Egotistically Yours by Hayley Faiman

Chapter Forty-Two

BETHANIE

We arrive homeand I just watch Laurent as we move around for the afternoon. I feed Tucker and Laurent suggests that we go swimming when he’s finished eating. I change into my swimsuit and try not to think about the last time I went swimming and his model fuck buddy showed up.

Which is exactly what I think about, because I can’t help but think badly about myself. I still don’t know why he’s with me. Even months later, I keep waiting for him to go back to one of his models.

“Baby?” Laurent calls.

He’s standing at the back door, looking like an underwear model himself, holding Tucker in his arm. He’s tall, tanned, and cut. His dark hair is messy, but full and looks like he’s styled it that way.

He’s beautiful.

“I’m coming,” I say, my feet moving quickly as I close the distance between us. I watch as his eyes scan my body, then his lips curve up into a smile.

“You aren’t yet, but you will be,” he murmurs.

“Laurent,” I breathe.

He laughs softly, dipping his chin and touches his lips to mine. He doesn’t kiss me, instead, he speaks again. “I’m serious, baby. You look fantastic and we’ve had a hard day, I think we both need to come a few times before we crawl into bed tonight.”

My breathing immediately becomes labored just thinking about that, just thinking about how good he makes me feel. He does too, amazingly so—always. Even when he’s so angry with me that he wants to walk away, it doesn’t matter, Laurent always makes me feel sexy, desired, and just plain good.

Following him outside, I climb into the pool and he hands me Tucker as I finish walking into the shallow end. Tucker lets out a little noise when his feet touch the water, but then he moves his legs and he sighs.

Turning around, I watch as Laurent dives into the pool. Again, beautiful. The man is a specimen. When he emerges and swims toward us, I decide to ask him what is going on. He knows more than he’s really letting on and I need to know—I deserve to know.

“Tell me what is happening. You know more, or at least you know what could be,” I blurt out.

His eyes find mine and his lips curve up into a grin. He touches his mouth to mine and I almost moan at the wet kiss he gives me.

Clearing his throat, I think that he’s going to tell me to mind my own business, but he doesn’t. Instead, much to my surprise and maybe even a little horror, he starts to tell me exactly what I asked him to.

“My mother gave me control of the business and gave me the building. I didn’t really dive into the paperwork that she had me sign when she did it though. Instead, I stupidly just took it and was excited for the opportunity.”

“So your lawyer never looked at it?” I ask.

He shakes his head, droplets of water going everywhere when he does. I watch as they catch the sun and I find myself once again mesmerized by him. He swims closer to me, wrapping his arms around me before he touches his lips to the top of Tucker’s head.

“I didn’t even show it to Bash. My mother’s lawyer gave it to me and I greedily signed it. Which is exactly what she wanted, I have no doubt. My mother isn’t stupid and she made it all sound as if she was in such a rush that it had to be signed immediately. I did it because I wanted the opportunity to be the boss.”

“Laurent,” I breathe.

I’m not horrified at all, instead, I completely feel for him because I know that what she offered him was everything that he wanted. I also think that she knew that, so he’s probably right. There are probably some shady things in that document.

“It was stupid,” he grunts. “I was stupid. See, I’m a lot like her. Too much like her. Are you sure you want me for life?” he asks.

My heart skips a beat at the thought of life with him.

Life.

I want that so much.

Laurent slips Tucker from my arms and holds him up in the air as he looks up at him. “You’re not stupid, Laurent. I understand why you signed the papers.”

He looks over to me, his lips curving up into a smirk. “Yeah?” he asks.

Nodding my head, I can’t help but just stare at him, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. I half wonder if I’ll ever get tired of looking at him, but I know that it’s only a halfhearted wonder, because deep down, I know that I never will.

“Yeah,” I say with a smile. “You wanted it so badly, I know that you did. She was offering you your dream on a silver platter, I don’t know many people who would stop to read the fine print.”

“Bethie?” he asks after a moment of silence.

I hum as I move through the water, enjoying the way it feels sliding over my body. When he doesn’t say anything, I open my eyes and look over at him. He’s still got Tucker in his arms and he’s watching me, an expression I can’t quite read on his face.

“What are your dreams, baby?”

My entire body freezes in its place. I blink, then stare at him for probably a bit too long. His smile slowly dies and turns into a frown, then he swims closer to me, Tucker still nestled in his arms.

“Bethie?” he asks.

Licking my lips, I wonder if I can say it aloud. If I can really tell him what my dream is. Biting the inside of my cheek, I blurt out my dream.

“You, Laurent. You are my dream.”

He shakes his head, his frown deepening. “Career-wise, Bethie. What is your dream?”

Tears fill my eyes and press my lips together. I’m foolish and stupid. I’m simple-minded. I must be because I don’t have a career dream. My only dream is him.

“The moment I saw you, I knew that you were what I wanted in life, Laurent. Just you. Right here, this, it’s my dream come true.”

“What about before you met me?” he asks.

He’s not being cocky or an asshole, he’s genuinely curious and it makes me wonder what kind of person I am. Do I not have any ambition? I’ve always worked hard, but I never really have had a big-picture goal in mind.

Life has always kind of just happened and I’ve gone with the flow. I’ve always worked hard, scraped by, and tried my best to live a good life. I didn’t go to school for a particular degree, I never had anything that I was passionate about.

I shrug a shoulder, then search his eyes with my own. “I was just living, Laurent. I didn’t have any plans. I didn’t know what was waiting for me. I worked, I had my apartment, and I was trying to find love. I always just wanted a normal life.”

“There’s nothing normal about you, Bethie,” he murmurs.

I throw back my head in laughter. “You’re crazy, Laurent Astor. I’m the most normal and boring person on earth.”

It’s his turn to hum, then his lips touch mine again. “You’re anything but normal. I couldn’t love just someone who is nothing special and normal, baby, but I love you.”

LAURENT

PlacingTucker down in his crib, I watch him for a moment. Bethie is in the bath after our swim, dinner, and feeding Tucker for the night. It was a long evening, but it was probably one of the best we’ve ever had.

There’s something rejuvenating about spending time with just Bethie and Tucker. The life that I have right now is one that I never imagined I would ever want, but it’s exactly what I love. Once I stare at Tucker for far longer than I should, then I head toward the bathroom and more importantly, the bathtub.

Bethie is lying back, her eyes closed as the music plays from her phone. Stripping out of my clothes, I climb into the warm water across from her. She doesn’t even move, except for her foot that slides up my thigh.

“You meant it when you said that this was your dream, didn’t you?” I ask.

Bethie’s eyes open and she gives me a small smile, her cheeks tint pink and that’s when I know that she did mean it. She doesn’t even have to actually say it aloud, but I want to hear it anyway.

“I meant it, Laurent, every single word of it.”

Leaning forward, I wrap my hands around her thighs and pull her closer to me. Water splashes onto the floor, but I don’t give a shit. I feel her warm heat against my length and I let out a groan as I hold her close to me. Tilting my head back, I look up into her eyes and grin.

“Thank fuck,” I mutter.

“Why is that?” she asks, her voice soft and sweet.

“Because you’re stuck with me, baby.”

She lets out a giggle and shakes her head a couple of times. I pull her even closer to me and her chest presses against mine. I let out a groan at the feel of her tits against me, loving the way that they feel.

Bethie dips her chin and touches her lips to mine. All of our humor disappears as soon as her lips touch mine. My cock jumps to attention and I want nothing more than to be inside of her. I don’t have to ask, I don’t even have to attempt to touch her. She wraps her hand around my cock and slowly slides down along my length.

Pushing up, I sit on the edge of the tub and wrap my fingers around her hips. Bethie’s nails dig into my shoulders as she rides me, her gaze never leaving mine.

“You’re stuck with me, Bethie. You’re mine and there’s no going back. There’s no giving up. There is you and me and that is it.”

Bethie licks her lips, but she doesn’t respond right away. She moves above me, her body bowed and her breathing coming out in pants. Then she lets out a long sigh before she leans forward. Her mouth touches mine, her tongue sliding along my lips before she whispers against my mouth.

“You’re my dream come true, Laurent.”

I almost come—almost. Instead, I let out a growl, gripping her hips even tighter before I stand to my feet. I can’t get the leverage I want on the edge of the tub. Stepping over the tub, I walk out of the bathroom, our bodies leaving a trail of wetness as I do. I’m still inside of her as I make my way over to the bed and lay her down.

Standing at the edge of the bed, I look down at her and smile. Bethie is my dream come true, too. A dream I didn’t know existed until I found out she’d had my baby, a dream that I thought I needed to give up because relationships were nothing but lies and betrayals. And maybe they still are, but we aren’t and I’m going to strive to make this work every fucking day.

Leaning over her body, I grip her shoulder as I pull out of her, then slam back inside. I fuck her hard and fast. I take her right here and show her just how I feel about her. I don’t know how to be soft. I don’t know how to really give her anything else.

Bethie’s back arches as she widens her legs and lifts her hips, taking more of me. I growl, gripping her shoulder tightly with one hand and her hip with the other. Sweat gathers on my brow, my lower back tingles, and my thighs shake as I try to stay upright.

Gnashing my teeth together, I try to hold back, to stay in control, but I’m slipping with each stroke. I grunt, my fingers digging into her flesh, then I feel her cunt flutter and I know that she’s almost there.

“Laurent,” she sighs as her muscles tighten and her body freezes in its place.

My body doesn’t freeze. I chase my release until I’m on the edge. Burying myself deep inside of her, I come before I collapse on top of her still damp body. I inhale her scent, sliding my tongue along the side of her throat.

“Love you, baby,” I murmur against her skin.

She hums, wrapping her legs tightly around my waist and squeezing. “I love you too, Laurent. I’m nervous and excited for the future. Whatever happens with Astore Investments and your mom is going to be nothing but the past soon.”

I sure fucking hope we survive it, too. I don’t tell her that though. I need to keep my doubts to myself. She doesn’t need to be burdened with them. This will all work out. It has to. There are no other options.