Thrusting a hundred-dollar bill in the driver’s hand, I exited the vehicle and headed to the elevator. My legs were on autopilot when I reached my apartment. Arianna filled my thoughts as the uneasiness weighed down my shoulders. Where is she?
I unlocked the door, going straight to my room. Should I call Rosie?. Blindly, I reached for the light switch and my legs halted in mid-stride. A feminine groan made my eyes grow wider when I realized the sound came from my bed. Light flooded the darkroom.
Snuggled under the blankets was her. A sudden sense of relief flooded me and I wanted to laugh. I had gone in search of her to her apartment all the while she was here, where she belonged.
In my home.
In my bed.
If not mistaken, judging from the collar of the shirt that peaked from underneath the blanket, she wore my shirt to bed. I moved fast to the bed, wanting to see her, hold her.
A sudden urge to kiss her senseless pushed me and that was exactly what I did. Her eyes flew open, squinting at the brightness of the light before widening when she realized it was me.
“Orlando—” she whispered when I released her lips.
I silenced her again with a kiss, delving deeper as she opened for my seeking tongue. She tasted sweet with a hint of chocolate and cream. Her hands tugged at my hair, pulling closer as she wiggled in my grasp, trying to kick off the blanket that separated us.
I released her for a few seconds. Only to throw the blanket out of the way. She wore nothing but my shirt, bloodshot to my groin at the sight of her perky nipples growing harder under the thin material. She wore no bra.
My lips captured hers again and she hooked her legs around my waist. I discarded my coat and removed my tie in frenzy, never leaving her lips. Our movements grew urgent and I felt her hands going to unbutton my shirt.
When she reached the buckle of my belt, I stopped only for a few seconds to discard the clothing before pouncing on her again. God knew how much I missed her. Couldn’t wait for foreplay. I needed her right then.
A loud groan left my lips when I slid her panties aside and slipped in, burying myself deep in her. Arianna moaned, arching her back. “I missed you so much.” My voice was hoarse as I thrust my hips against her.
“Orlando...” Her plea urged me to go faster.
I kissed her again. I couldn’t get enough. I’ll never get enough. I wanted her. No, I needed her. My hand slipped in between us in a hurry, finding the center of her need. Circling the perky bud under my thumb, I sensed her channel clenching around my shaft.
She threw her head back, panting hard, moaning louder. “Orlando... Oh! God…”
I had to see her flushed face. It gave me a sense of satisfaction to see her half-closed eyes. Her now jet black hair, highlighted with purple and blue, stood out against the white sheets. The two of my favorite colors suited her better. She looked exotic, with her mouth slightly open, two teeth biting her lower lip as her groomed fingers dug into my biceps.
I love you. There was that word again. Love. I wanted to tell her. My breath hitched at a sudden thought. I shook my head, trying to focus on her. Applying more pressure on her clit, her body jerked. A loud cry of my name on her lips was enough to send my body tumbling down the cliff.
I captured her lips again, pouring out my emotions into the kiss. I loved her and I never wanted this to end. My hips pumped a few more times and I released her lips, memorizing how beautiful she looked when she was spent.
All mine.
“You came earlier.” She lay breathless, two drops of tears rolled down her cheek as she cupped my face.
“I did.”
“God, I missed you so much.” Her relieved sob squeezed my heart.
“It’s okay. I’m here now.”
“Don’t ever leave me again,” she demanded, burying her face in the crook of my neck.
Right then, that moment felt so important to me. Still buried deep in her, my cock grew hard. “I won’t.” I made a promise, determined to keep it more than ever.
When I moved again, her soft moan filled my ears. This time I moved in a slow and gentle rhythm, savoring each thrust. I relished in the sensation of how she felt around me. When I gazed into her eyes again, I knew I made the right choice.
Chapter – 22
I woke to the familiar scratch on the door, an involuntary smile stretched the corners of my lips. Arianna stirred in my hold, still asleep. I caressed her hair, tracing the new highlights. While I loved the new color of her hair, her need to hide and change identities didn’t sit well with me.
Arianna was beautiful inside out and she did not need to change herself like this. I noticed the new additions to her ears. Could I blame her for going to this extent? No. When you had an evil twin who loved to steal your identity, you did anything to stay sane.
I remembered how Alana dyed her hair brunette before the wedding. For instance, she caught me off guard. They had such an uncanny resemblance and I could tell everyone around them had such a hard time telling them apart.
However, I knew it wasn’t Arianna in those photos. First-the dupe didn’t have her tattoo and second-the eyes in the photos were distantly cold and calculative. I’d recognize my Arianna anywhere.
Poor Alana wouldn’t have known about this little secret and she sure wouldn’t know how her sister reacted while having sex. The girl in the photos was loaded with booze and wild while the other was soft and drunk with desire.
The scratching grew louder and I woke, pressing a kiss on her head.
“Hey, Boxer...” I called, opening the door. But he didn’t come to me. With a wag of his tail in my direction, he headed to her. “Shh... don’t wake her up, buddy.” I dragged him out, shutting the door behind us. “Let her sleep for some more time.” I scratched his head. Arianna loved her morning sleep.
“Orlando? You’re here.”
My head snapped to Gaby, eyes widening as I stood. “G-Gaby?” My hesitant gaze flicked to the closed door. “Ah...” I cleared my throat. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Ari called us when—” She stopped, her gaze cutting to Uncle Frisby. “The media flocked her apartment and your mansion yesterday. Arianna suggested we come here.”
“Fortunately, no one bothered to come here,” Uncle Frisby said.
Gaby shifted from one foot to the other. She might have seen the photos.
“It’s not her,” I told them. “It’s not our Arianna.”
“We know,” Gaby breathed. “I’m gonna make a few calls.” It was awkward getting caught with nothing but shorts. Though she’d seen me in worse conditions than this, this time was different. Now I had a girl behind that door.
Running a hand through my hair, I excused myself and slipped into the room. Arianna hadn’t even stirred. I grabbed the phone from the pants I discarded so carelessly earlier; I called the lawyer.
“Hello, Mr. Cortez...” Benjamin, who was also Enrique’s school mate greeted in a cheerful tone as if he expected my call. “Enrique said you’ll call.”
“Oh. Did he tell why?”
“Yes. I have everything set. All I need is a word from you to sue their sorry asses.”
I could almost see Benjamin smirking at these words.
“Do it.”
My determined gaze fell on Arianna. Her twin dearest was in for a rude awakening. Alana wasn’t dealing with her sister anymore. My grip tightened around the phone. This time Arianna will have me. She’ll have me and my entire family with her.
***
Arianna Swanson
When I woke up the next morning, sunlight flooded the room. I looked around to see Orlando dressed in his suit, getting ready for the day. The fresh scent of soap and cologne filled my senses.
I inhaled deeper, relishing in it with my eyes closed. A wide smile stretched my lips when I thought about last night. He was really here. He still had three weeks of his trip left. My body ached in all sweet spots.
The alluring aroma of food wafted through my nostrils next
and my gaze snapped to my right, finding the hot breakfast on my head table. Aww... Who wouldn’t fall for the guy who served you breakfast in bed?
However, the sense of joy didn’t last when nausea rolled within my chest. It felt like a bucket of cold water splashed over me while my breathing grew harsh.
“Good morning,” Orlando greeted.
My mouth opened and closed like a fish when I looked at him again. How do I tell him?
“Arianna, is everything all right?” His lips frowned and concern etched his features.
“I...”
His cell phone blared, disrupting us. Orlando disconnected the call without looking at who it was.
“What is it?” His sole focus was on me. His cell phone rang again, this time he disconnected it again before pushing it in his pocket. When he knelt before me, his gaze searched my face.
My emotions were a wreck. Oh, Lord, how much I missed him. He’s really here. Just as I opened my mouth, nausea churned my stomach again. With a hand over my mouth, I ran to the toilet.
Orlando rushed behind me. He held my hair together and rubbed my back as I emptied the contents. Oh, God, this is definitely not how I wanted to break the news to him.
He helped me clean and carried me to the bedroom, carefully lowering me on the bed. “Wait here,” he said. “I’ll schedule an appointment with the doctor.”
“That’s unnecessary.” I shook my head, resting my head on the headboard. He adjusted the pillows to make me comfortable. “It’ll pass.”
Orlando shook his head. “Don’t give me reasons, Arianna. It’s clear you have flu.” His phone rang again, he disconnected the call without even looking at the screen.
I averted my gaze to the floor. “It’s not what you think,” I said, my voice barely audible.
He crouched before me and hooked his index finger under my chin. “Look at me,” he gently whispered. “Something is bothering you.”
Throwing myself at him, I hugged him closer, filling my lungs with his scent I missed so much. His warmth surrounded me, blanketing me with a sense of security. Tears spilled out of my eyes with relieved sobs.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here now.” He rubbed my back, holding me tight.
I pulled back after a while; I have to tell him. “I need to tell you something.”
Orlando visibly relaxed and he smiled. “You don’t have to tell me anything, Arianna. I know what’s bothering you.”
“What?” Confusion clouded my mind. “How did you know?”
“I have my ways.” He shrugged and stood. “Eat.”
No, he was talking about something else. Gaby or Uncle Frisby won’t tell him. They didn’t even tell Mike. My best friend thought I caught the flu.
“Orlando, it’s not what you think. I told no one.”
Orlando’s expression turned serious as he looked at me. He cocked his head to the side and his brows creased.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out, my gaze on the floor.
He inhaled sharply.
“That night... before Alana’s wedding, we didn’t use protection and—” When I looked up, he was gone. “Orlando...”
Oh! God.
I pushed the blanket off, almost tripping when I stood. “Orlando...”
“He just left.” Miriam came into my view. “Is everything all right, sweetie?” Her concerned gaze swept over me.
“Shit. I ruined it all.” My knees gave up and I slid to the floor. Fresh tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt lost the second time.
Gaby rushed to me. “Did you tell him?”
“I did.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.” He said nothing. He left.
Oh, no… What have I done?
***
Orlando Cortez
“I’m pregnant.”
Her words swirled in my mind. It stirred something within me. My hands still trembled. Why?
“That night... before Alana’s wedding, we didn’t use protection and—”
Something buzzed in my ears and something suffocated me as soon as those words left her lips. The next thing I knew I was running from my apartment in need of fresh air.
My mind reeled and vision blurred at the onslaught of different emotions. My logical thoughts said I should stay, but I couldn’t. I had to get out.
The words were familiar. They echoed in my head. Clenching my jaws, I had to subdue the panic and clear my thoughts. Arianna is pregnant.
“The papers are ready,” Benjamin announced with a huge grin on his face. His words pulled me out of my stupor. “I’ll take the necessary steps. Stay here. I’ll call you in if needed.”
“Thanks.”
“You don’t have to thank me, man. I get paid for this, remember?” He shrugged.
My thoughts went back to Arianna. While Benjamin was inside the court, filing a defamation suit on the media, I stood outside mulling over the morning’s incident.
A sudden screech of vehicles caught my attention and I noticed the reporters spilling out with their cameras. Crap. It hadn’t been thirty minutes since we arrived. How do they sniff these things? I turned and walked toward the men’s room, calling Marcus on the way. I hadn’t come prepared.
“Marcus, I need your men to escort me out of the court building.”
“Where are you now?” His voice grew urgent.
“In the men’s room.”
“Stay there. They’ll be there in fifteen.”
“Okay.”
Instead of waiting outside, I went inside a cubicle and locked the door behind me, in case, someone came looking for me here. The seconds ticked away excruciatingly and I browsed through the internet for news. Damn. The news was live and I suspected if Benjamin even had the time to finish the process.
My phone buzzed, flashing Marcus’ name on my screen. “Hello.”
“You can come out now. The team will escort you out of there.”
“Sure.”
Unlocking the door, I stepped out only to bump into someone.
“That’s a low blow even to you, Mr. Cortez.” Brian’s green eyes blazed as he stalked toward me. It felt like a déjà vu. We were in the men’s room again. Only now we were in court. “Leave my wife out of this you sonofabitch.”
His hands bunched around my collar. His gesture should’ve been intimidating, only it wasn’t. No one intimidated me. Standing a good few inches taller than him, I tilted my head with a mocking smile.
“Can’t disagree with that now. My mother is a bitch.”
“You fucking asshole!”
I saw it coming. From the sudden jerk of his jaw muscle to his fisted hand aimed for my jaw. Only the punch never came. I caught his fist, shoving him forcefully.
Brian staggered, but his face contorted with pure rage. “You punched me at my wedding,” he growled. “I took it because you were right. I dumped that bitch and shouldn’t have cared. But now, you overstepped your boundaries by dragging my wife into this mess.”
I twisted my body, barely avoiding his punch and grabbed him in a chokehold. He stamped and tried to head-butt, but I moved away. “Your wife put herself in this situation.” And I would do a hell lot more than just dragging her ass in this mess. A mess she created.
“You don’t talk about her!”
I blocked the punch aimed for my gut and landed a fist on his ribs. Brian doubled over, clutching his side. His handsome face twisted in pain. “How about starting with why she changed her identity to match Arianna?” I punched him again and shoved him to the floor.
“Fuck you!” he spat. He staggered on his knees, hands still clutching his sides. His breath heaved. “She knew I wanted Arianna and was trying to win me. You know nothing about my wife.”
“Is that what she told you?”
“Stop it!” He stood, wobbling on his legs. “We just lost our baby. How can you be so cruel?” His eyes reddened and tears accumulated. “She’s the best thing ever happened to me and guess what? I hurt her. I hurt her by cheati
ng on her with her own sister. But she waited for me to realize my mistake and return to her. Don’t you dare point your fingers at her.”
Taking a deep breath, I looked at him. The guy looked like shit and I almost felt pity for him. Almost.
“It is times like this I realize what a twisted bastard you are. You first went behind Alana to date Arianna and then slept with Alana while you were still dating her sister. You tried to run away with Arianna a day before your wedding and now you speak as if I’m trying to ruin it all.” Thrusting my hands into my pockets, I glared at him. “I hate to break it to you, buddy. But I really think you deserve each other.”
Brian fumed and I could imagine him frothing like a mad dog. Before he opened his mouth again, I silenced him.
“I don’t care about your wife, nor I have to. But I know my girl when I see her. And I know the one in the photos isn’t Arianna.” My smile was mocking and I knew it. I should keep my mouth shut and leave the place, but I enjoyed this way too much.
Brian’s eyes grew wider. His lips trembled and the muscle in his jaw jerked again. “Don’t you dare go there again.” His hands still clutched his side.
“Between you and me, I’m gonna ask you this. Did Arianna ever tell you about her seventeenth birthday party?” Perhaps, I should give him a chance to figure this out himself. What would he do when he learns the truth?
He stilled and his gaze averted. “She told me, but I never thought it was that bad.”
“Then… she might have also told you about the tattoo she got in her drunken haze.”
Brian’s gaze jumped to my face and I saw the shock registering on his face. His mouth opened and closed.
“Go figure. Now if you may excuse me, I have better things to do.” I left the stunned bastard there and never looked back.
The flashes greeted me first and the questions followed.
“Mr. Cortez, what do you have to say about the photos?”
“Mr. Cortez, why would you think it’s not Arianna?”
“Is it true you filed a defamation suit against the media?”
Resisting Her (Moving On Duology Book 2) Page 18
