Trina 's POVAs Randolph and I strolled away from the barn, I took a deep breath of the crisp country air which was mingled with the scent of hay and livestock from the barn we just left. But my mind wasn't on the scent of hay or anything else. My head was still buzzing with thoughts of the story of Zane’s past which Randolph just shared with me, most especially the part of that mysterious woman he briefly mentioned. For some strange reason, I just couldn't get the thought of her out of my head.Noticing my silence, Randolph misunderstood the reason as he said in a soothing tone. “You really don't have anything to worry about, you know. Zaynie, bless his heart, is such a good-hearted person that a double-faced, cunning and deceptive person like Mandy takes advantage of that. You see, as someone who also lost his own mother at birth, he feels some sort of kinship to her, his heart goes out to her, as he believes anyone who loses a parent or both at a young age suffers a lot just like h
Trina’s POV And just like that, I swayed sideways until my head connected with something hard. I felt pain instantly engulf me, and gradually, everywhere seemed to turn dark. As I fell downwards, I blurrily saw a glimpse of churning metal below me, that is the inner part of the milking machine, which is now unfortunately uncovered…Gulping, I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable. My entire life flashed behind my eyes. My poor daughter! So this is how she’ll grow up without a mom…Just then, out of the blue, I suddenly felt two strong arms wrapped around my waist. I then felt myself being yanked backward, my body colliding with something solid and warm. I felt the whole world spinning with me in it and then all of a sudden, I felt myself sitting on the ground, cradled by that same solid and warm body.Through the haze behind my eyes, I blinked, trying to focus through the pain and confusion. A familiar face blurrily came into my view– chiseled jaw, piercing steely grey eyes and
Trina’s POV And even before any of us could say ‘Come in’, the door swung open to reveal Mandy, her blonde hair now styled to perfection and her light blue eyes wide with what I instantly recognized as fake concern. She sashayed her way into the room, her gaze darting between Zane and me and as soon as her eyes landed on his hand which was still on my left shoulder, Zane quickly pulled it off, as if he just realized it was still there. For a split second, I saw a flash of something dark in Mandy's gaze before it was replaced by a syrupy-sweet smile. And in a voice dripping with fake saccharine sweetness, she cooed out. "Oh, poor Eleanor’s mom! I came as soon as I heard. How are you feeling after your little tumble?" I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her fake sympathy. No wonder Randolph said she's a double-faced hypocrite! Thinking of Randolph, I remembered what he told me about helping Zane with the likes of Mandy by acting as a doting and loving wife. Therefore, I summon
Trina's POV Before I could finish processing what he just said, he continued, "And, today, my gorgeous wife here extended her line of prowess by proving just how amazing of a cowgirl she truly is…" The husky, low, suggestive tone in which he spoke, the way he pronounced ‘cowgirl' and the way he looked at me when he said it… oo la la! I was literally melting into a puddle on that bed! And to make matters even worse, he ended his statement with a wink that instantly sent even more heat rushing to my already burning cheeks. I ducked my head, torn between embarrassment and a thrill of excitement at his words. Gosh! What has gotten into Zane’s head today?! I was the one who got concussed, not him, so why is he behaving so out of character today? First, joking around with me and now, indirectly flirting with me with subtle innuendos and that too in front of not just our kids but also his stepmom and the woman vying for his heart! Really, I definitely needed some divine intervention i
Zane’s POV Even though I would rather starve than eat at the same table with my exasperating father and his greedy wife, I knew I just had to endure it, for the sake of appearance. So in the morning after breakfast was served, I found myself sitting at the head of the table, surveying my peculiar family arrangement with both amusement and irritation. To my right, my pretend wife, Trina sat, with her adorable mischievous daughter Eleanor and Jayden, flanking her on both sides. The three of them huddled their heads together over the table, discussing something in hush tones and giggling over some private joke. Just like that, I felt the corners of my lips tugging into a smile as well. I don't know how she does it but little Eleanor was like a ray of sunshine, lighting up the lives of everyone she comes across. She has gotten not just me, but even my usually aloof and indifferent son wrapped around her little finger. Even though as I watch them now, I don’t think it's Eleanor who h
Zane’s POV "Sir?" Randolph's voice suddenly cut through my reverie, pulling me back to the present. I blinked, realizing I had been staring at the tombstone for who knows how long. And just as that realization dawned on me, another more… physical realization also came to my view. I quickly moved closer to the false grave, making sure the side of my body touched it, with my back to Randolph, as I tried to hide the embarrassing evidence of the erotic memories I just had… my massive erection! As I felt the tips of my ears burning in mortification, I quickly cleared my throat and said to Randolph. “This is a very good job as usual, Randolph. If I hadn't known better, I would have believed a loved one was indeed buried here.” Randolph just put his hands on his waist and fixed me an intense look before letting out a deep breath. Then he called out to me. “Zaynie…” I instantly became alert and turned sideways to face him, making sure my… situation is still well hidden from sight. He never
Zane's POV By the time Randolph and I drove back to the ranch house, it was already well past noon. Just like our drive to the graveyard earlier in the morning, the drive back to the ranch house was also very quiet as Randolph concentrated on responding to work related emails on his phone while I was lost in thought, my mind buzzing over the day's events and all that Randolph had said to me. As we stepped onto the porch, I heard voices drifting through the open windows. Nothing unusual there– the ranch house was always full of chatter– from the residents, to the ranch hands to the farm animals and equipments, there was always some kind of noise around. I inhaled deeply. I can't wait to go back to the peace and quiet of my house in New York.I slowly pushed open the door, and as soon as I stepped into the living room, the world suddenly stopped spinning.There, in my family's living room, was a scene that instantly turned my blood to ice. My father, Donald, sat in his favorite armcha
Zane’s POV Desperate to regain some semblance of control, I put on my usual mask of indifference before arching an eyebrow, and asking in a calm tone. "What the hell are you doing in Texas anyway, Noah? Don't you have patients to tend to? A hospital to run? Or did you just abandon all that to come pester me as usual?”Noah's grin widened, and a mischievous glint in his eye as he said. "Even doctors need vacations sometimes, my friend. And what better time to take one than when my best buddy decides to spring a surprise marriage on everyone?"His words set off a round of good-natured teasing from Randolph and the kids, their teasing comments about Trina and me and our ‘whirlwind romance’ filling the air. But it seems they were the only ones enjoying their own teasing show. I could sense some undercurrents of tension in the room as I finally focused on silently observing everyone in the room. Father seemed disinterested with the goings-on in the room as he continued calculating all his
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