Oh, God, Fi.
My chest was tight just thinking about the ring. About her. About this other woman who I’d let into my life holding that ring. The ring meant only for her fingers to touch. To cherish. Until death did us part.
“It’s what, Gavin?” Aolani ran a hand over her face and began pacing back and forth, her cheeks reddening. “Jesus… you won’t even talk to me.” She twisted her hair nervously in her hand. “What was I thinking?”
“Give me the ring,” I said. I hadn’t meant to speak, but my head was filled with the memory of crashing waves and dark skies. I felt myself losing control.
“What?”
“Give me the bloody ring!”
Her face fell, but her eyes were red-hot with anger. And I found I didn’t care one bit.
“It’s not for you to touch. Why were you fucking rifling through that pouch anyway, eh? I told you to get one thing, not to go snooping around in every nook and cranny! Yet here we fucking are, aren’t we?”
I snatched the ring out of her hand and watched her fingers close into a tight fist. Her chin trembled, but not a single tear fell from those dark-lashed eyes. I swear I could hear her teeth grinding.
“Fuck. You.” She pulled open the door and stepped over the threshold before turning back. “Fuck your lies, and fuck your goddamn ring!”
She slammed the door, and I heard her storming off down the hallway. I clutched the ring tightly in my calloused hand, then walked in a daze to the drawer by my bedside, and searched within it for the velvet pouch. My hand grazed the small wooden box that held my grandfather’s medal, and I froze briefly, running my hands over the engraved lid, before grabbing the bag out, and stuffing the ring inside where it belonged.
I lay on the bed, listening to the sounds of the ocean through my open balcony, trying to put Fiona back in her bag where she belonged as well.
But try as I might, all I could see was ginger hair and hear her laugh, so different from the woman who’d been sharing my bed.
I’ve betrayed you, Fi.
I pictured Aolani, her body flecked with mud, her breasts nude and lush. How good it felt to lose myself with her, to bury myself inside of her and let her take me over. To let myself love her.
I’m so sorry, Fi. I’m sorry I’m so weak.
I balled my fists in the comforter, and pulled both sides up around me. I wouldn’t let it happen again. Fiona’s memory deserved better. And so did Aolani. She deserved someone who could give his whole heart and soul to her. Not some shadow. The leftovers of a broken heart.
And even though I felt like falling for her would be the easiest thing in the world, I couldn’t bear it if I did. I couldn’t let it happen.
Not if I was half the man I thought I was. I was Gavin Fletcher, a man of integrity and strength. A man who kept his promises, even to the dead.
Later that night, I heard the sound of Aolani’s soft sobs through the wall we shared. I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to go to her, to lift her into my arms and kiss her hot tears. To explain myself and take all the pain away…
But whose pain was I removing? Hers? Or mine?
I rolled onto my side and stared at the dark waves, wishing for morning to arrive, or sleep to overcome me.
***
To Be Continued...
Look out for the next installment of LUSH CURVES, coming soon!
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About the Author
Delilah Fawkes is the bestselling erotic romance author of "The Billionaire's Beck and Call" series, selling more than 150,000 e-books in 2012.
She's known for sizzling romances with red hot alpha males you'll fall in love with and strong women who make them swoon. If you like your romance gripping, fast-paced, and dripping with sinful love scenes, you've got to check out what Delilah has to offer.
Delilah Fawkes always delights in bringing you the very best in erotica and erotic romance!
For more Delilah Fawkes stories, visit her blog or check out her author page.
Other Stories by Delilah Fawkes:
Erotic Romance
Teaching Him: The Droid Who Loved Me, Part 1 (Sci Fi Erotic Romance)
Wanting Him: The Droid Who Loved Me, Part 2 (Sci Fi Erotic Romance)
Needing Him: The Droid Who Loved Me, Part 3 (Sci Fi Erotic Romance)
At His Service: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 1 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Mercy: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 2 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Command: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 3 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Insistence: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 4 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Instruction: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 5 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Word: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 6 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Desire: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 7 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Warning: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 8 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
At His Side: The Billionaire’s Beck and Call, Part 9 (A BDSM Erotic Romance)
My Best Friend’s Brother (An Alpha Male Erotic Romance)
My Best Friend’s Brother 2 (An Alpha Male Erotic Romance)
My Best Friend’s Brother 3 (An Alpha Male Erotic Romance)
BONUS MATERIAL
Love bad boy billionaire’s? Then check out this sneak peak of the bestselling erotic romance series, The Billionaire’s Beck and Call:
At His Service
I rapped on the mahogany door at the end of the executive wing, and tried to steady my breathing.
“Come in.”
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered, and entered the office, trying to hold my chin high.
Mr. Drake looked up at me, his green eyes intense, but the emotion behind them unreadable. Was he angry with me? Had I embarrassed him somehow? I was so inexperienced, I was positive it wasn’t good.
“Ms. Willcox, come here.”
I smoothed my hands over my skirt and took a few steps toward the chairs in front of his desk.
“Did I say you could sit there? Come here. To me.”
I paused, shifting uncomfortably on my feet.
“Are you deaf? I said come here.”
His sharp tone sent a shiver down my spine. I set my jaw and walked around the desk until I was just inches away from him. He spun in his chair toward me slowly and leaned back, a smirk playing over his handsome face. For a long moment, he just looked me over, appraising me, then staring into my eyes to see if I would look away, I suppose.
I didn’t.
“Take a seat here. On the desk.”
His voice was a low whisper, his eyes intense.
I hesitated the briefest of moments, but then a little voice inside my head said He’s messing with you. He wants to see if you’re afraid. I glared back at him. I needed to show him he didn’t intimidate me, no matter how rich and powerful he was.
I hopped up on the edge of his desk, and crossed my bare legs demurely. His eyes roamed over my exposed skin, stopping at my hem line, before moving up my body to my breasts, straining beneath my blouse. I tried to keep my breathing steady, but I felt so vulnerable this close to him, especially when he looked at me like that.
“What do you know about me, Isabeau?”
He leaned forward, and I forced myself to stay still instead of shying away. He was so close that I could smell the subtle notes of his cologne: musk and wood with a hint of leather.
“My apologies… May I call you Isabeau?” He smiled up at me, dazzling me for a moment.
“Of course.” My voice sounded high and breathy. I gripped the edge of his desk, trying not to fidget.
“Good. What have you heard about me, Isabeau? What do you really know about me?”
Wha
t did he want me to say? That everyone said he was an ogre? Or that they all wanted to sleep with him anyway?
“I…”
“Go on. You won’t hurt my feelings.”
He was still smiling, slight dimples visible in both cheeks. The sight was distracting, to say the least.
“I know that you’re the youngest CEO and partner in the company’s history, and I know that you earned the spot by working your way up after graduate school instead of using your inheritance as a crutch.”
“Everyone knows that. What do you know about me? The real stuff. None of this press release bullshit.”
I looked down at my hands, anything not to have to look up at his face so close to me.
“Um. People say… they say that you’re scary. And that your assistants don’t last long.”
He laughed, a deep, warm sound that seemed to fill up the office. I glanced up to see him smirking at me. I relaxed my grip on the desk a little. Maybe I wasn’t being fired after all.
“What else do they say?”
Oh, God. He can’t possibly want me to tell him everything. Does he? The look on his face confirmed that he did. It was clear by the way he looked at me that I wasn’t leaving this office until I gave him exactly what he wanted.
“They say. Um… They say that you’re very, uh, good looking… and impossible to please.”
“Oh they do, do they?” He sat back, and tented his fingers beneath his chin. “Well, do you agree with them? Do you think I’m scary, handsome and woefully unsatisfied?”
My mouth dropped open, and I quickly closed it with a snap.
“Yes. I mean, no! I mean, I don’t know…”
He stood, then, and leaned in close, towering over me. “You were right the first time.”
Anxiety coursed through me, but I have to admit, being this close to him, smelling his scent and feeling the heat radiating off his body, it made me wonder what it would be like to be in his arms. To be his. To be owned by him…
His face was almost touching mine when he whispered to me. “I am unsatisfied, Isabeau. I want you to be my new assistant. Will you do that for me? Will you be at my beck and call?”
My breath left me as his words sunk in. When I finally regained it, I felt like I was trembling from head to toe. His beck and call.
“Wh-what about your old assistant?”
Mr. Drake leaned back again and took my chin in his hand, forcing my eyes to his. “What about her? I want you.”
His touch on my skin was electric. Are we still talking about business?
“Yes, Mr. Drake.”
His thumb stroked my cheek for the briefest of moments, and then he released me, breathless, and wondering what I’d just agreed to.
“Very good, Isabeau. I’ll expect you here at 8 a.m. tomorrow, in my office, ready to work. Don’t be late.”
He turned away, effectively dismissing me. I hopped down off the desk and quickly made for the door. I didn’t want to give him time to change his mind.
“And Isabeau?”
I turned back, my hand on the knob. “Yes, Mr. Drake?”
“I don’t tolerate sloppy work. Disappoint me, and there will be consequences.”
I blushed, and nodded, then closed the door behind me.
What had I gotten myself into?
***
Lush Curves 3
By
Delilah Fawkes
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Lush Curves 3
Copyright 2012 by Delilah Fawkes
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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
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License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Lush Curves 3: Making Waves (A BBW Erotic Romance) Page 3
