One is her father’s commerce accomplice. The other is her brother’s enemy…Before Sawyer Religious administrator, I was guiltless. He was my coach and my father’s trade accomplice. He was never implied to be my lover.The to begin with time Sawyer touched me, I was twenty-three. It felt great to do something taboo and off-base. I needed to be wrathful for a change.Between us lived a billion privileged insights, a billion stolen looks, and a billion lies.I was a trick. Sawyer was as heartless as the rest of them. I never implied to drop in adore with him, however he had this exceptional control over me. I would have given him anything. He was my to begin with cherish, my to begin with foe, and the to begin with man to break my heart.But he might not break me. And presently that somebody else has come along, he’s changing the rules of the diversion.
View More“He was my boundless dreams, my establishing contemplations, my every day themes, and my stomach’s knots.”~Isadora PatrasSAWYER MOVED Gradually, nimbly, like a man in total control of himself. Closing the entryway, he held up a beat some time recently confronting her. It gave her sufficient time to piece together what likely happened.Lucian would have dropped off Toni some time recently picking up Slade, which implied Sawyer knew where everybody was, but more vitally, he knew she was alone and would be until morning.“Can I take your coat?”His look held hers as he carried off his coat and a moderate jitter of nerves fell into her stomach at that point swooped into her chest, kicking her heart into overdrive. “You’re in your robe. I ought to have called.”“I wasn’t beyond any doubt you knew how to utilize a phone after three months of silence.”He recoiled. “I owe you an apology.”Was he too bad he hadn’t called or too bad they rested together in the to begin with put? She held up,
It occurred to her that their father hadn’t called. Perhaps, being that Thanksgiving was an American holiday, it slipped his mind all the way over in Europe. The thought niggled, but didn’t consume her as it once would have. If anything, she was irritated on Lucian and Toni’s behalf.“Can I sleep over at Liz’s?”Isadora’sthoughtsofwithdrawnfamilyevaporated.“It’s Thanksgiving.”“So?”“So I’m sure Liz is doing stuff with her family.”“Only dinner at her aunt’s. She asked, and her mom said it was okay.Lucian’s going out.”“Lucian’s an adult,” she diplomatically pointed out.“God.” Toni shoved her fork across the table. “I’m never allowed to do anything.”Before she could comment on her sister’s rude manners Lucian spoke. “Antoinette. Apologize. If Isa says no then the answer’s no. Don’t argue.”Taken aback by her brother’s mature intervention, she stared at her sister. Sawyer and Slade remained silent, waiting for the awkward family moment to pass.“Sorry, Isa,” Toni mumbled.Her
Leaving him with a confused expression she retreated to her bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind her. Her eyes closed as she fought for equilibrium. What the heck was wrong with her? She was waspish and emotional, and behaving nothing like herself.Sitting on her bed, she stared at the carpet, waiting for the tension in her shoulders to ease. It seemed even the deepest breath couldn’t penetrate the barrier between her common sense and her anxiety.It aggravated her that a man could make her so unbalanced. She’d been fine, accepting that he wasn’t going to call until she saw Slade and found out Sawyer was doing nothing more than sitting home every night watching reruns. Now her little crush—or whatever this was—had bubbled up and erupted out of control. She had to do something about it, but she couldn’t do anything until she was able to look him in the eye and demand an explanation.She deserved something. Her aggravation only multiplied when she admitted Sawyer wasn’t just any man
As Isadora peeled the sweet potatoes for tomorrow, Toni disappeared with the phone. Lucian turned to her and grinned. “She’s growing up too fast.”“The same could be said for you.”He didn’t acknowledge her indisputable observation. “Soon she’ll be able to stay home by herself.”“I don’t see why that’s important. There’s always someone here.” “Exactly.”She frowned at him. “What are you trying to say, Lucian?”He shrugged. “Just pointing out that you aren’t chained to the house.You could make time for yourself.”She rolled her eyes. “I have all the time I need.”“Really? When’s the last time you went on a date?” She laughed at the idea. “I don’t date.”“I know. I’m suggesting you start.”Holding the peeler in her fist, she lowered her hand to the counter and twisted her lips. “And how am I supposed to do that? Go sit at a bar and wait for some stranger to approach? Or perhaps I could just introduce myself then have the luxury of swatting away all the gold digging letches who care not
“Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight!You must forget the warmth he gave, And I will forget the light.When you have done pray tell me, Then I, my thoughts, will dim.”Emily DickensonHeart, We Will Forget HimAS THE DAYS passed there was little word from Lucian and even less from Sawyer. The more time that went by the harder it became not to pick up the phone and ask what was going on, but she’d made it clear to Sawyer she wouldn’t treat this like a traditional relationship and she needed to keep her actions as low maintenance as possible. That meant she couldn’t appear needy in any way.Unsure how affairs worked, Isadora adapted her expectations on a regular basis. It was easy to get upset when he didn’t call, but no amount of longing made her phone ring or gave her the courage to contact him. So she did her best to occupy her free time with other things.Toni had started sixth grade and they spent a lot of time shopping for the school year. If anything, her sister’s tempe
Her temples pounded with pressure. This was not the night to make big decisions. Her sex-addled brain was diluted in scotch and now she felt like kicking something.The truth was, it didn’t matter whether she wanted children someday or not. All the wanting in the world wouldn’t make that happen for her without a man—or some decent sperm donors at least. Always an option…Once again, she felt trapped, cornered by the bigger players of the world. This was always the way of things. She was living her life here in this house, doing everything a good sister would do, but it was never her turn to choose the next move. Everything seemed out of reach and she wasn’t sure how or if that might change.Toni wouldn’t be an adult for eight more years. By then she’d be thirty- one. Women of her social status typically married in their early twenties. She couldn’t imagine falling in love that late in life, taking the time to get married, and then the additional time it would take to start a family. S
As sure as time will fly today, Beautiful flowers will fade away.”~Emily PatrasTHE EVENTS of the last hour settled over her like a cool wind creeping in after a hot summer rain. Her fingers shook as she managed to lift the zipper of her skirt. Buttoning her blouse was not as simple.“Allow me,” Sawyer’s gravelly voice spoke softly behind her as the heat of his tall body seeped through the thin material covering her shoulders.With choppy breaths, she lowered her hands and turned to face him. Sliding each little button through its hole, his gaze remained focused on the task. His fingers gathered her long hair and lifted it over one shoulder, as he pressed a kiss to her neck—apparently over his regret.“Your pulse is racing.”Maybe she should have another drink. Her gaze skated to the bottle of scotch on the floor, thousands of dollars seeping into the priceless Oriental carpet. No, she’d definitely had enough to drink.Taking her hand, he guided her to the small settee, righting the
“As sure as time will fly today, Beautiful flowers will fade away.”~Emily PatrasTHE EVENTS of the last hour settled over her like a cool wind creeping in after a hot summer rain. Her fingers shook as she managed to lift the zipper of her skirt. Buttoning her blouse was not as simple.“Allow me,” Sawyer’s gravelly voice spoke softly behind her as the heat of his tall body seeped through the thin material covering her shoulders.With choppy breaths, she lowered her hands and turned to face him. Sliding each little button through its hole, his gaze remained focused on the task. His fingers gathered her long hair and lifted it over one shoulder, as he pressed a kiss to her neck—apparently over his regret.“Your pulse is racing.”Maybe she should have another drink. Her gaze skated to the bottle of scotch on the floor, thousands of dollars seeping into the priceless Oriental carpet. No, she’d definitely had enough to drink.Taking her hand, he guided her to the small settee, righting the
A fire singed beneath her skin, sweeping through her with an intensity so strong she found herself clutching and pulling him closer. He subdued her excitement with gentle touches, tamed the burn into something slow and decadent.The delicate silk at her hips pulled away as his fingers stroked between her thighs. Soft, wet heat waited within her folds. The first caress of his fingers over her sex had her gasping, nervous and excited for what might come.“So soft…” He parted her tender folds and gently probed her slick flesh. Deeper and deeper he pressed until she wasn’t sure if she should cry in pleasure or beg for more.His mouth left her breasts and traveled lower. He slowly kissed down her belly. Her hands fumbled over their discarded clothing until her fingers sifted through his silken hair. She arched sharply as his tongue licked a straight line to the sensitive peak of her sex.“Ah…” The pleasure was so acute she feared she might break from the inside out.Her hands tightened, as
Prologue“If the only mark I leave upon this earth is the indelible caress of my whispered name within the downbeats of your heart, I will be satisfied.”Fiona SummervilleOnly Dark Around the EdgesTHERE IS a moment in every woman’s life, be her a queen or a pawn, when she is taken so off guard the game is forever changed. Isadora Patras should have been shockproof by now, but as the pieces fell, exposing her once again to the excruciating agony of loss, her hard earned fortitude slipped and she surrendered. Game over.Her lungs constricted around each draw of perfumed air as she pivoted away from her brother, Lucian. Dizzy, she flinched, each onlooker’s stare stabbing through her thin veneer of composure. Too many strangers.“Isadora?”She couldn’t whisper a single excuse to Lucian as she turned. She needed to escape. Keeping her head down she rushed toward the doorway, against the current of bodies approaching.Her life flashed painfully through her mind with kaleidoscope glimpses ...
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