My head snaps to the door when it opens and Damian walks through it carrying grocery bags, flowers, and a duffel bag. “Moving in?” I ask with a smile tugging at my lips.“Just an extended sleepover, but if you don’t mind I’d gladly move in” he says with a smile as he kicks the door shut behind him. “I was ahead of you and picked up some medicine when I stopped at the store. I’ve given Katherine the rest of the week off. I’m staying here till I’m sure you’re good”He places the bag on the floor and others on the table.He bends to kiss my forehead but I pull him in for a mouth to mouth kiss. “How’s my favorite girl doing?” He asks after we break the kiss.I erupt with laughter. “Alive and a lot better” “I can see that. Are you hungry?” he asks as he sits next to me on the couch and snatches the remote out of my hand. “Jerk. If I had my strength I would –“ “You would what, Sunshine? Puke on me?” A smirk is on his face that I would love to smack off of it, but I refr
I have to set her down and pull the comforter from underneath her before she can bury herself into the mattress.As she nestles into the sheets, she wakes calmly.Rubbing her eyes, she comes to and asks, “Is it morning?” She practically hums the words.With her beautiful hair a mess and sleep lingering in her expression, she’s fucking gorgeous.I cup her cheek and plant a soft kiss on her lips, to which she lifts hers up and deepens it. I’m growing addicted to the way she kisses me. How she doesn’t hide her passion in her touch.I’ve never kissed a woman the way I kiss her right now. Never let myself fall for anyone or given them that part of me. So, every peck, every time she deepens it, it means so much more than I thought it would. I need more of this from her. “Not yet, baby” Whispering against her lips I tell her, “You fell asleep on the couch remember? Right after dinner”She slowly sits up as I climb into bed next to her.“It must have been the drugs. Well, I don’t feel
I kneel on the cold floor with chains around my hand and ankles. Anne stands over me with a gun in her hand. “Aren’t you back where you belong?” She asks smiling wickedly. “No!” I scream “I don’t belong to you anymore. I don’t belong to anyone” “Then why are you here” her eyes glittering with anger.I can’t be back here. “This isn’t real, you’re not real” I say quietly but enough for her to hear. She laughs out loudly. Her voice piercing my ear. “You know what I do to girls who try to run away from me don’t you?” She says as soon as she stops laughing. “Please Anne. I’m begging you” I begin pleading. “Too late for that Em. It’s a pity. I thought you were the best of them all. But you’re just like the rest of all the others” she says cocking her gun, she pulls the trigger. “No……..” I scream “Emily” I feel someone jerking me up. Damian.I jerk awake, heart pumping, body primed to fight Anne that was locked up. It took him a second to orient myse
It’s midmorning when we both finally wake. We spent countless hours reconnecting before falling asleep wrapped in each other’s arms. It’s the best I’ve slept since we’ve been together. “Morning, beautiful” he says, rolling onto his side and caressing the side of my face. He looks refreshed, which pleases me. His gorgeous brown eyes don’t look as troubled as they did yesterday, and the dark circles under them are barely visible. “Morning, handsome” I reply, snuggling into him. “How did you sleep last night?” “Great. Better than I have in days. Except for the nightmare part. Great night” he says winking at me as he places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Because I wore you out afterwards?” There’s humour in my voice as I speak. I think we wore each other out. “No. Because just being near you helped ... more than you know”‘Having you here has helped me more Damian” I admit. “I’ve struggled without you, Damian” Being honest like this is something I rarely do, but s
“So come stay with me. It will be just like old times. I’ve missed being around you. It’s not like you can go back and work for Anne. We’re both out of a job now” Although there’s nothing funny about the way Anne’s treated us, there’s a touch of humor in my voice. “Are you sure you want me there?” There’s vulnerability in his voice and it tears at my heart. I’ve never seen this side of him before. He’s always seemed so sure of himself, so put together. “Of course Robert” “Okay” he says, grinning. “That’ll be nice. Thank you” “You don’t need to thank me. You’ve looked after me for years” We sit in comfortable silence for a while. “Can you pass me my wallet?” Robert says eventually. “It’s in the top drawer”Doing as he asks, I pass it to him. He opens it and hands it straight back. “You know, I had a family once”He’s showing me a photo of two very attractive women. One looks to be around forty, the other is a teenager. They’re both blonde, and look like mo
“He was a selfish prick right to the end” Phil says, shaking his head in disgust. “How so?” I ask, fastening my seatbelt and turning the key in the ignition of my Lamborghini so we can head back to our mother’s house. “You heard the coroner. He was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm three fucking years ago. Why is this the first time we’re hearing about it? I betyou anything Mum doesn’t even know”I look at Phil, sighing heavily as my eyes meet his. “Just before he died I told him I despised him” I confess. “I said I was ashamed to be his son. I thought I was the reason for his death, now I know better” “You know as well as I do that it would take more than words to kill that man. He was a ticking time bomb. It was just bad timing on your part” Phil says. “I know, but I still regret what I said, even if I meant every word. I just didn’t think it would be the last thing I ever said to him” “I’m sorry” Phil says, placing his hand briefly on my knee. “Is th
“Of course” She didn’t need to ask me—I need her comfort just as much as she needs mine.I help her into the bath before climbing in behind her. “I really hope they find Tiara” she says as she relaxes back onto my chest. “Robert deserves to know what happened to his daughter” “I’ll make it happen” I don’t know how, but I will. I’ll place a few calls in the morning and see if I can pull some strings. “For years I wondered who that girl was. I presumed, like me, she had no family—that’s why nobody ever came looking for her. Now I know differently, and that breaks my heart. Poor Robert”I tighten my grip around her waist when she swipes a hand across her face. “I hope Anne rots in hell for what she’s done” “That so easily could’ve been me” Emily says. “I’d never let that happen” Guilt floods me. I almost let it happen. I’ll never forgive myself for leaving her alone that day. “When I got back from New York I told her I wanted to quit, and the first thing
Robert was finally discharged from the hospital and is settling into my apartment. He seems content to have me doting over him. I’m enjoying looking after him. Damian has finally gone back to work and his apartment, so having Robert here means I have company during the day while he’s gone.Damain spends his nights here. The only time he ventures back to his place is to collect more clothes. Not only am I keeping him from his home, we aren’t getting much alone time. Even once we go to bed we have to be careful not to make too much noise. Easier said than done. Maybe once Robert’s well enough to look after himself again, Damian and I can start spending more time at his house. For now, Robert needs me. “Here you go” I say, passing Robert a cup of tea and placing a plate of biscuits on the small table beside his seat. “Thanks. You don’t have to wait on me like this. My arm may be out of action for a while, but I’m not an invalid” “Yeah, I know, but I want to. You may n
“That’s it baby. I’m taking you to the doctor. No flu is going to have you throwing up for two weeks straight” Damian says, holding my hair for what seems like the hundredth time.I rest my head on my arm that’s lying on the toilet and take deep breaths. I am so sick of being sick. For the past two weeks all it seems I do is eat, throw it back up, and sleep. I’m exhausted and I’ve gained a lot of weight. I know Damian is right and I need to find out what’s wrong.I lift my head and see Jaxon holding a glass of water out for me. I stand on shaky legs and gratefully take the glass from him. My first sip gets swirled in my mouth and then spat out into the sink. I chug the rest of it like I haven’t had anything to drink in days. I next brush my teeth, because not to would be gross.I turn to face Damian and lean against the counter. He steps up to me and places his hands on the counter on either side of my waist. His expression is worried. He’s noticed the weight that I’ve g
Six months laterI leave the kitchen carrying a batch of freshly baked Snickers cookies. It’s my own recipe and one of my bestsellers. Buying that chocolate at the airport turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. That insignificant moment changed my life. Damian still says that, to this day, he can’t walk past a Snickers bar without thinking of me.The bell above the door chimes just as I place the hot tray on the counter. Taking off my oven gloves, I turn to greet my first customer for the day. It’s been almost three months since I opened my patisserie. It’s everything I dreamed it would be, and more. I decided to name it ‘Life’s Sweet’, because that’s exactly what life has become—sweet. I’ve come a long way from where I once was. Thanks to my husband and new found family, the horrors of my past seem like a distant memory.As hard as it was for him, Damian didn’t interfere, and let me pay for everything with the money I’d earnt from working for Anne. He likes to spoi
Anne’s trial finally rolled around. Both Robert and I were subpoenaed as witnesses. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but on the other hand, I was eager to see this through to the end—to finally be able to put Anne, my past, and everything I went through behind me. I have a wonderful life now and a family who loves me, so there’s no point dwelling on something I can’t change. I know Robert is keen to see justice served, and the monsters responsible for his daughter’s death finally held accountable.To my dismay, I’m the first to be called to the stand. I’ve been dreading this day. Under the circumstances, the court offered to let me give my evidence by video link, but that would be the coward’s way out. I refuse to let her take one more piece of my dignity. I’d forever be disappointed in myself if I didn’t face her. I firmly believed standing up to Anne is exactly what I need to finally be free. It’s something I’ve yearned for. She bullied and intimidated me for far too
I haven’t stopped smiling since the moment I got out of bed this morning. Even though Damian already feels like family to me, today it becomes official.In under an hour I’ll be Mrs Emily Stone and I can’t put into words how happy that makes me. I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for this moment. I’ll finally belong to someone. “You look beautiful” Robert says as he straightens my veil. “I’m honored to be giving you away today” “There’s no one else I’d rather” I reply. And that’s the truth. “You’re the closest thing I have to a father” “I’m so proud of you, Emily” I have to fight back the tears when I hear his voice crack. “From the moment I met you, I hoped that one day you’d find happiness. I’m so glad I get to witness it” “I love you, Robert” I say as I wrap my arms around him. I’ve never told him that before, but I do. “Emily” he replies, choking up. “I love you too. Although I lost a daughter, I’ve gained another in you. I’m extremely grateful t
find Emily in the kitchen when I arrive home a week after our return from Paris. She gives me a beautiful smile as I place an envelope on the table and go to her. It hurts my heart to know I’m about to wipe that smile off her pretty face. I’m having serious misgivings about pushing her into this now. But I’ve found information on Emily’s family, and everything she needs to know is now sitting in that large white envelope. Her father’s lawyer was very helpful, but the news is going to gut her.At least she won’t be left wondering for the rest of her life.I plant a soft kiss on her lips. “Hi, beautiful” “Hi, handsome”Stepping back, I pull her with me until I’m seated at the table and she’s on my lap. “Is everything okay?” she asks. “You look grim” “I have some good news, and some bad news” I watch as her eyes move to the envelope sitting in front of us. “It’s about your father” “You found him” she whispers as her hands cover her mouth. Her eyes fill with tear
After pulling me in for a scorching hot kiss, he releases me and walks toward the bed. I quickly grab what I need before ducking into the bathroom.Emerging a short time later, I find Damian sitting at the foot of the bed. His arms are positioned behind him, taking his body weight. His long legs are extended out in front of him and are crossed at the ankle. He’s unbuttoned his shirt, and I can see a hint of his toned and tanned chest. There’s a sexy smile on his lips and a glint of what’s yet to come in his eyes. It makes my pulse quicken.His gaze leaves mine and slowly travels down my body. He was wrong about the red shoes being his memory, because they’re about to become our memory. He told me once that he’d like to see me wearing nothing but these shoes.Wish granted.A smile explodes onto his face when he gets to my feet. “Fuck me” he gasps. “My favorite shoes”He goes to stand. I immediately hold my hand out to stop him. I’m nervous, but I want to do something I used
“Monsieur et madame, de cette manière s’il vous plaît” a man says, smiling pleasantly. “Why does he want us to follow him?” I ask as my hand latches around Damian’s elbow. “He’s taking us to the lift that will take us up to the top of the tower”For a minute I thought—I don’t know what I thought, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good. I guess Damian weirding out on the way up has put me on edge. But I hope bungee jumping off the Eiffel Tower is illegal, that’s all I’m saying.The moment we step into the other lift, Damian goes all weird again, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. It makes my stomach churn. He’s never acted this way with me before. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to” I whisper. I’m grasping at straws, trying to find out what’s going on inside his head, all the while hoping to God it has something to do with heights or confined spaces, and nothing to do with us or our relationship. “Do what?” he asks as he stops pacing and tu
I have nothing to be nervous about; I have a natural talent for cooking, so I’m sure impress, but I’m really nervous. Placing his finger under my chin, Damian raises my face to meet his. “Impossible. You’ve got this in the bag, sweetheart. You may even show him a thing or two” “That’s very sweet of you to say, but I highly doubt it” I say, laughing. “Don’t underestimate your talents. I’ve eaten at some of the finest Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. Your cooking rivals the best, and I’m not just saying that to get in your pants” “You have a permanent invitation to my pants, Mr Stone” I say, placing a soft kiss over his heart. “I’m glad to hear that” he moves his hands down to squeeze my arse. “Now let me get dressed before I do something that’s going to make you late”Damian’s confidence in my ability gave me the pick-me-up I needed. Though I’ll admit I’m a little starstruck when we meet Pierre, I’m completely taken aback when Damian drap
Emily is up and ready to take shower. I can tell she is filled with a mix of excitement and nerves about meeting Pierre.It was a long flight with a five-hour layover in Dubai, and we had no plans for the rest of the day, so we spent it in bed.That sexual energy she exudes, her beauty, her desire, her cunt, her orgasms. I want them to be mine. All mine.I never planned to let her go, but now I know I can’t.I have to have her, and just having her isn’t enough. It’s easy to keep her body captive, but I want her mind and maybe even her heart. Extending my hand to her, I help her down off the bed. “You want to shower” I ask alluringly. “Don’t I look like I’m about to?” She asks ra “Yeah. But before you get clean” I say, pulling my cock out, “you can clean me off. With your mouth of course” “Of course” she says with a smile speeding on her lips. “On your knees, mouth on my cock,” I order.Is that a blush I see on her obstinate cheeks as she parts her li