Chapter Seven

Xavier

“You are a liar!”

Young Laila had gripped the gilded arms of her chair as she stared at me in her family’s mansion with views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

She had returned home from boarding school after her father’s death to support her fragile mother, who had collapsed at his funeral.

“No!”

Laila had jumped to her feet at my news.

Her hands flew to her ears as she backed away. “You’re a liar! Get out of my house! Never come back!” she yelled at me

I blinked.

Liar; this was the same accusation but from different women.

I stared now at the young blonde who stood before me in the cabin of my private jet.

Sylvia Browne was magnificent.

A little too thin, perhaps, but it was hard to notice that when her full breasts swelled up against the bodice with every angry breath she took.

Her waist was tiny, the perfect span for a man’s hands.

Her honey-blonde hair fell back in waves as she tossed her head, her chin had now completely collapsed, exposing her swan-like throat.

Her aquamarine eyes glittered at me in fury.

“You are a liar,” she cried with all the strength she could muster “I don’t believe a word you say!”

A liar?

To me, the integrity of a man’s promise equaled his worth as a man. It was the one accusation I could not endure.

In cold rage, I gripped her shoulders. I had endured her false accusation for so long. I needed to do something to put an end to her words.

I tightened the grip on her shoulders as I narrowed my eyes on her.

Apart from correcting her accusation of being a liar, I wanted to instill a bit of fear in her.

“I’m selfish,” I snapped at her. “Ruthless. Even cruel. But not a liar. Never that.” I scowled but my tone didn't cause the intended effect I wanted.

My gaze fell to her mouth, where she was chewing on her lower lip.

I saw her lick her lips with her wet pink tongue, and my body tightened.

I wanted her.

And in this moment, the layers of her wedding dress were all that separated us.

The wedding dress which I had asked her to take off but she was continuing to defiantly wear it.

I saw it as a visual and physical insult to both me and Laila.

It was now as if Laila was already forgotten,as if she was already dead!

My hands slowly moved down her arms, against the see-through lace of her sleeves.

My lips turned down grimly.

“I told you to take that dress off.” I said with a commanding tone

I felt her shiver, even as she stuck out her chin and glared at me with her beautiful turquoise eyes.

“No.”

“Then I will take it off for you.” I threatened

Her eyes widened at that instant.

“You wouldn’t dare to…” she was still saying when with a rough motion, I ripped apart the shoulders of her wedding dress, tearing through the layers of white lace and popping the line of tiny white buttons off the back.

I wasn't done with my assault yet. I yanked the sleeves down her arms with such a force that made her staggered forward and made her nearly fall to her knees.

I discarded the haute couture gown with its elaborate layers of white lace and tulle, to the floor of the airplane cabin.

When I was done, I started to press the intercom button to call one of the attendants for a robe.

I froze the moment I looked at her direction.

Sylvia was standing before me with the wedding dress she had once worn crumpled like a tablecloth at her feet.

All she wore was the white silk lingerie intended for her wedding night, a tiny white bra, lacy thong panties and white stockings attached with a garter belt.

I could not look away from the vision of her half-naked body. Her creamy skin and perfect curves was intoxicating.

I gasped at the perfect hourglass shape of her petite body, at her full breasts and hips, and her tiny waist.

I had to control myself because I nearly gasped aloud.l at the glorious sight before me.

Insult or not, I had been a fool to take the wedding gown off of her.

The image of her beauty was dangerous to me.

I should have known she had been wearing tarty white lingerie for her wedding night to the baron pretending to be a virgin.

I was certain she was pretending, because Arnold would have obviously been bedding her for some time.

No man would resist her charms, her soft blond beauty and her lush body except he was impotent.

Even if he was impotent, he would have loved to give it a try.

I was certain they had been lovers from the moment the man had plucked her from that restaurant in San Francisco.

Arnold was guilty.

But was Sylvia? Had she known about Laila?

It doesn’t matter, I told myself harshly.

Whether or not Sylvia had known about his marriage, she had been eager enough to marry the baron for the sake of his money, his title and his snakelike charm.

That was enough to label her guilty just like her fake husband.

Everyone had their price.

I learned that long ago. Feelings were a commodity like everything else.

I could not resist her beauty as my eyes traced unwillingly over her beautiful, near-naked body.

Sylvia’s cheeks were red as she looked down, breathing rapidly. I knew she was shy standing before me in such a manner.

Slowly, she started to cover herself with her slender arms.

Suddenly, she stopped, gripping her hands into fists by her sides.

As if on a practiced motion, she lifted her chin with her eyes glittering at me in fury.

What a woman! I thought in amazement.

Even now that I had her wrapped over my palm, in my power, a situation when any other woman must have prostrated with fear, she defied me.

I was stunned beyond words. She was different from the other women I had encountered.

“You owe Arnold a wedding dress now,” she said in a low voice. “As well as a diamond tiara. And a bride.” she added

With dignity, she bent to pick up the dress, then used the tattered remnants to cover herself.

Why did I want her like this?

How could this mere girl, this waitress, have such an overwhelming effect on my body?

Setting my jaw, I reached for her. She looked up to me with an intake of breath when my skin brushed against her.

I knew she was thinking I wanted to toss the dress away from her again.

But instead of ripping the dress from her hands, I helped her cover herself with it.

I slowly moved my fingers up her naked arms, my hand brushing over her skin which was smooth and warm.

She looked up at me in bewilderment.

Her full, delectable pink lips were parted and were so ripe for a man’s plunder.

Suddenly, I knew what I had to do.

I knew just the way to learn the truth about her innocence or guilt.

I would kiss her.

If she were truly the heartless gold digger I had first believed, she would not only allow me to kiss her, she would also try to lure me into a full-scale seduction.

To evade punishment, she would change allegiance, wanting to win me over to her side.

If not… Well, I would put her to the test before drawing out my conclusion.

The fact that I could think of nothing but kissing her had nothing to do with this.

It was a scientific experiment carried out in the cabin of my jet and not the laboratory.

Satiating my desire would just be a fortunate bonus for me.

After I had replaced the torn dress over her shoulders, she gripped the gaping front bodice together with her hand as she glared at me with hostility.

“Don’t think that you can bully me into being afraid of you, because I will never…” Her words ended in a gasp as I seized her in his arms.

Being a deviant woman, she tried to struggle but I didn't let it last long.

She wasn't expecting my next action but I did it anyway.

I lowered my mouth to hers and brutally kissed her like my life depended on it.