Monday morning found Rayne busy in the kitchen. Preparing a breakfast buffet for Nathan was her incentive. Having been up since five. The pancakes were freshly baked and orange juice squeezed. Fruit of different varieties washed and prepped, and the coffee brewed. All was in impeccable order.

A shiver crossed her shoulders as she felt warm breath followed by soft lips caress them.

"Morning, my beautiful girl."

"Morning Nathan." A sense of calm washed over her as she leaned into his powerful frame, never having felt so safe, so loved. "How did you sleep?"

Touching her sent little crackles of heat up his arms. He breathed in her fresh scent of wild berry shampoo as their weekend activities flooded his head. Most of Saturday he had explored every inch of her divine body and fucked his beautiful girl more than once. Sunday had been less frantic, having laughed, talked, relaxed and watched movies before climbing into bed to make love to his fiancée.

He couldn't believe the change and although keen to continue to push her boundaries—keeping this pace he felt would be wise. He had a lifetime with his little Rayne-drop.

"Amazing... apart from going to bed with a beautiful woman and then waking up without her. Left me feeling all rejected." He nibbled her ear.

Rayne trembled as his hands ran around her waist, planting them firmly, pulling her against him. A devious little half smile crossed her lips as she tipped her head to the side, her loose curls flopping sideways. "I wholeheartedly apologize for your distress, but breakfast I'm sure will make up for it."

"One day I'm going to get you to lie in bed with me the entire day Rayne Winters, be damned with routine."

Rayne both relished and feared the very idea.

"What are your plans today?" he enquired.

Since moving to the Hamptons. They agreed that Rayne would work three days a week and more often than not from home. Hers was a role that could function anywhere as long as the equipment was to hand. Routine was key, and this had worked out well for both. Nathan tried to work from home at least two days a week, and thankfully his father had agreed to keep travelling to a minimum.

Rayne mentally ran through her Monday routine. As he stepped back, she spun around, looking up towards him, he kissed her on the nose. "This morning I have the quarter two reports to run through. Then at one this afternoon, I have the appointment with Macy we agreed on. And from three I will clean the house and prepare our evening meal. What time will you be home?"

"Six, no later. But I will call and confirm." He understood the importance of Rayne knowing his timetable. Predictability and routine were the cornerstone of calm.

"Perfect." She beamed, her face a picture of happiness. "Sit, sit. Breakfast is ready." He sat, and she brought the pot of coffee to the table and sat it down in its proper place. Twisting it six times to ensure it was angled perfectly within his reach. This was their breakfast routine.

"Looks amazing, Rayne. You indulge me. I'm very lucky." His praise shot tingles down her spine. Sitting, she reached for a pancake and adjusted it on her plate. Reaching for the blueberries—six in total and sliced the pancake into six clean, impeccably precise pieces. "Perfect."

He smiled as he watched her, marvelling at the concentration on her face. She had pinned some of her hair up today but left some loose. He loved her wide unruly waves. An image of her hair wound tightly around his fingers as he fucked her hard from behind burst behind in eyes in vivid colour. Sure, that fantasy would shortly become a reality. Damn, he was blessed!

~ ~ ~

Nathan arrived at Knight Headquarters with an added spring to his step. Wanting nothing more than to grab what he needed for the day and return to work from home, he grumbled as he flicked through his calendar on his phone.  Goddamn!   Three meetings from eleven.

Stepping from the elevator onto the partner's floor, he walked with purpose. Passing his father's office, the door was ajar. About to knock, he heard his mother's laughter. Shit.  An interrogation on his progressing relationship with Rayne was the last thing he desired this early in the morning. His mother had a canny knack of squeezing information without asking a single question. He was sure she could get blood from a stone.

Heading quickly past, he hoped with any luck he could at least finish early following his last meeting. He entered the primary area to his office. "Morning Suzanne." Greeting his personal assistant.

"Good-morning Nathan. How was your weekend?"

He couldn't contain his smile, nor would he want to. "Amazing thanks, Suzanne. Yours?"

She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows. "Obviously not as good as yours. How's Rayne?" The smile on her face masked a hundred questions. Perhaps his mother had already been in, grilling Suzanne for information. But fortunately for him, Suzanne was as loyal as she was efficient. Truth be told, he would be lost without her.

"Good—great, in fact."

She raised from her seat, retrieving his morning mail. "I hope I'm on the guest list." Winking at him. His assumption was correct, his mother had unquestionably been gossiping.

The lack of denial astonished Suzanne. Feigning shock, she raised the back of her against her forehead. "Whilst I live and breathe. I never thought Nathan Knight would walk down a supermarket aisle... let alone a church!" Dropping her hand, she shook her head laughing.

"Ha—ha. Very amusing, and who said anything about a church?" He hadn't actually considered where they would marry... he would discuss it with Rayne, knowing whatever she wanted, he would deliver.

"Can you hear that?" she asked.

He hardly dared to ask what she was referring to.

"The sounds of hearts shattering." Her lips twitched.

His brow creased in question. Well aware of the reputation bestowed on him and his brother. Although most of it he would himself question. "Aren't you the witty one this morning?"

Suzanne nodded enthusiastically. "I'm not lying, Nathan. I want an invitation."

"You will be at least the tenth person to know when it happens." Not ready to tell the world, not until he'd spoken to his brother, cleared the air between them.

"I also wasn't exaggerating about women being devastated—heartbroken! Estelle in communications calls in daily for her Nathan update."

"It's not common knowledge... yet. So, if you would be so kind to keep the information to yourself?"

Suzanne practically beamed from ear to ear. "And I'm flattered. Tenth to know. That practically makes me family by my count." She held her free hand to her chest. "I'll hold you to that invite."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, and the wanderer has returned, he's waiting for you inside." Pointing towards his office. "New York will be happy to know that at least one Knight brothers is still available!" She snickered again.

Well, that surprised him. He hadn't expected Jaxon to return from his travels until the next week. "Let me take those." He retrieved his mail from Suzanne and continued to his inner office.

"Coffee?"

"That would be lovely, please Suzanne."

Opening the door to his office. His brother sat comfortably in his chair with his feet upon table, chatting on his mobile. Jaxon flicked his head up in acknowledgement but continued with his conversation. Placing his mail down, he swatted Jax's feet.

"Later, yeah." Jaxon placed his phone down and stood. "Nate, not got a hug for your long-lost brother."

Nathan scoffed before smiling. "It's good to see you, man." And it was. It wasn't till that moment he realized just how much he had missed Jax. Being the first time in their thirty-two years, they had been separated for longer than two weeks.

It was unusual for his brother to be at the office in casual clothes, standing in a grey fitted t-shirt and black jeans. "Are you not staying?" he gestured to his clothing.

"Nah, thinking about taking a week or two off, before I dive back in. Just here to check in with you and—"

"Jesus, Jax!" Nathen couldn't help his eyes wander over his brother's impressive physique. "I can see you've been working out—damn, you're enormous, man."

Jaxon shrugged as the corner of his lips hooked in a half smirk. "Yeah, not much else to do when you're hopping from country to country, hotel to hotel. The gym has been my constant buddy these last few months." He raised his bicep, flexing his muscle. "Jealous?"

Nathan eyebrows jumped up, and he opened his mouth—But lost his train of thought as Suzanne came through with his coffee cup in hand, placing it on his desk.

"Do you want another Jaxon?" she enquired.

"Nah, not for me, Suzanne. I'm not here long. My Mother and yours." he pointed at Nathan. "Are insisting I take them both out for breakfast."

Laughing, she headed out the office. "Good luck with that... and you know where to find me if you change your mind," she replied in a singsong voice.

"You up for it?" he asked Nathan.

"Sorry I must pass." Left alone with Jax, an overwhelming feeling of guilt swelled inside. And although he would not apologize for his part. The stain of guilt couldn't be erased. Keep it business, less awkward.  "So, all good in China? Dad said things went smoothly and I've read the reports."

Jaxon nodded. "Yeah, all good. Glad to be back home though." He ran his hand over his stubbled chin. "See, you had your hands full with the Lexington launch."

"Yeah, Dad, let me run with it from start to finish. Think the old man might be nearing retirement after all." Jaxon smiled at him, but the tension remained heavy.  Clear the air.  "So, how've you been?"

Jaxon knew the direction this was heading. Should he just blurt it out—get it over with? "I've been in contact with Nicole." Contact was rather a broad word. In truth, when she had flown in on Friday, they had spent the entire weekend naked. Just like old times, well apart from Nathan wasn't there.

It would take an open-minded person, someone without judgement or fixed beliefs, to understand the relationship he and his brother shared. It had always been this way. Having been raised in a less than conventional family. They shared the same father. But different mothers. Their mothers, Katy and Patricia, were identical twins and had fallen in love with their father. Unable to choose and not wanting to hurt either. He had asked that they try to all live together... and from that day they never looked back, inseparable and devoted. Jaxon envied his parents.

One-month age difference between the brothers and to look at them together—facially, you could be forgiven in thinking they were twins. Although subtle differences, one being Nathan had inherited their father's green eyes where he had inherited his mothers, brown.

Well, they were here now, so might as well jump from the frying pan into the fire. "She's sorry for what happened." He waited for some kind of acknowledgement, but Nathan's face remained neutral. "I've forgiven her Nate—can you?"

Nathan had dreaded this very question. There was no doubt in his mind that the last person he would ever take up relations with was Nicole Millington-Ayres. That bridge had been well and truly burnt to the ground, with the ashes scattered to the winds. He often wondered how Jaxon could be so forgiving. They were so alike, but others ways, very different indeed. "No." gulped Nathan. "Not in this lifetime." He regretted his bitter tone, and in truth his frustration wasn't directed towards his brother.

Jaxon flinched, and it was safe for Nathan to accept he was more than in 'contact' with Nicole. In fact, he assumed the dark circles under his eyes were not entirely because of the extensive travelling, but more to do with being up all night. Nicole had always been a demanding lover, and only his dominant tendencies had disciplined her desires and submitted to their wishes and needs.

"She's truly sorry for what happened. She's ready to commit and I believe her Nate. I would like us all to move forward—try again." Jaxon wasn't sure if his question was born out of his own selfish needs.

It was all that Nathan could do but exhale in short puffs. And the word 'us' didn't sit well with him. Adding fuel to the fire, Jaxon hadn't acknowledged his relationship with Rayne. Quite aware their mothers would have imparted their thoughts and feelings.

What did he honestly expect—for him to dump his Rayne-drop and go running back to her? "I have no feelings whatsoever for Nicole, and it would be a wintry day in hell that I return to a bed where she lay brother."

Jaxon witnessed the determination on his brother's face, the truth in his eyes. This wasn't the time to push the issue. It would only force his feet deeper into the ground. Stubbornness was a trait of Nathan's, second only to his dominant nature.

Nathan internally groaned. Perhaps his feelings should have been aired sooner. Only their bond held him back, knowing there was still a part of him that wanted to share everything with Jaxon. It had taken a while to adjust at the start of his relationship with Rayne, as if missing half of himself. Jaxson brought calm to his anger. Easy going to his stubbornness. Kindness to his ruthlessness.

But now things were different because he had Rayne. She was his calm, his light. "I'm with Rayne" he announced without hesitation. "I'm happy Jax." Surely, that should be enough to quash any thoughts of him considering returning to Nicole.

Silence.

Jaxon's shoulders dropped, breaking eye contact. "It's serious then?" His mother's words hadn't been far off the mark when they suspected he was preparing to ask her to marry him. Perhaps he had been naïve to think he could tempt him to return to Nicole without giving him time to think about what they had.

"Yes, very." Hammering the point home.

Did Nate love her? Jaxon had to assume he thought he was in love with this woman. Emptiness flooded his guts. He would lose Nicole if Nathan wasn't willing to try again. And lose his bond with his brother in the fallout. Should he try to pursue a relationship with Nicole alone?  He pondered what was so special about this Rayne. Neither their mothers nor his father had offered information regarding her or their relationship. Only declaring their adoration for the girl—apparently having stolen their affections, too.

Maybe he should pay the object of his brother's desires a visit. See for himself. Yes, that's what he would do. Unable to hold his tongue. He would not push; but instead offer his brother food for thought. "Please, Nate, just think about it... for me. I want things to return to how they were. I don't like this divide between us."

Guilt. Heavy. Cold, like stone, sat in his gut. Nathan inhaled a deep breath; it wasn't the time to tell him he had already proposed, and she'd happily accepted. Calm. "I'm sorry, Jax. I wish it were different—but there is nothing more to discuss." He witnessed his brother's disappointment. He too was saddened on some level. Not with his dismissal of a relationship with Nicole, but what they could have shared with Rayne. "I am happy you're back. I've missed you, brother," he expressed sincerely.

"Me too." Mirroring Nathan's facial expression.

Silence descended.

Nathan hoped this unease between would end soon. Change of subject! "Update me on our new acquisitions."

And with that, their conversation diverted to business.