Loving Lies

by Renee Field

  “Alyssa I’m about to come,” I say, more a warning to myself than her.

  She hums around my cock and tightens her hold on my ass. Two more suction pulls from that vacuum-like mouth of hers and I teeter over the edge, the rush of that feeling racing up from my toes to my balls and then I’m pumping my seed down her throat like a mad man.

  She takes it all, licking me clean. Damn, when I look down at Alyssa with her mouth on my cock it’s the second best thing I’ve seen this morning.

  “You need to have the word wonderful tattooed on you,” I say, hauling her to her feet.

  We laugh like lovers sharing a secret and I quickly wash off. We get out and I take my time to dry her off, ensuring by the time I’m done she’s panting and her nipples are achy with want.

  I urge her out of the washroom and before she even has a chance to think about putting her discarded clothes on I’ve got her flat on her back on the bed.

  I need the taste of her on my tongue and while there might not be a lot of finesse with my demands, she’s got her legs splayed wide in total understanding. I give her long, thorough licks, taking my time to play with her slick folds. God, she’s always so wet for me and man that’s such a turn on. I use my fingers to open her pussy folds more and I love how red and swollen her clit has become. I tap on her pebbled clit twice and she’s bowing her back and calling out for more. Using my tongue I lick her clit and nothing else, knowing my morning whiskers are adding to the love rash on her inner thighs. Her hands dig deep into my hair and then next thing I know she’s got her legs high in the air and is screaming out my name as she comes. Now that’s a morning to remember. With leisure, I lick her clean, understanding she’s now sensitive, but I don’t want to get off her. In fact, I want nothing more than to spend the entire day in bed with her, but I know we can’t.

  “Oh my god. Are you always like this in the morning?” she asks with a laugh.

  “Only with you,” I answer, and damn if that isn’t the truth.

  I’m about to haul her in for a loving cuddle but my cell begins to ring. I’m tempted to ignore it, but if it’s my grandfather he won’t like that.

  “Mind if I get that?”

  Alyssa is yanking on her jeans and shirt. “I’ve got to run anyway. See you later.”

  “Okay.” I’m about to answer my cell but I’m too late. When I press the message button all that wonderful feeling from this morning dissipates and I feel like I’ve been hit with a boulder in the chest. It’s my grandfather and he’s on his way to the resort. Holy shit that is the last thing I was expecting.

  Immediately I call his number.

  “You get my message?” he says, not sounding one bit pleased.

  I’m thinking a million words like, “You fucking bastard,” but can’t speak. When my father died and I called to tell him his only son was dead he didn’t say anything except some words of wisdom like I should move on. It was all left to me to organize. I didn’t bother with a funeral because there was no point. Dad had no friends and the only family he’d possessed had deserted him.

  “Nope. Just arrived. I was sort of busy.”

  I’m hoping he gets my sarcasm. He doesn’t of course. It’s all business, as usual with my grandfather.

  He laughs, but it’s not one bit funny sounding. “I’m coming up. I want to see for myself your progress.

  Hell no. “You might scare them off.”

  “They won’t even know who I am. Plus I want to see that lake you were so damn excited about until you got distracted by something…or someone.”

  There’s a lengthy pause and I’m about to tell him it’s nothing but can’t find the words. “What time will you be here?”

  “I should be up there close to eight tonight. I’ve already made my reservation.”

  Christ, I hadn’t even considered he’d want to stay with me and feel instant relief that isn’t happening. “Okay. So how do you want to handle this? Should I pretend I don’t know you or are you a family member?”

  We talk back and forth for a few more minutes to work out his plan of action and when we finally hang up and I’m almost dry heaving. I know in my heart his action plan might work out for him, but after losing my father, I’ve come to realize life is damn short. I’m not so sure I’m up to his game plan.

  A rap on my door alerts me to the fact I’m still naked. I yell out to whoever to give me a minute and quickly yank on my jeans and shirt.

  When I open the door it’s to find Mr. McCaid.

  “Sorry to disturb you, but I thought you and I might take a drive into town.”

  “What?”

  “The missus is staying behind and I’d like to talk with you one-on-one.”

  I run a hand through my hair and resist the urge to curse out loud. My morning had started out so great and then had quickly gone to hell. “Sure, that would be great. Mind if I finish getting dressed?”

  Mr. McCaid walks into my cabin and I retreat to the bedroom to change into new clothing. He’s telling me we’ll grab a bite to eat at a small diner in Deerfield, the closest town, but truthfully my head space isn’t ready for this.

  Within five minutes I’m in his truck and we’re making our way down the dirt road to the small town which is a good thirty minute drive. I’m wondering how to begin the conversation when the truth is my heart’s no longer in it.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Alyssa

  I have no idea where the freaking morning went. What the hell was I thinking—spending the night with Blake? God, I’ve got to stop thinking this can be something. He doesn’t even know the real me and I can’t tell him who I am. Our entire relationship is one big lie.

  “I think we should move that photo to the left side,” says Kat.

  I glance over to where she’s pointing and immediately get what she’s trying to accomplish. “I’m good with that.”

  Within seconds Noah is at work, moving the large easel holding the frame which he created to the other side of the large party room. The room has been totally transformed. Yesterday it was a plain, simple ballroom, but within hours the long, wooden tables have made way for black, round tables and chairs. Each table is draped with a black cloth and a bouquet of wild Alberta flowers rests in the center. There are fifteen easels, strategically placed throughout the room to ensue people can walk with ease through the tables. All of the hors d’oeuvres will be brought in with the wait staff who will weave through the expected three hundred guests. I wish to hell Kat hadn’t told me how many people were coming tonight. Thinking about all those people looking at my photos makes me feel ill.

  I’m surprised Noah hasn’t ventured into the room, but knowing Becca, who is also in on the surprise for Kat, she’s informed everyone this is a no-enter zone until tonight.

  “So, what are you wearing tonight?”

  I’m fidgeting with one of my photos on an easel. “What?”

  “Alyssa, tell me you’ve got a special dress for tonight,” says Becca, giving me one of her you-had-better looks.

  I gulp and feel heat flush my face. “Shit. I totally forgot to spend all of my summer savings on a dress for tonight.” Christ, I can be sassy when I want to.

  “Cut the crap. Have you got a dress?”

  I shake my head. There had been a time that would have freaked me out. No more.

  “Come on,” says Becca, grabbing my hand while issuing a slew of orders to Noah who isn’t looking so pleased.

  Becca marches into the front office and spots Amy. Within seconds my size is being discussed like I’m a piece of merchandise. Turns out Amy isn’t near my size. Turns out no one is, which I told Kat five minutes ago. With a huff, Becca glares at me.

  “We are going into town.”

  “What? You can’t be serious. We don’t have time for this. You’ve got to finish the room.” I don’t want to go into town to buy some fancy dress I’ll only wear once. I almost laugh. I’ve done such a one-eighty in my line of thinking I sometimes wonder who the hell I am.
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br />   “We’ve got time, plus I need a pair of shoes.”

  I groan and follow Becca outside. She spots one of the crew and within minutes she’s talked him into lending us his pick-up for a couple of hours and we’re making our way into town. That’s one thing about being in a small town I’ve come to love. People actually don’t mind helping each other.

  The town isn’t big but it’s charming. The main street has a line of brick buildings, some over a hundred years old and I find it cute how they’ve got hanging baskets filled with wild flowers on all the old-fashioned light posts. We turn onto Main Street and I gasp. Walking across the street is Blake with Mr. McCaid. What the hell is he doing here with the owner of the resort?

  “Isn’t that Blake?” asks Becca, knowing full well who the hell it is.

  “Yup.”

  “Guess he’s still trying to butter up old Mr. McCaid.”

  I turn and look at her. She’s got her eyes zeroed in on a parking spot to the left of the liquor store. “What does that mean?”

  “Oh, I thought you knew. He put an offer in on the resort. I file everything that comes into the office for Donald and couldn’t help but read that.”

  “What?”

  “Yup. I think Mr. McCaid is going to go for it.”

  I grit my teeth. What the hell is going on? Blake hasn’t mentioned anything like that to me. “He said he came up here for some R&R.”

  “Oh, you didn’t really buy that, did you?”

  My eyes fill with moisture. I shake my head, not sure if Becca can see me, as she pulls sharply into the parking spot. Thing is, I had bought it. Hook. Line. And sinker. My heart feels like it’s been crushed. We’ve both been lying to each other and knowing that hurts like hell. Plus this place has started to feel like home and I haven’t felt like that since forever. The thought of that changing is hard to digest.

  “Come on. There’s only two stores in this town that might have something suitable for you.”

  I’m on automatic pilot as I let Becca haul me down the street. I’m almost wishing we’d run into Blake so I could question him, but no such luck.

  It’s at the second store, Marlene’s Treasures, a second-hand boutique, that Becca finds the dress of the night for me. It’s short, tight and bare in the back which according to Becca makes me look like a million bucks. I groaned when she said that. I don’t want to look good or stand out. I tried to get her to understand but she wasn’t buying it. Thirty minutes later, I’m out one hundred and ten dollars less because what’s a dress without the perfect black shoes? I fork over my hard-earned money and have a vivid flashback to all the times I never even once looked at the price tags.

  We get back in the truck and it’s a one-way conversation for most of the drive back to the resort. Becca is very excited about tonight, but like me, I get the feeling she’s nervous. Noah was breaking the news to Kat, who he hoped would be super excited. Kat keeps going on how she’s hoping to impress Shannon, who according to Kat, has made her summer a living hell.

  “Listen, before you go, I’ve got to ask you for one more thing,” she says.

  I gulp. “Okay.”

  “Will you take a picture of the anniversary couple?”

  I sigh. “You know I don’t do people.”

  “I know but I’m honestly begging. The photographer they hired came down with the flu. Please.”

  “My pictures might suck. I’m not that great with people.”

  “You’re pictures will be awesome. And I don’t have anyone else to ask. Please.”

  I think about it long and hard and then finally give in.

  “Great. I told them we’d do it before the event so can you come up around seven.”

  I nod, feeling slightly used, but it’s almost impossible to stay mad at Becca. She’s hard-working and when she wants, I’ve discovered, she can be a lot of fun.

  At the resort, I mumble a thanks and promise not to be late as I make my way to my room. Instead of sulking in my room, I grab my camera and dump my new gear on my bed and I’m out the door two minutes later. It’s only when I’m a good hour away from the resort that I realize my destination—the lake.

  I’m hot and sweaty and feeling totally out of sorts. Like before I strip down and dive in, craving the cold mountain water like a slap in the face. What Blake and I have isn’t real. How the hell can it be when he doesn’t know who I am? Then again, I get the distinct feeling I don’t know who he is.

  I spend a good twenty minutes in the frigid water and dry off with my shirt. I slowly make my way back to the resort, taking the time to click off some pictures when the mood hits me. It’s six o’clock when I arrive in my room. All day I haven’t had one text or call from Blake. I don’t know if that’s good or bad or even how I should feel about that now that I know his real reason for being here. R&R my ass. He’s here to low ball a price for the resort, says my gut. The bigger picture is why? Why would he go to such lengths to pretend to be something he’s not?

  I quickly grab my stuff for the shower and let the scalding hot water hit me hard. I try hard not to think about the shower I had that morning and fail. I want to hate Blake, but part of me knows I can’t. I’m as bad as he is and that makes my gut twist as I get out and pad back to my room to put on my façade for the night.

  Forty minutes later, I’m dressed, my make-up’s perfect and I’ve tamed down my hair to look more polished. I’ve done this a million times in my other life so play acting this role is nothing new for me.

  Kat knocks on my door with her usual double-knock. I open it and she gushes over me like I’m a star. I’m thrilled Noah finally broke the surprise to her. That fake act I’ve mastered is totally in place as I say politely thank you and let her link her arm through mine as we make our way to the party room. I’ve got my camera bag slung over my shoulder and we head to where the anniversary couple are.

  I make Kat leave, telling her I work better alone. After the polite introductions are made I get to work and position the cute older couple this way and that. I fire off about two dozen pictures and promise to email them the best and they can pick which ones work for them.

  They say thank you and then dash into the party room. I take a minute to regroup and long to run back to my room but can’t. For one, I don’t want to let Kat and the staff down and for two, despite the sick feeling in my gut, I’m honestly curious of what people think of my photos.

  I open the door to the party room to find the lights are blazing and there’s already a huge crowd inside. Jazz music, not country, which I’m sure is a first for this resort, blares from the speakers.

  I step inside, feeling my facial muscles tense as I prepare to smile my way through the night like a total idiot.

  “You look ravishing,” says Blake, sliding up beside me.

  My heart speeds up when I look at him. He’s wearing the same business suit I saw him in that first time before he took it off to go for a skinny dip in the lake and I wish to god he didn’t make me feel all gushy inside.

  I mumble a thanks and he edges closer.

  “Is everything okay?” he says.

  I think I say something like I’m nervous but for the life of me I can’t remember. All I remember seeing is Carol walk through the double doors from the restaurant to the party room.

  On her arm is my father.

  I’m about to bolt for my life when my father spots me and all I can do is stand and stare, letting that feeling of hatred spill through me.

  “Oh my god, Marissa, is it really you?” he asks as his loud voice tracks straight to me.

  I’m shaking all over but my flight instincts for once don’t kick in. I feel, more than see, Blake edge even closer to me. I’m about to speak or flee, but like my body has a mind of its own and it chooses that moment to do the most unthinkable thing ever—faint.

  I wake feeling a thousand eyes on me but all I see staring at me with pure fear are Blake’s light hazel eyes.

  “You okay?” he says, and I try hard to z
ero in on him.

  “No,” I say and just like that his hands are under me and I’m being scooped up into his arms. At any other time this would be incredibly romantic. Sad that it’s just embarrassing.

  I burrow my face into his chest, attempting to block out the sight of my father or his voice as he follows closely on Blake’s heels.

  Blake simply ignores him and marches with me in his arms into the quieter restaurant. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Roger with a panicked expression on his face, which at any other time would be comical. Blake eases me into a booth and then turns to my father.

  “Listen, I don’t know who you are, but please go back to the party with Carol.”

  My father looks from me to him and then smiles one of his I’ve-got-a-secret smiles which has always made my skin crawl.

  “Marissa, what the hell is going on?”

  Blake almost gets in my father’s face. “Listen, this isn’t Marissa its Alyssa.”

  My father scoffs. “Three years you’ve been missing and this is what you’ve done with your life. Changed your name and what the hell have you done to your blonde hair? That color had better wash out.”

  I feel every word he says like a blow and hate that I feel once again like a five-year-old trying to hide from him.

  “Listen buddy, you need to leave,” says Blake.

  “I’m not leaving without my daughter. Goddamn it, I can’t believe Carol was right. I had to see for myself and what the hell do I find, my daughter, Marissa Papadopoulos, masquerading as a bartender. Why…why after all these years didn’t you contact me?”

  Blake’s about to go nasty and inside I’m freaking out. I force myself to sit up more in the booth. “Marissa is dead. I stopped using your last name years ago. I’m no longer a Papadopoulos. Wouldn’t want to sully your family name, and you’re no longer my father. I have my own life. Get out.”

  My words stop Blake in his tracks. He stumbles back like I’ve stabbed him in the back and maybe I have.

  “Shit, Alyssa, is this man, Mr. Kostas Papadopoulos, really your father?”