Empire of Desire by Rina Kent

I shouldn’t have thought about lifting you up in my arms, slamming you against the nearest object and kissing you until you could only breathe me.

But I did.

And I hated you for it.

Not only because I lost the easy relationship I had with you, but also because no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t think of you as King’s daughter anymore.

Those two years were pure fucking torture, baby girl. I struggled so much between doing the right thing and taking you anyway. It’s why I avoided being in the same room with you; I couldn’t trust myself not to fuck up everything and hurt King. Especially since I had no idea how deep my feelings for you were.

However, once you became my wife, my self-control spiraled out of control. I blame your lively energy that I was never allowed to have and your determination that can break stones.

Even one as solid as me.

You didn’t only break me in, but you also mended all the broken parts together again. You did it carefully and with so much love that I can’t imagine my existence without you anymore.

Without your cheerfulness.

Without your empathy.

You added colors to my life that are as bright as the ones in your eyes. Every day I wake up to those eyes and your contagious smile, I feel like the luckiest bastard alive.

Thank you for choosing me.

For not giving up on me.

For being my wife and the mother of my children.



Love,

Nathaniel



A tear slides down my cheek by the time I finish reading.

Is it possible to fall in love with someone all over again? Because I think I just did. I’m so irrevocably into this man that it scares the shit out of me sometimes.

He said he can’t imagine his life without me, but it’s no different for me. I can’t picture a world where he isn’t in the middle of it.

I can’t picture a world where he’s not my husband and the father of my children.

Carefully tucking the letter into the photo album, I place it on the nightstand and get out of bed. I do a quick work of freshening up and wearing the first pair of shorts, tank top, and sneakers I find, then I run outside.

I find Nate holding Lily while standing up, and Dad sitting down, rocking Logan as he sucks on a baby bottle.

The view of my babies never gets old. I think I fall in love with them more every time I see them. They’re so small and innocent and I want to give them my life.

And the reason I have them is right there, appearing larger than the world, as always.

Nate is wearing black slacks and a white button-down that accentuates his muscular frame. I swear the man has been getting even more handsome over the years. It should be illegal for someone in their forties to look so deliciously attractive, but I’m not really complaining.

He’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen and he will always be.

I jog to him, wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him and Lily, then I get on my tiptoes and kiss him. He holds our daughter with one hand and pulls me to him with the other, deepening the kiss.

My senses skyrocket as I melt in his embrace, and I get lost in his addictive taste. No matter how much he kissed me, the intensity never disappeared. In fact, it feels earth-shattering as that first time he claimed my lips by the side of the pool.

He’s been kissing me for years, but it still feels as if he’s kissing me back for when he didn’t kiss me on my eighteenth birthday.

He’s been kissing me for years and I can’t get enough.

I probably never will.

“Morning, husband,” I breathe when we break apart.

A dark gleam of desire shines in his eyes as he speaks low, “Morning, wife.”

“Thank you for the birthday gift. I love it and you.”

A clearing of a throat comes from behind me before Dad appears by our side, carrying Logan and glaring. “I’m over here, in case no one noticed.”

“Hi, Dad.” I kiss his cheek.

“So now you have a dad?”

“Your jealousy is showing, King.” Nate smirks at him.

“You shut up, daughter stealer.”

“Dad.” I grab his arm, laughing, and he just shakes his head. Since he’s overprotective, it’s impossible to have him stop throwing jabs at my husband anytime he gets.

Even if he loves how much Nate takes care of me.

“And stop your PDA in front of my grandchildren. Give me Lily.” My father basically snatches her and holds each of the twins on an arm as he speaks to them. “You two prefer your grandfather anyway, don’t you?”

I smile as he takes them back to the house, but it’s interrupted when Nate wraps his arms around my waist from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder.

“Have you slept well?” His words against my neck draw a shudder out of me.

“Yeah, and I just had the best morning.” I turn around to face him and flatten my palms against his chest. “Thank you for the photo album and that letter. I will cherish it until I die.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Too late. Already learned it by heart.”

He smiles and I’m trapped in it. In how easily he does it around me. Sometimes, it feels like I’m the only reason he smiles and I selfishly love it.

I love that I’m his world as much as he’s mine.

“Happy birthday, wife.”

“Happy anniversary, husband.”