by L. P. Dover
“Am I staying at your place tonight?” Brett asked as he walked me to the front door of my house. The uncertainty in his voice filled the air and I instantly turned my gaze to him, shocked. We had spent the whole drive to my house in silence, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to talk to him, it was just that I had a lot on my mind. Brett walked me to my door and I playfully pushed him inside.
“Of course,” I exclaimed. “I always want you to stay. You’ve been with me every night for the past week. I kind of like it.” I squeezed his hand reassuringly, hoping the creases in his forehead would disappear.
Sighing, he shrugged his shoulder and pursed his lips. “I don’t know, Melissa. I could sense a change in you tonight and it was different, distant. You completely closed up on me.” When I didn’t answer, he hesitated before he continued, “Is it Daniel? Your whole mood shifted when you met him. Do you not like the guy or something?”
My inner self was screaming at me just to tell Brett the truth, but I couldn’t do it. I already screwed up by not telling him that Daniel was my ex-husband. As I climbed up the stairs to my room, Brett followed and I knew I had to say something in my defense. “There’s something about him I don’t like,” I announced honestly. “Do you not think he was kind of shady? His whole demeanor screamed douche bag.”
Brett chuckled, but then turned serious. “Yeah, I kind of got that from him, especially when he kept looking at you. I was starting to get pissed off, but since he’s my client I bit my tongue.”
When we got to my room, I sashayed out of my dress and pulled out a T-shirt from one of my drawers, slipping it on. “Have you ever turned down a client or refused to work with one?” I asked curiously, heading into the bathroom.
Brett began to take off his clothes, and then climbed into the bed in just his boxers. After I washed my face and used the bathroom, I joined him in bed and cuddled up next to him. “So far, no I haven’t had to turn down a client. Why do you ask?” he replied, gazing down at me in his arms.
I shrugged. “No reason, really. I just wanted to know what your protocol was if you didn’t like someone.”
Brett kissed me on the forehead and chuckled. “I’m a professional, Melissa. I don’t have to get along with every one of my clients, and I’ve worked with plenty that I can’t stand. It’s what I do.”
Would he be saying that if he knew who Daniel was and what he threatened me with?
Yawning, I laid my head down on Brett’s bare chest and I could hear the steady rhythm of his heart beating against my ear. The burn grew heavier behind my eyelids and I tried to keep the tears at bay, but I couldn’t. They slowly fell in rivers down my cheeks, landing on Brett’s chest.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” he said soothingly while rubbing his hand in gentle circles across my back. The guilt of not telling him about Daniel was eating me up inside. I was angry at myself and even angrier that I was letting my ex-husband get his way.
Shaking my head, I cried, “Nothing’s wrong, Brett. I just wanted you to know how much I love you.”
“Oh, baby, I love you, too.” Tilting my chin up with his finger, he narrowed his eyes and searched my face. “But why do I feel like you’re keeping something from me. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m all right,” I lied, plastering a smile to my face.
Brett raised a cynical brow and glanced over at the clock. “Okay, I’ll leave you alone since you obviously don’t want to talk about it. But as much as I love you I know that we need to get some sleep. I want nothing more than to fuck you senseless tonight, but I know you don’t feel well so I guess you can have a break.” He winked playfully, but I could see it in his eyes that this conversation wasn’t over. At least for the night I didn’t have to tell him.
Smiling half-heartedly, I murmured, “Goodnight.”
I kissed him gently on the lips and settled myself in the crook of his arm with one of mine draped across his waist while his circled around my back. His warmth was a comfort to me, but even in the comfort of his arms I knew I was going to be haunted with the fact that my life hung in the balance and my ex-husband was the one who had the reins.
Fifteen
As soon as Brett left to go to his grandmother’s house to help her move furniture I knew it would be the perfect time to make the phone calls I’d been impatiently waiting to make. I tried to find Daniel’s sister’s number on the internet, but no luck; it was time to get my cousin’s help. It was bright and early on a Sunday morning, which meant I was probably going to wake him up, but I was desperate. I had to talk to him while Brett wasn’t anywhere around.
After dialing the number, I waited, tapping my foot against the hard wood floor. “Pick up the phone, Mason,” I grumbled into the phone. Mason Bradley was my cousin and also a very thorough police detective. I knew for a fact he would do anything for me if I just asked.
In a gruff, sleepy voice, Mason answered, “This better be good, Mel.”
I sighed. “Hey Mase, I’m sorry for waking you up, but it’s important. I need you to find a number for me. I never transferred it over when I got my new phone.”
Mason mumbled under his breath and I could tell he’d gotten up and went to his desk by the sound of shuffling papers. “All right, give me the name and as much information you got on the person,” he ordered in his commanding voice.
He was a couple of years older than me and had always been the protector … well, more like a big brother. He was six foot four with short blond hair and green eyes just like me. The green eyes ran in our family. When he found out Daniel had cheated on me, he came over to help load up Daniel’s things the next day, but he ended up giving Daniel a black eye and a busted nose when he showed up at the house.
When it sounded like he was ready, I began, “Her name is Claire O’Briene, she’s single or at least she was the last time I spoke with her. She also lives in California and she’s twenty-six years old. Her family owns a winery and vineyard out there in Sonoma County.”
“Oh hell, why are you trying to get in touch with your ex’s sister?” he asked incredulously. “Please tell me you’re not going back to that jackass are you?”
“No,” I shouted. “I’m actually dating someone right now. Unfortunately, Daniel is trying to screw everything up though.”
“My God, I wish you would’ve never married that piece of shit. I told you from the beginning that he was bad news, but you didn’t listen to me, did you? What’s the prick up to now?”
Blowing out an angry breath, I explained, “Okay, here’s how it started. First, I met this guy named Brett and now we’re dating which is absolutely wonderful. He’s amazing and I know you’ll like him when you meet him. He’s an architect that works for my friend Korinne’s husband over at M&M Architectural Design. Anyway, he landed a new client and can you guess who that new client is?”
“Are you serious?” Mason muttered. “You have the worst luck of anyone I know. So now your boyfriend has to work with Daniel. I take it that meeting didn’t go over too well.”
“Well,” I started, “Brett doesn’t know.”
“Uh … how does he not know?” Mason questioned curiously. “Didn’t you tell him?”
I groaned and started pacing the living room floor. “I couldn’t, Mason. Last night I went to dinner with Brett to meet his ‘client’ and when I found out it was Daniel I tried to back out by saying I didn’t feel good. Brett’s ecstatic about this account, and also Daniel was pretty adamant that he had to have him do the building per his investor’s requests. It was all kinds of odd. I don’t understand why he had to have Brett.”
“So you feel that if you say something then Brett will forgo the account and cause a shit ton of problems,” Mason stated. “Is that what you’re afraid of?”
“I wish,” I mumbled sarcastically. “Daniel threatened me last night when I left the table to go to the restroom.”
Mason growled, “That motherfucker. What did he say?”
“He threatened to
do something if I told Brett who he was. He thinks that if Brett finds out who he is to me then he’ll drop the account. According to Daniel, there will be some dire consequences if he backs out of this. Those were pretty much his exact words. But that’s not really the concern I have at the moment, even though it makes no sense. I know Brett is professional and would keep the account anyway even though he wouldn’t like working with Daniel. The main problem is when I questioned Daniel about the land he wants to build on.”
“Doesn’t his family own some property out in California?” Mason asked.
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Yes, that’s one of the reasons why he threatened me. He says he inherited his family’s land, but I know for a fact that it was supposed to go to his sister when both of his parents died. His parents didn’t want Daniel to have that land. They knew he wouldn’t take care of it like his sister would.”
“So what are you thinking exactly?”
“Mason, I think he paid someone off to change the will, or better yet he could just be bluffing about it. When I told him I know he shouldn’t have that land that’s when he got all weird on me and threatened me to keep my mouth shut. I don’t think he anticipated me getting involved with his architect.”
“That wouldn’t surprise me if he paid someone off,” Mason added. “Now back to the threatening part. What did he threaten to do to you? If you say he threatened to kill you I’ll take that fucker out right now.”
I snickered, even though it wasn’t funny. “No, he didn’t threaten to kill me per se, but more like my career and my relationship with Brett. He told me that if I tell Brett about my suspicions of the land and of who he is then he’ll tell the school board that I had an affair with one of my students.” Pausing, I huffed out angrily, “That could ruin me, Mase. I’ll go to jail if they believe those lies.”
“I’m not going to let that happen, Mel. I’m not going to let him do this to you and ruin your life.”
“There’s more,” I added reluctantly.
“Seriously? What could be more than this clusterfuck?” he spat.
Sighing, I sat down on my couch and rubbed my throbbing temples. I was probably going to have an aneurysm once this was all over. “He said if I get back together with him he’ll forget the whole thing. Needless to say we’d have to keep it a secret since he doesn’t want anything interfering with his project. He went on and on about how he can give me everything that Brett can’t.” Mason was quiet on the other end of the line, and I knew it was because he was fuming. Hastily, I said, “I’m not going to do it, Mason. I’ll forfeit my career before I let him back into my life.”
Mason blew out his held breath. “Thank heavens for that, but this is serious, Mel. Play your cards right and stay out of his way for now. Just don’t fuel the fire with your hotheadedness. Okay, so I’m assuming you want Claire’s number to ask her about the will, right?”
“Yes,” I replied, rolling my eyes at his comment about my hotheadedness. “I just want to gauge her reaction when I call for a friendly catch up talk and to also tell her how sorry I am about her mother. I can trust her, I know it. Daniel must’ve just been the bad apple of the family.”
“All right, I’ll get you her number, but I want you to be careful. I’ll see what I can find out about Daniel, but in the meantime don’t do anything stupid or reckless. I’ll text you the number when I get it.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I murmured, “Thank you, Mase. I appreciate you doing this for me.”
“Anytime, Mel. You know I got your back.”
We both hung up the phone and now all I had to do was wait. Patience was something I didn’t possess.
Sixteen
I was hoping Mason would’ve called or texted me Claire’s number before Brett got back but he didn’t. When Brett showed up, he was covered in sweat and dirt and carrying a picnic basket in his hand. I gazed down at it curiously. “Um … are you trying to say you want to go on a picnic?” I teased.
Brett laughed and placed the basket on the table. “Not exactly, but my grandmother couldn’t pack all of the food on just a couple of plates, so she got this instead and jammed it full of food. By the looks of it, I think we’ll have enough for dinner this week without us having to cook.”
“Wow,” I breathed in awe. “Remind me to call and thank her.”
Brett beamed. “I will, but first and foremost I need to take a shower. I thought I was only going to have to move furniture, but she ended up needing me in the garden again. I guess the food was payment.” He laughed, but then his gaze turned serious … heated. “So, since I’m going to take a shower to wash the dirt off of me, you’re more than welcome to join,” he insisted with a quirk of his brow.
Raking my eyes down his dirt encrusted skin, I figured I’d pass, but I was definitely going to make sure I was ready for him when he got out. Playfully, I scrunched up my nose at him. “I tell you what, babe. Why don’t you go take a shower, get clean, and I’ll be waiting for you when you get out. How does that sound?”
He bit his lip and instantly his pants began to bulge. “That sounds like a plan, firecracker. It won’t take me long in the shower so be ready.”
Brett raced up the stairs and disappeared from sight. When I got to my room, the air was already humid with the steam emanating from the bathroom, and it smelled like the citrusy scent of Brett’s Neroli soap. I quickly lit some candles and shut the blinds so it would be dark in the room, but with the faint glow of the candles giving us just the right amount of illumination. After I took off all of my clothes, I ran my hands through my hair and grabbed the one thing out of my jewelry box that I thought he’d love.
Wrapping the long strand of pearls around my neck so they dangled between my bare breasts, I also put a pair of black stiletto heels on that I found under my bed. I wanted to put on my corset, but I knew I wouldn’t have enough time for that, so I climbed up on the mattress with just my heels and pearls. He’s going to love this.
The moment Brett stepped out of the shower and into the bedroom, he froze. A wolfish smile gleamed on his face and he immediately stalked over to me, dropping the towel around his waist in the process. He climbed up on the bed and towered over me, droplets of hot water splashing over my bare body from his.
“And what do we have here?” he purred, fingering the pearls around my neck before gazing down at my heels. “I think we can put those pearls to better use don’t you think?”
I bit my lip. “What did you have in mind?”
Straddling my waist, Brett unwrapped the pearls from around my neck and lifted my arms above my head. “Hold on to the bed post,” he commanded. Taking the pearls, he securely tied them around my wrist and around the bed posts, locking me in place; I instantly felt wet between my legs.
He sat back, growling deep in his chest, and just shook his head while raking his gaze down my naked body. His heat-filled stare had me shivering all over my flesh and aching for him to touch me, to satisfy the need growing in my belly. Slowly, he lifted each one of my legs and bent them at the knee, separating my thighs apart. Biting his lip, he lowered his face to that throbbing part of my sex that yearned for his attention. His tongue flicked across my nub and I bucked against the bed, hissing as the warmth tingled its way throughout my body.
“Easy, firecracker,” he teased. “We have to take it easy on those pearls. If you move too much you might break them. We can’t have that now can we? They look fucking hot wrapped around your golden skin.”
He licked again and I moaned feverishly. The teasing was driving me crazy, so I cried out impatiently, “Please, Brett. I need you inside me.”
“All in good time,” he breathed huskily. Grabbing my legs, Brett draped them over his shoulders and lifted up my hips with his hands on my ass. Devouring me with his tongue, he licked and sucked and plunged in deep, tasting all of me he could. In a matter of seconds, I was bursting at the seams. The trembling of my orgasm rocked my body in spasms while Brett lapped up all trac
es of my desire for him, chuckling deep the whole time.
Sliding my legs off his back, he settled my hips back down on the bed and crawled on top of me. “I think you’re ready now,” he quipped. “You needed to get loosened up a bit.”
Breathing heavily, I glared at him incredulously. “I didn’t need loosening up. You just wanted to see me writhe against you.”
With a smirk on his face, he didn’t even answer, but I knew what that look meant. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I could feel his rigid cock pressed against my opening. He entered me gently at first, but then thrust in hard once my body accommodated to his width.
He groaned. “I love it how you’re always wet for me, Melissa.”
“I can’t help it. You’re just amazing at what you do in the bedroom.”
Brett chuckled lightly and picked up his pace while also undoing the pearls around my wrists at the headboard. “I want to feel your touch as I come inside you,” he murmured in my ear, tossing the necklace to the floor. My eyes rolled back in my head and I clenched my legs tighter around his body. His words alone could penetrate me down there and get me off. I was so close.
Wrapping his arms around me, Brett pulled me close and pumped faster while his mouth captured mine, muffling out my screams of pleasure as I cried out against his lips. His tongue was hot and sweet, laced with the taste of me … of my desire for him. I could feel his heart pumping rigorously against my chest as he lay on top of me, devouring me, and so close to spurting his release inside me.
“Come with me, baby. I want to feel you clench around me and know that I’m sending you over the edge when you send me over mine.”
Panting and breathless, my eyes rolled to the back of my head as his words did me in. Almost immediately, the tightening between my legs had me reeling over the edge; I came hard and fast. Brett’s grip dug into my skin, but I welcomed the sting of it as he grunted in my ear and spilled his warm seed inside of my body. Breathing hard, Brett collapsed beside me and wrapped his arms around my waist, feathering gentle kisses along my arm and shoulder as he calmed down.
