Stolen to Keep Read online

  “Don’t be jealous, Kade,” Vaughn pipes up. “I’m a one-woman man, and as you can see I got my woman.”

  I shake my head at his cocky playfulness. A few weeks ago I wanted to punch him over it. Now I find it one of the things I love most about him. That and his ability to lighten the mood. Both my sister’s husband and I need that in our lives. We can be too serious and it’s hard when you feel like you have the weight of the family on you. I don’t feel that anymore because of the Warsaw family. They might have put us in danger, but at the end of the day it’s all worth it. Even if Collins and I got a little banged up in the process, I have no doubt they’ll never let another hair on our heads be hurt.

  “Get over here,” Vaughn demands, not moving from his spot.

  “I need to get dressed.” I tug on the sheet I have wrapped around me. I grabbed it when our bedroom door burst open and my sister came flying in. I wonder how much she knows about what went down. She might know nothing about me being taken and just that I returned from college.

  “In a minute.” He motions for me to come toward him.

  Again, two weeks ago I would have rolled my eyes if he demanded I do anything, but today I’d go anywhere with him. I never want to waste another moment fighting what I feel for Vaughn. I know now that I disliked him so much that first day because I was half in love with him. From the moment he barged into my life he scared the crap out of me. He could hurt me but he’s quickly proven he never would and I have complete trust in him.

  He moves when I’m almost to the bed and pulls me down onto the mattress. He kisses me as my fingers slide into his short hair. I deepen the kiss and let out a happy sigh. I was so scared I’d never get to kiss him again, so now I give him all of me.

  “My brother almost saw you naked,” Vaughn growls against my mouth.

  “He only has eyes for my sister.” I smile against his lips, enjoying his jealousy. I shouldn't but I do.

  “That doesn't mean I can’t mark my territory.” He smirks as he leans back and yanks the sheet from me. He looks down at my chest and licks his lips. The man really does have a thing for my boobs—not that I’m complaining.

  “How are you going to mark me? Are—” My words are cut off when he sucks one of my nipples into his mouth. Jesus. His mouth does things to me I can’t put into words. One night after studying he got me off just by sucking on my nipples. I didn't think that was a real thing but Vaughn proved me oh so wrong.

  When he pushes my boobs together he looks up. “Hold them like this for me,” he demands, and I do as I’m told. He comes over me and straddles my chest.

  “What are you doing?” I wiggle under him as my clit throbs with need. Hell, my whole body is throbbing for it.

  “I told you I’m marking my territory.” He lines his cock between my breasts and presses forward. “Open that mouth.”

  I watch as his cock slides between my boobs and I put more pressure on pushing them together. I open my mouth when the head of his cock comes through and I lick the tip. I taste his salty sweetness and hum with pleasure.

  He thrusts back and forth and each time I try to lick and suck him more. My body vibrates with need as he reaches behind him. His fingers find my clit and I moan as he moves faster. I don’t know why this is so hot but everything Vaughn does turns me on. He has a wild streak of adventure in him that I need. I know my life will always be full with him as he takes me to the unknown and we enjoy the ride.

  “Give it to me, sweet thing. Cum on my fingers while I mark you. It gets you off that I want to fuck every part of you, doesn’t it?”

  He groans as his warm cum spills onto me. I can feel his release on my mouth, tits, and neck. I can’t hold back my desire as I cum with him and taste him on my lips. Next time I want him to cum down my throat so I get to taste all of him. My body jerks as he keeps playing with my sensitive clit and I think about being on my knees as he thrusts in and out of my mouth. As much as I love playful Vaughn, I love how bossy he can be in the bedroom too.

  “Vaughn,” I whimper, unsure if my clit can take much more. My legs are shaking from the orgasm and I’m so sleepy.

  “Hmm.” He licks his fingers clean before he rubs his cum into my skin. I’m starting to understand what he meant by marking me as his.

  “You’re a caveman,” I giggle.

  “There aren’t any caves that I know of on the island.” He drops down and kisses me before pulling me from the bed.

  “I should shower.” I start to head toward the bathroom but he pulls me against the closet.

  “Just marked that skin. You’re not washing it off.”

  “You want me to have brunch like this?!” That sounds both crazy and exciting. Yeah, it’s nuts but it turns me on too. “Fine.” I pretend to be annoyed as I try to find something to wear. “Who unpacked all my stuff?” Not only is all my crap here but there’s more than what I own.

  “I did it while you were sleeping. I don’t like people touching your stuff.”

  He pulls a shirt over his head to cover up his hot chest. I hate it but Kade was right. No one needs to see more of Vaughn’s chest but me.

  “I ordered some other stuff too.” He shrugs. “When you were studying for your classes.”

  I walk over to him and give him a kiss. I thought he’d been playing on his phone or obsessing over security all the time. I’m sure he did those things too, but he was also preparing his home to be mine too, and that’s more than sweet. That’s Vaughn.

  He squeezes my ass. “Get ready. I’m sure Kade is holding your sister back.”

  “Probably.” I shuffle through the closet and find a shirt and a pair of jean shorts. I slip on some flip-flops, loving that it’s always going to be warm here.

  When I turn around I almost run right into Vaughn. He’s down on one knee in front of me with a ring in hand. “I’ve got two more ways I still need to mark you.”

  “Vaughn,” I whisper, staring down at the pear-shaped diamond ring. The setting looks antique and I’m sure there’s a story that goes with it. Maybe we’ll make our own to go with it as well and one day we could pass it to our own son or daughter.

  “I wanted to wait until I knew everything was safe and I got word a few hours ago. Guzik and Amos will never see the light of day again. You don’t have to stay on the island, but I’m asking you to stay. Not because of your sister, or fear of what’s out there, but because of me.”

  His eyes are pleading and it pulls at my chest. I don’t have to think about it, I already know what my future looks like and it’s with Vaughn by my side.

  “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I shout, beaming down at him. He slips the ring on my finger and I can feel tears sting my eyes. “You’ll tell me about this when we have more time?”

  “Yeah, for now just know it was once worn by an artist you love.” He gives me a devilish grin.

  “I love so many! Now you have to tell me,” I demand.

  “Nah. I’m gonna make you wait until we get back to the house or your sister will keep you to herself all day.” I want to laugh and stomp my feet and demand he tell me because I know he’s right.

  “Fine,” I give in and decide I can wait a few hours.

  “Are you going to do this third marking you were talking about before we can go eat and calm my sister?”

  “Maybe I already did.” He leans forward and kisses my stomach.

  “Oh.” My eyes widen as I place my hand there.

  “It might be too soon to have a baby, but I think we can sneak in a few adventures before our first little one gets here. But if she’s anything like her mama she’ll want to go on adventures with us.”

  My eyes water when I think about having a little girl with him. “Adventures?” I ask.

  “You have so many things you want to see. This island is our home, but I’m going to make sure you see the world and explore everything you’ve ever read about and wanted to see and touch for yourself. I want you to finish those books you started, Berkley. I want to take you to thos
e places and give you inspiration. Maybe even I can give you some too.”

  Tears leak down my face thinking of all the places I ever wanted to go. Knowing he’ll be by my side as we explore together is making every dream I ever wished for come true.

  “I love you, Vaughn. It would be an honor to be your wife, to be a Warsaw.”

  “I love you too, sweet thing. It’s an honor that you’ll have me.” He gives my stomach another kiss before standing up. “Let’s go celebrate with the rest of the family.” He takes my hand and his fingers tangle with mine.

  “Is X celebrating with us?” I tease.

  “I’m sure he’ll brood in the corner while staring a hole into Doc Lula.” I was thinking the same thing and I laugh because we all know something is going on there. I can only hope X doesn't mess it up.

  Vaughn sweeps me into his arms and I wrap mine around him. I lay my head on his shoulder as we walk to the main house to see the rest of the family. I’m sure we’re going to talk about what’s happened and what’s to come but I think all the darkness is in the past. Unless you count a brooding Xavier.

  I’m getting my happily ever after and I hope X can find that too. He seems to need it most of all. I was stolen to keep but he needs to be stolen to love.

  Epilogue

  Vaughn

  Two years later…

  “Push, push, push,” Lula chants, and Berkley grits her teeth. “Okay, perfect, take a breath.”

  “This is all your fault,” she groans, and I can see on the monitor another contraction is forming. “You couldn’t keep your dick out of me.”

  I hear Collins smother a snort from behind me as she comes around the bed with ice chips.

  “To be fair, I didn’t do it by myself.” I choke on the last word as her hand reaches out and grabs my forearm and her nails dig into me. “I’m sorry!”

  My shout is drowned out by Berkley’s as another contraction hits her.

  “This is it, Berk. One more big push and your baby is here,” Lula says from between her legs.

  “Come on, sister, you’ve got this.” Collins holds her other hand as she coaches Berkley through the pain and I’m so thankful she’s here.

  I wish there was a way for me to take this pain from her, or at least help ease the pain, but she wanted to experience childbirth without drugs. There’s no way I could have done it without being knocked unconscious but my wife is so damn brave.

  We’ve been all over the world together and I’ve seen her fearless determination not to let anything stand in her way. I’ve seen a new side of her during this pregnancy that has shown me just how strong she is. When she came to me and said she wanted to try for a natural birth I didn’t try and talk her out of it, even though I was scared shitless.

  These past two years we’ve had together have been the best of my life and I can’t wait to meet our baby. We didn’t find out what we were having because Berkley wanted it to be a surprise. Deep down I think she wanted to put off having to admit I was right for as long as possible, because I know she’s giving me my baby girl.

  “Okay, the head is through. One more big push, Berk, this is it!” Lula says as she grabs towels and works under the blue cloth.

  “You said one more last time!” There’s a sob on the last word and I want to do something to make the pain go away.

  “Look at me,” Collins calls out and Berkley’s eyes snap up. “You are going to push one more time and you’re going to do it now.”

  They stare at one another for a long moment and that connection they share as sisters passes between them. It’s something I understand because I have it with my brothers, and thank God Berkley listens and nods.

  “You got this, sweet thing.” I rub her lower back as she leans forward and pushes one final time.

  “That’s it!” Lula calls, and then the room is filled with the sweet sounds of our newborn baby.

  Berkley is sobbing as she falls back onto the hospital bed and I’ve got my own tears of joy and relief. I lean down and kiss her as I close my eyes and thank whoever it is above us for watching out for her.

  “It’s a girl!” Collins shouts, and Berkley starts to laugh.

  “You don’t have to say it,” I whisper against her lips. “At least not right now.”

  “If I had the strength I’d smack you,” Berkley whispers back, but there’s no anger behind it. I lean back just in time to see her smile at me and I wink.

  “You did it.”

  “We did it,” she corrects, and I kiss her again.

  “Here she is,” Lula says as she places our brand new baby girl into Berkley’s arms.

  Berkley pulls her gown down and places our little one against her breasts and then Collins places a blanket over the two of them like a cocoon.

  “She has your nose,” I say, wiping away my tears and crawling into bed beside them. “And your eyes.” I watch in wonder as the tiniest little hand reaches out and wraps around my finger. In that one moment I’m done for and I know that the rest of my life is forever changed. “And your hands.”

  “I want to call her Iris after your mother,” Berkley says, and my heart moves to my throat.

  I can’t answer her, I can only nod as I lean down and kiss the tiny hand and then my wife. I didn’t think I would be so affected, but seeing a tiny version of our love brought into the world has hit me like a brick wall. Just like the first time I saw Berkley.

  “Oh my God, that’s the sweetest thing ever,” Collins cries out and we all turn to look at her. She’s sobbing like she’s the one that just had a baby, and in a way she sort of did. We’re all so close that sometimes their kids feel like our own and I know baby Iris is going to be the same for her. “Now I want Kade to knock me up again.”

  “I’m sure he won’t have a problem with that,” Berkley says with a laugh and wipes away tears.

  “Do you want me to go get him?” Lula offers, and I hold my hand up.

  “Only if Collins is ready to be dragged out of here.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this,” Collins says and she marches out of the room.

  “I’ll give you two a few minutes alone,” Lula says before she comes around and kisses Berkley on the top of the head. “You did beautifully.”

  The nurses help her clean up the room and tell us they’ll be back in shortly to check over our little girl, but for now we can just enjoy the quiet and rest.

  “I don’t think I could sleep if I tried,” Berkley whispers as we both stare at the new person we created.

  “I’m pretty sure this angel is never going to let us sleep again.” I kiss her tiny fingers and then kiss my beautiful bride.

  “I love you, Vaughn.”

  I wipe away her tears as I feel my heart swell so big I’m afraid it might break in two.

  “I love you too.” My voice is choked and I know I’m probably being a little dramatic with how weepy I am, but I’ve never been so happy. I never knew this kind of thing was possible and here it is in my arms. “And I love you too.”

  Iris coos and squeezes my finger as if to say it back. She’s already the smartest girl in the world, just like her mama. I don’t know how I ended up the lucky bastard I am, but I won’t ever take this for granted.

  Epilogue

  Berkley

  Six years later…

  My husband’s heavy arm wraps around me in a tight hold. I’m not sure this is going to work. How many times have we gone at it before and then he passed out? I’m trying to knock him out but I might have done it to myself. Now I’m naked and my plan is not holding up so well.

  Slowly, I try and wiggle free because I know if I wake him and give him some random line like "I need to use the bathroom” or “I can’t sleep,” he’ll be up with me. He’ll either wait for me to come back from the bathroom or use that mouth of his to put me back asleep. I move slower than a sloth, gradually untangling myself from his hold. When I’m free I stand next to the bed naked and look down at him. All I want to do is crawl bac
k in but I yawn and know this is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Collins and I have been planning this forever.

  Okay, maybe we’ve only been planning it since dinner but either way. Lula and Xavier were absent at dinner tonight, which wasn’t a surprise. This is the only option at the moment and Collins and I have the patience of a toddler. I could get a test from Lula tomorrow when I see her but I can’t wait. I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant and I want to tell Vaughn tomorrow on his birthday. Technically it’s after midnight, so it’s today already, but I know a positive pregnancy test would be the perfect gift. It’s hard to get him a gift since he already has everything.

  It took me a minute to get pregnant for the first time and a second baby is something we both want. I didn’t mind taking our time at first since we got to enjoy life together. We traveled some and we all spoiled Collins and Kade’s first baby. When we had our daughter she became our world. Vaughn was right when he said we’d have a little girl like me. She has an adventurous spirit and loves history and books as much as me. She loves to travel with us and we’ve been this perfect little trio. I’ve worried a little that having another baby might rock the boat because everything has been so perfect. But I have this feeling that there’s more to our story, and that includes one more little one.

  I thought about what it would be like to not have a sister and couldn’t imagine my life without Collins. Our daughter has her cousins and everyone has a bond here, but siblings are different. It’s an unbreakable bond and I want that for our kids. I told Vaughn, and I could see the excitement in his eyes. He said he was okay with whatever I wanted, but I know he’s been dying for another. I went off the pill and it looks like it didn't take long.