, you like me and
then the next you hate me. It’s either one or the other, Tristian. It can’t be
both anymore.”
“Am I the one you’re truly mad at?”
“Of course, you are. I can’t keep doing this with you. I’m over it. I’m
over you.”
“When were you under me?”
“Oh my God! You’re an asshole!”
“Keep your voice down,” I whispered.
“Or what? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I hurt someone I
really care about tonight. All because of you. I hate you. Do you hear me? I.
Hate. You. Now get out of my room and my life.”
“Easier said than done, kitten.”
“Stop calling me that.”
 I threw her words back at her. “Or what?”
“I’ll tell my parents you’ve been bullying me, and you won’t leave me
alone.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
Despite it being the last thing I wanted to do, I stepped away from her.
“This isn’t over.”
All I could do was give her what she wanted.
I turned and left.

Her room, not her life.

 Chapter 14
—Belle—

Ever since the night he snuck into my bedroom a week ago, Tristian
actually kept his distance from me again. I’d told him to stay out of my life,
but I was beginning to regret my threat. Chase and Tristian were taking up all
the room in my head, and I couldn’t get a break from it.
It wasn’t just Tristian who was blowing me off this time. Chase was too.
He never logged back on, and I was starting to think he wasn’t going to. I
was worried that our friendship was officially over. As soon as the thought
occurred for what felt like the hundredth time, my laptop dinged with a
message from him.
I rushed to my computer, placing it on my lap.
Full Throttle: Meet me tonight.
I narrowed my eyes at his request, confused.
Rebel Rider: You’re in my town?
Full Throttle: At the football game.
Rebel Rider: Wait … you’re at the game right now? When did you
get in town?
Full Throttle: Are you going to meet me?
Why isn’t he answering my questions?
Rebel Rider: Yeah. Where at the game?
Full Throttle: By the concession stand in thirty minutes.
Rebel Rider: I have to change. I’m still in my school uniform. I need
to get a ride too. I don’t know if I can make it there that fast.
Full Throttle: Don’t change and call Erica. See you in thirty.
With that, he logged off.
“Talk about demanding. Geez.” I inhaled a deep breath. “He ignores me
and then just starts barking orders at me?” Shaking my head, I shoved away
the uncertainty of what was going on. I tried to focus on the fact that I was
actually going to meet him for the first time and let it end at that.
I called Erica, and she was already on her way to the game. She didn’t
mind picking me up. I didn’t live far from the school. My parents were out of
town for the weekend, away on their yearly anniversary trip, so I didn’t have
to worry about them. The staff was still around to watch over me technically,
but I was getting older. There wasn’t much babysitting to be done anymore.
After I told the housekeeper, who used to be my nanny, I was going to
the football game, she reminded me to be home by my ten o’clock curfew. I
hated that I had to be home two hours earlier than most of the people at my
school, but I’d take what I could get.
I hightailed it into Erica’s car. Once we were pulling up to the stadium,
it all hit me. I was going to meet Chase, the guy I’d been talking to for over a
year now. Suddenly I was extremely nervous, hoping we’d have as much
chemistry in person as we did online.
“Belle, what’s up? Your leg won’t stop bouncing up and down.”
“Oh,” I rasped, stopping the movement. “I’m meeting someone here,
and I’m just super anxious about it.”
“Who are you meeting?”
“This guy named Chase. We met online.”
“Online? That sounds kind of sketch, don’t you think?”
“It’s not like that. I trust him.”
“Does Tristian know?”
Her question caught me off guard. “Why does that matter?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I see the way he looks at you.”
“Looks at me?”
“Yeah, with this like longing or something.”
“I’ve never noticed that.”
“I pick up on random things. It’s a blessing and a curse.”
I chuckled. “How often do you catch him looking at me?”
“At least once a day.”
“What?” I jerked back. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I thought you knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“Don’t your families hate each other, though?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. The plot thickens. Now you’re meeting up with another guy.
This should be interesting.”
“Tristian probably isn’t here.”
“Are you kidding? He comes to all the games. He has to show up for his
pussy parade.”
“Oh, great…”
“Wait?” She glanced at me. “Do you like him?”
“I’m not sure.”
“That’s a yes. You’re just scared to admit it.”
I frowned.
“Don’t kill the messenger. See, I told you. Being intuitive. It’s a
blessing and a curse.”
“What should I do? I like them both.”
“This is going to sound cliché, but I’d go with whoever makes your
heart skip a beat.”
“That might be the most cliché thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“I do what I can.”
I ignored the looming feeling in the pit of my stomach as I stepped out
of Erica’s car. I made my way toward the concession stand, gazing around,
thinking maybe I’d figure out who he was before we met. For the next thirty
minutes, I waited for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
Did he stand me up?
Before I could give it too much thought, Tristian caught my stare from
the corner of my eyes. He was standing by the cheerleaders who were
parading all around him. It was obvious Chase wasn’t going to show up, and
the longer I stood there, watching Tristian flirt with all those girls, the angrier
I became.
He caged one of them in with his arms on the fence, getting close to her
face. His body pressed against hers as he whispered something in her ear that
made her laugh and lightly touch his chest. I couldn’t look away as he slid his
hand down her body, grazing the side of her chest and landing on her hip.
I peered back and forth between them, and I couldn’t hide the hurt that
was evident on my face. She giggled, throwing her head back while he
rubbed his nose along her exposed skin.
Not only was I stood up, but now I was forced to watch Tristian and
some chick rub all over one another.
“Screw this.”
Unable to continue watching them, I decided to walk home instead of
finding Erica to drive me back. I wanted to clear my head. The two boys I
liked were both playing mind games that I didn’t know the rules to. My mom
never prepared me for what it’d feel like to have your heart broken.
 Twice.
Why would Chase stand me up? Could it be he took one look at me and
left? Maybe I wasn’t his type?
The insecurities flew through my mind, one right after the other with no
end in sight. This was unfamiliar territory for me, and all it was doing was
wreaking havoc in my mind.
It wasn’t until I gazed up that I realized I was suddenly lost. Through
my daze, I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Grabbing my cell
phone from my back pocket, I went to call the chauffeur to pick me up. It was
only then I noticed my phone battery was dying.
“No! No! No!”
Beep.
It shut off.
“Crap!”
Instantly, I began retracing my steps. The dim lighting from the posts
didn’t help my disposition of trying to find my way back to the stadium or
home.
I jumped when the sound of thunder roared over the horizon.
“Great. Now I’m going to get rained on.”
I was starting to panic as a street bike drove in my direction.
Should I ask them for help?
I didn’t have to, they pulled up beside me. The dark tint of their helmet
didn’t let me see who it was. I waved, hoping they’d take it off and stop
freaking me out.
Please don’t be an ax murderer…
I shouted, “I’m lost, and my phone died!” I lifted it in the air, showing
them. “Can you help me?”
Finally, they lifted their helmet, exposing who it was.
“Are you kidding me?” I yelled. “How many bikes do you have? And
what is your deal with scaring me?”
Tristian grinned, nodding. “Get on.”
“Absolutely not!”
“You don’t have much of a choice. Get on, or I’ll throw you on.”
I rolled my eyes. “Screw. You!”
He snidely smiled, immediately slamming on the gas and veering across
the grass to block my path. He didn’t bother turning off the engine as he
jumped off his bike before I even saw him coming. I pivoted around to take
off in the other direction, but he was over to me in three strides, causing me
to step back.
“Nowhere to go now, kitten.” He loomed over my small frame.
“First, I’m not your kitten! Second, what do you want, Tristian?”
“What the hell is your problem?”
“You!” I shoved him, and he didn’t waver, which only made me push
him again. “You’re my problem! Now get out of my way!”
“I just saved you. Again. And I’m the problem?”
“I hate you! I hate you so much right now! You’re an asshole, Tristian
Hawkins!”
He arched an eyebrow and smiled cunningly. “Why are you so mad,
kitten? You didn’t like the show?”
I gasped. “You knew I was watching?”
He simply nodded.
“I can’t believe you did that!”
“Yeah, and I’d do it again. How’s that for hot and cold, kitten?”
“Of course, you would! That’s who you are! You don’t think for one
second about me. About how much that would hurt me.”
“I thought you wanted me out of your life. I was just giving you what
you demanded. You didn’t like that very much, now did you?”
I gasped again. “You’re unbelievable, asshole.”
He stepped toward me, and I instantly backed away, holding my hand
out in front of me.
“Yeah! I am an asshole! But how else was I going to show you that you
don’t hate me at all?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but he interrupted, “I’m going to talk, and
you’re going to listen.”
My eyes widened, never expecting what he was going to say.
“I don’t give a shit that you think you hate me. I know the truth. You
can’t stop thinking about me as much as I can’t stop thinking about you.”
I stared intently at his face, waiting for the next thing he was going to
share.
“I know I’m an asshole. I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not. But
all the shit I run away from—the emotions, the attachments, the bullshit that
comes along with girls and their feelings, I wanted no part of it. Though with
you, it’s been staring me right in the face since the first moment I saw you.”
He paused, gazing deep into my eyes. “I wanted it. I. Wanted. You.”
 Before I could answer, thunder lit the entire sky with rain quickly
beginning to pour on top of our heads.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed, handing me the other helmet while throwing his
on. “We have to go!”
Putting on the helmet, I hopped on the back of his bike. He didn’t
waver, hitting the accelerator at full throttle, tearing through the street. It was
hard to see a foot in front of us. Light post after light post flashed by us at the
speed of light. I barely had time to contemplate how dangerous it was that he
was driving through a thunderstorm when my gaze landed on the
speedometer which read eighty-five miles per hour.
“Tristian…” I coaxed, knowing he was speeding too fast.
Call it intuition.
A sixth sense.
Whatever you wanted to define it as.
I knew the moment he turned the sharp corner, he was going to lose
control of his street bike. I did the only thing I could do, I closed my eyes and
held onto him as tight as possible. At the last second, I silently prayed we’d
be okay, but it was too late.

We were already skidding across the road.

 Chapter 15
—Tristian—

While Belle held onto me, my whole life played out in front of my eyes.
I saw it clear as day. As if it were happening all over again. Except, I was
able to react and grab ahold of her before we crashed into a light post. The
quick momentum of my bike spinning out of control helped in tugging her
into my chest.
BANG!
The side of my bike slammed into one of the poles, throwing us onto the
grass where we rolled. My body was able to break her fall, and she landed
right on my chest.
“Oomph!” I wailed as the wind was knocked out of me immediately.
“Tristian!” she shouted, slowly sitting up off my torso. “Oh my God!
Tristian!”
I couldn’t find the words to speak, sucking in air that wasn’t available
for the taking. She threw off her helmet with shaky hands and then
rummaged through my pockets to find my cell phone.
“No,” I wheezed, trying to catch my bearings.
“No? Are you insane? You’re hurt.”
I gasped, holding onto my chest. “I’m fine.”
“Fine? Oh my God!” She laid her hand on top of mine. “In and out,
okay? Slowly, just try to breathe.”
After what felt like an eternity, I began breathing normally.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I rasped, trying to sit up.
“You’re not fine. You took a hard fall. Tristian, you saved me. I landed
right on you.”
“Good thing you don’t weigh anything.”
She chuckled, despite the petrified expression on her beautiful face. “Let
me call—”
“No. It’ll only make things worse.”
“What if you broke something?”
“Just help me sit up.”
 “I don’t think we should move you.”
“Belle,” I sternly stated. “Just help me.”
“Fine,” she agreed. “How are we going to—”
“Let me see my phone.”
Once I was upright, I called the only person I trusted, my cousin, Caleb.
He was the same age as us, however, he attended another school. Rain
poured heavily as we waited for him, reminding me of another time, another
place, where I found refuge within myself.
I think Belle was talking to me, but I couldn’t make out what she was
saying. My mind was spinning out of control. Exactly how my bike just had,
and the irony wasn’t lost on me. I couldn’t control the memory that it evoked.
Little by little, it all came back to me.
My worst nightmare, and I was wide awake. At some point, I must have
taken off my helmet.
I came to as Caleb reprimanded, “What the fuck, man?” Yanking me
back to the present.
How much time had gone by?
“Can you stand?”
“Yeah, just help me.”
He laid my arm over his shoulders while Belle did the same with the
other.
After we were in his truck and out of the rain, Caleb scolded again,
“What the fuck were you thinking? You could’ve been killed!”
“Stop yelling. My head is pounding.”
He glanced back, took one look at Belle, and roared, “Are you fucking
crazy? If her parents find out she’s with you, do you have any idea what
they’ll do?”
She answered for me, “They won’t find out. I promise I won’t say a
word.”
“What are you guys doing together anyway?”
“Just drive.”
“Where?”
“Ummm…” she breathed out. “Just drive to my house. My parents are
out of town, and the only person who’s awake and still waiting for me is the
housekeeper, though she used to be my nanny. I’ll run inside and distract her.
You can help him up to my room. The elevator is by the front door. Go up to
the third floor, take a left, and it’s the last room at the end of hallway.”
 “I don’t think—”
“Caleb, it’s fine. I’ve been in there before.”
His gaze went from me to her. “What’s going on? Are you two
together? Dating?”
“No.” She shook her head. “We’re just friends.”
“Friends?” He jerked back. “Tristian, if Grandfather finds out your
friends with a Montgomery, he’ll—”
“Just drive and let me worry about him, okay?”
“Fuck, man! Why are you even driving a street bike to begin with?
Especially with what happened to your par—”
“Caleb!” I yelled, annoyed with all his questions. “Stop riding my ass
and just drive. I’ll explain later.”
He reluctantly sighed, doing as he was told.
Lucky for us, Belle’s plan worked.
From the second he helped me onto her bed, he warned, “You know
what Grandfather will do if he finds out about you two.”
I nodded.
“What are you doing? Why are you even friends with her?”
“The less you know the better.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t push me away like you do everyone else, Tristian.
I’m not the enemy. I’m just worried that you’re in way over your head.”
“I have it under control.”
“Have what under control?” The realization hit him fast and hard. “Holy
shit. Please don’t tell me you’re in love with her?”
“Alright, I won’t tell you.”
“Do you have a death wish?”
“Maybe.”
“Obviously, or why else would you be riding a street bike?”
“For fuck’s sake, man! Can you get off my dick for a minute? I know
what I’m doing. You can go now.”
“You’re so fucking stubborn.” He backed away. “This conversation
isn’t over.”
“Noted. If Grandfather asks, I crashed at your house tonight, okay? I
need you to cover for me. Now go.”
He shook his head in disappointment before he spun and left, fully
aware I’d win this argument. I closed my eyes, breathing a sigh of relief that
he was gone. I wasn’t sure how long I laid there, lost in my own personal hell
when Belle suddenly walked into her bedroom. Pain reliever in one hand and
an ice pack in the other.
Slowly, I sat up against her headboard, groaning out in pain.
“Here.” She opened the pill bottle, grabbing the water that was on her
nightstand and handed them to me. “These are my dad’s pain pills. He uses
them when his back is acting up. They’re strong, so only take one—”
I took three.
“Tristian!”
“What? Do you want me to be in pain?”
“I want you to be coherent.”
“I’m a big boy, kitten. I’ll be fine.”
I handed the glass back to her, and she sat it on her nightstand.
“Are you really okay?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Even if you weren’t okay, you wouldn’t tell me the truth, would you?”
“I don’t lie to you.”
“I find that hard to believe, but I’ll accept it for now.”
The look on her face was full of concern.
Confusion.
Longing.
Which had me questioning my resolve about how much I’d share with
her in that moment.

—Belle—

After I helped him get dressed in some of my brother’s clothes, I

changed into a hoodie and sweats. The uncomfortable silence hammered all
around me, tearing into my insecurities that it was a bad idea having him in
my bedroom with my parents not being home.
But what else was I supposed to do?
I couldn’t just leave him to face the consequences by himself. Although,
Tristian’s body was in the room with me, his mind was somewhere else
entirely.
He looked lost.
I’d never seen that look on anyone’s face before.
 The quietness was deafening, stirring me to ask, “You live with your
grandfather?”
His eyes locked with mine as I sat in front of him on my bed.
“I have since my parents died.”
“And when was that?”
He winced, it was quick, but I saw it.
“Never mind, we don’t have to tal—”
“I was six.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Tristian. You were just a little boy.”
“It made me a man.”
“No one should have to go through that. I couldn’t imagine what I’d do
if something happened to my parents.”
“You learn to adapt.”
“Can I ask what happened?”
He thought about it for a second. I didn’t think he’d reply, so when he
looked away, I felt as if he was reliving it all over again.
“It’s my first memory…”
My mouth parted, hanging on by a thread.
“Watching them die in front of me.”
I sucked in a breath, feeling his response in the pit of my stomach. My
heart immediately ached for him.
“He had all kinds of different bikes. It was his addiction. He collected
them.”
“The bikes that you’re riding. Are they his?”
“Yeah. It was the only possessions of his that my grandfather kept. He
knew how much they meant to him.”
Chalk it up to hormones, or maybe it was me desperately wanting to
form a connection with him. In that second, sitting in front of him, it felt like
I was the first person he’d shared this with. He’d exposed a side to him that
no one knew existed, possibly not even him.
It seemed like he needed to get out whatever was weighing on him. His
body shifted around as he abruptly looked deep into my eyes and searched
for something I couldn’t place. The only thing I could see was a war raging in
his stare. An internal battle was taking place of what was right and what was
wrong. It was sitting directly in front of him this whole time.
Me.
The serious expression on his face captivated me in a way I had never
experienced before, which only added to the plaguing emotions that were
wreaking havoc between us.
I waited on pins and needles, desperately wanting to know what
happened to them.
He didn’t make me wait too long, divulging, “The only thing I
remember before the crash was watching them ride off into the sunset. My
mom was on the back of my dad’s street bike while I was in the car behind
them. The chauffeur was driving me as we followed them. It started raining,
pouring like it was tonight. I don’t know how long we drove in the storm
because it all happened so fast. One minute they were in front of us, the next
my dad lost control of his bike. I blinked, and the bike flipped three times
until it finally stopped.”
I didn’t move.
I was barely breathing.
Not wanting to distract him from sharing this with me.
“Our driver slammed on his brakes, ordering me to stay in the car before
he ran to them. They weren’t moving. The cop said they died instantly. They
shouldn’t have been in any pain.”
“Tristian…”
"I watched them die in front of me, and all I kept thinking was how did
he lose control. He knew everything about street bikes. I didn’t understand
until tonight. I’m sorry, Belle. I didn’t want to realize it with you on the back
of his bike.”
His eyes were getting glossy, though he fought back the tears.
“After that, I became obsessed with motorcycles. Wanting to know
everything he did. If my grandfather knew I was into street bikes like his son
was, I don’t know what he’d do. He hates them. Arguing they are nothing but
death traps.”
“I can understand that.”
“It makes me feel closer to them, kitten. That’s why I ride. It’s the only
time I can feel them with me.”
“Yeah, I understand that too.”
“I’ve never told anyone this.”
I smiled a little. “Thank you for telling me.”
He nodded with so much sadness in his gaze. I couldn’t take it anymore.
It hurt too much to look at him.
“Do you trust me?”
 He nodded again.
I didn’t think twice about it, I stood and went right into my bathroom
and grabbed a few towels before I made my way back to him.
He looked at me with curiosity. “What are you doing?”
“I’m helping you the only way I know how.” Reaching for his arm, I
placed it over my shoulders. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“Not far. Just out to my balcony.”
“It’s still pouring out.”
“I know. That’s the point.”
We stood.
“Just trust me, okay? I know what I’m doing.”
Slowly, we walked out to my terrace. Under the pouring rain, I laid
down a couple towels by the railing before throwing a few over our heads.
“Kitten, what are you—”
“Sit down. We can lean against the railing so you’re not putting pressure
on your ribs.”
Once we were comfortable, he asked, “Why are we sitting in the rain
when we just got dry?”
I laid my head on his shoulder and replied, “It’s rain therapy. It washes
away the sadness.” Grabbing his hand, I held it on my lap, knowing he’d feel
a thousand times better after this. “I do this every time I’m sad, Tristian. I
swear it works.” I kissed his hand. “I don’t like seeing you sad.”
He didn’t say a word. The stillness was nice. I felt him kiss the top of
my head, and I smiled, aware that he was thanking me. We stayed out there
until the rain stopped.
However, our feelings for each other were now…

Full throttle.
 Chapter 16
—Belle—

Now

In a summer dress, I laid on the beach with my hand rubbing my belly

and looked up at the sky, watching the fluffy white clouds pass by. I thought
about how much my life had changed and what was yet to come. For some
reason, it all hit me today. We’d been in Tahiti for five days now with nine
days still left of our honeymoon.
We were married, trying to make a baby at all hours of the day. My
hand slid up and down my stomach, contemplating the possibility of already
being pregnant. Today was the first day the realization slammed into my
head.
What if I was pregnant? Would I be a good mother? Would he be a
good father? What kind of parents would we be? Did I want a girl or a boy?
More kids? How many?
The questions that arose in my mind were on an endless cycle of one
right after the other. People in relationships talked about these things during
the dating phase. Getting to know each other and what the other wanted for
their future. We skipped that whole stage, jumping headfirst into a marriage
of convenience. We weren’t strangers by any means, but in so many ways it
felt like we were.
A lot had changed in our lives in the last twenty years. At times, it felt
as if he was still the same boy I fell head over heels in love with.
A look.
A word.
A smile.
His scent.
His kiss.
His hands all over my body.
They were the same.
Only continuing to confuse me.
 At least we were on civil speaking terms. I couldn’t keep up with the
emotional highs and lows. The attraction for him was still there. There was
no hiding from it, seeing it for what it was. I hated being the reason there was
so much tension between us.
Which was why I started spending more time at the beach, away with
my thoughts. I’d picture myself with a baby in my arms, showing them how
to swim, walk, and talk. Then Tristian would appear in my fantasy, where we
were happy, laughing, in love…
For a moment, our life seemed perfect. Not filled with all this
complicated indecision of the future we might never have together. I never
imagined I’d be living a life that appeared to be someone else’s. Day in and
day out, I thought about Tristian.
Our baby.
Were they my family now?
The rumbling of a motorcycle pulled me away from my thoughts. I sat
up and gazed behind me as I heard the bike get closer to me. Stepping into
my white sneakers next, I stood and walked toward the street. There in front
of my eyes, the past and present collided with such a force I found it hard to
breathe.
Once Tristian noticed I was there, he leaned the street bike on the
kickstand and took off his helmet. With an intense stare, he left me
speechless. His gaze spoke volumes without having to say a word as he sat
there on the bike. For the first time, I welcomed the way he was gazing at me.
Almost like I was the same girl I was back then. As soon as his stare shifted
to my hand that was still on my belly, I swear I saw a glimmer of hope in his
eyes.
Was he envisioning the same thing I was?
Breaking our trancelike state, I questioned, “Where did the street bike
come from?”
He grinned. “I rented it for us. I thought I’d take my wife for a ride.”
I hid back a smile, moseying around the bike. “I’m not exactly dressed
for riding.”
“Never stopped you before.”
“She’s a beauty.” I nodded, unable to stop the satisfied expression on
my face. “A 2019 Kawasaki Z H2.”
He beamed, loving the fact that I was still obsessed with motorcycles.
“How many do you own these days?”
 “Like forty,” he replied. “Give or take.”
“How often do you ride?”
“Not as much as I’d like to.”
“I bet the chicks go crazy for you when you’re taking them for a ride
too.”
“No one has been on the back of any of my bikes, besides you.”
“You’re lying.”
“I don’t lie to you.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m not going to pretend that seeing you on
this bike doesn’t affect me.”
There was a permanent grin on his face. “Why do you think I rented it?”
“I see. So you want history to repeat itself?”
“If it involves you loving me again.”
“And how about you? Where do you stand on that?”
“I never stopped loving you, kitten.”
Did he just say he loved me?
“Come for a ride with me.”
With a smartass expression, I folded my arms over my chest. “How
about you come for a ride with me?”
He arched an eyebrow. “With you?”
“Oh, yes. This girl can ride now too.”
“No shit?”
“I learned in college.”
“Do I need to pay your instructor a little visit?”
“He’s married with three kids.”
“Good. I didn’t want to have to kill him.”
I shook my head, giggling.
“I miss that laugh, kitten. You remember how much you used to laugh
for me?”
“Amongst other things.”
“All bad?”
“Some good. Great, actually.”
“How many bikes do you own now?”
“About a handful.”
He got off the bike. “Alright, Belle Hawkins. Show me what you got.”
Grabbing the extra helmet from his hands, I put it on while I jumped on
the seat. Kicking the stand, I hit the accelerator and brakes at the same time,
causing the front tire to pop straight up into a perfect wheelie. I didn’t have to
look over at him to know he was standing tall and proud. Not wanting to lose
any momentum, I displayed all the tricks I knew like the back of my hand.
Sliding the bike toward him was my last performance, and I stopped inches
away from his feet.
He instantly started clapping. “Kitten, I’m impressed.”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love hearing him say that to me. Truth was,
I wanted to impress him. Anytime I’d ride around town, I’d think of him.
Even though I didn’t want to.
Even though I fought it.
Even though I hated him.
He was always there with me.
I had to remind myself he wasn’t the guy I thought he was, the one I
wholeheartedly believed I knew. I shook away the hurt, wanting to stay in the
moment with him this time.
Shifting to the back seat, I ordered, “Take me for a ride, Mr. Hawkins.”
He didn’t have to be told twice, hopping on. For the next hour, we drove
all over the island. It was amazing. Everything it used to be for us was still
there, breathing new life into our marriage. We were back to being those kids
again. The one’s who were wild and free. I loved every second of that
afternoon with him.
It was perfect.
He was perfect.
Veering off on a secluded road, he hit the kickstand and shut off the
engine. In one swift movement, he turned around and tugged me onto his lap.
My legs willingly straddled his waist, Instantaneously recalling all the times
we’d talk just like this.
“The more things change,” I stated,“ the more they stay the same.”
“You remember the last time you were on the back of my bike?”
“Hmm…” I played coy. “I’m not entirely sure. Maybe you should
refresh my memory.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
His eyes dilated as he gripped onto the back of my neck as he kissed my
lips. Clutching onto the side of my face with his other hand, he lightly bit my
bottom lip. His hands fell to my ass, gripping it nice and tight. The memory
of him never compared to real life. I moaned into his mouth, and he groaned
into mine. He fisted my hair by the nook of my neck while his other hand
glided down the side of my breast to the seam of my panties.
“Please,” I pleaded against his mouth, fully aware he’d love to hear me
beg for it.
He roughly jerked my hair back to look into my lust-filled glare. When
his fingers slid my panties over, I swallowed hard.
“Fuck.” He touched my pussy. “You’re so wet.”
I leaned in to kiss him again, but he pulled my hair back harder, urging
me to stay right where I was, spread wide open for him. It was only then I
realized he wanted to watch me fall apart from his skilled, precise fingers. I
swear I could have come from the powerful, greedy, loving way he was
staring at me. He rubbed back and forth over my clit, causing my body to
shudder from his firm, demanding touch.
When he slid two fingers inside of me, I breathed out, “Ahhhh.”
His lips parted like he was feeling everything I was, and all he was
doing was watching me fall over the edge for him. He worked me over,
finding my g-spot. Creating this ache, this passion, this mind-blowing
explosion all over my core.
I tried to keep my fluttering eyes open while he was fingering me
roughly.
“That feel good, kitten?”
“Yes,” I panted, completely at his mercy.
“Here?” he taunted, pushing harder against my sweet spot.
“Yes … please don’t stop…”
My back arched over the gas tank, allowing him to go faster and harder.
I felt warm all over with the uncontrollable desire to take away the throbbing
ache he was building in me.
“Do you remember how many times I used to fuck you on my bikes?”
“Yes,” I shamelessly moaned, ready to erupt.
“I was your first everything, kitten. There’s no coming back from that.
So tell me, how many men have you been with?”
I sucked in air, locking eyes with his predatory glare.
“Why does that matter?”
“You know it does to me.”
“Not many…” I rocked my hips against his fingers. “Oh God…”
“What number?”
“Tristian…” I could feel my core getting wetter. “Can we talk about this
later?”
 “You’re only honest when I’m inside of you.”
“That’s not true… Oh God… Go faster … harder…”
“Tell me, and I’ll give everything you’re begging me for.”
Having to confess, I panted, “Three.”
“And they had every part of you?”
“Jesus… Tristian … can you just—”
“Where did they touch and fuck you?”
“Not like you.”
“Did you come?”
“Not the way I do with you.”
“Want to know why?” He fingered me harder and faster. “I taught you
everything you like, what you love, what you need, what only I can give
you.”
“Can you just—”
“Can I just what, kitten? What can I do for my wife?”
I moaned, “Make me come, please…”
“One last question.”
I whimpered.
“Have you ever been in love with another man?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Good girl. Now come for me, kitten.”
My body erupted in a fit of spasms as my eyes rolled to the back of my
head and my breathing hitched, screaming out his name. He pulled me close,
wrapping my arms around his neck to kiss me and drowned out the loud
sounds escaping my mouth.
Biting my bottom lip again, he ordered, “Eyes on me.”
I opened my hooded gaze, trying to catch my bearings.
He took a long, hard look at me and spoke with conviction, “I’m going
to make you fall in love with me again.”
My eyes widened as he leaned back, unbuckled his belt, unzipped his
pants, and freed his cock. Grabbing my hips next, he lifted me up and
positioned himself at my opening.
“Yes…”
In one thrust, he was inside of me. I savored in the feel only he could
give me. His hands made their way down to my ass, guiding my movements,
finding a rhythm that drove me in a wild frenzy. I couldn't take it anymore.
Overpowered by the feelings he stirred all around me, I allowed the familiar
ache to take over.
He placed my face in between his hands and peered at me adoringly.
“No more bullshit between us, kitten.”
I came and he growled, “You’re going to let me back in.”
“You are in.”
He didn’t let up until he spewed his seed deep inside of me. “Not your
pussy, Belle. Your heart.”
I nodded, finally giving him what we both wanted.
Except, I silently prayed…

He wouldn’t break it this time.

 Chapter 17
—Tristian—

“Good morning, kitten,” I groaned from behind her, wrapping my arms

around her waist.
She was leaning against the railing that overlooked the water.
“If you’re hungry, I can make you something to eat.”
“Oh, I’m fucking starving.”
She tried turning around, but I caught her wrist.
“For you. I’m always starved for you.”
I could see it in her eyes.
The doubt.
The insecurity.
The resentment.
It was there, staring right at me.
Our marriage was weighing heavily on her mind. As much as I wanted
to remember the way she looked at me then, I paid extra attention to the way
she looked at me now.
Belle Montgomery had always been my biggest weakness, and at the
same time she was my greatest strength.
There were so many “ what-ifs” racing through my mind.
So many consequences and scenarios that could still happen.
So many fucking choices that could be right or wrong.
Unable to help myself, I reached over and caressed the side of her face.
She leaned into my embrace like she had been waiting for me to do so since
the second I walked out there with her.
Her eyes closed, melting into my touch.
One thing I was sure of in this second, her guard was slowly coming
down. Three days had passed since our bike adventure. She was beginning to
realize when I was with her, there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
“Tristian…”
My heart sped up, hearing my name roll off her tongue.
The smell and feel of her was all around me, making me burn with
desire to claim every last inch of her heart, body, and soul. I wanted to
capture this moment and hold onto it for as long as I could. I wanted to
remember her just like this.
For me.
Mine.
“Why aren’t you in my bed? I don’t like to wake up alone.”
Her eyes snapped open with so much emotion it almost knocked me on
my ass.
“When I wake up in your arms, I forget where I am in time. It’s like I’m
right back to being that sixteen-year-old girl.”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“We can’t live in the past.”
“Then be in the moment with me.”
“I’m trying to be.”
Her breathing hitched when my thumb pulled on her bottom lip. My
hand suddenly moved to grip the back of her neck and bring her toward me.
“You make me laugh, smile, and feel like I’m living again,” I confessed,
needing her to hear the truths I’d been living with. “You make me want to be
a better man. Do you have any idea how much you affect me? From your
eyes, to your ridiculous fucking giggle, to the way you calm me. You fill this
void, a hole in my heart that existed after my parents died. No one has ever
been able to come close to how I feel when you’re in my arms.” I paused to
let my words sink in. “For years I tried to break that hold you've always had
over me, but I couldn’t. And the truth is, kitten, I didn't want to let it go. I
didn't want to let you go. Because at the end of the day, I got to know what it
felt like to be in love with you, and I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
Her lips parted to say something.
“I’m taking you on a date today.”
“Tristi—”
“I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.”
Before she could reply, I kissed her. I devoured her, beckoning her lips
to open for me. She released a soft moan as my tongue slid into her mouth.
I’d always been a man of few words. To me, actions always spoke much
louder and clearer than any sentence ever could. Yet there I was, laying it all
out for her.
Word by word.
Sentence by sentence.
Making my thoughts and emotions known.
 Slowly easing back, I added, “Go get dressed. Wear something white for
me, and pack your bikini.” I pecked her mouth one last time before releasing
her.
She smiled and ran inside.
It didn't take her long to get ready. Within twenty minutes, she was on
the back of my bike. I drove us to a secluded waterfall where no one could
interrupt us. The older I got, the more I hated being around strangers.
“What was your major in college?” she asked out of nowhere, laying her
head in my lap while I leaned against a tree.
We were on a blanket, and she was wearing a tiny white bikini that left
very little to the imagination.
“A double bachelor in business and finances with a minor in
accounting.”
“Wow. Two bachelor degrees. That must have been a lot of studying.”
I nodded, kissing her hand. “What about you?”
“A master’s in business and a minor in marketing.”
“A master’s, huh?”
“I had to prove to my grandfather that I could handle his businesses.”
“When did you decide to go to work for him?”
“Pretty early on. Part of me always wanted to take over. How about
you?”
“When Caleb decided he didn’t want any part of the Hawkins dynasty, it
was passed down to me.”
“You didn’t want it?”
“I did, but not for the reasons you think.”
“Which are?”
“Money, power, control.”
She smirked. “Then what were your reasons?”
“I wanted to make my parents proud of me.”
A sudden sense of loss came over her gaze, but she recovered quickly.
“Say it.”
“I know you don’t like to talk about them, but they’d be super proud of
everything you’ve accomplished.”
“Especially proud that I married you.”
She ignored my statement. “What happened after college?”
“I worked my life away until you came back in it.”
“I think all the models on your arm would beg to differ, Mr. Hawkins.”
 “They were meaningless.”
“I’m sure they didn’t think that.”
“They knew what they were getting themselves into.”
“Because of the press?”
“Because I never lied about any expectations when it came to them.”
“You know you have a type. Always blonde hair, blue eyes.”
I lifted a piece of her hair. “Where do you think that stems from?”
She smiled. “You always know the right things to say.”
“It’s called honesty.”
“Okay, Mr. Honesty, how many kids do you want?”
I jerked back, surprised by her question.
“I mean, I should know what you anticipate from me.”
I didn’t hesitate in responding, “I want four.”
“Four?” Her eyes widened.
“I’m the only child. I’d love to have a big family with you.”
“I see that.”
“How many do you want?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never really thought about it. Let’s see how it goes
with one baby, and we can go from there, okay?” She swallowed hard,
licking her lips. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
“I’d like a baby girl who looks exactly like you.”
She blushed.
“How many girls and boys do you want?”
“Two of each.”
“I like that dynamic.”
Unable to hold back, I questioned, “Do you want to be pregnant?”
“I don’t have a choice. It’s in the contract.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “At first I wasn’t happy with the idea.”
“And now?”
“I keep finding myself envisioning a life with you.”
“What kind of life?”
“A happy one.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“In the last few days, I’ve caught myself rubbing my belly.”
“Like you are right now?”
She looked down at her hand that was on her stomach.
 “You’re going to be an amazing mother, Belle.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I don’t think I’m very maternal.”
“You’re the most loving person I know.”
She smirked. “You mean when I’m not being a brat to you?”
I grinned. “I just have to continue fucking it out of you.”
“You’re so romantic,” she sarcastically remarked. “What kinds of rules
do you want for our kids?”
“Our girls can’t date until they’re twenty-five.”
“Tristian!”
“Fine. Eighteen.”
“You’re as bad as my parents.”
“They were trying to keep you away from guys like me.”
“Look how well that turned out.”
I chuckled.
“What about our boys?”
“What about them?”
“Tristian,” she stated in a stern tone.
“What? They’re boys.”
“Oh my God! You are as bad as my parents.”
“I take back my answer about wanting a baby girl first.”
“Oh yeah? Why is that?”
“If she looks anything like you, I’m going to need all the help I can get
with keeping guys like me away from her.”
“Nice. So you’re going to have an army of boys for our daughter?”
“It’s for her protection.”
“I’m sure she’s going to love that.”
I grabbed her hands and pulled her to straddle my waist. “You sitting on
my lap is always so much better than anywhere else.”
“I don’t think it’s your lap I’m sitting on.”
I smiled. “I like talking about our kids with you.”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Me too.”
Unable to hold back, I questioned, “Do you think you’re pregnant?”
“It’s too early to tell.”
“How about you take a test before we leave the island?”
“Ummm … yeah, I can do that.”
I moved my hand from my hip to her stomach. “Whatever it is, I’ll
protect him or her regardless.”
 Our eyes locked.
“What if I’m not pregnant?”
“Then I’ll just have to fuck you in my office until you are.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “You mean you weren’t going to do that
anyway?”
In a determined voice, I countered, “I think you’re pregnant.”
“Is that right?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I always do everything right the first time.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Humble much?”
“Kitten, you know more than anyone I always get what I want.”
“At whose expense, Tristian?”
“Kit—”
“At some point, not now, but at some point, I need you to tell me why
you just left like that.”
It was my turn to inhale a deep breath. “Everything happened so fast at
your debutante ball.”
“I remember.”
“You were so fucking mad at me. I didn—”
“I was angrier after you left without even saying goodbye.”
“Given the choice, you think I would have left like that?”
“Choice?” Her eyebrows pinched together. “What do you mean by
that?”
“It was a long time ago. Why do you want to rehash the past when we
can’t change anything?”
“Because it’s staring me in the face every time I look at you. You broke
my heart, Tristian. And I need to know why, so I can work on forgiving you.”
“It’s not going to change anything, kitten. We’ve still lost twenty years
not being together.”
“Then why didn’t you come back for me?” Her eyes became glossy. “I
waited for you, every day, for years. I waited for you to come back to me.”
“Belle…”
“You know I didn’t just lose a boyfriend that night. I lost you as my best
friend too. I didn’t have anyone after you left. Do you understand how hard
that was for me? You took it all away without even explaining why.” She
couldn’t control her tears as they slid down her cheeks.
 I kissed them away, whispering, “I’m sorry, kitten. I’m so fucking
sorry.”
“I thought… I don’t know… It just didn’t feel like we were going to end
like that.”
“I know, but we had so much against us back then. You know that as
much as I do.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you pursue me? Why would you make
me fall in love with you?”
I shook my head. “I have no excuse for myself. The only thing I have
for you is my profound regret of what could have been if I had come back to
you.”
“Why did you leave me in the first place?”
“Trust me, I didn’t want to.”
“Then why did you?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what I’m saying. I left to protect you.”
“From what?”
Looking deep into her eyes, I declared…

“From the shitty decisions I made before I met you.”

 Chapter 18
—Tristian—

Despite our afternoon ending on an unpleasant note, the rest of the day
progressed nicely. After I promised I’d tell her the truth when I was ready,
she let it go. Which was enough to silence her insecurities for a little while.
Since I wanted to continue our date, I reserved us a table out on the beach
with music for a late dinner and drinks.
We laughed.
We drank.
She danced, and I watched with a drink in my hand.
“Come on, dance with me!”
I grabbed her arm and tugged her to my face. “Not when you’re dancing
for me.”
She smiled, beaming.
With a sway of her hips, she snapped her fingers and slowly rocked her
body in a circle until her ass was in my face. She got down low, and I took a
swig of whiskey to resist the urge to bite her luscious ass.
The crazy part about Belle was that she truly had no concept of how
much she governed a room. All eyes were on her. Men and women. There
was this energy that radiated off her. This confidence and sex appeal you
didn’t learn. It was something you were born with. She didn’t have to try. It
was just there.
It came so natural to her. Luring you in with a look…
A smile.
A slight movement in her body.
She was captivating. Exuding sexuality. A magnetic pull that forced you
in without even realizing it. In that moment, as much as I tried to ignore the
thoughts hovering, I couldn’t. I watched how she danced, how her tits
bounced, her ass shook, and how her hands worked their way up her body.
She was addicting.
Controlling my thoughts, my actions, my decisions.
Consuming every last part of me.
Especially how I wanted to end the night.
 With her on top of me.
“Come here.” I motioned with my finger.
She deviously smirked, and I pulled her toward me, making her straddle
my lap.
“You’re going to get us kicked out.”
“Faster I can take you home then.”
“Home? Is that what you think it is for me?”
“What else would it be?”
Her lips were close to my mouth.
Her perfect tits were pressed against my chest.
“I don’t know yet.”
“I know you do.”
She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to.
Her eyes spoke for themselves.
“You tired?”
She shook her head no.
“Good.”
By the time we walked into the bungalow, it was well after two in the
morning, and I still didn’t want the night to end. With her heels in her hand, I
guided her out to the balcony to lay on the loungers. Along the way, she
grabbed a bottle of wine off the counter.
The full moon was bright and daunting, illuminating the whole night
sky.
I laid on the lounger and brought her with me. She laid against my chest
as we both stared at the beauty ahead. A soft, classical melody filled the
humid air from her phone, adding to the ambiance between us as we looked
up at the stars.
She was the first to break the silence. “What kind of future do you see?”
“You mean other than you sitting on my face?”
“Tristian, be serious.”
“Who says I’m not?”
“What kind of future do you see with us that doesn’t involve your dirty
mouth?”
“But you used to love my dirty mouth. Especially what it did when it
was in between your legs.”
“I still love that.”
“Trust me, I’m fully aware.”
 She blushed. “Okay, enough with the dirty talk. Tell me what you
envision with us that doesn’t involve sex?”
“Oh, so this is a serious talk.”
“Maybe.”
“Alright, I’ll play your game. I see me trying to do whatever I need to,
so that you’re always happy and in love with me.”
“What else?”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you pregnant with my babies.”
“Pregnant women turn you on?”
“You turn me on.”
“You don’t know that. What if I gain fifty pounds?”
“More for me to love on.”
“What if I get stretch marks?”
“I’ll make sure to kiss every last one.”
“Really?”
“It’s all part of you making my babies. I couldn't ask for a better gift
than that.”
She smiled. “What if I have cravings at three a.m.?”
“We’ll make sure the chef knows that he works at all hours of the
night.”
“What if he’s on vacation?”
“I’ll make you whatever you’d like, but I can’t promise it’s going to
taste any good.”
“And if pregnancy doesn’t agree with me?”
“You can’t get any more hormonal than you currently are.”
“What if I do?”
“Then I’ll just have to continue fucking it right out of you.” I grinned.
“What if something is wrong and I have to be on bedrest, and we can’t
have sex?”
“Then your mouth is going to get really tired.”
She giggled.
“Are we done playing this game?”
“No. What do you want our children to be like?”
“Kind. Caring. Compassionate. Strong. Understanding. Loving.
Everything their mother is.”
She looked up at me through her lashes.
“They’ll never want for anything. I’ll make sure of it.”
 When I looked over at her again, her head was hung low, and she was
playing with the seam of her dress.
“Ask me.”
She took a deep breath, exhaling, “Did you miss me?”
“Everyday.”
Her cautious eyes met mine.
“I struggled with it, though.”
“With missing me?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Why?”
“I’ve felt this deep connection to you since the moment I first saw you.”
“I know. I felt it too.” Her eyes held nothing but sincerity and confusion,
suddenly making the air so damn thick between us. “I guess, I don’t know
what to make of all of it. I can see myself, not only with you but with a
family, and that scares the shit out of me,” she confessed.
Her vulnerability didn’t stop me from taking in the glow of her smooth,
tan skin from the sun, or the way her hair kept falling around her face, or the
rosy flush of her cheeks from the wine.
There was something in the way she was looking at me…
The concern.
The sadness.
The understanding in her eyes.
That had me sharing, “I never wanted to leave you.”
Her lips parted as a slight gasp escaped her mouth, waiting for me to go
on.
“Growing up like I did, not having parents, I felt alone a lot. Like the
world had forgotten about me. When you grow up in those circumstances,
where all I had were my father’s street bikes, it adds another element to what
could have been if they hadn’t died. You’re the first and last place that’s ever
felt like home to me, kitten. And I mean that from the bottom of my soul.”
Her big, blue eyes brimmed with tears.
I tugged her toward me. Her tight dress hiked up her toned thighs, and
without thinking, my hands immediately traveled up her legs.
They were as soft as they were inviting.
And I knew I was done for.
 —Belle—

Hearing him talk about me with so much devotion in his heart hurt in
ways I never expected. There I was, falling in love with him again. Only
feeling the fear I was going to get hurt by him. And even still, I wanted him.
All of him.
Even if it came with a price at my expense.
“You always had me questioning everything I believed in, and it hurt
me as much as it healed me,” he openly affirmed. “All I know is I want, need,
crave you in a way I’ve never had for anyone else. I can’t imagine a life
without you in it. I’m struggling with the reality that maybe you’ll never love
me the way you used to, but don’t think for one second I’ll ever stop trying to
make you feel that love again. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”
I didn’t know what to say. His beautiful words literally shocked me to
my core. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
So, I did what came natural with him, and I let my body speak for me.
Nudging my face into his chest, I kissed along his neck.
“Kitten,” he huskily groaned.
His fingers moved at a slow, torturous speed, up to where I really
yearned for him to touch me. My dress had ridden up my thighs, exposing the
pink lace panties he’d bought me.
“Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
I peeked up at him through my lashes, simply moaning,

“The same thing you do to me.”

 Chapter 19
—Belle—

“Kitten, what are you doing to me?”

He reached out to stroke the side of my cheek, and my face leaned into
his fingers. Shifting his hand to the nook of my neck, he gently pulled me
closer to him. His lips instantly found mine, and what started off as a peck
turned into something else entirely, taking on a life of its own.
Except, this kiss was much different from our last.
It was softer, like we were both exploring each other’s mouths for the
first time. Our tongues twisted as we tasted one another. It felt fucking
amazing.
He felt amazing.
But like anything with Tristian, it quickly moved on its own accord. He
pulled at the sides of my face, kissing me more aggressively than earlier. His
fingers moved down my chest in a slow, agonizing motion. I held my breath
as his rough hands cupped my breasts, softly kneading them while devouring
my mouth.
His hold was so expressive.
Emotional.
So damn loving.
It was as if he was making love to me, when all he was doing was
kissing and fondling my chest. Nothing could have prepared me for this
moment. Our legs entwined, rubbing together and moving all around the
lounger. He kissed my jawline, my neck, and deliberately pecked his way
back up to my lips. I no longer had any control over my movements, as he
gripped onto my waist and turned us both over. In seconds, I felt the weight
of him on top of me, and I swear to God, I could have come from that alone.
What was happening to me?
My breathing escalated when I realized what he was doing, but that
didn’t stop me from grinding my body against him.
“Fuck, kitten,” he rumbled in my mouth, pressing his hand against my
throat.
 I saw it.
Clear as day.
His eyes glazed over like a man possessed as he suddenly gripped my
wrists over my head. Although my wall wasn’t completely down, there was
something there that was coming back to me.
I didn’t know what it was until he disclosed, “I want to make love to
you, Belle.”
My heart soared hearing him say that.
Pulling down my dress, he sucked my nipple into his mouth. With that,
he pulled it down further until all I was left in was my panties and heels.
“Even after all these years, your body still responds the same way it
used to for me.”
“How was that?”
“With need. An ache I can only soothe for you.”
I sucked in a breath, turned on by his dark, hooded eyes taking me in. I
would never forget the raspy growl that erupted from his chest. It was full of
emotion, mixed with pure lust. Slowly, he slid my panties down my ass and
legs, barely touching my skin but just enough to where it left goosebumps in
his wake. My thighs clenched in anticipation for what he was going to do to
me next.
“Spread your legs for me, kitten.”
I smirked, doing as I was told. His finger trailed along my slit, feeling
much more exposed than I had before.
“You have the prettiest fucking pussy.”
“You’ve seen plenty, so I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He chuckled. “You’re all pink, and warm, and so fucking delicious.
Nobody tastes like my wife.”

—Tristian—

Our connection was building to the point it was right now. I shared
everything beating in my heart, and now I wanted to show her what it was
like to be with a man who knew her inside and out.
No matter what.
Her pleasure was mine to own.
 “The taste of you, the smell of you, the feel of you, nothing compares to
you.”
Gently, my hands roamed up her bare thighs, never taking my eyes off
her beautiful face.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Her legs trembled.
Her body shook.
Her hips swayed without even realizing she was doing so.
“You’re my sweet, feisty kitten.”
“Is that where your nickname for me comes from?”
“Yes. I saw you way before you think I did.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“When?”
“If I tell you, you can’t get mad at me.”
“That’s not a very good introduction.”
“Take it or leave it.”
She zeroed in on me. “You better not make me regret this, but okay. I
promise I won’t get mad.”
“Do you remember the night I told you my parents died?”
“Of course.”
“We were so young, Belle. The last thing I wanted to do was confuse
you more than I already had at that point.”
“Alright…”
“My parents weren’t my first memory like I initially said.”
Her mouth parted, waiting for my confession.
I didn’t make her wait long, admitting, “You were.”
She jerked back. “What?”
“I didn’t realize it until later. After I watched my parents die, my
grandfather insisted I needed to go to therapy to work through the trauma it
may have caused. I was eleven at the time, and I was angry a lot. Even back
then, I had a temper. During one of the sessions, the doctor suggested I think
back on a memory that would calm me anytime I felt rage. He asked me to
close my eyes and follow the sound of his voice, so I did. The first image I
saw was your face.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“The day they died, I saw you for the first time. It was probably hours
before the accident actually happened. The window was down to the SUV
you were being driven in. You looked completely captivated by the bikers
that we’d just stumbled upon. I remember your blonde curls were blowing in
the wind with your big, bright blue eyes utterly enamored by them. I couldn’t
take my eyes off you.”
She rasped, “Oh my God, Tristian.”
“I thought maybe my mind had made it up, like I was seeing an angel
who wasn’t really there. Years later, I saw you again. I was fourteen, walking
out of a store, and you were once again entranced by the street bikes that
were parked on the side of the road. It was only then I realized you weren’t a
dream at all. A kitten meowing at your feet pulled your attention to it instead.
You picked it up and left.”
“That’s where your nickname came from?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“My parents weren’t happy I brought a kitten home, but they let me
keep it outside. It eventually ran away, though.”
“That’s the only time I’ve ever lied to you.”
“How can I be mad about that? Watching those bikes that day, it was
my first memory, Tristian. Seeing your dad drive with your mom on the back
was my first memory.”
“We were always destined to be together.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Sometimes words aren’t needed.”
Our eyes connected.
What started off tender became urgent and demanding. I got down on
my knees, growling, “Let me love you.”
The second I sucked her clit into my mouth, she moaned and her head
fell back.
She was salty.
Sweet.
Fucking delicious.
I stuck my tongue into her pussy as far as it would go before sliding two
fingers inside of her.
Up.
Down.
Side to side.
I knew her body more than she did. Within minutes, she was coming in
my mouth.
“Tristian…”
My dick throbbed as I unzipped my slacks and pulled it out. Instantly
stroking it up and down as she watched with dark hooded eyes. I’d never tire
of watching her come undone.
She was fucking breathtaking.
Letting her rest for a moment, I wiped my mouth with the back of my
hand, licking the rest of her come from my lips. I savored it in my mouth for
as long as I could. Grabbing her leg, I angled it upward and bent her knee to
have her foot rest on my back. In one swift movement, I laid on top of her
with one hand gripping the nook of her neck, while the other held onto the
back railing of the lounger.
I felt her dampness on the head of my cock, and little by little I thrust
into her pussy while she exhaled and gripped my dick.
“Open up for me. Take it. Take it so fucking deep that you don’t know
where I end and you begin.”
The feel of her cunt.
The taste of her come.
The smell of her arousal.
“Because that’s what we are. There is no me without you, and soon
you’ll be growing our perfect baby inside of you.”
Once I filled her, I rested my forehead on hers, and we locked eyes.
“You feel that, kitten? The way you’re made to take my cock…”
My mind was reeling with so many emotions, I couldn’t keep up. I
wasn’t used to the tailspin that was Belle Montgomery Hawkins. There was
so much I wanted to say, but in that moment, it didn’t matter because we
were lost in each other. I wanted to remember her just this way, always. Her
long blonde curls spread all over the lounger and her cheeks were slightly
flushed from the blush crept down her neck. Her lips were swollen from my
touch, and her serene eyes glazed over.
So beautiful.
So captivating.
Everything I didn’t know I could have again.
I loved seeing every emotion I felt through her gaze as I placed a soft
kiss on the pulse of her neck, loving the feel of it beating against my lips. Her
dark blue eyes watched me adoringly as I took what I ached for.
What she provided.
 I peered up at her, and she shyly smiled while I kissed my way down to
her breasts, taking her perfect round nipple into my mouth and making her
moan.
“Tristian...”
Tight.
Wet.
Warm.
I could have come right then and there, but I wanted to feel more of her.
Kissing my way back up to her lips, I looked deep into her eyes again.
Struggling with the words, “I love you,” on my breath, so instead, I
murmured, “You’re my first memory, and I want you to be my last.”
Her eyes watered, taking in what I’d just lovingly expressed. We
passionately kissed as I sunk as far as I could inside of her.
Molding us into one person.
She wrapped her legs around my lower back and hugged my neck,
bringing me closer to her. As I felt her pussy clench, she sunk her claws into
my shoulder, holding me closer to her. I growled in her ear, thrusting harder,
bringing us closer to the edge.
“That’s it, kitten. Sink your claws into me like they sunk into my heart
all those years ago.”
Our mouths fused together the entire time, unable to get enough of one
another. It seemed like hours had passed and the whole world was left behind
us.
Where there was no history.
No past.
No demons on my back.
Where all that was left was us and our future.
“You’re making it easy to fall back in love with you.”
It was all I needed to hear. I thrust in and out a few more times, and it
felt so fucking good. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I came deep inside of
her, aware I couldn’t get any deeper if I tried.
Knowing all along…
I loved her too.
“You feel so fucking good. Take it all. Don’t waste a single drop of my
come inside of you.”
I stayed there for a minute, and as I slowly pulled myself out of her, I
looked down and saw our come mixed together. Some leaked out onto the
lounger, and I didn’t think twice about it as I slid my fingers into her pussy,
putting my come back inside of her.

Where it belonged all along.

 Chapter 20
—Belle—

Then: One month later

After a month of Chase ghosting me, he finally logged in to our chat. As

soon as I saw his name appear on my screen, I messaged him.
Rebel Rider: Why did you stand me up?
The message bubble instantly popped up on the screen. At least he was
replying, but I never expected him to call me out.
Full Throttle: I saw the way you were looking at Tristian and the
cheerleader. There’s more going on between the two of you than you’re
willing to admit.
Rebel Rider: I told you I was confused about him.
Full Throttle: And now?
Before I could talk myself out of it, I confessed.
Rebel Rider: I think I’m falling for him.
Full Throttle: You think?
Rebel Rider: I know.
Full Throttle: And where does that leave us?
Rebel Rider: I’m not sure.
Full Throttle: Sounds like you are to me.
Rebel Rider: What do you want me to say? Things have changed
with him. At first, I thought he was an asshole. I mean, he still is one, but
there’s so much more to him than that. He hides his true personality
from everyone, though. He’s confided in me, and I can’t turn my back on
him. It’s like we’re connected in this crazy way, and it happened so fast.
I wasn’t expecting it, but now, I don’t know how to live without it.
Without him.
Full Throttle: It doesn’t sound like you’re falling for him, Belle.
You’ve already fallen. Are you in love with him?
I bit my lower lip, answering.
 Rebel Rider: He makes it hard not to be.
The next thing I knew, he logged off, and my heart sank to the floor. I
didn’t want to lie or hurt him. I couldn’t believe this was happening when I
never expected any of it to begin with. If I hadn’t logged on while I waited
for Erica to pick me up for a party, who knew when I’d speak to him again.
I shook my head, disappointed in myself. I wasn’t a mean girl. I didn’t
hurt people or lead them on. I hated that this was happening, and there was
nothing I could do to stop it. Tristian and I were spending more time together.
He’d sneak into my bedroom almost every night. Sometimes he’d wake me
up with his cold hands wrapping around my stomach. Other times, I stayed
awake and waiting for him, and we’d spend the whole night talking.
There was so much more to Tristian than met the eye. He was sweet,
funny, and caring. Always eager to know every last thing about me, and the
feeling was very much mutual. This was the first time in my life I felt as if I
had a best friend. I didn’t want to let that go.
I didn’t want to let him go.
The less I spoke to Chase, the easier it was to allow myself to truly fall
for Tristian Hawkins.
My bully had become my everything, and it surpassed our family
rivalry.
The sound of Erica’s horn honking brought my attention back to the
present. I grabbed my purse before making my way down the stairs.
“Belle,” Grandfather announced at the bottom of the steps, catching me
off guard. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
I smiled, kissing his cheek. “Erica and I are going to dinner and a
movie,” I lied, feeling bad that I was.
“Erica Peters?”
“Yes. How do you—”
“I do business with her father. They’re a well-respected family in our
community, Belle. It pleases me you’ve made friends with her. As I always
say, you are who you hang out with.”
“Right…”
“And Tristian?”
I resisted the urge to react. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve managed to stay away from him?”
I nodded. “Of course, Grandfather.”
He swept my hair behind my ear. “Keep it that way. That boy is nothing
but trouble. Rumor has it, his grandfather is having a hard time with him.”
“He is? Why?”
“The less you know, the better.” He kissed my forehead. “Have fun with
Erica.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Grandfather had unknowingly
disclosed the entire drive to the party.
What did he mean by that? What was Tristian doing? Had his
grandfather found out about us?
Question after question assaulted my mind. It seemed like time simply
flew by. One minute, I was sitting in Erica’s car, and the next, I was at the
party talking to Travis about the latest slasher flick.
“Let’s play spin the bottle!” Kristi shouted, bringing our attention over
to her. She was the one throwing the party. Her parents were out of town.
“Aren’t we a little old to be playing this game?” Travis asked as we
walked over to her.
“Who cares! I’ll go first!” She spun it, landing right on Travis.
“Get your ass over here.” He smiled.
She smirked, sashaying over to him. She threw her arms around his neck
and remarked, “And you said we were too old for this game,” before she laid
one on him.
I was about to step back and go to the bathroom, but Erica chimed in,
“You’re next, Belle.”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “I’m not playing.”
“You have to!” she added. “Live a little, and spin the bottle.”
“I’m not really a spin-the-bottle kind of girl.”
“More reason for you to play!” She spun it. “Here, I’ll do it for you.”
“Eric—”
My eyes shot to where the bottle landed. My wide eyes locked stares
with the guy I least expected.
Tristian.
I hadn’t seen him until now. He was sitting on the kitchen counter with
a beer in his hand, his harem of cheerleaders circling him and doting on his
every word. Jealously instantly coursed through my veins. His inquisitive
gaze didn’t leave my face as he started walking toward me from across the
room.
He wouldn’t… Not in front of all these people.
With each step that brought him closer to my mouth, the more I felt my
grandfather’s words tearing through my mind: “Stay away from him.”
Why did I feel like I was suddenly committing a crime?
I blinked, and it was three, two, one…
Tristian hovered above my body.
I licked my lips.
He grinned. “Getting them ready for me, kitten?”
I nervously chuckled.
In one slow movement, he gripped the back of my neck and tugged me
toward him.
I closed my eyes. I had to.
The scent of him governed my senses as his breath blew against my lips.
The second I felt his mouth on mine, my grandfather’s voice vanished like it
was never there to begin with.
Ever so lightly, he pecked my lips, and I followed his lead. Never had
we kissed quite like this. Our tongues weren’t touching, but it still felt like
the most intimate kiss. He teased me with the tip of his tongue, gliding it all
along the outline of my pouty mouth. Our movements were in sync with one
another.
It was easy.
Natural.
In front of all these people from our school.
He pecked me one last time, and then he rested his forehead against
mine. My pulse quickened, anxious for what was to come.
“And they’re supposed to hate each other!” Kristi yelled, breaking my
trancelike state.
Immediately, I stepped away from him, and my hand flew to my mouth.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Tristian warned in a dominant tone, knowing
I was about to run.
I did.
I ran out of that party, scared of the consequences of his rash decision.
I barely made it out the door before he gripped my wrist, yanking me
against his hard chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I lost it.
Suddenly pissed.
Pushing him, I roared, “Isn’t it obvious? Away from you!”
He jerked back as his face blanched with a hurtful expression.
 “How could you do that? How could you kiss me in front of everyone?”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a game.”
“It’s not just a game, Tristian! None of this is a game to me! If my
family finds out you kissed me, I’ll be lucky if they ever let me leave the
house again.”
The realization hit him, and he reached for me. “Fuck, kitten, I wasn’t
thinking. Or maybe I was, and I just don’t care what they want anymore.”
“You don’t care that they’ll pull me right out of school?”
“Of course, I do, but I’m over hiding. What’s the worst that could
happen if they find out about us?”
“Tristian, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Actually, I do.”
“Is it worth risking me not being in your life? Maybe nothing will
happen to you. You’ll get a slap on the hand, and that’ll be the end of it.
However, for me… I know that they’ll do whatever they can in their power to
keep me away from you.”
“Why am I so bad?”
“You’re a Hawkins. That’s all that matters to them.”
“So what, Belle? What’s your solution? Continue pretending that I’m
not sleeping in your bed almost every night?”
“I don’t know what the right or wrong answer is, but what I do know is I
don’t want to lose you to them. And what you just did in there jeopardized
everything between us, Tristian.”
“You know what I want.”
“Tristi—”
“You, kitten. I want you! In public. In private.” He gripped the sides of
my face, staring deep into my eyes. “Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. That’s
what I want.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if we can ever have that.”
“The fuck we can’t! How do we know if we don’t try?”
“What if we come clean and that’s the end of it? That’s the end of us?”
“I don’t give a shit anymore. I’ll claim you in front of our school, in
front of this whole damn town if I have to! You’re mine! Our families are just
going to have to accept that. I don’t give a flying fuck about their bullshit
rivalry that has nothing to do with us.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. What about your grandfather?
Rumor has it you’re already on thin ice with him.”
 He narrowed his gaze. “Who told you that?”
“My grandfather. After he told me to stay away from you because
you’re nothing but trouble. What did you do? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Don’t worry about it. It doesn’t concern you.”
“Why does everyone keep treating me like a little girl?”
His determination held me captive.
He was holding me captive.
“Are you in trouble? Does he know you’re riding your dad’s bikes?”
He didn’t say a word, but his silence was deafening, to say the least. I so
desperately wanted to give in to him. I craved all the things he craved. I’d
love nothing more than to hold his hand and kiss him whenever I felt like it.
Though, that future might not be in the cards for us, and it was the hardest
pill to swallow.
From day one, I was told to stay away from him. They should have
known better. When you ordered someone not to do something, odds were,
they were going to do it anyway, no matter the outcome. I was constantly on
pins and needles, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Now, there we were…
Lost.
Shaking away the emotions, I removed his hands from my face. “I
should go.” He stepped toward me, but I placed my hand up in the air to stop
him. “And you need to let me.”
I was unable to control my feelings as they laid at his feet. Mine moved
on their own accord as I called a cab that arrived three minutes later. It was
past nine when I arrived home. My parents were at some charity event
downtown for the weekend. My dad was always working, and my mom had
gone with him. Especially now that I was older and could fend for myself.
I loved that about them.
Always together.
Never apart.
The older I became, the more I hoped I’d have what they did one day.
I took off my dress, hanging it on the hanger before letting down my
hair. I changed into a tank and panties and jumped into bed, just wanting to
forget the whole night all together.
I don’t know how long I was asleep when I felt my bed dip. Thinking I
was dreaming about Tristian like I usually did, I allowed my thoughts to take
over. At least in my dreams, I didn’t have to worry about our families.
 What felt like seconds later, my panties slid to the side. This wasn’t the
first time I was having an intimate dream about him. They were becoming
almost a nightly thing.
I sucked in a breath when I felt his tongue on my core, moaning out his
name, “Tristian…”
“I’m sorry, kitten,” he rasped. “I’m going to make it up to you.”
The moment I felt him suck, my eyes popped open. Coming face to face
with the guy I least expected…
For the second time that night.
 Chapter 21
—Belle—

“What are you doing?”

“Exactly what it looks like. Let me make you feel good, kitten.”
“I’ve never—”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry about earlier. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking. It won’t happen
again.”
My chest rose and fell with each rapid intake of breath. “I’m sorry too. I
shouldn’t have turned on you. We’re in this together until the end.”
“I don’t want us to end, and I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep
you in my life. If we have to keep this a secret until graduation, then so be it.
I won’t lose you too. I can’t.”
I grimaced. He’d already lost so much in his short life. Hearing him
express that to me was like a knife to my heart.
“Do you forgive me?”
I nodded, trying to find the courage to tell him to keep going.
“You’re beautiful, Belle. So fucking beautiful.”
“You are too.”
“Can I make you feel good, kitten?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, coaxing, “Please do.”

—Tristian—

Her eyes widened, beckoning me to continue down this uncharted

territory between us. With my stare focused solely on her pretty face, I
sucked her nub into my mouth while my hand caressed her breast, leaving her
quivering beneath me. Chills ran up and down my spine as I groaned in
satisfaction of having her this way for the first time.
I didn’t know what else I could do to make it right. Other than to soothe
the ache I created all the time. Her back arched off the bed, wanting more,
and I happily obliged. She sucked in her bottom lip, concealing the moan that
was about to escape.
It was a memory I’d take to the grave.
Devouring her this way.
I stayed there with my face in between her legs until she was coming
down my throat.
“Holy shit…” she breathed out, riding the high I built. “Where did you
learn how to do that?”
I chuckled, crawling my way up to her face. “Belle Montgomery, you
have no idea what I can do to you.”
She whispered, “Show me.”
“Show you, huh? What does my girl want that only I can give her?”
“You. I want all of you.”
Rubbing my lips over hers, I murmured, “I didn’t come here for that.”
“I know.”
“I mean it. I know what people say about me at school, but I need you to
know, I haven’t been with anyone since we met.” I could read her curious
expression. “Ask.”
She hesitated for a second. “How many girls have you been with?”
“Not as many as you think.”
“Which is?”
“Nobody mattered until you, kitten. Everyone before you aren’t even a
memory for me. They’re meaningless.”
“And me?”
“You’re everything.”
“Prove it.”
“Kitten…” I softly kissed her lips.
“No more talking, just be with me. Just you and me. Nothing else
matters right now.”
“So no bedtime? No tucking you in?”
“Sleep isn’t exactly what I had in mind.” She shyly smiled. “Touch me,
please.”
I growled into her mouth, slipping my tongue past her parting lips. She
wrapped her legs around my waist and her arms quickly followed, doing the
same around my neck. I gripped the back of hers, bringing us closer but still
not nearly close enough.
 Gently, I kissed her, loving the feel of her tongue in my mouth. Pulling
back a little, I rested my forehead on hers to look into her eyes. It crippled me
in ways I never thought possible. There was a hunger in her glare I couldn’t
place. I was barely touching her, and yet she still felt me all over.
Both of us were panting.
Our breathing mirroring one another’s.
Our heart rates escalating higher and higher, beating beside each other.
So intense.
So consuming.
So mind-blowing.
In that second, in that minute, in that hour…
She. Loved. Me.
And I loved her too.
She touched the pulse on my neck, trailed down to my heart, and past
my taut abs as she reached for my belt. The warmth and velvetiness of her
skin made my cock twitch, a feeling only she ignited within me.
She gasped when I unexpectedly gripped her hand, stopping her. “Are
you sure?”
Before I could assure her, tell her what I felt so deeply in my heart, tell
her how much she meant to me, how much she’d always meant to me…
I spoke the truth, “I can’t stay away from you, Belle. I love you. I’m in
love with you.”
With wide eyes, she whispered, “I love you too.”
I let go of her hand and she unclasped my belt, unbuttoned my jeans,
and then lowered the zipper. Before she could touch me where I really
wanted her to, where I had been craving since the second I saw her, I moved
her hand away.
“This isn’t about me. It’s about you. Let me take care of you.”
Her gaze set me on fire, and my heart kicked into overdrive. I loved the
way she looked at me. No one had ever looked at me the way she did.
Everyone usually expected something out of me. I could never get away from
it. It was always there, looming over me.
She made me feel an emotion I hadn’t felt since my parents died. She
had my heart in her hands to do with as she pleased. I knew right then and
there I’d never be able to go without her.
Licking my lips, I leaned in to kiss her. The second my tongue touched
hers, the world faded away, and it was just us. My body fell forward, pushing
her further into the mattress. Her legs spread wider, and I readily laid in
between them, placing all my weight on my arms that were now cradling her
face. The room was dim, but I could feel her everywhere and all at once.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, kitten. So damn beautiful,” I groaned as I
placed soft kisses down her cleavage.
She lightly moaned in response, and it earned her a forceful yet tender
caress of my hand against her core. I manipulated her bundle of nerves and
within minutes her legs started to shake, and she couldn’t keep her eyes open.
I wanted to memorize her body, spending hours upon hours exploring it until
I memorized every last curve.
I kissed her again, giving her exactly what she craved as I placed the tip
of my dick at her opening.
“I don’t have a condom, and I’ve never gone bare back before.”
“It’s fine. I trust you. I’m on the pill.”
I arched an eyebrow.
“Oh! It’s not for that. My cycle is all messed up, and my doctor
suggested it to help stabilize, you know…”
It was all I needed to hear.
Not breaking our kiss and eye contact, she moved her hips, beckoning
me to keep going. I still hadn’t moved my fingers from playing with her
pussy, wanting her as ready as possible before I thrust deep inside of her. My
fingers played her over-stimulated nub, and seconds later, I slowly eased my
way inside of her. The sensation of my fingers was replaced with the force of
my penetration.
I was done for.
There would be no coming back from her.
She. Was. Mine.
“Are you okay?” I groaned into her mouth.
“Mmm hmm…”
“You’re so fucking tight, so fucking good. Your pussy was made for
me, kitten.”
Nothing compared or even came close to the feeling of her, to the
sensations that only she stirred within me. This was more than just sex, more
than just two bodies coming together, more than anything I’d ever
experienced before.
Mine.
I patiently slid inside of her, inch by inch, taking her slowly and
cherishing her the way she deserved to be cherished, the way I ached to do
for so damn long.
Her back arched subtly.
“Almost there, kitten.” I thrust in a little more. “I love you,” I reminded,
wanting to give her some comfort.
“Mmmm…” was all she could reply.
I took a moment when I was fully inside of her, consumed with the feel
of Belle Montgomery for the first time.
“Eyes on me.”
Her eyes fluttered open.
“There’s my girl.”
I moved my fingers faster against her clit while gradually thrusting in
and out. Kissing the tip of her nose, I thrust a little faster.
A little harder.
“You feel that?” I growled into her mouth. “You feel me?”
Her breathing elevated, and I knew I was hitting her sweet spot as I
gently grabbed the back of her neck to keep our eyes locked. My forehead
hovered above hers as we caught our breaths, trying to find a unison rhythm.
My thrusts became harder.
Rougher.
Her body responded to everything I was giving her.
Everything I was taking…
Our bodies moved like we were made for each other.
Her eyes dilated in pleasure but also in pain, and I immediately lapped
at her breasts, unable to get enough of her.
“Tristian,” she breathed out, and I swear my cock got harder.
I moved back up to her face, and our mouths parted as we both panted
profusely. I was unable to control the thoughts that were wreaking havoc on
my mind, desperately trying to cling to every sensation of our skin-on-skin
contact. I felt myself start to come apart, and she was right there with me.
“I love you,” she repeated, climaxing all down my shaft and taking me
right over with her.
I shook with my release and passionately claimed her mouth again. She
returned every ounce of emotion I gave her. We stayed like that for I don’t
know how long. I kissed all around her face, her neck, and her breasts before
I got up to go to the bathroom. Bringing a wet hand towel back with me, I
grabbed her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the bed.
 She shrieked, trying to cover herself. “What are you doing?”
“I’m loving you, kitten.”
I cleaned her up and then helped her strip her bed. I’d take the sheets
with me to throw them out. She slept in my arms, and when morning came, I
left.
Except…
My heart and soul stayed right there with her.
Where it belonged.
 Chapter 22
—Belle—

Then: Eight months later

My debutante ball was next month, and my mom was on my butt to

figure out what kind of gown I wanted. We decided the theme would be
masquerade even though it wasn’t the standard debutante ball. If they wanted
me to have a ball to officially introduce me to society, whatever that meant,
then I was going to make it as unique as possible.
My mom was at a charity event for the day, but she arranged for the
chauffeur to drive me around town so that I’d find a style of dress I wanted to
have made. Of course, it had to be custom made. My family wouldn’t have it
any other way.
Only the best for their little girl.
Despite almost being seventeen, they still treated me like a child, and I
hated that more than anything. I didn’t feel like a kid. Not with everything
Tristian had done to my body. The number of times we had sex on his street
bike was astounding. The fact that we could even do it on his bike was
completely unexpected. However, that was how things were with him.
Spontaneous and exciting.
In the last eight months, we’d truly become best friends in every way,
shape, and form. There wasn’t much we didn’t do together. I spent all of my
free time with him. Nobody knew about us. We were each other’s best kept
secrets. He basically snuck into my room every night to sleep in my bed. I
don’t know how he was getting away with it, but he always told me to not
worry about it. His grandfather didn’t pry into his life like that. Tristian was
almost an adult.
Thinking of him getting caught reminded me of the night my mom
unexpectedly walked into my room with him there about a month ago.
The sound of the leaves rustling through my window caught my
attention. As soon as I saw his handsome face, I smiled.
 “Isn’t it a little early for you to be sneaking into my bedroom?”
He grinned as he stepped onto the wood flooring. “I couldn’t wait any
longer.”
“I just saw you at school.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t enough. I can’t do this at school.”
Before I could respond, he kissed me. Making me giggle.
“Don’t get all cocky, Tristian. That’s how you can get caught.”
“I’m not worried about it.”
“You’re never worried about anything.”
“That’s not true. I worry about you all the time.”
“What is there to worry about?”
“I know you don’t realize how fucking gorgeous you are, but I see the
way guys look at you at school. It takes everything inside of me not to throw
them through a wall.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“You underestimate how beautiful you are. It’s one of my favorite things
about you.”
“Oh! I like this game. What are your other favorites?”
“Mmmm…” he hummed, leaning forward. His weight pushed me back
onto the bed with him hovering above me. “I love your lips.” He kissed me
again, making me smile. “Especially when their wrapped around my cock.”
“Tristian!” I blushed.
“What?” He deviously grinned. “You’ve sucked my dick too many times
to still blush like that, kitten.”
I shook my head, feeling my cheeks burn redder. “And what else?”
“I love your smile. Your heart. Your kindness. I love how smart you are.
I know one day you’ll do big things with your life.”
I scoffed out, “Yeah, I’m not so sure about that. If my family has
anything—”
“Fuck them.”
“Tristian…”
“I’m serious. You can do anything you put your mind to. They don’t
dictate your future, Belle. They’re just making you think they can. At some
point, you’re going to have to figure out what you want for your life and then
go for it.”
“My grandfather is old school. He’d never hand down the business to
me. It’s a man’s world.”
 “Kitten.” He pecked the tip of my nose. “If that’s what you want, then
all you have to do is prove to him that you’re the most qualified to take his
throne. At the end of the day, he’s a businessman, and competence is what he
wants.”
“I guess I never thought of it that way.”
“Well, start thinking about it. I think you’d look sexy as fuck as a
CEO.”
“And you? What do you want for your future?”
He grinned again. “You.”
“Have I ever told you you’re the sweetest guy?”
“Once or twice, but don’t go spreading that around. I have a reputation
to uphold.”
I laughed. “Other than me, what do you want?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t like thinking about the future. So much can
happen that we have no control over.”
I knew he was referring to his parents dying suddenly. As much as he
tried to pretend that he no longer grieved their passing, it was very much
alive and present in his daily life.
“Well,” I exclaimed, pulling on his collared shirt. “I think you’d look
quite handsome wearing a three-piece suit, sitting in a nice, expensive office
in your grandfather’s building. The title CEO on the door. What do you think
about that?”
“I’ll tell you what, the day you start working for your grandfather, I’ll
consider working for mine. Deal?”
I stuck out my hand to shake his. “Deal.”
He shoved my hand away, kissing my neck instead. “Let’s seal it with
my dick inside you.”
“Tristian,” I giggled, hiding my neck from him.
He was about to reply, but the door to my bedroom abruptly opened. I
always locked it, but since he showed up early, I didn’t have the chance to.
He jolted off me and immediately fell to the floor in a hard thud.
“Mom!” I jumped onto the ground, playing it off like I was the one who
made that noise.
She cocked her head to the side. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, pulling myself up off the floor. “You just scared me.”
“Darling, I’m sorry. I was just coming up here to remind you that your
father and I will be in Savannah this weekend for a conference. Would you
like to join us? We could do some shopping. Maybe look for your debutante
dress inspiration?”
“Ummm…” I glanced down at the ground, and Tristian pressed his
fingers in a V around his mouth, his tongue sticking in between as he shook
his head no.
I stifled a laugh at the oral sex gesture. “I actually have plans with
Erica, but maybe next weekend?”
“That’d be lovely.” She walked toward me, but I closed the distance
between us instead.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.” She kissed my forehead and left.
My hand flew to my chest as I locked the door behind her. Tristian stood
up and smiled wide.
“You’re becoming quite the little liar.”
His words reminded me of Chase, who once said the same exact thing to
me. As quick as the thought appeared, I shook it away. The last thing I
wanted to do was have my thoughts ruin the moment. We still spoke a couple
times a week. I couldn’t cut him out of my life. He was too important to me.
With my arms around his neck, I uttered, “No more sneaking into my
room before ten.”
He smacked my ass, causing me to yelp before he picked me up, and my
legs instinctively wrapped around his back.
“You don’t make the rules, kitten. I do.”
I rolled my eyes, smirking.
“Miss Montgomery, did you hear what I said?”
“What?” I looked at the sales lady. “About the color pattern of your
dress? Is there a specific color you’d prefer?”
“Oh! Yeah. I’d love something in white with maybe scarlet underneath.
Rich, bright red is my favorite color.”
And Tristian’s was white.
“Are you thinking lace applique bodice and full tulle skirt?”
“That sounds amazing.”
“Alright, let me see what I can find for you. In the meantime, there are a
few undergarments I recommended in your fitting room.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course. I’d be honored to design Belle Montgomery’s dress.”
I smiled politely while she continued to gush.
“You have no idea how lucky you are to be born in such a prestigious
family.”
“Of course…”
“I mean, you and the Hawkins’ are practically royalty around these
parts.”
I nodded, not knowing what to say.
“I think they have a boy around your age. He lives with the grandfather.
I believe his name is Tristian.”
“I’ve heard of him.”
“Such a tragedy your families despise each other. You two would look
so cute together.”
I nervously chuckled.
“Anyway, look at me, Chatty Cathy. I’ll be right back.”
She turned and walked away.
I breathed out a sigh of relief as I made my way to the dressing room. I
opened the door and jerked back, shocked at who was sitting in the chair,
waiting for me.
“Tristian,” I whispered, closing the door. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to see my girl in her dresses.” He stood, pointing to the
undergarments the seamstress hung for me. “These are ugly as shit.”
I chuckled. They were kind of old fashioned.
He grabbed the lingerie hanging off his chair. “Now these … these I
like. Try them on for me.”
I blushed. “My mother would kill me if she knew I was wearing that
under my gown.”
“Who says she has to know? No one will know but me.”
“She’s going to know if she’s paying for them.”
He gripped the back of my neck, stating, “I’ll pay for them. Problem
solved.”
“You’re going to buy me lingerie?”
“I’ll buy you whatever you want. Now try it on for me.”
“What does it matter what I’m wearing? It’s not like you’re going to be
there.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’m your first dance.”
“That’s never going to happen.”
“It’s a masquerade theme, right? No one will know it’s me.”
“I’m just supposed to tell my family that my first dance is going to be a
friend?”
 “I’m more than a friend, kitten.”
“I know that, but they don’t. I’m supposed to dance with my dad or
brother or someone like that.”
“Then you’re going to have to come up with a plan. It’s your first dance
as a woman. I’ve already claimed all your other firsts, and I’m claiming this
one too.”
The sound of footsteps trailing closer interrupted our conversation.
“She’s coming.” I put my finger over my mouth. “Shhh!”
“She’s not going to come into your dressing room, kitten. Relax.”
“Fine.” Inhaling a deep breath, I tried on the lingerie for him.
It was an intricate white corset top with matching panties and a garter
belt. Once I was dressed, I stood in front of the mirror with Tristian standing
behind me.
“You’re fucking stunning.” He kissed my shoulder.
I moved away from him. “Don’t start that. We can’t do that in here.”
“Kitten, when are you going to learn that I can do what I want?”
“Tris—”
With that, he walked out of the room.
Oh my God.
The expression on the seamstress’ face was one I’d never forget as she
witnessed him stepping out of my dressing room.
“Mr. Hawkins, I—”
“Here’s five hundred dollars. You never saw me here, understood?”
Her eyes beamed, grabbing the bills from his hands. “Yes. No problem.
I won’t say a word.”
“Great.” He gazed at the rack of dresses. “She’s going to try these on,
and she’ll call you when you’re needed.”
She eagerly nodded, glancing back and forth between us before leaving.
I smacked his chest. “Are you out of your mind?”
He laughed.
“Where did you get all that money?”
“I have a trust. It was in my parents’ will.”
“You just spent five hundred dollars to be alone with me in a dressing
room.”
“And I would have paid more if I had to.”
“You’re insane.”
He smiled, tugging me toward him with his hand on the back of my
neck. “Insanely in love with you.”
I wish I would have known then that this was the beginning of the end...

For us.
 Chapter 23
—Tristian—

Now

“Do we have to leave?” she questioned, kissing my chest.

We’d just woken up, and it was the last day of our two-week
honeymoon.
“Considering you didn’t want to come and now you’re begging me to
stay, I could be persuaded to give you what you want.”
“You know what they say: happy wife, happy life.”
I chuckled. “I have a call I need to be on soon. We can discuss this after
I’m finished.”
“I like the sound of that. What’s the call about?”
“It’s with an old friend, Adrian Drake. He needs help with his Fortune
500 company.”
She cheekily smiled. “Maybe I should be on the call. I could definitely
give him my expert advice.”
“That you can, kitten, but I think he’s looking for a man chat.”
“Oh, no girls allowed?”
“If you must know, he’s struggling with his executive assistant, and he
wanted to know if I knew anyone qualified that he could bring on. The
position is for half a year.”
“Adrian Drake…” She thought about it for a second. “Why does that
sound familiar?”
“He’s done business with Montgomery Enterprise.”
“Ohhhhh! I know who you’re talking about. He’s tall, maybe six-two?
Has hazel eyes with flecks of green? Strong jawline, broody looking, walks
around like he’s God? You know, similar to you.”
I possessively replied, “That’s awfully descriptive.”
She put her finger over her mouth. “Did I forget to say handsome?
Because he’s that too.”
I inadvertently growled.
 “Awe, baby, don’t be jealous.”
“Don’t call me baby. I’m not a child.”
“I mean…” She shrugged. “You’re kind of acting like one right now.”
“Do I need to remind you of how much of a man I am?”
“You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
I smacked her ass, hard.
“Hey! That’s not nice.”
In one quick motion, I gripped the back of her thighs and tossed her
onto the bed and hovered above her.
“I’m not nice.”
She smirked. “You can be nice sometimes, but back to Adrian—”
“You can call him Mr. Drake.”
“But he’s your friend.”
“My friend, kitten. Not yours.”
“What happened to what’s mine is yours?”
“Are you purposely trying to piss me off?”
She sarcastically remarked, “Sir, I would never.”
“I could get used to you calling me sir.”
“I’m sure you could.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “So he’s looking for a
new EA?”
“From what I’ve heard.”
“If I’m pregnant, I won’t be needing, Paige, my executive assistant, as
much as I usually do. I know she’ll probably want something a little more
demanding. If he’s in a pinch, I could let him borrow her.”
“That’s very sweet of you.”
“What can I say? I’m a sweet girl.”
“The sweetest.” I kissed along her neck. “I’ll see how he feels about it.”
I grabbed her chin, making her look at me. “Talk to me.”
Those three words carried a mean ass punch, and I could tell she felt
each one in the pit of her stomach.
Taking a deep breath that made my chest hurt, she brushed it off,
babbling, “We are talking.”
I didn’t hesitate in calling her out. “Are you trying to avoid what’s really
bothering you by your relentless pursuit of trying to make me jealous?”
She narrowed her eyes at me with a stern, pointed look. “How do you do
that?”
“Do what?”
 “You know what.”
I grinned. “Does it bother you, kitten, that I know what’s in your head
and heart?”
“See… And then you say swoony stuff, and I’m just like hold me.” She
smiled with kind eyes, being sinful and adorable all at the same time.
“What can I say? We’re connected.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Mmm hmm. Are you going to let me in?”
“Oh, you’ve been in.”
Changing the subject to what she was avoiding, I suggested, “Why don’t
you go buy a pregnancy test while I’m on my call with Adrian, and you can
take it after I get back?”
“Ummm… I guess I could do that.”
I could read her like a book.
“Relax. If you are pregnant, great. If you’re not, then we’ll just keep
trying.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Fucking you isn’t a hardship for me, and with the number of times you
come, it isn’t one for you either.”
She shook her head, smirking. “The fact that you can make that sound
so romantic is truly your gift, Tristian.” She kissed my chest again. “I could
get used to waking up like this, Mr. Hawkins.”
I smiled. “It’s a good thing we’re married then, Mrs. Hawkins.”
“To think we could have been doing this for years.”
“Kitten, it’s in the past. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters,”
I said, stroking her cheek.
She nodded.
“What do you want to say that you’re not saying?”
“You can tell, huh?” Before she could change her mind, she blurted, “I
don’t know how I feel about taking the test.”
“In what sense?”
“I’m unsure of what I want it to read.”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m sorry, Tristian. I’m just trying to be honest.”
“What worries you?”
“A lot.”
“Such as?”
 “For starters, we’re just now getting along and really learning about
each other again. I mean, is it right to bring in a baby?”
“Why would it be wrong?”
“Don’t you want to enjoy the honeymoon phase?”
“We’ll have nine months to enjoy it before he or she is born.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t take away the concern of it being the right
time.”
“It’s never going to be the right time.”
“You think?”
“Why leave something for tomorrow when it can be done today?”
“We’re talking about a baby. Not a business deal.”
“Kitten, life is a business deal. You take a gamble in every decision you
make.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She bowed her head.
“Ask.”
She peered up at me through her lashes. “Are you hoping I’m
pregnant?”
Hiding back the emotion she didn’t need to see from me in that moment,
I sidestepped the question. “I’m hoping that whatever happens, we’ll figure it
out together.”
“Okay.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “I need to jump in the shower and take this
call. I’ll be back in a couple hours. You think you can live without me until
then?”
She sassed, “It’s a travesty, but I’ll try to make it without you for a
couple hours.”
I climbed out of bed to get ready, and as I showered, I couldn’t stop
thinking about Belle being pregnant and how much I truly hoped, she was.
Once I was sitting in the conference room in the bungalow’s registration
office, I called Adrian.
He answered, “I never thought I’d see the day when Tristian Hawkins is
a married man. You know women all over the world are grieving your loss?”
“They still have you.”
He chuckled. “How’s married life?”
“Better than when I was single.”
“That should be on a Hallmark card.”
“How are things with you?”
 “I just fired another incompetent assistant.”
“So today is a good day?”
“I need someone who works as hard as I do, and it’s easier said than
done.”
“I may have a solution for you.”
“Is that right?”
I tried to stay focused on our conversation.
However, my mind was consumed with a positive pregnancy test.

—Belle—

I’d be lying if I said buying a pregnancy test at the store down the street
wasn’t the most unfamiliar thing I’d ever experienced. My life was about to
change for what felt like the hundredth time in a matter of a couple months. I
couldn’t believe this was happening to begin with. Tristian and I were finally
on better terms, seeing eye to eye, but that didn’t take away any of the
uncertainty I was feeling.
I knew how much he wanted me to be pregnant, and I didn’t want to let
him down. My emotions were so hot and cold about it. A few days ago, we
were talking about having children, and I’d been subconsciously rubbing my
belly, excited about the possibilities. Now that it was time to confirm what
we both wanted…
I was scared.
Not knowing if I wanted this or just wanted him.
As I walked around the store, I found myself buying a unisex
motorcycle onesie, desperately trying to shift my emotions from what if to a
beautiful baby in our arms. There was no controlling the mess that was my
head right now.
The next thing I knew, I was taking the test without Tristian. I couldn’t
delay it any longer. The three minutes I had to wait for the results were the
longest of my life. When the timer on my phone finally dinged that the test
was ready, it felt as though an explosion erupted around me. I swear it echoed
through the room as I made my way over to the test I’d left on the counter in
the bathroom.
Three…
 Two…
One…
I picked it up and looked down at the results. My heart immediately
dropped to the floor while my arm shot up to my mouth. I flung the test
across the room, watching as it flew through the air and connected with the
wall. I sat there and stared off into space until the reminders of us caught my
attention around the room. The presents he’d given me, the memories of us
making love all over the bungalow. It all suddenly made me sick to my
stomach to see.
It was too real.
Too soon.
I simply reacted.
Leaping off the ground, I allowed the rage, the fury, the craze I felt to
take over every inch of my body. I was a ticking time bomb waiting to
explode, and once I did…
It was loud.
Disastrous.
Consuming.
In my frenzied state of mind, I whirled around the bungalow as if I was
a hurricane, completely merciless and unforgiving. It elicited feelings I never
thought possible, emotions no one should ever have to experience. I felt
every loss of breath, every tear, every memory, everything he ever said to me,
and everything he ever promised.
All of it cluttered my mind for my will to keep going, for me to push
through. I couldn’t keep up with the emotions that clamped around my soul.
Darting around my room, my feet stomped each step I treaded, leaving a path
of destruction in its wake. Throwing the gifts, our clothes, anything and
everything I could find. My eyes blurred with tears as I tried to escape the
torture I was reliving.
“Why?! Why?!” I yelled, talking to myself. Repeating it over and over,
allowing it to sink into my bones.
Through my chaos, I found the pregnancy test again. There in front of
my eyes was the truth I couldn’t escape. Not when it was blatantly spelled out
for me in big, bold letters. I don’t know how much time flew by, everything
just sort of stood still like it was the middle of the night and not bright and
early with the start of a new day.
I wanted to love him.
 Be with him.
Truly be his wife.
But I couldn’t forgive him.
Not until he told me the truth for the first time.
I was trying to be patient, letting him confess when he was ready to, but
there was no delaying the inevitable anymore. I needed to hear, the truth and
I needed to hear it right now.
Because at the end of the day we couldn’t move forward.

When the past kept staring us in the fucking face.

 Chapter 24
—Tristian—

I walked into to our bungalow, suddenly panicked by the sight before

me. It looked like someone had broken in.
“Belle!” I hollered. My heart was in my throat as I rushed around the
room trying to find her. “Kitten! Where are you?”
In the corner of the kitchen, I found her sitting on the floor with her
back against the wall and a pregnancy test in her hand. Looking back and
forth between her and the test, I waited for her to say something, anything.
“Did you take it?”
She nodded.
“I thought we were going to do it together?”
“You took too long, but that’s what you’re good at.”
I spewed, “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“You couldn’t have waited an hour?”
“I’ve waited twenty years. What’s another hour, right?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “What’s it say?”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she grabbed the bottle of bourbon I’d bought
at the liquor store and chugged it down.
Seeing the aftermath of her meltdown, I crouched in front of her, sitting
on the balls of my feet. “Kitten, we have our whole lives to try for a baby.”
“I’m thirty-seven. That’s not exactly young to try for a baby.”
“Bel—”
“Why are you pretending like you’re not disappointed?”
She handed me the test.
NEGATIVE.
A word I hadn’t expected. Instead of giving in to the disappointment I
felt with every bone in my body, I stayed strong for her.
“We can keep trying.”
“Ugh,” she scoffed out, abruptly standing. “Why are you like this?”
I stood with her, cocking my head to the side. “Care to elaborate?”
 “You’re always like this. Hiding your emotions like you don’t feel
anything.”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Starting a fight with me isn’t going to cha—”
“I wanted it, okay?! I didn’t even realize how much I wanted that test to
be positive until I saw the word negative beaming in my face.”
I nodded, understanding. “Come here.”
“No!”
“Kitten…”
“Don’t kitten me! I’m pissed, and it’s all your fault!”
I jerked back. “My fault?”
“Yes! Yours! If you hadn’t left me! If you’d have come back for me!
This wouldn’t have happened! We’d already have our family!”
I adamantly shook my head. “That’s not fair.”
“Fair? You want to talk about fair? How about you breaking my heart
when I didn’t deserve it.”
“You’re right, you didn’t deserve it, but I can’t change the past. All I
can do is focus on the future. You’re not pregnant right now, but that doesn’t
mean you won’t be next month. At least you know now that you want to have
my baby. How about we celebrate that?”
“Why can’t you just be honest with me? Why can’t you just show me
how disappointed you are?”
“You’re disappointed enough for the both of us.”
She rolled her eyes, chugging down the bottle again.
“You’ve had enough.” I reached for the bourbon, but she yanked it
away, spilling some onto the floor.
“I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough. You want to know what I’ve had
enough of, though? Not knowing why you broke my heart in the first place!”
“Kitten, why do you keep bringing up the past?”
“Because I can’t move forward until you tell me the truth! I’m not
pregnant, and maybe that’s why. Our past is lying in bed with us. Can’t you
feel it? A baby needs to be made out of love, not obligation.”
“Obligation? That’s what you think I’m doing?”
“What do you want from me?” she pleaded.
“Everything! All of you! It belongs to me!”
“See! That’s all you care about! I’m just a trophy to you!”
 “Kitten, you’ve always been the most important person in my life.”
“This is the biggest problem in our relationship. You saying shit you
don’t mean.”
“Oh, come on! I can’t win with you. I’m damned if I do and damned if I
don’t. There is no happy medium with you. You’re always against me. No
matter what I do, you find fault in it.”
“That’s not true.”
“Bullshit. Do you honestly believe that?”
“You’ve never let me believe otherwise.”
“For fuck’s sake! Now I’m being punished for whatever bullshit you’ve
created in your head to push me away?”
“It’s not bullshit—it’s the truth.”
“The truth as you see fit.”
“What do you want me to say? Huh? You betrayed me! I loved you!”
“You still fucking love me. I know that as much as you do.” I tugged
back my hair, wanting to rip it out. “How much longer am I going to have to
pay for this? I fucked up. I lost you. Isn’t that punishment enough?”
“It’s so much more than that.”
“You’ve pushed your feelings for me aside since the first day you saw
me again.” I stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between us.
“My head is still spinning from years ago, and you’re just adding more
confusion to my already overwhelmed mind. I have all these fears, and I
don’t know how to make them go away because you won’t tell me the truth
about why you left me! I know I’ve been hard on you, and I hate myself for
it. Though, it’s more about me hating myself than you. I don’t know how to
forgive you, love you. I’m my own worst enemy, and all I want is to know
the truth. I so desperately want to be that girl again. The one who loved you
with all her heart and soul. Our baby deserves that. To be conceived in the
love we once had.” She hesitated for a second before asking, “Did you marry
me because you had to?”
I stepped toward her, stopping when we were inches apart. “Kitten, I
didn’t marry you for any other reason,” I rasped, needing to finally say it,
“than I fucking love you.”
She slightly gasped. The sound echoed off the walls and into my heart.
“I love you so much it fucking kills me, destroys me, makes me see
nothing but red that you think otherwise. I thought by not saying it, it might
make it easier for you, but it’s only making it worse.”
 “Tristian…”
Tears fell from her and stained her gorgeous face.
“I’ve loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you.” I gripped the
back of her neck and slammed my lips against hers.
Kissing her.
Loving her.
Fucking devouring her.
With my hands framing her face, I vowed, “I’m sorry I ever made you
cry. I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you. I’m sorry for ever making you
feel like I didn’t belong to you. I’m sorry for making you believe that I’d left
you.” Leaning my forehead against hers, I added, “Most of all, I’m so fucking
sorry that it took me this long to tell you how much I love you. With my
heart, my soul, with every inch of my body, my heart beats for only you.
Please tell me you know that. You feel it, don’t you?”
Her chest rose and fell with each deep breath she took. Staring deep into
her eyes, the same intense gaze looked back at me.
“I love you, Belle Hawkins. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making up
for the bad decisions that made me lose you.”
“Tell me the truth then. What happened?”
There was nothing left for me to express. She deserved to know why I
had to leave. I could give her that.
I could give her me.

—Belle—

I can’t believe he said he loved me.

After all these years, all this time, he finally said the three words I’d
been wanting to hear.
What tormented me.
Kept me up at night.
Consumed my thoughts every second of the day.
Silenced my conscience, my worry, my fears.
The biggest question of them all was…
Did I still love him? Could I forgive him?
The sick feeling in my stomach intensified, and I found it hard to
breathe. Panic began to set in, and I could no longer control my thoughts
from running wild. I anxiously tried to find my resolve, though it was no use.
It was long gone.
In a matter of seconds, my life changed once again. Bile rose in my
throat, fighting its way up as tears streamed down my face.
“I hated you for so long. I don’t know how to love you again.”
“Kitten, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
He grabbed my hand and took the bottle before leading me to the couch.
It felt as if time stood still. I never thought I’d hear the truth from his mouth
and now that he was going to tell me the truth, I was beginning to think that
everything I ever wanted…

Began and ended with him.

 Chapter 25
—Belle—

Then: Debutante Ball

To the average person, everything and everyone blended in, but I could
find the one guy I was looking for amongst my family and my parents’
friends.
Tristian.
My debutante masquerade was the ball of the year, as they called it.
They turned our already extravagant home into an enchanted masquerade
which was as impressive as it sounded. They spared no expense on the gold
furnishings, the gaudy furniture, and high-end accents. Both the interior and
exterior of the estate boasted nothing but money and wealth.
It wasn’t a ball.
It was a production.
A statement.
I disregarded my family’s looming presence that shadowed my thoughts
as I descended the stairs, right on time.
Within seconds, a choreographed performance took front and center
stage.
My father approached the stage and accepted the microphone from the
emcee. “Everyone, please stand and give your undivided attention to my
princess, Belle Montgomery.”
The crowd quickly parted like the Red Sea, creating a large space for the
spectacle that was me. As if on cue, soft light illuminated around the open
room. Candlelight illuminated the room like it magically appeared out of thin
air, and it gave the ballroom a translucent aura.
Through a fascinated stare, I watched the people in the room watching
my introduction into our elite society. I was a true Southern belle, dressed in
my designer gown, a white lace applique bodice full tulle skirt had a rich
scarlet satin underlay. It was perfect. Tristian was obsessed when he saw it on
me for the first time that afternoon he snuck into my fitting. I felt like the
elegant princess my father announced me as.
I was Southern royalty, and for the first time in my life, I loved it.
The cascading diamond earrings I wore that my mother let me borrow
only accentuated my long neck. My hair was pinned up with soft curls
framing my delicate yet defined face. Black eyeliner and mascara accented
my bright blue eyes. A white mask covered one side of my face. All eyes
were on me as I twirled around the room. It was my time to shine, entrancing
everyone with my charm as I basked in the attention.
My dad grabbed ahold of my hands and pulled me in to a tight embrace.
“My darling princess,” Dad acknowledged into the microphone, smiling
at me with pride and adoration. “I can’t believe this day has come. I’m
having a hard time trying to find the words to say to you. Tonight we
celebrate your transition into womanhood and honor you with a debutante
ball, a tradition that has been carried on for generations in our family. I
remember carrying you into this home as a baby as if it were yesterday. How
has it been seventeen years since I first held you in my arms?”
I beamed at him and gripped his hands tighter, seeking strength for the
emotions he was evoking in me.
“You’re the only little girl in our family. We waited years for you to
make your appearance. We couldn’t wait until you were finally here to spoil
and love. You’re the angel God sent me from heaven above. I remember
every detail of your birth, and often find myself replaying it in my mind. I
wish you were still my little girl. Now, here you are, standing before me as a
young woman ready to take on the world.
“I want you to know how proud I am of you. I know there are times you
wished we wouldn’t protect you like we do, but you’re a treasure. I have high
expectations for you, sweetheart. I know there will come a day where I won’t
be the only man in your life.”
“Oh, Daddy…”
“No, no, no,” he adamantly responded. “I want all of your greatest
dreams to come true. You deserve the love of a man like I love your mother.
Someone who will protect you, respect you, and put you above all else.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
He leaned in and tenderly grabbed my face to kiss my forehead.
I didn’t pay the room any mind, too consumed by my desire to see
Tristian among them. I was able to convince my parents to allow my first
dance be with a friend from school. Except, I lied to them about who it was.
It wasn’t the son of a prestigious family like I led them to believe. It was
actually family rival.
A Hawkins.
Nobody would know, at least I silently prayed that they wouldn’t. My
father released me, and I made my way around the room greeting my guests.
The guy dressed in a black three-piece suit caught my devoted attention.
A gold mask covered his face, and he blended in with everyone else. But I’d
find him anywhere, among anyone. I felt him there from across the room,
staring at me. We locked eyes for several seconds, both of us lost in our
thoughts of what could happen this evening.
We were taking a huge risk, one that could change the course of our
lives if they found out Tristian was there with us. No Hawkins had ever
knowingly stepped foot in any of my family’s homes. Not one. We weren’t
just breaking the rules, we were making new ones.
He was the first to take a long stride toward me, his intense gaze solely
focused on me.
Once he was standing in front of me, he stated, “You look gorgeous,
kitten.”
I beamed. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“That gown...” He smiled. “Nobody can take their eyes off you.”
He tugged me closer to his torso, wrapping his arm around my lower
back and holding me at his side. I wanted to kiss him so bad. We disappeared
for a couple of minutes, seeking privacy to take each other in. Our time was
cut short when I heard my father announce my first dance.
The crowd parted and formed a circle around us. It didn’t occur to me
until that moment that maybe we should have practiced, but Tristian quickly
pushed away my insecurities, like he always did.
He spun me around a few times until finally bringing me close to his
chest. Hugging my body to his, he allowed no space between us. It was what
you’d see in a happily ever after movie. Being surrounded by hundreds of
people didn’t matter. Our connection made it feel like we were the only two
people in the room.
I couldn’t hide my love for him. I wanted to, but there was no resisting
it. He consumed me in every sense of the word. The same emotions I felt
were mirrored through his captivated stare. We danced together like we’d
been doing it all our lives, completely held hostage by our love. Our dance
didn’t last as long as I would have liked. I’d dance all night with him if given
the choice.
He rasped against my ear, delicately brushing his lips over the delicate
lobe. “It’s taking everything inside of me not to kiss you in front of your
family.”
I sucked in a breath as he pulled away and took a bow. Clapping his
hands, he gestured toward me. I smiled and bowed, entertaining our guests.
My father danced with me next and then passed me around the room. It
felt as if we’d spent hours apart when it was probably only thirty minutes. I
finally returned to his arms, and everyone proceeded to dance with us. I
couldn’t have asked for a better outcome, happy that we actually got away
with it.
Wanting to live in the moment, I was caught off guard when Tristian
whispered in my ear, “Kitten, I need to tell you something.”
“What is that?”
His expression shifted into solemness, making my nerves unsteady.
“What’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”
“I need you to remember I love you. Can you do that for me?”
“Of course.”
He nodded and grabbed my hand. “Come on.” Leading the way to the
back of the estate, he didn’t say another word to me.
However, he didn’t have to.
I felt all his worry and anxiety.
“Tristian, what’s going on?”
The second I saw what he wanted to show me, I stopped dead in my
tracks. There in front of me was my favorite street bike. A matte black
Ducati 900cc Supersport Twin.
“Did you buy this for me?”
He shook his head. “This is my bike, kitten.”
“Your bike? When did you buy it?”
“Years ago.”
My eyes widened. “What are you trying to tell me?”
He inhaled a deep breath, steadying his breath before stating, “I don’t
know how to even say this, so I’m just going to say it, okay?”
I nodded, never expecting him to admit…

“I’m Full Throttle.”

 Chapter 26
—Belle—

I scrambled backward as fury consumed me, my face flaming hot. He

reached for me, but I shoved his hand away.
“Kitt—”
“No! You said your name was Chase.”
“It’s my middle name.”
“Oh my God…”
“Let me explain.”
“Explain?” I roared. Instantly livid with him. “You want to explain
what? How you’ve been lying to me for over a year?!”
“I know, but technically, I didn’t lie to you.”
“Not telling the truth is a form of lying to me, Tristian!”
He placed his hands out in front of him in a surrendering gesture. “I was
going to tell you.”
“When? Because you should have told me the moment we met.” The
realization hit me like a freight train. “You were waiting for me, weren’t you?
My first day of school, running into me. That was a setup, wasn’t it?”
He shamelessly nodded.
“You lying asshole!” I pushed him as hard as I could. “Did you know it
was me the entire time we’ve been talking in the forum?”
“Kit—”
“I can’t believe you. How could you do this to me?”
“I never imagined it’d turn into what we have now. I just…”
“You just, what? Wanted to fuck your rival?”
“You’re not my enemy, Belle. You never were.”
“Then what was this for? Huh? Why did you do all this?”
“I think that’s pretty self-explanatory, kitten. I wanted you.”
“And you always get what you want, right? Have I been a game to you
this entire time?”
“You were never a game.”
“Right… So pretending to be someone you’re not—”
“I am Full Throttle. Nothing I ever told you was a lie.”
 “How did you know it was me on the forum?”
“I’ll tell you after you calm down.”
“Tristian…”
Backed into a corner, he admitted, “I snuck into your room one night.
You left your laptop open while you were in the shower, and I saw it on your
browser history.”
“Wow.” I couldn’t breathe. “You broke into my room before I even
knew who you were?! What kind of bullshit is that?”
“I just… I just wanted to know who you were. I swear I didn’t think this
would happen between us.”
“Why did you continue lying?”
“I didn’t want to lose that part of you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Belle, whether you want to admit it or not, the way you speak to Chase
is different than the way you talk to me.”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re honest with him. You don’t hold back. The way you’d talk
about your life or me, it was the only way I knew how you felt about me this
entire time.”
“I can’t believe you’re trying to justify this! You lied to me! I told you
things in confidence! The amount of torment I’ve had over Chase and you,
feeling bad every day because I couldn’t stop talking to Chase. I couldn’t just
cut him out of my life. The turmoil of feeling like I was doing something bad.
When all along, it was you! I didn’t have to feel bad about anything because I
wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“Don’t try to act all innocent. You lied to me too, but you don’t see me
losing my shit about it.”
I jerked back. “Lied to you? When did I ever lie to you?”
“You’ve been keeping your little talks to yourself. Not once have you
ever mentioned you had feelings for another guy!”
“Feelings for another guy?!” I repeated, getting angrier. “Which was
you all along! How dare you throw that in my face? I fell in love with you
twice!”
“Exactly! We’re in love. That’s all that matters now, kitten.”
“I can’t ever trust you again, Tristian. If we don’t have trust, then we
don’t have anything.”
“Bull-fucking-shit. This isn’t that big of a deal.”
 “Why tell me at all? Why not just let Chase disappear?”
“I couldn’t keep it from you anymore. It was tearing me up inside. I
want you. All of you. I’m sick of competing with him. With me.”
“Oh, you mean the guilt of lying to me? That’s tearing you up? I could
see why that would upset you. Poor Chase or Tristian or Full Throttle!
Whoever you’re calling yourself these days!”
I turned around to leave, but he yanked me back to him.
In a stern tone, he bit, “Don’t walk away from me.”
“I can’t even look at you. I’m so beyond mad at you right now. I can’t
believe you’d do this to me. The deceit has replaced all the love I have for
you.”
“Kitten, I’m sorry about hiding the truth from you, but I never meant to
hurt you. Now look at where we are.” He gestured around the open space.
“I’m here. With you. On Montgomery territory. After decades of dealing with
a bullshit rivalry that has absolutely nothing to do with us! We’re together,
and I don’t think that would have happened if it wasn’t for Full Throttle.”
“We can’t ever know that now, can we?”
I couldn’t believe he had the audacity to try to make this okay, like it
wasn’t a big deal. It was such bullshit, and I wanted no part of it. Love makes
you blind, and I could see right through the illusion. The backyard suddenly
seemed smaller with all his lies taking up the air and space.
“We’re not enemies, kitten. Please don’t make us one.”
The tension escalated with each passing second. The way he knowingly
involved himself in my life infuriated me more than words could describe. I
swallowed hard, my heart pounding against my chest to the point I swear he
could hear it.
“I have nothing else to hide. What you see is what you get. I promise
you.”
“Yeah? Well, your looks are deceiving.”
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face. His intense eyes
narrowed in on me as he swept his thumb across my cheek, but his desperate
antics didn’t faze me.
This wasn’t about me. It never was.
I was simply a means to an end for him.
“You don’t want us to be rivals, but you set the track for us to be.”
“Are you serious? Do you honestly think you were nothing but a game
to me?”
 “You got to fuck a Montgomery.”
“Kitten—”
“Don’t call me that. Better yet, stay away from me.”
“You don’t mean that. You’re just mad at me. I’ll make it up to you. I
swear it.”
“It’s too late. The damage is done. How do you not see that is beyond
me, Tristian.”
I walked away from the love of my life that evening. Allowing the
betrayal to tarnish the love I felt for him. I wish I had known then that this
moment, this fight, would be the last we ever had…
There was no going back for us.
He left, and I didn’t see him again for twenty years.

—Tristian—

It was such an unfamiliar emotion for me. To feel so out of control. The
truth was staring her in the face. I never meant to hurt her. It wasn’t supposed
to happen this way. I knew she’d be mad at me, but I didn’t think she’d be
this pissed. With the way she looked at me… Love no longer illuminated her
green gaze; instead, hatred burned bright.
Just like that, an unsettling and disturbing feeling seeped into the core of
my being. Before I knew what was happening, my body turned, moving on
its own accord. I hauled ass toward her house, rushing down a long, narrow
hallway, passing several other rooms. I noticed how far she’d truly gone to
get away from me.
All I could hear were the sounds of my footsteps echoing off the walls.
My shoes pounded into the marble floor, one right after the other. I couldn’t
get to the ball room fast enough. My heart beat out of my chest, the pulse in
my neck profusely pounding against my skin while sweat pooled at my
temples.
My eyes shifted every which way when I entered the massive space,
looking for Belle. I inspected every inch of the scene unfolding in front of
me. It was like I wanted to ingrain this moment of panic into my memory.
Words couldn’t describe what I felt. The sentiments that surged through
my bloodstream. I forced myself to keep my shit together as I looked for her
among the throngs of people.
Every bone in my body was still.
Every single part of me was unable to move.
Taking one last look around the room, I called her, and it went straight
to voicemail. I sprinted down another hallway, darting through the estate,
needing to find her. I felt as though my life depended on it. Music blared
loudly through the speakers as everyone mingled and carried on without a
care in the world. My blood raged, blinded by craze and madness looking for
her.
Finally, I shouted, “Belle! Where are you?!”
There was no controlling the inner turmoil or the wave of thoughts
soaring through my mind and taking over every last inch of me. It was as if
my conscience knew what would happen next.
With each ragged, deep breath.
With every blink of my panic-ridden eyes, I was still unable to find her.
Not one logical thought was able to form in my head. I could only feel
the anxiety flowing through every bone in my body. My patience was
stretched thin, dangling by a thread.
That thread fucking snapped, when all of a sudden, I heard an unfamiliar
voice, exclaim, “Tristian.”
I snapped around, coming face to face with the man I least expected. We
locked eyes. He was standing at one end of the hallway while I was at the
other. Neither one of us a said a word, not one fucking word until he
questioned…

“What are you doing with my granddaughter?”

 Chapter 27
—Tristian—

I followed him into an office which I assumed was Belle’s father’s. As

soon as I stepped inside, I was completely blindsided by my grandfather’s
presence.
Closing the door, I looked back and forth between them before stating
the obvious, “So, is this an ambush?”
“What did you think was going to happen, Tristian?” Mr. Montgomery
asked, sitting behind his desk while my grandfather stood beside him. “How
long did you think you two could keep this up?”
I didn’t know what to say. Silence was best.
“Alright,” Grandfather chimed in. “I’ll start with this. You’re going
home immediately to pack.”
“Pack?” I breathed out, staring only at him.
“Yes. You’re going to finish high school overseas.”
I leaned against the door, folding my arms over my chest in defiance.
My grandfather and I were always on good terms. This was the first
time we were in a battle.
“You can stand there all you want, Tristian, but it doesn’t change the
fact that you’ll be leaving on the redeye tonight.”
I shook my head, finally speaking, “You can’t do this.”
“On the contrary, it’s already been done. They’re expecting you.”
I scoffed out, “I won’t go.”
“You don’t have another choice. I’m your legal guardian, and what I say
goes.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“For several reasons.”
“Other than Belle?”
“Belle is just the tip of the iceberg, grandson.”
With a pointed stare, I watched him nod to the desk where there was a
folder on top of it.
“Which one would you like to begin with, Tristian? The one where
you’re riding your father’s bikes or the one where you’re in charge of this
town’s illegal street wars.”
I tried to maintain my composure, but he’d just shocked the shit out of
me. He opened the folder, showing me pictures of Belle on the back of my
bike the night we outsped the cops.
“Do you have any idea what would have happened if her parents found
out what you two have been doing behind our backs?” He paused, letting his
question sink in. “If you refuse to go, then you’ll leave us no choice but to
tell her parents.”
Mr. Montgomery informed, “They’ll send her away, Tristian. It’s either
you or her.”
I couldn’t hold back, needing to know. “Why can’t we just be together?”
“You’re young,” Grandfather remarked. “You don’t fully understand the
consequences of your rash decisions.”
“What consequences?”
“You’re lucky you’re a Hawkins. It’s the only reason the sheriff isn’t
pressing charges for all the street races you’ve organized and been a part of. I
can’t tell you how disappointed I am in your careless decisions. Your parents
would be too.”
I bowed my head, I had to. “My father loved his street bikes.”
“He wouldn’t love you riding them, Tristian. Do I need to remind you
that they died on one?”
I shook my head, still gazing at the ground. “No, sir.”
“Do you have any idea how many colleges would refuse you if you had
an arrest record? You need to appreciate the fact that I was able to make this
go away for you, but don’t think for one second I won’t use it as ammunition
if you don’t willingly leave tonight.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Why can’t Belle and I be together?
Your rivalry has nothing to do with us.”
“You’re young. You both have your whole lives ahead of you. You’re
not meant to be together, Tristian. You never were.”
Feeling defeated, I asked, “Where am I going?”
“Switzerland. To an elite, all-male boarding school.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, low enough to where they couldn’t hear
me. “Couldn’t ship me off any further, Grandfather?”
“You’ll have the best schooling money can buy.”
“That’s what your good at. Throwing money at the problem.”
“I’m not going to apologize for keeping the best interest for you and our
family in mind, Tristian. The blatant disrespect you’ve shown to your family
name speaks volumes.”
“I’m more than just a last name.”
“Your last name is everything, and don’t you ever forget that. This is the
first and last time I will save your ass. Do you understand me?”
I met his eyes. “And what about Belle?”
“What about her?”
“What happens to her if I go?”
“Nothing,” Mr. Montgomery replied, bringing my attention to him. “She
will continue with her normal life.”
“Can I—”
“Absolutely not. You will never see my granddaughter again.”
“So just like that? I can’t even say goodbye to her?”
“You don’t need to make things harder than they already are.”
“Oh, this is hard for you, Grandfather?”
“Of course. Do you think I find satisfaction in what I’ve learned about
your life?”
“How long have you known?”
“It’s irrelevant.”
“It isn’t to me.”
“This is a very small town. You’re a Hawkins. You should have known
better. We’re simply saving you both from ruining your lives.”
“She’ll hate me if I just leave without saying goodbye to her. Please
don’t take that away from me.”
“You should have thought about that before you decided to pursue a
Montgomery,” her grandfather asserted.
“It’s not like that.” Hesitating for a moment, I added, “I love her.”
Their stares shifted to one another before Mr. Montgomery spewed,
“What could you possibly know about love?”
I stepped forward and stood in front of his desk. “I know what it feels
like to lose the two most important people in my life. Please don’t make me
lose a third.”
“The decision has already been made, Tristian. One day, you’ll
understand why I had to do this.”
“There’s no getting through to you, is there?”
He shook his head.
There was nothing else I could say that would make this right for me.
 Nothing else I could do to make this hurt less.
Nothing.
Not. One. Damn. Thing.
Instead, I bargained, “If I agree to go, then you have to give me
something, Mr. Montgomery.”
He narrowed his stare at me.
“You need to give Belle a chance at running your company.”
He jerked back. “Belle?” He chuckled. “She has no interest in—”
“How do you know? You ever talk to her about anything other than
what’s expected of her? She obeys your rules, follows your every command.
You have no idea who Belle is. She’s so much more than just your
granddaughter. She’s smart, witty, and she loves with all her heart. Anything
she puts her mind to, she’ll accomplish. I know that because I know her. I
know her more than I know myself, Mr. Montgomery. With all due respect,
you’d be a fool not to let her prove to you that she can excel in running your
empire. I’ll leave if you agree to give her that chance.”
He leaned back in his chair, taking me in for a second.
The silence was deafening. The tension so thick that you could choke on
it.
“If you agree, I want it written on paper with your signature.”
He cocked his head to the side, eyeing me up and down. “Quite the
businessman you are. I don’t normally negotiate with anyone, but in this case,
I’ll oblige.” With that, he wrote out our agreement and then signed it before
handing it over to me. “I can assume you know your way to the front door?”
I nodded, suddenly feeling sick to my fucking stomach. I needed to get
the hell out of there. I could feel my temper taking over, and I knew I had to
leave before it did.
On my way out of the office, my grandfather expressed, “I’m not trying
to hurt you. I’m trying to save you.”
Staring back at him, I uttered, “Belle already saved me from myself.” I
turned and left.
My feet moved on their own as I walked out of their home. For some
reason, I peered up at her window, surprised to find her there.
My heart dropped, shattering to the ground below me. My whole world
seemed to come crashing down in a matter of seconds. Everything I thought I
had under control, everything I wanted to believe, all of it…
Gone.
 She was sitting on her bed with her arms wrapped around her knees,
hiding her face. Her gown consumed her, reminding me of a beautiful
portrait. It was a memory I’d take to my grave. What happened tonight would
be my own personal hell. I would now close my eyes and forever see her
falling apart in front of me.
Because of me.
I found it hard to breathe.
Hard to move.
My feet were cemented to the ground as she continued to cry. I accepted
it all, and each tear that fell from her face became pieces of me. Coursing
through my veins, it flowed endlessly.
A river of her sadness and sorrow and all of my broken promises
flooded the hole in my heart where she used to be.
They say you have that one moment in your life that could change the
course the direction you could have taken. That one moment that could
forever alter your future and everything you wanted to believe in.
I’d forever remember this moment for the rest of my life.
I should have apologized.
I should have begged for her forgiveness.
I should have stayed.
But I didn’t.
I spun around and walked away from the love of my life.
Fully aware, I just made her life better…

By leaving her behind.

 Chapter 28
—Belle—

Now

“Tristian…” I wept with tears falling down my face. “That’s why you
left?”
He nodded.
“I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe our grandfathers. How
could they do this to us?”
“I imagine they think they’re making it up to us now.”
“Oh wow… This makes so much sense now. I couldn’t for the life of
me figure out why the change of heart? After all these years, why would they
want to join forces? I can’t believe they would do that to us. I hated you for
so long. I never thought… I guess, I just… I needed time to cool off, and
once I did, you weren’t at school anymore.
“At first, I tried to pretend like it didn’t bother me, but then people
started talking, saying you had left town. I couldn’t ask anyone about it.
Where you were? If you were coming back? I spent years thinking you’d
come back for me.”
“I’m sorry, kitten. I just wanted you to make a life for yourself. A life
that you wanted. I learned that you were working for your grandfather after
you’d graduated college, I didn’t want to fuck up your future. I figured if I
came back into your life, it would end your career. If they didn’t allow us to
be together in the past, why would they allow it in the future? I couldn’t do
that to you. Not when I know you worked so hard to get there.”
“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have this career.”
He swept the hair away from my face. “I’d do anything for you. I knew
I broke your heart, and there was no coming back from that. If there was one
promise I was going to keep it was that one. After I graduated from college, I
stayed overseas managing our international companies. I didn’t want to come
home. I didn’t have one anymore. You’ve always been my home.” He looked
deep into my eyes. “I spent years trying to figure shit out. Who I was, what I
wanted, where I was going to end up?”
“When did you come back to Kentucky?”
“I was in and out throughout the years, but I didn’t move back until a
few years ago.”
I took in everything he was saying, my heart breaking for him. He
inhaled a deep breath, grabbing my face to kiss away my tears.
“All I did was work. I was exhausted, mentally, physically, and
emotionally. One day I woke up calling your name. I rolled over searching
for you. It was the weirdest fucking thing that’s ever happened to me. I
hadn’t been with you in years, and I woke up thinking you were there, beside
me. I immediately sat up in bed disoriented, looking for you, and then I
remembered you weren’t there. You hadn’t been there in a long time.”
“If I would have known. I would have never let you leave, Tristian.”
“It was either you or me. You had a whole life there. With two loving
parents, your brothers, your family… I couldn’t take that away from you. I
left because it was easier than taking you away from them. Can you forgive
me?”
“Of course, Tristian. All you did for me… How am I ever going to make
it up to you?”
“You already have.” He kissed me. “You said, ‘I do.’”
His lips on mine were like coming home every single time.
He possessed my thoughts.
He owned my heart.
He was my home.
He’d always been my home.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he groaned, placing his hand over my
heart which was beating rapidly against his fingers.
“It’s yours.” I reached for the hem of my dress and lifted it over my
head, and threw it on the floor beside us. “I’m yours. Always.”
“Kitt—”
“Don’t make me beg.”
He growled, kissing me fervently. He lifted me into his arms and carried
me into the bedroom. He laid me on the bed, never breaking our connection.
He took off my bra, tossed it aside, and my panties quickly followed, leaving
me completely naked for him.
“I love you. I love you so fucking much.”
“Prove it to me,” I panted, looking at his face. “Make love to me,” I
pleaded in a raspy tone. “I belong to you. I’ve always belonged to you. Let’s
make a baby.”
He kissed me one last time before kissing his way down my body, softly
licking every inch of my skin.
“Tristian,” I murmured, my body shuddering as he pulled my body to
the edge of the bed.
Gently, he kissed my inner thighs, blowing against my exposed core the
closer he got to where I wanted him the most. His rough hands gripped my
thighs as he lightly pecked my clit. My hands raked through his hair as I
spread my legs wider for him as he lightly kissed and licked all around my
heat. He could already taste me on his tongue. My breathing escalated when
he sucked my clit into his mouth, moving his head from side-to-side.
He never took his eyes off me, watching as I grasped onto the sheets.
My climax built higher and higher, and he slid his fingers inside. I was so
wet.
So ready.
He could feel me getting closer, and my hips moved on their own
against his fingers and tongue.
“That’s it, kitten, fuck my face like you love to.”
Not a minute later, he tasted my climax, long and steady. He didn’t stop
until I was shuddering and begging him to stop, unable to take it any longer.
He stood with hooded eyes as I watched him undress. It didn’t take long
before he thrust inside of me.
The feel of him.
The love I had for him.
It was immediate.
I found my soulmate when I was sixteen-years-old and I knew then like
I knew it now. We might have been young, but it didn’t matter. Tristian was
forever a part of me.
Our young love became our eternity.
“I love you.”
“You’re mine,” he rasped against my lips. “Forever mine.”
He stated what I was already fully aware of. My life turned into
everything I ever wanted because of him. There was no way I’d be able to
repay him for the sacrifices he made for me.
I did the only thing I could do…
I silently prayed.
 He’d put a baby in me.

—Tristian—

She was so fucking beautiful.

So fucking mine.
I placed a soft kiss on the pulse on her neck, loving the feel of it beating
against my lips. Her bright blue eyes watched me adoringly. It felt as if we
were making love with no more regret placed between us. I peered up at her,
and she shyly smiled while I kissed my way down to her breasts, taking her
perfect round nipple into my mouth, making her moan in abandon.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She beamed.
“I want to tell you that I wish things could have been different for us,
but I’d be lying, and I don’t lie to you. I hate the years we lost. However,
look at everything you’ve become. I don’t think it would have happened if
I’d have stayed.”
Harder.
Faster.
I thrust deep inside of her.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re together now. Forever together,
Tristian. No matter what.”
I softly kissed her, taking my time with each stroke of my tongue as it
tangled with hers. Savoring the velvety feel of my mouth claiming hers,
thrusting in and out of her tight heat a few more times before I pulled away,
needing to look into her eyes again. I loved seeing every emotion I felt
through her gaze. It mirrored every feeling inside of me.
It was for me.
Only me.
My thumb brushed against her cheek, and she smiled as I kissed the tip
of her nose, thrusting a little faster.
“Does that feel good, kitten?”
“Yes… Don’t stop… Harder…”
I grabbed the back of her neck to keep our eyes locked on one another’s.
My forehead hovered above hers as we caught our breaths.
“Come on my cock. I want to feel your sweet pussy. Give it to me,
kitten. It’s mine.”
She nodded, panting profusely, her heart pounding against mine. Her
body trembled, and I brought her lips to mine, pushing my tongue into her
eager, awaiting mouth.
“I love you,” I groaned in between kissing her.
“Tristian, Tristian, Tristian,” she repeated over and over, climaxing all
down my shaft and taking me right over with her. I shook with my release
and passionately claimed her mouth.
The past was finally over.
The future was ours to conquer together.
I found my soul mate when I was sixteen-years-old. And for the next
two decades, it waited until my soul was complete again.

Mine forever more.

 Chapter 29
—Belle—

We ended up staying in Tahiti for another week before we flew home to

business as usual. For the last two weeks since we’d been home, I was still
riding the high that was Tristian Hawkins. There was no escaping the
emotions that captivated me from the moment I first met him. Things were
good.
Great actually.
I walked into the elevator, finding him standing there. All handsome in
his black three-piece suit.
“Well, fancy running into you here, Mr. Hawkins.”
He looked me up and down. “This is what you’re wearing in the
office?”
I glanced down at my blue pencil dress. “What? It’s professional.”
“What part of professional involves your tits out, kitten?”
“Okay, so it’s not just me?” I pointed to them. “They look bigger,
right?”
He didn’t hesitate in hitting the panic button on the elevator, making it
jolt to a complete stop.
“Oh my God! What are you doing?”
Wrapping his arm around my lower back, he tugged me toward him.
Coaxing, “I need to get a better look.”
We spent the next thirty minutes christening the elevator. Pulling my
skirt down, the elevator started moving again.
“You better hope my grandfather doesn’t see the video footage.”
“I’ll make sure to have my assistant go pull it from the security
cameras.”
I smiled. “Good call.”
“What time is your appointment today?”
“Three. My gyno was able to squeeze me in.”
“Don’t forget to ask about prenatal vitamins.”
I shook my head, looking at him dumbfounded. “The amount of
knowledge you know about pregnancy is truly alarming. They’re going to
check my blood too. I feel like I may be anemic right now. I’m so tired all the
time.”
He grinned. “I do keep you up at night.”
“That you do. It’s actually your specialty.”
The door opened, and we stepped off.
“Have a great day, kitten.”
I smirked. “You just made sure of it.”
He winked at me before we went our separate ways. I spent the entire
morning on phone calls about our merger and how it would affect the future
of our businesses. By noon I was beyond exhausted, yawning as my
grandfather walked into my office.
“Good afternoon, Belle.”
“What do I owe this unexpected appearance?”
He sat in the chair in front of my desk. “Can’t a grandfather just stop by
to see his beautiful granddaughter?”
“Beautiful granddaughter?” I cocked my head to the side. “Why do I
feel like you’re buttering me up?”
“We haven’t spoken since you got married, and I wanted to see how
things were going.”
“Oh, I see. Are you asking me if I’m pregnant?”
“Are you?”
“Not right now, but we’re trying.”
“In all hours of the day and work environments.”
I’m going to kill Tristian.
“Umm … well, you know… Have to strike while the iron is hot.”
“You remind me of your grandmother at your age.”
Kill me now.
“This is a fantastic talk, but I have to wrap things up for my doctor’s
appointment this afternoon.”
“Are you feeling alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a checkup.”
“Okay.” He went to stand, but I couldn’t help myself.
I blurted, “Tristian told me why he left after my debutante ball.”
He sighed, sitting back down. “I imagined he’d tell you eventually.”
“Do you want to explain your side of the story?”
“You’re married, aren’t you? In the end, we all got what we wanted.”
“So us getting married wasn’t just about your merger?”
 “Belle, if there’s anything I’ve learned in this life it’s that it’s a very
short one. If it weren’t for your husband, I probably wouldn’t have known
what you’re capable of.”
“I see.”
“You don’t get to choose the family you’re born into, and you, my
darling granddaughter, were born into a prestigious dynasty. For better or
worse, my legacy will continue through you and my great grandchildren.”
“What if they want nothing to do with the companies?”
“Belle, they’ll have Montgomery and Hawkins blood flowing through
them. They’ll want to be the CEO by the time they can walk.”
I laughed. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m always right.”
“I still haven’t heard the words, ‘I’m sorry, Belle, for making you think
Tristian left you.’”
He abruptly stood and leaned over my desk. “You’re a Hawkins now.
You’re welcome.”
It was the best I was going to get out of him. As he exited, Paige walked
in.
“What’s this I hear about you trading me in?”
“Oh…” I exclaimed. “Tristian told you?”
“Not in so many words. He said something about a friend of his needing
an EA for six months.”
“Once I get pregnant, I’m not going to be as demanding as you’re used
to, and I know your speed, Paige. You’ll get bored. In reality, I’m doing this
for you.”
“How thoughtful of you.”
“We can set something up at our house in a few weeks. Introduce you
without making it obvious. See how you feel about him and go from there. If
you don’t vibe with him, then no damage done.”
“Mmm… I guess we could do that.” She gazed down at her watch.
“You need to leave soon if you’re going to make your appointment.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know after I meet him.”
I nodded, smiling.
I arrived at my appointment a few minutes before three.
“You’re all checked in, Mrs. Hawkins. If you could follow me.”
After the nurse took my vitals, my blood was drawn and then I peed in a
cup. She put me in a room and asked me to undress, offering me a thin,
scratchy paper gown to cover myself for my exam.
I laid on the exam table with my feet in stirrups as I stared up at the
ceiling, my mind racing as I counted down the minutes until the doctor and
nurse would come in.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in!”
The door opened. “Hello there,” Dr. Wanda greeted. “How are you
doing today?”
“I’m great. How are you?”
“I’m doing well, thank you. So what brings you in other than you’re
annual checkup?”
“I was wondering if I could get a prescription for prenatal vitamins.”
She nodded. “Yes, I was just going to suggest that.”
She went on to ask me some questions as she conducted my exam.
“All done.”
I sat up.
“Everything looks great. Are her lab reports ready?”
The nurse scrolled through my chart on her laptop.
“I’ve also been feeling rather fatigued lately. I’m getting enough sleep,
so that’s not the issue.”
“Fatigued is perfectly normal.”
“Oh, okay. No anemia then?”
“No. Everything looks great. We’ll get you on a prenatal and schedule
your appointment next month.”
“Next month?” I questioned, confused. “I thought you said everything
was great?”
“It is.”
“Why am I coming in next month?”
“You’ll have monthly appointments in your first trimester—”
“I’m sorry, what?”
She chuckled. “You’re first trimester. You’re pregnant.”
I exclaimed, “I’m what?”
“Pregnant.”
“But I took a pregnancy test. It was negative.”
“It was more than likely too early to test.”
I couldn’t believe what she’d revealed. I wasn’t expecting it in the least.
I tried to pay attention to what she was saying, but my mind was whirling
with the unexpected news.
“I’m really pregnant?”
“Yes. You really are.”
I beamed with excitment. “Is there any way I could call my husband?
He’d never forgive me if he missed our baby’s ultrasound.”
“Of course.”
They walked out of the room, and I immediately called Tristian.
“Hello,” he answered.
“Hey.” I tried to remain calm. I didn’t want to tell him over the phone.
“How was your appointment.”
“I’m actually still here.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, everything’s great. By any chance, can you meet me here?”
“I thought you said everything was alright?”
“It is. I swear. I just need you.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Thank God her office wasn’t far from ours. I waited on pins and needles
for him to arrive. I didn’t know how much I needed him there until he entered
the exam room.
“Kitten, what’s going on?”
“Nice of you to join us, Mr. Hawkins,” the doctor greeted as she entered
behind him.
His cautious gaze shifted to the doctor. Tristian came and stood beside
me, gripping my hand in his.
“You’re just in time to watch the show.”
The nurse reclined the table and made sure I was comfortable before she
dolloped cold gel on my tummy. The doctor snapped gloves on her hands,
then sat on her stool. She turned on the monitor and placed the wand against
my tummy. There, in front of our eyes, was our baby, followed by a loud, fast
heartbeat. Tristian squeezed my hand and sucked in a ragged breath. Unable
to control my emotions, I choked out a sob. Tristian gripped the back of my
neck and pressed a comforting kiss to my forehead, whispering, “I love you,
kitten.”
My heart was beating a mile a minute.
I didn’t think I could get any more emotional until Tristian put his hand
on my belly. There, in the exam room, was my whole world. The future I
didn’t know we could have.
Each tear was for a different reason.
Each one told another story.
Another truth.
No more lies.
We finally had everything we ever wanted.
When Tristian kissed my stomach, he silently reassured me everything I
needed to hear in that moment without me having to tell him.
We were simply in sync like that.
Then.
Now.
Always.
 Chapter 30
—Tristian—

My muscles flexed and my jaw clenched as she stroked me up and

down, loving the feeling of her grip around my cock.
“Belle.” I shook my head. “I promised slow…”
“I don’t need slow.” She fused her mouth to mine in a hard, fast kiss,
adding, “Fuck me, Tristian.”
“Kitten, you’re pregnant.”
It was by far my favorite sentence I’d ever said to her. I was surprised
but not shocked by the fact that she was pregnant. I always did everything
right the first time.
“Fine. Make love to me then.”
I grinned, gripping her ass. I hovered above her on our bed and tore off
her dress, leaving her completely naked for me. Her hot skin fused with mine
as I took her nipple in my mouth. Her hand fisted the sheets as I pressed her
into the mattress, continuing my assault on her body.
I spread her thighs open and kissed my way down to her pussy. I made
love to her with my mouth as I gripped her thighs and drapped her legs over
my shoulders. I sucked her clit between my lips and moaned when she
squeezed my head with her legs.
Hard.
Fast.
She couldn’t control it.
I was barely down there for a minute until I had her screaming out my
name.
Loud.
Proud.
Panting.
She fell apart, coming with my lips still around her clit.
Once she was begging for mercy, I stood and wiped her come off my
face with the back of my hand before teasing her pussy with my cock.
“Tristian…” She wiggled her hips. “Please. I need you—”
I filled her to the hilt, pulling out only to thrust back in. I began with a
rhythm that had her screaming my name instantly.
Moaning.
Groaning.
Scratching.
Thrusting.
Harder and harder.
Faster and faster.
Her first kiss was mine.
Her first love was me.
Her first fuck.
Her first and only heartbreak.
The first man to love her wholeheartedly.
She was stretched out beneath me, her blonde hair splayed across the
white sheets, her lips parted as sexy, uncontrollable moans escaped her
swollen lips.
I’d caused that.
I moved again, realizing that for the first time in my life, I had
everything I wanted.
Needed.
Couldn’t live without.
The feel of her heat tightening around my dick, sucking me dry, had to
be one of the best feelings in the world. I used to ignore the women I slept
with. With Belle, I couldn’t help but want to remember every tiny, little
detail, the way her fingers dug into my back, the way she clawed, moaned,
and panted.
I gripped her leg and pulled completely out of her, only to sink back
home.
“I don’t want this to end,” I whispered as we locked eyes. The world felt
small.
Only two people existed.
Me and her.
Our pleasure.
The joining of our bodies.
Minds.
Souls.
“Promise me.” I clenched my teeth, trying to keep my orgasm at bay.
“Promise.”
 “Keep doing that, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
My laughter quickly turned into a growl when her heels dug into my
ass, pulling me against her so tight I saw stars.
“Promise me eternity, kitten.”
Her back arched off the bed, and I took full advantage, jerking her
against me as my hips moved wildly, in perfect sync with her lush body.
I took my pleasure and gave into hers.
“Forever and always.” She bit down on her lower lip then squeezed her
eyes shut like it was too much, only to open them and say in a hoarse voice,
“It’s you and me, no matter what.”
My hips rolled one last time before both of us lost complete control.
I lost track of how many times I made love to her that night.
I wasn’t done.
Nowhere near finished or fulfilled.
I was only getting started.
I planned to keep her in this bed for the rest of the week, making up for
lost time. I wanted that more than anything. This time we’d do it right. I
kissed her neck, my teeth grazing her soft skin like I wanted to mark her on
the outside as much as I’d done on the inside.
Hours later, I kissed her belly then put my ear to her stomach. “I don’t
hear him.”
“Him?”
“Yes. I don’t hear our son.”
“How do you know it’s a boy?”
“I know these things.” Looking down at her stomach, I whispered, “I
can’t wait until I’m holding you in my arms.”
My eyes locked with hers, filled with fresh tears. “You’re going to make
me cry.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
An emotion I was unfamiliar with crept into my mind.
“What is it?”
“I didn’t think I could be this happy. How did I get so lucky?”
She smiled.
Big.
Bright.
Beaming.
“We both got lucky. I can’t wait to have a family with you.”
 “What names do you like?”
“Hmmm, if it’s a boy, how about Tristian Chase Hawkins II? And if it’s
a girl, I like the name Harlow after my grandmother. What about you?”
“Whatever you want is fine with me.”
“Wow. So all I had to do was get pregnant for you to surrender your
control?”
“Pick and choose your battles, kitten.”
She giggled.
“I love that laugh more than anything.”
“You know what I love?”
“You mean other than me?”
“I love that you always say the sweetest things.”
“I thought I was an asshole?”
“You’re an asshole who sometimes says the sweetest things.”
“I do what I can.”
“I want to have a party to celebrate the baby.”
“If that’s what you’d like, then we’ll make it happen.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I could get used to you being
all compliant.”
“You’re carrying my baby. It’s the least I can do.”
“I’m going to remember that the next time I’m super hormonal.”
“I plan to keep you pregnant for the next four years.”
“I may have to take you up on that if this is how I’ll be treated.”
I kissed her. “I’ve barely gotten started.”
She smiled and kissed me back. “Tell me something you’ve never told
anyone.”
“Oh, we’re back to this game?”
She playfully nodded.
“Before I went home to pack after your debutante ball, I visited my
parents’ grave.”
Her mouth parted.
“I asked them to give me the strength to leave you without saying
goodbye.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
“The day before we got married, I went to their graves again and asked
them to give me that same strength to make you fall in love with me like you
did back then.”
 Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I’d love to visit them with you one
day.”
“I’d love nothing more than introducing you to them. I’d also love to
take our baby once he or she is born to meet them as well.”
“I think that’s a perfect idea. I need to thank them for making me love
street bikes, which is what ultimately led me to you.”
“I would have found you anywhere, kitten. They just sped up the
process.”
“If more than one life exists, I pray that in my next life we’re together
again.”
“I’ll find you in every life, Belle Hawkins. Our souls are connected.”
She beamed, and I spoke with conviction…

“You’ll forever be my second chance rival.”

 Epilogue
—Tristian—

One month later

“Oh my God, Tristian! I can’t believe pregnant women turn you on this
much. You can’t keep your hands off me.”
I chuckled. “You turn me on, kitten. You being pregnant is just an added
bonus.”
“Our guests are piling in. You can’t keep cornering me every chance
you get.”
“You fucking love it.”
“I do, but my parents don’t need to know how you keep putting your
hand up my dress.”
I looked around the kitchen. “We’re alone.”
“Now? You scared off the catering service with all the orders you were
barking.”
“I don’t bark, kitten.” I grinned and reached for her. “I growl.”
She laughed and moved away from me.
“Do you think that’s going to stop me?”
“No. If anything it only entices you more.”
“I love to chase my wife around our home.”
“Trust me—I know and so does our staff. Paige won’t come into my
office without knocking anymore.”
“She should have knocked before she walked in to find my face buried
in between your legs.”
“When is your face not buried in between my legs?”
“It’s not right now.” I reached for her again. “Let’s rectify that.”
She put her hand up in the air, halting my descent. “We can rectify it
later, when our house isn’t filled with our friends and family.”
“We’re only having this party because you wanted one, kitten. I
couldn’t care less about who’s in our house right now. The only thing I want
is my wife to be screaming my name.”
 “Tristian!” She blushed. “Feel better now?”
In one stride, I grabbed her and turned her around. With her back
against my chest, I nuzzled her neck.
“You know what that does to me.”
“Why do you think I’m doing it?”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Insatiably in love with you.”
“Tris—”
I yanked up her dress and slid her panties down, shutting her right up.
“Oh, you like that, huh?”
She moaned. “You’re cheating. I’m pregnant and horny all the time.”
“No shit. I’m a lucky bastard.”
She rocked her hips against my hand when all of a sudden, we heard,
“Jesus! Can you guys stop mauling each other for five minutes?” Paige
exclaimed, immediately turning her back.
I didn’t hesitate in replying, “Well, I was about to make her see God.”

—Belle—

I instantly stepped away from him and smoothed my hand over my

dress. “Paige! I’m so sorry! I tried to warn him, but he wasn’t having it.”
“The number of times I’ve walked in on you guys should be illegal.”
Our families couldn’t be happier that we were already pregnant. His
grandfather said the Hawkins always do things right the first time. They were
planning our baby’s future, but I was enjoying the delight they felt from us
making a baby together.
I was counting down the days until he or she would finally be here.
They would be so loved. I couldn’t wait to decorate the nursery and buy all
the things. Tristian was actually more involved than I thought he would be.
For a big, tough man, our baby had the power to bring him to his knees.
Life was good.
Great.
I don’t think I’d ever been happier than I was now.
The future looked amazing, and I was grateful we had a second chance
to make our love prevail.
 “I’m going to get a drink.” Tristian kissed my cheek and then licked his
fingers that had just been in my panties before he left the kitchen.
This man…
“You guys need more self-control.” Paige walked over to me. “You act
like teenagers.”
“One day when you’re in love, I’m going to remind you of what you
just said.”
“Yeah, I don’t have time to fall in love.”
“You need to make time.”
She shook her head.
“Come to think of it, you haven’t had a boyfriend in like two years.”
“And look how well that turned out.”
“You just need to find the right man.”
As if on cue, Tristian walked in with Adrian Drake by his side.
“Paige, I’d like to introduce you to—”
The expression on her face was enough to render me speechless. I never
expected her to say…

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

The end.
For Tristian and Belle.

It’s only the beginning, or is it the end for…

Adrian and Paige.

What happens when the man who broke your heart ends up being your new
boss?

Second Chance Mine (Standalone/Second Chance Romance)

Releasing Oct 25, 2022
PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW
 Acknowledgments

Executive assistant & all around the reason I can write: Heather Moss
Cover Designer: Lori Jackson
Publicist: Danielle Sanchez
Agent: Stephanie DeLamater Phillips

Bloggers/Bookstagrammers: Without you I’d be nothing. Thank you for

all your support always.

My VIPS/Readers

Photographer: Wander Aguiar

Cover Model: Vinicious
Street Team Leaders: Leeann Van Rensburg & Jamie Guellar
Teasers & Promo: Heather Moss, Silla Webb, & Shereads.pang

My VIP Reader Group Admins:

Lily Garcia, Leeann Van Rensburg, Jennifer Pon, Jessica Laws, Louisa
Brandenburger

Street Team & Hype Girls: You’re the best.

My alphas & betas:

Thank you for helping me bring this book to life.
 Meet M. Robinson

M. Robinson is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling

author of more than thirty novels in Contemporary Romance and Romantic
Suspense. Crowned the “Queen of Angst” by her loyal readers, you’ll feel the
cut of her pen slicing through your heart as your soul bleeds upon the words
of her stories with each turn of the page.
Most notably known for the Good Ol’ Boys, M’s newest venture has
graced her with the #1 Bestseller on Apple Books with Second Chance
Contract. The Second Chance Men are powerful, intelligent and will sweep
you off your feet and leave you weak in the knees–every woman’s wildest
dreams.
M. lives the boat life along the Gulf Coast of Florida with her two
puppies and real life book boyfriend, the inspiration for all her filthy talking
alphas, Bossman.
When she isn’t in the cave writing her next epic love story, you can
usually spot her mad-dashing through Target or in the drive-thru of
Starbucks, refueling. Yes, she’s a self-proclaimed shopaholic, but only if
she’s spending Bossman’s money.
You can follow M, Ted, Marley, and Bossman on Facebook, Instagram,
and her absolute favorite social platform-TikTok.

www.authormrobinson.com
 M. Robinson Reading List

SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE

Second Chance Contract
Second Chance Vow
Second Chance Scandal
Second Chance Love

ANGSTY ROM-COM
The Kiss
The Fling

MAFIA/ORGANIZED CRIME ROMANCE

El Diablo
El Santo
El Pecador
Sinful Arrangement
Mafia Casanova
Co-written with Rachel Van Dyken
Falling for the Villain
Co-written with Rachel Van Dyken

SMALL TOWN ROMANCE

Complicate Me
Forbid Me
Undo Me
Crave Me

SINGLE DAD/NANNY ROMANCE

Choosing Us
Choosing You
ENEMIES TO LOVERS ROMANCE
Hated You Then
Love You Now

MC ROMANCE
Road to Nowhere
Ends Here

MMA FIGHTER ROMANCE

Lost Boy

ROCK STAR ROMANCE

From the First Verse
‘Til the Last Lyric

BUNDLES
Sinacore Crime Family Collection
Co-written with Rachel Van Dyken
Road to Nowhere/Ends Here
Jameson Brothers
Sinner/Saint Duet
Pierced Hearts Duet
Love Hurts Duet
Life of Debauchery Duet

EROTIC ROMANCE
VIP
The Madam
MVP
Two Sides
Tempting Bad