LOGINShare
Chapter 17
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 18
Even once she had realised she had missed a period she had dismissed the idea that she might be pregnant as ridiculous; surely it was an old wives’ tale that it only took the once?Apparently it wasn’t!Not convinced by the first test she had done, Helena had used the second test in the box. That had shown a positive result too. Still hopeful that she might have got a faulty testing kit, she had made an emergency appointment to see her doctor, at which point he had calmly and kindly explained to her that neither of the tests was faulty, that she was indeed in the early stages of pregnancy.Which was when complete panic had set in!No doubt her grandfather would be thrilled by the news, but Helena's first instinct had been to run. Her second and third instinct too! As fast and as far from Bryan as she could possibly go.But she had very quickly realised the futility of doing that. She couldn’t just disappear, any more than she could carry on running for ever—and certainly not once the
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 19
Her look of determination was also easily understood—Helena would not give in meekly to any demands he might choose to make concerning the child she carried.But she would give in.Oh, yes, Helena would give in.Eventually.Because it was his child as well as hers, and Bryan had no intention of giving in meekly to any demands she might choose to make concerning their child, either!‘This is nice,’ Helena murmured as she looked around the quiet bistro Bryan had brought her to, his hand having lightly but firmly gripped her arm as he guided her well away from the tourist-busy St Mark’s Square to this small family-owned restaurant that overlooked one of the narrower canals. The owner had greeted Bryan by name before showing them to one of the tables by the open windows.‘Eat, Helena,’ Bryan instructed as the owner deposited breadsticks on the table, along with their menus.Helena ignored his order and instead picked up the menu to use as a shield as she shot Bryan frowning glances. He ha
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 20
Helena firmly closed her mind to thoughts of what Bryan might or might not come to think of her pregnancy if he learnt of that clause in her grandfather’s will. At the moment her main difficulty was getting it through to Bryan that she was not, under any circumstances, going to marry him. Although she would be lying if she said that she hadn’t felt a slight thrill, a frisson of excitement, when Bryan had announced his intention of marrying her.It hadn’t been her immediate reaction, of course. Initially she had been absolutely horrified just at the mention of a marriage between the two of them—had never even considered that Bryan would make such an offer.Although perhaps she should have done…Bryan was Italian, and more than that he was a Smith—a member of a English family steeped in honour and tradition; the idea that the Smith heir might be born out of wedlock, so to speak, was probably enough to send Bryan’s ancesto
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 21
He appreciated that this couldn’t have been easy for Helena. That it had taken great courage for her to come here like this today and tell him of the baby. She could have had no idea how he would react to the news.He was just so frustrated with her refusal to marry him!It was pretty obvious she wasn’t going to change her mind without a fight, either. A fight Bryan didn’t believe she was emotionally or physically equipped to deal with right now.He raised his lids, his eyes widening as he saw that her face had a slightly green tinge to it. ‘What is it?’ he asked with immediate concern.Helena swallowed hard. ‘I don’t think I should have put this much parmesan on my pasta….’ The pungent odour of the cheese on the hot food was making her feel extremely nauseous.Bryan reached across the table to remove her plate and replace it with his own ungarnished pasta.‘Oh, but—’
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 22
Helena stared at that hand, feeling suddenly shy with him, never having quite appreciated before how in other circumstances Bryan might have been Prince Smith. But it was all too easy, in these grand surroundings, to imagine him as such—to recognise his innate air of command, to acknowledge him as the powerful and much-respected head of the Smith family.Bryan was offering to share all of this with her, to make her his wife, the mother of his child—children…? For she didn’t doubt that Bryan would want more than one child to continue the Smith line. Any other woman would have grabbed the offer with both hands, Helena knew. Was she being rash in refusing to marry Bryan? Was she being fair to their son or daughter by denying its birthright?She was no longer as sure about that as she had been…But maybe that had been Bryan’s intent in bringing her here?Perhaps it was, but being here with him like this, with the magic of Venice and the Smith palace surrounding them, Helena was finding it
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 23
One thing at a time, she reminded herself. One problem at a time. And she had enough of those already without thinking of ones that hadn’t even arisen yet!‘Helena, what is it?’ Bryan queried urgently as he watched her cheeks pale. ‘Helena, you will tell me what is wrong!’ he demanded forcefully, totally frustrated with her complete intractability concerning the idea of a marriage between them.Could she not see that it was the only solution? That he would settle for nothing less?And what of Helena's wants and needs? came the unbidden thought….He thrust it aside. Helena was pregnant—a time during which a woman’s hormones and emotions reputedly made logical thought and decisions virtually impossible. The fact that she was pregnant with his child, that he wanted to marry her, surely made her decision never to marry again totally illogical?Helena firmly closed her mind to thoughts of what Bryan might
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 24
Tears swam in her beautiful green eyes. ‘I’m sorry.’ She hastily wiped away the tears before they could fall onto the paleness of her cheeks. ‘I believe pregnant woman tend to be a little—over-emotional,’ she whispered.Bryan felt like a complete heel now. He hadn’t intended to make Helena cry—hadn’t intended to upset her at all—but she was just being so damned stubborn by continuing to refuse to marry him!He closed his eyes briefly, but could still inwardly see her woebegone face and tear-wet lashes.He appreciated that this couldn’t have been easy for Helena. That it had taken great courage for her to come here like this today and tell him of the baby. She could have had no idea how he would react to the news.He was just so frustrated with her refusal to marry him!It was pretty obvious she wasn’t going to change her mind without a fight, either. A fight Bryan didn’t believe she was emotionally or physically equipped to deal with right now.
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 25
Helena, accompanying Bryan up the wide staircase to the first floor, had never seen such a beautiful house. The decorations were ornately gold, the lavish furniture obviously genuinely antique. Huge paintings hung on the walls, and a crystal chandelier was suspended from the high ceiling above them.She followed Bryan as he threw open tall doors that led into what was obviously the drawing room. The domed ceiling of this room held Helena's attention, painted with cherubs and maidens, with more ornate gold filigree work and yet another crystal chandelier also suspended above them.Having grown up in Whitelemon Hall she was, of course, used to big houses, but the Smith palace was in a class completely on its own; it was unbelievably magnificent in its opulence.She gave a choked laugh. ‘Emma told me it was beautiful, but I had no idea…’‘Come and look at the view,’ Bryan encouraged huskily as he opened the doors out onto the b
Latest chapter
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 53- THE END
Our kisses continued. It was as if once we started, we couldn’t stop. I managed to unbutton several of the buttons on Lyca’s dress and, when I slipped my hand inside it, I made a delightful discovery. “You…you aren’t wearing a bra!” I whispered between kisses.“I know, I feel so naughty,” Lyca whispered in reply. Her hand slid up my leg and encountered my swollen organ, which was straining uncomfortably against my slacks. A smile formed on Lyca’s lips “What’s this?” she murmured. She gently moved her hand over it.“Uh!” I moaned softly. I knew we had to be careful because we certainly didn’t want the other passengers waking up and seeing what we were doing. “What...what do you think it is?” Delightful sensations were sweeping through me as a result of her gentle caresses and kisses.Lyca kept stroking me, making me even harder. At the same time, I was caressing her breasts and nipples, which had grown erect. I could feel her shudder when I flicked my thumb over one of them. I slipped m
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 52
It was a while before either of us had enough strength to move. Finally, Lyca put her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder. “You are incredible!” she murmured. “I...I can’t get enough of you. The minute you touch me I want you!”“I feel the same way about you,” I told her.She looked at me and smiled. “You know, we should really get out of the shower before we wind up looking like a couple of pink prunes,” she giggled.We finished washing, then got out and playfully toweled each other dry. While Lyca finished doing what she needed to do in the bathroom, I went back to her bedroom and got dressed.Wearing the purple robe, Lyca walked into the bedroom a few minutes later. “After I get dressed, I’m going to call the travel agent,” she said.“All right,” I said. “I love you.”She smiled at me and said, “I love you, too.” Then she walked across the room and hugged me fiercely. “I didn’t ever think I’d say that to anyone,” she said softly. “You can’t imagine how wonderful it feel
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 51
We got up. Lyca began clearing the table while I rinsed off the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. After I put the last of the dishes in the machine I dried my hands on a dish towel, walked over to the table, which Lyca had just finished wiping. I put my arms around her, and kissed her. She returned the kiss avidly.After the kiss ended, I cupped Lyca’s delectable bottom in my hands and pulled her middle against mine. Then I turned her around, backed her to the kitchen table, lifted her up and sat her on it.“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” Lyca asked.My lips again covered hers and I untied the belt that held her robe closed. My hands slid inside the robe, onto her soft, warm skin, and I cupped her breasts and my thumbs tweaked her nipples to full, tingling erection.My penis grew erect and tented the front of my slacks as I worked on Lyca’s glorious breasts. I spread Lyca’s robe even farther apart, moved between her bare, silken legs, cupped her buttocks, and pressed a
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 50
Lyca rolled over and was kissing me, hugging me, and babbling excitedly. "I love you! Oh, God, I love you!" she gushed. "That was fantastic! I never knew making love could feel that wonderful! God! I love you! I love you!""I love you, too," I told her, returning her kisses. "What just happened was the best it's ever been for me."Lyca gazed down at me, her eyes wide and filled with adoration. "Was it really?" she asked, looking surprised. "Not even with your wife?""It never came close to that with Natalie," I told her. "I never knew making love could be that wonderful." I kissed her again."I'm glad you came back into my life," she whispered. "You can't imagine how glad." Her hands were traveling over me and her face took on a serious expression when she touched the bandage on my shoulder. "How is your shoulder?" she asked."It's getting better all the time," I replied."It terrifies me to think you could have been killed," she said as her hands continued moving over me."It kinda s
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 49
My emotions were in turmoil. From dreading what she was going to say I'd gone to a state of near-euphoria. "I...love you, too," I stammered. I took another sip of my coffee, another deep breath, then said, "I'm in love with you."Lyca gazed at me, her expression unreadable. My heart thudded like a jackhammer. What was her response going to be?She squeezed my arm, smiled, and said, "I'm in love with you, too. I knew it the minute you walked back into my life the other day."I couldn't breathe. Lyca had just told me she was in love with me! I couldn't believe it! My fondest dream had become reality!Then, for some reason, things seemed to get strained between us. For some reason, having admitted our love for each other left us not knowing what to do or say next. We at there on the sofa, looking at each other.It was clear to me nothing was going to happen unless one of us did something, so I slid closer to Lyca. She kept staring at me.When I put my arm around her shoulder, she sighed
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chaoter 48
“No, and I’m not sure I want to again,” I replied. “I’ve never seen anyone as wild as Gleason was.” My ribs still hurt like mad. I winced when I opened the door of my car.Harkins shook his head. “You ought to get those ribs looked at,” he said. “He coulda broke one, kicking you like that.”“Probably did,” I said. “Maybe I will stop at the hospital and have them checked.”“You take care,” he said. “I’m not sure I’d have done it the way you did, but you got two prime assholes out of our hair this week. I’d say that’s enough for anyone. Take it easy for a while, OK?”“You have my word on it, Lieutenant,” I said.The doctor in the emergency room told me my ribs were seriously bruised, but not broken. “Take it easy for a while and you’ll be just fine,” he said. “And I’d stay away from strenuous exercise for a week or so.”“Doc, I plan to sleep for a week or so,” I told him.I left the hospital and drove home. I wanted to see Lyca, but I needed rest, too, and she probably could stand some
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 47
I dropped the binoculars, stood up and, standing in the combat position, aimed my pistol at him. He fired another shot. Before he could work the bolt action on his rifle, I yelled, “Freeze, Gleason! Drop the gun!”He stiffened, turned, and continued working the action on the rifle. I fired at him, aiming for the middle of his body. The rifle flew out of his hands and he went over backward.Moving carefully, I approached him, holding my gun on him. I was pretty sure I’d hit him. I seldom miss what I’m shooting at. He laid there on his back, very still, with his eyes closed. I peered at him, trying to see where the wound was. I couldn’t, so I stepped closer. Too close.Gleason suddenly came to life. His leg came up quickly, too quickly for me to avoid it, and he kicked the gun out of my hand. The next thing I knew, roaring like a wild man, he was on me, his weight carrying me back, taking me off my feet. When we hit the ground, the wind was knocked out of me and, before I could get to m
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 46
“Noticed that he checked the brakes,” Moose said. “You’d think he’d trust a couple of trustworthy-looking guys like us.”I handed Moose a hundred dollars.“What’s this?” he asked.“A bonus for doing a good job today,” I said.“What do you think he’s going to do when he hears that tape you put in the car?” Moose asked.The only thing I did to Gleason’s car was put a tape I made up in the tape deck. It was set to run quietly for a while before the message kicked in, so he’d be well away from the building before he heard it. The message said, “We could have gotten you again today, but we didn’t. This is your last warning. Leave Mrs. Wilkins alone or we’ll get serious. We’ve already proved we can get to you any time we want. By the way, have you gotten your place cleaned up yet?”“I hope he cans this shit he’s been pulling on our client, but I don’t think he will,” I said.“So that shit you planned for tonight is still on?” Moose asked as he wheeled the van through traffic.I nodded. “I t
COLLECTION OF LUST AND LOVE Chapter 45
“You want me to call the police, Mr. Gleason?” the security guard asked.Gleason looked at the guard, then at me. I tried to look impatient. Moose shuffled around, looking as if he wanted to go, too.“They’re not going to find anything, any more than they did yesterday, the incompetent fools,” Gleason said finally. He looked at the car, then at me. “You sure you can have it done and back here by three?” he asked.“No problem, Mr. Gleason,” I said. “Me and Moose, we’ll do the job ourselfs, won’t we, Moose. We’ll tell the boss it’s one ‘a them priority jobs, right?”“Yeah, we’ll do that,” Moose said.Gleason looked at the security guard. “File a report on this with the police, but tell them I sent the car to be repaired and they don’t have to come over,” he said. He turned to me. “Go ahead and fix it. If I have the damn lease company fix it, they’ll just charge me extra and they probably wouldn’t get it fixed today.”“Where do you want me to bring it at, what, three?” I asked.“Be out f
