Twisted Desire (The Twisted Series)

by Christa Simpson

  He smiles, loving the look of the wonder on her face. “Are you ready for it?”

  She flashes a look at him that has him laughing.

  “I got you something.”

  “What is it?” She sounds almost scared to find out.

  “We’ll call it a signing bonus.” He unlatches the lock and pulls open the old wooden door. He turns his attention back to the woman standing there with two hands covering her mouth. She’s shell-shocked. Stunning. He’s suddenly certain he’s made the right decision.

  “Harley… it’s gorgeous.”

  “It’s yours.”

  She shakes her head side to side, then moves closer to him, leaving the blanket disposed of on the ground. She flattens her hands on his chest. “What?”

  He licks his lip and then presses a kiss to her mouth. “It’s yours,” he repeats.

  She eyes up the brand spanking new motorcycle that he’s purchased just for her. She doesn’t move from his arms, until he nudges her forward.

  “I know you already have a motorcycle at your dad’s…”

  “Is this a Harley?” she interrupts, sliding her fingertips over the leather seat.

  “In matte yellow. I’m told it’s a perfect match to your car.”

  Tears are in her eyes, but she doesn’t admit that she’s emotional about it. “You’re crazy.”

  Feeling confident in his progress, he decides to push it one step farther. “I’m not done yet.”

  Her eyes widen. She has absolutely no clue where he’s going with this.

  After retrieving the blanket, and returning it to Aliah’s shoulders, he pulls her back to the yard, until they’re surrounded by whispering trees and fresh air. It’s just like he’d imagined.

  “You know how I told you I bought this place because I’ve always dreamt of living out here?”

  “Yes.” Aliah’s stare is burning right through him. She knows something’s up, but she’s not saying anything. That’s unlike her.

  He clears his throat again, afraid to see how she’s going to react, and even more terrified to compare that reaction to the gift of the bike. “That wasn’t exactly one hundred percent true.”

  Her eyes fall shut, and she instantly grows distant, erecting an imaginary wall between them. “You said no more lies. I thought we’d gotten past all that. How am I supposed to trust you with all these lies?” The words whisper from her trembling lips.

  He now realizes he’s going to have to put up a fight if he’s going to get her back on his side. “It’s true that owning this land was a dream of mine. That’s no lie. But since a certain someone’s come barrelling into my life unannounced, all of my old priorities have been knocked aside.”

  Aliah looks back up into his eyes. She’s listening again, and it’s as though her wall has come crashing down.

  “They told me to chase my passions.”

  Harley pauses. Aliah’s swooning.

  “You’re it, Aliah. You’re my priority now. No more lies. Only promises that I intend to keep.”

  The look in her eye scares him.

  Has he blown it again?

  It is far too late to turn back now. “I used to want to come out here to get away from people. Now it’s so I can have you to myself.” He pauses, letting what he’s said sink it. “You’re the reason I bought this place.”

  She stares at him through squinted eyes, while she tries to put it all together. “I don’t understand.” The look on her face seems to indicate that she’s telling the truth.

  He doesn’t know if she’s ready for it, but he certainly is. He knows this will straighten out any confusion in an instant. He stuffs his hand into his pocket and pulls out a diamond.

  The blanket drops to the grass behind her and her mouth turns into a pleasant O shape.

  He swallows the lump from the back of his throat. “I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this…”

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she interrupts.

  There is no mistaking the reason for the rock.

  “Will you let me finish?” He asks nicely, and can’t help but let an anxious smile sneak out.

  She nods her head, too shocked to say anything else. That’s what he banks on. He can’t help but smile at her reaction.

  But damn, he’s nervous.

  “As I was saying. I’ve put a lot of thought into this, and I’ve been hanging onto this ring for the right opportunity to present it to you. Hannah thought it would be best this way. I’ve taken her advice. I didn’t actually think there’d be such a time, but here we are.

  “Here we are,” she echoes softly.

  He’s surprised she’s being so soft. He half expected her to slap him and leave in a rampage on her new bike. He laughs inappropriately. Nothing’s come this close to important to him in many many years.

  “It’s no secret that I love you,” he blurts.

  He expects her to roll her eyes, but she just continues to stare, all wide-eyed, at him. That only makes him smile wider. His hands are sweating. This is a new feeling for him.

  “I’d like to prove that love to you now.” He drops down to one knee, too scared to scan her for a response. When she begins to cry, he glances up immediately and returns to his feet equally as fast.

  “Please don’t cry. I’m sorry.” He bows his head until their foreheads are pressed together.

  She shakes her head side to side, garnering his attention. “It’s just too sweet for my Harley,” she whispers, and takes a sharp intake of breath.

  My Harley?

  He then realizes it’s a happy sob coming from her throat. He proudly returns to a jean-clad knee. He takes her small hand in his and gazes into her wide, expressive eyes. “Aliah Brooklin. Will you promise to kiss me and only me, David H. Gates, for the rest of your days?”

  “Yes,” she answers, without question.

  He’s stunned. Elated… but stunned. “You’ll marry me?”

  She presses her lips together in a smile and nods her head with certainty. Her answer is neither too brash, nor too slow. It’s just right. Just the way their life will be together.

  He lifts himself back to his feet and crashes into her lips, smearing her tears with his hands, as he kisses his fiancé. He takes her hand and slips the dainty ring on her finger. Her eyes turn wide again. That look will never get old.

  “I love you,” he tells her again, his voice brimming with affection. He intends to tell her that for the rest of his life.

  Finally taking her eyes off her new addition, she glances up at him with a soft green gaze, her lips moving before she can even think to stop them. “I love you too, David.”

  He seals her mouth with another kiss, stunned by her confession. He’s never felt this relieved and euphoric in all his life. He plans to make many more days just like this one. With Aliah by his side, anything is possible.

  SUPPORT THIS AUTHOR!

  LEAVE A REVIEW!

  GOODREADS

  www.goodreads.com/christasimpson

  AMAZON

  www.amazon.com/Christa-Simpson/e/B00BMTKM24

  SMASHWORDS

  www.smashwords.com/profile/view/christasimpson

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Christa Simpson is a Romance Author who enjoys entertaining her readers with sexy alpha males and sassy heroines. She writes sexy new adult and steamy adult romances loaded with passion, suspense and sarcasm. In her “free time”, she loves reading, writing, music, movies and dancing. She likes her men muscled, her music loud and her kids happy.

  She’s a small town girl, living in Southwestern Ontario with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She’s a legal assistant by day, wielding a sexy imagination by night. She’s a dreamer and has always believed that you can do anything you set your mind to.

  Please visit her website:

  http://christasimpson.com

  Author of…

  THE TWISTED TRILOGY

  Book 1: Twisted

  Book 2: Twist & Turn

  B
ook 3: A Twist of Fate

  Book 4: Twisted Desire

  THE DESTINY SERIES

  Book 1: Finding Destiny

  | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon |

  The Twisted cast returns in TAINTED LOVE, releasing 2015.

  TAINTED LOVE

  http://christasimpson.com/tainted-love

  THE TWISTED TRILOGY: BOOK 1

  TWISTED

  Can a man and woman be just friends?

  In case you’ve skipped ahead in the series, here’s a look at what you’ve missed!

  Excerpt – Edwin and Abigail:

  I carefully unclipped a long black pencil skirt from a hanger and slipped the fitted skirt over my hips. Before I topped it with a flirty blouse, I decided I should’ve probably brushed my teeth first. There’s nothing worse on a Monday morning than tooth paste splatter on your white shirt. Acting quick and careless, I headed for my door, and when I stepped out into the hallway, I bumped right into Edwin.

  "Whoa!" He seemed equally as stunned by the imposition, but he didn’t budge an inch.

  Being inside his personal space was incredibly awkward. It wasn’t exactly the place I had expected to be this morning. But there I was, wearing nothing but a barely-there bra.

  My eyes flashed away from his glimmering aqua glance and landed on his luscious smiling lips. Lower yet, my eyes focused in on his smooth chest peeking out of his crisp white, mostly unbuttoned shirt. Damn it. He looked like a tasty morning treat, his shirt fully tucked into those black slacks hung handsomely from his masculine hips.

  I swallowed the lusty lump from the back of my throat. "Sorry," I said, softly. I didn't even know whether I was apologizing for getting in his face or eyeing his body like a piece of man candy.

  It didn’t seem to matter to him. He took my chin in his hand and looked right through me with a piercing gaze. "You can feel sorry for a lot of things, but this shouldn't ever be one of them."

  His lips covered mine, his drugging kiss long and slow, as I struggled with myself to make him stop. I should have. I could have. But I didn't.

  Edwin stopped first and smiled at my carelessness. I stood there a little stunned and a lot disappointed with my lack of judgment. With fists bunched at my sides, I forced a stern look to make its appearance. It was hard to keep it together.

  "What do you think you’re doing, Eddie?"

  "I couldn't help myself, and you didn't stop me. What do you expect? I'm only a man."

  How can I argue with that? I loosened my fists and took a deep breath, in an attempt to relax my tense muscles. "Well, maybe you can give me a little notice next time."

  "I didn't plan for this. It just happened,” he insisted.

  "I'm sure. You're lips just bumped into mine.”

  "Like you just happened to rush out of your door at the exact time I was passing," he challenged. His arrogance was starting to make me angry, but I was relieved to feel any emotion other than sadness and despair.

  "Wait a minute: that really happened! Don't try and turn this on me."

  "Mmm, hmm," he replied, pressing my every button.

  "Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself, because I’m not going to let you take advantage of me like that again.” I backed away, more for me than for him. He smelled so good.

  He laughed and just stood there, shaking his head, staring at me. His fresh aftershave and fragrant cologne mixed with his arousal in an enticing aroma. It had a terrifying effect on me, heightening my senses and messing with my mind. After being so dangerously close to him, I was desperate for some privacy to regain my composure. But his eyes never left mine and I worried that he was magically deciphering my thoughts.

  With my nerves getting the best of me, I did what any reasonable woman would have done in the circumstances: I bolted for the washroom.

  "I was just going to brush my teeth," I announced, trying to prove my innocence. I ducked into the washroom, feeling safe once I was out of the fathomless aqua force field he was wielding.

  "Oh, really?" he replied, following after me. "Funny. Because that's exactly what I was coming to do."

  My eyes grew wide with anxiety and as soon as I noticed, I glared at myself in the mirror. Time. Space. I need...

  Edwin appeared nonchalantly in the reflection behind me. I tore my eyes from his firm chest and confident stare, and fixed them on my toothbrush, as I shakily applied the paste. I put the tube down and pressed both of my hands against the cold marble countertop to support my weight, stop the shaking and avoid his mystical eyes.

  Continuing with his casual lack of concern, Edwin reached around me and under my outstretched arms to retrieve the toothpaste and his brush. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent, totally disarming my anger and arousing my budding curiosity.

  I took a deep breath, as I ran my toothbrush under the water. "What are you doing?"

  "Brushing my teeth. Obviously."

  "Hah!" I replied, with a mouthful of paste.

  Edwin began to fight me for the sink bowl, playfully hip checking and trying to shove me out of the way. I defended better than a seasoned veteran, boxing him out with my hips and rear-end.

  "I’d better warn you," Edwin mumbled, with paste foaming around his lips. He nudged me aside and emptied his mouth into the sink. "I may try and kiss you again when you're done brushing."

  I sputtered into the sink, reacting to his terrifying words. "Don't even think about it!" I was feeling extremely uncomfortable with the notion.

  "You asked for notice and service is effective," he taunted, dipping his mouth to the tap. He slurped up some water and swished it around in his mouth as I took a mouthful of water myself.

  I rinsed out my mouth and dried it on the towel as Edwin spewed out the last of his mouthwash. I wanted to be mad. I tried to be mad. But how could you be mad at that handsome face?

  "Don't say I didn't warn you," he said, winking.

  There was no denying that spending time like this with Edwin made me feel a lot better about everything. Playful was doable, and I was pleasantly surprised that he was being so good about it so soon. Taking my good old time, I flossed every tooth and gargled with mouthwash. Edwin watched me intently.

  I acknowledged his presence, but tried to act emotionless. It was extremely difficult. An overpowering inquisitiveness hung thick in the air between us as I dried the wetness from my mouth. I found myself in desperate need of oxygen, the room entirely starved of it as Edwin stepped up beside me.

  "We're going to be okay," he said, his low, sexy growl cutting through the hazy air.

  I reached past him to put the bottle of mouthwash back where it belonged, and he didn't move out of my way. My sensitive sniffer caught a whiff of him again, as I nudged him aside to open the vanity door. Mmm. That scent.

  Edwin stood, unmoved, blocking my path to the door, making me brush past him to make my exit. As I walked away, he slowly followed, but stopped when he reached the hall. I pretended not to notice.

  "You are pretty messed up," he said, stopping me in my tracks.

  "Excuse me?" I spun around to face him, my expression cold and conceited.

  "Did you forget already?" He hoped for a stunned response and so I acted clueless, as my eyes locked onto his heated gaze.

  "I have no idea what you’re talking about." If he only knew, I wanted him to try me on for size, something fierce. But I knew what was good for me.

  I should stick to my original plan: evade, retreat and regroup. If I stayed away from Edwin I could move on a lot faster.

  So, why won’t my feet move?

  "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about," he growled. His arousal swarmed the air around me, like a group of angry bees, and burned, fiery hot, through my lungs.

  He took two long deliberate steps toward me, as I took one hesitant step backward. "I told you I would try again," he said, his voice sounding smooth and sexy, as he progressively got closer.

  I should have turned and ran screaming for the stairs,
but I could hardly make a peep. "I thought I had some time," I breathed, as his face drew near mine.

  He brushed past my cheek, his breath on my neck and his lips against my ear. "You thought wrong."

  My lashes fluttered shut, as Edwin slowly pulled away from my neck, his hand gently skimming across my cheek. I waited for his sensual attack, but it never came. I slowly opened my anxious, emerald eyes and looked up into his. His smile was soft and tantalizing, and his lips parted as he closed his eyes and titled his head for a kiss.

  I gasped for air and pulled back, stunning myself with my own willpower. "I can't, Eddie. We can't do this anymore." Though I so wish we could.

  "I realize we can't do this as a couple. But we’re both single, consenting adults. We’re free to do whatever we want."

  I cocked an eyebrow at him, preparing to playfully test his crisis negotiation skills. "Do I look like that kind of girl to you? I don't just sleep around with random men like that.”

  He returned inside my zone, his lips delivering an enticingly cunning smile, shaking my confidence. "I'm hardly some random guy."

  Yes! Yes! I thought, as Edwin’s cologne doused my senses. At that moment, with my own hormones raging, I was unable to formulate a sentence, let alone verbalize one.

  "It'd be just this once," he insisted. "No one even knows that we’ve split. I want to… no I need to feel you, Abs. One last time. Admit it. You need it too.”

  Just the fact that I was thinking about it was stressful enough, and Edwin thought that was his answer.

  “What's the big deal?” he asked, smirking.

  "It's not healthy!" I stammered.

  "Get over it."

  "But I have to go to work." I partly hoped he would give up, so I could stick to my guns.

  "We don't usually leave for another half hour, at least. You know there's plenty of time for what I have in mind. Now quit with the excuses."