“This isn’t for your punishment, Sandra. It’s for our child’s safety. Now promise me.” “I promise, I promise. I’ll tell you if it hurts.” “Just think of how great it will be once you’ve recovered from childbirth. I will make it well worth the wait and frustration of taking it easy.” Sandra smiled. The image of his words brought an array of delightful, wicked scenarios into her mind. She closed her eyes, basking in the sensations he was stirring to life. His tongue continued to explore her upper torso, her neck, her collarbone and her ear, where he tugged gently on the lobe. “Tell me what you want,” he whispered, his breath tickling the hairs on the back of her neck. “I want you to love me until I’m breathless,” she said. “That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse, even though you once again push me past my common sense.” Creighton rolled her over to her back, then stretched her arms above her head as he kissed her lips hard and passionately, their tongues dancing the familiar
Morning arrived much sooner than Creighton would have preferred, but as he rolled over to look at his wife asleep next to him, he smiled. He knew he would never be able to go back to sleep with her warm, naked body inches away from him. Given another day, perhaps he would have woken her, but he knew she was tired and needed her sleep. Everything he had read the past few days, stressed the need for increased rest the first few weeks of pregnancy.With a reluctant sigh, he moved out from beneath the covers and gathered his clothes he had worn the day before. He slipped his long legs back into his jeans and padded barefoot to the door, glancing over his shoulder once more before leaving her to sleep. The rooms of his flat didn’t seem quite so vast anymore. It was a feeling he noticed right off when he carried her over the threshold three weeks ago. The many times he had stayed here before, either on personal time or business, there was always a sense of loneliness that he could never qu
“Sleep well?” he asked when she yawned again, nodding. “I have to tell you, seeing you like this makes me very grateful we’re on our honeymoon. If I’m not mistaken, I did promise at one point to keep you as my naked hostage until you were too old, or too content, to object to my perverted ways.”Sandra laughed and snuggled her head against his warmth a little further, enjoying the feel of his large hands as they caressed her naked back and hips. She had awoken to find herself alone and without thought of consequences or reactions, she went looking for him. Her stomach felt a little jerky, but she didn’t stop to think about what was happening. All she wanted was to have his arms around her.“I have breakfast cooking,” he told her in a husky tone. “It will give you enough time for a bath if you want one.”“I’d love one,” she answered through another yawn. “Will you join me?” Creighton smiled, his hands pressing her hips against the hard bulge in his pants.“I can’t think of a better way
“When I told you, I don’t like hurting women, it wasn’t exactly the truth,” he said with a frown. “Many years ago, while I was still in school, I made a mistake that nearly cost my sanity.” He closed his eyes as the memories began to wash over him. “You asked me once why I liked to play the way I do. It started with Miriam’s visit to me, but the truth is, I explored the depths of her teachings much further than she could have taught me. I eventually found a level I was comfortable with, but it wasn’t an easy journey.“There are many underground clubs in London where people like me go to explore their sexual fantasies. I found one that I particularly liked. It had several rooms upstairs that were soundproof and equipped for exploration, sort of a miniature version of Miriam’s place without the elaborate decorations. I had begun to explore the female body, learned how to make women cum, how to make them have deeper orgasms then even they knew was possible. I went on a lot of dates that
“Davies will have the plane here by ten,” he told her later that day as they laid embraced on the sofa, a book of wallpaper and window treatment open on her lap. The afternoon had been spent discussing their designs for the house. Creighton told her about Andrew’s email and that they could move in when they returned to Yorkshire. They had emailed Maxine, the designer who was working on the house and assured her they would decide on what colors, schemes and furniture they wanted for the rooms and let her know by the time they reached Kansas.Sandra had spent nearly forty-five minutes on the phone with her grandparents, informing them they would be coming back to discuss business and go through her belongings. They would spend several days, even a week or two, depending on how quickly Creighton could arrange the beginning of what he jokingly called, project Kansas Kandy. The details of the plans had been submitted to the town’s planning committee and the mayor was already preparing a
Sandra’s ears popped as the elevation increased and the jetliner ripped through the morning skies. Creighton was once again busy on his computer, finishing a number of projects and reviewing the details of the final designs of their farm.The garage was underway, the barn had been built during the time it took for the forensic team to finish up their investigation, and the house was finished, save the décor and furnishings. The wedding presents had been delivered to the house, and the news of Bachmeier’s arrest had filled the front pages of the local newspapers. Things were finally looking up for the young couple.Sandra was feeling much better and had not had another experience of nausea or dizziness since yesterday morning. It was a relief, though she was concerned. Creighton said the nausea was a good sign. What did it mean when it stopped?“You look about five thousand miles away,” he said sitting down next to her on the large sofa. Sandra closed the pregnancy book she had been r
Sandra woke to see the man she loved and married still sitting at his computer. She had no idea how long she had been out, but she felt well rested and refreshed and in desperate need of a toilet. She smiled at Creighton who glanced up from his computer as she walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She found the relief almost exhilarating as she sat on the cool seat, stretching her legs out in front of her. Her muscles were sore, and her neck ached from the position in which she slept, but she was anxious to go home and excited to see her old friends again.A few minutes later, she washed her hands and ran a comb through her tangled hair, smoothing the long strands around her face and down her back. The woman who stared back at her through the reflection, was almost unrecognizable from the one who had arrived in France such a short time before. She was happier than she had ever been, and her eyes sparkled. Her face, neck and shoulders above her lacy pink top were a dee
The plane touched down at a private hanger on the outskirts of the Great Bend Municipal Airport. They unloaded their luggage into a small rental car and bid Davies and Cooper goodbye, assuring them they would call when they were ready to return home. The plane was scheduled to undergo routine maintenance back in New York, the following day, and Creighton arranged to have his pilot and co-pilot stay at his flat in Manhattan while the repairs and updates were being completed. Sandra was nervous and excited as she directed Creighton through the town and onto the road that took them home. Great Bend was only about seventeen miles from Hoisington, which allowed just enough time for her anxieties to begin to grow. She honestly didn’t think she would be coming back so soon, and definitely not as the wife of a millionaire. “Are you alright?” he asked, glancing across the seat to where she sat, perched upright, watching everything that passed by.“I’m just nervous,” she said honestly. “I ca
Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didn’t know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the police’s concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.“I can’t leave the house, I can’t go to France, I can’t even gather eggs,” she grumbled as she joined the older couple. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.”“Honey, you’re going
The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.“How much longer do we have to sit here?” he growled, looking to those gathered around.“We need you to remain patient for a little longer,” a bald-headed man told him. “Monsieur Ashford, we understand what you’re going through…”“Like hell you do,” Creighton snapped. “I have a pregnant wife at home w
“I know she’ll be happy when it’s over,” Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears she’d been wiping away. “She can’t let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.”“I’m sure they are going stir crazy,” Cathy said with a frown. “Especially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.”“The only good thing is the weather,” William told them. “It’s been really wet, and she doesn’t like getting her dresses dirty.”“Sounds like her aunt,” Andrew said with a soft chuckle.“Maybe we should take this meeting over to my sister’s,” Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.“Let me call Derek and Kristin,” William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. “They wanted to know what you found out.”“Just have them meet us at Sandra’s,” Andrew told him. “We can discuss this all there.”“I thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,” Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHT’s security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasn’t difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Grace’s favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
“No, it’s about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You can’t stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now I’m watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.”“Stop comparing me to Sandra!” Cathy screamed. “It’s not my fault she’s perfect. She’s always been everyone’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many boyfriends I’ve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didn’t want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when I’m a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parents’ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
“Maybe Michelle heard from him,” the boy said hopefully.“I haven’t spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.”The two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.“Come on, son,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep.”“Mum, can I come sleep with you?” Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.“You can sleep on your daddy’s side,” she told him. “Just don’t tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.”Brandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornado’s fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandra’s nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathy’s surgery, though he wouldn’t go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldn’t remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasn’t Creighton. She couldn’t even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasn’t the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didn’t mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garcon’s assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?“Did you hear what we said?” Papa asked her.“It’s impossible,” she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadn’t understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.“Sweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,” Sandra told the little girl. “Put that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. We’ll make lunch when you’ve finished.