Page 15

Adonis

T he shadows in Don Hawthorne’s office seemed to writhe and twist, matching the churning in my gut as I stood before his massive desk. Outside, the muffled sounds of my crew disposing of bodies and scrubbing away evidence echoed through the mansion. The copper tang of blood still hung in the air, a grim reminder of the night’s carnage.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. Fuck. This is it. The moment of truth. Would he see me as family, worthy of being the father of his first grandchild, or just another expendable soldier? My heart raced, but I kept my face a mask of cool indifference. Show no weakness.

His eyes bore into me, unreadable as stone. His gravelly voice sent a chill down my spine when he finally spoke. “Adonis, my boy. You've proven your loyalty time and again.”

I nodded stiffly, not daring to hope. “I live to serve the Hawthorne family, sir.”

He leaned back, hands steepled. “And now you wish to truly become family… to claim my Xenobia as your own, seeing as you’ve already claimed her womb.”

Shit. Here it comes. I braced myself for his wrath, for banishment, for a bullet between the eyes. But instead, a wry smile touched his lips. “You have my blessing.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Was this some cruel joke? But no, his eyes held no malice, only a weary resignation.

I cleared my throat. “Thank you, Don,” I managed, my voice rough. “I swear I’ll protect her and our unborn child with my life.”

He waved a hand. “I know you will. That’s the only reason why I’m entrusting them to you. Our family needs strength now more than ever.”

Relief flooded through me, followed quickly by a surge of fierce protectiveness over Xenobia. My Xenobia. Knowing that she was carrying my seed meant I wouldn’t hesitate to tear the world apart to make the world a safer place for her and our child.

“I won’t let you down,” I vowed, meaning every word.

He nodded, his expression grave. “See that you don’t. Now go. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”

I turned to leave, my mind already racing with plans. But as I reached the door, his voice stopped me cold.

“And Adonis? Remember, blood is thicker than water. But love can be the deadliest bond of all.”

A shiver ran down my spine as I tried to process the message behind his cryptic words, which echoed in my head. He was right. Love was a weakness, a chink in my armor. But for Xenobia and my heir, I’d risk it all and bear any burden.

The weight of her father’s blessing settled on my shoulders like a bulletproof vest—heavy but necessary. I stood a little straighter; my jaw clenched as I turned back, meeting his steely gaze with a nod.

“I’m not done yet, son. There’s another matter, Adonis.” His voice cut through my thoughts. “Our family’s security has clearly been compromised.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Interrogate everyone. And I mean everyone,” he confirmed, eyes narrowed to slits. “Trust only those you’ve personally vetted. We can’t afford another breach.”

Fuck. This is gonna be messy. But I nodded, already cataloging potential threats in my mind. The staff was clean, but Don Hawthorne had men outside the ranks, off the books, that would need to come in and undergo questioning.

“Consider it done,” I said, my voice low and determined.

He leaned back, shadows deepening the lines on his brown face. “This task is not for the faint of heart. You understand what I’m asking?”

Of course, I did. It meant sleepless nights, bloodied knuckles, and the constant paranoia of not knowing who the fuck to trust. But I’d do it.

“I won’t let you down,” I promised, my hand instinctively reaching for the gun at my hip. “I’ll make sure anyone who’s betrayed us will wish they’d never been fuckin’ born.”

He nodded, a glimmer of approval in his eyes as he handed me a list of his men. “Good. Now go. Time is of the essence.”

The weight of responsibility was crushing. Who to question first? Who could I trust to help besides Titus? I was about to leave when Xenobia’s father’s hand landed on my shoulder. It caught me off guard, I’d admit. He wasn’t exactly the touchy-feely type.

“Adonis,” he said, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it before. “You’ve done more than I ever thought. I was wrong to be so hard on you. I trust you with this… and with my daughter.”

Something tightened in my chest. All these years, busting my ass to belong, to prove I was more than just some stray they’d picked up due to loyalty, and now…

“Thank you, sir,” I acknowledged with the dip of my chin. “I won’t let you down.”

As I prowled forward, my head spun. Worthy. Trusted. I felt like I’d finally found my place in the Hawthorne family. But I couldn’t dwell on it. I had a job to do and someone I needed to see.

I found myself outside Xenobia’s studio, somehow knowing where she’d be. The scent of fresh paint hit me like a punch to the gut as I pushed the door open. The place was a mess with canvases everywhere, splashes of color like blood spatter on the walls. And there she was, in the middle of it all—my beautiful angel.

“Xenobia,” I called out, voice echoing against the windows.

She turned, her eyes meeting mine with that fierce defiance I’d come to expect. But there was something else there too—a vulnerability that made my chest ache in the most beautiful way. She wasn’t even showing and was already glowing in my eyes.

“Adonis,” she greeted me. “Come in.”

“You were amazing tonight, Xenobia,” I said with a smile, watching her hand move about her canvas. “I spoke to your father. You were right to talk to him. He’s given his blessing for us to be together.”

She laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “And what if I want you to be my husband?”

My heart stopped for a second. “Xenobia, I… Will you… would you marry me?”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “Really, Donny? That’s the best you can do?”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “Alright, Nobi. I’ll do better. Ring and all, but… is that a yes?”

She smiled then, a genuine smile that lit up her whole face. “Yes, you idiot. But I expect a proper proposal. And a big fucking ring.”

I closed the distance between us, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst outta my chest. Xenobia’s eyes locked onto mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. She was beautiful, even with paint smeared across her cheek and that defiant tilt to her chin.

“You drive a nigga crazy, you know that?” I murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. My fingers lingered on her skin, and I felt her shiver of lust pool to my dick.

“Good,” she whispered, her breath warm against my palm. “Someone needs to keep you on your toes.”

I chuckled, low and rough. “Trust me, Nobi, you do that and then some.”

The air between us felt electric, charged with all the things we couldn’t say, but fuck, I wanted to. I wanted to tell her how she consumed my every thought and how I’d do anything for her, but she already knew.

Instead, I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear. “I want you,” I growled, feeling her pulse quicken beneath my touch. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

Xenobia’s hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer. “Then take me,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with need. “I’m yours, Adonis. I’ve always been yours.”

That was all it took. I crushed my mouth to hers, pouring every ounce of longing, every forbidden desire into the kiss. She met me with equal fervor, her body molding against mine like she was made for me. I couldn’t get enough of her. My hands roamed her body, greedy and possessive, yet careful not to grip too tight. Xenobia was tough as nails, but I'd never forgive myself if I left a mark on her skin. I had to be gentle with her for the next nine months.

As we stumbled toward her easel, paint splashed onto us. The cool liquid against my heated skin shocked me, making me growl. Xenobia just laughed, a wild, carefree sound that clenched my heart.

Xenobia purred. “Looks like you’re my new canvas,” she teased, dragging her paint-covered fingers down my chest.

I grabbed her wrist, bringing her hand to my mouth. “Two can play that game, princess,” I murmured, nipping at her fingertips.

We fell into a frenzy of touches and colors, paint smearing across our bodies as I stripped down quickly. The contrast was beautiful—the tenderness in my touch at war with the near-obsessive need to claim Xenobia and mark her as mine.

“Fuck, Xenobia,” I groaned, burying my face in her neck. “You’re everything. You know that?”

She arched against me, her nails digging into my spine. “Show me,” she demanded, her voice breathy but fierce. “Show me I’m yours.”

I growled, bending her over the nearby table, pulling her leggings down, and ripping her lace panties off with them as she braced herself by gripping the edge of the table. I didn’t have time to warm her up, but something told me she was already dripping.

I licked the palm of my hand and stroked my dick. “I’m going to fuck you so hard, woman,” I growled. “You’ll never forget who you belong to.”

“Fuck me,” she begged, her hips already grinding against mine.

I slid in from behind, and we both moaned at the sensation. Her walls were tight. Wet heat surrounded me. It was like coming home after a long exile.

My hips pumped into hers with a mindless need. This pussy was mine. She was mine. My woman. My Xenobia. My womb. My baby. I claimed it all.

Her screams echoed throughout the room, bouncing off the windows and back into my ears. Each one spurred me onward, bucking harder, faster.

“Fuck this pussy, baby.” She squealed with a gasp as her nails dug into the table, letting her orgasm break over us both. She shuddered around me, milking me for every drop.

Panting, I leaned against her, allowing myself a mere second of weakness as I held her close. “I’ve waited my whole fucking life for you.”

She pushed back against my dick, begging me to keep fucking her, but I had another plan. I pulled out to finger fuck her pussy, spreading her wetness around until I found the hole I wanted to claim, slowly working my finger into her tight asshole as she gasped.

She moaned. “Adonis! What are you—”

“Shh, Nobi. Trust me.” I smirked.

Pushing my thumb deeper into her asshole, she sighed with pleasure, relaxing her body. I slowly finger fucked her pussy at the same time, making Xenobia leak for me. I eased the tip of my dick back inside her pussy, as my thumb worked her asshole. She squirmed with anticipation.

“Oooh shit!” She squealed, gripping the edge of the table.

I fucked her ruthlessly, making sure she felt every inch of me. Her tight pussy constricted around me, gripping my dick in a vicelike hold that drove me insane.

“Tell me how much you love this dick,” I growled as I fucked her hard and fast.

Xenobia moaned wantonly, gasping for air between her purrs of pleasure. “Adonis, God, yes! Fuck me! I love how you fuck this pussy.”

I obliged, pounding into her mercilessly as she bucked back against me. Pulling out with a wet, sucking sound, I smacked her ass hard enough to leave my handprint on her skin before dipping back inside her, eliciting an even louder scream from my beautiful bride-to-be.

“You’re mine. Aren’t you? You belong to me now,” I grunted out between thrusts.

“Yes! Yes! Fuck me senseless, Adonis. Make me yours,” Xenobia begged, her eyes clouded over with lust and desire.

Hearing her beg only spurred me on until I found myself nearing the edge. I grabbed her hips, angling her just right as I pumped into her repeatedly, emptying my seed deep inside her. As my orgasm rocked through me, I felt her muscles contract around me, milking every last drop from me as she enjoyed her own climax. Collapsing over her paint and sweat-soaked body, we both panted for air. The only sounds in the room were our harsh breathing and the creaking of the table underneath our weight.

“That…” She gasped out, trying to catch her next breath. “Was… incredible.”

I grinned, watching my cum slide down her thighs as my dick eased out of her. “That it was.”

She sighed with contentment. “So, we’re really doing this, huh?”

“Doing what?”

“The whole marriage thing.”

“Mm-hmm, we’re doing it.”

She looked up at me, vulnerability shining in her eyes. “You know what they’ll say, right?”

I chuckled, the sound dark. “Yes, Nobi, I know what they’ll say. And one by one, I’ll cut their lying, deceitful tongues from their mouths until no one has anything left to fuckin’ say.”

“I love it when you talk dirty to me, Guardian.”

I stared into her beautiful eyes, loving how she looked at me. “I won’t let anything happen to you or our baby, Xenobia. I put that on my life.”

A range of emotions flickered across her face before she finally nodded and murmured, “I believe you.”

The news of her pregnancy had hit me like a tsunami, but to my surprise, I couldn’t help but feel joy knowing my baby was growing inside her.

“I do want to marry you, Nobi,” I declared, my voice sincere. “Right here, right now. No rings, no ceremony—just our love for each other. I want to make you mine permanently.”

Her eyes ballooned. “Now? Are you sure?” she quizzed, her voice shaking with intensity.

I nodded, my eyes stationed on hers. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby.”

She nodded with tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. “Yes! Let’s do it. Let’s get married today.”

Within an hour, we called a priest to the Hawthorne mansion. The garden was bathed in the moon's silvery glow, and the stars twinkled in the night sky as silent witnesses to our union that was anything but traditional. Since our decision was so quick, there were no elaborate decorations, flowers, tuxes, white gowns, or rings. It was a painless yet heartfelt union. The only thing we needed was the pure, unconditional love we shared.Xenobia and I stood together with our fingers laced as the priest began the ceremony with a prayer. Surrounded by the calming beauty of the garden and grounds, we prepared to exchange our vows.

“Xenobia, you can go first,” the priest acknowledged.

She drew in a deep breath. The air was filled with the scent of freshly planted perennials, and a cold breeze rustled the scarce leaves around our feet.

“Adonis, from the moment you entered my life when I was nine, you’ve been my protector. You’ve shown me an unconditional love that has seen me through the darkest of times. Tonight, with God and the stars above as my witness, I stand before you, ready to give my complete self over to you. As your wife, I vow to stand by your side, to support and defend you at all costs. From this day forward, I vow to love you with every beat of my heart, in this life and the next.”

I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it before speaking from the heart. “Nobi, you’re the reason I strive to be the best version of myself when I wake up every morning. You’ve been my invisible anchor, guiding light in the middle of a storm, and the most important person in my life for many years. You’re the reason I breathe, and tonight, I stand before you, not just as your sworn protector, but as a man who is utterly committed to you and our unborn baby,” I said, reaching out to gently touch her stomach. “You’re my world, and I’m yours, forever.”

In that enchanted moment, surrounded by the beauty of the moonlight and our love, Xenobia became my wife. The dangers of our dark world may have still loomed large, but together, we were ready to face whatever came our way. As we embraced and kissed for the first time as husband and wife, I knew our bond was indestructible.

I slowly pulled my lips away from hers, seeing the twinkle of joy in her eyes. “I love you, Mrs. Cardelo.”

“And I love you, Mr. Cardelo.”