Sandra returned to the bedroom and took her purse, applying her usual amount of makeup across her delicate face, before pulling the top of her hair into a half ponytail, leaving the rest to hang down her back. She sat back on the edge of the bed and pulled her running shoes on, tying them securely in a bowknot before looking at them with a frown. They didn’t look exactly right with the beautiful clothes, but they were all she had, so they would just have to do. She collected her new dress from Sabrina, carefully packing it in the luggage and gathered her makeup and hairbrush, putting them in her purse before replacing her phone, smiling wickedly. She had never had the courage to hang up on her sister before, and she would never have thought to turn off her phone before either, but somehow being with Creighton made her feel stronger than she ever had. She felt daring and enjoyed the surge of excitement her control gave her. Sandra began to look through her purse for her mother’s earr
“What if I say I want a long engagement?” Creighton pulled out of the parking space and onto the road leading to the nearby town. He was silent for several minutes before he glanced across the seat to her.“I’ve already told you, I’m not a patient man,” he said quietly, his face pulled in a slight frown, his eyes looked frightened and apprehensive. “Are you having second thoughts?”“No, but I still think we’re rushing things a bit,” she said, hoping her admission would calm the sudden tension that was filling the small confines of the car. “Shouldn’t we at least know the basics about each other before we sign on the dotted line?”“Why do I feel this is going to be an argument to take us into our senior years?” Creighton teased as he pulled the car into an empty stall outside a modern fashion boutique, then shut off the engine. “Let’s go get you something to wear.”The store was very trendy and had a number of odd-looking new designer-name fashions. Sandra looked at what she assumed w
The saleswoman returned with the boots and Sandra slipped her foot into them, zipping them up nearly to her crotch. Creighton smiled seductively at her, ignoring the saleswoman who watched the two.“Now, that’s what I call tempting,” he teased and chuckled at the blush she offered. “Can we go now?” she asked, sitting down to remove the boots. “I’m tired of playing dress up.”“Do we have everything you need?” he asked her with an underlying tone that asked more if she had everything he wanted.“I have everything and then some. I really didn’t need all this stuff, you know?”“I know, but they are things I wanted to get you. As your husband, I have a right to spoil you, so indulge me please. I like buying you nice things.” Sandra rolled her eyes, slipping her new sandals on and standing up.“We’ve already been through all of this,” she argued, hoping her reasons filtered through his stubbornness this one last time. “As your wife, I appreciate all you do, but I am not for sale. Stop spen
“I can’t,” she said quietly, and he smiled, reaching over the span of the seat and inserted his finger into her. He pressed it hard against the front wall of her vagina as he moved it in and out, causing her to moan softly. He pulled his finger out, wet with her moisture, then placed it into her mouth as she gasped.“Suck,” he ordered, and she found herself obeying, tasting the salty moisture and blushing. “How daring are you feeling right now?” he asked her when he pulled his finger out of her mouth, watching her wiggle beneath her seat belt.“Very.”“Good,” he said, signaling again and pulling off the main highway and onto a dirt road that led between a small patch of trees. He quickly shut the car off and opened the door, going around to the passenger side. He opened her door, pushing the button on the seat belt holding her restrained, then pulled her out.“I need you now,” he insisted, taking her to the front of the car and laying her out across the warm hood. The heat stung her
Creighton pulled the small black Mercedes to a halt at the front of a large, luxurious hotel and stepped out, so the valet could park it. Sandra was amazed that such a grand place could be found among the old buildings of Loiret, France. She felt a sudden twinge of excitement, thinking about the road that lay ahead of them. She was going to see Paris! She had always dreamed of going there, but never imagined being able to afford such a feat and now, this wonderful handsome man whom she had fallen hopelessly in love with, was taking her there. She couldn’t imagine anything more perfect.“All right?” he asked opening her car door.“Better than all right,” she said with a wide smile. He held his hand out for her to take, helping her out of the car as the teenaged bellboy arrived for their luggage. Creighton opened the trunk and tossed the keys to the valet.“I thought we could get some lunch before we visit Orléans .” Sandra’s smile grew as the excitement mounted.“Sounds wonderful.”
Sandra walked down the narrow streets of Orléans France; her hand securely tucked inside Creighton’s. The city was alive with excitement for the Joan of Arc Festival. Merchants of all kinds were dressed in medieval costume, selling their wares on the streets and in the shops. The smells of food, pastries and sweets filtered through the air as they made their way through the streets. They paused by the statue of Joan of Arc, where they had their photo taken by a local photographer for five euros, then toured Joan of Arc’s home. Afterward, they visited several shops and stores in search for souvenirs. Creighton found a delicate hand knitted shawl for his mother, and for his father, a pair of hand sewn leather gloves. Sandra bought Nana a needlepoint blanket and Papa a new riding crop, blushing as she paid for it. For Cathy, she bought a bottle of perfume and a pair of silver and crystal earrings. Creighton, too, bought perfume for Sabrina, a hand designed beaded bag for Irena, a book
Reluctantly stepping out of the tub, Sandra wrapped a large soft bath sheet-sized towel around her slender frame, unsure exactly how long she had lounged beneath the warm water. She loved taking baths, but she rarely did so at home. Her grandparents lived in an old farmhouse, complete with a claw foot bathtub. It was far from being large enough to relax in comfortably. She stepped back into the large master bedroom, opening the wooden armoire, where the majority of her clothes had been placed. Rummaging through the array of new items, she finally found the very erotic outfit Creighton had insisted she buy. Sandra was tired because of all they had done that day, but she was eager to be back in Creighton’s arms. Hurriedly, she slipped on the black leather panties with the heart-shaped front, making certain the string slid between her butt cheeks. She then zipped up the front of the matching bustier to just beneath her sternum, allowing her breasts to swell above the metal closure; hidd
He held her hand out flat and opened the bottle of gel, slowly dribbling it onto the golden spheres. He smiled at her as he wrapped her fingers around them.“Massage them,” he ordered in a hushed tone. “Make them warm and slick.” Sandra did as she was told, her hand quickly warming under the gel. Creighton went to the dresser and picked up Sandra’s iPod, shuffling through the songs until he found the playlist he wanted her to dance to. A variety of today’s pop singles. He went to the bed and gathered the handcuffs together then quickly attached them to the rich wooden bed frame. He looked back at her as she continued to play with the golden balls and smiled.“Ready?” he asked her, and she nodded anxiously. “Come here and stand next to me.” Sandra walked to him as he sat on the edge of the bed, standing in front of him, blushing. Creighton glanced up at her, running his warm hands up her boots to her hips and then to her exposed butocks, massaging them gently.“You are absolutely ama
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.