I slid off the stool. “Can we talk?”
He nodded then cocked his head, indicating that I should follow him. I set Bandit on the floor, and he immediately dashed to his water bowl and started lapping furiously. I left him to it and followed Upton to the library. My gaze went to the door as he closed it behind me, and the slight smirk tugging at his lips said that’s where his mind had gone, too.
“Memories, huh, Belle?”
I nodded as I perched on the edge of the couch. “Good memories.”
“Are they?”
I rubbed my lips together and blinked up at him. He still hadn’t taken a seat. “Zak told me. About Marin.”
His expression hardened, and the amber of his eyes darkened to a burnished gold. “I expressly told him not to tell you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s Zak. He’s always been a stubborn jerk.”
I added a smile to show I was teasing, but Upton didn’t bite. If anything, he appeared even angrier.
“So that’s why you’re here then? Because your brother told you your fiancé cheated on you. That’s the only reason you’ve come here?”
I frowned. “I’m not sure I follow?”
“No?”
A trickle of unease began at the base of my spine, growing into a torrent that shot up to the nape of my neck.
“No. Look, what happened on Monday, I’m sorry, okay? Wyatt got inside my head and filled it with doubts, and I let him. That’s on me. But—”
“But now that Zak’s opened your eyes to the news of your fiancé’s tarnished halo, you’ve decided that settling for second best might work after all.”
My jaw fell open. I shook my head vigorously. “No, that’s not it.”
“Then what is it, Belle? Do enlighten me.”
All my worries were morphing into reality in front of my very eyes, and if I didn’t find a way to recover this situation, I’d lose the man I loved, and I’d have no one to blame but myself.
“I love you.”
He snorted. Snorted. Not exactly the response I’d hoped for. But then a little voice whispered in my ear that when Upton had spoken those heartfelt words to me on Monday night, I’d followed up by leaving him. I deserved worse than a snort.
“It’s true. I’d have come to that realization on my own eventually. All I asked for was a little time to work through the competing voices in my head, but I’d have gotten there without Zak’s intervention. All he did was push me into acting earlier.”
A speck of hope crossed his face, but then he schooled his expression, and goose bumps scattered down my arms at the sight of his cold stare. I rose to my feet and stood in front of him, preparing myself for rejection. If he backed away, I wasn’t sure what I’d do.
He didn’t. Instead, he breathed in through his nose and briefly closed his eyes, his body slightly angling toward mine.
“I’ve missed you,” I whispered. “And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for how badly I handled things. But I do love you. All I’m asking for is a chance to make it up to you, to prove that what I feel for you is so much deeper than what I had with Marin.”
His startled expression gave me the courage to continue.
“Zak helped me see the truth. He showed me that the love I had for Marin was borne out of the innocence of a child who grew up alongside her best friend and just assumed he was the one. I think, deep down, I’ve known for a while that the feelings I have for you are very different to those I had for Marin. They’re more intense, powerful. Passionate.” I lowered my gaze. “But I didn’t want to admit it, to you, or to myself. I couldn’t shake the feelings of guilt, that somehow by acknowledging that you mean more to me than Marin ever did, that it compounded my betrayal. And so I buried my true feelings.” I clutched his upper arms. “You have to believe that eventually, I’d have woken up to the truth. That I love you, mind, body, and soul. That the only people who can come between us are… us.”
I fell silent, braced for rejection, despite my heartfelt admission.
Upton’s forefinger knocked my chin up. “Look at me, Belle.”
I slowly peered up at him through my lashes. His amber eyes flashed, but not from anger. I managed to take a quick breath, and then his mouth came down on mine, hard, demanding my full capitulation.
I happily ceded to this man, my one true love.
“Stop it!”
I scrambled away from Upton’s relentless tickling, but he caught my ankle, dragging me back to bed, where he started up again with the tickles. Armpits, waist, hips, the soles of my feet. Nothing was off limits. Caught between hysterical giggles and wanting to punch him, I shoved at his barrel of a chest once more.
“I mean it. Either stop, or no more sex!”
The tickling came to a screeching halt, and he rocked back on his heels. “That’d better be a joke.”
I laughed and pinched his nipple, hard enough to force a hiss between his teeth.
“Payback time.”
I rolled off the bed and leaped to my feet, then danced around like a boxer trying to show their opponent they were dead meat. Upton burst out laughing at my antics.
It’d been like this between us for the past twenty-four hours, ever since we’d made up in the library. We were like a couple of teenagers who’d been given free rein of a house and were discovering each other for the very first time. The only time we’d left Upton’s bedroom was to grab a bite to eat and check on Bandit. Even Barbara had beaten a hasty retreat, mumbling something about going to visit her sister who, Upton reliably informed me, lived in Chicago. A bit of a trek from LA.
“Shower, woman, now,” Upton growled, pointing at the bathroom.
I skipped off, feeling lighter and happier than I had in years, maybe forever. I’d almost lost this man because of my own stupidity and stubbornness. If Zak hadn’t taken a risk and told me about Marin, and despite what I’d said to Upton last night, maybe I would have spent the best years of my life full of remorse, unable to move forward.
My man came up behind me as I leaned into the stall and flicked on the shower. His erection pressed against my ass, and he circled his hips with a groan.
“I can’t get enough,” he murmured, his lips in my hair. “I might keep you locked in here forever.”
“Sounds good.” I pushed backward, eliciting another drawn-out groan.
He nudged me into the stall, and as the steam rose around us, he shifted me to face the wall. His large hands clasped my hips, and he lifted me and bent his knees. The head of his cock pressed to my entrance and he thrust inside, then instantly stilled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He swept my hair over my shoulder and kissed my neck. “I’m savoring you. The second I move, I’m gonna come.”
“Lightweight.” I clenched my inner muscles.
Upton hissed through his teeth. He trailed his hands up over my waist and cupped my breasts, pinching both nipples as hard as I’d done with his in retaliation for his tickling me. This time, it was my turn to hiss.
“Payback’s a bitch, my sweet Belle,” he said, and I felt his smile on my skin.
“Stop teasing me,” I urged, wriggling against him.
“Ah, damn. You sure know how to get your own way.”
With one hand on my hip, steadying me, he used his other to play with my clit and still managed to keep up an impressive rhythm, his hips bucking into me over and over. Despite what he’d said about coming, he waited for me to fall over the edge before allowing his own release.
The remnants of my climax still quivered between my legs as Upton pulled out of me then drew me around to face him. I curved my hands around his cheeks, noticing that he no longer flinched when I touched him there. To further test the theory, I traced his scar with the tip of my finger, then eased him around until his back was to me. Taking my time, I kissed every single scar while he braced his hands on the wall. I watched carefully for any signs of discomfort, but there were none.
When I finished tracing his scars with m
y tongue and my lips, he turned to face me, his amber eyes filled with awe.
“Thank you.”
I tipped my head to the side. “What for?”
“For my life.”
29
Belle
I waved Upton off to work, then jumped into my car, the one he’d gifted me on my first day at work. The same one I’d only driven for a day before giving it back after we briefly broke up. The last few weeks had exceeded all my hopes and dreams. Technically, I still lived at home with Mom and Zak, although as I’d slept here every night since making up with Upton, I guess it’d be fair to say I’d effectively moved in.
At the bottom of the hill, instead of turning left to go to work, today, I went right. Upton had no idea I’d taken the day off—thank goodness my new boss was understanding considering I’d not been there very long—but an idea had come to me a few days ago, and I’d been unable to shake it.
Upton deserved full closure for the event that changed his life, and mine, and ultimately brought us together. He told me the other night that I’d made his life complete, but there’d been a faint trace of regret in his eyes as he’d said it, and I had a very good idea why. Hence, I was headed the twenty miles inland to Westlake Village where Upton’s father lived.
I parked on the street outside the Spanish-style red-roofed single-story home. The front yard was well tended with neatly mown grass and colorful borders, and a fountain at the center with a bird making use of the water by taking a bath.
After I cut the engine, I sat there for a few minutes to gather my thoughts, then climbed out. My heart was virtually in my throat as I knocked twice on the solid oak door.
The man who opened it looked so much like Upton, only an older version, I actually took a step back. In all the time I’d been with him, both as his companion and, later, as his lover, Upton’s dad hadn’t visited once, although Barbara told me he occasionally stopped by. Very occasionally, if ever, was my assessment.
“Mr. Barrick?”
He smiled kindly and nodded. “Yes, dear. What can I do for you?”
“Kyron, who is it?” A woman called out.
“Give me a second, Jenice.”
He rolled his eyes, then winked. I hoped he was as genial when he realized who I was and why I’d come to see him.
“Mr. Barrick, my name is Izabelle Laker. I wonder if I might have a word. I’m your son’s girlfriend, and I think it’s time we talked.”
His friendly smile fell, and he glanced over his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Miss Laker, but now isn’t a good time.”
“On the contrary, Mr. Barrick,” I pressed. “It’s the perfect time. You, and your wife, very much need to hear what I have to say.”
He followed up another nervous glance behind him with a grimace. “Is he all right?”
I motioned with my chin, determined not to give him anything until he relented. “Why don’t we go inside?”
Reluctantly, he stood back to allow me space to enter his home. He led me across a pristine tiled floor and into a large open-plan living space with vaulted ceilings, white-painted walls, and beautiful landscape pictures. Above the marble fireplace was a huge picture of Jenna that I recognized from the photographs in Upton’s study. I glanced around, noticing the absence of any pictures of him.
A blonde woman dressed in a white jumpsuit with her hair immaculately styled gracefully rose to her feet. She shot a questioning look at her husband, then returned her attention to me.
“Jenice, this is Izabelle Laker,” Kyron introduced. “Upton’s girlfriend.”
In my almost twenty-four years, I’d never seen someone’s face change so quickly from one of open curiosity to obvious hostility.
“And you let her in because?” she spat at her husband.
“Mrs. Barrick, please. All I’m asking for is five minutes of your time.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” she said, her bitter tone setting my teeth on edge as if I’d sucked on a lemon.
“Well, that’s too bad, because you are going to hear me out,” I said, my eyes daring her to challenge me.
She appeared a little taken aback, but my firm, determined tone sent her back to her seat. Upton’s father gestured for me to sit.
“What can we do for you, Miss Laker?” he asked. “Did Upton send you here?”
I laughed. “Absolutely not. He wouldn’t be at all happy with me if he knew I’d come to see you, but I happen to think what I have to say to you is worth risking his disapproval.”
Jenice emitted a derisive snort. I chose to ignore it and focused on Upton’s father instead. After all, he was the one I was here to convince, although I’d have to at least try to get Jenice on my side. She must have a lot of influence over Kyron considering he’d barely seen his only son—his only child now Jenna had gone—in the past year and a half.
He offered me a drink, which I declined, and after he’d taken a seat beside his wife, I began telling my story. They appeared surprised, clearly expected me to talk about Upton, but I had my reasons for beginning this way. They needed to understand that what happened wasn’t Upton’s fault, and the best way to get my point across, was to talk about Zak and Marin, and how my empathy for an elderly patient had such devastating effects on all our lives. But the biggest point I wanted to make was how Zak hadn’t blamed me for his paralysis. Not once. He’d never railed on me or recriminated against me in any way.
Upton’s father and stepmother listened in silence as I drew to a close.
“I understand the pain of losing your daughter, really I do, but blaming Upton when your anger should be directed at the terrorist who strapped a bomb to his chest and killed ninety-four people isn’t fair. Upton is just as much of a victim as Jenna, as my brother Zak, as my fiancé, Marin. Just as much a victim as all those other innocent people whose lives were ended or changed forever by the cruel act of another.”
I locked my gaze on his father and aimed my arrow.
“This is your son, Mr. Barrick. Your flesh and blood. I don’t understand how you can cut him out of your life so easily. My brother wouldn’t dream of treating me in such a way, and neither would my mother. She could have blamed me, too, yet all they did was shower me in love and affection.” I shrugged one shoulder. “I guess they’re just better people.”
Jenice sucked in a sharp breath at my audacious remark, while Kyron’s stricken and guilty expression should have made me feel bad.
It didn’t.
It was about time someone told them both a few hard truths, and I happily took on that mantle. It might not reconcile Upton with his father, but at least I’d know that I’d tried.
The silence lingered for a few moments, but as I made a move to stand, Kyron beat me to it.
“I want to see my son.”
Jenice got to her feet, too. “Kyron—”
“No, Jenice,” he said, cutting her off. “Whatever you’re about to say, the answer is no.” He lowered his chin, his eyes cast at the floor. “It’s taken a stranger to open my eyes to the cruelty I’ve shown to my only son.” He lifted his gaze to focus on his wife. “I’ll never get over losing Jenna, and I know you won’t either. I lost two children that terrible day, one at the hands of a terrorist, and one because I allowed you to persuade me that my son was somehow to blame. Well, no more.”
Jenice blinked a few times, and then she began to cry. A quiet, resigned crying rather than excessive sobbing. “You’re right, Kyron. I blamed Upton, and I convinced you to blame him, too. Directing my anger at Upton made the agony of losing my beautiful daughter a little easier to bear.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and tucked her head underneath his chin. “It wasn’t his fault. I know that. I’m just… I’m just so sad.”
I’d closed off my emotions to come here and confront these people, but watching a mother’s pain, still so raw, my heart opened up to her a little.
I took a few steps backward, unwilling to intrude on this private moment, but Kyron caught my movement and held up a
single finger, indicating for me to stay. He comforted his wife for a few more minutes, then withdrew.
“I’d like to go and see my son now, Jenice.”
She swept both hands beneath her eyes, drying her tears, and nodded. “Would you… tell him I said hello, and that I’m sorry. I hope that one day he can forgive me.”
He gathered her into his arms and softly pecked her lips. “I will.”
We agreed that Kyron would follow me to Upton’s house in his car, and once we arrived, I’d call Upton and ask him to come home. During the entire journey, I wondered whether I’d made a huge mistake by interfering in Upton’s family business. Upton rarely mentioned his father, and for all I knew, he was happy with the status quo. I didn’t really believe that, but now that I’d put the wheels in motion, I’d started to doubt myself.
Too late now, Belle.
I settled Upton’s father in the living room and made him a coffee, then called Upton. I reassured him nothing was wrong, but that I needed him to come home. I figured he mustn’t have believed me when his car screeched to a halt at the front of the house forty minutes later when it should take him at least fifty-five to drive back home from the office.
“Christ, Belle, you’re okay,” he said, sweeping me into a hug.
“I told you everything was fine.” I took hold of his hand and led him into the house. “You have a visitor.”
He arched his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh, yeah? Who?”
I opened the door to the living room and gestured for him to go inside. The last thing I heard was his surprised exclamation of, “Dad?” before I closed the door to give them some privacy.
Two hours later, Upton found me hanging around in the library, reading a book. His face was drawn and tired-looking, and his hair stuck on end where he must have raked his fingers through it several times. He flopped onto the couch beside me and rested his head on my shoulder.
“He’s gone.”
I brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “Are you mad at me?”
He lifted his head, meeting my worried gaze. “Not in the slightest. In fact, I want to thank you for pushing us together. We talked. He said some things. I said a lot more.” He chuckled. “But I think we cleared a lot of the bad feelings.”
Enchanted: A Billionaire Romance (The ROGUES Series Book 4) Page 19
