"Mrs. Jones, a car was just let through the gates," Rita announces."Make sure everything is ready, and we'll enter the garden in a few minutes." Rita nods to my mom and then goes towards the kitchen."You're trying to set me up." My voice is quiet because I don't want to make her angry."You should be thanking me. The Rinehearts are a prominent name, and the boy is handsome. Not to mention your father works with his father, so it's in everyone's interest to join our households. Make sure you're on your best behavior."When have I ever not been on my best behavior? Mom had me learning fork placement and proper seating etiquette as a child. I bite my tongue to not say anything because Dad is the one weapon she knows she can use against me. I have to think about how to approach this situation and how to get out of it.The doorbell sounds, and the chimes echo through the house. I know for a fact Mom set this all up for this specific time because Dad is out of town. She can be a bit of a
Train is still the best way to get around without too many prying eyes or people asking questions. It's also the easiest way to travel without giving too much information. Information that can easily be faked with the right credentials.Most of my work is done overseas, but a call two months ago brought me back to the States. I had to travel by boat because chartering a private plane raises suspicions, and I always stay under the radar. In my line of work I have to be discreet; otherwise I'm not very good at my job.Bronson Dian is a German baron who sells the materials used in making space satellites. He's also tied to the Russian mob, which is how I came to meet him. Fifteen years ago Bronson's young daughter was kidnapped from her bed in the middle of the night and was never seen or heard from again. She was presumed dead because anyone taking her would have used her as leverage for a ransom.Bronson and his wife Freida reached out to some of my contacts as a last resort to find he
In the distance I can hear people talking, and I stop to see if I can make out what they're saying. It's getting closer, and I tighten my hold on my knife as I wait.Footsteps are loud against the pebbles on the path, but I keep my breathing shallow. Through the leaves of the roses I see two people just on the other side."Now that I've seen these pretty pink petals, why don't you show me yours?" I hear the man say."I'm sure my mom is wondering where I am." The girl's voice is so soft it's hard to hear, and I see her feet moving back, away from the man."She knows exactly where you are, Rissa, and she's more than aware of what I'm capable of." His feet move closer to her, and I clench my knife harder."What?" She pauses her retreat. "What are you saying, Brock?""Now you know I don't kiss and tell." His feet move closer to her, bringing him within arm's reach.I need to know if this is her, and I'm not stumbling on something that I should ignore."That's a sick joke," she says, and I
What the hell is happening? This has to be a bad dream or I'm hallucinating.The giant man pushes me down to the floor of the boat as the sound of gunfire starts to fill the air. I scream when I hear some of the shots hitting the boat, and glass shatters around me. I know it's my father's stupid guards, so why the hell are they shooting in my direction? For all they know they could have shot me.I stay down for now because I don't really have much of a choice. I'm stuck for the moment because if I get up, I'm afraid I'll become a target. I stare up at my captor and watch as he keeps one hand on the wheel and turns around to fire off a couple of shots. I close my eyes, praying to wake up from this nightmare.The boat bounces hard on the choppy water, and my stomach drops every time. It feels like we're going airborne on each bounce, and I come down hard on the floor. Water sprays all around us, but at least I don't hear any more gunfire.Slowly I try to sit up, but the man glares at me
"You're lying."She scowls at me, and she looks like a grumpy kitten after a bath. I want to laugh, but it's been so long since I've done it, I don't know if I remember how."Why would I lie?" I make sure to keep an even speed so that I don't draw attention."I don't know, so maybe you can kidnap me." She points to herself like it's obvious."I've already kidnapped you." I put the same emphasis on the word she does. "I have nothing to gain at this moment by lying to you.""So you might need to lie to me in the future.""Yes." I look at her like she's ridiculous, and her eyes widen in shock."This is crazy. Just tell me what's going on.""No." I put on my turn signal to merge onto the highway and curse the traffic."No?""Do you have water lodged in your ears?" I reach in the back for a towel and hand it to her. She jerks it out of my hand and wraps it around her. It's a pity, because I could see her delicious curves around the wet dress."Tell me why you think my parents aren't my rea
Preston keeps his hand tight around my wrist as he pulls me through the busy train station. My feet move on their own, letting him lead me through the throng of people. Everything he said bounces around inside of my head, and I don't know why I'm even considering it. Which is insane, because I know who my parents are.What if this is one of those crazy stories where the children were accidentally switched at birth? But then why would Preston be kidnapping me if that's what happened? Unless my parents didn't want to switch back with the right kid. Okay, now I'm being ridiculous, but who can blame me at this point? I've been tossed into a reality TV situation, and my brain is dizzy.Preston slows his pace as we near the train, and even though it's crowded, I notice people jump out of his way when they see him coming. A few women even stop to check him out, and maybe if he hadn't kidnapped me I might find him attractive too."Don't worry, ladies, he'll probably kidnap you too one day." I
Preston starts to say something else, but there's a knock at the door before someone calls out for tickets, and it slides open."Tickets?" the short man asks.Preston lifts me off his bench and puts me back over on the other one. He hands the man some papers and then the two American passports. The train guy goes through the papers then shoves one into his pocket before handing Preston the tickets back.Next I watch as he opens the passports then looks at me and then at Preston. After that, he slides the passport bars through a small machine and it beeps. He hands them back to Preston and nods to both of us."The beverage cart is open and there are snacks available too. Have a good trip," he says before stepping back out and closing the door behind him.I reach over and grab for the passport, but Preston holds it so I can't. "I want to see." I hold my hand out, and his lips twitch before he places it in my palm. I flip it over and see a picture of a woman that is clearly not me."But.
"Let's get you some food," I suggest, and her scowl softens long enough to nod. I want to tell her she's once again like a kitten because she's irritated when she's hungry. I somehow don't think that would go over well. "As long as you stay with me, you're safe.""Why does that sound like a warning?""Because the family you lived with had a reason for taking you, Rissa. They stole you, and they won't be pleased when they find out I've taken you. I have no doubt they'll come after you, and when they do, they won't be as gentle as I've been.""I don't think I'm hungry anymore." She wraps an arm around her stomach, but I reach out and take her hand."You'll need something, then you can sleep."She doesn't protest as I take her out of the sleep car and through the train. It's not made for people my size, and I'm constantly having to duck between doorways and where the trains connect. Once we get to the front, there is an empty table next to a window."Sit here." I point and hold her stead
Two years later…“Which pajamas do you want?” I hold up the polka dots and the Star Wars and my daughter Violet giggles as she grabs for Darth Vader. “That’s my girl.” I smile as I brush through her wet curls and get her ready for bed.“Sam wasn’t coming out until he was a whole prune,” our nanny Theresa jokes, and Sam giggles in her arms.When Eris and I had the twins, we were more than overwhelmed. And while the family was always here to help at a moment's notice, we’ve all got little ones at the same time so it’s not exactly easy for any of us. Living together in our own little compound has been a blessing, but having Theresa live with us has made all the difference.Eris and I don’t have parents or grandparents to show us what to do or to step in, so after we brought the twins home from the hospital we were lost. One day we were in the grocery store together staring at the formula while the twins were screaming, and Theresa walked by. She didn’t say anything to us, but as soon as
“You look so beautiful!” Rosy squeals.She’s had the time of her life planning this wedding. It’s not a big wedding, but that didn't stop her from managing everything down to the smallest detail. I actually had fun doing it with her, which was more than I expected. I guess being in love has changed my perspective.“The dress is beautiful.”“It is, but you’re the one making it breathtaking. Where did you get your ass?” she gushes as I look over my shoulder.“One of the good things my birth parents gave me, I guess.” I shrug.“And your hips! You really fill out that dress, and Justin is going to be all over you.”I let out a laugh. “He’s always all over me.”“True.”She’s right though. I do look damn good in this dress, and I have no doubt Justin is going to end up ripping it off of me. My soon-to-be husband is more than a little possessive, yet somehow he manages to keep it under control at work. It’s one of the many things I love about him because he has no problem with me technically
I take her off my lap and place her on the bed beside me as I stand up. We’re both still completely naked, and although I came, I’m still just as hard as when I first walked in here.“Justin?” Her voice is soft as I walk to the bedroom door, determination straightening my back.“Stay,” I say to her over my shoulder as I go into the living room and get what I need. When I come back, she’s still sitting in the same spot, but she’s worrying her bottom lip, and she looks like she’s on the verge of tears.“I know this is shocking, but it’s not like we planned it,” she says, her voice close to breaking.I walk over to the side of the bed and kneel down next to it as I place the small velvet box between us. “I know that you may not be ready for this, but I came here today to put this on your finger.”“Oh my god,” she whispers as she brings her hands up to her mouth.“You’re going to marry me, Eris.” Her eyes sharpen, and she doesn’t like me ordering her, but I don’t care. “You are mine.” I p
My mind is trying to play catch up with everything he said. I don’t know if I want to throw myself at him or tell him I need time to digest this. I am still reeling with the fact that I’m pregnant, but at least I know he’s not here because of that. He really does want me, and if anyone can understand making sacrifices and tough choices for the people they love, it’s me. But words of love haven’t come out of his mouth even though his actions show it. Right now I need him, and I can’t deny that there’s more still between us.“Hard.” The one word slips past my lips, and that’s all it takes before Justin is on me.He lifts me off my feet, and his mouth crashes down on mine. I close my eyes and soak up the feeling of him pressed against me. It’s been too long, and all my emotions come crashing down at once. My heart pounds as we cling to each other, and I think maybe part of me thought I’d never kiss him again.“Kiss me back, princess.”I dig my fingers into his shoulders and open my mouth
Over the past couple of years, my business has taken me all over the globe and away from some of my favorite parts about my work. Being in the lab and working with my hands to figure out problems, streamline production, and see the success being built in front of me gives me an internal reward that being in a boardroom never did.So I should be happy that the past month I’ve thrown myself into the work, but instead I’ve been fucking miserable.As soon as Eris left me standing in her hotel room, I saw every mistake I’d made up to that point. When I went after her, it was too late. She’d left everything behind and chartered a plane off the island before even Mary knew about it.It took hours for me to get another one to follow after her, but as soon as my feet hit the ground, she was already in the air again. I didn’t know where she'd gone, and it was like she fell off the face of the earth.Topher wouldn’t give me anything, but he also didn’t fire me or tell me to fuck off. Instead, he
A month. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve set eyes on Justin. I thought the pain would get easier over time, but it hasn't, and I think it’s getting worse. I still wake in the night reaching for him, and when I do sleep, I dream about the life I thought we might have together.He used me.In all the struggles I’ve had in my life, I don’t recall that being one I had to suffer. Until him. I’d opened my heart and everything to him, and I’d never done that with anyone before. He ruined what could have been between us, and I haven't even begun to pick up the pieces yet. I’m not sure I can because he took some of me with him, and I’ll never get it back.“What are you doing?” Topher asks, jerking me out of my thoughts. I’m standing in front of his door about to knock, or at least the plan had been to knock. I knew if I didn't come to him he’d be tracking me down to my place the second he knew I was back in town.“I’m sorry.” My nose burns and tears begin to build.“Don’t fucking apologiz
The last of the storm finally passed, and it’s been two days of pure paradise. Not only did this time on the island bring forth some great ideas on how the departments can operate more efficiently, but I’ve spent every moment I could with Eris, buried inside of her.I’ve fucked her in every available storage closet in this hotel and even once on a table in the ballroom. I’ve never had this much sex before and never with the same person, and god, this is so different. It’s more than just the act of getting off, there’s a connection that’s bonding us every time we’re together. It’s dirty and hot, but it’s also so much deeper. If I really look closely at what I’m feeling, I’m afraid it will scare her off. How can someone fall in love after only a few days?The storm gave us an excuse to sneak away and be alone, but as the sun came out, I realized I didn’t want to hide any part of how I feel about Eris.Understandably she didn’t want to flaunt it at a work retreat, and I respected that. B
“Justin!” I gasp his name as he enters me, and I close my eyes.His words should scare me, and I should be pushing him away, but all I do is hold him closer. My arms and legs wrap around him instinctively, and I never want him to leave. I’ve never really thought about having a baby because I didn’t think it was something I’d have the chance to do. But from what he’s saying, he’s making it clear how far he wants to take us. This isn't some fling.“Fuck, you feel too good.” He lets out a loud groan as he steels himself.His cock is buried deep inside of me, and I’m thankful for the cover of darkness. The tears in my eyes aren't because of how far he has me stretched or the burn I feel, but because I’ve never felt so close to another person before.Justin is a big man, and he’s even bigger between his legs. But in this moment, I feel connected to him with more than just our bodies. This is different, and he makes me experience emotions I’ve never felt before. It is overwhelming, but god,
With one aggressive tug, her shorts are off, and her panties are in shreds nearby. I don’t give her time to catch her breath as I pin her to the wall and throw her legs over my shoulders. Her hands grip my hair, and she cries out as I bury my face in the soft curve of her thighs and pussy. She smells like coconut oil and tastes like sunshine. I moan as my tongue divides her lips and wiggles across her clit. My hands dig into her ass and squeeze the thick flesh as I pull her closer to my face.“Justin, oh shit, I can’t, oh shit, oh shit.”In answer, I growl and suck so the sensation is more intense. She responds by opening her legs and rocking her hips closer to my face. I’m smothered in her juices, and I decide I don’t want air in my lungs ever again because I want to die with my face buried in her cunt.Her legs shake and just when she’s begging me to keep going, I slip a thumb in her pussy. She cries out and that’s when I taste her sweet release laced with her own secret sunshine.W