Again, he couldn’t squelch the self-loathing. In that instant he hated the very idea of whom and what he was.
Tensing, he directed a pointed stare at her. “I’m not here to talk about that. Something has happened, and I didn’t think it fair to not let you know was going on.” He paused in discomfort. “Or my decision that relates to it.”
Though she scowled, she was still bent with open curiosity. “What is it?”
“I’ve been in contact with Parker Clayton recently,” he quipped tightly. “You remember him?”
She stiffened beside him. “Of course I do. The stiff-necked attorney, right? Why? What did he want?”
“He wanted to talk about Josephine.”
“Josephine,” she mouthed the word slowly, looking at him hard. “What about her?”
“She’s dying. The doctors have only given her nine months to live.”
“Dying?” She threw her head back, allowing the nasty laugh to spill from her gut. “So, that rich bitch is kicking the bucket? I can’t think of a better fate or justice.”
It was enough to finally fire him off.
“What in the hell is wrong with you? This is not a fucking joke!” As he watched her, he couldn’t see past the red haze. The disbelief filled him as he turned towards her fully. “Do you have any sense of decency about you?”
“Decency?” she spat nastily. “I had enough decency to take you off her hands, her little wailing reject that she surely didn’t want.” She leveled an accusing stare on him. “After what she’s done, I dare you even mention her!”
A deafening silence ensued.
Finally, he broke it.
“I’m going to spend time with her.”
“What!” She sprang to her feet and faced him. “The last time that we talked, you promised that you’d have nothing to do with her.”
“Things have changed,” he murmured against the guilt. Swallowing hard, he met her eyes. “Truth is, I want to see her. She’s really going to become a part of my life.”
“Get out,” Crystal stammered, breathing hard and fast. “Don’t you ever fucking come back here.”
“I’m sorry.” Standing, he released a frustrated breath. “The last thing that I want to do is hurt you, Crystal.”
“I’m your mother!” Whirling in a fast circle, she turned away from him before facing him again. “You said that you loved me!”
He clutched his head, fighting to control his thoughts and emotions. Yet, the shame, guilt, and betrayal at hurting her surged through him at lightning speed. “I care about you. All these years, you have been a mother to me. I know that you did the best that you could---”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t be going to see her.” She shoved him hard. “Now, get out!”
“I’m sorry---”
“Get out!”
As he ventured towards the door, he heard her broken sobs behind him. When he reached the front door, he turned to face her, and the hot tears stung his eyes. “No matter what happens---”
Reaching past him, she wrenched the door open, and then regarded him with a dead cold stare. “If you show your whoring ass around here again, I’ll have Larry shoot you dead. Better yet, I’ll do the deed myself.”
He stepped out onto the porch before facing her again. “Crystal, I’m sorry---”
The door nearly left its hinges as it slammed, and he stood so close that he nearly tasted the teal-colored wood. For a few seconds, he just stood there, trying to catch his bearings. Finally, after wiping the wetness from his face, he bounded down the steps.
Once he was inside the car, he fired it up quick. As he sped away, he didn’t look back.
Midnight had barely cracked through and announced the arrival of a new day. Sighing with contentment, sprawled lazily along his naked body, she traced a finger along Christopher’s chin.
She stared at him.
At his solemn expression, her euphoria dimmed somewhat. Since they’d met at her hotel room hours ago, he’d seemed preoccupied and not quite himself. After he’d arrived, they’d left and dined at the nearest restaurant before returning to her hotel room. Naturally, their barely restrained passion had erupted in its usual frenzied state, and they’d made love.
But now, she mulled, struggling to get past the hurt. He wouldn’t even look at her.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” she said softly. “Please.”
His startled gaze met hers. “What?”
“Something’s wrong.” Resting her chin on her hands, she gazed at him. At his close perusal, her face warmed. “You’re not saying much, and we’ve only made love once.”
“Am I neglecting you too much, princess?” he asked softly, and sadness tinged his smile. He trailed a finger along her naked back. “Don’t worry. The night is still young, and we have plenty of time to make up for our lost opportunities.”
“No, it’s more than that,” she broke in, dismissing his notion quickly. “It’s like you’re here, but you’re not here; and you’re touching me, but you’re not touching me.” The hurt played on her face. “Have I done something wrong? Are you still mad at me about earlier?”
“Look at me.” His voice was a hoarse whisper as her drew her even closer, so close that she felt every sinful inch of him. When their eyes met, the butterflies chased through her again. “I could never be mad at you, no matter what’s going on.” He released a tired sigh. “It’s just that I have a lot of things on my mind.”
“That much is obvious. You want to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “Talking about it won’t change a damned thing. It’ll only make me think about it harder.”
“How do you know that it won’t help if you don’t try?” she challenged. “Talking about my problems with someone has always helped me.”
He gave a half-grin. “More rainbow, powder-puffed talk, huh?”
She frowned. “Stop teasing me. I’m being serious.”
He stared at her for a few moments. Finally, she sensed his ebbing tension, quickly realizing that he would confide in her to some extent. “Remember the problem that I alluded to earlier?” At her nod, he continued. “Well, I made a decision about that situation, and it’s impacted so many people. It’s kind of bittersweet in a way.”
“So both positive and negative things came with it?” she probed further. “Am I getting close?”
His gaze clung to hers. “Yes. Now, it has me wondering if my decision is the right one.”
“Unfortunately, life has no guarantees. Whatever choices and decisions we make, we have to learn to live with them.” She paused in thought. “This decision that you’ve made---is it what you want? Sometimes, people spend their energy pleasing others that they totally forget about themselves. I sense that’s the case with you.”
“It’s what I want,” he confessed. “Even if a part of me thinks that I’m crazy for wanting it.”
“Well, that’s what matters. Do this for you and no one else.”
A look of uncertainty crossed his face. “Can I ask you something else?”
“What?”
“Do you think it’s possible for someone to change?” he asked seriously. “Or is the idea just all psychology textbook talk?”
“No, it’s not just useless talk. It’s really true.” Her brown eyes softened. “A person can change. But, they can only do that by closing the door on the past and believing in the future that awaits.”
“In other words, chase the ghosts away until they no longer haunt you.”
She nodded. “Yes, you have to prove to the ghosts that they don’t exist. But, you do. You’re the one that’s real.”
“Hmmm…that’s a good way to put it,” he contemplated out loud, staring at a point past her. “As a matter of fact, your explanation is the only true one.” Then, as their gazes met again, it seemed that his entire mood had shifted. No longer did he exhibit any somberness. Instead, as he smiled at her, he was once more the charming rogue that she knew. Sliding both hands along he
r backside, he cupped her bare hips, causing her to tremble against him. Then, a deep growl left him as he jutted his hips upward, making their contact all the more intimate. “How is it that you’re smart and so damned beautiful at the same time?”
She smiled shyly. “I don’t know.”
“I do,” he murmured with a serious expression. “If it’s one thing that I’m learning about you, it’s the fact that you’re a real treasure.”
“You’re a real treasure too.”
His laugh was brief. “Bullshit.”
“No, it’s true,” she said with all honesty, staring into his eyes, and easily, she sensed his open, raw vulnerability. “I know that you want to come off as this tough unbendable guy. But, deep down, I know that you’re a good person---you have a good heart.”
She yelped in surprise as he rolled her over fast, and then swiftly covered her naked body with his. Just as she moved to speak, he smothered her words with a breathless kiss. As he nudged her thighs apart, she let them fall open eagerly. As he kissed her deeply, he sheathed himself inside of her. Thrust for thrust, their bodies moved in the timeless, wicked dance, and soon their heavy, raspy breathing filled the room.
Again, the dazzling lights behind her closed lids blinded her as she came, and he clenched her body tightly as he embraced his own release. After sharing a gentle kiss, they snuggled beneath the covers. Soon, a peaceful and contented slumber fell over them.
Just outside the hotel, at the same exact hour, the black limousine hummed in the hotel parking lot alongside the Viper.
An agitated Red Widow stared out the tinted window at the vacant vehicle. Instantly, she was filled with disgust as she hurled the empty shot glass onto the limo seat facing her. “Damn it, Reign. You will not ignore me, especially for that little wimpy hussy.”
She jabbed the intercom button.
The driver’s voice cut into the back of the limo. “Yes, Mrs. Jones?”
“Take me home. I’ve seen enough,” she snapped with impatience before snatching the cell phone from her handbag. “Drive like hell. Richard’s flight comes in thirty minutes, and I don’t want to have to explain why I’m not home.” She released another violent curse. “Damn it! Why couldn’t the scraggly old bastard stay away longer?”
Ignoring her petty insults, the driver murmured with utter calmness. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure that we’re there on time. He’ll never notice a thing.”
As the limo sped away, she was busy dialing the cell phone number. She brought the receiver to her ear. “Come on, damn it. Pick up.”
On the ninth ring, the sleep-groggy voice answered on the other end. “H—hello.”
“Benson, wake your fat ass up. The situation is spiraling out of control right before me. We have to do damage control before it’s too late.”
“Huh?” the sleazy henchman mumbled incoherently. In the background, the sound of shuffling indicated that he was sitting up in the bed. Finally, as he spoke again, he seemed more alert. “What are you ragging on about Frieda? Do you have any idea what time it is? It’s 1 am in the morning for fuck’s sake.”
“As well as I pay you, you have no room to complain. So, just do your job and shut up,” she snapped, nearly crushing the phone in her hand. Her burning ire was as red as her flaming auburn tresses. As the limo cruised past the front entrance of the hotel, she released a string of curses. “This situation with this Hayven chick---I want you to find out as much as you can. While she’s seemingly perfect, she has to have some skeletons dancing in her closet somewhere.”
“From what information that I’ve gathered so far, she’s clean.”
“So, a red hot scandal isn’t a possibility then.” Red Widow slumped against the seat in near defeat and then straightened. “That means that we’re going to have to resort to a different tactic.” After a minute of quiet thinking, an evil smile snaked along her lips. “I have a plan that will blow Reign’s burgeoning romance with little Ms. Perfect to pieces. For this job, I’ll throw in a few more thousands. We’re going to have to get nasty with this if you get my meaning.”
“You mean roughen her up a bit? Don’t you think you’re being a bit extreme---”
“Are you interested in the job or not?” she snapped into the phone again and glared at the glass partition in the limo. “If not, I’m sure that someone else will jump at the opportunity.”
“Alright, alright, calm down,” Benson soothed her. “She seems like she’ll scare pretty easily.”
“Oh, I want to do more than scare her. I want to her pretty little heart to shatter to pieces. So bad, that the only thing that she’ll want is to get as far away from Reign as possible. As for Reign, I want you to fuck him up too. It’ll be a little warning to him, and he’ll understand that I mean business,” she said coldly, already mentally plotting her scheme. “We’ll meet first thing in the morning. We have to get on this fast---like lightning fast. Every minute that she’s with him, she’ll just draw him further into her web.”
After agreeing to a meeting place, she ended the call. As the limo met the interstate, she settled back against the seat. The darkness failed to mask her icy smile. “I’m the fucking wild card, Reign. I am the bitter end.”
Chapter 17
The dawning morning met her pleading gasps.
A fresh beam of sunlight splayed across the hotel bed and highlighted their writhing forms. But, they were hardly aware of the intrusion, for they were too consumed with each other.
A broken protest left her swollen lips as he tore his lips from hers, only to journey to her nape. His hot breath fanned the delicate flesh as his teeth grazed along it, nipping tiny love bites every inch of the way.
She moaned as he worked his way down her bare body, finally descending beneath the white satin sheets. Falling further within the sensual haze, she fought to hold onto her sanity, but lost it.
A satisfied groan left him as he positioned himself between her thighs, and her every coherent thought fled as he kissed her, oh, so right there. As her spine arched like a tight bow, the crumpled satin sheet slid from her breasts, exposing her tightly budded nipples, finally ending its descent just above her navel.
Right there, just beneath the sheets, he unleashed a powerful magic.
Her hips rose from the bed as he laved a wicked path along her insides. With his mouth, he destroyed her any and every inhibition.
The tip of his tongue met her clit, gently piercing the sensitive flesh with soft jabs. A giant wave of pleasure crashed over her.
“Christopher,” she whispered, distraught, rising slightly to clasp the area where his head rested under the covers. “Please…I can’t hold on…”
Upon hearing her pleading request, he anchored her legs more firmly along his broad shoulders. Then, he nestled his dark head deeper between her badly trembling thighs.
Gripping the sheet with tightly clenched hands, she moved her hips forward, drawing ever closer to the hot mouth that fed on her. With his tongue, he lathed at her seeping wetness, and it only intensified the ricocheting sensations within her. Sensing her distress, he edged her hips higher up, exposing her to an even dangerous pursuit. Now, his mouth was like a deep suction, perfectly exerting the right amount of pressure on the sensitive parts.
Her head thrashed wildly against the pillow.
She clamped her thighs more firmly against his head. As his tonguing strokes deepened, she nearly catapulted from the bed. Biting her lip, she fought to control the broken sobs, but failed. Against her pleasurable delirium, her inner tension rose, and she experienced the initial arrival of an orgasm. Just when she thought she’d claim it, he pulled away.
Releasing a sob of protest, her drugged gaze met his as he crawled from beneath the sheets.
“Things are hardly over, sweet princess,” he vowed in a low whisper, rising up, and straddled her. A dangerous fire burned in his eyes as he stared down at her. “As a matter of fact, that was just foreplay.”
In one fast fluid movement, he c
hanged their positions, easily flipping her until she was laying flat on her stomach. “I need to be inside of you, love,” he whispered hoarsely, planting both hands alongside her hips before drawing them upward. But, he stopped short of making any physical contact between their straining bodies. “So much that I can’t even breathe.”
“I want you to do me,” she whispered with a soft plea, and a breathless sob left her as his hold tightened. Releasing a hiss, he hauled her closer to him. As her naked butt cheeks met his swollen shaft, she shuddered uncontrollably, desperately anticipating the pleasurable madness that was sure to come. In an instant her desire increased ten-fold, and it blinded her to everything but the dark surreal reality of them. “Christopher…please…”
Her distraught cry of need wasn’t lost on him.
“You want me there, don’t you?” Taking a finger, he swiped it along her wetness, testing her readiness. “Hot, fucking fire, that’s what you are. I want you to fucking burn me alive. Tell me that you will, sweet princess.”
“I will,” she whispered. “I will.”
For wasn’t she afire?
She was literally bleeding need.
There was no such thing as restraint.
Yet, she wasn’t alone.
He wasn’t numb to the spirit of their passion. His harsh breathing revealed his blatant lack of control. “I’m damned,” he rasped hoarsely, edging closer to her, and massaged the tender area with an aching slowness that rendered them both further weak. “…for there’s no rational explanation for the spell that you’ve cast on me. Being buried inside of you---that’s all I can think about. You are my blessing and curse.” A spasm of need hit him, and his hard body jerked against hers involuntarily, seeking her feminine softness. Still, he fought to prolong their mutual agony. “It’s a fate that I’ll gladly accept.”
With that stunning proclamation, he entered her from behind. She cried out at the penetration and embraced the blinding bliss. Intentionally, he executed a slow agonizing rhythm, intensifying the friction between their heated bodies. Though, still, she sensed his growing lack of restraint, for now, his body quaked uncontrollably and revealed his dark needs.
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