Loraine and Jake were quietly laughing in the kitchen as they listened to Gil pepper Reno with questions. The inquest had started with safe questions about the resort, and then he very loudly asked Reno’s sexual preference to the current topic of his intentions for Loraine. Reno answered all of them with a laugh in his voice and never once got defensive or irritated. It was amazing how easy going he was. “I’m so glad he’s not a bigot. Not very many straight guys would be comfortable sitting and drinking with Gil, let alone being pawed the way I did,” Jake commented, watching them through the window in the wall that faced the living room.
“I’m glad too. Except for cheating spouses, he’s very easy with everything else. I kinda love him,” she blushed pouring lemon juice into the chicken souse.
Jake’s smile grew into a grin. “I’m so glad you said that. I always thought you’d be too traumatized to
Loraine wasn’t exactly sure what to say as she stood there, staring down at the little person sitting on the couch partially hidden by Melody’s body. She hadn’t believed it when Reno told her about his phone conversation with Ruiz that had visibly rattled him on their way back to the resort. But now as she stared at him at his beautiful little face that was the miniature version of his father, there was no doubt that this was Reno’s son. A whirlwind of emotions bombarded her but one stood out prominently—jealousy. Not of the boy but of his mother. She’d actually dreamed of giving him his first kid, his first son. The past few days with Reno had made her want a number of things, hope for many more as she excitedly planned for a future that at the moment looked bleak. Had Georgia come back? Was she hoping for reconciliation with Reno? Why else would she bring their son to him? Is this where I lose Reno? Just the thought of the possibility made
Reno paced in his office, suddenly feeling caged. He never expected this, least of all, he never expected Georgia to do this without an ulterior motive. What was she planning? Was this kid a preview to the real gag? What the hell was she thinking doing this, now?“Reno, what are you thinking?”Reno looked at Ruiz, seated in the chair with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked relaxed but the look in his eyes betrayed him. He was worried. Reno had told him a little about Georgia. Ruiz was actually glad she’d skipped on him. His exact words were ‘you dodged a bullet bro, that woman is conniving and nothing but trouble.’Well, it looked like trouble had come looking.“That Georgia is up to something and it’s not good.”He nodded. “What about the kid? He’s definitely your son.”Reno sighed, halting his pacing. He didn’t know what to think about the kid. At one time, he&
He rested his arm over his eyes. “Do what?”“Groan like you are upset. Tyler is three and in a strange place. He might get scared and I told him he could come sleep with us if he does.”Reno groaned again and yelped right after when Loraine pinched him. “Why do you keep doing that?”Reno moved his arm and looked at her. “Could we please not discuss this right now? I’m exhausted.”Her brow rose and her lips spread in a grin. He knew he was in trouble because there was nothing happy about that grin. “What’s his name Reno?”“What?”“What’s your son’s name Reno?” she demanded angrily.“Tyler,” he answered and he only knew that because she’d said it just a few minutes ago. He’d come with an envelope full of papers about him but Reno hadn’t bothered to look inside it. He didn’t want to know.
Loraine watched Tyler as he played with his action figures on the carpet on the floor in the living room. For the past two days it had been nice watching him come out of his shell, though he still refused to go outside. He enjoyed exploring the house, going from room to room like they each held an exciting secret he was anxious to figure out. It had shocked her when he asked for permission before he ventured to any part of the house. Apparently the witch had him segregated to one room all his life. It pissed her off and that rage festered as Reno continued to ignore him.For the past two days, Reno would leave early in the morning and come back late in the evening. He was avoiding her as well, avoiding the discussion she wanted to have with him about Tyler. Since she was still frightened of her haunting nightmares, she stayed awake holding Tyler as he slept waiting until she felt Reno’s body lie behind her before she allowed herself to sleep.She didn’t und
Her blush deepened. “I like him, but I want Allan to like him more than I do before I let it get further than what it is now.”Loraine smirked. “Don’t hold your breath. You are his baby sister and now that he’s a father to a little girl, he’s going to be impossible. What does Ruiz think?”She shrugged. “As long as we keep the intimacy light, he’s willing to wait until Allan is comfortable with him as his brother-in-law then as the guy dating his sister, before things get serious.”Loraine smiled noticing that same glimmer in her eyes that she noted in Riana’s and hopefully was present in her own. Fairy tale love that makes one think that magic exists in the world. She just hoped she still had that glimmer once Reno gets his head out of his ass.“So, what are you going to do now Loraine?” she asked somberly.Loraine wasn’t sure if she was asking about the psycho stal
Reno stomped all the way to the resort in a haze of anger. How could Loraine disobey him! What the hell did she think she was doing, claiming a kid that wasn’t even hers? Hell, there was a possibility the kid wasn’t even his and he just looked like Reno out of coincidence. Even if Tyler was his, Loraine had no right to make that kind of decision for him.What was Reno going to do with a three year old?He remembered the look on his face the moment he and Loraine walked into the house. Fear and hope. Fear because he was in a strange place surrounded by people he didn’t know. Reno understood that but not the hope. Well, he didn’t then. But after Loraine’s announcement it was a no brainer.The kid wanted parents; people to love and cherish him and Loraine had granted him that wish.Reno could hear the desperation in his voice when Tyler asked Loraine to be his mother and his joy when she said yes. He’d have to be heartless not to notice, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be a father.God
Reno turned to the knock on his office door. He was a little surprised when Melody’s head peeked through. He hadn’t seen her for a few days since he was kicked out of his own home, which made him wonder what exactly she was doing in his office at the moment.“May I come in?”He nodded his assent standing up. “What are you doing here?”She smiled moving into the room. “You were expecting me to give you the silent treatment as well?”He shrugged, motioning for her to take a seat before he sat back down. “Loraine will count this as a betrayal you know.”“She knows I’m here. You should be happy she hasn’t called Riana, yet.”He scoffed. “What, kicking me out of my own home wasn’t enough?”She chuckled, shaking her head. “Why did you let her do that?”He shook his head. “It seemed like the easier option at
He kept the discussion on topic by asking, “What aren’t you telling me about this gold woven business proposition?”Her shapely brows drew together. “What do you mean?”He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk. “There is something I believe questionable about this whole deal you are leaving out. What is it?”She worried her lower lip, her eyes darting around the room as she strived to avoid meeting his gaze.Yup, he knew it. Something wasn’t right and he knew just the person to ask.Reno pressed his intercom and spoke into it. “Shea, please ask Ruiz to come in here.”Reno had noticed the two of them had gotten close, romantic even and it made him slightly uncomfortable. He worried about Allan’s reaction and what it would do to his baby sister’s marriage if their little romance blew up in all their faces. There would be no getting out of family-get-toget
She chuckled, but it was sad, pained. “I found out I was pregnant the same moment I lost it. Our first child together bled right out of me and I couldn’t do anything to save it. How could I not know I was pregnant?”Reno pulled his sling wincing at the pain from his adjusted shoulder then lowered himself next to her and gathered her in his arms, laying her head on his chest. “Loraine, you were just a few weeks along. Some women don’t notice they are pregnant until months later.”She sniffed, burrowing into his side. “I’m not some woman. I’m Loraine Larson Albury, mother, wife, daughter and best friend to the most extraordinary people in the world. I should have known. Riana knew and I was further along than her when she found out she was pregnant.”Reno wasn’t so sure about that, but it wasn’t the time to negate her. He kissed her temple. “Riana has a weak constitution. Of course it wi
Reno sat by Loraine’s bedside, watching her as she slept. This wasn’t how he’d planned waking up the morning after his honeymoon. In a hospital room where his wife’s battered body lay connected to machines and tubes. The last thing he expected that morning were the words, ‘I’m sorry but your wife lost the baby’. He felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest by those words. He’d been breathless, collapsing onto the bed he’d fought the doctor and Ruiz just moments before, to go to Loraine. Once he was able to breathe, once he’d had control of his emotions and staunched his tears, he’d gotten off the bed in search of his wife. He’d wanted to go alone, to think of what he would say to her but Allan had insisted on accompanying him. He’d expected some words of wisdom from his brother-in-law, seeing as how he knew the pain of losing a child, but Allan just walked with him in silent support. It wasn&rs
“Loraine, please understand I didn’t mean for you to get hurt. I just wanted you to need me, to want me, to love me!”She shook her head, even more confused. “Why would I need, want or love you when I’m married to Reno.” Loraine felt her heart jar in her chest. She took a few more steps away from him. “Before…the first time he attacked me…that’s what he meant? The princess always falls in love with her knight after he saves her, that’s what you were expecting, wasn’t it?”Jeb moved toward her, his arms open in invitation. “At first, I loved you like you were my own child. You were such a vibrant and happy little girl, before they stole that from you. And then you grew up into this beautiful young lady and that love changed.” He caressed her cheek with his fingers and she quickly slapped his hand away. “When your father made me your personal bodyguard, it felt like
He released her hair and massaged where he’d been pulling at her hair. “She is dead, I did that for you mon amour. I slit her neck when she was done giving me a blow job.” He chuckled. “I got tired of mounting her after so many hours but thinking of you would make me horny all over again so I told her to use her mouth to please me. After I sprayed all over her face, blinding her, I grabbed her hair, pulled her head back and cut my blade over her neck.” He rubbed his cheek against hers and she could hear his breath getting heavy as he breathed on her neck. Loraine held herself from turning away from him when he ran his finger in a slicing motion over her throat. It was too much!“There was so much blood, spraying all over my naked body. And the sounds that came from her open throat, mon amour. It was so arousing, too arousing not to enjoy.”“Oh God,” Loraine gagged pulling away from him but he yanke
His eyes widened, his lips spreading in a toothy grin. “You mean it?”She looked at her son and the fear in his face was all the motivation she needed. She looked up at Pierre and nodded. “I mean it. Let him go and take me. Just like you’ve always wanted. Jeb won’t stop you this time.”He let out a hoot of elation and released Tyler. She fell to her knees as Tyler ran to her, into her arms and held onto her with all his strength, his little body shaking against hers.“Mommy!”Loraine felt her heart break as she held him tighter, willing for him to stop being afraid. But how could she give him that when she was just as scared if not more?“Ssh honey, everything will be alright.” She tried to pull him away but he held on tighter with a whimper. “Tyler, please.” She whispered pulling on his arms until he finally let go. She wiped his face dry and smiled at him. A difficult task wi
Loraine was startled awake by the loud crash. It sounded like broken glass, really large glass. She turned her head to look at Reno and see if he’d heard it but he was sound asleep with a smile on his face. Smiling she traced the hard edges of his face with the tips of her fingers. He looked so much like Tyler in his sleep state—gentle, innocent and harmless. She loved this man so much sometimes it felt like her heart would burst.Another crush sounded from downstairs followed by a child’s cry. Loraine’s entire body went rigid from terror. That was Tyler. She knew every sound he made and that was one of fear. Anxious to get to her son, she pushed Reno’s muscular weight off her but before she could get out of bed, she was pulled back, a heavy hand pressed against her mouth.“Hush, don’t move,” Reno whispered harshly. “Stay here Lori. I think someone is in the house. I’m going to check things out downstairs. Kee
She was beautiful, her naked form bathed by the moonlight. She looked like a siren, a tempting sexual siren. He ran his hands down her neck, lightly over her shoulders taking notice of the erratic pulse that visibly jumped at the nap of her neck and down her arms, over her torso before he stopped at her hips. Her skin was like creamy silk. He leaned over, pushing her hair aside to expose the back of her neck, catching the scent of her perfume. Fresh and scented like the ocean breeze.Goose pimples formed as soon as he touched her and she shivered visibly. Though she stood without a stitch on her before him, he knew it wasn’t from the cold. He pressed a kiss at the base of her neck to confirm it. Yes, her body hummed with desire and lust for him. This was the first time he was going to make love to her as his wife, the moment he’d held himself off for, for days since he decided to make her his wife. He was about to make love to Loraine Albury for the first time and
Loraine stood by her bed, bathed not only by the moonlight but also by the desire and love shining from her husband’s eyes. Her body shivered with anticipation of the night to come, her lower belly heavy with lust. She wanted nothing more than to tear his clothes and her own off, tumble him to the bed and ride him to oblivion, both their desire’s fueling their body as the chased a common goal. But that quick fulfillment just wouldn’t do. She wanted Reno to take his time with her, worship her body until her soul left her body in complete ecstasy. She wanted him inside her all night long until he was practically imprinted in her.Reno caressed her cheek with his knuckles and she leaned into his touch, longing for more. “Have I told you how much I love you in the past hour?”She smiled, pressing herself into him. “You did five minutes ago, but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.”“I love you, Lori, more than I eve
“Georgia, what are you doing here and where is what’s-his-name? That guy you married just weeks after our wedding. Does he know you are here?” Reno demanded, moving to stand next to Susan.On cue, like the actress she was she began to cry, with tears and everything. “Reno, my love, they won’t let me in. She says it’s your wedding to her daughter. Why would you do this to me after I gave you a son, especially since we are still married?”Susan gasped, turning to look at him. It took everything in him to keep his cool especially when Georgia gave him a sardonic smile, quickly covering it with more wailing when Susan turned to her.“Reno, would you please explain yourself,” Susan spoke with a frightening patient voice.“This woman and I were married, but as of four months ago, I became a free man.”Georgia quit her wailing and looked up at him with rounded eyes. Reno took pleasure in he