The Ashford men sat at the patio table of the restaurant where they had met for supper, arguing about their favorite football teams, while the girls sat around and listened. It was a typical argument that never seemed to end when the men of the family got together. The night was warmer than it had been in several days, and the sound of crickets outside made for a pleasant ending to an unusually fun day. Sabrina looked at her phone, anxiously waiting for the text she sent Andre to be answered. A part of her hoped he decided not to come after all, while another part wanted him here beside her. Everyone in the family had someone. Derek had Kristin, Andrew had Cathy, then there were Creighton and Sandra, and even Peter managed to make it by dessert. Everyone had someone except her. Guests from New Hope Technology’s Australia plant were already arriving, and the guests from New York would be there in the morning. Those from Paris would come and go at leisure, with only a handful of worke
“I really want to sleep on it,” she told him as he wiped her tears away with the back of his knuckles. “I love you, but I thought I loved Andre too. I have to make certain I still feel the same tomorrow.”“I’ll give you all the time you need,” he told her with a half grin. “Just don’t turn away from me, please? I can’t bear going through that again.”“I won’t, I promise,” she told him, leaning her head against his shoulder again as he wrapped her in his arms.They sat on that bench for a long time, offering and accepting the love and support the other needed, until the air began to cool and Olivia silently snuggled closer to Sabrina’s chest for warmth.“We should put her to bed,” he said softly.“I’ll walk you to your room.” Sabrina stood up and turned to leave when he stopped her, his arms around her waist.“Stay with me tonight?” he asked, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face.“I can’t,” she whispered. “You know I can’t.”“I promise not to make love to you or even ask. I
Sabrina glanced at the clock next to the bed and sighed. Eight seventeen. That meant Andre was just finishing up his photo shoot and would be back to his flat in an hour, provided he didn’t stop for supper on his way. That would give her enough time for a leisurely soak before she anticipated him calling her.Taking her toiletries to the bathroom with her, she filled the tub with steaming hot water and poured in a generous amount of her favorite scented oil. A thick coating of conditioner on her long hair and a thin layer of green mud on her face and she was ready for a little self-pampering. Maybe it was a good thing her phone was dead, she thought as she sunk into the hot water. She really wanted to talk to her parents before she called Andre, and she didn’t want thoughts of regret or an argument to interfere with the sweet memories of Giovanni’s last kiss.The warmth seemed to help relax every muscle in her neck and shoulders and she sighed contently under the layer of green concre
“Now?” he asked in a surprised, hopeful tone. “I’m not exactly prepared for it.”“I don’t care,” she assured him. “I wouldn’t care if we had twins. I just want you to make love to me. I want it to be like it was before your brother ruined our lives.”For a brief moment, Giovanni forgot they weren’t alone, until Olivia tumbled off the side of the bed and landed on her backside on the floor. Sabrina was on her feet in an instant and hurried to her side, gathering the child in her arms before her father could react. Somewhere inside him, Giovanni felt a twinge of jealousy begin to encompass his heart. He had always been there for his daughter. He was the caregiver, the friend, the protector. Besides Anna, Olivia had never known another woman and he liked it that way. He liked the life they shared, but in a flash, there she was, embraced in the arms of the woman who should have been her mother, hopefully would be very soon, and he found himself confused by the feelings he was having. He
“I agreed to marry him because I heard you were married,” she finally said, honesty raking her heart. “I don’t know if I was angry or devastated. I heard you had gone to Africa and married a woman there, and you were expecting a child. I felt like my world had suddenly collapsed around me. That night Andre asked me again to marry him, and I said yes.”“You didn’t agree out of love?” “No.”“Will you regret the breakup?”“No.”The two were quiet for several minutes as Giovanni absorbed everything, she told him. He felt the weight of guilt weigh down upon his shoulders as he glanced up into the beautiful face, he spent endless nights dreaming about.“The last time I tried to contact you, you wouldn’t even take my call,” he began quietly. “I was angry and hurt, and I started drinking, heavily. I went on a week-long binge, traveling every backstreet pub and dive I could find. I finally sobered up to find a marriage license and a woman I barely knew living in my flat. I knew she married me
Sabrina followed methodically as he wrapped her hand inside his and walked beside her to his room. He slipped the keycard out of his pocket and opened the door, then turned and lifted her into his arms, carrying her across the threshold. He kicked the door shut, kissing her again as they approached the double bed. Gently he laid her down to the covered mattress, his mouth relentlessly holding hers captive.She moaned as he stretched out beside her, his long leg holding hers to the soft covers of the bed. His lips were warm and gentle, as his tongue explored the interior of her mouth with slow caresses. She could feel her pulse rising, her breath coming in short pants as his hand slid up the back of her shirt. Within seconds he found the closure of her bra and flipped it open, caressing each vertebrae of her spine with his large fingers. Shivers of anticipation raced along her nerve endings, centering their destination beneath his touch. She felt alive and on fire and for the first ti
“Don’t think you can satisfy me without them?” she teased as he climbed up on the foot of the bed and began caressing her inner thighs with his large hands.“I know I can, but you like to play, and I love to watch you squirm. Besides, it makes you really, really hot and I love playing with fire.” He leaned across her and planted kisses to her lower abdomen, his breath hot against the thin fabric of her knickers. Sabrina closed her eyes and fell into the heat of the moment, enjoying the sensations that spread across her. Giovanni knew she was eager but willed himself to go slow. As desperate as he was to be inside her, he knew she needed to experience the passion and heat of orgasm, and he was as eager to play as much as she was. He gathered the soft material of her panties in one large hand, gently tugging the front upwards as the fingers of his free hand opened her labia.Sabrina gasped, causing him to smile as he leaned in to kiss the lips that folded around the fabric he held tig
“That was a long time ago and you did very well as I recall,” Sandra said with a wide grin. “But there’s nothing to worry about. I forgot my iPod.”“Whoa, hold up,” Andrew added with a smile. “I want to hear all about this dance. Did you videotape it? Can I get a copy? Can we put it on YouTube?”“Shut up smart arse,” Creighton growled, tossing a pillow from the end of the sofa at his brother who caught it easily. “There will be no embarrassing videos, and no betting. And for the record, I got even with her.”“Yes, you did,” Sandra said standing up off her husband’s lap. “In many very perverse ways, if memory serves.”“This could be interesting,” Andrew said. “Care to make a private wager?” he asked turning to Cathy who smiled a wicked grin back at him.“My little sister is not the only card player in the family,” she assured him, walking to the table followed by Creighton, Derek and Irena. “One wager could prove quite dangerous for you.”“Bring it on, darling,” Andrew smiled as he sto