A Tangled Web (A Books We Love Erotic Romance)

by Summer Jordan

  “I’m sorry to barge in. Are you sure you don’t mind, Ms O’Brien?”

  Erin’s mother smiled coyly and shook her head. Derek was out to make a good impression and succeeding. She wasn’t surprised, Derek had that effect on people. And what he did to her left her breathless just remembering. The touch of his tongue as he licked then sucked her nipples, the taste of his cock when she nibbled it from base to head where a drop of pre-cum gleamed at the slit… No! She couldn’t let herself think about that, remember all she had lost.

  “Mom was telling me that Angel plans to call off her wedding,” Erin said as coolly as she could manage.

  “I heard.” He grinned and motioned over a server. “Give these two ladies another drink and I’ll have your best scotch over rocks.”

  “Celebrating something?” Erin asked dryly. Like the fact that your fiancée let you off the hook? Her head whirled with questions she wanted to ask. When it’s your child, how can you possibly be so happy? Where does this leave us? Can there ever again be an ‘us’? Can I ever again have your rigid cock plunging away inside me, sending flames shooting along my nerve endings, causing that coil of tension inside me to tighten until I come screaming your name? “I understand her mother is still hoping to change her mind.”

  “I’m surprised she’d want to.” Derek’s smiled clouded over. “If your mother wouldn’t mind, could I have a word with you alone, Erin? It won’t take long.”

  “I don’t believe there’s any call for it.”

  “Erin, don’t be snide,” Barbara said. “It’s all right. Go ahead and talk to this charming man. I’ll wait.”

  Sighing, Erin rose and followed him to another table. He took her hand. “Sweetheart, I told you everything would work out. What’s wrong? Why aren’t you happy? The wedding is off.”

  Erin drew her hand away. “How can you feel so good about walking out on Angel?”

  “It’s not like that. She doesn’t want to marry me. I told you that earlier, but now that she’s announced it in front of her mother and mine, that makes it official. So I can propose to the woman I really love. I do love you, Erin.”

  A tear ran down her cheek. “You can’t be serious. Marry the man who fathered my cousin’s baby? See that child at every family gathering and know my husband is his daddy? That’s sick.”

  “Oh. My. God. You think…” Derek slapped himself alongside the head. “Erin, the baby isn’t mine. Dior is the one who got Angel pregnant.”

  Erin’s heart almost leaped out of her chest. “Really? There’s actually a man named Dior?”

  “Absolutely. And Angel is still in love with him. He’d left town and she came to me—desperate and bordering on suicidal, or so I feared. She and I dated a few years back and—”

  “That’s what you meant about being a Samaritan. She asked you to marry her and you said yes? Good Lord, Derek. That’s more stupid than noble.”

  “Ouch. I proposed because I felt sorry for her and I can’t father children so—”

  “You can’t?” Erin touched his shoulder.

  He shook his head and went on. “So, this was a chance to indulge in fatherhood while helping an old friend. I was all right with the idea at the time, maybe even liked the thought of playing the role, but later realised that I’d not only made a mistake, but it was snowballing.

  “Once I met you… I think you’re familiar with what happened. I fell for you right away and wanted to grab onto whatever time we could have together. I knew it was wrong but couldn’t help myself. I thought I was doing the right thing to go through with the marriage I’d suggested, even though it wasn’t what I wanted.

  “But now that I’ve been chastised for trying to be noble, I realise it was the wrong thing.” He rubbed his hands over his eyes. “You won’t believe all that’s taken place today.”

  She thought she knew a little of it, thanks to her mother, but Erin’s mouth hung open as he related the story about the fiasco at the hospital. “And now Angel’s angry with you because you didn’t tell her you were sterile?”

  Derek nodded. “Does that bother you?”

  “That you can’t make babies? Of course not. I have an eleven-year-old and I’m not eager to start over.” She took his hand. “Mother said Aunt Julia longs to be a grandmother, so I’m surprised she didn’t change her mind about wanting you for a son-in-law.”

  “I guess she figures she has a grandchild on the way, and she’ll settle for one, to keep Angel from disgracing herself and the family,” Derek said.

  “That’s an old-fashioned attitude and unfair to everyone concerned.”

  “Including Dior,” Derek said, arching a brow. “She didn’t tell him.”

  “For God’s sake, why not?” Erin threw up her hands.

  “Hey!” Derek took them in his. “Where did you get this diamond?”

  “Would you believe I bought it for myself?”

  “I don’t know what to believe. Everything is so screwed up.”

  Erin stood and tugged his arm to get him to do the same. “Let’s go see if we can explain some things to my mother and clear matters up for you at the same time.”

  *

  Derek felt like he’d been run through the wringer on an old-time washing machine and was about to go through again. He and his parents had had a talk after they’d left the hospital and returned to the hotel. Then he’d gone off to find Erin because he wanted them to meet her before they left for home.

  Now that they’d sat down again with Barbara, he was facing another interrogation. Why couldn’t he just sweep Erin up in his arms, carry her up the elevator, take her to his room and throw her on his bed? He wanted to make her feel loved, make sure not a single doubt remained in her mind. He wanted to kiss every inch of her delectable body. He wanted to lick her clit until she moaned and admitted she couldn’t live without him. Then he’d fuck her until they both exploded in ecstasy. And then he’d do it all again. And again.

  But despite his erection that had begun to ache with desire at the prospect, he would have to wait just a bit longer.

  “You’re the man my niece was supposed to marry?” Barbara asked, narrowing her eyes on him. “But you’re in love with my daughter?”

  “That’s right. And Angel is in love with another man, Dior.”

  “How did you end up engaged to both of them?” Barbara asked, glancing at the ring on Erin’s hand.

  “I believe Erin can explain that better than I can.”

  “You know, Mother, you’ve always compared me to Angel, and whenever you nag…whenever you brought up my failings, you always mentioned my broken marriage as one of them. I couldn’t compete with Angel in many ways because she and I are so unalike, but she’d never managed to snag a man, so that was a way I could one-up her.”

  “What on earth are you talking about, Erin? You thought I wanted you to get married again? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “There are two times I’ve pleased you, Mom. One was when I married Joseph. You thought he was some sort of god. The other was when I gave you a grandson. Those two events put me two steps above my perfect cousin.”

  Barbara gasped. “I never meant to—”

  “But you did,” Erin said. “And I…I made up the story about being engaged to a handsome, successful man.” She rolled her eyes. “Then Angel announced her upcoming wedding and I was supposed to produce my fiancé and show off my diamond ring.”

  “I can’t believe you made up the whole thing. Derek didn’t buy you the solitaire?” She examined it closely. “It’s lovely.”

  “I’ve always had good taste, and remember asking me how big it was? I know it’s despicable, Mom, but I bought it to wear to the wedding, and if I was going to con people, I might as well do it right.”

  “Who were you going to introduce to the family as your fiancé?” Derek asked. She was supposed to enlighten him along with her mother, and he was still confused.

  “You. I planned to invit
e you to the wedding the Saturday night that you never showed up at my house.”

  He flinched at the reminder but nodded. “Why so last-moment?”

  “I was certain you loved me and I was waiting for you to tell me. I also hoped you’d propose. When it got down to a week before the marriage, I knew you weren’t going to. So I was going to explain my predicament and tell you I’d furnish a ring for our scenario if you’d go.”

  Derek was blown away by her declaration but he had to ask. “After I didn’t come back like I said I would, what were you going to do about a man to introduce as your future husband, Erin? Ask Mitch? Or was he too against marriage to even pretend?”

  She blushed, something he’d seldom seen her do. “Mitch has light hair. I’d told Mother my fiancé was tall, dark and handsome. So I was going to borrow my partner Margo’s husband.”

  Derek suddenly realised that Barbara was looking from one to the other of them like an observer at a ping-pong match. “I’m sorry.” He touched her hand. “This is no way to meet the man who hopes to become your son-in-law.”

  “You’re quite handsome,” Barbara said, breaking into a big smile. “Just like Erin said, and I find you very likeable. No wonder my sister Julia was so disappointed she isn’t getting you for a son-in-law. Just wait until she finds out who is.”

  “Mother.” Erin groaned. “Don’t go there. Derek and I haven’t resolved all our issues. Besides, your competition with Aunt Julia is growing old.”

  Barbara, ignoring Erin, turned to him. “I’m sure you will work things out. But Derek, why did you propose to Angel if you were in love with Erin?”

  “I hadn’t met Erin yet,” Derek said, unwilling to give away Angel’s secret.

  Erin’s mother nodded and smiled, apparently accepting this half-truth. “That explains everything. Now I think I’ll do some shopping and leave you two to your issues.”

  Standing, she lifted Erin’s left hand from the table, examined the diamond and smiled at Derek. “You might want to get the ring back you gave Angel,” Barbara said. “So she’ll know your engagement to her is over.”

  “Mother,” Erin huffed. “Remember, you and Aunt Julia are going to be better friends. This isn’t a competition with Derek as first prize.”

  “I suppose not, but he’s worth winning.” Barbara chuckled. “I’ll see you again. Soon, I hope, Derek.”

  “I hope so too, Mrs. O’Brien.” He stood and clasped her hand. “I don’t know that I’m a prize, but in my book, Erin’s clearly the winner.”

  *

  “I’ve missed you so much. I feel like I’ve been living a nightmare,” Derek said when her mother had left and they were alone. Looking at Erin sitting across from him at the table, he thought how beautiful she was. A vision in pale green slacks and top, her hair hanging loose, resting on her shoulders and framing her lovely face. But something was still troubling her, something that a wild, passionate fucking wouldn’t answer. She still needed to talk. With regret, he told his penis it would have to wait a bit longer.

  “How do you think it’s been for me? You disappearing, then me learning you were marrying Angel, and thinking she was having your baby? After we met, didn’t you think about what you were doing to me, having sex like a couple of rabbits while planning to leave me? Making me fall in love with you?” Erin tapped her fingernails on the tabletop.

  “I was falling in love with you, too, but I couldn’t stop seeing you until I absolutely had to. I admit I went into our relationship knowing it could only be temporary, but I was so drawn to you, I couldn’t help myself. I’m a man of my word and I was committed to a marriage. I couldn’t see any way to cancel without making a fool of her and her entire family, and she didn’t deserve that. I’d proposed. Invitations were sent. She’d been given a bridal shower. Like I told you in the beginning, I thought she was desperate and might do something to hurt herself. What would she do if I called the whole thing off that close to the wedding?”

  “I understand it would have been awkward calling the wedding off, but I don’t believe you would have proposed to a woman expecting another man’s child because she might be desperate. If she didn’t tell you she was going to kill herself, the reason you offered to marry her was because of the child. You wanted a baby and that was your way of getting one.”

  “That’s not true,” Derek said, but his voice fell flat. He was excited at the thought of holding an infant that might as well be his, considering he’d be there for its birth and every event after that. “Okay. Sure, I’d like to have had a child, but I’d long ago accepted that I couldn’t.”

  “Are you sure?” She gazed straight into his eyes. “Because if you’re being honest, the other explanation is that you were carried away with acting as Sir Galahad.”

  “Dammit, Erin. Back off, will you?” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’ve been through enough today. I don’t need my motives examined under a microscope. I was okay with marrying Angel until I met you, and I can’t help whether or not you think coming to her rescue was a legitimate reason for going through with the wedding. The point is, I had already proposed and I thought it would be a damned lousy trick to back out as much as I wanted to.”

  “But you got yourself into the mess for a reason, and it’s just as I thought. You were doing it to become a father.” She tapped her nails on the table again.

  He wished she’d stop doing that. It grated on his nerves like chalk on a blackboard. She was making a big deal out of nothing.

  “Tell me honestly that you wouldn’t like to have a son to play ball with or teach how to tie a necktie,” Erin said.

  “Dammit. I am a normal male, so sure, I’d like those things, but we can’t have everything we want in life. I love you and now that I’m free to marry you, that’s what I want to do. There’s no reason for conjecture.”

  She laid her hand over his. “I have to know how important that baby is to you, Derek. If you marry me, you’ll miss out on all that. No one would ever need to know the child wasn’t yours except your parents and Angel.”

  So that was what bothered Erin. She didn’t want to rob him of fatherhood, and she wouldn’t, not totally… He broke into a smile. “I’ll be fine without a baby, but I’d sure like it if your eleven-year-old son would let me pitch him a few balls or help with his necktie.”

  “You would? You wouldn’t mind starting with a half-grown kid?”

  “To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to midnight feedings and dirty diapers. And when I’d picture myself with a boy, he was closer to Joe’s age than he was an infant.”

  “You remembered his age and name even though you’ve never met him.”

  Erin’s eyes brimmed with tears and Derek hoped he was getting somewhere. He’d expected her to be happy that Angel and he had agreed to part ways. He hadn’t counted on her love for him raising concerns about his happiness even though it might tear them apart.

  He chucked her under the chin. “Besides, the baby could have turned out to be a girl,” he said. “And you know now how lousy I am with females.”

  “You do goof up a lot with the opposite sex,” she said, smiling.

  “Joe and I should get acquainted soon and my parents would like to meet you. But right now, guess what I have in mind.”

  “I’d wager it’s something I’ve been dreaming about but thought might never happen again.”

  “I’m in love with a very smart woman,” Derek said, as they rose and he slipped his arm around her waist.

  *

  “Derek, are you sure we should do this?” Erin asked when they reached her hotel room. What if—”

  “Don’t say it. Things will work out for us.”

  He was already undressing and she sat on the edge of the bed to watch. He had an amazing body. Broad shoulders. Muscular chest.

  He caught her watching and stopped with his shirt in hand. Flinging it onto a chair, he opened the top button of his pants. “Is this what you’re waiting for?” Smiling, he slo
wly slid down the zipper and turned back the cloth as if to give her a better view. His cock strained at the cloth of his boxers.

  She licked her lips suggestively. “You can go farther than that.” She clapped her hands. “More. I want to see more.”

  Laughing, he lowered his pants and thrust forward his pelvis.

  Take it all off, big boy.”

  Derek dropped his trousers and turned down the waistband of his briefs. Erin, seeing the tip of his penis peeking out, grew serious. She wanted him to fuck her too badly to continue with the male stripper charade. Dropping to her knees in front of him, she tore at the one piece of cloth that kept his hard rod from her grasp.

  When she’d lowered the garment and he’d kicked it away, she took his hot cock in her hands and fondled it. He moaned and she laved the head with her tongue.

  “Sweetheart,” he said breathing hard.

  She ran her lips and tongue up and down its corded surface. Her pussy was unbelievably hot and wet. She took his rod farther into her mouth, sucking hard.

  He grew unsteady on his feet and grabbed onto the bedpost. “Ohmigod, Erin.”

  She licked her way down to the head and up again. Then she clamped her lips tightly around it and he cried out. Erin’s pussy was pulsating. Her breasts felt heavy and the nipples sharp and hard. She needed to make him climax. She’d made him burning hot and she needed the reward of him shooting his cum down her throat. Opening her mouth wider, she took in as much of his throbbing penis as she could and vigorously began sucking him off. Her heart pounded and her pussy puckered.

  “I…you’re going to make me…”

  Erin nodded and sucked harder.

  Derek shot his thick, hot cum and she drank it greedily. Swallowing it and feeling a great sense of fulfilment, she looked up at her lover. His eyes were half-closed and he was smiling but still hanging onto the bedpost, knees slightly bent.

  She had no more than stood when he pushed her down on the bed and kissed her. While running his tongue eagerly around her lips and inside her mouth, he fondled her clit.