Captivated By You (Twisted Love #1)

by Wanitta Praks

  “What do you mean I don’t know what I’ve done?” I asked, winding my arms around his naked torso to stop him from leaving.

  “You don’t know Josh.” Julian turned and kissed the top of my head. “You don’t know what he’s capable of. Putting his name to shame like that will only cause you trouble.”

  “So you let him bully you.”

  “He’s not bullying me.” Julian shook his head, resuming his task of zipping his pants.

  “Yes, he is, Julian. He bullies you. I know. In everything.” I snuggled back in the blanket.

  Julian came and cupped my chin. “Well, the one thing he can’t take away is you.”

  “I know. Even if the world is reversed and you end up being the bad character in this whole story, I’ll still choose you.”

  Julian traced my lips and stared at me with his stormy grey eyes.

  “You really mean that? Even if it turns out I’m blamed?” His eyes were shining, as if thirsting for the truth behind the meaning of my words.

  “Yes. I love you, Julian. And no matter what people say about you, I don’t believe them.” I rested my cheek in his big palm and closed my eyes. “Even if I’ve only known you for a short time, to me, you’re the most real thing in my life.”

  “Well, whatever happens, just be careful. I don’t trust Josh around you.”

  “You just have to trust me, then. Will you be staying for the night?” I opened my eyes and asked.

  Julian was already in his jeans, although shirtless. He was so hot. I wondered how I’d captured him. How lucky was I to get his body and his heart?

  “No. I have to meet Dad. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “All right. Work hard.” I kissed his forehead and joined him at the door, watching him put on his shoes.

  “You shouldn’t walk around naked like that,” he said suddenly. “I get jealous of the birds watching you from the windows.”

  I giggled and hugged him from behind, my breasts squashing flat against his hard back. Julian’s body went still. I giggled again.

  “I didn’t know you were such a jealous man. Your mood changes like a chameleon changing its color. The more I know you, the more I’m confused by what is your true nature.”

  “There’s more to me that you haven’t seen yet.” Julian’s voice was taut. He turned to me, tossing me over and grabbing me around his waist. “In time, you will come to know I’m a very possessive man. What belongs to me only belongs to me.” With this said, he popped one of my nipples into his mouth.

  I was so surprised by this I gasped. “Julian, didn’t you say you have to go now?”

  “You tempt me so much.” Unzipping his pants, he slipped his length into my already drenched core, then assumed his thrusting, with me on his lap.

  I bounced up and down, galloping like a rider atop a horse, riding on the racetrack. It wasn’t anything like that fast bullet train Julian took me like the last time in his office. This time, it was a nice slow ride. Tension was built slowly. I loved the way his length almost slid out of me and then bang, it rammed all the way back to the hilt of my passage. And when I came, I trembled, like an earthquake erupting in my body. My pores opened and my skin hummed from the afterglow of another satisfying love making with Julian. I do admit, I found the whole image of our love making very erotic. Julian was fully clothed, while I was fully naked.

  “I’m really losing my sanity over you.” Julian shook his head to free himself from his lustful state as soon as we both climaxed. He stood up, dragging me along with him. Cleaning himself up, to make sure he looked presentable enough for a meeting with Beau, he then turned to me and dragged me again to the wardrobe. Taking a thin, silky gown out of the wardrobe, he dressed me and secured it tight with the long sash. “Keep yourself covered. I don’t want anyone seeing you naked. I’m the only one allowed to see you in this state.”

  I opened my robe to expose one of my breasts. “Oh, who’s going to see me but the birds outside anyway?” I teased.

  “There are men outside cleaning the windows. I can’t guarantee they’ll retain their eyesight once they see you.”

  “What are you going to do? Blind them?” I brought my lips to his, teasing him with my tongue, when the look Julian gave me stopped me in my tracks.

  Julian only stared at me, his dark gaze so sharp it frightened me. I laughed, covering my discomfort. “Okay, okay. I promise I will not walk around naked anymore. Only in front of you. Happy?”

  Julian grabbed me and pulled me close to him until I was plastered against his hard body. He buried his face in my hair and kissed my nape. “Just remember, Kimberly. You’re my woman.”

  My pulse shot up. My legs wobbled. Whenever he acted like this, I found myself answering him with timid replies. “I’m your woman, Julian. Only your woman.”

  Julian finally smiled. And my fear disappeared.

  After saying good-bye, I stood watching Julian until he went into the elevator. I trudged back into my room as soon as he was out of sight. I looked at the messy bed. This was the first time we made love in my hotel room. The rest of the time, it had always been at Julian’s place.

  I shivered slightly, feeling cold already. I gazed out to the scenery outside. The sun was starting to set already. I closed the robe around my body more securely. I needed Julian. I needed him to keep me warm. He was like my sun, and only he could keep me warm and make me survive. I wanted him here. I wanted him back in my bed, tender and sweet or hard-core.

  I shook off this melancholy thought and went to tidy up the bed. There on the side table was Julian’s Rolex watch. He must have forgotten it.

  I grabbed my phone, planning to call him, when the hotel phone rang. I looked at it in surprise, wondering who would be calling me. There was only one way to find out. I picked up the receiver.

  “Hello,” I said into the mouthpiece.

  “Miss Kimberly, is that you?”

  Must be the receptionist.

  “Yes, this is she.”

  “I’ve got a Mr. Devereux here to see you.”

  Ahhh, so he remembered his watch.

  “Thank you. Please send him up.” I placed the phone down and waited in anticipation for Julian to arrive.

  As soon as the doorbell rang some minutes later, I jumped up and flew to the door. I swung it open.

  “Julian, did you forget—”

  I scrambled backwards and ran for my life.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Josh rushed at me as soon as I opened the door.

  I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed me and threw me on the floor.

  “What do you want, Josh?” I shouted when he advanced towards me, a menacing look on his face. I knew there was trouble the minute I saw his expression

  “You fucked him, didn’t you?” Josh shouted after me, slamming the door shut.

  “Josh, get out of my apartment.” I scramble up, searching for a way out, only to back into a wall. My eyes scanned for any object to use as a weapon. But there was none. And Josh was still advancing towards me.

  “I told you, didn’t I? That he’s dangerous?” Josh continued to shout, his eyes bulging, scaring the shit out of me.

  He was nothing like Julian, no virile beast, no manly charisma, but it was his presence alone that scared me.

  “Get away from me, Josh. Now. Or I’ll call security.”

  He didn’t listen to my warning. He tackled me and pinned me to the mattress.

  “What’s so special about that stupid meek brother of mine, anyway?” Josh’s foul breath fanned over me. He was drunk. “He’s nothing but a pathetic loser. You know what he said? He said I can have you as soon as he fucked you. And I guess he did fuck you, didn’t he?”

  What is he talking about?

  “Let me go, you bastard.” I pushed him off me, but he was stronger.

  “I guess he did fuck you good. Did it feel nice to have his dick inside you? How about your mouth? Did he ever have you suck him off?”

  His lips invaded
my mouth as soon as he said this. I struggled and screamed, but it was to no avail. Suddenly, Julian’s warning came back to my mind.

  You don’t know what you’re getting into. He’s dangerous.

  Was this what Julian meant by that? Was Josh going to rape me now? It was me, after all, who had humiliated him and exposed his true nature for the whole world to see.

  No! I didn’t want this. Julian was the only one for me. I wouldn’t allow any man to touch me.

  I struggled and pushed, but it only resulted in Josh pinning me more securely. He ripped my nightgown, exposing my breasts.

  “Wow. These are amazing jugs.” He squeezed my breast, and I almost vomited from the revulsion running through my body.

  Julian. Julian. Where are you? Save me.

  And just when I was about to lose consciousness, I saw Julian hurling Josh across the room like a rag doll and Beau standing at the door with a stark-white face.

  ***

  I opened my eyes to see Julian’s angelic face.

  “Julian,” I cried, burying my face in his embrace. “I’m scared. Josh, he, he came into my room. I thought it was you. He… he…”

  I sobbed. I couldn’t speak. I choked on my last words.

  He continued to hold me and soothed me with soft whispers of love. “Shush. Don’t talk. It’s over now. I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough. I shouldn’t have left.”

  “Julian.” I kept saying his name. Only his name could help soothe my pain, my hurt, my humiliation. And most of all, my fear.

  “What was wrong with him? Why did he act like that? It was the same as before.”

  Julian went rigid. “He was like that before? Kimberly, did he attack you before too?” Julian’s sharp gaze was pierced with anger. When I didn’t respond, he shook me. “Kimberly, did he attack you before?”

  “Yes. On that first night I stayed at your parents’ house.”

  “Fuck.” Julian shoved his fingers through his hair in frustration.

  “Do you still love your brother?” I asked meekly.

  “Right now, I want to kill him.”

  “What’s going to happen to Josh?”

  “He’s with Dad now. I don’t know what will happen to him. Dad wants to see you. You’ll have to be the judge for this one.”

  “Do I have to see him now?”

  “No, my Kimberly. You just rest for now.” Julian tucked me back into bed. Just as he was about to leave, I grabbed hold of his hand.

  “Don’t leave me,” I whispered, fresh tears shedding from my eyes. My body shook with the desperation, wanting Julian to be close to me.

  Julian wiped them clean and gave me a warming smile. “I’m not leaving you.” He took off his glasses and crawled underneath the blanket with me, drawing me into his arms and cuddling me close. I felt secure in his embrace. My shaking stopped.

  “Feel better?”

  “No,” I mewed into his chest. “I feel dirty.”

  “Kimberly, why would you say that? You’re beautiful.”

  “He touched me.”

  Julian clenched his jaw, then breathed slowly through his nose, as if trying to calm his temper again.

  “Where did he touch you?”

  “On my breast. On my arms.”

  “Did he touch you anywhere else?”

  “No.” I looked up at Julian with tear-stained eyes. “I feel dirty,” I confessed to him. “Please kiss me, Julian. I want to forget it. I want you to erase those awful memories and replace them with your own touch.”

  Julian leaned over me, cradling my cheeks and kissing me slowly. “Kimberly. My Kimberly. You’re not dirty. You’re beautiful. To me, you’re my angel.”

  Julian kissed me, making my pulse shoot up and my blood run hot.

  “Make love to me, Julian. Make me forget.”

  Julian complied. That night, he made me forget about Josh. His tender touches were the only thing that seared into my memory the next morning.

  ***

  I sat facing Beau and Fiona in the office the next morning. I wasn’t surprised to see Beau, but to see Fiona too, that was really unanticipated. Then again, Fiona was Josh’s mother and whatever decision I made today would affect her too.

  Julian was in his office, working. He wanted to accompany me, but this decision, it would have to be made by me alone. I didn’t want anyone thinking he influenced me.

  “There’s only one way around it if you don’t want me to sue you, Beau, and put Josh in prison. Let Julian become your sole heir. Let Julian control all the shares you own in Devereux Enterprise.”

  “You can’t be serious.” Fiona screeched out of her chair, shouting at me in anger.

  “I’m very serious, Fiona. Your son almost raped me. And for that, just one word to the police would have him behind bars already.”

  “But he was drunk.” Fiona defended her son. “He didn’t know what he was doing.”

  “That was the second time he attacked me, Fiona. I was very lenient the first time. He asked for my forgiveness. I gave it to him without thinking further. But he touched me again. I’m upset. Mad. Humiliated. You’re lucky I’m happy to offer you a better solution than to sue your company and put your son in jail. If Papa were to catch wind of this too, I don’t know what would happen to your company.”

  I looked at Beau, then at Fiona. I sat back in my chair in style. I was the queen in this room. I decided the fate of this family’s future.

  I turned to Beau. He looked troubled.

  Why wouldn’t he be? How could he not give Josh anything when he was also his son and, let alone, a legitimate one too? But if he didn’t agree to my deal, then Devereux Enterprise would plummet down the stock market the instant I sued him.

  “This is all your fault, Beau.” Fiona turned the knife at her husband. “If you didn’t bring that slut into the house in the first place, then that bastard wouldn’t have been born. Now you want me to face society with that bastard as your heir and not our own flesh and blood son?”

  “Watch your mouth, Fiona. Julian is also my flesh and blood.”

  “But he’s not legitimate.”

  I smirked, watching them fight over their favorite sons.

  “Enough of the fight, Beau, Fiona.” I relaxed into the chair and asked them the ultimate question. “So what will it be? Julian inheriting the Devereux legacy or Josh in jail?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “Breaking news: Devereux Enterprise co-founder and president Beau Devereux announced today that he will be retiring from his position as president of Devereux Enterprise. In effect, he has transferred all his shares and role as president to his eldest son, Julian Devereux. He has also stated when he passes on, his son Julian will also become his sole heir. As for the younger son, it is unsure yet what position he holds…”

  “Hello, Papa,” I spoke into the phone while my eyes were still trained on the television set announcing the latest business breaking news.

  “I thought all this time, Josh would be the one to succeed. What is this older son like anyway? I’ve never heard of him at any event.”

  “Oh, Papa. He’s more than capable. I’m sure he’ll make an excellent president.”

  “Really? He’s that good.”

  “Really good. His work excels in all areas.” And that included in the bedroom. But I didn’t tell him that. “Papa, I think we should sign the contract to work with the Devereuxs.”

  “You think?”

  “Yes. I think we’re making the right move with this new young president behind Devereux Enterprise.”

  “We’ll discuss it when you come back. It’s tomorrow, isn’t it? I’ll get you at the airport myself. Then we can go to our favorite restaurant and discuss that world tour you’re after.”

  “Papa.” I hesitated. “Is it okay… if I stay here a few more days?”

  “You like Australia now, Kimmy-berry?” I detected a subtle undertone of intrigue in Papa’s voice. “And here I thought you wanted to travel the world.”


  “Well, Australia is part of my world tour. I just want to stay here a bit longer.”

  “Okay, I’ll have my secretary amend your flight details, then.”

  “Thank you, Papa. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Love you Kimmy-berry.”

  “Love you too, Papa.”

  I snapped the phone shut and gazed at the golden beach from Julian’s apartment. The sun was starting to set already. The orange glow reflected off the sea, displaying a magnificent view. I could get used to living here, watching the sun set like this.

  Just as the sky turned black, I heard the door unlock. I ran to the door and jumped on Julian.

  “Kimberly!” He held me, balancing himself against the wall.

  “Julian. I missed you.” I attacked him with kisses.

  Julian waited silently while I covered his face. Then finally he said, “What did you say to Dad, Kimberly? All the media was out there. They said I was the new president or something. I tried to get away, but they kept interviewing me. I couldn’t get free until now.”

  “Aren’t you happy?” I trapped his neck and brought my lips to meet his again. “You’re the new president as well as the sole heir to Devereux Enterprise. Now no one will look down on you.”

  “You’re not mad, are you?” he asked when I resumed my quest of kissing each part of his face.

  “No. I’m not mad. I’m happy. Very happy. Are you happy, though?”

  Julian kissed my eyes, nose, chin, lips, everywhere. Not one inch was left unmarked on my face.

  “Yes. I’m very happy. Thank you for everything.”

  I dragged him to the dining table where I poured his favorite Pinot Noir. I handed one to him, my hand lingering just a second longer on his fingers. I smiled at him with mischief in my eyes.

  “For you,” I said, handing over the glass.

  Julian took it and together we made a toast.

  “To Julian, who’s now the heir and president of Devereux Enterprise. May all your plans and goals succeed in the future,” I said.

  Julian gripped my waist and deposited me on his lap.