Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  “I know.” I shrugged as I smiled.

  She cupped my face, “Stefen, te quiero con todo mi corazon, mi amor.”

  Hearing her repeat my profession of love in Spanish was one of the most sensual things I’d ever heard. “Now give me those beautiful lips, so I can kiss the hell out of them.”

  When our lips met, my pulse picked up as adrenaline rushed through my overheated body, filling with anticipation. Roaming her body with my hands, I devoured her mouth with such fervor that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to let her go.

  I backed us up to the couch, laying her body underneath mine as I captured everything she was giving me. Hearing her moans sparked an even deeper passion as I kissed every spot of her exposed skin.

  “Stefen,” she whimpered. “I want you, but I’m scared.”

  Snapping me out of my lustful actions, I knew exactly what she was talking about. She didn’t fear us being together. She was afraid of our physical intimacy. I’d wounded her so deeply in the past, and I was going to have to reel in my hunger for her.

  Without a doubt, I wanted to ravish her, but that wasn’t enough. I really did want her whole heart. Just knowing that she was mine, I could wait for this part.

  Moving back up to her face, I hovered over her body. “We’ll wait as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.” I gave her another quick kiss and switched subjects before my actions contradicted what I’d just promised her. “I’m starved. I can’t wait to eat the omelet you promised me.” I pulled her up, grinning.

  “Is that what you want me for? My cooking?” she teased.

  “You caught me.” I smirked, then cleared my throat. “Now let’s get off this couch before I show you one of the other many reasons why I want you.”

  Her answering pants were music to my ears.

  ⁂

  Leah

  I had already pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming as I loaded the dishwasher after breakfast. Stefen loved me. Apparently, for months. Why had I waited so long to tell him how I felt? We could have been together this entire time.

  It actually worked out for the best, though. We needed to learn how to be with each other first, without it just being about sex.

  It took everything I had to stop him on the couch. I wanted him to keep going, but I was thankful he’d respected my feelings. If we were going to make it in the long run, we would need to build on a strong foundation that had nothing to do with physical intimacy.

  The phone rang as I started the dishwasher. Stefen had stepped into the bathroom, so I comfortably answered like I’d done many times before.

  The incensed female voice on the other end bellowed, “Oh, so now that you are engaged, you think you have the right to answer his phone?”

  Clicking my tongue, I asked, “I'm sorry, who is this?” I knew who this cow was but wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction.

  “You know damn well that this is Stefen's mother.”

  Playing it off, I said in my sweetest voice, “Actually, I didn't know it was you, Mrs. Hunter. Stefen can't come to the phone right now, but I can have him call you back.”

  The tone in his mom’s voice was tight. “If you think you’re going to use my son to get yourself out of the ghetto, then you’re mistaken.” This woman hurled insults quicker than a monkey flung its shit at innocent bystanders.

  “Excuse me?” And just like that, my bitch switch was flipped to the ‘on’ position.

  “You heard me. Do not be mistaken. There is no way some girl from the hood is going to taint our family blood and freeload off our fortune,” she huffed, clearly irritated. “I will make you an offer, though. How much will it take for you to stay away from my son?” I could hear the clicking of a pen, as though she was literally sitting there with her checkbook.

  I squeezed the phone so hard, I was surprise it didn’t snap in half. “How dare you speak to me like that. There isn't enough money in the world to keep me from marrying Stefen, so you had better just get used to the idea, Mom! And correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that family fortune, your husband’s inheritance?” Take that, you stuffy-assed bitch.

  Stefen’s mom gasped audibly. “How dare you—”

  I was shaking by the time I hung the phone up, then turned to see Stefen standing behind me with his jaw nearly touching the floor.

  Slapping my hand over my mouth, I murmured between my fingers, “I am so sorry. Your mom pissed me off. I wasn't thinking.”

  As expected, his cell started to ring.

  He cupped my face, darting his eyes back and forth between mine, then pecked me on the lips. “I love you.” Then he walked toward his blaring mobile phone sitting on the dining room table. He chuckled and shook his head. “I guess it's my turn now.”

  ⁂

  Stefen

  I answered the call right before it went to my voicemail. “Hello, Mother.”

  My mother screamed into the phone, “What the hell, Stefen? When I specifically asked you if you were dating her, you said you were not. Now I hear from Lisa that you proposed and didn’t even consult me? You cannot marry her. Have your fun with her, but do not bring her into our family.” She muttered, “What will people think?”

  Speaking through gritted teeth, I squeezed the phone, similar to how I’d seen Leah do. “Mom, you have no say so in who I marry. I'm a grown-ass man and can make my own fucking decisions. And by the way, do not give anyone else my address. If I want someone to know where I live, I'll give it to them myself.” I wanted Leah to know that I intended to stand up for her, so I purposely joined her in the kitchen during the call. Pulling her toward me, I ran a reassuring hand up and down her back.

  “Stefen, do I need to remind you of what happened to William Hanson? Everyone turned their back on him and his family when he married that stripper. You can't do that to us. My son will not marry an immigrant,” she barked out in fury.

  Outraged, I did something that I would normally think was too disrespectful. I yelled back at her, “Mother, I'm done with this conversation! You can either accept that I love Leah and am going to marry her, or plan on not seeing me anymore. She isn't going anywhere. She's in my life for good.” I added, slightly softer, “I'm the one who isn't good enough for her.”

  Leah whipped her head up and I gave her a reassuring wink.

  Shocking the hell out of me, my mom spat out, “She's pregnant, isn't she? How can you do this to us?” She was desperate at this point and was beginning to whine like Lisa had earlier. “Wait, we can fix this. Go get a DNA test. You know how easy those gold diggers are. It's probably not even your child. She’s just after your money. You do see this, don't you?”

  “Son of a bitch,” I muttered under my breath.

  If this conversation had to happen in front of Leah, my mother needed to know that Leah was my priority. I would go to the ends of the earth to protect her and her honor. “Mom! She’s not pregnant and don't ever say anything about her again. I love her. End of story!” Staring into Leah’s eyes, I added, “Trust me, though, when she is pregnant, I’ll be the happiest man alive.” I ended the call, tossing the phone on the counter.

  We weren’t actually engaged, but my blood boiled. My mother had always acted superior, and I was done with it. What was worse was that I’d learned how to be that way from her.

  Never again would I travel down that road. As an outsider looking in, I was disgusted. This was exactly what Caleb had been talking about for so many years.

  My cousin was trying to save me from myself. I have some restitutions to make.

  I caged Leah between my arms, placing my hands on the counter behind her. “I’m sorry about that. I’d like to say it’s the last time we’ll hear that kind of shit from her, but you and I both know it’s not.”

  Rubbing her palm on my chest, Leah said, “Stefen, I'm not mad at you. You don’t control her. Just like I don’t control Elena. Wait until you get a load of her.” A wicked smile crept up Leah’s beautiful lips.

  My
own devious smile broke free. “If you keep smiling like that, you’re going to find yourself back on that couch with me.”

  Her eyes widened, and I chuckled. It looked like she was actually entertaining the idea, but I knew better. We were going to have to watch ourselves until she was ready.

  Smacking her on the ass, I said, “Okay, I need to get out of here before the phone rings again, like I’m sure it will when the news of our ‘engagement’ breaks out. What do you say to a walk on the beach? I'll even leave my cell here.”

  Once she recovered from the shock of the ass smack, her face softened. “Wait, why didn’t you tell your mom the truth?”

  Pulling her face toward mine, I kissed her lips, down her jaw, making my way to her neck. “Leah, I did tell her the truth. The only detail that wasn’t true was that we aren’t engaged—yet.” I pulled away and wiggled my eyebrows.

  She breathed out heavily, “Yet?”

  Smirking, I told her, “Everything in its own time, mi amor.” I liked the sound of my new favorite pet name for her. Whether it was spoken in English, French, or Spanish—she was my love.

  Chapter Twenty - One

  But I’m Really Hot

  Leah

  Stefen’s knuckles skimmed the silky skin of my inner arm as he tenderly kissed my shoulders. Standing beside my bed, he pulled me closer until my back touched his bare torso, his fingertips brushing the hypersensitive skin on my stomach. My head moved to the side, giving his lips the access they needed to consume the length of my neck. With his hands on my waist, he gently directed me to turn around and face him. The intense hunger in his beautiful eyes was tantalizing, and I couldn’t wait to satisfy his appetite.

  We hadn’t talked about it yet, but at this moment, I couldn’t care less about the consequences. I loved Stefen with everything I had, and he’d promised that he felt the same way about me. The one thing I couldn’t understand right now was why I wasn’t nervous.

  Stefen slowly ran his soothing fingertips down my exposed back as I inhaled deeply and held that breath, savoring his masculine aroma. He grunted his approval when his hand landed on my barely-there, panty-covered round bottom.

  A shiver made its way down my spine as his breath teased the side of my neck, and he whispered in my ear, “I can't wait to take you as mine and only mine. No other man will ever have you like this again.”

  “I’m already yours, Stefen,” I panted erratically.

  Slowly laying me down, on top of the velvety-covered bedspread, he pulled our bodies closer to the headboard, placing feather-light kisses on my neck, shoulders, and chest.

  I whimpered before moaning his name, “Oh, Stefen.”

  Then something shifted in the air. There was an energy in the room that didn't belong.

  “Stefen is not the type to settle down. He won't be faithful to you. He doesn't know how.”

  As he covered my body with his own, I peeked over Stefen's broad shoulder to see where that toxic voice was coming from. I knew exactly who it belonged to, but I couldn't see anyone.

  “He'll come crawling back. You'll see. He always comes back to me.”

  Then I did see.

  Lisa was standing in the doorway, wearing an outfit that could only be found in a Hookers-R-Us catalog, see-through clear acrylic high-heels and all. Her bleach blond hair flowed down her back as she turned and walked away.

  “She's right.” Stefen lifted his head as he smirked down at me. “I won’t be faithful.”

  Feeling myself being shaken, I heard, “Leah, wake up.” My tear-filled eyes opened to find the man of my dreams—and now nightmares—above me. “Are you okay?” Panic filled Stefen’s voice.

  “Oh shit.” I placed my hand on my hammering heart as I jolted up, forcing him to move back. “It was just a dream,” I spoke softly. Closing my eyes, I wiped away my tears.

  He lifted his hand then put it back down, seeming to fight the urge to touch me. “What were you dreaming about? I heard you moaning my name, then when I came in, you screamed for me to get off you.” Clearly, he was shaken.

  Inhaling deep calming breaths, I said, “I'm okay now.” My skin was instantly on fire when I grasped that he'd ran into my room only wearing underwear and was now straddling my shins.

  There went my pounding heart again— for entirely different reasons this time.

  “Do you want me to stay?” He leaned in close. We’d agreed to continue to sleep in separate rooms until our relationship became physical. It was Stefen’s idea, and I had been so thankful for his consideration.

  I reached to pat his chest, then regretted it once my palm touched his skin. “No. I’m fine. I need to go back to sleep, and you have to go.” Pulling the blanket over my tank top, all I really wanted to do was throw it on him so I wouldn't be tortured by his impeccable half-naked body.

  “You scared the shit out of me.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Can I please stay with you?” he pleaded.

  Staring at his bare chest, I closed my eyes. “Fine, but you have to go get dressed. You can't sleep next to me only wearing that.” I pointed to his nicely fitted underwear.

  A smile slowly crept up on his face. “I'll be right back.” He leaped off my legs and trotted down the hall.

  I groaned, pressing a hand to my forehead. There was no way I’d be able to fall asleep next to him after that dream.

  The room was dark, but I knew when Stefen returned that he was sporting his blue plaid pajama pants. My favorite pajama bottoms.

  “Better?” He motioned to the pants.

  “No, go put on a shirt, too.” I pointed my index finger at his chest.

  “But I'm really hot,” he complained.

  I grunted, then flicked my wrist at him. “I know you are, that’s why I need you to put on a freaking shirt!”

  Hope sparked to life on his face, and I sighed. “Maybe you should just sleep in your room.”

  “No.” His shoulders slumped, that hope completely gone. “I’ll go put on a shirt.” He ran out of the room again, almost falling as he turned the corner. Catching himself, he grabbed onto the doorframe and pulled himself up. “Be right back.”

  I ran my sweaty palm on my thighs, and it dawned on me what I'd worn to bed. Jumping up, I pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a sports bra under my lacy tank top, then I scooted back into my warm bed before he returned.

  “Do you mind if I open the slider a little?” He pointed to the glass door attached to my balcony.

  “Stefen, it's December in Santa Barbara. It’s freezing.” Maybe that was what I needed, though, because my body was about to combust.

  Lowering his chin, he grumbled, “Please, Leah. I'm from Chicago. This is not cold.”

  I could see his disapproving scowl in the dimly-lit room. Shivers traveled down my back, then my eyes landed on his lips. Damn. Those lips. I could see their outline even in the darkness of my room.

  “Fine,” I gave in. “Can we just go to sleep? I’m exhausted.” Pulling the covers over my shoulders, I watched him move the thick drapery we’d picked out together. He opened the sliding door just a crack, then turned and busted me ogling him.

  I threw my head back onto my pillow and stared up at the ceiling. This night is never going to end. Maybe I’ll move to the other guest room once he falls asleep.

  Rounding the bed, he pulled the blankets down and scanned my completely covered body before climbing in. After placing a pillow between us, I turned my back with a huff.

  “Can I ask you a question?” His deep voice vibrated through the room.

  “Uh huh.” Chewing my lip, I dreaded what he was going to ask.

  “Were you having a naughty dream about me?” It sounded like he stopped breathing, but I couldn’t really tell if it was him, or just me.

  “Goodnight, Stefen,” I sing-songed.

  Concern coated his voice as he asked, “What happened? You seemed so upset.”

  I was beyond self-conscious. This was the man I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life
with, but I’d never had a sex dream before. And I’d certainly never talked about it with my co-star.

  As bold as I was in other areas of my life, I was, without a doubt, very shy when it came to things of a sexual nature. But if I planned on sharing my life with Stefen—a man who oozed sensuality—then I’d have to get over this.

  Not tonight.

  Plus, I was still a bit shaken over the part that Lisa played when my fantasy turned into a nightmare. “Can we talk about it later?” Biting my lip, with my back still facing him, I hoped he wouldn’t push me further.

  “I'm not trying to embarrass you, amor. I'm just wondering why you were yelling at me to get off you. Did I hurt you?” His hand lightly touched my arm.

  He was worried if he'd hurt me in a dream?

  I finally turned toward him. Bringing my arm up, I bent my elbow and tucked my hand under my head. “It was only a nightmare. It doesn’t mean anything.”

  He pulled the pillow away that separated us and moved closer. “Tell me. Did you dream that I hurt you?”

  Huffing, I finally resigned, “I was dreaming that we were, you know,” I mumbled, “about to have sex, then Lisa showed up and said you would never be faithful to me. It just shook me up, that’s all.”

  “Leah, I hope you don’t really believe that. I may be many things, but I’m not a cheater. You must have that somewhere in your subconscious if you dreamt it.” Running his hand up and down my arm, he said, “I would never do that to you.” In the dim room, I could barely make out his expression, but he looked hurt.

  I brought my free hand up to his face, caressing all of his worry lines and smoothing out his eyebrows. “I know you won’t.”

  In an attempt to lighten the mood, I explained some of my other nightmares. “I've dreamt about zombie shark people and vampire cats before. It doesn't mean they’re living in my subconscious. It just meant that I ate too much chocolate before bed.”

  The bed rustled as he scooted closer, caressing my face. “I know you’re a master at redirecting conversations, but I want to make sure we’re okay. You’ve never put on a suit of armor or asked me to get fully clothed before when we lay next to each other. I swear I’m not going to make any moves. I’m leaving that ball in your court.”