Page 48 of Billion Dollar Vow (The Lincoln Brothers #4)

Karley

A month later, I step into the house I purchased… the one I thought I’d live out the back of after my arrangement with Oliver ended. Well, the joke’s on me, because I won't be staying here.

I move through the open space, carrying a box packed with furniture to build. The bane of anyone’s existence, especially when they don’t come with an Allen key.

“Where’s this one going?” Wren asks from behind me, Rufus trailing along beside him, his nails scratching on the floor. Oliver had a meeting today about the gallery, so Amber and Wren are here helping me.

“The front room,” I reply, shifting the box slightly to get a better grip before heading toward the main living area.

Amber joins me, her arms already full of smaller boxes. The house isn’t ready for kids and families yet… Not officially. The permit is taking forever, and I know I’ll have to be patient. For now, all I can do is set up and prepare, room by room.

Amber sets her boxes down beside me. “Need help?”

“Always,” I say with a smile. Together, we tackle one of the furniture kits—a TV console. I glance toward the other room, where I can hear Wren working on something, and I bet he’ll finish his piece before we’re even halfway through.

As Amber and I sort through the pieces, I sigh. “Thanks for helping me with this.”

She glances up, her warm smile reassuring. “Anytime. We’re so proud of you.”

Her words make me pause, my hands freezing midair. I look up at her, her expression calm and sincere.

“Even though I had to marry to get it?” I joke, though there’s a twinge of self-consciousness.

Amber laughs softly. “It takes a clever woman to do what she needs to for her dream. You didn’t give up. That’s all that matters.”

“I could have easily given up,” I whisper.

“But you didn’t,” Amber says firmly. “And as much as you claimed to hate him, I could always see the light in your eyes whenever you talked about him.”

My head snaps up at that. “I was obvious, wasn’t I?”

Her eyes sparkle. “Not to him.”

I groan, shaking my head. “How? I don’t know how he didn’t see it.”

“Maybe he had it in his head that you were like a sister to him,” she says with a playful shrug.

The thought makes me grimace, my stomach flipping at the idea. “I never looked at him like a brother.”

Amber laughs and nudges my shoulder. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. But it’s different now.”

“I’ve always liked him,” I admit.

Her hand covers mine, giving me a gentle squeeze. “I love that your story is unconventional. It reminds me of my own journey.”

They tried for years to have kids, doctor after doctor, test after test, hoping something would work. But nothing did. Eventually, they applied to be foster parents.

I feel so lucky they chose me. They show up for me, every day, in all the little ways that matter. They didn’t just make room in their home. They made room in their lives and in their hearts.

I pause, my chest tightening. “I’m sorry you couldn’t have kids.”

Amber smiles. “I’m not.”

I frown. “You’re not?”

She shakes her head. “No, because if I had, I wouldn’t have gotten you.”

My chest aches with emotion. Her eyes glisten, and my own vision blurs as tears prick at the edges.

“I’m the one who’s grateful,” I choke out. “I don’t think you’ll ever understand how much it meant to me that you... chose me.”

Her smile deepens as she takes her hands from mine but shuffles closer. “I do understand. Watching you work so hard, and now, seeing you in love and chasing your dreams… It’s everything to us.”

Blinking back the tears threatening to spill over, I swallow hard. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” she says.

I glance down at the box in front of us, gathering the courage to say the words that have been on my mind lately. I just don’t want to let her down. “I don’t think I want kids.”

The silence stretches between us. I feel my heartbeat in my throat as I slowly lift my eyes to hers.

“Then don’t have them,” she says simply.

“But what if Oliver wants them?” The worry slips out before I can stop it. We haven’t had that conversation yet. He’s been busy with the gallery, and I’ve been finalizing the house.

“What if he doesn’t?”

“I don’t know…” I tuck my hair behind my ear, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

Amber touches my arms and looks straight into my eyes. “This is your life. Talk to him. Tell him what you told me and see what he says.”

I nod, her advice sinking in.

“Let’s finish this,” she says, moving her hands back to the wood. Both of us focus back on the console. We work in silence for a bit before Wren comes in to help us finish assembling the piece.

The door swings open. My heart lifts as Oliver steps inside, his sexy and powerful presence commanding attention. Especially in his light gray work suit.

He moves with ease, his smile lighting up the room as he greets Amber with a shake of her hand. “Hi, Amber.”

Then he turns to Wren, shaking his hand too. “Wren.”

Rufus leaps at Oliver, latching onto his leg, and enthusiastically humps him. Again.

I burst out laughing, the craziness of the moment too much to contain.

“Rufus!” Wren scolds, his face bright red.

Oliver, ever the good sport, chuckles as he picks Rufus up. “It’s fine. I guess it’s better than him biting my dick off.”

Wren’s lips twitch, and he lets out a reluctant laugh. “Yes, well, that would make it hard to have kids.”

The words make my heart squeeze, but after my talk with Amber, I know it’s time. I don’t want to wait in case it’s a dealbreaker for him.

Oliver steps over to me, his eyes heated as he leans down and kisses me softly. “Hi, Petal.”

I glance over at Amber and Wren. They stand together, their expressions soft and full of warmth. Amber’s hands are over her chest, her eyes glowing with pride.

“We’ll leave you two,” Amber says with a smile. “But we’ll see you Saturday.”

The thought fills me with joy. Saturday. The opening of Oliver’s gallery. My art will be there for everyone to see.

“Let me know if you need help,” Wren offers with a wink at Oliver, then takes Rufus from Oliver's arms.

The moment the door closes, Oliver locks it, and my pulse quickens.

“I need my wife,” Oliver murmurs.

“Do you now?” I say, a grin spreading across my face.

“Yes,” he growls and steps closer. “It’s been six hours. And I’ve thought about you the whole morning. Every meeting. Every moment.”

I let out a soft laugh. “I’d say I’m sorry.”

“I should make you say it,” he mutters, his lips brushing against mine.

“It’s not going to happen,” I whisper.

“Want to make a bet?” he asks.

He just smiles wickedly at me, walking me backward so my back hits the door, his hands beside my head on the wood caging me in.

I grab his tie, trying to undo it.

“I like it when you show me how much you want me,” he says.

Likewise, which is why I’m trying to remove his clothes. He hasn’t stopped showing me he wants me, and I want to return the favor.

I tug it, but it’s still not undone.

He slips into my life so easily. He’s perfect with my family. I couldn't have asked for anyone better.

Pulling his tie free, I let it slip onto the floor. “You want me to fuck you right here? Against the door?”

Undoing the buttons on his shirt next, I couldn’t imagine moving. “Yes.”

“My wife is so fucking needy for my cock.”

I slip the white shirt off his shoulders so it falls to the floor. “Shut up and fuck me.” Taking the bottom of my top, I pull it over my head, tossing it on the floor.

His tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip. “Karley.”

“What?” I ask innocently, watching his eyes drop down my body.

He stares at my chest. “So beautiful.”

I reach around and unclip my bra, and the black cotton drops to my feet.

His right hand reaches out to palm my breast, the other still beside my head. I moan as he squeezes it, and then rolls my nipple until I’m desperate for him.

Eyes flaring with appreciation, he dips his head, takes my nipple into his mouth, and sucks hard. My pussy clenches at the sensation.

“Fuck,” I cry out, slamming my head back, my eyes close.

He stops sucking, and I’m about to protest until I feel his warm breath across my skin to the other breast repeating the same pattern.

My body quivers with the pressure building between my thighs.

When he's finished sucking my nipple, I’m rolling my hips into the air, in need of friction. His hand lowers to my pants.

“These look cute, but will look better on the floor.”

“I won’t stop you.”

He quickly pops the button, unzipping me, before pushing them over my hips. I shimmy, helping them glide down to the ground and kick them aside.

Now I stand in only a cotton black thong.

“I’m so fucking hard. You’re so beautiful.”

My hands move to his button and zipper. Eager to see him hard for me.

I push his pants and briefs down together. He kicks off his shoes before his pants and briefs are gone. He stands there heavy, thick, and leaking of pre-cum. All for me.

My tongue darts out, licking the seam of my lips. He’s beautiful. I can never get my fill.

His hands move to me, and I think he’ll remove my thong, but instead his hand slips beneath them, skimming my clit. I buck at the touch.

“Oliver, fuck!”

“Mmm… my name on your lips kills me.”

He does it again, causing my back to arch again.

But instead of just grazing my clit, he dips two fingers inside of me. The tight thrust all the way in makes me cry out. “Oliver-r!”

“God, you’re perfect.”

He doesn’t stop pumping his fingers. My body collapses against the door, and luckily, he holds me up with one hand. The other is buried in my thong.

“So fucking wet for me.”

I try to speak, but it comes out as a moan.

I’m so close.

He keeps up the same pace. I clench around his thick fingers. I’m about to come. He brings me to the edge, but then swiftly pulls out.

My eyes snap open, my gaze ping-ponging between his two heated blues, trying to figure out why he’s stopped. “What are you doing?”

He runs his fingers over my lips. I smell myself on him and shiver.