"Thank you," Dallas said, and he meant it. But he still wasn't sure where his father was going with this. And all he could do was pray that somewhere at the end of this speech, his father was going to tell Dallas that he'd changed his mind. That he was going to rescind the adoption.
"And I'm proud that you're my son," Eli continued, and with the inclusion of that one little word, hope faded. "Because you are my son. And Jane is my daughter. And nothing will ever change that."
And there it was. The light snuffed out. Hope killed.
His family destroyed. Because Dallas wasn't going to sacrifice his and Jane's love at the altar of their father's pride. He'd hire his own attorneys. He'd fight the battle, but even though he was now an adult, without Eli's consent, the odds of the judge rescinding the adoption were slim. There just wasn't much precedent, and courts were loath to interfere with family relationships unless there was full consent on all sides.
And even if he won, the victory would be hollow by its very nature. Because whatever threads of family still remained would be completely and finally destroyed.
At the thought, Dallas's heart constricted. He wanted to shake Eli, to make him understand. He wanted to fight, dammit. But how did he fight perception and pride? How did he open his father's eyes?
Dallas drew a deep breath and hoped that when he spoke his voice wouldn't be stained by anger and disappointment. "I'm happy I'm not a disappointment to you, sir," he said. "But maybe we'd all be better off if I was."
Eli's brows rose, and then, unexpectedly, he burst out laughing. "Why? Because then I'd want to get rid of you? Not only cut you off financially, but trim your branch from the family tree?"
"Well, actually, yes." Dallas frowned. Why the hell was that funny?
"You think I don't understand how you feel about Jane, and maybe you were right. Back then. But you're not right anymore." He glanced toward Lisa, his chest rising and falling with a deep sigh. "I know what it's like to love someone. And I'm terrified that I'm going to know soon what it's like to lose them."
He shifted, turning his face away as he roughly wiped his eyes. "I don't want my children to feel that way. Not ever."
Slowly, he turned to face Dallas. "I'll file for the rescission. More than that, I'll hire the best goddamn attorneys on this planet to make it happen. And when it's over, I'll give her away to you at the altar. I'll do all that," he said as Dallas fought his own tears, "but at the end of the day, you will still be my son. It just won't say so on a piece of paper. Deal?"
Tears welled in Dallas's eyes, and his throat was thick when he extended his hand to the man who would always be his one true dad. "Deal," he said.
And as he turned to look at his mother once more, he thought that maybe--maybe--he saw a hint of a smile.
Christmas Eve...
I wake to the feather-soft sweetness of Dallas's kisses on my cheek, my neck, the curve of my shoulder. And down, and down, and down.
When his body is between my legs and his tongue teases my belly button, I slide my fingers into his hair.
"Well, good morning," he says, peering up at me with heated eyes and an innocent grin. "Did I wake you?"
"Mmm. I was having the most wonderful dream. This incredibly sexy man was kissing my entire body. My face, my neck, my breasts. And then he went lower and lower, and his tongue was like magic. He held me down and just kept teasing and sucking until I thought I was going to burst into flames right in his arms."
"I think I'm jealous," he says. "Who was this guy?"
"Oh, just some man I'm going to marry."
"Are you? Well, in that case I have a little present for the bride."
I would answer him, but I can't because I'm gasping with pleasure from the way he's lowered his mouth to my pussy. The way he's sucking hard on my clit. He's holding my thighs wide apart, and I'm splayed out and exposed, and he's holding me so firm that I can't move or squirm or otherwise escape the assault.
I can do nothing but endure the wild pleasure of his relentless assault, and I tilt my head back, my hands fisted in the sheets as Dallas's tongue conducts a symphony on my body, his finger playing me like a fine instrument as well. It's too much--too wild, too intense--and I feel the shock of sensation building in me, starting as a low, electrical buzz in my inner thigh and then growing more and more vibrant until I lose all control over my body, and my hips are bucking and I'm crying out, calling Dallas's name and begging him to stop--then begging him to never, ever stop.
He tightens his grip on my legs and holds me in place, sucking and teasing and forcing me to ride it out until I'm so shattered that my entire body is shaking and I'm gasping for air.
"Wow," I say as I come down off a sexual high. "My last orgasm as a single woman. That was amazing."
"I'm all about the personal service." He slides up my body and kisses me as I lay back in a blissful haze.
"Wow," I repeat. "I could stay here all day."
"You better not," he says. "You're expected at a wedding in just a few hours."
I prop myself up on my elbow. "It's bad luck to see a bride on her wedding day. I think you've just doomed us."