by Skye Turner
Fucking seriously.
Scouring the porch, I see my parents encircled by their friends and they are all staring with looks of blatant disapproval at my hand grasped in Cruz’s.
Get over it!
Gently pulling Cruz along with me, we make our way to the porch. Grandma Clarabelle calls out to us, “My favorite grand-daughter is here.” Everyone gasps. She continues as if she didn’t hear them. “Come here, Tifanie. Ty tells me this is your gentleman. Let me have a look at him. He looks mighty nice from this distance.”
I chuckle. Cruz pulls back against my hand… And the whispering escalates.
Winking at him, I say out of the corner of my mouth, “Grandma Clarabelle is a mess.”
He nods but looks completely uncomfortable.
We head across the painted wooden beams and people purposely step out of the way to make certain they don’t touch us. The whispering follows closely behind. My back is ramrod straight and I can feel the unmistakable burn of rage pulsing down my spine. I try to ignore it and push it down. I don’t want Cruz to see my fury unleashed.
Grandma Clarabelle focuses her dark brown gaze on us as we approach. Her face gives nothing away.
Leaning down, I kiss her leathery cheek. Her hand reaches out and traces my cheekbone. “Bonjour, ma belle-fille.” As she smiles at me, her face is instantly transformed and you can clearly see what a beauty she once was.
Leaning back, I smile back. “Bonjour, grand-mere. C’est Cruz… Mon petit ami.” I glance at him and see him staring at me. I smile.
He looks at Grandma. Holding out his hand, he takes Grandma Clarabelle’s in his. “Hello, Ma’am. Thank you for having me today. Happy birthday.”
She yanks on his hand. He looks at me sharply. I smile and nod. Grandma Clarabelle says, “Come on down here. I can’t see as well as I once could. I want to get a good look at you. Tifanie doesn’t bring gentlemen around these snobs very often.” She inclines her head around her and everyone sputters. She cackles. I can see Cruz hiding a smirk. “Not that I blame her. Ty here doesn’t count. He’s not romantically interested in her.
“My grand-daughter is very special. Ma belle fleur forte. My beautiful strong flower. She’s a feisty one. Like me. But these sticks-in-the-mud want to try to tame her. I can’t tell them enough you can’t tame a wild stallion and why would you want to?!
“There are enough stuffed shirts around this maison. And these women like to walk around like they’re wearing corsets and sipping tea. It bores me to tears.”
I am grinning like a fool at her words. I love that she doesn’t mince them. I get my bluntness from her. I love that quality.
My father steps up and coughs to get our attention. He stiffly kisses the air at my cheek while my mother trails behind him, clutching her pearls and looking at Cruz like she thinks he’s going to rape and pillage the women at the party.
I roll my eyes.
Father flatly says, “Hello, Tifanie. We weren’t certain you would make it today. I’ve called several times but haven’t received a return call. Are you going to introduce us to your… friend?”
Taking a step back toward Cruz and wrapping my arm around his waist, I look at both of my parents and the crowd watching us with rapt fascination. With just as much formality, I answer him, “Hello, Father. This is my boyfriend, Cruz Edwards. Cruz, my father, Senator Richmond Bellaforte. That’s my mother, Rosalind Bellaforte, next to him.”
Father stiffly holds his hand out to shake Cruz’s and my mother’s lips are white they’re pursed so tightly.
Ty calls out, “Y’all know me. No introductions needed.”
A few people chuckle, but most are just staring and not so silently judging.
Cruz firmly shakes my father’s hand and nods at my mother. “It’s nice to meet you both. You have a beautiful home.”
A rude curse and a mocking chuckle interrupt the tenseness on the porch. The idiot next to my sister speaks, “Yes, it is a gallant home. I’m certain it’s overwhelming for you. I doubt you’re used to this level of class. People unlike us are usually in awe.”
My gaze snaps to him and I mutter a curse of my own as I glare at him and my sister. Before I can unleash my wrath on them both, Ty speaks up dryly. “Stanton, I’d say I’m surprised at your audacity, but shit, let’s face it… I’m not. You’re a pompous ass. I mean what kind of man proposes to one sister and when she flatly refuses, immediately starts courting the other sister?! Yet, you speak of class?!” He insultingly tips his glass at Stanton and AnnaBeth. “By the way, that man you’re trying to insult is not an idiot and is, believe it or not, a celebrity. In fact… I bet if you combined all of you stuffed shirts and your supporters from this magnificent gala, more people would know who he is over all of you.”
Cruz quickly looks at me with a question before looking at Ty in appreciation while I also smile at him with unsurpassed glee. He pops a cherry into his mouth as he says, “Oh, was that rude?! Oops, my bad. I think I need another drink.” He winks at AnnaBeth and Stanton who are both standing there with rage on their faces. “How about I grab you one, AnnaBeth? You’re looking a little peaked. Might take the edge off and remove that stick from your ass.”
Grandma Clarabelle guffaws with laughter and calls out to Ty to grab her a glass of champagne. She looks at AnnaBeth and says, “That man is what you need, child… not that weasel beside you.”
AnnaBeth glares at me and stomps into the house muttering about the classlessness of some people with Stanton shooting daggers in our direction as he trails behind her. I roll my eyes as everyone glares at me and Cruz.
My parents turn swiftly on their heels and silently follow my sister and her fiancé into the house.
Turning to Cruz, I ask with false cheerfulness, “Having fun yet?”
He looks like he’s having a hard time with it all, so I take his hand and pull. Grandma Clarabelle says, “Take him into the maze. Get some air and get away from all this ridiculousness, ma belle. I may have Ty escort me to meet up with you in a bit if I feel up to the walk.”
Smiling and nodding, I pull a silent Cruz with me and head in the direction of the maze. A waiter passes us on the steps and I snag a drink and tell Cruz to grab one too. He does.
We leave the crowd behind and stroll through the meticulous rose gardens as I head in the direction of the maze and sip my drink. The entrance to the maze is a jasmine-covered pergola with benches underneath it. I stop and sit down. Cruz doesn’t sit, he just stares off into the distance. The property is over five hundred acres and stretches as far as the eye can see and well beyond.
I feel awful. I would like to say I’m surprised that Cruz was treated like that by the people attending this soiree, but I would be lying. I don’t know what to say though. For the first time in my life I can remember, I’m speechless. I do need to explain about Stanton though.
He doesn’t speak, but I see him take deep breaths. Standing, I walk behind him and place my hand on his back. He freezes at the contact. Leaning my front against his back, I whisper, “I’m sorry. I need to explain about the Stanton thing.”
Turning his head, he looks down at me. “He proposed to you?”
I laugh harshly. “He did. But we never dated. Like ever.” Cruz looks at me like he’s not certain he believes me. “No, I swear. We never did anything. We grew up together. His father is in politics as well. We were thrown together our whole lives, yet I was never interested in him. Last Christmas, at the holiday party, he proposed. Out of the blue. I was shocked. I said no. Why would I marry him? I can’t even stand him. He was pissed and tried a couple of more times. I refused and the next thing I know, he’s dating AnnaBeth. Now they’re engaged. Neither is even interested in the other, yet they’re going to get married… Yeah, that’s going to work out brilliantly.
“Yet, it’s what my father wanted… a union between our families, so of course AnnaBeth will do it. She’s the perfect daughter. Always doing whatever is needed. Whatever she’s told.”
> He’s staring at me. “Wow. I didn’t realize that shit still happened. Is it always like that? Are they always like that?”
I laugh and nod. “Yup. It does. Old South… And yeah, they are.”
He shudders. “That’s terrible. I can’t believe they treat you like that.” His hands clench and unclench. “No one should be treated like that. Especially not you.”
Does he hear what he’s saying? No one should be treated like that. He’s right. But that includes himself. Does he even know what he’s saying?
Leaning up, I kiss his back through his shirt and wrap my arms around his stomach. “I don’t care about the way they treat me. They’ve done that my whole life. I’m not like them and they hate it. But I don’t care. I’m me. I live my life the way I want. I do what makes me happy. My grandma has always been in my corner. I’m so like her. I think that’s another reason they dislike me so intensely. I don’t follow their rules. I don’t find the stupid things important that they do.” He rests his hand over the top of mine. “Honestly, I don’t care about what they think about me. I’m used to it and I swear to you I don’t care. None of that fazes me. But I’m so angry at the way they treated you.”
He turns away and looks out at the property. Staring at the trees in the distance, he swallows. “Tifanie, I’ve been treated like I was worthless, like I don’t fit in anywhere, my whole life. It’s nothing new to me. But unlike you, it does bother me. I don’t want you to have to deal with the shit that just happened because of me. That’s the last thing I want.”
Grabbing his face, I pull it down to mine. “Cruz, the fact that you’re here with me right now… that you just went through that bullshit with my family, that you’re here with me right this second… I would deal with any of those idiots one hundred times if I could have this.”
He groans and grabs my hips, pulling me into his body. He backs me into the side of the pergola and the jasmine surrounds us as he captures my mouth. His tongue sweeps past my lips and tangles with mine as my hands grasp at his back and neck, holding on for dear life.
I’m pressed against the jasmine, crushing it. The smell weaves around us, as we forget the rest of the world. The only thing that exists is he and I, right here, right now, in the sunlight and jasmine.
Chapter Seventeen
Cruz
I’m pressing Tifanie into the jasmine, kissing her in a way I’ve never kissed a woman before. Every time we move, the jasmine releases its heady fragrance. It’s like heady incense and it’s completely intoxicating. The smells combined with the taste of her mouth and the softness of her lips and tongue as she moves sensuously against me and lets out delicious moans, transports me to another place.
It’s like we’re in our own world out here, away from everyone. No judgments, no rules, just the wondrous feelings associated with the woman in my arms.
Her breathy moans have me rock hard and her gentle swaying presses her perfect curves against me in all the right places.
Remembering where we are, and who’s at this party, has me reluctantly pulling back from her. She doesn’t let me get far. Her arms weave around me and hold me close as my hands almost claw her hips with the urgency of my restraint. All I want to do is raise her skirt and bury myself inside her warm, willing softness, yet I know I can’t do it. Not here. Not with these people around.
I’ve never had a woman stir my senses the way Tifanie does. I’ve never wanted to just let go of everything and just… be. But I do. With Tifanie, I do.
It’s damn frightening.
Her mouth is trailing over my jaw and up to my ear as her breath fuels my passion. I’m forcing myself to stop from touching her inappropriately, yet it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
She leans into my ear and sucks my pierced lobe into her mouth. Her tongue is flicking against the diamond stud and her warm, wet breath is torturing me. Her breathy voice is in my ear. “I want you to take me, Cruz.”
Leaning back, I look at her. Her lips are swollen and lush and her eyes are dark and glazed. She’s gorgeous. She’s so passionate and wanton and it’s for me… I’m not certain how to handle that. I’m not certain why I deserve her and everything she’s offering.
I want to indulge her, but I can’t. Not here.
“I can’t take you. Not here. Not outside. Not like this. I won’t do anything to jeopardize you, Tifanie.”
She sighs. “Screw these people.” But she leans back. “You’re too scrumptious. I want you. I want you to take me. I want to take you. I’m so wet right now.”
My eyes widen at her declaration. I smirk. “Yeah? How wet?”
The gleam in her eyes brightens and she grabs my hand and pulls me into the maze. Chuckling, I follow her. She seems to know exactly where she’s going, so I just hold on. We turn one more corner and she smirks at me before she ducks through a small, almost invisible gap in the hedges. She pulls against my hand and says from the other side, “Come on. Hurry.”
Why not?!
I push through and look around. We’re in a little clearing. There’s a small fountain and some wildflowers cover the lush grass. It’s beautiful. It’s small, only about twelve feet wide and almost a circle.
Turning, I take in the entire secret garden in the maze. As I come full circle, my gaze centers on Tifanie. She’s staring at me with a sexy smile as she drops the black dress to the ground. She’s in nothing but her light blue panties and bra. She’s already kicked off her shoes.
Her finger beckons to me and, as if I’m a puppet on a string, I cross the short distance to her. As I reach her, I huskily whisper, “What are you doing, Tifanie?”
She leans up and wraps her arms around my neck as she stands on her tiptoes to brush her lips against mine softly before whispering, “Exactly what I want to.”
Groaning, I grab her and cup her ass through her panties. She hops up and wraps her legs around my waist. Her mouth is once again on my ear. “Why don’t you see just how wet?”
She’s crazy. We’re in a secret garden in a maze at her family’s mansion and there are people who dislike me everywhere, yet, I can’t deny her. Setting her on her feet, I kneel and look up at her. The sun is behind her, so she’s got almost a halo around her head and her beauty astounds me.
This woman wants me. She’s offering herself to me. Her family hates me and she doesn’t care.
My hands trail up her thighs and stop at her hips. I take in the darkness of my skin against the olive skin of her hips. She doesn’t care. She accepts me for me. She’s fought for me. I realize the treasure that she is and it’s like a lightbulb goes off. She’s mine.
The satin of her panties almost floats down her legs and joins the dress at her feet. She reaches back and unhooks her bra. She’s completely nude before me in the glow of the sun. Grabbing her, I lean my head into her stomach and just hug her tightly.
Her hand touches my head and cradles it before turning my face up to look at her. She kneels down before me. Her husky whisper wakes me up. “You have far too many clothes on, Cruz.”
I do have too many clothes on. Her smaller hands help my large ones as we unbutton my shirt before slipping it off my shoulders and down my arms. Her mouth follows the trail of the shirt and stops at my waistband. Before I can unbuckle it, her hands have accomplished the task and she’s reaching into my slacks and encircling me. My head falls back and I moan.
Her hands are soft and warm against my steely hardness. She gently rubs the tip and my eyes snap open.
The undiluted pleasure on her face just from touching me is my undoing. Pulling back, I quickly remove my slacks. Within seconds, I’m just as naked as she is. Using my shirt as a blanket, I spread it out and lay her back against it. The sun is kissing her skin and it appears to be glowing. I can almost believe she’s a mythical creature.
Smiling at me she says, “Are you just going to look at me, Cruz?” Her hands trail over the curves of her body and I can’t look away. “I think you’re supposed to be checking something.”
She slowly spreads her legs and I focus on the shimmering pink folds nestled there.
Swallowing, I look away from the slick treasure trove below and focus on her face. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes are dilated with intense passion. Reaching out, my hands trail up her calves and over her thighs before stopping at the juncture there. Watching her face, I slowly run my fingers through the wetness. She moans and her legs fall further apart.
I want to dive in, but I’m still worried about someone seeing us out here. We’re in the open.
As if she can read my mind, she closes her legs, trapping my hand. “No one knows this is here. It’s my secret place. No one is going to see us.” Her come-hither smile is my undoing.
I start to move my fingers and she opens her legs again. I’m fascinated with my dark fingers disappearing into her pink folds. She’s gripping me and pulling at me. Her head is thrown back and her neck is arched. She’s gorgeous.
Her moans are making me twitch and my cock is jerking in time to them.
She looks at me. “Lie back.”
She wants me to lie back? What?
Pulling away from me, she sits up. I feel the loss of her warmth immediately. Pointing to my shirt, she says again, “Lie back.”
I don’t argue. I lie back and she leans over me and tickles my abdomen with her hair. Her head is millimeters above my skin, so she’s not touching me, but her breath is an intimate caress. It’s strangely erotic and gives me goose bumps.
My eyes close as her hair whispers against my skin. She stops and my eyes flash open. My cock is jutting out proudly and she’s over it, just looking down. Her lips are moist from her tongue but her eyes rise to mine. As they meet, she leans down and takes me into her mouth. Watching myself become engulfed by her lips is quite possibly the single hottest thing I have ever seen. Still watching me, she starts to move. Her mouth is gliding over me and my hips automatically move in time with her suction.
