In an instant, Luke had stripped off his clothes. He was too delirious to notice the sad smile on her face. Her gaze fell to his rock-solid erection and a tremor of need went up her body. Despite the soreness, she wanted him again.“I’ll be gentle, baby.” He eased her onto her back and caged her with his arms and legs. Before she could react, he rained kisses on her lips, her jaw, and the soft column of her neck. His deft fingers eased the clothes off her body. She was wearing nothing underneath the dress. “You’re such a tease.” His hands roamed her body, pausing to stroke her taut nipples. It wasn’t enough, and he dipped his head to capture them into his fiery hot mouth. His tongue teased them, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. His fingers traced down her stomach, around her bellybutton, and over her hips downwards. “God, Brynne. Do you know how much you turn me on every time?” Brynne smiled sadly, her heart heavy with longing. If he liked her so much, why was he breaking off wi
Lucien strode down the promenade with purpose, flanked by his bodyguards, towards his grandpa’s suite. Oblivious to the curious looks he received from the passengers on board, he braced himself for his grandpa’s wrath. He should have spoken to his grandpa earlier instead of getting carried away. “When did Grandpa arrive here?” He glanced at Grant, the bodyguard nearest to him. “Two hours ago, Mr. Sylvester. Fitzgerald was trying to contact you.” He nodded, knowing his mistake. But he was answerable to no one, not even to his grandpa. The situation he was currently in was mostly because of his grandpa. If he hadn’t forced Lucien to marry Celine, the circumstances would have been completely different today. “Is Grandpa in his room?” Of course, he knew the answer. Benson Sylvester hated his cruise ships, but boarding one of them was the only way to catch hold of his grandson. Therefore, he never explored the ship and mostly preferred staying in his suite. To him, the family business
Brynne stirred, feeling a throbbing pain between her legs. Her whole body felt mowed down, and she winced as she tried to move. It woke her up, and she glanced around the room. There was no sign of Luke. She looked at the other side of the bed. It didn’t look slept-in either. Where was he? Hadn’t he slept at night? Had he spent the night somewhere else? Was it over between them?Still perplexed, she rose and staggered to the washroom to freshen up. The pain between her legs worsened with movement. It was the worst way to start the New Year. The party din outside had died down after disturbing her all night long. There was a knock on the suite's main door and her heartbeats raced in apprehension. Who could it be? Surely, Luke had a spare set of keys. She couldn't race to the door even if she tried. Brynne slowly emerged from the washroom when the main door clicked open. Her heart swelled with happiness. Luke was here! He hadn’t left her! She limped towards the door of the bedroom to
Daniella gripped Brynne’s shoulders to drill some sense into her head. “Can you face the wrath of all females for sleeping with the boss? He’s a womanizer, Brynne. He used you and left you. Did you think you were his real girl or something?” Brynne blinked to grasp her friend’s agitated speech. Boss? Who was the boss? How could Luke be their boss? She extricated herself from her hold and placed the food on the coffee table nearby. “You're not making sense, Dani. Luke offered me a fake dating deal to ward off his would-be fiancée on this trip. I agreed, and that’s all. Which boss are you talking about? Benson Sylvester? Why am I repeatedly being paired with him? He’s fit to be my grandfather.” Daniella gaped at her clueless friend. Was she that naïve to not recognize Lucien Sylvester, their boss? “Are you crazy? Why would they pair you with Benson Sylvester? He isn’t the boss anymore. Lucien Sylvester is our new boss.” She shook her head in disappointment. “Don’t you know who your Lu
“What are you doing here, Adam?” Brynne gritted out, her eyes flashing fire at the sight of the cause of all her worries. If he hadn’t betrayed her, none of this would have happened. She wouldn’t have been forced to leave the job she had worked so hard for. Adam hung his head in shame. “Can I come inside, please?” Brynne stared at the change in his demeanor. What was up with him now? “No, you can tell me what you want.” He hesitated, looking around him. He could see his boss’ bodyguard still hovering around. Mustering up all his courage, he looked Brynne in the eye. “I’m sorry for whatever happened, Brynne. Believe me, I didn’t want to hurt you. I fell in love with Miranda and I couldn’t muster the courage to tell you. I panicked. Please, can you forgive me? We can be friends like before. You know we never loved one another. Ours wasn’t a perfect relationship,” he rambled on apologetically while Brynne watched him in silence. “Why are you here? I know my forgiveness doesn’t matter
“Are they here for you, Brynne? That’s our boss’s bodyguard, right? The one he left behind for you.” She gasped and clutched at her heart. Brynne frowned at her reaction and watched them approach the pier. The speedboat stopped, and Drake jumped out. He grinned at the sight of them, his gaze more on Daniella than on her. “Hey, we meet again! Maybe we’re fated or something!” He chuckled at Daniella’s pissed-off expression. Daniella stood with her hands on her waist. “What the f*ck are you doing here?” “God! Are you a terrorist’s daughter?” asked Drake with a chuckle, leaning in towards Daniella. She gave him a clueless look. “What?” He shrugged. “You are, right? No wonder he produced a bombshell for a daughter!” His grin widened and even Brynne couldn’t stop the eye roll. “Haha, very funny. I wish I could murder you and bury your body here,” hissed Daniella, but Drake chuckled more. “See what I mean?” He winked at her. “Anyway, you’ll lose your job if you kill me, lady.” Danie
“Where should I drop you, Ms. Emerson?” Grant’s voice brought her back to reality. They had left the parking area of the busy Manhattan Cruise Terminal behind, and Brynne sighed. The much-awaited cruise tour was over. It was far from what she had expected, turning her life upside down. “499E, 49th St., Brooklyn.” It slipped out of her tongue before she knew it. But Brynne didn’t want to take advantage of Grant’s generosity. “You can drop me off after crossing Brooklyn Bridge. I’ll book an Uber.” Grant shook his head, instructing the chauffeur to head to Brooklyn. Brynne sat in a state of confusion. Maybe this was also part of the deal. Once Grant dropped her off at her house, the deal would be over in the true sense of the term. The car sped all the way to her home, and she watched in silence. It was back to her lonely life, as if the cruise hadn’t happened at all. The car stopped right in front of her humble home and Grant got out to unload her luggage. “Thank you so much. I’ll m
Brynne walked into the office with her breath stuck in her throat. She had expected to run straight into the usual office chaos: people gossiping about one another. Maybe this time she would be the hottest topic of discussion. But something bizarre was happening today. All her colleagues were busy at their cubicles, surprisingly working their ass off! That too on the first workday of the New Year!What was wrong with them? They didn’t even notice her enter. Brynne released the breath she was holding and walked over to her office. Maybe they wanted to impress their new CEO. Her gaze fell on Daniella at the accounts department opposite her office. She looked weird as if she had seen a ghost. Surely she knew she’d meet Drake here!Brynne couldn’t understand this eerie calm around her. Pulling her chair out, she sank in to start her day. She was almost halfway through her mail inbox when the main door opened and Drake strode in. He looked annoyed. His previous good mood had already van
Two days went by in the blink of a eye. Both were under a spell of love to realize how time flew by. Brynne’s sickness and nausea vanished miraculously and was replaced by a feeling of bliss. It was a honeymoon in the true sense of the term. They didn’t need an exotic location or a five-star resort to connect to one another’s soul. The deluxe double bedroom at Queen’s Lodge was enough to make memories of a lifetime.Luke had been gentle, ensuring her comfort first. It made her fall for him all over again. She hadn’t seen this side of his nature ever. He had always been reckless, wild, and hungry. This was a new side to his nature.“You’ve grown curvier, I think.” He covered her body with his, touching and stroking her, feeling her lumpy breasts. “Pregnancy suits you.” His mouth found her breast, and he tugged her taut nipple into his hot mouth.Brynne gasped with pleasure, holding his head to her breast as he sucked. A raw need coursed through her body, making her grow even wetter.“I
Brynne's heart thumped wildly in its cage as she waited for Luke’s explanation. What the hell did he mean? If her love wasn’t unrequited, then what? He didn’t love her. It was only physical desire accompanied by a motive. Now his desire was met and his motive had been fulfilled. He threw her out, only to pursue her. It made no sense. If he had loved her, he would have trusted her, stood by her and confessed his love for her.“Of course, it is unrequited. I’ve never hidden my feelings from you, Luke. But you never believed me nor loved me back.” She released a staggering breath and looked away.He leaned closer and placed a finger under her chin to force her to meet his honest gaze. “You’re wrong, Brynne. If you remember, I have always chased you since the moment I saw you. You had me under a spell, which might have been love at first sight. Only I was too blind to realize it. I couldn’t resist you. Yet I was afraid to commit, to trust and, you know why. My bitter experiences with Celi
Luke rushed inside, panicking at the sight of his wife. “Damn! I knew it.” He crouched to Brynne’s level and patted her cheeks. “Brynne, wake up. I’m here to take you home.” There was no response. Luke gave the staff a stressed look. “Help me revive her. I need water.”He rushed to the table nearby to get a bottle of water. Luke sprinkled a little on Brynne’s face and she stirred, opening her dazed eyes and focusing on him blankly. He lost his patience. Getting up, he picked her up in his arms and turned to the clueless staff. “Can you get her luggage? I’m taking her home.” The staff nodded and collected Brynne’s belongings. Luke could feel her lost gaze on him, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. Guilt washed over him at seeing the condition she was in. What would have happened if he hadn’t arrived on time? He shuddered at the thought.“Luke, put me down. I’m not going anywhere with you.” Her words brought him back to reality, and he looked down at her. The staff stopped collecting h
Luke slumped into a chair nearby, feeling totally devastated. Adam and Miranda shared looks of pity. “What have I done? How could I believe Celine? I should have known.” He covered his face in despair. Miranda brought him some water to get a grip on himself while Adam sat opposite his ex-employer. Although he hated his boss for everything he had done to destroy his life and career, he didn’t show it. “Have some water, please. You can call Brynne and apologize, Mr. Sylvester.” Luke looked up at the helpful couple he had unknowingly wronged for no fault of theirs. Adam wasn’t into Brynne and never could be. He loved Miranda a lot the way he loved Brynne. He understood now what it meant to love someone. There couldn’t be anyone else but the one you loved. It should be the same for Brynne, too. “Thank you.” He accepted the water. The cool liquid went down his system and he felt a little better. “Brynne has switched her phone off. I went to her house. She hasn’t been there at all. Ted g
Luke watched the cops arrest the rat, Dennis Howard, the PA of their Sr. Tender Manager, Ken Gallagher. It took Luke and his team all day to collect evidence against him. But it was all over now and he could go home. The team left, and he walked over to his cabin to get his bag. However, the moment he stepped inside, his breath hitched, remembering his morning ordeal. Brynne had obviously gone home, leaving the paternity test report on his desk. He sighed and picked it up. Why didn’t she decline his accusations with proof? Why didn’t she tell him she wasn’t pregnant? Celine was right. She didn’t love him. Absent-mindedly, he picked up the report to stash it in his pocket when his glance fell on the report date. It was dated almost eight weeks ago. Luke frowned at it, blinking to refocus. Yes, the date was indeed eight weeks ago. But he had met Brynne only five weeks ago, and she was a virgin then. He rechecked the name of the clinic. New Age Medicare, Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn.
When Celine left, Luke grabbed Brynne’s arm and pulled her inside. She almost stumbled from the brunt of his actions, but collided with his chest instead. He gripped her hard, his hands like steel bands around her arm, hurting her on purpose. “What the f*ck are you doing here, Brynne? Didn’t I tell you to stay home?” he gritted out in a frenzy. “I..” Brynne was too dazed to answer. She was curious about the paper in his hands. She had arrived just in time to hear Celine’s accusation.I’m glad Brynne is betraying you. Do you think she loves you? She’s also with you for money.She wanted to stand up for herself, but the furious look on Luke’s face scared her. What had she missed? What happened between Celine and Luke before her arrival? “Cat got your tongue? What did you think? I’ll never figure out your pregnancy.” His accusing gaze made her squirm. How did he find out about her pregnancy? She had hidden it from everyone.“How do you know about it? I..” Luke’s face scrunched up with
Luke stared at his phone with surprise. Why was Celine calling him constantly after all the stunts she pulled? Did she think he would forgive her? Did she think he didn’t know about her underhanded ploys? Maybe she thought he had no idea she was behind both crimes. The wish to teach her a lesson and give her a piece of his mind was so acute that Luke strode out of the bedroom and accepted the call. “Why the f*ck are you calling me, Celine?” he barked into the phone, unaware that Brynne heard him clearly. “I want to meet you, Luke. This is important.” Luke’s blood boiled at her fake caring voice. “I have no reason to meet you. So see you at the hearing.” “No, wait, don’t disconnect the call. I have something to show you. It’s about your wife. Please, can you meet me tomorrow somewhere?” Luke hesitated. What was it about Brynne that Celine wanted to talk about? “What is it about Brynne? Tell me now.” “I can’t tell you over the phone. I have to show you something. It’s very import
The cops recorded her statement and left. Luke smiled and sat beside her. “Are you feeling better now? The doctor has permitted you to go home.” Brynne nodded, easing off the bed to go home. Thankfully, both the doctor and the nurse kept their promise and didn’t disclose her pregnancy to Luke. He caught her hand and gently led her toward the elevator. “The children have gone home with Grandpa. There’s nothing to feel stressed. We’ll be more careful from now on. Everything is under control, Brynne. Take a deep breath and relax.” Brynne nodded, allowing him to think her health deteriorated because of stress. “I’m better now.”“Good. The cops are on the lookout for the Bentley. Joe had taken a picture of the number plate. It can’t escape for long.” He helped her to their car and drove off, followed by their bodyguards. However, unknown to both, a car followed them all the way to their building. The same pair of jealous eyes glared at them, unable to believe she had missed her target
The traffic police brought Leonardo safely back and Luke thanked them profusely. It was time to teach Celine a lesson. The only way would be to gather proof against her. It would all come in handy at the hearing. A traumatized Leo hugged his father with tears of relief in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Dad,” he sobbed, clutching Luke’s torso. “You’re safe now. I’m sorry this happened to you, son. Promise me you won’t go anywhere without your guards.” Luke’s throat choked with emotions. He hadn’t expected to find his son this soon. It was indeed a miracle.“Yes, I promise you, Dad.” “Did they hurt you, Leo?” Grandpa Benson asked after the police left.“No. There were two men. They gagged me and tied me up before dumping me in a car. It happened so fast, I couldn’t call for help. It was all well-planned, Dad. I overheard them talking to a woman over the phone. They were arguing about money with her.” Luke and Grandpa shared a look. “Did you hear her?” Leo shook his head. “No, Dad.” “Anyway