I stood because if I didn’t, I would follow through with my desires. And fulfilling that need might set us back. I headed to my locker. “Clothes make a man?”
She sashayed her way over to hers. “Fair enough. I’ve seen how women glance your way.”
As I offered her a bathing suit with the hotel logo on it, I asked, “Want to go for a swim?”
She took it from me. “Sounds fun, and I’m sure you worked out the logistics.”
More time with her sounded perfect, and I would never spoil her good mood. “Get changed.”
She rolled the one-piece up her body. “Magically all figured out. Whoever is on your family’s payroll that handles all these small details needs a raise.”
I finished tugging on the suit. “There is no magical person in this case. The hotel offers the suits.”
As we left the dressing room with towels, she said, “I remember when we were kids, there was a girl named Clarissa who was younger than us, but her parents worked for yours.”
Interesting. We headed toward the heated pool, which was empty, as my mind raced to put together the past. Then I snapped my fingers. “The butler and driver’s kid. I haven’t seen her since she went to college.”
We made it to the edge, and she jumped in. She was magnificent and graceful. I hopped in after her. When she came out, she pushed her hair back and said, “The only person in my house to take care of me was me.”
I joined her, and we did a lap to the deep end. When we reached the wall, I said, “I envied that in you and Joel.”
She rubbed her ear. It looked like she had water in it. “Envied what?”
I would never get to be the success story she or my father was. I’d had a leg up. “You can always say you’re self-made when you become successful at your wedding and party-planning business.”
She took a deep breath and bobbed in the water. Then she said in a low voice, “I… you always have such faith in me.”
I swam closer to her. “It’s easy to spot talent.” Pressed against her, all I could think about was how much I ached for her.
She gulped and gazed up at me. “That’s what you’re looking at right now?”
I wrapped my arm around her waist. “I want to strip this suit right off you.”
She nodded. “Let’s go upstairs, then.”
I’d had her already, but the hunger had just grown since the first time. Maddie was everything I’d ever wanted and would ever want.
Chapter Nineteen
Maddie
That night, I had to tell him something. I had to stop lying to both of us. I loved him. I’d been in love with him since we were kids. And since I’d moved home, I’d only experienced joy as I fell deeper and deeper.
And I wasn’t good enough for him or able to satisfy him, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. As we headed to our room and he held me close, I didn’t mind that his phone beeped. I trusted him enough to know the bottom wouldn’t fall out of my life. My daughter loved him. And my heart knew that he was there for me.
He put his phone in his back pocket and opened the hotel door for me. I walked beside him as he said, “My mom is calling a meeting tomorrow, and she wants me there.”
Aurora was with Roxanne. My heart thumped. “About…?”
He checked that the door was closed and then said, “Elon’s opening up his own delivery center, and he wants to hire Leah as CEO.”
My daughter was fine. I pressed my hand to my heart. “Leah, as in Cyrus and his son?”
He nodded. “It seems Elon and Leah have talked business without bringing up Cyrus.”
I had no siblings, so I would never know what that felt like, but I thought I would be furious. I pressed his arm. “Do you want to head back to New York now, then, or first thing in the morning?”
“Sleeping in our beds means we’re closer to the meeting location.” He strummed his chest. “And tonight, we can take the helicopter with no visible staff to serve us.”
Earlier, I’d noticed that the waitstaff in the helicopter refilled whatever we consumed every few minutes. The section of the helicopter we would be sitting in was soundproof, so we would not be heard no matter what we did. I imagined us entirely naked. “The pilot is sealed off. That sounds like fun.”
He stared at my chest and back at me. “So, you don’t mind leaving early?”
I decided to change into the lounge shirt and pants that had been delivered and left near the door. “No. It sounds good, and we can stay at your place, so will be easy to go to your parents’ tomorrow.”
He grabbed his clothes from the bag and stripped. His muscles captivated my imagination as I remembered how he’d held me. He said, “The hotel will carry our belongings.”
I waved him off. Then I folded my dress into the bag my other clothes had been delivered in and rushed to his room. His tuxedo shirt had been tossed on the floor, but in less than one minute, I packed it.
He took the bags from me, and we headed out, holding hands. Being together was nice, but I still needed to confess that his love wasn’t one-sided. Once we made it to the helicopter, he left our bags at the server’s station and joined me at our seats. The pilot locked the door and then went to the front.
As the engine roared, I patted the seat next to me. “The bench seat is pretty comfy.”
He squeezed my thigh. “We’ll have to hold off until we’re level.”
My pulse grew faster. He wanted more of me. It was time I showed him how I felt. I traced his chest and whispered, “I don’t know if I can keep my hands off you that long.”
He turned and stared into my eyes. I saw myself reflected in his brown eyes and was jumpy and aware of his nearness as he said, “Maddie, let’s go slow.”
The panic that gripped me was because my lips ached to both kiss him and confess. I nodded. “As long as you let me… have you.”
He cupped my face as he said, “Azizam, you already have my heart.”
My throat grew less constricted as I asked, “What does azizam mean?”
He kissed my fingers. “Dear, dearest.”
My fears were dissipating. “I like it. It makes it easy to tell you…”
This was it. I loved him. Yet the words refused to come out.
He blinked. “What?”
I ached to tell him, but I said instead, “Honey bun, I’ve been falling for you pretty much every second of every day we’ve seen each other.”
He came closer, and his eyes closed. “Honey bun?”
“If I get a nickname, so do you.”
His lips met mine, and I forgot where we were or anything else. I lit up in his embrace, and I didn’t want it to end. I reached lower and pushed my hand into his pants.
A moment later, I brushed against his hardening manhood. “So, do you like this?”
His breathing was short. “Don’t speed me up.”
I let him go, saying, “I want you to take total control.”
He held my inner thigh. “I’ll let you lead.” His lips were so close to me. “I never want to do anything that might trigger you.”
I swallowed. Love was on the tip of my tongue, but the word was stuck there. I would have to show him. I held him tight. “You’re my azizam, too, though I do like honey bun for you. Either way, I trust you.”
His lips curved up in a smile. “Say that again.”
“Azizam.” The foreign word came out a little differently from the way he said it.
“Call me whatever you want.”
“You’re sticky sweet to me, so I’m picking honey bun.”
He laughed, but then his lips met mine, and I forgot the rest of the world. I was his.
Arman
I needed to savor the taste of her lips on mine. I wanted to tell her again how much I loved her, but I held my tongue. She responded with tenderness that stirred my heart and whispered she loved me too.
My muscles tensed. As we flew back to New York, alone in the clouds, we had plenty of time. My cock grew harder.
When the kiss ended and we took air, I caressed her cheek and squeezed her hand. Maggie was the sweetest, kindest woman I’d ever met, and no one could ever replace her. Our kiss resumed. The air was dark, but it didn’t matter because we were the only two people in the world.
Being in love made lovemaking even better than I’d thought it would. My hand went up her arm. My hunger for her grew, and I pushed her hair behind her head. “Do you want me?”
“Yes.” She reached for my shirt. I leaned back and let her take it off. She took a minute to lift it, and then it was my turn.
She’d left what happened up to me, and her trust was something to cherish. My breathing grew harder as I rolled her shirt off her and then reached behind. She stared at me with pools of desire and nodded. Then I kissed her shoulder and removed her bra, and I saw her glorious nipples that I needed to tease.
She sucked on her bottom lip.
I stopped. “What?”
She smiled and reached for my pants.
Fair enough. Naked is better.
My testicles swelled. We unbuttoned and tossed the rest of our clothes on the floor. I hugged her while I stroked her back. If words weren’t good, I would show her how I felt.
She lay back on our bench, and I tasted her body. Her skin was salty and sweet and completely addicting. I lowered myself to her tender nipples and suckled. My instincts told me that she loved me too. Everything about her made me think so.
Then I used my tongue on one breast and fondled the other, and she stroked my hair. My need for her grew. My muscles tensed as she arched and pressed her body closer to mine.
I flicked the tight, hardened bud one more time and focused my attention on the other. My hard-on grew. She sighed and swiveled her hips and then nudged herself as close to me as possible.
I ensured that her breasts were satisfied and ready. Then she tugged me up and kissed me again. The impulse to ravish her passed through me, but I didn’t need to hurry. I would make sure she loved every second.
She wrapped her legs around me, and the urge to seek immediate release rushed through me. Just in case, I grabbed a condom and rolled it on.
As we made out, I checked her center with my hand. She moaned and whispered, “Yes.”
“Tell me to fuck you,” I said as I found her button.
Her cheeks pinkened. I teased her and kissed her cheek. I’d never heard her swear, ever, and I’d always wanted to.
Her eyes rolled back. I lowered my tongue to join my finger. She bucked the moment my tongue went inside, and she let out a little scream.
When she stopped thrashing, she said, “Fuck me, Arman.”
The swear was better than I’d ever imagined. I stopped teasing her, and with a final nudge, I pressed my cock inside her. She moaned again and held me with her hands, and her legs wrapped around me.
I squeezed her gorgeous breasts one more time as they bounced. The helicopter soared. I set the pace. She moved and let me go deeper, and her face went red. Her vagina contracted and her entire body pinkened as she orgasmed.
My own muscles began to tighten, and my feet spasmed as I found my release inside her. This time, as I found oblivion, I had a smile on my face. Maddie made me happy.
Chapter Twenty
Maddie
The sun shone in my face as the blinds were open in Arman’s penthouse. I stretched and looked around because the bed was empty beside me. Not caring that I had no clothes on, I opened the bedroom door. Arman was in his sitting room, talking on the phone about a game contract. He was fully dressed. He didn’t appear to see me.
I slipped back into the bedroom and used the en suite shower. It was time to get ready. The idea of facing the world was daunting since I hadn’t told him how I felt yet. I washed my hair with my shampoo from my apartment downstairs.
It was the small details that made Arman sweet—it wasn’t the new clothes or the life he provided. He was the best man I would ever meet or hope to meet. It was past time that I told him that.
In the bedroom, I found a new white shirt and gray pants from Carolina Herrera with accessories fit for a first lady. When I returned to the sitting room, Arman wasn’t there. I headed into the kitchen and found he’d laid out breakfast for both of us. He handed me a coffee.
“I’m ready to go to your mother’s,” I said.
He sipped his coffee and didn’t seem in a rush. “If you want to just take Aurora and come back here, that’s fine.”
I tasted the lemon cake. It was better than something from a store. I finished my bite. “No. I’d like to be with you and support your family as much as possible.”
He scooted closer. “Yeah?”
I lifted my head. It was time. “The Norouzi family has been my ideal all my life. With your family as my dream, I left an abusive ex so I could raise my daughter alone. I realize my self-doubts were sabotaging… us.”
His arm was next to mine. “Yeah?”
I’d put this off too long. My heart sped up. I had to stop sabotaging us and start believing I… we might be happy. “I love you. It’s always been you. The years in between gave me my daughter, but I’m grateful that at the end of my journey, I get to be with you, if you want that.”
His lips met mine, and my skin felt electric. Then he let me go. “I love you, too, and I don’t want you or Aurora ever leaving me.”
Tears streamed down my face again. “I know I can’t satisfy you like you deserve.”
“What?”
“In bed. With you, I lose myself and never seem to stay alert to ensure that you’re satisfied.”
“I’ve never had better. Every time with you has blown me away.”
“Your face constricts,” I said, though my heart skipped.
“I’m releasing inside you.” He kissed my forehead. “It’s a physical and emotional release. I’ve orgasmed every time with you.”
I was wrong about everything. Relief washed over me, and I could breathe easier. I hugged him. Then I wiped my face. “Good. Guess we’d better head out to be there for your family.”
I let him go so I could grab a pair of shoes, but he held my waist. “Wait.”
My stomach knotted as if this was the end, but I brushed that negative thought right out as I turned. His brown eyes were warm embers that spoke to my soul. “What’s going on?”
“I just want to know what changed your mind. I worked hard to not be pushy with you.”
I laughed. He was wonderful. I hugged him back. “You didn’t push. I’ve been going to the meditation classes, and that massage was pretty awesome.”
He looked offended. “So it was the massage?”
My soul grew brighter, and I shook my head and kissed his cheek. “No. It was mostly you. I can’t imagine not being with you anymore, and I need to stop self-sabotaging. I hope you can forgive me.”
He traced my back and hips. “There is nothing to forgive.”
My body warmed. I was a different person with him. I motioned with my head. “Well, we do have a few hours before we have to be there.”
“We can be fast,” he said, and we headed back to the bedroom.
With him, life was perfect. A whole new world for me started for me that day.
Chapter Twenty-One
Maddie
In my new luxury-brand clothes, I felt like one of those women I’d seen on old TV shows where they spent their days discussing designers and shoes and men and sex. Of course, I hadn’t been allowed to watch those shows, but I watched them when I was alone. Now, my life was better than any high-drama show. Arman loved me, and I loved him.
I stepped away from the mirror and saw him step out of his bedroom, wearing slacks and a button-down shirt. I smiled and took a step to join him as my phone rang. I glanced at the number. It was the Montana sheriff’s office.
I stepped back into the sitting room, glanced out the window, and prayed this wasn’t bad news. “Arman, I need a minute.”
He tapped the wall as he passed and gave me a thumbs-up. “
Sure, I’ll get ready. Take all the time you need.”
I heard him head to the kitchen for another cup of coffee. My heart raced at the thought that my world was about to be destroyed. I scanned the view from the window, preparing.
I asked, “Hello?”
“Mrs. Robert Smith?”
My heart twisted. No one ever called me that. I held my chin higher. “Absolutely not. We’re divorced.”
“It seems your daughter, Aurora, is his next of kin, and you’re his beneficiary from his insurance.”
Kin. Beneficiary. These were words used for the deceased. I closed my eyes. “What happened?”
“He died, ma’am.”
I shivered and fell back onto the couch. My body was full of adrenaline. I’d expected him to show up and destroy everything I held dear, though I’d never acknowledged that fear.
I sat up straighter. “What? How?”
“Car accident with a deer.”
A dry almost laugh came out of me. I’d assumed Bob had named the church as his beneficiary. He’d made my life hell and fought for weeks with my lawyers until he realized he wouldn’t win, and now, I was receiving money from his quarter-million-dollar accidental death policy. I wasn’t sure I believed in karma. Everything felt unreal.
“You’re joking.”
“We’re the police, ma’am. We don’t joke.” The officer then said, “We need you to tell the morgue what to do with the body.”
That was fair. I would need Jeff to find out about the insurance for my daughter, and of course, I’d have to ask Aurora if she wanted something of his. I made a quick decision. “Send him to the funeral home, and have them call me.”
We hung up a minute later, and my heart was empty. Bob’s abuse had held me back, and now, it was like I’d been robbed of slapping him in the face. I rocked on my feet.
I refuse to ever, ever, ever think about him. I headed into the kitchen, and Arman handed me a coffee. “Is everything okay?”
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