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Then Came Love ISBN #978-0-85715-250-3 ©Copyright Patricia Pellicane 2010 Cover Art by Natalie Winters ©Copyright August 2010 Edited by Michele Paulin Total-E-Bound Publishing This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing. Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution. The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork. Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.
Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated Total-e-burning.
THEN CAME LOVE Patricia Pellicane
THEN CAME LOVE
Patricia Pellicane
4
Chapter One
The phone rang, and Jackie Parker grumbled a low frustrated curse. Of course, she mused sarcastically. She’d just gotten into the shower, her hair was covered with shampoo and now the phone rings. If she wasn’t waiting for the doctor to call about Gran’s prescription she’d ignore it, but coated in suds she had no time to rinse away, she lunged from the stall. Raymond, her step-grandfather, was, as usual, in the garden and apparently, Gran was sleeping. That or she’d forgotten again what the phone was, or why that black little thing on the living room end table occasionally made that strange shrilling sound. Jackie almost killed herself as her foot slipped on the tiled floor, causing her to slide into the sink. She banged her ankle against the cabinet. “Ow! Damn it!” Grabbing a towel, she ran for the living room. Naked, wet and slipping on the highly polished wooden floor, she staggered, hitting twice into the hallway wall. Finally, while wobbling almost drunkenly and displaying not a shred of her usual balance, she nearly fell into the large sitting room. Shampoo seeped slowly from her hair down her face, burning her eyes. She tried to both wipe it away with the edge of the towel that was wrapped around her and secured at her breasts but wasn’t having an easy time of it. She couldn’t see. Her feet slipped every which way. Off balanced, she skidded into the back of the couch, almost fell over it and stubbed her big toe. Again, she cursed as she reached the black, heavy, old fashioned phone that rang insistently. “Hello,” she managed with one hand holding the receiver and the other her towel while trying to catch what she could of the soapy water running from her hair and body. “Mrs. Grayson?” She squinted and moaned against the suds burning her eyes. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, even as she asked with more than a thread of annoyance, “Who is this?” “Mrs. Grayson, my name is Wayne. I’m calling from the Glendale Health Department. We are asking you once again to consider complying with our policy to disclose your sexual partners. After all, Mrs. Grayson, it’s hardly fair to keep those men in the dark. If they don’t
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know they’re carrying a transmittable disease, there’s no telling whom they might infect. Wouldn’t you agree?” “Wayne, I think you’d better check your records. You have the wrong Mrs. Grayson. You’re talking about my grandmother. She’s in her mid-seventies. Does that sound like a woman who is sleeping around?” “You’d be surprised ma’am. STDs among our senior citizens are rampant.” “Perhaps, but not with my grandmother.” “You can’t know that for sure.” Jackie took a deep breath, barely holding to her control. “Actually Wayne, I do know that for sure. And this conversation is ridiculous. First of all, I’m positive you shouldn’t be discussing confidential information with anyone but the parties involved, especially not over the phone, and second, my grandmother wouldn’t know an STD from an MRI or HDTV. Like I said, check your records.” She hung up and flipped the towel from around her body to wipe at her dripping hair then dropped it at her feet, spreading it with her foot to soak up the puddle she’d created only to hear a low gasp and a tightly grated “Jesus,” soon followed by a chuckle from the man who’d stepped unnoticed into the well-lit living room. Jackie gave a short, sharp squeal of a scream, spun around and reached wildly for the towel again but couldn’t manage to bring it anywhere near the body parts she most wanted covered. In her panic, she never realised she was standing on the towel. All she could think was for some reason she couldn’t bring it from the floor. Desperate, she gave up and grabbed at the first object that might offer her a measure of protection, a cushion from the couch. She held it against the front of her. Sunlight glared through a wall of windows that faced an empty backyard. The light went a long way towards helping those in the room to see quite clearly. Her eyes, burning less, adjusted to the glare and narrowed with anger as she took in the man making himself at home at the far end of the room. Rick. Her mouth hardened, and her lips grew tight as she asked, “What the hell are you doing here?” Rick grinned. “Is that any way to greet your cousin?” “You’re not my cousin and you might as well stop saying you are. And you didn’t answer my question.”
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“We’re cousins through marriage. And I’m visiting with Aunt Stella and my Uncle Raymond.” Jackie looked around the room and frowned. “I thought she was talking a nap. Where is she?” His shrug clearly told he hadn’t a clue. “I just came in from the gardens when the phone rang.” “And you couldn’t have said anything before I dropped the towel?” “How was I supposed to know you were going to drop it? And once you did, it was a bit late to say anything, wouldn’t you agree? I don’t mind telling you, you shocked me into silence.” Jackie grumbled, “Bastard,” not quite under her breath, not at all happy to see his grin widen. “Oh hello, dear. Aren’t you looking pretty today?” Jackie gasped again and reached for yet another cushion to hold in back of her since her grandmother suddenly stood behind her. The tiny woman barely came to Jackie’s shoulder, and Jackie wasn’t all that tall to start with. The elderly lady glanced at Rick across the room, at the tall man standing at her side then again at her naked granddaughter. “Don’t you think she’s pretty, Raymond?” “Very,” Raymond replied. He chuckled and helped his wife through the puddle left by Jackie’s dripping form and to a comfortable chair near Jackie’s grinning ex-fiancé. Jackie blinked. How anyone could consider a woman standing naked covered only with suds and protected from sight by cushions from the couch to be anything but soaking wet, bedraggled mess in dire need of a rinse, she hadn’t a notion. Still she smiled at the sweet old couple. “Rick has come for a visit,” Gran thought to announce, many moments too late as far as Jackie was concerned. “Isn’t that nice?” “Very nice,” Jackie managed, just barely. Directing her glare to the man across the room, she asked, “For how long?”
Rick Grayson grinned as he eyed the lovely lady. His gaze narrowed as he felt the stirring of the old anger the mere sight of her could bring about. She had dumped him a day
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before their wedding. After an argument, she’d simply left town. Of course, he knew why. What he didn’t know was why she’d refused to believe him. They both knew Monica meant nothing to him. The woman had come into his room uninvited. He was just coming from his shower, a towel wrapped around his hips when, in silence and before his astonished eyes, the woman had quickly stripped to her birthday suit. She’d grinned when, seconds later, Jackie walked into the room. It appeared as if she’d been there for a time, but in truth her bra had just settle upon his bed across the room. It had been a definite setup. Monica and Jackie, third or fourth cousins, were as close to despising one another as any two women he’d ever seen. No doubt Monica had purposely set out to break them up. It seemed, when they were teenagers, Monica had once lost a boyfriend to Jackie. Rick figured this was payback and he couldn’t have cared less. The only thing he cared about was Jackie. She was the only woman he’d ever loved, and she had never given him a chance to explain. All right that wasn’t exactly true. He had explained, for all the good it had done. Jackie hadn’t believed a word he said. And Rick wondered if he’d ever forgive her for throwing away any chance of happiness they might have had. Over the past year, he’d tried to fill the void. In his anger and everlasting resentment, he’d used dozens of nameless, faceless women. But they weren’t what he wanted, what he needed. He couldn’t count the nights he’d lain awake cursing her for his pain. Today, for the first time, in little over a year he’d seen her naked again. Damn, but the sight of her full breasts, narrow waist, smooth belly and hips had taken his breath away, and he was glad he didn’t have to say anything. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure he was capable of saying anything more than the weak, guttural “Jesus” he had blurted out. Even now, he had to struggle to keep his voice steady, his breathing even. He tried for a nonchalant shrug, leant back in his chair and placed his right ankle on his left knee. “I have no particular plans. Thought I might stay on for a spell.” The truth being he hadn’t intended to stay more than one night, until he’d found out Jackie had come for one of her rare visits.
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“Oh, how delightful,” she said, without the least bit of that supposed delight echoing in her tone. All she could think was thank God she hadn’t brought the baby. Thank God she’d found Mrs. Tanner months ago and was able to leave the baby in her care not only while she took care of her business but for this short visit. She wouldn’t have come at all if it hadn’t been for the real estate deal. Jackie had just sold her condo. There was a problem with the new house she was buying. Apparently, lead paint was present and until the owners got rid of it no bank was going to allow the closing. They’d promised to have everything in order in less than a week. That had been three weeks ago, and Jackie was fast losing patience. She was waiting for her lawyer to get her out of the deal. She’d hoped her presence would hurry the process, one way or the other. In the meantime, she was literally homeless. The last thing she’d wanted was to move into a hotel while she waited, but that had been her only alternative. “Would you like some tea, dear? We’ve plenty. I’m sure Raymond wouldn’t mind getting us another cup, would you dear?” “Thank you, Gran, but no. Sit down, Raymond. I’ll get it myself after I dress.”
**** Later that afternoon, Jackie sat on her bed with the telephone directory and trailed her finger down the list, past The Pleasure Club, Dream Babies and Erotica Escorts. She punched in the number for Administrative Members into the phone, all the while wondering if members meant people or a particular body part. She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had need of a man for the evening. And his member would play no part in the configuration. By the time she’d hung up, she’d made herself perfectly clear. She needed an escort for dinner. She wanted him to be tall, gorgeous and a gentleman. While around her family, he was to act as if he were madly in love with her. Once they were alone, he could revert back to his normal self. It was only after she’d hung up the phone that she began to wonder if normal for an escort was the same as for everyone else. It didn’t matter. The man was getting paid to do his job. That’s all she cared about, all she wanted. Jackie grinned as she slipped her feet into four-inch, fuck-me heels. This was the
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first time she’d ever used an escort service. It was costing her a fortune, not counting the roses she’d sent herself two hours ago. And that didn’t matter, either. Of course, it was a ridiculous arrangement, but she was sick beyond bearing of hearing about Rick and his women. Through the family grapevine, whether she wanted to hear it or not, aunts or cousins were eager to let her know all about Rick’s latest fling. Why was it necessary to tell her? According to family gossip, since she’d broken off their engagement, the man had accumulated a damn harem. In truth, she didn’t care. Very simply she was sick of the rumours and the man, ergo the reason for tonight’s date. Even if it wasn’t true, she needed him to see her with another man. Any amount of money was worth it. He had to know she wasn’t pining away while he was happily fucking everything he could reach. Before leaving her room, she checked her makeup, hoping she hadn’t gone too far. It was a date, after all. A woman was expected to wear a little eye makeup on a date, wasn’t she?
Rick glanced towards the sound of high heels clicking over the polished wooden floor and felt his chest squeezed at the sight of her. Nothing had changed. It could have been yesterday when he’d last been with her, last taken her to dinner. “Damn,” he muttered almost under his breath. She was everything and more than he remembered. Why the hell had he bothered trying to find another? There were none who could compare, none who could replace her. Why hadn’t he simply nagged at her until she believed him? Followed her until he managed to talk some sense into that thick head and convinced her that the anger she felt was misplaced? Why had he let her walk out of his life? ‘Cause he was goddamned pissed off was why. ‘Cause he had expected her to believe him simply because he swore to the truth of it, and when she hadn’t, he’d figured she’d come crawling back when she did. She’d spent time outside today, and the sun had left her lovelier than ever. Her skin was normally a dusky, lustrous shade that professed her Mediterranean heritage. Right now, it glowed smooth with a gentle blush of pink. Her blonde hair was pulled back with combs leaving wisps of soft gold and silver tendrils to frame a beautiful face, while the length of it hung halfway down her back.
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Soft, pink, kissable lips and dark makeup at her eyes brought on erotic fantasies. Her black, strapless dress was short, her legs impossibly long. Rick felt an almost overwhelming urge to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder on the way to his room. To make love to her until she cried out his name, and maybe strangle her for the year’s worth of suffering she’d caused him. Rick said nothing as the doorbell rang, and she kissed her grandmother and Raymond good night. His narrowed gaze followed her to the door, and he watched a man smile, pull her close against him and bend down to kiss her just before she invited him inside to meet her relatives. As Rick watched them walk to his car, he was filled with impotent rage and knew only surprise as his usually sweet aunt said suddenly and quite harshly, “You really shouldn’t let that happen, Rick. Why only today I was thinking about the ba—” Raymond interrupted whatever might have come next with, “Would you help me, sweetheart? The leftovers should be wrapped up right away, I think.”
**** Jackie and her escort were just finishing their after-dinner drinks when Rick and a beautiful blonde woman with enormous boobs stood suddenly at their table. “I thought it was you,” he said to Jackie’s silent snarl then introduced himself and his friend. He glanced at her date and his before asking, “You don’t mind if I have a dance with this lady, do you, Jim?” “It’s Tim,” Jackie’s escort returned, “and I think you should ask the lady, not me.” “What do you say, Jackie? Are you up for it? This was once our song wasn’t it?” Jackie’s shrug was a study in nonchalance. There was no way he’d ever know what it took to keep control of her emotions, especially when faced with his all too flippant attitude. Jackie, who could give as good as she got, snapped, “Why not?” She came to her feet and to her dinner partner she said, “I’ll be right back.” Once on the darkened dance floor, she asked, “Are you following me?” “Nope.”
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“Really, you mean in a town that boasts of what? More than two dozen restaurants and even more bars, you just happen to pick the same one?” He shrugged. “Looks like we still have the same tastes. You know how I love a good steak.” “Why did you ask me to dance?” “You didn’t look like you were having much fun. Is your boyfriend always so inattentive?” She frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?” He didn’t answer her but asked instead, “Where has he been?” “Away on business. In fact, he’s only in town for tonight. He has to leave for Europe early tomorrow morning.” “How much are you paying him?” She pulled back and narrowed her gaze. “What are you talking about?” “Is he an escort?” “Would it soothe your ego if he were?” She laughed, partly in shock at his accurate guess and partly to cover her sudden nervousness. “What’s the matter, Rick? Is he too handsome? You really are obnoxious, aren’t you? I’m not allowed to have an attractive boyfriend, but you can show off a harem of bimbos. Where do you get them? Sluts R Us? Don’t they have any with less than a double D cup?” Rick grinned. “Is that what you think they are? Bimbos? I’ll have you know Tracey is a very nice girl.” Jackie wiggled her brows in unhappy sarcasm. “I’ll bet.” “You want to know how nice?” “No, I don’t want to know how nice,” she repeated nastily. “I don’t want to talk about her or you for that matter.” “How very Jackie of you.” She pulled back just a bit and frowned. “What the hell does that mean?” “It means just as long as you get to say what you please, there’s never a need to hear another’s side of the argument, is there?” “What other side?” He glared down at her, his gaze narrowing in anger. “You know what other side.”
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She stiffened. “If you insist on talking about this, I’m leaving you on the floor.” “Fine, we won’t talk. We won’t do anything but dance.” Jackie easily read the anger in his dark gaze. She didn’t care. He could rage at her from now until forever and she still wouldn’t care. He pulled her hard against him. Jackie tried to back away only to stop any struggle at his mocking taunt, “Afraid?” “Of you?” She ground her hips against his cock, knowing she’d find him hard and wanting to show him how little it mattered to her. “Not likely.” His hand settled at least six inches lower than it should have, pressing her hips more firmly to his erection. “This feels good. Remember how we fit together, Jackie?” She shook her head, looked him straight in the eye and lied. “Actually, I don’t. Sorry.” Rick laughed again. “We’re only dancing, Jackie. That’s nothing to be afraid of.” “I’m not afraid of you.” “I never thought you were. What I think is you’re afraid of you.”
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Chapter Two
Jackie laughed and repeated in ridicule, “Afraid of me?” “I think you’re afraid to relax, afraid you might enjoy this dance. Afraid that by the time it ends you might want more than a dance.” “And I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong girl. You need to go back to the table and ask your bimbo to dance.” “Relax,” he said. “Unless you want me to, I won’t bite.” Despite her anger, Jackie did relax, to a degree. She really loved to dance and hadn’t done any in more than a year. After all, she reasoned, what could happen on a dance floor? She thought she might as well enjoy this moment thrust upon her, or at least pretend to. What she should have realised was that standing this close to this particular man would be an assault to her senses. Instead, she tried to fight her reaction to him. It didn’t work, of course. Swaying to a gentle rhythm, her mind filled with his scent, the maleness of him, his long, lean length, the strength of him against her and beneath her fingers, left her insides trembling and her entire body aching for more. Only he didn’t have to know it. If she had anything to say about it, he’d never know it. His muscles, his looks, the scent of him, the warmth of him was almost more than she could take. He pulled her closer. She could feel his breath against her forehead as he spread tiny almost kisses along her hairline. She wanted to pull out of his embrace and run, but to do so would tell him this meant more to her than it should. There was no way she would show this liar the slightest bit of weakness. As far as she was concerned, he was a nonentity, and she felt nothing towards him. “There’s no point in trying to be romantic. You said yourself this is only a dance.” “I love the way you smell.” “Do you? You mean I smell better than Monica? How has she been, by the way?” Rick stiffened as the mention of the woman. “Damn, but you really are a bitch, aren’t you?”
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She glanced up, her features hard with hate. “It’s ‘a fucking bitch’, if I remember correctly.” “Fine,” he said, knowing she referred to their last argument, the hateful things that were said. The frustration he’d known the night she’d left him, the first night in an endless year of curses. He moved her deeper into the crowded dance floor. Bodies swayed smoothly around them, enclosing them in almost total darkness. Her head pounded; a pulse throbbed in her throat as his mouth lowered to her cheek. She took a deep calming breath. Her lips tingled. She needed to feel his mouth on hers. She strove to keep her gasping breath as smooth and silent as possible. She felt like crying as she struggled to breathe, while he hadn’t done anything more than brush his lips against her skin in whispery soft promises of pleasure. His mouth lowered again. Now his lips grazed the edge of her mouth. She wanted to turn into the kiss. God, she wanted it more than she wanted to live, but she somehow managed to keep to her control. “Have you fucked lately, Jackie?” he asked on a low, warm breath. “Has your man been taking care of you?” “What do you care?” His hand on her hip slipped down her leg, around the front of her, between their bodies, inside her thigh and up. Under her short skirt, in the near total blackness of the dance floor, his hand moved higher. She didn’t stop him. She didn’t even try. He needed to know nothing he did could make a difference. Higher. His fingers moved higher and higher again. Under her skirt, inside the tiny wisp of panties she wore, her pussy felt heavy, aching and soaking wet. She trembled with the need she knew for his touch, she was hotter than she could ever remember. Every nerve ending screamed for more, straining towards the coming pleasure. Pleasure only he knew how to give. His hand was inches from her heat. Inches from touching her, inches from where she wanted most to be touched. She forced back the moan that threatened. Bodies pressed close. No one could see them, and they saw no one as they watched only each other. Eyes glittered with raw emotion, hate, anger, betrayal but most of all lust, a desperate want, until finally his fingers reached under the leg of her panties. He groaned and closed his eyes in pleasure at the warm creaminess he found, while her knees trembled almost buckling beneath her. She reached an arm around his neck, her cheek
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against his chest and held on. This was going to be wild. She knew it and hadn’t the power to stop it. He held her tightly with one arm, while the other under her skirt explored the folds of her body and centred at last upon her clit. “I love it when you cream for me, Jackie.” “It’s not for you. It’s you and a hundred others.” She felt his body tense against hers as he asked, “Has there been a hundred, Jackie?” She hissed a low sound that was almost lost in the music surrounding them, even as she glared her hatred. He had some nerve. How did he dare to question her after all the women he’d been with? What he was doing meant nothing. They both knew it meant nothing. He had no right to question her. He was a man, and she’d been too long without. It was as simple as that. She wouldn’t turn away. He couldn’t make her turn away. It had been a year since he’d touched her last. A year of loneliness and pain, but she wasn’t about to whimper, to cry, to beg this liar, this cheat for more. “I don’t know. I never counted.” God, why couldn’t other men feel like this? Why couldn’t they touch her like this? Why didn’t they smell like this? How did he alone have the power? It had been a year, but had it been ten she knew not one could do the things this man could. Damn him, damn his lying, cheating soul to hell. Again his mouth brushed against the edge of her lips. “Just a kiss, Jackie. No one will ever know.” “You will.” “What? What will I know? Will I know you want me if you kiss me? Is that it? Is that what you’re afraid I’ll find out?” She didn’t respond. “I already know it, Jackie. I know you want me.” “It doesn’t mean anything.” “I know.” “It doesn’t. Wanting isn’t love so don’t get your balls in an uproar.” Rick grinned. “If I promise not to get my balls in an uproar, will you kiss me?” “What’s the point? It won’t mean anything.” “The point is it will feel good. It doesn’t have to mean anything to feel good.”
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Her tone filled with disgust. “That’s exactly what a man like you would say.” Rick grinned as he circled her clit with his finger, pressing the extended button, teasing it, elongating it, feeling it harden, feeling her grow wetter than ever. He reached farther back and dipped his finger deep into her warm, wet tunnel swirling his finger, only to centre his attention on her clit again, teasing her to madness. “And what would a woman say?” “I’m going to come. You’d better stop. I always cry out when I come.” “There’s a hallway in the back,” he nodded over her head. “One of the rooms off it might be empty. You could cry out there, and no one would hear you.” “God,” she moaned as crushing tightness slid its thick tentacles over her abdomen and caught her up in blinding agony. She couldn’t stand. She crumbled against him, helpless as she leaned into the coming exquisite cramping. The hand at her waist slid under her ass to support her. Both her arms were around his neck. He held her more tightly against him, supporting her entire weight with one arm. She couldn’t stop it. She didn’t want to stop it. She hadn’t known a man’s touch for so long. She needed to be touched, needed it more than she could ever have said. Her face rose to his, every breath drawn in and shakily expelled. There was no pain to exceed this longing, and her soft keening wail of pleasure was lost in the blazing, luscious heat of his mouth. The pressure, the pain, the spasms of pleasure went on for endless tormented moments. She couldn’t stop it, there was no control, her body and mind were lost in the tremors. Finally, as the waves of ecstasy began to ease, she moaned. Her head fell forward, her nose squashed into his chest. She leaned weakly against him. Her body was soft, replete, trembling with exhaustion. “God,” he groaned as he rubbed his face into the warmth of her neck. “I forgot you tasted like this.” Moments later, once again in control, she pulled out of his embrace, made sure the skirt of her dress lay in place and left him with, “Your date is waiting.” “We need to talk.” She frowned. He was the last person on earth she wanted to talk to. “About what?” “About us. Things aren’t settled between us.” “There is no ‘us’ and things are definitely settled.” “They’re not. Where are you living?”
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“Don’t you have to be somewhere? And what do you care?” “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.” Jackie came to a stop and glared her resentment. “You mean between bimbos you’ve been wondering where I live?” She gave him a stiff semblance of a smile. “How charming.” Rick ignored her sarcasm. “I’ve been wondering why a young woman would hide. Why does no one know where you live? Except maybe Aunt Stella and she can’t remember. What reason could there be to hole up someplace for almost a year?” Jackie felt a jolt of fear crash into her chest. A jolt so hard it nearly stole her breath. “Have you questioned my grandmother?” “Not in any depth, but perhaps, I should,” “There’s no need. She doesn’t know. In any case, I just sold my place and am temporarily homeless. And the reason I told no one where I lived was very simple. I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want to see you. Ever think of that?” Rick shook his head. “No, I think it’s more than that. I think you were scared and used Monica as an excuse to break off the engagement.” Jackie shrugged. When he said things like that, when he pushed the blame of their estrangement on her shoulders, it took almost all of her control not to scratch his eyes out. She used Monica? She’d found the woman naked in his room, while he’d stood there wearing only a towel and obviously unable to keep his eyes off her bouncing boobs, and she’d used Monica? “Think what you like.” She turned to her date, forced a smile and asked, “Ready?” He nodded and came to his feet. Moments later, she breathed a sigh of relief as he drove her out of the parking lot. She was asleep, or pretended to be, when Rick came home. The truth was she wondered if she’d ever sleep again. Every time she saw him—and she’d seen him twice since their break-up—she couldn’t shake the hatred for days. Jackie figured this time would be no different.
****
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Jackie placed Eggs Benedict, orange juice and coffee on the table then sat a moment before Rick entered the room. “My lawyer got me out of the deal,” she said to her grandmother and Raymond. Her grandmother had raised her from the age of five when her mother and step-father were killed in a plane crash. Now that she was getting on in years, Jackie wanted to spend time with the elderly couple. That meant finding something close by. Once she did, the entire family would know about Callie. The baby couldn’t be hidden forever. Jackie figured she’d take care of that problem when the time came. There was no sense in worrying over it now. As Rick helped himself to breakfast, she asked with obvious hope, “Are you leaving today?” “No. I have a few days before I have to head out again.” “Oh, that’s good,” she said without a thread of feeling. “Where to this time? New Orleans? San Francisco?” “Tampa.” “Another new office?” Rick shrugged. “It’s already set up. Just need to check on a few things.” He grinned at her nasty glare. “Folks need lawyers everywhere, Jackie.” A moment later, he changed the subject and remarked, “So I understand you’re looking for a place to live.” She merely glanced in his direction and dismissed his words with a flippant movement of her hand. “I can’t afford anything you might know about.” “What about the lake house?” She frowned. “What about it?” “I won’t be able to get there this year. You could use it while you’re looking for a permanent place.” “That’s very nice of you,” she said stiffly. “But I don’t think so.” “Oh Jackie, wouldn’t that be lovely? Then I could see—” Jackie shook her head and quickly interrupted with, “The lake house is too far away.” “No, it’s not,” Rick insisted.
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“It is. I want something closer to Gran and something close to work.” She gave a careless shrug. “I’ll find a place soon. Most likely, I’ll take an apartment and look for a house later.” “What are you doing today?” Jackie frowned and raised her gaze to her unwelcome inquisitor. “Why?” “I thought I could show you one or two places.” He held up his hand at the coming obvious argument. “They’re reasonably priced and close by. What have you got to lose by looking?” Since they were once engaged, Jackie was well aware of the man’s finances. And reasonably priced weren’t words in his vocabulary. Ostentatious was closer to the truth of it. “How much is reasonably priced?” “Why not look at it? You haven’t got anything better to do.” Jackie would have loved to tell him going to the dentist was better than spending the afternoon with him. Only she couldn’t. Not with his uncle sitting there listening to every nasty word she might have said. “Fine, after I straighten the kitchen.”
**** Jackie was filling the dishwasher when her grandmother came to stand at her side. Her voice was hardly above a whisper as she asked, “Are you going to tell him?” “Not yet.” “Jackie, he’s going to find out.” “How? No one knows but you and Raymond.” “I almost said something. Twice.” Her grandmother frowned and shook her head. “I can’t keep this secret. If he didn’t come here, if I never saw him, it would be different, of course.” She shook her head again. “If he wasn’t so good to us, it would be very different. Lately he’s been asking questions.” Jackie nodded. “What kind of questions?” “He wanted to know where you live. Jackie, I can’t lie. I forget to lie.” “Don’t worry, Gran,” she said as she hugged the older woman close. “It was wrong of me to swear you to secrecy. I’m leaving tomorrow. I’ll tell him before I go.”
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“Will you?” “I promise.”
**** “You’re heading in the wrong direction. I can’t afford anything on the water. Besides, it’s not close to my work.” “How is that coming along?” She glanced in his direction and nodded. “My restaurant? It’s coming. This year should show us a slight profit.” “What? Already?” “I told you it’s coming. I’m gaining a bit of a reputation. Next year or the year after, I might open another.” “Are you thinking about franchising?” Jackie shook her head in the negative. “I haven’t given it any thought. I wouldn’t be happy losing control. Besides, once you franchise you lose quality.” “But gain a fortune.” “Unlike some,” her tone and a sharp glance in his direction told clearly to whom she was referring, “I’m a bit less interested in money. I’d rather pride in a job well done.” “Believe me, you can find pride in a growing bank account.” “I suppose, but for me, that’s sort of like empty calories. They taste good but add nothing to your health.” “Spoken like a woman who comes from real money.” She laughed. “That might have been the case if it weren’t for the men in my family.” “Your father?” She snorted what sounded like a half laugh and groan. “The man is a piece of work. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on him considering the womanising line of dead-beats he came from, but I can only imagine how my mother suffered. Luckily, she got out when she was still a young woman. Of course, Father wasn’t the only one. You must have heard about my grandfather. Imagine Gran’s pain when she found out he died in bed with his mistress, and the loser had the nerve to leave the woman a small fortune. I don’t know how Gran kept her
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sanity through that sordid mess. Yes, indeed the women in my family were far from wise when they chose their mates.” “Except for you.” Jackie shrugged but said nothing in response. “You ever hear from him?” She frowned at the question. “Your father.” She shrugged again. “After mother died, he came around for a time. I was just a little kid, but I remember him coming on Sundays after church. But once he discovered he couldn’t touch my inheritance, that I couldn’t even touch the bulk of it until I was thirty, he sort of found other things to occupy his time. Not long ago I heard he found another rich wife. A widow this time. I think she’s number five.” “And you never see him?” “It’s been awhile.” “How long is awhile.” “Two or three years, I suppose. He keeps promising to come for a visit, but I stopped wishing for impossible things when I didn’t get the Barbie I wanted from Santa when I was seven.” “Did he know about me?” “I don’t think so. I can’t remember ever speaking to him while we were together.” “And since?” “Usually he sends a note around Christmas. I told you he keeps promising a visit.” “I hope you’re not thinking I’m anything like them.” “I never said you were,” she returned a bit too quickly. “You never said it, but you’re thinking it.” Jackie smiled as she looked straight ahead. There was a time when Jackie might have sworn he was different, but she’d known the error of her thinking for some time now. “Let’s say I’ve learned well from the mistakes of others.” “Let’s say you’re full of shit, Jackie. Let’s say you’re breeding hatred deep inside you like fucking poison, slowly invading your guts like gangrene. Let’s say you will never give yourself a chance to love. Let’s try the truth, Jackie. It might make you feel better.”
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“Don’t try to hand me bullshit, Rick. It was me who found you both naked or nearly naked. Remember?” “I’d just come from a shower. I don’t know what the hell she was doing there. I was just as surprised as you were when I stepped out of the bathroom and found the two of you in my room.” “Right. And I’m supposed to be stupid enough to believe you.” “If I’d wanted her, I could have had her anytime.” “If you’d wanted her?” Jackie gave a humourless laugh and repeated again, “If you’d wanted her.” “If I’d wanted her, why didn’t I take her after you left?” “You probably did.” Rick’s lips tightened with anger as he bit back a low growl. He wasn’t going to say another word about it. If the woman refused to believe him, there was little he could do. His stomach twisted in pain at the aggravation she caused him.
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Chapter Three
Just as she suspected, the house was too big, probably too expensive and too far from both Gran and her restaurant. They looked at one another. Jackie frowned as she left the car and met him near the front door. “Rick, this is just another mansion. What are you thinking? I’m not spending money on something like this.” “Just take a look. What’s it going to hurt?” “We’re wasting time.” Rick looked into her stubborn expression. “Fine, I’ve got another place in mind. Let’s go.” The second house was more to Jackie’s liking. It was still too big, of course, but at least, it wasn’t as grand as a palace with huge statues surrounding an enormous curved drive and did not sport a fountain at the centre of a park-like lawn. They stopped for lunch before Rick dropped her back at her grandmother’s place. She didn’t see him again until dinner and once finished with helping clean up, she left Rick with her grandmother and Raymond. Pretending a headache, she retired early. She had to tell him. She’d promised her grandmother she’d tell him and wondered if she had the courage. She’d do it, she swore. She was leaving in the morning, but she’d tell him before she left. There was no real choice here. If he’d been a stranger, if his uncle hadn’t married her grandmother, she might have gone on this way for the rest of her life. Only he wasn’t a stranger and his uncle had married into her family. There was no way she could hide the baby. Not unless she was willing to give up her precious grandmother. The house had been quiet for hours as she slipped from her room and, in the dark, wrapped only in her terrycloth bathrobe, made for the pool out back. Knowing what she had to face in the morning had left her feeling anxious. She couldn’t sleep. She needed to work off nervous energy and a few laps in the pool would do the trick.
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The water was warm. Had she turned on the outside lights, she knew she’d see the heated mist rising into cooler air. Jackie loved to swim at night. Especially when alone, with no one to bother her. Silently, she cut sleekly and effortlessly through the still water. As she came up the steps, she reached for her towel and robe. They were gone. Quickly, she looked around and frowned at finding Rick lounging upon one of the many chairs at the pool’s side. “You could have said something. Were you trying to scare me?” “You shouldn’t swim alone. You know it’s not safe.” “Not safe as in a man might come along and steal my robe and towel?” She could barely make out his nod. “Among other things.” Jackie held out her hand. Instead of giving them to her, he rose from the lounge chair and held the robe for her to slip into. Only when she tried, she found herself suddenly, inexplicably shoved against the wall of the house, her robe on her arms, but opened allowing his hands to run the length of her naked body. Still, he didn’t touch her. She gasped for her every breath, waiting for his next move. He held her hands in his, high above her head. “I have to touch you. You know that, don’t you?” Her heart pounded madly as she groaned a low sound, deep in her throat, incapable of telling him what she wanted. Powerless against this incredible, overwhelming need. Had she wanted him to do this? Had she secretly hoped he’d hear her? Come to her? Is that why she’d forgone the use of her suit and swum in the nude? She didn’t know, and for once, she didn’t care. After tonight, he’d hate her forever. For this one time, she was going to take what she could, even knowing it couldn’t last. She’d been alone for so long, she’d needed so desperately and she was tired, so terribly tired of pretending to be strong. “Take your arms out of it. I want to touch you everywhere. I don’t want anything in my way.” He let go of one hand, and Jackie shook off the robe’s sleeve before he captured her wrist and held it over her head. He repeated the procedure with her other hand. The robe fell to the ground at their feet.
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The house was warm against her back, retaining much of the day’s heat. Hard and warm, it felt only slightly harder than the naked man whose hips pressed her against it. “We could go inside. To my room,” she offered. “We will. Later,” he said. “First, I want this. I want to feel you wet and cool and luscious. I want to lick you dry. I want to touch you everywhere. I’ve been waiting forever for this.” A low sob escaped her throat. “Kiss me, Rick. I need you to kiss me.” “I’ll do that to. But first, before I lose my mind while tasting your mouth, first I need this,” he said as he shoved an incredibly hard cock deep into her wet tunnel. She gasped at the feel of him. He held her, pinned to the wall; she trembled at the force of his entrance, held suspended by his cock. “Jesus,” he groaned. “I can’t remember you feeling this good. I can’t remember anything ever feeling this good.” They moaned together as his mouth slipped slowly from her hands down her arms, down slowly, down again to her shoulder, to her chest. He raised her higher. She was trembling by the time his mouth reached her soft, aching breasts. He sucked and bit one nipple before moving on to its twin then at her shoulder again, her neck and finally, finally, oh God, finally her mouth. No one kissed like Rick. No one took the time to slowly invade, to delight in every discovery, to moan with the lusciousness of it, to capture all within contact of his lips, teeth and tongue. He sucked her lip and played with it between his teeth, biting at it, licking it, sucking it again before he pushed his tongue into the heat of her. Deep, deeper into her, rediscovering her taste, her scent, her every texture. “I love the way you taste. God, I love it.” Jackie couldn’t respond. She hadn’t the strength, not after withstanding the massive onslaught of this man’s kisses. No one tasted like him. No one kissed like him. And she couldn’t get enough. Idly, she wondered if she ever would. She made a low unhappy sound as he tore his mouth from hers. Knowing what she needed, he said, “Not yet. If I kiss you any longer, I might never stop, and these will feel sad. You wouldn’t want them to feel sad would you?”
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He pressed her tightly to the wall and slipped his cock out of her. Crouching, he lowered his mouth to her chest, relishing in the feel of her breasts, rubbing abrasive cheeks against them, sucking them into his mouth, biting her nipples to hard aching points of pleasure, only to release them and suck them again. God, but he loved the feel and taste of them. “I can’t tell you how you taste. It’s beyond words.” His mouth lowered to her midriff, her stomach, and lower. On his knees, he hovered for a moment over her pussy. Her body tensed, aware of his every movement. His breath was moist and hot against her, inches from her. She felt as if she might break so tight was every muscle, so urgent was her need, so desperately did she yearn for his mouth on her. And there it was, this one perfect moment. She cried out at the explosion of emotion, of sensation that nearly robbed her of her senses. It shook her to her very core. It stole her breath, her mind, as her hips tilted helplessly forward and she sank into the delicious stokes of his wildly burning tongue. Her hands came to cup his head, her fingers to thread through his hair. Just as she remembered, it was thick, rich, crisp and wonderful against her fingers. Her hands moved lower to his cheeks as he buried his face into the wet warmth of her body. Suddenly, he stood, leaving her pussy bereft, her body trembling and aching with need. “I don’t know where to touch you first. I touch you here.” His fingers threaded through the protective curls and into the wet folds of her body, then into her needy hot tunnel. “Then suddenly can’t wait to touch you here.” His mouth clung to her breast and left it aching for more, her entire body wept for more. Until his mouth was on hers again, disallowing her a breath that wasn’t his to give. “I can’t tell you how complete I feel with my mouth on you. It’s like you’re a part of me, a part that has been missing for a year.” He picked up her robe and slipped her into it, while he wrapped the towel at his waist. “Inside. I need to see what I’m touching.” In her bedroom, he flicked on the small lamp at her bedside, sat on her bed and urged her to stand between his legs. “I need to see this.” She shook her head. “Rick, I don’t like it when—” “I know. I’m not going to sit here and stare at you. I just need to see what I’m touching. Jesus, Jackie, it’s been forever. You can’t deny me this.” Jackie threw off her robe and stood proudly before him.
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“You’re so damn beautiful. You take a man’s breath away.” Jackie smiled. “I’m happy you think so.” “You’ve changed some though. You’re fuller here,” he said as he cupped her breasts. “And maybe just a little fuller here as well,” he added as he smoothed his hands over her hips. He grinned at her frown. “I love it.” Jackie hadn’t realised, since having the baby, her shape had changed enough as to be noticed. He was right, of course. She was a bit fuller in her breasts and hips. Only she wasn’t about to admit to it right now. Later. She’d tell him later. “I’m not. You’ve forgotten is all.” “Sit on me. I need to feel my cock inside that hot pussy.” Jackie opened the towel at his hips and smiled at the size of his rigid cock. No wonder it had almost brought her pain when he’d shoved it inside her. It had been forever since she’d known the touch of a man. And a man this size was bound to thrill any woman. Jackie positioned herself above him and slowly lowered her body upon him. “Oh God, don’t do that,” he moaned as she inched him slowly inside her. “You’re driving me crazy.” His words were a ragged effort at sound as he shoved his hips up and into her, while pulling her down upon him. Jackie hissed an indrawn breath, and eyes closed, she flung her head back. “I’d forgotten,” she said, her words a weak trembling imitation of her normal voice. “You’re so big.” “And you’re so tight. God, Jackie, I don’t know why you feel so different.” “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters right now, except this.” She shoved her hips harder against him, and they groaned in mutual pleasure. “Roll over. I don’t want to come yet. I need to see you, feel you and taste you again.” Jackie did as he asked. He lay partially on the bed, his feet on the floor as he moved his hands and mouth over her body. Never staying in one place for more than a few seconds, as if desperate to know all of her again, his hands moved from framing her face to her knees and back again. “I can’t touch you enough. I can’t believe I’m touching you at all.” “Take my word for it. You are doing a mighty fine job of it.” Rick chuckled. “Wise guy.” Fully on the bed, he hovered above her, kneeling between her legs. His arms held his balance at her sides as he leant forward. He spoke almost into her mouth. “I need to take this
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slow, incredibly slow. It’s going to bring you some anxiousness, but I have to do it this way. I’ve dreamt of it, of you, of touching you, loving you for more than a year.” Her eyes were half closed as she breathed a sigh of pleasure. “I know.” “There should be music, candles. We should be sipping wine.” “I don’t need any of it. I only need you. Kiss me.” “Oh God, lady.” He trembled. “I’m having a problem controlling the need to take you now, to take you quick and hard.” He took a deep gasping breath. “Jesus, I hope you’re ready, ‘cause you’re not going to forget this,” he murmured as his mouth brushed against hers. At the touch of his mouth, hard and yet soft, Jackie sighed her pleasure. This man’s kisses were an act of love, in and of themselves. He knew how to please a woman. He knew what to do with his mouth, his tongue. The touch of his lips sent chills down her spine as they brushed against her, to linger for the briefest of moments, only to move away and come back for more. Again and again he teased her with almost kisses, triggering gasp after helpless gasp, while causing her desire to grow to desperation, until it rivalled his own. Her hands reached for his shoulders and slipped around his neck. Once his mouth was on hers again, she kissed him back, holding him in place. He gasped as he pulled away and smiled at her disappointed frown. “We’ll have none of that, lady. You’re not going to make me lose control.” “No? Only I’m allowed to lose control.” He shook his head. “Jackie, if I kissed you like I want, if I loved you like I want, I’m not sure you’d even enjoy it. I want to give, not take.” “Don’t plan this, Rick. Kiss me like you can’t resist. Nothing is hotter than one of your kisses.” He grinned. “You want that?” “I want you. No more teasing, no more playing. I want you.” “Jesus, how can any man resist you?” “I don’t care about any man. Only you.” Rick groaned a low hungry sound as his mouth came to hers again, this time to linger and taste, to discover her texture, to draw in her flavour, to delve into her heat. And just as
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she imagined she’d die for want of air, he gasped and breathed deep into her, filling her mind, her senses with the warmth and deliciousness that was his alone. She loved him. Jackie knew she always would, no matter her anger, no matter the pain she’d suffered. There was no one like him, no one who felt like him, tasted like him, no one who loved like him. She felt almost crushing despair and a desperate yearning that it could always be like this. Only, she knew it couldn’t. Despite the closeness they knew at this moment, tomorrow, he’d hate her. She had only now, only this small moment in time to love him, to remember. After tomorrow, memory would be all she’d ever have. Just rough enough, his mouth ate at her, taking what he could of her essence, leaving behind the haunting deliciousness of his mouth. Lost in the wonder of him, she eagerly accepted every thrust of his tongue, every scrape and bite of his teeth, every whisper of enjoyment, until he tore his mouth from hers to linger for a moment at her neck, her shoulder and finally her breast. He sucked a pink nipple deep into his heat, bringing about a soft cry. Quickly, almost desperately, obviously on the verge of losing all control, he paid equal attention to its twin then moved down her midriff, over a softly rounded stomach to her pussy. Jackie couldn’t hold back her cry of near delirium as his heated mouth scorched aching, tender flesh. His hands were under her ass, lifting eager, delicious softness. He buried his face in her moist warmth. Mouth, tongue, chin and nose rubbed madly against her, into her. She cried out again as his tongue tickled her clit, sucked at it. As it elongated and hardened, his teeth nibbled gently upon it. Jackie swore she saw stars and imagined it wasn’t possible to love this more. Her hips rose, pressing closer to the rapturous heat of his mouth. Her broken, gasping words of encouragement told him of her pleasure. “Too much, too much,” she murmured almost drunkenly. “God, Rick, you’re killing me.” “I know. My cock is about ready to explode. If I don’t fuck you now, I’m going to die.” “Then do it. Oh my God,” she gasped desperately, eagerly. “Do it now.” His mouth left her sweet pussy to hover for only a second over her luscious lips, to join again with the tantalising deliciousness of her mouth, while his finger continued where his tongue had left off.
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Without hesitation, as if his body were designed solely for her use, his cock slipped perfectly, smoothly into her pussy. He came up on his knees and felt her muscles tighten around him. She moaned and surged forward. He gasped, fighting for control as her muscles squeezed and squeezed his sex, tormenting him to madness. His hips hit hard into her body, each thrust trembling her breasts, bouncing them wildly as he unconsciously demanded her complete and total acquiescence. He wanted her. He wanted all of her, body, soul, everything, for always. And in the taking, he gave and gave until there was nothing but her, nothing but this luscious woman to fill his entire world. Madness, it was nothing less than insanity as their worlds collided and like planets exploding soundlessly into the blackness of space, their bodies surged into each other, breathlessly crying out the love they both knew.
**** Their hearts were pounding. For a long moment, neither regained the ability to speak without gasping for each breath. After a few silent minutes of cuddling her against him, he buried his face into the warmth of her neck and murmured softly, “We need to talk.” “I know.” Jackie didn’t want to disturb the peace they’d found in each other, temporary though it might be. “We’ll talk tomorrow. I’m too tired now.” “You’re leaving here tomorrow.” “Before I leave, I promise, we’ll talk.” They lay comfortably together, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her, holding her close against him. His mouth depositing gentle almost kisses along her hairline. Jackie was half asleep when she felt something change. She frowned when she felt his body grow steadily stiffer beside her. A moment later, he came up on one arm and leaned briefly over her. She looked up to a mask of mounting rage. “What?” Within seconds, he flung back the sheet and left the bed. His gaze moved over her room. “Where is it?”
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“Where is what?” “The breast pump. You really are a bitch, aren’t you? My God, how could you keep this from me?” “Keep what?” she asked in a last ditch attempt to evade the coming confrontation. She wasn’t ready. Vaguely, she wondered if she’d ever be ready. The truth was she didn’t have to tell him a thing. He already knew. “I just realised why you taste so damn good, so extra sweet. It’s breast milk, isn’t it? And your body is just a little different because you’ve had a baby, haven’t you, Jackie? You’ve had my baby.” He sneered in hatred. “God, I can’t imagine why I ever loved you. Why I allowed the thought of you to torture me this last year.” He walked around her room looking in her closet, shaking her empty bags, then into her dresser drawers. Pulling one open after another, he finally found what he looked for in the third. His gaze narrowed with contempt as he glared at her, picked up the pump, held it for a fraction of a second, dropped it back in place and slammed the drawer shut. He was naked. He grabbed the towel he’d earlier flung to the floor. Before facing her again he slipped it around his hips. ”My God, how could I have loved you? Just the thought of your deceit sends chills down my spine. You’re the most evil woman I’ve ever known.” “I’m not.” Jackie felt the need to justify. She sat, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. She tucked it under her arms. “I couldn’t tell you in the beginning.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want you near me. I couldn’t bear the thought of you being near me. I never wanted to see you again.” She raised her gaze to his. “How could I tell you?” “And later?” Again, she shook her head. “Nothing changed until today. Today, I knew I couldn’t go on like this. I knew I had to tell you.” Jackie barely believed it herself when, with eyes downcast, she added, “I was going to do it tomorrow.” “Of course, you were. What time are you leaving tomorrow?’ She raised her gaze to eyes filled with hurt and hate and wondered how they kept doing this to each other. This kind of pain wasn’t supposed to happen between people who loved each other. “I was, Rick. I swear I was.” “What time, Jackie?”
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“After breakfast.” He nodded. “I’ll be ready.” Jackie’s gaze widened. “Ready? Ready for what?” “You don’t think I’m letting you leave here without me.” “I’m not living with you. You can’t bully your way into my life.” “The truth is, lady, I want nothing to do with your life. But that baby is just as much mine as yours. I want it.” “You don’t even know what it is.” She sneered in disgust. “You want everything. How many toys have you got, Rick? A baby will just become one more to add to your collection. How many will it take before you’re satisfied?” She punched the bed “I want, I want, I want. Do you hear yourself?” He ignored her outburst. “Is it a boy or girl, Jackie?” “Callie. Her name is Callie.” “How old is she?” “Four months.” He was quiet for a moment, apparently counting. “You knew you were pregnant when you left.” She shrugged. “I suspected I was.” He took a deep calming breath. He looked ready for violence. Jackie knew she’d never seen him this enraged. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to get the baby and bring her here. From here, we’ll work out a place for us to live.” Jackie shook her head. In an instant, her hatred returned full force. “You’re not in control of my life. There is no us. I’ll find a place in my own time.” He nodded. “Like I said, we’ll find a place.” “Fine. Now, get out.” “If you’re thinking of fighting me, I’d advise against it. If we went to court, who do you think would win?” Jackie didn’t have to say a word. She hadn’t a doubt as to who would win. He was a lawyer, a powerful lawyer. He had friends in high places. He had more than just money. He
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had influence. Her gaze narrowed with well-known hatred. It almost felt good. At least, it felt familiar. “You bastard.” “Good, now that we’ve got that straightened out, I’ll see you in the morning.” He stopped at her door and added, “And don’t think you’re going to sneak out tonight. I’ll find you and Callie no matter what it takes.” “I’m not going anywhere. Shut up, and close the door behind you.”
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Chapter Four
They left her grandmother’s immediately after breakfast. Jackie gave him directions to the hotel where Callie and Mrs. Tanner, the woman she’d hired to care for her daughter, were staying. After she’d sold her house, she’d set them all up temporarily in the nearby hotel. Jackie had expected their stay wouldn’t be more than a week at best. Problems with her new house had caused her to stay quite a bit longer than originally planned. Jackie and Rick drove in silence. He never looked at her, and Jackie honestly felt some gratitude at not having to bear his accusatory glares. She didn’t want him to talk to her. She didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. Once he was over his snit, she had every reason to expect he wouldn’t stick around. No doubt within a week, two at the most, he’d be bored with a baby and itching to be about his business. The man was ambitious to a fault. He had offices in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans. She’d never known him to stay in one place for long. All she had to do was wait. She knew he’d be gone soon enough. An hour later, Rick pulled to a stop in front of a hotel. “Why this far away?” he asked. She shrugged. “I lived nearby. I was waiting to close on the new house before moving…” She frowned. “What difference does it make? I wasn’t hiding her, if that’s what you think? I thought we’d only be here a few days.” “And you weren’t hiding her?” “I need to move closer to Gran and my work. This was only temporary. Everyone would have seen her once I moved.” He nodded. “Everyone will. When we move.” Jackie gritted her teeth but said nothing more. Carelessly, he flipped his keys to the parking attendant and followed her into the hotel. They didn’t speak on the elevator to her floor. They didn’t speak when she led the way down the hall to her room. She knocked. “Mrs. Tanner. It’s me, Jackie.”
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“Oh good, you’re back,” the older woman said with a smile. “I was just about to give her a bottle. Now, I won’t have to.” “I’ll take care of her for a few hours. You can have the afternoon off. Enjoy a lunch downstairs, if you like, or a swim. They have a beautiful pool.” The older woman looked at the man who stood near her boss. “I’m Rick, Mrs. Tanner. Callie’s father.” Mrs. Tanner smiled. “Oh, I’m happy to meet you Mr…” “It’s Grayson. Rick Grayson, Mrs. Tanner. It looks like you’ve been taking wonderful care of our little girl.” As he spoke, he watched Jackie pick up the baby. “Can I hold her a minute, sweetheart?” Jackie looked around the room, unsure for a second as to whom he referred. Sweetheart? They were barely speaking, and yet he called her… Mentally, she shook off the word, and silently swore she didn’t care. She knew he called her that because Mrs. Tanner was still there. She never looked his way when she returned, “Of course.” She snuggled the baby close to her and deposited a dozen tiny kisses over her cheek and ear. “Mommy missed her baby girl.” And then forgetting for a moment that she wasn’t alone, she murmured into her neck, “Oh God, I really did.” “I need to shop a bit. I’ll be back in a few hours, if that’s all right.” “That’s fine,” Jackie assured the woman as she handed the baby to Rick. Mrs. Tanner left Jackie and Rick with the baby. “There’s a rocking chair over there.” Jackie pointed towards the far end of the room. “You’ll feel more comfortable using it. I know I like to rock her.” Rick nodded and walked towards the chair. He eased himself stiffly into it, while holding his arm uncomfortably out from his body, the baby nestled in it. “Relax. She won’t hurt you.” His gaze met hers, and they both grinned. For the first time in hours, he seemed to relax some. “And there’s no need to call me sweetheart in front of Mrs. Tanner. She thinks you were in Tokyo, setting up another law office. She knows we were estranged. Calling me by my given name would be just fine.” “The kind of names I’d like to call you would shock your sweet Mrs. Tanner.”
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Jackie laughed. “I can only imagine. How do you know she’s sweet?” He frowned, obviously wondering what she meant. “Mrs. Tanner,” she explained. “How do you know? Or is everyone sweet compared to me?” Rick shot her an irritated look. “I want to get to know this baby, without your aggravation, if you don’t mind.” Jackie shrugged as if his words meant next to nothing to her. “Don’t mind a bit,” she said as she handed him the baby’s bottle. “Give her two ounces and burp her. Two ounces again and burp her.” Carelessly she plopped herself upon the bed and turned on the TV. “She won’t take it,” Rick said after a few minutes. “Is something wrong with her?” “No, she just happier to nurse. Mostly, she only takes a bottle at night. I’ll feed her in a few minutes.” The TV was on. Jackie barely noticed a handsome man with large white teeth that flashed regularly as he broadcast the news. Her full attention was on Rick. She smiled as she listened to him talk to the baby. “Look at these pretty feet. And that smile. God, you’re a little beauty, aren’t you? You look just like―” His words came to an abrupt stop as he apparently realised he was talking aloud. Jackie only heaved a soft sigh, knowing in her heart they didn’t stand a chance. Both of them were obstinate, both far too set in their ways, both demanding and a bit spoilt. They might be sexually attracted to one another, but there was no way they could ever make it together. Baby or no, they’d never make it. He hadn’t answered her earlier. She’d asked if everyone was sweet compared to her, and she thought they probably were. Jackie knew her faults well enough. She knew she was far from sweet, except of course when it came to her baby and Gran. Before she fell asleep, Jackie thought she should call her restaurant. She hadn’t been in touch in two days. The phone was picked up almost immediately. “Mamma’s, how can I help you?” “Marsha, is that you?”
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“Hey, Jack. Yeah, I had to come in early. Pete’s out with the flu, and Stacey was in an accident and won’t be back for a week at least.” Pete was Jackie’s chef and Stacey the sous chef. “What kind of an accident? “She fell. Twisted her back. The doctor says one week in bed, and she’ll be good as new.” “How are you managing? Why didn’t you call me?” “We’re managing. Don’t worry. Mario and Stan are taking care of everything. When needed, I step in.” “I’d better come in for a few hours.” “We’re doing all right, I promise you.” “Marsha, it’s Saturday. The line will be out the door. I’d better come in.” “Fine, if it makes you feel better. We can always use the help.” “I’ll be there in an hour or so.” “Good, see you then.” Jackie disconnected the call and turned to see Rick watching her. “What’s up?” “My chef is out with the flu, the sous chef fell and won’t be in for a week. It’s Saturday. My staff will never be able to manage the crowd.” “You want to go, use my car. I won’t need it.” Jackie nodded. Her mouth thinned into an unhappy straight line. She missed her baby. She hadn’t seen her in almost three days and had to leave her again. Of course, she’d be back in a few hours, probably before her next feeding. It didn’t matter. She didn’t want to go. “I’ll need to feed her first.” Rick nodded. “She’s hungry, I think. No matter how I hold her she doesn’t look happy.” He came from the chair and handed her the baby. He was right. Callie was fussing. The time for her feeding had already passed. Callie sat and without thinking bared her breast. She looked up at the low groan Rick unconsciously uttered. He was watching as the baby sucked her nipple. “Oh boy, you really are hungry, aren’t you?” The baby began to choke. “Easy, darling, I’m sorry I waited so long.” Jackie broke the suction with a finger to the side of the baby’s mouth and allowed her as few breaths before beginning again.
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The feeding took the better part of an hour, since as always Jackie allowed her to nurse on one side then burped and changed her before putting her to the other. Rick had watched for a time but soon turned his attention towards the TV, pretending interest in a movie Jackie knew he’d seen maybe five times. Jackie handed him the baby when she was done. Suddenly besieged with guilt, she watched as he cuddled the baby against him. She handed him a burping cloth even as she wondered if it were possible to overcome this obstacle. Her distrust, combined with his rage, a rage that had oddly turned into hurt at missing out on the birth of his first child, left her doubting that they’d ever find each other again.
**** Her restaurant bustled with activity. It wasn’t a fancy place. The menu was simple. Customers had the choice of pizza, any kind, plus meatballs or sausages and three Italian dishes. All were made fresh every day. Every week, the menu changed. This week’s main courses were lasagne, rigatoni a la vodka and spaghetti with clam sauce. Served with every meal was a crisp salad and buttery garlic knots. Jackie wasn’t wrong. She’d known it would be busy. The line formed at the door and stretched around the entire large waiting area and walkway into the main dining room, plus others stood outside, watching for their turn. Everyone held a number. Some were waiting up to an hour or more. Jackie couldn’t get the food out fast enough. Three hours after she’d begun cooking, the line had only grown in length. Sweat dripped into her eyes, and she mixed another batch of meat into meatballs while Mario opened clams. Suddenly, Rick stood at her side. “Need some help?” Jackie frowned. “How did you get here?” “Cab,” he said and without waiting for her to ask, he added, “Mrs. Tanner’s with the baby.” Then he repeated, “So, you want some help?” She nodded. “Wash your hands and mix this. Make meatballs about this size.” She made one for him to emulate. “I’ve got to chop veggies.”
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Rick stood at the centre work table. Jackie stood opposite him and cut onions. When she finished a huge pile, she slid the slices into a stainless steel bowl and started chopping garlic. “I think we have everything pretty much under control. Mario, take your break.” ”Is it always this busy?” “On Saturdays. No matter the economy, it seems people either go out to eat on a Saturday or order in. Plus, on Tuesdays, we have all you can eat spaghetti night.” She nodded at the thought. “That’s a busy night.” They worked in silence for hours. She was frying sausages when she looked up to find him pouring spaghetti into a huge pot of boiling water. “I never saw a place like this,” he said. “Nothing is frozen. Nothing made in advance.” “I have six trays of lasagne in the oven.” “I mean pre-made and frozen.” Jackie smiled. “Not here. That’s what I meant about franchising. Do you think others would care about freshness like I do?” He didn’t respond. “I don’t think so,” she said, answering her own question. “You need a larger staff. Marsha is good at managing. Let her hire on more people.” “That would cut profits.” “It doesn’t matter. What matters is it would free you up so you could open another place.” Jackie shrugged. “It’s something to think about.” “If you had another place, you could bring staff over when someone is out, like tonight. Plus, you need to hire part-time workers for your busier nights.” Jackie figured he had a point. Besides law offices he had his hand in a number of businesses. She trusted his opinion. As she worked, Jackie watched as one of her prettiest waitresses approach him and smiled. “Rick, I thought it was you. What are you doing here?” Rick shrugged. “Helping out your boss.” Jessie smiled, her gaze moving from Rick to Jackie and back again. She left him to fill two bowls with salad and dressing. “Maybe I’ll see you later,” she said as she headed for the dining room.
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“You know Jessie?” Jackie couldn’t help the sudden rush of jealousy. God, she hated herself for it, yet she couldn’t push away the feeling. Rick shrugged again. “I’ve been here before.” Jackie’s gaze widened. “Have you? When?” “If you must know, every time I was in town.” “Why?” “Why do you think? I was hoping to see you. Twice, I asked for the owner to come to my table. The chef came instead.” “Did you bring one of your bimbos when you came?” she asked, her lips thinning despite her silent insistence that it didn’t matter. Rick grinned. “I might have. Why?” “Because I can’t tell you how much I hate you.”
Rick took her by the arm, murmured, “Watch the stove,” to one of the cooks and pulled her out back. In the alley, he pressed her against the wall. “Get away from me,” she grated through clenched teeth. “I hope you know that I love you.” “I don’t want you to love me.” “Don’t hand me bullshit, Jackie. I know you want me to love you, and I know you love me.” “I could never love a man who—” “I never dated them.” He gave her a tiny shake. “I saw them once and went on to another. Why do you think I never asked any of them out twice?” He watched her face close up. She was furious. There was no way she was getting away from him this time. “Because I needed you, wanted you, craved only you,” He went on. He pulled her against him, crushing her to him. “I know you were hurt, and I was a fool to allow you think what you would. I was pissed that you didn’t believe me. I’m sorry I let you walk away. It just about killed me.” “You’re squashing my nose,” came a muffled reply.
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He grinned and eased his hold some, allowing her to pull back, even as their hips came even more firmly together. “Then why did you?” she asked. “What? Let you walk away?” he took a deep breath. “I thought, ‘she’s pissed right now, but she’ll be back. Once she realises I was telling her the truth, she’ll be back.’ Only, you didn’t come back and every day, every minute, I hurt more. The pain only grew. It never got better. It never will until we’re together again.” She looked at him for a long moment. Was he telling her the truth? She knew the moment the thought occurred, it was a stupid question. His feelings were there, easy to read in his eyes, in his every expression. God, what had she done? For more than a year she’d tortured them both. All because she was a stubborn fool who’d refused to believe his explanation. Why had she insisted he lied? The men in her family were less than faithful, but that didn’t mean he’d follow in their path. Had she been waiting for an excuse? Why hadn’t she believed? Why hadn’t she listened? Her anger, her tendency to judge had she brought incredible pain to them both. Jackie sighed and in obvious misery shook her head. “I’m jealous, and I hate it.” He nodded. “I’m jealous, too. Why do you think I followed you and your date? All Tracey or Stacey,” he shook his head and shrugged, “whatever her name was. All she did was complain that I dragged her from restaurant to restaurant and bar to bar. ‘When were we going to have a drink and something to eat?’ she kept asking.” Jackie laughed. “Did you? Drag her, I mean?” “Well, I was sort of anxious to find you. And I probably could have walked slower.” Jackie laughed again. “Why?” “Who was he?”
Jackie didn’t have to ask. She knew who he was talking about. “An escort.” “You little monster.” He kissed her then, long and hard until suddenly the kiss began to grow easy, lazy, and luxurious as she allowed her lips to part and his tongue to slip into the heat of her mouth. He pulled her to him, lifted her so their mouths came even.
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“I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry,” she murmured as his mouth left her and nuzzled her neck. “I should have realised she hated me enough to try anything. Can you ever forgive me?” “You’re not the only one at fault. I shouldn’t have let you walk away. I should have insisted you listen. I was insulted when I realised you didn’t believe me. We wasted a year.” His mouth was on hers again. Suddenly, he tore himself from the blazing heat of her mouth and managed on a desperate gasp, “I don’t want to do it here.” He muttered a low curse in frustration. “Someone might step outside.” “The car,” she said. “It’s down the alley. No one will see us there.” “Jesus, I have it bad if I’m thinking about doing it in a car like we’re kids when there’s a big bed back at the hotel.” “You want to wait?” He took a deep breath, looked down at her and said simply, “Let’s go.” “I can’t leave. Not for awhile yet.” “You’re taking a break. We’re not leaving.”
**** They used the back seat, which allowed them just a bit more room. “Take off your clothes.” Jackie shook her head. “Later.” “These then,” he said, his hand inside her jeans and panties. “Take them off.” As she worked at ridding herself of her jeans, he opened his own and shoved them down to his knees. “Hurry up.” Jackie laughed. “You wouldn’t be anxious, would you?” “God, I don’t know how you do this to me. I had you in bed last night. You’d think I’d be satisfied.” Rick groaned when she crawled over his lap and slid his cock into her hot tunnel. “Lord, but this feels good,” she moaned as her head rolled forward and rested upon his shoulder. “God, I love this. I love you.”
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“Mmm,” she murmured as she rocked her hips over him. “I can’t get enough of this.” “Damn it, Jackie, I can’t stop,” he said as he shoved his hips up, his bulging cock deep into the heat of her. “I’m going to come.” “Mmm,” she murmured again, her muscles already beginning to squeeze his dick to madness. It hadn’t taken more than a dozen strokes, and they both lay helpless in each other’s arms, gasping for their every breath. “I love you,” he said. “Mmm.” She smiled as she rained kisses over his brow and cheek. “I think I figured that out for myself.” “Am I going to be old and grey before I hear you say the same?” She pulled back. “Haven’t I said it?” “You have not.” She shook her head. “That can’t be right, Rick.” He grinned as his hand slid under her shirt, pushed aside her bra and played with her softness. “Are you afraid?” “Me?” she asked in disbelief. “There’s not much that scares me.” “Except telling me you love me.” Jackie’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I like the fact that you know me this well.” “Say it, lady. Every time you do, it will only get easier.” “I love you, love you, love you,” she blurted out then laughed as she spread kisses over his face. “Now you’ll get sick of hearing it.” With his hands holding her still, he captured her mouth and took control of her kiss, leaving her weak and breathless by the time he eased his lips from hers. “Just keep saying it. I’ll let you know when I’ve heard it enough.”
About the Author Patricia Pellicane lives on Long Island in New York with her husband and family. She enjoys reading, travelling in her motor home and especially enjoys her grandchildren. “Too bad we can't have grandchildren first. They're a kick.” Most of all she loves to write. Most of all she loves to write. “Life’s tough we all need a bit of fantasy now and then. For myself, I love a happy ending.” Email:
[email protected] Patricia loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Patricia Pellicane The Cove The Best Present Ever Sophie’s Pleasure To Save Emmy Happy Birthday Baby Tell Me You Love Me Temptation
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