Chloe was going to be fine, Samuel was here at last, and he was accepting her attentions. They could talk later! Carla moved her mouth from Samuel’s lips and pulled him to their bed. She hadn’t slept in here since he left but it had been kept clean. She fell back onto the bed, pulling her naked husband with her. There was no time for foreplay, no time for sweet words; she just needed life affirming confirmation that she was still alive, that he was still alive, that their baby was still alive lovemaking.
Samuel entered her quickly and moved inside of her, over her, with the pent up passion and fear he’d felt over the last two months. He’d been desperate to come back to Carla but feared making matters worse. He’d stayed away and now his desperation to show her how he’d felt made him a little rough, a little clumsy, but she loved the way he touched her nevertheless because it was Samuel’s touch, it was Samuel’s kisses on her body. She moved with him, her hips thrusting up to meet his.
Samuel’s hands roamed Carla’s body, crashing into hers as she explored his body just as frantically. She needed to know each part of him was still there, that nothing about him had changed. She also wanted to build his pleasure and touched all of the places that made him beg for more. She reached up to him, wrapping her legs around his waist as his movements within her became more frantic.
Carla kissed Samuel, using her teeth to nibble at his lips, her tongue to implore him to open his own so that she could slide her tongue inside. She tasted the sweet taste of Samuel and loved him even more because his taste was so familiar, so wonderful, and so sensual. She wanted so much more of Samuel and her movements became erratic, not sure what she wanted and wanting everything at once.
Samuel sensed Carla’s tension and knew what she needed. Carla giggled with joy when he rolled over, pulling Carla on top of him. She moved like a cat, stretching out languorously on top of him, and then sitting up to move her body in ways Samuel had never seen a woman move before. She pulled her hair on top of her head, her laughter filling the room with the sound of joy as her passion grew. Her moans replaced her laughter, and as ecstasy broke over her in waves, Carla’s moans turned to cries of pleasure, her hips continuing to move on top of Samuel, never for a moment forgetting to take her husband with her. Samuel joined her as he watched her breasts swaying and imagined the things he was going to do with them later. His own pleasured cries filled the room and the staff knew the master was home at last, hopefully to stay.
Carla stayed on top of Samuel but moved her legs slightly to ease the cramp forming in her left leg. She spoke to her husband, hoping he’d give her the chance to say what was on her mind.
“I want you to stay, Samuel, but I need you to let me say this.” She said.
“Go on, my dove.” Samuel encouraged.
“I wrote a letter to you but I haven’t sent it yet. I wanted to make sure it was right. Then Chloe grew ill and there was so little time. I was so afraid you weren’t going to make it and I realized what I’d stolen from you both, from you and our child. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if she’d…” Carla broke off, a sob closing her throat.
Samuel kissed the top of her head, soothing Carla. “She’s fine darling. Go on.”
“Well, I realized that I love you, that you’ve loved me this whole time, and though you lied you did it out of love. Which is still no excuse but it’s one I’ll forgive this time. But only this time. Oh darling, my life without you has been so empty! I need you in it, please, say you’ll come home!”
“I would give everything I own to come back to you and Chloe, Carla, you don’t even have to ask. But I am concerned about this baby. It’s too late now but what if this makes you ill?” Samuel’s fear made his voice tremble.
“We’ll have to face that darling. Hopefully Dr. Weiss will continue to be an innovative doctor and he’ll get us all through this. Not every birth is the same. Chloe’s birth was so hard because she was turned the wrong way, her legs came out first. This next baby may be easier, especially if it comes out head first. The child will move through my body easier. I’m worried too, but if we live our lives too worried to experience what life is actually about we’ll not be living at all. We’ll be hermits, lost to the world and sheltered away. We’re going to have a hard enough time with my own troubles marring our family life, let’s not bother with more worry than we have to, alright darling?” Carla asked, looking up at her husband with her love once again on full display.
“We’ll take it day-by-day my love. I guess that’s how we’re going to have to take it. But I have faith in Dr. Weiss, in you, in us. We can get through this; we can get through it all. After all, nothing else matters in the end but you, me, and our children. Love is all that matters in the end and we have more love than most people in this world. And that’s all we really need.” Samuel whispered the last words to his wife as he brushed her hair from her face and kissed her once more, home at last, both of them free from their burdens to love each other at last.
The End
Part IV
Her Fighter
Romantic Comedy
About the Book
What do you do when you have the most perfect life you could possibly have but fate decides to throw a hot fireman at you?
Ivy Simonett had it all, a promising award winning career, her own home, independence, and she’d overcome the odds stacked against her. She doesn’t need a man and her independence is far more important than any love could ever be. An accidental encounter with Liam Howell sparks her interest, but only casually, the last thing Ivy needs is a man in her life, especially one that wants to coddle her.
How do you charm a lady when she can’t see the best part of your charm?
Liam Howell lives his life, saving lives, and now he wants to save Ivy, even if Ivy doesn’t need saving. Calendar worthy hot with a smile that can cause panties to disintegrate, Liam isn’t used to having to hold conversations and actually make an effort but when he finds out Ivy can’t see, he has a new mission in life, protect Ivy, even if it does make him look like an overbearing jerk.
When fate decides to throw them together and give them the exam to end all exams, will Ivy and Liam pass the test? Can they find their way out of the darkness when Liam’s sight is cruelly taken and the only person Liam can turn to is Ivy? Choices have to be made and lessons learned but fate continues to turn, always teaching a lesson. Can Ivy and Liam keep up?
Chapter One
Ivy Simonett prepared for the evening ahead as most women do. She had a light snack, immersed herself in a nice relaxing bath, shaved her legs, lined her jade eyes with makeup, dried her short black hair in an attractive way that framed her face, and put on a beautiful black silk dress that complimented her slim frame and olive complexion. Then she left her apartment and waited for the taxi scheduled to pick her up, to take her to the awards banquet she was headed to. Her latest novel had won a prestigious award and she was on her way to accept it. Happiness, success, and independence were hers.
Ivy listened as a car pulled up and a heavy person stepped out of the car. Ivy smiled at the person as they walked over to her and waited for the greeting.
“This way, please, Ms. Simonett.” A hand at her elbow guided her in the direction of the car and Ivy settled in.
“My name is John, ma’am, I’ll be your driver this evening. Is your destination still the Plaza Hotel?” The driver asked as he put the car into gear and moved away from the curb.
“Yes, John, it is. Is traffic bad this evening?” Ivy asked, her face pointed in his direction.
“Not bad at all, ma’am. We should be there in ten minutes.” He replied, and Ivy settled back into her seat.
When she arrived at the Plaza, her door was opened and a female voice greeted her. Ivy held her hand out and slid out of the car.
“Good evening, Ms. Simonett, I’m Avery, an employee of the hotel. We’ll sort out the taxi for you. Please, if you’ll follow me we will get you to the banquet hall unless you need to make any stops f
irst?” Ivy liked the sound of Avery’s voice, the scent of her perfume.
Ivy replied that she didn’t need to make any stops and followed along with the woman who had her elbow.
As she walked past the courtesy desk, she heard some of the people there talking and smiled to herself, pride in her accomplishments quite evident.
“That’s Ivy Simonett, she’s here tonight for an awards ceremony. You’d never believe she was blind would you?” the speaker used a whisper but Ivy could still hear them, her hearing better than most people’s.
Ivy smiled knowing that her hard work had paid off and she was gliding across the floor as if she could see what was in front of her. Ivy wasn’t ashamed of being blind, but she hated being treated like an invalid and that was how most people treated her when they found out she was not sighted. She sometimes needed a hand, a little guidance, but she’d made an effort to face the world bravely and being treated as though she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself was vastly frustrating. Her thoughts were interrupted by something smashing into her and knocking her down.
“Oomph!” Was all Ivy managed to get out before a male hand was slipping into her own, pulling her up from the floor.
“Oh, please excuse me miss, I wasn’t paying any attention to where I was going. Are you alright?” It was a nice voice, deeply pitched and warm, with a note to it that said laughter was never far away. Ivy liked the sound of it and the way the man smelled, cologne mixed with a warm spice, cinnamon perhaps. Moving her face in his direction, Ivy smiled and brushed off the concern.
“I’m fine, don’t worry over it. Are you alright?” She asked, hoping to deflect attention.
“Oh, I think you’ve stolen my heart with that smile of yours, but I’ll live without it.” The man’s voice still had that laughter in it but it wasn’t aimed at Ivy but at himself. She liked that.
“Well, perhaps I’ll give it back some day but for now I’ll keep it.” Ivy wasn’t sure what had come over her, a corny line such as that one deserved a sneer and a dismissal but there was something to this man that made her hesitate and play along. Maybe it was that note of self-confidence that seemed to say that the man could get away with such antics because he wasn’t the usual man but something special. She wasn’t sure but she was going to be late if she stood in the hallway with him much longer as Avery reminded her quietly.
“It was very nice to meet you; I hope you enjoy your evening, sir.” Ivy held her hand out in the direction she could sense he was standing in and wasn’t surprised when he took it, slipping a card into her palm as he did so. Now what was this, she thought with a quirk of her eyebrow. She’d have her assistant check it later.
“Good evening, miss, I hope to hear from you soon.”
Ivy’s smile widened as Avery walked her away from the man and guessed the card included a phone number. She decided to let some of her private thoughts show through and asked Avery a question.
“Was he wearing a wedding ring, Avery?”
Avery’s response came quickly, “No, Ms. Simonett. I believe he’s with the group of firefighters having their annual ball in our ballroom this evening. I can find out more about him if you’d like?”
Ivy dithered for a moment; not sure it was a good idea but decided to throw caution to the wind. “Yes please, and can you tell me what this card says?”
Avery took the card stock, presumably a business card, and spoke to Ivy, “This says his name is Liam Howell and lists his phone number and address. I can find out more about him with that information.”
“Thank you, Avery. I’ll be sure to meet up with you before the end of the evening.” Ivy stopped as soon as Avery’s movements revealed the first sign of stopping, and waited.
Avery placed Ivy’s hand on the back of the seat and left her side, Ivy’s assistant Emily assuring Avery she could leave now with a smile and a thank you.
“I’ve just had the most incredible experience, Emily. I’ve met a man who gives really bad pick-up lines and I accepted his card. Can you set up an appointment with a psychologist for me?” Ivy spoke with a laugh, letting Emily know she was only joking.
“Really?” Emily asked in shock. “You didn’t kick him in the groin and stomp over him as you walked away?”
“Shocking isn’t it?” Ivy asked, very pleased with herself. Perhaps it was only a momentary insanity or a giddy feeling from how well things had been going for her lately but Ivy had done something she normally wouldn’t have done and she was thrilled about it.
“Very. Do you intend to call him then?” Emily asked, her employer also a very good friend. You couldn’t be around Ivy long or do the things Emily had to do for Ivy without forming a bond, an understanding and closeness that did not come with most job choices. She had no qualms about encouraging Ivy’s adventures or confidence in speaking with her. Besides, Emily sometimes thought that Ivy spent far too much time on her own. She’d like to see Ivy happy with someone special in her life.
“I’ll find out more about him later and decide. Now, tell me more about the room please.” Ivy changed the conversation abruptly but she knew she didn’t have long before she’d have to know where she was, who the people around her were, and where she’d have to walk to accept her award. Living without sight brought its own challenges but with some planning and care she would be able to navigate her way through conversations and know what to expect.
Ivy felt triumphant and well pleased with herself. At 27, she was about to receive a very prestigious award for one of her books; she had her own home; she’d learned to navigate a world without sight, and she was still alive. Ten years ago, she’d been in a car accident that took her sight; and nearly took her life. Her achievements defied fate and what her own doctors had told her to expect from life. Even her family had tried to coddle her, tried to keep her from going out into a world meant for those that had sight.
In the first year or so of her life without sight Ivy had allowed the coddling, drowning in the depths of a deep depression. She’d been timid, afraid to leave home without someone glued by her side. Then one day she woke up in her bedroom at her parents’ home sick to death of hiding from the world that now terrified her. As she waited for her mother to come and guide her to the bathroom so she wouldn’t fall over something she couldn’t see, the pressure in her bladder growing, she became angry with herself. She was a grown woman and could take herself to the bathroom if she just paid attention to what was around her. She knew the path from her bed to the bathroom like the back of her hand and made her first successful attempt out into the world without anyone there to guide her.
She used the stick she’d been given, but never used, to feel for any impediments and walked close to the edge of the wall so she’d know where she was and made her way not only to the bathroom but to the kitchen. After washing her hands she went through to the kitchen, prepared a bowl of cereal, and was sat eating it when her mother walked in, shocked to see Ivy out of her room and eating.
“Who’s here?” Her mother had asked sleepily.
“Just us, Dad’s gone out to work I guess. What are we going to do today?”
“Just us? But how did you get out of your room?” Ivy’s mother, Jean, asked, confused about how Ivy had ended up in the kitchen with food in front of her.
“I did it Mum, all on my own.” Ivy said proudly.
Ivy then explained and asked her mother to take her out to a non-profit organization her doctor had been trying to get her to go to for months. The organization helped those with disabilities find their independence. They helped Ivy get her first apartment on her own, helped her with her finances until she started writing successfully, and taught her to live without someone always there to help her. She regained her independence before she was 19 years old and by the age of 20 she had her first writing contract. From there she’d only moved forward. It had been a lot of hard work and she’d had a few romances along the way but nothing had ever worked out. Ivy wouldn’t let go of her independence and tha
t bothered both the men and the women she’d had relationships with.
Over the last year she’d been too focused on her latest book being published and promoting it to worry about relationships. Maybe it was time now? Her publisher wanted more books while she was hot but perhaps a couple of weeks or months off would do her some good? Ivy was distracted from her trip down memory lane by a speaker calling the room to attention and refocused on what was happening around her, but she couldn’t decide now which was making her antsier; holding that award in her hands finally or finding out more about Liam Howell.
Liam wandered into the ballroom, pleased with himself and expecting he’d just made another conquest to add to his tally. He found his fellow firefighters in a huddle in the corner and wondered what had them laughing, he wanted in on the fun too. As he got closer to the group of men he started to hear what they were saying and his smile faltered.
“He was standing there, oozing that Howell Charm that just makes you want to punch him so you can have half a chance with the ladies and you could tell he had no clue who he was talking to. My wife saw them first and said; that’s Ivy Simonett, doesn’t he realize she’s blind? She can’t see him at all and the Charmer is working overtime on that little lady for all he’s worth, I tell you. I had to run in here before I started laughing myself to death. Gina says the woman is one of her favourite authors and said that it was one of the reasons we came tonight, so she could sneak over and hopefully meet her. But there was Howell, trying to charm her pants off and she couldn’t even see our handsome boy giving her his all. Ah, here he is. How does it feel Howell?” His buddy, Andy, seemed to be well pleased with his little speech and Liam had caught on by now.
Billionaire In Vegas Page 24
