Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

45| Our story isn't over yet

Cherise Lovette was an amazing woman. After losing my mother, I never thought there would be someone who would ever make me feel that connection again. Especially not when it came to Priscilla, my so-called stepmom -- even though she was finally trying. But I did with Cherise. Over the years, she has become a second mum to me.

Another woman who made sure I was a good man to Harper or else she was going to injure me in a place I value very, very highly. And even though I didn't really know Cherise around the time Everly passed away, we got close during Lanie's pregnancy when Ayden and Nate went missing. It seemed like that's when we all just grabbed those closest to us and held on for dear bloody life.

The whole donor match things was terrifying -- and I meant before the whole Cherise-is-the-match-thing. When I found out Al the side effects that came along with it, my immediate response to my wife wasn't all that smart.

"You can't donate if you're a match."

Harper's hand paused half-way through brushing her hair and her eyes met mine in the mirror. "What did you just say?"

I got up from the bed and the sheet fell from my naked body. We had just got done fucking and I waited while she took a shower. It was just something I liked to do. After I had my fill of her, which was never, I would wait while she took a shower because I loved watching the part after.

Watching her apply lotion. Drying off and putting on her robe. Brushing her hair. It was like a little private show, and she loved teasing me while she did it. Better than anything on the telly, that's for sure. Then there were times I couldn't stand the waiting and would join her in the shower.

"If you're a match," I repeated. "I don't want you to donate. I forbid you."

"Forbid me?" Her eyes widened at my words, and I didn't care if that meant I was about to get my ass handed to me. "You FORBID me? Jackson, you can't forbid me to do anything, so keep that domination stuff strictly for the bedroom. If I'm the match, I will go through with it. No matter what."

"I refuse to lose you, princess. Not a chance in hell."

She finally turned away from the mirror to face me. "You won't lose me, Jackson." She cupped my face with her small hands and looked me dead in the eye. "Whether I'm the donor or not, you have me. I promise."

My tough exterior was starting to crack, and my voice came out way too shaky. "If something happens. . . I can't live without you."

"I know," she whispered. "I can't live without you either. You think I'm not terrified if you are the match? Of course, I am. But would you really choose not to donate to our niece just because we both are afraid?"

My answer was obvious. And she knew it.

"You would do it anyway," she said for me. "And even though I would be losing my mind, I would know that I couldn't stop you. She needs us, baby. We got to do this."

"I know." I murmured.

With a small smile she grabbed my hand and placed it on her belly. "Besides, I'm convinced you and I will become parents one day, Jackson. Our story isn't over yet."

***

"I don't like this, princess. I don't bloody like this at all."

Harper was pacing around her kitchen while I sat on the bar stool. "I don't like it, either. But she's made her choice. The surgery is happening tomorrow. For both of them."

Bloody hell. Every time I heard that, I felt like I was going to throw up. After we all got the news, and Cherise's follow-up tests came back great, everyone's been in sort of a trance mode. Now the fucking surgery was tomorrow. As if tension wasn't high enough already.