Cairo pulled a handful of her hair back, exposing her neck and causing her to cry out. He clenched his jaw so tightly that a muscle started to pulse. Yet still he fought himself. Getting this close to her had been a mistake. He thought that he would be able to maintain control, but he had made a horrible miscalculation. He thought he knew himself but he learned in that instant that he was a stranger to himself. Words, thoughts and emotions churned in him and struggled to burst through with every flick of her tongue on his earlobe, every gasp of pleasure, every sigh and moan, and every kiss she gave him without reservation. Suddenly, horribly, he felt words that he hadn’t uttered in six years struggling to break free. Concentrating to the point of desperation on keeping his hands and body occupied and his mind blank, he made love to Storm under the pretense that love wasn’t involved. He thought he had accomplished the task of fooling them both when she forced her hands between them and grasped his erection in her hands. His control broke and in a desperate frenzy of mindless ecstasy, he tore the white panties from her hips, wrapped her legs around his back and entered her in one powerful thrust. They fit together perfectly and the feelings that enveloped him were so powerful that he couldn’t contain his words.
“Storm!” He groaned. “God, you’re so tight. You’re made just for me. I love you. I want you . . . I need you. Swear that you won’t leave me, not again. I—” He broke off as a flood of passion and release overtook them.
Cairo saw tears gather in Storm’s eyes and then silently fall. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine.” She vowed.
As their bodies moved together in heated passion, Cairo realized what he’d said. He’d called her Storm. Old feelings of love came with the name. He wouldn’t admit it, even to himself, but for better or for worse, they were now irrevocably bound together.
After the tremors of passion subsided, Cairo slowly got up and adjusted his clothes. Storm watched the man in front of her and wondered where the man that had made such mad passionate love to her had gone. Storm ran her hands lazily over his back. When he didn’t turn around she put her hands in her lap.
“Please don’t tell me you regret making love to me already?” Storm asked forcing a teasing note into her voice she didn’t really feel. “It was beautiful, Cairo,” she said doing her best to convince him. “I can’t describe how wonderful you made me feel. You said you loved me and I know I love you. Why can’t we make the happiness we’ve found in each other’s arms last?” Despite her attempt to keep her composure, her voice cracked.
Cairo turned sharply to look at her. “You’re a married woman, correct?” He asked without preamble. “As such what would you call what we did just now? Beautiful you say?” He turned his haunted dark eyes away from her. “How about adulterous? The longer you are married to this man, the longer what felt right will start to feel wrong. I don’t care that he has not been a husband to you. I don’t care that you never loved him. Until I hold the divorce papers in my hand, I will not be satisfied. I want you for myself.”
It was the perfect time to admit the truth. He told her he loved her leaving her with no reason not to marry him. But still Storm held back. She had to be sure that Cairo meant his words and it wasn’t an elaborate ploy to get his son.
“Do you love me, Cairo? Tell me one more time that you do.” She was desperate for reassurance.
He opened his mouth to say something but it seemed that without the benefit of passion the words wouldn’t come. Storm’s eyes fill with doubt.
“I said all that I needed to say a minute ago and I meant every word.” He said finally. “Will you divorce him and marry me?”
Storm didn’t respond. Silently, she made her decision. She wasn’t divorcing anyone. If he couldn’t admit he loved her without the benefit of passion then there was nothing for them to discuss. Again, she and Cairo had moved so far just to end up at square one.
“I think it’s time we left.” She said climbing down from the desk, keeping her voice as even as she could while adjusting her disheveled clothes. The entire time she dressed, she did her best not to meet his eyes.
“Yes,” Cairo agreed after a pause. “Prepare yourself for a trip first thing tomorrow morning. We’re going to New York to find this neglectful lawyer of yours. One way or the other we are getting this marriage of yours terminated. This madness has gone on long enough. I’m going to make the arrangements.” He then walked to the door, flung it open and walked out without a backward glance.
Storm stood where he’d left her. She couldn’t do what he asked. She was certain that if Cairo went to New York he would find out the truth and her life would be ruined forever. She couldn’t let that happen.
Chapter Ten
Storm protested the trip to New York from the hotel, protested it from the taxi, protested again from the airport, and protested on the plane. Realizing that she wasn’t getting anywhere, she decided to use alternative tactics. She started to reason with Cairo when they retrieved their bags, when he hailed the yellow cab from JFK, when he paid and got out of the taxi at the Briggs and Young law office in midtown Manhattan. In the elevator ascending to the fifteenth floor where the offices were located, she pleaded a headache, feigned a fainting spell, and complained of stomach cramps, all to no avail. Cairo was adamant and in a fine temper. As they sat in the waiting area of the Storms’ family lawyer whom she had known from before she could speak full sentences, she wickedly and guiltily used even poor innocent Shane to get her way. As a mother, the tactic was unforgivable, but she was desperate.
“I know Shane didn’t want to come along, Cairo and that he told you he’d rather stay with Tyrone until we return, but I can’t shake the feeling that we made a mistake. I’ve never been away from my son for more than a day since the day he was born. I just feel something might be wrong.” The wickedness of her ploy made guilty color creep into her cheeks even as she threw superstitious glances at the entranceway where the lawyer would appear at any moment.
Desperate, she continued. “Can we really trust Tyrone with a small boy anyway? He has a hotel with five hundred guests; surely he won’t have any time to watch Shane.”
Cairo finally turned to her. He had been ignoring her since they left Jamaica that morning. He looked at her through a gaze narrowed to dark slits and with a mouth set in a grim line.
“I trust Tyrone with my life and with the life of my son.” He said flatly. “If you are so worried then go back and check on Shane personally. I’ll handle things here. Don’t worry, you won’t be missed.” He raised one solitary and irritating eyebrow in challenge.
Outwitted, Storm leaned back in the plush leather armchair. “No, I’ll stay. You’re right, Shane is in good hands.” She admitted petulantly, sinking deeper into the chair. She sighed. What was the point of arguing? She was doomed anyway.
Just as Storm was contemplating the ruins of her future, the door swung open and Mr. Briggs walked into the room. “Jessica dear,” he said holding beefy arms out wide for an embrace. “What a surprise.”
“Hello, Uncle Briggs. Long time no see.” She said with less enthusiasm as she stepped into his arms for the mandatory hug. He hugged her swiftly before releasing her and flicking an appraising look at the silent companion by her side.
“Come into my office. We will see what Uncle Briggs can do for you.” He gestured them into his office and Storm followed reluctantly. She had almost reached the door when a hand from behind clamped down firmly on her shoulder.
“Now would be the time to speak if there is anything you want to tell me. Once we enter that room there is no turning back.” Cairo said, his eyes never leaving hers.
Storm slowly shook her head. Why admit the truth now, it was far too late for that anyway. She had barely settled herself in the office chair when Cairo started firing questions at the attorney.
“We’ve just arrived from Jamaica not even an hour ago, but we’ve be
en trying to get through to your office for more than a few days now. Did you shut down for a holiday?”
Despite Cairo’s innocuously posed question Storm heard the wicked clang of the gates of hell closing firmly around her.
Mr. Briggs frowned at them. “Why of course we haven’t been closed. We’re in the business of making money, son. If we closed our door for days on end we would hardly be profitable. How strange,” he said rubbing his fleshy chin. “Are you sure you were dialing the right number?” He fixed Storm with a questioning look. “Child, I would think by now that you’d know my number by heart.”
Self-preservation made Storm shrug her shoulders in ignorance and say nothing. Beside her, Cairo grunted inelegantly.
“Mr. Briggs, since there seemed to be an obvious mix up with the phone number and we haven’t been able to contact you prior to this, I feel we should get straight down to the reason why we’re here.”
“By all means, sir. What can I do for you?” He leaned forward in interest.
Cairo turned to Storm. “Tell him.” He instructed.
Storm sat silent and unresponsive beside him and his voice grew harsh. “Tell him. You said you want a family, so tell him.” He demanded.
Trapped, Storm felt she had no choice but to respond. “Uncle Briggs, I want you to get me a divorce.” She said all in one breath.
“What!” He exclaimed staring at her, his eyes bulging and the folds of his chin wobbling frighteningly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Cairo lean forward.
“As a lawyer I suspect that isn’t an unusual request.” He interrupted smoothly, his nonchalant attitude hiding the tension underneath.
“Well no,” the lawyer sputtered incredulously. “As a friend of hers, I’m sure you know that this marriage is what estranged Jessica from her parents. I can remember the horrible rows she had with them just on the matter of divorce alone. What has happened so suddenly to change your mind?” He asked redirecting his question to Storm.
Storm was scrupulously silent and it wasn’t long before Briggs’ eyes traveled thoughtfully to the man by her side. Leaning back in his chair and clasping fleshy hands over a well-rounded midsection, he scrutinized Cairo. “Look at this; I’m being so unforgivably rude.” He chastised himself gently. “Here I am discussing Jessica’s private life and we haven’t even been formally introduced. My name is Hollis Briggs. You are?”
“Cairo Kane.” Cairo announced and watched as the lawyer’s eyes flared wide in recognition. A self-deprecating smile curled his lips. “I see you’ve heard of me. I’m sure that I was the topic of conversation over the Storms’ dinner table for many years.”
The lawyer didn’t demure. “That you were, son, that you were. I confess that I still don’t clearly understand what brings you here today.”
“It’s like I said earlier.” Cairo explained again patiently. “Storm would like a divorce. This marriage has been hanging over both our heads for quite some time and we would like to get the matter resolved expeditiously. Can you take care of it?”
“Yes, I can but . . . ” The lawyer’s eyes traveled to Storm who was huddled miserably in the chair. “Child, I haven’t even heard a peep out of you. Is this divorce what you want?” His perceptive gaze never left her face. “I know firsthand that this marriage has been the source of great turmoil in your life, but until now, you’ve never made any indication that you wanted to dissolve the union. As a matter of fact, I was under the impression that you wanted this marriage to work. What happened?”
In the grip of an awful fear that he’d discover her secret at any moment, Storm struggled wildly for something to say. Briggs looked at her expectantly and feeling the heated regard of the man at her side, she knew instinctively that Cairo was watching her. Storm’s eyes flew to his to confirm her fear and green eyes collided with chocolate brown.
Briggs, who was shrewdly watching their exchange, came to his own conclusions.
“I see.” He said quietly, reluctantly drawing the couple’s eyes back to him. “It’s Mr. Kane who wants this divorce.” He surmised.
“We both want it.” Cairo argued reaching across to grip Storm’s cold hands in his. “Don’t we?” He asked her directly.
Storm didn’t dare speak and Briggs seemed to silently read her mind. “If one of the two parties contests the dissolution of the marriage, it could take a long time before the divorce is finalized.”
Storm realized that Briggs, bless his soul, was giving her an out. One she couldn’t take with Cairo by her side.
Storm’s smile was forced. “Thank you for the suggestion Uncle Briggs but that won’t be necessary, Cairo is right. It’s what we both want.” She lied.
“Are you sure?” He persisted gently having been privy to the battles she had fought with her parents on the topic of marriage.
“She’s sure!” Cairo burst out standing up and yanking Storm to her feet obviously aware of the silent undercurrents in the room.
“She wants a divorce. If you can’t take care of this, we will find a lawyer who can.” Cairo abandoned cordiality as it became clear that the lawyer might be an obstacle to his plans.
Briggs threw one last searching look at Storm whose eyes beseeched his. He drew his generous frame from the leather chair and extended his hand. “Mr. Kane, Jessica,” he addressed them formally. “If it is a divorce you want. I’ll take care of everything.”
Storm burst out of the revolving doors of the glass office building as if bursting out of the gates of hell. As soon as her feet hit the sidewalk, she took a deep breath of air to still her nerves. She was still shaking; still mentally exhausted with the knowledge that she had only barely averted disaster. Every minute she stayed in New York she was one minute closer to losing everything she held dear. She couldn’t wait to jump on the first plane back to Jamaica. She was safe there and she had time to explain to Cairo in her own way about the secret she continued to keep from him.
“When will we be returning to Jamaica, Cairo?” Storm asked the minute she had steadied herself enough to speak. “Now that Uncle Briggs has agreed to proceed with the divorce there’s no need to stay here. We can catch the next plane out.”
“I’m not leaving quite yet. While I’m here I have some unfinished business to attend to.” He declared ominously.
Storm heard the strange inflection that had entered his voice and was instantly alert.
“What could be more important that getting back to our son?” In her desperation Storm had no shame.
Cairo slowly turned to look at her and what she saw in his eyes made fear take up residence in her heart.
“We’re in New York and we’re getting married. There are a few people who should be notified firsthand.”
“Who?” Storm was almost afraid to ask.
His smile looked almost sinister. “Your parents and your husband of course.”
“You can’t be serious?” She gasped, the color draining from her face.
“I’m dead serious.” He answered, his mouth set in a hard line. “We are not sneaking off like we did the last time. You’re going to be my wife and this time we are going to do it right.”
“You don’t need their permission to marry me, Cairo.” Storm declared passionately. “What we want is all that matters.”
“I’m not asking for their permission.” He argued. “I didn’t ask for it then and I’m not asking for it now. I’m giving them fair warning that I’m going to be a permanent part of your life. As for your husband, I’m just giving him fair warning that you now belong to me.”
Storm grabbed his hand and held it against her heart. “Please Cairo, I’m begging you, don’t do this. We don’t need to involve anyone in our lives. Let’s just go back to Jamaica and forget about James and my parents.”
He dragged his hand away from hers. “I can’t do that, Storm. I won’t
do it. We are doing things the right way this time or not at all. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.” The words were no more than a whisper.
Cairo gently lifted her chin with his fingers. “Hey, what’s this all about anyway?” His confusion was clear. “Nothing will go wrong this time. If you really love me then there is nothing in this world that can keep us apart. What are you so afraid of?” He asked gently rubbing his lips across hers.
“Nothing.” Storm denied softly. But she was lying. She was afraid of everything, absolutely everything.
“Jessica, I would like to say that it’s nice to see you but I won’t. That would be a lie and I’m too old for tales.” Pamela Storm said as she sailed into her living room.
She hadn’t changed a bit, Cairo thought as they regarded each other with the same old animosity. She was still a beautiful woman. Her silver gray hair was now cosmetically enhanced with light blond streaks. Her flashing hazel eyes still held their same hard brilliance. Her wide mouth still twisted in a hateful line of displeasure as she looked at Cairo. Despite her detractions, her beauty was timeless and he saw in her profile a hard-edged version of what Storm would become.
“I see you have gone slumming again, dear.” She continued eyeing Cairo disdainfully.
Now secure in himself Cairo ignored the taunt. He was older now and had the power and the confidence to fight a woman like Pamela Storm on her own level. He crossed the plush white carpet in two strides and sat dangerously close to his soon to be mother in-law. He deliberately allowed the length of his thigh to touch hers. He was good enough. She would see.
“Hello, Pamela.” He drawled softly his breath ruffling her hair.
Pamela drew back in shock, her eyes widening at his proximity.
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