Jayden McAllister's POV I casually leaned back against the makeshift tent Eleanor had requested Dad to set up for the lakeside celebration. The sounds of laughter and splashes of water filled the air, mingling with the scent of grilled chicken wafting from the barbecue stand. Today was my birthday, but in the midst of the festivities going on, I was more like a spectator than the guest of honor as I was just standing there in that corner, silently observing the goings on around me as I usually do.Just then, I heard the chirpy and highly cheerful voice of my twin sister call out to me. “Jay-jay! Come on, join us!” I turned my head to see her bouncing around, playing around the bank of the lake, with her strawberry blonde curls dancing with every move. As usual, she was the center of attention, a little whirlwind of joy and a ray of sunshine. I couldn’t help but smile at her boundless energy. Indeed, she's my twin sister but we are as different as the day is from the night. “Just a
Jayden McAllister's POV “Wait a bit, Randolph!" I called out to him, my voice deliberately carrying just the right note of childish excitement. "Before we cut the cake, I have a special announcement to make!"All eyes turned to me, with curiosity written all over their faces. I took my sweet time before walking up to the middle of our little group and saying, “Today is indeed a very special day because not just me, but a very special someone also graced this world on such a day, five years ago. So ladies and gentlemen, join me in celebrating the one and only Eleanor McAllister.”And as Eleanor took the cue and stood up and dramatically curtsied at me, I added, “Happy birthday little sis.”The effect was immediate. Dad's usually stoic face instantly paled and his normally impassive eyes widened slightly in shock as he said. "What? Today is your birthday too, Eleanor? And you turned five too? But... I had no idea. I'm so sorry, little angel."Grandpa, who's never one to miss an opportu
Trina's POV The day had started innocently enough. We had all gathered at the lake near the ranch to celebrate Jayden's birthday at his request. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining on the water and a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. And despite the underlying tensions – Donald and Nicola's coldness, Mandy's obvious jealousy, Noah's odd glances in my direction– there was a sense of joy in the air. My little munchkin was having the time of her life, building sandcastles, singing and dancing and doing all sorts of fun stuff. Even Zane and Jayden, who are usually so reserved, were smiling and laughing.However, when Zane learnt that it's also Eleanor's birthday today and asked her to choose her birthday present, I should have known something was up when I saw that very familiar mischievous glint in my daughter's eyes. I know my little munchkin and how mischievous and handful she can be when she wants to. But nothing, absolutely nothing could have prepared me for what ha
Trina's POV I just couldn't believe my eyes. Even though the evidence was right there in front of me, my mind struggled to process the scene unfolding before me. Justin, here in Dripping Springs, Texas, at Zane's family ranch, staring at the four of us— Zane, myself, Jayden, and Eleanor, locked in a group hug. The hurt look on his face was unmistakable, and it sent a pang of guilt through my chest.As our group hug reluctantly broke apart, I opened my mouth to speak, to say something, anything to diffuse the tension. But before I could utter a word, Zane's deep, baritone voice cut through the air, cold and sharp as ice, answering Justin's question."As you can see, you are indeed interrupting something, Myers."And just like as it always happened whenever these two men met, the icy stare down began. The atmosphere instantly changed, as the warmth of our family moment suddenly disappeared as if it was never there before. The tension between the two formidable men staring intensely at
Trina’s POV Guilt instantly overcame me as I heard that. Gosh! Did I really say that? I wasn't even aware when it slipped out of my mouth! I had gotten so used to the charade we were playing that I didn't even realize when the words 'your daddy' had naturally slipped out of my mouth. I opened my mouth, ready to deny, protest, or say anything to rectify my slip of the tongue, but once again, Zane beat me to it. He moved closer to me until we stood right next to each other, our bodies almost touching. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, and also hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. When he spoke, his voice was low and controlled, but there was an undercurrent of steel beneath his words. "Yes, her Daddy," Zane affirmed, with his eyes never leaving Justin's face. "You heard what the little angel said earlier, didn't you? In case you have forgotten, here's a little reminder; She had demoted you to a mere godfather because she now has a new Daddy." Justin looked complete
Trina’s POV I remained frozen on the spot, watching Zane storm away from the lakeside, with his imposing retreating figure gradually becoming smaller and smaller as he strided further away from the lakeside. Every muscle in my body was taut, my chest tight with an unfamiliar and uneasy feeling I just couldn't explain. But what was even more perplexing was that I hadn’t even realized I was still looking at him— my gaze following his retreating figure even as he disappeared behind a row of pine trees.It wasn't until I heard Justin's deep, and very audible sigh of defeat that I snapped back to reality. My gaze instantly snapped back to him, and the look on his face instantly made me feel the heat of embarrassment flooding to my cheeks. He was staring at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read— something between disappointment and resignation. He ran his fingers through his tousled brown hair, while his lips parted as he puffed out air from his mouth, the sound heavy with the weight
Trina's POV I sat at the lunch table, acutely aware of the curious glances being thrown Justin's way. The tension in the air was palpable as Donald, Nicola, Noah, and Mandy all seemed to be bursting with unasked questions. I should have known introducing Justin as my "friend" would raise eyebrows, but I hadn't anticipated the intensity of their scrutiny.As we ate in uncomfortable silence, I could practically hear the gears turning in their heads as the curiosity filled them. Finally, Donald seemed to have enough of ebbing down his curiosity and since he's one who is never known to mince words, he set down his fork with an audible clatter and fixed Justin with a penetrating and intimidating stare, so like his son Zane's own.I instantly felt my heart begin pounding in my chest as I watched his eyes narrow suspiciously.“So young man,” he began, with his voice coming out gruff and demanding, "Care to explain why the hell would my son's wife's 'friend' just decide to follow her all the
Trina’s POV The moment our mouths collided, it was as though a firestorm erupted between us. His lips were warm, firm, and utterly intoxicating. I kissed him with everything I had, pouring all the tension, frustration, and desire I had been holding back for a long time, perhaps ever since I first met him, into that kiss.For a heartbeat, he froze, with his hands hovering in the air as if he’s undecided, perhaps still worried about me having a ‘boyfriend’. But then, like a dam breaking loose, his emotions won against his rational thought and broke loose, and his hands suddenly gripped my waist with a force that made me gasp as he took charge. He pulled me flush against him, and I felt every inch of his hard body molding against my soft one as his lips moved against mine with fierce hunger.Zane kissed me like a man that has starved for far too long. His lips moved against mine with an urgency that sent shivers racing down my spine while his hands tightened their grip around my waist a
Trina's POV Zane's words hit me like a terrible physical blow and as they sank into my brain, I felt the whole world crumble beneath me. My legs gave out beneath me and I collapsed onto the edge of the bed while my body began trembling as the room seemed to tilt and spin around me. Zane had made so many staggering revelations all at once that my brain was finding it too hard to process it all. He said my name– my real full name– the same name my dad and evil stepmom had ensured that it doesn't exist anymore as they have completely erased it from all databases. So how on earth did he find out about it?! But that's not even what shocked me the most or what made my entire world shake in an instant. Zane… is that mysterious handsome stranger who I slept with in this same room six years ago?!I stared at him, withmy eyes as wide as saucers while the red lace lingerie I had no idea were still clutched in my shaking hands slipped to the ground. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as m
Trina's POV Every night since that last heated kiss we shared in Texas, try as hard as I may, I just couldn’t stop dreaming about Zane. Slowly and surely, he had dominated my thoughts both when I am awake and when I am asleep. I keep having vivid, erotic dreams of him with his hands exploring all over my body with an unrelenting hunger and his lips following shortly after. Sometimes I wake up breathless, tangled in my sheets, with my heart pounding with an ache I didn’t want to acknowledge and at other times, I wake up startled, horrified by the realization that I wanted more— not just in my dreams, but in reality. I wanted him so badly and not just for him to kiss me or touch me erotically but to make full-fledged wild, passionate and sweet love with me.And that was what scared me most of all. I know I just can't resist him any longer so I began to avoid him. And when we returned to New York, I deliberately planned my usual routine in such a way that I could continue to prevent our
Zane’s POV Rising, I met her lips in a toe-curling kiss while my arms wrapped her waist and lifted her off the desk in one fluid motion. She wrapped her legs around my waist instinctively, with her arms looping around my neck as I carried her to the plush sofa in the corner of my office. With my foot, I pressed the button to convert it into a sofa bed before I gently laid her down, pausing only to strip off my hanging shirt, leaving us skin to skin.I pressed my body against hers, groaning at the heat of her skin beneath mine. My lips found her neck, her collarbone, her breasts once more. I took my time, savoring the taste of her, the way her body arched and writhed beneath me as I explored every inch of her. Her soft cries and whispered gasps were a symphony, driving me to the edge of control.When my lips found the sensitive spot just below her ear, she let out a low, shuddering moan that sent fire coursing through me. My name came out like a breathless plea on her lips, and I capt
Zane’s POV I didn’t think at all, I only felt and acted on those feelings. Trina’s lips were so warm and soft beneath mine, and the moment they parted for me, an uncontrollable fire ignited. I kissed her hungrily and passionately as if my entire life depends on it, as if kissing her is my source of oxygen and livelihood. I devoured her, with my tongue tangling with hers in a dance of unrestrained need. Her taste was intoxicating, like sweet temptation, and I just couldn’t get enough. My hands tightened on her waist, pulling her flush against me until every curve of her body molded perfectly against the hard planes of mine.She melted completely into the kiss, with her fingers clutching at my shirt as though she needed something to hold onto, as if she's light-headed and dizzy from our steamy kisses. The sound undid me. In response, I deepened the kiss, with my lips moving over hers with a fierceness that spoke volumes of my desperation. Her hands fumbled at the buttons of my shirt, a
Zane's POV For the second night in a row, I just couldn't bring myself to fall asleep and just as I did the previous night, I kept tossing and turning on the bed in the guest room but to no avail. The knowledge of the presence of the subject of all my desires, who is gradually becoming the bane of my existence in the room just a few doors away, was a constant, maddening reminder of our heated kisses and what I was missing right now. It took every ounce of self-control to remain where I was, to not give in to the overwhelming urge to go to her.That was how I spent the night without sleeping even a wink and as dawn broke, my phone's shrill ring pierced through the silence. Grateful for the distraction, I answered immediately, with my voice rough from lack of sleep.It was my CFO and he immediately went straight to the point."Mr. McAllister Sir, there's an urgent situation at the headquarters that requires your immediate attention.”I sat up, instantly alert. "I'll be there as soon
Zane’s POVSince I was preoccupied with disturbing and tumultuous thoughts and feelings, sleep had eluded me for most of that eventful night, because try as hard as I may,I just couldn't stop thinking about Trina. And not just about the passionate kiss we shared and the way my body was aching for more. No, I was also thinking about the possibilities that she might be the mysterious woman I had a one night stand with.Despite my reputation of being a human iceberg and a man of control, I know without any iota of doubt that there's no way I can be able to sleep in the same room with Trina without touching her. No, it has already been established that she makes me lose any kind of control. Therefore, I had made my way to one of the spare guest rooms in our wing after making sure no one was around. However, after taking yet another cold shower and laying down, I just couldn't fall asleep. The bed felt both too large and suffocatingly small as I kept on tossing and turning all through the
Zane’s POV After we returned to the ranch house from the pharmacy, I made sure Mandy took the right dosage of the drug that Noah had prescribed for her but as I attempted to leave the guest room Nicola had accommodated her in, she kept coming up with excuses to make me stay longer. I humored her for a little while but after some time, I couldn't handle it any longer. She and Nicola had interrupted us when things were just beginning to get heated up and even though I pride myself in self control, I I don't think I can withhold the pent up feelings inside of me any longer. I need a release and I need it now!However, after I finally extracted myself from Mandy and I stepped into our dimly lit room, what I saw made me stop dead on my tracks. My eyes were immediately drawn to Trina's still form on the bed. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, with her face turned away from me. To any onlooker, she appears to be peacefully asleep but as I looked closer, I instantly realized that s
Trina’s POV Just as things were about to escalate further, just as those lips that have driven me crazy with their erotic ministrations on my skin were about to close around a part of me which longed for them– my tingling, erect nipple, a sound penetrated through the haze of desire surrounding us. At first, it sounded faint and faraway, barely registering in my brain which is foggy due to immense desire. However, the sound came again, louder and more insistent this time around, and that was when it finally registered in my hazy brain.Knocking. Someone was knocking at the door.Zane and I both froze on our spots as both our eyes, which I was even aware were closed, fluttered open. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other, with chests panting and heaving as if we had just finished a marathon race. The look in Zane's eyes… it simply took my breath away. Ever since I met him, I have never seen his eyes look as expressive as they were now. His usually guarded and inexpre
Trina’s POV The moment our mouths collided, it was as though a firestorm erupted between us. His lips were warm, firm, and utterly intoxicating. I kissed him with everything I had, pouring all the tension, frustration, and desire I had been holding back for a long time, perhaps ever since I first met him, into that kiss.For a heartbeat, he froze, with his hands hovering in the air as if he’s undecided, perhaps still worried about me having a ‘boyfriend’. But then, like a dam breaking loose, his emotions won against his rational thought and broke loose, and his hands suddenly gripped my waist with a force that made me gasp as he took charge. He pulled me flush against him, and I felt every inch of his hard body molding against my soft one as his lips moved against mine with fierce hunger.Zane kissed me like a man that has starved for far too long. His lips moved against mine with an urgency that sent shivers racing down my spine while his hands tightened their grip around my waist a