"I'm still mad at him though." Paige said watching Bralle load another gun with bullets before handing it over to her."What?" She asked, startled."Take it. You know how to use one, don't you?""Of course not." She pushed Bralle's hand away."Have it Paige." Bralle brought it back. "You might need it eventually. Just don't shoot at me." She giggled. "So, why are you mad at your man?"She asked just as Paige took the gun from her."He was with someone else." Came the grumpy reply. "He was with some other woman." Paige added, leaning her head on the back of the sofa. "What.....that.....that does not sound possible at all. How. Wait, he was with someone else while you were together?"Paige sighed. "No, that's not it. But, he....... he was with someone else while he was still throwing advances at me." She whined like a little girl that got robbed of her favorite toy.Bralle stifled a laughter. The whining and drama, finally making sense to her. "And when you started dating?""I think the
Paige felt a hand go round her waist. The sweet smell of wood mixed with berries and saffron passed her nostrils..She sighed sweetly, Eyes still half shut."Simon." She murmured."Sunflower." He hummed back, his nose in her hair, taking in the fragrance that always excite his nostrils. Paige spun over, and searched his face in the semi darkness of the room. "You came back to me, in one piece." She moved her hands around his body. Are you okay?""Yes." He replied."Can I turn on the bedside lamp?" "Yes ma'am."She pulled the switch and the faint light came on. "Did you rest well?""Yes, the cook took care of me like I was a baby and she tended to my wounds as well. I saw my new phone and I don't know how, but you got back my SIM card?"Simon nodded. "I retrieved it from a garbage can on the streets." He explained. "Thank you so much." She squeezed his arm gently in reply."Again, I was told I've been moved to the master's bedroom and I've been thinking what I did to get such an early
His hand went to her neck, the thumb grazing the delicate bones along her jawline. His jet-black eyes blazed into hers. "The question should be, am I worthy of you? You're a queen, Sunflower. Royalty." Lowering his head, he moved closer. "Permission requested to kiss you," he murmured above her mouth.Her arms curved around his strong neck as she rose on tiptoe, flashing a sweet smile "Permission granted," she breathed into his mouth only seconds before he covered hers in a slow, drugging kiss.His demanding lips caressed hers and Paige opened her mouth, receiving the full force of his passion. His hands eased down her spine to her hips, pulling her to him until she felt the source ofhis passion, his maleness, searching against her middle. It ended quickly, both of them breathing heavily.It was only a kiss, but Paige felt as if he had stripped her naked and taken her body.Picking up the watermelon on the table, she walked past him and out of the house. closing the glass door behind
Paige surrendered to Simon Kentley. He kissed her mouth, lingered lovingly, achingly, over her breasts and flat abdomen, then brushed his lips over her soft, silky sex that had become a smoldering flame, bringing forth its own sweet and feminine fragrance and moisture.She clenched and unclenched her teeth and hands. What was happening to her was real, not a dream. The man making love to her was real, not an illusion.She tried but couldn't stop the little whimpers of desire from escaping, and she arched as his tongue swept over the tiny nub hidden with the folds of her femininity. Without warning, the explosions rocked her womb. What started out as small ripples became waves that swelled, shattered until she cried out with the magical force which took her, body and mind, beyond herself, lifting her higher and higher until she was thrust beyond reality.She returned and Simon gathered her gently to his chest. Paige could not move or talk. Her heart raced uncontrollably as she clung to
"Does it give you a thrill to know that you have that much power over me, Paige Patterson?" Simon asked.She shook her head. "No, Simon. It doesn't give me a thrill. It's very comforting to know what I feel for you is reciprocated," she confessed, feeling as if the tight fist around her heart had been released. "You don't know how comforting that is.""I'll never hurt you........""Don't," she urged, placing her fingers over his mouth. "Never say never, Simon." Her mouth replaced her fingers. "Let's just enjoy what we have."He crushed her body to his, his hands cupping the slim roundness of her hips. He settled her against the cradle of his maleness, making her more than aware of the power of his desire.Paige pressed her open mouth to his and there was a sweet intimacy that had not been there before. It was soul-searching and satisfying. The World stopped spinning on its axis as Paige and Simon offered each other a glimpse of paradise in Simon's Lakeview apartment on the lake.It was
Simon's hands dropped and he pushed them into the pockets of his slacks. He turned away rather than let Paige witness his full-blown "Don't ever say that to me again, Sunflower. Don't tell me who to sleep with" Her jaw dropped. "I didn't tell you who to sleep with."He turned back to her, lips thinning. "And don't play word games with me. You can't possibly hope to win." Her temper rose, meeting his. "And don't you dare try to put words in my mouth, Simon Kentley. I know what I said.""How do you know what you've said when you don't even know what you want?"He started to walk away, but Paige reached out, catching the front of his shirt. "What's that supposed to mean?"He rounded on her. "Anything you want it to mean. Now, will you please let go of my shirt." She released it, and he glanced down at the crumpled part of his shirt that she was holding on to earlier. "It looks as if I'm deformed, Sunflower."She stared at the unsightly roughness of his shirt. Her hand shot out, trying
"Surprise, Simon!" Paige cut in. "It's more like a shock.""I can understand your shock," he corrected, "but the notion also surprised me. I hadn't anticipated asking you to marry me." His hands fell away from her face. "I've said it, and I can't retract my words, because as of this moment I do want to marry you."Paige felt less threatened now that he wasn't holding her. "Are you usually this impulsive?"He crossed his arms over his chest. "No." A smile crinkled his eyes."Then this too shall pass."His smile faded. "No, it won't, Sunflower. I'll ask you again. And I'll keep asking until you give in."Paige had secretly acknowledged her growing love for Simon, but in no way would she permit him to use her. Not for himself and not for his scheme to best Stefan because he didn't like the man."Can't we change this topic, Simon? It's beginning to wear on my nerves." Simon shrugged his shoulders, rising to hisfeet. "Anything you want," he conceded quickly, glancing down at his watch. "I
Fiona boldly walked up to them and flashed a smile."Who the hell let this pest in for god's sake." Simon swore under his breath making Paige giggle. "Hi Mr. Kentley." Fiona started with her annoying voice. "Miss Ruben, how are you?" Simon called coldly but Fiona did not seem to notice the coldness in his voice. "I'm managing to survive." She replied. Leaning forward, she peered at Paige. "Hi there, it's you again." She smiled "Won't you introduce us officially Mr. Kentley. I mean we're all here because of her." She said, draping her arm on Simon's hand.He gently removed her arm. "Miss Ruben, this is Paige Patterson, my girlfriend."A frown marred Fiona's beautiful face. "Your girlfriend." She murmured in annoyance."Fiona's father is a business pal of my dad's," Simon stated, deliberately ignoring Fiona. "This woman is no fucking girlfriend of yours!" Fiona shouted.Paige reacted as if she had been shot. Fiona's voice was strident, hysterical. Heads turned in their direction.Sim