“Because I knew without a doubt the moment I saw you, the moment I carried you out of that shithole you were in that you were the one for me.”
“Are you trying to say you fell in love with me the very first time you saw me?”
“Why? Would you believe me if I did?”
She snorted, “No.”
“You don’t think someone can be in love with you?”
“I don’t think you can lie here and tell me you love me after only being with me for a few hours.”
He smiled. “What about like?”
“That would be more believable.”
“Then I like you very much.”
Rolling her eyes, sighing, Makayla pulled up the sheet to her chest and rolled onto her back, staring up. “You’ve really fucked things up, haven’t you?”
“So it would seem.”
She turned her head to look at him again. “And it doesn’t bother you, does it?”
“There’s a lot of things that bother me, Makayla, a lot of things.” He rolled over to the other side, got out of the bed and walked around with his head down as if he was looking for something. She sat up, watching him find his pants and put them back on.
“Why am I getting this strange feeling that we are no longer talking about your friendship with Dane.” Drawing up her legs, resting arms and chin on the knees, she watched him pace the room. “Darius?”
He rubbed his face in the manner of a man beat down and tired. “Why don’t you try to get some sleep? Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”
She wasn’t about to argue with him. Her body needed rest and she welcomed it. Lying back down, sheet covering her, Makayla closed her eyes, sighed, and let sleep take her away from this and all her troubles, for the moment. True to his words, tomorrow was going to be a busy day—one where she needed to figure out what she was going to do about her new life, and how she was going to get Dane to go along with it. After all, no matter what they all thought, this was permanent. No way in hell were things going to go back to the way they were.
* * * *
Tomorrow arrived way too fast. The sun shining brightly in her face pulled Makayla out of a deep sleep. She stretched and winced at the soreness between her legs, which reminded her of everything that had happened hours before.
“Hungry?”
Turning from one side to the other and sitting up she looked right at Darius who happened to be fully dressed. “How long have you been up?”
She knew she slept hard, but if he came to bed surely she’d feel him, yet she couldn’t recall him coming back to bed after he left it.
“Awhile,” he smiled. “Sometimes I don’t sleep. Come on and eat, before it gets cold.”
Glancing around, she spotted the robe still on the floor next to the bed. Since modesty was now out of the question, Makayla flung the sheet off, got up and, naked, bent over to pick it up, slipping it on her body. She knew he watched, felt his eyes on her. Robed, she joined him at the low table.
A spread of food covered the table. Fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, toast along with bagels with cream cheese. She smelled coffee, saw orange juice and grabbed for one of the bagels. He just sat back on the thick plush pillows, sipping coffee, watching her.
“You’re not going to eat?” she asked. He didn’t answer her. “Why are you staring at me?”
“I’m at a lost here, Makayla,” he sighed, putting the cup back on the table. “For the first time in a very long time, I’m lost.”
“I don’t understand.” She spread some cream cheese on her bagel, placed it on the plate before her then reached for the fruit and juice.
“I don’t know what to do once we leave here.”
“Apologizing to Dane might be a good start.”
He snorted low, or was it a soft laugh? Either way the action did make him seem a bit lost. “I don’t think saying sorry to Dane will fix all of this. He’s known for a very long time that I’ve wanted you.”
“You’ve got to be the bigger man here then.” She smiled quickly before taking a bite of her bagel.
This time he chuckled and shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”
“Says who?”
He sat forward, eyes locked on her. “You know what I’d like to know?”
“What?”
“Why are you so easy going this morning? Last night you were ready to take my nuts off with a spoon and now you’re just going with the flow. Why?”
“Truth or would you like for me to lie and bullshit you?” She batted her eyes at him, he in turn, rolled his. ON a sigh, she tossed the half eaten bagel back on the plate. “Okay, I can see you’re in a mood. I’m going to have to learn those fast.”
“Makayla.”
With a loud sigh, she stood up. “What’s the point? What’s done is done. I’ve been in this damn town long enough to know the rules, and to know that there really isn’t any point in fighting shit the next morning. It’s done. End of story.” She went back to the bed, looking around for her clothes. “Um, what am I supposed to wear?”
“Well, if you’re ready, I’ll ring for the women to come up with some clothing and you can go take a bath or shower if you want.”
“And what will you be doing?” She stopped, turning to face him.
“Making sure your special present is here.” He winked at her and went to the door. With a frown, Makayla headed for the bathroom.
She had thought about taking a bath again, but changed her mind and ended up with a quick shower instead. When she came out of the bathroom, she was shocked to find two young girls waiting for her. The room had been cleaned while she was taking her shower, and the bed stripped and made up. On top of the bed were two large boxes. One of the girls came up to her, took her hand and had her sit on the side of the bed. Instantly they went to work, saying nothing.
One young woman dried her body with a fluffy towel, then dried and curled her hair. They took the towel she’d wrapped around herself away and replaced it with a new set of white lace silk panties, and a matching bra. Samara had shown her the outfit that she came home in from the Compound, so Makayla sort of expected something like that as well, but instead was shown something completely different—a light blue silk skirt with a matching blue silk top. The skirt flowed down to her ankles and had slits up both side to mid-thigh and seemed to ruffle. The top had no sleeves at all. It felt heavenly against her skin. She had never worn anything this soft against her body and she loved it.
“Something told me that blue would be your color.” Darius stood behind her, arms crossed over his chest, watching her.
“You like then?” she asked, looking back at him from the mirror.
“Very much, but something is missing.” He came up behind her and in one swift motion placed a necklace around her neck.
It was a simple necklace, yet one that stole her breath away. She was hesitant to touch it as she gazed upon the Xs and Os. The Xs had diamonds and the Os blue stones to match her outfit. Her hand shook as she reached up, touching it. Darius took hold of her left hand, kissed the knuckles then slipped a ring on her finger, which matched the necklace. A large blue stone sat in the middle of tiny Xs in diamonds, which sparkled in the light.
“Now you’re perfect,” he said low against her neck right before kissing it.
“Darius,” she gasped, holding her hand up to get the full effect of the ring. “This is too much.”
“Not for you it isn’t. In fact, it’s too little. You should be draped in silk and jewels always.”
She couldn’t help herself and smiled, turning around, hugging him tight. He hugged her back, pulled back and took her hand, kissing it once more.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Hand in hand, they left the room. Makayla wondered to herself why she wasn’t still fighting him, and her answer to herself ended up being the same one she gave him over breakfast. What’s the point? What’s done is done, and she might as well go along with it. Besides, accepting Darius meant she fina
lly would have some freedom. She knew that Samara and Dane cared about her, but they didn’t realize how much they seemed to control her. Even Nana had a hand in controlling her life and Makayla was tired of it. She wanted to be able to go shopping, to have friends, to just hang out and her gut told her by accepting Darius she could now do all that.
Down a hall they went, then turned left and went down some wide steps. They walked out the front door to a waiting limo where a driver held the back door open. She got in first and looked around.
This was her new life, she told herself, and she would embrace it with open arms. She wanted to see everything, everything that she’d missed, thanks to her father first, and then to the new family she acquired once Samara married.
“I heard a rumor that you built a new house,” she said, turning in the leather seat to face him. “Dane said something about you knocking down one and rebuilding.”
“Yes, I knocked down the family home and rebuilt.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought that out with the old and in with the new would be better for us.”
She frowned. “Huh?”
“I have a lot of bad memories about the old house. More than I care to think about. The only way I could think of even standing on the lot, or living there again, was to remove the house and everything of the past with it.”
“You know, I’m picking up this strange vibe that there’s more to you than you’re letting me know.”
The corner of his mouth went up in a short grin. “Maybe you’re right.”
“So what does one have to do in order to get in then?”
“Not sure. No one has ever wanted to get in before.”
She moved closer to him on the seat, pressing her body into his side, face close to him as she fluttered her eyes. “You do know that I love a good challenge.”
“Do you?”
She nodded, “Yep and I’m going to consider this a challenge.”
He reached up, touching her face soft and gentle. “Then I look forward to it.”
She smiled again and pulled back. His eyes sparkled while he watched her. She looked back out the window again, watching the town she didn’t know go by. One thought filled her as she sat back in the leather: I’m home.
Chapter Five
Darius watched Makayla closely when they turned into the long, driveway leading to his new home. He felt like he was seeing it again for the first time, through her eyes, and he fell in love with it all over again.
“Oh wow!” she exclaimed, moving in the seat, pressing against the glass. “This is amazing.” She turned her head as she took in the magnificent house before her, eyes sparkling, mouth open in a smile. “I’m not even going to ask you what something like this cost.” She giggled.
He smiled back. “Good. Don’t need you fainting.”
The limo slowed to a stop right in front of the large front door. He reached around her, opened the door and got out first, offering his hand. She took it, came out slowly, her mouth still open in awe as she stared up at the house.
“I think I’m speechless,” she said.
“Well then wait until you see inside, and no fainting,” he warned and pointed a finger at her.
“Deal,” she said and nodded.
Still hand in hand, Darius took her up to the front door, opened the thick glass doors and stood back to give her the full view of the house.
Makayla walked inside slowly, greeted by a large Persian rug with matching white sofas facing each other, end tables on each side and a long table in the middle.
He pointed to the staircase off on the right. “Those stairs lead to the second floor.”
She looked up and turned, still holding his hand. Again, he pointed to a spot on the second floor. “Go through there and you can take the spiral stairs up to the third floor if you want. It’s the gym.”
“How many bedrooms are there?”
“Five.” He tugged her to the back of the house. “The kitchen, and through there is the dining room, which you can get to from the main room through a set of double sliding doors that are closed right now.”
“Damn,” she gasped. “This place will give Nana’s a run for the money. I’m afraid to touch anything.”
He chuckled, “Touch what you like.” With a quick kiss to her cheek, he once more tugged her out of the kitchen and back toward the main entrance. He pointed again to doors on the other side of the room as he walked her toward the spiral staircase. “You have doors which lead out to a stone porch, and the other door there will take you down to the basement where I have a wine cellar, another bathroom, and a very special spa tub I’ll show you later.”
“This place is great,” she said as he held her hand and guided her up the stairs.
“I’m glad you like it.” He stopped on the second floor, pulled her into his arms and kissed her lightly. “I built it all for you. Now, let me show you the rooms.”
He led her first to the master bedroom, showed her a walk through closet that led to a bathroom. Out the door, back into the hallway of the second floor, he took her to another bedroom, another bathroom, and so on until he stopped in front of the entertainment room with a large, big screen television. Last room on the floor was his office, then back to the spiral staircase and up to the third floor. Most of the third floor was his gym, then another entertainment room complete with pool table.
Down the stairs to the first floor, he walked with her to a door that would take them below. There she saw another bathroom, the wine room, and finally in a room all its own, his little spa. However, the spa wasn’t the normal kind. The room below he’d made to look and feel like you were walking into a cave, complete with the cavernous-style walls
“I have a feeling I’m going to be hanging out in this room a lot,” she said.
Darius smiled. “Ready to see the outside?”
“Are you telling me there’s more?”
“Of course.”
Back on the main level, Darius took her outside to the rock porch. He sat down in one of the large stuffed lounge chairs and motioned for her to take a look over the edge. Slowly she walked to it, looked over and when she turned back to him, she had an even larger smile on his face.
“A waterfall?” It sounded like a squeal.
“With a pool attached, and its deep enough I’m told you can just jump off the side,” he grinned. “And when you get done, you just go to the bathroom below for a shower if you want, or you can come back up here by these stairs.” He pointed to the left where stone steps went down to the water.
“Have you tried it yet?” she asked.
“Tried what?”
“The water.”
“No. I just moved in the night before you came home.”
She made a silent O, then turned back to the water, looking down. “Well, there’s no better time than the present I say.”
“Huh?”
She turned back to him and began to remove her clothes. “To test the water. Nothing like doing it right now.” The skirt fell to her feet. She bent over, rolled the stockings down her legs, kicked off the shoes and then pulled the top up over her head. Standing in nothing but the sexy lace bra with matching panties, Darius licked his lips. Arms went to her back, and right before his eyes the bra fell to the floor, panties quickly joining them. Eyes sparkling she fell back, right into the water.
Right before he heard the splash, he stood up to the side, watching her. He also started to take his clothes off and had his shirt off by the time she came up for air with a big smile on her face.
“This feels great!” she giggled.
He finished stripping and jumped in. When he came up, she started splashing him, then put all of her weight on top of his head, dunking him.
“Oh you want to start that do you?” he charged, sputtering water as he bobbed up.
She laughed, splashed him again and went under before he had a chance to grab hold of her. He felt her grab his ankles and he was dragged down once more
. Back on the surface, he looked around and didn’t see her. He heard a whistle and he turned in the water to see her naked body standing on the diving board. She jumped up twice and dove into the water head first, coming up in front of him.
“I like the pool,” she said, breathing hard.
“Where did you learn how to dive?”
Her arms went around his neck, legs around his hips. The instant contact had his body stirring, coming to life with a vengeance. Hell, he was surprised since, after last night, he didn’t think his dick would get up again for a few days.
“I was on the swim team back at school for a couple years. Samara didn’t want me to compete, so I quit, which she wasn’t happy about either. Said it was good for me to have something I was good at, and I pointed out to her it didn’t matter if I’m good or suck. You’re not going to let me compete, then no point in fucking around with it.”
“Well you both have a point.”
With a sigh, she pushed away from him, backstroked to the side of the pool and lounged against the edge, her breasts showing in the water, head tilted sideways. Oh, how his mouth watered from the sight and his cock throbbed.
“I’m sure Samara and Dane have many points, but you know what? Neither of them wanted to hear my points.”
“Which are?”
“I’m tired of being controlled.” She met his eyes. “Our father controlled everything we did, and now my sister is doing the same thing.”
“You don’t think she does it to protect you?”
A grin tugged on the corners of her lips. Lips he wanted to kiss and taste again just to assure himself that she was truly here and finally his. “Everything the three of them do is to protect me. Kind of makes life boring, if you ask me.”
He swam over to her and instead of staying in front of her, moved to the side and got out to sit on the pool’s edge, giving her a nice view of his hard flesh.
“You don’t like being bored?”
He saw the sparkle in her eyes and knew she would move before she did. Pushing from the side of the pool, she went right up to him, using the edge of the pool and the side to rise up between his legs.
Forbidden Lust Page 5
