Back to the Beginning: A Duet (11 page)

Realization dawned on her as she listened to his words. He wanted to know they wouldn’t take each other for granted again. That they wouldn’t let the gap get so wide they wouldn’t be able to bridge it. While their kids’ lives were important, it was just as important that Mom and Dad have their time too.

“I hear you and I understand. I won’t let myself get that way again, as long as you don’t let yourself get that way again.”

He knew it would be hard; he could already feel the tension sweeping up his back and into his neck. There were so many responsibilities for them here, so many things they couldn’t say no to or they couldn’t put off for another day. Other things made themselves priorities because they allowed it. It was time to make them a priority.

“I’m gonna need help,” he admitted, talking softly, his words carrying a hard truth. “I let members of this club make themselves important by taking on their problems as my own. I need you to call me on my bullshit, and I need you to do the hard love thing when I need it. Don’t pretend like you’re a weak woman and let me get away with being an ass. We both know you’re only submissive in the bedroom. Outside of it, you’re the strongest one I know.”

That was a hell of a compliment coming from him, and tears stung behind her eyes. She was submissive in the bedroom because she chose to be. She liked to allow him to get the upper hand and be her man; she liked that he could handle her pleasure. It also meant the world to her that he understood that and saw it for what it was.

“I will call you on it, just like I want you to call me on it.”

She grasped his hand, pulling him into a fierce kiss. For the first time on the trip, he let her take control, manipulating his tongue this way and that, letting her exert her authority, letting her be his equal. When she pulled back, his eyes were glazed, as were hers, but with his new tattoo and her being sore from their bedroom activities, they weren’t in a position to satisfy this new desire.

“You ready to go back and face life?” he asked, walking back over to the bike and holding it steady for her to get on.

She realized with clarity that this was what Liam did all day every day. He took the first step in everything and held life steady so that she could get on. He made sure her anchor was placed and he was holding tight to it. He was her anchor, and as long as she let him, he would always be there to ground her.

“With you, I’m ready to face anything.” She hugged him tightly around the waist, careful to avoid the spot on his back he’d just gotten inked.

“And remember.” He leaned back, tilting his head for a kiss, which she gladly gave. “If there ever comes a time when we’ve lost our way, even a little bit again, we do what we did these past few days.” His eyebrows wiggled in suggestion. “We have lots of sex and talk in between it.”

She giggled, pinching his hand. “Sex didn’t make that big of a difference. It was the communication.” She shook her head at him.

“But you can’t deny that the communication got easier the more relaxed we got.”

She couldn’t deny that, and it told her more than anything else that they had to make sure they took care of themselves. “Okay, but that means we need to take care of one another; we need to make sure we’re not stressed and we’re not expecting each other to be a superhero. We’re human, and we need to remember that.”

Liam lifted her hand to his lips, giving it a kiss. “Good, now let’s go check on our kids.”

*

“Well the house
is still standing,” Denise quipped as they pulled the bike up the drive. She could see Tyler’s truck there, and it looked as if Meredith was with him, carrying Addie. They were coming out onto the front porch as Liam parked the bike.

“Daddy!”

They heard the small voice, the stamping of feet, and the excited shuffling as Tatum made her way through the front door as fast as her legs could carry her. Out of nowhere, Drew appeared behind her, lifting her quickly. “Here, munchkin, don’t even attempt those steps.”

She squealed as he lifted her high in the air before setting her down on the ground, allowing her to bypass the stairs. Once her feet were on solid ground again, she scrambled towards her parents.

Liam took a knee on the ground and held out his arms for her, catching her as she ran at full speed towards him—like the tornado analogy he’d used to describe her. “I missed you,” he told her, picking her up and taking her over to where Denise stood, an indulgent smile on her face.

“Did you miss us?” Denise asked, holding her hands out for the toddler.

Tatum came to her willingly, burying her head in her mom’s shoulder, putting her thumb in her mouth as she curled up. “No.” She shook her head, her words muffled by her thumb. “Drew let me sleep in his bed, and Ty Ty let me have ice cweam for dinner.”

Denise glared at Tyler. “He did, did he?”

He held his hands out to his side. “She wouldn’t eat. Don’t you dare judge me.”

Liam grinned over at his son. “You not only let her
in
your room, but you let her sleep with you? I’m proud of you.”

“She was cryin’, and I couldn’t take it anymore. It always helped her when she was a baby. I gave it a shot and it worked.”

The group of them caught up briefly before the twins went about their previous plans. Tyler ambled over to them. “Did y’all have a good time?” His grin was shit-eating, and Liam gave him his own grin.

“We did. Thank y’all for watching the kids.”

“It’s no problem,” Meredith assured them. “Just remember this in case we ever need it.”

*

“Tornado Tatum’s in
bed, and she’s asleep.” Liam sighed as he got in bed next to his wife later on that night.

“Thanks for putting her down. I caught up with Mandy. It seems like they all had a good time without us. Maybe we really can do this again sometime since the world didn’t seem to stop because we weren’t here.”

She snuggled up next to Liam, hooking her leg over his waist. He lazily trailed his hand up and down her thigh. She sighed happily as she kept talking. “If we ever need to get back to basics again, we’ll do it.”

“Back to basics?” he questioned, his voice sleepy.

“Yeah. You, me, some alone time, and, at the end, our kids. That’s our back to basics.”

And neither one of them could argue that.

The End

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A DuChamps Dynasty Novella

By
Seraphina Donavan

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

Edited by: Meg Graham Weglarz

Cover Art by: Kari Ayasha, Cover to Cover Designs

Formatting: Paul Salvette,
BB eBooks

The DuChamps Dynasty Series

Been Loving You Too Long

Have A Little Faith In Me

I’ll Take Care Of You

The Gresham County Series

Bad Girl Lessons

Bad Boy Secrets

The Bourbon & Blood Series

Bennett, Book One

Ciaran, A Bourbon & Blood Novella

Clayton, Book Two

And coming soon

Carter, Book Three

Stand Alone Novellas

Nobody But You

Coming Home

Wrong For Ms. Wright

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To all my wonderful readers who fell in love with Vincent and Ophelia… Thank you for waiting for this, thank you for reading and supporting me on this amazing journey.

‡
Prologue

T
he restaurant was
crowded at brunch, everyone enjoying their famous Hot Browns and other Kentucky delicacies. While the dress might have been casual, there was no denying that the place exuded an air of wealth and exclusivity. At the rear of the large dining room, an icy blonde occupied a table alone, sipping her iced tea and surveying the crowd with mild disdain. Even though most would have considered the clientele to be wealthy and elite, they were still far beneath her notice.

A slightly disheveled brunette walked in, her ridiculously curvy body resulting in appreciative glances from most of the men present, regardless of their age, social positon, degree, or impotence. She approached the table and took a seat across from her polar opposite.

Melina Tate smiled but the expression did not warm her cool gaze. The brunette was simply the hired help, after all. “Do you have what I need?”

The young woman tossed her dark, bed tousled hair over her shoulder and dug into her overly large and messy handbag for a moment. Eventually, she produced a memory card which she passed across the table.