Before You

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE


Roth looked up from paperwork as the door to his still-evolving office opened. The sharp-witted girl from the previous day entered, shut the door and kind of flopped into the chair on the other side of his desk.

“So what’re you, some trust-fund baby slummin’ to create self-worth?”

“I thought I’d see you again.”

She crossed her arms. “Congratulations, Einstein. You figured out a pregnant woman would need a repeat visit.”

Her defensive prickle and intellect intrigued him. “Except, I doubt you require my professional services so soon. Breakthrough bleeding? Cramps?”

“Guess I gave you the wrong name. Okay, Matlock. So, something else brings me.” She held his gaze with fierce golden-brown eyes. She held her head like an Egyptian queen of antiquity: proud, brave, ready to defend.

“Maybe I should call you Cleopatra.”

She smiled. “You’re a real bastard. Know that?”

“Call me ‘Relentless Bastard’. Believe me, I hear it all the time. It’s an endearment. Or, you can call me ‘Roth’.”

“My name’s Nadine. My friends, when I had them, called me ‘Naddy’.”

Roth leaned over the desk, offering his hand. She accepted, that sharp intellect bright in her eyes.

“Good to meet you. Apologies. But, any man as beautiful as you, I just assumed blew smoke up my ass.”

“I won’t do that.” He shook with her. “What happened to you? Where’s the man who helped make this baby?”

She leaned back in the chair. “I moved in with a man I loved. We had two good years. Then, I got pregnant. An accident. My doctor failed to tell me the antibiotics he prescribed would interfere with my birth control pills. My supposedly loving boyfriend put me out of his apartment.” Regarding him keenly, she continued. “I’d given up my job and place. There I was. No home. No money.”

Roth absorbed that. “You’re about eight weeks and twelve sonometers. That puts you a little ahead of the curve. Any chance twins run in either family?”

“My Mama had a twin brother that died at birth.”

“What brought you here today?”

“I want a job.”

“Done.” He observed her surprise, watching her open her mouth and close it again. “Can you start tomorrow?”

Recovering, she nodded, “Eight?”

“Perfect.” Roth withdrew one of the cards with his private cell number on it. “Anytime day or night.”

He had to leave to go his family’s island for his younger brother’s wedding. During the flight, Roth gazed out the window of the chartered flight. He hated leaving Adam. However, Nathan and Nelson both agreed it best if Adam remained in Savannah. Roth looked forward to seeing his baby brother leg-shackled.

Roth watched the ceremony with much reverence. He shed tears of joy as Ridge pledged himself to Jason. It struck him as so intimate a joining. Roth decided right then he wanted a promise between himself and Adam. Georgia didn’t recognize same-sex marriages. However, he would honor those vows to his last breath.

Although he enjoyed the time with family, he missed Adam so badly he ached. He missed Joseph, too. Especially the domestic tyrant the young man had become. Sooner or later, Nathan would move him out. Until then, Roth felt very blessed to have someone offering them all a distinctly maternal care.


The parties made for a degree of distraction. Ridge had a glow about him like a bride. He wore his happiness like a mantle for the world to see. Roth smiled every time he looked at his brother.

All three of his current housemates met his charter. Roth nearly ran over an attendant getting to his lover. He held Adam’s body close with one arm, his free hand cradling his skull as he did his best to swallow the man.

The security detail rode in the sedan they provided, along with Roth and Adam. Roth had known this kind of heightened tension off and on his entire life. Adam on the other hand, appeared still ill at ease. Leaning over to murmur in his lover’s ear, Roth attempted to comfort. “These men breathe and bleed their business. You’re safe.”

Adam picked up Roth’s hand. “It’s bringing harm to you that scares me.”

The drive progressed without incident. Nathan and Joseph arrived ahead. Roth noted the big guy sent his lover inside, perhaps considering what might occur as they went from transport to dwelling. The bodyguards kept both Roth and Adam surrounded by a wall of muscle until they had a locked door and armed security system between them and the world.

Even as he heard Nathan ordering in dinner, Roth dragged Adam to bed. He locked the bedroom door and they melted into each other.

Nothing tasted as good as Adam.

Nothing felt as wonderful as Adam.

Nothing made Roth hotter than Adam.

They didn’t even make it to the bed. Hot moaning and fumbling on the floor. Grabbing for lube, frantic kissing, quick, artless cock-sucking and sensual demands of each other. Roth sank gently into his lover and they both vocalized like madmen. His brain seemed to stall as a mammoth orgasm whipped down his spine and out his cock. Adam thrashed, climaxing almost violently.

Both panting for oxygen, they collapsed in a sweaty heap. Adam continued to clutch with his arms and legs. Roth’s hands alone held his lover’s hips at an upward tilt, keeping his twitching cock inside Adam’s hot body.

Roth dropped his forehead to Adam’s. Breath mingling, skin joined by perspiration, Roth recognized his moment. “Marry me, Adam.”

His body squeezed Roth’s dick in reaction. Adam held his face, meeting his gaze. “Until I know about my past, what I am, it’s not fair to accept.”

Roth withdrew physically, while becoming more emotionally involved. “I love you. Nothing else matters.”

Adam gazed up at him. “It matters to me.”

Roth kissed him, heart open and so willing. As he lifted his head, he said, “Please tell me we can run off somewhere that allows and marry.”

Those stunning violet eyes became very soft and liquid. “Yes. I want you. Yes.”

A/N : Had an idea swimming around for a while now and decided to try it. Posting new project later. If you check it out, let me know your thoughts. ~ KD