Sins of the Father

by Melissa Barker-Simpson

  “And did it?” she turned again with a glass in her hand.

  “Not really.”

  She gave a half nod, too tired to play the game. If he hadn’t looked so tired, with his hair all mussed from the restless path of his fingers, she might have been angry. He looked so big and so male stood in the shadows that her mouth went dry.

  To give herself time to cover the nerves, she poured orange into a glass and returned the carton to the fridge.

  “Well, goodnight.” She couldn’t look at him, it hurt too much.

  She’d made it to the door before he called her back. “Alicia, wait.” He was going to tell her she’d forgotten her drink, but when she turned to face him the last of his control snapped.

  She saw it all, the frustration, the acceptance, the sheer need in his eyes – as though a curtain had been lifted. She wasn’t entirely sure if the stifled groan came from her throat or his, but she didn’t care because he was moving towards her – closing the gap.

  He pulled her into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers; hard and hungry for all he’d been denying himself. It was an effort to be gentle and not give in to the primal need to take, but God how he wanted her.

  Alicia felt dizzy from the power in just one kiss. It crackled over her body like a physical force. She couldn’t get enough, the feel of him, the taste. The way his body trembled under her hands spoke of everything he’d been holding back. The next groan she knew was his, and she echoed the sound with a cry of triumph as she gripped handfuls of his hair and pulled him closer.

  He was drowning in her, all sense of reason starting to slip from his mind until he realised with shock that he was perilously close to taking her right there in the kitchen. She gave a startled sound of surprise when he scooped her off her feet and stood feasting on her mouth, but made no objection when he moved towards the hall and out to the stairs.

  Alicia was riding on a wave of passion that threatened to consume them both. She had never experienced anything like it before, the hungry need that made her want to claw at him.

  The trail of kisses down his neck set his skin on fire. When she nipped him gently with her teeth, he almost missed a step. It tore a surprised laugh from deep in his throat. The sound vibrated along her nerve endings, making her impatient to taste more of him.

  Brad felt the urgency and quickened his step. It was as if she weighed nothing at all, the way he moved through the house like his life depended on it.

  In the safety of her room he caught her mouth with his again, reluctant for a moment to let her go.

  His body was still shaking with the effort of holding himself together. The longing was so strong she could practically taste it. But when he set her down he was so gentle she felt a swell of emotion to rival that of her passion.

  Watching him, she unzipped the dress and stepped out of it. The heat flared in her again when she saw his eyes darken.

  “I’ve dreamt of this so many times,” he murmured, looking back at her. “But it doesn’t even come close…you’re exquisite.”

  She went to him, pulling his mouth back to hers as she struggled to remove his shirt and jacket. Her hands fumbled with the buttons, but he didn’t help her. When at last she drew the fabric away from his skin, she gasped in pleasure.

  His chest was a series of hard contours that tensed when she stared at him. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered, reaching out to touch.

  Brad had been called many things, but beautiful wasn’t one of them. Coming from her, seeing her pleasure, he felt something loosen inside him. He pulled her into his arms again, mirroring the sound she made when their bodies touched. In a few strides, he was at the bed and laying her down gently. She pulled him down towards her, trembling when he caught her lower lip between his teeth.

  Brad wanted to savour every moment, commit every line of her to memory, but something was coming apart inside him, an animal instinct that she met with equal intensity. They grappled around the bed, their hands seeking skin, tearing at each other’s clothes in their haste to remove any barriers between them.

  Alicia felt blindly for her bedside drawer, almost crying out in relief when her fingers found the handle. Brad leant on an elbow, running a hand down her arm in a soothing motion until their fingers locked and she found what she was looking for.

  He looked at her, his eyes darkened by desire, his emotions reeling from it. “You’re breathtaking,” he whispered, a calmness settling over him now.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back, missing the feel of his lips on hers. Brad appeased her for a moment or two before he began a journey along her jaw, towards the hollow of her neck where he felt the steady beat of her pulse. She was swamped by the sudden change in him. Her skin came to life everywhere he touched. Where his hands demanded, his lips took. The sensations battered her body in one glorious wave after another.

  The urgency came again, but he sent her spiralling in another direction as he continued down her body.

  The aching ball of need twisted in him, it was painful now. He wanted to be inside her, to hear her call his name. He felt the tension in her body, felt her rising under his hand. The first orgasm shook her violently; he watched the pleasure wash over her face, heard his name on her lips, and fell in love all over again.

  Alicia clung to him, riding the aftershocks. Her hands were anxious to touch, her heart beating a painful rhythm. She felt him shudder and grew dizzy from the power of it.

  “Now, Brad, please, now.”

  In one fluid motion, he rolled on the protection. She parted for him, her eyes almost black, and the plea in them shattered his last shred of control. He plunged into her, swallowing the cry on her lips. Their bodies fit like they were made for that reason; their rhythm was instinctive. The need was so strong now that it demanded something from them. Alicia struggled to get her breath. Their mouths sought one another, crying out in unison as he drove her to the edge and held her there, savouring the moment until they dove together – shattering as one.

  Chapter 21

  Alicia rolled over in bed, instantly aware she was alone. Her hand moved automatically to the space where Brad should have been. It was cold. She shook away the hurt that wanted to take root. He didn’t owe her anything, hadn’t promised her he’d be there when she woke up. If it stung that he’d left in the middle of the night, she’d just have to get over it.

  When she moved, filling the cold, empty space, his scent bombarded her senses. She remembered the gentle way he’d made love to her the second time, and sighed. Her muscles were loose and relaxed. She couldn’t regret the night they’d spent together, however he felt.

  Stretching in contentment, despite the coolness at her back, she decided to search him out. They had to face each other eventually.

  She found him in the kitchen. For a moment, she just stood and stared. The way he prepared the eggs reminded her of how skilled those hands could be. He looked so sexy with his hair still damp from a shower that she had to bite down on a groan.

  “Good morning,” she said brightly, walking into what she was beginning to think of as his domain.

  “Good morning.” He waved a hand towards the table he’d prepared. “It’s Betty’s day off so I decided to indulge myself.”

  “So I see.”

  His look turned speculative at her tone. “I thought you could use a good breakfast before you get to the paper. Maybe you should sit down.”

  She accepted the coffee he held up, amused by the pile of articles he’d laid out. “Let me guess… they found out about Jack?”

  “How did you know?”

  “I knew they’d work it out, especially now. Not even Sarah can kill that story.”

  Brad shrugged as he placed the paper in front of her. “You may as well get it over with, then.”

  She took a sip of coffee and reached for the first article, scanning the words; a habit she’d picked up early on in her career.

  CO-STARS AND CO-CONSPIRATORS

&nbs
p; Alicia Gladstone and Jack Murphy’s secret is

  out. Their controversial relationship can finally

  be explained by the fact they are related. The pair…

  Alicia rolled her eyes, reaching for a slice of toast before she moved on.

  GLADSTONE OR MURPHY?

  Alicia Gladstone has made the front pages again today.

  This time it is nothing to do with her mysterious stalker,

  or the suspension of her latest project…

  Jack Murphy, the young star of Enemy Lines, may not have

  made it big starring alongside Alicia Gladstone after being

  dropped from the film…

  “Dropped from the film, my ass,” she muttered skipping ahead.

  Sources now say they are brother and sister, reunited after

  years…

  Alicia flinched at the sound of the phone, until she realised it was exactly what was missing – it should have been ringing off the hook. Before she could puzzle it out, Brad was calling to her.

  “It’s Jack.” He held out the handset when she jumped off the stool and walked towards him.

  “Hi, Jack. Did you enjoy your early morning read?”

  “I haven’t got to the papers yet, but I’ve seen the news.”

  “Busted,” she said, making him laugh. The rich sound rumbled down the phone line and soothed her nerves. She hadn’t realised until then how worried she was about his reaction.

  “I’m glad the cat’s out of the bag.”

  “Me too. I suppose we should prepare a joint statement.”

  “Actually, that’s one of the reasons I called. A producer from the Matt and Zane show called to ask us for an interview. Our phone has been ringing off the hook.”

  “I know Zane quite well. I’ll give him a call.” Alicia’s priority was to their fans. She knew a reputable show would allow them to share their side of the story.

  “Great, I’ve been thinking about it, and by the time I get out of here it’ll be old news so you should probably do it without me.”

  “Nah, if we do it while you’re still in crutches we might clinch the sympathy vote.”

  “You’re terrible!”

  “Seriously, Jack, if we do this we do it together.”

  “A united front.”

  “Something like that.”

  He let out a breath, belying his own relief. “All right, but I’ll let you handle it.”

  “Thanks, Jack.”

  “Okay, now we’ve covered one of my reasons for calling, let’s move on to the important part. Tell me about last night. How did it go?”

  “The party was great. The only thing missing was you, baby brother.” She met Brad’s eyes and smiled knowingly. “It was just what the doctor ordered.”

  Brad’s eyebrows disappeared under a lock of hair. She wiggled her own, stifling a bark of laughter at the derisive sound Jack made in her ear. “Why do I get the feeling you’re talking about something else?”

  She wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that, so it was a relief to hear Stuart’s voice a moment before the front door slammed shut.

  “Al?”

  “In here. I have to go, hon. Stuart just got in and he sounds pissed.”

  “Okay, you can tell me about it later. Don’t keep me hanging.”

  “I’ll call soon.”

  She turned to Stuart with a forced brightness. “Bad morning?”

  “I’ve been trying to reach you for over an hour. If you had a secretary like everyone else we wouldn’t have this problem.”

  She laughed. “Like everyone else? Most people don’t have the luxury or the need for someone to run their lives.”

  “At least I’d be able to contact you,” Stuart countered grumpily.

  “Why didn’t you use my cell?”

  “I did.”

  “Oh.” Alicia smiled sheepishly. “Sorry about that.”

  “You need to be more organised, Al. Do I look like a secretary?”

  “No, you look like my friend. But now I’m confused, do I need a secretary or do you feel like one?”

  He ran a hand through his hair, sighing out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been buffering calls all morning, and you were the one who insisted Sarah took the morning off. I don’t know what we’ll do when she-”

  Alicia held up a hand. “All right, all right, I’ll deal with it. Now why don’t you tell me why you arrived here with a bug up your ass?”

  Brad almost choked on a mouthful of coffee. He’d been trying to blend into the enormous space and was doing a pretty good job of it until then.

  Stuart glanced at him in surprise. His eyes dropped to the cup in Brad’s hand and came back to his face again. “Any chance of a cup?” he asked, moving further into the room.

  “Sure.” Brad turned towards the coffee and poured two cups. He handed them out and stepped back again.

  “Thanks.” Stuart turned to Alicia. “Okay, let’s start again. I’m here to pass on a message from Larry Edwards. He wants to do an interview for Movie Dome.”

  “When?”

  “Tomorrow, if possible.”

  Alicia blinked in surprise. “You’re kidding?”

  “I left an important meeting and rushed over here with, how did you put it, a bug up my ass, so what do you think? I owe Larry a favour – he called it in.”

  Alicia was thoughtful for a moment. “I suppose it could work if we set up a video-link. I need Jack to be involved too.”

  “So you’ll do it?”

  “Of course I’ll do it.” She put a hand on his arm. “And I’ll tell you what else I’ll do.”

  “Turn on that damned mobile phone,” he said, and laughed.

  “Speaking of phones, why didn’t you use the house number?”

  “I did. It was constantly engaged.”

  “Ah, that would be my fault,” Brad said, looking uncomfortable. “We’ve been monitoring calls, as you’re aware. I was paged this morning at 6am with a report of unusual activity. I made the decision to divert calls to my team, and transfer the legitimate calls to the house.” He smiled at the irony in his statement. “I’m sure they weren’t terminating your calls purposely.”

  “Ha.” Stuart slapped him on the back in good humour. “I didn’t expect any less. It’s quite a story we have on our hands.” He wiggled his eyebrows in Alicia’s direction. “Okay, I’ll speak to Larry and set it up. See you tonight.”

  As she watched him drain the coffee, she felt a wave of love for him. “You should slow down and take a moment to taste the things you pour down your neck.” She was serious now when she reached for his hand. “I mean it, Stu. Stop worrying about everyone else and look out for number one for a change. You’re one of my role models… I am who I am partly because of that.”

  “But it’s ingrained in me, sweet girl. At least you have the advantage of youth.” He bent down to kiss her cheek. “Let people pick up the slack now and then. You don’t want to end up like me – with an ulcer the size of Manhattan.”

  She walked him to the door, knowing no amount of words would get him to slow down. Yet she had to try. “Let’s eat together this evening.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He flicked the end of her nose. “Turn your phone on.”

  When she returned to the kitchen, Brad looked at her in that intense way he had. “You thought I’d tiptoed out of your bed in the middle of the night didn’t you?”

  Her mouth turned up into what was dangerously close to a smirk. “I can’t imagine you tiptoeing anywhere. But it did cross my mind you were regretting last night.”

  He reached for the ends of her belt and pulled her towards him. “I don’t regret anything about last night, and apparently I’m better at multi-tasking than I thought.”

  He caught her chuckle with his mouth, lifting her off her toes as the kiss deepened.

  “Good morning,” she said on a sigh when he released her.

  He rewarded her with one of his knockout smile
s. “It is now. Why don’t we sit? Your breakfast is getting cold.”

  It felt like the most natural thing in the world when he took her hand in his. He had to remind himself to find a balance in their relationship. He couldn’t go back, not when his every instinct was to touch her, but he couldn’t forget he had a job to do. He just needed to find his footing.

  They started with breakfast. He enjoyed listening to her, watching her come alive when she told a story. He would never tire of it. Her ability to adapt was one of the things he loved about her; his own rigidity was both a blessing and a curse.

  ***

  Brad spent the first half of the team briefing dodging questions. They had all detected the change in his mood. He couldn’t hide from his family; they had been party to his inner struggles, even if they didn’t understand them fully. For the first time in days he was glad Kelvin sat behind a screen, a relative ghost in their meeting, because if he looked into his face he would know exactly what had caused those changes.

  They had a new case, which had to be juggled with their existing workload, especially given the number of resources they were already using. He gave the lead to Tommy and Elizabeth, not only because they had the right skills, but also because they were the most experienced at juggling a dozen balls in the air at once.

  He was sorry to move their base of operations, but the mobile unit was needed elsewhere and he had been monopolising their manpower considerably.

  After they had wrapped things up, Brad walked across the driveway to relieve the two men on guard duty outside the house.

  He found Alicia in the garden – her usual hiding place. She was growing impatient at being housebound.

  She looked up as he approached, smiling at the easy way he moved. It still amazed her, how all that towering strength could be so controlled, so graceful.

  “How’s the team?” she asked, crossing to meet him on the path.

  He grinned down at her. “Hoping for another invitation - for some strange reason they enjoyed being James’ guinea pigs.”