It's Only Pretend: A Single Dad Boxset

by Piper Sullivan

  “Yes,” she moaned, thrashing her head back and forth against the water as I added another finger, making her cry out.

  “And when I do, who’s name will you shout?” My fingers plunged in and out of her tight sheath, growing wetter and wetter with ever thrust.

  “Yours.” Her voice was raw and ragged whisper as my thumb circled her swollen clit, bringing her closer and closer to ecstasy.

  “Say it,” I commanded as my movements grew faster, more intense as her walls pulsed and fluttered around my fingers.

  “Rafael,” she panted.

  “Again,” I growled, feeling how close she was to orgasm. My hands kept up a steady pace and my mouth went back to those beautiful breasts.

  “Rafa!” My name fell from her lips as the waves of her orgasm crashed over her trembling body. I happily held her, loving the way she continued to shudder and twitch from the pleasure I’d given her.

  “You’re beautiful when you come apart. Your skin is glowing, cheeks flushed and my fingers are coated with your juices.”

  She groaned and leaned back, dipping her head under water. “I cannot believe you just said that!”

  “Don’t be shy now. When we finally make love, and make no mistake we will, I plan to taste those juices.” She blushed furiously and I couldn’t help but laugh.

  And pull her in for a kiss that ended with her hands in my pants.

  Harper

  “You got something you want to tell me girly?” Edie sat at the window in the rec room, knitting. Glasses perched on the edge of her nose, she gave me the same look she had when I came home four hours past curfew junior year of high school.

  “I don’t think so. Is there something you think I should tell you?” I pushed a few curls behind my ear, cursing the unusually humid day and the impact it had on my hair.

  “Mmmhmmm.” She continued knitting and staring me down, but I held firm until she spilled the beans. “You’d think as your only family member I’d be the first to know my granddaughter got engaged.”

  Oh crap! “Sorry Grandma, things have been so busy lately I didn’t get a chance to explain things to you.”

  She laughed that old lady perverted laugh that made staff cringe. “Yeah, you’ve been busy getting’ busy,” she mumbled and then burst out laughing at herself.

  “Hush up old woman or I’ll tell them to withhold dessert.”

  She beamed a smile my way. “Then I’ll have to make inappropriate sexual advances on the hot new chef until he gives in. Go right ahead.”

  I shook my head. “You’re incorrigible Grandma.”

  “Yeah, but, you’re changing the subject. Tell me what’s going on.”

  I nodded and gave her a quick rundown of our agreement, minus the talk of money. Edie was old fashioned and she wouldn’t understand.

  “So it’s not real, and he’s made it clear it won’t be.” Even though he’d spent the past two night ravishing my body with his mouth and hands while letting me do the same to him. I was eager to make love with him for the first time. He was everything I wanted in a man, and a lover. I wanted him to be my first lover.

  “He said those words?”

  “He didn’t have to. I kind of figured it out myself when he handed me a twelve-page contract.” And five million dollars.

  She patted my hand. “A businessman will always be a businessman honey; in matters of business, life and love.”

  Love, yeah right. “At best, it’s lust.”

  “That’s not a bad place to start a relationship.”

  A bitter laugh escaped me. “Not if the relationship is strictly sexual.” I hadn’t even had sex with him, or anyone, and she wanted me to have a sex only relationship with Rafael? Impossible.

  “You know when I first met your grandfather he was what you girls today call a player. He had girls for days and they just kept lining up for a night or two with Nelson.”

  “Grandpa? I don’t believe it, he was so … grandfatherly.”

  “But as a young man he was stunning to look at, handsome like a movie star with those dimples and rugged masculine good looks. I had it real bad for him, but I knew I didn’t stand a chance. So you know what I did?”

  I had no idea, but I knew it would be a wild story. All of Edie’s stories were. “What?”

  She smiled wistfully out the window. “I told him I wasn’t looking for anything serious and he was the perfect man to practice with before I settled down with a real man.”

  “You didn’t!” I knew my grandma had been a bad ass in her day, but this gave me a whole new respect for her.

  “I sure did. At first he was on board with the plan.”

  “Of course, no strings sex usually does that to a guy.”

  Edie laughed at the memory. “That’s true enough but I told him I didn’t want to date him, that it would just confuse things in my head. I said we could meet up for a couple hours to explore our sensual nature.”

  “Grandma!”

  “What? It was exactly what he wanted and I gave it to him. Until he hated it.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “Seriously…that worked?”

  “Yep he came to me one day while I was out with Tommy Flannigan and told me he was done with this nonsense. I was his, and he was mine effective immediately. We got married six months later.”

  I swiped at a few tears. “Oh, grandma that’s a lovely story!”

  “And I got almost forty good years with Nelson. The love of my life.” She knitted a few rows in silence, lost in her memories before she spoke again. “You should do that with your man. Sex his brain until he forgets whatever objections he has.”

  “What if he just wants sex? What if he’s still in love with his dead wife? Oh god, what if he says yes out of gratitude?”

  “Then you and I will pick up your heart and dust it off for the next fella.”

  I stood and wrapped my arms around her bony shoulders. “Thanks Grandma. I love you.”

  “Love you too sweet girl.” She patted my hand and I kissed her cheek. “I expect regular updates too, none of this once a week business. Call me, this is better than my stories.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Glad my pitiful love life entertains you.”

  “Me too,” she answered, full of glee.

  I couldn’t get Grandma’s words out of my head days later as I sat down to start on a new jade and aragonite choker for my new line. I didn’t know if entering a sex-only relationship with Rafa was something I could do without falling for him even harder. I’d like to think if Grandma could do it, so could I, but considering my complete lack of sexual experience, I had my doubts. Besides all that, it didn’t seem exactly smart to toss away my virginity on a man looking for a casual relationship.

  No matter how I felt about him.

  Then again, I couldn’t imagine a better person to lose my virginity to, especially if the heat between us provided any indication of how it would be when it came to sex. Rafa had brought me more physical pleasure than I could possibly have imagined. I still dreamed of our time in the water. More than I should. That night, and those that followed are what gave me pause. He brought me to such incredible physical heights, and when combined with my growing feelings, I would probably blurt out my love for him halfway to my first true orgasm.

  I felt more confused than ever, and smashing the small decorative links between the gems brought me a small measure of comfort. Very small comfort though, as my mind and stomach refused to settle. I wanted Rafael more than any other man I’d entertained sexy thoughts about. But I worked for him, he was royalty. Oh, and smack in the middle of a custody battle with his dead wife’s parents.

  Talk about complicated!

  “Harper, are you okay?”

  I looked up at Sofia in her little Cinderella pajamas with a stuffed unicorn clutched to her chest as she cuddled up on my bed.

  “I’m fine honey, how are you?”

  Her bony shoulders lifted casually but I could see the tension in her little body. “Will I h
ave to live with Grandmother?”

  My heart broke for her and I immediately went to her and gathered her in my lap, wrapping my arms around her tight. “Your dad would move heaven and earth to make sure you’re happy and you’re happy with him, right?” She nodded in that exaggerated way small kids tend to, eyes round with worry. “Then I think it’s safe to say he will make sure you stay right where you are.”

  “With you?”

  Well damn. How could I answer that question? “With your dad, Sofia.”

  Her lips puckered in an impressive pout, hazel eyes shone with defiance. “And you?”

  “Sure sweetie, me too.” I didn’t feel bad since it wasn’t a complete lie. As long as I played the role of the future Mrs. Cavalleros I would be here. She just didn’t realize the role wouldn’t be a permanent one.

  “I love you Harper.”

  Tears gathered in my eyes as I pulled her closer, enjoying the way her little body leaned against mine with so much trust.

  “I love you too, Sofia.”

  Apparently this family had some kind of hold over my heart because I loved them both more than was wise for a nanny. I’d never been accused of being wise before, so I guess that explains the kerfuffle I found myself in now. Scrappy and independent, yes. But never wise. And that’s how I knew that, no matter the risk to my heart, I would see where things went with Rafa.

  I would seduce him, give him my body and probably my heart and soul too. If he still let me go after that, well then I would put my heart back together as best I could.

  Rafael

  “Your cousin is speaking out of turn Rafael.” Tara’s features twisted into a scowl as we got down to the final item on her list. The hour had been productive because Tara was a woman of her word. Her investigators had dug up plenty of dirt and demons that would help me keep my daughter. It would likely sever all ties with the Wentworths, but I didn’t let that bother me. Much. “You do realize this means he is now a target, right?”

  I did realize it, and again I found I couldn’t give a damn. Antonio was my aunt’s son and a complete loser, not to mention an embarrassment to the Cavalleros name.

  “I understand.” I also understood that if Crystal succeeded in getting custody of Sofia that the throne would pass to him.

  “He has a very long and very murky past Rafael and I won’t hesitate in using it against him.”

  “I know. He’s an ass, a degenerate gambler and a womanizer. I have no problems sacrificing him to save my daughter.” It felt dramatic to say it that way, but Tara had warned me multiple times that this was war and I had agreed. I’d given her free reign to do what it took to ensure my daughter remained in my custody.

  “Good.” Her lips curled into a seductive smile I knew wasn’t meant for me. No, Tara got off on finding ways to win big and screwing the other side even bigger. “The first hearing is scheduled next week just to see if your in-laws have a case. Stay out of trouble and avoid them. Completely.” She stared at me for a long time until I nodded and agreed. “If they come to you be sure to record the conversations. All of them.”

  “All right,” I held my hands up at her fierce tone.

  “Send me the recordings as soon as you can. Every little thing will help Rafael.”

  And that’s exactly why, for once in my life, I had no problems taking orders. “Thanks Tara. You’re scary as hell and I appreciate it.”

  She flashed a smile and shook my hand. I left her chrome and steel office feeling a little better than when I’d walked in sixty minutes ago.

  But that feeling was short lived, because when I returned to my own office I found Mark sitting in the lobby waiting for me. Again.

  “This is becoming a bad habit Mark.”

  The older man stood, looking even more tired than when he’d visited last week. A rough groan came out under the effort it took to stand, nearly drawing sympathy from me. Nearly.

  “Can we talk?”

  I nodded and he followed me back to my office where I let the recorder app on my phone run as Tara had instructed.

  “What are we talking about today?”

  Mark let out a long, heavy sigh and looked up at me with eyes so much like Angelica’s, and Sofia’s.

  “I’d like to speak with you about an arrangement for joint custody.”

  I knew Mark had come here to smooth things over between Crystal and I, but I refused to be swayed by that.

  “My sole and complete custody of my daughter is non-negotiable Mark.”

  “I’m trying.” He looked exhausted and sick, his skin pale with a greyish tinge.

  “If your wife’s family had attempted to steal Angelica from you, would you have compromised on joint custody?”

  Defeated, Mark silently shook his head. “I don’t want to keep fighting Rafael I just want to see Sofia.”

  Now I felt my anger rise. “Do you think any of this is helping? Crystal has Sofia terrified she’ll have to leave me? You guys started this Mark, not me.”

  Sofia had started having nightmares that she would be torn away from me, more often than not, crawling into bed with me or Harper most nights. I didn’t tell Mark that because Tara had assured me that would work in my favor in court. More than anything, I just wanted this to be over.

  “No I don’t Rafael but Crystal won’t let this go.”

  “Then maybe you should be talking to her about backing off since Sofia is my child.”

  “You don’t think I have?”

  I stood and walked around the desk, anger rolling off my body as I leaned against the edge of my desk. “So I should give up my child because you can’t get your wife to see reason? I’m sorry Mark but I’m not caving on this.”

  He stood and gave me a tired look. “I didn’t think you would but I had to try.”

  I knew that, and while I sympathized with him, I couldn’t afford to care. “Then maybe you should try harder to make Crystal see reason before this gets out of hand.” Mark nodded and shuffled from my office with a defeated slump to his shoulders.

  Finally, I got back to work, hoping that I’d get home to my girls before it was too late.

  I crept into the dark beach house and guilt washed over me that I hadn’t made it home before Sofia’s bed time. That’s what killed me most about all of this. This was supposed to be a vacation where I got some work done with new contracts, but the politicians and business people had turned this into a giant ordeal, half tempting me to call in a few royal resources just to ease my schedule. Becoming sister cities with Los Angeles would be a big deal for both governments and the businesses in each city, but damn the details of the deal made everything difficult.

  The time with my daughter had taken a backseat since the whole sister city thing, and now the custody hearing started taking up all my time. I wouldn’t let that continue.

  No matter what.

  Creeping up the steps to avoid waking anyone up, I looked in on Sofia curled up in her own bed with the stuffed unicorn tucked under her chin. Dropping a kiss on her forehead I took in her sweet sleeping face, vowing she would get better from me. Starting first thing tomorrow.

  Checking in on Harper I frowned at her empty bed looking as though she hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Where could she be? I knew she would never leave Sofia so she had to be close. And I intended to find her.

  We’d been playing this game for too long, back and forth, hot and cold. We wanted each other desperately and tonight I needed her.

  “Harper,” I whispered hoping she was just wandering the house. Several long seconds later and no response. Disappointed I went to my own room and headed for the shower to wash the day away. I needed sleep and I would have it, as soon as I found Harper.

  The room was dark and I flipped the wall switch, sucking in a breath at the sight that met me. Harper. Naked and bathed in soft light.

  “Harper.”

  With a satisfied smile, she leaned back on her elbows. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for hours.”

  She l
ooked so free, so gorgeous, so lush, I couldn’t look away. My biggest issue was trying to figure out where to look first. Her breasts hung there, plump and pale with mouthwatering rosy tips that called to me. Made me itch to touch and taste them again.

  “Why were you waiting for me?”

  She still leaned back on her elbows with a sexy knowing smirk, legs parted slightly, just enough to give me a glimpse of the blonde triangle that capped her sex. “I’ve been doing some thinking.” Her eyes were glued to my bare chest, still dripping from the shower, tracking down my abs, until her eyes widened at the growing bulge beneath the towel.

  I took two steps forward, my chest swelling at the way her violet eyes widened with both arousal and wariness.

  “What have you been thinking about?”

  Harper’s legs parted just a little more giving me a glimpse of her slick folds. Just enough to make me lick my lips. Then she pushed up on her knees, back arched with a curl to her lips and simply said, “Us.”

  I wasn’t aware we had quite reached the status of us, but I went with it because she was naked and wet, and obviously wanting me.

  “Us?”

  Her head bobbed up and down, her smile both innocent and seductive. “Yes Rafa. Us.”

  Finally, unable to bear the distance from her gorgeous tight body on display, I made my way to the bed. “And what about us?”

  One arm slung over my shoulder and then the other until her hands linked behind my head and her tits pressed against my chest, the hard peaks of her nipples teasing me. “I think we should explore this thing between us.”

  “Explore?” As unexpected as her words were, they were not unwelcome. I wanted Harper with a ferocity I had never experienced before. My mouth watered for her. My cock twitched just looking at her.

  “Yes. I know all the other stuff isn’t real. But I think this is and we should enjoy it.”

  I frowned. “What isn’t real?”