Chasing Paradise (Chasing Series #3)

by Pamela Ann

  “Thank you,” he said, stirring the contents of his coffee, studying it with utmost care. It took him half a minute to proceed. “Mr. Knightly hired several teams to investigate the accident and I was told to stay away since I wasn’t really there at the time it had occurred so I respected that, even though I felt like I’m responsible for your fall. Had I been there, this wouldn’t have occurred, yet you’re a very persistent woman and had Mr. Knightly under your thumb that evening so I gave in to your request.” Gareth leveled his gaze with mine, serious and cautious with his words. “The next day, my cousin—who actually works at the bar at the very same hotel—called me. His call didn’t surprise me due to the occurrence being pretty much the only thing the employees discussed ever since it had all happened.” He paused, again. “He informed me that he might’ve met one of the suspects. He served a drink to a Middle Eastern man who ordered fizz at the bar. Finding it bizarre, he shrugged it off and gave him his order, however what caught his attention not long after was how his eyes pretty much kept scanning the crowd, as though they were studying, or possibly looking for, someone in particular. It could be the other person involved or he was keeping an eye on you.”

  “The Middle Eastern man could’ve been someone’s date at the Gala. What time did your cousin say this was? I ordered a drink at the bar, too. That was when I was handed the note actually…” I trailed off, trying to rehash the memories that played through my head. For weeks, I had recalled most of the events in my memory, though I hadn’t really focused on the bar or the people that were there.

  Gareth shook his head before he tried to explain himself again. “True, my cousin mentioned the man wearing a tux, but why would he order a non-alcoholic drink at a bar? He barely drank any of it because he had been so preoccupied with looking around.”

  Now my heart was galloping wildly. Gareth was right. The man did sound fishy. “Can I meet your cousin? I want to speak to him. He might have more clues that could help me.”

  “They aren’t allowed to speak to anyone that isn’t part of the team Mr. Knightly hired. Calling me about it already crossed that line. I’m not sure he’d be willing to cross it twice without getting in a lot of trouble, Sienna.”

  I had to speak to him. “Well, assure him that I will make sure he doesn’t get in trouble. If he will, tell him that I will ensure Blake won’t jeopardize anything for him.”

  He nodded, sipping his coffee. “I’ll make the call when he lands in London.” Gareth then looked amused. “I’m sure he’d be thrilled to know that there’s a woman out there that could bring Mr. Knightly to his knees.” When he saw my raised brow, he explained, “Blake Knightly is not only wealthy, but he’s one who has a lot of influential connections in the country. He’s a very powerful man, and let’s just say, most people prefer to be on his good side. I have heard how vicious and cruel he can be in the business world, although he seems more terrifying in the outside arena. I wonder, sometimes, how you made him… I think the word I’m looking for is subdued?”

  I couldn’t help it, I had to laugh at that. Little ole me had one of the most sought after bachelors in England crazy in love with me. “Would you believe it if I tell you that he befriended me, knowing his intent, and waited until I broke up with my boyfriend? Let’s just say that he’s one of those kinds of men that never gives up until options A to Z are exhausted.”

  “He’s very much in love with you, Sienna. Mr. Knightly is a good man. I think there’s no other woman that would suit him better than you. It’s pleasant to see a strong willed, all kinds of smart and very put together man go bonkers for his lady.”

  “One day, you’ll know what means to have the same thing,” I referred to what he’d told me about not really being in to love and marriage because his fiancée had proved how deceitful love could be.

  “Not holding my breath for that to come,” he muttered as he stood and readied to leave for the airport.

  “Never say never, buddy.” I grinned at him, making him shake his head as if I had lost my mind.

  It was true, though. I thought Kyle had been the man for me—my everything—and when he’d called to tell me he was seeing another woman, I thought my world had crashed with no hope for a future, but how wrong had I been? Little did I know that my life had barely begun. That my life would brighten the second Blake pursued me and showed me what true love was. The insane, insecure, the complacent and all the other words in the dictionary that would describe all sorts of highs as well as their opposites, because that’s what it was; everything. When you fell in love, you gave your all—your everything—to this one particular person. You gave them the power to hurt you, though sometimes, a person simply had to get over their fears of getting hurt again because, most times, the things that had been so scary, were the ones that were the most worthwhile.

  Blake Knightly was a drug I had been hesitant to try, touch or even consider, but Lord, the second I got a taste; there were no chances of me turning away. Blake didn’t let go of his hold until he’d securely wormed his way into my heart; making me fall for him while also making me feel how he truly felt for me.

  So, I had braced for the impossible.

  Six

  Sienna

  Without Blake for a month, we had compromised a lot to get in touch and set times for our video calls. It was difficult, however I wanted to make the best of it. Blake worked rigorous hours and, if I planned to spend the rest of my life with him, I had to accept it at the same time that I attempted to make it the best for both of us.

  I was set to start my first day at my new internship for a PR firm that had barely started about six months ago. The owners were two socialites and I wanted to see if this was a part of the marketing world I wanted to delve into. While Fashion Marketing had a lot to offer, I wanted to make sure that, when I did choose which sector I wanted to work in, I wouldn’t change my mind.

  Stella von Berg and Lucia Pisano were an interesting duo that owned and had founded the firm, S&L PR, which hosted after parties for movies or award shows as well as doing club promotions and launch parties. Stella was around my age while Lucia was only a year older. Both women were always chicly dressed and shared great enthusiasm concerning their new endeavor. I was more than grateful that they had decided to take me onboard without any specific experience within this particular field.

  I would only work three times a week after classes and occasionally on a Saturday when there was an event that we were hosting, though it looked like we were pretty much booked for quite some time. Nevertheless, I was psyched and couldn’t wait to start this new venture.

  Pulling my phone out, I texted Chad and Lucy about how my day of classes had gone. Just when I was about to put it back in my purse, though, it started to ring.

  Kyle.

  Smiling, I answered the phone. “Hey, you!”

  Life was starting to finally look up.

  ~S~

  Hurrying, I was busy with getting ready for work when I heard a knock on my door. “Yes?”

  “Miss Sienna, you have—eh, um… delivery.” Freya looked discomfited, not quite so sure.

  Giving her a quick smile, I thanked her. “Great. Thanks, Freya! I’ll be right out.”

  I was still distracted when I came out of the room, however I immediately halted my stride when I saw what was before me.

  I was confused at first then what I was staring at finally clicked into recognition. “Holy Mary, Mother of God! What the fuck!” I swore harshly as rage sprouted out of every pore.

  It was a standing funeral wreath shaped like a cross. The white lilies and roses were dyed black, adding a more eerie effect.

  For the dearly departed whore,

  Sienna Richards.

  May you rest in peace.

  “Mother. Fucking. Bitch!” I screeched, shaken as I searched for the sender’s address, but there was none to be found. The wreath only came with that empty white card with those selective chosen words to drive home their message loud and clear tha
t someone wanted me dead. This, coupled with the incident of being pushed down the stairs, was a warning or a sign that my days were numbered.

  Did they truly expect me to run like a scared little bunny? For me to cower and hide for the rest of my life? Well, too bad. They’d chosen the wrong woman to frighten and mess with because I was far from scared. That feeling had become so much a part of me that I felt at home with it.

  Blake Knightly; the man that this woman wanted. Well, let me show you just how much Blake loves me, I thought wickedly, wanting to provoke whoever was threating me with death. I caught sight myself in the mirror on the wall, and without preamble, I surrendered to my fate.

  “Go to hell, bitch! He’s mine,” I angrily said to my reflection before yanking my necklace out from where the token that would drive this person mental had been hiding; if the person in question was, of course, in love with Blake. What other great way was there to tell this bitch to go fuck herself and her tactics than wearing Blake’s ring?

  Blake is mine.

  I was going to make that shit known.

  Fuck preservation.

  ~S~

  Almost eight hours later, a hand grabbed me from behind and kissed the curve of my neck.

  Blake. I spun around and found him grinning down at me.

  “Blake! You crazy man! What are you doing here? Weren’t you in New York when I spoke to you this morning?”

  “I was… but I had to come and see you for a few hours. I needed to see you…. because…” He cleared his throat, strangely serious all of a sudden. “Sienna? Did you happen to accept my proposal without telling me?”

  I blinked a few more times as we gazed at each other. His question threw me off. I was a little dumbfounded. “Erm, where did you hear this information?”

  Blake looked sheepish a moment before he answered my question, “I saw you wearing my ring… through a video surveillance.”

  Huh?

  Flabbergasted, I croaked out, “What video?”

  He studied me for a few seconds, gauging my reaction before responding in a calm voice. “I hired a security team to shadow you around. I call them once a day through Facetime so I can see what you’re doing. I’m sorry I haven’t mentioned it, but it was the only solution I know of that would allow me to sleep at night.”

  Heck, this man was driving me insane. “I thought we had this discussion already, Blake!”

  Blake’s magnetic eyes flickered back and forth, pleading with mine. “I’m truly sorry. Being sneaky about it made me feel wretched, though you must understand, I did all this for you, Sienna. Everything I do is for you. Do you not see that?”

  Son of a gun, now what? Sighing, I lightly punched his chest. “Well, at least you had the decency to have them as far away from me as possible.” With a pounding beat of my heart, I took hold of his hand, kissing the inside before cradling it against my cheek. “Your love for me is very overwhelming, but I wouldn’t have it any other way because I wouldn’t want to be engaged to a man who isn’t obsessed with me.” I looked at him, baring my soul. “I know being with me is tough. I’m crazy. I don’t think before I speak sometimes. I’m insecure and in dire need of attention from you constantly. My past hounds me and, to this day, I’m still recovering from the effects of my abuse. So yeah, I’m pretty messed up.” I tried to give him a smile, yet it ended up being more than a little shaky. “Through my insufferable deficiencies and betrayal, you’re still here, never letting up about marriage.” Letting out a huff, I continued, “I want to wear your ring, but I still stand behind my reason about holding off the wedding until I’ve finished what I set out as my goals. If you’re not—”

  “Shut the hell up, woman, and come here!” Blake yanked me so hard that I pounded against his chest before he kissed me thoroughly; his love, his reason and his purpose were captured with each kiss. Each stroke of his hot, relentless tongue against mine ignited my body, consuming it with fired passion. “I don’t care if I have to wait a century to see you walk down the aisle coming towards me. All I care about is that it will happen someday. Knowing that your heart, body and soul are mine and only mine is proof enough.” He swiftly lifted me up and we kissed like maniacs before we fell on the bed, ripping each other’s clothes off. “Hell, I intended to take this slow, but the second you tore my dress shirt, cara, you unleashed something in me,” Blake gritted out, the animalistic way he bit my pussy before he tore the lace off, got me beyond wet.

  Blake’s rigid length seized me in one rough stroke, making me gasp at the sheer size of him. Every single time he slid into me, I was amazed at the profound feel of him. I was past delirious when he focused on my neck, biting me as he plowed into me. Precisely. Turbulently.

  “The need to bury my cock inside your sweet cunt and flood it with my cum is all I fucking think about,” he growled, fucking me with every ounce of that purpose evident. “God help me, but I’m going to destroy this sweet pussy of yours.”

  Oh.

  My.

  Hell.

  Keep the words rolling, I silently begged as my body became consumed by the intense love this domineering alpha male was bestowing me. “I love you, Knightly,” I choked out, meaning each word with every fiber in me, knowing that this was where I wanted to be, with him. I had everything. Yes, this man was truly, irrevocably, mine and no bitch would take him away from me.

  “Sienna,” Blake whispered, halting the roll of his hips while he throbbed within my hot core and his eyes searched mine as if sensing the emotional hurdle I was going through. Those tantalizing orbs looked dark, though the gold bursts were visibly apparent; the epitome of windows into his soul that trapped me so easily. “I love you.” His thumb caressed the side of my cheek before it captured the small tear that slid down the side of my face. “My body, heart and soul are yours, amore. I have been waiting for you. You don’t know how deliriously happy you’ve made me.” He slowly kissed the tears that were unstoppable now due to my getting choked up by all the overwhelming emotions that were racketing through me.

  With my joyous tears, we kissed. It was a kiss full of promise, full of hope and love.

  This moment was mine. The people who wanted to take it away could go fuck themselves.

  Now my only problem was how to tell Blake about the interesting delivery.

  Seven

  Blake

  “Are you in your flat?” Toby asked, sounding strained and coarse.

  “Just about. I’m on my way up,” I said as I got out of my car and inserted the keys into my pocket.

  “Good. Good. I’ll see you in twenty,” Toby hesitantly said.

  Was something the matter? “Twenty it is.” Cutting the call, I went straight to the lift. A few minutes later, I arrived inside my flat. The throaty, melancholy sounds of Adele greeted me while I navigated my way towards the source of the music.

  It was in the kitchen where I found her, on her laptop with coffee and biscotti as expected. Her back was to me; therefore I took my time basking and admiring Sienna from this view.

  Coming home to her surely was one of my favorite things to do. Although parting with her when I left for yet another business trip, was my least favored one. This feeling of intoxication, and the sense of completeness within my soul, told me that this was my life’s purpose; to respect, to honor and protect this woman with my undying love, to protect her with my life.

  Sienna was my life. My fate centered in this very room, with this very woman.

  The thought of losing her had been pounding constantly in my head, like an inkling that tragedy was nearing and I should be aware of it. If they attempted again and they became successful… I’d die with her. Some might see this as a cowardly act, however it certainly made sense to me. How did one live with half a soul? Being half a man? Or even try living with a missing piece of your heart? It was abominable and ungodly to comprehend.

  Slowly strolling towards her, a blissful smile pasted on my face when I saw her exit her browser and searched for another file,
giving me a glimpse of her screensaver; me, naked, sleeping with her silk robe draped around my private area. She then doctored the photo and wrote MINE over the robe. Back in the day, I used to ponder much of the time whether she felt the same for me, but now, I knew she was just as crazy, just as nonsensical, just as bewitched as I was with her.

  “Il mio cuore. La mia vita. Il mio tutto.” My heart. My life. My everything, I spoke as I wrapped my arms around her, lips trailing kisses around her soft neck, groaning when I smelled her scent. “Ti amo tanto.” I love you so much.

  “You’re home,” Sienna sighed, leaning against my chest before she twisted her neck to kiss me. Her hand was stroking the side of my face as our kiss deepened.

  With the softness of her body against mine, the very taste of her lips and the scent of her, it took all the power in me not to consume her on the spot. “Toby is on his way up. We shall continue this reunion the second he leaves.” I grunted when she bit my lip, gently sucking it.

  Sienna’s eyes twinkled. “You promise?” she purred, tempting my libido to go haywire.

  “I’m not about to promise you that, cara, because promises were made due to one’s common inability to deliver what was expected from the person.” I nibbled on her lobe, slowly growling from the growing need in my groin. “Your man is a man of action and I can clue you in on just how good he may be.”

  “Well I have some extra time.”

  Hell. I seriously had forgotten my friend’s call. “Bollocks. Toby’s on his way over. He said he wanted to speak to me. Could it wait until later? I’ve missed you.”

  “Alright, I’ll go ahead and work on these and you go ahead to talk to him. I’ll go ahead and pop in to say hi soon.” She kissed me, grinning.

  I playfully bit into her neck before I finally let go of her, to go meet my friend who should be here any second now. As expected, he was prompt, always on time.