“The running of the bulls in Spain was always a childhood dream that my parents had forbidden me to do. Until the moment I realized I’d be trampled, I believed they were being overprotective.” He laughed and then said, “I was young and obviously stupid. When the bull got close enough that I could see his muscles rippling and the blaring sound of his hooves on the cobblestones, I jumped as high as I could to get away from those horns.”
I clutched my necklace and asked, “Jumped?”
“To a wall, and I held on for dear life,” he said, “and I still remember how the old stones were rough, and I found finger holes probably made by people like me who’d been just as idiotic as I was. Only pure adrenaline held me together in that moment.”
I checked his arm and fingers for nonexistent scars and said, “I’m glad the bull didn’t do permanent damage.”
He kissed my forehead and said, “Me too. If I get to take you anywhere else in the future, I promise it will be pretty risk-free.”
“I’m sure Joshua will love wherever you take him.”
My heart thumped. I’d never lived in such danger ever. The idea that Cyrus put himself out there struck me.
I never wanted anything bad to happen to Joshua or Cyrus, and I’d do everything I could to prevent it. But his life sounded amazing, and Joshua would be lucky to learn from such an amazing man for a father.
25
Cyrus
I left Sarah to rock my son while I saw the staff on their way. We had snacks for the evening, enough breast milk in the refrigerator for my son, and now we’d have absolute silence ‘til seven in the morning, when they began preparing breakfast to be served around nine.
Today had been a great day. Long, but great.
I took a moment to watch it end. The sun would set soon, and I wanted to take this time to think about how, at this moment, everything I ever wanted was within reach.
Sarah made everything work.
She was brighter than the sun’s reflections on the water. I sprinted back to Sarah, who’d put Joshua down in his room next to hers.
Part of me wondered if she’d share my room, but she hadn’t mentioned it during the tour. As I neared her room, I saw her tiptoe out of the nursery and, when she spotted me, whispered, “Dinner was delicious.”
I took a deep breath. The air smelled like strawberries, which I now associated with Sarah. I licked my lips and gazed down at her. She pressed her hand on my arm, and my skin tingled from sparks. I then met her eyes and said, “We could dance now.”
She sucked on her bottom lip and shook her before pointing outside and saying, “I want to try out the pool. Do I have a bathing suit?”
Right. I brought her to my island so we could be alone. I ducked a little and whispered in her ear, “The island is mine. We can go skinny-dipping.”
She sucked on her bottom lip and blinked. Then she kept her voice almost in a whisper and asked, “Won’t the staff see us?”
“They went home for the night.” I said and stilled. If I went too far, I might push her away.
Earlier, I had the sense that she wanted to have more adventures in her life, and here, right now, we could dare. If she let herself. She was safe.
Her face reddened. Then she giggled, nodded, and said, “And you told me you were always the serious one.”
Not with her, I wasn’t. She took my hand and charged out to the pool with me.
The evening air still retained the heat of the day. Seeing her naked out in the open was a treat. I half wondered if maybe it would be best if we didn’t indulge in the physical. We walked to the counter where the staff stored the towels and took out a couple for each of us.
She grinned at me, and we walked over to the pillows that doubled as loungers, where she lowered her lashes which left me unable to read her.
My heart raced when she lifted her shirt. I didn’t dare move. Then she shimmied her pants off and reached behind her back to take off her bra.
For a second, she paused and glanced into my eyes, and my pulse zipped. Her face pinkened, but then she undid her bra.
Damn. I was in fucking awe. She skimmed down her white panties and then winked at me.
I pressed my hand to my chest and grinned at her.
Then she jumped into the water.
I tore my clothes off to join her. I refused to lose her now. In a second, I jumped in after her, though she’d already made it to the deep end.
She paused, treading water, while she took in the last seconds of the sun, like she was entranced.
For a second, I didn’t dare interrupt, but then I whispered, “You’re gorgeous, sheereen-am.”
She giggled, and the sound broke through my tension. Then she splashed me and said, “You can do more than kiss me.”
I’d never been more tempted. She was overwhelming in all the right ways. I took her hand and placed it on my chest and asked, “Are you sure?”
She nodded. Then she bounced up a little and kissed my nose. I held her tighter as she said, “Joshua’s asleep and all I’ve been able to think about is you inside me.”
No one had ever spoken so boldly to me. I asked, “What do you want?”
She reached down and stroked my balls as she said, “I want you to shove your cock inside me, Handsome.”
Damn. I lifted her out of the pool, kissing her nipples while I did it. She was amazing, and this wasn’t just sex for me.
I had fallen hard for Sarah.
26
Cyrus
While I pulled myself out of the water, she scooted onto a nearby lounger. Behind her the full moon peeked out over the horizon, and I felt somehow blessed.
She had no idea how naturally beautiful she was.
She didn’t need makeup, and she didn't need to run away.
She lifted an eyebrow, and I went to her.
She tugged me down for a kiss, and my body pressed against hers.
Her softness and sweet kiss hardened me. And she knew because she reached for my dick to guide me into her. I paused to gaze down at her.
I was amazed. And, even more important, I loved her. She scooted herself closer to my penis as I asked, “Are you comfortable?”
She gave me a quick nod and arched her back to press her breasts against my chest while she said, “I’m good. I just need you inside me.”
The tip was so close to her, but I jumped up and said, “Wait.”
I raced to the side bar. Back when I bought the place, my brother Jeff left a box of condoms here, saying I needed to stash them.
I hoped they were still good. I grabbed the box and hurried back to her.
She was sitting up, looking worried. “Is something wrong?”
I showed her the package while my heart thundered. I refused to trap her into staying with me, so said, “I need this, unless you want to go swim.”
She laughed and took the condom package, ripping it open as she said, “No, Handsome. All I need is you.”
“Handsome?”
“You’d win the award if I gave one out for the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m not interested in just being seen.”
“Me neither.”
When she kissed me again, I knew for a fact that it was both lust and love.
She had my heart.
I gazed at her beautiful, full breasts, her creamy, pale skin, the tempting nest between her thighs while she rolled the condom on me.
And when she smiled my world lit up.
With a twinkle in her eyes, she wrapped her legs around me with a seductive little wiggle.
I slid inside her and asked, “Like this?”
She nodded but her face went red that went down her entire body as I rode her.
She sighed out her answer, “Yesssss.”
But by then we were both too far gone. Her eyes rolled back as her orgasm hit, and I joined her, while swearing to myself that next time I would make love to her all night.
27
Sarah
Cu
ddling was fun. He held me like I mattered to him, and it wasn’t just physical.
For a few minutes I relished his relaxed weight on top of me, my eyes closed, listening to the ocean while my body relaxed around his.
If he was anyone else, I’d be completely in love. However, as minutes ticked past and I began to feel chilled, I hugged him one more time and said, “Let’s go inside.”
We walked in silence toward our clothes. Then he scooped them all up and said, “The beds are big enough for two.”
Absolutely. I couldn't stifle a grin because I wanted to seduce him again. I winked and said, “You read my mind, Handsome. Join me in mine… in case Joshua wakes up.”
He kissed my forehead and immediately the steam started to build again. And he noticed right away because my nipples were a dead giveaway.
He took my hand and walked me inside, letting me go first up the stairs, as he said, “Be right there, sheereen-am.”
I opened my mouth, but before I could ask anything, he disappeared.
We were so different. He had everything and I had nothing, but when we were together it was like I was someone else, someone better.
I sprinted into my room and opened the closet he'd packed with beautiful, summery clothes, from bathing suits to evening gowns, and all in my size.
Too bad I’d never be able to wear what he so generously provided.
However, since he wasn't here yet, I hopped in the shower to get the chlorine out of my hair.
Minutes later I came out and to find a tray of food that was bigger than the nightstand. I walked over and scooped up a grape as I asked, “What’s this?”
He smiled down at me, and I decided that maybe tonight our differences didn’t matter.
“I figure we might need snacks at some point,” he said.
I laughed. Then I pressed against him as I asked, “So we’re going to figure out who wears who out first tonight?”
He squeezed my ass and said, “We'll definitely need the fuel.”
“But maybe not my towel.” I said as I dropped it on the floor.
The way he studied me, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, pausing at the sexy bits, was both shocking and sweet.
I reached for his manhood to see if he was as real and ready as he seemed, but he pivoted away and said, “Oh you need to earn the privilege, sheereen-am.”
A giggle escaped me, but I beckoned for him to follow me onto the balcony overlooking the dark gardens and ocean all around us .as I said, “I think we both know I turn you on.”
He was too busy staring at my backside while he followed me though the door, until he looked up asked, “Where are you going?”
I traced the elaborate balcony railing and said, “Let’s enjoy this view of yours while we’re all alone.”
He kissed my shoulder and said, “I’m not looking at the view.”
“Even better,” I said and pressed myself against his sexy, muscular body.
Then our lips met. I was his, and for now he was mine. I traced his muscles, and my knees went weak. So I arched my body to invite him to touch me.
His strong, loving, deft hands cupped my ass and steam rushed through me. He was all I wanted.
I climbed on top of him and rode him hard.
He made me feel powerful, and that alone was a heady experience. As soon as he was inside me, though, I totally lost control.
28
Cyrus
We finally made it to the bed, and I popped a grape in my mouth while I waited for her to come back.
My son woke up crying, and she went in to feed him. I gave them time alone while I cleaned myself up.
Then I listened and returned to where I was. The door creaked open just when I finished my grape, and I stared at the sexiest woman on the planet. She plopped on the bed beside me, and I offered her some fruit.
She took a blueberry off the tray while I put the fruit cup down and said, “You’re so great with my son… and with me.”
She patted me knee and said, “You’re one of the good guys, Cyrus.”
“And your inner bad girl definitely turns me on,” I replied.
Her eyes widened and her face went white as she said, “Fuck.”
I reviewed what I just said and was fairly sure it was pretty tame, but I curled closer to her and said, “I didn't mean to upset you.”
A tear trickled down her cheek, though she brushed it away and said, “It’s fine.”
I wished she would trust me, though. I took a deep breath and tried to find the right words. “It’s just… I don’t want us to be some temporary 'thing,' though I get our timing is off right now.”
Plus her family’s deaths were probably still on her mind, even though she hadn’t said anything.
Her cheeks darkened, but then she met my gaze and said, “It’s not the timing. I’m not ready for a relationship, ever.”
The blanket statement made no sense. We were clearly getting along, so I asked, “Why? What happened to you?”
She squeezed her eyes shut, sipped her water, put It back on the nightstand, and squared her shoulders, looking into my eyes while she said, “It’s easier for me to start with what you know and then go deeper.”
My heart stilled. Patients often needed to work through what happened, no matter how else they coped. So I said, “Whatever works for you.”
She nodded and said, “Okay. We both know my sister used you.”
“I remember,” I said, but kept my voice low.
Her sister had been my initial prognosis, but for now I kept quiet and listened carefully.
She let out a long sigh and was trembling when she continued. “I was brought up to be just like her. Well, not to be a doctor, but the lying, the manipulating, the grifter, and my family's belief that I was worthless, a nothing.”
Leah was nothing like I had assumed. I dropped my hands to my side and pretended I was calm. But even my skin was alert as I said, “I’d like more details.”
She dabbed at her eyes again and said, “I didn’t even finish high school… Look, when I was seventeen my mother decided she’d trade my virginity at the dealership for a fucking car.”
This goes way deeper, then. My heart hammered as I asked, “What?”
She let out a sad laugh and stared at the ceiling. Though her muscles tightened as she said, “Three old guys got to touch me all they wanted and would have raped me in their office if a customer hadn’t walked in needing their attention. I ran, and my mother then blackmailed them for the car.”
“That’s awful.” I whispered.
Denial of free will often contributed to my heart patients’ condition, which was why I often prescribed therapists. But this wasn’t a clinical situation, and I wished I could have protected her from that kind of trauma.
She crossed her arms, and her voice was cold when she said, “It was just the beginning. I should have left then, but I went home, thinking it was all over… that I’d never be used like that again. She even promised.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. Sarah was clearly scared. I’d do whatever it took to protect her, but I needed to know what we were up against, so I asked, “What happened?”
“Darren Davis.” She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her forehead on them.
Adrenaline stormed through me. I’d make damn sure she and Darren never saw each other again, and I hoped she pressed charges, but somehow, I managed to sound almost calm when I said, “I’ve seen the guy at some Manhattan social hours.”
Her head whipped up and her eyes were huge, like I just told her I knew the devil.
My stomach tightened and I had the urge to go find the guy and beat him up right now.
She kept her forehead on her knees while she muttered, “I never want to see him again, ever.”
I held my hand up like I was pledging my allegiance, “No problem. What did he do?”
Her face and neck and shoulders were blotched with red. “He… paid my mother for my virginity.”
> Adrenaline rocketed through me while my hands clenched to my side. “What?”
She squeezed her eyes shut but continued talking. “One Friday afternoon she picked me up from school. I should have paid attention, known it was another sign. That time she took me to a condo in Manhattan, and for two nights I was tied up, raped, and videotaped. You can see online when he rammed into me the first time, and I have tears in my eyes.”
“I believe you, and knowing your mother set it up and made money from you is like a punch to my gut.” I said, though my mind was racing ahead to next steps. “I wish I could have saved you.”
I’d ask my brothers who were into computers about how to remove illegal content. And then ensure Darren Davis never invested with or went anywhere near our family’s holdings. Third, I’d let it be known that he was permanently uninvited to anything and everything concerning me or my family.
The bastard would ever be able to hurt Sarah again.
She took my hand and then cupped my face. “You didn’t do anything. I ran. It’s been years now, and I've learned if I just stay honest and keep my distance from people, then I’m better off.”
Our foreheads touched. She deserved better.
“That’s not living,” I said.
She laughed and replied, “You make me want to try to be someone else, but I’m terrified.”
Adrenaline rushed though me, but I tampered it back as I said, “You can do anything you want. I know it’s too early for a relationship with you, but you need to know something.”
She let out a small laugh and tilted her head. “What secrets could you possibly have?”
I was all nerves right now, but I didn’t move as I said, “That I’m falling in love with you.”
She shook her head. “You just want someone who's here for Joshua.”
I put my hand on her hip and said, “He’s a part of me, but no. I selfishly want you all for myself, and it has doesn’t have a damn thing to do with my son.”
Then she kissed me sweetly.
In time she’d realize how wonderful we were together.
Handsome Page 11
