Andera's pov. No!Every cell In my brain screamed No that this was wrong on all shades, but my body knew what it wanted, who she wanted...And he's standing behind me, hands brushing the underside of my breasts. His movements are calculated and deliberate. I don't have a moment to feel guilty for treating Carol so poorly, I don't have time to feel guilty for what I plan on doing to Thane in our next meeting.All my life, I had lived to please people, first Pa Eugene. He made me study twice as much as a child my age should, and I did. I didn't play like a kid anymore; when he died, and Duncan Reinhardt took guardianship over me, I was so scared he'd throw me out one day, so I said and did everything according to how he wanted. Then I married Thane, and for two years, I played the role of devoted wife to him. This time, I'm putting my needs first. This time I'm putting my pleasure first. I can be selfish and take whatever Thane offers, after all, it's only for a short while. “What wa
Andrea's pov. He's.. not done? “Thane, I told you. I'm not going that far.” It came out sounding like a plea. Thane briefly shut his eyes and opened them.“Believe me, Andera. I'm all about your pleasure,” he said as he spread my legs wider. My heartbeat accelerated in anticipation. “Th...Thane.” I moaned his name when his hot tongue licked the length of my slit.“Holy fuck!” I cried out. Thane's tongue swirled around my lower lips, his breath fanning my core. He alternated between slow, lazy strokes and fast, hurried ones. My hips bucked off the island. I grabbed a fist full of Thane's hair, riding his face. Thane increased his pace. I was nearly sure I was whimpering in gibberish when he dipped his tongue into my wet heat, his thumb circling my clit. His fingers joined the ceremony. I was still swimming the high of the first o*gsam when the second one started building. I came with a throat-tearing cry. My body going numb with pleasure. “That was...” I panted, at a loss for words
Thane's povSEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO. Things like this are why I left home in the first place. Everyone is here with a smile, pretentious smile. It's my father's birthday; the Great Duncan Reinhardt is about to retire. I have been overseeing the company for some months now, but today it would be made official. I would become the CEO of Renihardt's infrastructures, and there's so much I plan to do, so many ideas to grow the company but first....My eyes scanned the party, looking for her. I'm always looking for her. I'm always ignoring her. This unhealthy habit started when she turned nineteen. I was home that day. Only my father ever bought her gifts. My sister's didn't like her and my mother... Well, my mother was too busy with the men... Boys she dates to be concerned about anyone in this family. I hadn't been home for so long that I expected to see Andera as a little red-haired girl running the hallway with a crown of flowers on her hair. That was how I remembered her. Ander
Thane's Pov.At thirty-four, I have accomplished what many spend their whole lives trying yet failing to achieve. However, there are things that I regret immensely. In my early and mid-twenties, I was reckless, overbearing, and selfish. I wouldn't say I'm any better now, but at least I'm willing to admit that I, too, have flaws.If I could go back in time, I would never have been so angry at the prospect of marrying Andrea. I would treat her like the queen - the Empress she is. I would give in to the love I was starting to have for her.I can't go back in time, but I can control how the future would be. Andera doesn't realize it yet, but she sits at the center of my universe. It's crazy how much I'm in love with her now. In the morning when I wake up, it's her smile that comes to my mind before anything else, when I close my eyes to sleep, her voice is the lullaby that gives me sweet dreams.Dreams about me, her, Tiffany, and many other kids. I want a big family with Andera. And I w
Andera's pov ONE MONTH AGO.They say the enemy of your enemy is your friend. I don't know about that. Marcus's creepy smile made my skin crawl. Even the way his eyes darted between me and the lukewarm coffee he offered me. I have half a mind not to drink it, not only because it's not hot, but also because a small part of me doesn't trust him.I sat in the spacious conference room, in a few weeks, we would be having a meeting here, and by we, I mean Thane and I. “An alliance.” He repeated himself, stoking his goatee. Uneas washed over me, but I didn't let it show on my face. “Yes.” I answered, even though it wasn't a question. “we both want to get back at Thane for something.”Marcus's eyes lightened. He giggled. A grown ass forty year old man giggled, but there was no mirth in his eyes, Marcus had this air around him that was very disturbing. Add a little bit of white, green, and red make-up; he could pass for the Joker. But I was willing to put aside my reservations and work wi
Thane's Pov. Andera's face paled like she had just seen a ghost walk past. If I didn't know her well enough, I would have thought she pissed her pants. Right now, I'm not sure I know her well enough. Not that she pissed herself or anything, but because she planned with Marcus to destroy my entire life and career. I know Andera still harbors hatred for me, but still, trying to frame me of corporate fraud and tax evasion? I would have spent my entire life in jail if I wasn't smart enough to keep tabs on Marcus.I knew the man was always jealous of my success. So I planted spies around him.Rick, one of the FBI agents - and also a friend of mine marched up to me. Andera shot up from her seat, her face white. “Wh..Wh.. ” she stuttered, looking from Rick to a confused Marcus. I glanced at Andera, hurt tightened my chest. She really did plan with Marcus.When I heard the information from my sources that Andera was allying with my enemy, I waved it off. I thought even though she hated m
Melissa's pov. I didn't stay in one hotel for too long. I was running away from something, someone whom I didn't know, but I knew he would stop at nothing to hurt me. Sometimes, while staring at the ceiling of the luxurious suites I stayed in, I wondered if it would be better to turn myself to the cops. Tell them I planned to murder my father by overdose but he ended up in a coma. If I did, I'd be on death row, and I love life too much. I loved MY life too much. I stretched my hands up in the air, laying back down on the bed; my nail polish was getting old and worn out; between being blackmailed and trying to figure out how I was going to save myself, there was no chance for a manicure. I no longer slept well at night, resulting in ugly bags under my eyes. I was stuck in Seattle for God knows how long. ‘Take Andera out of the way, and you would be the only one Thane has for comfort.’ my blackmailer's last text read. I laughed to myself. I laughed at him; he was foolish. Even if
Andera's pov. I broke my promise to myself. I swore no man would ever see my tears again yet I was weak before Thane. I allowed myself to be vulnerable. Thane challenged me to go on with my revenge, and that Is exactly what I will do. After he walked out on me in that storage room, I took time to reflect on so many things, and when I eventually came out, I had wrapped my heart in iron, leaving the old Andera behind- the one who has a soft spot and could easily be manipulated by Thane. My decision was made: I would hit Thane with my last blow, and the second that was done, I, Rosa and the kids would get on the next flight to Boston. I will put everything behind me afterward. So far, it's been five days since Marcus's arrest. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart raced to see if it was a message from Thane and every time, I was always disappointed; I cursed myself silently for allowing Thane to crawl under my skin this much. “Ready to go home?” Rosa's voice came from behind me. I no
Thane's pov. I sat in stunned silence, my gaze locked with Imogen. Marcus Archer. It now made sense; he was after me because I sent him to jail, and he was also threatening Andera because she opted out of his evil plans to frame me up.“When did this happen?” I asked Imogen, drumming my fingers on my desk. “A few weeks ago,” she said. “Thane, I've been hearing some rumors that Marcus is plotting something against you, the CEO of Renihardt's infrastructures.”Imogen sighed. Her eyes softened as she spoke to me. “Thane, I know we may not see eye to eye on everything but you're still my brother, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Please, do whatever it takes to avoid Marcus. He's...insane.”The headache that had been there all day morphed into a migraine. I rubbed my temples, trying to steady my train of thought. Marcus's last words to me from when he was being arrested replayed in my head like a broken record. ‘I will make you suffer you bàstard. I will kill you,’I had
Thanes pov.I wasn't use to a bodyguards presence around, but it was necessary. As Atlas talked, my eyes kept drifting to the scar on his face. There must be a nasty history to it; whatever it was, I'm certain I was better off not knowing. We were In my home office while Andera and the kids were downstairs watching cartoons. “Mike says he won't speak. Apparently, Petro is used to this kind of interrogation. Like he has been through this before.” Atlas says. “How about we offer him something he wants? I suggested “There has to be a way to make him speak. I could pay him double, even triple of what his current boss pays him.”Atlas stood straighter. “I don't think his loyalties lie with money. He holds his boss in high esteem.”A long sigh escaped my lips, I needed to find who was after me and my family. I had a long list of suspects-Business rivals, competitors, some members of my board I don't trust. The headache that had been rising all day began to throb.“Tell Mike to keep workin
Thane's pov.“I almost killed him, Love,” I whispered, gently playing with Andera's hair. The bedside clock showed it was nine P.M. She curled next to me, her head nested on my shoulder and the blanket covering us. Intimacy with Andera was what we both needed to let go of the tension. Her soft body plastered to mine, her shallow breaths and sweet moans, that silent scream she always does before she órgasms. It wouldn't be wrong to say it's therapeutic.She looked at me with those hazel eyes. Eyes I wanted to see every morning when I wake up, and every night before I go to bed. “I almost killed him when I stopped beating him; a part of me was disgusted, but a bigger part of me wanted to finish what I started.”I recounted the entire incident to Andera. Leaving out the nefarious words Petro said about her. She rubbed my arm with her hand.“I wouldn't fault you for it. He killed Melissa. Once we can get evidence of that, we'll let the justice system finish him off”Andera was still di
Thane's povMike and I tied the guy up and tossed him into the boot of my car. My nose scrunched up as he bled over the car. I would hand him over to the police after I'd got the answers I wanted and also deal with him for daring to threaten Andera.“How's your hand?” Mike asked. He had cleaned it up and bandaged it, since it was only a bullet graze. I didn't even know he carried a first aid kit with him, the flesh was sore and burning, not to mention that I would need to have a doctor take a better look at it and treat it properly.“It's fine,” I said as I slipped into the car. Mike would drive us to the basement where they carried out their interrogation work. We couldn't hand him over to the authorities yet, not when I don't know who sent him, as I sure as hell wouldn't take him to my home, so Mike's basement was the safest place.Mike drove in silence. My mind ticked with anticipation; it was a good thing the bullet hit my left hand; I was right-handed, and I could beat the living
Andera's pov.He did not come back soon, but he promised and so I waited. I waited an hour, one hour turned into two, two into three, and three multiplied into six. Six hours and Thane wasn't back home. I paced back and forth in the living room. Timmy and Tiffany were in their room with Becky, oblivious to the situation at hand. Timmy had come downstairs to ask for his Daddy, his face fell into a sad frown when he learned Thane wasn't back home yet. I dialed Thane's number again and it went straight to voicemail. “Thane, where are you? Please come back to me.” I whispered on the verge of tears. Atlas- the bodyguard stationed to watch me and the kids inside the house, finally decided to crack the silence. He had been standing in the corner of the living room for hours; I was too anxious about Thane's safety to wonder how he managed to stay glued to one spot for hours.“Ma'am, you have to calm down. Your husband went out with one of our best bodyguards. If something went wrong, he
Thane's povAndera's face paled like she'd seen a ghost. The kids stop trying to catch the butterflies fluttering around. “Andera?” I took two long strides to where she was shaking like a leaf. “Baby, what's it?”She opened her mouth to speak but shook her head and stopped “It...it's...n... nothing,” she says to Timmy and Tiffany. I don't miss the way she tries to hide her shaky hands or nervousness. When Andera looks back at me, her eyes say the words she's afraid to speak. Something is indeed wrong. “Here, sit down.” I lead her to the chair closest to us and sit her down, then I hand her a bottle of water. “Drink this, slowly.”She takes a large gulp, her hand tightening around mine. “Thane.” she whispers “My..my phone. A text. I don't ..” I pick up the phone from the floor. Its screen had gone blind from the fall. “What did the text say?”Andera tries to talk but stutters; I pat her back, rubbing circles over it. “Breathe. Just calm down, whatever it is, we'll sort it out.
Andera's povThe scent of bacon and coffee waffled into my nose, urging me to wake up. I cracked an eye open to meet Thane's disarming smile. “Wake up sleepy,” he whispered and kissed the side of my face. “The morning bells are ringing.”I yawned, smiling at the sight of him. “Can I get an hour more?”Thane sat by my side and pulled the blanket away from me. “Thane,” I grumbled. “It's Sunday. Let me sleep some more; You didn't exactly let me rest after we got back from the restaurant last night.”After last night's successful dinner between my father and Thane, we celebrated in our passionate way. Thane didn't let me sleep until the early hours of this morning, not that I'm complaining or anything.“Eat up, Love, there's something I want to show you.” he stroked my hair, his fingers smoothing the tousled strands. “Can't you show me while I'm in bed?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite my growing excitement.A small chuckle rumbled in his throat. I felt the sound all the w
Thane's pov “I'm not nervous,” Andera murmured. “I am completely relaxed.” she blew out a deep breath. “See, fine.”I swallowed down the laugh working its way out of me. “You're completely relaxed, hun? Is that why there's sweat on your face, even though the AC is on full blast?” I teased, my eyes crinkling at the corners.Andera glared at me, but her face quickly softened when I pulled her in for a hug. “It's one dinner date with your father. How many things could go wrong?” She mumbled something unintelligible, snuggling closer to me “A lot.” Mr Campbell, Andera's father was in Seattle. I know he's not a big fan of mine, Andera had once subtly mentioned that, but despite his reservations, he didn't interfere in our lives- yet“It will be fine, Love,” I assured her. Andera sighed, “How do you know that?”My lips twitched into a small smug smile. “I know because I have my charm. It's impossible to dislike me for long. Look at you, you came around, and so will your father.”An
Andera's pov“Please, Daddy. Pleaseeee”Tiffany begged, giving Thane adorable puppy eyes. If we weren't running late for work and preschool, I would have stood much longer to watch Thane battle with indecisiveness. It was cute to see the refined and powerful CEO of a multi-billion dollar company struggle to say ‘No’ to a nearly five-year-old kid. “Tiffany. You can't.” I said softly but firmly, helping Thane out. His shoulders visibly sagged with relief. This little girl had him wrapped around her small fingers “You cannot wear a tiara and heels to school. It's against school policies.”She grumbled and looked up at her daddy, waiting for him to intervene. Thane shrugged apologetically and offered to buy her a new doll house if she cooperated. “I'm sorry sweetie, but mommy is right. I could, however, buy you a new doll house instead.”Tiffany considered the offer for a beat, before grinning and accepting “Deal?” “Deal”They both shook hands like they had closed a business contr