Kingdom Fall

“Clean up on aisle seven,” I joked.

He tucked that massive cock of his back into his tuxedo trousers. “I fucking love you.”

“I love your fucking.” He narrowed his eyes, and I grinned. “I fucking love you too.”

That put that sexy smirk of his back on his face. “I’ll get something to clean you up.”

There was a bathroom attached to the suite of rooms made for prewedding needs. After he’d cleaned me up—because the man was attentive like that—I fixed my makeup and we left the room hand in hand. In an untraditional move, Connor handed me over to my dad.

“Bring her back to me,” Connor said to Dad before disappearing into the garden.

“Are you ready for this?” Dad asked.

I squeezed his hand. “I am, but we’re already married.”

They hadn’t been thrilled to learn the truth about my secret wedding, but they loved him as much as Bailey had thought they would. I was just happy to have my dad walk me down the aisle. Even more to have him and my brother in the same room. I was still working on repairing that relationship.

“Let’s get you married.”

“I really love him, Dad.”

“I know. And I can see he loves you the way I love your mother. And that makes me so happy.”Months later… ConnorThe world had changed. Manhattan was unrecognizable. The streets were nearly empty, and it was eerie. Dad was getting worse, and my brother and I had decided with so much unknown about a new virus, we’d rally behind him. We were all bunked up in his twenty-thousand-square-foot mansion that now seemed small. It was less than a block away from Central Park, which gave Kalen’s little ones a place to play. That, and the rooftop.

His kids were good practice for me as I still struggled with the idea of being with a Dad. Lizzy was sure I’d be a great one. I wasn’t there yet. Therapy was helping, but it hadn’t taken away the anxiety I’d end up being a parent like either one of mine.

“Hey handsome, what are you doing?” A glance over my shoulder revealed my beautiful wife. “Are you trying to feed me again? I’m already as big as a house and I waddle. Waddle,” she complained but wore a genuine smile.

I put the strawberries down and went over and gave her a kiss, long and lingering.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“Because you’re cute when you complain.” I rubbed her belly. “How’s our daughter doing?”

She glared at me. “Our son is just fine. Give it up, it’s going to be a boy.”

We’d opted to wait to find out the sex of the baby. I think Lizzy thought it would be more fun to guess. Most men wanted sons. I did not. It was hard enough accepting being a father. But a son, I couldn’t imagine. I feared that I would try to wrap him in a bubble, afraid he would end up like me. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the same fears for my daughter. But I’d been a son, neglected, overlooked, and broken. I wasn’t sure I was equipped to raise a boy into a man, when I fell short of the hero Lizzy thought I was.

She cupped my face. “Don’t go there,” she said as if she’d read my mind. “You aren’t your father. You aren’t your past. You are going to be the best dad for this child and all our future children. Though I’m seriously considering surrogacy the next time.” My eyes widened. “Don’t worry. I’m just kidding. I needed you back here with me. We are so going to rock as parents.”

I wanted to believe her and sank into the kiss she planted on my lips.

“Have I told you how much I love you?” I asked.

She tapped her arm where her watch would be. “Let’s see. This is only like the fifth time today. You’ve got a lot of work to do if you want to break your record.”

I grinned because out of everyone she could make me laugh. “There’s my guy. I love you too.”

The doorbell rang, and I hated to let her go. “You stay here. I’ll get it.”

The only people in the house who weren’t family were Dad’s longtime housekeeper, his full-time nurse, and Lizzy’s midwife, who helped the nurse with Dad too.

The housekeeper had finished lunch and was in her room. I wasn’t my dad and could answer the door. Besides, I was expecting a package. I’d finally convinced Dad to take a DNA test. He swore he knew I was his, but I reminded him that his will stipulated that all heirs be tested, including Kalen. Dad’s lawyers said rewriting the will given his current medical condition could make it more contestable. He was sure but said he’d find a way around it if I wasn’t.