Innocence

Ty raised his tear-streaked face. “I don’t want her to be my mom. I don’t want her to take me.”

“She won’t. I promise she won’t. Ty, you are safe with London and me.”

Ty looked at me. “Will you still marry my dad?”

The quivering lip of Ty had me hugging him in Jaxson’s arms. Crystal would never get her hands on him. Never. “I love you and your dad. I’m not going anywhere. We’re still getting married.”

Ty then looked at Jaxson. “Are you still going to marry London?”

“Yes. Nothing is changing. I love London. She loves us.”

A tired sigh escaped Ty. “Can we go home?”

“Sure thing, buddy.”

I CLOSED THE DOOR TO Ty’s bedroom. It had been a long day after Crystal’s visit. Jaxson called the cops and they arrested her.

Apparently they were the voices in her head that talked to her last night saying I was going to steal her baby. When pressed how she knew about me, Crystal said she saw me in the window. Her ramblings were incoherent. Underneath the broken woman, I was sure at one time was a vibrant one. It saddened me she lost herself along the way. Lost it all. Like I had at one time.

Rubbing my hand down my face, I let out a breath as I leaned against the wall, processing everything. Jaxson had kissed Ty goodnight, but Ty asked if I could lay in there awhile. Endless questions to ensure I married Jaxson and I would be his mom happened until he closed his eyes. He was concerned something would happen to us like it had with Jaxson and Crystal.

I wanted to throttle Crystal and shake some sense into her. How could a mother cause a child so much harm?

Hopefully, his young mind was able to process the difference between being sick versus love. It would take time.

Voices came from down the hall in the study . . . probably Jaxson with the lawyer. Apparently Crystal drove through the fence in the south pasture and straight up to the house between the security rounds. More security patrols were being added to the expansive property. Levi and Pam were out checking the patch on the wooden fence the stable workers made.

I heard Jaxson’s voice rise for a second, so I pushed off the wall. The last thing we needed was Ty waking up again. He needed the rest. In the dim lit study, Jaxson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Larry, I understand.” I held a finger to my lips when Jaxson saw me. He nodded and continued in a lower voice. “But, I need to make sure there’s no fucking way Crystal will get any type of visitation with Ty. She was still strung out on something today. She threatened coming after him.”

Motioning for me to come closer, I walked up and sat on the desk. Jaxson nestled himself between my legs as he cracked his neck. “I’m not sure except what she mentioned about the money. Okay. We’ll touch base tomorrow.”

Crystal also said she would take ten-thousand dollars and leave. Of course, if Jaxson went down that avenue she would always be coming around when the money ran out.

Tossing the phone on the desk, it clattered. “Jaxson, we’ll get through this.”

Face stricken, he stared at me. “There is no way in hell I will ever let that woman near my son. No way.”

“She won’t. It’s obvious she’s barely coherent.” I paused. “Do we need to move back the wedding? I don’t want to cause you extra stress.”

“London, no fucking way. That bitch is not getting in the way of my future.” His hand crept along my thigh, eliciting the electrical charge within me. “We’ll talk to the lawyer tomorrow. Right now I want to get lost in you.”

My hands went down to Jaxson’s pants and I released the button. “I want you too.”

He tore the panties from me and I moaned at the sound of fabric tearing. There was no foreplay. Jaxson needed a release. Now. His erection sprung free and pressed the tip to my core. Nibbling my ear, he said, “We need a condom.”

“No, we don’t. You know I’m on the pill. We’re getting married in less than two days.”

Pushing in slightly, our gazes locked. “Fuck, you feel good.”

> “Please.”

He thrust in and picked me up. “I’m taking you to bed.” I ground down on him, needing the friction. “SIow down, sweetheart. I’m going to enjoy you bare.”

“Yes.”

Nothing felt better than when Jaxson was inside me.

Lying in bed, legs entwined, Jaxson trailed his finger along my hip. He’d woke me up as dawn approached to make love to me. We’d stayed up relishing the touch of each other. “I’ll never tire of having you.”