Emily's POV
"This feels really silly," he says, tugging at his mask. "I know we're not permitted to take these things off, but I am beginning to get a feeling like some members-only underground sex party," he smirks.
I chuckled nervously. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
"I'm sorry if I startled you; it was not my intention. My name is Samuel, but you can call me Sam," he says, laughing. My hands begin to shake. I'm not sure if I'm prepared for this.
"That's alright, let's just say I'm new at this," I explain.
I let out a small sob and then take a long breath. Olivia is on speed dial in case something goes wrong. She can't do anything though, she doesn't even have a car. The realisation came to me only recently.
He detects my nervousness and offers us both a drink of wine. His fingertips touch mine as he hands me a glass, and I feel like I'm imprisoned in a time warp. Through the mask, I can see his piercing blue eyes. They appear to be familiar.
"Come on, let's take it slow. We could just sit here all evening and enjoy each other's company--on a platonic level, of course. The last thing I want to do is force you to do something you don't want to do," he says earnestly.
We take a seat on a comfortable-looking sofa at the foot of the bed. I can see his profile in the candlelight. I notice his muscles tensing beneath his gray trousers and blue shirt. I never considered that he might be nervous as well.
We drink our wine in silence for some time, yet it doesn't feel awkward. When he asks what I do for a living, his sweet, velvety voice brings me back to reality.
"I'm a waitress, but in my spare time I study molecular science," I explain.
"Wow! That sounds really fascinating," he says, amazed. His tone indicates that he is impressed. Now I'm feel stupid I made a joke out of it.
"No, I'm just a waitress," I say blushing.
What exactly am I doing? It's got to be the wine. This had to be some very amazing wine. He laughs loudly his leg hitting the bottle of wine and nearly toppling it over but then he grabs hold of it and pours us another drink. I should probably quit drinking right now.
"What exactly is it that you do?" I inquire as I make myself at home on the sofa and take my shoes off. I can feel his gaze travelling down my neck to my legs.
"Certainly not as adventurous as yours." Let's just say I invest in startups that I believe have a good chance of succeeding. It works out nine times out of ten, but the other times I just count my losses and go on."
"So, you're a Collin?"
I notice him flinch.
He thinks for a moment. "No. That is not the case."
I move closer to him, and he softly grips my hips and pulls me closer to him.
He says softly in my ear, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."
My response is immediate, bordering on frantic. "I really want to." I literally have to, this is the only way I can raise enough money for Liam but as he hold me in his arms, it feels good and I start to yearn for his touch, I want this to happen.
I feel like a puppy in his hands. I want him to shape me and dominate me. My breathing becomes more rapid. He takes this as his cue and kisses me on the cheek, then on the neck. His kisses are delicate and delectable.
I begin to feel an ache between my legs, followed by jolts of electricity that reach my core.
Then he gives me a kiss on the lips.
Our kisses begin slowly and tenderly, but quickly become passionate and desperate. I grab his head and pull him towards me impulsively. Before we go too far ahead of ourselves. I had to inform him.
"I'm still a virgin."
He pulls away from me and appears surprised. "No, then we'll have to stop," He pulls away from me.
I don't want this to stop. Something about this feels right. I'm not repulsed by a man touching me for the first time. I resume kissing him.
"No, no, we don't." I mumble as I lock my lips with his and ease my hand into his trousers.
As we approach the bed, he presses up against me. I can feel his hard cock struggling to burst free. I press my hand against it, and I feel it throb.
But he stops himself and helps me onto the bed.
"We're going to take it slow. If you feel uneasy at any point. I need you to tell me," he begs me.
"All right," I murmur, my body wanting more of his touch.
He carefully puts me down and looks at me as if this is his first time seeing me.
I long for his touch, and for a brief moment, I consider removing my mask, but I decide against it.
He begins to caress my neck and lay butterfly-soft kisses on my brow, cheeks, and chin. I feel an ache in my core, joined this time by a profound throb. His lips are now traveling to the arch of my back, filling me with pleasure.
He removes my clothes, leaving me naked expect for my panties and bra. My nipples tense as he begins to work, like an artist, with only his hands and tongue he touch me with delicacy
It's a miraculous tongue, tracing the outline of my stomach and then charting a path to my aching core. By the time he gets down there, I've become a wet craving.
His fingers caress the inside of my sex, and the warm sensation of his tongue on it makes me swoon. My body tenses, and I lean towards him, as the pleasure builds up, I scratch his sweaty back, grasping for something to grip. My legs are buckling from the all-consuming fire that is emanating from me. I erupt in a molten mass as a result of the release, which is a delightful shudder.
When he comes up, a smile spreads across his face. I've hardly recovered when he begins undressing--first his shirt, then his trousers. I can feel he's looking straight through me as he takes off his trousers.
The moment I set eyes on his rock hard dick, my breath catches in my throat, I lick my lips. It's poised like a soldier about to enter battle. I begin to wonder how it will fit inside of me. He slowly takes off my panties and then my bra. I'm not sure I can handle much more excitement for the evening.
He lays on top of me, his hips thrusting into mine, and I can feel the heat radiating from his muscular body. His hands seize mine from above and hold them in place just not strong enough that I can't break away. His hot breath becomes labored and insistent on my breasts.
It doesn't take long for my body to react by moving in unison with him. I feel a searing pain as he stretches me wide and fills me up the instant he penetrates. I whimper a little
"Are you still okay?" he asks as his palm brushes against my cheek. "I don't want to cause you any harm."
I don't respond, and he interprets it as a "yes." His careful movements indicate that he is still fearful of hurting me.
The way he caresses my neck with delicate kisses. When he lets go of my hands, I instinctively reach for his hair, clutching it furiously as the pulsating sensation returns. The pleasure that follows quickly drowns out the discomfort. I notice an insatiable grin on his face as he intensifies his drive.
Before tonight, I had no idea how much power I had over men, and now that this man is making love to me like I'm a fragile doll, I want to entrust him with my innocence.
With my vulnerability no longer a barrier, I give up my body for the simple pleasure of drowning in a sea of wild abandon.
"It's so tight," he says after a brief pause. "I feel like I'm going to rip you apart from the inside out." This time, I catch my breath and take the bold step of kissing him, desperate for him to continue.
He's confident in his lovemaking, that I'll give him. His sole goal is to please me, and just thinking about it makes me famished with pulsating excitement.
I'm clawing at his sticky back, wanting more, pleading with him to go further. My orgasm is building up to a climax. My toes curl in an amazing moment of ecstasy as I grip the sheet and arch my spine. Shuddering against me, he gives one more push and then he cums.
We lay there staring at the ceiling for a few moments. "I wish I had known you in another life," he laments. "I don't want this to come to an end."
I hadn't considered how this might end. All that mattered was completing the act, and now I've lost my virginity to a man I've never seen and may never see again.
"I don't want it to end, but we're both adults, we all know how this goes," I say as I stand up to put on my clothing.
He snatches my arm. "Please, stay the night."
I agree and return to bed with him. "Do you want something to eat?" Because I'm so hungry i can eat a whale."
He leaps out of bed like a mischievous child and puts on his trousers. "I'll be right back," he whispers.
He walks in a minute late carrying a platter of pancakes, coffee, and juice.
"It's almost 2am, so I figured it's breakfast anyway," he says as he places the tray on the bed. I'm truly hungry, so I dive right in.
"That's my girl," he laughs, picking the largest strawberry from the platter and begins to feed me.
I'm experiencing a slew of emotions all at once. It's not a choice for me to like this guy, I simply shouldn't like him. Nonetheless, my heart is racing in my chest. When he touches me, it's like a bolt of electricity runs through my body.
I believe I'm in love.
When I wake up alone in a king size bed the next morning, the fairytale comes crashing down around me.
It's been six weeks since our affair, and I still can't get him out of my mind. A part of me wants him to come find me, but all I hear is radio silence.
I open the pregnancy test while seated on the toilet seat. I know the answer before I even pee on the stick.
Two faint blue stripes appear two minutes later.
Yes, I am indeed pregnant.
Emily's POVMy stomach resembles a bulging soccer ball. Fortunately, if I wear baggy clothes, no one will realize that I'm seven months pregnant. Staring in the mirror at myself is like staring at someone else.I'm overweight, and I'm uncomfortable. I can't walk more than a few steps without being out of breath. And then there's the heat... It's the absolute worst.I've given my notice at the restaurant at Catherine's request, which I'm not thrilled about. I spend most of my days in my apartment, bored and agitated, fantasizing about the day my swollen feet would fit back into my tiny sandals and I'll be able to wear that gorgeous little dress I'd kept for summer.Except for one person, no one knows about my "condition," and for the time being, I believe I can get away with it. But one afternoon, on my way back from a doctor's visit, I ran into Rachel, my ex-restaurant manager."Be careful, you'll hurt yourself," she warns, glancing down at the now-visible bump."You know what you're
Emily POVMy phone pings with a notification. It's a text saying that $350K has been deposited in my bank account. I throw the phone against the wall, shattering it into pieces, and let out a scream. The neighbor bangs against the paper thin wall, yelling at me to stop yelling.This feels like a bad dream with no ending. I go back to bed and lie there, just staring at nothingTwo weeks ago I woke up in a hospital bed feeling hollow. I reached down and touched my belly it was flat and empty. When a nurse walked into the room and checked my pulse, I asked her about the baby. She just smiled and walked away, saying the doctor would be with me in a second.The second turned into half an hour. Eventually, Dr Sophie came waltzing in and composed herself before telling me it was a healthy baby boy."Now you can go on living your life," she said. Almost like that was an option now. I got up, dressed myself, and made my way back to my empty apartment.While back home, I tried going about my da
Jacob POVIt's a balmy evening. The full moon shines brightly in the night sky.Holding my stare in the mirror, I button up my shirt and straighten my trousers. My hands start to shake, so I pour myself a neat whisky. What's that thing about Dutch courage? Hopefully it works, because I'm nervous as fuck.Taking a deep breath, I put my mask on, turn the doorknob, and opened the door. There she is, standing across the bed from me. You know when you a play a scene over and over again in your head of how it's supposed to go? This wasn't it. Nothing could prepare me for this exquisite specimen standing before me.I'm a man of few words, and even now I'm struggling to string them. together just to get out a "Hi." How am I supposed to have a conversation with her if I can't even speak?She's wearing a black silk dress that is hugging every curve of her body, teasing but not enticing.Her eyes are covered by the mask, but I can see lightly-freckled cheeks accompanying blood red lips. Those li
Jacob POVSix weeks later and I still can’t get her out of my mind. If I concentrate long enough, I can still smell her hair. The very thought of her sends my insides melting into a congealed mess.My grandmother comes waltzing into my office. She has big news—I can tell by her Cheshire cat grin.“Darling, I had to tell you straight away. Our surrogate is pregnant!” she says, and she comes over to give me an awkward hug—displays of affection are not exactly her strong point.I am at a loss for words and blurt out, “That’s great news, Grandmother.”She looks at me and says, “I thought you’d be more excited? What has gotten my dear Garth down?”I’ve grown tired of her secrecy and games.“Grandmother, who is she?” I ask without breaking eye contact.She’s playing for time, and looks confused when she asks, “Whatever do you mean?”Desperate for an answer, I probe her again.“Who is the woman having my child? I have the right to know.”She’s not making this easy for me. “What does it matte
Jacob POVThe text came through just as I was wrapping up the last meeting for the day. We had the deal in the bag, and I was just about ready to fly back home.I read it three times over just to make sure.“You have a healthy baby boy, weighing 5.5lb. Congratulations!”It can’t be. The surrogate is only due in two months.Eager to get my grandmother on the phone, I dial furiously. The second she answers, she says, “Isn’t it amazing! You’re a father now, dear.”I struggle to get a word in as she harps on.“Wait, isn’t the baby only due in a few months?” I ask.“Yes, but we don’t have control over these things. The good news is that he’s healthy.”The realization slowly sinks in. I’m a dad now! Within a matter of hours, I’m on a private jet, heading back home. The hours tick by in a slow progression of seconds.I try sleeping, but when I close my eyes, all I see is our beautiful baby boy. I wonder if he looks like her. And then it occurs to me. I have no idea what the color of her eyes
Jacob POV“Dr Brook, please have a seat,” I say as I shake his sweaty hand. “I believe you were the attending physician for Liam Adams.”Dr Brook looks nervously around him. “Yes, that is correct. Sad that he didn’t survive after all he’s been through,” he says.“And why do you think that is?” I ask pointedly.“Mr Collin, what are you insinuating? I don’t like the direction this conversation is going,” he says, looking more and more uncomfortable.I take Liam's folder and throw it in front of him.“I am not insinuating anything, Doctor. I just want to know the facts.”He squirms like someone in the hot seat, but states in an authoritative voice, “The fact is, we couldn’t offer medical intervention because his guardian, meaning his sister, couldn’t afford the treatment.”“Why did this not come to my attention? I’m struggling to understand why you didn’t present this boy’s case before the board of directors,” I say.He shrugs his shoulders in response. “I didn’t think it warranted going
Jacob POV“Look, Dad, I caught one!’ says a beaming Liam. A little fish wriggles on the line, gasping for air.“What shall we call him?” I ask.“Who says it’s a he?” he smiles back.“Okay, what shall we call her?”Curiously looking at the fish, his eyes light up and he responds, “Nemo.”“Nemo? Out of all the names you could choose from, you chose that?” I ask.He starts laughing as I tickle his belly. “You ready to go back now, buddy?” I enquire as I reel back my line.We’re on a small paddle boat in the middle of Lake Tahoe. The waters are a deep green, reflecting the last of the afternoon light. All around us there is silence, broken by the occasional sound of a bird squawking. Instead of going all out for Liam’s third birthday, I wanted us to spend some time alone.He’s never been to the lake and responded with a dizzy excitement when I suggested it to him.Charlotte was mortified when I told her, saying something about a boy deserving a big ’ol bash for his third birthday. She had
Jacob POV“I absolutely love it here. Don’t you just love it here?” Nancy ask no one in particular.Conversations with her are awkward and one-sided. Not like she notices—most of the time she’s talking about herself or her friends, neither of which I have any interest in.And yet, here we are.She’s been flaunting me around town like some kind of rag toy as soon as news spread that we’re engaged. Yes, I have a fiancé now. Am I happy? No, but that’s the price you pay for being a Collin.“Jacob, you haven’t touched your food, sweetie,” she harps.I look over at her plate, and she’s hardly eaten a thing. It’s just a bunch of leaves and salad dressing.“So, I’ve been thinking about where we should have the wedding. Your grandmother suggested we do it at the estate in the Hamptons. What do you think?” she asks again, not really asking at all.“Sure, whatever you want, Nancy,” I say, trying to feign interest.“You’re not listening to a thing I’m saying. This is your wedding, too. Also, we h
Hope starts clapping at the sound of her name, getting Charlotte’s attention. “Oh my gosh, she’s beautiful,” she gasps. “What are you doing here, Mother?” asks my dad. His agitation is a sign that he’s done playing a welcoming party. “I’ve missed so much, haven’t I? And I only have myself to blame,” she says. Hope clamors to get out of Jocasta’s arms and she puts her down on the grass. Slowly, she lifts herself up and her chubby legs begin the unsteady walk to Charlotte. Charlotte breaks her fall with outstretched arms as she comes crashing down. “There’s a good girl,” she says. “You’re a feisty one, just like your mother.” “You haven’t answered Matthew’s question, why are you here?” asks my wife. Charlotte looks at her, “I suppose I’ve come to make a mence and ask for your forgiveness.” “Don’t you think you’re a few years too late?” asks Matthew. “You’re right, I am. But I wanted to say sorry for all the horrible things I’ve done to all of you,” she coughs. “I know my words of
Epilogue (One year later) Jacob POV Jocasta cuts up paper-thin slices of watermelon, Liam’s favorite. “Thanks, Mommy,” he says, grabs the bowl from her and dashes outside. The house is quiet and I take advantage of having her to myself for a few seconds. Switching on the old kitchen radio, a slow song plays across the static. She’s clearing up the watermelon peels on the kitchen counter, and I take her by the hand and give her a twirl. She has a daisy in her long hair - a gift from Hope who insisted on putting it in her mouth instead of giving it to her mama. “What are you doing?” she smiles. “I’m serenading my wife,” I say and hold her close while we slow dance with the song. She giggles, “We’re going to be late.” “They can wait,” I say and inhale her sweet scent; she smells like the ocean and baby powder. While the soft male voice is singing about giving a little love this time, I dip her low and kiss her on the mouth. A moan escapes her lips and she kisses me back. Little
Jacob is stunned. It’s the first time he’s heard this too. We don’t say anything for a few seconds and wait for the heartbreaking news to settle in. “We have Liam and Hope,” I say. “They’re more than we could wish for.” He takes Hope from my arms and cradles her, whispering into her ear, “Yes, much more than we could wish for.” Liam wants a piece of the action and attaches himself to his dad’s leg, “My turn.” We laugh and Jacob bends down and grabs Liam by the scruff of his T-shirt, “Okay Buddy, your turn.” With both of them in arms, Jacob is finding it hard to balance them, “Yep, I think two are enough.” That night I dream of my mother, the dream as vivid as an oil painting. All my past memories are coming back. It’s as if being given a second lease on life had somehow unlocked a part of my brain I had buried for years. I remember playing in the courtyard garden at Mellon Estate and going on holidays with my folks. And then there’s the memory of that photo - it’s the very first
Emily/Jocasta POV Imagine a door opening between life and death. Which one would you choose? The answer’s not that simple, is it? Death would finally bring me peace, stilling the chaotic world around me. Life is for the living as Liam once told me. But where would that leave me? My fate has been assigned - I am to die from a disease that will ravage my body. Soon, my limbs won’t obey my commands, and I’ll slowly start to lose my mind. That is no way to live. The incessant wail of a baby is calling me, beckoning me to make a decision. It’s the sound of my little girl telling me time is running out - choose now or forever hold my peace. I’ve made up my mind - I choose love. --- I’m laying on a cold, steel table. There’s a commotion all around me. Someone shouts, “We’re losing her!” and I feel something hard putting pressure on my chest. The shock of an electric current jolts my body back to life. I’ve returned to the land of living. “She’s awake! She’s awake!” When I look around m
I’m in the conservatory with Liam. Dust motes are floating in the sun’s rays while we sit side by side, both of us with a notebook.He’s making squiggles on a page, round and round until the pencil pierces through to the next page. “Do you think Mom loves us?” he asks.“Why do you ask that?” I glance at him and stop drawing. I’m trying to sketch gladiolus flowers from memory but I keep on getting stuck on the intricate detail of the petals. This is my third attempt. I tear the page from the notebook and throw it onto the heap of pages collecting next to me.“Last night she told me I’m not a good boy after I wet the bed. I can’t help it, Emily. Sometimes, it just comes out,” he grimaces.“It’s not your fault, you do know that?” I add. “Mom just gets upset really fast.”“I know, it’s that when she gets like that, I get scared,” he says.I move closer to him, “Do you know, when I get scared, I just tell myself that soon it will be over. Mom doesn’t stay angry for long. You just have to w
Emily/Jocasta POVYou know when people describe their near-death experiences as walking towards a bright light? Mine was nothing like that.For me, it was falling into a vat of creamy liquid and being suspended between space and time. The protection of the womb-like state offered me comfort and reassurance that I would be fine.Why would I want to go back to a world of uncertainty and sorrow when everything I want is right here?Memories are flashing through my mind, firing off like sparks from a fire, But they are muddled up and confusing. I can’t tell which ones are Emily’s or Jocasta’s. It’s hard to concentrate on just one at a time.I close my eyes and focus on one in particular; it’s of a beautiful woman cradling a baby in her arms. She’s standing in a nursery, and there’s a quilted blanket in the crib.She starts singing a lullaby, and it’s the same one Ophelia sang months ago when I first discovered my real identity. I gasp in recognition - it’s my mother.She can’t see me, but
The parking garage is quiet and empty. None of the day shift staff have arrived yet. I stand against the cold wall and gather my skittled thoughts.I was wrong to get angry at Thaddeus. None of this is his fault. If there’s anyone to blame, it has to be me. I’m the only one that’s known about Jocasta’s diagnosis.“Jacob,” shouts Thaddeus from the emergency exit. He jogs towards me and tries to speak but struggles to catch his breath.“Look, I’m sorry. I was so desperate for her to get better, that I may have been too hasty to get her on the treatment,” he breathes. “I honestly thought it was going to work.”“I don’t blame you,” I say. “I was angry and lashed out at you.”“Blame me if you want, because I blame myself,” he says. There’s a dejected look in his eye.“No, I should have told her the truth,” I admit.“The truth about what?” he asks and strands upright.This lie is killing me, I can’t let it destroy my wife and baby as well. Maybe if I confess my sins, my punishment might not
Jacob POVI am woken up by the buzzing of my phone on the nightstand. When I answer, it’s Dr. Richards on the line, “Mr. Collin, you need to come to the hospital now.”My brain sends signals to my limbs to move into action. Like a robot, I mechanically get dressed in the dark and rush to Liam’s room. He’s fast asleep, but I need to get him into the car. I can’t afford to lose precious time by calling someone over to babysit, so I bundle him up and carry him into the elevator.While we’re on our way down to the parking garage, he opens his eyes, “Dad, what’s going on?”I shush him back to sleep and he’s back in dreamland.The drive to the hospital is excruciating. Dr. wouldn’t have called me at this hour if it wasn’t an emergency. My mind keeps on playing different scenarios, all of them leading to the same end results.Keeping my concentration on the road is proving difficult and I struggle to keep to the speed limit, scared that I may get there too late.When I get there, I leave the
One evening I got a surprise visitor. There’s a knock behind the door and a wispy brunette peeks her head through the crack; it’s Ophelia.“Helloooo,” she smiles. She’s come bearing gifts, carrying a huge bunch of roses.“Wow, are those for me?” I ask.“Yes, she says. “But if you don’t like them, I can give them to the lady down the hall. I walked into her room by mistake thinking it was yours.”I respond by snatching the flowers from her, and joking, “Give them here!”“I’m glad to see you’re in good spirits,” she adds. “Thaddeus says you’ve been feeling very tired.”I sit upright and say, “That’s an understatement. Let’s just say I may fall asleep while you’re gossiping, so you better make it extra juicy.”Ophelia looks nervously around her, “Then I got nothing for you, I’m afraid.”She takes a seat opposite my bed. I can see something’s bothering her. “Hey, what’s up?” I ask her.“It’s Astrid, I haven’t heard from her for the past few months,” she says. “The last time I spoke to her