Page 68 of Enchant Me

“I’m glad we did. And I’m glad you told me the truth. I’m so sorry that you have had to live with that man in your life all these years. I miss my father terribly, and he was a very good man. I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like having a monster for a father.”

“I wouldn’t wish that knowledge on you.”

Alaine looked at his watch. “I’m sorry but I must go. Perhaps we can get together for brunch? My treat. We can call it another test for when you reschedule your ceremony.”

Damien laughed. “I would love that.”

They both stood and Alaine pulled him into a hug. “Then we will make plans. I will speak to you soon.”

The rest of the day passed quickly, filled with more meetings and a seemingly endless stream of paperwork. When he finally came home, he felt dead on his feet, but seeing the kids revived him. And while he never would have expected it, a game of Twister in the living room was just the thing to take his mind off work. Especially when he had three little kids crawling all over him, making him laugh, and making Nikki laugh even harder as she watched and took pictures with her phone.

They ended the day in bed, this time just the two of them, and he pulled her close. She moved to straddle him, then kissed him softly. “You look very tired, Mr. Stark.”

“I’m never too tired for you.”

She laughed. “I appreciate the compliment, but I think you are.” She stroked his cheek, then kissed him gently. “I love you,” she said.

“You know you’re my world, right?”

She nodded. “I do. That’s the miracle of my life. But you already knew that, too.”

He pulled her close, then kissed her, losing himself in the taste and the scent of her. She’d been right when she said he was tired, but it didn’t matter; his body craved her. Wanted her. Needed her.

It had been a crazy week, and he wanted nothing more than to lose himself in this moment. The kiss deepened, and his hands slid under the T-shirt she wore then down lower until he was cupping her ass under her sleep shorts.

“You’re too tired, Mr. Stark.”

“I promise you I’m not. But if you’re worried about me, then I’ll just stay on my back and let you do all the work.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

She sat up and pulled off her clothes, then tossed them on the floor. Before the kids, they’d never bothered with pajamas. Now, with children coming in early to jump on the bed, their pattern had changed, and Damien didn’t regret a thing.

Now naked, Nikki bent forward to press a soft kiss to his lips, his neck, his chest. She touched and stroked, her ass teasing his cock as her lips teased his chest until he couldn’t take it any longer, and he took her hips in his hands and lifted her. She grinned, her hands on his shoulders as she slowly lowered herself onto him, and he watched her face, the pleasure he saw there reflecting his own.

They made love slowly. Soft and wonderful and passionate and intense, and Damien lost himself in the feel of his wife. In the knowledge of this family and the incredible life that he had.

That he’d somehow won despite all of the horror in his past. A few days ago, he’d told Nikki he felt cursed, but he wasn’t. The truth was, he was blessed.

And his family was the biggest miracle of all.

He pulled her close, then closed his eyes, drifting off surrounded by the scent and feel of her.

He didn’t know when sleep actually overtook him, but in the next moment, he awakened to Nikki’s hand on his shoulder shaking him, and her urgent voice saying, “Damien, Damien, I need you to wake up.”

He sat up. “What? What time is it?”

“Just past five. You need to get up. Ashton went to the track. He lost control and spun into the barrier. Damien, he’s in the ER.”

20

“I feel like a damn idiot,” Ash says the moment we enter his room. He’s been treated for a broken arm, a fractured rib, and is being held for observation for a concussion following a head injury. He looks pale and fragile in the hospital gown, but I think he actually looks better than Damien, who has lost all color.

I take his hand and give it a sympathetic squeeze.

“You got lucky,” Damien says. “It could have been a lot worse. I saw pictures of the car, and it looks like something out of a trash compactor. Honestly, Ash, what the hell were you thinking?”

To my surprise, Ash laughs.