"Oh, man!" Gabrielle looked up from her messages. "I'm going to have to get over to the university. Trouble with a painting. An accident involving solvent getting dumped on a rare-get this. Brynne-Abigail Wainwright." Gabrielle looked absolutely horrified, stood up abruptly and gathered her bags. "Not a good combination.""No, that's not good at all. Brynne said, shaking her head, "the solvent will eat through the canvas if they don't neutralize..."I tried to keep up with the art geek stuff they talked about, but it wasn't easy for me. I don't think I have an artistic bone in my body. I can appreciate it. though. Brynne's portrait was the epitome of art in my opinion."Do you want a ride back? Neil will take you over there if you like," I offered."No, that's okay, I'll get a cab-it'll be faster. I need to go right now, but thanks. I'll see you at your place tomorrow night, Ethan. Enjoy your lunch, you two.""Let me know how it works out," Brynne told her. "If anyone can fix the mess
"Yes." We both answered her at the same time. Ivan met eyes with me and we had that communication for an instant, but then turned it off just as quickly in the next instant. That conversation was for another time. This was social."Close to killing him!" I smirked at Brynne. "No, seriously, I keep him alive and tolerate his many annoyances, and Ivan is dutifully grateful, isn't that right, Ivan?""I suppose... it's better than wanting me dead," he answered. Brynne laughed. "Who wants you dead, Ivan?""Lots of people!" Ivan and I spoke again at the same time.We both laughed at a bemused Brynne and then the waiter showed up to do his thing, so it was a few minutes before I was able to explain about my very eclectic cousin."Hmmmm, where to start?" I paused for effect. "Our mothers were sisters and we've been around each other since... forever. Without the blood con- nection I doubt we'd ever have met, though. Ivan is aristocracy, you know. In heredity and in the eyes of the World Arche
.My thoughts were interrupted by the car door as Ivan opened it for Brynne, kissing her on both cheeks and making a big show of saying good-bye.At the same time, that fucking photographer started snapping pictures! They looked like celebrities even if they weren't, and Ivan technically was. Christ Almighty!Brynne looked stunning on the street talking to my cousin. How would I ever survive this, I thought. The desire for a smoke nearly had me gasping, but my vice would have to wait for the moment."Good-bye, Ivan! It was so lovely to meet you today, and it'll be wonderful seeing you again at the Mallerton Gala soon," Brynne got into her seat and smiled up at him."It was lovely to meet you too, Brynne Bennett," Ivan grinned and then bent down to speak to me. "Take care of this gorgeous girl for me, now, would you? No fits and tantrums, okay, E? You can do it." He was laughing as he shut the door."Well that was fun," I said sarcastically as I pulled away from the curb. "I like your
Where to pick up food? We liked a lot of different things. I would have brought lasagna from Bellisima's, but I immediately was reminded about Car- valetti being Italian and shot that idea right down to hell. That bastard saw her naked today.Brynne loved Mexican, but it was far better when she made things from scratch than any restaurant in town. I really loved the South American influ- ences on what she liked to make. I decided on Indian and rang in an order for some butter chicken, lamb curry and veggie salad. I was just leaving the restau- rant with the food when I sent off a quick text: Almost there, baby. I got Indian chicken & lamb.I received something right back from her: Hi. Really tired and just want bed. Can I skip dinner 2nite?What? I didn't like the sound of her message and immediately tried to figure out what she meant by it. A flicker of unease ran through me. Was she telling me not to come over, or just that she wasn't hungry? I couldn't tell from that text, and I re
"That's going to be Aunt Marie! Ethan, can you let her in? I'm up to my elbows here." From the kitchen. Brynne gestured to her frantic last-minute prep for dinner."I've got it." I gave her an air kiss and said, "Showtime, yeah?" She nodded back, looking beautiful, as always, in her long black skirt and purple top. The color was lovely on her, and since I now knew it was her fa- vorite, I had to believe in my luck that first time when I sent her the purple flowers.All in, baby.I opened the door to a lovely woman of whom I had no expectations other than knowing she was Brynne's great-aunt. Sister to her grandmother on her mum's side. But the person smiling at my doorstep was about as far from a grandmotherly female as you could get. With her unlined skin and dark red hair, she looked young and stylish and rather... hot for a woman who could not be above fifty-five."You must be Ethan that I'm hearing so much about," she said in a native tongue."And you must be Brynne's aunt Marie?"
"Please call me Jonathan, and bear with me a little more, my dear, as I take a further liberty." Dad leaned in and kissed her on the cheek! She blushed some more and got a little shy, but still she looked happy. I kept caressing up her back and really hoped it wasn't all too much... of everything."Easy there, old man." I said, shaking my head. "My girl. Mine." I drew her very close to me until she squeaked."I think they get it, Ethan," she said, pressing her hand up on my chest."Okay, as long as nobody forgets.""Kinda impossible for that to happen, baby."She called me baby. It's all good now, I thought, glad I could laugh at myself as we all got down to the purpose of coming together for the evening. "Chicken Marsala ...mmmm. Brynne darling, what is that in here?" Dad asked between bites. "It's really wonderful." "I used a chocolate wine to sauté the chicken."Interesting. I love what it does to the taste." Dad winked at Brynne. "So you're a gourmet?""Thank you, but not really a
"I'm right here, baby." I took her hand in one of mine. "Were you dream- ing?" "Yeah... it was weird." She left the bed and went into the loo. I heard water running and a glass being set down on the counter. I waited in bed for her to come back, and after a couple minutes she did.Boy. Did. She.She slinked out stark naked with a look in her eyes that I'd seen before. A look that says, I want sex and I want it NOW. "I think you know," she said in a sultry voice as she climbed on top of me and looked down, her hair falling forward like a pleasure goddess intent upon ravaging me."Brynne? What's going on?"Oh. fuck yes!My hands went up to her breasts without a thought. God! I cupped all that soft flesh in my hands and drew it toward my mouth. She arched and began grinding over my cock, which was now as wide awake as my brain. I forgot about her being out of commission because she sure wasn't acting like she was out of commission.I got my mouth over her nipple and sucked it in deep. I
"The US papers," Frances said, setting the stack on my desk. "There's an inter- esting article in the Los Angeles Times on members of Congress with children in active military service. Guess who they interviewed?""He must be one of the very few. Oakley will milk it for everything he can. Thanks for these." I tapped the stack of papers. "What about the other thing?" Frances looked very pleased with herself. "Picking it up when I go out to get lunch. Mr. Morris said it restored beautifully after so many years in the vault.""Thank you for seeing to that for me." Frances was a gem of an assistant. She ran my company office like a tight ship. I might organize the security, but that woman kept my business sorted, and I didn't underestimate her worth for an instant."She's going to love it." Frances hesitated at the door. "And did you still want me to clear your schedule for Monday?" "Yes, please. The Mallerton thing tonight and then we leave in the morning for Somerset. We'll drive back M
A Gift for the ReaderA Christmas Story-Ethan and Brynne's Very First Meeting24 December 2023LondonThe street was remarkably sparse considering it was Christmas Eve. Probably because it was so damn freezing cold outside people were smart enough to stay in. It was totally clichéd to be shopping for a gift at this late minute, but here I was pushing my way through the doors of Harrods in hopes of something really perfect for my aunt Marie. I knew I'd better get my ass in gear too, because I would be spending the day with her tomorrow and had nothing to show up with!Marie was hard to buy for because she was so unique and unconventional; it was ridiculously difficult to top her lifestyle. She also had money enough to get anything she desired. She reminded me of Auntie Mame from the movie in a lot of ways. From the exotic travels to the rich dead husbands to the fantastic dresses in her wardrobe.After three quarters of an hour I gave up and started to head outside, stop- ping for a mo
"Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them, okay?" I parked the car and went over to Brynne's side to help her out. "No peeking, Mrs. Blackstone, I want to do this right.""Eyes are closed. Mr. Blackstone," she said, standing before me. "My package. Give it to me, please."I retrieved it from the seat and placed it carefully in her hands. It was light, just a flat black box tied with a silver ribbon. "Ready?""I am." she said."Okay, keep them closed, and I'm going to pick you up and carry you.""Sounds very traditional," she said."I like to think of myself as a traditional guy, baby." I scooped her up, careful to arrange her dress so it wouldn't drag, and started walking up the gravel drive of Stonewell Court. The rocks crunched under my feet and you could hear the sound of the waves on the rocks far below us. It looked amazing and I hoped she liked it. The whole place was lit with torches in old urns and candles glowing inside glass luminaria on the ground. Even the upper
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind and familiar whiskers brushed at my neck. "Mrs. Blackstone, are you hiding in the garden at your own wedding party?" "Pretty much," I said leaning back into him in deep contentment."Awww, Christ in heaven! Not my mum too!" Ben growled at the dance floor where Simon was now doing a very lewd rumba with Mrs. Clarkson for a cheering crowd."Go get 'em. Ben." Ethan and I laughed at Ben's retreating back as he went off to rescue his mother from Simon's undulating hips.. "As insane as Simon looks right now, that crazy boy can dance," I said, still laughing. "I am not quite over the fact that you hired him to do our photos."Ethan smuggled into me a little deeper. "Don't remind me, please. He black- mailed me, you know. Said he would forgive the whole mess if he could secure the wedding photography for us. I figured that would be okay, so I agreed. Then he sent me the contract. Trust me when I say that your friend Simon has been well compensated for
Brynne had mentioned how the whole place was eerily quiet and that she'd never seen another person at the hotel, which made no sense with the Games happening. So that pretty much confirmed there were people involved at the highest levels. U.S. Secret Service, most likely. Westman was a dead man before he ever took Brynne from the flat. The senator had protectors in high places apparently. Westman had overstepped in his attempt at blackmail, and paid the ultimate price.Disaster averted, but still, far too fucking close for my comfort. This whole mess had happened for a reason. Very strange, but true. If Westman hadn't started stalking her, we wouldn't have met, or ever gotten together, or be about to marry and have a baby. It was all just a bit much to rationalize sometimes, even if it was our reality. I tried not to think about that part. Brynne was free to live a regular life now, with nobody out there plotting to take her away, or harm her, or bother with any aspect of her, and thi
Four weeks later..."So I hear that congratulations are in order for the two of you." Dr. Burnsley looked up from between Brynne's legs, where he was using the banana probe on her again. I realized I was definitely jealous of the probe. That fucking thing was seeing more action than my cock lately. Brynne wanted to keep things chaste in the bedroom for the previous couple of weeks to make our wedding night a little more special. The most goddamn ridiculous notion I'd ever heard of, but hell, I just did what I was told. Mostly."That's right. By our next visit she'll be Miss Bennett no more. It'll be Mrs. Blackstone from here on out." I gave Brynne a slow wink.She mouthed the words Love you. I love you too, my beauty. I thought my words."Lovely news, then," Dr. Burnsley said, now looking at the monitor as he found the black blob on the white blob with the beating heart, except our blob had grown considerably and didn't look even remotely blobish anymore. My eyes were transfixed-I cou
My attempt at killing him had obviously failed, because he now had a sharp blade pressed up against my neck, shocking me with its coldness, forcing me to stop struggling. The disappointment I felt was a bitter pill to swallow, but even worse was the heartbreaking sight of Ethan's face in the twilight. He stood not less than ten yards away from me. So close, but not close enough. Ethan's flat-out run had come to a screeching halt, his arms splayed out in surrender, his head shaking back and forth in a silent plea to Karl not to cut me. This....would be Ethan's undoing. His fear of the blade would propel him into any kind of negotiation to free me. I knew it. Ethan would sacrifice himself to keep me from having my throat slashed. Karl could not have chosen a better trigger for Ethan's fear in all the world.Events and sequences had come together in near-perfect harmony, but near was not enough for my needs right now and wouldn't be until I had her safe in my hands again.My dad had know
My first instinct was to rip the lamp out of the wall and start bashing Karl on the back of the head with it. I don't know how I didn't. I wanted to hurt him, make him suffer in agony for a long, long time before he died. The evil my mind imagined for him was not fit for anyone to ever know. I'd have to keep it buried inside me forever. No problems there.It took some time, but we got there eventually. Karl got bored in our small prison and started texting someone or playing a game. I couldn't tell. That's how I knew he had his phone and where it was. I would have to get it from him at some point and use it to call the only phone number I could remember-the phone number I'd had since my move to London four years ago. I did not know any other numbers by heart but I knew that one.I thought about how I could get to Karl's iPhone. In time I realized the only way was for me to dig deep into my psyche to where I was willing to go all in, as Ethan would say. To bet everything. To carefully
He gripped my chin roughly and pinched, turning me back to him. "Don't think you can play hard to get with me, Brynne," he said in a cruel voice, before he slammed his mouth over mine, his tongue pressing in and trying to invade me.."Karl. I'm pregnant-no, please stop, please!" I begged between gasps for air."Ugh... that bastard's spawn growing inside you is not the nicest thought, my dear, especially when I'm trying to fuck you. You really know how to cock block, you know," he complained, "but fine, have it your way. I can wait."Karl heaved himself off me and leaned on the wall, his eyes roving over body with lust. He adjusted himself at the crotch and sneered at me."Are-are you going to kill me?" I tried not to think about his motives and what would happen if he succeeded. I fought to stay calm and not run. I needed Karl to trust me a little for what I hoped I could manage to do. Not running from him would be the first step."I don't know yet. Maybe I will and maybe I won't." He
I checked my watch, wishing I could leave Lord's Cricket Ground right now, but I knew I had at least another hour here. Ivan had just finished announcing the archery and the media crew was done with their telecast, but the stands were still being cleared, and I knew that would take some time. I was giving my cousin the personal treatment, the same as I did for members of the royal fam ily, and so far, so good. The men's individual elimination had proved no great surprise, and I could think of nothing I wanted more than to get home to my girl, and back into her good graces. I had some humble pie being served to me this evening and I was good with that.Ivan was making his way over to me when my mobile went off. I hoped it was Brynne. She'd never replied to my text from earlier. I smiled when I saw her name... but I read what she had typed in her message. And then my whole world collapsed.I can't do this anymore with u. Ethan, u killed us last nite. My Old life is what I want back now.