The room was loud; the bar was packed, and my glass was empty. I looked at the bartender smiling, winking, and flirting with the group of women he was handing the drinks to and shook my head. They're way out of your league, buddy, I groaned.

To save him the embarrassment, I whistled. He continued flirting with the women, so I whistled again. This time, I got his attention, and as he started walking over to me, I pushed my empty glass towards the bar's edge. "I'll have another," I said, as dry as dust.

He turned, stepped over to the wall of booze, reached to the top shelf where the bottle of scotch I'd been drinking all night, and grabbed it. Then he turned while removing the top, and with a concerned look on his face, he annoyed me when he asked, "Are you sure you need another shot of this?"

My jaw flexed, then my brows furrowed as I said, "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think I needed another. Triple shot me. And while you're at it, give me a shot of your best bourbon along with a tall glass of beer." I laughed. "You know, just like that one song, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer... cause I'm getting ripped tonight."

He leaned down while resting his forearms on the bar with the bottle of scotch still in his hand. He studied my face, saying, "You're already ripped, Ian. You've been here all week. Day. And. Night. Haven't you gotten any sleep?"

"What's it to you?" I groaned.

"Where's Hannah or Arnie?"

Who the hell cares where they are? I sure as hell don't.

I lifted my empty glass. "Just pour me some more of that fine-tasting scotch. Then, go back to your flirting with the women who'll never give you their number."

Devron took the glass from my hand, filled it like I asked, then set it on the bar top. "I'll give you the scotch. I'll give you the shot of bourbon, and I will provide you with that glass of beer. But that's it because I am now cutting you off. Enjoy it while it lasts, Ian."

Pfft.

I raised my wrist, slid up the arm of my coat, and looked at the time. "Devron, it's only seven-thirty. The night is still young. I still have six more hours before the last call."

His lips curved into a broad smile. He chuckled, and then he pissed me off. "Your last call is now."

"Whatever," I moaned. "Triple shot me that bourbon, too, then."

When your heart is aching, you no longer give a shit about anything. And right now, I couldn't care less if my liver finally gave out. Because my heart, body, and soul wish only to be where the love of my life decided to go.

I have to laugh when they say that time heals all wounds because that's not true in my case. It's a fucking lie. Even if it were true, after five months, these wounds of mine would have healed by now.

I felt someone brush up against me as they sat on the barstool next to me. I was immediately irritated when the drink I had in my hand splashed into my face and over my hand. I turned my head saw a woman as pretty as a picture, extremely glamorous, and the irritation I felt quickly disappeared. "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"

She cleared her throat, and with an evil look in her eye, she fizzled, "Not in a long time."

The corner of my lips raised. "Well then, I want you to know. You're one beautiful woman. Just like my mother."

"I am your mother, you inebriated moron."

"I may be tipsy. And I may be a moron. But I'm still smart enough to see how beautiful you are," I said, giving her a charming smile with hopes that the angry look in her eye and the scowled look on her face would fade.

It didn't, so I turned to the bartender and whistled. "Yo! Devron! Get this stunning woman over here a drink." He walked over and looked at my mother, asking what she'd like. "Whatever she wants, it's on me," I informed, sliding cash towards him.

"I want nothing," she hissed. "What I want is for my son to get sober. So, get this drunkard a coffee, would you please?"

"Sure thing, missus Lockwood," Devron happily said, giving my mother a wink.

Devron came back with a large cup of coffee, setting it in front of me. "I suggest you listen to your mother. She knows much more than you think she does."

There are times in your life when you have to chew your ego and swallow your pride. And right now is that time. So after listening to my mother's comforting, yet with disappointment in her voice, I did what I felt no man should do.

I broke down.

I'm not sure what happened, but the next thing I saw was darkness, and then I was out like a light.

***

I needed to move, but something was holding me back. And the more I tried moving my arms and legs, wishing to become more comfortable, the more I realized I wasn't moving anywhere.

Did I do it?

Did I finally do what I was on a mission to do?

Eager to know if I was dead and buried, I forced open my eyes.

Still saw darkness.

"I did it," I chuckled. "I fucking did what I set out to do," I muttered. "I'm dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. I'm fucking dead all right."

I suddenly felt perplexed after hearing someone laugh.

"Who's here?" I asked quickly.

"You're not dead," someone said, a voice of a woman. And one I didn't recognize.

"Who are you? Where am I?" I demanded to know, trying to move.

Suddenly, I felt excruciating pain in both of my nipples, and I caterwauled in return. "You're not going anywhere," the woman laughed. "Tell me, Ian, how are you feeling right now?" I tried making out the voice. But I still couldn't figure out who it was, as the voice sounded a bit muffled or distorted. I felt an unbearable pain in my nipples again and howled. "Answer me, Ian."

"I wouldn't exactly say I feel like a million bucks, especially after you turned my nipples into mooncakes. So answering your question, I feel like the devil got a hold of me and brought me down to the fire and brimstone."

I humored her once again. "You're right. The devil has contained you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm the one who gained interest in your nightclub and who also bought it earlier this afternoon."

Now I'm humored. I chuckled while curving my lips upward. "Really?" I sarcastically said. "That's news to me because last I knew, it was still on the market."

"Maybe you shouldn't have been sitting in the bar getting drunk all day; you would have gotten the memo."

"Nobody called."

"Your phone went straight to voicemail," the woman informed while running her fingers through my month's worth of designer stubble. "Now that I have purchased your club, I thought I'd give you a nice welcoming."

"You've got a funny way of welcoming someone."

"And you've got a funny way of showing you are missing someone," she interjected. "So now I'm more than curious to know who you're exactly missing?" she asked, the tips of her fingers playing with my facial hair.

Having another woman touching me, tugging on my nipples, and restraining me as she is, had me feeling uncomfortable. The next thing I saw was Tawny's face flashing before my eyes. "The love of my life."

"Who's that?"

"She's my angel," I choked.

"An angel," the woman taunted. "Who's your angel?" she asked softer.

"The angel I'm referring to was the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on..." I paused to control my emotions. "There'll never be another woman like her. And it hurts me to say that about five months ago, she went flying high."

The room became quieter.

I hope that means this woman got the hint; there'll be no sexual teasing or welcoming from me if that's what she was hoping to get from me, anyway.

Maybe not.

My lap suddenly became warm, and the skin of her belly was touching mine. "What if I were to tell you, "that woman," "that angel," was alive and well? What if she was still here? What would you do or say?"

Tawny's face came back into view, helping my lips curve upward. "I'd be ecstatic. I'd be the happiest man alive. But then I'd wonder if that meant I was in heaven."

"What would you say to her if she were here?"

Who the hell is this lady?

I got more uncomfortable when her stomach pressed harder against mine. And then I felt more uneasy when I felt a weird sensation coming from her belly, a push or a flutter of some sort. I wasn't sure how to explain what I felt, but then I realized it was no ordinary stomach; it was a pregnant woman's belly.

"Look, woman. I don't know who you are, what you're up to, or what kind of sick game you're trying to play. But I'm not interested. I also refuse to mess with another woman's girl. And a pregnant one at that."

She giggled, irritating me more.

"I'll leave you alone. But first, I want to hear who this woman is and what you would say to her if you had a chance?"

"If I say who and what I'd say to her if she were alive, will you fucking take the blindfold off and untie me?"

"Yes."

"Fine. My angel's name is Tawny. Someone who you'll never be. And if she were here, standing directly in front of me, I'd say, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you, and I'm sorry you felt you weren't worth living. I'd also tell her how much I love and miss her."

I thought the woman would get off my lap, and when she didn't, I groaned. "Now is when you get off me and untie my ass."

Instead of removing herself from me as I wanted, she stayed, and whatever she held in her hand fell to the ground. Then I felt another kick against my stomach when she leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine. I tried resisting the kiss, and when she took notice of my refusal, the woman forced her tongue into my mouth. Suddenly, a familiar flavor I used to relish hit my taste buds. "Sugar lips," I moaned.

She broke from my lips, and I couldn't help but whimper in disappointment, wanting to taste more of her sugary tasting lips. A sweet-savory taste of honey I've fucking missed. The next thing she did was remove the blindfold. And when I saw the beautiful sight of a woman I'd never see again, a breath of happiness exited my mouth.

"Hello, drunken asshole," Tawny quietly said.

"Hello, sugar lips. Long time no see," I said while grinning from ear to ear. I felt Tawny's stomach punching mine again, and my eyes quickly rolled down, looking to see what the hell was going on. "You're awfully bloated. Are you full of gas or sick or something?"

She giggled while curling her finger underneath my chin, then lifted it for our eyes to meet. "I'm not bloated. I'm not sick. And I don't have gas," she snickered. "But there is something special growing inside me. And that special something was gifted to me by you."

My eyes wandered away from Tawny's and down to the large mound that wasn't there when I last saw her. "You're pregnant?"

"I am."

I suddenly felt numb, amongst other emotions; I wasn't sure what to say and just stared at her belly.

"We're a little over six months," she said, bringing me up to date.

Six months... I've missed out on the first six months of her pregnancy?

How shitty is that?

Don't get mad, Ian. Tawny's here, and she's telling you that you're going to be a father. But it still didn't stop me from asking, "Is this why you came back?"

"No," she said, raising then resting the palms of her soft hands on either side of my face. "I came back to forgive everyone who hurt me. I did miss you terribly. But I'll admit, you were not on that list at first. As I was still debating on what to do with you."

My brows furrowed. "Do you mean you would have hidden this from me?"

"No. I would never have done that because I believe every child needs their father in their life. So, I was trying to figure out how to face the one person who hurt me the most."

"I know you were hurt, and I hate myself for making you feel that way. But you also never gave me a chance to explain anything. I know what you saw looked bad, and to this fucking day, I wish I would have handled that night differently."

Her thumbs slid to my lips, stopping me from talking. "I know what happened that night, and I want you to know I forgive you. And, I, too, apologize for running. But I also apologize for not letting you explain your side of the story. That was crappy of me not to let you speak, but because I was so hurt and angry. And because I thought you were doing to me what my father did to my mother, that I didn't want to hear another lie coming out of another man's mouth to justify what they were doing. So I left—doing what I thought would be the wise thing to do."

I wish she'd fucking untie me so I could wrap my arms around her.

Now I was the one feeling hurt that the corners of my mouth turned down. "You should have allowed me a chance to tell you everything. And because you left, I lost five months' worth of doctor's visits, five months of watching your body change, and five months of watching our baby inside your belly grow."

Tears filled her eyes. "I'm sorry, Ian. But I'm here now. So you still have time to watch my body change and my belly grow. And you'll also be able to go to the rest of my appointments once I find a new doctor, that is."

I'm confused.

If Tawny needs to find a doctor. Where has she been all this time?

"Where have you been if you need a new doctor?"

She removed herself from my lap, and then she walked behind me. As Tawny began freeing my wrists, she began filling me in about where she went and where she had been. Then, finally, she walked back around, lowered to her knees, and freed my ankles. She looked up with a serious look in her eye and said, "Now I need you to get sober because I won't put up with a stinking drunk in my life, especially after dealing with my father's drug addiction for all those years." She nudged herself between my legs and started removing the clamps on my nipples. "That's if you want me back in your life."

I covered my hands over hers. "Are you kidding me right now? Of course, I want you back in my life. And I also want to be in our child's life, with us raising him or her together."

"She," she whispered.

She?

Is that what I think it means? I'll be having a daughter who I will have to fend off men like me?

"What?"

A sweet smile formed on her face, melting me. "We're having a girl." She stood, then positioned herself on my lap, her arms wrapping around me. "A little girl, Ian. Can you believe that?"

No. I. Can't.

That fucking worries me.

I cupped her chin and smiled. "Don't get mad. But come tomorrow, I'm going out and buying myself a shotgun."

She giggled, then pressed her lips to mine. "Don't be overreacting now. That won't be needed. Because everything will be just fine."

I pecked my lips to hers, then grinned. "Exactly. Everything will be just fine once I have that shotgun because every boy that comes to the door looking for her, I'll show what I have, and what would happen shall they decide to hurt or inappropriately touch her."

I looked down at the incredible sight. A sight I never expected ever to see for the rest of my life, then rested my hand on her belly, waiting to feel another movement. But as I waited, I started looking at the attire she was wearing. "Can I ask why you're dressed the way you are? Because it's sexy as fuck seeing you and this pregnant belly wearing bondage—a black leathered band-aid version of my favorite bikini you own."

Tawny tickled my lips as she traced them with her fingertip. "I remembered how much you liked my bikini, so I figured by you seeing me wearing this would make you want to have a little fun. Some making up fun, of course. But since you're not in your right mind, we'll have to wait to make up another day."

"You little devil you. You fucking temptress," I muttered with a smile. "I may have had too much to drink, but I'm sober enough to have the time of my life with the woman I've missed for five months. I've missed you. My dick has missed you. And my mouth has missed you. There's no way I'd fuck anything up that has to do with pleasuring my woman and making her happy."

An alluring smile formed on her face as she shrugged. "I'm still that devil. And your favorite temptress; that hasn't changed. The question is, have you?" she asked, raising a brow. Hinting, I may have forgotten how to have the type of fun she's looking to have.

She wants to be disciplined.

Tawny asking if I changed and thinking I may have forgotten how to make her squeal made me chuckle. Nothing about me has changed, and the same goes for her. She's still that devil I loved, and she's as tempting as she's ever been. But this new glow about her is fucking making me hard. She's always been gorgeous, but my lord, this pregnancy has made her so much more strikingly beautiful.

I ran my fingers through her much longer hair. "It's been five months since I've had sex, but that's something a man never forgets. They'll never forget how to perform. I'll also admit since you left, I had to give the sausage a few good handshakes. A lot, actually..." I, embarrassingly admitted, twisted my lips. "But that also has been about a week or so since I've last done that. Which means my snapper slappers are overloaded and ready to let go."

"Prove it," she tempted.

I looked over her shoulder, then at her. "Here?"

"Why do you think I had your mother and brother bring you here?"

My eyes widened. "My mother was here? In this establishment?"

She nodded and giggled. "Yep."

My eyes widened further. "My mother didn't faint?"

Still smiling, she shook her head slowly. "No."

I'm shocked. Now I'm inquisitive about something Tawny said to me earlier. "Did you really buy this place?"

"I did," she happily said.

I'm shocked again. "Why? I thought you hated this place?"

She radiantly smiled. "Because... I didn't want you to sell something you enjoyed because of me, especially after you gifted me your art museum."

"I was willing to give up this place because of you."

She stood, grabbed my hands, then pulled me to stand. And as she slowly walked backward and pulled me along, she said, "And I'm willing for you to keep something as provocative and sexually arousing as this, as it could be an advantage for us. A place where we could run off at any time of the night and have some intoxicating wild sex in a room like this, lit with red lighting," she said, pushing me on the bed.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!!🤞🤞

So I changed my mind and decided to do one more chapter before the epilogue. LOL