Page 92 of Taming You

I bite my lip and nod before making sure I get in real close so no one can hear what I’m about to whisper. “You have, and I expect you to have me calling your name all night long while you fuck me.”

“That’s a guarantee, baby.”

I sit properly in my seat and dig into my steak. Everyone enjoys dinner, and dessert is served before the evening transitions into the auction. A silent auction has been taking place all night along one wall of the event space, but the bigger items are being done in a live auction on stage. Maggie climbs the stairs to the stage and greets the guests, thanking everyone for coming and for their donations for tonight’s event before handing it over to the MC who runs the auction. I can’t wrap my head around the money some of the items go for. It’s insane.

After the auction ends, a band takes over, and people head for the dance floor. Matt offers me his hand, and I place mine in his as he leads me to the dance floor. I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes as we sway to the music.

A few songs in, I feel a tap on my shoulder and a soft, “Excuse me.”

Matt stiffens against me, and anxiety radiates off him. Lifting my head, I look beside me and see this beautiful blonde woman, several inches taller than me, with full curves. She offers me a soft smile and looks up at Matt. He's not looking at her fondly. In fact, he’s practically glaring daggers at the woman.

“Can I cut in?” she asks, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do, but Matt’s grip on me tightens.

“I’m in the middle of something, Hazel,” he practically growls, and rage fills me. I look up at Matt, the question in my eyes, and he nods in confirmation. I fist my hand in Matt’s shirt in an attempt to not turn around and slap this woman. I never really thought about what I’d do if I ever came face to face with Jayden’s mother, but the only thought going through me right now is violence.

She took so much from Matt by not telling him, robbing him of the opportunity to experience the pregnancy, and then she just dropped Jayden off at his doorstep. She deserves nothing nice in this world. A calming presence comes to my side, and I see Josh and Liv. I know the second she finds out who this woman is, she won’t be calm, though. Matt’s eyes haven’t left Hazel, and I don’t even think he’s noticed his sister.

Plastering on the fakest smile and staying as calm as possible, I say, “Why don’t we take this conversation outside?”

Her eyes dart to me, and her smile drops for a second before it returns. “I only need to talk to Matt.”

I grate my teeth. I’m not letting her talk to him by herself. I’m not letting her even attempt to take my man or my kid away from me. I don’t care if Jayden isn’t my biological child, he has become a part of me. I care more for him than I do myself, and I’m not losing him. You’d have to kill me and put me six feet under if you wanted a shot at it.

“Like I said, why don’t we take this conversation outside.”

Frustration seems to radiate off her as she looks at Matt, and he shakes his head. Taking my hand, he leads the way out of the event space. I make eye contact with Liv, and she knows immediately to follow us. As soon as Matt deems us far enough away from the doors, he stops and plants his feet shoulder-width apart and crosses his arms over his chest. I have no idea how she ended up here at the gala, but I want her as far away from us possible. I want her gone.

“What do you want, Hazel?” Venom fills his voice, and Liv’s shocked inhale fills the hallway.

“To talk.” She side-eyes Josh, Liv, and me. “Alone.”

Matt shakes his head and scoffs. “Anything you have to say to me, you can say to them.”

“And who are they?” she says, disgust filling her voice.

“My family. Jayden’s family.”

I take a step closer to Matt, loving that he’s lumped me in as his and Jayden’s family. I try to show some of the strength Matt is by not going after this woman, but it’s hard.

“I’d like to see my son,” she says, and I say, “No,” before anyone else has a chance to.

If she could shoot fire out of her eyes, I’m sure I’d be burnt to a crisp right now, but I don’t care. I pull my shoulders back and stand taller.

She scoffs. “And who the fuck do you think you are to say I can’t see my son?”

“The one who’s taken care of him when he’s been sick. The one he reaches for in the morning when he wakes up and wants to put him to bed. The one who reads him books before putting him to bed and plays with him. And he’s not your son, you gave him up.”

She looks at Matt. “You’re going to let her speak to me like that?” She pops a hip like she thinks Matt will choose her over me.

Matt nods. “She’s only saying the truth.”

She eyes me up and down before returning her gaze to Matt. “You let this woman around our baby? Maybe I shouldn’t have left him with you if you make such bad choices.”

She’s gone too far. I take a step forward and lower my voice to one that’s unrecognizable even to myself. “You better watch yourself before you end up with my palm across your face. Matt is an amazing parent. He’s stepped up when you didn’t even tell him he had a kid. You took away the experience of the pregnancy, the birth, his first few months, all because you’re a selfish little bitch. Matt’s a better parent than you could ever be. You gave up your rights, so why don’t you turn around and take your ass out of here right now and never show your face around here again.”

Her jaw is slack as she stares at me then Matt then back at me. “You can’t speak to me like that,” she shrieks.

“She can,” Matt says. “Unlike you, Zoey won’t abandon Jayden. I know without a doubt that no matter what happens between her and I, she will always be in his life. But my plan is she’ll be there, with us, always. She will be the female role model he’ll look up to, because she’s a good person who supports her family and the people she loves. I’m not letting you into his life only to abandon him again. I’m not putting him through that. You gave me the papers saying you didn’t want him anymore, and I’m going to honour that. You should know there are certified copies of those papers with Josh and Liv”—he tips his head towards them—“my parents, my lawyer, a cop friend, and another friend. No matter what you do, there are enough people who know that you can’t fight it.”

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