Bonus Chapter

Seven years later~

Warmth glided over my skin, drawing me out of sleep land. I squinted my eyes to block the sun from directly hitting my irises. Grunting, I turned over only to discover the other half of the bed to be empty. I frowned and sat up. My eyes landed on the digital clock on the bedside table.

11:17 am.

Huh? I overslept. Why didn't he wake me. A sudden, intense urge to vomit rose up my throat. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the toilet. Clearing my stomach of the remaining of last night's dinner, I straightened up, and a mild dizziness rocked the world around me. My hand pressed on the cold tiled wall beside me until the feeling passed.

Walking to the basin, I splashed water over my face and looked at myself in the mirror. My hand unconsciously drove down to my flat stomach, and a smile took over my lips.

I have to tell him.

After a nice, warm shower, I walked through the hallway when Mrs. Bail appeared in her black and white uniform with a vacuum cleaner in her hands.

"Ember, you're awake. Come, dear, I will serve breakfast."

I nodded.

"Oh, wait. Let me call sir. He wouldn't eat without you."

I frowned. "He's still home?"

"Yes. He said it's your day off."

Day off? How come I didn't know about it? "Where is he?"

"In his study."

"I will go call him," I offered.

"Alright, darling. Hurry up. It's late already."

Sending her a smile, I headed over to the room at the furthest corner and opened the door. My eyes immediately landed on the lean, hard figure standing before an easel holding the canvas he was driving several brushes across, imbuing colors after colors; his brooding sea-green eyes fixed in concentration. The sleeves of his white cotton shirt were rolled up his elbows and the top buttons were undone, offering an excellent view of his hard chest muscles.

An involuntary smile stretched my lips as a wave of warmth rippled through my heart. Memories from years back in the office when I was assisting him on designing project models with a surprising pink public toilet one, flooded my mind. That day he almost kissed me or that's what I thought. It's a wonder how things changed with the passing of time, how souls are molded with a pint of love, and how truth improved perspectives.

Plodding beside him, I peeked at the painting, and my heartbeat accelerated as a soft gasp escaped my mouth. The blue-eyed brunette staring back at me was an unerring reflection of mine. I felt his arm circling around me and his mouth pressing against my temple. Still amazed, I looked up.

"I thought you stopped painting."

"Only toxic faces."

A mischievous smirk curved into a corner of my lips. "Does that mean I can tell the world about my husband's hidden talent now?"

"Let me think..." He glanced down at me. "No." His hand went further down around my thighs hauling me on his lap while the other prodded across my tummy as a fit of laughter left my lips. Soon my back gently touched the floor, and both of his hands engaged in a tickle torture.

"Nom...n-no...no...Hunter!"

He stopped, his hands resting at both sides of my head as we stared, panting. Traces of red and blue on his right cheek and temple, if possible only added to his handsomeness. Those piercing hard eyes that I had fallen in love with traced me all over, heating me up from inside. Ten years and still we couldn't get enough of each other, still the electricity drifted over my skin the same every time he touched.

Like magnets our lips touched and danced against each other in a perfect waltz. His hand traced across my body and stopped at the side of my breast, thumb gently drawing circles. My fingers tightened around his hair, and a soft moan accentuated the burning passion running through our veins.

"Hu-Hunter." I gasped for air, inhaling a lungful of his intoxicating scent. "I-I have some-something to tell you," I uttered in between gasps.

"What?" he whispered, trailing his soft, plump lips down my neck.

My God, if he doesn't stop, I won't be able to keep control. "I-I'm—” The vibration of my phone in my pants pocket, cut me off.

A giggle escaped me as his teeth began grazing my soft spot. "H-Hunter, I need to take the call. Please..."

Groaning, he lifted my waist off the ground for me to pull the mobile out and went back to creating new hickies on my shoulder blade. Shaking my head at him, I glanced at the caller ID, and my eyes widened.

"Hunter, move." I pushed him off me and sat up.

His brows knitted in concern. "Who is it?"

"From Hayden's school."

At my revelation, Hunter's demeanor changed. He started looking around like he developed new fascination for the shelves displaying files around.

I frowned. "Hunter, is my son okay?"

"I'm certain he is. Why don't you answer the call, love?"

Nodding, I held the phone against my ear. "Hello, Mrs. Hoover. Is everything alright?"

"Mrs. King, you need to come to the school right now."

"Why? Hayden's alright, right? My son's alright, Mrs. Hoover?" Panic washed over my heart like a flash flood.

"Yes, don't worry, Mrs. King. Your son's fine, but others aren't. Please, come soon. Also, bring your husband along, will you?"

"Yes, sure. We'll be right there."

Hanging up, I jumped back to my feet. "Hunter, let's go. We have to go right now. Come on!" Holding his arm, I pulled him back to our room and shoved him inside the bathroom. "Freshen up. Two minutes."

"I do not recall evoking an authority change."

"You do now. Hurry up!" I yelled, clasping my hair up into a bun and applying lipstick at an inhuman speed. "Hunter, I'll leave you—" I was cut off in mid-sentence once again as my eyes fell on my husband’s suited figure looking as though he wasn't just painted in red and blue moments ago.

"You know what you do to the little guy when you stare like that." A smirk played on his devilishly handsome face.

My ears burned as I shook my head and ran out of our house to the car. Seconds later, Hunter appeared inside and started for our son's school. Pulling my bottom lip in-between my teeth, I chewed on it until swollen when his index finger reached, pressing my lip out of my mouth.

"Relax, sweetheart." He drew my hand to his lips and planted a kiss. "My son's a King, and no one can harm a King. It's others who should be afraid."

I wondered how he could be so calm when my heart was literally beating out of my chest. Did he know something I didn't?

Soon the car parked in the school's parking lot, and I hopped out, hurrying to the principal's office with Hunter stalking close by. As soon as he was out in the open, his soft side disappeared, and the all-famous dangerous Hunter King phase was turned on. He might have been an angel to me but to the world, he was still the devil they feared.

On reaching the chocolate-colored door with the nameplate 'Sandra Hoover' attached to it, I knocked.

The door opened, and a middle-aged lady in a white blazer with a knee-length pencil skirt greeted us inside, "Mr. and Mrs. King."

Entering the room, my eyes rounded at the disheveled state of my seven years old son, and the way his sea-blue eyes glowered at another kid accompanied by his parents who had a black eye and a red face. My eyes slipped up to the other pair present in the room with their six years old daughter.

"Anna, Matt, what happened?"

"Well, let me explain, Mrs. King," Mrs. Hoover began, "Your son was found beating Henry black and blue in the hallway."

This time my mouth widened as well. "Why?"

The principal's eyes directed to the miniature version of Hunter. "Young man, you want to explain to your mother?"

The little one's eyes looked up to me, determination pooling in them. "Mommy, he bullied Stella."

"Nonsense! My son would never do that," the woman standing beside Henry objected.

"He did," Stella confirmed, clutching Matt's shoulder.

"So you decided to bully back? What kind of sick manners did your mother teach you?" Henry's mother glared.

I frowned, anger boiling inside.

"I did not bully back. I stopped him. Now he will learn to respect girls." Hayden's eyes held the same hardness I had grown accustomed to watching his father for years.

I kneeled down before my son and rubbed the small cut on his brow, my heart constricting in my chest. "Baby, violence is not the answer."

"But daddy said it was okay to teach the bad boys a lesson."

I blinked as everything dawned on me. So, that was the reason my husband had been so relaxed. He already knew and suggested this little scheme to our son. My head turned to Hunter as he stood there observing everything, his head held high in arrogant elation.

What the!

"What a dangerous family! You should put your sick son and husband in the asylum."

Ana gasped while Matt glared.

That was it. No one could disrespect my family and get away with that. I wouldn't allow it. I sprang to my heels, and a surge of dizziness hit me as I felt a strong arm around my back steadying me. Nodding to Hunter, I faced the rude epitome for a woman. She had a low-cut dress on with lipstick so bright, it hurt the eyes. Heavy foundation was smeared over her neck to conceal all the intimacy marks.

"Perhaps if you had taken some time pay attention to your son, he wouldn't be seeking entertainment from bullying girls." I glared.

When the woman opened her mouth to retort back, her husband held her arm, shushing her. I turned to little Henry standing there with down-casted eyes. "Young man, you don't wanna be hated as a bully when you grow up, do you?"

He shook his head, eyes widened.

"Then be nice to your classmates, okay?"

Nodding, he glanced at the little girl couped up in Matt's lap. "I'm sorry, Stella." Then his eyes darted to Hayden. "I'm sorry."

Hayden flashed his teeth at the boy. "It's okay. Wanna be friends?"

"Sure." Henry's eyes lit up as Stella came down shaking hands with him as well.

Mrs. Hoover turned to us with a smile. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience everyone, but it seems the kids have made up. Hopefully this won't happen again." She eyed Henry's parents. "I wish you all a good day."

Exiting the school, we headed to our cars.

"Have you told him yet?" Ana whispered walking beside me.

"Not yet. Haven't gotten the chance."

"You have to tell him fast. I want a celebration party!"

Chuckling, I looked back at the men with the children in their laps.

"As long as Hayden's there to watch over Stella, I have no worries," Matt expressed. "Good job, little man!"

"That's my King," Hunter boasted, kissing Hayden's head.

"Daddy, can I go to Uncle Matt's today? I wanna play with Stella," the little one asked.

"If mommy agrees." They both looked at me.

"Darling, you have to finish your homework—"

"That he can finish later." Ana cut me off, pinching me to the side. "I'm taking Hayden. Don't worry. Matt will drop him home after things are done," she muttered the last part with a wink, and they drove away with the kids.

"Hm…where were we?"

Feeling Hunter's hand on my back, I jerked it off and walked to the car. "Don't talk to me. I'm mad at you." Getting inside, I crossed my arms and looked out the window, scowling.

Minutes later, the door to the driver's side opened and closed, signaling of his arrival, and a cone of chocolate chip ice cream was extended towards me. I gulped, stirring in my seat.

"Th-That's not gonna work this time."

"Are you sure?" His cool voice challenged, adding another cone of vanilla flavor.

"I-no. N-no, I won't-oh, damn you!" I stretched to pull the cones from his hand when he drew them away.

"Not so fast." before I could comprehend, he had leaned over, hauling me from my seat and landing me on his lap.

A gasp left my mouth. "Hunter, careful!"

He stilled and regarded me all over, a tiny frown beginning to form in between his brows. "Are you okay, love?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just...I am—"

An angry rumble of the whale inside my stomach cut me off, and my cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

"You haven't taken breakfast yet," he spoke, eyes widened at perception.

"Neither have you," I replied, somewhat disappointed at the interruption.

Straightening up, he turned the key, and the car roared to life. Deciding to tell him later, I inclined to get back to my seat when his hand held me in place.

"Stay. Rest."

Smiling, I put my head on his chest and devoured the delicious ice cream like a hungry wolf while peacefully listening to his ceaseless rhythm of heart beats. Soon the car was pulled up before a fancy-looking diner, and we walked in to be welcomed by a warm, placid ambience. The manager took us to a private cabin and brought the menu.

As soon as I glanced at the food list, my stomach squirmed like it had been starving for a thousand years. I peeked at Hunter sitting beside me.

"Go ahead." He nodded.

"Blueberry pancakes with extra maple syrup, French toast, eggs benedict, breakfast burrito...hot porridge...a small fruit salad and uh..." I scanned my eyes over the coffee options in the menu, "your special coffee." Putting the paper down, I glanced at the waiter the manager assigned to our service. Her eyes were wide like pong balls as she stood there watching from me to my husband.

"Won't you order?" I asked, glimpsing at Hunter.

Not taking his amused eyes off me, he held one long finger up. "A coffee and avocado toast."

Writing down our orders, the girl left.

Not long after the table before us was packed with the food, and I dug in like a starved monkey. Sweet, buttery flavors busted in my tongue as I moaned, stuffing another bite of the pancakes into my mouth. A deep chuckle erupted from beside me, snatching my attention. His food was untouched as Hunter watched me while sipping on his coffee, a small smile dancing at the corner of his lips.

"What?"

"I haven't seen you eating like this since...Hayden was born."

"Well, I…" My hand shot up, covering my mouth as bile rose. Jumping off my seat, I ran towards the washroom and hovered over the sink. A hand rubbed soothing circles on my back while I let out my breakfast. Turning on the faucet, I cleaned my mouth and turned towards him.

His forehead was creased from concern and eyes a bit widened. Holding my waist, he lifted me up and sat me on the sink countertop. Grabbing a tissue, he patted my face dry. Then his hands cupped my face, and he looked me in the eye, his were filled with hope.

"Ember, is there something you want to tell me?"

I nodded timidly. "I've been trying to since this morning."

"Say it."

"I'm pregnant again."

For a second, everything was still like the world had frozen as he stared, then his lips came crashing down on mine in profound thoroughness, and possessive fingers wrapped around my tummy. He kissed my nose, my cheeks to my forehead, lingering there for a bit. Finally when he gazed back at me, I had seen the universe in those eyes, the immense happiness, the pooling excitement and a bit of tears.

"You just made me the happiest man alive," he whispered, adjoining our foreheads, "I love you. I love you so much you have no idea."

A drop of tear rolled down my cheek, and a smile brighter than the day curved itself into my lips. "I love you too, Hunter."