Twisted By Desire (Lust, Desire and Love Trilogy #1) Read online

  “That’s it? That’s what’s had you on the verge of a heart attack?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Maybe I should tell you a little secret then …” He rose from the chair and walked toward me. He stopped within an inch from my face, then leaned down to speak into my ear. “I already knew.” He straightened back up to look me in the eye. “Did you think I was going out with someone I knew nothing about, brought you to my home, and trusted you there without knowing anything about you?”

  My mouth fell open. He’d had me investigated. What else did he know? I was at a complete loss for words.

  He stood directly in front of me, towering over me with his arms folded across his chest. His fixed gaze narrowed, and his jaw clenched, “Baby doll, don’t misjudge me again. I’m still here. I didn’t run like you thought I would.”

  I released the breath I had been holding, quietly, slowly, as he continued to look down on me, making me feel like a fool for thinking I was hiding anything from him.

  He uncrossed his arms. “I don’t play games and prefer not to have people in my life who are into games. I’m always trying to stay one step ahead of everyone else.” He held my face with a hand on each side of my head. “I’m prone to despise people who underestimate me. Don’t lie or keep secrets from me, please.” He planted a light, soft kiss on my lips then rose again to face me. His face softened back to the Jeff I had spent the past three months dating. “What’s next on the surprise list, sugar plum?”

  “I …” I stammered and swallowed. “I’d like you to meet her … tonight.”

  “You got me with that one; I sure as shit didn’t expect that. I’m fine with that, but since the topic of kids has now been unleashed, we need to discuss views and attitudes about that. We can talk tomorrow at my house. Can you get someone to watch her?”

  “She’ll be with her dad tomorrow.”

  He pressed up against me, wrapped his strong arms around me, and kissed me on top of my head. The anxiety washed out of my body by way of tears streaming down my face. Jeff pulled back and looked at me, kissing my tears away, covering my face with kisses. He wiped his fingers to remove the remaining tears, then covered my mouth with his soft, sensual lips, kissing and licking at me, cupping my face. He wrapped me tighter in his arms. “Don’t cry, baby.” His gentle caring tone caused the tears to stream again.

  The doorbell rang, and I jumped. “You need to relax, baby. Who all am I meeting?” he asked.

  “It should be my mom, possibly my stepdad, and Abby, my daughter.”

  “Great; let them in. I can’t wait to meet them all.”

  ****

  I rolled over and looked at the clock when the alarm went off. It was only nine. Sky was coming by at noon to get Abby, then I’d go by his place to get her when I left Jeff’s later in the evening. Last night, Mom had looked like she had seen a ghost when I introduced her to Jeff; all the color washed from her face and her smile disappeared. She knew him or something about him, I could feel it. She would make a terrible poker player; her emotions and thoughts were very obvious in her facial expressions.

  Other than that, everything had gone well. Jim liked Jeff. They shared a love of cars. Jeff took Jim out to see his car and let him drive it. I found myself thinking it was too bad my dad wasn’t still in my life, because he would have loved the conversation and Jeff’s car, too. He was the one who taught me about cars, we’d been to car show after car show when I was younger. He would quiz me on everything from engine size to horsepower to torque. Those were special times for me.

  Abby had put on her shy act for about the first fifteen minutes, then the floodgate was lifted -- she talked non-stop. She took Jeff up to see all of her toys and introduced him to Sissy, her new doll. He handled it well, but seemed a little out of his comfort zone talking to a child. I admired his softer side. I found myself thinking he would make a great dad one day. I wondered if he had or wanted any. He was getting close to forty, after all.

  I laid there for ten more minutes before deciding I may as well get up and get the day started. I gathered my clothes, walked into the bathroom and got in the shower. The water felt so good, I could’ve stayed in there all day. Sky had a key, so I didn’t need to worry about letting him in. I didn’t need to have a ‘kid’ talk. Oh shit – the kid talk. I wondered what this was going to be about.

  When Sky arrived, I had Abby dressed and ready to go. Our conversation was brief. We were still friendly, but something between us had changed.

  “Abby wants to go to Busch Gardens; I hope you don’t mind taking her.”

  “That’s cool. I wasn’t sure what to do. I guess now I know. Thanks, Mom.”

  “I bought you three tickets from work. They were offering them for a discount.”

  “Why three?”

  “One is for Hope.”

  “You don’t pay attention to anything, do you? We aren’t seeing each other anymore. I guess you’re just so busy with Mr. Perfect that no one else matters to you.”

  “That’s not true, Sky. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, just call when you’re on your way over.” He ripped the tickets from my hand, picked up Abby and her backpack, and closed the door behind him.

  I refused to let Sky dampen my mood. His breakup was his problem, he was a good-looking guy, and I knew he’d find someone else. I was happy that fucking perfect bombshell Hope was out of the picture and I’d never have to see her again. I slung my purse over my shoulder, picked up the keys from the arm of the couch, sent a quick text letting him know I was on my way, and left to go see Jeff.

  Jeff answered the door in nothing but a pair of drawstring silk pajama pants. He pulled me into a tight embrace. “Hey, beautiful.” My stomach fluttered.

  I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him tight. “Hey.” I rested my head on his thick, muscular shirtless chest, relishing the feel of his bare skin. Being wrapped in his arms was a better feeling than being in the shower earlier.

  “Let’s go out by the pool. We can talk out there.”

  “Okay. I should have brought my swimsuit.”

  “Who needs a swimsuit? My backyard is like a fortress; it’s clothing optional back there.”

  I looked at him with wide eyes, surprised that he had suggested skinny-dipping and intrigued at the idea of us both in the pool together totally butt-ass naked. We walked through the kitchen and out onto the patio.

  “Want a beer?” he asked.

  “Sure.” He grabbed four cans of Bud Light Lime and motioned with his head for me to keep following him. That was no problem. I’d follow his fine ass right off a cliff.

  His back-yard was fantastic, like a beautifully coiffed garden. There were so many flowers, trees, and bushes. The path leading to the pool was outlined on each side by red, white, pink, lavender, purple, yellow, and orange flowers neatly kept in a six-inch track of dirt just for them.

  We arrived at the pool, and he motioned for me to sit where two chaise lounge chairs were separated by a small table. He opened my beer and handed it to me.

  “This yard and pool are beyond words; it’s so beautiful and bright. I’m glad the pool is finally fixed so we can come back here and enjoy this oasis.” I leaned back in the lounge chair.

  “I’ll make sure to let the gardener know you think he’s doing a bang-up job.” He smiled and winked at me. “Let’s cut to the chase today. I don’t want to drag this out, but I have to say my piece.”

  I sat upright and turned to face him.

  “I know you’re younger than me,” he started. “And if, at the end of this conversation, anything we discuss is a deal breaker for you, let me know, and we’ll go our separate ways. But I have to be one hundred percent honest with you.”

  I leaned in. “Okay.”

  He looked me in the eyes. “I enjoyed meeting your daughter yesterday. I have plenty of friends that have kids too. But I’ve never wanted children of my own.” He took a sip of his beer. “I’m thirty-eight and have successfully managed t
o avoid it this long and want to keep it that way.”

  “Maybe you’ll change your mind in a couple of years; you’re still young.”

  “People tell me to never say never, you know? Well, I’m ninety-nine point nine percent sure I can say never and mean it.” Sweat was forming around his hairline as he took another sip from his can. It was hot as hell out here.

  “I’m confused. Does this mean we aren’t going to see each other anymore because I have a daughter?”

  “No, what I’m trying to say is, I can accept your daughter, but if you want any more kids, I’m not the man for you. I don’t want any children of my own now, or anytime in the foreseeable future. So that’s it. You don’t have to tell me today whether this is a deal breaker or if you can live with it, but you do have to know this is my decision, take it or leave it.”

  “Wow, that’s something to think about.”

  “That’s why I’m not rushing you for a decision. But know this, my mind isn’t changing. If, after giving this some thought, you know that you want more kids, then I’ll wish you well and make sure you get everything moved out.”

  “Okay.”

  “But I don’t want this to dampen our day; I didn’t ask you over so we could focus on this. I’d rather be focusing on you.” He stood and untied the bow at his waist and slid his pants down to reveal his naked Adonis form. “Care for a swim?” He walked over and jumped into the pool.

  I set my can on the table and pulled my sundress over my head. I slipped my thong panties down my legs and over my feet. I pulled my hair back with the ponytail holder that was around my wrist then walked over, stepping off the edge and dropping my thin body into the pool alongside him. He caught me as my head bobbed back up and pulled me into him. I could feel his erection caressing between my thighs, across my sex. My arms wrapped around his neck and I kissed, licked, and nipped at him. His hands slid down my back to my butt. He squeezed, pulled me into him tighter and made me quake with lust.

  “I don’t want an answer from you now, but I do expect one within the month; that will give you plenty of time to figure out what you want.”

  “I don’t need a month, I already know. I want you. Whatever I have to sacrifice, I will. I just want you.” I lowered my lips onto his again, our tongues thrashing and exploring each other. “I love you.” My heart quickened. Shit, can I rewind the last ten seconds? There is no way I meant to say that.

  His eyebrow raised, and he pulled back and gazed at me, studying my face. Without words, he pinned my back into the wall of the pool.

  “Are you on the pill?”

  “Hell yeah I am.”

  He reached down and grabbed my legs behind my knees, spread them wide, and pressed his swollen head against my slick, wet folds. He rubbed back and forth across me, teasing me, enticing me, then, without warning, he impaled me. As he pressed into me his lips consumed my mouth. The feel of him in me while my back scraped against the pool caused me to come undone, and my body quivered while my channel clenched in O-heaven around his hardness. His thrusts became hard and intense, and within a few minutes he found his release … inside me.

  “I’m not done with you; that was an appetizer.” He smirked at me. He held me in place as his lips explored my neck, my mouth, and my forehead, leaving a trail of kisses along the way. “God damn, baby doll.”

  He pulled himself up out of the pool and helped me out. We both went back to the chairs, lying there dripping wet and naked in the sun, drinking our beer. The silence was ominous. I glanced over to see Jeff lying there with his eyes closed. I closed my eyes as my mind raced. I tried to imagine what had made me slip out those words -- the three words that left me exposed and vulnerable. I was supposed to be protecting my heart like it was a bar of gold inside Fort Knox. He hadn’t even said it back. Instead, he fucked me raw. He said he didn’t want children, yet he fucked me without a condom, and shot his load in me. Did he change his mind about using a condom because I was on the pill or because I’d said I loved him, or did he just get caught up in the moment? I mean, if he wanted to make sure he didn’t have kids, why put everything on me?

  I woke to the feel of Jeff’s hand massaging over my mound and lips. “Gorgeous, you need to put on more sunscreen, turn over onto your stomach, or go upstairs and shower.”

  “What time is it; how long have we been out here?”

  “It’s just past one thirty.”

  “I never put sunscreen on at all. Fuck, I’m probably burnt.”

  “Go take a shower, and I’ll get the aloe.” He stood, removing his hands from my snatch.

  “Join me in the shower; we can get the aloe after.”

  I stood and grabbed for my dress and was handed a towel instead. “You’ll need the dress later to go home. Go on. I’ll be right up with your things.”

  The water in the shower was so refreshing. I lathered my body with the special request Dove body-wash he’d gotten for me. As I ran my hands over my soapy body, my thoughts went back to the pool. It may not have lasted long, but it felt so good. My hands slid down my stomach to my mound. He was skilled and satisfied me, but he always made me want more. I craved feeling him.

  My fingers slid down farther, through my folds and to the slippery wetness of my heat. My fingers pushed up inside me as the water beat down on my back. Thrusting my own fingers in and out, I was getting close to the edge. Was it wrong to make myself orgasm without him? He’d never know, and surely he’d make me orgasm plenty more times when he got up here. My other hand massaged my clit at the same time my fingers continued to pump in and out of me. Within minutes, I muffled out a moan as the orgasm rippled through my body.

  “I could watch you do that every day,” Jeff said.

  “I-I didn’t know you were up here.” My faced flushed and my skin warmed.

  “I didn’t want to interrupt you. I stood in the bedroom and watched. That was so damn hot.” He brought me a fresh towel and set it on the edge of the Jacuzzi tub. His pants were once again slipped off, revealing his throbbing hardness as he entered the shower to join me. “I hope you were thinking of me.”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.” His mouth covered mine as he pressed me flush against the shower tiles. “I don’t want you in here; I want you out there.”

  “I’m showered and ready. I will wash you real quick.” I squeezed body-wash onto my hands, rubbed them together, then pressed them into his well-toned torso. My hands caressed up over his shoulders, then across his strong chest. I pressed my breasts into him as I reached around to lather up his back. His hands lowered onto my back while his erection pressed into my stomach. My hands slid down his back to his tight, round ass, washing and feeling him, his cock throbbing against me. My hands slid around his hips, down his outer thighs to his knees, then back up his inner thighs to his heavy sack, the length of his shaft and his dripping head. Get him rinsed off...now. I pushed him back under the water to let the soap rinse off his magnificent body.

  My hands made sure the soap was removed from everywhere before I lowered myself to my knees in front of him and licked at the delicious salty dew that had formed a string trail from his tip to the shower floor. I looked up at him as I took his crown into my mouth, water pounding down on me as I worked him in and out of my mouth. I’d love for him to explode in my mouth. There you go again, using that fucking word. My hands massaged his sack as my tongue lashed out around his cock to give my hands some assistance. “Oh, damn girl.”

  I used both hands, one to stroke his length as I licked and sucked on his head, and the other to provide the perfect technique to his balls. “You’re going to make me cum if you don’t stop.” I wasn’t going to stop. I wanted to feel his hot jizz in my mouth, sliding down my throat. I worked him even harder, pretending I didn’t hear his warning. “I’m going to blow.” He tried to pull back, but I wrapped my lips tight around the head, and held him tight with a hand around his ass. I took his entire length deep in my throat as my hand circled and twisted around the
base. He thrust in and out of my mouth, and I knew it was coming. I bobbed up and down his length, sucking him, forcing the cum out of him. He exploded in my mouth, and I continued to move my mouth up and down, milking him as I swallowed every delicious drop. A little had escaped and ran down his length, which I quickly retrieved with my tongue. “Oh, shit!” he growled.

  Chapter 11

  Mom came by Monday morning instead of Tuesday to watch Abby that week. She had an open-house on Tuesday. Good thing my day care was flexible.

  Once I got finished with my one-on-one meeting with Jack, I walked downstairs to the building lobby to call Mom. Her reaction to Jeff had been bothering me, and I needed to know what was behind it.

  Just like I suspected, she knew of him. Her best friend, Gretchen, had dated him about two and a half to three years ago for six months. Things ended badly, when he was found in bed with an administrative assistant from his office. She wanted to make sure I didn’t move too fast and always kept my guard up. I assured her I’d heed her warning. If she knew I’d told him I loved him she would freak out. I was still freaking out.

  Jeff was out of town for the entire week, which gave me time to spend with Abby, get my nails done, and try to repair the damage between me and Sky. I hated that we seemed so distant.

  Before returning to my desk, I called Sky and set up to have lunch with him on Wednesday.

  ****

  The days flew by. Sky and I had a very good lunch date. We talked about everything except Jeff. He told me about the interviews and had gotten an offer for a job to start Monday. We talked about his mom and the progress he was having with their relationship. Things had gone straight to hell between the two of them when we decided to get married. She had stopped talking to him for over a year. Once the divorce was finalized, she reached out to him to console him for what I had done to him. She was paying his rent and other bills until he was able to get back on his feet. I told him Mom and Jim were there for him, too, if he needed any help with his job hunting.