Jay's POV
The bedroom was finally quiet, the heavy oak door shutting out the last echoes of the chaotic party downstairs. I took a deep breath, the lingering scent of cedarwood, tobacco, and clean iron filling my lungs as I sat cross-legged on the massive mattress.
It was a relief to shed the intense corporate persona I had been wearing all week. Right now, I wasn't the hidden owner of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, nor was I the sharp-witted leader of a highly trained security team.
I was just Jay, swamped in a hoodie that wasn't mine, hiding away from the world with the only person who truly understood the weight of the crown I wore.
Keifer climbed onto the bed beside me, holding a single large tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and two silver spoons.
The contrast was almost comical—this towering, formidable man, who could freeze a boardroom full of seasoned executives with a single look, was currently navigating a pint of frozen dessert with absolute seriousness.
"Don't look at me like that, Wifey," he murmured, his deep voice sending a familiar, pleasant vibration through the air between us.
He scooped up a generous portion and held it out to me. "Eat. You barely touched the cake downstairs because Cin was trying to weaponize the frosting."
I chuckled, leaning forward to take the bite directly from his spoon. The cool, refreshing sweetness hit my tongue, making me realize just how exhausted I actually was. "Cin is an absolute menace. I'm pretty sure Percy is still trying to get that blue icing out of his favorite shirt."
Keifer didn't answer right away. Instead, he dipped his own spoon into the tub, but his dark eyes never left my face. There was an intensity in his gaze that had nothing to do with corporate strategies or security threats.
The soft amber lighting of the bedroom caught the sharp angles of his jawline, highlighting the raw, unyielding possessiveness that always seemed to simmer just beneath his surface.
"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious under his heavy scrutiny. I wiped the back of my hand against my cheek, wondering if I had somehow managed to get ice cream on myself. "Is there something on my face?"
"You look ridiculous," Keifer said softly, though the slight curving of his lips betrayed his words. He set the tub down on the nightstand, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
"You're wearing a hoodie that could easily fit three of you. Your hair looks like a bird nested in it after Freya and the girls tackled you into that group hug. And yet..." He leaned closer, his shadow completely enveloping me. "...you look entirely too dangerous for my sanity, wifey."
Before I could process the sudden shift in the air, his large hand cupped the side of my face, his thumb brushing against the corner of my lower lip. "You missed a spot."
"I can get it—"
My words were cut off as he leaned in, pressing his lips firmly against mine. The initial contact was soft, a gentle tasting that sent a sudden, electric jolt straight down my spine.
The sweet flavor of the mint ice cream mingled between us, but the innocence of the moment evaporated within seconds. Keifer's grip on my jaw tightened, his thumb anchoring me in place as his lips grew demanding.
A quiet gasp escaped my throat, and he used the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His teeth grazed my lower lip, a sharp, deliberate nip that made my toes curl against the sheets.
Before I could even think to protest, his tongue slid past my teeth, claiming my mouth with a fierce, consuming hunger that left me completely breathless. It wasn't a gentle, reassuring kiss; it was an absolute takeover. My hands instinctively came up to rest against his broad chest, feeling the rapid, heavy thudding of his heart beneath his shirt.
By the time he finally pulled back, just an inch, my mind was spinning. My chest rose and fell in ragged, uneven breaths, and my lips felt swollen and hot.
Keifer stared down at me, his eyes dark with an unbridled, heavy heat. He ran his thumb over my wet lower lip, his voice dropping into a rough, gravelly register that made my stomach do a violent flip. "Your lips are fucking tasty, wifey.
The sheer boldness of his words snapped my brain back into gear. My face flushed a violent crimson, heat radiating all the way to the tips of my ears. "You—you absolute caveman!" I gasped, trying to summon whatever dignity I had left.
I raised my hand, intending to smack the top of his head to teach him a lesson about manners.
But Keifer was faster. Without a single wasted movement, his large hand intercepted my wrist mid-air. With a low, amused chuckle that vibrated against my chest, he pinned my hand flat against the mattress above my head, effortlessly anchoring me beneath his weight.
"Let go, Watson! That's cheating!" I protested, though my voice lacked any real authority.
"Not cheating if I'm winning, babygirl," he murmured, leaning down to press his lips against the sensitive skin just beneath my jaw.
A shiver raced through my entire body as his mouth tracked a burning path down my neck, his stubble scraping lightly against my skin. I bit my inner cheek, trying desperately to suppress the sound that threatened to escape me. Every place his lips touched felt like it was catching fire.
His free hand slid down from my waist, the heavy fabric of the oversized hoodie shifting as his fingers found the hem near my thighs.
Slowly, deliberately, his large, warm palm slid upward, making direct contact with the bare skin of my stomach. The contrast of his cool rings and searing skin made me gasp, my hips instinctively twitching beneath him.
His hand continued its slow, torturous ascent, moving past my ribs until his palm brushed against the lower curve of my breast. He paused, his fingers tensing slightly as he felt the immediate, unhindered shape of my body beneath the thin fabric.
Keifer pulled his face away from my neck, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a sudden, sharp intensity. He shifted his weight, his thumb lightly brushing across the center of my chest through the cotton of the hoodie.
"Not wearing a bra, huh?" he murmured, a dangerous, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
I tried to pull my pinned hand free, my face burning so hot I was certain I was going to combust. "I don't wear them at night! It's uncomfortable, and I was sleeping before you all decided to throw a surprise party!"
The smirk on his face deepened, turning into something thoroughly wicked. "Good. Less clothes means less time to remove them."
"Keifer—!"
Before the protest could fully leave my mouth, he shifted his grip, releasing my wrist only to grab the bottom hem of the hoodie. In one swift, practiced motion, he pulled the massive garment up and over my head, tossing it carelessly across the room.
The cool air of the bedroom hit my bare skin, making me instantly shrink back against the pillows. A sudden wave of shyness washed over me, and I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shield myself from his intense, unblinking gaze.
Keifer didn't move. He sat back on his knees, his eyes scanning down my body with a slow, appreciative focus that made my skin prickle with heat. His gaze locked onto my chest, and I didn't need to look down to know exactly what he was seeing.
Despite my attempt to cover myself, the sheer cold of the room mixed with the overwhelming intensity of his presence had caused my nipples to tighten into rigid, prominent peaks.
"Already erected for me, babygirl?" Keifer asked, his voice dripping with a dark, smug satisfaction.
I immediately snapped my head to the side, refusing to look at him as I stared intently at the far wall. "Shut up. It's just cold in here."
"Right. Cold," he echoed, though there was nothing but warmth in his tone. He reached out, his large hands gently but firmly grasping my wrists, pulling my arms away from my chest so I was completely uncovered before him.
He leaned over me again, his shadow blocking out the rest of the room. He didn't rush. He just looked down at me, his expression softening into something deeply earnest, his gaze searching mine. "May I, Jay?"
The sudden shift from commanding to entirely respectful caught me off guard. My heart hammered against my ribs, not from fear, but from the sheer weight of how much this man loved me. I swallowed hard, the last of my resistance melting away, and gave a small, quiet nod.
Keifer didn't waste another second. His large hands moved forward, his wide palms cupping the fullness of my breasts, immediately lifting and shaping them to fit his grip.
A small, ragged breath escaped my lips as his thumbs swept inward, catching the rigid, swollen tips. They were already aching and hypersensitive, reacting violently to the slightest friction of his rough skin.
"Umm..Keifer...umm"
The sight of those dark, hardened peaks straining for his attention broke the very last of his restraint. He let out a low growl, leaning down to capture one side between his lips. He tested its tight texture with his tongue, swirling around the sensitive bud before drawing it fully into the heat of his mouth.
I instantly bit down on my lower lip, my knuckles clenching into the bedsheets beneath me. The sensation was overwhelming, a direct line of electricity shooting straight to my lower abdomen.
I forced my jaw shut, determined not to let out a loud moan that might echo through the quiet halls of the mansion.
Keifer felt the tension in my body. He paused, pulling his mouth away just enough to look up at me, his lips glistening in the dim light. "Don't hide from me, wifey. I want to hear you."
I looked down at him, my vision slightly blurred by the sheer intensity of the moment. Before I could answer, he leaned back down and began to feast on me in earnest.
His mouth clamped onto one nipple, his tongue lashing across it with a fierce, rhythmic intensity, while his free hand aggressively squeezed and molded the other breast, his thumb never stopping its relentless friction against the peak.
It started slow, a deliberate torment, but quickly escalated into something primal and intense. My hips lifted off the bed entirely, my back arching as I tried to press myself deeper into his touch.
"Umm..keif...keifer...ahh..ahh..yee..yesss.ummmm.keif....ahhh.slow...slowly...umm"
The quiet room was filled with the sound of our uneven breathing , moans and the heavy, wet friction of his mouth against my skin.
Slowly, reluctantly, Keifer pulled away from my chest, leaving my skin tingling and wet from his attention. He didn't stop there. He began kissing his way down my torso, his lips pressing firm, hot marks against my ribs, moving lower and lower until he reached my navel. His hot breath fanned across my stomach, making my muscles contract instinctively.
His large hand slid further down, his fingers hooking onto the top button of my pajama pants. I held my breath, every nerve ending in my body screaming in anticipation of what was coming next.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sudden, violent rattling of the bedroom door handle shattered the silence like a gunshot.
"Jay! Open up! I know you're in there!" Aries's voice boomed through the thick wood, sounding incredibly annoyed. "Jay! Unlock the door right now!
Keifer froze instantly. His hand remained wrapped around the button of my pants, his forehead resting against my stomach as his entire body went rigid.
For a solid three seconds, the only sound in the room was the heavy, ragged breathing of two people who had just been violently yanked out of a private paradise.
Slowly, Keifer lifted his head. If looks could kill, the solid wood of the bedroom door would have burst into flames. His dark eyes were completely bloodshot, his jaw clenched so tightly that a muscle jumped in his cheek.
"I am going to kill your brothers," Keifer said, his voice dropping into a terrifyingly calm, homicidal whisper. "Every single one of them. I'll bury them in the western woods and no one will ever find the bodies."
Despite the absolute frustration pooling in my own gut, the sheer absurdity of his dark expression made a sudden bubble of laughter rise in my throat. I couldn't help it. I let out a loud, breathless chuckle, pushing against his massive shoulders.
"Get up," I whispered, trying to control my amusement as Aries began kicking the bottom of the door. "Get up before he actually breaks the wood. You know how he gets when he thinks he's being ignored."
Keifer let out a long, long suffering groan, a dark grin flashing across his face for a split second before his usual stoic, lazy expression took over. He rolled off me, running a hand through his messy hair as he stood up from the bed.
I scrambled to my feet, my face still flushing hot as I looked around the room for my discarded clothing. I spotted the oversized black hoodie crumpled on the floor near the closet.
Shaking it out, I threw it back over my head, letting the heavy fabric fall back down to my thighs. I took a deep breath, smoothing down my hair and ensuring I looked somewhat presentable before I walked over to the door.
I turned the lock with a loud click and pulled the heavy door open.
Aries was standing in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest and his foot tapping impatiently against the hardwood floor.
The moment the door opened, his sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe, noticing my slightly disheveled appearance and the flush on my cheeks. Then, his gaze flew past my shoulder, locking onto Keifer, who was currently leaning casually against the bedpost with his hands buried deep in his pockets, looking entirely unbothered.
Aries stepped into the room, his eyes narrowing to slits. "What exactly were you two doing in here with the door locked?" he demanded, his tone protective and sharp.
Keifer didn't even blink. He maintained his completely relaxed, lazy expression, his dark eyes meeting Aries's fierce glare with absolute indifference.
"Making babies," Keifer said smoothly, his voice flat and devoid of any hesitation.
The room went entirely silent for a fraction of a second.
Aries's face went from annoyed to a violent shade of crimson in a matter of seconds. His hands instantly clenched into solid, white-knuckled fists, his chest heaving as he took a threatening step forward. "What did you just say, Watson?! How dare you touch my sister?! I will tear you apart!"
"Aries, calm down! He's joking!" I yelled quickly, stepping directly between my furious brother and my incredibly smug fiancé. I placed both palms against Aries's chest, physically holding him back before he could actually attempt to swing at a billionaire. "He's literally just trying to mess with you. We were eating ice cream."
Aries stopped, his eyes darting to the nightstand where the tub of mint chocolate chip still sat with the two spoons. He let out a sharp, angry breath, but slowly lowered his fists.
He stepped back, though his eyes never left Keifer's face, glaring at him with pure hatred. "You think you're real funny, don't you, Watson?"
Keifer didn't answer with words. Instead, he took a step forward, closing the distance between us. In a move that was entirely out of character for the imposing CEO, he leaned his heavy shoulder against mine, resting his chin slightly against the top of my head like a massive, petulant toddler seeking protection.
He kept his eyes locked on Aries, giving him a look that practically shouted she's shielding me, what are you going to do about it?
I had to bite the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted copper just to keep from laughing out loud at the visual. "Anyway," I said quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from physical violence. "Why are you up here ruining my night, Aries? What's actually going on downstairs?"
Aries's aggressive posture suddenly deflated, his expression shifting from furious brother to someone who had just remembered an incredibly important piece of news. "Oh. Right. I forgot why I came up here in the first place." He looked at me, his eyes wide. "Lola is here.
The moment the name left his mouth, my entire body froze. The residual romantic fog in my brain vanished instantly, replaced by a sudden jolt of pure adrenaline.
"Lola is here?!" I repeated, my voice squeaking slightly.
I didn't wait for Aries to respond, nor did I care that Keifer was still technically leaning on my shoulder. I pushed past my brother, my bare feet flying across the polished hardwood corridor as I sprinted toward the grand staircase.
Behind me, I could hear the heavy, steady thud of Keifer's footsteps as he easily kept pace, his protective instincts kicking right back into gear.
We rounded the corner of the grand staircase, and my eyes immediately locked onto the center of the living room. Standing beneath the warm amber glow of the chandelier was a small, elegantly dressed elderly woman.
Despite her advanced age, she carried herself with an aura of absolute authority that could rival any military general. It was Lola.
"Lola!" I cried out, abandoning all sense of decorum as I practically flew down the last few steps.
She turned around just in time, a wide, beautiful smile breaking across her wrinkled face as I threw my arms completely around her neck. She caught me with surprising strength, her familiar, comforting scent of lavender and old paper enveloping me instantly.
"Oh, my sweet child," Lola murmured, her voice warm as she began planting firm, loving kisses all over my cheeks, my forehead, and the top of my head.
I couldn't help but giggle, the sound loud and uninhibited in the large room as I squeezed her tightly. "I can't believe you're here! You said you couldn't make it until next month!"
"And miss my granddaughter's birthday? Never," she said, finally pulling back to look at me, her sharp eyes scanning my face with deep affection.
Then, her expression softened, a look of profound sorrow crossing her features for a brief moment. She reached up, her soft, fragile hands cupping my face. "I am so sorry, my child... for what Jeana did to you. The family... we should have protected you better from her madness."
I felt a slight pang in my chest at the mention of the past drama, but I forced a bright, reassuring smile onto my face, placing my hands over hers. "It wasn't your fault, Lola. Truly. It's over now, and I'm okay. We're all okay."
Before Lola could answer, a tall shadow fell over the two of us. Keifer stepped forward, his expression polite and entirely respectful as he gave a slight, formal bow of his head. "Welcome, Lola. It is an honor to have you under our roof."
Lola pulled her hands away from my face, her sharp gaze shifting over to Keifer. She looked him up and down, evaluating him with the precision of a diamond cutter.
Then, her eyes drifted past him to the far corner of the room, where Yuri was standing quietly with his hands in his pockets, watching the reunion with a calm, neutral expression.
Lola looked back at me, her eyebrows raising slightly. "Is everything sorted out now, Jay? No more running around, no more secrets between you young people?"
I didn't say a word. Instead, I simply looked up at Keifer.
Keifer met my gaze, a rare, genuine smile touching his eyes. He reached down, catching my left hand in his large palm.
Slowly, deliberately, he raised our joined hands into the air, turning my wrist slightly so the brilliant platinum band and the intricately cut diamond caught the direct light of the chandelier, gleaming with absolute clarity.
"We are engaged, Lola," Keifer announced, his voice steady and full of unyielding pride.
Lola's eyes went wide. She stared at the ring, then snapped her head back toward Yuri in the corner. "And what about you, boy? What do you have to say about this?"
Yuri let out a soft, genuine chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned against the wall. "I'm happy for them, lola. Truly. They both love each other, and frankly, no one else could handle either of them. They belong together."
Lola let out a long, heavy exhale, her shoulders dropping as if a massive weight had finally been lifted from her chest. "Finally. Some actual sense in this chaotic family."
For a second, I thought we were about to have a beautiful, emotional family moment.I was wrong.With the terrifying, lightning-fast speed of a seasoned martial artist, Lola's hands shot forward.
Before either of us could even attempt to dodge, her fingers securely clamped onto my left ear and Keifer's right ear at the exact same time.
"Ah! Ow! Lola! Why?!" I shrieked, instantly wincing as she gave my ear a sharp, painful twist.
"Lola... please, watch the posture," Keifer groaned, his towering frame instantly bending sideways as she firmly yanked his ear down to her level. The terrifying CEO of the Watson Empire looked completely helpless, his jaw clenching in pure, unadulterated pain.
"You both got engaged and didn't even bother to inform your own Lola?!" she scolded, her voice rising as she gave both of our ears another firm twist. "I have to find out by walking into the house like a stranger?! I expected a formal phone call, a dinner, an announcement! Not a casual display in the middle of the night!"
"Lola, we were going to inform you! I swear!" I pleaded, my hands flying up to try and gently pry her fingers off my skin.
"Everything just happened so fast with the security threats and the corporate board!"
Keifer winced again, his face turning a slight shade of red from the sheer embarrassment of being disciplined in front of the entire crew.
"Yes, Lola. Jay is telling the truth. We were going to call you first thing tomorrow morning. Please... let go."
Across the living room, I heard a loud, distinct snort. I forced my eyes open through the pain and looked toward the archway leading to the kitchen. Angelo was standing there, holding a glass of water, his entire chest shaking as he tried—and failed—to suffocate his laughter.
He was absolutely loving every single second of our misery.I narrowed my eyes at him. If Keifer and I were going down, we were absolutely dragging everyone else down into the trenches with us.I looked back at Lola, forcing a dramatic gasp through my feigned tears.
"Lola! You know, you shouldn't just be mad at us! You should ask Kuya Angelo and Ate Ion why they've been so quiet lately!"
Angelo's laughter cut off instantly. He choked on his water, coughing violently as his eyes went wide with pure terror.Keifer, catching onto the strategy immediately despite the pain in his ear, joined in without a second thought.
"She's right, Lola. Jay is speaking the truth. Angelo and Ion are back together. In fact, they are also going to be engaged very soon. They've been hiding it from you."Lola stopped twisting our ears.
She slowly released her grip, her predatory, sharp gaze turning away from us and locking directly onto Angelo, who was currently trying to blend into the wallpaper."Really, Angelo?" Lola said, her voice dropping into a dangerous, sweet register that spelled absolute doom.
Angelo tried to look away, desperately scanning the room for an exit, but Ion was already stepping out from behind the sofa, looking completely resigned to her fate. Within two seconds, Lola had marched across the room. Her hands shot out again, securely catching both Angelo and Ion by their ears."Ow! Sorry! Lola, I'm sorry!"
Angelo yelled, his tough guy persona completely vanishing as he winced in pain.
"Lola, it was Angelo's idea to hide it, I swear!" Ion hissed, trying to shift the blame while her ear was being twisted.
From the safety of the stairs, Cin let out a loud, ecstatic cheer, holding up his camera to record the entire spectacle. "Best night ever! I am getting all of this on 4K resolution!"
Eren stood beside him, a massive grin on his face as he looked at our red ears.
"Look at them. The fearsome leaders, taken down by a grandmother."Mia whispered loudly to Freya, "Note to self: never, ever mess with Lola under any
circumstances."
Aries let out a long, relieved sigh, crossing his arms safely from the back of the room. "It's great that I'm completely safe over here."
"She is so scary," Percy muttered, shuddering as he fixed his hair in the reflection of a glass cabinet. "What does that kind of stress do to a person's skin density?"
"True," Freya agreed, watching the chaos with wide eyes.
Rakki shook her head, looking at Keifer and me with a look of genuine pity. "Poor Jay. Poor Keifer. They almost survived the night."
"Don't forget Ion and Angelo," Grace added, giggling as Angelo continued to beg for mercy in the corner.
The Storm on the HorizonEventually, after what felt like an eternity of chaotic family bonding, Lola finally released her victims, demanding a fresh cup of tea and a proper seat on the main sofa. The rest of the crew slowly began to scatter, the initial high energy of the surprise party finally winding down as the early hours of the morning began to approach.
Keifer and I walked over to the large leather sofa near the veranda doors, finally away from the immediate line of fire. I collapsed against his side, letting out a long, exhausted sigh as the weight of the upcoming day began to settle back onto my shoulders.
My fingers drifted down to the silver necklace around my neck, my thumb tracing the sharp, intertwined lines of the 'J & K' engraving on the heavy platinum pendant.
"Tomorrow is going to be a long day," I murmured, staring out the glass doors at the ink-black sky, which was slowly beginning to show the very first hints of a bruised, early dawn
.Keifer didn't answer right away. He shifted his position, turning his body toward me as he rested his arm along the back of the sofa. When I turned my head to look at him, I found him already staring down at me.
His eyes had darkened completely, the lazy, amused expression from earlier entirely gone, replaced by that raw, heavy intensity that always made my breath catch in my throat
."Yeah," Keifer said, his voice a low, rough rumble that seemed to echo in the quiet space between us. "A very long day, wifey."
I swallowed hard, my heart skipping a beat under the sheer weight of his focus. "Why... why are you looking at me like that?"
A small, dangerous smirk touched the corner of his lips, his eyes tracing the line of my mouth before locking back onto mine. "Because when you look at me with those sharp, stubborn eyes, completely swamped in my clothes, talking about tearing down a corporate empire... you fucking make me lose my mind, wifey."
My face instantly caught fire all over again, the heat rushing to my cheeks as I looked away from him, my fingers tightening around the edge of his hoodie. "Shameless," I muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.
Keifer let out a low, deeply amused chuckle, leaning in close until his lips brushed against the shell of my ear. "Your shameless, babygirl. Don't forget it."
I closed my eyes, leaning back against his broad, solid chest as his arms wrapped securely around my waist.
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A/n
Oh my goodness, guys! What did you think of this chaotic, sweet, and absolutely wild chapter?! I really want to know your thoughts on this chapter!
This is the biggest chapter I have still written. It's a compensation for not posting past days
Please drop a comment below and let me know your favorite part!
See you all in the next chapter! 💕🎉