I do not want to hamper Julia’s newfound independence or spirit in any way, but I do want her to know what it is like to have her body completely worshiped by a man who knows exactly what he is doing in the bedroom. I want her to experience everything, as if she is a virgin and has never been touched by a man before. I intend to take her to new heights, to places she’s never dreamt of before, and in order to do that, I need her to know that she can trust me, that the things I ask her to do, or to let me do, will result in her pleasure like nothing she’s ever experienced before.I kiss her deeply, unable to contain my passion for her. She is like a delicate flower, and I am a raindrop, caressing her petals for the first time, as my hands trail down her body, touching, kneading, exploring. When I kiss her neck, paying careful attention to that sensitive area where her elegant shoulder meets her throat, she practically purrs with excitement. My teeth nip softly as I lick and suck and the
My lungs heave as I try to recover from the wondrous sensations Braxton has sent throughout my body, all with the power of his amazing tongue. I lay on my back, staring up at his handsome, smiling face, still wondering how I have gotten so lucky, and this amazing man has decided that he wants me for his own--at least for now.I can’t think about anything beyond this weekend. Not at the moment anyway. Right now, all I can think about is how good this feels, all of it. Braxton knows how to make my body feel better than I ever imagined possible, but he also knows how to make me feel important, empowered, and treasured.As I regain control of my breathing, he drags his hand down my side. “Are you ready for more?” he asks in a husky voice. I find myself nodding before the thought registers consciously. My body responds to him in ways I cannot describe. I have already given him permission to ask anything of me, and I know I will do whatever he asks of me because he understands what I will e
I let Julia take a long shower and get dressed while I do the same, though my shower is much shorter than hers. I have the feeling that she doesn’t get a lot of time to pamper herself. I hope that she will find some soaps and shampoos in the bathroom that she enjoys. When she joins me in the dining room, the table is spread with all sorts of wonderful things to eat which I have had my cooks prepare. I’m not sure what she likes and what she doesn’t like, but I want her to have anything and everything she wants, even if it’s just a taste of each.Julia’s eyes are wide as I stand and pull out a chair for her next to me. “All of this food just for us?” she asks as her gaze covers the table. Platters of fruit and pastries are set before us, as well as an assortment of meats--bacon, sausage, and ham. A large bowl of scrambled eggs looks light and fluffy. Pancakes, waffles, and biscuits are also available, as well as fresh orange juice, a choice of coffees, milk, and water. There are also pi
In the car on the way to our destination, I cannot take my eyes off of Braxton, and he cannot take his hands off of me. He is polite, always. Careful of my modesty and boundaries, but I don’t mind. He can touch me wherever he likes. One arm is wrapped around my waist where his fingers rub and caress me through my shirt. His other hand is on my knee where it massages up my thigh. He kisses me frequently, and I can’t help but feel like the most important woman in the world.The trip isn’t far, which is a good thing, because if it was much further, our kisses might’ve turned into something else. I’ve never been with a man in the back of a car before, but since the windows are tinted and we are alone, I can envision what it would be like, especially with Braxton. Maybe I will be lucky enough to find out later, but for now, I am content to kiss him and feel his touch.When we arrive, the driver gets out and opens the door. I grab my bag off of the floorboards and loop my arm through it bef
I can tell how excited Julia is to be on the plane. She hasn’t stopped smiling since we arrived at the airport. As we make our way to our secret destination, it is all I can do to keep my hands off of her. I want her so badly, but we will be there soon, and I don’t want to embarrass her in front of the crew by making them wait while she puts herself back together. Perhaps I will be able to introduce her to the Mile High Club on the way back to the city.“Do you fly often?” I ask her, trying to make conversation in order to take my mind off of how beautiful her body is, especially when she’d undressed.“No,” she says quickly. “I’ve never been on an airplane before.”Her admission has me raising my eyebrows, but I lower them quickly, realizing she has put some trust in me not to judge her by admitting that to me so readily. “Well, I sure hope you enjoy the ride then,” I say to her.She beams at me. “So far, it’s amazing.” She turns and looks out the window, and I am glad that I’ve let h
My stomach lurches up into my throat as the plane heads toward the ground, making its descent into the airport. I hold tight to Braxton’s hand, but I am excited. It is sort of like a roller coaster. I haven’t been on one of those in a long time, not since I was a little girl, since we have no money for trips to amusement parks, but I can remember that thrilling sense of my stomach lurching into my throat, and the airplane heading toward the runway reminds me of that, in a gentler way.“Are you all right?” Braxton asks me, a smile on his face.“Yes, I’m great,” I tell him, smiling. It’s true. I’ve never been happier. Well, not since we left the bedroom, anyway. I still have no idea where we are, and I don’t care. I am loving every minute of being with him and this little excursion we are taking together.The plane touches down with a gentle shake, and I want to clap for the pilot. I have no idea how they manage to do that, make the plane go exactly where they want it to, up into the ai
Watching Julia gaze at the falls lifts my spirits in a way I cannot put my finger on. How many times have I visited this spot over the years? More than I can count. My parents loved this place and used to bring our family here at least once a year. I have always thought it was pretty, but I am seeing it through new eyes now, seeing her excitement and joy at visiting the natural wonder for the very first time.After I give her plenty of time to take it in, I pull her close and ask, “Would you like to grab a bite for lunch at a restaurant where we can still see the falls?”“Yes,” she says quickly, her smile wide as she beams up at me. “That would be wonderful.”I have already gone to the liberty to let the restaurant on the shore near the falls know we are coming. I signal to the nearby crewman to let the boat captain know we are ready to head to the restaurant now. He nods at me and immediately responds, as if he is my own staff member and not merely a worker on the rental boat. I am u
After we are done at the restaurant, we ride the yacht around the lake a while longer. I have never been happier than I am right now, with Braxton. When he asks me if I’m ready to go back to the mansion, I am reluctant at first because I am having such a good time, but I remember that there’s plenty to do back at the mansion as well, many things I have yet to see. Besides, we will be alone back there, and while I love seeing the world with Braxton, I also love being alone with him, perhaps even more than I love being here.We go back to the dock where the car is waiting to drive us to the airport. Braxton promises me we can go somewhere else the next day if I’d like, but I think I might be content to spend the rest of the weekend in his home with him. Still, I smile, nestling into his shoulder, his arm around me.I am thrilled when we arrive at the airport and board the plane. I had so much fun the first time when the plane took off and landed, I can hardly wait to do it again. We set
I am the woman in the painting now. It’s finally happened. When I first envisioned this beautiful scene, a man and woman with their arms around one another, standing in front of an ancient landmark with the Italian sun glinting as it dips below the horizon, I didn’t know for sure that I would ever occupy this space. But here I am, my arm around Braxton, his around mine, as we gaze at the sun setting behind the gorgeous scene before us.What makes it even more amazing is that we are not alone. In front of us, our children, our daughter Braxi and our son Julian, are running around, playing chase, and having the time of their lives. I never knew true romantic love until I met Braxton, and I never knew how full my heart could be until four years ago when the twins were born.Sometimes, I think back to my life before Braxton, when my days consisted of staying at home, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, only getting out to go to the grocers. It was a meager existence, one that would’ve never
I’m fine. I feel fine, anyway. My hand is still wrapped in gauze, and I’m told I may need more surgery down the road. I will definitely need physical therapy, but that’s okay. Braxton says he’ll pay for the person to come to the house so I don’t have to go to a clinic for my treatments. He’s even volunteered to find a therapist who will move into the house so I can have it every day. It amazes me how different it is to have a plethora of money at one’s disposal, but I will have to get used to it because, as the wheelchair takes me to the waiting car, I know I will be with Braxton forever now.I get out of the wheelchair, which I’m only sitting in because the hospital staff insists it’s part of their dismissal policy, and Braxton helps me into the car. It’s been three days since I was rushed to the hospital, and I am anxious to get out. I am anxious to go home--back to the place where Braxton and I fell in love.Once I am in, Braxton closes the door behind me and slides in on the other
“Mr. Merriweather, perhaps it would be better if you waited in the hallway,” Detective Margaret Folk says to me in a no nonsense sort of tone that tells me she is not used to having anyone disagree with her.I might be the first.But before I can even open my mouth, Shawna is speaking up on my behalf. “I see no reason why Mr. Merriweather can’t be in the room while you question Mrs. Thompson, unless of course, she would prefer for him to leave,” my lawyer says.Det. Folk arches an eyebrow, but it’s clear that Shawna is just as bold as the other woman, and when the investigator looks at Julia to see what she would like to do, Julia says, “I would like for him to say.”Shawna doesn’t gloat, but she does take a moment to introduce herself to Julia. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, offering her hand. Julia shakes it lightly as Shawna tells her her name and says, “You have nothing to worry about.”Julia smiles at Shawna, but I can tell she’s nervous. She doesn’t want to be having this co
I am floating. I don’t feel as if I have a body anymore. I am only a spirit, hovering above the earth a little ways. I can’t feel a single thing--not my hands or feet or inner organs. Even my head feels lighter than air. My memory is hazy, and all I can recall is that something awful has happened. For a few moments, I try to remember if there’s a chance I am actually dead, and I feel like I am hovering above the ground because I am doing just that. Slowly, the memories come back to me. Just as they sink into my mind, reminding me about the window, about the pain and the blood, about the horror of seeing Jeff lying there, not on top of the car but partially through the roof of the vehicle, the feeling of my body begins to sink in as well. I can feel my eyelashes fluttering on my cheeks as I attempt to open my eyes. I can feel my hand resting on something soft. A bed, I think. My legs are stiff. My other hand… I can’t feel it at all. It’s as if I only have one now. Remembering what hap
I lie awake, staring at the ceiling above my bed, unable to sleep, though it’s getting late, and I know I have to go to work tomorrow. I can’t help but stretch my arm out across the bed, which I find cold and empty. Julia should be here, but she’s not. My thoughts return to her. Where is she now? How is she doing? Is Thompson with her? Is she hurt? Does she need me? My mind refuses to slow as all of the possibilities circle around. I wonder if I will ever be able to get her back.My phone is on, just in case she calls. I get all sorts of emails all time of day, so it is constantly chirping. I have learned to ignore it. Until I realize it isn’t just chiming to let me know an email has arrived. The phone is ringing.Hastily, I pick it up from my nightstand, praying that it’s Julia, but when I see that it is Stringer, my heart races just the same. I pray he has good news, that he’s gotten Julia back, and they are on their way to my home.“Stringer?” I say upon answering. “What’s going on
Glass grinds into my knees as I am tugged against the windowsill. Jeff is doing his best to pull himself back up into the apartment, but my grip on him is slipping. My knees are on fire as the glass slices deeper and deeper. I grab the windowsill with my free hand in an attempt to keep myself from flying out into the night air, but the broken glass cuts deep into my palm. Blood coats the window ledge and begins to drip down, red raindrops flying toward Jeff’s face.He is terrified. No longer drunk, the reality of what is happening has him sobered. He has my wrist and is trying to pull himself back up, but he is too heavy for me to lift. I hear Stringer coming to my aid, but Jeff reaches up with his other hand and grabs hold of me, and I am pulled further out the window. Glass digs into my chest, scraping down my stomach. I see the street below, and terror grabs hold of me even more strongly than my husband. With my last effort, I grab ahold of the window with my other hand as my legs
The driver wanted to help me carry my stuff up the stairs, but I insisted that he leave me. Now, I am standing outside of the familiar apartment door where I lived with Jeff for over two years. It seems foreign to me, like a place I was never meant to be in the first place. The fact that I’ve come back here of my own choice seems surreal. I stand staring at the door for a long moment, unable to force myself to take this last step. I’ve made it this far. I just need to go inside. I just need to speak to Jeff and let him know that I’ll stay with him as long as he promises to leave Braxton alone. The fact that he didn’t choose the money tells me that he’s so focused on winning, he isn’t thinking straight. I know this isn’t about me. It’s about allowing another man to dictate his fate. Jeff refuses to let that happen, even when that other man is a billionaire and his boss.I hear footsteps echoing up the nearby stairwell and know I need to go in. I don’t need neighbors seeing me standing
She’s gone. I can hardly believe it. I’m still standing in the foyer, near the window, where I watched my driver take her away, wondering how in the world I’m going to function without Julia here.I have no idea. Everywhere I look, I’m going to see her. Every room I walk into, I’ll smell her perfume. Every time I lay down in my bed, I’ll feel her beside me. I’ll see her near the pool, at the dining room table, in the gardens. And… in her art room. How can I possibly go into that room again without feeling the ghost of her?It’s obvious to me that Julia is making a huge mistake, but I can’t change her mind. It was clear to me when I saw her face that she was resolved and wasn’t going to be swayed. The idea of her walking back into that apartment, of her trying to live with Jeff Thompson again, as his wife, makes my skin crawl. I can’t bear to think of him touching her. Tears sting my eyes, and I have to rest my hand against the windowsill to keep from doubling over as a wave of nausea
Braxton’s face has my heart leaping up into my throat. After my initial statement, letting him know that I have to go, I don’t know how to explain myself to him, to tell him that I can’t stay or why.“What do you mean you have to go?” Braxton asks, taking a few cautious steps toward me but stopping well short of touching me. “Why would you need to go?”I clear my throat, swallowing hard. “Because… it’s for the best if I do.”His eyes widen in shock. “For the best? For who?”“For everyone,” I tell him. “Especially you.”“No, Julia,” he says as he shakes his head emphatically. “It is most definitely not best for me.”I disagree with him. “Braxton, I heard what happened today. Jeff didn’t take the settlement, right?”He doesn’t answer, only continues to stare at me, unblinking. I don’t need him to answer. I already know I am right.“For him to turn down that sort of money, it tells me he will be relentless, Braxton. He’s never going to stop. Never. He won’t leave us in peace. I need to g