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Chapter Fifty One
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Thank goodness, she thought.
At least they could give each other some space now. How come he always knew what to say and she never did? How come he never seemed to feel awkward?
He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned across to do hers. "Let’s move." he said. "The helicopter is waiting."
The first thing that hit her when she stepped out onto the island was the intense heat and the colours. Deep green palm trees shaded milky white sand, and a parrot added a flash of exotic red as it took refuge in the trees clustered in the centre of the island. The hot sun was a ball of orange and the sea was a magic carpet of glittering jewelled blue.
"It's so beautiful" she said. Matt nodded and took her arm and drew her away from the helicopter. "Here we are. Home sweet home...well, not really home home, but you get it. Otherwise known as Paradise Villa. All the bedrooms open onto the terrace and o
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SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Two
He glanced up from his phone. "You don't wanna swim?" he asked her.She nodded. "Yeah. I don’t want to.""Why not? Swimming is the only way to stay cool. You said you were hot"Savannah slid off her sandals. "Actually, I’m not that hot." she lied.A sardonic smile touched the corners of his mouth. "You look hot to me." he said. Leaving that ambiguous comment floating in the air, he leaned across and passed her a glass of chilled lemonade. "What was wrong with the selection of bikinis Rosa bought you?""Nothing was wrong with them.""Then why aren’t you wearing one of them?" he askedAbandoning subtlety in favour of honesty, Savannah glared at him. "Because there is no way I’m wearing a bikini in front of you!" she said.He frowned. "Why not?"
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Three
Drawing up her shoulders, she turned around again and stared coolly at him. “If you think because we were once lovers that you can take up where we left off, you’re sadly mistaken.”He blinked in surprise and then anger replaced the surprise. “God, Savvie. Do you think so little of me that I would try to force you into a sexual relationship?” he asked. "What exactly do you take me for?"“You don’t want to know the answer to that.” She replied. "What do you expect me to think? You are the one who has been.... I don't know... Flirting"He swore long and hard. He knew she was right though. He had been flirting, because he still wanted her, but he never planned on making her do anything she didn't want to. But her statements annoyed him so much. “What makes you think I would ever want to sample my brother’s secondhand goods anyway?” he said without thinking.She balled her hands into fists and forced a carel
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Four
Now he had brought Savannah to the island and now they’d all be forced to face the inevitable confrontation. A part of him dreaded it, but the other part of him knew he’d never be able to move forward unless this was fully resolved. But it would be done when he decided and not before. He and Savannah had too much to work out between them before they tackled the issue of Enzo and her infidelity.“This isn’t a good time, man,” he said in a low voice when he reached his brother.Unease flickered across Enzo's face, and he glanced nervously over Matt's shoulder toward Savannah. “I can see that.” he said. "I didn't know you would be here honestly."Matt turned and saw Savannah tremble and then her fingers flexed and curled into fists. She was as pale as death, her eyes large and haunted. “It's okay” he prompted when Enzo made no move to leave. "The island is bi
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Five
Matt closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers.There was no easy way to say this and his mom would know soon enough now that Savannah was with him. Best she know now so she could get used to it.“Mom, you should know… I'm at the island already.... And I'm not alone... Savannah is with me.” he said.There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end followed by thick silence. “I see,” she finally said.“I guess inviting Leila is out of the question then.” She said.Matt blew out his breath at his mother’s snippy tone. Leila Donavan was a woman his mom had been shoving at him ever since Savannah had disappeared.Though his mother had never come out and said I told you so, she didn’t have to. It was there as plain as if she’d hung a banner.She&rsqu
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Six
Stefan was silent for a moment. “Look man, I’m sorry. I get that this has you tied in knots. Personally, I think you ought to go out, have a few drinks and get laid. Come off that self-imposed celibacy stint you’ve been on since you threw her out. I know you so I won’t go there.”Matt laughed and shook his head.“Dash wants to talk to you a minute so hang on. Both of you have women in your lives now and I don't understand you guys anymore. Dash has been God knows where for how long now.”“See ya,” Matt muttered to empty air.A second later, Dash came on the phone.“I won’t repeat all Stefan has said other than to ditto everything. What I wanted to tell you is that I won't be around for a while either.”“Oh? Eloping with Tess?” Matt asked playfully.Dash muttered a
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Seven
“Let me take care of you, Savvie. Let’s forget for the time being all the problems in the past and just concentrate on the present.” Matt said.“You can’t be serious.” She replied.“I’m very serious. I’ve never been more serious in my life. We have a lot to work out. We can’t do that if we aren’t willing to spend the time together and talk.”She’d never wanted to break down and cry more in her entire life. If only he’d been willing to listen before. If only he’d been willing to talk, to understand then. The one person she should have been able to count on above all others had coldly looked through her and called her a liar. And now he wanted to kiss and make up?He touched her face with his fingers, and she was surprised that they trembled against her skin. His eyes were imploring her and she wavered
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Eight
His eyes took her in for a few seconds before he said. "Good morning""Good morning" Savannah replied.“I'm sorry I won't be able to have breakfast with you. I have to run out to go see that investor for a few hours.” he paused then added. "Would you like to come with me?"Savannah shook her head. "Aren't you kind of in a hurry?" she asked."Yes" he said, "Will you be all right alone?"She nodded, relieved that she wouldn’t immediately have to face him. She needed time to regain her composure. Time to mentally reconstruct her defenses.“Yes, of course. When will you be back?” she asked.He checked his watch. “It’s almost eight now. I shouldn’t be later than noon. We can go to the mainland together and have lunch in a restaurant there and then maybe go for a walk later if you like.”There wasn’t much she could say
SILENT DESIRES Chapter Fifty Nine
She looked a lot like the old Savannah. The Savannah he’d been crazy about. The one who always had a ready smile, was quick to laugh and who offered her affection freely.The reserved, angry Savannah was someone he didn’t know.She seemed a little nervous and unsure as she came to stand by the bar, and he hated that there was a tangible barrier between them. Before she wouldn’t have hesitated to launch herself into his arms and give him one of her big, squeezing hugs.Now? He ached to get close enough to her that she didn’t withdraw.“You ready?” he asked, forcing a casual note into his voice.She nodded. He put his hand to her back, noting the expanse of flesh bared by the sundress. Rosa had done well. The dress fit her like a dream, molding in all the right places. The bodice was held up by ends tied at the nape of her neck; but her flesh was
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His hold was almost bruising now. “I know you have stopped loving me. I deserve it, but I love you, baby. You are the air that I breathe. The only music my heart wants to hear. The other half of my soul. I will make you love me again. I can do it. You still want me,” he said as one hand cupped her breast with its already tight peak.She turned her head and cupped his face between her palms so she could see into his eyes. “You love me?” she asked.“For a long time. Since before that party I think, but to admit it would have been to admit the end of my independence. Fool that I was, I thought that mattered. Without you all the freedom in the world would be a tiny cell in a prison of loneliness.”Her jaw dropped open. She couldn’t help it. Not only had he said he loved her, but he’d gotten positively poetic about it. “Those are pretty mushy sentiments.” She said.He shrugged, his nature showing stronger in that m
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Eight
Neal Patchett didn’t even sound sorry.“Because he doesn’t love me,” she fairly shouted into the phone.“No reason to yell, missy. I may be getting old, but I hear just fine. The man wants you and for him, that’s probably as close to love as any woman will ever get.”She curled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. Could her father be right?“You should not have done it.” She said.“Tess, you wouldn’t take anything else from me.”“I didn’t want anything, just your love.” That was all she’d ever wanted from the two most important men in her life and the one thing she was destined not to get. “I’ve got to go.”“No, wait, child.”“What?” she asked with a lackluster voice.“I do love you.” he said.Four words she’d longed to hear since she was a child. They touched her now, healed some thin
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Seven
The rejection she felt was shattering.“I thought you cared about me. I knew it wasn’t love, but this thing between you and my father—it’s so demeaning. The knowledge that our marriage was the result of an arrangement between you and my father so you could get your company back…” Words failed her for several seconds as she struggled to keep the tears at bay.Finally, she swallowed. “I never would have suspected anything like that, but it explains so much.”He stepped toward her, his hand extended, “Tess, please, we can make this marriage of ours work.”She reared back, almost falling off the sofa. “Don’t come near me. I don’t want you touching me.” When she remembered how he had blackmailed her into marriage, using his body as the bait, she shuddered.His expression was that of a jaguar thwarted of its prey.“I want some time to think. Alone.” She said.He shook his head in sharp n
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She glared at him, anger and resentment boiling in a cauldron inside her that was ready to explode all over him. She jumped up and faced him, fury making her body rigid. “I don’t have to convince you of anything.” He was the one who’d been caught taking a shower while his former girlfriend lounged around answering his phone. “If you won’t tell me, I’ll call my father and ask him.”She turned to do just that, but his words stopped her.“Do not go. I will tell you.” Dash's complexion had gone gray. “You thought your father tried to get us together, but you did not realize the methods he used?”The methods had been pretty obvious, or at least she had thought so at the time. “He sent you to check on me in Athens.”“He sent me, yes, but not to check on you. I was under duress to convince you of marriage.” Dash said.That explained so much. Dash looked sick and she could imagine why. A proud m
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Five
She leaned forward and kissed him, still holding his face in her hands. She stroked her hands through his hair and then over his cheeks again, smiling a tender smile all the while.“We make quite a pair, don’t we? We’ve made mistakes. But I like to think that we haven’t given up. And that maybe we’re stronger for it all. It makes me hurt that you’ve given up so much for me. Your family. The place you grew up in. And you gave it up, bought a beautiful house you knew I’d love all because you loved me. If I don’t forgive you then I’m denying myself that love and I don’t want to live without you, Matt. Or your love. Not anymore. The last months have been the worst of my life. I don’t ever want to relive that kind of agony again.”He pulled her into his arms, leaning forward so they didn’t tumble into the sand. He held her so tightly she couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. They were together. Finally. Without all the hurt and pain of the past. Without
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Four
The flight and subsequent transportation to the villa on the beach was seamless. Matt had changed his mind about going back to the paradise villa as he didn't want his mom or Enzo showing up again and upsetting Savannah so they had gone to moon island instead,the place where David and Emily had gotten married.Matt had ensured that Savannah was given every consideration. She was endlessly pampered and waited on and when they arrived on the island, they were greeted not only by the physician who would be monitoring her care, but a personal nurse who would reside at the villa with her and Matt.When Savannah got her first look at the sprawling villa, it took her breath away. They drove through a gate and down a winding driveway that was lined with lush, gorgeous flowers. Just for a moment the driveway paralleled the beach before it ended in front of the main house.The house couldn’t be more than a few steps fr
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Three
The tacit agreement to her fears made Tess's knees give way and she sank onto the side of the bed. “Are you saying you spent the night with my husband?” she asked. Her voice trembled, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted to die.“Are you sure you want me to answer that question?” Olivia asked.“No,” Tess whispered, her vocal cords too constricted for normal conversation, “but I need you to.”Olivia hesitated. When she spoke, her voice had changed, become more tentative. “Perhaps you had better discuss this with Dash.”Tess didn’t answer. She just held the phone to her ear and stared at the far wall of the room she shared with Dash. Was this what death felt like? Your whole body going numb and your emotions imploding until there was nothing left?Another voice intruded on her blanked out mental state. “Tess? Is that you, honey?”And she realized she wasn’t numb. “Don’t call me
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and Two
Dash called again at dinner that evening from Rome. She picked the call, feeling subdued and just plain not up to arguing with his mother or sister about taking the call. Then she stood up and left the table.“Hello, Dash. Was there something you wanted?” she asked in a voice that sounded dead to her own ears.“Yes, Tess, I want many things, but I called to apologize for my behavior when you told me about the baby.” He sounded tired. “I want our baby, honey. I am sorry I was less than enthusiastic when you told me.”She dismissed the apology as too little, too late. Perhaps if he hadn’t been treating her so hurtfully for days beforehand, it would have been enough. “Don’t call me honey. You don’t love me and I don't see any reason why you should. I don’t ever want you to use that word with me again.”“Tess, I…” He hesitated.Strange to hear her super-confident husband hesitant.
SILENT DESIRES Chapter One Hundred and One
Stepping out into the sunshine from the air-conditioned building, Tess asked herself where she could go. Looking up and down the busy street, she knew she wanted only to get away from the crush of people. An image of the grounds surrounding the Black villa rose in her mind like Valhalla to her ravaged state. She would take a taxi to the grounds and then when she was ready, she could walk home.Having a plan of action helped calm her churning emotions enough to wipe her tears away and wave down a cab.She had the driver drop her on the outskirts of the Black estate. Luckily, she remembered the code for the small gate in the far wall. She and Elena had used it once before on an afternoon walk.Once inside the estate’s walls, she walked only far enough to hide herself in the trees, then sank to the ground. Her back resting against the trunk of one of them, she let the tears fall freely. It hurt so much.
