Alpha CEO

“Yeah, baby, just like that. Come hard for me.”

“Yes… Don’t stop … please don’t stop.”

“I won’t. I can’t. You own me.”

She pulsated, and her sweet pussy sucked my cock dry. I came so hard, my vision blurred, and my body trembled right along with hers. Both of us going over the edge together, where I could barely see straight. We stayed like that for I don’t know how long, in our safe haven that would eventually turn into our hell. It felt as if an eternity had passed between us, and it still wasn’t enough time with her.

It was never enough time with her.

Kissing all over her face again, I slowly, unwillingly, pulled out of her, causing her to wince from the sting of my dick.

“I’ll be right back.” I kissed the tip of her nose and got up, going straight into the bathroom. Needing a minute to myself for what I wasn’t prepared to face. “Fuck.” I looked in the mirror. “We didn’t use a condom.”

My emotions held me hostage while I cleaned myself up. Taking a solid breath, I dampened a washcloth and made my way back into my bedroom.

“Autumn—”

“Don’t say it. Please don’t ruin this for me.” She was staring up at the ceiling. Lost in her own thoughts with my white sheet wrapped around her naked body.

“What exactly do you think I’m going to say?”

“That you regret it.”

“Kid, look at me.”

She did, her eyes already welling up with tears.

“Awe, baby.” I went to her and kissed her lips.

“Every time something intimate happens between us, you always push me away after. Please, just give me this. I can’t hear you say that you regr—”

“I don’t.”

“Really?”

I shook my head.

She sighed, fresh tears falling down the sides of her face.

“Don’t cry for me, Autumn.”

“They’re happy tears.”

I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but I had to ask, “Are you on the pill?”

“Ummm … no.”

“Fuck!” I sat up, and she went with me, grimacing when the bed hit her core. “You’re going to be sore.”

“It’s fine. Don’t freak out, okay? I’ll get on the pill.”

“A little late, kid.”

“I mean for next time.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Next time?”

“Yeah, there’s going to be a next time, right?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out.

“Julian, this isn’t a one-time thing, right?”

“I need to clean you up.”

The next thing I knew she was kissing all over my face, wrapping her arms and legs around me, seeking the comfort she needed in my embrace. I kissed her, softly pecking her lips, taking my time with each stroke of my tongue as it tangled with hers.

I tasted her tears.

Her hope.

Her love.

When I opened my eyes, I saw every sentiment I felt through her gaze. We locked eyes.

I surrendered.

To her.

To us.

Because for the first time, I didn’t stop when she wholeheartedly expressed, “I love you,” all in one breath.

Chapter TWENTY-ONE

—Autumn—

Day Six of Press tour

He couldn’t even give me a day to figure shit out.

Not. One. Fucking. Day.

We were supposed to be getting footage of him at the old junkyard he used to work at, not sitting at a rectangular mahogany table in the building he owned in Texas which was another extension of his office in Miami.

Of course, Julian Locke was sitting at the head of the table, and I was parallel to him with our lawyers by our sides. They were both personally flown in on Julian’s private jet—God forbid he give me any time to think things over. I didn’t want to involve lawyers. We could have worked this out on our own, but now I had no choice in the matter.

Like with everything, he’d stolen that away from me too.

For the last twenty minutes, all we did was fight back and forth over his ridiculous demands. He wanted joint custody, one week off, one week on, when we didn’t live in the same state. Along with exchanging of holidays, switching each year on who would get Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last demand he had was a real kicker—Julian wanted our daughter to carry his last name.

I’m sorry, what?!

The desire to punch him and his stuffy lawyer, Anderson, in the face was palpable.

Especially when Anderson stated, “May I remind you, Miss Troy, that Mr. Locke has been more than flexible with the terms of his agreement.”

“Flexible?” I choked out. “You call this flexible? He just found out about our daughter yesterday, and he hasn’t even given me any time to explain anything to her. This is the complete opposite of flexible! This is entirely selfish on your part and utter bullshit, Julian! She doesn’t even know who you are!”

“Whose fault is that, Autumn? It sure as hell isn’t mine.”

I glared at my lawyer. “He doesn’t even know her name! Greg, do something!”

He nodded, looking over at them. “Miss Troy has been the sole parent for the last nine years—”