The Beautiful Billionaire

ESTELLE “Welcome home!”

“Jesus.” Linden startled. His eyes lit up to see everyone in our living room filled with balloons. “You guys take this welcome party to a whole new level.”

“This is how we show our love when you’re alive. So you better take care of those lungs of yours. Otherwise, you will be alone on your deathbed.” Willa came to us to kiss his brother on his cheek. “I love you.”

“Well, thanks, sis. That’s very kind of you. I love you, too.”

“This is for you, brother.” Sax was carrying a lung-shaped pink balloon and hugged him. “When you have trouble with your balls, I got it covered with a ball-shaped balloon, too, brother.”

“Your dry humor never improved. Thanks for the effort,” he said, patting Sax’s back.

“Easy there, Sax. And your bromance is getting a little bit too much, enough to make me gag.” Kye nudged him.

“You’re just jealous. I’m giving him attention lately than you.”

“For Christ’s sake.” Kye managed to shake his head, leaving Sax alone.

It was surprising Moses was not around, but Striker and London were there.

“How’s the baby?” London and I kissed each other’s cheek.

“I feel like he’s too eager to see the world. How about you?”

“Excited, scared. Too scared, but I have him.” I tipped my chin at Linden, chatting with the guys. He may have felt my gaze on him, and he turned to smile.

“Wew. He’s so head over heels with you.” London giggled. “I always pushed him to go out there and find a woman, but he just laughed. I’m happy that he finally found the love of his life. He deserves it.”

“Really? I know he cares deeply, and I think he loves our baby, but he never said it, you know.” I shrugged. I wasn’t expecting anything from him but his support. I knew I needed a lot of it when the baby arrived.

“He doesn’t need to. These guys don’t do much talking, but they just show it and make you feel love. Do you know how I meet Striker?”

“No.” I followed her to the couch and grabbed a non-alcoholic drink. “Gabriel?” I called Linden when he grabbed a beer.

“Not for me, baby.” He showed me the bottle as he passed it on to Lynx.

London leaned in and whispered, “See? He loves you.”

“Tell me, how did you and Striker meet?”

“I met Linden and Striker together. I was kidnapped.”

“Oh, my God.” I quickly held her hand. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s a long story. A powerful family in Italy tried to hurt my father through me. So Linden and his team, including Striker, came to rescue me. Linden, on the other hand, became my anchor. I didn’t know him, but I felt I could trust him. It was one of the darkest moments in my life, and he was there for me. He helped me heal from that horrible incident. He became a constant in my life. That’s why I would do anything for your husband.”

“Wow.” I was literally speechless.

“That’s how I met Striker for the first time. We met briefly, but the effect on me lasted a lifetime. That’s how I knew we had something unexplainable. But that was all. We never met again.”

“Why?” My brows met together as I stared at her in disbelief.

“Not after two years. My father asked a favor if he could be my temporary bodyguard, but Dad had his own plan. He set us up.”

“What?” I couldn’t help but giggle. “It’s sound romantic.”

“Since that rescue, I felt so attached to him even if he was far away, and we didn’t see each other. I didn’t know he felt the same.”

“Vanderford, we should go.” Striker came over, putting a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“Just a sec. I was telling her how we met.”

“Oh.” Striker blushed. He really did blush.

“You’re cute when you blush.” I laughed.

“Did I?” He touched his cheek.

“Yeah.”

“My father wanted me to marry Striker. I didn’t know he was Moses’ son at that time. So, that’s how we met.”

“So you did not tell her how you seduced me?”

“Shut up.” London playfully slapped her husband’s arm. “Was there really seducing involved? As far as I remember, you were too eager to get your hands all over me.”

“Okay, Vanderford. I think that’s too much information. She doesn’t need to know that.” Striker laughed with me. “Forgive her manners, Estelle. She likes paying attention to every detail.”

“She’s a designer, Striker. And she’s awesome.”

“I know. That’s why I love her so fucking much.” He averted his gaze to the guys, particularly at Linden. “Take care of him. He can be overbearing sometimes, but I wouldn’t be here without him. He always had my back, until now. And he can’t help himself. He has to save everybody.”

“Yeah. That I know. Clearer than water.”

“What you both have is special. I hope you realize that Linden is out of this world, even in his annoying way. He will never give up on anyone. So, expect to grow old with him.”

“That’s the plan. And we take care of each other.”

“Good to know.” He smiled.

When Striker and London left, I watched the guys for a while, and I couldn’t help but admire how tight they were. I never thought of dating someone who had a military background and history. I always thought I’d go for a corporate employee or a sports enthusiast with a less complicated job.

As I watched them, I felt like what they’d been through terrified me, and I admired their courage at the same time. I’d seen the effect of them on TV and in movies. One thing I knew was that they were tough, and their experiences were why they appreciated life.

***

“Are you just gonna stare at me or kiss me?” He’d been up all day. I wanted to let him rest, but I could hear his brain reeling.

“What’s in that head of yours?”

“A lot.”

“Like?”

“Work, you and me, our baby. I’m terrified, Estelle.”

“Terrified?”

“Earlier, when I was talking with the guys, the topic of fatherhood came into our conversation. I realized I was too excited about the thought of having a kid. It didn’t occur to me if I could handle a father role. Yeah, Pops was great. He’d sacrificed a lot for us. He provided everything he could, but I don’t know if I could be like him. I have no idea what to do or what I am going to do. I have no clue, my love.”

“Do you think I do?” I chuckled. “And I’m not the kind of person who looks it up online. I have a mom, and she’s great, too, and I know she would guide me, but I’m also terrified like you. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t tell you immediately. I was figuring it out myself. But we have each other right now.”

“Yeah. We do. We figure it out together.” He held my hand and pressed it against his lips. “You won’t ever give up on me. I’m in the dark when it comes to this-”

“We both are.”

“Yeah. But we’re going to work it out, okay?”

“Yes, Gabriel.”

“Jesus.” He tried to hold his laugh, holding his chest. “I think I should practice putting a diaper on a doll or something.”

“It’s still different because the baby kicks and moves, Gabriel.”

“Yeah. Is there a masterclass for that?”

I laughed. “You should look for it online and enroll.”

“You’re laughing.”

“YouTube. Everything you wanna know is there, husband.”

He smiled. “Ready for tomorrow?”

“Excited and scared.”

“Don’t be. If she’s a girl, she will have her three bodyguards and no dating boys or girls or whatever she likes until she’s thirty.”

“Wow. You have that figured out quicker than putting diapers, huh?”

“Yes. And she will go to an all-girls school.”

“How about sending her to a nunnery? Thirty is too old to be still a virgin.”

I watched him cringe. “Please don’t talk to me about my child and virgin together.”

“Why? How old are you when you lost your virginity?”

“Baby, that’s my kid. I am the father-”

“I think I’m a cool mom than you. So if we have a boy, it’s okay for you to have him explore his sexuality?”

“He’s a boy.”

“You’re sexist, Gabriel.” I playfully slapped his arm.

“Forgive me, my love, but I am overprotective of women.”

“I see that.” I pursed my lips.

“You sound disappointed?” He turned his head to me.

“Me? No. I just remembered what London told me earlier.”

“What did she say?”

“How you and Striker rescued her. How you stayed in her life despite your job was already over.”

“Yeah, and Cade ran away like a scare-dy cat because, at that time, London had just turned twenty-one, and Linus was rich. And I didn’t know he was the son of Moses Braddson. He was scared to corrupt a vulnerable woman.”

“You saved me too, husband, and I think I haven’t said thank you.”

“You’re worth saving, Estelle.” He inhaled deeply. “So, are we just gonna talk?”

“You need to rest.”

“Well, that’s boring.” He blew a breath and stared at the ceiling.

I got what he meant. “No, Gabriel. Not until you’re fully healed.”

“And when is it gonna be? Do you still wanna fuck me if you already have a balloon in your tummy?”

I hit him on the shoulder again.

“I’m serious.”

“So my pregnancy is now your problem. Who knocked me up, by the way? Because I’m sure as hell I didn’t do it alone.”

“God, no. And, of course, I’m glad to knock you up again. I just want to have you. It won’t be a problem. You’ll be on top and ride me hard.” He groaned when he took my hand and put it on top of his bulge. “He needs you. I need you.”

“Jeez.” I cupped his bulge and stroked it slowly against his boxer.

“The doctor didn’t say we can’t have sex. She said I should avoid certain activities that put extra pressure on my affected lung. Exercise is one.”

“Sex is one of them.”

“I’ll control my breathing.” He began breathing in and out. “See? I’m good.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I snorted. “Wow. You can do that, huh? Let’s give it a try.”

“No, baby. I’m horny, and you smell good, and your hand feels so fucking good. You fuck me, or I will call Jake.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, but in any circumstances, if you feel short of breath-”

“I’ll tell you.”

I sat on the bed and blew a breath. “You stubborn SOB.” I took my top off, and he already had his hands full.

“Fuck. Yeah. I loved these tits, by the way.”