ROWAN

A teacher's job can do you a few things. Have an urge to choke the life out of someone's throat, and drain every ounce of your energy, more so if your wife happens to be one of your students. I had to fight some serious battles with myself for forty fucking long minutes as I watched Alana laugh at something Kellan had cracked. I knew him way before he even walked into my classroom. Kellan Fitzgerald attracted trouble like a moth to a flame. I didn't need a list of reasons why he should stay away from my wife.

I usually kept my nose in my business, what my students did outside of my classroom was not something I took a fancy to which did not change the fact that I still heard the rumors.

You don't expect me to plug my ears for college gossip, do you? I liked to keep myself informed of what happens around me. I do not judge them, or let my favoritism show in grading papers. But it's how it is, I have students I liked, and students I tolerated. Kellan fell into the last category.

Kellan's stupid ass mustang seemed to be parked in the student's parking lot every weekend, the windows fogged up going bump in the backseat. Didn't take a genius to figure out. It's not like I didn't want Alana to interact with the opposite sex she had every right of doing what a normal twenty-two-year-old college girl going usually did. If she was spending her time putting my baby to sleep, I was to be blamed for that. I just didn't want her anywhere near that man.

I could hardly concentrate when I had to run back to my father's company sometimes; the Master's Enterprise to take care of a few things in my department. Now you're thinking why I needed to run that particular dept. Well, my older brother Dwight had practically begged me to take over Ecstasy and the post of Chief Operations Officer, which forced me to work until late hours after the university job. It was more tiring than I imagined.

It was around midnight when I walked back to the condo and used the key just in case Alana had retired for the night. I strode through the foyer and found her lying on the couch, with her legs curled beneath her, and her eyes closed. Her features were relaxed and peaceful. Drew had also slept in her arms, his thumb in his mouth.

Alana had no idea how happy she made me. I brushed the strand of hair grazing her beautiful face softly, my fingers brushing her soft skin as I leaned in, and kissed her forehead. I didn't touch Drew, knowing he'd disturb his mother.

Just then her eyelids fluttered open, she smiled.

"You didn't have to wait, love."

"I was just putting Drew to sleep and guess I fell asleep before he did."

Drew's eyes opened wide, he rubbed his eyes and began to teeter in tears, the way he usually did.

Alana snapped her fingers in front of him, "Shh...shhh...baby. Look, daddy's home."

I grabbed him from her arms and almost automatically his angry wails transformed into heartwarming giggles. There was a jolt of pain in my neck, my arms, and every other body part but, I didn't let that show on the surface.

"Can I heat dinner for you?" Alana was on her feet and making her way towards the kitchen island almost on autopilot.

"No. I had dinner in the office cafeteria." I felt Drew's shallow breaths fan against my neck. I slowly lowered him onto the couch and covered the sides with pillows. "I need to talk to you about something."

Alana's expressions were perplexed. With me, she knew she had to be ready to throw all her assumptions out the window. "What's it about?"

I could see the lines of tension crease her forehead; I settled on the single couch next to our baby and offered her my hand. She slipped hers in mine and let me pull her into my lap where she fit like a missing puzzle piece. Alana rested her head against my chest, as her arm wrapped around me. I let myself be lulled by the sound of her breathing, and the sweet fragrance of her hair, which was better than a bouquet of roses. I wanted to experience that every single day. The warmth of her embrace was my home.

We did this every day, most days. I'd told her once how I enjoyed holding her and talking about the day. She would flop down into my lap without fail.

Alana's fingers played with my buttons. "What do you want to talk about?"

"You remember last week I told you about the Master's Foundation gala?" I asked her.

She sighed. "Not again. Let me guess, you want me to attend it."

"I do."

"Guess I can tolerate three hours of the posh party if it's you who's going to play chaperone." She'd started to pull at my shirt buttons fiercely, like a cat clawing a woolen ball. I realized she was doing it out of habit.

"That's the point. I'm not coming with you." There. The burden weighing since the evening was gone.

"What?!" she sat upright, her eyes searched mine. "But, why? I can't go there alone."

"You've done that before, I'm sure you can do it again."

She blinked several times, "I don't fit in that crowd, Rowan. Why are you doing this to me?"

"Look, I have a pile load of work in the university and back in the company. Someone has to take control there. We are recruiting new interns baby, so I'm going to need a few hours and I'm not sure I could make it in the evening. So you, my dear, cover for me. If I get lucky, I'll get to you at dinner time. I promise." Her eyes softened when I said the last part. I added. "Dwight will send you a car, and he will accompany you."

"I don't have a new outfit, Rowan. How am I supposed to get that on such short notice?"

Another Alana drama. She was making it clear. There was no Alana without Rowan. I smiled, reaching into the wallet I slipped a credit card between her fingers.

"Skip college tomorrow and buy yourself a nice dress and matching shoes and whatever fancy stuff you girls need. Get something for Minnie too." Her face fell, Alana's ditch the foundation plan A had ended before it could even start. She eyed the credit card like it was the key to her awaiting hell.

"Buy something that's about the price of a new iPhone. I can afford that." I winked.

"But Minnie has school" Alana's ditch the foundation plan B was up and moving. "She told me about the important test that she can't miss. And what about Drew?"

I cupped her face in both of my hands. "Baby, I'll talk to her teacher. She'll understand. You take her with you to the Gala and Drew will go with me to the office."

The scoreboard read R- 02. A-0

Alana admitted defeat. "I don't wanna go without you."

"Do you think I enjoy letting you go alone? I hate to think that there are going to be some rich bastards trying to get my wife in their bed. I've always been there to keep those vultures away from you but, I know you're smart and clever when it comes to showing men their place."

She hugged me again, refusing to make eye contact. "I'll do it for you."

* * *

ALANA

"Can you pull the zipper?"

My eyes never left the mirror as Rowan strode into the room wearing a charcoal tux. He froze for a minute when his eyes rested on me. Yeah. I had the same reaction when I saw myself in the mirror after a few hours in the beauty salon. Not that I could believe a few swaps of the credit card could transform me into a Disney Princess. But, since Rowan had his eyes springing out of his socket, I gave myself some credit for thoroughly pampering myself.

The baby pink dress was a strapless, sheath chiffon dress with a glimmering beaded bodice, highlighted every curve in my body. The sales lady told me it was the smallest in size. I'd made sure not to pick the ones that were revealing or that could make me uncomfortable. Rowan had given me strict instructions about how I shouldn't look at the price tag. I bore that in mind and bought the dress, jewelry, and matching shimmering Jimmy Choo stiletto pumps.

When I realized how much I'd spent, I almost got a heart attack. I shed a tear or two for my husband's generosity. This was his money. Not mine.

"Bitch, what did you do to my wife?" He asked me, acting furious. "Where is she?!"

"She was plain and dumb. I locked her up for the evening." I cocked a brow, "Zip me."

I felt Rowan's fingers linger near my back and slid beneath the thin fabric. His lips grazed the hollow of my neck; he tugged my body against his and kissed and nibbled my shoulder. I felt his teeth grazing my sensitive skin. In a sensuous voice, he whispered, "You look so fucking gorgeous, Alana. I can't wait until you get home so I could tear—

"Mom, my hair..."

Minnie appeared at the bedroom door and stared at the two of us. My zipper was still down, Rowan's hand underneath the fabric. She looked from her father and back at me. Her already crimson cheeks turned brighter. "Uhm. I remember I left something in my bedroom. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

Fifteen minutes was a warning. It was as if she were saying 'wrap your porno in fifteen minutes folks'

The door clicked shut behind her. Rowan pulled the zipper up. "Minnie is growing up. She understands things more clearly now."

I gave out a nervous laugh. This wasn't the first time Minnie had barged into a situation. But, I'd noticed one thing, she'd always appear smiling or giggly if she caught us kissing or holding each other. The other times when Rowan flipped or raised his voice, she'd be crying buckets behind her closed bedroom.

"This feels like a dream sometimes," Rowan said. "If it's a dream, I hope I never wake up from it."

I smiled in response as my phone vibrated. It flashed Douche-Boy Moneybags.

I'd saved my brother-in-law, Dwight's number in that name because it was childish but also funny.

I reached for the phone but, Rowan grabbed it first. An amused smile crossed his lips. He showed me the text on the screen.

Douche-boy Moneybags: Waiting in my car for you. Dump that drunk husband of yours and come to me, baby.

Before I could say anything, Rowan had already started typing a text. He showed me that message before hitting send.

Me: Keep your hands off my wife or find it gone.

Dwight's response was almost immediate.

Doucheboy Moneybags: Come find me in my car BROTHER. All yours. A punch will be met with a punch. Just FYI. The girl's mine!

Rowan turned to me. "He's a dickhead, but I trust him to protect you. Stick with him."

* * *

END OF SAMPLE!

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