The Daughter Trilogy Bundle

by C. M. Owens

  "Ther's a corvette man," he sighs.

  I walk out holding his hand to see the charcoal-gray corvette stingray Ther's giving hell. He smiles and hangs his head out the window as Devin leans over the railing to glare his disapproval.

  "What you think?" Ther says excitedly.

  "Ostentatious," Devin gripes.

  Ther swats his scrutiny away as he counters, "It's not like it's a Lamborghini or something. It's not going to draw too much attention either. It's a sexy car, and now you have… well, you've got the queen of sexy. We'll put it that way," Ther chuckles.

  Devin glowers at him, but I just laugh with Ther.

  "I like it," I say with a girlish enthusiasm.

  "You can have it then. I'll go pick me out something a little more conservative from my garage when we return," he murmurs with his smoldering tone.

  I just laugh at his joke, and then he takes my hand. I hope it was a joke. I'm not taking that car.

  "You sure you're ready for this?" he asks timidly as all the playfulness dissipates.

  I squeeze my hand against his and nod.

  "I am. I swear."

  He kisses me, and I feel him scooping me up. I smile as I feel him bounding over the rail, and the light impact I feel when we connect with the ground is almost enough to unravel me and reveal the queen of lust.

  He smiles behind the kiss, and then he puts me down so he can open the door for me. I climb in slightly giddy as he shuts the door.

  I'm about to move in with him, and now that the shock has subsided, I'm so excited. I'm actually a little too excited.

  Paling, a realization comes to me and steals all the air from my lungs.

  Oh damn. I really am in love. Fuck!

  Chapter 11

  Bubbling Over

  The outside display is one big blur as Devin weaves in and out of traffic with effortless ease. Of course, he can see everything before it happens, so it's not as if he's risking anyone's life.

  I just keep my eyes focused on the whirling lights as we enter the gallant city that is New York. We've been on the road for so, so long, and I can't wait to be out of this car I once thought of as amazing. I've been trapped in this small space with my thoughts and the object of my anxiety for far too long.

  "Are you okay? You've barely spoken since we left the hotel," Devin says in a worried tone.

  "I'm fine. Just a little tired," I lie.

  I'm in love with him. I can't be in love with him. I barely know him, and I won't survive being in love and destroyed by him.

  "Are you sure? I feel as though you're mad at me, but I don't know what I've done."

  I turn to meet the troubled, angst-ridden smoky eyes burning into mine. I don't need this right now. I just learned I'm immortal - which is still blowing my tangled and confused mind. I just found my estranged mother and learned the truth about why she gave me up. I'm not allowed to go home or have a job, and I don't have a clue about the people trying to kill us every time we slow down. I don't have the energy to be in love with the most incredible man I've ever known.

  "You haven't done anything," I comfort before changing the subject. "You don't even have to look at the road, do you?"

  He smirks, and I can see the smugness overcoming the troubled hue staining his eyes.

  "No. It's one of the perks," he chirps. "One of the things I hate about this car is stopping to get gas," he gripes, while turning the conversation again.

  "You don't normally have to?" I muse, letting him distract me.

  "No. My vehicles have technology not supposed to exist. They're faster, and they require a clean fuel that keeps them running for several thousand miles without a need to refuel."

  "Impressive, Mr. Seer," I playfully add.

  He smiles his boyish, boastful grin, and he kisses the back of my hand.

  I force a smile to match his, but my mind is still drenched in this mind-boggling discovery. How can I be in love with him so soon?

  "Do you have a lot of places in New York?" I ask to distract myself from the resurfacing anxiety.

  "Three. The one we're going to is a little smaller than the one I was in. It's my favorite here," he says with a little excitement sparking.

  "So you don't like the big, luxurious penthouse you bought?" I tease.

  He grins lightly, trying to maintain his modesty by seeming as if he's not high-maintenance.

  "I like it, but I also like the more intimate space of this apartment. The best feature is how it overlooks the water."

  I smile as the boyish enthusiasm enters his eyes. Then a frown fights to take over when I realize what a dangerous game I'm playing.

  Every time he smiles, my heart quickens its pace. Damn my luck. Of all the men to fall in love with, I found the one who could crush me the worst.

  "That sounds nice," I say with a cooler tone.

  "Did I say something wrong?" he questions with a worried look returning to his face.

  I shake my head as I stare out the window at the numerous cars littering the sides of the streets.

  "No. When will we be there?"

  He shifts lanes, and I feel the car turning. I look up to see the sky-scraping building with a triple-arched entrance driveway. A man rushes to the car, and I recognize him. He was the valet at Devin's other home.

  "He's a valet here too?" I ask curiously.

  Devin laughs slightly as he steps out and hands the man the keys. I pull my shoes back on and start to open the door, but Devin opens it before I can. The man stands beside the car while he speaks informatively.

  "I acquired everything you asked for, sir, except for the… bed," he stammers slightly while blushing at me.

  I do well to avoid eye contact, which isn't too hard since he's trying just as hard as I am to look anywhere else.

  Devin smirks at my reddened appearance.

  “Thank you, Greer. I assumed the bed wouldn't be ready yet."

  Oh great. This is Greer.

  "It should be ready in about four or five days, sir," Greer continues with his nervousness still intact.

  Devin takes my hand as Greer takes his place in the driver's seat. We walk in to the marvel that is a lobby, and the elevator is waiting for us just as we get to it. Devin punches in a code, just as he had to at the last apartment building. It whisks us upward with haste, and fortunately it doesn't play any annoying music.

  "He's my personal concierge. I take him everywhere," he says with tasteful arrogance.

  I admit, I'm slightly impressed.

  The door dings as we walk into yet another stunning apartment. The tile floors carry creams of every shade, and the tan walls are warmer than the stark white appearance of the last.

  There are still very few decorations anywhere other than the walls that bear strategically hung artwork to splash small hints of color.

  The marble countertops beg to be touched, and I answer their request as I slide my fingers across the smooth bar. You could fit five of my apartments in here. I narrow my eyes at him.

  "Smaller? I think this place is bigger," I scoff.

  "Really? I could have sworn it was smaller," he snickers out.

  I roll my eyes as I walk over to the large wall of windows. I gasp slightly as I see the sparkling lights against the surface of the water. The stars glitter as the small waves float the blurred specks from place to place.

  Devin's arms wrap around my waist as I stare out at the beauty of the city at night. It's so chaotic, rushed, and wild down there, but right here it's so peaceful.

  I quickly tune out the noises and focus on his steady breaths on top of my head while he gazes with me.

  "I think I like this one better too. I might have to take a peek at your other home one day. I'd hate for it to feel left out because it's the only one I haven't seen," I joke lightly.

  I can feel him smiling above me, and I turn to face him.

  "What?" I ask with a grin that has now infected my face.

  "I've got more than one you haven't seen," he murmur
s with an air of intriguing mystery.

  I frown slightly. "You said you had three."

  "You how many homes I have in New York. I said I had three. I meant I have three in New York. I have numerous houses all around the world in various densely populated areas, and I have several safe houses in remote areas such as the one you saw."

  Whoa. Definitely out of my league.

  "Please stop trying to impress me," I whine playfully.

  He laughs lightly as his lips find mine and relieve them of their quivering unworthiness.

  "I'll stop when you do," he breathes.

  I feel the goddess awakening inside of me, and my hands wrap around his neck as he hoists me into the air. I feel the breeze of the wind exciting my over sensitized skin as he flashes us to the bedroom.

  The weak bed creaks slightly as a warning to be gentle. He ditches his shirt before I accidentally mess it up. I smile as I pull the currents over his body, and his eyes roll back to soak in the pleasure of my electric touch.

  The goddess is begging me to confess my love, but I know that will only push him away. He'll know just how crazy I am for being so mad about him before we even get to know each other.

  His lips scour my neck and break me free from my hindering mind. My nails slide up his bare back, and I smile as he brings my shirt over my head. He leans over to softly remind me just how suave he really is.

  "I don't know that I've ever wanted anything as badly as I want you," he says with his sizzling tone.

  I want to cry, laugh, fall apart, and be lost in him. Most of all… I want to say, I love you.

  I wake up to the brilliantly lit room and the clouds outside peeking in. I feel the scorched sheets beneath me, and a girly grin spreads across my face. The passion has only deepened with each sexual venture.

  "Good afternoon," Devin says from behind me.

  I roll over to see him tying his tie in the mirror to ice his formal cake. He's wearing a fearless gray suit with a navy shirt. His eyes smile at me, and I know my lust for him is so transparent right now.

  "I should wear a suit more often it seems," he teases.

  I roll my eyes and try to calm the brewing storm inside me.

  "I don't know that it matters what you wear to be honest. I'm apparently insatiable," I mumble in disgust for my lack of control around him.

  He finishes with his tie and leans over to kiss me. "You can't keep talking like that, or I'll never leave."

  "Where are you going?" I almost whimper.

  Don't be needy, you foolish girl.

  I take a silent breath and strain to be a normal, confident woman. He smiles lightly at my childish don't-leave-me tone.

  "I've got a meeting that came up. I can have Sheila reschedule it if you need me to stay," he says to soothe my inner abandonment issues that are trying to surface.

  Well now I just feel like a clingy fool. Get a hold of yourself. Be Aphrodisia Titan, not some sixteen-year-old, lovesick pup.

  "No. Go to your meeting. It'll give me a chance to explore your small, intimate dwelling," I murmur sarcastically as I look around the bedroom that makes everything I've ever seen so obviously inferior.

  "I don't mind staying," he promises, sincerity oozing free from his tone.

  I smile encouragingly to prove my moment of weakness has passed.

  "I'll be fine as long as you have coffee."

  He laughs a little and hands me a robe. I pull on the sleek, satiny fabric, and it hugs me perfectly. The daring red offers me a seductive edge, and I can see the tides stirring in his eyes. I frown suddenly as an unwelcome thought comes to my mind.

  "This doesn't belong to some other girl, does it?"

  He laughs fiercely and pulls me from the room to head to the kitchen as he speaks.

  "No. I wouldn't do something so carelessly callous," he teases, but it only deepens my frown.

  "Oh," I grumble.

  His lips pull mine to them, but my touch is more distant than usual.

  "I was kidding, Adisia. I've never had a girl here… at all. Sheila went shopping for you. In case you didn't notice, there's a second walk-in closet in the bedroom, and it now has clothes in it for the first time ever. There's also a bathroom full of everything a girl is supposed to need. The kitchen is stocked with everything I knew you liked. Everything is completely new."

  I sigh with a bit of relief, and then a new question springs to mind.

  "Sheila? You've mentioned her at least three times. Who is she?" I say with a tart face.

  He snickers a little. "She's my very middle-aged, very married, and very unappealing assistant. She handles all the boring stuff, and all the things I know nothing about - such as girl clothing and supplies. This is a first for me," he confesses.

  I'm a little shocked by that. It definitely puts some of my more tiresome worries to bed.

  "You've never lived with a girl?" I ask with a tone relaying my astonishment.

  "No. I have no idea what I'm doing," he says with a hint of insecurity bleeding into his voice.

  "Well, so far you've surpassed anything I've ever heard of. I've never dated a guy who actually cared about what I needed. I'm sorry for being so… weird. I'm just a little out of my element. Your lavish surroundings are a little intimidating, and I'm not sure how to feel really," I mumble self consciously.

  He sighs slightly as he kisses my forehead, and his hands slide down my arms to steady my shaky body.

  "I have something for you and for me too," he says with a hint of excitement to kill our heavy moment of exposed insecurities.

  I giggle a little as he flashes to the bedroom and then back to the kitchen. He hands me a long, wide, elegant, white box with a silver, lacy ribbon decorating the top. I start to open it, but he puts his hand over mine.

  "Wait until I'm gone. I don't want to see it until it's on you," he says with a goofy grin spreading so salaciously across his face.

  "You bought me a gift you haven't seen?"

  "Yes. I had Sheila pick up something special for tonight because I plan on taking you out on a real date."

  A silly grin now consumes my face, and I almost jump a little. He smiles a full-teeth-flashing, heart-stopping smile, and my face starts to hurt from the inability to lessen my grin. He leans over and his lips cover mine.

  I pull him to me and start loosening the tightly tucked shirt hiding his perfect body that begs to be seen.

  He moans slightly and speaks breathlessly. "I'll cancel the damn meeting."

  His lips consume mine, and I struggle with my own desire along with his in order to push back.

  "No. Go to your meeting. Then you can pick me up for our date like normal people in the early phases of a relationship. Even though you'll be picking me up from your own home."

  His thumb tugs at my lip for a second before he moves to tuck his shirt back in, and a menacing smirk appears.

  "I like knowing where you are. It prevents me from playing stalker," he jokes.

  "How did you really find out my real name?" I ask playfully.

  He smirks a little, and kisses the back of my hand.

  "I might have sent Ther to follow you home and do some recon," he says with a wince.

  "Ah. So I was correct when I accused you of such stalkery," I tease.

  His devilish grin is enough to singe my skin, and I can smell the clothes on my body scorching under his smoldering stare. He doesn't need Aphrodite's stare to possess me. His Devin Cole stare is enough to heat the arctic and turn it into a desert within minutes.

  I take a deep breath and force myself to disengage from the temptation.

  "When does your meeting start?" I ask in a pleading effort to distract him.

  "Five minutes ago," he reports with his devilish smirk growing.

  I roll my eyes and start pulling him to the elevator.

  “Go. Now. Before I burn both of our clothes off. I want my real date," I playfully tease.

  His eyes dance with their tempting dare, but I refuse to fall prey. He
laughs a little as he reluctantly steps into the elevator. He huffs and adjusts his tie as he exaggerates a pout, and I cover my smile as the elevator doors close. I can hear him speaking softly on his way down.

  "I'll pick you up at six."

  Got to love super-hearing.

  "I'll be waiting," I say with a giggle.

  A date. A real date.

  I rush over to the mystery box still perched on the kitchen counter, and I begin ripping into it without any regard for the beautiful wrapping. I gasp as I pull out the elegantly sexy ensemble it had concealed.

  It's four o' clock already. Crap. Why did he let me sleep so late?

  I stare at myself in the mirror, and I almost don't recognize the girl wearing the one-of-a-kind blue, diamond-studded gown that stretches to my toes with its elegant shimmer.

  My right shoulder is bare, and a one-inch strap laps over my left. The back dips low, and I feel the wind stirring as my nervousness grows.

  My long, bronze-kissed locks drape past my shoulders in carefully placed large, loose curls. I'm wearing just the right amount of makeup, and I feel like a goddess. This dress was meant to be worn by someone far more impressive than I.

  I hear the doors of the elevator swishing open, and I giggle a little. He's ten minutes early.

  I rush into the room, but I can sense instantly that it's not him. The smell of strong liquor and cheap aftershave pollute the air. The tainted hindrance of cigarette smoke seeps through the apartment, and now I'm scared.

  "Hey, Dev. Where the blazes are you?" a stranger's Scottish accent pronounces.

  I sigh out in relief when I realize this is a friendly tone, even though I don't know the man it belongs to. I walk out to the living area, and the man's jaw drops the moment his eyes connect with my gorgeous dress.

  "Bloody hell. I think I lucked up and punched in the wrong damn code. I'll be damned."

  I laugh a little at his dumbfounded and mesmerized comment.

  "Devin will be here in just a few minutes," I murmur.

  His jet black hair shags around his face, and his black leather jacket is tattered from years of wear. He's built and attractive with the bad boy persona that would have made me swoon a couple of weeks ago.