The DECEIT Collection: A Romantic Suspense full of lies, deception, passion, and DECEIT... (The DECEIT Series)

by Emma Shae

  “Vanessa is buying me a wedding dress, and she is having my hair fixed, and I’m going to have daisies.”

  “You sound excited.”

  “I am very excited, and I can’t wait. Someone name Petra is coming to fix my hair, and somebody else named Sheila is going to fix my makeup for me, and I have to take a bath.”

  “Well, before you get all gussied up, do you think you might feed this little fellow? He has almost taken off the end of my finger. This young man has got tremendous sucking motion.”

  “Oh, believe me, I know. I’m probably going to have to ween baby Trenton early because of that pull he has. It has started to hurt a little when he nurses.”

  Sasha took Trenton in her arms and gave Damon a rather odd look and said, “Well, don’t you have something that you need to be doing too?”

  “Oh yes, I do need to run home and get my tux. I hope that thing still fits. I’ve been lounging around so much these last few months I think I may have gained twenty pounds or more.”

  Sasha registered when Damon said home. For some reason, she thought that he lived in the mansion. After all, it was a vast estate, and he could easily come and go without her ever seeing him dart in and out.

  “You have a home?”, Sasha asked him curiously as she sat down to feed the baby.”

  “We have a home, yes, we do. Did you think I lived here?”

  “Well, it’s big enough for you to live here. I’ve been living here for over a year now, and I still don’t think that I’ve seen all of the bedrooms, let alone the grounds. I’ve enjoyed the boathouse a lot, though. I think that it’s my favorite spot on the entire estate.”

  “Well, if you like the boathouse, you will love our home. It’s a beach house, and the master bedroom has big doors that I open at night when the weather is cool to let the fresh air flow through. It’s marvelous. The sunsets just outside my master bedroom, and many nights when I can’t sleep, I’ll sit out on my balcony and watch the sun as it goes down. Or I’ll step out there and gaze at the moon waiting for my eyelids to get heavy. Some nights I just walk on the beach when there is no one else around. You will love the place. I hope so, anyway.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I will. There is something about water that is just so relaxing to me. I can definitely see myself in a beach house.”

  Trenton was full at that point and had gone to sleep in Sasha’s arms. It was time for Sasha to take her bath, but she was too excited to relax just yet, so after she put the baby in his crib, she turned to Damon and said, “I think before I take my bath, I need you to hold me in my arms and make love to me.”

  Sasha was smiling, and Damon smiled back, saying, “Do you think that we have time?”

  “We always have time for each other. Come on, big boy. I need you to scrub my back.”

  Damon obediently followed his fiancé into the bathroom, where Sasha had fun striping him of his outerwear. She then started the water and turned to slowly ease Damon’s underwear off of his rock-hard manhood. Damon was ready, and so was Sasha.

  A slow smile curved across Damon’s chiseled face. Every time Sasha laid eyes on him; it was like the first time all over again. She felt goosebumps rise across her skin, as a fire crossed her entire being.

  “Well, it looks like you’re ready.”

  “I’ve been ready all afternoon, Damon said huskily.”

  Damon then slipped the dress that Sasha had on, off over her head. She wore nothing underneath, so as soon as Damon eased her dress off, Sasha’s full breasts were directly in front of Damon, teasing him with their roundness. Sasha’s breasts were beautiful, perfectly shaped, all-natural, and perky pink, just waiting for his lips to possess them.

  As Damon's mouth traveled down Sasha’s jawline to her neck, his fingers trailed around her waist and ended on her firm buttocks. Damon then slowly massaged Sasha’s butt as he drew her closer to him.

  Sasha could feel Damon’s hardness as he pressed it against her, and she wanted him. She did not want to wait for the tub to fill, Sasha wanted him then.

  Sasha slowly backed away from the tub and inched toward the lush rug on the bedroom floor. Damon eased backward with Sasha as he anticipated her desire. When Sasha reached the rug, she pulled Damon down toward the floor with her. When she felt the soft plushness of the area rug on her knees, she curled to her side and then on her back.

  Damon was on top of her then, on, then deep inside of her. Sasha arched her back toward him as he thoroughly possessed her. She clung to him as he made love to her. Their passion was hot and driving, as it always was. Only a heartbeat from desperation, their need for one another was all-consuming.

  As Damon gathered Sasha tighter in his arms, he whispered in her ear, “You feel so good,” as the words fell against her hot flesh, they both reached their peaks. Sasha snuggled closer to Damon’s body, warm and fulfilled. She was so relaxed she could have easily nodded off to sleep.

  Sasha lay in Damon’s arms spent and completely silent until suddenly she said, “I’m getting married today.”

  Then Damon said, “Oh yeah, anyone I know?”

  “Well, you might know him, but please don’t say anything to him, he might get mad.”

  “I know that I certainly would.”

  “Good!”

  As Sasha smiled up at Damon, then she looked up at the clock. It was already three-thirty. She had to hurry because the people from the dress shop would be there any minute. She still had to get her hair and makeup done, so no more time for playing around.

  Sasha had forgotten to turn the water off, so it was a good thing the tub had an overflow release. It was full to the rim and just the right temperature. Sasha climbed in for a quick wash and was just grabbing her robe when Damon called to her from the bedroom, saying, “The ladies are here with some beautiful white dresses. I don’t think that any of them will fit me, though.”

  The ladies from Blue Sky Boutique, Laurel and Sandy, both laughed, one of them said, “Handsome and funny, a great combination.”

  Sasha laughed too as she entered the bedroom, saying, “Yes, he is the complete package.”

  “Well, this complete package is leaving while I still have a little dignity left.”

  Laurel and Sandy both laughed while Sasha grabbed a quick kiss as Damon inched out of the bedroom.

  The gowns from the dress shop were all fabulous. Sasha had a hard time picking one out from the vast selection in front of her. When she was finally able to choose one, Petra arrived and styled her hair, then Sheila came, and as soon as Petra had finished styling Sasha’s long beautiful hair, Sheila applied her makeup.

  When everyone finished their work with Sasha, she was a living picture of beauty.

  Maida came to tell Sasha that everyone had assembled in Vanessa’s bedroom, so when she was ready, everyone else was waiting.

  Maida helped Sasha to gather her long flowing train, and then they headed for Vanessa’s room. Damon was there, and he looked delicious in a black tux, the stark white collar of his shirt peeking out from beneath. He was standing beside the preacher, smiling as Sasha entered the room.

  Even though Sasha had already sampled that luscious hunk of man that afternoon, he still drew her attention.

  Vanessa had managed to sit up in a chair for the occasion and wore a beautiful long blue evening gown. Her hair was brushed and beaded with tiny daisies, and she looked lovely. However, it was evident that Vanessa’s strength was leaving her. Sasha knew how vital this marriage was to Vanessa, so she intended to finish the ceremony as quickly as possible and not tax Vanessa any more than was necessary.

  Vanessa had her room filled with daisies, and they were everywhere. Sasha couldn’t stop smiling as she looked around the room and wondered how Vanessa had gotten so many lovely flowers brought in so quickly. Then Sasha looked at Damon, her husband, to be, as she tried hard not to think about Vanessa’s failing condition.

  The ceremony didn’t last long, in reverence of Vanessa’s health.

  Once Sasha an
d Damon said their-I do’s- and were pronounced man and wife, Vanessa told Maida, “Break out our best wine for this most special occasion, and let’s all enjoy a glass together.”

  Maida and Thomas brought in several bottles of wine and glasses, and everyone enjoyed a drink. After accepting congratulations from everyone, Damon suggested that they head on out to their hotel and jokingly said, “We hate to be leaving such a fine group, but I’m sure we will see you all very soon. Maybe not until tomorrow night, though. I’m going to make this short wedding last a little longer.”

  Everyone laughed as the festive occasion rocked on for a few more minutes. Then, just before leaving, Damon kissed his grandmother and then said, “You know that I will never be able to thank you enough for bringing Sasha into my life, and all of the other things that you’ve done for me. I love you, and I hope you know that.”

  “I love you too, Damon, more than you will ever know.”

  Sasha, too, kissed Vanessa just before leaving as she whispered in her ear. “I will try to love him as much as you do and take care of him for you. Is there anything that I can do for you before we leave?”

  “Just have a wonderful time, sweetheart. He is happy with you, and that is all I ever wanted for him.”

  Then Maida began to usher everyone back to their posts, as Damon and Sasha left for their special night together.

  Damon had hired a sitter for Trenton, someone outside of the household, for the first time, and made dinner reservations for eight o’clock. He also booked their special room at their favorite hotel.

  After everyone left, and the room was quiet once more, Maida started to pick up things, and Thomas gathered the wine glasses and bottles of wine that were unopened. Vanessa stopped him, saying, “Thomas, and you leave me one of the bottles, and open it for me, please. I might want another glass of that before I go to sleep.”

  Thomas opened the bottle for Vanessa, and then he left the room. Maida made sure that Vanessa was comfortable, and just before she departed, asked, “Do you need anything else, Ms. Vanessa?”

  “Yes, Maida, could you please hand me my bottle of pain medication. I think I need to take one, and then I think I need to rest. I’m content now, knowing that Damon and Sasha are going to be happy together.”

  Maida got the bottle and opened it for Vanessa, then asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you before I leave?

  Vanessa smiled and said, “You have been a good friend and loyal employee, Maida. Thank you for everything.”

  Maida felt tears swell in her eyes because she knew that this would probably be the last time that she spoke to her old friend. “It’s been a pleasure working for you, Ms. Vanessa. You have been a good friend for as long as I’ve known you, and I love you for that.”

  “Thank you, Maida. I feel the same way about you.”

  Maida then said, “Ms. Vanessa, I know that you are exhausted, but the lady from Mr. Burton’s office, Tammy, is here.

  “Yes, I am tired, but could you please send her in. I must speak to her today, and it cannot wait.”

  “I’ll bring her right in to see you, then.”

  Maida closed the door and went to escort Tammy to Vanessa’s room.

  Vanessa was feeling drained from the wedding festivities, but she had to make sure that Damon knew all of his family secrets that she had kept from him. Damon must know the truth about his heritage and reveal the deceit that Emry had played on everyone as well.

  CHAPTER 10

  CONFESSION’S

  When Trenton was sixty-eight years old, Vanessa discovered that she was pregnant. It was a surprise for both since the doctor’s told them both years earlier, that after having Edward, Vanessa would not be able to have any more children.

  Trenton was twenty years older than Vanessa, so she was forty-eight at the time. However, considering her health issues, Vanessa was made aware that it was perilous for her to have the baby.

  Her physicians had all told Vanessa that she was putting her life in danger to carry the child and should abort the baby. Vanessa refused to have an abortion and had the baby anyway.

  A beautiful emerald-eyed baby boy was welcomed into the household, that Vanessa named Damon Wayne Lockheed. The baby was perfect, but the cost of having her child had almost killed Vanessa.

  After giving birth, Vanessa had to undergo another pacemaker procedure, which hospitalized her for several months. Her doctors weren’t sure if she was going to pull through the process.

  Trenton fretted over Vanessa’s health, but he also felt the need to safeguard his child's future if anything were to happen to either one or both of them.

  Trenton, who was now pushing seventy, decided to have Edward, his oldest son, legally adopt Damon, as the newborn's father. That way, if anything happened to him, or Vanessa, Damon would have a living legal parent and would be protected. With Vanessa’s current condition unknown, and Trenton’s age factored in, he didn’t want to take any chances that his son might accidentally get put into the adoption system. Guardianship was not as protective as the position of a parent.

  Edward and his wife, Amilia, agreed and had Damon’s paperwork all legally drawn up, so there would be no questions asked. Damon then became Edward's legal son.

  Emry was a teenager when Damon came into their household, so he was old enough to know that his mother was never pregnant. Emry had learned early in his childhood from overhearing a conversation between his parents that his father couldn’t have any more children. That made it impossible for Damon to be Emry’s blood brother. Emry knew there was no way that his father was Damon’s birth father. The age difference between the two boys also led to some significant disconnection between the boys.

  Vanessa eventually pulled through after almost a year of hospitalization and another year of rehabilitation. Edward and Amilia readily allowed Damon to be a part of Vanessa’s life.

  Amilia had considered Damon to be a part of her family for so long that it was hard for her to think of letting him live with Vanessa full time.

  Vanessa was not in good enough health to raise an infant alone, and Trenton feared that even with full- time help, it would be too difficult a burden for her. They both agreed that the best way to prevent confusion later in life for Damon was for Vanessa would allow Amilia to continue to assume the role of mother, and Vanessa would assume the position of grandmother.

  For Damon’s entire life, he believed that Amilia was his mother, Edward was his father, and he grew up believing that Vanessa was his grandmother, who Damon loving called, Grams.

  Emry and Damon never had a genuine connection to one another, for which Edward and Amilia assumed was because of the age difference between the two boys. Emry was almost twenty years old when Damon entered into their household. The jealousy on Emry’s part was quite apparent from the start, and it grew and festered as the boys grew.

  Emry knew that Damon was adopted and kept the secret to himself. Emry’s jealousy would never allow him to accept Damon as his real brother.

  Vanessa lovingly accepted the role of grandmother, which allowed her to be close to Damon as he grew up. Vanessa and Trenton helped to raise Damon being ever cautious not to interfere too much with Amilia and Edward’s roles as parents.

  Knowing how Edward had wronged Emry with the way he had raised him, Vanessa aimed to guide Damon toward being more restricted and less spoiled, which was something that Emry lacked in his upbringing.

  Damon loved his parents, and his grandparents, but especially his grandmother, Vanessa. All his life, Vanessa was his guiding light.

  Damon excelled in college in the field of business, and under the tutelage of Trenton, loved the family business that his great-grandfather had started. Damon had a natural business sense, just like his birth father, Trenton, and learned quickly. Naturally, when it came time for Trenton to step down as CEO of Lockheed International, he chose Damon as his successor.

  Shortly after Damon was appointed CEO and Emry exploded at work and left the company f
or not getting the coveted position that he wanted, Edward and Amilia had a car accident and were both killed.

  Vanessa’s cell started ringing at that moment, and it roused her from her slumber. When she saw the caller ID, she immediately became alarmed. It was the medical center where Vanessa had Emry admitted. They called to let her know that Emry had slipped away from his guards and had somehow left the hospital.

  This was the moment Vanessa had feared would come. It was time for her to make her last stand. Vanessa could no longer shelter Emry from his own actions, and she must deal with him once and for all. It was time to put a stop to Emry’s destruction.

  Vanessa grabbed her bottle of pain medication along with her bottle that held her heart medication and carefully poured both vials into the bottle of wine that Maida had left on her nightstand. Vanessa watched as the pills slowly dissolved into the red liquid, and then she recapped it and sat the wine back on her nightstand. Then she waited.

  CHAPTER 11

  EMRY’S DECEIT

  “How nice of you to finally rejoin the living, Grandmother, or should I say- mother-though I guess, technically, it is step-mother. It’s about time you woke up from your nap. I worried that you wouldn’t wake at all, and then I wouldn’t have the opportunity of watching your face when I kill you.”

  Vanessa woke to find Emry standing over her bed. “Hello, Emry,” Vanessa said casually, as she slowly sat up in bed. “I hope you didn’t kill any of my guards getting into my home this time.”

  “Well, you don’t seem at all surprised to see me.”

  “Actually, I was expecting you. The hospital called a short while ago and told me that you had escaped. I figured this would be the first place that you would come once you were free. I am curious though, how did you get inside my home. Please tell me there was no bloodshed this time.”