Page 44 of King of Ashes (Kingdom of Sinners #4)

Keira - Three months later

I rest my chin in my palm, watching Phoenix cut Brigit's grilled cheese into perfect triangles, the way she insists they taste better. It’s just us in the kitchen. Most of the house staff and Nanny Fiona have the evening off. Only guards are on duty, and they’re mostly outside the house.

"Daddy, you're supposed to dip it like this." Brigit demonstrates her soup-dunking technique with exaggerated precision.

Phoenix's eyes crinkle at the corners. "Forgive me, Princess. I clearly need more practice." He mimics her movements exactly, earning a giggle.

I hide my smile behind my mug of tea. Who would have thought the feared Phoenix Ifrinn would take grilled cheese etiquette so seriously?

"Mama, you're doing it wrong too!" Brigit points accusingly at my untouched sandwich.

"I was distracted watching you two professionals," I admit, dunking my sandwich in the soup and tentatively taking a bite as my stomach is a little unsettled at the moment.

Phoenix catches my eye across the table, and the warmth in his gaze still makes my stomach flutter. He reaches over, his fingers brushing mine. "Your mother's always been a rule-breaker."

"Is that why you love her?" Brigit asks.

Phoenix doesn't hesitate. "One of many reasons."

I squeeze his hand, overcome by how seamlessly he's stepped into fatherhood. Three months ago, I feared he might never accept Brigit as his own. Now they have inside jokes I'm not privy to, and he’s involved in every aspect of her life.

"Can we have ice cream after?" Brigit asks, soup dripping down her chin.

"Only if you finish your vegetables," Phoenix answers automatically.

"There aren't any vegetables!" she protests, laughing.

"Then I guess you're getting ice cream." He winks at her, and she beams like he's handed her the world.

When I married Phoenix, I’d hoped for this, but I was cautious in my expectations.

He’d changed so much, hurt me a great deal.

How could I fully trust him? We've been rebuilding trust piece by piece, day by day. So much so that last month, I finally shared my secret. I showed him my stories I'd published under a pen name while trapped in my parents' house. Romance novels, of all things. But they’d made the money I knew I’d need someday to escape. The money I’d handed to Nanny Fiona to save Brigit.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. Perhaps anger that I’d hidden my bank accounts. Perhaps being told I didn’t need to work anymore. Maybe confusion about why I'd kept something so innocuous hidden.

Instead, Phoenix spent the entire night reading my first novel and telling me he’s sure he’s the sexy Sebastian with dark hair and blue eyes that I’d written about. He wasn’t wrong.

The next day, he brought home a beautiful desk and set it up in what had been my mother’s den. "Your office," he called it, as if my writing deserved space in our life.

Two weeks later, I caught him reading my latest manuscript, making notes in the margins, thoughtful questions about character motivations, suggestions for dialogue. The most interesting note was a comment about how men really experienced orgasms.

I kept waiting for him to ask me to hand over the money, but he never did. And when I finally asked, he said it was mine and if he ever fucked up again, which he didn’t plan to do, but if he did, I’d have it.

Our life has settled into a calm, loving routine. Brigit hasn’t returned to school as Phoenix feels he needs more time to ensure her safety. I suspect he’s being overly cautious as no one has made an attempt on him, his brothers, or the house.

So Nanny Fiona continues to homeschool her and we’ve worked out a few carefully vetted activities such as an art class and martial arts.

“Can Jamie and Emily come over this weekend?” Brigit asks two of her friends from her martial arts class.

"I'll arrange it with their mothers." It seems so normal arranging playdates, but I’d never done it before. Our lives were so sheltered that Brigit didn’t have friends until now.

Phoenix’s phone rings. “It’s Blaise,” he says looking at the screen. He tries not to take business calls during family time, but we know that Jenna is due to have her baby anytime.

“Oh, maybe the baby is here. Do you think so?” Brigit asks, bouncing in her chair.

“Let’s find out.” Phoenix answers the phone. We wait expectantly to learn the news. “How’s mom and baby?”

“She did well, Mama. She had the baby.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Phoenix congratulates his brother and hangs up. “A girl. They’ve named her Nora.”

“Lovely name,” I say, my hand pressing against my stomach. “Do you think it’s a nice name?”

“I like it,” Brigit says. “But I like Elsa better.”

“The ice queen from Frozen ?” Phoenix asks.

“Yep.”

“What if they had a boy?” I ask.

Brigit puts her finger at the corner of her chin as she thinks. “I don’t know. I like Aiden. That’s a boy in my art class.”

Phoenix frowns. “Not a boyfriend, I hope?”

Brigit’s brow furrows. “He’s a boy and my friend… so…”

“Never mind.” Phoenix waves the conversation away. “I’m not ready for this discussion.”

I laugh. “I have a topic of discussion.”

He looks at me. “I’m all ears.”

“It has to do with baby names.”

“I can make a list,” Brigit says.

Phoenix blinks. I see hope and love in his eyes.

“We’ll need it in about seven months.”

“You’re pregnant?” Phoenix almost looks like he can’t believe it’s true.

"A baby?" Brigit squeals, dropping her spoon with a clatter. "I'm going to be a big sister?"

“Yes.”

Without a word, Phoenix rises from his chair and comes around the table, pulling me to my feet and into his arms. "Keira… A baby."

I nod against his chest, relief and joy washing through me. "Are you happy?"

He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, cupping my face in his hands. "Happy doesn't begin to cover it."

Brigit squeezes between us, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Is it a boy or a girl? When is it coming? Can I help name it?"

Phoenix laughs, lifting her up so we're all at eye level. "One question at a time, Princess."

Growing up, life wasn’t like this. We only ate as a family for business dinners or events. My parents spent little to no time with me.

But things are different now. This child will be born into so much love.

The kind of family I always dreamed of giving Brigit.

This is the moment I know that Phoenix and I will live happily ever after.

The trust is built. The love is deep and pure.

His devotion to me and Brigit, and now this baby, is beyond question.

Later that night, we tuck Brigit into bed. The door has barely clicked shut when his mouth finds mine, hungry and insistent. I melt against him, my body responding instantly to his touch. His hands slide down my back, pulling me flush against him.

"Do you have any idea," he murmurs against my neck, "how much I want you every second of every day?"

I thread my fingers through his hair, tilting my head to give him better access. "Oh?”

“And fucking hell… is it wrong to be turned on by the idea of making you pregnant?”

I laugh. “Men are weird.”

“Yes, we are.” He scoops me up and carries me to our bedroom. “Tell me we can still make love.”

“We can still make love.”

He sets me by the bed and kisses me again. But I’m the one feeling frisky. I push him back on the bed and straddle him, undoing his slacks.

“What’s this?” he asks, surprised but happily so.

“I’m turned on too.” I yank his pants and boxer briefs down as he tugs his shirt off. His dick springs loose, thick and long and all mine. I lick my lips.

“Lord have mercy, I know that look.”

I waggle my brows as I shed my clothes. “Do you mind?”

“Fuck no.”

Good, because I want to devour my husband. I want him to be like putty under my ministrations. I don’t tease or hesitate. I take him into my mouth, sucking and licking.

“Ahh… yes… Keira… fuck… so good… so good.” His fingers thread through my hair.

My taking control in sex is a new thing between us. Ten years ago, I didn’t feel confident to lead. But since we married, or maybe it’s pregnancy hormones, I’ve wanted to explore and experiment, and Phoenix has been more than happy to let me.

I continue to slide him in and out of my mouth, using my hand to help, sometimes sliding it down to fondle his sacks.

“Baby… slow it down… I’m gonna come…” He pushes me away and sits up, pulling me to him. I turn in his arms so my back is to him as I straddle his thighs and sit back. He grips his dick, guiding it to my pussy, and I sink over him, taking him in.

“Fuck,” he says on a groan.

I groan too because it feels so good. And it’s not just the physical. There’s so much more. Love. Devotion. Trust. It’s like my soul is a part of him and his is a part of me.

I start to ride him, letting my body take over.

“Yes, baby.” His hands slide up my stomach to my breasts as he fondles them, pinching my nipples. I feel it straight to my pussy, which clenches tighter as I rock over him. “Just like that. God, I love you…”

“Phoenix,” I say on a harsh breath.

“I’m right here, baby… come… ride my cock and come.” His fingers slide between my thighs and rub my clit. Stars explode and pleasure blasts through me.

“Yes… Phoenix… Yes.”

“ Fuck .” He lets out a feral growl as his hips buck up to meet me. We move in this feral dance, our bodies and hearts joined.

My heart still beats wildly even as my orgasm subsides. He lifts me, turns me, and lies with me in the bed. I rest my head on his and a profound sense of peace washes over me.

"What are you thinking about?" Phoenix asks, his hand gently caressing my back.

"How happy I am," I answer truthfully. "How impossible this all seemed a few months ago."

“I’m sorry I?—”

My fingers cover his lips. “No more apologies for the past. We can’t go back. Let’s look forward, Phoenix. There’s so much good to look forward to.”

He looks at me with a mixture of awe and reverence that tells me all I need to know about his love for me. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Keira. You, Brigit, this new little being… any other little beings we have…”

“Do you mean more children or pets?”

“Can it be both? I have been thinking Brigit needs a pony.”

I roll my eyes.

He laughs and gives me a quick kiss. “Whatever life brings, as long as you’re with me, it’s going to be perfect. My only goal in life is your happiness.”

“Well, good job because I’m blissfully happy.”

He rolls us both until I’m under him. “Are you ready for more bliss?” He sinks inside me again and immediately, my body responds.

“I’m always ready for more bliss.”

This time, he takes things slow. We savor every little touch. Every little kiss. And as we hit the peak and fly together, I know without a doubt that my life will be filled with more love and happiness than I could have ever imagined possible.