LOGINShare
BOOK 1
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Being Yours BOOK 1
After the kiss he had rolled up his sleeves and, without complaint or excuse, had gone to work doing whoever she’d needed. His competence in handling all parts of a children’s picnic hadn’t surprised her. What had, however, was how easily he’d joined in the fun.The kids had taken to him immediately. He’d kicked off his shoes and joined them in toe painting her version of finger painting. And he’d refereed the potato-sack roll, two kids in the same potato sack, rolling toward the finish line, her version of the three-legged race. In short, he’d been marvelous all afternoon.He’d merely blinked when the horse she’d hired arrived with its owner. It had taken her months to find just the right horse and ask favors from friends and friends of friends to obtain the proper clearances, Then she’d secretly had to get the permission sUps signed by the parents. But in the end it turned out to be all worth it. When the kids saw the horse, they’d gone crazy.As soon as Nathan had gotten over the s
Being Yours BOOK 1
Then he kissed her, a hard, hungry, devouring kiss that stole away her breath and any thought of dinner she might have had. It was incredibly easy to simply go with the feelings he aroused in her, the feelings of need and desire that were all so new to her and kept her so on edge. The pressure of his mouth was firm, the thrust of his tongue demanding. She circled her arms around his neck and held on tightly.His hands slid up and down her back, then around to her breasts, stroking and caressing until she moaned with delight. He muttered something indecipherable, grabbed her long, slim legs, wrapped them around his waist, and pulled her against, him. Her skirt slid to the top of her thighs, but modesty wasn’t something she was concerned about at that moment.His hands soon found the bare skin of her thighs and his fingers traced daring patterns higher and higher until a finger slipped beneath her panties to the nub nestled between the sensitive, deficate folds of her femininity. There,
Being Yours BOOK 1
Gently he smoothed his hand along the side of her face, then down her neck. His fingers found the pulse point at the base of her throat, pressed and felt its rapid cadence. It matched his own.Her skin was warm, soft, and perfumed. He skimmed his lips back up her neck to her mouth and thrust his tongue deep into her. And it was like coming home. It had all started between them with a kiss. And now it would continue.As he kissed her his fingers trailed lower to the neckline of her top and pushed it off her shoulder so that he could slide his hand beneath it to cup one small, perfect breast. Electricity scored through him.Her effect on him was amazing. She made him want her, and even now when he was about to take her, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. She was like a banquet to a man who hadn’t known he was starving until he looked at her. And he knew, the more he had of her, the more he would want.“I can’t go slow anymore,” he muttered.“Good,” she whispered. “I’m ready for fast.”A moa
Being Yours BOOK 1
She really knew only one thing. To her, what she’d experienced in his arms had been transcendent lovemaking. Yet to him, it had been only fabulous sex. But that was okay. She misuderstood and accepted his feelings, even if it did leave a sharp ache in her heart. He hadn’t asked her to love him, even though she did, and he had certainly never promised to love her in return, which was fine. It was. Really.“I’m taking you to Helene’s.”“Okay,” she whispered, too exhausted to argue with him.In the next moment he did a strange thing for an angry man. He reached for the covers and brought them up to wrap around the two of them. Then he pulled her into his arms and gently brushed the hair from her face. “Sleep,” he whispered.And she did.“So, anyway, I'm waiting for Nathan to take me to Helene Sorge’s. I don’t know what possessed me to offer to help her granddaughter, but before I knew it, my mouth had opened and the words had come out.” Gazing down on the street from her front window, Da
Being Yours BOOK 1
“Thank you for noticing.”He heard the touch of surprise in her voice as he took a left turn. He smiled. When it came to her, she had no idea how much he noticed. “Did you get any sleep after I left this morning?”She shook her head. “I went ahead and got up. I had things to do. I’ve already taught three classes today.”“Three? You must be tired.”“Not at all.” She looked around her. “You know, I didn’t think to ask where Helene lives. Is it far?”He grinned. “You might say that. We’re heading for her estate in Connecticut.”"Connecticut?''He grinned over at her. “Don’t worry. I’m taking you back to the Tower and we’re going to catch a helicopter from there.”“Oh, Nathan, I’m so sorry. I had no idea this would turn out to be so much trouble for you.”“I’m glad to do it. After all, you are doing this for our family’s foundation.”“But Connecticut. I didn’t realize. . . . This isn’t good. Even if Cecilia is amenable to taking lessons from me, there’s no way I can commute to Connecticut
Being Yours BOOK 1
He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’d say it was Helene’s lucky day when you walked up to her Saturday night.”She smiled at him. “Actually it was my lucky day. You always get more than you give when you help someone. That’s what I was trying to tell Cecilia. I just hope I truly will be able to help her.”“Helene certainly thinks you can. She was so impressed with you and what you accomplished with Cecilia today, she wrote me out a check for the amount that she had promised.”Her eyes widened with shock. “I didn’t know that.”He patted the breast pocket of his jacket. “I’ve got it right here.”“Frankly I’m surprised Helene went ahead and wrote the check. I thought she planned to wait and see how Cecilia did after a few lessons.”“Well, whatever her reason, I’m just glad she did.”He sighed dramatically and Dani eyed him curiously. “What?”“I suppose you know what this check means, don’t you?”The twinkle in his eyes distracted her. “That your foundation now has more
Being Yours BOOK 1
With her hands on her waist at her back, she slinked her way across the table to him, her pelvis thrust toward him. Then just as he was about to reach up for her, she playfully retreated. Each successive time she advanced, her hip movements were more provocative, more tantalizing, and she came closer and closer to him. Yet each time he reached for her, his hands found only air.She’d never in her life done such a thing, but she loved Nathan and he appeared to be absolutely poleaxed by her performance. She couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from him, or a better audience. It gave her confidence to take her performance to an even more sensual level.Entwining her arms above her head again and again, she danced in a serpentine manner around the candle, hitching her hips, first one way, then another, a combination of a Gypsy dance and a striptease. Then, in front of him once again, she slowly bent her knees and swiveled her hips from side to side.“Dani . . Her name sounded strangl
Being Yours BOOK 1
“Dani, don’t. Stop.”“What?”“I’m not sure, but I have this feeling you’re withdrawing from me.”An astute observation, she reflected. “No, really, I do understand, Nathan. I understand completely.”He eyed her carefully. “Good. Then I hope you’ll be equally understanding about what I’m going to say next. Dani, I want you to come with me.”There went her reprieve from temptation. She shook her head. “There’s no way I can do that.”“Don’t say no immediately. Think about it.”“I don’t have to. I can’t go. I have classes to give and a spring recital to choreograph.”“I’m talking about three weeks in Europe, Dani. Think of the hm we could have together.”“Fun? You’ll be there to conduct business, right? Where would the fun come into it?”“I won’t be working twenty-four hours a day. And once we get over there. I’ll make sure we have a lot of time to sightsee and shop.” He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin of her palm. A shiver of heat ran down her spine. “And then th
Latest chapter
Being Yours BOOK 9
Lohano Tiki drove his bright yellow Ferrari up the long gravel incline and parked in front of the huge pillared portico that was the entrance to the Black Orchid Palace.He climbed out of the car, and quickly ducked down to check his hair in the wing-mirror.Good. Nicely wind-ruffled and carefree.A handsome, square-jawed face looked back at him, tanned a deeper colour by the desert sun.By the Nevadan desert sun, to be exact.His shirt was dazzling white and casually opened at the throat to reveal a strong dark column of neck and the first few wisps of dark chest hair.His jacket was white linen, faultlessly tailored, his slacks a dark green. His loafers came from Rome. His only piece of jewellery was a modest, leather-strapped watch from Switzerland.He was dressing to impress Koki’Hana as much as his rebellious and strong-willed granddaughter.He sprang lithely up the four rounded steps, that were spread out like a fan and led to the huge, impressive, carved oak doors of the palace
Being Yours BOOK 9
George Dixon watched the large crocodile of people emerge from the intermediary house by the east wall.As the owner of fifteen per cent of the Orchid House, he’d been asked to attend the full day’s festivities, of course, but he’d only just decided to put in an appearance.It was three-fifteen p.m.The extra waiters and waitresses hired for the lunch had been circulating in the grounds all afternoon, laden with trays of champagne, fruit juice and little nibbles. He hijacked a waiter and grabbed a glass of cold Moet et Chandon and a few smoked salmon pastries that melted in the mouth.He was lounging against the fountain that was the centre-piece of the outer grounds. Round, made of stone, and full of fish and water-lilies, it shot a fountain of water nearly thirty feet into the air.It was cooler there.George didn’t much like the heat. He was a small but very fat man, with a round belly and short, stocky legs. He could only imagine what the heat must be like inside the hot-houses.G
Being Yours BOOK 9
King Koki’Hana reached the end of the welcoming line, and finally shook hands with the last person to be presented - a tall, thin Portuguese man, whom Electra had introduced as their head groundsman. It was his job to keep the gardens outside the glasshouses looking good.Koki’Hana quite liked meeting the people who made businesses tick. Oahu, like all the islands, was a large ethnic mix of people - Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Polynesians, Portuguese and American. Here at the Orchid House, he was pleased to see that Electra Stapleton’s only criterion for picking her staff was their having the right qualifications for the job. He operated a similar policy where his own business affairs were concerned.‘Well, Alii Koki’Hana, I’m sure you can see now why the Orchid House is such a success,’ Electra said quietly. ‘My staff are simply the best in the world.’ She said with it quiet pride but total sincerity.King Koki’Hana nodded. ‘So I see. And you are rapidly expanding, I underst
Being Yours BOOK 9
Bevis expertly aligned the small light aircraft with the portable runway lights Electra had lit ten minutes ago, and lightly touched down. He taxied neatly to the end of the runway, turned, and then parked the plane near a stand of hua trees, where it was partially hidden.He went through his checklist, making sure all the systems were shut down, then locked the cockpit, grabbed his overnight bag, and jumped lithely to the ground.At thirty-eight, he looked a good ten years younger, and still retained the well-built but fat-free body that would be the envy of many men his age. His short hair was still as dark as a raven’s wing, with not a hint of grey at the temples.He gathered up the landing lights, turning them off as he went, and stowed them away in their small wooden shed, hidden in the small copse of trees, padlocking the door after him.During the short walk to Electra’s luxurious bungalow, ‘Makai Hale’, he ran a tired hand through his hair. It was good to have a break from the
Being Yours BOOK 9
Electra stroked the damp copper hair off his forehead and looked around desperately. There was only the diminishing storm, darkness and fear. She couldn’t move him - she wasn’t strong enough to get him into her car. Besides., she didn’t know if she should move him, and wished she knew more basic First Aid.She felt as if she’d been cradling the stranger in her arms forever, but it had actually been less than five minutes since the lightning strike.The rain had been gradually dwindling, and now had stopped altogether, but she could still hear the distant rumble of thunder, away to the east, as the storm headed out to sea.Suddenly another sound began to impinge on her mind, and she looked up hopefully as a small set of lights dipped and disappeared in the distance.A car! At last!Coming from the same direction as she had been. Somewhat belatedly, she realized her own car was still blocking the road, and she carefully lowered the stranger’s head to the ground and got to her feet.Her
Being Yours BOOK 9
Hawaii, or the Big Island as it was known to the locals, played host to fewer tourists than its sister island Oahu, but boasted similar moutainous lush greenery, great surfing and multi-cultural dining, all with the added bonus of spectacular black beaches, courtesy of the volcanoes.A mountainous land of plantations, myth and Polynesian mystique, it slumbered like a giant emerald in the vast blueness of the Pacific ocean.However, Hilo, its major city, was as big, busy and cosmopolitan as any city in the developed world.The Big Island, like all those in the chain, also had its fair share of hotels and tourist resorts, but, unlike Oahu, it still relied heavily on the more traditional sources of money, such as fruit plantations and coffee, to fill its coffers.Near the pretty village of Kailua, set well back in the coolness of the hills, away from the hustle and bustle of hotels and shops, lay the impressive and sprawling edifice of the Black Orchid Palace.No higher than two storeys,
Being Yours BOOK 9
Electra Stapleton turned the last page of the contract she was reading, and initialled it in the right-hand corner. She’d made a few important changes, and she made a mental note to herself to get one of her lawyers to draw up a revised draft.Not that Nationwide Flowers Inc. would complain. She’d given them all they wanted, but had cleverly slipped in a few little goodies that would be beneficial to the Orchid House too.For instance, ensuring that their chain of florists used one of the Orchid House’s flowered wrapping sheets whenever they sold one of their orchids. The free publicity that would generate would save her hundreds of thousands of dollars. And cost Nationwide Flowers not a penny.She was a bit worried about the shipment date, though; it was rather tight. She reached for her computer keyboard and punched up the details on the company’s regular transporters. Before she’d taken over, the Orchid House had had only one - a privately owned aeroplane company that had shipped a
Being Yours BOOK 9
Haldane Fox glanced up as the oddly melodious 4 ping 5 echoed around the cabin.‘Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are now beginning our descent to Honolulu Airport. Please observe the “No Smoking” signs, and “Fasten Seat-belts” signs. Your cabin crew will be around to help anyone having difficulty with their belts. I trust you enjoyed your flight with us, and wish you all a pleasant stay on Oahu. Aloha'Haldane sighed wearily and reached for his seatbelt. It had been a long flight, from London to New York for a short stopover, then on to LA for yet another stopover before the long haul across the mighty Pacific Ocean to the fabled Hawaiian Islands.He yawned widely, trying to shrug off the fast-approaching affects of the dreaded jet-lag.A stewardess, the same one who’d been serving him throughout the flight across the pacific, lingered by the side of his seat.‘Everything alright, sir?’The soft voice made him spin his head and look up. The stewardess’s smile caught in her th
Being Yours BOOK 8
By the time they arrived at the hotel, the security gate had been forced open, and a fire engine and two police cars were in the parking area. Apart from the fact that the firemen had broken down the main door, to all other outward appearances the Alcaszar appeared to be untouched. It wasn’t enough to stop Matt from leaping from the car and running across to the main doors where a group of firemen was standing, though.By the time Alex joined them, however, he appeared to be calm. “It’s only damaged the courtyard,” he told her. “Apparently it started among the wood that was stacked there, probably caused by a careless cigarette butt. They say it’s probably been smoldering for hours.”From the tone of his voice Alex knew immediately that he didn’t believe it was accidental but that he wasn’t prepared to talk to the police about his suspicions. She glanced up at him. His eyes had darkened to the steely gray that she now knew from experience was a sign that he was very angry. She took hi
