Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 3)

His temples pinch and ever so slowly his eyes move to the contact.

He stares for a long moment, then slowly places his left hand beside his right.

It’s just a guess, but after everything, it feels right. A boy – both Graven and Brayshaw blood.

Maddoc gives a small nod, the corner of his mouth lifting as his fingers span out. “Our prince,” he says, and his eyes come back to mine. “This is for real? Me and you, we did this?”

A small chuckle escapes me, and I nod, but it quickly turns into me shaking my head. “I don’t know how to do this, Big Man. At all.”

“Me either, baby,” he admits, pushing into a sitting position so we’re chest to chest, my legs now wrapped around his back. “But we’re not alone. Cap will help us, Royce and Maybell, too. My dad maybe, if we let him. Either way, baby, we’ll be good. We’ll figure it out, together, ‘cause it’s me and you, baby.”

He kisses me softly, but it quickly turns hungry and he tears away, dropping onto his back. He folds his hands behind his head, his eyes taunting and my favorite smirk in place. “Now.” He licks his full lips. “Show me how good you can be.”

I lean forward, biting into his bottom lip, allowing my teeth to scrape across the soft flesh until it tears free. “With pleasure, husband.”We never made it down to the fire the morning after we got married at the Brayshaw cabin. We stayed there for the rest of the weekend, and then when Monday came and it was time to go back to school, we weren’t ready.

We needed time, so time we took.

Captain headed straight home to see Zoey, and Royce went with him, but he called us a couple days later to let us know him and Mac were taking a drive up the coast and he’d be back soon. We knew it meant he was up to no good, but he deserved some fuck off time, so we left it alone. For now.

Me and Raven ended up in Stockton, in her old trailer park. After a day of going through the place, she decided there was nothing worth saving. One call to our contractor and eight hours later, Raven watched the only home she ever knew get dragged off the grounds.

She didn’t bat a lash.

A few hours after that, she had a new modular home brought in to take its spot, and then she signed it and the lot over to a woman she introduced me to at the nearby foodbank. The woman promised it would serve families in need, and Raven chose to believe her, and then she filled their shelves with a promise to keep it coming.

We sat back and watched as light poles were installed in the trailer park, then tested out the swings of the new jungle gym she picked out, the kids from the park right there with us.

After that, I took her to the beach.

She’d never been, and the weather was getting warmer so getting her to leave was hard, but we missed Royce and Captain, I know she’s ready to see Victoria, too.

Splitting up like this wasn’t something we liked to do, and the only reason we all agreed was because we promised to keep our tradition going. So every night the four of us were apart, no matter where we were, we all took an hour to sit on Skype, had dinner together. It helped, but we’re ready to be home, and they’re tired of us being away.

On top of all of that, our town is ready for us.

Donley is gone, handled by the council members – I’ll find out what that means for sure at the next meeting – and everyone is waiting for the new town leaders to take their place.

Raven sits up in her seat, letting go of my hand as we roll to a stop in front of the Brayshaw mansion.

Her face smooths out, her eyes shooting wide. “The flowers,” she whispers.

“What?”

“Did he tell you?” she asks.

My brows snap together. “Tell me what, baby?”

She pushes open her door, stepping out of the SUV. Slowly she walks toward them, and then her eyes cut to the right, forcing mine to follow.

A playset.

“She’s here,” Raven whispers, a broken laugh leaving her.

Her eyes fly to mine, but then suddenly the door is thrown open and Royce runs out. With no warning, he lifts her, spinning her around and she laughs, hugging him back.

“Yo,” I shout with a smile, walking toward them. “Easy on the merchandise.”

Royce steps back, his eyes going wide when they fall to her tiny belly. It’s hardly a bump, more a little pudge but on her frame, it’s a noticeable change.

“You were only gone for a month.”

“Apparently you start to grow the fourth month. Maddoc will have to carry me into summer school by the time the year is over.”