SadeI grabbed my purse and headed out. It was also a chance for me to check in with Trent. I called, and it went straight to voicemail. “Hey, babe. Just checking in with you. I’m grabbing some stuff to make my dad dinner. I’ll try and call you after he goes to bed.”I slid the phone into my pocket and grabbed a basket to start my shopping. I would never claim to be a great cook, but I could make tacos. When I got back to the condo, my dad had a screwdriver and was tightening the lock on my window. I knew he would be unable to resist doing something.I felt my phone vibrate in my purse and immediately froze. My dad looked at me. “Should you get that?”“Get what?”“Your phone—unless something else is vibrating in your purse,” he said dryly.I blushed. “Oh. It’s fine. I’m sure it’s just Khloe. I’ll call her later.”Did I look guilty? I felt guilty. The way he was looking at me like he didn’t believe made me feel even guiltier. I carried the bag into the kitchen and immediately got start
TrentToday was the first day of what I hoped was going to be a smart business decision. Gabe was at the new hotel—alone. He was going to be taking meetings with contractors and putting out any of the little fires that always came up during a renovation. Richie and I were only a phone call away, and ultimately, the contractors would come to me with anything big, but it was up to Gabe.I was slowly buying into the idea of the kid managing the hotel and Richie taking over the day-to-day stuff at the other two. I had already hired extra office staff to support them. They didn’t know my real reason for adding extra help.I clicked the mouse, zooming in on one of the hotel properties for sale in Fresno. I should have been catching up on the pile of paperwork and the unanswered emails, but I was thinking about my future. I knew what I wanted for that future. Sade. I wanted Sade.My idea was to buy a hotel in Fresno and move closer to her to run said hotel. That meant Richie and Gabe would h
TrentI pushed open the door to the breakroom and found Richie staring into the refrigerator.“Anything good in there, or should I go to the restaurant?” I asked him.He stood up and closed the door. “I don’t know. What are you looking for?”“Sugar.”He chuckled, opened the door, pulled out a can of soda, and handed it to me. “Then you’re set.”I opened the can and took a long drink. “What are you looking for?”He shrugged. “I don’t know. Something to snack on. I’ve been on the phone with Gabe all morning.”I laughed. “That explains why he just called me. Are you hiding from him?”“I needed a break.”“He’s going to do okay once he gets comfortable,” I assured him. “I do have high hopes for him. Right now, I think he’s trying to impress us, and he doesn’t want to make any major mistakes.”“He can’t make a mistake because he can’t make a decision,” he retorted.“In good time. I don’t want him writing blank checks. It’s good he’s clearing stuff with us.”“I suppose.”“What do you think a
SadeI was feeling the loneliness. Living alone had been fun and new at first, but it quickly got old. I didn’t think I was cut out to be alone. I was bored. Every night I sat on my couch, flipping through channels and texting Trent—assuming he was able to text. I talked to myself—a lot. Probably more than was healthy. I ate alone. I did everything alone.I was feeling the distance between Trent and me, as well as the distance between me and Khloe and Julia. As expected, they were both busy with their new lives, and the texting between the three of us was already starting to slow. I felt that part of my life slipping away. I needed to make new friends.“Hey,” I said to Holly, popping my head in her little lab space.“What’s up? Are you done for the day?”I nodded. “I am. You?”“Just finishing up.”“Do you want to grab some dinner?” I asked hopefully.“Sure!”I sighed with relief. I had been worried she would shoot me down. I was starving for some company and dreaded the idea of eating
SadeHolly grimaced. “God no! No dating apps for me.”“They don’t sound too bad. You know what you’re looking for so it will be an easy swipe left or right.”“I’m not that desperate. Not yet. I’m still looking around, playing the field a bit.”“I think that’s a good idea,” I agreed. “I never played the field.”“You sound like you’re ready to marry this guy.”“No!” I protested. “We barely know each other.”“Anyone that flies back and forth every weekend to see you is worth keeping. I think some girls are just lucky, and they find their soulmate right out of the gate. I could see you being that girl.”I smiled. “I would like to think so, but I’ve only known him a few weeks.”“And you are absolutely head over heels for him.”I couldn’t stop the blush from spreading over my cheeks. “I am. It’s crazy. Here’s the kicker.” I geared up to present her with my conundrum.She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, dammit. I hate that there always has to be a caveat to a good fairy tale.”“It’s not terrible. We
TrentI checked the time. I could make it. I would take care of the last few emails from the car. I waved to Ashley, not stopping to talk as I rushed out the door of my office. I called the pilot I knew would be preparing to leave to head over to Fresno to pick up Sade.“Don’t leave,” I blurted out when the pilot answered his phone.“Don’t leave?” he repeated.“No, I’m going with you.”“Oh. Okay. How long?”“Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll be there,” I told him, waving at Bentley and climbing in the backseat.The man knew me well and rushed around to get in the driver’s seat. “Airport?” he asked.I nodded, finished the conversation with the pilot, and hung up. “Yes, please,” I answered.“You’re going to pick her up?” he asked with a grin on his face.“Yes. I’ve neglected her all week. I want to be there when she gets home.”He chuckled. “Good man.”The pilot was waiting when we pulled into the hangar. I jumped out, rushed over, and climbed in. I felt like I was in a race. I supposed
TrentI bit her neck, yanking my pants down and burying myself inside her hot sheath. I felt like a rutting buck, taking her against the wall three feet from the front door, but that was how desperate I was. Once we managed to take the edge off, we were both in much better spirits. It was like getting the first drink of water after waking up from a night of drinking.“Want to take a shower now?” I asked her, pulling up my pants.She pulled up her scrubs. “I do. I think I definitely need one now.”I chuckled. “I probably drooled all over you.”She burst into laughter. “I like your drool on me, baby.”She made me feel like a kid. I felt free and youthful. My past didn’t matter when she was around. I carried around a lot of baggage from my years in the service. I wouldn’t deny I woke up in a cold sweat at least once a week. Not when she was with me.None of that stuff mattered. It was all her. When I held her in my arms at night, those nightmares didn’t visit. She gave me a peace I could
SadeI sipped my wine, studying Trent over the glass. I hadn’t known him all that long, but I could tell there was something on his mind. It scared me a little. I didn’t think he was going to dump me, but something was going on. He was acting—off.“More wine?” he asked, reaching for the bottle.I looked at my glass, saw it was half-full, and politely shook my head. “No, thank you.”He topped off his own glass. A sign something was definitely off. “How was work?” he asked.I shrugged. “Good. Still going through paperwork for the new project. You? Any more with Gabe?”He nodded before sucking down the wine. “He’s doing all right. I think he might actually turn out to be a good manager with a little time and experience under his belt. He’s got the book smarts, but he doesn’t have any real experience.”I smiled, knowing exactly what he meant. “He’s fresh out of school. Like me. We don’t have real-world experience.”“I know, and I’m working with him.”“How are things at the hotel?” I asked
TrentKhloe approached us. “Too much?” she asked.Sade wiped a tear from her eye. “I love you. You are amazing. Thank you.”I nodded. “Yes, thank you. This is absolutely stunning. I could have never imagined it could look like this. Truly, thank you.”“The photographer was in earlier,” she said. “The one for the brochure.” “Perfect, thanks,” I said still in disbelief.“I think you two are supposed to be heading to the front for your little introduction,” she said, shooing us away.We spent the next two hours dancing and mingling with our guests. Justin approached me at one point and asked to talk with me in private. I was immediately on guard.“What’s going on?” I asked him in the hall outside the ballroom.“I wasn’t thrilled that the two of you ran off and got married without a word to anyone,” he started.“I’m really sorry about that.”“I know you are. I want to thank you for taking such good care of my little girl. I couldn’t have asked for a better son-in-law. Welcome to the fami
TrentI wasn’t the least bit nervous. I chalked it up to being an experienced groom. If other couples knew how much easier and how less stressful it was to have the wedding a couple of months after being married, everyone would do it. I didn’t have any wedding day jitters, and I wasn’t worried the family would hate me or the bride would be a wreck.It was easy-peasy. Sade and I had opted to stay apart last night just to make the day a little more special. Her mother had insisted on it, and I was happy to go along with the plan.I had yet to see Sade’s dress. She refused to give me any details about it and often teased it was a red dress. I told her to wear whatever she wanted, but I was secretly hoping for something traditional.I walked into position in front of the archway, which was actually a pergola covered in lush green ferns at the English Garden in Wolf Lakes Park. Sade and I had searched for the perfect place to hold the ceremony. It had taken Khloe’s very impressive negotiat
SadeI didn’t have to ask where he wanted me to go. My body responded just as he demanded. I moaned, loud and low in my throat as the orgasm flooded my body. I jerked and spasmed against him, my hips grinding against his hand as he held me close.He stepped back and gently turned me to face the bed. The damn thing was so high, it hit me about mid-thigh. I moved to lift my leg to climb on the bed when he stopped me.“Lie across the bed,” he ordered, his voice thick with desire.I did as he said, lying face down on the bed, my feet on the floor, my ass exposed. His hands caressed over both cheeks before he slid one hand between my thighs. I felt the finger part my swollen folds and held my breath, waiting for that first penetration.When his finger slid inside me, I moaned with pleasure. He pulled the finger out and replaced it with his swollen cock. He slid in slowly, one hand on my back and the other holding my hip. I didn’t want to move. Everything felt so good.I could feel the hair
SadeI said my goodbyes to Khloe and Holly and went in search of Trent. I checked the back patio where I had seen him last. He wasn’t there. I drifted down the hall and spotted him in his office, sitting at his desk. He looked a little tired, but I hoped he wasn’t too tired. I had plans for him and his body.“Hey, husband of mine,” I said, startling him.He looked up from the laptop and smiled. “Hey, wife of mine.”“So, the house is empty. We’re alone, like really alone, for the first time in our new house with that big ol’ bed. Why aren’t we naked?”He grinned and closed the laptop. He got up from his chair and made his way toward me. His limp was noticeable as he moved. I imagined the strain of the day was catching up to him. I didn’t dare offer to wait until he was feeling better or comment on the knee at all. He didn’t need me reminding him of his injury.He reached for me, yanking my hips against his lower body, and kissed me soundly. I kissed him back, giving him all I had. My t
TrentI burst into laughter. “No!”Khloe nodded. “Yes. Me and the saleswoman had to talk him out of it.”“It wasn’t a real bear,” I protested.“All the same, it was ugly and just looked scary,” Khloe said.“I’m glad you opted for the other one,” Sade said.“Me too,” I agreed.Leia came bounding in through the doggy door I had put in for her. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth, and she had a huge smile on her face. She loved the backyard. I gave her a piece of pizza crust, which she eagerly chomped down and waited for more. After we had stuffed our faces with as much pizza as we could take, I went outside with Leia to check out the new deck furniture.The ladies joined me, marveling at the view and the massive backyard.“When did this get here?” Sade asked, looking at the furniture and the table set.I grimaced. “Yesterday.”She burst into laughter. “You’re dangerous with a credit card and a computer.”I held up a hand. “Technically, this was on Khloe.”Sade spun around. “What? You did
TrentI was humming with energy. I had never been so damn excited in all my life. In my eyes, it was the first day of the rest of my life. Sure, I had plenty of those first days, but now it was really the first day. It was going to be the first day in our new house with all of our new things and our new marriage. It was like I had been waiting my entire life for this one day to happen.Now that it was finally here, I could hardly contain my excitement. I had kept poor Sade up until two o’clock packing. We’d called in reinforcements. Holly and Khloe were both carrying boxes to load into the three waiting cars.“Are you sure I can’t hire a rental truck?” I complained.“No, I don’t have anything that big,” Sade said again. “It’s just boxes. It will be faster to load everything in the cars and make one trip.”I wanted to whine and complain that it wasn’t going fast enough. Unfortunately, my leg had been acting up, and walking up and down the stairs proved to be too much.“I can hire mover
Sade“Thank you for worrying about me, but I promise I’m going to be okay,” I assured Trent.He leaned down and kissed my forehead. Khloe came out of the bedroom dressed in an outfit that showcased all of her assets. Her makeup was heavy, and she looked like she was ready to have a good time.“I’m outta here!” she said. “You kids behave yourselves, and don’t have sex on that couch. If that couch is staying here with me, I don’t want to be sitting where you guys have done it.”I grinned, giving her a sweet angelic smile. “How do you know we haven’t already done it on this couch?”Trent nearly choked.She wrinkled up her nose. “Gross.”“Bye!” I said, waving at her as she walked out the door.We waited a few minutes, making sure she wasn’t going to come back in. Trent nearly threw me off his lap as he got to his feet. He was hauling me to the bedroom with such haste, I nearly tripped over my own feet.It was a frantic joining, both of us tearing off our clothes and falling onto the bed.
SadeI went to work a little earlier than usual to try and catch up on the latest about what had happened the day before. It was a bit of a madhouse. Reps from various agencies were present, as well as bigwigs from the head of the company I worked for. Everyone wanted to know what happened. Everything and everyone were under scrutiny.I knew I wasn’t in trouble, but I still felt like there were a lot of eyes focused on the new girl. I kept my head down and concentrated on my work, doublechecking everything I did to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes. Holly was quiet as well. We were both doing what we could not to draw any attention to ourselves.All I could think about was getting home to Trent. I felt like I had nearly blown it with my little freak out over money. It was hard to accept so much from him. My dad was fiercely independent, never accepting a handout from anyone and making damn sure he expected the same from me.We’d always had what we needed, and I didn’t think I had e
TrentI kept my thoughts to myself and finished making dinner. We sat down to eat, the tension thick in the room. It reminded me of the hours and minutes before a big thunderstorm hit. You could feel it in the air. You knew it was coming, but you didn’t know when that first boom of thunder would ring out.“I’m going to lay down,” Khloe said, clearing away her plate and quickly making her escape.She obviously sensed it as well. I knew our first fight was coming. I just wasn’t sure how big the fight was going to be or what it was going to be about. I couldn’t think of anything that had happened that would result in a fight. We’d had a minor disagreement about who was going to pay for what, but I was confident it had been settled.“I’m tired as well,” Sade announced and stood up.She quickly cleared away everything except my plate in front of me. I was definitely in hot water. I dreaded hearing it, but I needed to know what was going on. I didn’t like the tension between us. I finished