by C. D. Samuda
“Afraid of what?”
Braeden locked gaze with her. “Afraid of me.”
“What?” she looked incredulously at him. “Yeah right, scared of you my ass.”
“Then put it on and let’s get in the pool.”
Grabbing the swimwear, she traipse rather grudgingly to the enclosed area reserved for changing behind a bamboo screen. Meanwhile, he tried with great difficulty not to dwell on the past.
“I can’t wear this,” shouted over the screen.
“Why not?” his eyes flicked to the screen.
“I can’t tell you why,” she said. “I can’t wear it.”
“Is it too small?” he asked. “I gave you a size four.”
“Of course not. I wear a … how did you know my size?”
He ignored her question. “Then what’s the problem?”
There was a moment’s hesitation before she replied. “I haven’t shaved!” she shrieked. “Happy now?”
He found her sudden bout out virtue rather amusing. “Neither have I. You don’t hear me complaining.”
Her head appeared over the rim of the screen as her eyes opened wide. He knew she was surprised at his humor. Damn, he was surprised as well. But something inside him cracked when she stood up to his grandfather’s insult. Some women would have cried and thrown tantrum. Some would insist on returning home, but she was willing to take it, even though this was not a real marriage. He was impressed.
“But you’ll have full view of everything down there,” she replied, her cheeks color darkening.
He never thought that black people blushed, but her skin tone was light enough for her ears to turn red.
“You can wear a wrap until we get into the pool.”
She changed and came out from behind the screen covering that part of her anatomy with her hands. Braeden handed her a wrap, his eyes glued to her breasts. Their round firmness was pleasing to the eye as their nipples printed prominently through the fabric. A warmth presented itself in the pit of his stomach as his eyes trailed down her cleavage and came to settle on her flat stomach.
Unable to tear his gaze away, he was aware that a magnetic field swirled around them. It took some effort to shift his gaze as she took the wrap and secured the tie at her waist. Braeden couldn’t believe the same woman he basically plucked from the streets looked so darn sexy in a bathing suit.
He quickly jogged to the screen and changed, trying to push her firm toned thighs and curved hips from his mind. Then the unthinkable happened. He felt his cock spring to life, causing him to cursed beneath his breath.
Chapter 16
It wasn’t often Shade felt self-conscious. Today was one such rare occasion. All the touching and closeness to Braeden began to make her flush all over. When she’d changed and appeared from behind the screen, her heart skipped a beat at the deepened shade of his eyes. He stared at her breasts, while her nipples hardened against the fabric of her bikini top.
He was looking at her like a woman for the first time since they met and she wasn’t sure how to feel about that. His eyes trailed along her belly and down to the junction of her thighs. Snatching the wrap from his hand, she quickly covered herself.
Their eyes locked for a minute as she was sucked into his magnetic pools. In that moment, everything around them seemed to fade as she was sucked in by his presence. Then he broke the spell and skipped to the screen. She was just catching her breath when he appeared again and her breath caught in her throat.
The plains of his muscled chest had a layer of dark hair which tapered down to his belly and disappeared beneath the waist of his swim shorts. Shade counted the knobs on his abdomen and she was sure there was eight, the last two melding with his V-line. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as the bulge defined by the skimpy shorts which stretched across those powerful muscles. Even the man’s thighs and calves were calling for her to run her fingers over them.
Stemming the urge to know what his muscles felt like under her fingers, she folded her fists at her side and turned towards the door. She knew when Braeden moved up behind her by the heat pressing into her back.
“Let’s go,” he murmured against her ears, his breath sending a shiver down her spine.
Shade jumped and move quickly towards the door, but Braeden took her hand and pulled her back. She came up against him, feeling her back hit his chest. Her insides quivered at the contact and she closed her eyes in a bid to quell this strange yet wonderful sensation.
“We’ve got to keep up the charade, remember?” he said.
On wobbly knees, Shade allowed Braeden to take her hand and lead her out the door. The warmth of his hand sent little electric charges up her arm. Flustered, she was unable to pull away or protest. If she’d been more experienced, she would have known this would happen the moment she felt that tingle from his touch in the elevator.
When she had reached up and pressed her lips to his, that tingle increased. She’d been too upset and hadn’t paid it much mind, until now. But her lack of experience did not prepare her to deal with the sudden onslaught of emotions now charging through her. She wasn’t a virgin, but she sure had never experienced anything remotely resembling what was happening now.
They reached the pool and she stood there like a sentry staring at the smooth surface of the water. Braeden slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her up against his chest, their eyes locking.
“Don’t look now, but he’s watching us from his window.”
The singing of her blood through her temporal artery threatened to deafen her. She found she was breathing shallow as she watched in dismay as Braeden dipped his head, his arms tightening around her. His lips came close.
“I’m going to kiss you, so don’t panic,” he murmured against her lips.
Their lips touched, tentative at first. Then he pulled back, looking deeply into her eyes, his hazel pools hooded. He came in again, this time crushing their lips together. A whimper escaped her as a tremor passed through her. A low growl escaped Braeden’s throat as she felt his cock swell against her belly. It was at that moment she realized that the pretending had ceased but she would be damned if she let him know that.
His lips pried hers apart. Squeezing her eyes tight, she tried to think of something completely disgusting in order to counter the current now running through her. When his tongue caught hers, all other thoughts flew out the window. He never said anything about tongue kissing.
A part of her wanted to protest while the other half never wanted the kiss to end. His smooth warm tongue entwined hers, stroking and caressing her while both arms held her close. A spot of heat presented in her abdomen and began to spread across her entire body. The moist heat between her thighs made her acutely aware that the skimpy bikini was rubbing her clitoris.
Her lips were like electric anodes touching his. The shock of the encounter gave him a heady sensation. He pulled back, looked deeply into her eyes, seeing the surprise written there as well. A tremor passed through her, telling him that she felt it too.
In fact, when their lips had met in the elevator, he’d felt something. He spent the entire day telling himself it was a fluke. Now he wanted to test it. He’d never had a woman break through his wall this quickly. A warm spear japed his chest, jolting his heart.
Again he went in for the kiss. Not satisfied with just her sweet soft lips, he wanted to taste more of her. Gosh, she smelled divine. She fitted in his arms so perfectly and those breasts. What he wouldn’t do to plunge his face between their mounds.
Reining himself in, he settled for the kiss by prying her lips apart. Braeden knew he might regret his actions. But damn, she was too damn sexy and this playing around was making him horny as hell. The moment their lips touched, he forgot why he was doing this.
With heart pummeling his ribcage, he savored the sweetness of her tongue, the softness of her body. He particularly liked the sound of her whimper and the shudder that passed through them both. His cock strained against the tight shorts he was wearing, pr
essing into her.
Then a picture of his mother raced across his mind like a flash card. She was wrapped up in the arms of her lover. Anger roiled through him from the memory of a cheating mother. Breaking the kiss, he gave her hard shove and stepped back. With the impact of the push, she almost lost her footing.
Braeden reached out and grabbed her before her fall. She grabbed for his shoulders, their eyes locking. His heart was still racing but the heat of anger was making him detest the very fact that he found Shade attractive. He steadied her on her feet, turned and jumped into the pool.
The cool of the water was a welcoming reprieve to his overheated flesh. He only wished the hardness of his cock would subside as well as the temperature simmering inside him. Inadvertently he bobbed on the surface of the water. His eyes settled on her as she removed the wrap and stepped to the edge of the pool. His eyes fell to the junction of her thighs at the tiny hairs that peeped from the bikini.
Running his tongue across his lips, he imagined parting her thighs, separating those hairs and licking up her juices with his thick hot tongue. Incensed at his reaction to her, he dived into the water and swam to the other end. As he surfaced, he heard the splash when she entered the pool, feeling an intense pull towards her.
Chapter 17
Braeden treaded the water, doing several laps while trying to temper his anger and the feelings curling around his groin. He needed to check himself and remember why he was doing this. In the process, he couldn’t allow himself any moment of weakness. He especially would not allow a street urchin to weaken him. Nipping this in the bud was his mission.
If things worked in his favor, maybe he wouldn’t need six months with her. The only problem was that Richard might live longer than that and he would have to extend the contract. After multiple heart attacks three transplants, his body was rejecting the last heart and all the treatments. The doctors recommended that he remained stress free. They were to make him as comfortable as possible.
But the old man was a fighter. It’s been nearly a year that the doctors said they were expecting him to die within six months. After the last tests a few months ago, they said the same thing. The blood thinners were no longer working and they detected a blood clot in his artery. If it worked its way to the heart, it could be fatal. In addition, there were several other complications and conditions that they were unable to effectively treat.
Putting everything into perspective, he resolved himself to focusing on what was important and not allow himself to weaken. Braeden was confident that he was able to continue this charade while remaining neutral. Reaching for the edge, he pulled himself up and sat, his feet dangling in the water. Shade was floating on her back, her eyes closed. The late afternoon sun sparkling the sheen of water on her skin while her hair splayed around her head like a fan.
Steeling himself against the cushiony feeling in the pit of his stomach, he looked away. As soon as he turned his head, his eyes caught his grandfather sitting at his window, looking down at them.
Braeden lowered himself into the water, gently wading up to his wife. Just the idea that he’d had to marry some random woman to earn his own inheritance caused him to seethe inwardly. Added to that, his festering resentment towards his grandfather.
When he reached her, he stopped and splashed her face. Shade jumped with a squeal, upsetting her balance and sinking to the bottom of the pool. She resurfaced quickly, her eyes blazing and lips set in a tight line. She scooped water with both her hands and dumped him. In retaliation, he grabbed her and dunked her under the surface, her cry of surprise dying underwater. In order to retain her balance. Shade tangled his legs with hers and grabbed his arms.
They struggled for a minute before she detangled herself and dived down to the bottom. Like a fish she circled him, then just when he thought he had her, she swam away, caught his ankles and pulled him under. In her attempt to flee him, he caught her by the waist and pulled her up against his body. White hot rage coursed through him at the betrayal of his own body.
He was tempted to shove her away, but the bitterness he felt towards his own relative was more intense that any feeling he had towards Shade. He pulled her to the surface, his arms like a vice around her waist. With the anger making him irrational, he dipped his head and gently bit her neck. She stiffened as his hand came up to grab her breast.
Shade tried to struggle from his grasp, but he pulled her closer. Heat enveloped Braeden, sending waves or current through him. His cock strained against his shorts as he pressed it into her buttocks.
“What are you doing?” Shade’s voice was strained as she continued to struggle.
“I want to fuck you,” he growled in her ear. He felt the shudder pass through her. “Don’t’ pretend you don’t want my cock inside you.”
“Let me go, you prick!”
Giving her breast a squeeze, he licked her neck and trailed his tongue along her temple. She was trembling and he particularly loved the way she groaned, even when she struggled.
“No,” she said. “I said, no!” her last protest was adamant, enough that Braeden knew he’d crossed the line.
He loosened his grip, but did not let her go. Breathing shallow, his heart racing, Braeden’s mind was in a tailspin. He was unable to fathom his reaction to her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what came over me. Just don’t move just yet.”
“I want out of this,” she said, attempting to leave.
“Please, let’s get out of the pool together,” he said, his voice thick. “My grandfather is watching.”
“I don’t care.”
“Please, I promise I won’t touch you again,” he pleaded. “I promise.”
A tremor so intense shook her body, heat washing over her. The water in the pool suddenly felt like she was in a hot spring as Braeden’s cock pressed into her ass. While she wanted to reach around and touch it, she also knew that this would be a meaningless encounter and she was not into casual sex.
Memories of her sixteen year old self resurfaced, causing her to panic. She struggled, but his vice grip pulled her close to him. She shuddered violently as the memories resurfaced. Her tremors of pleasure were replaced with shudders of fear. The conflicting emotions warring inside her made her jittery. While wanting to experience Braeden, she knew it wasn’t real. Added to that was her past. She wasn’t scared of men, she was scared of becoming her mother.
Shade twisted around to face the man whose hard manhood was tantalizing her ass. The pain in his eyes and remorseful look on his face helped ease her irritation. Absently she reached a hand up to touch his cheek. His wide widened slightly, before he looked away from her.
“You’re in pain, that’s why you’re acting this way,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“Don’t try to analyze me,” he said, he voice becoming hard.
Shade didn’t allow his tone to hinder her from saying what needed to be said. Instead, she slipped her arms around him and hugged him close. She rested her head on his shoulder in a rather loving manner. Braeden’s hands remain at his side as he stiffened.
“You’re not the only one who’s been hurt by their past.”
She continued to hold him, loving the warmed from him. Not the sexual heat she felt before, but a human kind of warmth that good people exuded. Braeden wasn’t a bad fellow, he just lacked love and affection. The only family he had left was a cold heartless man who wanted torture his own grandson. After a long moment, she felt his arms wrap around her, a sigh escaping them both.
Chapter 18
“We’re leaving,” Braeden announced. “I will let you out of the contract.”
They were back in their suite at around dinnertime. After the swim she’d been exhausted and fell asleep as soon as she returned to their suit. When she awoke, the bags were packed and leaning against the wall by the door. Shade eased from the sofa she’d occupied since taking her shower. Braeden was already dressed and ready to go.
“We are not going anywhere,�
� she declared. “Take the bags back to the room.”
“It’s not your decision to make,” he replied. “We are leaving.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Coming to stand about three feet away from her, he connect eyes with her, his face hardening. “This is not up for discussion. We will return to the city and you will be free to return to whatever life you had before.”
“I will not forfeit my contract,” she retorted. “And you will not give up what’s rightfully yours.”
“That is not your concern.”
The beginnings of frustration at his stubbornness was making its way to the surface. She was losing patience with him. One minute he would do anything to get his grandfather to notice him and the next he was backing off.
“It is my damn concern now,” she snapped. “That man insulted my race, and I won’t let him get away with it so easily. If I have to fuck you in in front of him, I will. So get over yourself and return those bags to the room now.”
It never occurred to her just how angry Richard Harington made her. The pain in Braeden’s eyes, the way they’d argued made Shade’s fury boil over. No child should have to bear what Braeden went through. She didn’t know all the details, but from the argument earlier, the man was a disgusting piece of shit, fucking his own daughter-in-law. And that too with a child in the house.
The shade of Braeden’s eyes deepened to a molten gold. The green and gold flecks in them swirled as they stared at her. He made a step to close the gap between them. Shade stood her ground, uncertain what his eyes were telling her.
“Say that again?” he instructed. “Repeat what you just said.”
“You don’t scare me,” she replied, lifting her chin in defiance.
“I said, repeat what you just said.”
Her voice was a little shaky as she repeated her command. “Return those bags to the room, now.”
