Casual conversation was needed to ease the tension she felt. “Do you think grandpa is happy about the wedding?”
Ace replied, “I think so. I’ve never seen him having so much fun dancing in his wheelchair with Sadie. That little girl sure knows how to weave her magic.”
“Can you blame her?” Miranda asked. “She thinks he’s everything, especially after he got her that pony. I hope he doesn’t spoil her too much.”
“He will,” Ace countered.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever face him again if he finds out about us. He’s been so kind and accepting of Sadie and me. That makes me feel so guilty. It weighs heavily on my mind, you know.”
Ace drew close and held her tightly. “If that happens I’ll tell him it was all my idea, that you had nothing to do with it.”
Miranda was stunned. “You can’t do that. You’ll lose everything,” she countered.
“I won’t be poor if that’s what you’re worried about. It won’t be Ace Masterson the billionaire playboy, just Ace the regular guy,” he grinned.
Miranda shoved an elbow to his ribs, “Don’t be silly. I don’t think you’ll ever be filed under the “regular” category.”
Ace chuckled, still holding her. Miranda liked being held in his arms. She reached out a hand in a gesture of gratitude and stroked his face. “Thank you for everything - for a fairytale wedding, for being the kind person that you are, and for giving me a chance to keep my daughter.”
Ace caught her hand, turned it palms up and kissed it. “I promise that no one will ever take Sadie away from you.”
It was inevitable that she would kiss him. Her gratitude was overflowing. It was supposed to be a kiss of appreciation, but Ace responded by holding the side of her face and deepening the kiss. It wasn’t like their first kiss inside the car when he teased her about being ready to meet his grandfather. This was something different, more erotic; arousing dormant sexual desires she didn’t know she still had. She submitted to its call and snaked her arms around his neck.
Miranda knew she was treading in dangerous waters. But this was her wedding night… and she wanted Ace.
Ace’s lips traveled along the side of her neck and made their way slowly down her throat. She moaned in delight as his stubble chafed her soft skin, tickling her. Her hands acquired a life of their own as she feverishly caressed the muscle on his chest, daring even to journey down, lower to his belly and feeling the hardness outlined inside his pants. She caressed it gently, hearing him groan against her neck as his manhood increased.
“Miranda…” he whispered huskily.
Miranda took his hand and cupped it against her breast, her meaning clear. She wanted him.
Ace moved with surprising swiftness. He lifted her into his arms and strode purposely towards the bedroom. Placing her gently on her feet, he stripped off the robe she was wearing. She stood there half-naked until her brassiere and panties joined the heap on the floor. Her hands moved furiously with his until he too was fully undressed.
Ace pushed her down to the mattress and gazed at her nakedness. The hooded eyes with the pupils dilated, nostrils flaring with every breath, heat emanating from every pore, betraying him of his own lust for her. His fingers caressed her rib cage, each stroke igniting the embers that had been fermenting. When his fingers touched the softness between her legs, Miranda flooded with desire that made her weak.
He straddled her and bent low running kisses down her neck, her collarbone, and between the valleys of her breasts. His lips found her aroused nipples, and his tongue swirled and played with the oversensitive tips. He sucked her hard. Miranda gasped in pleasure then grabbed his cock beneath him and stroked him firmly.
“Stop,” he commanded, slapping her hand away, “I don’t want to finish before you’re ready.” He shimmied down as Miranda’s body blazed with expectation. She knew where he was headed. “You have beautiful legs,” he said, caressing her skin, before he opened them wide and knelt between her outstretched thighs.
His tongue on her was like dousing dry tinder with gasoline and setting it on fire. A sudden conflagration like cold heat tore through her. A low grumbling in her belly turned into a maniacal moan as his tongue played with her clit. Her fingers clawed on the sheets as longing spiked and threatened to overwhelm her. He seemed to stay there forever until Miranda decided to take control.
“My turn,” she announced, slithering out from under him, and pushing him down against the bed. Ace submitted willingly and watched intently as she took his cock and caressed it with her palms. He heaved with each stroke, the tendons of his neck like corded twine, eyes closed and head thrown back.
Miranda took him into her mouth, her tongue sliding back and forth on the underside of his cock. He bucked, slowly filling her mouth completely till she felt him hit the back of her throat. He reached for her head, controlling her movement. He pulled out of her slowly then drove in deeper again. Miranda instinctively caught the rhythm of the soundless dance of his cock in her mouth. She took every inch of him, relishing his taste, driving him higher and higher into the apex until his panting sounded like a roaring wave in her ear.
He took back command as he threw her to the bed and straddled her once again. He entered her vagina slowly, then with ever increasing intensity. Miranda arched her back and met his every thrust. He drove his shaft even deeper, their eyes locked together, and bodies moving in perfect harmony.
The fire inside her pussy begged for release. His panting matured into guttural sounds that emanated deep within his chest.
“I’m coming,” he announced.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” she cried as the first wave of a shattering orgasm rocked her. This was soon followed by a similar wave that rode the crest of Ace’s own orgasm. His body trembled violently. Miranda felt the shiver that traveled down his spine as he thrust into her one last time and emptied his cum inside her.
Minutes passed before the ringing in Miranda’s ears subsided. Ace’s labored breathing had normalized when he positioned her in the crook of his elbow.
“I knew it was there somewhere,” he teased her.
“Knew what?” Miranda asked.
“A wanton waiting for me to come and find her,” he replied.
A naughty grin formed in her lips. He didn’t realize what he was saying. He didn’t just find something somewhere; he had unleashed a dam that had been threatening to overflow since the day they met.
“I think there’s more of her wanting to be found,” she teased back as her hand travelled down in search of his cock.
***
Miranda wallowed in wedded bliss and prayed it would never end. She settled down into her role as Mrs. Ace Masterson, treating his grandfather as her own, and watching the bond that developed between Sadie and the old man. She was happy, even if guilt attacked every now and then. She couldn’t believe her luck and where it had taken her.
She had no idea that fate would throw a major curve ball when she went to answer the door one late afternoon.
“James!” She expressed surprise at the sight of her ex-husband.
“Hello, Miranda… or should I say Mrs. Masterson?” James replied sarcastically.
Miranda controlled her anger. James had no right to come unannounced, but that was typical. He always found a way to catch her off-guard and make her feel vulnerable.
“What do you want?” She asked.
“You sound upset. Can’t I visit my daughter without annoying you somehow?”
Miranda hated his condescension and replied, “What do you want, James? Did you come all the way here to make me feel miserable? It’s so unlike you to travel a long way because you suddenly miss your daughter,” Miranda sneered.
“You’re right. I came to tell her that she is going to live with me soon. I assume you haven’t told her yet?” James snickered.
“And I told you… over my dead body!” Miranda yelled.
“Miranda, you don’t have to be so angry. I assure you, you will hand Sad
ie back to me.”
“And how do you intend to do that?” Miranda asked coldly. “I’m married now and can provide her a stable life. Something that you threw at me when you first announced that you were getting married again,” Miranda replied with satisfaction.
“Oh, you mean you’ve moved on and left your old life behind?”
James’ laughter made her skin crawl with sudden fear.
James saw her reaction and added, “One bad thing about leaving the past behind, you leave your dirty secrets behind, too.”
“What do you mean?” Miranda asked, uncertain where this was leading.
“I went to our old apartment. Imagine my surprise when I was told that you no longer lived there? That alone is in direct violation of our custody arrangement.”
“I meant to tell you. I forgot because I was so busy with the wedding arrangements,” Miranda apologized.
“Sure!” James agreed with sarcasm, “It’s all good, because I found your dirty secret.”
“What dirty secret?” Miranda asked, baffled.
He didn’t answer the question directly. “Let’s just say I spent the last hour on Google learning all about Masterson’s Conglomerate. That’s where you used to work, right?”
“Yes, that’s where I worked,” she replied then added, “I don’t really know where you’re taking this conversation and my husband is home.”
James went for the kill. “Let me make it clear to you. I found the contract between you and your husband,” he spat the word. “Initially it confused me until I went online and read all about Masterson Conglomerate. The old man still has control over all that wealth. I had a field day reading the tabloids hinting the old man was demanding for his grandson to get married. Lo and behold, suddenly you become his grandson’s wife. Everything fell into place. Both of you are in cahoots for the old man’s wealth.”
“Miranda,” Ace’s voice called from inside, “I think our guest will be more comfortable in the study.”
Ace calmly eyed James, who was taken aback by his sudden appearance. But James knew he had the upper hand and swaggered in. Miranda was distressed and wondered why Ace acted so unworried.
“He knows,” she whispered between stiff lips as they headed inside.
Ace stroked her back reassuringly, but didn’t reply.
“This is cozy,” James observed as they sat down and faced one another. “I still want to see my daughter,” he threatened Miranda.
“Sadie is at the riding school with my grandfather for company. It’s just you, Miranda and me now. Feel free to state what’s on your mind.” Ace replied.
Miranda marveled at his composure. He was about to lose everything, yet his demeanor suggested otherwise.
“It’s quite simple really. I want my daughter. Miranda insists on having her. I know your dirty little secret. It’s only a matter of choice. Give her to me or I go to the old man and tell him all about it. He’ll probably offer me a reward for all my trouble.” James snapped.
“You’re talking blackmail, then?” Ace asked smoothly.
“Call it anything you want,” James snarled, “I’ll come out of this a richer man and still get my daughter back.”
“You’ll get your daughter back…” Ace pronounced.
“No!” Miranda cried in horror.
“…after you’ve paid a fine of 2 million dollars and served a jail sentence of 20 years,” Ace finished.
“What?” James spattered. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked belligerently.
Ace sneered. Miranda had inkling that this was the face behind the success of Masterson Conglomerate.
“Let me tell you a story before the cops get here. You run a nondescript electronics company back home. Perfectly legit, except beneath all that you also run an elaborate scheme to illegally transport components from America to other countries in violation of export control laws. You’ve covertly acquired license-controlled electronic components from American manufacturers and shipping them outside the country. I believe that’s called criminal profiteering and conspiracy to commit fraud against the government. Two days ago you lost contact with the driver of the truck that hauled your goods. I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t heard from him, since he sung like a canary and confessed to the FBI everything he knew. But here’s the best part. Your income goes undetected by the IRS because you siphoned it to your fiancée’s bank account. She has a small fortune inherited from her deceased husband. No one will ever notice, except now, she has become your accomplice.”
“Th-that’s a lie...” James sputtered, looking ashen and scared.
Ace picked a remote from a nearby TV set and flicked the device. The screen came to life and displayed a surveillance tape. “This is a copy the FBI gave me. It’s very entertaining.”
James watched in horror as the tape showed him with the missing truck driver before he pulled out from the store. The tape segued to the driver as he stopped by the side of the road before a group of plainclothes men entered the cargo hold. The contents of the crates were opened, and the contrabands hidden within displayed for evidence.
James was petrified. The tables had turned against him. The only question that remained was if he could still get himself out of this mess.
“Miranda, I’m sorry. Please. I’ll never bother you again. Just help me make this all go away,” he pleaded.
Miranda didn’t know what to feel except for the huge burden that had been lifted off her chest. She looked at James with pity and said, “It’s ironic you were the reason I was desperate enough to ask my supervisor to help me keep my job. I wrote her an email that I accidentally sent to Ace. I actually have you to thank for that. Now I don’t ever have to see you again and Sadie doesn’t have to know what an asshole her father really was.”
She left the study and noted the distinct sound of a police siren in the distance. She ran up to the bedroom, flung herself on the bed and cried.
***
Miranda had lost track of time. She cried tears of joy knowing she was finally free from James and everything negative he represented in her life. At the same time, she felt compassion for him because he was, after all, the father of her daughter. Sadie was his greatest gift to her. It was unfortunate that he only needed her to make his own life complete. She felt no bitterness towards his fiancée even if she was the reason her marriage with James ended.
She rose from the bed and headed for the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. She heard a soft knock at the door as Ace entered.
“Are you alright,” he asked.
She noted the concern in his voice and nodded. “Is he gone?” She asked.
“Yes and I promise you’ll never see him again,” he replied.
“I know,” she answered softly back.
He seemed hesitant to come near. Miranda sat stiffly on the bed. Ace approached and sat next to her. “You must have a lot of questions in your mind right now,” he said.
“How did you know about everything you said back there?” Her curiosity was appropriate, since she lived with James for 7 years and never knew. “You had him followed?” she added.
Ace nodded and confessed, “I have a man on my payroll. He used to work for the FBI. His talent lies in looking so ordinary you’d never think him a danger to anyone. He walked into the store and pretended interest in a particularly expensive piece of hardware. It was James who attended to him. James bragged that the item he was interested in was unlicensed but since he had connections, he could get it in a matter of days. And that’s how it all started.”
“But why?” Miranda persisted.
Ace took a deep breath and answered, “It’s all part of who I am. When I enter a business deal, as I did with you, I make sure the future holds no surprises. When I offered you the arrangement to marry me and help me get control of the company, James represented a complication, an obstacle I didn’t want.”
“So… all this,” Miranda waved her hand in th
e air, “is just an arrangement for you?” Miranda accused. Disappointment welled in her chest. Then she added, “Well…of course it is. I knew that from the start… but I was hoping… I’m so stupid to even think that…” She couldn’t finish the rest of the sentence. Her disillusionment was complete.
Ace held her hand and said, “There’s more.” He reached into his breast pocket, drew out a thick envelope from within, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” Miranda asked curiously.
“Open it and see,” Ace replied as Miranda noted his excitement.
It was a document several pages thick transferring all rights, control, and ownership of Masterson’s Conglomerate, signed by the old man, sealed and delivered to Ace.
Her hands trembled as she folded the document, slid it back inside the envelope, and handed it over to him. She couldn’t blame him for feeling ecstatic and triumphant. But to Miranda it simply spelled that it was over. Her fairy tale life had come to an end.
“It’s over, then,” she whispered sadly.
“Yes, it’s over.” Ace assented.
Miranda wanted desperately to save some vestige of pride as she clung desperately to self-control; but it wasn’t enough, because tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“I’m happy for you, Ace,” she said in a tremulous voice, as she wiped away her tears.
Ace gazed at her intently. He was uncertain if her tears were still the result of the ugly scene with James, or because she was really happy they had finally won.
“Why the tears then?” He asked gently.
“Because we no longer have to pretend,” Miranda answered simply. She vowed silently that no matter how much it hurt and how terribly she would miss him, she would manage somehow with Sadie.
Then Ace did a totally unexpected thing. He stood up and faced her, then went down on one knee. He held her hands tightly in his, gazed intently into her eyes and said, “Miranda, I know that our marriage started as a farce. But our friendship is real. We have no secrets between us. I never proposed to you or asked you to be my wife. You became one because you signed a contract saying you will. You honored all the terms of our agreement. When I hold you, or kiss you, or make love to you, let it not be because of a piece of paper that you signed. I am asking you now. Please be my wife in every sense of the word because I have fallen totally in love you, Miranda Masterson.”
The Billionaire's Fake Marriage (A Romance Collection Boxed Set) Page 3
