It's Only Pretend: A Single Dad Boxset
Page 6
“It’s your favorite,” I added, swelling with pride at the way her smile changed, softened.
“What a sweetheart you are,” she teased and shoved the blanket from her lap before standing.
“Harper.” I hissed out a breath at the sight of her in a thin white dress with spaghetti straps, showcasing a pair of smooth, toned legs that went on forever.
She looked down as though just noticing what she wore. “Oh, Sofia wanted us to be twins and this was the closest thing I had.”
My gaze shifted from Harper to the little girl sleeping in my arms and back again as a smile spread across my face. “You certainly wear it better.”
She blushed prettily and laughed softly. Harper took Sofia from my arms and shot a grin over her shoulder. “You should see me not wear it.”
I heard her words and darted up the stairs after her, making a straight line to my room while she settled Sofia in her own room. Making a quick decision I stripped down and laid across the bed the same way she had our first night together. I could only hope her reaction would be similar to mine.
When she walked in and smiled I knew I had no reason to worry. Pushing the door closed, she slowly turned the lock, the sound echoing loudly in the quiet room. She placed the monitor for Sofia’s room on the dresser, and she walked to the edge of the bed.
“I have to say Rafa this scene is right out of one of my fantasies.”
“Oh yeah? Which fantasy?” Her gaze raked over my body, lingering in some areas more than others. My cock swelled and her gaze was riveted, making the head twitch when she licked her lips softly.
“All of them start out just like this. Well, except for the ones when I start asleep.” She slid one thin strap down her shoulder and froze at my words.
“No. Let me.” Her violet gaze had darkened with desire so the only thing visible were flakes of gold, glittering like candlelight. I kissed her bare shoulders, her collar bone, as I slowly drew the straps down her arms, the dress pooling at her feet.
“You are so beautiful, Harper.”
Her head fell back at the touch of my lips against her heated flesh, one hand tangled in my hair as I savored the sweet flavor of her puckered nipples. “Rafa,” she moaned when I slid two fingers through her slick folds, loving the way she was always so hot and wet for me. Always ready for me to fuck her.
“I need to taste you Harper. Now.” Without waiting for an answer, I pulled her onto the bed and arranged her exactly how I wanted her. Needed her. Desperately. “Hold on to the headboard,” I commanded when I had her settled, one knee on either side of my head, her glistening pink core completely bare and open to me.
“No,” she growled and flipped her position. “You’re not the only one hungry for a taste,” she purred, settling herself over me and leaning down the length of my body before her warm delicate hands circled me. “Mmm,” she moaned around my length and I nearly lost all control in that moment.
But I wouldn’t be outdone. The sounds she made when I tasted her were addictive. I craved them as much as I craved losing myself in her, and I was determined to get her to make each and every unique sound until she was limp and boneless on the bed. My tongue darted in and out of her damp channel while she squirmed and ground her hips against my mouth. “Harper,” I groaned when she took me to the back of her throat.
She moaned when my hips thrust up, cradling my sac while her tongue drove me crazy.
I pulled her down so she sat on my face, licking and sucking, as her moans grew louder and her movements below grew more energetic. I couldn’t control it any longer.
“Harper,” I warned but that only seemed to make her move faster, suck harder and then I was lost, roaring my pleasure as I emptied down her throat and she lapped it up like her favorite dessert. With squeals and moans she reached her own peak, slowly grinding on me as her orgasm washed over her.
“My goodness!” A nervous laugh bubbled out of her and she rolled to her side, caressing my leg.
“Mind blowing,” I added breathlessly. “Now I want to watch you come apart under me.”
Harper looked up at me and then at my already hardening erection. She licked her lips and something inside of me changed, darkened with primal need. No more words were spoken as I covered her body with mine and took her mouth in a searing kiss that left us both breathless, eyes glistening and skin slick with sweat. We kissed for so long, that when I pulled back, her already plump lips were pink and swollen, deep purple eyes glazed with desire.
“Rafael,” she whispered, the last syllable curling around her mouth like a caress. “I need you. Please.”
Her words completely undid me and I thrust deep inside her body, pulling a long cry from her sweet mouth. “So, so good,” I moaned as she adjusted to my size. Her moist channel clamping down around me until I clenched my teeth.
Her gaze never left mine while I plunged in and out of her body, grinding desperately towards our pleasure. She felt so hot, her body so tight and responsive, I had a hard time remembering to go slow. “Rafa. It’s ok. Harder.” Her inner muscles tightened. “Please,” she begged and that was all it took.
I slid out and slammed back in, making her whimper and moan my name in my ear. Those words did something to me and my body responded in kind, fiercely pumping into her and bringing us both one step closer to pleasure. To ecstasy.
“Yes, oh yes!” Her words came deep and husky, breathy and full of anguished pleasure. Hips moving in rhythm with mine we both climbed higher and higher and I cupped her head, fixing my mouth to hers and kissing the hell out of her until we both tremble with need before the dam broke and pleasure flooded our bodies.
I ripped my mouth from hers and sucked in a few breaths. She still panted beneath me wearing a well-loved smile. “Damn.”
She laughed and caressed one side of my face with a dreamy smile. “I love you.”
I froze at her words and her smile quickly died. “I, uh…,” There were no words, I couldn’t form a single word or phrase. What’s a man supposed to say when he’s caught off guard like this?
“It’s fine,” she told me in an eerily calm voice, gently pushing at my chest until I moved and separated our bodies. “I didn’t expect you to say it back.”
But she hadn’t expected the horrified expression either. “Harper.”
“Please,” she stopped my words and slid on her dress, scanning the room for her discarded lingerie. “Don’t say anything else.”
“Harper,” I began, but her hand was already on the doorknob and then she was gone.
Harper
Though I still felt completely humiliated for declaring my love for Rafael during sex—an amateur move according to Edie—I still had to play his fake fiancée. Forever fake, as it turned out. Still he needed his fiancée on his arm tonight for some ball the mayor was throwing in his honor. The Sister City agreement had been planned, sighed and would very soon be executed. Tonight they would all drink and celebrate and pat themselves on the back for a job well done.
And I would play the role of happy bride-to-be.
The dress I bought gave me the confidence I needed to get through the evening, rubbing elbows with the shiny bright folks of Los Angeles. Sexy black stilettos gave me a few extra inches of height and a few malachite pieces from my own collection capped off the look. I felt good about my appearance, if nothing else.
“You look stunning. Stop worrying,” Rafael told me and I knew he meant it because I saw the appreciation, the heat in his eyes.
“Thanks,” I mumbled because though his words were nice to hear, they no longer carried the weight they had a few days ago. It stung extra hard because he looked so damn handsome in his tailored tux without lapels, drawing attention to his impressive chest. He looked like a model and every woman in the room had her eyes on him.
Rafael of course, had been totally oblivious to the stares tossed his way as he shook hands and slapped backs with the city officials, businessmen and the few celebrities who’d shown up. But I su
ppose he was used to being the center of attention, given his rank and upbringing.
“This is my fiancée Harper. Harper meet Mayor Solano.”
I gave a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Mayor.”
“You too Harper. I hope you’ve shown your fiancée the best the city has to offer?” He asked with his toothy, too white politician’s smile.
“I certainly have.” Rafael looked at me with love in his eyes and a smile on his lips, and I had to look away, knowing I might cry if I didn’t.
I would give anything in this world for that look to be real. True. For him to mean everything that look promised. But it meant none of that. It was just a look meant to sell our story. Judging by the mayor and his wife, it had the desired effect. “Such a sweet talker,” I cooed. “Now you see how I fell in love with him.” I batted my eyelashes up at him but I looked just over his shoulder. I’d already put myself out there once, and got worse than a rejection. I got nothing.
Rafael put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his body and smiled, ever aware of the photographers swirling about the room.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take my lady for a turn around the dance floor.” I let him pull me along, hardly noticing the people around us because none of this had turned out like I wanted.
But I wouldn’t pout. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t love me. It was just the way things tended to go in my life. I kept a smile on my face so no one would ever wonder about the state of our relationship. I would do nothing to harm his chances of retaining custody of Sofia. I loved them both too much to be the reason they were torn apart.
“What do you want me to say, Harper?”
I heard the pain in his voice and I hated it, hated knowing that I put that hurt in his voice.
“Nothing. Tonight is a big night for you so smile. Be happy.”
“How can I when you are so clearly unhappy?”
Another reason to love him. “I’m not unhappy Rafael. I’m feeling nervous about tonight, so I’m focused on doing a good job.”
His face and shoulders relaxed and I knew I’d said the right thing. “Thank you for this.”
I closed my eyes as he leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead in that soft gentle way that made a girl feel loved. For me it served as a reminder that what I felt from that kiss was an illusion.
“That’s what I’m here for Rafa, no need to thank me.”
He bit back his next words and just held me as our bodies swayed to the smooth jazzy song playing overhead. When the song came to an end he stepped back and gave me a sympathetic look that I despised.
“Harper.”
“Don’t. Please.”
He sighed and guided me to a table near the front, reserved for the guests of honor. “We will talk about this later Harper.”
I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and took a long fortifying sip. “There’s nothing to talk about Rafael. I meant what I said, but I didn’t actually mean to say it. So you don’t need to worry.” Luckily the mayor and his deputy along with their wives made their way to our table, effectively cutting off our conversation.
Thankfully.
I didn’t want to have that conversation anywhere, at any time or place. I couldn’t even imagine the pain of having to listen to Rafael explain why he didn’t love me; because there wasn’t an answer that I would find satisfying. Either he thought me completely unlovable, or he still loved Angelica too much. Neither option made me feel any better.
So, I smiled all night, gazing up at him lovingly, and laughing where necessary. I had everyone convinced we were madly in love. When he touched me even I’d been convinced.
Temporarily, at least.
Rafael
I could feel Harper slipping away from me with each day that passed. The gulf between us felt insurmountable, and I had no idea what to do to fix any of it since she never appeared to be openly upset. She always had a patient smile for Sofia, but when it came to me she had an icy look tinged with hurt.
Why had I froze when she told me she loved me? I asked myself the question more than a hundred times in the past few days, replaying the moment in my head nonstop. She’d been so gorgeous, skin flushed pink from the best sex I’d ever had, and the words had slipped out. But that lingering sated smile told me she meant it. It wasn’t just the heat of passion kind of thing, it felt real.
And I froze. Nothing had been the same since. And what’s worse, I didn’t know what to do.
Did I love her?
There were times I thought I did, but I couldn’t be certain. I wondered how she could be so sure, but I didn’t dare ask for fear it might kill her love for me. I don’t know if it made me a bastard to want her love when I felt unsure of my own feelings, but dammit being the object of her love and desire felt good.
It felt damn good.
Sleeping without Harper had been harder than I thought it would be, but I missed her soft heat pressed against me, the weight of her body on mine and the way her hand gently stroked over my chest as she drifted off to sleep. But she’d decided to sleep in her room without me, and I had to respect that given the circumstances.
I fucking hated it.
I would fix it as soon as I picked up some new contracts from the office. At least that had been the plan until my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Rafael it’s Tara. The judge has made a decision. Meet me in front of the courthouse at one.”
My day had just gotten significantly more complicated, but at least I’d have an answer. I spotted Tara in a smart black pantsuit and climbed the stairs to meet her.
She looked around me. “Where’s Sofia?”
“You caught me on my way to the office. She’s at home with Harper. Is that a problem?”
“Not unless the judge wants to speak with her.”
I couldn’t swallow. “Why would he need to speak with her?”
“It’s common in custody cases but since he’s already rendered his decision it’s safe to assume this is a done deal.”
I nodded and opened the door to follow her back to the same courthouse where Mark and Crystal sat. Mark looked pale and sickly and I laid a hand on his shoulder.
“How are you Mark?”
“Been better Rafael, thanks.”
“No thanks to you,” Crystal bit out, but I ignored her and gave Mark’s shoulder a sympathetic squeeze.
We all sat in silence as the judge entered the courtroom, a blank expression settled on his face giving nothing away. He got situated on the bench, opened a sheaf of papers, then finally he spoke.
“Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth the court system is currently overloaded with cases of children in actual physical and emotional danger from those who should care for them and I find myself disgusted that you would attempt to lump Sofia Cavalleros in with those children. The child is obviously loved by her father and soon to be stepmother. Even single, he could provide a more than adequate life for his daughter.” His gaze settled firmly on Crystal. “Mrs. Wentworth losing a child is unnatural and it hurts like hell I know. I sympathize with you, but you have wasted this court’s time because you haven’t found a proper outlet for your grief.”
Hope rose in my chest at the judge’s words. He wouldn’t admonish her if he were planning to hand over my daughter, would he?
“Mr. Wentworth’s current health played a large role in my decision as well. As Mr. Cavalleros’ attorney pointed out, Mrs. Wentworth would soon be in the position she found so distasteful for the child’s father. Single and alone. Therefore, I find that custody of Sofia Cavalleros shall remain with her father Rafael. Thank you sir, for not making this messier by using your title to fight the claim.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
His scowl transformed into a smile. “Go home to your little girl,” he said and banged the gavel.
I rose on shaky legs and pulled Tara into a hug. “You’re a beast of a lawyer Tara, and I appreciate it more than you know.”
“You earned every penny of it.”
Her cheeks flushed again and she grabbed her brief case. “You heard the judge, go see your girls.”
That’s exactly what I did, pulling up to the beach house almost an hour later to find a strange red Audi in the driveway. Harper would have called if she had company, and a bad feeling settled in my stomach as I stepped inside the house. The too quiet house.
“Eleanor where is everyone?”
The housekeeper frowned at me. “Harper and Sofi are outside. That man just showed up and he’s awful Mr. C.”
Now my curiosity had been fully piqued and I stepped out back to find Sofia standing with her hands on her hips and staring at Harper. In the arms of my cousin, Antonio. “What the hell is going on here?”
Harper
The day had started out fantastically. After getting Sofia dressed and settled for breakfast I answered my phone thinking Edie would be checking in to find out the latest with Rafa and I. To her, my love life was more entertaining than an afternoon full of soap operas, but she didn’t mean anything bad, so I happily shared it and hoped she would part some much needed wisdom. This time though the caller identified herself as Marcia Sheehan, owner of a small boutique in Beverly Hills.
“Is this the Harper Ellison who created the Luxe Gems series?”
“Yes it is. How may I help you?”
“Oh wonderful! I love your work and I was wondering if you’d be interested in selling some of your items in my shop?”
Would I? “I would love that Ms. Sheehan, thank you.”
“That’s just great! Your items will sell well here I’m sure. Let’s get together this week and hash out the details, when are you free?”