by Wanda Edmond
“I’ll have you, little girl—.” Ian touched the beautiful face of his lady he wanted so desperately.
It didn’t matter what she believed; what anyone thought, or would say. She was his. Kristina Layne-Knight belonged to him like he belonged to her; their lives were forever entwined.
“Sooner than you believe,” Ian said gruffly.
I’ll make you mine.
Chapter 5
Kristina and Bree turned when the ferry tooted its horn.
They had reached the Pier.
“Don’t let nerves steal your thunder,” said Kristina.
“I know it’s just.” Bree looked away. Kristina saw the pre-signing release guests milling their way. They were about to dock, and head over to their surprise destination.
Kristina knew what Bree had been thinking. She was having the same thoughts herself.
How could a person say they loved someone, when they cheated on them somebody else?
Kristina knew Bree had left her husband before she indulged in any sort of hanky-panky. The thing about love was that it made you want things you didn’t believe you deserved.
Kristina hoped she would meet a man who loved her heart, body, and soul. She’d found men who had used her.
Maybe that was all she was worthy of having. She had wanted somebody. He was her stepbrother, Ian. When Bree Sumner revealed she was having an affair with her stepbrother, Kristina nearly fell into a lump in front of guests at Bree’s book signing pre-party.
Kristina prayed silently the evening would hold its glamour. She didn’t want anyone to know, but she needed something she could believe in…because the affections from her brother, Ian Knight, were feelings she could never return to.
That part of her life was over…
Bree and Kristina walked into the Basin Café.
“Okay,” Kristina whispered to Bree. The second author had settled in, and was signing books before the party shifted into full swing.
“You’re on.”
Bree nodded and she mingled with the guests, finding her rhythm, and smiling, becoming her usual old self.
Kristina caught the second author and Bree’s attention seeing the text she’d got. She gestured toward the street and she took the stairs.
Somebody very special had come calling, and she intended to cavort with him by phone, as soon as she could get to him.
Chapter 6
Kristina took a seat on a bench outside of the dessert restaurant.
Bree and the second author were signing books, and the guests were enrapt with Bree’s tales of being invited to a royal behest, and how she learned to belly dance for a Sheik. “It’s all in next my book,” Kristina heard Bree say. “A lady never reveals all her secrets.”
Bree winked and the book signing party attendants cheered with applause.
The night book signing party was a huge success.
Thanks to Bree pulling herself back from the heartache she felt over her failed marriage, Kristina saw the night turn around. Kristina exhaled, relieved.
Kristina texted photos she took to her PR boss Elise, when she received a mysterious note in her messages.
‘You know who this is.’
No, Kristina didn’t. She texted back.
‘If this is who I hope it isn’t, I told you what you could do.’
Seconds later her phone rang.
“Hello, this is Kristina.”
“How about now?” The male timbre Kristina heard sent ripples of heat through her body. She recognized the number when her paramour rang.
It’s Finn, Kristina thought happily.
Well, Kristina hoped he would be a paramour. Following her heart and not her head was hard to do. She walked to an enclave of trees near the restaurant as she smiled.
“Finn Matthews, you snake. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call.”
Kristina and Finn went way back. They’d worked a few summer internships at a Boston PR firm before Finn landed a permanent job handing advertising in Massachusetts. Kristina did a stint in Miami and eventually she transplanted for a new job in Atlanta.
“Aw, come on. We’ve had four dates in the past three weeks. With the hours we both work, we’d have a heck of a time raising kids and a family—.”
Kristina never thought she and Finn would have a chance to see where their on-and-off romance might lead, but she’d hoped they would.
“You mean I’d be the dutiful housewife, doing everything.”
“Aw, baby. I’d help.” Finn chuckled when he heard Kristina quiet over the phone. “Kristina? Krissy? You okay?”
She wasn’t “okay”. Kristina stood under a plume of pines and oaks, trying to forget when she learned she was pregnant.
Her stepfather’s friend’s Titus had touched her in the back of her house. He drank with her stepfather weekends, and one afternoon Titus, he…forced her to…
Titus removed her blouse and he pushed her to the floor. Kristina had managed to wriggle out from under him, but he was much bigger, and heavier. She could feel his cold hands gripping her hips as he thrust himself inside her. He used her for his horny selfish need, when her head knocked against the wall, and she’d fainted. Kristina could still remember Titus’ weight pressing down on her as ground his hard sex into her body. She was so young…she never told Ian what happened.
Ian and her mom had words when she’d found her Ian kissing one night. It had happened a few nights after Ian borrowed his dad’s car and he and Krissy drove to the Starlight Observatory. The most wonderful, magical night Kristina ever had…
***
After Titus finished with her…she wouldn’t talk to her brother Ian or her mother, or anyone afterward. She didn’t eat with anyone at dinner. She wasn’t able to keep anything down. She’d, started feeling queasy a few nights later. Kristina went to a clinic…and that was when she…when she found out she was…
“Krissy? You there?” Kristina wiped tears from her eyes.
“Yes, I’m here.” Kristina tried to change the sound of her voice. She knew she sounded distant and weak. Not only had she fought through a summer trying to choose whether or not she’d have her baby…she’d found out she was too weak to carry the baby to term and that the choice had been made for her.
***
The only thing Kristina had been able to do, was start over…so she ran away. She’d made it to Boston, and that was when she found a summer internship at a promotion company. She used the small amount of money she earned to find a place. Then she found she could enroll in a trade school. Still she’d wanted more…Kristina never wanted to feel alone, and out of control, and dependent upon anyone again.
That was why she didn’t want to reveal her feelings to Ian. He would think she was damaged, soiled.
Kristina looked up at the night sky, seeing the stars, remembering being with Ian at the Observatory, and wishing time could have frozen in that moment. Everything between her and her stepbrother had been perfect. No worries to think about; no people to tell them what they should do and when they would have to do it. Kristina and her stepbrother Ian were at peace and free to love and care about each other the way the wanted.
Okay, she wasn’t even strong enough to get free from a drunk and dirty scum like Titus. Kristina could admit that much. She could do for herself now.
Kristina decided she could put her memories about herself and Ian to rest. She could have the life she wanted. Maybe, it wasn’t the one she believed she had. Still, it was a life she could build one day at a time, and, she could do it the way she wanted it to be—without regrets.
Kristina dried her eyes and she straightened her shoulders.
That was what she enjoyed about being with Finn. He never made her feel like she had to be somebody or do something for him to like her. Things between them always seemed to get interrupted somehow, keeping her and Finn from getting closer. Kristina hoped the past was over, and Finn and she could grow closer…She had spent enough days grieving over the loss
of her child.
Chapter 7
“I’ve been hoping we could see more of each other.”
There. He’d said it. Kristina heard Finn say what she’d hoped he would since the day they met.
She dried her eyes fully, as she headed back toward the restaurant.
“Oh. So you want to pick up where we left off,” Kristina teased.
“Yes, I do.”
Kristina stopped mid-step, hearing the sincerity in Finn’s voice.
“You really mean it, don’t you?”
“Mm-hm.” Finn said. “Check your text.”
Kristina felt her phone vibrate. She found Finn’s text. Another text was right above it, but she wanted to read Finn’s only, and nobody else.
A big, bright e-Card popped up into her phone’s view screen and a rainfall of confetti followed by trumpet sounds chimed through the air. Kristina watched the confetti disappear, and then a large card opened.
Kristina covered her mouth, so she wouldn’t gleefully scream.
“Kristina, may we go out on another date?”
The electronic card flashed with a big sign of an amusement park.
“Six Flags!” Kristina shouted. “Are we going?”
“If you say ‘Yes’,” Finn replied.
Kristina bobbed up and down in her evening dress doing the happy dance. “Uh—yes! “
Of course I’ll go out on another with you—!”
Attendants from the upstairs restaurant poked their heads over a balcony, staring while Kristina hopped and shook her tush.
“Oh, m’ gosh, oh m’ gosh. When?”
“Everything’s arranged. I’ll pick you up as soon as you pick a Saturday.”
“It’s Friday now. Can we go tomorrow?” Kristina double-crossed her fingers.
Kristina swore she could feel Finn smile. “Yes.”
She jumped up and down, not caring people passing by late at night were gawking.
“Okay, but I’ve got a few things to wrap with work. Can we meet somewhere?”
Finn looked at his phone and he smiled. “Better plans. How ‘bout you meet me at your hotel. I’ll come to you.”
“Yes, yes, whatever you want.” Kristina bounced. “We’re going to Six Flags!”
***
Kristina never rode a train. Finn picked her up in front of The Four Seasons, holding something behind his back. Kristina reached around him, trying to sneak a peek.
Finn raised his long arms above Kristina’s head.
“That’s not fair.” Kristina jumped, swatting at Finn’s hands. He stood a good six inches taller that she was, and she stood over 5’8” in heels.
He made her wait the entire limo ride to Pennsylvania Station.
They’d shared about his work in Boston and the impossibly long hours. Kristina regaled the success of the book signing party and how many sales the PR was bringing Bree Sumner. While she pretended she wasn’t interested finding out what Finn held in his hand as she and Finn rode in the limo.
She preoccupied herself instead with enjoying how handsome Finn was.
Finn had mentioned he swam in the wee hours of the morning to help him clear his mind before he signed up ad revenue for his agency. Kristina could see how impressively his broad back filled his suit. His muscled legs in his tailored pants stretched alongside hers as they held hands. Kristina wore a sweater over a sleeveless blouse with white pants and espadrilles; she wanted to dress casually for their soiree, and she’d packed an overnight bag, in case their trip ran long.
Her traveling companion didn’t give her time to fret over it. He was occupying himself with her body, murmuring how excited she got him when she let him touch her. Finn laid Kristina in the back of limo, contorting her body and panting over her lustfully, enjoying how gorgeously nimble she was. “Baby, you are so flexible,” Finn said.
Goodness, he’s touching me, Kristina felt Finn’s palm her fanny as he lifted her up and onto his lap. He spread his thighs and her hips dropped on top of his groin. His erection protruded under her bottom. Oh, my gosh. He’s so hard. Finn grinned mischievously and Kristina covered her hands over her face, shaking her head, blushing.
Finn reached down and angled his face toward Kristina. She looked up at Finn; shocked she could see his passion, flaming behind his eyes. Her body turned pliant and supple as he dragged himself over her and gripped her gruffly.
Kristina’s lashes fluttered as she watched Finn lean close. He ravaged her tender lips with a soft and hungry kiss. His lips covered hers as the heat from his body scorched her mind and soul. His lean pecs felt so amazing as he rubbed himself on top of her. The friction of his shirt-clad torso over her naked tummy made Kristina want to curl her toes.
Had Finn’s kisses always been this magnificent?
Kristina wrapped an arm around Finn’s neck as he pulled her against his chest. He smelled like coconut and fresh soap, as he thrust his hips against her, driving Kristina gently toward earth-shattering climax. Kristina reminded herself to get close to Finn again. She wanted to see if his aromas changed or if they were his signature scent.
Kristina loved the different sensations Finn made her feel when they were together. All her thoughts about her sensual brother Ian were nearly gone. She’d been upset with her stepbrother for making her feel emotions for him she shouldn’t.
Finn was here now, and she felt okay.
Finn caressed the backs of Kristina’s shoulders with his large hands. His fingers grazed her shoulders brusquely as her drew her closer, pulling her so tight, she swore she could feel his heart beating next to hers.
“You taste so sweet,” Finn dipped his dark head low and he flicked his tongue in the cleft between Kristina’s breasts.
Finn angled his fingers so they joined his tongue as he lapped at Kristina’s nipples, as they sped to the station in their limo, one delicious peak, at a time.
Chapter 8
Finn lashed his tongue and raked his fingers along Kristina’s breasts next, her thighs. He’d found her pants button and he’d managed to snap it open, and dip his large, male hand toward the juncture of her thighs.
“Finn, we can’t. Finn—the limo driver.” Kristina rasped, as her body arched and she gave in to Finn’s artful caresses.
“I want you Kris.” Finn murmured from between her thighs.
“I know, but—.”
The limo driver announced they had arrived at the station.
Reluctantly Finn dragged his long body to sit and Kristina tried not to smile. “You look like a little boy caught with his hand in a cookie jar.”
Finn slanted a hard gaze at Kristina, then her breasts.
“Yeah? Well this little boy is all grown. He’s a man who wants his woman. And he wants you to stop toying with his affections.” Finn gazed at Kristina’s thighs, buttoned perfectly again and she watched him glance at her flushed face.
Finn winked and Kristina laughed.
“Uh-uh. No sweets before dinner,” Kristina pushed her red painted fingernails through Finn’s short clipped hair and she ruffled it.
Finn pouted then he reached for Kristina.
“Naughty little boys always need to be taught a lesson.” Kristina pushed Finn’s hands off her hips, and she put on her pink sweater.
“Grrr,” Finn growled softly.
Kristina wrapped her arms around her middle laughing when the driver opened the door. She straightened her clothes as fast as was able, while Finn looked up at the limo driver and frowned. He unfolded his tall body from the rear of the auto, then he helped Kristina out of the car.
“I am gonna get you for this,” Finn whispered softly.
“Promise?” Kristina said and Finn nibbled at her neck as they entered the station.
***
They waited to board their train and Kristina continued to pretend she didn’t care what Finn had in his hand. Kristina watched Finn whistle softly, while he glanced at her. He pulled his hand away, grinning, whenever he saw her thinking about what he had
in his palm.
“Ooh, you tease. Give it to me—.”
Kristina threw her arms around Finn’s body, jumping and swatting at his hands when she saw it. Finn was holding a little red box.
Finn angled his tall frame to one side when Kristina tried to get the red box. He leaned again to his other side when she circled him to get it.
