Love & Lies - Jessica Wood(ang.)

Love & Lies

JESSICA WOOD

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2017 by Jessica Wood All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. ERH Publishing First Edition: May 2017

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ABOUT LOVE & LIES Is it love? Or is it all just a part of his game of lies? Sexy billionaire Liam Taylor was not only smooth and irresistible, he was about to save me and my family’s business from the brink of bankruptcy. But there was a catch. He will help my family business out of its financial crisis under one condition: I had to spend a month with him and obey his every will and command.

Desperate with no other options, I agreed to his terms and moved in with him. And to my surprise, I quickly fell for him and wanted him for more than just a month. But unknown to me, Liam had other plans in store for me. When the secrets and lies began to blur into our reality, was his feelings for me real or was it all just a part of his game?

TABLE OF CONTENTS Also by Jessica Wood Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine FREE BONUS Complete 4-Book Series: The Chase Other Books Synopsis of Oblivion About the Author

ALSO BY JESSICA WOOD Emma’s Story Series A Night to Forget – Book One The Day to Remember – Book Two A Night to Forget Series Box Set (Emma's Story) – Contains A Night to Forget and The Day to Remember The Heartbreaker Series This is an Emma’s Story spin-off series featuring Damian Castillo, a supporting character in The Day to Remember. This is a standalone series and does not need to be read with Emma’s Story series. Damian – Book One The Heartbreaker – Prequel Novella to DAMIAN – can be read before or after Damian. Taming Damian – Book Two The Heartbreaker Box Set – Contains

Damian, The Heartbreaker Prequel, and Taming Damian The Chase Series This is a standalone series with cameo appearances from Damian Castillo (The Heartbreaker series). The Chase, Vol. 1 The Chase, Vol. 2 The Chase, Vol. 3 The Chase, Vol. 4 The Chase: The Complete Series Box Set – Contains All Four Volumes Oblivion This is a standalone full-length book unrelated to other series by Jessica Wood. Oblivion Promises Series This is a standalone series unrelated to

other series by Jessica Wood. Promise to Marry – Book One Promise to Keep – Book Two Promise of Forever – Book Three Promises, Love & Baby – Book Four ***

Pre-Orders Currently Available Contracted Love – July 11, 2017

CHAPTER ONE He noticed her right away when she walked into the restaurant—but so did everyone else. At the age of twenty-two, Gemma Adams had grown into a woman that demanded attention. Yet, she seemed naïvely unaware of her beauty. Her chestnut hair in large, soft curls all the way down to her slender waist. The v-cut neckline of her little black dress showed just the right amount of cleavage for her full breasts to look sensual but not slutty, and the short hemline made her tanned legs look even longer. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with energy and the delicate features of her face showed that she was in a no-nonsense mood today.

“Lori, sorry I’m late!” Gemma called out as she spotted her best friend sitting in a booth by the window, mindlessly twirling her fingers through her blonde curls. Gemma sat in the seat across from her and let out a heavy groan. “You won’t believe the day I’ve had! Those bastards at the bank turned me down!” “Aww, Gemma. I’m so sorry.” Lori’s blue eyes instantly brimmed with tears of sympathy for her best friend, knowing the gravity of this news. She knew how much work Gemma had done in preparation for her meeting with the bank and how much hope Gemma has placed on getting this meeting. Lori reached for her friend’s hands from across the table and gave them a supportive squeeze. “What happened?”

“It was all bullshit! I just can’t believe it.” Gemma fumed, unable to keep her voice down. “They said a company that was on the verge of bankruptcy like mine was just too high of a risk for a business loan of that size.” Gemma bit her lower lip in anger and shook her head as she replayed the events at the bank in her head. “It’s all a load of crap. Someone must be trying to buy the Adams Corporation out from under us and they’ve got a handhold on the banks because I know they’ve loaned to other companies in worse shape than ours. Someone on the inside must be working against us to make sure my family’s business goes under.” Her anger slowly took an emotional turn as her voice began to shake. She struggled to keep her tears at bay. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do now. That bank was my

last chance. How am I going to save the company now?” Gemma buried her face down into her folded arms. Tears of disappointment and heartbreak began to spill from her eyes. Lori silently handed her a napkin. Instead of wiping her tears with it, Gemma crushed it into an angry ball in her fist. She needed to hang onto her rage if she was going to keep herself from falling apart. Her parents were counting on her to save the family business and she was determined not to let them down. But unfortunately, deep down, Gemma knew she was quickly exhausting all of her options. If something drastic didn’t happen soon, they may lose everything they had. “Well, if it’s any consolation, you look great.” Lori smiled, always trying to find the bright

side of things. “Thanks,” Gemma said ruefully. But despite herself, her lips curved into a small smile. Lori’s bubbly attitude had that affect on people and it was one of the reasons the girls had been best friends since childhood. And at that moment, Gemma really needed some optimism. She was quickly losing faith in her own abilities. She had graduated college less than a year ago and had gone straight to work at Adams Corporation, the business her parents had worked their entire lives to build. Adams Corporation had been a big part of Gemma’s life since before she was even born and every memory she had was associated with it. She had played with her dolls on the lobby floor under the loving watch of Judy, the receptionist, and her birthday parties had been filled with more

company employees than school mates. She had spent every summer working as an intern and told her guidance counselor that when she grew up, there was nothing she wanted more than to work at her parents’ company. When she had graduated high school, she hadn’t seen any real need for college, but her father had insisted, telling her that by getting a degree, she would learn new things that could benefit the company. But by the time Gemma had earned a degree in business, the family company was already in trouble. When her father reluctantly admitted to her that they might have to file for bankruptcy and were in danger of losing everything they had, Gemma felt naively confident that she alone could save her parents’ business from bankruptcy and rescue her family from financial ruin. Now, that bright-eyed

girl she’d once been seemed so very far away. “I’ve been turned down by every bank in the country,” Gemma said in despair as she looked into her best friend’s eyes. “If only there was some other way I could get the money to save the company.” She signed. “Lori, I’m beyond desperate. I feel like I'm grasping at straws. At this point, there’s really nothing I wouldn’t do to get us out of this mess.” Suddenly, to the girls’ surprise, a man that had been sitting behind Lori in the neighboring booth stood up and turned to them. “I couldn't help but overhearing,” he said with a devilishly handsome grin. He pulled something out of the breast pocket of his suit and held it out in front of Gemma. “Here's my card. I think I might have the perfect solution for you.”

CHAPTER TWO “Excuse me?” Gemma asked with an air of indignation. “We’re having a private conversation here.” She shot him a glare, but there was something in this stranger’s eyes that caused her stomach to flip. “Sorry, I don’t usually eavesdrop on private conversations, but I couldn’t help but to over hear that you might be looking for a nontraditional business loan. That happens to be what I do.” “It is?” Gemma looked skeptical as she gave him an once over. She couldn’t help noticing how unbelievably gorgeous this stranger was. “Allow me to introduce myself,” the man said as he flashed her a sly smile. “I’m Liam Taylor.”

Gemma gasped at the handsome stranger as she hesitantly took the business card from his well manicured hands. He was easily six feet tall and brimming with confidence and charisma. His muscular build was visible against the expensive, gray tailored suit with a burgundy tie and Italian shoes he had on. Dark wavy hair framed his face. He was classically handsome with a strong jaw line. His cold blue-gray eyes reminded her of a perfectly calm, deep sea. Gemma gave the card a quick read. It was embossed on expensive paper. It said Liam Taylor was a financial consultant and investment financier. Still, if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was, and to Gemma, his sudden appearance was too much of a coincidence. “Thanks, but no thanks,” she said as she

thrust the card back at him. “Gemma,” Lori hissed in her friend’s ear so Liam couldn’t hear her. “You should talk to him!” Gemma ignored her and jerked her head towards Liam. “That’s okay,” Liam said, nonchalantly taking the card back and inserting it into his interior jacket pocket. “I don’t usually work with small family owned businesses, but I’ve been told I need to try and be more philanthropic. So when I overheard your conversation just now, I thought this might be able to count as my good deed for the month. But I guess it wasn’t meant to be.” He shrugged indifferently. “Good luck and good day.” Liam gave a friendly nod and strode from the restaurant, but not before dropping a hundred dollar bill onto his table for the waitress on an

order that couldn’t have been more than twenty bucks at the most. Lori pulled Gemma from her seat and hissed, “Go after him and talk to him! You need his help! Don’t let him get away!” At five feet and two, Lori was no match for Gemma’s voluptuous frame, but Gemma allowed her friend to yank her from the booth. Gemma looked at the door where the welldressed man had exited onto the city streets and then back to Lori. “Do you really think he could help? What if it’s just a scam and he’s looking to rip off me and my parents?” “You won’t know if you don’t at least talk to him. Maybe this could be the answer to your prayers. I know you and I know you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t try everything.”

“Okay, you’re right. I’ll talk to him.” Gemma turned and rushed to the door. “Mr. Taylor, wait!” Gemma ran from the restaurant and onto the city sidewalk and looked up and down the crowded streets, but he was nowhere to be seen. Gemma’s shoulders slumped with defeat. It was already too late. She had blown her last chance to help her parents. She was about to turn on her heel to leave when a black Ferrari suddenly pulled up in front of the restaurant. Liam Taylor was behind the wheel. “Get in,” he said simply. As Gemma climbed into the passenger seat, Liam smiled at her like a cat that had caught it’s pray. Gemma instantly questioned the wisdom of getting into car with a stranger. But it was too late. The car took off as soon as she got into the car and was already

driving too fast for her to get out. Liam sped through the city streets and onto the highway, taking her far from the urban area where she felt safe and familiar. Within minutes, they’d entered into parts of the city she’d never been to before. Gemma struggled against her panic as they sailed along the road. “So, are you going to tell me about it or not?” Liam finally broke the silence, “This is a business meeting, not a free ride in a Ferrari.” “What? Oh, sorry!” Gemma blushed. She hadn’t realized he had been waiting for her to speak first and suddenly felt embarrassed for thinking he was trying to kidnap her. She spoke hesitantly at first as she made the same sales pitch to him that she’d made to the all the banks, but her voice gained in strength and

confidence as she spoke passionately about her family’s company and what it meant to her. She brought the company to life with her words and endowed it with vitality and value to the community. “The Adams Corporation was founded on dedication and passion, and we bring that to everything we do,” Gemma as she finished her practiced pitch. She looked at Liam intently, hoping he can sense her seriousness “Take a chance on me,” she plead. “You won’t be disappointed.” “That was an impassioned presentation,” Liam said as the car came to a gentle stop right in front of her apartment building. Gemma blinked when she realized where she was. She hadn’t even realized that she’d given

Liam her address, but clearly she must have. Tigger, her cat, sat in the window meowing down at her as his tail flicked back and forth. “So, will you help me get the money I need?” Gemma asked, hating the nervous quiver that had returned to her voice. “Yes,” Liam said as he looked her up and down in a very seductive manner that brought a blush to her cheeks. “I’ll loan you what you need. But in order to make the deal complete, you must give me something that I need in return.” “Oh, thank you so much Mr. Taylor! I’ll do anything! I’ll sign over any kind of collateral—our company is good for it—just tell me what you need.” In a husky voice, Liam leaned a little closer to her and said, “The only thing I need is you.”

Gemma was so overcome with joy that Adams Corporation was finally about to be saved, she knew she must have misheard his words. Stopping her bubbling cheers, she sat perfectly stunned and silent in her seat and looked him in the eye. “Sorry. What did you say?” “You heard me.” He paused, his lips curled into a smile. “I said I want you.” His voice didn’t waver as he looked her straight in the eye. “What does that mean?” Gemma asked, trying to make sense of his words. Suddenly she was starting to feel very uncomfortable and out of her depth. “I want you to stay with me in Taylor Mansion for one month and fulfill my desires. Don’t worry. I’m not a sadist and will do absolutely nothing to harm you. I just simply want

you to live with me and keep me company for a month. There is a fire in you that I find irresistible. That passion that you spoke with when you were talking about your company was sexy. If I could experience and possess that passion for just one month, I know I could feel satisfied. That’s all I want in exchange for the money I’d give you to save your parents’ business.” “You’re crazy! Forget it,” Gemma said with indignation. She slapped him across the face and leapt from the car. She slammed the door shut and was about to walk away when his next words stopped her at her tracks. “You said you would do anything to save your family business. I thought you actually meant it, but I guess that wasn’t true after all.” Gemma turned back to Liam, shocked by his

words. “Think about it,” he continued. “A month living in my lavish mansion with anything and everything you could ever want at your disposal. I can make all your financial worries disappear. The company your parents worked their entire lives to create will be saved, as will the jobs of all the employees who work there. Are you really so selfish that you won’t sacrifice thirty days for all of them? Am I really so hideous looking that spending a month with me is such a disgusting thought to you that you can’t possibly submit yourself to? Trust me, I am not a monster—just a lonely man who knows what he wants when he sees it. You’re a beautiful woman. I want to experience the passion that you clearly have and I’m willing to save the people you love to get it.”

Gemma was so startled by his words that she didn’t know how to respond. Luckily she didn’t have to. “My limo driver will be here at seven o’clock tomorrow night,” Liam instructed, without even waiting for a response from her. “The driver will drive you to my mansion for dinner. No need to pack a bag. I will provide everything you could ever need. Check out the mansion for yourself. If you decide to stay, I will loan you the money you need to save your Adams Corporation. If not, then good luck to you Miss Adams, and to your family and employees. You can leave and I won’t stop you. I have made my offer. Whether you accept it is completely up to you.” Gemma was still in shock as she entered her apartment. She swiftly turned the bolts on all the

locks, feeling vulnerable as violated. Tigger sensed her distress and curled between her feet in an effort to comfort her. Gemma picked up his furry body into her arms and hugged him close. “What should I do, Tigs?” she asked him, knowing he wouldn’t reply. She didn’t need him to. Her eyes focused on the picture frame sitting on her bookshelf across from the front door. It was a photo of her parents smiling proudly in front of the Adams Corporation with Gemma as a toddler in their arms. The answer was clear. She had promised to do whatever it took to save the family business. And that’s exactly what she would do.

CHAPTER THREE Gemma trembled with nerves as she sat in the back of the luxurious limousine and stared out the window at the vast mansion surrounded by manicured gardens. The chauffeur had tried to make casual chit-chat with her as he drove the distance from her apartment, but when it became clear she didn’t want to talk, he left her alone to brood over her own private thoughts. Doubt and regret were already churning in the pit of her stomach. She honestly didn’t know if she could go through with what this Liam Taylor wanted her to do. She was no virgin, but she wasn’t a whore either, and that’s exactly what she would be after this. As much as she wanted to save her family business, her self-respect seemed like a

high price to pay for it. As the fatal moment drew closer, everything within her told her this was wrong. Liam himself greeted her at the front door looking devilishly handsome in a tailored dark blue suit and silver tie. He took her chivalrously by the hand and escorted her inside. “Welcome to my home, Gemma. It’s good to see you,” he said with a practiced smile and cold eyes. Gemma wondered if he could hear the pounding of her heart against her chest as she let him lead her inside. She had dressed up for the occasion and he openly admired her like someone appraising a prized horse. Her long chestnut hair had been styled into an elaborate bun, with just a few soft

tendrils left loose to frame her face with elegant curls. She owned a single cocktail dress and had put it on, wanting to look the part of a guest dining at a mansion and not the bankrupt beggar that she was. The emerald green color of the shimmering satin dress was the exact shade of her eyes and it hugged the curves of her body in all the right ways. The strapless sweetheart bodice made it hard for Liam to tear his eyes away from her exposed cleavage, which gave Gemma a touch of power in what was otherwise a very lopsided arrangement. Black stiletto heels completed the look, along with a light amount of make-up carefully applied to perfection to highlight her eyes and lips. “You have a lovely home,” Gemma said in a quivering voice, trying not to stare as he escorted inside the grand and lavish entryway. “I’m not sure

I belong here.” “You should believe in yourself more,” Liam said with a cocky air Gemma found annoying. “You are a bright and caring woman, filled with passion for the things you care about; your family, the business you grew up with, the work you do there. I knew you wouldn’t pass up the opportunity I was offering.” “Then you must know me better than I know myself,” Gemma said bitingly. His words about her family and Adams Corporation had been intended to remind her of why she should stay, but instead, it reinforced her instinct to flee. She felt like she was violating all the values and integrity her parents had instilled in her and it made her feel cheap and ashamed. Liam guided her through the mansion and

she tried not to gawk as each room appeared more extravagant than the last. It became very clear that Liam was a man who usually got everything he wanted. Gemma felt embarrassed at the thought that this was about to include her too. For the promise of a loan, she was about to sell her body to him. When they arrived in the dining room, the table had been set for a romantic dinner for two, complete with glowing candles and champagne served in crystal glasses surrounded by a sea of red rose petals. There was such a knot of nerves in Gemma’s stomach that she didn’t know if she could eat and the conversation between them was halting and awkward. Liam did his best to try and put her at ease but it soon became clear that she was too preoccupied with what she knew was expected to

happen that evening. “I’m sorry, I just can’t do this!” Gemma cried out when the tension in the air finally became too unbearable. “I know I said I’d do anything to save my family’s business, but I just can’t be your prostitute. I’m not going to let you fuck me just for the promise of a loan. I need to leave.” Gemma stood up from the table, with tears of humiliation burning in her eyes, but Liam caught her by the hand and held her gently. He looked up at her with the wounded expression of a beaten puppy and said softly, “Is that what you think this is?” “Isn’t it?” Gemma countered, with fire flashing in her eyes. “You’ve demanded that I stay with you for a month as your companion to fulfill to your desires. What else could I think other than

you want me to have sex with you?” Liam stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. Gemma was surprised to find soothing comfort in the feel of his strong hands on her bare flesh. “While I do find you extremely attractive,” he said in a calm and sincere voice, “I don’t want you to let me fuck you. What I desire is much more than mere sex. I told you, I want the passion that burns in you to ignite new life in my empty existence.” “What does that even mean?” Gemma asked, sitting back down in her chair. She knew that she should just leave, but he seemed so vulnerable in that moment that her curiosity outweighed her fear. “Let me show you,” Liam said, his voice rich and smooth. Gemma nodded her consent but

was surprised to see Liam take a cloth napkin from the table and fold into a narrow blindfold that he bound over her eyes so that she could no longer see. She started to object and raised her hand to remove the blindfold. But Liam put a gentle hand on her own and placed her palms to rest on her thighs. “Put your hands on your lap and keep them there,” he instructed. “No matter what happens, don’t move your hands.” “What are you going to do?” Gemma asked, feeling thrills of excitement and nervous anticipation running through her. She knew that if he tried to do anything terrible she could just rip off the blindfold and run away. “I’m going to draw out your passion,” he

said cryptically. “Taste this and tell me what you think of it.” Gemma felt the sensation of something brushing her lips. She opened her mouth and the sweet taste of berries dipped in chocolate made her smile and yearn for more. Far from being awful, it was wonderfully delicious and playfully fun. “Describe to me about what you taste—what you feel.” Liam said. “It’s succulent. Sweet. Juicy. Addictive. My lips and tongue want more,” Gemma said in a sultry voice as she began to lose herself in the moment. As she spoke, she could sense the sexual tensions in the room rise with every new adjective and to her surprise, she liked it. She felt the increasing heat coming from

Liam’s body and sensed the tensing of his muscles as he became aroused. It surprised and amused Gemma that she could have that affect on a man as rich and powerful as this Liam Taylor, simply by describing eating fruit. Far from being a victim, at that moment, she felt sexy, strong, and a little bit naughty too. On a whim, she decided to play along with it and be in the moment. As he fed her new foods to sample, she tried to describe them in as sensual a way as she could. The game was fun and Gemma was surprised to find it was arousing her too. They felt like even partners on a playing field of sexual appetites. Her nipples were growing taunt beneath her dress and she could feel them rubbing against the silky fabric of her bodice. Instinctively, she knew they must be visible through the thin material.

“I’m getting hot. I think I need something cold to cool me down,” Gemma said, wishing at that moment she could see his expression. She heard the sound of ice-cubes clinking in a glass and then suddenly felt the shocking sensation of freezing ice being applied to her nipples through the fabric of her dress. She gasped and arched her back to escape the burning cold, but kept her palms plastered to her thighs as Liam had instructed her to do. Gemma found it incredibly erotic as thrills of sexual pleasure radiated down her body and dampened her panties. “That might be a little too cold,” Liam said, his voice filled with restraint. “Do you want me to warm you back up?” Without evening thinking, and to her own

surprise, Gemma nodded yes. Suddenly, she felt the sensation of Liam’s hot wet mouth upon her bare neck, throat, and shoulders. He kissed his way down her chest, slowly peeling away her dress until her breasts were exposed. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips when she felt Liam take her full, heaving breasts into his strong hands and fondled them, gently at first but with more urgency with each passing second. Suddenly, she felt his lips on them and his mouth and tongue began to suck and lick her hard, pink nipples with a hunger she’d never experienced before, causing her to moan uncontrollably with ecstasy. Gemma threw back her head, arched her back, and reveled in the pleasure she felt coursing through her body as Liam carefully and slowly

made love to her huge, luscious breasts. He massaged them with his hands, pinched them with his fingers, lapped them up with his tongue, kissed them with his lips, and suckled them with his mouth. By the time he was done, Gemma was panting and gasping with pleasure. She wanted more. She spread her thighs wide over the sides of the chair, inviting him to do whatever he wanted with her now. The dress fell down against her waist and revealed what was hidden underneath, her sexy lacy panties she was now glad she had decided to wear tonight that left very little to the imagination. She felt the cool air against the thin damp layer of fabric that separated her wetness from him. But to her surprise, nothing more happened.

She did not feel his hands ripping off her dress or caressing her inner thighs. She did not feel his manhood entering her as she now found herself longing for him to do. The room was completely quiet, the air was silent and still. Long moments passed as Gemma waited for Liam to make his next move and she wondered if he was even still there. Finally, she had enough of waiting. Ripping the napkin off her eyes, she realized Liam was no longer there. She was sitting completely alone in the empty dining room. A hand written note had been left on her plate that read: Gemma, I do not desire a prostitute or an unwilling victim. I desire your passion willingly shared. Thank

you for letting me experience a taste of that tonight. I will loan you the money whether you stay for the month or leave, but I sincerely hope you will stay. There is so much more we could experience together. Liam

CHAPTER FOUR Gemma walked through the mansion on weak legs, still taken aback by the incredibly erotic experience she’d just had in the dining room with Liam. She clutched the still unzipped cocktail dress to her breasts to keep it falling and hoped she wouldn’t run into any of his household staff. To her relief, they seemed to be all gone. Her black lace panties were still damp from her arousal, but her body was unfulfilled and yearning for the sweet release of the orgasm that she was deprived of. Gemma no longer felt pressured to do things she wasn’t willing to do, but empowered to seek out what she wanted and hungered for. She wasn’t

the rabbit anymore, but the tiger. When she first arrived at Taylor Mansion, she didn’t think she would ever be able to bring herself to sleep with Liam Taylor. But now, to her surprise, there was nothing she wanted to do more—now, she just had to find him. Beside the note he had set on the dining room table, he had left a map for her of the mansion. It led her past an office, indoor pool, library, and media room to a grand staircase in the middle of the entry hall. She walked slowly up the stairs, her mouth agape at the splendor of her lavish surroundings. Antique furnishings and pieces of rare art were around every corner. It almost felt surreal, like she was in a dream. Finally, Gemma came to the X on the map. With her heart pounding in her throat, she drew in

an anxious breath and opened the doorway. On the other side of the door she found a huge bedroom suite, beautifully decorated in soft pinks, with cherry wood furnishings and bouquets of freshly cut pink roses. A hand written note on the bedside table explained that this would be her own personal suite to enjoy in privacy. Everything about the suite was very feminine and elegant. But what Gemma really wanted at that moment was something hard and masculine. She took a moment to explore the room, hoping she might find Liam hiding beneath the bed or inside the cherry wood wardrobe. But she was bitterly disappointed. She did, however, find a closet full of clothes, everything in her size, beautiful jewelry, and a nice assortment of make-up and toiletries. She took a moment to

strip the rest of the way out of the uncomfortable cocktail dress she’d been half-wearing and slip into a white lace negligee with matching panties she found in the top dresser drawer. She covered herself with a long, silk robe and stepped once more into the hall to search for Liam. At the end of the hallway, Gemma spotted soft rays of light coming from beneath the crack of a door that gave her a glimmer of hope. Pushing the door open carefully, she peaked inside and was delighted to find Liam in a vast and elegant bedroom suite, with his back to her. He was stripped to the waist, with the muscles of his bare torso glistening with a light sheen of perspiration. An exercise bar hung from the ceiling in the corner of the room, and Liam was expertly performing chin-ups in an effort to work

away his pent up sexual frustration. His muscles moved with a strength and skill that Gemma found impressive and she felt her nipples immediately tingle with sexual arousal. She clapped her hands softly together in admirable applause, gaining his attention so that he dropped from the bar and turned to stare at her. His eyes flashed with joy at the sight of her, and he took a step forward to greet her before suddenly stopping himself and forcing his expression to turn to stone. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone devoid of emotion. “Have you decided to stay?” A spark of hope seeped from his voice. “I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed our dinner together and that I shouldn’t have said what I did earlier,” Gemma said. She slowly

walked up toward him until they were so close she could feel the heat emanating from his body. “I’m glad you said them and I meant what I said in return,” Liam said with warmth shining in his eyes. She was so close to him, he could feel her breath on his skin. It took all his will power not to sweep her into his arms and kiss her. But he knew the decision to have sex needed to be hers. With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, he said, “You know, just because you said you wouldn’t let me fuck you, doesn’t mean you can’t choose to fuck me if you want to.” It was just what Gemma needed to hear. With a gentle nudge of her fingers, she let the robe drop from her shoulders and smiled widely at Liam. “Well that’s exactly why I’m here.” She

gazed up at him, her eyes seducing him with promises of what she would do next. “I choose to fuck you,” she said with a devious smile, her voice emphasized the word fuck, feeling the power it gave her to be the one in control. He caressed her voluptuous body through the scant, lingerie before suddenly scooping her into his strong arms. Gemma squealed with delight as he carried her across the suite to his massive king sized bed and laid her gently on top of it. Gemma pulled him onto the bed with her, rolled him onto his back and stripped him of his slacks. His cock was already rigid. The sight of it made her wet with desire. Liam groaned with pleasure as he watched with amazement as Gemma took him into her mouth. Her tongue expertly swirled around his

shaft as she eagerly sucked, moving up and down the entire length his cock. She sucked him until he was so stiff, he feared he might burst. “I’m going to fuck you now,” Gemma purred. “Not yet,” Liam objected. He knew that in order to seduce her into staying, he would have to make this a night to remember—not just for him, but for her. He flipped her over onto her back and pulled the negligee from her body. “I already pleasured your breasts,” he whispered as he kissed her neck, “but I still need to pleasure you from the waist down.” He started with her feet, kissing his way up her long, supple legs, over her knees, and up her thighs. When he came to her delicate white lace

panties, he kissed over the fabric tauntingly while Gemma squirmed with pleasure beneath the touch of his lips. When Liam pulled the panties off her body and his lips made direct contact with her most delicate folds, the pleasure was even more intense because of it. With skilled devotion, he made love to her with his lips, mouth, and fingers. He stroked, caressed, kissed, licked, lapped, suckled, and fingered the lips of her labia, the nub of her clitoris, and the tunnel of her cunt until she was writhing on the bed, panting and moaning with the throes of her orgasm. “Fuck me now,” she cried out between gasps of ecstasy, “I want to feel that huge cock deep inside me!” Liam complied, unable to hold back

anymore himself. He quickly slipped on a condom and with a groan of pleasure, he shoved his raging hard cock deep inside her dripping, wet pussy. Her walls enveloped him and her muscles rippled around him as she wrapped her thighs tightly around his waist. She thrusted her hips to meet him, stroke for stroke. Liam held off as long as he could, thrusting deeply within her, but his own orgasm exploded powerfully from within and they spasmed and screamed together as they climaxed in unison. It was the most intense experience either of them had ever felt and when at last the waves of their pleasure ebbed, they collapsed in each other’s arms, both fully exhausted and satisfied. “Your passion amazes me,” Liam whispered, as he stroked her long hair from her damp forehead. “Please tell me you’ll stay for a

month. I’ll help your family even if you refuse, but it would mean so much to me if you would stay. I’ll pleasure you like this every night if you’ll let me.” Tears came to Gemma’s eyes knowing that her family’s business would be granted the loan no matter what. She wanted to show Liam her appreciation for his help. More than that, she wanted to feel the intense, sexual pleasure he had given her that night again. Stroking the hair on his chest, she smiled softly in the dark and whispered, “Okay, I’ll stay for a month. I promise.” In the blackness of the room, Liam Taylor grinned with satisfaction. His plan was coming together more easily than he had hoped. Now he just needed to keep her happy until the end.

CHAPTER FIVE Gemma woke up the next morning with a smile on her face, feeling more rested than she had in years. The bed was so comfortable, she thought she could sleep in it forever. The thick drapes blocked out the sun so she wasn’t disturbed by the rising, hot sun. At first, she was startled to wake up in her strange surroundings. But then, she remembered all that had happened the day before and flopped back against the fluffy pillows with a happy sigh. As she thought about it, this arrangement with Liam would be like taking a month long vacation in a luxury resort, only everything was paid for and as an added bonus, she got to have incredible sex with a handsome billionaire. Life didn’t get any better

than this. Gemma pressed the button for maid service and within minutes, she was enjoying a continental breakfast of French press coffee and the most exquisite pastries she’d ever tasted, all served to her right in bed. Then she took a leisurely shower and dressed herself in a simple sundress and sandals that she found in the closet. When she looked at the clock on the nightstand, she saw that by this time of day she would have been at work for hours already. She felt like a kid playing hooky from school. At first, she reveled in the naughtiness of it, but the feeling quickly turned to guilt. “I’d better call into the office and let them know I won’t be in today, or any day for the next month,” She said aloud to herself. That was when

she realized her purse and cell phone were nowhere to be found. There was no phone in the bedroom, or in the hallway, or anywhere that she could see for that matter. She saw a pair of maids busily changing the sheets in one of the guest bedrooms and cleared her throat to get their attention. “Yes, Miss? Is there anything you need?” one of them asked. “Aren’t there any phones in this place?” Gemma asked with a slight tone of panic and frustration in her voice. “No, Miss. Mr. Taylor doesn’t like the noise and constant distraction a ringing phone makes. The only one in the house is in his private office.” “Take me there now,” Gemma demanded, with an unusually forceful voice that surprised

even her. The maid showed her how to navigate the labyrinth of hallways to Liam’s office. When she got to the office door, Gemma entered without even knocking. Startled, Liam jumped up from his chair. With a phone in his hand, it was clear Gemma had interrupted him in the middle of a phone call. Liam quickly regained his composure and motioned for Gemma to have a seat in the padded chair across from his desk. Gemma shook her head and crossed her arms in a posture of angry defiance, making it clear she had no intention of sitting. Liam said into his phone, “Excuse me, but I’ll have to call you back later.” “Where are my purse and my cell phone?”

Gemma demanded, going off on him the moment he set the receiver back into the cradle. “How dare you take my things from me without even asking? And how can a mansion this huge not have a single phone I can use? I notice you have one in here for yourself. I bet you thought you could just keep me here as your secret prisoner without a fight. Well you’re wrong. Now give me that phone right now or I’m out of here.” When at last she paused in her angry tirade, Liam got up from his desk chair and held it out for her to sit in. Speaking gently, he said, “I’m afraid the laundry maid washed your purse by accident and ruined everything in it. Here, use this phone to make as many calls as you’d like. I had all the other phones removed from the house because I couldn't stand all the constant ringing. I like my

home to be a peaceful sanctuary. I’d have this one removed too if I could, but unfortunately, it is a necessary part of business. You are not my prisoner here and I’ll replace your purse and cell phone today.” Gemma sat uneasily in the chair, no longer sure if her anger was justified and feeling a little embarrassed by the angry fit she’d thrown. She picked up the receiver and realized she couldn’t even remember who she had wanted to call. Not wanting to look even more foolish, she glared at Liam and said, “Do you mind? This is a private call.” “Actually, I have a lot of confidential business documents in here and I’m afraid no one is ever allowed in here without me present.” “Well isn’t that convenient,” Gemma said

snidely as she glared accusingly at him. “No phones, no privacy. I don’t have anything of my own with me anymore. The only things I had that belonged to me were destroyed.” “I’m sorry about that, but I’ve provided everything you need. Look in your suite and you’ll find an entire wardrobe of clothes I had picked out for you.” “Exactly!” Gemma exclaimed. “You picked out. Nothing here is mine. I went from being an independent college graduate in charge of running an entire corporation to being your dress up doll overnight.” “You’re right. I’m sorry,” Liam said. “I think I know a solution. Let me drive you into the city and you can pick out an entire wardrobe yourself. Anything and everything you could possibly want

to wear for the next thirty days and it’s all yours. We’ll go to the best boutiques in town. No price is off limits.” “Are you serious?” Gemma gaped. Her idea of a solution would have just been to drive home to her apartment and pack a bag, not an extravagant shopping spree. “It’s the least I can do. I know you’ve sacrificed a lot by agreeing to stay here with me for a month. Please allow me to repay you in this small way.” Gemma pause to think about before nodding her consent. She tried to play it cool, but inside, she felt a little giddy with excitement. She’d always been so jealous of the women who could go on such shopping sprees in movies and television shows with batting an eye or worrying

about the finances. And now, it was happening to her like a modern day fairytale. *** She could almost hear the song, “Pretty Woman” playing in her head as Liam took her from store to store as she tried on dresses by all the top designers, complete with shoes and accessories to match. She felt like a little girl in a candy shop. “Thank you so much for buying me all this today. You really didn’t have to,” Gemma said at the end of the day as they were driving home with the backseat of the Ferrari jammed full with boxes and bags. “It was fun for me too,” Liam said. He looked like he meant it as he looked over at her. A wistful little smile crossed his face and he said softly, “When I was young, I used to go shopping

with my mother. It always made her feel special.” Gemma intuitively sensed that she was getting a rare glimpse of Liam’s inner self. Within moments, however, it was gone and the blank mask he seemed to always wear covered him like a shield again. Liam pulled the car over and parked it next to a giant oak tree on the lonely private road that wound up to the mansion. He gazed at Gemma in the dark, moonlit night. “That’s what I wanted to do for you today,” he said. “I wanted to make you feel as special as I think you are.” “Well, you succeeded,” Gemma said with a smile. She was wearing one of the new outfits he’d bought her that day, a flirty, floral print summer dress with a sweetheart neckline. “There’s one more gift I wanted to give to

you,” he said as he reached into his pocket. “I bought it while you were trying on clothes. I hope you like it.” He pulled out a small velvet box. Gemma looked at him with surprise. Without a word, he handed her the box. She held her breath and opened it to find the most stunning emerald pendant she’d ever seen. “Liam, it’s breathtaking,” she gasped in surprise. “Thank you, but I can’t possibly accept something so extravagant.” She handed the box back to Liam. “You can,” he insisted as he pushed her hand with the box back toward her. “I want you to have it. It reminded me of your eyes” “I don’t know what to say. No one has ever given me anything like this. Thank you so much.” Gemma couldn’t find the words to express how she

felt about receiving such an extravagant gift. She held up her hair while Liam fastened the necklace chain around her neck, securing to pendant in place so it nestled just above her cleavage. “I feel the same way about you agreeing to stay with me for the month,” Liam whispered in her ear. Gemma felt tears stinging her eyes. How could anyone think that merely having her company was akin to a precious jewel, and yet, she sensed that Liam sincerely felt that way and wasn’t just giving her some line. Without even thinking, she leaned forward and kissed him passionately. His lips parted beneath hers and their tongues mingled as they both wrapped their arms around each other. The front seats of the car were too cramped

to do anything else, and so they laid on the tall, soft grass underneath the oak tree and made love right under the stars. It felt magical and Gemma didn’t even notice or care about all the leaves that got caught in her hair. “I hope you didn’t think you needed to do that to repay me for the gifts today,” Liam said afterward as they drove the rest of the way home. “I did it for the same reason you bought me the pendant,” Gemma said as she stroked his hair to remove any twigs in his hair. “Why is that?” Liam asked, arching his brow. “Because I wanted to,” Gemma said sweetly and leaned her head on his shoulder as he drove. Liam put his arm around her and smiled to himself as she leaned against him, admiring the

way her pendant glimmered in the moonlight. All thoughts of replacing her cell phone or leaving had completely disappeared from her mind and only thoughts of decadence and joy remained. This was just as Liam had hoped would happen.

CHAPTER SIX For Gemma, life in Taylor Mansion was surreal. Every morning when she woke, she found that Liam was already locked in his office for the day, busy with his job or whatever it was he did in there. There were always fresh cut flowers in a crystal vase on the bedside table in the suite she shared with him and a handwritten note from Liam telling her how happy he was that she had decided to stay and promises of what they would do together later that day. She busied herself by touring the mansion. The library was filled with books from practically every author and on every subject, not to mention newspapers and the latest magazines. The media room featured movies that hadn’t even been

released to theaters yet, as well as all her favorite modern classics. The gymnasium provided equipment for a full workout and she could have a personal trainer to guide her in her exercises if she chose. Best of all, she loved the indoor pool and would alternate between swimming laps or just relaxing by floating on her back in the comfortably cool water. Once she got used to living in the mansion and realized that servants never came into occupied rooms unless called, she became comfortable enough to even swim nude. It became her late morning routine. “Now that’s a lovely sight,” a familiar voice said. Gemma was startled to find Liam leaning against a wall by the poolside watching her with a gleam of pleasure in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” Gemma cried out, feeling embarrassed. They had had sex together every night that week and she had officially moved into his suite. He was an incredible lover who made her body feel good in ways she hadn’t even known were possible. Still, they had always had sex in the night under the cover of darkness and this was the first time he had seen her fully naked in the bright light of day. Just knowing that he’d been standing there staring at her in such a vulnerable state when she hadn’t even known he was there unnerved her and made her feel like a shy virgin again. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said. “I was able to complete my last meeting early. You’ll be glad to know all the assets I need to liquidate for your business loan will be

accessible as cash by the end of the month. I wanted to surprise you with the good news.” “Well you definitely surprised me.” Gemma splashed water up out of the pool and onto the slacks of his expensive tailored suit. The good news made her happier than ever. “Hey!” Liam laughed. “I’m going to get you for that.” Gemma squealed with joy and swam to the far end of the pool while Liam stripped naked and dove into the water after her. They played a game of cat and mouse, or perhaps shark and mermaid, until finally she allowed him to catch her and they had wild sex in the cool water. Afterward, they laid out on fluffy towels by the pool side, basking in the warm rays of sunshine that came through the tall windows, silently enjoying each other’s

company. “Why are you doing this for me?” Gemma asked in a quiet and serious tone, breaking the silence with the question that had been burning in her mind since she first came to the mansion. “I already told you.” Liam said nonchalantly. But Gemma wasn’t satisfied. “No, I really want to know. Don’t give me some story about wanting to be more philanthropic. You could have helped a thousand different people in a thousand different ways. Why me? Why now? You have to liquidate your assets to loan me the money? Why are you going through so much trouble and so much expense just for me?” Liam closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, he saw Gemma leaning over the top of him, staring at him with those penetrating eyes

of hers that looked like sparkling emeralds flecked with gold and lit by fire. There was so much he wanted to tell her, but couldn’t. Swallowing hard against the lump in his throat, he said simply, “When I was a boy, my mother left me and my father for another man. For a long time, I was lost and didn’t know what to do with all the pain I was carrying around. I feared I might be crushed by it. Then I saw you and everything changed. You were walking out of Manfield Unified Bank and the expression on your face was like you had seen heartbreak for the first time.” Gemma gasped. She remembered the day she had gone to that bank. She didn’t remember seeing him there, but she was so wrapped up in her own troubles at the time, she wouldn’t have. That had been the first bank to refuse to give her a

business loan and the start of the saddest day of her life. “I followed you,” Liam continued as he caressed her cheek. “I was intrigued by your beauty and the sadness in your eyes. When I saw that pain transform into passion, determination, and a willingness to do whatever you had to do, I was mystified. Here was clearly someone who had been through heartbreak and yet you were able to transform the pain in your heart into a fiery will to persevere. I knew I had to learn your secret so I could transform my own life. So when I heard you talking in the café and telling your friend that you would do anything to save your family’s business, I saw my chance. I hoped that if I could convince you to stay with me for a month, some of your passion for life might rub off onto me and wipe

away my misery.” Gemma could hardly believe what she was hearing. She was so moved by Liam’s story, she couldn’t think of the words to respond. Instead, she ran her fingers over his naked body, feeling the heat of his bare skin and the muscles rippling beneath it. When she came to his most sensitive organ, she pressed her lips to it, kissing him tenderly from tip to base. His cock quivered beneath her gentle touch and began to grow hard, despite having just climaxed a little while ago in the pool. Gemma ran her tongue up and down the length of him, bringing his cock to full erection within seconds. As she prepared to take him fully into her warm, wet mouth, she smiled and said, “And did it work? Did bringing me here help

you?” “In more ways than I can say,” Liam said honestly, and then groaned with pleasure as she took him deep into her throat and began to suck him hard with her mouth. “Oh my God, that feels amazing,” Liam groaned, stroking her long damp braid as she suckled his cock. When she used her forefinger to delicately massage the sensitive area between his anus and balls, he nearly exploded with ecstasy right then. “Be careful or I'm going to come,” he groaned as he forced himself to pull his manhood from her mouth. “But I want to thank you for everything you’ve done.” Gemma smiled, caressing her naked curves seductively. “Not just for saving my family

business, but also for bringing me here, spoiling me with so many wonderful presents, giving me so much sexual pleasure, and saying all those beautiful amazing things about me. No one has ever thought I was that special and I want to show you how much I appreciate it.” Before Liam could object, Gemma took his balls into her mouth and gently teased them with her tongue while she stroked his erection with her hand. She could feel he was about to climax, when suddenly Liam pulled away. “No, I don’t want to come on your beautiful face. I want to come in that incredibly, hot pussy. Get on your hands and knees,” Liam said, his voice raspy with passion. Playfully, Liam complied, kneeling on her hands and knees on the soft fluffy towels by the

pool. She spread her thighs wide and bent low on her elbows, raising her ass enticingly and inviting him to enter her. A quick caress of his fingers against her moist opening assured Liam that she was aroused and ready for him. He quickly slipped on a condom and with his hands gripping her hips, he entered her from behind, sliding deeply into her eager pussy with one solid thrust. Gemma rocked back against him, pushing him even more deeply into her than either of them would have thought possible, causing them both to moan with pleasure. Liam brought his left hand around her waist and found her clitoris with his fingers. As he stroked within her, he caressed her most sensitive nub, loving the way it made her scream out in ecstasy and rock even harder against him.

“Do it baby,” he demanded. “Come on my cock while I fuck you from behind!” Liam groaned while Gemma’s cries echoed off the cement walls and floor. He could feel every muscle in her body spasm as the powerful orgasm rocketed through her every nerve. It was too much for him to bear, and he climaxed along with her, shooting his load powerfully inside her quivering insides. When at last they both were spent, they collapsed in each other’s arms and drifted off to sleep on the pile of fluffy towels. Gemma dreamed of a hero who had descended seemingly out of nowhere to fulfill the dreams of a princess and how that princess was able to save him too in return. Liam’s dreams were filled with locked doors that were suddenly swinging open. He just

hoped he had the courage to walk through them and that the beautiful woman lying in his arms didn’t cause him to lose his nerves.

CHAPTER SEVEN Gemma was amazed at how quickly she had gotten used to living in Taylor Mansion and how easily she now thought of it as her home. It was true that Liam spent long hours locked in his office working, but she was never lonely or bored. The mansion was filled with a vast and friendly staff and she had gotten to know many of them quite well. Stephan, the chef, loved to show off his cooking skills whenever Gemma would come into the kitchen. He always had some of his special pastries on hand in case she wanted a snack. Her personal maid, Jennifer, was hard working. She was also discrete until Gemma told her that she loved to play board games. After that,

the two of them gossiped and giggled like sisters as they played game after game. Jennifer always swore that Gemma won fair and square, but Gemma suspected more than once that the sweet girl had deliberately thrown the game. When she wasn’t busy hanging out with the staff, Gemma found a thousand ways to entertain herself within the mansion. She’d always longed for the spare time to read and the library offered plenty of material. She exercised daily in the gym and practiced her yoga. Best of all, in the afternoons, she could look forward to spending time with Liam. “I used to work late into the night, but knowing you are here waiting for me, I don’t think I’ve worked past four in the afternoon in the past two weeks!” Liam said with a chuckle.

Gemma didn’t really know what he was like before, but she could tell that he was a far different man than the one she’d met in the café weeks earlier. The cold, steel gray of his eyes had been replaced with shining merriment, like the sun dancing on the ocean. The corners of his mouth were always curved into a smile and there was a happy lift to his step when he walked. “I didn’t think I could ever be this happy,” Liam confessed to her one night as they were dressing for dinner. He was putting on a tuxedo and Gemma stood wrapped in a towel trying to choose which evening gown to wear. They were halfway through the month and Laim had promised to take her out to dinner and the theatre to mark the occasion. “Me too,” Gemma said with a smile.

“You’ve spoiled me for all other men.” She meant much more than going on extravagant shopping sprees, being waited on by servants, or having box seats at the theater. She meant the way he looked at her with such adoration and how he made her always fell like the only woman on earth who mattered when she was with him. It was an intoxicating feeling and something that would be even harder to give up at the end of the month than all the material comforts ever could be. “Are you all right?” Liam came up behind her and put his hands comfortingly on her bare shoulders. “You looked so sad there for a moment there.” “I’m fine,” she smiled up at him. “I was just thinking that soon, I’ll be going home to my family and my job.”

“You miss them,” Laim stated simply, but there was no hiding the hurt in his voice. “No, actually I don’t,” Gemma confessed, feeling a little guilty. “I was thinking that when I have to go back to reality, how much I’m going to miss you.” She turned around to face him and let the towel fall from her body so she stood naked before him. Desire flamed in his eyes and he took her into his arms and kissed her feverishly. “Kiss me all over,” Gemma breathed and he eagerly complied. He started by nibbling her earlobes, then down her long and graceful neck to her slender shoulders. He took his time at her full and luscious breasts, kissing every inch of them in slow circles, that started at the outside and ended with each dark pink nipple. Then he kissed his way

down her flat stomach to the curve of her hips, all the way down to her toned thighs. Clutching the bed post for balance, Gemma spread her legs wide, giving him easy access. Liam knelt on the ground between her thighs and made love to her with his lips and mouth as if worshipping her. His tongue lapped with gentle tenderness at first, and then his lips suckled with passionate hunger. Gemma’s breathing came in rapid gasps as she moaned and cried aloud under the expert workings of his mouth. “I’m coming!” she rasped and collapsed onto her hands and knees under the power of her orgasm. Liam stripped off his tuxedo and knelt behind her, shoving his raging cock into her quivering pussy with one solid motion. Gemma

moaned with pleasure and rocked back against him, driving him even deeper inside her wetness. Keeping him inserted, she slowly moved her body until she was lying on her side, with him continuing to enter in and out of her from behind. The change of position altered the friction between them and caused her to orgasm once more. Just as her climax started to ebb, Liam moved his hand around her body so that his fingers could massage her clitoris. The extra stimulation kept her orgasm going. He stopped thrusting and held his cock steady deep within her cunt and concentrated on stroking and stimulating her clit while she bucked and rocked beneath him, thrusting herself up and down the length of him with frenzied abandon as her orgasm kept going and going.

“I can’t stop coming,” she cried out between gasps and moans. Finally, Liam could hold back no more and came powerfully within her as her body pulsed and spasmed around him. Like Gemma’s climax, his orgasm lasted an unusually long time before he finally collapsed on top of her sweaty, naked body. “See,” Gemma whispered between her panting, “you’ve spoiled me.” She smiled with complete contentment on her face. “And I’m not even done yet.” Liam grinned.

CHAPTER EIGHT “Honey, where are you?” Harry Adams’ voice came through the phone line. “Your mother and I have been so worried about you. No one has seen or heard from you for nearly three weeks.” “Dad, I’m fine,” Gemma reassured her dad and smiled into the phone as tears sprang from her eyes. It was funny, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed her family until the moment she heard her father’s voice. Clutching the phone, she was suddenly desperate to earn his praise and approval. “I have good news, Daddy. I’m nearly done with a deal that is going to save the company. I’ve secured a private loan that’s going to give us the cash infusion we need to keep the Adams Corporation from going bankrupt. In just one more

week, the arrangements will be complete and I’ll be coming back home.” “That’s wonderful honey, but you may be too late,” Harry said with despair. “Now that our stock prices have bottomed out, that competing corporation I’ve told you about is buying up shares like crazy. I know that when they get enough to have a controlling interest, they’ll just break the corporation up and sell us off for parts like some damn car in a chop shop.” “Don’t worry Dad,” Gemma reassured her Dad. “I know someone with the finances to outbid any attempt to purchase our stock. I’ll ask him to purchase a controlling interest in the Adams Corporation. I’m sure he’ll do it and then you won’t have to worry anymore over that damn competitor who seems bent on our destruction.”

“Do you really think you can convince him to do that?” Harry asked doubtfully. “Let’s just say I have a special influence on this investor.” Gemma smiled. “You always were a firecracker.” Harry gave a little chuckle and Gemma could hear the pride in her father’s voice. Then he said, “So, where are you? I’ve been by your apartment half a dozen times and the landlady says you haven’t been there in weeks.” “Well, to tell you the truth, I’ve met someone,” Gemma confessed. “I’ve kinda been sleeping over at his place a little bit.” “Met someone?” Harry was taken aback by the news. “If you haven’t been home in weeks, it sounds like you’ve moved in with him. Are you living with some bum your mother and I haven’t

even met?” “No Daddy,” Gemma said, feeling a little guilty. “I’m spending a lot of time working on this business deal and the rest of my time, I’ve been relaxing with Liam. Don’t worry, Daddy. He’s not a bum. He’s really sweet. He’s the complete opposite of a bum. I think I may be falling in love with him.” She was surprised by her own admission as she hadn’t realized how strong her feeling were for Liam until she’d just said it out loud. Harry’s anger instantly dissolved. While she’d had a few boyfriends in college, his little girl had never been in love before. It reminded him of when he and Sara had first met and it made him smile. “Well, when will we get to meet him?”

“Soon, I think. Let me finish working on this business loan and the stock investment so we can save the Adams Corporation, and then I’ll worry about introducing you and mom to Liam. I can only handle so many crises at a time.” Gemma laughed and her father did too. “I guess that will have to do,” Harry said, knowing when to back down when it came to his daughter. “Thanks for all your hard work, honey. Your mother and I are both really proud of you. I love you.” “I love you, too. Bye, Dad.” Harry hung up the phone with a wistful smile. She looked up to see Liam standing in the doorway with a storm brooding in his blue-gray eyes. “What are you doing in here?” he asked

quickly. “You know I don’t allow anyone in my office.” “I came here looking for you and when I saw the door was open I decided to make a quick phone call while I waited. How long have you been standing there?” Gemma felt a sense of unease as she stood to face him. She was wearing a short cotton sundress that buttoned down the front and the emerald pendant necklace he’d given her that complimented her eyes. “Long enough,” Liam said. “Is what you said true?” He walked slowly towards her. The expression on his face was strange, like a swirling mixture of fear, anger, excitement, and joy all whirling together like a tornado. Gemma put her slender arms around his strong neck and let her fingers caress his thick,

wavy hair seductively. Placing a tender kiss on his lips, she looked deeply into his eyes and said, “Yes, it’s true. I think I’ve been falling in love with you since that first night we were together. And every day, I grow more and more sure.” The storm in Liam’s eyes cleared, as if all his fears had been washed away. He took her lips with his own, kissing her passionately and crushing her body against his hard chest. When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Gemma smiled. “I take it that means you love me too.” Liam grinned at her boldness and said teasingly, “Actually I was just excited to hear your company’s stock prices were down and I could gain controlling interest for a low price.” The couple laughed together and she

slapped at him playfully. Then Liam took her face in his hands and caressed her cheeks with such tenderness she felt her heart melt. He looked deeply into her eyes flecked with gold. “Of course I love you,” he said in a husky whisper. “I’m so glad you agreed to stay here with me. I never want this month to end. When it does, the happiest time of my life will end with it.” “It doesn’t have to,” Gemma said slowly and cautiously as she looked up at him. “If we love each other, we could find a way to still be together.” She clung to him, but to her surprise, Liam closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’ve done a lot of terrible things in my life that I’m not proud of,” he said. “I wouldn’t be a billionaire living in this lavish mansion if I hadn’t.

For a month, I can hide my flaws, but for longer than that, it would all come to light. When you discover those flaws, you wouldn’t like what you see.” “Even your darkest secrets and worst flaws couldn’t stop me from loving you.” Gemma assured him. “Nothing will ever drive me away from you.” She squeezed his strong, muscular arms. “I promise. You can trust me. Just open your heart and trust me. It will all be okay.” “Let’s not talk about such things now. The woman I love has told me she loves me too. For now, all I want to do is make love to her.” Before Gemma could speak another word, Liam closed his mouth over hers, taking her as his own with the passion of his lips. His mouth forced her lips open, and their tongues intertwined as he

devoured her with his feverish desire. It was overwhelming, exciting, and erotic, all at once. The power of Liam’s embrace pushed her back until suddenly she felt his office desk behind her, pressing against her. With a swift swipe of his hand, he knocked everything off the surface of his desk, sending the calculator, pencil holder, ledgers, and files falling to the floor. While continuing to kiss her passionately on the lips and neck, Liam let his hands slide down Gemma’s voluptuous body until they cupped her round ass beneath the short skirt of the sundress. Then, in one solid motion he lifted her up so she was sitting on the edge of his desk. “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted you before.” Liam breathed in a husky voice, while she gasped, trying to catch her breath.

Without another word, he grabbed the top of her dress at the neckline and yanked on it hard, causing all the buttons to rip from the fabric and the dress to tear open and fall to the floor. Then he reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a pair of scissors. With a single snip, he cut the piece of fabric at the center of her bra’s DD cups and the garment instantly fell open, exposing her large and luscious breasts to him. Another snip of the scissors, he cut away the left side of her white lace panties and a final snip on the right side caused them to fall away from her body completely, exposing her to him, already wet and ready. Gemma felt breathless by his almost violent passion for her. She found his aggressiveness thrilling and wildly hot. Her nipples had puckered

into taunt points, aroused even before he put his lips to them. As he licked them, Gemma let her hands travel down her body to finger her own pussy and found she was dripping wet with lust. “Oh, let me do that,” Liam ordered when he saw her fingering herself. Seeing her juices on her fingers got him instantly hard and hungry for her. “Or even better, let’s switch. I want to watch you play with these delicious breasts and I’ll lick your sweet pussy.” Gemma nodded enthusiastically in agreement, so overwhelmed with desire that she was unable to answer him with words. Laying flat on her back atop his large oak desk, she brought her hands to her breasts and began to fondle and caress them. She took her nipples and rolled them between her forefinger and thumb, pinching and

pulling them in just the right ways. She looked down and watched with excitement as Liam got to work. He spread her legs wide until her knees bent over the sides of the desk, holding her thighs open for him to enjoy her most delightful spot. He dotted her with kisses first, playfully drawing out the foreplay to tease her in the best way. Then he brought his tongue into the action, lapping, flicking, caressing, and licking. When he found just the right spot, he experimented with the speed and pressure of his tongue until he heard her gasp and moan with pleasure. Then he went to work with loving dedication, enjoying the sounds she made and the way her body writhed on the desk as he made her come with just the power of his talented tongue. As her climax began to subside, Liam brought his fingers into the game. He artfully

caressed her clitoris with the fingers of his right hand while he expertly inserted the fingers of his left hand into her wet and ready pussy and slowly fucked her with his index and middle fingers. “Faster,” Gemma begged between moans, grinding her hips up to try and force him deeper inside her while she clutched at the sides of the desk. As if to refuse her request, Liam kept the slow pace, drawing out her pleasure and enjoying her body move and yearn for more of him. Then suddenly, when she wasn’t expecting it, he doubled both speed and pressure. It was all it took to send her over the edge, and Liam was rewarded with the feel of her coming for the second time, soaking his fingers with her juices while she screamed aloud in his office.

“I can’t stop coming,” she gasped, when at last she could speak again. She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled herself to a sitting position on the desk so she could kiss his lips. “You do such incredible things to my body,” she whispered. “I love you so much.” Liam could see that the waves of her second orgasm were finally ebbing away. He wasn’t ready to end her pleasure just yet. Stripping himself of his slacks, he pulled her to the edge of the desk and wrapped her thighs around his waist and shoved his engorged cock deep into her quivering pussy. Gemma leaned back, supporting herself on her arms as she threw back her head, leaning away from Liam as she screamed and gasped with rapture over the onslaught of her third orgasm. Her legs wrapped around his waist, clinging to him

with all that was left of her strength as she came loudly, Liam drilled into her powerfully with deep thrusts. Her body was dripping wet and the feel of her orgasm felt incredible that Liam couldn’t hold back his own climax for long. Gripping tightly onto her ass, he pulled her into him as he thrust deeply into her one last time. He groaned loudly as he felt himself explode deep within her, and he cried out “I love you, Gemma.” As his heart rate gradually slowed and his breathing returned to normal, Liam rested his head exhaustedly against her stomach like a pillow. “More than I ever thought possible,” Liam whispered as she stroked his hair, which was damp with perspiration. “I truly love you.”

CHAPTER NINE Gemma’s final week with Liam had a magical quality. Euphoric with their newfound love for each other, the couple made love in every room of the mansion, in every position they could think of. Nothing was off limits, except, of course, for Liam’s office. “We already christened that room,” Liam said, as Gemma tried to coax him into unlocking the door by unbuttoning her dress right there in the hallway. Liam however could not be swayed, saying, “I keep all the financial documents for your business loan in there. If they get ruined now, I might not be able to put them back together in time. This is our last night together, so let’s pick a different room and just enjoy ourselves.”

“It doesn’t have to be our last night,” Gemma reminded him. “I’ve told you, there is nothing I can ever learn about you that would cause me to stop loving you. You just have to trust me. Can’t we talk about this?” she pleaded. All her previous attempts to get him to open up had been rejected, but she felt she had to try one last time. “There’s nothing to talk about,” he said firmly. “You held up to your end of our bargain and stayed with me for a month, now that time has ended. Tomorrow morning my limo driver will take you home. You can keep all the clothes and jewelry I bought for you. I’ll have a courier deliver the loan documents directly to your father’s office, give my stock broker the green light to purchase controlling interest in the company as a safeguard, and you’ll never have to worry about

the Adams Corporation being in trouble ever again.” “Is that all this was to you, a business deal?” Gemma asked, with tears brimming in her eyes as her heart broke from his coldness. She strode angrily down the hallway to the private suite he had offered to her the first night she arrived at the mansion. Throwing open the door, she whipped around to face him with a fiery glare. “Perhaps I should have stayed in here after all if you were so intent on keeping a brick wall around your heart,” she lashed out. “How can you say you love me if you won’t let me know the real you?” “It’s because I love you,” Liam said, barely containing his own tears as he chased after her. She ran into the suite still decorated in pinks

and cherry wood furniture. He caught up to her and swept her into his strong arms. “I love you more than I ever thought possible,” he whispered as he gazed deeply into her eyes with a look of unmistakable passion. “You have healed the heart I thought would always be broken and made me reexamine my life and all the bad I’ve done. That’s why I have to let you go tomorrow. I’m not who you think I am and I fear the real me would repulse you. I want us to end like this, with the look of love in your eyes and the feel of your warm and sensuous body making love to me as my parting memory of you. If you stay any longer, you won’t like who I really am and this perfect time will be destroyed. To lose this look of love in your eyes would destroy me again and I couldn’t endure that right now.”

Liam waited in breathless silence while Gemma processed his words, wondering what she would say or do now. To his surprise, she didn’t utter a word but simply led him by the hand across the large suite to the king sized bed at its center. She kissed him tenderly on the lips, so soft and sweetly, it was like her lips were rose petals melting in the rain. Then she knelt before him and began to strip away his clothing. Inch by inch she covered his flesh with gentle kisses as it was slowly exposed, running her fingers through the hair on his chest, squeezing his round ass, and finally ending with her favorite organ of all, his engorged manhood. When she put her lips upon it, it was if she was making love to him simply with her mouth and tongue. Liam gripped the bedpost of the bed to

keep his balance as she took him in passionately until he came deeply in her throat while she gulped hungrily. When he had finished, she licked him clean, savoring every drop of his essence. “That was incredible,” Liam sighed, collapsing on the bed with a light headed feeling of complete and utter satisfaction. “I just want to tell you…” “—Shhh,” Gemma said as she put her finger to her lips. “I don’t need to know your secrets. You love me and that’s all I need to know. Your generosity has saved me from all my financial problems. Now, let me give you a night to remember.” While Liam lay on the bed, Gemma performed a sensuous striptease for him, removing her clothing slowly, piece by piece, while her

body moved to music she alone could hear. When at last she was naked, she climbed onto the bed beside him and began to stroke herself. “I don’t know if I’m ready to make love again just yet,” Liam said with an embarrassed flush, but Gemma closed her eyes, threw back her head and continued to finger herself erotically. “Mmmm,” she moaned, ignoring his comment, “I’m going to show you how I masturbate, so when you’re far apart from me, all you have to do is picture me making myself come and it will be like we are doing it together.” Liam stared in awe as Gemma used one hand to massage her clitoris while the other hand fingered her deep wet pussy, moving in and out of herself slowly at first, then gaining in speed and intensity. Before long, she was writhing on the bed,

moaning and gasping as beads of perspiration glistened on her flesh. To Liam’s surprise, watching her masturbate had given him the resilience to become aroused again and his erection rose to a salute. He stroked himself with his hand as he watched Gemma orgasm with abandonment beside him. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw that he was hard. With a glint of desire in her eyes, she removed her hands from herself and put them on his cock. Liam groaned with pleasure at the feel of her soft hands, sticky with her own juices, stroking him to full hardness. Then she mounted him at the waist, enveloping his erection with her warm folds that were already dripping with arousal. As she rode passionately atop of him, her

breasts bounced sensuously in front of his face. Unable to resist them, he took her luscious breast into his hands, covering them with kisses, squeezing them, pinching her nipples, and suckling them with his mouth. The stimulation spurred Gemma to even greater arousal, and she thrust upon him with even greater enthusiasm. Before long they were both climaxing as one, screaming and gasping with the throes of the most incredible rapture either of them had ever felt. What they were doing together may have been a sin to some, but it had saved them both and when their lovemaking was finally over, they fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms with blissful smiles on their faces.

CHAPTER TEN Liam made sure he was up and out of the bedroom long before Gemma woke up the next morning. It had been an incredible month and much more emotional than he had ever expected. He knew that if he had to say goodbye to her, his resolve might waver and he would crumble at her feet, begging her to stay. It might hurt them both to be denied a final goodbye, but he knew it was better in the long run. Locked away in his office, he watched from his window above as his personal chauffeur loaded her things into the trunk of the limousine. She hugged several of the staff members goodbye that she had gotten to know during her stay, including the chef, Stephan, and her own personal

maid, Jennifer. Then she turned and faced the window of his office and blew him a simple kiss goodbye. He gasped at being spotted and stepped back from the window before remembering that his office windows were tinted and there was no way she could have seen him. But somehow, she must have still known he was watching. With tears stinging his eyes, he blew a single kiss at her in return, even though he knew she wouldn’t see it. After the car had driven out of sight and he knew with certainty that Gemma was gone, he returned to his desk. The documents for the business loan had already been picked up by his courier and would be sitting on Gemma’s office desk when she got to work later that morning. He could already picture her face as she signed them.

Smiling to himself, he unlocked his secured cabinet and reached for his favorite file. To his surprise, it was gone. Where was his confidential file on Gemma?, he wondered in shock. He searched the office frantically before remembering that he had been looking at it when the courier knocked on his door that morning. Liam’s face turned pale as it all came back to him. Hearing a knock on the door, he had tucked the file underneath the pile of loan documents to hide it, thinking at the time that it might be Gemma coming to say goodbye. When he opened the door, he simply handed the courier the loan documents and must have accidentally given the courier his confidential file on Gemma, too. “Fuck!” he exclaimed out loud as the gravity

of what this meant hit him. This could ruin everything. He sunk in his chair, his mind working overtime to think of way to diffuse the situation. Suddenly, it came to him. He just hoped it would work or all his years of planning would be ruined. *** “What’s this?” Gemma asked with a smile as she entered the lobby of the Adams Corporation Headquarters for the first time in a month. “We wanted to welcome you back,” her mother, Sara Adams exclaimed as she applauded with over a dozen other employees looking on as the balloons and streamers fell from the basket that had been poised above the front door. Her father, Harry Adams hugged her. “Congratulations on saving the company. You’re a

hero to every employee we have, and most especially to your mother and me. We worked our entire lives to create this company and sunk every dollar we had into it. We thought we would lose everything. Thanks to you, we won’t. You saved us all.” Gemma blushed under all the attention and praise. “Okay, well I haven’t saved it yet. I still have to sign the loan papers.” “They arrived by courier an hour ago, Miss Adams,” Kim, her long time assistant said after giving her a welcoming hug, “I set them on your desk.” After a round a hugs with her parents and the staff, Gemma was relieved to retreat to the quiet sanctuary of her office. It had been a wonderful month long vacation, but it felt great to be back

where she belonged. This was where she felt competent, capable, and confident. Smiling, she opened the envelope from the courier. She examined all the loan documents, which seemed to be in proper order. To her surprise, she noticed an additional file marked confidential behind all the loan documents. Curious, Gemma opened the file and began to read. At first, she was confused by what she saw. But as she kept turning pages, her face turned pale and her hands began to tremble. Liam Taylor had tried to warn her. He really wasn’t who he said he was. According to the records in the file, his real name was Ben Liamsworth, and he’d hired a private investigator to study her for months, maybe years. There were pictures of her walking down

the street, working in her office, shopping at the supermarket, and even in the privacy of her own home. One of them very clearly showed her getting out of the shower and another of her stripping naked for bed. Gemma dropped the photos, feeling shocked and utterly violated. She clutched her stomach, fighting off nausea and paced her office angrily. The man she thought she loved was really a stalker who had been violating her privacy for who knows how long. Should she call the police? Should she get a restraining order? One thing was certain. There was no way she could accept a loan from him now. If she did, she would forever be indebted to a psycho. The other thing she knew without a doubt was that she was never going to see that disgusting liar ever

again. Suddenly, Gemma stopped pacing and sunk slowly and silently into her chair. He had been right about her. He had warned her that if she ever found out who he really was, she would turn on him and he would lose her love forever. Maybe that’s why he had chosen to tell her like this—to send it with the courier—so he wouldn’t have to witness the pain of seeing her reaction. Gemma felt sick in a whole new way as she realized that Liam Taylor, or Ben Liamsworth, hadn’t betrayed her. She was the one turning against him. She had promised him that there was nothing he could do to lose her love But apparently, she’d been wrong. Gemma suddenly had a lot of choices to make. Would she accept the loan from an obviously

disturbed man or let her family’s business be lost? Would she be able to forgive him for what he had done and continue to love him like she had before? The weight of the world was suddenly on her shoulders once more. “Miss Adams?” Just then, her assistant’s voice came on the intercom. “Yes, Kim?” “There is a Ben Liamsworth on hold for you on line one.” Looking at the thick file of personal photos taken of her and the in-depth reports accompanying them, Gemma made up her mind. *** Ben clutched the phone, waiting for Gemma to pick up the line. He desperately needed her to believe the story he’d come up with, or everything

would be ruined. He waited for a long time before he finally realized she wasn’t going to take his call. With sweaty palms, he placed the receiver back on the cradle. It was going to take a lot more work to do what needed to be done now. But that wouldn’t matter. He wasn’t about to give up after all these years of planning. He was just going to have to get a lot more creative.

CHAPTER ELEVEN Gemma searched her surroundings carefully, making sure he was nowhere in sight. She walked briskly across the parking lot, with her high-heels clacking against the pavement. A wide brimmed hat shadowed her face and the plain brown dress she wore was designed to help her blend into the crowd without attracting too much attention. Her long chestnut hair had been tied in a braid that fell down the middle of her back . As she reached the offices of the Adams Corporation, her family’s business, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes watching her and whipped her head around. Of course, there was no one there, and once again, she felt like a fool. She just couldn’t help it. Ever since she discovered that the man she loved,

Liam Taylor, had been secretly spying on her and taking photos without her knowledge, she constantly felt like she was being watched. He had an entire folder full of pictures of her, including photos of her at home naked. The more she thought about it, the more she hated him for it. And that wasn’t even the worst thing Liam had done, Gemma thought bitterly as she walked briskly through the lobby without so much as a hello to any of her coworkers. The son-of-a-bitch had lied to her about who he really was. She couldn’t believe that the entire month they lived together, even as she gave her body and her love to him every night, he let her believe his name was Liam Taylor, when it was really Ben Liamsworth. Discovering the truth put into question everything else she knew. Why had he really

invited her to stay with him in his mansion for thirty days? Should she still accept the loan he was giving her to save her family business from bankruptcy? Why had he spied on her? And the most penetrating question of all: Did he really love her? Gemma reached her office after brushing rudely past her assistant Kim, and locked the door behind her. She knew she was being paranoid, but she just couldn’t help it. She felt like Liam was watching her around every corner. She breathed deeply, trying to unwind, and stretched her neck until it popped, releasing the tension in her pinched nerves. It was physically draining to be so stressed all the time, not to mention emotionally exhausting. Her best friend Lori had said to her the other day, “You look like you could use a good fuck.”

“Too bad I’m not speaking to the man who used to do that for me” Gemma had joked with a rueful smile, but there was too much truth in the statement to laugh. She realized that the most awful thing about Liam’s—or Ben’s—betrayal was how much she missed him. No man had ever made her body feel the way that he did. Her skin still tingled with sexual arousal whenever she thought of him. She hated her body for still wanting him after this discovery. But when she dreamed about him at night, she would awaken to find her panties soaked with the juices of her arousal and her nipples hard and aching to be touched. Sometimes she could still taste the delicious saltiness of his skin or smell the masculine scent of his cologne. But the dream would quickly fade and she would find

herself alone in her apartment, missing him. That wasn’t the worst part, though. Even more than the sexual pleasure he gave her, Ben had made her feel special like no other man ever had. When she was with him, she felt interesting, intelligent, beautiful, powerful, and incredibly sexy. That was what she missed most of all—the way he made her feel like the only woman in the world. It was the way he had looked at her with such love and desire. No one had ever looked at her that way, and she could gaze back into his eyes forever. Before she had received that confidential file of documents about her, Gemma had been sure that Ben loved her. It was why it was so difficult to figure out why he hadn’t told her who he really was and why he felt the need to spy on her in

secret. For a moment, she considered taking the business loan he had given her and shredding it. Why should she take one dime from that bastard? But one look at her parents rejoicing over the thought that their business had been saved, however, put everything in perspective for her and she couldn’t do it. Why should her parents suffer just because their daughter was foolish enough to fall in love with a liar? Love was love, but business was business. So she signed the contract. Then she wrote Ben a letter telling him that she would make her loan payments directly to the bank. She never wanted to speak to him or see him ever again. She finalized it by putting the emerald pendant necklace he had given her into the

envelope and had a courier take the envelope directly to his mansion. Her phone hadn’t stopped ringing for the rest of the day. He was trying to talk to her. But Gemma couldn’t bear to talk to him. She instructed Kim to screen all her calls and tell anyone name Liam or Ben that she wasn’t in. The next day she heard security throwing him out of the building, and in the days since, he was caught several times loitering around the building. She finally had the police talk to him and after that, he seemed to have gotten the hint because he hadn’t been around since. Gemma realized with chagrin that she was being terribly narcissistic to think he was still following her. A billionaire like Ben Liamsworth must have better things to do with his time than

obsess over her. He’s probably moved on to some other girl, Gemma thought to herself. The idea put a lump in her throat. As much as she hated him, she knew she still loved him and didn’t want him to move on. Blinking back tears, she stiffened her spine and said firmly “It’s time I moved on, too,” she said firmly as she blinked back tears. She called her assistant through the intercom, “Kim, bring me the daily reports.” No sooner had Gemma taken her finger off the intercom button, Kim appeared with a detailed analysis on how Adams Corporation was doing financially in the stock market, who was buying shares, and who was selling them. All her self-absorbed worries left her mind

immediately as she read the reports, immersing herself into her work. Then she recognized an alarming trend. Her father was right. Someone was buying up company stock at an alarming rate and soon they would own a controlling interest. Gemma hadn’t gone through everything she had in the last month to save the company from bankruptcy only to lose it in a corporate takeover. The reports didn’t reveal who the buyer was, but she was sure as hell going to find out.

CHAPTER TWELVE “I’m glad you came to me with this, but I’m surprised you didn’t go to your father,” Clint Carpenter said to Gemma after she shared the report with him. He had been her father’s business partner for as long as she could remember. He had always been in charge of public relations and marketing while Harry Adams, Gemma’s father, had been the finance man. “I didn’t want to give Daddy any more cause for worry,” Gemma said. “After we nearly filed bankruptcy, Mom said he nearly suffered a cardiac event and his doctor put him on special medication for his heart. The last thing he needs is any more stress.” “I understand,” Clint sympathized.

“Who do you think could be buying up such large quantities of our stock, and why?” “I don’t know, but I’ll start asking around. I hear you’re having lunch with Lori today,” Clint smiled, referring to his daughter, Lori, who has been best friends with Gemma since childhood. “Yes, in fact, I’m supposed to be with her now,” Gemma said as she checked her watch. “Thanks for looking into this for me. Please don’t tell Daddy about this.” With that, Gemma hurried out the door. She was notoriously late to all her lunches with Lori, but somehow her friend always forgave her. Even when they were in college together, she had always been late to every class. “It’s about time,” Lori cried out happily as Gemma entered the restaurant, “I was beginning to

think you forgot about me.” Lori’s blond curls bobbed with enthusiasm and her bright blue eyes gleamed with girlish glee as she hugged her friend. They squeezed each other tightly and then sat down in their favorite booth. “Sorry, I’m late,” Gemma apologized, “I had a quick meeting with your dad, and then on the way here, I thought I saw Liam’s Ferrari behind me, so I circled the block a few times to make sure he wasn’t following me.” “I thought you said that asshole wasn’t bothering you anymore.” Lori’s bubbly expression turned into a worried frown. “I thought so, too, but maybe he was just keeping away long enough for me to let my guard down. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I thought I saw him yesterday when I went to the bank, and

I’m absolutely certain I saw him this morning in the park across from the office, and then again, when I was driving here.” The waitress came and took their orders and Lori gossiped happily about all the latest scandals, fashions, and celebrities. Gemma smiled as she listened to her happy chatter. It was nice to feel normal again, without thinking about Liam or her job. They were just finishing the last of their French fries when Lori asked idly, “So how’s work? “ “Not as good as I’d like.” Gemma sighed. “Someone keeps buying Adams Corporation stock every time it goes up for sale on the Exchange.” “Isn’t that a good thing?” Lori asked. “I thought so at first, but if one individual

acquires too much stock, it could give them a controlling interest in the company and then what happens to the company as a business could be up to them. It’s what I was talking to your father about before I came here and he agreed it’s something to be concerned about.” “That’s so creepy.” Lori shuddered with exaggerated horror. “Your Dad and my Dad have been running that company for twenty years. Why would someone want to ruin it?” “That’s what I have to find out.” Just then, Gemma noticed something from the corner of her yes. “Uh oh. Speaking of creepy, take a look out the window at the black sports car parked on the south-west corner.” It was Liam’s black Ferrari. Fuming with rage, Gemma got up from the

table. “What are doing?” Lori grabbed her wrist, concern colored her eyes. “I’m sick and tired of feeling like I’m being followed all the time. I’m going out there to tell him what I think of him and put an end to this.” “No, Gemma. It could dangerous.” Lori caught her friend by the wrist and stopped her from leaving the table. “You don’t know what a psycho like that might do. If he’s crazy enough to stalk you like this, who knows what else he’s capable of. I don’t want you to end up getting yourself hurt.” “He’s not like that,” Gemma insisted. “Even though he lied about his real name, Liam has a good heart.” For reasons she didn’t understand, Gemma felt obligated to defend him. “For the short time we were together, I always felt safe. I know

Liam would never hurt me. I’m going to talk to him.” Lori watched helplessly from the restaurant window as her friend strode out to the car. A handsome man in his late twenties with wavy, dark hair and stormy blue-gray eyes stepped from the car and greeted her friend with a dazzling smile. He was wearing a designer suit, but it was easy to see he had a muscular physique underneath. Wow, he is hot, Lori couldn’t help but think. Even though she’d met him that one day over a month ago at the cafe when he approached her friend, Lori hadn’t gotten a good look at him until now. She watched with wide eyes as Gemma slapped him hard across the face, and Lori cheered silently to herself. Get ‘em, girl!

The hot man held out his hands in a pleading gesture and opened the passenger door of the car. They talked for a moment, then to Lori’s disbelief, Gemma got into the car with him and the Ferrari sped away. “Damn it, Gemma,” Lori said aloud. “You better not be getting in over your head.” She shook her head knowing that’s exactly what her friend was doing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN “Haven’t I made myself clear?” Gemma screamed. “Stop following me! If that isn’t clear enough, maybe this is!” She stormed up to Ben and slapped him viciously across the face. “You have to hear me out. I won’t stop following you until you listen to what I have to say,” Ben pleaded. “Everything you ever told me was a lie, including your name,” Gemma said. “I loved you and the entire time we were together, you were lying to me, spying on me, and probably getting off on those nude pictures you took of me. I don’t know what kind of sick game you were playing, but it’s over between us.”

“I’m not trying to justify what I did,” Ben explained. “I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but you need to know the truth about how I got those pictures. Please let me explain. I promise you’ll never have to see me again after you hear my side of the story.” Gemma hesitated and Ben stood with the passenger door open, pleading with his eyes. They were the same eyes that had looked at her with such love and tenderness just days before. Her angry resolve cracked and she couldn’t resist his pleading eyes. Hating herself for her weakness, she put on her best glare and said, “All right. You can drive me home to my apartment. You have until we get there to say everything you want to say. Once there, I never want to hear from you again.”

It wasn’t much time, but after all his failed attempts of getting Gemma’s attention, Ben was willing to take it. He drove as slowly as he could and talked as quickly as his mouth would let him. “Yes, I lied about my name but it wasn’t a malicious trick. Liam Taylor is a pseudonym I often use during business deals to protect my money. When you’re a billionaire, you can never be too careful.” “You were protecting yourself from me?” Gemma asked with indignation. “You’re saying the stalker is actually the victim? Poor baby, no wonder you had to keep a file of nude photos of me.” Gemma scoffed with bitter sarcasm. Her hands were balled into tight fists. Ben wondered if he hadn’t been driving, if she would have punch him. He knew he needed to get to the important

part and quick. “I never took those photos of you. I bought them.” “Oh, that’s so much better. Thanks for the comfort. I can’t hear any more of this.” Gemma was so angry, she motioned for the door handle, ready to jump out of a moving car just as soon as he slowed down. “No,” Ben said firmly as he gripped her hand. “No, you don’t understand. The file was sold to me by a private investigator. After I invited you to live in my mansion, I needed to learn as much information about you as I could as a precaution. When I was asking around about you, someone told me that he’d been hired to follow you a few months ago and he still had the file. He offered to sell it to me.”

“What are you saying?” Gemma’s mind struggled to grasp all the implications. Someone had been paid to follow her months before she moved in with Ben. That would have been the same time her family was struggling to keep out of bankruptcy. “Who told you this?” “The private investigator never gave me his name. He just brought me the file and offered to sell it to me. ” “Did he say who hired him to follow me?” Gemma asked. She was no longer wanting to flee the car and more anxious to get as much information from him as she could. “No, I’m sorry. I was in such a hurry to get the information, I didn’t ask him who had hired him or for any details.” The car came to a stop and Gemma realized

they were now parked in front of her apartment building. “I tried to tell you all this a thousand times,” Ben said as he looked at her with worried, “But I never had the guts.” He bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I wanted you to know the truth, so in the end I sent you the file. But the letter I had written explaining everything accidently got left behind by the courier. When I realized that had happened, I tried to reach out to you. But, you refused to talk to me.” He paused and drew in a deep breath before he met Gemma’s gaze with sad eyes. “I didn’t mean to harass you, but I needed you to know the truth. Someone was gathering information on you and you deserved to be warned.” Gemma shivered at the thought and suddenly

she felt like a thousand eyes were on her. She stepped from the car awkwardly, not knowing what else to do. “Thanks for telling me. I’m sorry I was so hard on you.” She paused before suggesting, “Maybe we could still be friends.” A smile formed on Ben’s lips. “I’d like that a lot. Can I walk you up to your door? It would make me feel better to know you’d gotten home safely.” Gemma’s reflex was to refuse, but she was feeling freaked out by everything she had just learned. It would be nice to have a strong man by her side just until she got inside. “Okay. That would be nice.” She smiled at Ben. The walk up the flight of stairs was

uncomfortably silent. Ben still had so much more he wanted to say to her, but he didn’t want to ruin the progress he’d made by pushing her too far, too fast. Their newfound friendship was extremely fragile and one wrong word from him could ruin it all. “Do you want to come in?” Gemma invited when they got to her door and she saw the hope that lit up in his eyes. “Don’t get me wrong,” she warned. “I’m still mad at you for lying to me about who you are, but I do appreciate you going so far out of your way to warn me about the private investigator. So I guess offering you a cup of coffee would only be right.” “Yes, coffee sounds terrific.” Ben grasped at the chance to be with her longer. Her apartment was neat, but cozy. Modern

furniture filled the tiny space, but brightly colored throw pillows and soft rugs made it homey and inviting. Ben sat on the couch while Gemma brewed a pot of coffee and chatted about the weather. She looked so beautiful standing in the kitchen with the sunlight shining through the window. The light illuminated her dress so he could see her sexy silhouette through the fabric. He’d missed her so much that being this near to her made his body ache with longing that he didn’t think he could control. He knew he needed to get out of there quickly before he did something rash. “Here you go. Sugar and no cream.” Gemma handed him a cup of steaming coffee and when she leaned forward, he could see down the front of her dress. It took all his strength not to dive into those

beautiful breasts and engulf them into his mouth. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.” He set the cup down on a little table covered with magazines and headed for the door. The erection straining in his trousers was painful, making him wince. “What’s wrong?” There was a sadness in Gemma’s voice. “Isn’t that the way you like it?” Gemma followed him to the door with a look of utter confusion. “No, the coffee is perfect. You’re perfect. It’s just that…” Ben couldn’t think of a plausible excuse and his words trailed. “It’s just what?” Gemma asked, staring into his stormy blue-gray eyes that reminded her of the ocean. “It’s just that I love you so much,” he admitted slowly, “all I can think about is making

love to you.” “It’s all I think about, too,” Gemma confessed. Then, on impulse, she put her lips to his and kissed him. He had no willpower left to push her away. Slowly and passionately, their lips meshed as one, parting to allow their tongues to intertwine. Ben raked his fingers through her hair and pulled her closer to him, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her full breasts pressed against his strong chest and it was like electricity shooting between them, igniting their lust for each other. Gemma’s fingers worked furiously to undo the buttons of her dress, bearing her naked breasts to him. Ben took them into his hands, cherishing the weight of them as they spilled out from the sides of his hands. He had missed those breasts—perfectly

round and deliciously firm—and finally having them in his hands again, it felt like heaven. He worshiped them with his mouth, licking and kissing them and then finally suckling her nipples. Gemma gasped and moaned, pulling her dress off down over her hips and stepping out of it. She grasp at Ben’s clothes, ripping them from his body. He carried her into her bedroom and laid her down on the bed covered with a floral bedspread. He peeled the panties off her hips and was delighted to find she was already wet. Gemma bent her knees and spread her thighs wide, giving him access to make love to her with his mouth and tongue. He was more than happy to oblige and still knew how to please her just right. Within minutes, she was writhing on the bed, gasping and moaning as an orgasm overtook her.

“I’m coming!” she cried out, raking her nails through his wavy hair. “I want you inside me. Please.” Ben stripped away his underwear, revealing his engorged cock. It was even bigger than Gemma remembered and she lunged at him hungrily, desperate to have him fuck her. “Easy,” Ben said through a groan, “It’s been so long since we’ve made love. I want to savor it.” Gemma smiled mischievously. She knew exactly how to get him to fuck her, and without warning, took his manhood into her mouth. Ben groaned with pleasure as Gemma’s mouth took him deep into her throat. He sucked in air with rapid breaths as he felt the euphoric sensation of her fingertip caressing the sensitive patch of skin directly between his balls and his

anus. It was like a magic button that made him want to come. Quickly, before it was too late, he extracted himself from her mouth and flipped her over on the bed so she was lying on her stomach. He grabbed a condom from his pocket and quickly slipped it on his rock, hard cock that was begging for release. He immediately raised up Gemma’s hips and shoved his entire length deeply into her eager warmth, fucking her with everything he had from behind. It was a sensation they had both been longing for and moans of satisfaction escaped both their lips. Gemma bent her knees up underneath her body for leverage and rocked back to meet him thrust for thrust, as Ben pumped powerful into her. His hands reached around to massage her clitoris,

and almost instantly she climaxed, screaming his name out loudly as she came. It was more than Ben could withstand, and he climaxed with her, the two of them moving in perfect symmetry as their bodies spasmed with ecstasy. No sooner they were finished, waves of regret filled Gemma. Feeling like a fool who had traded away all her dignity for a quick fuck, she picked up all his clothes and shoved them into his hands. “Get dressed. You have to leave. We shouldn’t have done this.” “What did I do wrong?” Ben didn’t understand her sudden change of heart. “Nothing,” she said coldly. “But I can’t go back to you. Too much has happened between us to ever get back what we had together.” Gemma

pushed him out of her apartment and into the hallway and slammed the door behind him. “I love you, Gemma,” Ben pled through the door. “I’ll do anything you want if you’ll just give our relationship a second chance.” In response, he heard her bolting shut the locks from the other side and bowed his head in defeat. He pulled on his trousers and carried the rest of clothes down to his car. As he drove away, he caught a glimpse of her watching him through the window with tears running down her face. A smile appeared on his face. He knew he still had a chance after all.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Gemma rushed into work the next morning nearly an hour late. She’d been up tossing and turning half the night thinking about everything Ben had said to her. She didn’t know if she was overreacting when she refused to give him a second chance, but she did know that right now, she needed to focus on saving the company, and Ben had inadvertently given her a new lead. Whoever it was that was buying all the shares of the Adams Corporation stock might be the same son-of-a-bitch who had tried to drive the company into bankruptcy a few months earlier. He might be the one who had hired the private investigator to follow her. She pulled the file out of her desk and studied it. If she could just figure out

who this private investigator was, she might be able to bribe him into revealing who hired him. “How’s it going this morning, sweetheart?” Gemma jumped, startled from her desk to see Harry, her father, standing in the doorway of her office. “Good, Daddy. I’m good,” she stammered as she shuffled the files on her desk to hide the pictures of herself from him. “Are you sure? You seem edgy and not quite yourself this morning.” Harry furrowed his brows in concern. “I just didn’t sleep well last night,” Gemma said. It wasn’t like she was lying to her father. “Why not?” he asked. To her dismay, he came in and sat down in the chair across from her desk. “Is everything okay in your life?”

Gemma didn’t know what to say. She knew if she told him she was trying to track down a private investigator, he’d want to know why and then the stress of learning about a possible corporate take-over might just give him a heart attack. “Is it romantic trouble?” he offered as she struggled for words. “Yes,” Gemma cried out in agreement, maybe a little too enthusiastically, “That’s it!” Calming down her tone, she said more casually, “There’s this guy named Ben who wants to be my boyfriend. He’s rich, handsome, but I don’t know if I can trust him.” “Why don’t you trust him?” he asked. “I recently caught him lying to me about something,” Gemma explained, not waiting to tell

her Dad too much. “He gave me a reason for it, and as much as it made sense, I didn’t like that he lied to begin with.” “That’s hard, sweetheart.” Harry nodded. “While I don’t know the details of what happened, I would say to just trust your heart.” “Thanks, Daddy.” Gemma paused before growing more thoughtful. “Daddy, how did you know Mom was the right one for you?” “Well, I just knew,” Harry said matter-offactly. “I saw Sara at a party Clint was throwing and I knew instantly that she was the only woman for me. I think I even dumped the date I was with right then so I could ask your mother to dance. A few months later we were married.” He smiled to himself as he looked back on his youth. “Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. We’ve had our rough

patches for sure, especially when we were first trying to build up this company. I was working long hours and your mother got lonely. It had created a lot of tension between us and we were fighting all the time. I even moved out for a little while there.” “You did?” Gemma was surprised by her father’s confession. She never heard this story before, “Why don’t I remember that?” “You were just a little kid, about five or six, and we worked hard to shelter you from our marital problems. I would come home to spend some time with you before bedtime. But after you were asleep, your mother would kick me out and I would stay in an apartment I was renting.” “I can’t believe I never knew. How did you guys work it out?” “Well, it’s just something you do when

you’ve made a commitment to someone. The divorce rate wouldn’t be so high if more couples were more willing to work harder at solving their problems than just throwing in the towel. We went to counseling and learned how to mend the hurts we’d caused each other. Over time, things got better and now our marriage is stronger and happier than ever.” “I’m glad, Daddy.” Gemma smiled, relieved by her Dad’s words. “I would hate it if you and Mom ever got divorced or cheated on each other.” Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “So, what ever happened to that other guy you were so madly in love with?” he asked, changing the subject, “Liam, was his name, right?” “He turned out not to be who I thought he was. That’s why I’m not sure if I should go out

with Ben,” Gemma answered vaguely. Her father nodded and didn’t press further. “I don’t know if this new guy Ben is the right one for you or not, but you just have to ask yourself what the difference is between him and Liam. Will Ben make you as happy as Liam did, or will he cause you the same hurts? That will tell you if you should give him a chance or not.” It was a more poignant advice than her father knew he’d given to his daughter. “Thanks, Daddy. That’s good advice.” “No problem. So, do you want to have lunch with your old man today?” “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling a tinge of guilt, “but I can’t today. I’ve got too much work to do.” “Okay, but don’t work too hard. We’re finally doing well as a company again. Our stock

prices are on the rise, profits are up, and we even made the first payment for that business loan you got us.” Harry strolled out of her office feeling good, and Gemma sighed with relief. She spent the rest of the day poring over the file from the private investigator, trying to discover where it came from. When that approach came up empty with clues, she started calling every private investigator in the city making inquiries. It was exhausting work, and ultimately disappointing. By the time she quit work that evening, she was no closer to finding out who took the pictures or who hired him to take them. Everyone else had gone home hours ago, leaving the building dark and empty and giving her that creepy feeling that she was being watched again. Ben’s warning of corporate spies rang in her

head and she headed for the parking lot as quickly as she could. A heavy rain had started to fall and Gemma got drenched as she walked across the dark parking lot to her car. All she wanted was to go home and take a hot bath after such an awful day. But when she put her key in the ignition, nothing happened. That was when Gemma realized she had left her headlights on when she rushed into work late that morning. Now her battery was completely dead. She reached for her purse to pull out her cell phone, but she couldn’t find it. She must have left it inside the office. “Shit!” Gemma slammed her car door shut and popped her trunk open, searching for some

jumper cables or at least an umbrella. She didn’t have either. She slammed the trunk closed with frustration. There wasn’t a car in sight to jumpstart her battery. Everyone had gone home hours ago. She was stranded, alone in the pouring rain in a dark parking lot. She decided to go back into the office and call for help. That was when Gemma realized she had locked her keys in the car when she slammed the door shut. Her office keys were on the same key ring as her car keys. Now she was truly stranded, drench with rain with no way to even get inside her office to call for help. “God damn it all to fucking hell!” Gemma shouted a string of swear words into the night, hoping it would make her feel better. But all it did

was make her want to cry. Suddenly, a pair of headlights flashed on in the distance and started moving slowly towards her. Gemma inhaled a sharp breath and felt a panic in her chest. What if it was the private investigator or whoever hired him coming to get her? As the car approached, her heart began to beat a mile of minute. When the car came close enough to Gemma, she let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t someone that was about to harm her. It was just Ben.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN “What are you doing here?” Gemma cried out as Ben pulled up beside her in his black Ferrari. She’d never been so happy to see anyone in her life, but the question came out sounding accusing and rude. “I’m not stalking you, I swear.” Ben held up his hand in the surrender position as he rolled down his window. “I needed to deliver this receipt for your business loan payment. I thought you would be gone by now and it would be safe for me to slip it in the drop box. What are you doing here so late?” “It’s a long story. I don’t suppose you could pick a lock and give me a jump?” Gemma asked.

Ben’s eyes grew wide and his grin widened with naughty innuendo. She laughed despite herself and slapped at him playfully. “Not that kind of jump. My car battery died and then I locked myself out.” Ben laughed gently at her predicament and gave her his cell phone so she could call AAA. “It’s going to be over an hour before they can get out here.” Gemma sighed as she held the phone to her ear. “You’re going to catch pneumonia if you stay here in the rain that long, and you’ve got to be hungry and tired. Tell them to just wait until the morning to take care of it. I’ll take you out for dinner and drive you home.” “Ben, I already told you things were over between us.” Gemma objected. “I know and I respect that. I won’t try

anything, I promise. I can’t just leave you stranded like this. Please let me buy you dinner. You’d told me yesterday that it might be possible for us to be friends. I know I’d like to be if you’re willing to let me.” Gemma knew she should refuse, but he made a lot of good points and she really was starving. She climbed into the passenger seat of his car, blinking back tears of gratitude. Ben tried not to look smug but failed, and Gemma punched him the arm. It was a good way to break the ice and the two of them ended up laughing. “Once again, you’ve shown up at the right place at the right time to be my knight in shining armor.” Gemma teased when they were seated in the restaurant. She felt much better being warm and having had a fine glass of merlot.

“I try.” Ben joked back as the waiter set their meals before them. “Thank you for agreeing to let me take you out to dinner. I really do want us to be friends, even if we can’t be lovers. I’ve missed your company and the conversations we used to have. I never had to wonder if you were after my money and you don’t suck up and tell me things you think I want to hear just because I’m rich. You’ve always been your authentic self; brave, independent, and smart. The fact that you’re gorgeous as hell doesn’t hurt, but what I miss most about you is your mind. You’re never afraid to speak your opinion, and it’s always about kindness, justice, and doing what’s right. I’ve missed talking with you late at night when I’m all alone in my empty mansion. I’ve missed you.” “I’ve missed talking with you too.” Gemma

admitted with a blush. Ben had a way of completely disarming her with his vulnerability. She knew instinctively that it was a side of himself he rarely shared with other people and it touched her that he was willing to open himself up to her in that way. Still, caution was in order. She smiled at him and said “I think we can become good friends, slowly over time.” Ben picked up the hint and didn’t push for more. He kept the rest of their mealtime conversation to safe subjects. They talked about books, politics, and current events. He asked her about her parents and her work. She asked him about the staff at the mansion, particularly the ones she’d come to know as friends. When the meal came to an end, they both felt completely at ease, like two friends should be.

“You don’t have to drive me home. The rain has stopped and it’s just a few blocks away.” Gemma said, after he paid the bill and left the waiter a generous tip. “Are you certain you’ll be able to get inside your apartment without your key?” Ben asked with concern. “There should be one hidden behind the fire extinguisher, unless someone moved it.” Gemma said. “Should be? I’d feel a lot better if I knew for certain you were able to get inside and weren’t going to be stuck sleeping out in the hall.” Ben said and Gemma felt a warm glow. He drove her the short distance to her apartment and walked with her up the stairs to her door. The hide-a-key was right where she’d left it

and as she crossed the threshold to her apartment, they both realized the evening had come to an end. “Goodbye, Gemma. Thank you for spending time with me tonight. I know I hurt you and I’m sorry. I hope we can be friends and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy. ” A friendly smile curved the corners of his lips, but a deep sadness could be seen in his eyes. Gemma’s heart went out to him, for she understood his pain. It was the same ache she had felt in her soul since the day she left the mansion and there was only one cure. Without warning, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into her apartment, kissing him passionately on the lips. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her body to his chest like he never wanted to let her go. They fell onto her

couch groping each other like two people drowning. “Take off my dress!” Gemma breathed and Ben ripped the garment from her body. She wore a sexy black lace bra with matching panties and it made him salivate with lust. “You are so hot” he whispered and lunged for her breasts. “Not yet,” Gemma slapped him away with an admonishing glare. She arched her left brow at him mischievously and said in a sultry voice “You said you would do whatever it takes to make me happy.” “Yes,” Ben grinned, his face full of hope. “Well then, strip for me and make it good.” She turned some music on the radio and sat back on the couch to watch as Ben performed a

slow and sexy striptease for her. “How may I please you next?” Ben asked, when he stood before her naked. “Now, strip me; but without using your hands.” Gemma said with a playful glimmer in her eyes. Happy to comply, Ben set to work tugging off her bra with his lips and teeth. Once her beautiful breasts were free, he nibbled on them, kissing and suckling every inch of them while she moaned with pleasure. Next, he used his teeth to pull off her panties, sliding them over her hips and down her long legs. Gemma spread her thighs wide and he made love to her delicious wet folds until she was writhing and moaning on the couch. He knew just how she liked it and before long she was clutching at the cushions and gasping as she

climaxed. “I hope I made you happy.” Ben said when her breathing finally slowed and she started to regain her composure. “You made me very happy!” Gemma smiled and the double meaning wasn’t lost. She loved him as much as he loved her and was willing to give him a second chance. She pulled him into her arms and they made love all night long, in every room of her tiny apartment, until finally their longing for each other was satisfied and they fell into a deep and dreamless sleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Gemma thought perhaps it had been another one of her dreams when she woke up in the morning and felt that familiar tingling of her nipples and clitoris that only Ben could produce. Then she opened her eyes and saw him snoring softly beside her and her heart soared. It hadn’t been a dream; it was real. She caressed his chin to be sure and felt the scratchiness of it. He needed to shave and it made her smile. He was definitely real; but her father’s words crept into her mind. She needed to know the difference between Liam and Ben; what was real and what wasn’t. Gemma decided it was time to quit playing guessing games and find out the full truth once and

for all. She kissed Ben on the lips to wake him up, and he sighed happily as he blinked open his eyes and saw her face. “Good morning, handsome. It’s time to rise and shine.” She smiled. “Good morning, beautiful. I think part of me is already up if you know what I mean.” Gemma understood his cheesy joke and decided to play along. She looked under the bed sheets and gasped with exaggerated surprise. Giggling, she said “Oh my. Something most definitely is up! Maybe I should help you with that.” She crawled under the covers and dotted his erection with nibbling kisses, enjoying the way it made him moan and squirm. Then she took him

fully into her mouth, sliding him deeply into her throat. Ben groaned loudly with pleasure and his muscles spasmed at the intensity of his pleasure. “You’re going to make me come” he gasped. “Not so fast; I want my turn.” Gemma said. She straddled his face so he could lick her pussy while she continued to pleasure his cock. The harder she sucked, the more feverishly he licked her folds until they were both on the edge of climax. “Fuck me now!” Gemma cried out and knelt on the mattress on her hands and knees. Ben entered her juicy pussy from behind, driving himself deeply into her with powerful thrusts. Gemma orgasmed almost instantly, rocking back to meet him as he pounded into her. “Harder! Harder!”

Ben plowed into her as she undulated and quivered. It didn’t take long before he was climaxing too, just as her second orgasm struck. Their gasps and moans echoed off the apartment walls and she was certain her neighbors were filing a noise complaint, but she didn’t care. “That was amazing. Give our relationship a second chance and let me be your boyfriend. I love you so much.” Ben sighed, as he stroked her hair and pulled her into his cuddling embrace. “I love you too; at least I think I do, but that’s not enough to build a relationship on.” “What does that mean?” Ben asked, feeling truly hurt by the remark. “It means I don’t know who you really are. I thought I did when I thought you were Liam Taylor. I knew everything about him; his likes and dislikes,

his childhood, his passions and dreams. Then I found out there was no Liam Taylor, just Ben Liamsworth. He looks like the man I loved and he sounds like him, but who is he really. The truth is I don’t have any idea who you are and if you’re serious about loving me and wanting me to give you a second chance; then I need the truth.” “You’re right.” Ben said after a long pause. He got up and paced the room. His naked body gleamed in the morning sunlight that dappled through the windows and his face was the most serious she had ever seen. Gemma sat up in bed and wrapped the sheet around her, listening as he finally poured out his story. “Do you remember that day in the mansion by the pool-side when I told you my mother had left me and my father for another man? Well, that

story was true. I was ten years old when it happened. My mother was Brooke Liamsworth and my father’s name is Walter. She was beautiful, sophisticated, and drew everyone to her like a moth to a fire. My father worshiped her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for my mother, but she wasn’t content with him. He wasn’t exciting enough for her and spent too much time at the office. She wanted to travel and see the world. One day I came home from school and Dad wasn’t at work. He was sitting in his favorite chair with a weird look on his face, staring at a blank television screen. I asked him where mom was and he just broke into tears. He told me she had left us for his business partner. They had flown off to Mexico together. My father was devastated; the fire of her light had burned him into nothing but ash. Not me; I

was angry and the fire hardened my heart into steel.” “I’m so sorry. It must have been awful for you to go through that, especially as a young child.” Gemma blinked back the tears of sympathy that welled in her eyes. “A few months later my mother came back, saying the affair had been a mistake. I vowed never to forgive her, but my father took her back and his weakness sickened me. It was obvious she didn’t love or respect him anymore; she just missed the money. I made up my mind right then that I would never be so blinded by love that I would let someone stomp on my heart and use me like that. So I built a shield of armor around myself so thick, no one could penetrate it. I shut everyone out of my life; never making friends or letting anyone get

close to me. When I grew up and took over my father’s empire, I was as ruthless in business as I was in my personal life. I thought by being heartless I was protecting myself from ever being hurt, so I became as vicious a person as possible and did some awful things.” “What kind of things did you do?” There was no judgment in Gemma’s eyes, but she needed to know the whole truth. Ben took a deep breath for courage and decided he might as well confess everything. “I didn’t want to let anyone know the real me, so I created a fake identity for myself. I took Liam from my surname and Brook from my mother; and called myself Liam Taylor. As Liam, I vowed revenge against my mother’s lover and did everything I could to ruin his life. I undercut him in every way I

could think of until he was financially ruined. Then I met you, and it changed my life.” “Me?” Gemma was taken aback by the statement. “I was at the Manfield Unified Bank and saw you walking out with a look of total heartbreak in your eyes. I recognized it as the same look my father had in his eyes every day. I don’t know why, but I decided to follow you. “ Gemma remembered that horrible day when she had been denied a bank loan. It had broken her heart to think she had let her parents down and they would lose everything they had worked so hard for. Ben’s voice seemed far away as he said, “As I watched you, the expression in your eyes changed and the fire inside you reignited into a flame of passion. You were determined, strong, and I was

mesmerized by it. My only role models had both been weak. I’d never seen anyone with the strength to pull themselves up from heartbreak and immerge stronger for it. I had to learn how you did it, so I watched you. I followed you everywhere you went and I was even foolish enough to buy that file on you from a private investigator.” “Why?” Gemma asked. She knew she should be horrified by depths of his obsession for her, and yet she felt no fear. Just sadness that his life had led him to such desperate longing. Ben searched for the words to explain his motivations, but they seemed inadequate. As she sat staring at him, he knew he had to try. “The more I learned about you, the more impressed I was by your dedication and perseverance. You weren’t driven by greed, anger, despair, selfishness, pain

or hate as all my experiences had taught me. You were driven purely by love, kindness, and a belief that what you were doing was for the greater good. It inspired me to want to try and help you. I thought maybe if I did I could experience some of the passion and love for life that you seemed to have.” “That’s when you asked me to come stay in your mansion for thirty days in exchange for the loan I needed to save my parents business.” Gemma eyes lit up with understanding, encouraging Ben to go on. “Yes. It was first time I’d ever done something to help someone else. I tried to convince myself I wasn’t doing anything good by blackmailing you to live with me, but the idea had consequences I hadn’t expected. I had never lived with a woman before and I wasn’t prepared for

how much of an emotional affect it would have on me. Things became intimate between us very quickly; beyond sex, I’m talking about a true emotional connection. You stripped away my armor and got me to open up my heart to you. Only then…” “What?” Gemma asked as Ben hesitated. She got up from the bed, dragging the bed sheet behind her like a robe so she could wrap her arms around his chest. “Only what?” “Only then I didn’t have my armor to protect me anymore and for the first time in a long time, my heart was vulnerable again. I had fallen in love with you; actually fallen in love. Only I wasn’t Liam Taylor like I had told you I was; how could I tell to you the truth after lying to you about my identity for an entire month? I tried to do it so many

times, but I never had the guts to go through with it. I was a terrible person and I knew you would hate me for it.” “You’re not a bad person.” Gemma held his face in her delicate hands, forcing him to look into her eyes and see that she meant it. “You were just hurt, that’s all.” “Does that mean you could forgive me? Is there still a chance we could make things work between us?” In answer, Gemma pressed her lips to his and kissed him. They lay back onto the bed together and their naked bodies molded together as one. He was hard for her almost instantly as she mashed her incredible tits against his naked torso and ran her delicate hands over his muscles. His probing fingers found she was still wet

for him and he sank his erection deep into her eager folds, forcing a moan of pleasure from her lungs. They undulated together in perfect rhythm, gasping and moaning, clutching and holding, squeezing and kissing, fucking and coming. Their mutual orgasm seemed to last forever as they just kept moving together as one. They were made for each other and in that moment they both knew they belonged together forever.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Gemma Adams had never been so happy. Every day that week she woke up with a big smile on her face and rushed to her phone where a text message would be waiting from Ben. Good morning beautiful! I hope u had sweet dreams. After she showered and got dressed for the day, she would call him and they would have breakfast together; him from the dining room in his mansion and her from the kitchen in her apartment. “So, what did chef Stephan make you this morning?” Gemma asked when she heard him chewing into the phone. “Nothing you would like; dry burnt toast and lumpy oatmeal.” Ben said through a mouthful, making Gemma giggle.

“Nice try, but I know it was probably something wonderful like eggs Florentine or those incredible pastries he knows I love. Thanks for trying to make me feel better though about my bagel and crappy coffee.” “I tried.” Ben laughed. He loved the way she could make something as mundane as breakfast fun. She filled his days with laughter and made him feel young and alive. With each day, he fell more in love with her and realized his life would be dark without her. “Hey, why don’t I make it up to you by taking you out of town for the weekend? What do you say?” “That would be great.” Gemma said, but I have a lot of work to do. Maybe I should spend some extra time in the office. “Is it anything I could help you with?” Ben

asked. When Gemma hesitated, he said light heartedly “I know you don’t like to talk about work when we’re together and I respect your independence in wanting to do things yourself; but now it’s interfering with Me Time. I planned on having lots of sex this weekend in a beautiful tropical paradise. It would be shame to have to take a bottle of lotion as my date instead of you.” Gemma couldn’t help but laugh at the joke, but she recognized the truth in his teasing. She had been spending a lot of extra hours at the office, and even when she wasn’t there she was preoccupied with it. “I’ll tell you what, let me see how much I can get accomplished today and I’ll text you to let you know if I can go.” “I guess that will have to be good enough.”

Ben acquiesced. “I love you. Now get to work; my sex life depends on it!” Gemma was still smiling by the time she got to work and strolled into the office. Her chestnut hair flowed freely to her waist like she wore it ever since she found out that’s the way Ben liked it best. She was wearing a green patterned skirt with a simple white silk blouse and the green emerald pendant necklace Ben had given back to her after they got back together. “I believe this belongs to you.” Ben had said after they had officially gotten back together and Gemma had gasped with surprise as he clasped it around her neck again. “My necklace! Thank you! I’m sorry I gave it back to you after we broke up. It was spiteful and petty. I just wanted to hurt you like you’d hurt

me. I can’t believe you still have it and are willing to let me have it back.” “I bought it for you because it reminded me of the way your green eyes look when they sparkle. It’s yours to keep forever, no matter ever happens between us. It belongs to you.” Gemma had worn it every day since, and often sat staring at it when she was on hold on the phone, waiting to talk to the next private investigator. The work was tedious and often required her to stay late after everyone else had gone. Still, knowing that Ben was waiting to take her out to dinner and make love to her every evening, made the work seem light. “Someone’s in a good mood, again.” Her father, Harry Adams teased as he dropped in on her hard at work, crossing the last private

detective in the tri-state area off her list. She’d been twirling her pendant in her fingers as she made notes from her phone interview with him, and humming the song she and Ben had danced to during their last date. “What was that Dad?” she asked, startled out of her daydream. “You were humming again and I think it has to do with a certain gentleman you’ve been out with almost every night this week.” “I know I’ve become one of those annoying saps that can’t stop thinking about her boyfriend. I just can’t help it! I’m in love!” Gemma said, grinning uncontrollably from ear to ear. “I’m glad, sweetheart.” Harry said, giving his little girl a loving squeeze on the shoulder. She may be twenty-six, but she was still his baby.

Closing the door of her office for privacy, he said “It’s good to see you in love and so happy, just don’t let things move too quickly. You can’t tell me you weren’t living with that last boyfriend you had; I know you were. And I hate to say it, but that doesn’t seem to have worked out very well. So make sure you take your time with this one.” Gemma nodded thoughtfully. It would give him a heart attack for sure if he ever found out Ben was the man she’d lived with for a month. Smiling sweetly, she said “I will, Daddy.” Satisfied, Harry decided to change the subject. “I see you’ve been working a lot of extra hours lately. What have you been working on that’s so important?” “I didn’t want to worry you, but it’s not going well, so I think it’s better if I tell you now.”

Gemma said with a heavy sigh. Harry listened as his daughter told him everything about her suspicions that someone was preparing for a hostile takeover and that it was probably the same person who had been driving them towards bankruptcy. The only thing she left out was the part about the private investigator who took pictures of her. When she was finished, Harry just held his head in his hands, muttering to himself. “Why would someone do this? What do they want? Who could they be?” “As aggressive as their being, it doesn’t look good.” Gemma didn’t sugar coat her answer. “I can only assume that as soon as they have controlling interest, they plan to break apart the company and sell it for parts.”
 “That would ruin a lifetime of work for me

and your mother!” Harry cried out. “Why would anyone be so vicious? We’re not that big a company. They won’t gain a big profit from it!” “I was hoping you might be able to give some insight on why.” Gemma said. “Who do you know that might want to get revenge on you? Is there anyone you’ve hurt in your rise to make Adams Corporation what it is today? Anyone with a personal grudge against you or even mom?” Harry shook his head pitifully. It broke Gemma’s heart to see her father so distraught. “I can’t think of anyone.” “What about when you and mom split up when I was little. Did you or mom have an affair?” Harry turned so deathly pale; Gemma knew she had hit the mark. As much as it hurt her to ask, she needed to know. She moved from her desk to

sit in the chair next to her father and gently held his hand. “What happened Dad, did you cheat on Mom? Was that why she kicked you out?” Harry shook his head, but tears filled his eyes. “No. I thought your mother was cheating on me. I was working long days trying to get the company off the ground and she was always telling me how lonely she was. There was someone she was always flirting with, and I thought for certain she was having an affair with him. I became insanely jealous and told her I was going to have an affair of my own. She kicked me out, telling me if I couldn’t trust her then I should get out.” “Who was it?” Gemma asked. Her skin prickled with intuition. Harry pursed his lips, refusing to say. “I confronted the guy and told him I had found

receipts for a motel in his desk.” “Who was it, Dad? Who was mom having an affair with?” Gemma was more convinced than ever that her father knew who was trying to ruin them. As painful as it was for him to say and as awful as it was for her to hear; she needed him to tell her the name of the man. Harry was openly crying now and it broke Gemma’s heart to see him this way. He said to her “That’s when he confessed to me that he’d been secretly having an affair with a model he’d fallen in love with. Your mother was innocent; she wasn’t the one he was having an affair with; she was just the one person who knew about his infidelity. I almost ruined my marriage because of my own damned insecurities and jealousy. Your mother didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I apologized

to her and she agreed to take me back if I’d go to counseling.” Gemma was swept away in a hurricane of emotions; relief that her parents hadn’t cheated on each other. Disappointment and frustration and she was still no closer to saving the family business. “Well, I guess that puts me right back in square one with no idea who’s trying to ruin our company and no way to stop them.” Gemma sighed. Harry patted her on the knee and said “Don’t lose heart, sweetheart. We’ve survived worse problems than this. We’ll begin again on Monday. Now take the weekend off before you burn yourself out; bosses orders.” “Yes, sir.” Gemma gave her father a playful salute, but she was grinning happily. She had been

working too hard lately. It would be nice to spend the weekend with Ben relaxing. As she walked out to her car, she sent Ben a quick text he was sure to like. Off work for the weekend. He texted her back right away. Good. Go home and pack a bag. I will b there 2 pick u up in 1 hour. Where R we going? Gemma typed back. It’s a secret but you R sure 2 love it! Was his only reply. Gemma felt a thrill of anticipation, wondering where they were going. Smiling happily to herself, she got into her car and turned on the engine. Suddenly, she got an uneasy feeling, like someone was watching her from the nearby shrubs. As she peered at them, she thought she saw a glint

of light, like a ray of sunlight reflecting off a camera lens. No sooner had she seen it than it was gone. “Now I know I need a weekend off. I’m completely paranoid.” She said aloud to herself. She rushed home and started packing her bag, but it was impossible without knowing where she was going. She put all her clothes in and took them back out again at least half a dozen times. In the end she just took her toothbrush. Anything else she needed, Ben would just have to buy her when they got there; especially if he was going to keep their destination a secret. “Ready to go?” Ben asked with a grin when she opened her apartment door for him. “Ready!” she grinned and showed him the toothbrush.

“Kinky! I like it!” Ben teased and she punched him lovingly on the arm. “Seriously, though. You might want to bring some sun block and a swimsuit.” “We’re going to the beach!” Gemma squealed with delight. Suddenly she knew exactly what she wanted to pack. Holding up her index finger, she said “Wait here just one minute! I’ve got a few more things to put in my suitcase.” “The pilot is preparing the jet now. He can’t wait forever. We need to get to the airport quickly.” Ben said, hoping it would get her out the door, but it had the opposite effect. “A jet! We’re going someplace far away! There’s so much I want to take!” Gemma ran into her bedroom, packing frantically. Ben just rolled his eyes and wondered if he should call the pilot to

delay the flight. Suddenly, Gemma’s cell phone started to ring. She called out to him “Can you answer that for me?” “Sure!” Ben called back to her and picked up the pink vibrating phone. A familiar female voice began talking to him frantically and he knew right away it was Lori. “Slow down; I can’t understand a word you’re saying.” He spoke calmly to her. “Ben? Let me talk to Gemma! I’ve got major news to tell her!” Lori was always dramatic and Ben had to stifle a laugh. There was no way he was going to delay their trip any longer for those two to gossip about the latest celebrity breakup. “She can’t come to the phone, but just tell me and I’ll make sure she gets the message.”

Lori hesitated, and Ben could tell she was debating if she could trust him or not. In the end, the news was too important to keep inside and she blurted it all out. “Okay. I know she’s been trying to find the man who took all those photo’s of her because she thinks whoever hired him is the same asshole who’s trying to ruin Adams Corporation. Well, she was right! I found him and he told me he was hired by some guy who calls himself the Phoenix.” “How did you find this out?” Ben was in shock. He had to sit down on the edge of Gemma’s couch before he fell. “Gemma gave me the file from the private investigator after lunch yesterday. I was looking through it and I noticed a reflection in a window in one of the pictures. It was really small and I

wouldn’t have noticed it if one of my contacts hadn’t fallen out and landed on it. When I took a closer look, I saw the reflection showed the private investigator license plate number. I bribed a clerk at the DMV, got his registration info and went down and talked to him. He told me everything!” “Lori, you’re amazing! How did you get the private investigator to talk to you?” “They’re called tits.” Lori laughed. “The private investigator said the guy who hired him was crazy. He called himself the Phoenix and said he was rising up from the ashes to destroy his enemies or some insane thing like that. Complete nut job! He paid in cash, but the private investigator was smart enough to write down the guy’s license plate number. It’s too late now, but I

can go down to the DMV again on Monday and find out who he is. Then all Gemma’s problems will be solved.” “Great work Lori. I’ll tell her everything and I know she’ll be relieved. I’m taking her out of town for a vacation, and this will be the perfect way to start it.” “Well have fun!” Lori said and got ready to hang up. “Wait!” Ben stopped her just in time. “Be careful. You don’t know what this Phoenix could be capable of. When you find out who he is on Monday, don’t confront him on your own.” “I won’t. I promise.” Lori said with her usual bubbly tone and the line went dead. Ben sat in stunned silence, staring at the phone in his hands.

“Who was that?” Gemma asked, coming out of her bedroom with two full bags and a make-up kit. “Lori.” Ben said in a voice that sounded strange even to his own ears. He was suddenly terrified Gemma would do something rash if she knew what Lori had found out. “What did she want?” Gemma asked. “She just wanted to wish us fun on our trip this weekend.” “How sweet. Let’s go; time is running out on our plans!” Gemma smiled and Ben nodded in agreement. “Yes it is.” He said, knowing that time was running out much faster than she could possibly guess.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Ben drove her to the airport, where his private jet whisked them away to a tropical paradise. He owned a private bungalow located right on the beach and they arrived right at sunset, just as the orange sun was sinking into the clear blue ocean amidst a sky of pink. “It’s the most breathtakingly beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.” Gemma gaped as she stood on the back porch of the bungalow and gazed at the view. “I was just thinking the same thing.” Ben said in a husky voice, but he wasn’t looking at the sunset, he was looking at her. Dressed in the tiny black bikini she had packed, Gemma made a striking figure. Her long hair flowed in the gentle island breeze and her flawless skin looked as

radiant as her smile. She leaned in to kiss him with her sultry lips, then suddenly cried out “Race you to the water!” Ben couldn’t help but admire her gorgeous body as she ran the short distance across the white sand beach and splashed into the ocean. Her nipples hardened in objection to the cold water, making him instantly aroused. He chased after her, tackling her into the waves, and they immerged wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing passionately. She reached her hand inside his swimming trunks and found his erection. He groaned with pleasure as she massaged him, the warm skin of her palm in stark contrast to the cold water. He pulled her to him, hugging her voluptuous body

tightly to him, loving the way her tits felt crushed against his chest. He kissed her neck just the way he knew she liked best and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Buoyed by the water, she suspended herself there easily, moaning with pleasure as he caressed and fondled her fantastic body. The cold water seemed to have heightened her sensitivity to touch and made every nerve tingle with sexual excitement. Gemma untied the two strings that secured the bottom half of her bikini into place and removed the tiny garment, letting it float away in the tide. Then she removed the top half and Ben could see her bare breasts through the crystal clear water and fondled them. Gemma gripped his engorged cock with

practiced hands and guided him to enter her, with her legs still wrapped around his waist. Her pussy was so deliciously hot compared to the cold ocean, he groaned loudly with pleasure and feared he might climax then and there. “Fuck me hard!” Gemma moaned. Obligingly, Ben gripped her buttocks and thrust into her eagerly, pounding into her with all the lust and passion he felt for her. Gemma gasped and moaned with pleasure and leaned back into the water, letting it buoy her torso. It changed the angle at which he was fucking her, and she climaxed almost instantly. She thrashed with frenzied passion in the water, while her cries of ecstasy blended with the sound of seagulls up above. Ben felt the muscles of her pussy contracting with spasms of pleasure around his cock and it drove

him to climax too. Clutching at her hips, he grinded into her perfect body as deeply as he could and exploded with orgasm. Afterward they floated in the water, completely relaxed and at peace. When the waves pushed them to shore, they decided to take a walk. “That’s just what I needed.” Gemma smiled contentedly as they strolled along the private beach hand in hand under the moonlight. They were both completely naked, but the night was warm and the beach was theirs, so they had nothing to fear. It was like their own personal piece of paradise. “Good, I’m glad.” Ben smiled back at her. “Maybe we should both quit our jobs and just live here full time. We could you know.” “That would be great, but I’d miss my work too much. I know it seems silly to a huge

billionaire like yourself, but our little corporation that my parents built up from nothing means a lot to me. I love working there and knowing that we’re making a positive difference in people’s lives. It fills me up and gives me purpose.” “I’d like to fill you up and give you my purpose.” Ben leered at her playfully, making her laugh. “I’m serious though; as much as I love being here with you, I would feel like I’d lost a piece of myself if I never returned the Adams Corporation. It’s a part of who I am.” Ben grew quiet and kicked at the water as if deep in thought. If she wouldn’t run away with him, he needed to find some way to keep her safe. “What’s wrong?” Gemma asked. Although Ben wasn’t near as big a talker as Lori, he usually

wasn’t so brooding. He had been lost in thought almost the entire flight to the island and now once again, he looked a thousand miles away. “Nothing; I was just thinking how much I love you. I don’t think I could survive if anything bad ever happened to you.” “Nothing will; I promise.” Gemma assured him. Ben just wished that he could be as certain.

CHAPTER NINETEEN Gemma couldn’t wait to tell Lori about the incredible weekend she had shared with Ben on his private section of beach on the tropical island. It had been paradise and the best part had been spending it with the man she loved. She had tried calling her best friend the moment she got home Sunday night, and again when she woke up that morning. It wasn’t like her not to have called back by now. They hadn’t spoken since before Friday night, and by now she would be bursting with gossip and stories. When Gemma got to the office, the entire place was in chaos. Police were everywhere, her parents Harry and Sara were holding each other, and Clint Carpenter was sitting on a couch, crying.

“What’s going on?” Gemma whispered. A lump of fear had suddenly grown in her throat and threatened to suffocate her. She knew instinctively that something terrible had happened to Lori. Clint looked up at her with bloodshot eyes and said simply “Someone took her.” “Who took her?” Gemma felt like she was going to vomit. “What do they want with her?” “I don’t know. All they left was this.” Clint pointed to a piece of paper being photographed by a police detective. It was a typed note in that simply read Stop looking for private investigators. From the Phoenix. A huge chunk of Lori’s distinctive blonde curly hair was taped to the note along with a smear of blood. “Oh, God! This is all my fault!” Gemma crumpled into a sobbing heap on the floor. She was

lifted up by police officers and taken to the station for an interview. “When was the last time you saw the victim?” a bored looking officer in his mid-forties asked. “Thursday. We had lunch at our favorite restaurant; the little coffee house down the street. I told her that I was looking for the private investigator who had taken a bunch of photos of me. I had given the file to Lori’s father several days earlier. I told her the search wasn’t getting me anywhere and that I was about to give up on it. Then she changed the subject and we started talking about the best website to buy shoes.” “We spoke to Mr. Carpenter. He said the file you gave him is missing. Did the victim say she had it in her possession?”

“No, she didn’t say anything about it.” “Does that name Phoenix mean anything to you?” “No, not at all.” “Did the victim mention Phoenix to you at any time?” “She’s not the victim! Her name is Lori! Stop calling her that! Call her by her name!” Gemma was hysterical. The officer handed her a glass of water and she tried to calm herself. By the time the interview was over, she was emotionally and physically drained. It was a relief to walk out of the station and a surprise to find Ben Liamsworth waiting for her. Gemma’s parents had told him everything that had happened. No one knew what the note from Lori meant except for him, and the guilt inside was

tearing him apart. It was the least he could do to be here for Gemma now. “Are you alright?” he wrapped her into his arms and held her tight. She melted into the safety of his embrace, thinking nothing had ever felt so comforting. He guided her to his car and drove her not to her apartment but up the long winding road to his mansion. Gemma was too numb to object and secretly relieved. Her apartment was filled with too many ghostly memories of time spent with Lori; it was better to be far away from the pain they would bring. Ben carried her into the foyer and asked one of his maids to run Gemma a bath. Stephan brewed her a special tea and Ben’s private physician prescribed her a sleeping pill. She awoke the next morning in Ben’s luxurious king sized bed in the

midst’s of his lavish bedroom suite. It took her some time to remember all that had happened. She found a fresh pair of clothes already laid out for her; comfortable jeans and a cashmere sweater. She wrapped her long hair into a sloppy bun and went out into the house to search for Ben. She found him in his office setting up increases in security for her family. “Darling, you’re awake!” Ben hung up the phone and rushed to embrace her. His lips felt warm and tender on hers and once again she was grateful for his comfort during what was undoubtedly the worst crisis of her entire life. He held her gently and asked “How are you feeling?” “As good as can be expected I suppose. Has there been any word from the police about Lori?” “Not yet, but I expect there will be soon. In

the meanwhile, I’ve hired the best body guards money can buy to watch over your parents and Lori’s family. I won’t let anything happen to the people you love; I promise.” “You don’t know how much that means to me.” Gemma hugged him tightly with tears shining in her emerald eyes. Ben hugged her back, closing his eyes to keep his emotions in check. He never knew just how deeply his love for Gemma went until he heard Lori had been kidnapped. He was flooded with guilt for not having told her the truth about Lori’s phone call the last time he talked to her, and he knew he had to do everything he could to make things right. Choking back the lump in his throat, he said “I want you to stay here in the mansion with me until this whole thing blows over. I can protect

you better here. Besides, I won’t be able to sleep unless you’re lying next to me and I know you’re safe.” “Thank you. I think I’ll sleep better too knowing you’re always nearby.” She kissed him then, tenderly with all the love and gratitude she felt in for him in her heart. She never thought she’d need someone the way she’d come to depend on Ben and it meant the world to her that he stepped up and took care of not just her but her entire family at a time when her whole world was falling apart. He was a true guardian and she wanted to let him know how much she cherished him. Ben opened his mouth to her insistent kiss, loving the sweet taste of her. She was a delicious desert that he wanted to devour. He slid his hands down her body and squeezed her perfectly round

ass through her tight fitting jeans. She moaned and leaned into him, kissing him all the harder. Then he slid his hands up, under her cashmere sweater. To his delight, she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her large tits were firm, full, and round. He kneaded and molded them with his strong hands, loving the softness of her skin and the quiet way she moaned when he squeezed them. He locked his office door and pressed her back against it, grabbing her by the wrist and raising her hands above her head. He lifted the sweater over her body and it tangled around her arms, binding them with the soft fabric. On a whim, he looped the sweater over the coat hook on the back of his office door, effectively binding her there with her arms held high and her naked tits helplessly exposed.

“You’re mine and I’m going to do with you whatever I desire.” Ben whispered in a husky voice. He took Gemma’s tits into his hands and buried his face in them, licking, kissing and suckling every inch of them, while she writhed in her bonds and moaned with exquisite pleasure. She knew she shouldn’t be enjoying herself sexually at a time of crisis like this, but being bound at his mercy freed her from the guilt. She had no choice but to enjoy the pleasures he wrought on her helpless body, and so enjoy them she did. When Ben came to her nipples he nipped at them playfully, lightly biting them with his lips folded over his teeth. When she gasped and moaned with pleasure, he grew rougher, biting them harder until she yelped with pain. “Sorry.” He apologized, but Gemma was

smiling. “Keep going, I liked it.” she panted. Grinning mischievously, Ben pulled her tight jeans off her body, so she was now bound with her arms held high, standing only in her white lace panties. He put his lips to her body, kissing her over the silky panties. It was wonderfully erotic and Gemma moaned with passion. She writhed her hips, begging for more and helpless to do anything about it while he teased and tormented her with his lips. Tauntingly, he peeled her panties off her body with excruciating slowness. Then he put his fingers to her naked pussy and fucked her with them, with slow sensuality. Gemma convulsed under his expert touch, crying out as she came against his fingers, drenching them with the juices of her arousal. When she was finished, Ben took off his

clothes and rubbed her juices from his fingers onto his cock, until his erection was full and raging. He released her arms from the bounds of the cashmere sweater and pulled Gemma onto the office floor, where he shoved himself into her dripping pussy with almost violent passion. Again and again he slammed his bulging erection into her quivering pussy and Gemma gasped and cried with rapture as another orgasm overtook her. All the emotional pain she had been feeling was completely drowned out by the unbelievable pleasure as he fucked her with unrelenting passion. It was just what she needed and she thought she had never before felt such intense ecstasy. Then, she felt him coming deep inside her and slowly she fell back to reality. It wasn’t as sad a place as she had feared, for she wasn’t facing the scary world

alone any longer. She had the man she loved by her side and they would face it together.

CHAPTER TWENTY That afternoon, Gemma was surprised to see her parent’s car pull up to the mansion. Harry and Sara Adams got out, along with Clint Carpenter. Everyone looked tired and haggard, but Gemma welcomed them with open arms as they walked into the grand entryway and Ben shook their hands heartily. “What brings you here? Has there been any news about Lori?” Ben asked the question that Gemma was too terrified to voice aloud. “No word yet. Actually, we came to talk to you.” Clint said, looking at Ben with a somber expression. “Of course. Let’s go to the sitting room. Please make yourself comfortable.” Ben was a

gracious host, guiding them all to a luxurious room, elegantly decorated with carved oak furniture, authentic paintings, and delicate antiques. Everyone sat on the cushioned chairs and the maid brought a tray of coffee and tea. Once everyone was settled, Clint finally broke the silence. “I’ve been talking with the police and they expect I’ll receive a ransom demand very soon. I’ve already decided to pay any amount they want for my little girl with no delay or hesitation. Unfortunately, I don’t have any cash and all my money is tied up in assets and my stock in the Adams Corporation.” Ben nodded with understanding, but Gemma wondered what the point was of all this rambling. Clint continued, saying “I don’t want to have to tell the kidnappers that when they make their demands

or they might think I’m stalling or unwilling to pay. I want to be able to give them their damn money and get Lori back. So I’ve decided to liquidate my assets now so I’m ready.” “Are you certain you want to do that?” Ben asked cautiously. Clint nodded his head adamantly. “Yes. I’ve thought about it long and hard and selling my stock in the Adams Corporation will be the easiest and fastest way to get a large amount of cash right away. Only, I don’t want to put them up for sale on the Exchange and risk letting them be purchased by just anyone.” “What do you mean? Why not?” Ben frowned with confusion. This time Gemma knew just what he was talking about, she said “Someone has been buying

up large amounts of stock in the Adams Corporation. If this person were able to buy Clint’s stock they would undoubtedly have gained a controlling interest in the company and could effectively destroy it if they wanted to by breaking it up and selling it in bits.” Clint looked at Ben with pleading eyes and said “I was hoping you might be willing to buy my stock shares. Gemma tells us what a good man you are. She says you’re an investment financier and smart with money. We all talked it over, and there’s no one better we’d like to offer these stock shares to.” Gemma’s hands flew up to cover her open mouth. She couldn’t believe Clint was willing to sell his lifelong investment that he had in the company he’d worked for these past twenty years.

She felt touched and awed that he thought well enough of Ben to offer his shares to him, and that it was because of her opinion that they regarded Ben so highly. In that moment, she no longer felt like the young kid being allowed to play in her Daddy’s office, but a full grown woman whose opinions were respected and carried weight. She looked at Ben through tearful eyes, and saw that he was welling with emotion too. Ben cleared his throat and shook Clint’s hand firmly. “It would be my honor to assist you in this way.” Harry and Sara practically cheered with joy and everyone in the room took turns shaking hands, hugging, and slapping each other on the back. “We can take care of it all first thing in the morning.” Clint said to Ben. They spent the rest of the afternoon visiting and talking about Lori. Clint

said wistfully, “I should have taken her to see the world. She was always telling me how much she wanted to travel and see all the great sights around Europe, the Orient, Australia, and South America. I should have taken her.” “You’ll get to.” Gemma assured him with confidence. “Lori is still alive. I can feel it in my soul. She and I were as close as sisters; if she were gone I would know it. You’ll have her back soon.” Shortly after that, everyone said goodbye and Gemma watched sadly through the window as they drove away. “Are you alright?” Ben asked, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind in a loving embrace. “I will be.” She told him and craned her

head so he could kiss her neck. Ben carried her up the stairs to his bedroom suite and laid her gently down on the massive king-sized bed where she sunk deeply into the fluffy down comforter. “I’m going to make you forget all your worries.” Ben said to her in a husky voice. “How?” Gemma challenged him. “With these.” Ben reached into a drawer and pulled out a handful of silk scarves and a vibrator. Eagerly they both stripped naked, then Gemma lay in the center of the bed and allowed Ben to use several of the scarves to tie her wrists to the headboard, so she was spread wide like the letter Y. Next he tied the remaining scarf around her eyes like a blindfold, submerging her into darkness. Gemma was surprised at how arousing it was to be helpless in such a vulnerable state. It freed her

from the burdens of being in control and permitted her to simply lay back and accept whatever pleasures he gave her. Suddenly she heard a light buzzing sound and knew that Ben had activated the vibrator. She gasped with surprise as he held the tip of it to her left nipple. It felt amazingly good. When he held it to her right, she was more prepared for the sensation, but still surprised for the blindfold kept her from knowing exactly when or where he would touch her next. It was wildly erotic and far more sensual than she ever would have dreamed. Ben took his time, kissing and fondling her prone body while she writhed and squirmed with delight beneath his touch. When he suddenly applied the vibrator to the sensitive folds of her pussy, she gasped and moaned with the intensity of

her pleasure. He used the vibrator to bring her just to the brink of orgasm, and then suddenly and cruelly he turned it off. “Time for you to cool off.” He crooned and Gemma felt the stinging pain of ice-cubes being applied to her nipples. She moaned with pleasure and arched her back, straining for more. Then, without warning, he turned the vibrator on again and applied it to her quivering cunt. Again he brought her just to the brink of orgasm and then shut it off again. It was exquisite torture to be teetering on the brink of climax and then denied the ecstasy of achieving it. As Ben continued the game, Gemma found herself whimpering and begging for the sweet release of orgasm. When Ben released her from the bindings of the scarves she pounced on him like a wild animal, mounted his raging

erection, and fucked him with uncontrollable passion, clutching at his chest as she thrust hard atop of him and screamed out his name. It was the fiercest, most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced and she seemed to be caught in its throes for an eternity. When at last she collapsed on top of him, in a sweaty exhausted heap of pure bliss, she thought she’d never been happier in her life. “I love you so much.” She whispered to him as she drifted off to sleep. “I love you too.” Ben kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair, but sleep did not come for him. His mind was filled with secrets, guilt, and a lifetime of planning so close to fruition it both thrilled and terrified him. Now that he was finally about to make his goals complete, he wasn’t

sure he could go through with it. As Gemma snored softly, he pushed her gently aside to escape her embrace. That was what he was going to have to do if he were to complete his plan; he had to push his love for Gemma aside and stay strong.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Gemma awoke the next morning and stretched out her arms, searching for Ben, but all she found was empty mattress. She looked over at the clock on her nightstand to see what time it was and saw the note and rosebud Ben had left for her. Smiling to herself, she held the fragrant flower to her nose and inhaled deeply. Then she unfolded the little piece of paper from his personal stationary and read it. I’ve gone to the Adams Corporation to purchase the stock shares. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’m sure Lori will be back soon too.” The reminder of Lori made tears spring to Gemma’s eyes. She regretted refusing to take her phone call Friday night. If only she had known

when Lori called to wish her a fun trip that it would be the last time she could talk to her. Gemma paused. How did Lori know she was going on a trip? Ben hadn’t said she called to gossip and he told her they were going out of town. He said she called to wish them fun on their trip that weekend, but there was no way she could have known about it. Gemma played with the paper in her hands, trying to make sense of it. She stared at the picture that adorned all of Ben’s private stationary. It was a circle of flames with a majestic bird in the center. A phoenix, rising from the flames. Gemma dropped the paper and the rose and leapt from the bed. Dressed only in her bathrobe, she ran to Ben’s office, only to find it locked. He

was always adamant about keeping his office private and forbid anyone to be there when he wasn’t in it. Pulling a bobby-pin from her long hair, Gemma picked the lock using an old trick her Dad had taught her when she used to love reading detective novels. Once inside Ben’s office, she began to search all his drawer and files, not even sure what she was looking for. Suddenly his phone rang and she jumped with a stifled scream. “Hello?” she answered, with her heart pounding in her chest. “Gemma! Hi! You won’t believe how beautiful it is here!” Gemma burst into tears at the familiar sound of Lori’s bubbly voice. “Where are you?” Gemma cried out. “Ben’s private island bungalow. Didn’t he

tell you he sent me here as a thank you gift for solving the mystery of the private investigator?” Gemma listened as Lori told her everything. “Then Ben’s called me Sunday afternoon. He said I had done more than my duty and I deserved a vacation. He said he would take care of the DMV on Monday and that his private jet would be waiting for me Sunday night to whisk me away and be a guest on a weeklong vacation. Thank you so much!” “So back up a minute.” Gemma’s head was spinning and she thought she might be sick. “The man who hired the private investigator told him he was a phoenix, rising from the ashes to get revenge on the man who cheated with his wife?” “That’s right.” “And you haven’t been kidnapped, forcing

your father to sell his stock shares for ransom?” “Definitely not. What are you talking about?” “I don’t have time to explain. It’s Ben! He thinks’ my father had an affair with his mother twenty years ago, when he was split up from my mom. He’s been plotting ever since to get revenge against my dad; trying to force him into bankruptcy, seducing me, and now he’s about to gain controlling stock in our company. I have to stop him!” Gemma knew that Lori probably didn’t understand a word she said, but she also knew she was right. She tried to call her father’s cell phone but it was turned off; so was everyone else’s! Desperate to do something, she ran from the office into her bedroom where she threw on some

clothes, then sprinted down the stairs to the garage. She found the keys to Ben’s black Ferrari and drove at reckless speeds to the Adams Corporation. “Stop!” she shouted out, to the surprised stares of Clint and her parents. Ben looked up at her with a smile of victory and she knew that it was already too late.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO Ben Liamworth turned off his alarm clock long before it was scheduled to ring and got out of bed. He’d been tossing and turning for most of the night, unable to ignore the conflict in his thoughts. Finally, he just gave up trying to sleep and got dressed. He put on a dark gray tailored suit, Italian leather shoes, and a blue tie that complimented his blue-gray eyes perfectly. He left his dark wavy hair unsettled to match his mood, and gave his face a quick shave. As he quietly left the bedroom, he paused to look at the beautiful woman sleeping in his bed. Gemma Adams was breathing deeply, the delicate features of her face were at peace and her chestnut hair lay in a long braid across her ample

breasts. He grabbed a piece of stationary from his dresser and scribbled a quick handwritten for her and placed on her nightstand along with a single rosebud from a nearby vase. The note simply read, I’ve gone the Adams Corporation to purchase the stock shares. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Don’t worry, I’m sure Lori will be back soon too. Gemma’s green eyes started to flutter and Ben quickly took his leave before she woke up and he was enticed to stay and make love to her. He never would have thought he could love someone as much as he had grown to love her these last few months. It had changed everything he ever thought he knew. As Ben walked down the grand staircase and passed the giant portrait of his mother, he wondered how things had gotten so complicated.

When Ben had been a boy growing up in this mansion, life had been simple. He attended the best private schools the city had to offer, was active in sports, and had a solid group of friends. It was an idyllic childhood and he spent his free time playing in the vast and open garden behind the mansion, or up in his room with the endless amount of toys his mother bought him. When he wanted or needed anything, he had a host of servants that would tend to his every need; but he rarely had to call on them. His loving parents were always there for him and he could count on them for anything. When he got dressed in the morning, the clothes he put on had been carefully purchased by his mother, Brooke Liamworth, during one of her many shopping sprees. Often times she would take him along and they would have the best time

together, buying anything and everything he wanted, touring museums, and eating ice-cream in the park. Somehow, Brooke always managed to find a new piece of jewelry or a new dress at one of the exclusive boutiques they went to. “How do I look?” Brooke would ask her son as she displayed her purchase with a flaring turn. “Gorgeous!” Ben would say enthusiastically and it was true. Brooke Liamworth was as radiant as the sun. She had that rare quality that made people stop and take notice. It was the same It Factor that had attracted him to Gemma, but he quickly found out the two women were very different from each other. Brooke craved attention. Whenever he would compliment her on one of her new outfits

she would beam from the praise. One time, when he was about eight or nine, Ben remembered her saying, “Going out and buying new things always makes me feel better when I’m down.” “Why were you feeling down, Mom?” Ben remembered asking her, even though he was more interested in his new handheld video game at the time. “I’m not. It’s just that sometimes life gets rather boring sitting alone at home in that big lonely house and I need something to make me feel like a woman again. Before I married your father I lived quite an exciting life, traveling the world and working as a model. I had all the best clothes, stayed in luxury hotels, and had the richest boyfriends. Whenever I got bored they’d take me away to some exotic city in a private jet and we’d

spend the night dancing. It was a completely different life than the one I have now.” “Do you miss it?” Ben had asked, unconsciously picking up on her subtle body language. “No, of course not. Now I have you and your father. What more could I want?” Brooke said resolutely, but her eyes had kept blinking and she blamed it on the breeze. As a naïve child, Ben thought nothing of it. After all, theirs was a perfect existence. Every morning they ate breakfast together as a family with his father, Walter Liamworth, reading stories from the newspaper aloud while they all chatted and laughed together. When Ben came home from school in the afternoons, his mother would be home waiting for him and if he had a sporting event

she was always in the audience cheering him on. Dinner in the evenings was the happiest time of all, and Ben would tell his parents all about the exciting events of the day and they would both listen attentively. When it was time for bed, Brooke would tuck him in herself and wish him sweet dreams. The portrait by the grand staircase captured her at the height of those times. Her platinum blond hair hung in thick waves to her bare shoulders. Her blue eyes shimmered like sapphires in a lineless face, forever frozen in time when she was young and happy. Her voluptuous figure looked elegant and graceful in a shimmering satin gown and the smile on her lips was the one that Ben remembered from his childhood. Ben left the portrait and headed into the

garage. His driver had the Rolls ready to go and opened the door for him. Usually Ben bypassed such formalities and actually preferred to drive himself, but this morning he had a lot on his mind and wanted to be free from having to pay attention to the road so he could think. His mind kept drifting back to his childhood and the way everything had changed. It happened subtly, so young Ben didn’t even realize his whole life’s happiness was in danger. If he had, he might have been able to do something to stop it. Instead, he just blithely carried on with childish innocence and let it happen. “Where’s Dad?” he remembered asking his mother at the dinner table when he was about nine years old. “He’s working late tonight, again.” Brooke

had said. Her tone was casual enough that Ben just nodded and carried on with his stories of school. In retrospect he should have noticed the loneliness in her eyes and the dissatisfaction in her tone, but he didn’t. After that, Brooke’s days away from the house grew more frequent and the times she took Ben with her were further and further apart. When he did get to go, he was surprised when she would meet friends for lunch. Strange men he had never seen before who called him Buddy and rustled his hair. “I don’t like him. His laugh is fake and he won’t stop grinning.” Ben remembered complaining about one man in particular. “Shhhh! He’s Mommy’s special friend and I won’t have you being rude to him.” Brooke had

said, so Ben took off running into the play structure at the park where he could have fun. When they got home his mother said “Now remember, you father doesn’t like it when I spend too much money shopping so there’s no need to tell him about going out today or meeting my new friend.” Ben was about to ask why when she handed him a brand new video game cartridge. It was the one he’d been wanting and he ran up to his room with it immediately, excited to blast bad guys. After that, things kept changing more, but not in the direction he wanted. “Where’s Mom?” Ben had been completely thrown off guard when his Dad picked him up from practice one day instead of his mother. “She had to meet a friend.” Walter had said in a strange tone that Ben didn’t recognize. He had

assumed his Dad was annoyed about missing work in the middle of the afternoon, but now he knew better. After that, it was always Walter who attended Ben’s games and servants who drove him to the practices and took care of him after school. Brooke was usually home for dinner and to tuck him in at night, explaining that she’d been busy with friends and obligations all day. Soon, however, she wasn’t even home most evenings for that. On the rare nights when she was at the dinner table, the atmosphere was clearly strained, filled with long silences and quiet stares across the table. “Are you and Mom having a fight?” Ben finally asked his father one morning after hearing

raised voices coming from their bedroom for hours the night before. Brooke wasn’t at the breakfast table again and it had been weeks, perhaps months, since she’d taken him along when she went shopping. “No son, everything is fine; sometimes Moms just need to go out of town with friends for a weekend away. She’ll be back. She’ll be back and we’ll be fine.” But it was a lie. Even as a child, Ben had understood that his father hadn’t been telling him the truth, but he knew it wasn’t intentional. Walter had been trying to deceive himself, but the truth couldn’t be denied. Soon after, Ben came home from school and found his father sitting in his favorite leather chair just staring at a blank television screen. His skin

was deathly pale and his eyes were bloodshot red. “Why aren’t you at work?” Ben had asked him; his voice sounding far younger than his tender ten years of age. Even now, as a full grown man of twenty-seven, he could still remember how his heart had pounded as he asked the terrifying question and the way his father’s voice had sounded so hollow and strange when he answered. “She’s left us, son. She’s gone to Mexico with him. I’ve lost her for good.” Ben had never seen his father cry before and it terrified him. He wanted to comfort him in some way but he didn’t know how. He simply reached out and put his hand on his father’s trembling shoulder and listened as he rambled and sobbed. “It was my fault. I’m the one who introduced her to him. I was meeting with the owner of a new

company; Adams something. Your mother had stopped by the office wanting me to take her to lunch and I told her I didn’t have time. The bastard said he would be happy to take her to lunch and I was foolish enough to let him! If only I had been willing to take an hour out my day, maybe I could have made her happy like she used to be. But no, I was too wrapped up in my damn work and I let her go with him. Now she says they’re in love and it’s over between us. I’m so sorry, son. I knew she was too bright a flame for me to hang onto. I always knew I would get burned in the end, but I had to try and hold onto her while I could, no matter how briefly.” Ben didn’t fully understand his father’s pitiful rant, but he knew enough. Whoever this Adams was, he had stolen his mother and she was

never coming back. Even now the memory brought stinging tears to his eyes. Ben stared out the window of the Rolls watching the scenery rushing past and turned his thoughts to what happened next. Walter Liamworth had been utterly devastated by the loss of his wife. He spent days crying inconsolably in the dark and refused to eat, sleep, or even shower. He had always been a rather small man, short and not particularly muscular, but with a great mind for business and dark gray eyes that noticed everything. With Brooke gone, he seemed to grow even smaller; shrinking before Ben’s eyes into a skeleton. It wasn’t until the doctor came to the house and prescribed him something that Walter finally returned to work. Something in Walter had permanently

shattered, however, and Ben would sometimes catch his father clutching a bottle of pills for prolonged periods of time as he sobbed in front of Brooke’s portrait. Sometimes Walter would sit in the car with the engine running and the garage door shut tightly for long periods of time before turning it off, and once Ben had even caught him tying a length of rope into a noose. The pain of losing Brooke was just too great for Walter to bear. If it hadn’t been for the responsibility of caring for Ben, it was certain he would have committed suicide. For Ben, however, his mother’s abandonment had the opposite effect. Instead of falling apart with despair, he grew stronger. He harnessed his pain and used it to harden his heart. He vowed to never fall victim to love, trust, or

even friendship. If he never let anyone touch his heart, he could never be wounded like his father had been. The responsibility of looking after Walter was a heavy weight on young Ben and he spent every moment he wasn’t at school watching after him, and hating the man who was responsible for turning such a great man into a brittle shell. Fortunately, Brooke Liamworth hadn’t been able to stay away for long and in less than a month she was back. Young Ben never knew what had happened, but he supposed it didn’t really matter. The moment she swept back through the front door of the mansion, Walter forgave her instantly. As far as he was concerned, she was the victim in all this. “I should have paid more attention to you.” Walter apologized to Brooke, unaware that young Ben was listening from under the stairs. “From this

moment on, I’ll give you all the attention you deserve. You’ll never be bored or lonely again.” Later that night, Brooke had tucked Ben in bed just like she used to and explained to him that an evil man had taken advantage of her when she was feeling vulnerable and seduced her into doing something she never would have done otherwise. That night his dreams were filled with a monster he named Adams in his imagination. The monster stole his mother away and tried to destroy everything in its path, but Ben alone was the hero who could stop it. He killed the evil beast and at last his parents were avenged. The dream came to him almost every night for years. Recently the nightmare had finally been replaced and now his dreams were filled with Gemma and how amazing her body felt beneath his.

Back when he was only ten, Ben had been happy to have his family back together, but he couldn’t shake the nightmares and how good it felt to get revenge on the one who had nearly destroyed everything good in his life. Soon his thoughts of revenge began to fill his waking hours too and he knew his life’s purpose was to find Adams and destroy him. In the beginning, his plots were the silly fantasies of a child; but as he grew into a teenager and then a man, his ideas for revenge grew and matured with him. Everything Ben did in life held the ulterior motive of one day being able to bring those plans to fruition. When Ben came home to the family mansion after getting his MBA, he began to work on his plans in earnest. There were countless Adams’s in

the city, but he had the patience and the resources to research them all one by one. Eventually he found the Adams Corporation owned by Harry, Sara, and their daughter Gemma. When he learned that was the same company that had applied for a loan at Liamworth Financial seventeen years ago, he dedicated all his time and energy to learning how to destroy the company and Adams himself along with it. Harry Adams had a partner named Clint Carpenter and only a few hundred employees who owned most of the stock shares in the company. Ben had thought buying them out would be easy, but their loyalty proved to be a disadvantage to him. So, over the past few years Ben had been working tirelessly to undermine the company in every little way he could, driving down sales and

increasing deficits. He used his power and influence to ensure that no bank would give them a loan and no corporation would partner with them. Soon they were on the edge of bankruptcy. With Harry Adams nearly destroyed financially, Ben moved onto to the next phase of his revenge; destroying him on a personal level. Ben had known his enemy had a daughter, but he hadn’t expected Gemma Adams to be so beautiful. When he met her in that restaurant a few months ago, she reminded him of his mother, except there was no weakness in her. She did not long for the accolades of others; she was strong, intelligent, and independent. It would not be easy to seduce her into loving him; so he turned to emotional blackmail instead. Ben had decided to offer Gemma the

opportunity to save her family’s failing business if she would stay in his mansion for a month. He had hoped that would be enough time to trick her into falling in love with him, but he hadn’t been prepared for the fact that he would fall in love with her in return. Ben tried to ignore his feelings for Gemma and pushed forward with his plan. He even went so far as to trick Harry Adams’s business partner, Clint Carpenter, into asking Ben to buy all his shares of Adams Corporation stock when he thought he might need ransom money for his daughter. The girl, Lori was not actually kidnapped, but vacationing on Ben’s island resort; but Ben saw no need to tell anyone that. The purchase of the stock would give Ben controlling interest in the company and he would finally be

able to complete his plans. All Ben had to do now was go into their office for his 9:00a.m. appointment, purchase the stocks, and he would have the ability to crush the man who had nearly ruined his family. Ben had fantasized about what victory would be like for so long, he could see the whole thing in his imagination. Once he owned the stocks, he could sell off the company bit by bit, destroying Harry Adams’s lifetime of labor. Next he would reveal that he had turned his daughter into a whore, tricking her into sleeping with him in an attempt to save the company that was now destroyed. Then, when Adams was crying and asking him Why? Ben would reveal the truth, that this was in vengeance for that day seventeen years ago when Harry Adams had abandoned his wife and young daughter

to run away with his mother. Then Harry Adams would have paid the price for the lives he had ruined and Ben would finally be at peace. Vengeance would be his at last. It was so close, his skin prickled as if he could feel it in the air. His tongue was dry and he could barely swallow. He’d never been so nervous in his entire life and he knew what he needed to do. The Rolls Royce pulled to a stop in front of the Adams Corporation’s main office downtown. His longtime chauffer opened the door for him and Ben stepped out into the brisk morning air with his briefcase in his hand and took a deep breath for courage. Everything he had worked for his entire life came down to this moment, only he couldn’t go through with it any more. Thanks to Gemma, he no

longer wanted to destroy the company. He wanted to protect it and keep it safe so that no one else could ever attempt to do the same. Today he would confess the truth to her family about what he had done and beg for their forgiveness. Then he would ask for their permission to ask her to marry him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Clint Carpenter waited nervously while Ben Liamworth wrote out a very sizable check in exchange for all his shares of stock in the Adams Corporation. His wife Nancy stood by his side, clutching his hand. It was a huge relief for the Carpenter’s to know they would now have the cash to save their daughter, Lori; but odd that her abductors hadn’t asked for any ransom yet. After Ben handed Clint the check, the two men shook hands and Clint said to him, “Congratulations. I guess this makes you Harry’ new business partner. I trust you'll take good care of our little company.” “I will.” Ben vowed and the two men shook hands heartily. Then he turned to Harry and Sara

and offered his hand to them. Sara ignored the gesture and took him into her arms, hugging him tightly. “You’re part of the family now!” Harry saw Ben’s awkward look of discomfort over the suffocating hug and gently pulled his wife away and wrapped his arm around her shoulder to keep her from attacking him again. Harry looked at Ben and said “Our Gemma never stops talking about what a smart business man you are. We wouldn’t have picked you if it hadn’t been for her glowing recommendation. She says you’re the best.” “Thank you, sir, but I don't know about that.” Ben flushed under the praise. “She's a pretty great herself. She’s taught me a lot about the kind of person I want to be.” He knew it was time to tell them the truth

about everything, but it was hard to find the words. How did you just blurt something like this out? Still, he knew that the longer he delayed the harder it would be. Just then Gemma burst into the room looking frantic. “Stop!” she cried out, and everyone in the room turned to stare at her in shock. Only Ben knew just what she was doing there. It came as no surprise to him that she had figured out what he had been up to and had come to stop him. She was just that kind of girl; brave, smart, and unafraid to do everything she could for her family. Ben’s chest swelled with pride as he looked at the woman he loved and he couldn't wait to tell her the good news that his life had a new purpose. “Gemma! What is this about?” Harry Adams asked his daughter with a look of utter

disapproval. He had not raised her to act so irrationally and he couldn’t fathom what had gotten into her. “Is it Lori?” Clint Carpenter asked and clutched his wife Nancy’s hand. They both looked pale with terror as they worried that something terrible had happened to their missing daughter. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.” Gemma said “Lori is safe and unharmed.” “Oh, thank God!” Clint let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and collapsed into the nearest chair. His wife cried tears of relief. With their greatest fear relieved, a million questions suddenly filled Clint’s mind and he peppered Gemma with them in quick succession, “Where is she? Can I see her? Did the police capture her abductor?”

“Lori wasn't kidnapped” Gemma explained to the room as simply as she could. “Ben sent her away to a tropical island and let us to believe she was kidnapped in order to trick you into selling him all your stock shares. Clint , don't let him have them. He's trying to gain a controlling interest in the company so he can break it up and sell it.” “What is she talking about?” Harry Adams demanded of Ben. The younger man couldn’t deny the accusations and looked down at his feet. He had violated the trust of everyone in the room and there was no excuse for it. He understood Gemma’s disdain for him and even supported her in it. He hated himself more than any of them possibly could know in that moment. His only hope was that once he explained his change of heart that they would

forgive him. Gemma answered her father for him, saying “Ben’s trying to get revenge against you Daddy, for having an affair with his mother, Brooke Liamworth.” Gemma’s mother Sara Adams gasped and stared at her husband in shock. Her hands covered her face, which had turned red with humiliation and anger. “I've done no such thing!” Harry Adams was dumbfounded by the accusation. He immediately turned to his wife, “Sara, I swear you're the only woman I've ever been with.” Gemma hated to see her parents in pain, but she needed them to know why Ben was attacking them. She said softly, “It happened long ago , when you guys were split up and Daddy had his

own apartment.” “I never had an affair when I lived in that apartment!” Harry insisted. He turned to Clint and Nancy for support and they both just stared with their with their mouth’s gaping. Ben finally found the courage to speak and said to Harry, “My father told me everything. The Adams Corporation was just a fledgling business and needed money. You went to my father for a loan and my mother happened to be there. You started an affair and soon she left my father and the two of you went to Mexico. It didn’t last long, but her brief abandoned nearly killed my father from heartbreak and caused me to become heartless and obsessed with revenge. That was until I fell in love with Gemma. I know it’s impossible to trust anything I say at this point; but you must believe

me. I love Gemma and would never do anything to harm her. I couldn’t’ go through with my plan to destroy your family business. I bought the stock to protect the Adams Corporation and nothing more.” “And what about kidnapping Lori? Was that out of your love for me too?” Gemma’s eyes were filled with hatred and her voice tight with barely controlled rage. If it hadn’t been for the room full of witnesses, he was sure she would have ripped his throat out where he stood. Ben said “I never faked a kidnapping. I simply sent Lori away on a vacation to my bungalow. The note you found was written by her.” “Ha! Why would she fake her own kidnapping?” Gemma laughed without joy. “I can’t speak for her. All I know is when everyone found her note and thought she’d been

kidnapped, I should have spoken up right away and corrected the misunderstanding. It was wrong of me not to, but I wanted more time with you before you learned the truth.” Ben looked longingly at Gemma but she glared at him with a searing hatred that broke his heart. She said “You knew how upset I was when I thought my best friend had been abducted. No one who loves me would put me through that! You’re a sick monster and I hate you.” “You’re right. It was inexcusable of me to put you all through that and I can’t apologize enough.” Ben pleaded with them all, especially Clint and Nancy Carpenter who had been so worried about their daughter. “It’s just that Lori had met with the private investigator I had hired and learned that I was the Phoenix. I knew that you

would hate me once you found out, so I sent her on a trip to give myself time to think of a way to correct all the wrongs I’d committed. When everyone read her note and thought she’d been kidnapped, I decided to let you all keep believing it. Then, Clint offered to sell me his stock shares and it was the perfect solution.” “Of course it was. Now you control the company and can break it apart just like you planned!” Gemma spat at him. “No, now I have the power to protect it and always keep it safe.” Ben’s eyes pleaded with Gemma to understand. “I’m not the man I was when I started all this. Your love has opened my heart. Even if you never forgive me; I’m going to spend the rest of my life loving you and protecting everything you hold dear.”

The look in his eyes said that he meant it, and for a moment Gemma felt her anger soften. Just then a team of cops in full gear burst into the office and aimed their guns at Ben. He offered no resistance as they handcuffed him and escorted him outside, shoving him into the back of the squad car . Everyone was in a state of shock as the police took their statements and Gemma told them where to find Lori. It wasn't until the last squad car had driven out of sight that Gemma allowed herself to crumble into tears in the arms of her father. “Don't blame yourself , darling. He deceived us all.” Harry comforted his only child. Clint said simply, “The important thing is Lori is safe and was never in real danger.” Gemmawiped her eyes with her father’s tie

and said, “Yes , but he already bought the stock shares. The Adams Corporation is under his control now and it’s all my fault for being blinded by love. I should have seen the warning signs, but I didn’t want to.” Harry hugged her tight said “Don’t worry about that now. We built this company up from nothing and if we need to start over and do it again we will. What’s important is we’re a family and nothing can destroy that. Now let me drive you home. It’s been a long day.” Sara stroked Gemma’s hair lovingly and said, “No, she doesn’t want to back to that empty apartment. Come home with your father and me, dear. You can sleep in your old bedroom. We’ll take care of you.” Liamis looked at both her parents and

smiled. “Thanks, but I’m going to go back to the mansion to sleep tonight. It’s become more of a home to me than anyplace else and right now that’s where I want to be. Her parents were surprised but they didn’t argue with her about it. Although she hadn’t said so, they properly guessed the mansion was the place where she felt closest to Ben and that was the comfort she needed most right now.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR The Liamworth Mansion had never seemed so welcoming and Gemma felt like she was home as she walked through the doors. For her first order of business, she gathered all the staff together and told them the news that Ben Liamworth had been arrested. Many of them embraced her, including the chef, Stephan, and her personal maid, Jennifer. “We know; the police already came with a warrant and searched his private office. They took everything; including his computer and files.” One of the maids said. Gemma realized she shouldn’t be surprised by that and yet it still came as shock. Although she was the one who had turned Ben into the police, the fact that they had searched her home

and removed possessions from it felt like a gross invasion. “Is there anything we can do for you?” Jennifer asked, seeing that she had turned pale. The maid had been one of her closest friends since she first came to the mansion and hugged her warmly. “Thanks , but I just need some time alone to work this all out in my head.” Gemma said, putting on a brave smile. “Everybody can go home. There's no need to stay here just to wait on me and I don't know if any of you will be getting a paycheck until Ben gets out of jail. I'm sorry; I feel like it’s my fault you all might lose your jobs.” “You can't blame yourself for this.” Jennifer said and the words brought Gemma to tears once more. One by one the staff members left , and

before she knew it Gemma found herself alone in the vast and empty mansion that suddenly felt more like a museum than a home. She walked from room to room staring at the beautiful antiques , rare art , and fine furnishings. She told herself she just wanted to stretch her legs, but in truth she was searching for some clue she might have missed that would have told her the truth about Ben. The downstairs rooms gave her an idea of what it must have been like for Ben to grow up here as a boy. Everything was impossibly beautiful and perfect, but there was no lasting warmth or love in anything. Especially the portrait of his mother that hung by the grand staircase; the great Brooke Liamworth. To Gemma, her smile seemed like a façade with no depth behind it; sucking men into the bottomless chasm of her neediness and

drowning them there. Brooke’s own beloved son had been one of her victims, as was her husband and even Gemma’s own father. The thought of it gave Gemma chills, and yet she knew how much the woman had meant to Ben and what an important part of his life she was. Gemma walked up the grand staircase to the second story of the mansion, searching for more clues. The door to Ben’s office was blocked by yellow police tape, but she opened the door and peaked inside. The beautiful office that he had guarded so secretly was completely ruined. The police had upended every drawer and removed every book off the shelves. His computer, file cabinets, and even his desk were all gone. Gemma swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and reminded herself that he deserved it. After all, he

had faked Lori’s kidnapping in order to destroy her family. At least that’s what she had believed when she turned him in. Sure, Lori had denied it, but victims often told the lies their abductors forced them to say. Gemma just had to keep reminding herself that Ben was the liar and the villain here. She just wished it wasn’t so hard to keep hating him. When he’d given that speech in her father’s office, she’d wanted to run to him and embrace him in her arms, telling him she loved him too. That was the con however; that was how he manipulated and lied to her. Wasn’t it? Gemma crossed her arms in front of her chest like a shield, straightened her spine, and forced herself to stay strong. As she continued down the hallway, however, things just got harder.

Now she had come to the master bedroom suite she shared with Ben. Just seeing the room made her body tingle with sexual desire and she thought of the countless times they had made passionate love together. He was able to do things to her body that no other man ever had and she did the same for him, bringing him sexual pleasure far beyond anything he’d ever experienced. She had thought it was proof that they were meant to be together; now she wondered if it was the manipulations of a sick and twisted man. She searched his half of the room thoroughly; riffling through his dresser and the big carved oak bureau by the mirror. As expected her search turned up nothing unusual, except for a velvet jewelry box hidden beneath his socks. Gemma opened it and gasped in awe at the most

exquisitely beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. It was huge, with perfect clarity and set in a platinum band exclusively designed by the best jeweler in the city. Gemma snapped the box shut and shoved it back in the bottom of drawer. Her hands were trembling and she realized she was hoping it was an engagement ring that Ben planned to offer to her. “What is wrong with me?” Gemma cried aloud to the empty room. “Ben is not who I think he is! He’s not the man I fell in love with! He lied and tricked me so he could destroy my father. I’ve got to stop trying to believe he’s some fucking prince charming because he’s not!” Gemma ranted at herself, trying to change the feelings of her heart; but it was useless. The hopeless truth was she still loved the asshole, even

after all he had done. Emotionally exhausted by the day’s ordeal, she collapsed onto the bed. That’s when she saw it. There was a loose corner on one of the pieces of molding that decorated the intricately carved headboard of the bed. Gemma pried at it with her fingernails and it popped open, revealing a secret compartment inside the headboard. A leather bound book was tucked inside. Gemma opened the cover of the book and saw it was a diary written in Ben’s distinctive handwriting. The first entries were dated several years ago, when he’d come home from college. At first it was mundane stuff about what it had been like to return home after being gone for so many years, how much he missed the gardens, and how great it was to see his parents again. He started

working with his father and soon started doing a search of every man with the last name Adams in the city. Gemma was enthralled and disturbed as she read about the day he found her father and how excited he was. His words described in graphic detail his hatred and dark need for vengeance. It sickened and repelled her, and yet she needed to know every disgusting detail, so she kept reading. Then she came to the section of Ben’s diary where they first met and he invited her to live in the mansion for a month. “If anything can get me to fall out of love with that son-of-bitch this will do it!” Gemma grumbled under her breath as she read of his plans to lure her into the mansion and seduce her. He planned to use her to hurt her father further. Only,

things hadn’t gone as he planned; in fact just the opposite happened. Gemma couldn’t stop turning the pages, even though she could barely keep her eyes open. It must have been going on two o’clock in the morning and still she read. She could see the transformation of Ben’s heart, recorded in his own words as he described them in the secret diary she never knew he kept. At first it was all about sex. He talked about her body, how beautiful and sexy she was, and about how incredibly hot their fucking was. Very quickly however, the tone of his writing changed. He started talking about her personality, how kind she was, generous, passionate, and giving. He wrote about how wonderful it was to finally have someone to talk to, and she blushed to read how witty, funny, and bright he thought she

was. It’s so refreshing to have found someone like-minded, with whom I can talk business, movies, and even share the heartbreaks of my childhood, Ben had written and Gemma felt the profound loneliness and desperation for companionship he must have suffered before she came. What surprised her most about the diary was learning about all the little things he had done for her in secret that she had never known about. She had credited the chef, Stephan, with making her favorite pastries every morning, but she discovered in the diary that Ben had gone through great pains to learn what her favorite foods were and instructed the chef to prepare them. The same was true of the fresh flowers placed in vases by

the gardener, the bubble bath arranged by her tub, and the books and movies available in the media room. All the things that brought her joy and made the mansion feel like a home were carefully arranged by Ben without her knowledge. He had ever asked for any credit or thanks; he just wanted to make her happy. It wasn’t even part of his manipulation, but something he did purely for the joy of seeing her smile. “How do I know this diary isn’t one of his tricks, in case he got caught and needed to convince me of his lies?” Gemma asked herself, but she could tell from the vulnerable confessions in the diary that he never thought anyone else would read it. The things he said were too honest, too raw. They were the secrets of his deepest heart and now that she had seen them she knew she had

made a mistake turning him into the police for a kidnapping he hadn’t committed. She just hoped it wasn’t too late to do something about it. The evidence the police had compiled against Ben was terribly damning, from the kidnapping note to the fact that he’d stranded her on island with no way to escape, to Gemma’s own testimony against him. She may doomed the man she loved to prison for a long time. Still she had to try to do something. She picked up the phone to dial the number of the police detective who had interviewed her, not even caring that it was the middle of the night. She was just about to dial, when suddenly the phone rang in her hand, startling her. “Open the door and let me in. I'm freezing out here!” Gemma couldn’t believe her eyes; it was a text from Lori!

Gemmaran through the long mansion halls , down the grand staircase to the front door. She turned the locks as quickly as she could and swung the door open wide to find Lori shivering in the cold night air. “Oh, thank God your okay! We’ve all been worried to death about you!” Liamis flung her arms around her best friend and hugged her so tight the poor girl could hardly breathe. When she finally let her go and pulled her into the house, wrapping a warm blanket around her. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?” “The island police cut my vacation short. They told me the American Police thought I’d been kidnapped and I’d better return immediately to straighten it out. So, Ben’s private jet flew me home and his driver brought me here. With the time

change, I had no idea it was so late. Sorry!” “I’m just so glad you’re here. I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.” Gemma guided Lori into the kitchen and made them each a steaming cup of coffee with generous amounts of brandy poured into each. She listened as Lori told her about visiting the private investigator and learning that the individual trying to buy all their stock was called the Phoenix. Then it was Gemma’s turn to tell Lori everything about Ben, beginning with his childhood and ending with his arrest. She even showed Lori the diary entries and said “So now I think I’ve sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Just tell me one thing, why did you write that note? Were you faking your own kidnapping?” “No. I was just really excited to go on my trip, but I didn’t want you guys to keep searching

for the private investigator from the Phoenix after I’d already found him, so I was trying to tell you to stop your search. Don’t you get it; stop looking for the private investigators from the Phoenix…………you know, because I found him. Hello.” Gemma couldn’t believe it and yet she could. Part of her wanted to hug Lori and part of her wanted to slap her. The hugging portion won out and she embraced her best friend lovingly. Then something else occurred to her and Gemma asked “So what was with the lock of hair and the blood you left with the note?” “I got gum in hair while I was writing the damn note. I tried to cut it out with that pocket knife on my keychain and I clipped my ear really bad. That’s why there’s a big gap in my writing.

Tell me the truth; do I have a hideous scar?” Lori pulled back her curls and showed Gemma the deep cut on her left ear. “Only you could cause a misunderstanding this huge and still be perfectly adorable.” Gemma laughed. “Will you go with me to police station and help me explain everything. They may not drop the charges, but I’ve got to try.” “Are you kidding; if the victim and the accuser both refute the charges they’ve got no case. Ben will be home free by the end of the day.” Lori assured her. “Oh my God, I could kiss you!” Gemma cried out happily, seeing that her ditzy friend was wiser than she seemed. “Go ahead.” Lori said sensuously. The sexy scenes she’d read in Ben’s diary, combined with

the liquor and the fact that her boyfriend had dumped her on the island, had made Lori view her friend in a new way. Gemma was about to tell her that she was only kidding when suddenly she felt Lori’s soft lips on her own. It had been a long and emotional day, and the alcohol and lack of sleep were getting to her too. She gave herself into the kiss, liking the gentle feel of it and let her tongue dance delicately with hers. Lori tasted so different than any of the men she had ever kissed and her lips and mouth were so much softer and gentler. She wrapped her hands in her soft curls and sighed as she felt Lori caressing her long chestnut hair. Part of Gemma’s hair had fallen down over her left breast, causing Lori’s hands to graze Gemma’s left tit. It excited them both and on a

whim, Gemma removed her blouse, revealing her full breasts to her best friend. They had seen each naked many times before when trying on clothes together, but this was different. Lori gently put her hands to Gemma’s sumptuous breasts, caressing her bare flesh with a curiosity and tenderness that was wildly sensual. Gemma moaned aloud with pleasure when Lori put her hot wet mouth upon her nipples. Gemma arched her back toward Lori’s mouth, wanting more. “I’ve never kissed a woman’s tits before.” Lori flushed, but it was evident from her dilated eyes and rapid breathing that she liked it. “Me neither; give me a turn.” Gemma said. She peeled the clothes off Lori’s body and caressed and fondled her firm round tits before taking them into her mouth. It felt amazing and she

instantly understood why men found them so appealing. She removed Lori’s skirt and peeled off her panties. Lori spread her legs wide and closed her eyes as Gemma sampled her first taste of another woman’s pussy. It was delightfully warm and like nothing else she’d ever tasted before. She wanted more and her lips and tongue grew more daring as she heard Lori moan with pleasure and felt her grinding her hips beneath her. Unlike giving oral sex to a man, Gemma knew just how a pussy liked to be touched and was thrilled to see how her expertise made Lori cry out with the ecstasy of an orgasm. She was surprised at just how much pleasure it gave her to make her best friend come and realized that her own panties were now dripping wet with the juices of her arousal.

“My turn.” Lori grinned and stripped Gemma naked right in the kitchen. The feel of her best friend’s lips, mouth and tongue on the sensitive folds of her pussy were far different than Ben’s. She worked magic on Gemma’s body, bringing her to orgasm with an artistry that she had never experienced. Soon, she was screaming out in delirious rapture as she clutched at Lori’s blonde curls and then finally collapsed against the kitchen counter, gasping for breath. “I’m a cheater!” Gemma cried as she regained her senses. She suddenly felt ashamed and disgusted with herself. “I’ve sent the only man who loves me to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and then I cheated on him in his own house!” “No, don’t think like that.” Lori caressed

Gemma’s cheek and gave her lips a tender kiss. “This was a stolen moment in time, when you and I were both able to fulfill the secret fantasy of our youth. Now, we can return to the regular world and our normal lives. Get a good night’s sleep and when you wake up we’ll be able to set everything right in the world and everything will be like it should be. “Goodnight.” Gemma thanked her best friend with tears of gratitude shimmering in her emerald green eyes. Lori gave her one last sensual, passionate kiss and then retreated to one of the guest bedrooms while Gemma fell into a deep sleep in the bed she would soon be sharing again with Ben.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Ben emerged from the jailhouse looking like complete shit; three day’s worth of beard growth covered his face, his eyes were red and swollen, his suit was rumpled and covered with stains, he hadn’t showered since before his arrest. Despite his awful appearance, Gemma had never seen a more beautiful sight. “I’m so sorry I had you arrested!” Gemma flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. Ben closed his eyes to hold back the tears and hugged her back, loving the way her soft breasts felt as they crushed against his hard chest. It was a feeling he thought he’d never know a gain. “I deserved it, and much worse for all the terrible things I’ve done. You must hate me.”

“I tried to; but then I found your diary in the headboard of our bed and read it.” “You did?” Ben’s face went very pale and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he waited to hear her reaction. Taking hold of his hand, she said softly “I understand everything now.” “You do?” Ben sighed audibly with relief but there was still a question burning in his eyes that he was too afraid to ask. Gemma decided to put him out of his misery and answer it for him, “And I forgive you. I’ll explain everything to my parents and make sure they do too.” “I love you so much!” Ben couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. Knowing that Gemma forgave him was better than anything he could have

hoped for and he was the happiest man alive. “I love you too. Now let’s get you home and showered. You stink!” Ben thought nothing had ever felt so good when he stepped through the front door of his mansion; that was until he stepped into the shower. The feel of hot water washing over his filthy body was a luxury he had never appreciated until that moment and he reveled in it. He scrubbed away all the dirt, sweat, grime, and shame that he had accumulated in jail until his toned body was fresh and clean once more. “Got any room in there for me?” Gemma asked in a sultry voice, and Ben welcomed her into the shower with a smile. “God, you’re even more sexy and beautiful than I’d remembered, especially when you’re wet”

Ben said softly as he stared openly at her naked body from head to toe, drinking her in with hungry eyes. “Did you forget this?” Gemma teased playfully and knelt in the shower to take his cock her mouth. She had missed him too and lavished his organ with love and attention in all the ways he liked best. Soon he was groaning with pleasure and clutching at the tiled walls of the shower, trying not to come too quickly. Seeing that Gemma had no intention of stopping any time soon, he extracted his pulsating cock from her mouth and pulled her up by the shoulders. He turned her around so her back was to him and handed her the moveable showerhead, saying “Let me watch you make yourself come.” Delighted to comply, Gemma held the

pulsating spray of water between her thighs and let it massage her most sensitive folds until she was writhing and moaning with pleasure while Ben watched. Then, when she was teetering on the edge of orgasm he suddenly entered her pussy from behind, shoving his engorged cock deep into her dripping wet slot with one thrust. The spray from the showerhead beat against her clitoris as his cock pounded into her pussy and within moments they were both climaxing, screaming and gasping as he spilled his seed deep inside her. “I’m coming!” Gemma cried out and Ben could feel her muscles spasm and flex with ecstasy around his cock. When at last they had finished, they wrapped themselves in towels and collapsed on the king-sized bed together. “Now that was a good shower.” Ben grinned

boyishly as Gemma held his hand and looked at him with adoring eyes. They were both startled when a female voice said from across the room, “Good, now get dressed and meet me downstairs.” Ben looked up into the icy blue eyes of the woman glaring at him and said “Mother! What are you doing here?” Gemma gasped in shock to meet the Brooke Liamworth for the first time. The former international model was an icon of beauty and she made an imposing figure as she stood in the doorway of their suite with her hands on her hips. Her platinum blonde hair had been cut into a severe A-line that was sexy and chic. The delicate features of her face were still unlined and flawless, but her sapphire blue eyes were cold and

hard. She was wearing a tailored black dress with a plunging neckline, Jimmy Choo shoes, and sparkling gold and diamond jewelry adorned her throat, wrists, and fingers. The effect was breathtaking and Gemma wasn’t ashamed to admit that she was intimidated by her. Ben’s father, Walter Liamworth seemed small as he stood by her side, although he was a billionaire in his own right, having inherited Liamworth International from his father before him. His gray temples and careworn face gave Gemma a glimpse of what Ben might look like some day, and she liked it. He looked kind, wizened, and still blissfully in love with his wife. In answer to her son’s question, Brooke said “When I heard you had been arrested I had the helicopter bring us home immediately. Of course

we took a limo from the airport straight to the police station, only to discover you had already been released without anyone bothering to tell us.” “Sorry, Mother. I just got home.” Ben shifted uncomfortably under her steady gaze. “I met with the judge this morning and he dismissed all of the charges, with the exception of withholding information from the police; but he let me go with time served and a hefty fine.” “It would have been nice to be called, but the important thing is that you’re okay now.” Brooke’s eyes finally softened and the shift in the room was instantaneous. Gemma could see how powerful and charismatic the woman was; even the light and the air seemed to cater to her moods. Then, suddenly Brooke turned her gaze on Gemma and said with a smile “Who is this lovely young

lady?” Gemma became acutely aware of the fact that she was dressed in nothing but a towel as Ben introduced her and she shook both his parents’ hands. “I’d like you to meet Gemma Adams. She’s the one responsible for getting me released from jail. Her father and I recently became business partners and Gemma has been my girlfriend for several months.” “Adams?” Brooke’s eyes narrowed as she tried to place the familiar name. Gemma couldn’t help but feel nervous as she wondered if his parents knew that her father was the one Brooke had cheated with seventeen years ago. The sudden change in their postures told her that they did. Ben saw the light flash in his mother’s eyes

too and his father’s shoulders sink. Speaking with more confidence than he felt, Ben said to them “Please excuse us while we get dressed. I’ll meet you in the sitting room. We have a lot to discuss and you won’t like it all, but by the time I’m done explaining I think you’ll both be pleased.” “What are you doing?” Gemma hissed when the door clicked shut and they were alone in the suite. “You aren’t planning to tell them everything are you?” “I don’t see how I can avoid it.” Ben said. “I live in their house and get paid from their estate as an employee of Liamworth International. Every move I make can be reviewed by them, so they’re bound to find out.” “I thought all this was yours.” Gemma was surprised.

“No. I’m practically destitute on my own, but I was able to buy the stock for the Adams Corporation with my own money by using the trust fund my grandfather gave me.” “That’s because you were trying to keep your sneaky plot a secret” Gemma guessed correctly and Ben made no effort to deny it. Shrugging with chagrin, he said “I won’t be able to keep it a secret any longer. Eventually my parents will find out about their former connection to your parents. There’s no point in trying to hide it, so we might as well face it head on and bring everyone together in one place.” “Well that’s just great. Why don’t we have a little reunion; your parents and my parents together again? We can make it a party!” Gemma said sarcastically, in an effort to hide her discomfort.

To her surprise, Ben smiled and said, “You know that’s not a bad idea.” “Are you joking? It’s a terrible idea!” Gemma cried out. “Just think about it logically for a moment.” Ben spoke calmly. “It’s been nearly two decades since the affair. Obviously it didn’t work out between them and they both returned to their spouses to live out long and happy marriages. I plan to work closely with your father to help make your family’s business a thriving success; and I don’t want the history he had with my mother to always be the white elephant in the room. None of us can pretend it didn’t happen; it will always be in the air so we might as well confront it and make the best out of an awkward situation by putting them in the same room together.”

“And instead of having this reunion privately, you want to throw a party and let it take place publically?” Gemma was aghast. “If there’s one thing that’s important to my mother it’s her public image. She thrives on being the richest, most elegant, most beautiful woman in the room. She would rather die than play out some scandalous scene in the middle of a party and let it be known that she had a disgraceful affair with a struggling businessman.” Gemma saw Ben’s point. Warming up to the idea, she nodded and said “And my father prides himself on his professionalism. If we made this a party with his business associates, he would never humiliate or embarrass himself in front of them by making a scene with an ex-lover or revealing that he had been unfaithful to his wife long ago.”

“Business Associates; that’s perfect!” Ben was even more excited now than before. “We can throw a party to celebrate the Adams Corporations new partnership with the Liamworth family. It’s the perfect occasion for both our parents to meet in a neutral environment. We can invite business associates on both their sides, ensuring that everyone will be on their best behavior, and best of all, it will benefit the company.” “Do you really think it will work?” Gemma sounded more hopeful than doubtful. “It has to, because I can’t imagine my life without you or them in it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY- SIX To Ben and Gemma’s relief both their sets of parents agreed to come to the party; although some were more hesitant than others. Both Brooke Liamworth and Sara Adams offered to plan the event, but Ben knew that was a recipe for trouble. “Let’s ask Lori to do it.” Gemma suggested. “She put together all the social events for our sorority and did a great job.” “Do you think she’ll do it after I nearly kidnapped her?” Ben joked, and Gemma elbowed him for the poor attempt at humor. “There’s only one way to find out.” Gemma said and dialed her number. “Yes! I would love to!” Lori gushed in that perky voice of hers that never failed to make

Gemma smile. “It will be the perfect send-off before my parents and I leave for the next six months.” “You’re going away for half a year? What are you talking about?” Gemma was sincerely alarmed. “Daddy told me that when he thought I’d been kidnapped it really scared him and made him think about all the regrets he had in life. He said number one on that list was not spending more time with me. So, we’re finally going on that trip around the world that I always wanted to go on! Isn’t that amazing?” Gemma could hear Lori jumping up and down with excitement on the other end of the line and she couldn’t help but smile. “I’m going to really miss you; but yeah, it sounds pretty great.” Gemma said, and listened to

Lori tell her all the destinations on their itinerary. Afterwards they started talking about the party and it was over two hours before Gemma finally got off the phone. “You won’t believe what Lori told me!” she said to Ben when she finally found him in his office, setting up the new computer he’d purchased to replace the one the police had confiscated but never returned. Then she told him all about the Carpenter’s travel plans. “Well, that explains a lot. I called Clint Carpenter earlier and offered to let him buy his stock shares back since I had purchased them under false pretenses. He refused and told me he had big plans for the money.” Ben set the new monitor on the edge of his desk and leaned on it. “How could you not warn me about it?”

Gemma’s eyes were welling with unwanted tears but she forced them back. She’d never been apart from Lori for more than a few days, let alone half a year. “I had no idea this was what he was planning.” Ben pulled her into his arms hugged her to his chest. Gemma breathed deeply, seeming to draw strength from his embrace. He smelled so good and she felt a growing tingling her body as she clung to him. Spontaneously she kissed him with soft sensual workings of her mouth that soon became urgent with need. “Do you have any plans right now?” she asked playfully and began to peel off her clothes with slow movements of her hands. Ben watched the garments drop onto the computer boxes one by one and felt himself becoming aroused as she

swung her hips erotically and caressed her body as she stripped. Then she peeled away his clothes, ripping them from his body with urgent lust until they were both naked in his office. They lay onto the floor together between the scattered boxes and Gemma straddled Ben’s face in a sixty-nine position, sucking his delicious cock while he pleasured her pussy with his tongue. Soon they were both panting and moaning with pleasure, clawing at the carpet as the cried out in orgasm. Ben’s foot accidentally kicked his desk and sent the brand new computer monitor crashing to the floor. “Shit!” Ben laughed and Gemma hugged his chest and laughed with him. “That’s what I get for trying to set a computer on my own.” “Didn’t you set up the other one?” Gemma

asked, tiptoeing carefully around the broken screen to get their clothes. “Of course not. I’m a Liamworth. We’ve had servants and employees since my grand-parents first bought this mansion a hundred years ago. We don’t cook our food, buy groceries, clean or do chores. You’ll lucky I know how to brush my own teeth. My mother hired an entire team of experts to set up my last computer.” “That’s terrible!” Gemma laughed. “It’s a good thing I didn’t know how spoiled you were before I fell in love with you. Come on and get dressed, I’m going to show you how to set up a computer all on your own with no servants or employees to do it for you.” “Can’t I just kick back and let you do it?” “No! Now get over here!” They laughed

together. Ben had never had more fun learning how to do something. He couldn’t help but admire how Gemma shined at her best when she was doing something for someone she cared about. All the Adams’s were that way; Harry and Sara were that way too. They were all willing to do anything for each other, never asking for anything in return or what was in it for them. It was the way he thought all families should be. He just hoped that on the day his family met hers that they merged smoothly. The closer the day approached, the more nervous he became. Throwing parties was where Lori Carpenter truly shined. She had rented a ballroom at one of the city's finest hotels for the occasion. Everything from the catering , to the decorations, to the staff;

were all selected with her expert eye and reflected the best of taste . Ben and Gemma arrived just as the party was getting started. Ben looked dashing as always in a tailored Armani tux and Gemma looked positively stunning in a floor-length black gown with tiny emeralds accenting the bodice in an intricate floral design that highlighted her eyes. Her long chestnut colored hair was swept up into an elaborate bun with long tendrils of curls left loose to frame her face in a fun and sexy way. Her make-up was done to perfection and Ben thought she had never looked more radiant as he stared at her with obvious lust. Harry and Sara Adams stood at the entrance to the ballroom, welcoming everyone as they came in, while Walter and Brooke Liamworth circulated

through the crowd, shaking hands and introducing themselves to guests. Brooke easily charmed everyone she met with her grace and wit, while Walter impressed them with his business sense. The hors-d'oeuvres were delicious, the drinks were poured liberally, and the music kept the atmosphere celebratory. “Excuse me miss, but I’m hungry for a bite” Ben came up behind Gemma, wrapped his arms around her waist and nibbled her neck seductively. She had just left a table of her father’s best customers and was standing alone by the food table. It was the first chance they had to be alone together since they’d arrived hours ago. “Behave, or I’ll tell your mother on you.” Gemma giggled, indicating a nearby table where both their parents were laughing and talking

together like old friends. Ben grinned and said “It looks like they’re getting along better than we hoped.” “Yeah. I had a chance to talk to my father alone and he said he’s never seen your mother before in his life. She must have lied to your father about the true name of her lover and given him my dad’s name as a cover-up.” “I’m glad to know there’s no real history between them; but my parents had both insisted that Adams was the name of the man she had cheated with, and I even found the financial records from when they applied for the loan with my dad when I was researching him.” “You mean spying and plotting?” Gemma teased good naturedly. “Yes, back when I was a naughty boy in

need of a good spanking.” Ben leered playfully and kissed her neck. Then he pulled her by the hand behind the curtains the band was playing in front of, ducking into the dark alcove behind the stage. “What are you doing? We’re in the middle of a party!” Gemma objected, but her eyes were dancing with excitement. Ben’s mouth closed over her mouth insistently and she felt his need for her digging into her thigh. Practically everyone she knew was just twenty feet away and she realized she should push him away and rejoin the party; but his lips on her flesh felt so good she didn’t want to stop. The taboo nature of what they were doing only increased her passion and she unzipped the trousers of his tuxedo and fondled his cock. Ben turned her around so her back was to

him and slid his strong hands up her lean legs, lifting the hem of her gown up around her waist. He pushed her panties aside and was delighted to find her already wet and ready. He fingered her sensuously as he kissed her neck and a moan of pleasure escaped her lips as she ground her hips back to meet his touch. The loud music of the band drowned out the sound of her voice and Gemma dared to moan louder, tempting fate with a naughty gleam in her eye. “Shhhh. We don’t want anyone to hear.” Ben whispered as he bit her earlobe sensuously. He’d always been the bad boy never caring if he got caught, but since falling in love with Gemma he had too much to lose. She had tempered him into wanting to be a better man. “I don’t care who hears us. I want you to

fuck me right here with all these people just on the other side of that curtain.” Gemma moaned. She’d spent her life trying to be the good girl and perfect daughter her parents expected her to be, but Ben had freed her from those constraints and taught her to live life to the fullest. They were the perfect match and brought out the best in one another. Ben extracted his throbbing cock from his slacks and plunged it into Gemma’s quivering and eager cunt with a satisfying moan. She rocked back to meet him, driving him deeper into herself as they thrust together in perfect rhythm to the pulse of the music. Faster and faster, harder and deeper, until they both came together in a glorious crescendo of passion. Gemma bit her palm to muffle her cries of ecstasy as every nerve in her body exploded with pleasure and Ben buried his face in her hair to

silence his moans. When they had finished, they looked into each other’s eyes and shared a twinkling gaze of mischief over the secret they now shared. “How’s my hair?” Gemma asked him with a worried frown as she pinned lopsided bun back into place. “Good. Straighten my tie!” Ben said, with the hushed giggles of a school boy. His laughter was contagious and Gemma struggled to keep a straight face as they immerged from behind the curtain hand in hand, trying to look casual. “There you are! Where have you two been?” the familiar voice of Lori made them both jump as she came up behind them. “I think we can safely call this party a success. You guys have the ball room for the rest of the night and I’ve already paid

the caterer, band, and everyone else. A cleaning crew will take care of everything in the morning, so just enjoy.” “You sound like you’re leaving” Gemma said and Lori hugged her best friend tightly. “I am. My father just arrived and we’re heading straight to the airport for our trip. Wish me luck!” “You don’t need any luck; I already know you’ll have a great time and nobody deserves it more than you and your Dad.” Gemma said, blinking back tears. She knew she was going to miss her terribly, but more than that she was happy for her and the fact that her greatest dream was coming true. Gemma glanced around the ball room and said “Where’s your father; I want to say goodbye to him too.”

“He didn’t think he should come to the party, being as he’s an ex-partner, it didn’t feel right.” “That’s ridiculous! Tell him if he doesn’t come up and hug me goodbye I’m not letting you go. This time, it will be a real kidnapping!” Gemma insisted. Lori laughed at the good-natured joke and called Clint Carpenter on his cell. In less than a minute they saw him stroll through the entrance, looking anxious to leave in travel slacks and a polo shirt. He glanced around the room nervously searching for them, and walked quickly towards them without stopping to say goodbye to anyone else. “Come on; we’re going to miss our flight!” Clint said in a hushed tone to his daughter. “It’s a private charter Daddy, they can’t leave without us.” Lori frowned.

“You’re right; I guess I’m just excited.” Clint flushed. He turned to Ben and shook his hand with a hearty and friendly farewell. Then he embraced Gemma like a daughter and said “Tell your father I said goodbye. It’s been a pleasure working with him all these years.” “Tell him yourself; I know he’d want to get to see you before you go.” Gemma said. She waved her hand and called over to her parents, who were still sitting with Brooke and Walter Liamworth. “Daddy! Look who’s here!” All eyes turned at the sound of her calling voice and Brooke Liamworth stood up from the table looking as white as paste. Clint Carpenter locked eyes with her and they stood frozen in time, staring at each other like they’d each seen a ghost. “What’s he doing here?” Brooke gasped.

Harry whispered into her ear that Clint was his former partner and she went white as a sheet. Clint closed the distance between them and said gently “Brooke, I tried to avoid this. I don’t want to hurt you again. I’m leaving town with my wife and daughter.” Just then Lori’s mother came through the entrance, wondering what had been taking Clint so long to fetch their daughter. She caught her husband with Brooke and gasped. “Clint, I thought you said things were over with her seventeen years ago!” “They were; they are. There is nothing between us. The time we spent in Mexico was the biggest mistake of my life.” Brooke seethed at him with ice in her voice “No, this is the biggest mistake of your life. You thought you could hide from me by giving me your

partner’s name and I admit, I’ve been searching for the wrong man all these years; but I found you none the less.” A hushed silence went through the crowd as everyone took notice of the scene. Brooke spoke directly to Clint, but her voice resonated loud and clear so that all could hear, “I now own this pitiful little company that you and your partner worked to build for your entire life. Now I’m going to ruin it just like you ruined things between us by choosing a mediocre life with your boring wife over me. I’m going to sell it off piece by piece until there is nothing left. It’s too bad you already sold your investment in it, but I know you put your heart and soul into creating it and trying to make it something great; so I know how much it will hurt you to see it obliterated.”

“Brooke, you can’t do this!” Clint Carpenter cried out, but he knew he was powerless to stop her. For seventeen years he had managed to hide from her scorn, but when he discovered Ben was her son he had done his best to sell his shares and run away before she found out he was the one who had created the company. He had told himself that if he no longer had a financial investment in the company it would be safe from her wrath, but obviously he was wrong. She still knew him well enough to know that he would always have an emotionally investment in his creation and that would hurt even worse than any financial ruin she caused him. Brooke smiled victoriously and held out her hand to her son, inviting him to join her side. For seventeen years she had manipulated and brain

washed Ben into being her unwitting accomplice and now vengeance was hers. They had done what she had always set out to do. Only there was one thing she hadn’t planned on. Ben approached her and said “No, Mother. You don’t own a controlling share in Adams Corporation stock; I do. Check the paperwork and you’ll see only the name Ben Liamworth appears there. I have no intention of doing anything to harm this company. In fact, I’m quitting Liamworth International and I’m going to work with Harry to make Adams Corporation the greatest company in the country.” “You’re speaking with your dick and not your brain.” Brooke reached out and slapped Ben brutally across the face. As his cheek turned red, she said quietly “How dare you defy me; I am your mother and you’ll do exactly as I’ve instructed or

I’ll cut you off financially.” “No, I’m speaking with my heart. I always thought we were a loving family and so I vowed to protect it by getting revenge on the man who had nearly torn us apart; but I was living a lie. Meeting Gemma, I learned the true meaning of love, selflessness, kindness, and family. Cut me off financially; I don’t want or need your money. I have everything I need right here.” “You are dead to me; I have no son anymore.” Brooke grabbed her husband by the hand and stormed from the room, with a look of pure hatred gleaming in her eyes. A slow murmur spread across the room as everyone tried to process the shocking scene. “Are you all right?” Gemma asked Ben, soothing his abused cheek with her delicate hand.

“I’m terrific.” Ben said, and indeed a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “There’s only one thing that could make this incredible night even better.” To Gemma’s amazement, Ben reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the small velvet box. He opened it and Gemma gasped at the huge glittering diamond that sparkled like a thousand stars. She had hoped it was for her, but now that she was actually being presented with it, she felt overwhelmed. In front of all the guests at the party, including her parents, Ben got down on one knee, took her hand and said softly “Gemma Adams, will you marry me?” Gemma knew that Ben hadn’t always been honest with her and that he had made a lot

mistakes; but she also knew he had just given up everything for her; including his wealth, his home, and his family. She couldn’t imagine anyone sacrificing so much and knew without a doubt that she would never find a man who would be as loyal or love as much as he did. With tears of love and joy running down her cheeks, Gemma cried out “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you Ben Liamworth.” The crowd applauded and Ben slipped the huge diamond onto her trembling hand. It fit her finger perfectly and he pulled her into his arms and they kissed with all the love they felt for each other in their hearts.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Ben went home with Gemma to her apartment that night, with nothing but the tuxedo on his back. He knew his mother would have already changed the locks on the mansion and instructed security to keep him out. All his clothes and possessions had already been thrown out by the maids or possibly even burned. The Ferrari was in his name, but he’d have to file for a lost title at the DMV, since the paperwork for the vehicle had been kept in his office in the mansion. He had a small trust fund given to him by his grandmother that his mother couldn’t touch, his stock shares in the Adams Corporation, a checking account with a shocking small balance, and that was all. “How do you live like this?” Ben asked

Gemma with partial teasing and partial sincerity as they sat paying utility bills together a few weeks later. “Living on a budget isn’t so bad once you get used to it. A man with your Ivy League education should be able to figure it out.” Gemma teased and bopped him on the tip of his nose with her pencil. Ben ended up selling his Ferrari a month later and buying a more sensible car and Gemma taught him how to pump his own gas, buy groceries at the super market, and purchase clothes off the rack instead of getting them tailored. Once a week they went out on a date, but not to the kind of fancy restaurants Ben was used to. “And another thing; regular people don’t leave a hundred dollar tip for a twenty dollar

meal.” Gemma said with a grin, handing Ben back his cash and setting down the appropriate amount of money in its place. “Just when I thought I was getting the hang of things.” Ben smiled with chagrin. “Don’t worry, you‘re getting the hang of things just fine. Daddy says the company has never done better and it’s all thanks to you. He wouldn’t want to hurt Clint Carpenter’s feelings, but he says you’re a much better business partner than he ever was.” “I was worried no one would want to work with me because of my mother’s bad reputation, but it turns out the opposite happened.” Ben said with obvious relief. “It seems a lot of people respected me for going against her and want to work with the Adams Corporation as a result.”

“That’s great, but I think a lot of your success has to do with your great business ideas. You’re brilliant and nobody can take credit for that but you.” Gemma beamed and Ben took a long swig from his drink to hide his embarrassment. Gemma stole a fry from his plate and said “I told Lori all about how great you’re doing during our last call. She wasn’t the least bit surprised.” “When is she coming back? Hasn’t it been six months?”
 “She and her parents come home on Friday. She’s been working on plans for our wedding this entire time and when she gets here she has a million things she wants to go over with me, including the flowers, the cake, and the venue.” Ben picked up on the wistful tone of her voice and held her hand across the table. “What’s

wrong? Did you change your mind about wanting Lori to be our wedding planner?” “No, it’s not that. It’s just that none her suggestions for the venue seem right. I know it’s silly and impossible, but when you first asked me to marry you, I pictured us having the ceremony at the mansion. It’s so classically beautiful and elegant. I know your grandparents lived there and it has a real sense of history and old fashioned Americana. I don’t know; nothing else seems to live up to that dream. But, I know we can’t have it there so I’m just being a bit of a bridezilla. I’ll shut up now before I drive you away with my brattiness.” “You could never drive me away.” Ben lunged at her playfully from across the restaurant table, kissing her passionately.

“I thought you were going to say I wasn’t being a bridezilla.” Gemma laughed, kissing him back. “Oh, no; you’re definitely a bridezilla. I just hope Lori is prepared for it when she comes home.” Friday afternoon, Gemma and Ben stood at the airport gate holding a bouquet of balloons and a welcome back sign. The minutes dragged into hours and Gemma became worried and got on the phone. “They were detained at the airport in Europe and taken into custody.” Gemma told Ben with worried eyes, when she finally hung up the phone. “They’ve been accused of crimes against one of the diplomat’s there, but the whole thing doesn’t make any sense. They’ve never even heard

of Hans Rats…..Razzmut….Ratsmutton.” Gemma struggled to pronounce the name, but Ben already knew just who she was talking about. “You mean Hans Rasmussen?” “Yes! That’s it! How did you know?” “He’s friends with my mother. I should have known that just because I failed at ruining his life for her that she hadn’t given up on it. When she’s done with Clint, there’s no doubt she’ll move on to attacking me, you, and your entire family. None of us will be safe until I find a way to stop her.” “She’s your mother; surely she still loves you and wouldn’t want to hurt you.” “I’ve come to discover that the only person she really loves is herself. I just wish I hadn’t wasted over half my life following her sick plans before I figured that out.”

“Well, at least you’re free to be who you really are now. Your poor father is still trapped in her clutches, and all our friends at the mansion who have to work for her, like Stephan and Jennifer, must all be miserable. If only we could get something on your mother to use as leverage against her to force her to leave us all in peace.” “Oh, there’s plenty of that!” Ben laughed without humor. “Despite her glamorous image, Brooke Liamworth has plenty of skeletons in her closet; or more accurately in her portrait.” “What do you mean?” “That giant portrait of hers that hangs in the grand stairway covers a hidden safe where she keeps all dirty secrets. I used to hide behind the vase at the bottom of the stairs and watch her put things in there that even my father doesn’t know

about. I even memorized the combination once, but I never had the guts to open it.” “Are you kidding me? Why didn’t you tell me about this before?” “She’s my mother. It never occurred to me to break her trust. As much evil as she’s done, I still love her.” “I understand.” Gemma said quietly, wishing she could convince Ben to hate her, but knowing that was wrong. Of course he loved his mother and didn’t want to betray her. Gemma said “Why don’t you try and talk to her, get her see reason. If she won’t, then we can consider getting into the safe and taking something, just as a precaution to get her to set the Carpenter’s free and leave us alone.” Ben looked more nervous than Gemma had ever seen him as they drove up the long winding

road to the Liamworth Mansion. It was even more beautiful than either of them remembered, and Gemma was surprised to feel a catch in her throat at the sight of her former home. “I didn’t realize how much I missed this place until now.” Gemma said and she saw from the emotion in Ben’s gray eyes that the feeling was a thousand times worse for him. “Stay in the car. I don’t know how my mother will react if she sees you” Ben said. Gemma wanted to be by his side to offer him her support, but she knew that would add to his strain and so she acquiesced. Her heart was pounding as she watched him knock on the front door and enter the house, but in less than ten minutes he was back outside, striding angrily towards the car. “She’s completely unreasonable! She’s

become obsessed, not just with hurting Clint, but everyone he’s ever known, including your family.” “So what can we do?” “So, tonight we break into the house, get inside that painting, and stop her for good.” Ben said resolutely.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT “I don’t think I can do this!” Gemma felt like she was going to be sick. “You look perfect. No one will suspect a thing.” Ben assured her. Gemma’s long chestnut hair was hidden beneath a black wig and her ample figure was masked by the wide shape of a chef’s coat. Thick rimmed glasses hid her face and Ben was convinced that his narcissistic mother wouldn’t pay enough attention to the catering staff to notice her in the disguise. “I know this was my idea; but I seriously don’t think I can do this.” Gemma insisted. “I’ve never committed a crime like this. Breaking and entering, stealing, it all sounds so overwhelming all of a sudden.”

Ben took her trembling body into his strong arms and held her close. “The Gemma Adams I know can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. I remember the day I met you in that café and you were so petite, I mistakenly thought you would be weak. You sure as hell proved me wrong. You saved your family’s company, you turned my life around, and now you’re going to do what needs to be done to save the Carpenter’s and your family from my mother. I can’t go in there; she’d spot me at once. If this is going to happen; it has to be you. You’re the only one that knows the interior of the house well enough, but if you’re not comfortable with this, that’s okay. We’ll just have to think of something else.” “No, you’re right. I nearly chickened out of going into that mansion the first time you invited

me there, and look at all I was able to do. I can do this now; for Lori, for my family, and for us.” Ben beamed with pride and gave her final kiss for luck. She left the catering truck they were hiding in and walked casually to the kitchen door of the mansion, where Stephan let her in. The chef hugged her tightly and said “Mrs. Liamworth is entertaining guests in the sitting room. Carry this tray of hors-d'oeuvres with you and you’ll have free reign of the house. If anyone sees you, just say you are new and lost your way to the kitchen.” Gemma had to pass by the sitting room to get to the grand staircase in the front hall of the mansion. Brooke saw her and waved her into the room. Gemma was terrified everyone could hear the pounding of her heart as she circulated the

room with the tray full of crab puffs, but no one even gave her a second glance. When the tray was empty, she slipped quietly from the room and turned towards the hall instead of the kitchen seemingly by mistake. Gemma’s knees felt weak as she approached the giant portrait hanging by the staircase. Brooke Liamworth seemed to be staring down at her in the painting but she forced herself to focus on the task. Just as Ben had told her, the painting pulled open like a door and a large safe was hidden behind it. She only hoped the combination he’d memorized as a child hadn’t been changed over the years. Gemma held her breath and turned the dials; right 45, left 26, right 16. Then she said a prayer up to Heaven and pulled on the heavy handle. Miraculously, the safe door swung open.

Gemma rifled through the stacks of boxes, piles of envelopes, and bundles of papers looking for just the right secret that would guarantee Brook’s cooperation for a lifetime. Suddenly, her eyes fell upon it and her heart nearly stopped! She picked it up with trembling fingers and thought silently, Could this really be what I think it is?; but it was. She slipped it into her pocket and pushed the door firmly shut. It clanged loudly and she cringed as the sound echoed through the hall. “What’s going on out here?” Brooke Liamworth called out as she strode from the sitting room towards Gemma with purposeful strides. “Sorry, ma’am. I lost my way to the kitchen, got flustered, and dropped my tray.” “Why is it so hard to find competent help?

The kitchen is that way. Get your things and get out! You’re fired!” Gemma hid her smile as she strode from the kitchen, trying to maintain the downcast posture of fired employee. It wasn’t until she had completely left the mansion grounds and found Ben hidden with his car around the corner that she let excitement show. “I got it!” Gemma cried out to Ben and handed him the contents of her pocket. Ben let out a low whistle as he admired it. He’d had no idea his mother was involved in anything so horrible, but he was sad to say that he wasn’t surprised by it. The next day he met with her for a second time, showing her a photograph of the plaque with her named engraved on it and a large swastika emblazoned in the center. It was a gift of thanks to

her from the New Nazi Order for World Protection and listed her contributions to the despicable organization. All the color instantly drained from Brooke’s face when she saw the picture of it and Ben knew that he had her right where he wanted her. “I suppose you want me to make a call to Hans Rasmussen, allowing the Carpenter’s to come back into the country.” She said through pursed lips. “Yes, but that’s just the beginning.” Ben said with a smug grin. “Promise me that you will not interfere with the dealings of the Adams Corporation or any of its employees.” Brooke nodded her consent. After all, what other choice did she have? Her secret ties to the New Nazi Order would ruin her reputation forever.

She just had to bide her time until she could get the evidence back from her betraying son and his slutty fiancé’. Then they would all pay; the Carpenter’s and the Adamss, and now her own son too. “Is there anything else?” Brooke asked with a pleasant air that was far more terrifying than her furious temper or icy glare. “Just one more thing.” Ben said and told his mother about Gemma’s desire to have their wedding at Liamworth Mansion.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE It was a spectacular event, unparalleled by anything Gemma had seen before. Lori had planned the entire thing, from the thousands of pink roses, to the silk wedding gown exclusively designed by Vera Wang, to the gourmet, to the orchestra band. “I, Gemma Adams, take thee, Ben Liamworth to be my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for rich or for poor, for as long as we both shall live.” She blinked back her tears of joy to see her parents sitting in the front row of chairs in the midst of the mansions vast and beautiful garden. By their side sat Lori and her family and on the other side of the aisle sat Brooke and Walter Liamworth, looking breathtakingly beautiful and deceptively happy. No one would

ever know the secrets they kept. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The officiate said and Ben pulled Gemma into his arms and kissed her with such passion and love, it took her breath away. “Congratulations, Mrs. Liamworth.” Ben grinned at her that night as he carried her over the threshold of their new home. It was a small property tucked away in the far west corner of the Mansion’s ground. Well, small my billionaire standards but huge compared to the cramped apartment they’d been living in before Ben’s mother accepted him back into the family. “You know, I’ve never made love to a married woman before.” Ben said with a mischievous smile as he set Gemma gently on their brand new bed.

“And I’ve never made love to a married man.” Gemma wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into the bed with her. She kissed him long and slow and deep, while their tongues collided. When they paused for air, Ben carefully removed the pins from her elaborate hairdo, allowing her thick hair to cascade loose into long waves. Then he began to unfasten the complicated series of buttons and hooks that kept her bound into the exclusively designed wedding gown. Slowly, he peeled away layer upon layer of satin, organza, tulle, and silk. It was like unwrapping a delicious gift that one had been desperately craving and the anticipation began to build, driving them both wild with desire. When at last he had removed the gown, he put his lips to her flesh, devouring her like a starving man. Gemma

moaned and cried out with pleasure as he suckled her nipples and fingered her pussy. “You’re already so wet.” Ben said with a grin. “That’s because I’ve been thinking about your cock.” Gemma said playfully and reached for him. It was her turn to strip away all the layers of his tuxedo until he was just as naked as she was. Hungrily, she took his dick into her eager mouth and sucked him long and hard and deep, cradling his balls as she did so. “Wait, I have a wedding gift for you.” Ben said, suddenly remembering. He found his tuxedo jacket on the floor, reached into the interior pocket and pulled out three little clips. “What’s that?” Gemma was curious. “I got them at a specialty store. They

vibrate.” Ben said. He carefully attached one of the clips to the nipple of Gemma’s left breast. It pinched and she winced. Ben looked concerned and said “Does it hurt too much? I’ll take it off!” “No, it just takes a minute to get used to; that’s all. Leave it on, I like it.” Gemma assured him. The slight pain of the pinching was strangely erotic and sent thrills of arousal rushing through her. When Ben carefully placed the second clip on her right nipple she was more prepared for the sensation and actually sighed with pleasure at the feel of it enclosing on her sensitive and tender nipple. When it came to the third clip, Gemma wondered where Ben would place it until he told her to spread her thighs. Very carefully he secured it to her clitoris, adjusting it so the clip wasn’t

hurting her but was still snuggly in place. “What happens now?” Gemma asked, feeling deliciously naughty. She didn’t have a lot of experience playing with sex toys, but she couldn’t wait to try them with Ben. “Now, I turn on the power.” Ben smiled. He clicked a remote control he held in his hands and the tiny vibrators buzzed to life, stimulating her nipples and clit. It was the most incredible feeling Gemma had ever had and she gasped and moaned with pleasure. Lying on the bed, she writhed atop the sheets, panting as she neared orgasm. Then, abruptly, Ben turned them off, allowing her to catch her breath. Gemma was so turned on, she pushed Ben onto his back in the middle of the bed and mounted him at the waist. His cock sunk deeply into her

dripping wet cunt easily and she began to thrust on top of him, desperate for the satisfaction of an orgasm and deliriously horny for him. Suddenly, Ben turned the vibrators on and once again her nipples and clit were stimulated. Gemma lost control, crying out with ecstasy as she orgasmed powerfully atop of him. Ben had never been fucked so hard in his life and climaxed with her, exploding deep inside her quivering cunt while she comed over and over again. Long after Ben had turned the vibrators off and removed them from her body, Gemma was still feeling the sensational thrills of her incredible orgasm. After Ben had taken a few minutes to rest and ready to go again, she held one of the vibrators in her hand, turned it on, and began to rub it against his cock, stimulating him into full hardness.

“We’re married now. What’s mine is yours.” Gemma smiled as Ben closed his eyes and groaned with pleasure at the feel of the tiny toy vibrating against him. They made love for hours into the night, slept until noon, and then made love for hours again the next day. “I could stay in bed with you forever.” Gemma kissed Ben lovingly. She didn’t know it was possible to be so deliriously happy.” “Me too.” Ben grinned and kissed her naked belly, making her giggle. Neither of them realized that at that moment, Brooke was plotting to make sure they would never leave the mansion grounds again.

THE END ***

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The Chase Volume One

PROLOGUE There was one feeling that I loved the most in life. Sex. God’s gift to man. I knew exactly how to get it. I knew what came with it. And I knew how damn good it made me feel. Every. Single. Time. And the best fucking part of it was, it was free! But not just any kind of sex. Fuck no. Only the purely physical, no-strings-attached, emotionless kind of sex—the only kind my insatiable cock could get behind, the only kind I needed—or wanted. So here I was, like countless times before,

sprawled out next to some naked woman in her bed, basking in the afterglow of another earthshattering fuck session. “That was incredible,” she purred, interrupting my peaceful bliss. “I never came multiple times like that before in just in a couple of hours.” I could hear her still panting as she recovered from her orgasms. I grunted an incoherent response, hoping that’d be enough to keep her at bay. After my cock had gotten its fill from a woman, it was done. So I was done, and I didn’t see the point of making small talk after that point. “No, I’m serious. That was probably the best sex of my life.” “You’re welcome.” She giggled. “Wow, you’re so full of

yourself.” The post-fuck bliss was evaporating as annoyance crept in. “You just said I was the best fuck of your life. If that’s not a ‘thank you’, I don’t know what is.” I got up from the bed and started to put my clothes back on. “Anyway, I gotta get going. I still have some work to do tonight.” “Wait, just one thing before you leave.” She walked over and grabbed one of my hands. Before I could register what she was doing, she began writing something on my palm with a pen. “What the hell are you doing?” I yanked my arm away and stared at my palm. Shit. Her number. She looked up at me with a come-hither expression as she purposefully bit her lips. “I’d

love to see you again sometime.” Oh God, here we go again. She’s one of those girls. I cleared my throat and turned to her, trying to keep my tone light and free from the irritation that was building up inside. I need to nip this shit in the bud. “Look—” “No, don’t misunderstand me,” she interrupted, “I know you’re not looking for a relationship. I’m not either!” Her words came out quick and urgent. Bullshit, I thought as I started to button up my dress shirt. I knew she was either lying to me, or worse, lying to herself. “I just thought that since we had so much fun tonight, we can keep in touch…you know, stay friends or something, and do this again sometime.”

She gave me what she thought was her most seductive smile as she moved closer toward me and ran her fingers down the ridges of my eightpack abs. Before they moved any lower, I grabbed her hand to stop her wasted efforts. “Look,” I said coldly, “a one-night stand is just that. One night. I didn’t ask you if you wanted a two-night stand.” For a second, the blonde stared at me with a stunned expression. But as soon as she recovered, she yanked her hand from my grasp and backed away. “Who the fuck do you think you are, asshole?” “The asshole you agreed to have a one-night stand with.” “Ugh! Get the fuck out of my house!” “That’s what I’ve been trying to do since I

got out of your bed, sweetie.” I grabbed my jeans and casually pulled them on. “The fun’s gotta end sometime.” I saw the indignation on her face, like she had just been lied to or something. In my defense, I’d been more than clear about what I wanted out of her tonight, and she had wholeheartedly agreed. It wasn’t my fault that she now wanted more after she’d gotten a taste of me. When I got to her front door, I turned back to her. “If it’s any consolation, that was a great fucking one-night stand.” “Fuck you, asshole!” she screamed as she grabbed an empty vase from the dining table and aimed it at me. “You already did!” I called out as I closed the door in time to hear the vase shatter against the other end of the door.

734. That was the newest notch on my proverbial belt of women I’d fucked, and that notch was claimed by this crazy blonde. My name is Ben Chase. I was a rich, powerful attorney at the most prestigious international law firm in the world. I had recently been selected as one of San Francisco’s “30 Most Eligible Bachelors Under 30” by Forbes Magazine. So naturally, I got a lot of ass. And I welcomed it with open arms and a rock-hard dick. Things were very simple for me. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I wasn’t looking for emotions. I wasn’t looking for someone to stick around for any longer than a good orgasm. I was only looking for a good chase. When it came to the chase, my cock was always in the driver’s seat. I came, I saw, I

conquered. And then I moved on to the next target. That was how I operated. That was what I was happy with. But that was until I met her. The minute I saw Blair, I knew she was different. She was the wicked curve ball that threw me for a loop. She was the one I wanted but couldn’t have. That made her my ultimate chase, and there was a notch on my belt that had her name written all over it.

CHAPTER ONE “Hey, bro.” Josh’s head popped through the opening of my office door. “Yo.” I looked up from the draft contract I’d been working on all day for the new case. “Are you planning on heading out soon? Wanna grab a few drinks?” I look over at my computer to check the time. 8:12 p.m. “Fuck, what a week.” I yawned and rubbed my temples. I’d been working on the Parker, Inc. case since I’d gotten into the office this morning at 7:00 a.m. So even though it was only Tuesday, it felt a hell of a lot like a Friday. “Tell me about it. Ever since we landed this new case last Friday, the partners have been

working our department to the bone. All the associates on this case seem to be working twelve or more hours a day.” “Yeah, but you know what they say: no pain, no gain.” I collected the documents I needed to review later that night into my briefcase and thought about the fat bonus I’d probably get at the end of the year. “So you wanna grab a drink, then?” he asked again as he watched me close down my computer. “Don’t you usually try to get home to see your wife?” I laughed at the self-imposed commitment-jail this sucker had put himself in. “My girlfriend,” he corrected, “has a girls’ night dinner at the house, so I can’t go home until 9:00 p.m.” I shook my head, my face twisting with

disgust and pity. “You’re fucking whipped, man!” “It’s called love and commitment. You should try it sometime.” He laughed immediately after he finished his words, knowing how stupid they must have sounded out of his mouth, especially when those words were said to someone like me. “No, thank you. In fact, you’re like a constant reminder of exactly why I don’t do love or commitment.” “Touché. To each their own. But seriously, man, as much as I sometimes complain about Kim, she’s probably the most important person in my life. Plus, she’s always there for me and does nice things for me that are great. And, of course, guaranteed consistent sex ain’t bad either.” Josh shot me a smug smile.

I threw my head back in laughter. “News flash, man: you don’t need to be tied down to have guaranteed consistent sex. Shit, I have sex with two to three different girls a week, and sometimes two to three different girls at the same time.” Josh chuckled. “You got me there, man. But then again, not everyone can be Ben Chase,” his voice sarcastically emphasizing my full name. “You got that fucking right!” I laughed and then shrugged. “What can I say, women can’t seem to resist my natural charm.” “Ha! As long as you stay away from my girlfriend, we’re cool!” “Hey, you know I’d never do that kind of shit. I may love having casual sex with women— and I’m damn fucking good at it—but sleeping with another dude’s girl, that’s where I draw my hard

line.” “I know, man. I was just kidding with you there. You hide it well, but you’re a pretty good guy, even if you act like an asshole most of the time.” “I’ll take that as a compliment.” I laughed as I grabbed my jacket from behind my office door. “Besides,” he continued, “I may be in a committed relationship, but I’m still a dude. And as much as I love Kim, I still enjoy fantasizing about hot women. So with you around, at least I can live vicariously through your wild escapades.” I snickered as I reached for my briefcase. “And because you look so pitiful in that commitment-jail of yours, I’m more than happy to share those escapades with you. Now let’s go grab those drinks.”

Thirty minutes later, we were on our second round of drinks at the speakeasy bar a block down from our office. “So what do you know about this new case?” I asked Josh as I took a sip from the Old Fashioned the bartender had just placed in front of me. Josh shook his head. “Not much more than you do, but I did hear the partners saying that if our firm nails down this international acquisition for Parker, Inc., they’ll probably make us their primary outside counsel for all their legal needs. So if this deal goes through and we’re the associates who worked on it, this case could be what makes us partners when we’re up for review.” “Well, I’m prepared to work my ass off to make partner. Can you imagine how much pussy

you can get at the top when you’re making millions a year?” My dick was hard just thinking of all the hot pieces of ass it’d get to play with once I was partner at the firm. Josh snorted and looked at me in amazement. “That’s seriously all you think about, huh? Women?” “Correction, not women. Pussy. And yes, I do think about pussy a lot. It’s my hobby, and I’m motherfucking passionate about my hobbies.” I snickered. “So speaking of which, what’s on tonight’s menu, Chase?” I laughed, knowing exactly what he wanted to know. “A firecracker with a set of apple bottoms.” Josh’s eyes lit up and shook his head, in a

mixture of jealousy and awe. “Man, I’ve never had a redhead before. I heard they’re wild.” He held his breath as he waited for me to tell him more. “Never? Shit, man. You’re seriously depriving yourself. They aren’t called firecrackers for nothing. You should give them a whirl.” I chuckled. “Pun intended.” He frowned. “I can’t. I have a—” “—a wife,” I cut him off. “I believe we’ve established that already. You seriously are my relationship condom.” We laughed as I gestured to the bartender for another round of drinks. “So they’re wild?” It was clear Josh wanted to know as much as I was willing to share. “They are.” I raised my eyebrows meaningfully. “And this one I’m meeting up with

tonight has some serious junk in the trunk, if you catch my drift. She gives Kim Kardashian a run for her money.” “Shiiit.” His eyes were wide and salivating for more details of this redhead. “Plus, she told me she’s always DTF.” Josh stared blankly at me. “DTF?” I looked at him in shock. “Dude, what fucking hole have you been living in?” “I—” “—right,” interrupting him, “that endless black pit called a relationship.” Josh laughed. I looked at him and shook my head in pity. That isn’t supposed to be a joke. Is this what a relationship does to a guy? “So what’s a ‘DTF’?”

I sighed. “It means ‘Down To Fuck’.” “Oh,” he laughed. “Ha! You really do learn something new every day.” “Riiight. Well, anyway, she said she’s always DTF. So I can’t say no to that. I may even keep her in my arsenal of regular fuck buddies.” “Have you banged her before?” “We had a quickie against her car a few weeks ago outside of the bar Novela. She texted me last night to see if I wanted to come over, but I was busy fucking a crazy blonde. So I suggested tonight.” “Damn, I gotta hand it to you. Women seem to really do whatever you tell them to.” “You’d get that too if you didn’t let yourself get tied down.” “I’m not sure about that.” He shrugged and

took a sip of his Manhattan. “So, tell me something. Have you ever fucked any of the other attorneys or secretaries at the firm?” He eyed me hopefully. “Nope.” “Bullshit! Come on, you can tell me. Have you banged Cindy Kim, that first-year associate down in the litigation department? She’s hot! Or what about Sophia Morgan, the bankruptcy paralegal? Oh, or MacIntire’s new secretary, whatever her name is—with the double-D breasts —” “Tess O’Brien,” I answered. “Yes, Tess. That’s her name. You fucked her, didn’t you?” His words came rushing out in excitement. “Nope, none of them.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He looked annoyed—almost pissed, like somehow I just ruined his night. “Come on, man. You don’t shit where you eat. Everyone knows that. I don’t want that woman drama where I work. After I’m done with a woman, I don’t want to fucking see her again. So coworkers are off-limits.” “Oh.” Understanding relaxed his expression as he nodded in agreement. “That’s probably a good idea.” “Plus, there’s no shortage of women to fuck, so I have no problem staying away from the women I work with—no matter how fuckable they are.” “What about clients?” “Dude, same shit but probably even worse.

That’s a violation of professional conduct for lawyers, and you can get disbarred for it. As much as I love pussy, I’m not about to jeopardize my career for one fucking piece of ass. Like I said, no shortage out there.” Josh nodded in agreement but his attention was distracted by something across the bar. “What’s wrong?” “I think that girl’s looking at you.” I followed his gaze and a devious smile spread on my face when I saw a gorgeous blonde watching me from against the back wall of the bar. “She’s fuckable.” I winked at her, causing her to smile back. “What are you going to do?” “She seems like a sweet-ass lollipop begging for me to lick and take a bite out of her.”

My eyes traced the blonde’s form-fitting mini-skirt and I knew this was going to be too easy. “What do you think I’m going to do?” “Don’t you have a date tonight, though?” “I have a fuck session tonight. I’ll just have this blonde as my amuse-bouche.” I grinned and licked my lips as my eyes landed on her breasts. “Your what?” “Amuse-bouche. That’s French and means ‘mouth amuser’, kind of like an appetizer.” He threw his head back and laughed. “You’re ridiculous, man.” “Ridiculously horny,” I shot back with a laugh. “Anyway, I’ll catch you later.” I walked over to the blonde, who was standing by herself and watching me approach her. “Hi, beautiful. I’m Ben. I saw you standing

over here and I told my buddy that I’d be a fucking idiot if I didn’t come over here and tell you how sexy you looked tonight.” The blonde ate up the compliment and beamed up at me. “Hi, I’m Veronica.” “That’s a sexy name, Veronica.” I placed my hand against the wall and leaned in toward her. I ran my other hand down the side of her arm and heard her inhale sharply as she arched her body toward me. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever fucked a blonde named Veronica.” My eyes never left hers as I spoke. I wanted her to know exactly how serious I was with those words. “You’re not sure? How could you forget?” “Well, sometimes I forget. But I think I’d remember if I’d fucked you.” “Do you want to get out of here?” she

purred, accepting my indirect invitation. I didn’t respond. Instead, I moved my hand up her mini-skirt and between her legs. I felt her body tense as she shifted slightly to allow my hand to reach her more easily. No panties. She’s here just begging to be fucked. “Who said anything about going anywhere?” I flashed her a dangerous smile as I slid a finger across her opening. She was dripping wet and ready. I watched in satisfaction as her eyes fluttered uncontrollably as I circled her clit with my thumb. The second my two fingers entered her, she let out a gasp and grabbed my arms with both of her hands for support. “So I’m looking for some fun…” I began as I moved in and out of her, allowing her wetness to

cover the entire length of my fingers, “…and I heard blondes have more fun.” I licked my lips, knowing exactly where my mouth would be in due time. “We do,” she whimpered as she began to squirm under my hand. She ran her nails across my back as she urged me to go deeper inside her. Instead of giving her what I knew she desperately wanted, I pulled my hand from under her miniskirt. “That’s what I like to hear, baby.” I moved my glistening fingers to her parted lips. “Now, I can’t stay because I have a meeting in fifteen minutes, but why don’t you give me a preview of how those juicy lips of yours move.” Without any further encouragement, she began to seductively lick and suck her juices off

my fingers as she held my gaze. “You’re pretty fucking good at this, aren’t you?” I groaned and my dick hardened as her wet, silky lips moved up and down my fingers. “Mmm,” she moaned in response. “Baby, as much as I’d like to stay, I do really have a prior engagement that I need to get to.” I pulled my fingers from her lips and saw the instant disappointment wash over her face. “But why don’t you give me your number, and I’ll call you sometime and you can show me how those lips feel on my cock.” A minute later, I was heading out of the bar with a new potential notch for my belt. I whipped out my phone to call a cab as I walked through the front door of the bar. At that same moment, a female figure came through the door from the other

side and walked past me. I hadn’t seen her face, but I caught a glimpse of her long chestnut curls and smelled the intoxicating scent of her light floral perfume as she walked past. I wasn’t sure why, but I turned around to take a closer look at her. She was walking away from me and the only thing I could see was an infinity symbol tattoo along the inside of her wrist. Something about the way her hips swayed confidently back and forth as she walked mesmerized me and I stood there staring after her, overwhelmed by a feeling I’d never felt before. “Ben?” A voice broke through my trance. “Ben!” I looked up to see Josh standing against the outside of the bar entrance smoking a cigarette. There was a confused expression on his face as he

frowned at me. “What?” “Dude, I called your name like four times. You were just standing there in the middle of the doorway looking back in. Did you see something?” “No. It was nothing.” I shook my head and tried to clear my thoughts. “Shit. What the fuck was in those Old Fashioneds?” “What? Are you okay?” “Yeah. Probably just a little hammered. Heading home?” “Yup, after this cigarette. You? You’re not staying with that blonde?” Blonde? It took me a minute to register who he was talking about. “Oh, no. Fuck no! Like I said, she was just the appetizer. I have the main course waiting for

me.” I looked at my watch. 9:45 p.m. “And I’m already fifteen minutes late.” “The redhead with the Kim Kardashian ass?” His eyes lit up in envy. “Bingo. And let me tell you, I’m ravenous after that blonde appetizer and am ready for one fucking juicy meal.” Just then, the cab pulled up in front of the bar. “I want every single filthy detail tomorrow morning!” Josh yelled after me as I got into the cab. “You can count on it!” I laughed. But as I sat inside the cab as it took me to the Mission District, my thoughts were elsewhere. I wasn’t sure why, but all I could think about was that mystery woman with the infinity tattoo I had

just seen.

CHAPTER TWO “So tell me everything!” I looked up to see Josh standing at the doorway of my office with a coffee mug in hand. I glanced at my watch. 8:05 a.m. “Aren’t we a fucking eager beaver this morning. I’ve been in the office for less than fifteen minutes, and you’re at my door. My computer hasn’t even booted up completely.” Josh laughed sheepishly. “Actually, I stopped by earlier and you weren’t in yet. Your secretary said she’d call me the minute you were in.” I shook my head in disbelief. “She probably thought you stopped by for a case.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled as he shuffled his feet. “She thought I needed to see you about the Parker case, and, well…I made no effort to correct her.” I snickered. “Fucking lawyers.” “So how did last night go?” He eagerly waited for me to answer. “Dude, you seriously need to get laid. You’re more eager than a thirty-year old virgin.” He laughed. “Enough about me. Tell me what happened, or I’ll be as miserable as a thirtyyear old virgin.” I smiled and leaned back against my chair. “Okay, what do you wanna know?” “Everything?” I laughed. “I have several documents to draft today for the Parker case, and I’ve already received a demanding email from Mr. Parker at six

o’clock this morning demanding to see a polished draft by noon. So, sorry to burst your thirty-yearold virgin bubble, but I don’t have time to give you a play by play. You have ten minutes. Ask me three questions and I’ll answer them. Then get the fuck out of my office so I can get to work.” Josh chuckled. “Fair enough. And this is why you’re going to make partner here. No other associate here at William & Sutter LLP is as bold and straightforward as you.” “Stop trying to kiss my ass, and ask your goddamn questions already. Your ten minutes started thirty seconds ago.” “Okay. Okay.” He paused and thought about it for a minute. “Question one: Was she as wild as you remembered?” Just then, a beep sounded from my computer.

I had just received a new email. Out of habit, I quickly pulled up my inbox to see who had emailed. It was Mr. Parker. Fuck. I’d only had a few email exchanges with him in the last few days, but I had a feeling he was going to be a handful to work with. I quickly skimmed his email to see if there were any fires I had to put out. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts Mr. Chase: One change to my email from this morning. Since Trent and I are scheduled to meet with your

firm at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, I want to see the draft contracts by 10:00 a.m. today instead of noon. I trust that this will not be a problem on your end. B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. “Jerkoff.” I glared at the computer screen. “What? Did you hear my first question?” For a second there, I had forgotten that Josh was in my office. What was it about this B. Parker that annoyed me so much? “Who fucking signs their name ‘B. Parker’? What a pretentious prick!” “Oh, our client? Yeah, that’s actually because—” “—whatever. I don’t fucking care. This

fucking client of ours has moved up the deadline for these draft contracts twice already in the last two hours, and now it’s due at 10:00 a.m. Who fucking does that?” “Um, not to sound like I don’t care, but is my ten minutes still running right now?” I couldn’t help but to laugh. “Yes, you fucker. Of course it’s running. And to answer your first question, no, she wasn’t as wild as I’d remembered. She was wilder.” “What’d she do?” “Is that your second question?” I joked. “Come on, man. Just answer the fucking question.” I laughed again. “Fine. I have a nickname for this firecracker. Red Delicious. Her apple-bottom ass is as sweet as a Red Delicious in the fall.

While I was banging her doggy style, I honestly couldn’t stop staring at how her ass cheeks bounced up and down against me. And she kept begging me to smack her.” “Did you?” “Fuck yeah! Of course! You don’t say no to that kind of shit.” “How did she react when you did?” His eyes were wide with interest. I had a feeling he was imagining himself fucking this redhead he’d never met before. “Red Delicious is a screamer. You’d think I was hurting her by the way she was crying out when I was fucking her brains out.” “Did you hurt her?” Josh’s question caught me by surprise. “Are you and your wife into that kind of

shit?” “I wish.” I saw the disappointment in his eyes, and at that moment, I felt sorry for this fool. Then another beep came from my inbox. It was another email from the client. Fuck, what now? To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts Mr. Chase: I have yet to receive a response to my last email. Please confirm that you will circulate the draft contracts by 10:00 a.m. today, so I can plan accordingly. B. Parker

Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. “Seriously! It’s been five minutes!” I screamed at my computer. “You self-important, entitled motherfucker!” “What now?” Josh asked tentatively. “Who do you think? Okay, dude. I really gotta get to work.” “Okay, just one more question!” “Make it quick.” “What was the craziest thing you guys did last night?” “She put on a ball gag around her mouth and commanded me to whip on her ass and pussy until she came.” “Holy fuck! That sounds intense!” Then Josh

looked at me with a confused expression. “Uh, what exactly is a ball gag?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Oh, dear God. You seriously need to get out of whatever fucking sad rock you’ve been hiding under. Go google it, man—and not here on the office computers. The firm tracks that shit. Now get the fuck out. I have less than two hours to do two day’s worth of work.” After Josh left my office, I immediately sent Mr. B. Parker a curt response. To: B. Parker From: Ben Chase Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts B. Parker:

In response to your emails from both eight minutes ago and three minutes ago, this is to confirm that I will make every effort to circulate the three draft contracts by 10:00 a.m. Apologies for not responding as quickly as you had hoped. I must have accidentally eaten a rotten egg in my omelet this morning because I was in the bathroom taking a shit. I can tell you place a great importance on timeliness and efficiency. I do as well. So going forward, I will make sure to bring my firm smartphone into the bathroom with me so that I may respond to you in a timely fashion. Thank you in advance for understanding. Regards, D. Chase, Esq. Associate William & Sutter LLP.

“That will shut you up, B. Fucking Parker.” I knew I probably had gone too far, especially with such a huge client for the firm. But from experience, sometimes you had to push back when dealing with unreasonable clients like these. Otherwise, they would continue to demand unreasonable expectations. To my surprise, less than a minute later, my computer beeped again. It was another email from B. Parker. Fuck, this guy just doesn’t want to quit, does he? To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts

Mr. Chase: Thank you for your effort to become more dedicated to the needs of your clients. While I do not condone the use of electronic devices while sitting over a public toilet “taking a shit”, as you have so nicely put it, I do appreciate receiving responses to my emails in a timely matter. As you are aware at this point, I thought that timeliness was somewhat lacking this morning. Also, I am torn between feeling sorry for you and your ill-fated illness and feeling sorry for the egg, which had rotted and wasted away before it could have been appreciated in some manner. I say that to say: I sympathize with both of your misfortunes equally. But hey, look on the bright side: at least you survived. I look forward to reviewing these contracts shortly.

B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. I stared at his email in shock. First, I hadn’t expected any sort of response. I thought with my email, I’d get the last word. Second, I hadn’t expected a response like this. “How do you even fucking respond to this condescending email?” I asked out loud. You don’t. I answered my own question. Instead of replying back, I spent the next two hours frantically putting together the contracts. I wasn’t sure how I had managed, but at exactly 10:03 a.m., they were sent off to B. Parker. I let out a sigh of relief and sat back against my chair as the weight of the stress from the last

two hours lifted from my shoulders. “Fuck, I seriously could use a double shot of whiskey and a blow job right about now.” Just as I was about to get up to get a cup of coffee from the break room, my computer beeped again. “You’ve got to be shitting me!” I didn’t have to look to read who the email was from. When I pulled up my inbox, I confirmed my suspicions. It was B. motherfucking Parker. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts Mr. Chase: I am in receipt of the draft contracts

you’ve just circulated. I will review these now in preparation for our meeting tomorrow morning. Also, it has not escaped my attention that the timeliness issue continues to be subpar. I hope you did not have another incident with the rotten egg. May he rest in peace. I look forward to meeting you at 9:00 a.m. Be careful with those eggs. B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. *** It wasn’t until half past eight that I left the office. I was still in a foul mood from the morning emails with the client. I decided to stop by the grocery store on my

way home to pick up some necessities: beer and my weekly supply of condoms—Trojan Magnums, to be specific. I thought about the long day I had, and how irritating this B. Parker was. As an associate, a.k.a. a work slave, at a major international law firm, I’d dealt with my fair share of difficult and unreasonable clients. At a billable rate of $400 an hour, I could understand why they’d be so demanding when just my one day’s work alone would cost them close to $5,000. A client should expect pure excellence if their case will cost them upwards of a million. But there was something different with Mr. Parker. He wasn’t just demanding the unreasonable and didn’t just expect pure excellence. Something about his responses really pissed me off, leaving

me off-kilter all day. “Who the fuck does this Parker guy think he is?” As I walked aimlessly down the grocery store, my mind still on the client, I found myself in the middle of the produce section. As I searched the stands for some limes, a figure caught my attention from the corner of my eyes. She was standing about ten feet from me, picking out some produce. She had her back turned to me, but from what I could see, she was right up my alley. The red backless strappy top, tight skinny jeans, and those fuck-me five-inch stilettos with the red soles—everything on her body seemed to hug her curves in all the right areas, and my eyes drank every inch of her in. She looked like she was in a position of

power, which I found hot. My cock twitched in agreement and in anticipation for what was sure to be a memorable conquest. Just then my gaze landed on a tattoo on her inner wrist. It was an infinity symbol. Why did that seem familiar? Have I fucked her before? I watched her move away from me toward another fruit section. I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I felt a compulsion to follow her—as if my feet had a mind of their own. Then she turned toward my direction and walked over to the peach stand, and it was then that I saw her for the first time. For a second, I felt as if my breath had been knocked out of me, and I had to remind myself to breathe. She was fucking gorgeous—no, stunning. I

knew that I’d never met her or fucked her before, because if I had, I definitely wouldn’t have forgotten. I swallowed hard as I watched her bite her lips. That was my weakness—my kryptonite. This wasn’t the fake lip-biting some girls did when they flirted with me to get my attention—I hated those lip-bites. No, this was the real deal. This girl had no idea that she was doing it. I immediately wondered how those lips would taste in my mouth, and how they’d feel sliding up and down my cock. I felt myself harden at just the thought. I walked toward her and stood across the stand of peaches from her. She finally looked up at me when I was no more than five feet from her. “Hi.” She gave me a quick smile before grabbing a few of the peaches for her basket.

“I’m sure yours taste a lot juicier than those peaches.” I flashed her a smile and leaned toward her. “Excuse me?” She looked back at me, but this time she didn’t smile. I snickered. “You heard me.” I reached for a peach and took a slow, deliberate bite from it. “And these are quite juicy.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, they sure do look juicy. Let me get out of your way so you can have some alone time with that peach.” She turned to walk away. “Wait!” I called after her. “Stay.” What the fuck did I just say? This was not how I normally operated. I never begged! Well, until now. I wanted to take back my words, to not let her have the last say. But I knew it

was too late. The words were said and couldn’t be taken back. But to my surprise, she stopped and turned back to look at me. The moment our eyes met, I felt a flutter against my chest that I hadn’t felt before. “Why? Why should I stay?” “Maybe we got off on the wrong foot.” I tried to think of something to say that would get things back on track, because I needed to make her mine tonight. “If you say so.” She looked at me with a look that I couldn’t place. “So my name is Ben. It’s nice to meet you.” I reached out my hand to her. The nice-guy approach never fails, I thought as I prepared to lay on the charm. “Hi.” She looked at my outstretched hand

for a second before finally reaching out her hand. The moment we touched, I felt a rush flow through my body. My cock throbbed against my slacks and I knew I needed to have her—to claim her. I needed to feel more of whatever this was that I’d just felt. “I’d like to see you again.” My statement was laced with promises of a fun time. I took a step closer to her and seductively moved a loose strand of her chestnut hair behind her ear. “I’m sure you do.” She sounded amused. And interested. Her words weren’t what I had expected, but I kept my composure and smiled at her. “Grab a drink with me.” She met my eyes and studied me. “Are you asking me out?”

I smirked. “No.” There was a flash of confusion in her eyes, and I knew I was breaking through her wall. “No?” She raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t asking. I was telling you what’s going to happen,” I challenged. Then the last thing I’d expected happened. She laughed. Not a girly giggle, but a hearty laugh. “You sure are one cocky guy.” She looked me up and down, taking me in. I flashed her a crooked smile. “I have a lot to be cocky about.” With only inches of air separating us, I felt the bulge inside my pants grow the longer I stood in front of her. It’d taken all my self-control to not pull down those skinny jeans and fuck her here and now until she was screaming

out my name in pleasure. She gingerly licked her lips and leaned an inch closer to me before whispering, “I’m going to put this as bluntly as possible so there is no confusion here. I’m. Not. Interested.” Her words felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. “Why the fuck not?” To my surprise, a grin spread across her face. “Because you can’t handle me.” I heard the flirtation and challenge in her voice, and I knew there was still a chance. She was just playing hard to get. Before she could react, I grabbed her waist and pulled her toward me, closing out the few inches that separated us. “You wanna bet?” I pressed myself against her jeans so she could feel how hard I was for her.

She inhaled sharply as her eyes widened in surprise. “I’m not the betting type.” Her voice was firm and committed, but I knew she was cracking under my control. “I was just being nice. It’s not really a bet when I know I can handle you.” Her breath caught and her body arched against me as I lowered my mouth against her neck and slowly traced my tongue from her collarbone to her earlobes. When I reached her ear and inhaled her scent, I was near my breaking point and was about to lose control. “Fuck the drink, you’re going home with me, and I’m going to show you just how I’m going to handle you. All fucking night long.” My words came out hoarse as my breathing became ragged with each passing second. Suddenly she pushed me away and her

expression turned cold and distant. “My answer is no. Let’s not do anything we’d regret.” Her response pissed me off. “I never regret fucking a girl,” I lashed back. I thought I saw a flash of hurt in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared. “Okay, I’ll be more clear. Let’s not do anything I’d regret.” I reached for her hand, and against her resistance, I held it against the rock-hard bulge that was pulsing against my pants. “Trust me baby, you won’t fucking regret this.” She finally yanked her hand away and backed away from me. “You’re bad news, and I’m not in the market for that.” I saw the visible lust on her face, and I knew she didn’t even believe herself. But before I could convince her otherwise, she turned and walked

away without another word. “Aren’t you going to at least give me your name and number?” I called after her. She waved her hand up as she walked away, dismissing my question. I watched as she strutted away, her hips swinging from side to side. God, she has a sweet ass. *** I left the grocery story feeling annoyed, frustrated, and dejected. I needed a stiff drink tonight. With a quick glance at my gold Rolex, I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hey. What’s up, bro? Why are you calling at this time of the night?” Damian’s voice came from the other end of the line.

“Dude, it’s only 9:15 p.m. I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a drink tonight. I could jump in a cab and be at your place in a couple of minutes.” To my surprise, I heard Damian yawn. “Tonight?” I heard the hesitation in his voice. “I don’t know, man.” “Shit, I’ve known you since we were pledges at Chi Omega and you’ve never turned down going out. What happened?” He laughed. “Yeah, no kidding, I know. I can’t believe I’d ever say this, but I’m pretty happy staying in tonight.” “Seriously?” I couldn’t believe that I was hearing this. “It’s been a long day at the bar and watching Izzy while Liam is at work. Plus, Izzy has been a bit fussy lately, so we couldn’t get her to fall

asleep until 8 o’clock. So we had a late dinner and just finished putting away the dishes. I’m actually ready for bed.” “Fuuuck. Is this what happens?” “Happens?” “Yeah, when you get in a relationship? You become a completely different person?” I only heard laughter on his end. “Ben, I know it’s a bit shocking. If you told me two years ago that in two years’ time, I’d meet a woman I actually wanted to spend time with, and that I’d fall in love for the first time and have a baby, I’d probably punch you in the face and say you’re fucking crazy. But here I am, and it’s just been great.” “Oh my God.” I just could not believe that the Damian Castillo, my fraternity brother from

college, the guy who was like my perfect wingman, the guy who didn’t do relationships, my brother from another mother, was telling me this. “What?” His voice shook with mirth. “You’re a fucking pussy now.” “Love you too, buddy. But seriously, bro, one of these days, when you least expect it, you’re going to fall for someone hard, and the next thing you know, you’ll be making her breakfast in bed, and you’ll be loving it.” “Are you fucking try to jinx me, here? That’s wrong, man. Just wrong.” Damian laughed. “Anyway, I actually need to get going. Liam is about to fall asleep, and I want to kiss her goodnight before she does.” “Ugh! I’m about to gag over here.” He hadn’t seemed to hear my comment.

“Hey, we should catch up soon. Liam wants to see you, too. We should meet up sometime. We’re at the Ferry Building every Sunday for the farmer’s market, and can meet you somewhere around there for brunch one coming Sunday. Just pick one and we’re there. Okay, gotta go. See yah.” Before I could answer, the line went dead. Damian had hung up on me. “What the fuck. Some friend. And what kind of man does brunch?” I asked aloud as I stared down at my phone in confusion. I’d always known Josh when he’d been in a relationship, so I’d accepted his pussy-whipped status. But Damian? Damian used to be more anti-relationship than I ever was. He’d told me once that he wouldn’t even go down on any girl because that’d come too close to a potential relationship. So seeing that Damian

was now pussy-whipped too, that was something I wasn’t sure I was ready to accept. Feeling more irritating and out of sorts, I needed to get my head straight. I hadn’t planned on going out and getting laid tonight. In fact, I had the 9:00 a.m. meeting with Parker, Inc. tomorrow. But for some reason, the idea of being alone tonight was too much to handle. I pulled up my fuck buddy contacts on my phone and scrolled through my options. I texted Red Delicious to see if she was free tonight. I then texted Veronica, the blonde from last night. She’d seemed pretty eager. And sure enough, I was right. Seconds after I shot off the text, her reply came through: Veronica: I’m free tonight. You seriously

left me hanging last night. I’m getting wet just thinking about it. Now come on over so I can suck that throbbing cock of yours until you cum all over my face. I smiled at the text and replied: One throbbing cock coming right up. As I jumped into a cab and headed toward Veronica’s place, I vowed that I wouldn’t change for any woman. I was never going to make the fatal mistake of getting into a relationship.

CHAPTER THREE For some reason, I woke up frustrated and anxious the next morning. My thoughts immediately went to the girl from last night, and while my cock twitched in excitement, I felt frustrated and pissed off. I could still smell the way her perfume teased me, I could still picture the way she bit her lips, and I could still hear the way she taunted me when she said, “Because you can’t handle me.” “Mmm.” Veronica shifted in her sleep as she lay on top of me. Why the fuck did I stay over last night? Annoyed, I immediately moved her off of me. This was one reason I tried not to stay over at a woman’s place after a late-night fuck session. I

hated cuddling. After an intense fuck session, I was hot and sweaty, and so was the chick. I didn’t want to feel another over-heated body on top of my own. It was completely irrational to me why anyone would want to cuddle after sex. But sometimes sleep outweighed that annoyance, and after the three hours of intense fun last night after a long day’s work, I’d accepted the consequences and crashed over. I looked at my Rolex. 6:55 a.m. I groaned. I had the 9:00 a.m. meeting with the Parker, Inc. people. I needed to get home to shower and change. But before I could get out of the bed, I felt a warm, wet tongue move along the shaft of my dick. “Good morning to you, too.” I chuckled as I closed my eyes and enjoyed her lips.

“Mmm, you’re already so big and hard.” Her voice was full of lust and hunger. “Gotta love that morning wood.” I smiled at how unbelievable the blonde’s mouth felt on my cock as she licked and sucked on it with growing speed. Just then my phone beeped, indicating that I’d just received a work email. Fuck, what is it now? I can probably guess who that is! “Baby,” I grunted as she sucked on my balls, “can you hand me my phone?” “Oh, sure. Is something wrong?” “No, just work emails. I probably need to send out a real quick response.” She handed me my phone. “Thanks.” I paused and noticed that she was just sitting there. “No need to wait on me, baby.

You just continue using those gorgeous lips of yours.” She giggled and began working on my cock again. I pulled my work emails up and wasn’t surprise to find an email from B. Parker. Does this fucker ever sleep? I clenched my jaw and felt my body tense as I read his email, and it had nothing to do with the blow job I was getting from Veronica. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts Mr. Chase: Attached you will find a number of

comments and suggested changes to the draft contracts you circulated yesterday. Incorporate these changes and have a response to each of the comments for our meeting at 9:00 a.m. Also, print out paper copies of the revised drafts for Trent and me so we can discuss them at the meeting. There are quite a few changes, so I would advise that you start these changes as soon as you can to ensure they are done prior to our meeting. See you promptly at 9:00 a.m. B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. In a fit of rage after reading his demands, I immediately shot back an email.

To: B. Parker From: Ben Chase Re: Parker, Inc. - Acquisition & Escrow Draft Contracts B. Parker: I will review your comments and changes as soon as humanly possible. Since my dick is currently in and out of a girl’s throat, I am a bit indisposed at the moment. I will turn to the contract the minute I’m free. Thank you in advance for understanding. Regards, D. Chase, Esq. Associate William & Sutter LLP. I waited for a reply, knowing that it was

going to come, knowing that I’d gone too far, knowing that he was going to rip me a new one. But to my surprise, nothing came. That’s odd. “I really love giving head in the morning,” Veronica purred from below. Shit, for second there, I almost forgot that she’s still down there! “I’ll bet.” I smiled down at her, refocusing my attention on my cock as it slid in and out of her mouth. “Mmm-hmm,” she moaned in agreement as she took the entire eight inches of me into her warm inviting mouth. “Fuck, baby! Those lips and my cock are like a match made in Heaven!” I threw my head back as her lips and tongue moved up the length of

my shaft. “I’m about to come!” I warned. Taking my cue, she released me from her mouth and began to move her hand up and down my cock. With her mouth open and tongue out, she waited hungrily for my release as her fingers began to take me over the edge. Within seconds, I lost control and came all over her face. I smiled in satisfaction as I watched her lick up and swallow every last drop of my cum. “My cock. Breakfast of champions.” I laughed. “Best. Breakfast. Ever.” She grinned up at me in delight. “Thanks for a fun night, baby.” I got up from the bed. “I gotta run, though. Got some work to do.” “Really?” I saw the disappointment in her

eyes as she watched me get dressed. “Next time I’m in need of those incredible lips of yours, I’ll give you a call.” I walked to the door. “I hope it’s soon. Thanks for breakfast.” I laughed, turning back to her as I walked through the doorway. “Everyone’s gotta take their vitamins.” I gave her a wink before I closed the door behind me. *** “Hi, Ben, same thing today? Latte with a double shot of espresso?” The cute barista behind the cash register beamed at me. “Morning, Jane. Great memory there! You’ve been working here for, what? A week?” “Four days.” Her eyes were wide with eagerness as she couldn’t take her eyes off me.

“You’re looking extra pretty today.” I saw the freshly applied lipgloss on Jane’s lips and the light black T-shirt that hugged her breasts. She’s wearing a padded bra today, I snickered to myself. Jane was new at Peet’s Coffee & Tea, the coffee shop across the street from my office. I knew she had a crush on me, but as much as I’d love to fuck her, I wasn’t going to. I liked going to this coffee shop in the mornings, and I didn’t want to have to deal with seeing Jane every morning if I fucked her and left her. “Yup, I’ll have that latte.” My stomach growled in protest and I looked at my Rolex. 8:29 a.m. “And let me also get a chocolate croissant.” I flashed her a smile and a wink and watched her face flush pink in response. I won’t fuck her, but it doesn’t hurt to flirt with her.

As I waited for my coffee and croissant, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts. “Latte with a double shot of espresso.” I looked up to see who had just ordered the same thing I had. My chest instantly tightened when I saw that it was none other than the girl from the grocery store, the one I hadn’t been able to get out of my mind. How was it that she was here at the coffee shop I frequented every morning, ordering my exact drink, and standing right in front of me? This must be a sign—a sign that I will fuck her and own her. “Hey, gorgeous.” I walked up to her as she finished paying. She looked up and I saw her tense up when she saw that it was me. “Oh. It’s you.” Her words were short, but I

could tell that a part of her desired me. I raised my eyebrows at her. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” I licked my lips as my eyes moved down the curves of her body, lingering at the delicate flesh peeking through the opening of her blouse. “My eyes are up here, buddy,” she barked as she folded her arms. “And what beautiful eyes they are,” I replied smoothly, not missing a beat. I flashed her one of my smiles that usually caused women to melt at my feet. But once again, my charms seemed to have no effect on her. Instead, she went to grab her coffee that sat ready on the counter and turned to walk away. “Hey, hold on!” I grabbed my coffee and

croissant and ran after her out of the coffee shop. “Give me a minute.” Again to my surprise, she stopped and turned to face me. “I’m sorry,” I heard myself saying. “I didn’t mean to be rude.” I wasn’t sure what came over me and why I had just apologized, but somehow, those words just came out. “Well, that’s putting it mildly.” “Okay, so I can be a bit blunt,” I admitted. “A bit?” She gave me a doubtful look. I chuckled and shrugged. “What can I say? I see a gorgeous woman that I want to take out, I go for it. So maybe sometimes my approach is a bit off.” Her expression softened slightly. “So are you like this with all women?”

I wasn’t sure why, but something compelled me to give her a whole-hearted genuine smile and look into her warm emerald eyes. I was transfixed by her gaze and for a moment, I couldn’t think of anything else but her. Then something strange happened. I told her the whole truth. “I am pretty aggressive with women. I admit that. I don’t know why, but somehow I seem to be different with you than I am normally with women. Maybe it’s because you’re the first woman who’s ever talked back to me the way you have. And maybe that’s why I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.” I heard the words come out of my mouth, but it felt like someone else had spoken them. As I watched her reaction, I saw the same confused and stunned expression I felt inside reflected on this

woman’s face. “So what are you looking for? A girlfriend?” “Hell no!” The words came rushing out of me like a reflex, a response that’d become second nature to me. Her question had taken me by surprise, and somehow, it had snapped me back to reality, back to my old self. I flashed her a crooked smile and leaned into her. “What I mean to say is, I’m always looking for a fun time.” “So a fun time.” Her expression was blank and I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. “A very fun time. Every. Single. Time. I can promise you that.” She remained silent and expressionless as she studied me. “So you in for some fun?” My lips twisted

into a smile. To my surprise, she returned my smile and leaned in toward me, the delicate curves of her exposed breasts peeped innocently out of her blouse. She gently placed her hand against my chest, causing my body to tense in excitement. As she looked up at me, her hand slowly and seductively ran it down my chest, her intoxicating perfume teased my senses, and I felt myself grow inside my pants. At that moment, I lost all sense of power and control over the situation, and every rational thought inside me evaporated as her green eyes pierced into mine. Fuck, she is hot! And it looks like she’s going to bite! Fuck B. Parker! I can definitely spare ten minutes for a quickie with her.

“Well,” she purred as she batted her eyes up at me before giving my body a once over, “That’s a very tempting offer, and I’ve considered it”—her seductive demeanor turned cold like a flip of a switch—“and my answer is probably somewhere between ‘In your fucking dreams’ and ‘Go fuck yourself.’” Without another word, she pushed me away from her, turned, and walked away, leaving me staring after her in front of the coffee shop. For the first time in my life, I was speechless, stunned, and desperate for more of whatever I had just felt. *** It was 8:45 a.m. and I was running across the street to the office to make the 9:00 a.m. meeting. I walked through the front lobby of the building and as I got to the line of elevators, I

stopped dead in my tracks. There she was. Again! She was standing there waiting for an elevator. “Hey, baby, I didn’t expect to see you here. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were stalking me.” She turned and furrowed her brows. “What are you talking about?” “Did you follow me to my office building to tell me you regret not giving me your name and number?” I knew she was playing coy with me. “You wish.” As much as I didn’t want to admit it, her response had stung. But I quickly brushed off those thoughts and smiled at her. “Well, you’re here, aren’t you? Looks like wishes do come true.” Instead of responding, she snorted and shook

her head and walked into the elevator that had just opened in front of us. “So does this mean you’re going to give me your name and number?” I decided to keep things playful as I followed her inside the elevator. She rolled her eyes and a smirk appeared on her lips. What’s so funny? I pressed the elevator button to the 20th floor and waited to see what floor she was going to. But she didn’t press anything. She just stood there in silence, staring up at the changing numbers above the elevator door as the elevator took us up to the 20th floor. Frustration engulfed me as I watched her ignoring me. I wanted to grab her by the nape of

her neck and kiss her. I wanted to rip her blouse open and taste her breasts in my mouth. I wanted to nail her against the elevator walls and fuck her until she begged for more. But I didn’t. I just stared at her, wishing she would look back at me, wishing she would give me a chance, wishing she would tell me her name. But she didn’t. The second the elevator door opened to the 20th floor, she walked out. Why did she get off at my floor? Did she work here? With William & Sutter LLP being one of largest international law firms in the world, there were over two hundred attorneys and many more staff in the San Francisco office alone. It was

possible that she was a secretary here and I hadn’t even seen her before. I glanced down at my watch. 8:52 a.m. and knew I had to think about this woman later. The Parker, Inc. meeting was at 9:00 a.m., and I was not going to give B. motherfucking Parker any reason to patronize me. I rushed to my office and gathered up everything I needed for the meeting. “Hey, Cindy.” A middle-aged woman in a pair of dark red retro glasses looked up from her cubicle. “I have to get to that Parker meeting now. I probably won’t be back until after lunch. Please make sure to take my calls while I’m out of my office. I hate it when they go to voicemail.” Cindy smiled at me. “Yes, of course. Don’t worry about it.” “Thanks, Cindy.” I handed her the untouched

croissant from the coffee shop, “Here, I know you love these chocolate croissants. I didn’t get a chance to eat these.” “Thanks for thinking of me, Ben. You’ve worked so hard on this case. Good luck at the meeting.” She handed me a stack of binders. “Here are the revised drafts you emailed me this morning to print out.” “Perfect. Thanks, Cindy. You’re the best.” When I got to the conference room at 8:58 a.m. and found about a dozen people already in the room making introductions. “Ben! Just in time,” said Bill Stephens, one of the three partners in the room. “You’ve been working a lot on the contracts side of this deal, so you’ve interacted with our clients regularly this week. Let me introduce you to them formally.”

I grabbed the closest empty seat around the conference table and placed my coffee, notepad, and binders on the conference table. As I looked up and stretched my hand out toward the other end of the table where the clients usually sat, my whole body became paralyzed by who was staring back at me from across the table. It was her! The one with the infinity tattoo and piercing emerald eyes. The only woman who’d ever talked back to me and rejected my advances. The one woman I couldn’t seem to get out of my head and wanted more than any other. She sat there looking over at me as I stared at her with what must have been a dumbstruck impression on my face. I saw a hint of amusement in her eyes, like this was a moment she’d been

waiting for. But why is she here? “Ben, I’d like to introduce you to Trent Parker, the Acting CEO of Parker, Inc., and his sister, Blair Parker, the Acting Vice President of Parker, Inc. I know you’ve been mainly dealing with Blair with the drafting of the contracts.” Blair? Blair Parker? Suddenly, it all hit me. B. Parker wasn’t a pretentious prick. B. Parker wasn’t even a fucking he! B. Parker was a she! And she was the woman I’d been chasing for my 736th notch. Now, this changed everything.

CHAPTER FOUR “You don’t shit where you eat…you can get disbarred…” My words from the other day echoed in my head when I realized who B. Parker really was. The wind was knocked out of me as I tried to digest this new reality—a reality where my two worlds had collided in a way I’d never imagined. How can the woman I want the most be the one I can’t have? “Ben? Is there a problem?” Bill broke through my thoughts and snapped me back to reality. “Yeah, I’m here. Th-there’s no problem.” I cleared my throat. There was a brief pause. Then Bill glared at

me. “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” Shit! “Yes, of course. Sorry.” I outstretched my hand to Trent. “Mr. Parker. Ben Chase. I look forward to working with you.” “The feeling is mutual, Mr. Chase.” Trent shook my hand with reservation as he watched me quizzically. Then I turned to Blair and felt a wave of nerves twist in my stomach as I offered my hand. “Ms. Parker. Ben Chase.” Our eyes met and she reached for my hand. The second our hands touched, I felt the pent-up desire I’d had for her unleash throughout my body, making it difficult to think. The only thing I could focus on was the deep green of her eyes as she watched me squirm in front of her. “It’s so great to finally get to meet you.” Her

lips curled into a wide smile, and I saw her eyes twinkle, as if she were trying to challenge me. My cock twitched in my pants, as if trying to tell me something I’d already knew: I wanted her more than ever. “Yeah. S-same here.” I heard myself stumble over my words and couldn’t believe she was having this affect on me. “I heard some great things from Blair about your dedication to your work.” Trent’s words caught me by surprise. I looked over at him, and he was indeed talking to me, and not anyone else in the room. “You have?” I blurted out. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but it had. As I let go of Blair’s hand and sat down in my seat, my arm knocked over my barely-touched coffee, causing its contents to crash down onto my

suit and pants. “Fuck!” I flew out of my chair as the warm coffee reached my growing erection. “Ben! What’s gotten into you this morning?” Bill stared at me and I could see the embarrassment and anger on his face. “I must really apologize for my associate. He’s not normally like this.” “I’m really sorry,” I finally muttered. “I…” I tried to wipe the coffee off, but it had only made the liquid sink deeper into the fabric, causing my pants to cling onto my erection, which was pushing out from my briefs. “…if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to clean up and be right back.” “Sure thing. We’ll just go ahead and get started,” Trent said as he turned his attention to the others. I got up and noticed Blair’s eyes were

staring at my crotch. When I saw her eyes widen with lust as she licked her bottom lip, I couldn’t help but feel triumphant. She caught me watching her, and her expression changed immediately. Sitting straight up, she looked down at her binder of documents, pretending to focus on the discussion that’d already started between Trent and the rest of my legal team. I smirked at her transparency as I walked toward the conference door. But right as I was about to pass through the door, her commanding voice halted me. “Mr. Chase. Aren’t you going to take your smartphone with you to the restroom? From what you’d told me yesterday, that is your current practice.” I felt my face grow hot as the partners stared

at me in disgust. At that moment, I wanted to strangle this woman. I also wanted to fuck her brains out to teach her a lesson. “Right. How could I have forgotten?” I kept my tone even as I flashed a quick smile and grabbed my phone from the table. When I got to the bathroom, a million thoughts whirled in my mind as I tried to process my emotions. I tried to think back to everything I’d said to B. Parker by email and everything that’d happened with this woman in the last twenty-four hours before I knew who she was. I cringed inside as I thought back to everything I’d emailed her. The egg and shitting comments yesterday. The blow job comment this morning! I felt my stomach lurch uneasily that it was her who had been on the other

end of those emails. Then I thought back to everything I’d said to her in person—the things I’d done to her! So many unanswered questions swam in my head. Had she known this entire time who I was? Did she know at the grocery store? Or afterwards? Or this morning at the coffee shop? Did she want to fuck me? Was that why she hadn’t responded to my email about getting a blow job this morning? But the one question that seemed to burn inside the most was, Did I ruin my chances with her? Then a beep came through my phone, indicating a new email. I pulled up my emails. To my surprise, it was an email from her! To: Ben Chase

From: B. Parker Re: The Many Joys of Coffee Mr. Chase: So we finally meet. I must say, I think I’ve discovered something slightly more enjoyable than just drinking coffee—seeing it on you. Now, that’s a sight for sore eyes, as you would put it. Now aren’t you glad I reminded you about your phone? Blair Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. I stared down at her email, unable to understand what this meant. Was it even possible that she was blatantly flirting with me? Or was this

her taunting me? My eyes landed on her signature. She had signed off as “Blair,” not “B. Parker.” I hit reply and started drafting an email back. To: B. Parker From: Ben Chase Re: Coffee Shows You Eight Inches Ms. Parker: You must admit, coffee sure does bring out the best qualities in people. I’m certainly available for coffee sometime soon to discuss these qualities. Good call with the phone. Did you know it has a camera feature? Do you want me to test it out?

Ben Associate William & Sutter LLP. I stared at the email, debating whether or not to send it. As innocuous as this email might sounded to an unknowing observer, she would know what I was talking about. I knew this was crossing the line, I knew this was breaking my one and only cardinal rule when it came to fucking women—don’t shit where you eat—but for some reason, that didn’t seem to matter anymore. All that mattered to me now was feeling that same rush again, the one I had felt last night when I’d inhaled her scent as she arched her back against me, the one I had felt this morning at the coffee shop when she had touched my chest, the one I had felt moments ago when our hands touched. Even though

I had no idea what game she was playing, there was one thing I was positive about: every part of my body needed her, and if the opportunity were to present itself to me, I’ll be damned if some rule was going to stop me from fucking her and taking everything she had to offer. Determined to see how far things could go with her, I sent the email. Within seconds she had responded and my cock stiffened with excitement the second I had heard the beep from my phone. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: I’ve Had Better Coffee Ben:

Eight inches is an impressively strong cup of coffee… …to some. But, I must admit, I’ve had some pretty strong cups of coffees in my life that’d kept me up at all hours of the night. I’m sure your phone is camera-ready, as many are these days. So as much as I appreciate your offer, there’s really no need to test it out for my sake. I know what a picture looks like. In fact, I’ve been told by some baristas that I really know my way around phone cameras. Blair Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. By the time I’d finished reading the email, my mouth was gaped open at what she’d written. Jealousy and rage raced through me as I imaged

men fucking her all night long, touching her, tasting her, pounding against her. My cock became rock hard at the thought of being inside her and feeling her come on me. I looked at my watch. I’d been in the bathroom for a good ten minutes. I rushed to dry my pants as much as possible as I thought about Blair. Before I headed back into the conference room, I sent another email to Blair. To: B. Parker From: Ben Chase Re: Strong Coffee Blair, The measure of a real strong cup of coffee has nothing to do with inches. I was simply trying to give you a visual, I even offered to take a

photo if you needed more to go on. With someone as accomplished as you must be, I have no doubt that you’ve had many strong cups of coffee to keep you going. But let me assure you, the coffee I’m offering is probably the strongest cup you’ll ever have. It doesn’t just keep you up at all hours of the night—it’ll keep you up all night long. Even if you wanted to sleep, you’d be too wide awake to do so. Have a cup with me. I am confident we’d have a very productive discussion about this deal. Ben Associate William & Sutter LLP. I walked through the conference room door a minute after I sent the email. Blair looked up immediately. I smiled at her and noticed the flush in her cheeks and the desire in her alert eyes. I kept

my eyes on her as I got to my seat and sat down. She bit her bottom lip as she kept my gaze. I knew this was a deliberate lip bite to taunt me—and with any other girl, it would have turned me off—but with when I watched her teeth gnaw gently against the delicate skin of her pink lips, my cock hardened in response. When I sat down, I saw her look away and look down toward her lap where her phone probably was. Seconds later, my phone vibrated and an email from her came through. I immediately pulled it up as my insides brimmed with anticipation. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: You’re Right Ben:

I’m fine with how strong my coffee is at the moment. No need to try yours. You are right about one thing: mine are a lot juicier than those peaches. Blair Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. My cock went into full salute at her last sentence. I inhaled sharply and glanced over at her. She was flipping through some documents, seemingly engrossed in what she was reviewing. But by the twisted grin on her face, I knew she had seen my reaction. I knew she had enjoyed taunting me. For the next two hours, I had a hard time focusing on the discussion the group was having

about the deal. I kept looking over at her, and each time I had, she avoided my gaze. As the meeting concluded, Bill got up to shake Trent’s and Blair’s hands again. “Thanks so much for coming by today. Your insight and suggestions have been extremely helpful, and we’ll have a better idea of what your company wants as we move forward with this deal with potential foreign companies.” “It’s been our pleasure, Bill.” Blair smiled at Bill and then looked at me for the first time since she’d sent her last email. “Your firm has made quite an impression on me.” “Oh?” Bill beamed in pride. “Yes, these draft contracts included everything we needed. And I do have to say, Mr. Chase certainly has some balls. He’s bold,

aggressive, and shameless. That was made very clear in his emails and comments.” My body tensed at her words and I searched her eyes for a clue to where she was going with her statement. But they gave nothing away. Bill laughed nervously and shot a glance at me. “He’s certainly a sharp shooter, and sometimes unorthodox in his approach to things. So please don’t take any offense—” “Don’t worry. No offense was taken. His emails and comments have been insightful to say the least, and it’s given me a lot to think about.” She paused and met Bill’s concerned eyes. “That’s something this deal needs, and it’s something our company values.” I was taken aback by her words. I’d always thought that after my many conquests, I’d had

women figured out. But somehow, Blair threw me for a loop time and time again. She was like a wicked curve ball that I couldn’t read, throwing me off balance with her every action. And as much as that frustrated me, it excited me more than anything I’d felt before. I didn’t know what it was, but I wanted more of what she had to dish out. I was officially addicted. When everyone was filing out of the conference room, I stayed behind as I watched Blair pack up her things. “I’ll meet you back at the office, Trent.” She waved to Trent, who was already walking out of the door. “No rush. You did a lot this week. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” Trent offered.

I noticed Blair frown slightly before smiling. “I’m happy when I’m working like this. Don’t worry about me.” Before she finished talking, Trent was already halfway down the hallway to the elevators. After another minute, we were the only two left in the room. I watched her, waiting for her to look over at me. But she didn’t. “You know eventually you’ll have to look at me.” “Is that so?” Her voice was rich with amusement and flirtation. “Yes, it is so.” I moved to her side of the conference table and stood behind her. “Now, get out of your chair and look at me,” I commanded. She didn’t turn around. And she didn’t look at me. A devious little grin spread on her face.

“Need I remind you that I’m the client here? That I’m your boss?” Before she could react, I spun her chair around, forcing her to face me. “Then boss me around,” I dared. I braced my hands against either side of the armrest, pinning her in place. She finally looked up at me with raised eyebrows and a smile as she silently challenged me to go further. “Tell me one thing.” “Only if I want to.” “When did you know? Did you know who I was before I bumped into you last night at the grocery store? Or did you know at the coffee shop?” She grinned widely at me. “Let’s just say, when I look for a potential law firm to represent my company, the first stage in my vetting process is

to look at the attorney profiles on the firm websites to see who’d be capable to handle our company.” “You knew this entire time?” I couldn’t believe her words. I was shocked that she had been playing with me since the moment she smiled at me at the grocery store. “Yup.” Her lips smacked as she emphasized the word. “So you were playing with me this entire time?” I tightened my grip around the armrests. “No. I wasn’t playing with you.” She paused and smiled. “I was simply taking a back seat and letting you take the lead. And I must say, it was pretty amusing.” I got down on my knees, pushed her knees apart, causing her to gasp in surprise. Her skirt moved up her thighs as I pulled her body to the

edge of her seat so her panties pressed against my abs. “Does this amuse you? Is this what you were talking about a few minutes ago when you said you valued my balls?” “I’m your client,” she protested but made no effort to push me away. “So, as my client, how can I please you?” I moved my hands to her knees, glided them up her thighs, and rested my thumbs against her panties, feeling the heat of her entrance. I felt her body stiffen as my thumbs teased her gently as they moved up and down the fabric. “You’re crossing the line, Mr. Chase,” she warned half-heartedly as her eyes fluttered closed. I leaned into her and whispered, “Let’s cut to the chase, Ms. Parker. With all your innuendos in your emails to me today, you know exactly what

you want from me. You’ve been pushing me to cross the line from day one.” “You’re full of yourself,” she mustered. “I don’t want anything from you.” She bit her lips as she tried to keep still against my teasing. “From how wet you’re getting against my fingers, I’m pretty sure that’s not the case.” She let out a sharp gasp as my thumb circled her throbbing clit through the fabric. “I—I’m your client, and…all I want to do is to talk about the case. N—nothing else.” Her breathing became ragged as she tried to focus on anything but what my hand was doing to her. “If that were the case, you wouldn’t be still sitting right here, squirming under my hands and begging for more.” “I didn’t beg,” she managed to shoot back.

“You didn’t with your mouth, but you did with your body.” “I won’t give into you.” Her voice cracked and we both knew she didn’t believe her own words. “Fine, if it makes you feel better. You don’t need to give into me.” I paused and smirked. “Not today, at least. But I promise you this: the next time I see you, I’m going to be the best fucking coffee you’ve ever tasted in your life.” She drew in a sharp intake of breath and I smiled at her reaction. I faced her directly and held my mouth just an inch from her slightly parted lips. “Next time I see you, I’ll show you how awake I can keep you at all hours of the night. When I’m through with you, you’ll be begging for more, and with more

than just your body.” Without another word, I got up and walked out of the conference room, leaving her panting and staring after me.

CHAPTER FIVE “Ben, I’m serious. This is a mistake.” Josh threw a stack of documents on my desk in front of me. It was an updated draft contract for the Parker case, littered with red pen mark-ups on every page. I grabbed the draft. “What the fuck are you talking about?” I thumbed through the pages, irritated that he was wasting my time. “Look at Provision 3(b) on page twenty-one. That wasn’t what we discussed in the meeting two week with Ms. Parker. I wrote down that they wanted $15 million in escrow, not $10 million.” I looked at Provision 3(b) and then pulled out my own notes from that meeting. “Shit, you’re

right.” I slumped against my chair, feeling the frustration growing inside. “Thanks for catching that, man. The partners would have ripped me a new one if they saw this. I’m not sure how I missed that.” “What the fuck is going on with you lately, Ben?” Josh looked at me with concern. “What the hell are you talking about?” I pretended to not know what he was referring to. “This is like the fifth time you’ve fucked up on this case in the last two weeks. That’s not like you at all. You’re the most scrupulous associate I know here. Shit, you’re the one who’s always telling us that the devil’s in the details. What fucking gives?” I let out a deep sigh. “I just have a lot on my mind lately. No big deal.”

“Anything I can help you with?” Unless you’re Blair, then no! I thought. I held my tongue and just shook my head. “Thanks for catching the error. I need to get back to work, man.” “Okay. See you at the Halloween party tonight? I heard some of our clients are actually going to show up this year.” My ears perked up, but I didn’t let it show. “Yeah. Sure, I’ll see you there.” After Josh left my office, I slumped against my chair. What the fuck is wrong with me? I hadn’t seen Blair since that day at the meeting over two weeks ago. She hadn’t contacted me except for a few short emails with instructions about the draft contracts. But they were nothing like the emails she’d sent before. They were all

business. No flirtation. No sarcasm. No innuendos. Why the fuck does it matter? Go fuck another girl! I groaned with frustration as these thoughts ran through my head. I could not believe it’d been two whole weeks since I’d gotten laid. By choice! Ever since I found out who Blair was, I hadn’t been able to get her out of my head. And what was worse was that I hadn’t wanted to fuck another girl since. She plagued my every thought, my every action, my every fiber. And the longer I’d gone without talking to her, the harder it was for me to think about anything else but her. Out of frustration and desperation, I sent her an email. To: B. Parker

From: Ben Chase Re: Halloween Ms. Parker, I hope to see you at tonight’s Halloween party the firm is throwing. You always struck me as a client who works hard and plays hard. Also, I want to remind you of the promise I made you after the meeting two weeks ago. You may not know this, but I am always a man of my word. You should be prepared for that. Coffee Drinker Associate William & Sutter LLP. She responded within seconds after I sent off the email.

To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: Clear Do-Not-Cross Line Mr. Chase: Knowing that you plan to keep your promise leaves me no choice but to not attend this event. I must apologize if I’ve ever led you to believe I wanted to try some new coffee. Let me set the record straight. I. DO. NOT. Please treat me like any client. Going forward, Trent will be your main contact person on this case. I will make him aware of this change first thing tomorrow morning. Direct any future emails to him. B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc.

“What the fuck is going on?” My chest tightened as I read her email. I had no idea why she’d become so cold. Had I read all the signs wrong? I thought back to our interactions and email exchanges. She had clearly been flirtatious. She had teased me the entire time. And she was drenching wet against your hands. My cock stiffened at the memory of my thumbs soaking wet with her juices with only a thin layer of fabric separating them from her pussy. But now she wasn’t going to show up to the party because she wanted to avoid me. Now she was handing me over to Trent. Now she wanted nothing to do with me. I felt a sharp pain radiate through my chest at the idea of never seeing her again. “Stop it, Ben!” I tried to shake her out of my

mind. Why do I even care? I wondered. She means nothing to me! Just a fucking notch I can’t get. It’s time to fucking move on! Is this what pussy-whipped status feels like? The thought crept into my head and it stopped me cold. “Fuck no!” I grabbed my phone and dialed a number. “I’ll show her just how much I don’t fucking care about her!” *** “You make a fucking hot Superman.” Veronica grabbed my ass as we got out of the cab in front of Hotel W where the firm-sponsored Halloween party was being held. “And you know what I do to pussy cats, don’t you?” I flashed her a dangerous smile as my eyes devoured her skin-tight Catwoman outfit that

hugged every inch of her body. “What?” She eyed me with lust. “I eat them out and fuck them hard until they’re purring for more.” She gasped as I ran my fingers across her pussy. When we walked into the hotel ballroom, Veronica’s eyes lit up as she took in the entire room. “Wow, this is such a glamorous party!” She grabbed a flute of red-colored champagne from the table. “Cool! They think of everything!” She handed me a glass. “Want one?” “Sure.” I grabbed the glass and threw it back. She giggled. “Slow down. That’s champagne. You’re not suppose to drink it like it’s a shot, silly.”

“Right,” I mumbled. As much as I wanted to believe that I was having fun with this blonde, I knew that I wasn’t. I was in a foul mood, and I knew that no amount of alcohol or Veronicas were going to fix that. “Oh my God,” I heard her shriek, “look at that girl! Her Cleopatra outfit is gorgeous.” I had no interest in what Veronica was gushing over, but I needed to get laid tonight, so I followed her gaze to the girl she had point out. My body froze the second I saw her. “I can’t fucking believe it.” “What?” Veronica gave me a confused look. “Nothing.” I took a deep breath as I offered my arm to Veronica, who beamed up at me. I looked over at Blair, dressed in a tight, jeweled Cleopatra ensemble that left very little to

the imagination. My breathing quickened as my eyes took in her exposed, toned mid-section. She looked more stunning than I remembered, and I couldn’t believe she’d actually come to this party. What does this mean? I knew I needed that question answered. “I know her.” Veronica looked at me in surprise. “You do?” I laughed. “This is my firm’s event. Yes, she’s a client of mine.” “Oh.” I could sense the jealousy laced in her response. “Come on, let’s say hi.” “Okay. Sure.” She followed me reluctantly toward Blair. “Hi, Ms. Parker. You look quite stunning

tonight.” Blair looked over at us in response to her name. When she saw that it was me, I saw a flash of something in her eyes. But it immediately disappeared. “Hi, Mr. Chase. Thank you for the compliment. I see you brought a date.” Blair flashed a megawatt smile at Veronica. “Hi, I’m Veronica.” “I’m Blair. It’s very nice to meet you. I didn’t know Mr. Chase had a girlfriend.” She emphasized the word girlfriend and for a moment, it was almost as if she was jealous. “She’s not my girlfriend,” I immediately snapped. I wasn’t sure why I flinched involuntarily at that word. I saw a look of triumph in Blair’s expression at my comment. I could also tell that the

blonde was upset and threatened by Blair, who was by far the most gorgeous woman at the party tonight. But I knew I had to keep my composure. I couldn’t let Blair see the effect she had on me. After her email earlier today, I couldn’t let her think she had any hold on me. “Well, what I meant to say was, we haven’t exactly talked about titles yet. We’ve been having way too much fun.” I slid my hand around Veronica’s waist and pulled her closer to me. She gladly stepped into the role of being my titleless girlfriend as she leaned into my chest and smiled at Blair. And to add insult to injury, I added, “In fact, this was the blonde I was telling you about in one of my emails to you a few weeks ago.” I immediately saw Blair’s calm expression falter for a brief moment.

Apparently Veronica did, too, and seized this opportunity. She looked up at me with a giggle. “You know what?” I wasn’t sure what she was doing but decided to play along. “What, sweetie?” “You’re so right, Ben. Blondes have way more fun.” I snickered as Veronica ran her fingers down my exposed chest as she shot Blair a taunting smile. I loved it when women made each other jealous because of me. This will teach Blair. She shouldn’t have rejected my advances before. But to my surprise, Blair’s calm expression returned. She gave a snort and took a challenging step toward us. “Blondes may have more fun, but I heard

brunettes make for better lovers.” The blonde glared at her and huffed. “Says who?” Blair’s alluringly supple lips curled into a teasing smirk. “All my lovers.” Her retort blindsided me. She was a firecracker and as much as I wanted to deny it, I wanted her more than ever. “Hey, Veronica. Do you mind grabbing some more champagne for us? I need to talk to Ms. Parker about a work matter.” Veronica saw through my lie and glared at me. “Fine. I’ll leave you two alone. Don’t mind me, there are plenty of hot, rich men here for me to choose from.” We watched her storm off. “Well, looks like you made your girlfriend

upset, Mr. Chase,” Blair taunted me. I wasn’t sure what it was—whether it was her use of the word “girlfriend” or whether it was her calling Veronica my girlfriend, but at that moment, I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore, and grabbed her arm. “Come with me!” “What are you doing?” she hissed but made no effort to resist. Instead she followed me as I lead us out of the ballroom and into a secluded hallway in the hotel. “Why are we here?” she demanded. I backed her up against the wall. “Because I need you!” I growled in a deep, ragged voice. “We can’t…” she insisted. “Why the hell not?” I shot back. I felt her hot breath against my face, her chest heaved in anticipation of our close proximity.

“Because I’m not interested,” she whispered flatly and turned to avoid my eyes. “You’re a fucking liar! Do you honestly want to me to believe that you’re not interested in me when all those emails and all our interactions suggest otherwise?” “Don’t flatter yourself,” she spat. “I’m not. I’m just telling it like I see it. You let me seduce you at the grocery store and at the coffee shop when you knew all along who I was. You let me get you so wet with my hands in that conference room without any protest. And I’m sure you’d let me fuck you hard on that conference room table if I hadn’t left you there panting for more.” When I looked into her deep emerald eyes, they were wild and crazed, and I knew she was turned on.

“I need you to tell me the truth for a change, Blair.” I pinned her against the wall with my body. “Just hypothetically, if you weren’t my client, and I wasn’t your lawyer, would you fuck me?” “Please, Ben. I…” Her breaths were short as her chest heaved up and down. “Answer me, goddamnit! If we had no professional relationship with each other, and you saw me with that blonde tonight, would you let me take her up to the hotel room I booked and fuck her? Or would you want me to fuck you instead?” She gasped at my boldness, but I knew I was turning her on more and more by the second. Her body writhed against mine as she felt my erection push hard against her stomach. “Answer me!” “You really want to know?” she challenged.

“Yes, lay it on me.” To my surprise, she pulled me closer to her body as she arched forward, causing me to groan in pleasure as her body rubbed against my throbbing cock. “Okay,” she leaned up to my ear and whispered. “Just hypothetically, that blonde can probably fuck you good.” She teased my earlobe with her tongue and I could feel her hot breath against my ear. “But I can fuck you better.” My cock went hard at her words. A wicked smile spread across her lips as she pushed me away and turned to walk away. I quickly recovered from my shock and pulled her back up against the wall. “No!” Before she could push me away again, I pressed my mouth onto hers and tasted her sweet lips for the first time. A whimper escaped her as I

began to nibble and lick her bottom lip. She ran her nails across my back. “We can’t do this,” she begged as my finger traced the contours of her exposed collarbone. She tightened her grip on me and arched her back, her breasts heaving as she pulled me closer to her. “You’re telling me no, but your actions are all telling me yes.” I secured her wrists above her head in a vise-like grip, causing her to gasp in surprise. I grabbed her waist and pulled her toward me, pressing the full length of my body up against her so she could feel how much I’d been ready for her. She gasped in surprise as I moved my rock-hard erection between her inner thighs. My hand moved down her body and in between her legs. “Stop,” she whispered. “We shouldn’t be

doing this.” I knew she was conflicted, as much as I was conflicted. I knew I could lose my job if I fucked her. But at this moment, I didn’t care. I wanted her, and I would give up everything to have her. She was a thirst I had to quench. I pushed aside her panties, exposing the heat of her pussy on my hand. “Do you really want me to stop?” I taunted her as I inserted two fingers an inch inside her. She let out a cry of pleasure as she involuntarily arched herself against me, pushing my fingers deeper inside her. I smiled. “I didn’t think so.” I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to keep torturing you like this, and every time you’re about to come, I’ll stop. I won’t let you come until I hear

one thing.” Instead of asking me to stop, her eyes were wild and desperate and I knew she wanted this just as much as I did. “What one thing?” she finally gasped. “I want to hear you say you want me to fuck you tonight.” “Please, we can’t…” she whimpered. “This is so unethical. I’m your client.” But her body failed her again as her pussy clenched onto my fingers for dear life, begging for more. I leaned down against her ear and whispered in a deep, hoarse voice, “Fuck ethics. We can. And we will.” My cock throbbed painfully as it hungered to be deep inside her wet, silky warmth, and I knew I couldn’t control myself any

longer. “Fuck, baby. I need you now.” I pulled down my pants and guided Blair’s hand to my cock. She gasped when she felt how hard I’d grown for her. “Now tell me what I want to hear,” I demanded as my fingers plunged deeper inside her pussy. She cried out and nodded frantically. “Fuck me, Ben! I need you to fuck me!” Without waiting a second longer, I took out a condom and slipped it on me. I lifted her up against the wall, spread her legs, and plunged my entire eight inches inside of her. She screamed out in pleasure as her pussy tightened around me, causing me to throw my head back uncontrollably as bolts of excruciating pleasure rushed through me. “Oh God, Ben!” she cried as I slid in and

out of her, deeper with each thrust. After several minutes, I felt her pussy clench and quiver around me as she completely lost control and reached the apex of her orgasm. I continued to pound deep inside of her as waves of pleasure ignited every inch of my body, and with seconds, I reached my own release. *** After our fun in the hallway, Blair and I moved into the hotel room and fucked another two times before passing out in each other’s arms. I woke up the next morning with her passed out in my arms. To my surprise, I wasn’t annoyed, and I had no desire to push her off of me. Instead, the warmth of her soft body was nice and inviting. As I pulled her naked body closer to mine, I smiled. I fucking smiled.

I kissed her gently on the forehead, and for the first time in as long as I cared to remember, I wondered how life would be like with another person in it. I wondered what it’d be like to have her in my life. Just then, I remembered something Damian had said a few weeks ago. “Bro, one of these days, when you least expect it, you’re going to fall for someone hard, and the next thing you know you’ll be making her breakfast in bed.” As much as that comment had once scared me, at this very moment, it didn’t. Instead, I had a strong urge to make Blair breakfast in bed. Was Damian onto something? Then I realized that I’d been so alone in life that I didn’t even know the feeling of liking someone anymore. Were all these days of frustration and anxiety because I actually

had feelings for this girl? Was it more than sex? I slowly lifted Blair off my chest and got out of bed. Just as I was about to order room service for us, I received an email from Trent Parker, flagged “Urgent.” From: Trent Parker To: Ben Chase, Esq. Subject: Call Requested Flagged: URGENT Mr. Chase, There’s a highly confidential and timesensitive matter that I’d like to discuss with you over the phone. Please call me ASAP. 415-5558129. Trent

Trent Parker Acting CEO San Francisco, CA I went to the bathroom to avoid waking Blair up and called Trent. “This is Trent.” He picked up on the first ring. “Hi, Mr. Parker. This is Ben Chase. I just saw your email.” “Ben, I’m going to get straight to the point, okay?” “Uh, sure. What is it?” “I know, Ben.” I heart stopped cold at his words. “You don’t need to hide anything from me.” “I—I’m not—” I stammered out.

“I know how you feel about my sister.” How did he know? “You do?” “Yes. I know you hate her.” His words took me by surprise. “Hate her?” “Yes, I’ve read some of your email exchanges with her. I know she was condescending to you. From your emails, it’s clear that you don’t like her.” “No, that’s not the case. Really, Mr. Parker.” “No need to be formal with, Ben. I asked you to call me because I need your help with something.” “What is it?” “Well, I’m not sure why, but I could tell Blair trusts you. And that is great. But at the end of day, I’m the CEO, and I have the power to give you everything you want at your firm.”

“What are you saying, Mr. Parker?” “Call me, Trent, please.” I remained silent for a few seconds, unsure of what exactly he wanted. “What are you trying to get at, Trent?” “Ben, the less you know, the better. But trust me when I say, Blair is not fit to help me run Parker, Inc. I want to bring down my sister, and I think you’re just the man to help me with this job.”

The Chase Volume Two

PROLOGUE “Ben, sometimes the most important things in life will happen when you least expect it. So who knows, maybe someday you’ll meet the most important person in your life on some seemingly ordinary day without even knowing it.” That was one of the last things the Blonde Bitch from my past had said to me the moment she’d ripped out my heart. And that was one of the few things I couldn’t seem to erase from my memories of her, regardless of how many nameless women I’d fucked since then. That is complete bullshit. I had thought that then, and I still thought that now. Those were the statements made by the same

type of people who believed that Valentine’s Day was an actual holiday and not some commercialized bullshit of a day created by Hallmark to make their billions. Those were the statements made by the same type of people who believed in love. Those were the statements made by the same type of people who thought it was possible to forgive and forget. Those were the statements made by the weak person I once was, when I still had a heart, when I had allowed another person to dictate my life. But now, I’d changed for the better. I wasn’t one of those fools who believed in such nonsense. I had learned my lesson the hard way. The only thing I wanted now was to live a long and commitment-free life. But ten years after the Blonde Bitch’s

words, it had happened. It was on an idle Wednesday evening that I had met Blair Parker—the brunette with the infinity tattoo on her wrist. I had stopped by the grocery store on my way home from work to pick up my weekly supply of Trojan condoms—something I went through almost as frequently as my morning coffee. The second I spotted her, I knew she’d be my next target. As I had eyed her from head to toe, I thought I was ready for this chase and went in for the kill. But I was wrong. I hadn’t been ready for this chase. Not by a long shot. She was the wicked curve ball I’d never expected. She was the first woman to talk back to me, the first woman to resist me, the first woman to taunt me and take control of our cat-and-mouse

game. She was the one woman for whom I had broken my one and only rule to chase down. And when I finally conquered her as my 736th notch on my proverbial belt, I thought I’d finally won. I thought I could move on. But I was once again wrong. The second I had felt myself inside of her, I knew something was different this time around. Somehow without knowing it was happening, she had planted an insatiable need inside of me, a thirst for more of everything she had to offer. She was like a drug, and one taste of her had taken me on an indescribable high I didn’t want to come down from. I was hooked and I needed more. But then life threw me another curve ball. I was offered an opportunity of a lifetime. It was an opportunity to achieve the success I’d

worked so hard for. It was an opportunity anyone in my position would kill for. It was an opportunity that I’d be crazy to say no to. But there was a catch. There was a price to pay. There was something I needed to do in exchange for this opportunity. To become the youngest partner at the most prestigious international law firm, William & Sutter LLP, I had to make Blair the casualty of my success.

CHAPTER ONE Blair A hushed male voice in the other room woke me. I couldn’t make out what the man was saying, but something about that voice caused every nerve in my body to come alive with need. I moaned as I shifted in the bed, slowly awakening from my heavy sleep. It took me another second to realize that I was naked under a layer of white satin sheets in a hotel room. Then, as if someone had opened the floodgates to my memories, everything that had happened last night with Ben came rushing into my consciousness. “Shit,” I groaned under my breath as I searched the room for my clothes. I got out of the

bed, wrapping the sheet around my body. I could still hear Ben’s voice from the bathroom. It sounded like he was on a call. “Fuck, I need to get out of here.” Panic coursed through me as I cringed at the memories of everything we’d done last night. How did I let things get this far? How did I let myself lose control like that? In less than a minute, I was back in my Cleopatra outfit and heading toward the door, bracing myself for the walk of shame down to the underground garage of the hotel where my car was parked. “Where are you going?” His sudden voice behind me jolted me to a halt. My body stiffened as I felt his eyes burn into my back. I took a deep breath before turning around to face him. “I’m leaving.”

“That’s it?” “What are you talking about?” I finally met his eyes as I tried to figure out the meaning behind his question. “Were you just going to leave like that without saying a word?” His tone was cold but I saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “What’s there to say?” I kept my voice flat as I held his gaze without showing my emotions. “I have a meeting this morning, so I need to leave.” “On a Saturday morning?” He cocked an eyebrow skeptically. “Yes,” I lied. “On a Saturday morning.” I was relieved that my voice hadn’t betrayed me and given away my lie.

“Well…” He paused and I saw his face soften as he looked at me. “I thought that after last night, we could go grab some breakfast and talk or something.” He watched me for a second and his lips twisted into a crooked smile. “Or we can just enjoy some strong coffee together.” My stomach flipped at his invitation. There was a part of me that wanted to say yes. There was a part of me that wanted to be anyone but Blair Parker at that moment so that I could freely explore whatever it was that I was feeling with this man. But reality was a bitch, and that wasn’t my fate. After everything that’d happened, after everything I’d given up, I’d worked too hard to have the wrong relationship ruin it all. Even if I were to overlook our professional relationship, I knew the type of guy Ben was. He was certainly in

the “wrong relationship” category. “Look, you’re my lawyer, and I’m your client. I think that’s all there is to it.” I turned my back to him as I tried to keep my personal feelings at bay. “Let’s just pretend last night didn’t happen. I think that’ll be the best thing for both of us.” I reached for the door and opened it. “Stop.” Something in his commanding voice caused me to obey, and I stood in the middle of the opened door waiting for his next move. I wasn’t sure what it was about this man, but even from our very first interaction that night at the grocery store, I knew he had a power over me that I’d never felt before. I heard him approach me in silence. Every part of my brain screamed at me to walk out the door and leave immediately before this mistake became any

bigger. But my body wouldn’t listen as it rooted me in place. I inhaled sharply when I felt his hands around my waist. “What do you think you’re doing?” My question stammered out as I tried to suppress the growing need for him inside me. “What do you think?” There was an edge of danger in his voice, and I knew I had angered him. His hold was firm and forceful as he pulled me toward him. “Ben, stop it.” I tried to push his hands off me. “Say my name again.” He moved one hand down my side, tightening his grip as his fingers moved down on my skin.

“We can’t do this again,” I begged. “But—” he turned me around suddenly, forcing me to face him, and pulled me up against his naked body, his stiff manhood rubbed against the thin fabric of my Cleopatra outfit. “We will do this again. Because…” He held my waist with one hand as his other hand moved up to my face. His fingers traced the outlines of my face. “When I hear my name from those lips of yours…” He inserted his thumb between my lips. “I lose it, and all I can think about is the sheer pleasure of more than just my finger being inside of you.” Against all reason, my lips molded around his thumb as it entered my mouth. His rough, callused skin was salty and hard against my tongue, and as it moved seductively between my lips, desire took a hold of me and I began to suck and

lick his finger as I imagined his cock in its place. “God, baby. You’re seriously driving me crazy.” He closed his eyes and threw his head back, and I watched with wild eyes as I saw his erection grow before me. Suddenly he removed his thumb from my mouth and lifted me up onto the hallway console. “We really can’t.” I squirmed in his hands as he spread my legs apart and ran his hands up along the inside of my thighs. “Don’t play coy with me. I know you want this.” His voice was deep and hoarse as his hands disappeared under my skirt and slid behind my panties. “Now tell me you want this.” I saw the fire burn in his eyes and I lost the last shred of control I’d been holding onto. Gasping for air, I spread my legs wider and

nodded desperately for him to continue whatever he wanted to do with me. “No. That’s not enough.” His commanding voice came out deep and restrained. “I want to hear you say you want this.” “I don’t,” I managed to say in a last futile attempt to resist him. But then I felt one of his fingers move across my opening and I became wet against his touch. He leaned into me, his hot breath against my neck. “Say it.” I lost it at that moment. “I want it!” I screamed as I braced against the console for support. Instead of entering me with his fingers, he pulled down my panties and lowered his face toward my pussy.

“Fuck, you’re so wet, baby.” His eyes were wide with desire as he looked up at me from between my legs. “Please, I want you now!” I cried out as the need for him became almost painful. He snickered. “I love this demanding side of yours.” He held my gaze as he moved closer to my opening. I could feel the heat of his breath as he inhaled my scent and groaned in pleasure. “Ms. Parker, if you smell this fucking amazing, I cannot image how incredibly sweet you’re going to taste on my tongue.” I swallowed hard at his words and tried to arch myself toward his face, desperate to close the inch of space between where his mouth was and where I wanted it to be. But I couldn’t move. His rough hands held me down, controlling my every

moment, reminding me who was currently in control. But I didn’t have to wait long before my need for him was quenched. I inhaled sharply as I felt his tongue hypnotically circle around my clit before it started to lick me up and down. “Let me hear it again.” I heard a mixture of need and control in his voice as he waited for me to comply. “Please,” I whimpered, desperate for what he would do next. “Please what?” “Please, I want this!” I cried, knowing he wouldn’t give me what I wanted if I didn’t say the exact words he wanted to hear. Finally, I felt his wet tongue plunge inside me, causing my body to convulse against his every

thrust. As he moved faster and deeper inside me, he pushed me inch by inch toward my release. Just as I was about to come all over his face, my phone started ringing in my purse, immediately bringing me out of my euphoric haze. It wasn’t just any call. From the special ringtone that sounded, I knew it was my brother Trent. My body stiffened as I came back to reality. Shit, what the fuck am I doing? “Stop! Please stop.” With all the strength I could muster, I pushed Ben off me. “We can’t do this.” My voice was shaky but determined as my phone continued to ring, jolting me awake with each passing second. “What the fuck?” There was a mixture of hurt and anger in his eyes when he looked up at me in confusion.

“I should go. I need to take this call.” “That call can wait,” he insisted as he forced my legs apart again. “No.” I got off the console. “It’s Trent. It cannot wait. I shouldn’t even be here.” I glared at him. To my surprise, instead of challenging me and taking control of the situation, he froze and backed off. “Are you really going to take that right now?” There was something in his voice that left me unsettled. But before I could think about it further, my phone began ringing again, demanding my immediate attention. “Yes, I need to take this.” Before Ben had a chance to distract me again, I walked quickly to the door and walked out of the room. As soon as I got out of earshot of

Ben’s hotel room, I answered the phone. “Hi, Trent.” “Where the hell have you been? How come it took you so long to respond?” From his heavy breathing and booming voice, I knew he was not in a good mood. “Sorry. I —uh, I was in the shower.” “It’s almost ten, Blair.” “I—” I tried to explain, but he cut me off. “Even though it’s a Saturday, you’re now the acting Vice President of the company. I know you’re still young, but I shouldn’t have to remind you how important your role is, and how much responsibility comes with that title. It’s not just some pretty accessory you can add to your enormous wardrobe.”

“Trent, sorry. I overslept. I stayed out a little longer than I had expected at William & Sutter’s Halloween party.” “Blair, I don’t need any excuses, nor do I need to know why you didn’t pick up the phone when I called. I just want to make sure your head is in the game. If there was some emergency and I needed to reach you, I want to feel assured that you’ll be there at a moment’s notice.” “I understand that. I know we’re in the middle of a critical time for the company. With Dad’s sudden illness, I know you have a lot of pressure on you to keep the company running smoothly. I promise you that I will do my very best.” “Let’s hope that’s enough,” he spat back. “I know you’re a woman, and it’s harder for you to

compartmentalize your emotions over Dad’s illness from your work, but you need to get your shit together. We’re running a company here. Don’t expect that I’ll give you more leeway simply because we’re family. I’m not Dad. I won’t coddle you. You’re twenty-four years old and an adult. It’s time you acted that way.” I flinched at the hostility in his voice. “Don’t worry. I don’t want you to treat me any differently because we’re family. I do take my responsibilities as Vice President seriously. I will carry my weight in the company.” “Speaking of which, I got your email yesterday about transferring your communications with our lawyers to me. For your sake, I’m going to pretend that I didn’t receive that email from you in your attempt to try to shirk your responsibilities.

It’s your job as VP to spearhead this international acquisition deal. I have more than enough on my plate right now. I don’t need to micro-manage that deal or your communications with our lawyers.” I inhaled deeply as I tried to hold back the tears. “I understand. I have no problem with handling the acquisition deal with our lawyers.” “Let’s hope that’s the case. Anyway, I called because I need you to review the financial documents I emailed you last night. Verify the figures and send me the final version by tonight. I’ll double-check the numbers tomorrow morning and will send you the final approved version by the afternoon. I need you to take them over to Dad at the hospital and have him sign off on the paperwork.” “Okay. Sure. I can take care of it.”

“Good.” Without another word, he hung up on me. When I got to my car, I sat there in silence for several minutes, trying to process my conversation with Trent before starting the engine. I knew Trent was under a lot of pressure with his new responsibilities as CEO of Parker, Inc., but I had this unnerving feeling that there was something more to his actions. Just then, my phone beeped, alerting me to a new email. My body froze when I saw that it was from Ben. To: B. Parker From: Ben Chase Re: A Great Cup of Joe

Blair, Seeing how close we’ve gotten recently through our professional relationship, we can drop the formalities and address each other on a first name basis. It was great seeing you at our firm’s Halloween party last night. My date and I agreed that you had a very stunning costume. I wanted to tell you that right after I left the party last night, I had three amazing cups of coffee. They were all strong, smooth, and deeeeeelicious. In fact, they were so good, I’m already having some withdrawal symptoms, and am in need of another cup. ASAP. Care to join me? We can talk about the deal and work through all hours of the day and night if you’d like. As

you know, at William & Sutter, we always put our clients first and aim to please. As such, I am available to you at your convenience. Also, now come to think of it, the subject line really should read be “A Great Cup of Ben.” Don’t you agree? Ben Associate William & Sutter LLP. When I finished reading his email, I realized that I was grinning ear to ear. I immediately wiped the smile off my face as Trent’s words echoed in my head. I reminded myself that Ben Chase was our lawyer—he could be nothing more to me. I couldn’t risk my position at Parker, Inc. because of a momentary weakness and mistake last night with

this man. I couldn’t tarnish my reputation and jeopardize everything I’d worked for. This was my father’s company, and I wanted to make him proud. So I knew that I couldn’t have anything to do with Ben. And with that thought, I responded back. To: Ben Chase From: B. Parker Re: You’re Right Mr. Chase: I’m glad to hear to know that William & Sutter puts their clients’ needs first. Along those lines, as the client, I suggest we continue with the formalities. Thank you for the coffee offer, but I must decline. I’m actually in a caffeine detox, so I will

not be drinking any more coffee. Enjoy that coffee without me. Also, going forward, I will continue to be your point person in the Parker, Inc.’s acquisition deal. I asked that you keep contact with me at a minimum and only when necessary. We would like to keep our legal costs down. B. Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. After I sent the email, a sense of loss washed over me. I wasn’t sure why, but I couldn’t deny that there was something intriguing about Ben that I found hard to let go of. But I knew that I had to let go. As long as I was the vice president of Parker, Inc. and he was our lawyer, there was no

future between us.

CHAPTER TWO Ben Ten Years Ago “Hi, baby!” Katherine threw her arms around me the moment she saw me standing by the baggage claim. I wrapped my arms around her and inhaled the familiar scent of her coconut shampoo. “God, I’ve missed you.” “Yeah, I know.” She smiled. I handed her a bouquet of pink gerbera daisies, her favorite flowers. “This is for you.” “Aww, thanks, honey. You’re too sweet.” “How was your flight?”

“It was a fucking bitch.” She made an annoyed face. “It’s only an hour flight from Los Angeles to here. It couldn’t have been that bad, right?” I teased as I leaned down and kissed her lips. “Not when you’re sitting next to some grandma smelling like mothballs and cheap, stale perfume who wouldn’t stop talking to you. Old people are so fucking annoying.” “We all get old. I’m sure she wanted to hear about your life and feel young again.” I tried to change the subject to veer the conversation away from anything that’d set her off. “And feel hot again, too.” She rolled her eyes as she handed me her luggage. “Come on, let’s get some food in you. That’ll put you in a better mood.”

“Sure.” She pulled out her compact and reapplied her lipstick. “So are we heading to your frat house first? I’d like to change and freshen up.” “Sure thing.” “So what are we going to do this weekend?” “Whatever you want. My frat bros are having a party at the house tonight, but I also made reservations at Skates On The Bay for dinner. It’s this really nice restaurant my bro Damian recommended. It’s right on the water, and is supposed to be really romantic. I thought it’d be nice since we didn’t get a chance to celebrate our three-year anniversary last month.” She smiled up at me. “Aww, you’re just too sweet to me, Ben. Sometimes you’re just too nice.” There was something in her voice that I didn’t understand. “Too nice?”

“Yeah, nothing wrong with that. You know I love to be treated like a princess.” She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek. I smiled at her, feeling lucky that we were together. Living at a frat house with a bunch of college guys, I knew how rare it was to still be with your high school sweetheart, especially when the relationship was long distance. I pulled her in for another hug before we got into the car. “It’s so good to have you here. I can’t believe it’s been two months since I’ve seen you.” “Awww, we’ll have fun this weekend. And I think we should stay for the party. I want to see you in your element and get to know your friends.” “Are you sure? I know you like to really go big when it comes to our anniversaries and your birthday. I want to make up for missing our three-

year anniversary due to midterms.” “Yeah, I’m sure. Besides, I think the Tiffany necklace you got me makes up for it.” She winked at me as she buckled up. “Now take me to this frat house of yours you’re living in now. Maybe we can have a quickie before the party.” I laughed and looked over at her. “How can I turn down the best sex of my life?” She giggled. “I’m the only sex of your life.” “Touché. I guess I lucked out and found the best sex of my life on the first try.” *** “Dude, your chick is a wild child.” Damian came over to the keg and pumped out some beer for his near-empty cup. I gulped down my beer and grinned as I

watched Katherine chatting on the other side of the room talking to Gibson and Ryan. “She’s really something, isn’t she?” Damian eyed me and shook his head in disgust. “Fuck, you’re so pussy whipped over this girl.” He followed my gaze and eyed Katherine up and down. “I mean, she’s definitely one hot piece of ass, but—” “Watch it, man. Don’t talk about my girlfriend like that.” I gave Damian a playful punch on the shoulder. He laughed. “I’m just saying, she may be hot and cool, but you guys are long distance and we’re in college. Also, need I remind you we’re fucking Sigma Chis, the frat with the hottest guys according most sororities across the nation? Brad Pitt, Jim Caviezel, and Tom Selleck are just some of our frat

bros, dude.” “You don’t get it, man. You’ve never been in love. I don’t care about other women when I have her. What more can I ask for?” He gave me a look of disbelief. “You can ask for more pussy? Lots of it?” “You’re ridiculous, man. Anyway, I’m going to go see how Katherine’s holding up. God knows what kind of shit Gibson is saying to her.” “All I’m saying, man, is to think about it. College is the prime time for us to get some noncommittal ass from chicks who just wanna have fun. I don’t want you to waste it away on some high-school puppy love.” I ignored his comment and walked over to where Katherine was. I knew Damian meant well and had my back, but I also knew he’d never been

in a relationship nor did he ever want to be in one, so how could ever understand where I was coming from? “No, my hair is blonder than yours,” Katherine squealed excitedly as she pulled a strand of her long, blond curls up toward Gibson’s hair to compare the two side by side. “Ahh, shit, you’re so right.” “Yup.” Gibson chuckled. “I have the blondest fucking hair ever. It’s practically white.” “You geezer!” “The hottest fucking geezer in this room,” Gibson retorted. “The only geezer in this room.” Katherine laughed. “Hey, baby.” I put my hand around Katherine’s waist and handed her the cup of gin

and tonic she wanted. “How’s it going?” From the way Katherine was swaying back and forth and the glazed-over look on both Katherine’s and Gibson’s eyes, I knew they were both pretty drunk at this point. “Ben, you didn’t tell me your frat bro Gibson was this hilarious.” “Baby, you sure you want that gin and tonic? You want a glass of water instead?” “Don’t be a party pooper, Ben. I’m not that drunk yet. Just a little buzzed. Come on. Lighten up. We’re at a party, and I’m having fun!” She raised her arms above her head and started jumping up and down to the techno music blasting from the speakers. “Woo!” She tripped and I caught her in my arms. “How about my beer instead? I can take your gin

and tonic?” She pouted her lips and slapped my chest. “Honey, you know there’s a shit load of calories in beer. Are you trying to make me fat and ugly?” I smiled at her. I knew she was obnoxious sometimes, especially when she was drunk, but for some reason, I enjoyed taking care of her. We’ve been dating for so long, it was comforting when I was with her. Since my parents had passed away a few years ago, Katherine was probably the closest person in my life and the only link to my past. “Of course not. You look amazing and could never be ugly. I just—” “Katherine, listen to your boyfriend,” Gibson cut in. “My frat bro is right. You’re fucking hot. No way you can ever be ugly.” Katherine giggled and looked up at me. She

wrapped her arms around my neck. “I love you, baby. You’re so good to me.” She slurred her words as her body slumped against me. “I love you, too.” “Shit. Don’t make me barf up the last gallon of beer in my stomach.” Gibson downed the rest of his beer and let out a loud belch. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find a hot piece of ass to fuck the shit out of.” “See yah.” I looked down at Katherine who had a wide grin on her face. “What’s up?” “Do you think I’m a hot piece of ass?” She hiccupped and blinked slowly. I laughed. “Yes, a very hot piece of ass.” She leaned up against my ear and nibbled at

my earlobe. “I want you to fuck the shit out of me.” I laughed. “Come on, silly. Let me take you to bed.” “No! I want you to fuck the shit out of me. Here. Against the wall. Anywhere but your bed.” To my surprise, she reached down and grabbed my cock through my jeans and squeezed it. “Katherine, come on!” I grabbed her hand and lead her down the hallway to my room. She giggled. “Come on, Ben. I don’t want you to be a fucking pussy. I want you to fuck the shit out of mine.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hallway bathroom and closed the door behind her. Before I could object, she stripped off her top and bra and pulled down her skirt.

“Now, fuck me like you mean it,” she demanded. So for the next thirty minutes, I acted out of character and didn’t make love to Katherine. Instead, I fucked her like she was just a hot piece of ass. ***

Present Day I wasn’t sure how it happened, but somehow I had agreed to a meeting with Trent at Parker, Inc. this morning. He had said over the phone that he wanted to talk about my “dreams and goals for my future at William & Sutter LLP.” He had said he wanted to “help me get everything I’ve worked so hard for.” He had said that he believed that I had the potential to make both of our dreams come true.

It’d been almost two weeks since I’d seen Blair that morning after the Halloween party. I wasn’t sure what had changed, but ever since she left my hotel room, she’d been cold and distant. Her rare emails to me about the acquisition deal were always brief, to the point, and devoid of any innuendos and flirtation. Could she have really regretted our night together? I wasn’t sure why, but I felt an odd sense of pain in the middle of my chest at the thought of the possible answer to that question. I thought back to that night and my cock immediately moved when I thought about how hot and amazing she was. She was by far my ultimate chase and the best sex of my life. I could still feel the way her hips arched up against me in time my every thrust. I could still

feel the way her legs wrapped tightly around my ass as she screamed out in pleasure each time I pounded deeper inside her. I could still feel the way her pussy tightened and spasmed against the length of my cock as she reached her release. “Sir?” The receptionist stared me with concern as I stared blankly at the wall as my cock throbbed with discomfort at the memory of my last and only night with Blair. “Yes! Hi.” I leaped off the couch and snapped out of my daze. “Mr. Parker’s ready to see you now. He asked that you meet him in his office. It’s to your left, down the hall, and all the way to the end. He has the corner office in that wing.” “Sure. Thanks.” I gave her a quick smile and shifted my trousers, trying to hide the bulge that

was poking through. “Have a nice day.” I saw her eyes dart to my crotch and I knew she saw what I couldn’t hide. “Uh, is the restroom down that hall too?” I kept my tone casual even though I had no doubt that she knew what I needed the restroom for. She humored me and kept a straight face. “Yes, there’s one right before you get to Trent’s office.” “Thanks.” I quickly made my way down the hallway and saw the sign for the restroom ahead. But before I reached the restroom, my eyes spotted something else. A large office to my right with frosted glass panels. Next to the closed door of the office was a nameplate against the wall that said, “Blair

Parker.” I wasn’t sure why, but I felt a need to see her. Even though I’d fucked her, it felt different this time. It didn’t feel like I was done with her. It didn’t feel like the chase was over. For some reason, I knew that I had to talk to her. I knew that I had to spend more time with her. Before I could change my mind, I opened the door to her office without knocking and walked in. “Margo, please. I’m really busy right now. Please hold all my calls.” Her back was turned to me as she frantically typed away on her computer without looking up. My body tightened with excitement and I felt my cock move anxiously as the smell of her perfume greeted my nose. “It’s not Margo.”

My lips twisted into a crooked smirk as I heard an audible gasp escape from her lips. She recognized my voice. She turned her chair around to face me and I saw the surprise on her face. “What are you doing here?” “I’m here to see you.” I cocked an eyebrow and gave her a seductive smile. She looked away from me and grabbed some papers from her desk and started flipping through them. “You shouldn’t be here, Mr. Chase. We don’t have a meeting set up, and I’m really busy right now.” I snickered. “I love it when you’re flustered. That pink flush on your cheeks really turns me on.” I walked toward her desk. With my cock growing harder with every passing second, I knew exactly

what and who could satisfy its need. “That night was a mistake.” She avoided my eyes as she got up from her desk. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.” I stepped between her and the door and closed the door behind me. Before she could push past me and reach for the door, I grabbed her arm and pinned her against the frosted glass panel. She gasped and struggled against my grip. “Get off me! What the fuck are you doing?” “You and I both know that night was no mistake.” “It was.” She lowered her face to avoid my gaze and from the tone of her voice, I knew she wasn’t trying to convince me; she was trying to convince herself. “Fuck me once, shame on you. Fuck me

twice, shame on me. But fuck me three times?” My lips twisted into a devious smile as I thought back to the way her nails dug against my back and her legs wrapped tightly around me as she screamed out my name. “Shame on both of us.” She drew in a sharp intake of breath and for a brief second, she stopped struggling against my hold. “Do you know how crazy you’ve been making me by avoiding me?” I shot her a dangerous look as my cock pushed eagerly against the fabric of my trousers. “I haven’t been avoiding you,” she insisted. “I emailed you just the other day about the acquisition.” I scoffed and pulled one of her hands down and pressed it against my growth. “You’ve been

avoiding this.” She gasped and looked up at me with wide eyes as my cock pulsed against her hand. I could see the raw desire in her eyes and I knew she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me that the craze in your eyes is just my imagination.” “I...” She bit her lips. I couldn’t hold back any longer and pressed my mouth onto her lips and kissed her violently, releasing all the pent up aggression that’d built up in the last two weeks. I bit, pulled, and sucked her bottom lip, muffling her cries and gasps. Her breasts heaved against my chest and I knew she was trying to restrain herself but her desire for me was taking over. I pushed up her skirt and ran the tips of my

index and middle fingers up and down her pussy through her panties. I groaned in need as I felt her wetness gushing out through the lace fabric, drenching my fingers. “Tell me you don’t want this.” I pushed her panties aside and teased her clit with her juices. “Please,” she gasped as she arched her hips against my hand, encouraging me to enter her. “N— not here.” “But somewhere?” I dared her. “I—I don’t know. I really c—can’t.” Her voice was uneven as she flung her head back against the frosted glass and moved her hands up my back. “Please. Not here.” “I’ll stop now...” I leaned in and nibbled her earlobe. “But only if you will agree to have dinner with me.”

“No…” “Baby, you can’t leave me hard like this if you’re not going to agree to see me later.” “I didn’t do shit to you,” she managed to retort. “Just like I’m not doing shit to you.” I licked my lips and suddenly inserted my fingers inside her, causing her to gasp and squirm against my hand as her grip tightened on my back. “Please,” she whimpered. “Please b— before I...” I smirked. “Before you come all over my fingers? Or before you start begging me to fuck you up against this frosted glass wall?” Her labored breathing grew more violent as she quivered against me. “Oh fuck! Both!”

I smiled in satisfaction and removed my fingers from her pussy. “So you’ll have dinner with me?” I wasn’t sure why I was asking and not demanding. Her body convulsed as she tried to catch her breath. “Nothing can happen between us. I’d lose my credibility and maybe even my job.” I was taken aback by her honesty and felt an urge to take care of her and protect her. “No, just dinner. I promise I won’t do anything else.” She raised her eyebrows. “I find that hard to believe considering that every time I see you, you’re making advances on me.” “Well, can you blame me?” I snickered and licked my fingers slowly as I held her gaze. “You’re near impossible to resist, do you know that?”

“Well, that can’t happen again. Do you understand that?” She brushed down her skirt and straightened up as she moved away from me. “I’ll try to keep my hands off during dinner, but I can’t promise anything else.” “Fine. Just one dinner. But after that, you have to leave me alone. Nothing can happen between us. I don’t need you to fall recklessly in love with me.” There was a taunting, teasing tone in her voice, as if she was challenging me behind her words. “No promises.” I winked at her, and without another word, I opened the door and walked out of her office. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but when I heard her say the word “love,” it was almost as if a floodgate inside me was triggered open from that

word and a wave of anger, pain, and regret rushed through me. I don’t know what the fuck she’s talking about, but I sure the hell am not planning on falling in love with anyone. *** After a quick visit to the restroom to jack off to get rid of my hard-on, I knocked on the door to Trent Parker’s office. “Come on in.” I opened the door and saw Trent sitting at his desk waiting for me. “Ben, thanks for stopping by.” “Mr. Parker, thanks for inviting me.” We shook hands and I saw the seriousness in his eyes.

“Please, call me Trent.” He offered me a flat, polite smile, his face showing the fine lines of his thirty years of age. “Trent.” I nodded in acknowledgment. “So you’re probably wondering what my phone call was all about.” “Yes. I am.” He gave me a quick half smile. “Why don’t you have a seat, Ben. I’ll explain as much as I’m willing to divulge at this point.” I eyed Trent cautiously before taking a seat on the chair in front of his desk. “So what would you like from me?” “So as you know, most companies monitor all email communications through their email servers. While most don’t actually look through everyone’s emails, I decided to take a more

proactive approach as the Acting CEO of Parker, Inc. I took the liberty of going through some of Blair’s emails and noticed some of your email exchanges. I could tell she was very rude and unprofessional to you. While I don’t know what, if anything, had happened between you two, I want you to continue to pursue her.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and stared at him in silence. Is this some trap? Am I in trouble? “Don’t worry. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m even asking you to do this. You may even be wondering if I’m trying to test you and get you in trouble with your partners.” He threw his head back and laughed. “But rest assured, those are not my intentions. I promise you that I’m offering you an opportunity of a lifetime here that I believe will

benefit both of us in many ways.” “What sort of opportunity?” My curiosity was piqued. He laughed again and he gave me a crooked smile. “I knew you’d be interested in this opportunity.” “I won’t deny that I’m curious. So what’s this opportunity you’re offering me?” “That’s what I want to hear. As you know, Parker, Inc. is one of the highest-grossing corporations in the United States. I know that your firm wants to develop a long-term relationship with us. Right now we’ve only retained you to help us acquire some companies abroad. But I’m sure you know that we’ve been looking for one firm that could handle all of our legal needs for the future. As Acting CEO, I have the power to make your

firm our go-to firm. And on top of that, I’m willing to make you the originating attorney for all the cases given to your firm.” I drew in a sharp breath as I thought about what that would me. Making me the originating attorney for all Parker, Inc. cases would not only guarantee me a percentage of all the money the firm would get paid by Parker, Inc., but getting such a big client for the firm would certainly ensure that I’d be made a partner of the firm in three years. “So if that isn’t enticing enough, I’m ready to talk to your partner and demand that you be made a partner of the firm this coming year as a condition to making your firm our go-to firm.” Next year?! I’d only be a fifth-year associate. A fifth-year associate becoming a partner at one of the most prestigious law firms

in the US is unheard of. “That would be an amazing opportunity, Mr. —I mean, Trent.” “I knew you’d think that.” His mouth curled into a wide smile, revealing his pearly white teeth. “But...” I paused, surprised that I’d be hesitant when I was offered the biggest opportunity of my life. “What exactly do you want from me?” He chuckled. “So I can tell from the emails and from the way you’d looked at Blair at our meeting a few weeks ago and at the Halloween party that you find her attractive. I don’t care if you like her or not. All I’m asking from you is to pursue her and start a romantic relationship with her, and at some point in the future, I’m going to ask you to make your sexual relationship with her public.”

“Why would I do that and jeopardize my job?” What he was asking me to do seemed outrageous and irrational, especially when he was also asking me to be the originating attorney for the firm. “Don’t worry. We won’t need to make it public to your partners. I just want a certain group of people to know.” “Who?” “That doesn’t concern you—” “The hell it doesn’t,” I interrupted. “You’re asking me to sleep with a client and to then make it public to some group of unknown people. Do you know what you’re asking me to do is unethical and could get me disbarred?” “Trust me. It will not get to that point. I’ve looked at your resume and your past work

experiences. I know you’re more than qualified to handle our cases and I have no ill will toward you. The only thing I want is to take Blair down and force her out of Parker, Inc.” “But I don’t understand. She’s your sister!” “Half-sister.” His face twisted in disgust. “And that’s none of your concern. I have my reasons. The only thing I need to know from you is, will you do it? Will you help me take Blair down?” I thought about his words and his offer, and what this all meant. I looked at him and smiled. “I’m in. I’ll help you.”

CHAPTER THREE Blair Twenty Years Ago “I found Sophia, Blair." Trent handed me my favorite Cabbage Patch Kids doll. I blinked through my tears and grabbed Sophia and clutched her tightly in my arms. “Where did you find her?” I asked through my sniffles. “It was underneath your bed. She must have fallen under there when you were sleeping.” He reached over and wiped the tears from my face. “You don’t need to be sad anymore.” I beamed at him and extended my arms to

hug him. “You’re the best brother ever.” He hugged me back tightly. “I’m your big brother. It’s my job to protect you.” I looked up at him and frowned. “Will you always protect me?” He put his arms on his hips and raised his chin in a Superman stance. “Of course! You’re only four. But I’m ten. I’m a man now. It’s my job to protect my baby sister.” “Promise?” I looked up at him hopefully. “Yes. I p—” “Trent, honey?” We both looked up in time to see his mother’s head pop into the room. “Hi, Mom.” “Hi, Trent’s Mommy. Trent found Sophia for me. He’s the best.” I lifted Sophia up to show her.

Beth glared at me and looked over at Trent. “Trent. Come on. Let’s go home.” Trent frowned. “Can I stay for a bit longer? Cindy said I could stay for dinner.” “Yup. I heard Mommy tell Trent he can stay for dinner.” I looked hopefully at Trent’s mother, hoping my corroboration was enough to convince her that Trent was telling the truth. “Please? Can we stay? We can have dinner with dad, Blair, and Cindy.” “Pretty please!” I squealed. “No. We have plans. I dropped you off here for the weekend based on the arrangement your father and I have. I’m supposed to pick you up now, so let’s go.” “But, Mom, it’s just dinner.” Trent went over to his mother and pulled on her sleeve.

“No is no. Don’t test my patience, Trent. You know that’s not good for anyone.” Trent looked to the floor and mumbled, “Fine.” He walked over to me and gave me a hug. “See you next week?” I hugged him back as tightly as I could, trying my best to hold back the tears. I was always sad see to him leave and wished he could stay with me forever. I used to ask my mother if he could live with us, but she said that it wouldn’t make Beth happy and told me to never ask again. “Yup. See you next week.” He walked toward his mother. Then I remembered something, and raced after him and gave him another hug. “You haven’t promised!” “Promised what?”

“To always protect me.” He smiled. “I promise.” I giggled and felt so happy to hear that. “I’ll miss you.” “Me too. Take care of Sophia while I’m gone.” “Okay, I will. I promise.” I beamed at him. “Okay, that’s enough.” Beth grabbed Trent’s hand. “Come on, we gotta go.” I frowned as I saw them disappear down the hallway. From my room, I heard their distant voices fade into the background as they turned the corner. “What did I tell you about being nice to her?” Beth scolded Trent. “But, Mom, she’s my sister. I love her.”

“Don’t you dare love her. She’s the daughter of the bitch who stole your father away from us.” I looked at Sophia and sniffled. “Sophia, do you know why Trent’s mommy doesn’t like me?” Sophia looked back at me blankly. I wrapped my arms around her and wished I didn’t feel so alone. ***

One Year Ago Dark, threatening clouds rolled through the sky as I felt the first drops of rain on my black dress. “Honey, don’t forget your umbrella.” My mother handed me the umbrella from the car. “Thanks, Mom.” I wrapped my arms around her arm and leaned in and whispered. “How’s Dad

doing?” She sighed. “You know how he is. He likes to keep things in and not let on when he’s sad. But I can tell he’s taking Beth’s death pretty hard.” I frowned. “Are you okay with that?” She looked at me and gave me a sad smile. “Of course. When you get older, you’ll realize that sometimes relationships and emotions are complicated and messy. Even though they got a divorce a few years before we got married, they were married for five years and they had a son together. So I know there’s a part of your father that will always love her.” Her words struck a chord with me, and something that Beth had said years ago when I was a child rang in my head. I knew this wasn’t the best time to ask, but for some reason my curiosity took

a hold of me. “Mom?” I looked at her tentatively. “Yes, honey? What is it?” “Did you meet Dad when they were still married?” She sighed and looked away and nodded. I bit my lips as I debated what to say next. “Did you…?” She looked at me with a pained expression. “No, I didn’t even meet your father until after they were separated. But we did start dating shortly after their divorce was official, and sometimes I wondered if Beth blamed me for their failed marriage.” I knew the answer but held my tongue. She shook her head in regret. “I wished we were closer. I always tried to keep things civil and

make us all feel like one big happy family as much as possible, but I always felt like she resented me and questioned my actions. I wish I had tried harder. But now she’s gone…” I squeezed her hand and tried to comfort her. She let out a deep sigh and forced a smile. “At least our problems didn’t cause a strain on your relationship with your brother. I’m glad that you two get along.” “Yeah, I’m glad, too. He’s great to me. I just feel so sad for him right now. I know he was very close to his mother, and she was so proud of him when Dad made him the Vice President of Parker, Inc. last year.” “Yeah, he’s a good kid. He’s bright and a hard worker. According to your dad, he’s been doing a great job as VP.”

“He has.” I smiled, feeling a sense of pride for Trent. “How does he treat you?” There was a faint look of concern on her face. “What do you mean?” “Well, since he was made VP, he’s your boss. Does he treat you fairly at work?” I laughed. “Come on, Mom. Of course he does! He’s my brother.” “Half-brother,” she reminded me. “That doesn’t matter to me.” I looked at her, confused by her concern. “I know it doesn’t for you, but Beth was never very kind to you. You know me, I’m just always concerned that Trent would adopt those feelings.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. Trent’s great to me. In fact, sometimes he treats me better than my colleagues, and I wish he wouldn’t.” I gave her a reassuring smile. I saw her face relax. “That’s good to hear.” By the time we got to the graveyard for the funeral service, the rain was pouring down on us. “I see Trent over there. I’m going to go check on him before the service starts.” “Sure, honey. I’ll wait here for your father.” I walked the fifty feet to where Trent was standing by himself with his face down. “Hey, Trent.” I reached for his shoulder gently and leaned over to give him a hug. His body was limp and unresponsive. When I stepped away and got a better look at him, a wave of alarm washed over me. His face was stone cold and

aged. There were dark rings under his bloodshot eyes like he hadn’t slept for days. “How are you doing?” “How the hell do you think I’m doing?” His grim expression caused a shiver to run down my body. I winced at his curt response but tried to ignore it. “Is there anything you need?” “Yes, I need to mourn over everything I’ve lost.” He glared at me and the dark emptiness in his eyes scared me. I frowned at his words. I wasn’t sure why, but at that moment, I felt like something had changed with him—he felt like a complete stranger. I took a deep breath and tried to remind myself that this was Trent—my brother Trent who had always been there for me. I had nothing to be

scared about. “You still have me.” I reached over to give him another hug, but to my surprise, he backed away. “I don’t have anyone,” he spat. His words were cold and distant, and I knew something was definitely wrong. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, Trent. But please know you have me, our dad, and my mom. We all love you, and we’re here for you.” “Like I said, I don’t have anyone,” he said between his teeth. “I’m alone now. So leave me the fuck alone.” He turned his back to me, causing the rain that was falling on his umbrella to splash onto me. I stepped back and whipped off the water pellets from my black dress. “But I’m your sister

—” “As far as I’m concerned, I have no sister.” Before I could object, he walked away from me to greet a group of new arrivals, leaving me standing there in shock. I had no idea what had happened, but for some reason, the day Trent had lost his mother, I had lost him as a brother. So under the downpour of rain, I mourned for my own loss as everyone else mourned for the loss of Beth. ***

Present Day “You look beautiful.” Ben smiled down at me as he leaned in for a hug. I backed away before he could touch me and reached out my hand. “You said this would just be

dinner. We have a professional relationship, so let’s keep it that way.” He snickered and cocked an eyebrow. “I’m pretty sure we have both a professional and personal relationship. I’m not sure a handshake will suffice.” He grabbed my hand and shook it, and then to my surprise, he pulled me into his hard chest. I inhaled sharply as I felt his muscular arms tighten around me. “Now this is much better,” he whispered in my ears, causing a tingle of pleasure to cascade down my body. The longer he held me, the more I felt my resolve to keep my distance from him waiver. After a few seconds, I finally managed to push him off me. “You promised.” He shot me a smoldering smile that left my knees weak. “By now, you must know that I’m not

great with promises.” “Well, try. Or else, I can just leave now.” I turned away from him, ready to hail down a taxi. “Fine,” he said quickly. “I’ll try. Now, come on, our reservation is waiting.” I turned back to him and smiled. “Thanks.” We walked inside Prubechu, an unassuming restaurant in the Mission District. “How did you hear about this place?” I looked around the small restaurant. It was located in a questionable block of town and the simple decor wasn’t something I thought fit Ben’s personality. I’d thought he’d want to go to some upscale five-star restaurant. He laughed as he saw the uncertainty on my face as I looked around the restaurant when we sat

down. “Don’t underestimate this place. It just opened a few months ago and the food here is simply amazing. Plus, it’s Guamanian food, which is unique and not something you find often, even in a foodie city like SF. They even import a lot of their ingredients directly from Guam, and everything is executed well and the flavors are like nothing you’ve ever had before.” I looked at him and realized I was seeing a side of him that I’d never have thought could exist. This guy had passion, and for something other than sex. And to my surprise, he was right. The food at Prubechu was incredible. After an hour, and a few cocktails, I found myself lost in our easy and natural conversation and completely forgot who he was and who I was. “No, you’re lying.” I giggled.

“You wanna bet? I totally can touch and cover my nose with my tongue.” He stuck out his tongue and curled it up and over his nose. I laughed so hard, my sides started to hurt. “Stop!” I begged as I tried to breathe. He finally lost it and started laughing himself. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at me and flashed me a warm smile that caused my stomach to flip. “You know what?” “What?” I asked breathlessly. “I love the way you laugh. It’s contagious.” I smiled back at him. So many thoughts and emotions whirled inside, and against all reason, I felt myself let down my walls. “Can I admit

something?” “Sure.” He leaned in from across the table and placed his hands on mine. My breath caught and I felt my heart pound violently against my chest. I look a deep breath. “So you probably know that I agreed on meeting you for dinner tonight because I was trying to get you off my back. I wanted to try to convince you that what happened between us was a mistake and that it’d never happen again. I needed you to believe me, and I thought getting the chance to sit down with you in a public place would give us a chance to talk things through.” He laughed. “I had a feeling that was the case.” He then paused and licked his lips. “And has that changed?” There was a seductive smirk on

his lips as his fingers moved slowly up and down my hands, causing every hair on my arms to stand up in excitement. I nodded, unable to speak. All I could concentrate on was how turned on I was by his simple touch. “So what do you think now?” “I…I don’t know.” I looked down and broke our eye contact, unable to think when I looked into his eyes. “I think you’re an interesting person. And…” “Interesting enough to date?” He intertwined his fingers with mine and began to seductively massage my palms with his thumbs. At that moment, I couldn’t speak. I could barely think. All I could do was nod. My chest heaved at the intense pleasure of his rough thumbs

circling rhythmically against my skin. I wished we were alone in this restaurant. I wished he hadn’t made that promise to me. I wished this wasn’t just a dinner. “I’m taking you back to my place tonight.” My eyes widened as I saw the hunger burning in his eyes. “I…we shouldn’t,” said the small part of me that was still resisting his charm. Suddenly, I felt his legs go between mine from under the table, and I gasped when he spread them apart with one swift movement. The couple at the neighboring table looked over with a confused look. Ben turned to smile at them before looking back at me. “I’m taking you back now.”

“Okay,” I finally gave in. Ben pulled out his wallet and threw some money down before pulling me from my seat and leading me out the door. In the few minutes it took us to walk to his car, I felt a surge of anxiety and excitement course through me as I thought about what was about to happen. I knew that sleeping with my lawyer could get me in a lot of trouble, but I felt like I was in too deep and there was no turning back. We’d already slept together, so why cry over spilt milk? When we got to his car, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I opened the door to his back seat and pulled him in with me. “I need you now,” I begged as I lay against the cool leather seats. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that all

night, baby.” He pulled down his pants and boxers, and his erection sprung out to greet me. I gasped in pleasure as he led my hand to his cock. “Can you feel how much I’ve been waiting to be inside of you?” “Yes! And I want you inside me now, Ben. I want you to make love to me now.” Suddenly I felt his body stiffen and his expression changed. Instead of climbing on top of me, he pulled his pants up and turned his back to me. “What’s wrong?” There was a long pause before he turned back to me. “I made a promise to you. We shouldn’t do this tonight.”

“Oh.” I tried to hide the disappointment and rejection I felt inside. “I do want to see you again,” he added abruptly. I heard a reluctance in his voice, and I wonder what had just happened. “Come on. Get in the front seat. Let me take you home.” “Okay.” I was relieved that it was dark out and he couldn’t see how red my face was at that moment. Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up in front of my row house. To my surprise, he turned off the engine and turned to look at me. “I’m sorry.” I heard the sincerity in his voice, which only added to the confusion that was building up inside. “Why are you sorry?” “I let things get too far tonight…I led you

on.” There was a pause as I tried to think through my confusion. “That’s okay. I encouraged you.” He gave a small chuckle. “I instigated it.” “Can I ask you something?” I looked at him tentatively. “Sure. What is it?” “Why are you still single?” “I like being single,” he said immediately. I saw him tense up, and knew I shouldn’t have asked him that. “Oh. So—” “Hey, can I ask you something?” he cut in abruptly. “Uh. Sure.”

“What’s the deal with you and your brother?” “Oh!” His question caught me by surprise. It was the last thing I thought he was about to ask. “You mean Trent? Why do you ask?” There was a brief pause before he said, “No real reason. I was just curious. I saw your interaction with each other at the meeting a few weeks ago, and I didn’t get the sense that you two are close. With you two working together every day, I thought you’d have a closer relationship.” “I…” I was a bit surprised by his forward question, and even more surprised by his intuitiveness in seeing the distance between me and Trent. I was about to tell him that it was none of his business, but when I looked over at him, I saw

something in his eyes that comforted me, and I wasn’t sure why, but I felt compelled to tell him about Trent. “He’s my half brother. We share the same father but had different mothers. A few years after our father’s divorce from Trent’s mother, he married my mother and I was born a few years later. Trent and I were pretty close growing up, but ever since his mother passed away last year, he’s been very distant. Our father lived with me and my mother and not with Trent and his mother. So his mother was probably the most important person in his life. I can’t imagine how much pain he must have gone through when she died suddenly. But ever since her passing, his grief seemed to change him completely, and we’re no longer close like we used to be.”

“I see. How do you like working with him?” I frowned, unsure of why Ben took interest in my relationship with Trent. “I’m not going to lie. It’s a bit strained at work. But I think he’s just trying to be a good acting CEO, so he tries to treat me like any of the other employees. Neither of us expected our new positions at Parker, Inc. But with our father’s sudden stroke, we both had to step up and manage the company. So he took over our father’s responsibilities, and I took over Trent’s old ones. I’m really hoping that with all the extra time we spend together at work, we can somehow mend our relationship.” I looked over at Ben and noticed him deep in thought. “Why do you ask?”

“Huh?” He looked at me and I saw a flicker in his eyes that left me feeling uneasy. “Why are you curious about me and Trent?” “Oh. Um. No reason. I just have a feeling I’ll be working with you two a lot in the future, so I wanted to get a little bit of your backgrounds.” He flashed me a smile. “Nothing to worry about.” “Okay.” He leaned over and kissed me on my cheek. “Well. Good night. I had a nice dinner with you. I’d like to see you again.” “I’ll think about it.” I got out of the car and turned back to look at him. He smiled up at me and waved before driving off. I wasn’t sure why, but I had a feeling that there was something he wasn’t telling me. Something told me that there were secrets about him that I haven’t yet figured out.

CHAPTER FOUR Ben Nine Years Ago A wide grin was freeze-framed on my face during the entire one-hour flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was Thanksgiving Day weekend, and I’d been anxiously waiting and planning for this weekend for the last few months. I smiled at the thought of finally holding Katherine in my arms and kissing her. It had been a busy semester of school for her, and I hadn’t seen her since the start of the fall semester three months ago. She said she was going to be swamped preparing for finals during this holiday weekend,

so we hadn’t made plans to see each other during the break. But I had a surprise for her. A big surprise. I realized in the last three months we were apart that we’d been together for more than four years, and it was the right thing to do for me to take the next step in our relationship. She was my first serious relationship, my first love, and my first lover. It felt right that she should be the future Mrs. Chase. I touched the breast pocket of my blazer where the box was and tried to breathe as anxiety crashed through me. I heard about how nerveracking proposing to someone could be, but I never thought it’d feel like this. I had excited nerves running through me but I also felt sick to my stomach.

This was the natural next step in our relationship. This is probably what she’s been waiting for, I continued to reassure myself as I got off the plane. When I collected my luggage at baggage claim, I called her cell phone to surprise her and to see where she was at so I could tell the taxi where to go. But after a few rings, I only got her voicemail. I tried again. Nothing. Then I texted her and told her to call me back as soon as she could. After fifteen minutes, she still hadn’t texted or called back. “Shit, she must be studying somewhere.” She’d often become unreachable when she studying in the library and had her phone on silent.

I paced back and forth as I waited for her to call me back. Then I remembered I had the number to her landline in her apartment from a while back. I pulled up that number and dialed it. After two rings, I heard a click and a female voice answered on the other end. But it wasn’t Katherine’s voice. “Is Katherine there?” “Katherine?” I heard the confusion in her question and I immediately checked my phone to make sure I dialed the right number. “Yes. Katherine Fox. Aren’t you her roommate?” “Um, I was her roommate, but not anymore.” “What? What do you mean not anymore? Did you move out?”

“Me? What are you talking about? No, I didn’t move out. Katherine did when she moved away. Like at the beginning of the semester. She transferred schools.” My mind whirled at her words. “What do you mean transferred schools? She didn’t mention this to me! Where did she go?” “She transferred to San Francisco State University in SF so that she could to be closer to her boyfriend who’s at UC Berkeley.” “What? She did?” Anxiety began to spread through me as I tried to comprehend what this could all mean. There was a long pause before she finally spoke. “Who is this again?” “It’s Ben. Katherine’s boyfriend.” “Um. I’m sorry, but maybe you have the

wrong number.” There was hesitation in her voice, increasing my anxiousness. “No, I don’t have the wrong number. This is —or was—Katherine’s number. Why the hell would you say I have the wrong number?” I felt my nerves bubbling up inside me. “Because her boyfriend’s name isn’t Ben,” she replied matter-of-factly. My body froze and my stomach twisted uncomfortably as I tried to digest her words. “Hello? Are you still there?” she asked after a few seconds of silence. “What’s her boyfriend’s name if it isn’t Ben?” “It’s really none of your business, but if you really must know, it’s Gibson.”

Gibson? My fraternity brother? Could it be the same Gibson? “And you said he goes to Berkeley?” “Yeah. They were dating long distance for about six months before she moved. She said she couldn’t stand only seeing him twice a month.” “They saw each other twice a month?” At this point, fury overtook the shock that consumed every fiber in my body. “Yeah.” She giggled, completely oblivious to my shock. “They’re so into each other, it’s pretty cute. They alternate their visits with each other so they can see each other every two weeks.” I drew in a deep breath, trying to stay calm so that I could think through everything she’d said. “So you’ve met him before?” “Yeah, of course. Pretty much once a month

when she was my roommate. That’s why I’m sure you’ve got the wrong number because her boyfriend’s name isn’t Ben. It’s definitely Gibson.” “Right.” That was all I could utter without lashing out my anger at her. “Okay, well, I gotta go. I hope you find the right number—“ “Wait!” I stopped her before she hung up, knowing that I needed to ask her one more question. “Is this Gibson about six feet two with blonde hair and green eyes?” “Yeah! How’d you know?” “Lucky guess. Thanks for your help. Bye.” I hung up on her before she could ask me any more questions. I stood motionless outside the arrivals area of the airport for another fifteen minutes, stunned

by this new revelation. The box inside my breast pocket felt heavy and painfully hot against my chest. Rage and pain overtook my every thought. She’s been dating my fraternity brother and close friend right underneath my nose. She’s been living in San Francisco for the last six months without even telling me. Just then my phone started to ring. It was Katherine. My body stiffened as I answered the phone. “Hello?” “Hi, baby. I saw that I missed your call. What’s up?” I took a deep breath and steadied myself before responding. “Nothing much. Just wanted to call and say hi and see what you’re up to.” “Oh. Just studying. The usual, you know?”

“Where are you?” “Just at the library.” There was a hint of hesitation in her voice. “Oh, yeah?” “Yup.” There was a pause and then I thought I heard a muffled giggle. “So what are you up to?” “I’m on my way to the library to see you,” I lied. There was silence on her end. “I’ll be there in five minutes,” I added. “Wait, you’re in LA?” she finally asked. “Yeah, I’m here. I wanted to surprise you.” I felt my blood boil over at how stupid I’d been for not seeing the signs. “W—why, I mean what are you doing in LA?”

“I wanted to see you. Isn’t that enough of a reason?” I challenged. “Uh. Yeah, of course, but…” “But what?” “I’m…I’m not in LA.” My jaws tightened as I heard the truth come out of her mouth. “Where the hell are you then?” I heard her inhale sharply when she heard the harsh tone in my voice. “What do you mean?” Her fake innocence grated against my waning patience. “I spoke to your old roommate in LA. She told me everything.” There was a long stretch of silence and I

heard a distant muffled conversation in the background. “Cut the fucking crap, Katherine! Tell me the truth!” I felt myself snap as I gave in to the rage that engulfed me. “Do you really want to know the truth?” Her calm and casual tone fueled my anger. “Yes, I’d would like to know the fucking truth,” I barked back at her. “Well, finally. You’re finally being an asshole.” “What the hell are you talking about?” She sighed as if I was the last person on Earth who didn’t get the joke. “You’ve always been too nice. Too accommodating. Too blah! We’ve never argued, and you’ve never gotten mad at me, even when I’ve done things or acted in a

way where you should have.” “That’s because I love—loved you!” She snorted. “Who are we kidding? You still love me, but right now, you’re just too fucking hurt to admit it. I’m sorry, Ben. I know I’m being a royal bitch right now, but I really just couldn’t hold back my feelings for other men anymore—men who had some balls, who showed some manly emotions. What I’ve been waiting for and craving all through our relationship was for you to push me up against the wall, ignore my resistance, and fuck the shit out of me. I want a strong, aggressive man who can take control. I want passion! And let’s face it, that’s the one thing you’re missing.” “So you decide to fuck my friend? My frat brother?” I spat out. “We’re not just fucking! We’re in love. Can

you accept that?” “No, of course I can’t fucking accept that! Are you serious?” I heard her sigh as if I was being unreasonable. “Look, Ben. Can I be honest with you?” “Well, that’d be a refreshing change. Sure, why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” I felt bitter and vengeful for the way she’d treated me. “Ben, I think deep down, you know we’re not right for each other. We want different things, and our personalities clash. I know we’ve been together for a long time, and in the beginning, we did love each other. But in the last year or so in college, I feel like we’ve drifted apart. I think we’re both changing and growing up, and ultimately we want different things. Look, I’m

sorry that I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry that Gibson is your fraternity brother. But I’m not sorry that I fell in love with him.” “Do you seriously think this is making me feel better?” She sighed again. “Look, I’ve learned one thing through all this. Ben, sometimes the most important things in life will happen when you least expect it. So who knows, maybe someday you’ll meet the most important person in your life on some seemingly ordinary day without even knowing it. I mean, that’s what happened to me when I met Gibson. I wasn’t seeking him out or looking for another relationship. But it just happened.” Her words stung me more than I could bear. “Shut the fuck up, Katherine! Just shut the fuck up.”

“Come on, Ben. We can still be friends.” “The hell we can! I don’t ever want to see you again, you fucking whore!” Before she could respond, I hung up on her and turned off my phone. A wrath of fury crashed through me as my hand gripped tightly around the phone, revealing the whiteness around my knuckles. I reached for the box that burned against my skin. I looked at the box and for the first time in my life, I saw myself for who I was: the biggest fucking fool in existence. Without another thought, I threw the box into the nearby wastebasket. As I walked back inside the airport, I made a vow to myself. I hadn’t just thrown away a ring inside of that box. No, I’d thrown away much more

than that. Along with that box, I threw away the last four years of my life—the person I was, the hopes I had for the future, and all of the emotions that had brought me to this point. From now on, I wouldn’t let any woman fool me again. From now on, I wouldn’t believe in love. From now on, I would be a changed man. ***

Present Day I must be the only person in the world who hated Thanksgiving. To everyone else, it was a time of love, reunions, and thankfulness. But for me, it was a time of darkness, betrayal, and regret. So I was not in the greatest mood on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving when Damian had convinced me to have dinner with him and Liamis.

As I sat at the bar area of the restaurant waiting for them to arrive, my mind wandered to the one person that’d consumed my mind in the last month or so. Blair. I wasn’t sure how she’d gotten under my skin, but she had. But I couldn’t allow myself to accept the feelings that I seemed to have developed for her. I couldn’t allow myself to be vulnerable the way I had with the Blonde Bitch. I couldn’t allow myself to become a weak, blind fool again. “Hey, buddy!” I turned around to see Damian walking over with Liamis, who was carrying Isabella in her arms. “It’s been too long, man.” I gave Damian and Liamis a hug before we were ushered to our table.

“So how are you?” Damian asked after we placed our orders with the waiter. I shrugged. “Eh. Nothing much to report.” Damian raised his eyebrow and snorted. “I know that look, and it ain’t nothing. What’s the problem? Girl trouble?” I forced a laugh. “You know I don’t do girl trouble.” “Are you sure, Ben?” Liamis looked at me with doubt in her eyes. Then she looked over at Damian and smiled. “Damian claims he didn’t have any girl trouble until he met me, and look at him now.” She leaned over and Damian kissed her. “God, you two are too much. Don’t ruin my appetite.” Damian chuckled. “Come on, dude. You’re thirty years old. I know that Katherine—”

“Don’t call her by her name. She’s the Blonde Bitch to me.” “Language, Ben.” Liamis motioned to Isabella, who had a crayon in hand and was making circles on what looked like a Frozen coloring book. “Oops. Sorry.” “Okay, I know the Blonde Witch really messed you up in college, especially when the other guy was Gibson. I still can’t believe they both did that to you. But dude, that was almost a decade ago. It’s really time to get over that.” “I enjoy being single.” I watched as Damian and Liamis looked at each other, and it was almost as if they were communicating to each other with their eyes. “So who’s the girl?” Damian finally asked.

“You can tell us, man. We’ve been good friends for over ten years.” “She’s a client.” “Oh,” Damian and Liamis said together. “It’s not a big deal,” I said quickly. “I don’t even know if I’m really interested.” Damian laughed. “You’re interested if you’re saying that.”

definitely

I groaned. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.” “So what’s the problem?” Liamis asked. “I don’t want to be interested in her.” “Why not?” Liamis looked confused. “Because I enjoy being single. It’s not complicated and you don’t have to worry about someone else’s actions and feelings.” Damian shook his head. “Dude, I know this

is going to sound nuts—especially coming from an asshole like me.” “Damian!” Liamis berated her husband and glared at him as she gestured at Isabella. “Oh, right. Sorry, babe. But she’s only one. She doesn’t know what that means.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on, you promised. We need to get into the habit of not using those words now or we won’t be prepared.” “Yes, Mom.” Damian playfully nudged her with his arm. I saw the hurt expression flash in her eyes. Apparently, Damian saw it too. “Hey,” his voice softer than before, “Sorry. I didn’t mean that. You’re right.” He reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly. She met his gaze and the hurt and annoyance that were once on

her face immediately melted away like they were never there to begin with. In their place was a smile on her lips. As I watched Damian lean down and kiss her forehead, I found a part of me yearning for the closeness and love that they had for each other. As if hearing my thoughts, Damian turned to me. “Anyway, I know this may sound crazy coming from me, but I think you should go for it with this woman. Who cares if she’s your client? I haven’t seen you dwell on a single woman before until this one. Who knows? She may be the one.” I snorted and rolled my eyes. “That’s just crazy.” “Ben, seriously. You know I use to be like you. I know how you think. I want to tell you now that you’re wrong, just like I was wrong. You think

love is a weakness, a burden that you have to carry. But you’re wrong.” He turned to look at Liamis and then at Isabella. “Love is strength. It’s possibly the strongest thing that could exist. It can shape you, change you, and guide you to be a better version of yourself. And being loved by those that you love…well, there’s nothing like it. It feels incredible.” I watched Damian look at the two loves of his life, and I saw something I’d never seen in him before Liamis came into his life. There was a gleam in his eyes that I’d never seen before. He seemed to be happier than I’d ever seen him. Do I want that? *** After my dinner with Damian and Liamis, I felt more confused than ever. I thought I knew what

I wanted. I thought I knew what I wasn’t willing to give to any woman. I thought that after the Blonde Bitch had ripped out my heart, I had nothing left to give to another woman. But when I watched Damian’s and Liamis’s interactions with each other, when I heard what they had to say, something had shifted inside me. I wasn’t sure what all this meant, but I knew that I had to see Blair in person to figure it out. I drove to her place and parked. I looked at my Rolex. It was 8:35 p.m. I wondered if she was even home as I knocked on the door. Anxiety churned in my stomach as I heard footsteps walking toward the door from inside. My breath caught when I saw her standing in front of the doorway in a simple white T-shirt and shorts. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and it

looked like she had just returned home from an evening run. She looked gorgeous, and I had a feeling she didn’t even know it. “Ben? What are you doing here?” Her question took me by surprise, because it was the same question I had for myself. I didn’t know why I was there. I didn’t know why I needed to see her. All I knew was that I had to. “I…” Our eyes met and all I could think about was how amazing her eyes were. “I just wanted to see you.” My honesty must have caught her by surprise. “I thought I would never hear from you after you turned me away last week.” Behind her sarcastic teasing, I knew I had hurt her that night. She had opened up to me and I had rejected her. A pain I’d never felt before

radiated through my chest as I realized that I had caused her pain. I closed the distance between us and walked up to the doorframe. I wrapped my arms around her waist and felt her body tense in my hands. I leaned in and whispered, “I’m not ready to let go of you.” “But…” I put a finger to her lips to quiet her. “Invite me in for some coffee.” Her chest heaved as she drew in a deep breath. I smiled at how her body responded to my suggestion. “But you rejected me…” she continued to resist. She walked backwards into the house, and I followed, closing the door behind me. “I was stupid for doing that.” I grabbed her

and pulled her back into my arms. “But now you know how I felt every time you tried to reject me.” I smirked as I devoured her with my eyes. “But you deserved that,” she threw back, her eyes challenging me as she bit her lips. Catching her by surprise, I grabbed her hair at the nape of her neck and pulled her toward me. I licked and nibbled her earlobe. “Well, baby, let me show you exactly what you deserve then.” She gasped as the heat of my words teased her ear and neck. As she arched her pelvis against the throbbing growth in my jeans, she moaned and ran her fingers down my back. I moved us to the living room and lowered her to the couch as my mouth explored hers. My hands moved under her shirt and immediately found her breasts. She cried out as my fingers

flicked and twisted her nipples. “We really shouldn’t,” she begged again as she writhed underneath me. “It’s not a good idea for either of our careers.” “Maybe we can work something out?” I looked at her and wondered if she was really more important than my career. “Blair, I think there’s something here, something worth fighting for.” Her eyes glistened when she heard my words. “I…” “Shhh,” I insisted. “For tonight, let’s just be Ben and Blair. Let’s just be two strangers who met without any obligations or ties to one another. For just tonight, let’s forget I’m your client and you’re my lawyer.” I pulled off her T-shirt and bra, and took one of her breasts into my mouth. I heard her whimper

as my tongue circled, sucked, and flicked her erect nipple. In response, she quickly unbuttoned my shirt and jeans, and reached inside my boxers to pull out my rock-hard cock that was begging for its release. I threw my head back as her feather-like touch along my shaft seem to ignite a raw desire in me that I’d never felt before. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her at that very moment. “God, baby. I need to taste you now.” I reached for her shorts and with one swift yank, I pulled her shorts and panties down her legs. “Fuck!” I groaned as the sweet aroma of her scent hit my senses. “I need you now,” she began to beg as she grabbed my hands and guided them down her stomach toward her pussy.

My eyes grew wild with desire the second my fingers reached her warm wetness. I couldn’t hold back any longer. I grabbed her legs and spread them apart as I bent down between them. “Some say I have a fucking sharp tongue. Why don’t we put it to good use?” She whimpered as her hips moved up toward me in agreement, desperate for me to taste her. Needing no encouragement, I started kissing up her leg toward her pussy. I felt her body tense up and move beneath my tight grip as my five o’clock shadow brushed along the side of her inner thigh. When I reached my destination, I wasted no time and began to devour her pussy with my mouth and tongue. I smiled as I felt her sweet spot quiver in my mouth. Like putty in my hands, I thought to

myself in triumph. As her pussy began to tighten violently against my tongue, I knew she was close to coming. I immediately stopped, emerging from her pussy with her juices all over my face. “I’m not ready to give you what you want. I’m not ready for you to come yet, baby.” My cock throbbed in agreement. “My cock wants you all for itself.” She gasped as her eyes landed on how large my erection had become for her. “He can have me all for himself,” she said breathlessly. I reached for a condom from my jeans and put it on. “Are you ready for me, baby?” “Yes!” To my surprise, she grabbed me and pulled me onto the couch. “I want to ride you until you groan out my name.” My breath caught at her words. “Is that a

promise?” She nodded as her lips curled into a dangerous smile. She hopped on top of me and eased herself on top of me. “Baby, when I make a promise, you better believe it’ll happen.” I threw my head back as intense throes of pressure greeted me as she rode me like no woman had ever ridden me before. Within minutes, I reached my climax and felt my body spasm uncontrollably. “Fuck yeah, Blair! I’m coming.” “Yes, come for me.” I felt her purposely tighten her pussy around me as she moved faster up and down my cock. “You better fucking come with me, baby.” I grabbed her hips to take control over the situation and began to thrust up deeper inside her pussy in time with the movement of her hips.

Finally, I felt her convulse around me, encouraging me to pump into her even harder and faster until we both found our release. *** Half an hour later, I was still wide awake as I listened to Blair’s soft, deep breathing against my skin as her body was wrapped around mine. As I watched her peacefully sleep in my arms, I knew that she trusted me now. I knew that this was exactly what Trent wanted. I knew that this was when I had to make my decision about what to do next. I reached for my phone from the coffee table and sent Trent an email. To: Trent Parker

From: Ben Chase Re: Opportunity Trent, We need to talk as soon as possible. Ben Chase, Esq. Associate William & Sutter LLP. To

my

surprise,

immediately. From: Trent Parker To: Ben Chase, Esq. Subject: Opportunity

Trent

responded

Ben, Great to hear from you so soon. I look forward to hearing about your progress. Stop by first thing in the morning. Trent Trent Parker Acting CEO San Francisco, CA When I put the phone down, I wrapped my arms around Blair and wondered if it was possible for me to live without her in my life.

CHAPTER FIVE Blair The distant sound of a door closing woke me up. As my eyes fluttered open, my body registered the sweet ache and soreness left behind from last night. “Ben?” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I got up from my bed. When I walked into the kitchen, my stomach growled as the smell of Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, and bacon hit my senses. Instead of finding Ben, I found a note next to the breakfast he had made me.

Blair, my Sleeping Beauty, Last night was incredible. I’m already craving for our next coffee break together. I hope it’s soon, and I hope it’s even stronger. ;) In the meantime, I thought you’d like some breakfast to give you some energy in preparation for our next meeting. Eat up so you’re ready for whatever I throw your way. Don’t underestimate me. I had to leave for an early meeting, but I’ll call you later. Hugs, Your Coffee Extraordinaire

I beamed at the note and reread it several times as I slowly savored the delicious breakfast Ben had made for me. A part of me was afraid to believe that this could actually work between Ben and me, but there was something about him that I couldn’t resist. There was something about him that excited me, and I knew I wanted more of whatever I was feeling—no matter the cost. *** When I walked into the office, I felt a rare glee and excitement that I hadn’t felt in as long as I could remember. The air felt more crisp and fresh than I remembered. The sun seemed to shine brighter than I remembered. Everything seemed to be a bit rosier than I remembered. I grinned as I thought about Ben as I rode the

elevator up to the floor of my office. “Mr. Parker is ready to see you,” I heard the receptionist say as the elevator door opened. “Thank you.” I froze when I heard his voice in the hallway. Why is Ben here? Why does he have a meeting with Trent? My heart raced as I thought of all the possible reasons he’d be here, and every possibility that came to mind was not a good one. Could it be possible that he set me up? Is he about to tell Trent something? Somehow I snapped out of my temporary paralysis and decided to follow Ben. I waited a minute to make sure he was already near Trent’s office before I proceeded out of the elevator and toward Trent’s office. I walked quickly past Trent’s office and snuck into the small conference

room on the other side of his office. With the door closed behind me, I grabbed a glass cup and placed it against the wall of Trent’s office. “I can’t do this,” I heard Ben’s muffled voice say. “What the fuck are you talking about?” “I can’t set up Blair.” I covered my mouth as a gasp escaped my lips when I heard Ben’s words. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but it was clear that my brother and my most recent lover had been colluding together, and somehow, I was the target. My jaw clenched as I realized how stupid and gullible I’d been, and how easy I’d allowed Ben to weasel himself into my life. “Have you fucked her yet?” I heard Trent ask.

Why does he want to know this? What’s going on? There was a silence and I held my breath, waiting for Ben to betray me. “I’m only here to tell you that I’m not going to take you up on your offer. I’m not here to tell you anything else.” “You’re making a big fucking mistake here, Ben.” “Well, that’s a big fucking mistake that I get to make, and not you.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe that Ben wasn’t going to tell Trent anything. “Does she mean that much to you that you’re actually thinking about giving up this opportunity for you and your firm? Do I need to remind you of

how much is at stake here?” What’s at stake here? I wondered. What is Trent trying to do here? “No. Don’t waste your breath trying to remind me.” There was a short pause. “And to answer your question. Yes. She’s really that important to me. If you really must know, I didn’t know how I felt about your sister before. But when you made me the offer that day, you forced me to confront my deepest feelings, the ones I’ve buried and locked away inside me for almost ten years. I didn’t know how much I actually cared for her until you forced my hand. But because of you, I now know the truth. She could possibly become one of the most important people in my life. She makes me feel more alive and happy than I’d remember ever feeling. I would never do anything

to hurt her. So thank you for making me face this reality.” Tears streamed down my face as I digested Ben’s words. I had wanted to believe that he had genuine feelings toward me, but a part of me wouldn’t let myself believe it. But now, hearing his words, his real feelings were confirmed, and I felt a surge of happiness grow inside me. “You’ve really disappointed me, Ben. I thought you had the potential for greatness. But you’re just another pussy-whipped fool. Now get the fuck out of my office! Tell your partners at the firm that after this acquisition deal is said and done, don’t ever expect another piece of business from us.” I heard Ben storm out of the office. “Fuck!” Trent screamed as a pile of papers

flew across the room. Then he picked up his phone. “Jane, cancel all my meetings today. I’m taking the rest of the day off and heading to the golf course. I need to get away. You can take the rest of the day off too after you’ve cleared my calendar.” *** I waited an extra thirty minutes after I heard Trent leave before opening the conference room. I walked past Jane’s cubicle, which was in front of Trent’s office, and found that she had also left for the day. Against my better judgment, I opened Trent’s office door and snuck inside. After that conversation I had just overheard between Trent and Ben, I knew there was something Trent wasn’t telling me, and I was going to find out what it was. I needed to know why he had tried to recruit Ben to

sleep with me. I began to rummage through every drawer and cabinet, looking for something—anything— that’d tell me what Trent had against me. Just as I was about to give up, my hand hit a large envelope in the back of the bottom cabinet of his credenza. I immediately pulled the envelope out. It was a letter-size interoffice manila envelope that was closed with a red string. The only thing written on the envelope in bold was “Trent Parker.” I knew that I was invading Trent’s privacy, but after everything I’d overheard just moments ago, I knew I needed to get to the bottom of things. I needed to find out the truth. That was the most important thing to me at that moment. Before I could change my mind, I opened the envelope and took out its contents. There were

only a few documents, but the two that caught my eye was a letter and a birth certificate. I looked at the birth certificate first. “What the hell?” I whispered. My father’s and Beth’s names were listed under “Parents’ Names” and March 12, 1983 was listed as the “Date of Birth.” This document looked like it was Trent’s birth certificate, except there was one problem. Under “Sex” on the birth certificate, it didn’t say male. It said female. What does this mean? Confusion and shock whirled inside as I flipped to the other document that caught my eye— the letter. It was a handwritten letter from Trent’s mother.

My dearest Trent, By the time you read this letter, I will have already left this world. Please do not be sad for me. Know that I will always love you. Know that ever since you were put in my arms that day you were born, everything I’ve done have been for you. There’s no one else in this world that I love more than you. Please do not ever forget that. Please try to remember that as you read through this letter. There is a secret I’ve been hiding from you. I hope you can understand how difficult the situation was for me, and I really hope you do not hate me for keeping this from you. It is a secret that I’ve kept since you were seven. It was the last thing a mother wanted to hear and I had

to make a choice, and I chose you. It is a secret that a part of me wanted to take with me to my grave. But after a lot of thought, I realized that you deserve to know. You have the right to know the truth. Your father doesn’t know the secret. We were already divorced and living apart by that point and he was too busy with Parker, Inc. and his new daughter Blair to care. I am telling you now through this letter because I want you to know. I am also leaving it up to you to decide what you want to do with this information. Whatever you decide to do, know that I’m behind you 100%. Trent, when I was in labor the day you were born, there were complications and I had lost a lot of blood. I had to be rushed into surgery

immediately after I gave birth. They were also short staffed that night at the hospital and my nurse was delivering two babies at the same time. In all the chaos, she made a huge mistake. It was a mistake that changed our lives forever. When you were born, she put the wrong tag on you. She told us you were my baby. But it wasn’t until you fell off your bike when you were seven and needed surgery that they discovered an inconsistency in your files. After some digging, the hospital told me that you were not my son. They told me that you were switched at birth and belonged to another family. I was in shock and was beyond devastated by the news. They gave me the number to the other family. I waited several weeks before calling that family and after many long discussions over the phone, we made a

choice. It was a very hard choice, but I believe it was the right one. We each decided to keep the child we’d been given, the child we’d loved for the seven years, the only child we knew of. We decided to keep it a secret and keep it from you and the other child. The hospital sent us the corrected birth certificate as well as documents with the other baby’s information. I’ve included both documents with this letter in case you ever wanted to reveal this secret. Trent, I love you very much. Please believe that. No matter where you came from, I will always be your mother, and you will always be my child. Love always, Your mother Beth Preston

I reread the letter three times before the words finally sunk in. Trent wasn’t my half brother. We weren’t related at all. Now everything seemed to make sense. That day at the funeral—that day when Trent and my relationship changed, that day when he became a complete stranger to me—that was the day when he found out the truth about this secret about his life. Was this why he’d been so cold to me since her death? Was this why he’d been trying so hard to get rid of me? “He was switched at birth,” I whispered. My body tightened as I flipped through the remaining papers and found the document I was looking for: the document containing the other baby’s information. An audible gasp escaped my lips as I read the document.

I didn’t have a half-brother after all. I had a half-sister. “I have a sister.” My voice came out in a soft whisper, and it sounded foreign to me. I felt a mixture of shock, excitement, and happiness as the idea of having a big sister sunk in. A wistful smile spread across my face as my eyes focused on the birth name listed on the document. This was my sister’s name. Katherine Fox.

The Chase Volume Three

PROLOGUE Ben Fate is a twisted, unexpected son of a bitch. When I met her, I thought I finally had it figured out. I thought I finally understood what I’d been searching for. I thought I’d finally taken back control of my life. But Fate stepped in to remind me who was in control. It threw me a curveball when I least expected it. It made me question everything. It made me realize that what I had thought was within my grasp was only an illusion—just Fate’s sleight of hand to delude me into believing that I could find happiness. But like any illusion, when you got

too close to what it was you thought you had, it vanished into thin air. When the Blonde Bitch broke my heart ten years ago, I vowed two things: One: I would never waste my time on loving someone again. Two: I would never have anything to do with the Blonde Bitch again. When I met Blair Parker, my 736th notch, I broke that first vow. The minute I saw her, the second our eyes met, the microsecond I tasted her in my mouth, I knew that this was the one vow I had no choice but to break. But the second vow, that one I would keep. That vow I had no doubts about. That vow I had control over. That vow I would take to my grave. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Fate had other plans in store for me. Fate was in on a cruel joke, and I was its target. Everything I knew was about to crumble down on me. Everything I wanted was about to slip away from me. And the one relationship I cared the most about would never be the same again.

CHAPTER ONE Ben I had gone into Trent’s office feeling a sense of dread. I had worried that I’d leave his office full of regret for what I was about to give up. But I had been wrong. As I left his office, all I felt was an unusual jubilation—almost like a drunken high that coursed through every fiber of my body. To my surprise, I was relieved. A heavy weight had just been lifted from my shoulders and I could finally breathe again. Giving up the chance to become the youngest partner at William & Sutter LLP had been a difficult decision to make. But I knew it was the right one. It may have been an opportunity of a

lifetime, but I knew it wasn’t one I could take. If I had gone through with Trent’s wishes, it would have taken things from me that I knew I could never get back: my integrity, my self respect, and any real chance I may have with Blair. As much as I wanted to be made a partner at William & Sutter LLP, I wanted to make it on my terms and based on my hard work. I didn’t want to be another man’s puppet. I walked passed Blair’s office and looked inside. It was empty. I reached for my phone and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail. I glanced at my watch. 9:49 a.m. Where is she? She should be here by now. I pulled up my phone and did a quick search and found her personal email address and sent her an email.

To: Blair Parker From: Ben Chase Subject: Surprise Miss Parker, After the way you “opened up” for me, I’m sure you don’t mind that I took the liberty of finding your personal email. While you previously indicated that you’d like to keep contact at a minimum and formalities intact, I believe those eight hard inches you had so much fun with last night must have changed your position on that, no? ;) Plus, I must insist that we make our contact more informal and more often. After all, my cock’s found a home in a tight, warm place owned by you, and I’m afraid that if it can’t

be at home more often, it’ll go crazy. I’m sorry I had to leave this morning before you woke up. But when I saw you sleeping there, you looked so peaceful, and oh so very hot, I just knew I shouldn’t wake you. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t even that I was being nice. It was more that I knew that if I did wake you up, I’d be an hour late for my appointment because I wouldn’t be able to resist being inside you again. And as you know by now, what my cock wants, it gets. Now that my meeting’s over, want to make it up to me? ;) Ben & Homeless Cock P.S. I hope you enjoyed the breakfast I’d slaved over this morning for you. I imagine that it was the most amazing home-cooked breakfast

you’d ever had. Welcome to Chase Café. I refreshed my inbox several times in the next few minutes, expecting her usual lightningspeed response. But to my surprise, nothing. As the minutes turned into hours with no reply from her, I began to wonder if I had read everything all wrong. Was she really not that interested in me? Was she about to blow me off again like she had before? I spent the rest of the morning in my office trying to lose myself in work. That usually kept my mind busy and off everything else. But even that didn’t help. I couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything for longer than a few minutes before checking my email to see if she had responded. It wasn’t until early afternoon when I went

across the street to Peet’s Coffee & Tea to grab my afternoon coffee that her response finally appeared in my inbox. I nearly spilled the coffee on myself as I stared at my phone in shock. I immediately opened her email to read her response. To: Ben Chase From: Blair Parker Subject: Do I need to file for a restraining order? Mr. Chase & Homeless Cock, I realize that I might have underestimated you. I thought I had seen you at your cockiest. But now I stand corrected. Your cockiness is seriously without bounds. Also, I hate to burst your bubble—

especially as it appears to be so grandiose and imaginative—but you’re wrong. Those “eight hard inches,” as you put it, have not changed my position on things. In fact, your cock should really refrain from claiming something as its home before it has actually secured the keys to the front door. Perhaps this is why it’s, as you put it, homeless. :) BUT something else has indeed changed my position on our predicament. It was something I heard this morning. Now, you seem to be a man of many talents —one of which appears to be your ability to stalk. Quite honestly, I never knew a stalker would be so incredible in bed. Do your stalker capabilities extend to obtaining phone numbers

too?

Blair & A Home Up For Grabs P.S. Thanks for the breakfast. It was indeed the most amazing home-cooked breakfast I’ve ever had. I read the email several times with a huge grin on my face. Does this mean she’s willing to spend more time with me and see where things go? And what’s this thing she heard? Just as I was about to pull up a web browser on my phone to try to find her number, a voice interrupted me from behind. “Excuse me? Do you mind moving a little to the side? You’re taking up half the cream and sugar stand.”

“Oh.” I blinked and realized I had lost track of where I was the second I had received Blair’s email. “Of course. Sorry.” I grabbed my coffee from the counter and walked out of the coffee shop. As I walked back toward my office, I began to search for Blair’s number on my phone. I found it after a few minutes, listed on her LinkedIn account. I smiled as I called the number, anxious to hear her voice. “Hello?” she answered after two rings. “Now how about those keys to the front door?” I heard her giggle on her end. “Wow, you’re good.” “You make it too easy, baby. So, are you impressed now?” She laughed. “Of course not. I’m not easily

impressed. Should I be?” I smiled at how much I enjoyed her feistiness. “Yes, you most definitely should be. In fact, you should be so impressed that you insist that I deserve an award for my efforts.” “An award? Please elaborate.” I could hear the relish in her voice as she played coy. “I was thinking something more informal and in-person.” “And private?” she asked with amusement. “Baby, I don’t need it private. My cock can find its home anywhere.” I heard her quick intake of breath and I knew she wanted me. “So when can I see you again?” I asked when she didn’t respond.

“Well, actually, there was something I wanted to tell you and I’d like to do it in person.” “Oh, really?” “Yeah. Are you free for some coffee?” “Baby, after how many times I’d made you come last night, you know I’m always free for some coffee.” She laughed. “Ben, get your mind out of the gutter. When I said coffee, I meant coffee.” “Oh.” I felt a bit deflated. “Yup,” she continued, “like the dark, tiny brown bean kind…not the long, thick, and deliciously pink kind.” My cock immediately perked up as a smirk spread across my face. “Fuck, I’ll be honest here. That long, thick, and deliciously pink kind just got

a whole lot longer, thicker, and deliciously juicier.” “I’ll bet,” she taunted, and I could almost see the satisfied smiled on her face. I chuckled. “How about this? Let’s compromise: let’s grab both kinds of coffee. You name the time and place, and I promise you that we will both come in more ways than one.” She let out a barely audible gasp. “Could you be ready to meet in half an hour?” I looked down at the growing bulge below and threw my untouched coffee into the nearby trash bin. “I’m ready now.” “Oh.” She paused. “So am I. I’m home now, so do you mind meeting me at the Blue Bottle Coffee in Hayes Valley?” “I’ll be there in ten.” Just before I hung up

on her, I spotted something. “Wait!” “What?” I heard the alarm in her voice. I smiled. “What is your favorite kind of flower?” I walked over to the flower stand in front of my building. “Why? Are you getting me flowers? I never pegged you as a flower-giving type of guy.” I snickered. “No, you wish. They’re not for you. I just remembered that it’s my secretary’s birthday today and I still need to get her something. Thought since you’re a woman, you probably can pick out better flowers than I could.” “Oh.” There was a brief silence. “Right. Well, I think roses get too played out. I personally love a bouquet of wild flowers. Many florists will have a selection of them. I love how different and unique they are.”

“Great. Got it, thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.” “Of course. No problem. I’m happy to help.” “So see you in ten?” “Yup. See you.” *** “Hi!” She beamed at me the minute she spotted me. “You fucker! You lied to me!” she screeched as she playfully hit my chest. I laughed as I handed her a bouquet of wild flowers. “So I lied.” I leaned down and kissed her gently. “But can you really be upset over getting surprise flowers?” She grinned. “Well, when they’re coming from a stalker like yourself, I think the answer is

yes,” she teased. “Ouch! Way to break a guy’s heart.” I pretended to be hurt by her comment. She slapped my chest again and beamed at me. “I’m just trying to bring your ego level down to that of a normal guy.” “Good luck with that. It’ll take a lot more than words to do that.” I pulled her into my chest and kissed her again, this time deeper and longer as my mouth explored her sweet, supple lips and tongue. I felt her body melt into my arms as she kissed me back. When we finally pulled away from each other, I smiled down at her. “So, now that I have you all buttered up, why don’t we have some of that coffee?” I winked at her. She laughed and smacked my chest again.

“You’re just too much sometimes, do you know that?” I shrugged, my lips curled into a wry smile. “Better than too little.” She snorted with laughter and shook her head. “You’re so cocky.” “I’ve never gotten any complaints there.” I winked at her before taking her hand and walking us over to Blue Bottle Coffee’s counter. “Okay, have it your way. Let’s grab some of this real coffee now so we can get right to the other one, shall we?” A few minutes later, we were sitting on a bench in the nearby dog park, sipping our coffees. “So…” Blair began tentatively. She drew in a deep breath and looked over at me. “Can I tell you something?”

I sensed the seriousness in her voice and felt a wave of concern wash over me. “Sure. Of course. What is it?” There was a pause. “I know you went to see Trent this morning.” My body stiffened as panic prickled through me. She held my gaze and I couldn’t exactly read the expression on her face. But to my relief, there were no sign of anger or hurt. “When I got out of the elevator at work this morning, I saw you leaving the front desk to go see Trent.” “Blair, that’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I…I just wanted to find the right time to —” “Ben, you don’t have to explain.” Her tone was soft and understanding, causing me to relax a

little. “No, but I do,” I tried to reason. “I want to explain. I—” She placed her fingers to my mouth to stop me from saying anything further. “I heard everything, Ben.” “What do you mean?” I looked at her in confusion and alarm. “I was in the conference room next door.” Her cheeks turned a pale shade of pink. “You were? Why?” I studied her, wondering what was going on. “Were you there to listen in on our meeting?” She looked away and nodded. “You didn’t mention the meeting to me before, and I thought it was weird that you were there. So…my curiosity got the best of me.”

My head was swarming with questions as I stared at her. “So what exactly did you hear?” I asked tentatively. “Everything,” she admitted softly. “Everything?” Panic rushed through me again as I tried to think back to this morning and replay my conversation with Trent in my mind. She nodded. “I gathered from your conversation that Trent wanted to recruit you to get close to me and somehow help him remove me from the company. I heard everything you told him…” She looked up at me, her eyes full of emotion. “Did you mean everything you had said?” “I…” I paused, realizing that I wasn’t sure how to respond. Her question caught me by surprise. I knew that I had been straightforward with Trent, and everything I had told him was very

much the truth. But I hadn’t expected Blair to also hear my candid comments about my feelings towards her, feelings that were so new and foreign to me that they almost scared me. I wasn’t prepared for her to know how I felt. I wasn’t prepared to be this vulnerable, especially when I didn’t know what she was feeling. “I think so…” My answer caused her face to light up. She kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear. “You’re surprisingly sweet, Ben. Thank you for standing by my side. That earns you a nice cup of coffee later.” I laughed and smiled at her. “They say that the way to a man’s heart is food. I’m glad you know that for me it’s coffee.” She rolled her eyes and playfully smacked my chest a fourth time.

Then I frowned, feeling more confused than ever. Why is there so much distrust and animosity between Blair and her brother? “Do you mind me asking what’s going on between you and your brother?” “No, that’s what I wanted to tell you in person.” “Okay…” I watched her and I could see a mixture of excitement and anxiety in her expression. “I know we haven’t known each other for long, but for some reason, I feel comfortable with you. And quite honestly, I don’t know who else to confide in right now. I’m not ready to tell my family and friends about all this, especially when Trent is involved.” “That’s understandable.” I gave her a

reassuring smile. “Just tell me whatever you feel comfortable telling me.” She nodded. “So it might be hard to believe, but Trent and I used to be really close. He was always there for me. But when his mother passed away last year, he changed and turned into a completely different person. He became cold and distant, and sometimes I get the feeling that he resents me. But I don’t understand why he would. At first I thought this was just his way of grieving over the loss of his mother, but after a few months, our relationship didn’t get better, but got worse. And now we barely talk outside of work. So after your conversation with Trent confirmed that he had something against me, I wanted to know what it was. He was mad that you didn’t agree to help and left the office shortly after your meeting.” She

paused and bit her lip. “After he left, I decided to go through his documents in his office…” “You did?” She nodded and looked away from me. “And I found out why he’d changed since his mother’s death.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper. “What is it?” I took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “Trent’s not really my half-brother.” I stared at her for a second, trying to digest her words. “What do you mean? How is that possible?” “I found some documents. Apparently Trent’s mother purposefully left them for Trent when she passed away. So Trent didn’t know the

truth until a year ago.” “What kind of documents?” “There was a letter to Trent from his mother as well as Trent’s birth certificate and an old letter from the hospital where he was born. Apparently, there was a mix-up when Trent was born. He was switched at birth with my biological half-sister.” “What?” For a moment I thought I had misunderstood her words. “How could that have possibly happened?” “They were short-staffed that evening and neither set of parents wanted to know the sex of the baby before the birth. There were complications during both births and the wrong identification bracelets were placed on the two babies.” “So Trent’s not related to you at all?” I knew she had answered my question, but for some

reason, I needed to ask one more time, I needed to make sure I had this right. “No, he’s not. I have a half-sister out there somewhere, though.” “Wow. That’s just crazy.” I tried to process what this all meant. “Is this why he’s trying to push you out of the company?” Her brows furrowed in anguish. “I think so.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about him.” “What do you mean?” “Well, with our—my father in the hospital recovering from his stroke, it’s unlikely he’ll return to the company and become CEO again. I think Trent just wants to make sure I don’t somehow jeopardize his position as the CEO.” “Well, he’s a fucking asshole!”

She forced a smile. “I know I can’t overlook the fact that he’s been trying to sabotage my position at the company, but a part of me—the younger sister part of me—can’t help but feel sorry for him. I can’t imagine what he went through when he found out the truth. To find out your whole life was a lie…” “Still…there are better ways to handle this situation than to try to take over a company that’s not yours to begin with. He can’t get away with that shit.” “I know…but you have to understand, ever since he was fifteen, my father has been grooming him and preparing him to take over the company when he got older. Trent’s worked really hard to prove himself to my father over the years. I can’t imagine what he must have felt. Maybe he thinks it

was all for nothing.” She let out a deep sigh. “I know I need to remind myself of what Trent’s been trying to do. I know I need to handle this situation soon. I just need time to process my feelings.” I caressed her face, wiping away the tears that rolled down her cheeks. I kissed her forehead and whispered, “It’ll all work out.” She slumped inside my arms and mumbled, “I can’t believe I have a sister.” “I know. That’s crazy.” “Do you think I should try to find her?” “Hmm.” I tried to sort through my thoughts as I looked into her anxious emerald eyes. “Do you want to find her?” “I…I don’t know.” “Well, the good news is, you don’t have to

do anything at this very moment. I think you need to give yourself at least a few days to let this news sink in. This is a lot to take in, and you need to allow yourself to process everything before deciding on your next move.” She nodded in agreement. “Thanks for being here for me. I know you were hoping for something far less serious.” I snorted a laugh. “Perhaps, but I’m not a rabid horn-dog. I can fight off my urges when necessary.” She kissed me gently and smiled. “And here I thought I was irresistible to you.” “You are.” I winked. “I just know how to hide it well so I don’t scare you off.” She beamed at me and at that moment, I felt happier than I could ever remember being. I wasn’t

sure why, but there was something about Blair I felt connected to. Even though we’d only met less than two months ago, there was something about her that made me feel like I’d been connected to her for years.

CHAPTER TWO Blair Three Weeks Later “How is he doing?” I asked as soon as we were out of earshot of my father’s hospital room. Dr. Hines studied my father’s chart before removing his square-rimmed spectacles to look at me. “The good news is that now that your father’s out of the coma, he’s no longer in critical condition and can leave the hospital as early as next week.” “And the bad news?” I knew there was bad news by the expression on his face. “Well, from the latest CT scan and MRI, there appear to be some signs of brain damage

from your father’s stroke.” I gasped. “Is the damage permanent?” I quickly brushed away the hot tears that fell down my cheeks. “It’s too early to say what the lasting damages are at this point. Right now, he’s lost a significant part of his muscle movement on one side of his body, which has affected his ability to speak. He’s also suffering from some memory loss. These are common side effects of a stroke. Many patients make a good recovery and can regain most, if not all, of their movement and ability to speak. But please be aware that it’s a very long recovery process, and there may be some residual cognitive, behavioral, and physical disabilities. For now, let’s remain optimistic as we continue to monitor his recovery.”

“Okay. Thank you, Dr. Hines.” I slowly walked back to my father’s hospital room as I took in the news. I was relieved that he had finally woken up from his coma. He’d been in a coma since his stroke three months earlier. But it was hard not to continue to worry about what this could all mean. I wanted to desperately tell him about Trent and what he was trying to do, but I also didn’t want to worry him at this point when he needed to rest and time to recover. “Here are some ice chips,” came Ben’s voice inside my father’s hospital room. I heard my father’s garbled speech as he tried to respond, and my heart broke at the sound. Just as I was about to walk into the room, Ben’s words stopped me. “You don’t have to worry, Mr. Parker.”

There was a sincerity in his voice that I’d never heard before. “Just focus on taking care of yourself.” I wasn’t sure why, but I took a step back and stood beside the wall next to the doorframe of my father’s room. “B—Brrr.” I heard my father’s attempted words and I shut my eyes, trying to keep the tears at bay. “Yes, Blair,” Ben responded softly. “Y—yyuu? B—buh…f—ffrr?” Ben let out a warm chuckle. “Mr. Parker, nothing gets past you, does it? Well, Blair and I haven’t exactly talked about it, but just between you and me”—he lowered his voice—“yes, I’d like to think that I’m her boyfriend.” “G—good.” He let out a labored sigh.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of her. All you need to think about is getting enough rest and having a speedy recovery. I’ll take care of the rest.” I smiled and blinked back the tears as I listened to Ben’s conversation with my father. I always wondered if there was a deeper side to him beyond his cocky, aggressive exterior, and now I knew. This was a side of Ben I’d never seen before. It was a side of him he didn’t show me, but I could see now that this was the real Ben. I waited for a minute after their conversation stopped before walking through the door. “Hey, I’m back.” “Welcome back.” “How’s it going?” I smiled at my father. Half of his face responded and formed into a tired

smile. “Is Ben bothering you, Dad?” “Hey, be nice!” Ben laughed. “Your dad was telling me how much of a brat you were as a child. I see that you haven’t changed a bit.” “Don’t put words in my dad’s mouth, asshole,” I teased. “He would never say that about me.” I made a face at Ben. My father’s laugh came out low and uneven, but I could tell he was in a good mood. “Well, I hate to leave, but I really need to get back to the office.” Ben got up. “It was great meeting you, Mr. Parker.” “B—Bill.” Ben smiled. “It was great meeting you, Bill. Don’t forget what I said. Just focus on taking care of yourself.”

“Dad, I’ll be right back.” I walked Ben out of the room and into the hallway. “Thanks for taking the morning off and coming to the hospital with me.” I buried my face into Ben’s warm embrace, feeling more at home with him than I could remember with anyone else. “Thanks for helping me with my Christmas shopping. I’m awful at it. My family will probably ask me who helped me with it.” “And what are you going to tell them?” I looked up at him. He leaned down and gently kissed my nose. “That I have a wonderful girlfriend.” I beamed up at him, amazed at how incredible those words had just made me feel. I felt myself sink deeper into his hard, warm chest as

I inhaled his inviting scent. “I’m glad you met my dad today,” I whispered against his chest. “Me too. I can tell he means a lot to you.” He kissed me on the forehead and tightened his arms around me. “Yeah.” I paused and felt ashamed for even thinking it. “Am I a selfish person to wish that my dad never had the stroke so he could be dealing with the mess with Trent?” Ben’s face twisted in anguish. “No, of course not. That’s not an easy situation to be in. Have you told your dad yet?” I shook my head. “He’s already sick. I don’t want to trouble him with this too right now. I know that I need to confront Trent about this, and sooner rather than later. I need to make sure my father’s company and my family are protected.” I felt a

pang of guilt as I thought of Trent as an outsider, a stranger who was trying to take advantage of my father and our family. “Do you know what you’re going to do?” “Yeah, I think I’m going to talk to Trent tomorrow.” Ben raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me there to help?” I smiled and shook my head. “No, I think I need to talk to him alone.” “Okay, if you change your mind, just let me know.” “Thanks, boyfriend.” I winked at him, causing him to let out a hearty chuckle. “And have you decided on what you want to do on the sister front?”

“Yup, I have.” I grinned. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to find my long-lost half-sister.” “That’s great. I’m glad you decided to go for it.” A smirk appeared on Ben’s face. “What?” I smacked him playfully, knowing he was up to no good. “What are you thinking?” “It’s nothing.” He made no effort to hide his amusement. “Spill it, pal.” I crossed my arms and tapped my foot impatiently, pretending to be upset. “Or else all we’re having this week is regular coffee.” “No!” He laughed. “Fine. Jeez, you sure know how to threaten a guy.” He shook his head. “I was just thinking what it’d be like to have two of you around.” He licked his lips and arched an eyebrow. “That’d be pretty hot.” “You asshole.” I hit him again, but this time

harder. “I was just teasing, baby,” he protested against his laughter. “You’re already a handful. I don’t need—or want—two of you.” I raised a finger at him. “My sister is off limits. Don’t get any funny ideas if I find her.” “Scout’s honor.” He raised his first three fingers. He pulled me back into his arms and whispered in a low, raspy voice. “Baby, I only have eyes for you, and you’re the only one I want. I’m just happy that you’re going to try to reunite with your long-lost sister.” I finally gave in to him and laughed. “I know you were just teasing.” I pulled him in for another kiss. “Do you really think I’ll be able to find her?” He squeezed me reassuringly. “I do.”

*** I took a deep breath as I approached the door to Trent’s office. I reminded myself that he was not the big brother I once knew. He wasn’t looking out for me anymore. He was a complete stranger. I tightened my fist and gave his door two firm, confident knocks. “Who is it?” I looked inside to find him typing away at his desk without bothering to look up to see who was at the door. “Trent, we need to talk.” His fingers continued to rapidly move across the keyboard. “What is it?” His voice was cold and dismissive. “I’m really busy right now.

And aren’t you already behind on your work?” I drew in another deep breath. “Trent, I know everything.” The typing stopped as he froze in place. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he immediately asked when he regained his composure. “I found the documents in your office. I know about my half-sister, Katherine.” He let out an audible groan as he glared at me. “You went through my stuff?” “Yes, I did.” I felt my cheeks flush at this admission. He stood up from his chair and slammed his hand onto his desk, his eyes ablaze with rage. “How dare you sneak into my office when I’m not

here! Who the fuck do you think you are?” The feelings of guilt I had for confronting the older brother I loved were quickly replaced with indignation. I took a step closer toward him and met his gaze. “I’m the only fucking person in this office who’s a real Parker. That’s who the fuck I am!” I challenged. For a second, he just stared at me, shocked by my confrontation. “Why were you looking through my stuff?” “You’ve been distant and cold since your mom died, and I know about your communications with Ben. I know you tried to recruit him to get close to me and sabotage my position in the company.” “He told you that?” “Why do you hate me that much to ask him to

do that?” I asked, ignoring his question. He turned his face away from me and I saw his jaw tighten. “Because you have it all and I have nothing! You have the family, the company, the money! When I found out I was switched at birth, I went to go look for my biological parents. Well, guess what? Just my fucking luck, they’re already dead! And they left nothing! They lived in a tiny two-bedroom shack with an underwater mortgage that they hadn’t even paid off when they died. So while you have everything you could ever want, I have fucking nothing in this world. And do you know what the fucked up thing is? You don’t even really want to work in this business! You’re just doing it to make our father happy!” “So you tried to get me kicked out of the company because you resented me?” I looked at

him with a mixture of disgust and pity. He snorted back a laugh. “Isn’t that enough of a reason?” “But why didn’t you just tell us when you found out a year ago? Do you really think we’d shut you out like we’re strangers? Trent, we’ve been so close all these years. How can you think that I’d turn my back on you?” He struggled. “You’re your father’s daughter. Dad never really cared for me. My mom was right. After he married your mom, he left us and didn’t look back. He only supported us financially and saw me when needed so he could keep up with appearance and avoid bad PR for the company.” “How can you say that, Trent? I know Dad has been a lot tougher on you than on me, but that

was because he loved you. He wanted to push you to work hard. He wanted to groom you into an even better CEO for the company than he was.” “Whatever. That’s a bunch of horseshit! He loved you, Blair. He treated you like a daughter. He treated me like a commodity, a tool for his company. That’s not fucking love.” I felt enraged for my father. I couldn’t believe Trent would make him out to be a heartless man who didn’t care about his one and only son. “I can’t believe you can stand there—as acting CEO of this company, as the son of our father, as my brother—and say those things about him! I can’t believe you want to kick me out of the company! And for what? So you can keep this secret of yours intact?” “Fuck the secret! I’m still the acting CEO of

Parker, Inc., and from what I hear from the doctors, our dear old father will not be fit to return to his role as CEO, making me the CEO of the company. There’s nothing you can do about that!” I felt myself boil over with anger. I fastened my gaze on his and gritted my teeth. “I almost forgot to tell you. I made copies of all the documents I found in your office. The letter from your mom, the birth certificate, the letter from the hospital, and all the supporting documents that were in that manila envelope. I’m sure if our family lawyers got wind of this information, you would no longer be CEO of Parker, Inc.” “That’s fucking bullshit! I’ve worked my ass off to get to this position, I earned my place here! You and I both know very well that our father didn’t give me any special treatment. In fact he was

tougher on me than he was on anyone else.” “He’s not your father!” I spat out. But the second I saw him flinch at my words, I wished I hadn’t opened my mouth. In that brief moment, I saw a glimpse of the older brother I once knew and loved. But in the blink of an eye, he was gone again. “Have you told your father about this yet?” I bowed my head and looked at the floor. “No. No, I haven’t.” “Are you going to?” His tone softened slightly as he studied me. I thought about his question before answering him. “I don’t know,” I admitted. He frowned. “Then what the fuck do you want from me? What’s your end game?”

“At this point, I just want you to know that I know everything. I want to warn you not to try anything that would jeopardize this company or my position in it.” He looked away from me and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window that faced out into the Financial District of downtown San Francisco. “I admit, I did want you out of this company, especially after I found out that I wasn’t Bill Parker’s son. But trust me when I tell you that I have no intentions of harming this company. I’ve worked too damn hard for this company to want to ruin it.” “Thank you.” I kept my voice flat and stern as I turned and headed out of his office. “That’s all I needed to know.” He didn’t try to stop me, and he said nothing

else as I walked out of his office and down the hall toward my own office. As I neared my own office, I finally allowed the small smirk that had been itching to appear on my face. I let out a long sigh of relief as my hand reached for the small tape recorder in my suit jacket pocket. I stopped the recording and rewound it to check that it had recorded our entire conversation. “When I found out I was switched at birth, I went to go look for my biological parents. Well guess what? Just my fucking luck, they’re already dead! And they left nothing! …I admit, I did want you out of this company, especially after I found out that I wasn’t Bill Parker’s son.” I knew this was what I had to do to protect Parker, Inc., to protect it for my father. This, with

the documents I had photocopied, would be enough to protect us if Trent ever overstepped his boundaries. *** An hour later, I was still coming down from the rush I had gotten from my successful confrontation with Trent. Ever since I had found out about his secret three weeks prior, tight knots of anxiety had been twisting and turning inside me. But the second I had left Trent’s office with the recording, I felt lighter and happier as the knots began to unravel inside me. I wasn’t sure why, but I had the urge to see Ben at that very moment. “Hey, you. How’s your day?” came his voice on the other end of the line. “Hi, I’m good. Really good, actually.”

“Oh?” “Are you in your office today?” I asked as I walked down the hallway of William & Sutter LLP toward Ben’s office. “Yeah, but I’d much rather be somewhere else. Where are you?” I stifled a giggle and felt relieved that he couldn’t see the wide grin on my face. “Just walking around. So…where would you rather be?” My voice trailed off into a whisper and I heard the meaningful chuckle from his end of the line. “Well…there’s a tight, dark place that I’d like to be inside of. It’s always warm, inviting, and wet when I visit…” He paused and I slowly drew in an uneven inhale of breath. “And even though I was just there last night,

it wasn’t enough. I think I need to take permanent residence inside there ASAP.” I felt my stomach flip in excitement and my legs picked up the pace as I closed in on the door of his office. “So what do you plan to do inside there when you go next?” “Mmm.” I could picture him licking his lips as he thought about my question. “Well, first, my fingers will want to do some exploring and get the place even more wet and inviting…And then, there’s my mouth and my tongue. They will want to taste every inch of the honey walls…” I let out a low moan and grinned, knowing the effect it had on him. “God, you’re such a tease! I want to fuck you now!” he grunted in frustration, causing me to smile triumphantly.

I got to his door and saw him in his chair facing the window. “What if you can fuck me now?” I asked into the receiver. He inhaled sharply as he whipped around, his eyes filled with lust. “Baby, you just made my day.” He stood up and I gasped as my eyes grew wide at the sight of his erection through his pants. I walked inside his office and immediately closed the door behind me. “It doesn’t take much to get you excited, does it?” He chuckled. “What can I say?” He pulled down his pants, and his rock-hard erection sprung out to greet me in high salute. “I’m business on top, party on the bottom.” With three strides, he was standing inches in front of me. “Now let me show

you exactly where I want to be right now.” “I’ve missed him,” I whispered as my eyes were transfixed on his erection. “And he’s missed you.” The hot breath of his deep, raspy voice tickled the sensitive skin on my neck and I arched my chest toward him in desire. I felt his strong, callused hands push back my blazer, revealing my sheer ivory blouse. He slowly unbuttoned my blouse, purposely lingering at each button as he watched me become increasingly impatient under his touch. Finally when he unhooked my bra, I heard him inhale sharply and saw his eyes blaze with lust as they landed on my nakedness. “You’re so fucking hot.” He grabbed my breasts with both hands and guided them into his mouth, one at a time. I gasped as his mouth inhaled

me, his tongue expertly flicking and nibbling on my rock-hard nipples. “Baby, I’m hungry too,” I moaned impatiently as I pushed him against the edge of the desk and got down on my knees. I grabbed his erection with my hand and felt its power within my grasp. “God, you’re always rock hard and ready for me.” I could see the frenzy in his eyes as I gently traced the outline of his cock with my fingertips. I watched his reaction to my every move, relishing in the growing desire spread across his face. Without warning, I wrapped my hand around his shaft and moved it up and down his length. “Fuck!” he roared as his head jerked back in pleasure. I looked up at him and a wide grin spread

across my face before my lips curled around him and slowly and eagerly inhaled the entire length of his cock. He let out a loud, primal roar as my tongue worked its way up and down the back side of his cock in synchronization with my lips. His eyes glowed with smoldering pleasure as I moved more rapidly around his erection. “Fuck, baby! I love your wild side. Your mouth feels so fucking incredible.” His voice was strained as he convulsed each time my tongue reached the tip of his cock. “I can’t hold on much longer,” he groaned hoarsely. Instead of stopping, I moved up and down the length of his cock faster and deeper as I began to deep throat him. “Fuck, you’re pushing me over the edge

soon!” he roared in ragged breaths. That was when I stopped. “No. I want you to come inside me,” I demanded. Taking my cue, he pulled me up and lifted me up against the side of the desk. In one swift movement, he pushed several stacks of documents off the desk and laid my back onto the desk. “You’ve gotten me so turned on.” I gave him a devious smile. “I know.” I snickered. “That was the point. I like to see you turned on because that gets me so wet.” “Now it’s my turn, baby,” he said in a low, hoarse voice. I writhed under his touch as I felt his hands slowly run up the length of my legs—from my ankles to my knees to my inner thighs, where I felt his thumbs linger at the edge of my opening. Our

eyes met, and as he held my gaze, he moved my feet up to the edge of the desk and spread my knees wide before him. “Fuck, you’re so wet,” he groaned when he saw my pussy. “And you smell incredible.” He lowered his face down between my legs and I felt him inhale deeply. Then he spread my knees farther apart, and I gasped as his mouth began to devour me, causing my whole body to quiver in pleasure. He licked and twirled and tasted me, and it didn’t take long before I arched my convulsing body against his tongue and found my release. “Wow! That was amazing.” I pulled him up to kiss me, my lips tasting my juices from his mouth. “I taste incredible from your mouth.” “You taste incredible. Period.” He grabbed my hand and pressed it up against his throbbing

cock. “Fuck, you’ve gotten me so turned on. Can you feel how hard I am for you?” “Yes, I feel that all right.” I pulled out a condom and pulled it down onto his cock. I smiled up at him. “But I want to feel all of that inside me.” “God, you’re amazing,” he groaned. I guided him to my entrance and welcomed the entire length of his cock deep inside me in one slow and hungry thrust. I tightened my grip around him and watched in delight as he threw his head back in pleasure. “Fuck! Blair, you are so tight! You feel so fucking amazing.” He grabbed my hips and started pounding into me. Slowly at first, but with each additional thrust deeper and harder, pushing out uncontrollable gasps and moans from my lips. I gripped his broad, muscular shoulders, digging my

nails into his skin as I moved my hips in time with his thrusts. After several minutes of sheer bliss, my muscles began to clench around him uncontrollably. “God, I’m about to come,” I gasped as I looked up at him. “Fuck, me too!” he growled as he drove harder into me as his entire body began to convulse. Seconds later, we both reached the brink of ecstasy.

CHAPTER THREE Trent Twenty Years Ago “Trent, I can’t find Sophia!” Blair’s cries made me jump. I pulled my gaze from an episode of Power Rangers playing on the television and looked at Blair. Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks as she rushed into the living room. “Don’t worry, Blair.” I gently patted her back to calm her down. I hated to see her sad. “I will help you find her.” “You will?” She looked up at me through her bright, hopeful eyes as her shoulders moved up

and down with her ragged breathing. “Yup!” She sniffled and looked at the television screen. “But—but this is your favorite show. You said you’d hate me if I bothered you when it’s Power Ranger time.” “I was just trying to scare you. I can never hate you. You’re my sister.” She beamed up at me. “Promise?” I nodded. “Promise.” She flung her tiny arms around me and hugged me tightly. “So what was the last thing you did with Sophia? Do you remember?” “Ummm.” She made a face, showing me that was she thinking hard. “I was telling her a bedtime

story because she couldn’t sleep.” “Okay, let’s check your room.” “Okay.” She followed me into her room. After a few minutes of searching, I found the Cabbage Patch Kid doll lodged behind her bed between the mattress and wall. Freeing it from its hiding place, I gave it to Blair. “I found Sophia, Blair.” I smiled. She blinked her eyes, causing a few teardrops to fall down her rosy cheeks. She gave Sophia a big hug and patted its back. “Where did you find her?” “She was underneath your bed. She must have fallen under there when you were sleeping.” I reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “You don’t need to be sad anymore.” She flashed me a wide grin and wrapped her

tiny arms around my waist. “You’re the best brother ever.” I hugged her back tightly. “I’m your big brother. It’s my job to protect you.” She loosened her grip around me and looked up at me with a frown. “Will you always protect me?” I curled my hands into fists and put my arms on my hips for my Superman stance. “Of course! You’re only four. But I’m ten.” I raised my chin as high as I could. “I’m a man now. It’s my job to protect my baby sister.” “Promise?” She looked up at me with wide eyes and admiration. My chest swelled with happiness at the way she looked at me. “Yes. I p—” “Trent, honey?” My mother’s voice

interrupted me as she came into the room. “Hi, Mom.” I broke my Superman stance and smiled at her. “Hi, Trent’s mommy. Trent found Sophia for me. He’s the best.” Blair lifted Sophia up to show my mother. My mother made a face at her and turned to look at me. “Trent. Come on. Let’s go home.” I frowned, the carefree joy I had just felt instantly popped by her words. “Can I stay for a bit longer? Cindy said I could stay for dinner.” I didn’t love Blair’s mother’s cooking, but I loved being able to eat dinner with Blair and our father. It was nice to sometimes pretend that I lived with them under the same house like a family. “Yup. I heard Mommy tell Trent he can stay for dinner,” Blair added, trying to help my cause.

She looked hopefully at my mother, her eyes filled with the same hope I had of staying for dinner. “Please? Can we stay?” I pouted. “We can have dinner with Dad, Blair, and Cindy.” “Pretty please!” Blair begged. “No. We have plans,” my mother snapped sharply. “I dropped you off here for the weekend based on the arrangement your father and I have. I’m supposed to pick you up now, so let’s go.” “But, Mom, it’s just dinner.” I walked over to her and pulled on her sleeve, hoping I could convince her. “No is no. Don’t test my patience, Trent. You know that’s not good for anyone.” Downcast, I looked down at my feet and mumbled, “Fine.” I walked over to Blair to hug her goodbye.

“See you next week?” She hugged me back tightly. “Yup. See you next week.” I walked toward the doorway where my mother was waiting. Then Blair came running toward me and gave me another hug. “You haven’t promised!” “Promised what?” I frowned at her, confused by what she said. “To always protect me.” She looked at me with eager eyes. I smiled. “I promise.” She giggled in delight. “I’ll miss you.” “Me too. Take care of Sophia while I’m gone.” I tried my best to be the big brother and be strong and not show any tears. “Okay, I will. I promise.” She beamed at

me. “Okay, that’s enough,” my mother’s impatient voice cut in. She grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Blair. “Come on, we gotta go.” I watched Blair’s sad expression as I followed my mother down the hallway toward the front door. “Trent, be careful with her. What did I tell you about being nice to her?” She squeezed my hand harder, pinching my fingers together. I frowned and tried to yank my hand out of her grip. “But Mom, she’s my sister. I love her.” “Don’t you dare love her,” she hissed at me. “She’s the daughter of the bitch who stole your father away from us.” “But Blair and Cindy are so nice to me.

They couldn’t have done anything wrong.” My hand was starting to hurt in my mother’s tight grip. I didn’t know why, but I knew she hated Blair and her mother. She never liked dropping me off at the house where they lived with my father. “Trent, just get in the car.” I could tell from her tone that she wasn’t happy. I hated to see her angry, so I got into the car without saying another word. I stared out the car window as my mother drove us away from the house where my father, Blair, and Cindy lived. I felt a sense of longing as I watched the house disappear out of view. Even though I was a big boy now, there were many things I still didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t live with them. I didn’t understand why my mother didn’t like my sister and her mother.

“Mom, why couldn’t we stay for dinner?” I finally asked my mother when the car pulled up to the parking lot of our apartment complex. She sighed and looked at me with a sadness I had become use to seeing in her eyes. “You don’t understand now, Trent. But, honey, trust me. I’m the only one who cares about you and your future. I’m the only one who has your interests at heart.” “But Blair and Dad love me. And Cindy does too!” “Don’t talk about that bitch in front of me.” Her sharp words made me flinch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. Just trust me. They don’t really care about you.” I crossed my arms and felt upset by what my mother was telling me. I refused to believe Blair could ever stop caring about me.

“One of these days, you will hate her as much as I hate her mother.” “I don’t believe you.” I pushed the car door open and stomped all the way our apartment. Besides my mother, Blair was the most important person in my life. You’re wrong, Mom. I’ll always love Blair. I could never hate her. ***

One Year Ago I stared at the papers in my hand with slumped shoulders. These were the only documents my mother had left me under her will. I had no idea they would change my life the way they had. I had no idea what I was going to be smacked with when I opened the yellow manila envelope that my

mother’s lawyer had sent me. I had no idea that it’d signal the moment Trent Parker died. I gathered all the documents and placed them back inside the envelope—all of them except for one. One of the two letters my mother had left me under the will. Tears burned my eyes as I read the letter again, allowing its words to hurt me again like a cold dagger to my chest. My dearest Trent, This is the second letter that I’ve instructed my lawyer to include in the envelope of documents I’m leaving you when I leave this world. Please make sure you read the other letter before you continue with this one. I hope after the other letter, you do not hate me for everything I have done. I just could

not bear to let you go. You are my son and I am your mother. Nothing can change that. There was something else I had kept from you. I had planned to take this secret to my grave, but I received some news today and it made me realize that I needed to tell you. Maybe all the guilt that’d been eating me alive for the last twenty-five years. Also, I knew that if you were to go looking for your biological parents, you would find out anyway. So I wanted you to hear it from me. I wasn’t completely honest with you in my first letter about why your birth parents and I decided to keep things a secret and keep it from you and Katherine. You see, I knew I couldn’t let you go. I loved you too much, and you’re all I had. Your birth parents, however, wanted to meet

you, they wanted to see if we could all be parents to both you and Katherine. I convinced them that this was a bad idea. But in the beginning, they had demanded to see you and threatened to take you away. The only way I was able to convince them to keep things a secret was to pay them. I had hired a private investigator and found out that your birth parents were buried in debt and were barely making ends meet. I knew they were desperate for money. So I had promised them that I’d send them monthly payments so they could live a comfortable life and be able to provide for Katherine. But last week, the monthly check was returned to me. I found out that your birth parents were recently in a car accident. I’m sorry you have to find out this way, but they didn’t

make it. Honey, I do not know how you will react to this news, but I wanted you to hear it from me than to go searching for them and find out that way. Please do not hate me. Please try to understand that I did all this because I love you very much and couldn’t imagine a life without you. You are all I have left in this world. Love always, Your mother Beth Preston Emptiness consumed me as I sat on my couch trying to come to terms with what this all meant. I had been living a lie for the last twentynine years of my life. My name wasn’t Trent Parker. It was Trent Fox—no, that was wrong too. Had I not been switched at birth, my name

probably wouldn’t have been Trent—it would’ve been whatever my biological parents decided to name me. But they never got that opportunity. So I didn’t have a name. And I would never know what my parents would have named me…because they were dead. My name was blank Fox. I was an orphan. I had no parents, no family, and no property under my name. My phone beeped just then. It was a text from Blair: “Hey, big brother! I know you’re going through a lot right now. I haven’t heard from you in awhile. Do you want us to pick you up for the funeral? Your family loves you and is here for you. Call me! <3” I stared at her message and felt the life I

thought was mine slip away from me. Blair wasn’t my sister. She was the girl who didn’t have a care in the world. She was the girl who lived the life I wanted. She was the girl who was always loved by the man I’d spent my entire life to please and impress—the man that wasn’t even my real father. She was everything I wasn’t. A mixture of sorrow, envy, and resentment consumed my numbed body. I finally got off the couch half an hour later to get ready for my mother’s funeral. Her letter was still clutched tightly in my hand. I went to the kitchen and turned on the burner. Before I could change my mind, I burned the letter. I wasn’t sure why, but I wished I had never read this letter. I wished I didn’t know that my mother had bribed my birth parents to stay away from me. I wished I didn’t know that my parents were dead.

When nothing remained of the letter but a thin layer of black ash, I got dressed quickly and walked out of my condo into the gloomy day. Dark, threatening clouds rolled through the sky, signaling a storm that was sure to come. As I got into my car and drove to the funeral, I could only think of one thing. Trent Parker was dead. Today I would not only mourn over my mother’s death. I would mourn my own. ***

Present Day It’d been two weeks since Blair stormed into my office to confront me about my secret. I saw the sadness and betrayal in her eyes as she tried to reason with me and I didn’t know why I had

brushed her off the way I did. I didn’t know why I had so much rage inside me, and why I had been directing it at her. Deep down I knew she had nothing to do with what had happened to me. She was an innocent bystander. But for some reason, I couldn’t seem to look past the fact that she was the reminder of everything I wanted, everything I once had, everything I wasn’t. Every time I looked at her and saw how happy and carefree she was, I was consumed with the pain of losing my sense of self all over again. The despair I had for losing the life I thought I had, the jealousy I had for Blair, and the hatred I had for who I really was—all that seemed to have spiraled me down a path I couldn’t come back from. But ever since Blair had confronted me,

another feeling started to root itself inside me. Guilt. Her words continued to haunt me. “But, why didn’t you just tell us when you found out a year ago? Do you really think we’d shut you out like we’re strangers? Trent, we’ve been so close all these years. How can you think that I’d turn my back on you?” I knew I had hurt her. And as much as I tried to push the thought aside, I knew she deserved none of it. She’d avoided me since that day, and I’d only interacted with her a few times due to work. Part of me worried about what she was going to do now that she knew the truth. I knew my days here were numbered. “Good morning, Mr. Parker. Did you have a good New Year?” The receptionist smiled at me as I walked out of the elevator.

“Morning, Dawn. It was fine.” I walked past her quickly and down the hall to my office. Mr. Parker, I thought, I’m such a fucking fraud. I pushed the thought away the second it popped into my mind. As I walked passed Blair’s office, I could hear her on the phone inside. Something about the desperate, pleading tone in her voice caused me to stop just as I passed her doorway. Maybe it was a reflexive reaction from my many years of always helping her out of situations when she needed help. “Well, can you expand outside of San Francisco? I really need to find her.” I listened just behind her doorway, wondering what was causing her to sound so distressed. “Yes, that’s all I know about her. She’s

thirty. She was born at San Francisco General Hospital on March 12, 1983, and her name’s Katherine Fox—unless, of course, she got married, then her last name could have changed. I know that’s not a lot to go by to find her contact information.” I froze in place, knowing exactly what this call was about. Blair was trying to find her halfsister. A pang of sadness hit me like a ton of bricks. Her half-sister. Her family. Has she already moved on and given up on our relationship? I was surprised by my thoughts and my feelings. I tried to ignore them, but I knew I couldn’t. Over the last year, after I had found out about who I really was, I had decided that I needed to stop caring about Blair. I had spent her entire

life being there for her, being her big brother, being the one to protect her. But after I’d learned that I wasn’t her brother after all, I knew I needed to stop caring about her before she discovered the truth and stopped caring about me. But now, as I stood here in the doorway, knowing that Blair wanted to find Katherine, her real sibling, a wave of loss and anguish crashed through me. It was then that I knew that as much as I’d tried to cut my emotional ties with Blair, I still deeply cared for her. I still had an inclination to protect her despite my efforts to shut it off. With a familiar sense of determination, I knew what I had to do. I quickly walked to my office down the hall. I unlocked the drawer of my back credenza and dug through its contents. After a few moments, I found what I was looking for.

Seconds later, I found myself standing in front of Blair’s office. She was off the phone now with her back to me as she typed away at her computer. I knocked. Her body stiffened the moment she turned and saw that it was me. “What do you want?” She voice was cold and distant, and I wondered if this was a good idea. “Hi, Blair.” I handed the piece of paper that I had pulled moments earlier from my cabinet. “I was just doing some New Years office cleaning…I found this and I wanted to give it to you.” She eyed me suspiciously, but didn’t take the paper from outstretched hand. “What is it?” “It’s something I think you want.”

“There’s nothing you have that I want, Trent,” she snapped. I held my breath, trying to keep the mixture of emotions that coursed inside me at bay. “Well, I have no need for it. You can throw it away if you want.” I put the paper on her desk, and without another word, I walked out of her office. Instead of heading back to my office, I needed some fresh air and headed toward the elevators. “Trent!” came Blair’s voice as she came running after me. I turned to face her and saw the tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Trent.” “Don’t thank me. I didn’t do anything.” She looked down at the piece of paper in her hands. “But you did. This is Katherine’s last

known contact information. This was what I’d been looking for.” “I know. I accidentally caught your phone conversation earlier when I walked past your office.” I looked down at my feet. She cocked her head and grinned. “I know you didn’t have to do this. I know this is probably the last thing you want to do. So thank you. It means a lot to me.” I shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I had looked into her last year when I discovered the truth. I don’t need the information, but I knew you were looking for it. You were bound to find her sooner or later.” “Trent…” Her voice was soft and sincere. I finally looked up and met her gaze. The moment I saw her warm, emerald eyes and the

happy expression on her face, I saw a flicker of the four-year-old Blair who used to look up to me like I was the only person that mattered. I was immediately taken back to a happier time when she was my sister and life was simpler. “Thank you, Trent. This means a lot.” I gave her a small smile. “Happy New Year, Blair.”

CHAPTER FOUR Ben Nine Years Ago “Ben! Are you in there?” Someone pounded violently against the door to my room, matching the agonizing pounding in my head. I let out a loud groan and covered my ears with my hands, trying to block out both the pounding and the throbbing headache. “Are you seriously still in bed? Wake up!” “Let me the fuck alone!” I yelled at the door. I sluggishly rolled off my bed with a loud thud and grabbed my Introduction to Sociology textbook and flung it at the door.

“You’re going to be late for English 190 again. It’s already 1:48 p.m.!” “You’re wrong! I’m not going to be fucking late because I’m not going!” Damian’s lecturing was getting on my fucking nerves. “Come on, man! You can’t miss any more of this class! If you miss another class, the professor might lower you one letter grade.” “Just sign me in like you did last week!” I screamed at the door. I heard a loud sigh from the other side of the door. “Dude, I’m coming in.” I groaned and rolled onto my face to avoiding seeing him. The door opened slowly and I heard his footsteps approach me on the floor. “Man, you look like shit.”

“Well, thank and fuck you too.” To my annoyance, he stifled a laugh. “Sorry.” “Whatever. Can you just let me go back to sleep?” “Ben…I know you’re going through some shit after what happened with Katherine—” “Don’t fucking mention that name to me! She’s dead to me. That blonde bitch!” I felt like my head was about to explode. “Ok, fine. I know what the Blonde Bitch did was fucked up. Gibson is fucked up. I’m glad he moved out of the frat house last week. But look, man, it’s Wednesday afternoon and you’re still hung over from another late night of drinking. You look like shit every day. You have a pathetic looking beard starting to develop on your face.

And dude, you seriously need a good shower because you fucking smell.” “Thanks for the pep talk, coach,” I mumbled sarcastically. “I don’t mean to sound harsh, man, but I’m worried about you. You’re drinking practically all night every night. You barely leave your room. You’re missing half your classes. It’s been over two weeks since you found out. You’re a fucking mess. No girl’s worth this. Don’t let her beat you down like this—don’t let her win.” I grunted and slowly got up to a sitting position. “You’re right. I’m letting the Blonde Bitch win.” I clenched my jaw at how fucked up things have gotten. She was the one who had cheated on me. She was the one that broke me. And here I was, drowning in misery and making things

worse for myself. She fucked up, and I was letting her win. I balled my hands into tight fists and pounded at the floor in frustration. “I need to get over her.” “Yes, you do,” Damian agreed. “But how?” I looked at him, feeling lost. I’d been dating Katherine for so long, it was hard to imagine a life without her. It was hard to imagine who I was without her. Damian shook his head. “You’re really pitiful, you know that? The easiest way to get over a girl is to fuck another. Then another, and another, and another! Or better yet, fuck several of them at the same time!” He laughed. “And for us, that shit is easy.” I frowned. “What do you mean by ‘us’?” “We’re fucking Sigma Chi frat bros living

on Greek Row! You just have to go next door, or across the street, or two doors down to meet a houseful of hot, wild, sorority-girl pussy.” He chuckled. “Trust me, once you’re back on the saddle, you’ll get over that bitch in no time.” Damian was right. I wasn’t going to let Katherine ruin me. I wasn’t going to waste my time with love again. I was going to spend my time on what was important: having fun with more than one woman and enjoying my life in college. ***

Present Day “You must be Blair!” I watched as Liamis squealed in delight as she approached us and gave Blair a hug. “I’m Liamis, Damian’s wife. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s so very great to finally meet you too. Ben’s told me so much about you and Damian.” Blair handed Liamis a silver wrapped box with a large pink bow. “This is for the birthday girl.” “Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! Izzy’s really getting spoiled this year!” “You only turn two once.” I leaned in and gave Liamis a huge. “Now where’s that husband of yours?” “He’s here somewhere. Damian?” She looked around. Just then, Damian came out of one of the bedrooms with Isabella. “Hey, guys! Princess Izzy wanted to change the bow on her hair to another color.” Isabella followed her dad into the room as Damian greeted us. “I seriously can’t believe she’s such a diva

already,” Liamis said in a hushed voice as she leaned in toward me and Blair. “Damian’s totally spoiling that child.” “That’s pretty cute,” Blair gushed as she watched Isabella giggle as Damian picked her up from with one arm. I laughed. “Damian’s always had a way with the ladies.” Blair jabbed me in my arm playfully. “That’s not nice.” I swung my arm around her and kissed her on the cheek. “How did I end up with such an abusive girlfriend?” “Must be your bad luck.” Blair shrugged and made an apathetic face. Liamis laughed as she watched us. “You two are so cute together. Thanks so much for coming to

Izzy’s birthday party.” “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” “Ben, you’re such a liar. I know you’re here for free booze,” Damian teased me as he leaned in and gave Blair a hug. “So great to finally meet the woman who’s managed to tie Ben Chase down.” “He’s definitely a handful,” Blair said as she made a face at me. “I must be a masochist.” “Easy, guys. I thought we’re at a kid’s birthday party, not a Let’s-Gang-Up-On-Ben party.” “Oh, really?” Blair frowned in confusion. “I must have received the wrong invitation, then.” She shrugged innocently. “No, you didn’t, Blair.” Damian laughed. “I sent those out to everyone except for our Ben here. He got the only birthday party invitation. Sucker!”

“Very funny, guys.” I shook my head. “We love you, buddy.” Damian gave me a friendly punch in my arm. “Wanna help me make with the drinks in the kitchen, Ben? Blair, you want me to make you a cocktail?” “Sure! How can I say no when it’s being offered by the infamous bartender Damian Castillo?” “I see my reputation precedes me.” Damian laughed. “Ben, I love this girl already. So what will it be, Blair?” “How about a Manhattan?” “Wow. A whiskey drinker.” He slapped his hand against my back and leaned in to whisper, “Dude, this one’s a keeper.” I smiled at Blair, who grinned back at me.

“Liamis, do you need any help with anything?” Blair asked Liamis, who was straightening Isabella’s new hair bow. “Yes, I’d love some help in the living room.” “Have fun. We’ll have the drinks out in a few.” I kissed Blair on the cheek before following Damian into the kitchen. “I really like her, man.” Damian grabbed a cocktail glass from the cabinet and started to make Blair’s Manhattan. “Yeah. Me too.” I nodded in agreement. “I can tell.” He looked over at me. “I’m really happy for you, man. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen you look this happy before.” “Thank you. I seriously can’t remember ever feeling this happy and comfortable with someone.

She’s pretty incredible. She’s smart, witty, and confident. And I love that she challenges me and keeps me on my toes.” “Shit, man. You’re already in love, aren’t you?” He eyed me with a smug smile on his face. I laughed and thought about it. Then, as if a layer of fog had cleared inside my head, everything made sense. I nodded. “Yeah, I really think I am.” I knew I’d been having this all-consuming feeling about Blair for a while now. But for some reason, I wasn’t sure what it meant. All I knew was it felt foreign, different, and incredibly good. It wasn’t until this moment, hearing Damian ask me if it was love, that it finally became crystal clear to me. I, Ben Chase, was in love. ***

“And this is sashimi-grade fish?” I held up the container of sliced fish pieces to show the fishmonger at Nijiya Supermarket, the Japanese market in Japantown. He nodded. “Thanks.” I put the fish in my basket and looked at my list of ingredients that I still needed. I was going to make sushi tomorrow. Other than the sushi class I took last week to prepare for tonight, this was going to be the first time I was making sushi. I wanted to make sure I did it right because tomorrow’s dinner was going to be a special one. Tomorrow night, I planned on telling Blair that I was in love with her. I had planned a special evening for me and Blair tomorrow. I knew she loved sushi, so I wanted to surprise her by making her sushi for dinner. I didn’t think she had realized

this, but tomorrow would be our six-month anniversary from the date of our first date at Prubechu. After I dropped off the groceries I bought at Nijiya Supermarket at my place, I drove over to Blair’s. “Hey, babe!” She threw her arms around my neck the moment she opened the door. “Hi, baby. Well, aren’t we in a happy mood?” I caressed her face and kissed her—I could never get tired of tasting her sweet lips. She giggled. “What’s not to be happy about? I’m about to spent a perfect Thursday evening with my perfect boyfriend.” I cocked an eyebrow at her as we sat down on her couch. “I know I’m pretty fucking amazing, but you’ve never been this happy to see me before.

What gives? Have you been holding back on me this entire time?” She laughed. “No, I haven’t been holding back on you! I’m really happy today because I have great news!” “Oh? Spill it then,” I demanded playfully. Her excitement was infectious and I wanted to know why. “I found her!” she shrieked as she moved up and down on the couch in excitement. “You did! That’s fucking awesome, babe!” I didn’t have to ask Blair to elaborate on whom she was talking about. It’d been almost four months since she got her half-sister’s last known contact information from Trent, and since then, Blair had been anxiously waiting for the private investigator she hired to give her some good news.

“And guess what? We talked for over two hours this afternoon! It was such a surreal conversation—to talk to your sister whom you’d never met or had any knowledge of.” “I’m so happy for you, honey. You look so happy right now.” “I am. And it gets even better! She actually lives only an hour away in San Jose! How crazy is that? She’s been this close to me and I didn’t even know it!” I beamed at her as I watched her eyes light up in excitement. “Shit, what a small world! How come it took the private investigator this long to find her?” Suddenly her expression became somber. “It’s actually really sad. Her parents—well, Trent’s biological parents—both died in a car

accident about five years ago. Because her parents had refinanced their house a few years prior to pay off some credit cards, there was no equity in the house. So she had to use up all her savings to pay for the funeral. So since then, she’s been trying to get by with odd jobs while she was crashing with friends. So the address and number that Trent found for her no longer worked.” “Wow, that sounds awful. I wonder if Trent knows.” She frowned. “I don’t know.” “Well, that’s not important right now. I’m so happy that you finally found her. That’s really great news!” “Yeah, I know. A part of me is still in shock that she’s real.” “I’ll bet.” I caressed her glowing face and

brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ears. I desperately wanted to tell her that I loved her, but I held my tongue. This moment was hers and her sister’s. I have tomorrow, I reminded myself. “So what are you guys going to do next?” She beamed at me, unable to hold back the intensity of her excitement. “I’m going to drive to San Jose tomorrow morning to see her!” She let out a squeal. “That’s so amazing! I can’t believe it! What a small world, babe!” “I know. Oh, Ben. I can’t wait to meet her! God, I can’t wait for you to meet her too! I really think you’ll love her!” “I’m sure I will.” I kissed her tenderly on her lips. “I’m really happy for you, Blair. I really am.”

“Thanks, Ben. I don’t know how I could’ve gone through the last several months without you by my side, keeping me sane and keeping my hope alive.” I held both of her hands between mine and squeezed them. “I’m glad that I could be there for you, and I’m so happy to see that all your persistence paid off.” “Me too.” Then I realized something. “So will you be back in SF tomorrow night?” “Yeah, I will. I’m going to San Jose at 10:00 a.m. I’ll probably be back by the afternoon. Why?” “Oh, no reason. I just wanted to see if we’re still hanging out tomorrow night.” “Yup, of course! I’m all yours! What did you want to do tomorrow?”

“Oh, nothing special. I just want to see you. Why don’t you stop by around 7:00 p.m. and we can go somewhere for dinner and maybe catch a movie?” I lied. “Sure! Works for me.” “Awesome. Then it’s a date!” I smiled as I imagined the look on her face tomorrow night when she saw what I had planned for her. I smiled as I imagined how wonderful it was going to feel to finally tell her that I loved her. I smiled as I imagined how amazing my future was going to be with her by my side. I could not wait for tomorrow to come.

CHAPTER FIVE Blair My whole body shook as I pulled open the door to the café. I was about to meet the sister I never knew I had. A bag of emotions inundated me as endless questions ran through my head. Will I like her? Will she like me? Has she had a hard life? Will she resent me like Trent did? “Hi!” came a bright and sweet voice from the corner table of the café. “Blair?” I turned to the voice and a gorgeous, slender blonde flashed me a high voltage smile. “Katherine?” “God, little sister, it’s so good to finally see you!”

We walked toward each other and greeted with a warm hug. “Hi.” My word came out breathy and soft as we sat down at the table across from one another. I stared at her, shaking my head in awe. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.” I had imagined this moments for months now. But no matter how many different scenarios I had played out in my head, it felt nothing like how amazing I felt at this moment to actually see her in front of me. “I know. This is pretty fucking crazy.” She reached for my hands and squeezed them. “I can’t believe I have a little sister!” I giggled, feeling an instant connection with her. “You know what? I thought you’d think I was some crazy person when I called you yesterday morning to tell you I was your long-lost sister!”

She laughed. “Well, I should be frank with you. The reason I wasn’t as surprised as you’d expected is because I already knew about the secret.” “You knew?” Her words caught me by surprise. “Yeah. When my parents passed away five years ago, I had to go through and clean up all their things. I found some papers and a letter from the hospital that said I was switched at birth.” “Oh.” I frowned. “I’m sorry you had to find out that way.” I paused. There was a question that I really wanted to know, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know the answer. “What is it?” Katherine looked at me, sensing my hesitation. “If you knew all this time…”

“How come I didn’t come looking for you?” she finished my question. I nodded. “Honestly, I didn’t have the money.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as her cold, matter-of-fact words sent a wave of unease down my body. Then she smiled. “Sorry, I can be a bit blunt sometimes. But that’s the truth. When my parents died, they were underwater with their mortgage with little savings in their bank account and no other assets. I ended up spending all my savings on their funeral expenses. So when I discovered those papers and found out the truth about who I was—or who I wasn’t—looking for my estranged family wasn’t exactly on the top of my to-do list. And also, I didn’t have the money or resources to figure

out who I was. I knew my name should have been Parker, but I had no idea it would be the Parker family of Parker, Inc.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. I can’t imagine what you had to go through.” I felt riddled with guilt as I compared Katherine’s family life with the one I had. While I never thought I took anything for granted, I also knew that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend how hard life must have been for Katherine. “How are you doing now…financially?” I asked tentatively. “Not great, but I’m getting by.” I took out my checkbook, but before I could pull out my pen, she stopped me. “Stop. I’m not here for a handout. I’m just happy that I finally get to know who I really am.”

“I know that. And this isn’t a handout. You’re my sister, Katherine. This money is half yours.” “I…” “Please. I insist.” I scribbled out a check for $5,000 and handed it to her. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the next coming months, but I want to make sure you’re doing okay.” She looked at the check, and there was an expression on her face that I couldn’t seem to read. She then looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you. That’s very generous of you.” Her response seemed odd, but I couldn’t pin point why I thought that way, which left me feeling a sense of unease. But I quickly pushed that feeling aside and smiled back at her. “So, like I mentioned over the phone, our

father is still recovery from his stroke. He’s still having issues with his memory and his ability to speak.” I looked down at the table. “I haven’t told him about you yet. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way, but I wanted to meet you first. I wanted to make sure you…were okay and actually wanted this. I didn’t want to take the chance of breaking our father’s heart if you didn’t want to be a part of the family.” “I understand. No worries, little sister. We have nothing but time.” She beamed at me, her warm smile making me forget all the worry I had been carrying around with me about how I was going to tell my father about this secret. “Now, can we stop talking about such serious things? Can we actually act like sisters?” She giggled. “We have over twenty years of that to catch up on.”

“I know!” I laughed. “We have so much to talk about. So tell me what’s going on with you! Are you married? Dating anyone?” For someone as gorgeous as Katherine, I couldn’t imagine her love life being anything short of perfect. Since we’d been at this café, I noticed the way the pair of guys at the table next to us had eyed her longingly every time she laughed. If she hadn’t been my sister, I wondered if I’d feel threatened by her when it came to men. “I’m actually single.” She winked and took a sip from her cocktail. “Oh, really? I have to admit, that’s really surprising. You’re such a catch.” She laughed. “Yeah, life’s dealt me some shitty cards.” “Oh?” I shifted uncomfortably as I waited

for her to elaborate. “Yeah. I fucked up my life in college when I broke up with my high-school sweetheart and best friend. He was the love of my life, and I took him for granted.” “Why did you break it off, then?” I saw the regret in her eyes and wondered if she still loved this guy. “I was young and stupid and fell for another guy. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this guy was by far my worst mistake.” “What happened?” I furrowed my brows in concern as I waited for her to elaborate. “I fell for this new guy because he was exciting, aggressive, and a lady’s man. After about two years of dating, I married him when we both graduated from college. I’m not sure why we

decided to get married. Our relationship had been rocky and we fought a lot. But I guess we thought getting married would somehow fix things. We were wrong. Well, shortly after we got married, I found him in our bed with two women. After that I found out that he’d been sleeping with countless women behind my back since the beginning of our relationship.” “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Katherine.” She shrugged. “It’s over now. I’m just glad he didn’t get me pregnant.” “Yeah.” My heart went out to her as I imagined myself in her shoes. At that moment, I swore to myself that I would try to be a good sister to Katherine—I was going to make sure she was happy from now on. “So what about you?” She quickly flashed

me a smile and changed the subject. “Anyone special in your life?” Just then, my phone started to ring from inside my bag. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought I had it on silent.” I reached for my phone and saw that it was Ben. “Don’t worry about it. If you need to get it, I really don’t mind.” “Are you sure?” I looked down on my phone and then back at her. “Yeah, go ahead.” She gestured for me to answer my phone. “Thanks.” I picked up the phone. “Hi, babe.” “Hey, baby. Are you with your sister?”

I looked up at Katherine and smiled. She watched me intently. “Yup.” “And everything going okay? I just wanted to check in and call. I thought in the unlikely event that things weren’t going well, you’d need an out to get out of there.” I laughed. “Thanks for looking out, but no need for that.” He chuckled. “Good to hear. I know you can’t talk and I don’t want to keep you. Just wanted to see if we’re still on for tonight.” “Yup. I’ll let you decide on the movie this time if you let me decide on where we’re going for dinner.” I had a craving for sushi. “Sure thing. See you at 7?”

“Okay. See you then.” I looked up at Katherine, who was still watching me. “Sorry about that.” “No, not a problem. Boyfriend, I gather?” She cocked a brow in interest. “Yeah. Was it that obvious?” I smiled sheepishly. “Yup.” She leaned in toward me, her eyes twinkled with interest. “So now that we’ve established that I’m your big sister, I think you should tell me everything about him! What’s he like? How did you guys meet? I want every dirty little detail.” “Well…” I giggled and realized how unconventional my relationship with Ben had started out. “We actually had a bumpy start.” Her eyes lit up, intrigued to know more. “I

love a juicy story.” For the next hour, I told Katherine in detail about how I’d met Ben and what’s happened between us since then. “Sounds like he’s pretty amazing in bed.” Her eyes light up in delight. I blushed. “It’s pretty incredible. I’ve never been with anyone who was so aggressive and confident in and outside of the bedroom.” “Sounds like a keeper, little sister.” She bit her lower lip. “So you’ve been telling me so much about him, you haven’t even told me this Mr. Perfect’s name yet.” “Oh, you’re right!” I laughed. “I’m the worst!” Her lips twisted into an amused smirk. “No, you just seem to be seriously falling for this guy

and too giddy to even realize it.” My cheeks turned a crimson red. “Am I that transparent?” “I can smell the stench of love on you from a mile away.” I giggled and leaned in closer to her. “I’ll only admit this to you because you’re my sister, but normally I’m too stubborn to say anything. You’re right. I’m totally in love with him. Don’t tell him this, and I know this might sound so crazy because we’ve only been dating for seven months, but…I think he might be the one.” “What a lucky bastard to have bagged my amazing little sister,” she teased. “So what’s the lucky bastard’s name?” I giggle. “His name is Ben.” “Ben?” I noticed something flashed across

her eyes as she repeated the name. “Yeah, Ben Chase.” Katherine took a long sip from her latte. She then looked back at me and smiled. “He sounds hot.” “Yeah, he’s amazing.” “So, when do I get to meet this perfect boyfriend of yours? As the older sister, I feel like it’s my job to make sure he’s good enough for my baby sister.” I grinned, still trying to get used to having an older sister looking after me. “I’m dying for you to meet him, and I know that he’d really want to meet you. So just let me know when you’re free and we can plan something.” “I’m free tonight?”

“Oh. Tonight? Mmm.” “Oh, that’s right. He just called, and it sounded like you guys had some fun plans for tonight.” “Well, we didn’t really have any set plans actually. Just a low-key night. Dinner and a movie.” “Oh. That sounds like a lot of fun.” There was an awkward pause, and I had half expected her to ask if she could join us. But she didn’t. I looked at my sister and feelings of guilt washed over me. I’d already lost so much time with Katherine and I wanted to spend more time with her. And besides, I did want them to meet each other. They were going to be two of the most important people in my life. “You’re welcome to join us,” I finally

offered tentatively. “I’d love for you two to meet.” “I’d love that,” she said sweetly. “Ok, let me just give him a call and let him know you’re joining us.” I got out my phone from my bag, but Katherine stopped me. “I have a better idea.” A devious smile curled her lips. “Why don’t we surprise him? That’d be fun.” “Surprise him?” That thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “Yeah, I want to meet Ben in his element. I don’t want him to have a chance to prepare and be on his best behavior to impress me because I’m your sister.” She let out an almost-evil laugh. “I think it’d be fun to see how he handles surprises.” I thought about it and couldn’t really see a problem with surprising Ben. I’d known him long

enough to know that he wasn’t averse to surprises and that he was usually a good sport. “Sure, why not.” I giggled. “Let’s surprise him!” Her eyes lit up. “It’ll be awesome! From what you’ve told me already, I know I’m going to love him.”

CHAPTER SIX Ben “Perfect.” I looked around my condo, pretty pleased with how everything had turned out. My place was filled with a dozen bouquets of beautiful wild flower arrangements. Several rolls of various types of sushi were neatly arranged on platters on my dining room table, ready to be eaten. I looked at my Rolex. 6:55 p.m. Excitement rushed through me as I quickly turned on the stereo. “One last thing!” I reminded myself. I started lighting the various ivory pillar candles around the room, creating a warm illuminating glow in the room. As I watched the flames flicker and dance in concert with the soft jazz playing in

the background, I smiled at myself. I couldn’t wait to see Blair’s face when she saw this surprise. I couldn’t wait to finally tell her that I loved her. Tonight was going to be a great night. Just then, my doorbell rang. I grinned as I ran to let Blair in. The minute I opened the door, my heart stilled at the sight of her. “Hi there, hottie.” I flashed Blair a devious smile. She looked more gorgeous than ever. “Hey, you!” She threw her arms around me and whispered in my ear, “God, I’ve missed you.” I laughed. “Well, you should really see your long-lost sister more often, then, if you’re missing me like this when you get back,” I teased. “Very funny. Did you—” She stopped midsentence and let out a gasp. Her eyes surveyed the condo and she looked at me in a happy daze. “W–

what is all this?” “Happy six-month anniversary, baby.” I pulled her face up toward mine and kissed her gently. “Oh my God. Ben, this is incredible—I didn’t know.” I chuckled as I saw the guilt painted on her face. “It’s okay, baby. We hadn’t talked about this, and I know people don’t usually celebrate six months. But honestly, I couldn’t wait for our oneyear anniversary.” I beamed down at her. “Actually, honey…I need to tell you something.” “What is it?” I studied her face, wondering what was wrong.

“Well…” She looked down to the floor. “I didn’t know you were planning something special tonight…so I kind of invited someone to hang out with us.” “Oh? Who?” “My sister.” Just then, from my peripheral vision, I saw her standing there—grinning from ear to ear—at the open doorframe of my front door. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, the second our eyes met, I knew who she was. It was the Blonde Bitch. The sight of her knocked the wind out of me. “Honey, are you okay? You’re so tense.” Blair ran her hands up and down my arms. Then she saw my blank expression and turned around to follow my gaze. “Oh, come on in, Katherine. Did

you find the wine shop okay?” “Yup.” She lifted up the bottle of red wine in her hand. “Ben, come on,” Blair squealed in delight as she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward Katherine. “Let me introduce you to my sister!” I found myself face to face to the last person I’d ever thought I’d see again. The ghost from my past, the nightmare of my dreams, the only woman I’d ever given my heart to. The last person I’d ever loved. The only person who had ripped out my heart and changed me ten years ago. The person whom I’d hated more than anyone else. “Hi, Ben. I’ve heard so much about you today.” Katherine outstretched her hand and flashed me a devious smile. I stood there paralyzed with shock as I

stared at her. Why is this happening? How is this possible? How could she stand there and pretend we didn’t have the history that we did? Has she forgotten about the shit she’s put me through? “Ben?” Blair’s voice broke through my thoughts. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to say hi? I’ve been dying for you two to meet!” It was then that the truth of everything all hit me at once. I looked over at Blair and she beamed at me, doe-eyed and hopeful as she waited for me to greet Katherine. I’d never seen her look as happy as she looked at this very moment. I saw the sheer joy in her face, and my heart broke at how cruel and twisted fate could be. How could I be the one steal this happy moment from her? How could I tell her right now about my past with the woman standing next to her? More importantly, how could

Blair and I move past this when there was an inextricable and unbreakable link between Blair’s and Katherine’s lives? I slowly drew in a deep intake of breath and forced a smile on my face. “Hi,” I finally managed. Katherine flashed me a victorious smile and lowered her hand, knowing that I wasn’t going to shake it. “So, I get to finally met the man who’s bidding for my baby sister’s heart.” “Yeah. Right.” “Ben? What’s wrong?” Blair looked at me with worry, and the moment I met her concerned eyes, I knew I had to somehow get through tonight without hurting her. “Um. Nothing. Sorry, babe. Just—I’ll be right back. I need to…get something from the bedroom.”

“Okay,” Blair responded tentatively. “Are you sure you’re okay?” “Yeah. I’ll be fine.” “Okay. We’ll open the bottle of wine, then?” “You know what, Blair? Can I go use the restroom? Do you mind opening this wine for me?” Katherine asked. “Yeah, no problem. The restroom’s straight down the hall, past the bedroom.” “Great. Thanks.” I sat at the edge of my bed, still reeling from shock when Katherine walked into the room. “I thought you were going to the restroom?” She smirked. “So I lied. Seems like you’re doing the same.” She closed the door behind her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I

stood up and moved further away from her. “Nothing, Ben. I just want to talk.” “Fuck.” I looked away from her. “I can’t believe you’re her sister.” “Yeah, that’s crazy, huh?” Suddenly, I felt her hand on my back. I flinched and moved away from her. Ignoring my rebuff, she followed me to the corner of the room. “So I saw you on Forbes Magazine recently as one of San Francisco’s thirty most eligible bachelors under 30.” I shot a look at her. “What do you want, Katherine?” “What do you mean?” She looked at me innocently. “Ben, I just wanted to tell you that I was sorry for hurting you like that ten years ago. I

was young and stupid.” “It’s all in the past. We don’t need to dig up those memories,” I said flatly. “You should be happy to know that karma got me back. Gibson cheated on me with numerous women throughout relationship and later throughout our marriage. It seemed like after he found out that you and I were no longer together, he lost all interest in me, like I was yesterday’s trash. He got me pregnant, which is why we got married. But then he decided he didn’t want the baby, so he forced me to have an abortion. Then I caught him cheating on me. I think he wanted to get caught and give me a reason to break up with him—” At that moment all the rage I had those many years ago for Katherine came rushing out. I glared at her and spat, “That serves you right, Katherine!

You are yesterday’s trash!” She winced at my words and tears built in her eyes, causing me to immediately regret what I had just said. I knew I had hated Katherine for everything she had done to me, but I couldn’t deny that I was relieved that we hadn’t gotten married. What if she’s grown up and now a different person? “I’m sorry.” My voice softened as I took a step toward her, feeling compelled to console her. She grabbed one of my hands and pulled it to her cheek. I felt the tears on my fingertips and for a second, felt sorry for her. But I immediately came to my senses and pushed her away. “What the hell are you doing?” “What?” She looked up at me innocently. “I haven’t seen you for so long, Ben.”

“Katherine, I’m with Blair now. Your sister.” “So?” She shrugged. “Ben, I can tell you’ve changed a lot in the last ten years.” “It’s a long time, of course people will change.” I walked past her, trying to create more distance between us. “I can tell you took all my suggestions about your personality issues and changed for the better.” “What the fuck are you talking about?” I felt annoyed by her comment. “Don’t you remember? The last time we talked, I explained to you why I fell for Gibson, and why I was tired of our relationship. You were too nice and accommodating. You were such a pussy. But look at you now. You’re a hot-shot attorney. Blair told me some stories of how

forward and aggressive you are with her, and how hot the sex is.” She bit her lower lip as she moved toward me. “And that’s the kind of man I want, Ben. That’s the strong, aggressive man who can take control and push me up against the wall, ignore my resistance, and fuck the shit out of me. That’s the man that you were not, and the reason I left you.” “Where are you going with this, Katherine? Because frankly I don’t care and I don’t want to hear about it. I need to get back to Blair.” I walked past her toward the door. But just before I passed her, she stepped in front of me, blocking me from leaving the room. “Ben. I want you back.” Just then, the door opened and Blair walked in and looked at us in confusion. “Is everything

okay?” I looked at her and then at Katherine, and at that moment, I felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. How was I going to tell Blair without hurting her or our relationship?

The Chase Volume Four

CHAPTER ONE Blair Maybe it was a mistake to surprise Ben. Maybe it was a mistake to bring my sister tonight without checking with him first. I could tell from the upset expression on his face that he wasn’t completely thrilled with my surprise. But how was I supposed to know that Ben had planned a surprise for me as well? I sighed and felt disappointed that the night hadn’t turned out the way I had hoped. When I had agreed to surprise Ben and introduce him to Katherine tonight at dinner, I had really wanted everything to go perfectly. I wanted my sister to love Ben as

much as I had grown to love him over the last seven months since I’d met him. But from how Ben reacted to my surprise, I had a sinking feeling that the night wasn’t going to go as perfectly as I’d pictured in my head. It wasn’t difficult to tell that Ben was upset. I took a step back from my worries and took a sip from my wine as I marveled at the transformation in Ben’s condo. The soft flickering flames from the candles scattered around the place seemed to sway with the hypnotic jazz music playing from the stereo. I smiled at the sight of the dozens of bouquets of wild flowers around the room. I couldn’t believe he had planned such an elaborate, romantic night for us. It was clear that he’d spent a good deal of time preparing for tonight, so I could understand why bringing a

surprise third person to this intimate dinner wasn’t something he had anticipated or hoped for. I’ll make it up to him later tonight, I thought as my lips twisted into a small smile. I’ll make it up to him all night long. That’ll certainly make up for this. As I took another sip from my wine glass, I realized that Katherine had been in the bathroom for a while. I headed toward the hallway that lead to the bathroom to see if she was okay. But as I got to the hallway, I frowned. The bathroom door was wide opened and the lights were off inside. Where did Katherine go? As I walked down the hallway toward the bathroom, I heard muffled voices coming from the bedroom. Is that Katherine inside the room with

Ben? I wasn’t sure why, but I reached for the doorknob and opened the door without knocking. My body froze as I saw Katherine standing in front of Ben. There was less than a foot of space between them and there was nothing casual about their proximity from each other. “Is everything okay?” I tried to calm myself and push away all the crazy thoughts that were running through my head. But Ben’s face went pale as he stared at me, causing a wave of panic to overwhelm me at that moment. I saw guilt, fear, and shock in his eyes. “Hi, little sister.” Katherine turned around to face me and flashed me a smile. She made no attempt to take a step away from Ben.

“What’s going on?” I looked at Ben and then at Katherine. There was a stark contrast in the expressions on their faces. My breath stilled as I waited for some sort of rational explanation for why I’d found them talking in Ben’s bedroom. Ben went around Katherine and walked toward me. “Blair, this isn’t what it looks like.” “Exactly what does it look like?” I spat out as I tried to hold back the tears. Ben’s words were coated with guilt, and I felt waves of anger and hurt fighting for my attention inside me. “Blair, please. I can explain.” He reached for my arm and I took a step back away from him. “We—” “We were only just talking, Blair,” Katherine finished Ben’s words. “Relax. There’s

nothing to explain.” “But why are you guys in here?” I felt the room spin as questions whirled around in my head. Her smile grew wider as she walked up next to Ben and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Oh, little sister of mine. Don’t be like that. There’s nothing to worry about. I saw Ben in here on my way back from the bathroom, and I knew I just had to pull him aside to have a chat.” “A chat? About what?” I tried to keep a straight face. This is my long-lost older sister, I reminded myself. I didn’t want to hastily jump to conclusions and offend her on the very same day I was reunited with her. “About you, of course! Whatever else would we talk about?” She threw her head back in

laughter and her perfectly golden curls bounced effortlessly in time with her movements. “It’s not like we’ve met before to be able to talk about anything else. Right, Ben?” She threw her arm over Ben’s shoulder and pulled him closer toward her like they were best of friends as she beamed at him and then at me. To my surprise, Ben looked uncomfortable. But after a brief silence, he responded flatly, “Yeah.” But Katherine didn’t seem to notice Ben’s behavior. “Anyway, I just had to be sure that he was the right man for my baby sister. That’s what sisters are for, right?” She looked at me expectantly, her blue eyes trained on me intently, urging a response.

I wasn’t sure how I felt, but after a few seconds, something compelled me to nod in agreement. She beamed at me and reached over and hugged me. “God, I’m just so glad you found me, Blair. I really never thought this day would ever come. You have no idea how much I’ve dreamt about this very moment—the moment where I’d be reunited with probably the most important person in my life.” She squeezed me tightly, and I could hear the sincerity in her voice. I knew she meant everything she had just said, which caused my anxiety to dissipate and my body to relax as I hugged her back. This is my sister—my real sister! I reminded myself as I pulled out of the hug. Why was I so on edge just moments ago? Why did I

jump to conclusions when I didn’t really see anything? Am I somehow misdirecting my own fears and uncertainty about Ben’s commitment and faithfulness to me and projecting them onto my sister? “I’m so glad that we’ve reunited, too. It feels so surreal.” I then looked over at Ben, who greeted me with a wide smile. I couldn’t pinpoint why, but there was something in his eyes that brought back a feeling of unease. “Everything okay, Ben?” “Yeah. Totally.” He sounded distracted. Then he pulled me into his embrace and kissed me on the forehead. “I think I’ve made it pretty clear to your sister that I’m indeed the right man for you, and more importantly, you’re the perfect woman for me.”

I looked at him, and when he met my gaze, his face softened and the clouds that darkened his eyes were gone. Katherine cleared her throat right before I could lean up to give Ben a kiss. “Ben has definitely left quite an impression on me, Blair. You certainly picked a good one here.” She paused. “If I were you, I would make sure not to let this one go,” she teased as she walked toward the door. “So shall we eat? I noticed from the amazing spread on the dining room table that we’re having sushi tonight. Did you make that yourself, Ben?” “Yeah. I wanted to surprise Blair with a romantic dinner to show her just how special she is to me.” There was an edge in Ben voice that I couldn’t quite decipher. Is he still upset that

Katherine ruined his romantic surprise? I leaned up and gently kissed his lips. “Thank you, babe. That’s really thoughtful of you.” “Yes, that’s very thoughtful of you, indeed.” Katherine smiled sweetly. “I can’t wait to try everything and taste your skills for myself.” I felt Ben’s body tense next to me. “What’s wrong?” I looked at him with concern. “Umm, actually, I can’t stay for dinner anymore,” he said quickly. He looked at me, and I saw the regret in his eyes. “I just got an email from one of the partners at the firm. We just got an expedited case in tonight, and I need to head back into the office now.” “Oh, really? Do you have to?” I tried to hide the disappointment and worry in my voice. “Is

everything okay?” “Yeah, no worries,” he said in cheerful voice. “You know very well how demanding clients can be.” He playfully nudged me, and I knew he was referring to my behavior as a client when we first met. I laughed. “Touché.” He gave me a hug and a kiss. “You guys are welcome to stay and eat the sushi.” “Way to break a girl’s heart, Ben. I was hoping to have some heart-to-hearts with you and Blair.” “Right. Well, sorry it didn’t work out that way,” he said flatly. “That’s all right. I understand. Things happen. Don’t worry about leaving us girls alone.”

She walked toward us and reached out and grabbed my hand. “I have a lot of catching up to do with my baby sister. There’s just so much we still don’t know about each other.” Ben looked at Katherine, and for a split second, I thought I saw him glare at her. But then he turned to me and the look was gone. “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll make it up to you.” I shook my head and smiled at him. “Don’t be silly. I can tell how much time and effort you put into tonight’s dinner. I think I’m the one that needs to make it up to you.” I pulled his face down toward me and whispered in his ears, “And trust me, I’ll make it up to you and show you just how appreciative I am.” When he pulled away, I saw the familiar lust in his eyes for me, and I instantly felt relieved that

we were okay. “You promise?” he asked with a smirk. “I promise.” I winked. “Just make sure to get that coffee ready, Mr. Chase.” He laughed. “It’s always ready, and as strong as ever.”

CHAPTER TWO Ben Guilt consumed me as I hugged Blair goodbye and walked out of my front door. I had lied. I hadn’t gotten an email from work. There was no expedited project that had come in tonight. I wasn’t heading back into the office. I just needed to get away and clear my thoughts. I felt sick to my stomach as I walked quickly to my car. The brisk evening air hit my face, sending chills down my body. It wasn’t until I got inside my car that I registered the ache in my hands from clenching my fists for too long. I forced myself to draw in a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I started the engine and sped off

down the street, away from both the woman who was the past I thought I could forget and the woman who was the future I thought I had just started a life with. I drove in silence for what seemed like an eternity as I let the shock of what had just happened wash over me. “How is this even possible?” I asked aloud. “How could she be her sister?” In frustration, I smacked my hands on the steering wheel, causing my car horn to come alive as it zoomed down the quiet residential block of Victorian houses. After driving aimlessly for another ten minutes, I pulled alongside a curb and killed the engine. I rubbed my face with my hands. I was irritated by how tonight—the night I was going to tell Blair that I loved her—had been so easily

ruined by the one person I thought I’d never see again, the one person I hated the most in life. I also felt ashamed. I was ashamed at how much of a coward I’d been, unable to face up to the Blonde Bitch in front of Blair. I was ashamed that even after all these years, I still somehow allowed Katherine to call the shots and to somehow weave me into her web of lies. She’d always had a way of taking control of situations and making people her pawns in her twisted games. “Why did I lie to Blair?” My body felt paralyzed with regret. “She deserves better than that. She deserves better than me…” My chest ached as the words came out of my mouth. But I also knew that as much as I wanted to tell Blair tonight about Katherine and our history, something had held me back. I knew how difficult it had been

for Blair to find Katherine. I had heard the way Blair’s voice had come alive when she’d told me over the phone yesterday that she had finally found her long-lost sister. I had seen the sparkle in her eyes when I first saw her tonight—she’d looked so beautiful and happy. As much as I wanted to tell her the truth about Katherine the very moment I saw the Blonde Bitch, I just couldn’t bring myself to be the one to take that beauty and joy out of Blair’s face. Not tonight. But I knew it was only a matter of time before the truth would come out. Just not tonight, I had convinced myself. Not when she had just reunited with her long-lost sister just hours ago. Not when she is at the happiest I have ever seen her. No, I just couldn’t bear to break her heart like that.

I was also ashamed for yet another reason. I knew I was being selfish, and I hated every fiber of my being for behaving this way. I was selfish because I wasn’t ready to tell Blair. I needed to figure out what was going to happen next between us before I could tell her about Katherine. I needed to know that I wouldn’t lose Blair because of my history of her sister. Just then my phone buzzed, pulling me back to the present. I took it out of my pocket and looked at the screen. I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello? This is Ben.” “Well, hello, Mr. Ben Chase,” came a low, sultry voice on the other end. My body stiffened at the sound of her voice, and all the anger and resentment I had felt in the

last decade came rushing back. “How did you get this number, Katherine?” “Well, that’s not a nice way to greet your best friend and high-school sweetheart,” she pouted. “We’re not best friends. We’re probably the exact opposite of best friends.” “Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree, then.” I ignored her comment. “You haven’t told me how you got my number.” I heard her laugh. “From your sweet and naïve girlfriend, Ben,” she responded sweetly, her words drenched with mockery. “I just asked her if I could borrow her phone to check my email real quick. I found your number in her contacts and

emailed it to myself. In fact, I’m still at your place. I asked if she could run to the neighborhood liquor store to get us another bottle of wine.” She laughed. “My baby sister is quite the gullible one, don’t you think?” I gritted my teeth at her disrespectful words. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Katherine?” “Nothing’s wrong with me, Ben. I just needed to get a hold of you so we can finish our conversation from earlier.” “That conversation was over before it even began. We have nothing to talk about.” “So are you saying I should tell Blair everything I know?” “Are you threatening me, Katherine?” My blood boiled at her conniving ways.

She laughed. “No, silly. Why on Earth would I threaten you? I just mean that if you want me to break the bad news to Blair, I will. You were always the soft-hearted one between the two of us.” I ignored her condescending comment. “I was about to tell her the truth, but you cut me off and told her we had just met tonight. I—” “Oh, relax, Ben. No need to make up an excuse for me. I’m not going to tell Blair our little secret.” “Don’t worry, Katherine. I will tell her when the time is right.” “Uh huh.” She didn’t sound convinced. Annoyed beyond belief, I just wanted to end this call with her. “What exactly do you want,

Katherine?” “You know exactly what I want. I told you right before Blair interrupted us tonight.” “I’m not interested, Katherine.” “That remains to be seen.” Her over-confidence grated against my patience. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I’m with Blair. She’s your sister! I love your sister!” I screamed into the receiver. To my surprise, there was a moment of silence on her end. It was then that I realized what I had just said. I had just told Katherine that I loved Blair. I felt a sense of triumph that Katherine heard this from me, but I was also annoyed that she now knew before I had a chance to tell Blair. “Hey, I gotta go. I have another call on the

other line. Let’s chat again soon,” she quickly said before immediately clicking off. “Yeah, right,” I said back to the dead line. “Once a liar, always a liar.” I stared at my phone, reeling in shock at how ruthless Katherine was. It was bad enough that she had cheated on me years ago with my close fraternity brother, but this was a new low. This was a new level of heartlessness that I didn’t think she had. Why had I loved someone like this? How was I so blind back then? As I started my engine back up, I knew that I had to figure out a way to tell Blair the truth before Katherine ruined everything.

CHAPTER THREE Blair “Blair? You got a minute?” I looked up from my computer to see Trent at the door of my office. “Yeah, I suppose so.” I flashed him a small smile. Trent walked in and closed the door behind him before walking over to the empty chair facing my desk. My body tensed as I was still unsure about his intentions and how much I could trust him. “What is it?” He drew in a deep breath before meeting my gaze. I immediately saw the change in his face. Dark circles and bags surrounded his blood-shot

eyes. He looked tired and aged, and my heart broke at the sight. “What’s wrong, Trent?” “Me,” he responded. “What do you mean?” I immediately slipped into the concerned sister role. “I’m sorry, Blair.” He voice cracked as he looked away so I couldn’t see the pain in his eyes. “I know that I’ve lost your trust. I know that I don’t deserve any sort of forgiveness from you. But I wanted to apologize for how I’ve treated you since my mom passed away—since I found out…the truth about myself. I think I held on to a lot of anger and resentment for the cards life had dealt me, and I took it out on you. I always knew deep down that you were innocent in all this. I knew deep down that you were probably the one person that would

stick by me through all this…” “So why didn’t you tell me?” I cut him off. “Why did you treat me the way you did? Do you really think I’d treat you differently just because you weren’t my biological brother?” My words spilled out quickly, and I knew these were questions that I’d desperately wanted answers to for the last year. He bowed his head in shame. “I needed someone to blame,” he whispered. “I couldn’t let go of the anger…” I studied the man sitting in the chair before me and wondered if the older, protective brother who had always loved and cared for me was still there. “Can I ask you something?” “Yes, of course.” He looked eagerly up at me.

“Do you really hate me that much?” Tears filled his eyes and he shook his head. “I never hated you. You’re one of the most important people in my life. But when my mom died, I found out I lost more than just her. When I found out that I’d lost myself and the life I’d worked so hard for, a part of me wanted to hate you. A part of me couldn’t accept the possibility that you’d become the future CEO of the company when I had sacrificed so much to prove myself to our father. But I never hated you…I hated only myself.” He then pulled out a sealed envelope from inside the breast pocket of his suit and handed it to me. “What is it?” I opened the envelope to reveal a letter.

Blair Parker Acting Vice President Parker, Inc. 857 Montgomery Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, CA 94133 May 10, 2014 Ms. Parker, This letter is to inform you that I will be resigning from my current position as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Parker, Inc., effective immediately. My time at Parker, Inc. has been an incredible learning experience, but I believe it is the best interest of the company that I step down at this time. Best regards,

Trent Fox “You’re the only person that has a right to be the CEO of Parker, Inc.,” he finally said as I stared at the letter in shock. “You’ve proved very early on that you’re more than capable of managing your father’s company.” Surprised and touched by Trent’s words, I stared at the envelope in my hands. “Do you really want to leave Parker, Inc.?” He didn’t respond. “No.” Suddenly I ripped up the letter. “I can’t accept this.” He stared at me with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” I sighed. “Trent, I can’t let you do this. I’m

not saying I’ve forgiven you for how you’ve treated me in the last year or two, but I know Parker, Inc. can’t lose you. I can’t lose you.” Our eyes met, and at that moment, I saw the face of the older brother who, up until recently, had always been there for me. I couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. “But you found Katherine—” he began. “That doesn’t mean you’re less of a brother to me, Trent.” He looked up with pained eyes. “How can you still see me as a brother after all the shit I’ve put you through?” I smiled. “Because I remember all the times you’ve been there for me as a brother, and I want to believe that he’s still in there somewhere.” “I’m sorry for everything, Blair. I don’t

know what to say.” “Say that you’ll stay as Acting CEO. With Dad still unable to move or speak properly, I need your help managing this place.” He finally smiled and nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Blair. Not just for letting me stay at Parker, Inc., but for letting me stay in your life.” His voice cracked as he continued, “I know it will take time for you to trust me again, but I’m still the same brother that was always there to protect you.” “I know. I believe you.” I wasn’t sure why, but I knew I could trust Trent. Some of the tension that’d taken hold of my body in the last few months disappeared. “So,” he cleared his throat, “how is everything?” I frowned as I was reminded of the other

things that had been bothering me lately. “I’m not sure,” I said honestly. “What do you mean?” He looked at me in concern. “I don’t know. I just get this feeling that something’s wrong with me and Ben.” “Oh?” “Yeah. So, I met Katherine for the first time a week ago,” I said cautiously as I watched Trent’s reaction. “Right.” He tried to hide his discomfort on his face, but I could see the pain in his eyes. “Well, Ben and I were supposed to hang out later that evening, and Katherine thought it’d be fun to surprise him, so I invited her over. Well, Ben had this romantic night planned for us, and I think

he wasn’t expecting me to bring a third wheel. I could tell there was some tension between the two of them, and neither of them seemed to really like the other. Anyway, things seemed to be a little off since then.” “Hmm.” Trent frowned as he took in my story. “Have you talked to him about it?” I shook my head. “Well, I’m not sure if I’m just overreacting. I know I wanted their first meeting to be perfect, and it didn’t turn out that way. I think Ben was disappointed that his plans for a romantic night for just the two of us was ruined, and then he had to get back to the office for an urgent project.” “Have the two of them hung out since then?” “No.” “Well, it might just have been an awkward

first meeting. I know you, Blair. I know how you are when you want things to go perfectly. And I know they’re going to be two important people in your life and you want them to get along, so you’re putting a lot of pressure on it.” I sighed. “You’re probably right.” “Why don’t you plan another get-together for them? I’m sure things will go better if they know what to expect.” I beamed at Trent. “Thanks for wise advice, big brother. You always know what to say to make me feel better.” He smiled back. “Thank you for giving me a second chance at being a big brother to you.” *** I woke up just a little past dawn. My lips spread into a smile as I registered Ben’s warm, protective

arm curled around my body. I’d never met a man who made me feel as safe and wanted as he had. I slowly pried Ben’s hand off my waist and quietly slipped out of the bed. Ben was usually the one to make us breakfast, but today I wanted to surprise him. I walked to his kitchen and started making his favorite breakfast: French toast with a side of bacon. Twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated against the kitchen counter.

“I’m already here,” his deep, raspy voice came from behind me. His lips moved gently down the side of my neck as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “Ben, you startled me!” I cried out between giggles. “Damn, my baby made my favorite breakfast.” “See, isn’t this better than just coffee?” I grabbed a piece of bacon and fed it to him. “Depends on what coffee we’re talking about.” He winked at me. Then a devious smile curled his lips. “You know what’d taste even better than this piece of bacon?” I arched an eyebrow at him. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“Well, there’s a certain sweet honey that I just can’t get enough of.” He cocked his head and eyed me. I inhaled sharply as his hand brushed the spaghetti straps of my camisole off my shoulders, causing the silk fabric to fall to the ground, exposing my naked breasts. “Well, good morning to you too,” he chuckled as he lowered his mouth onto one of my breasts and began to suck on it. Suddenly, he grabbed my waist and pushed me on top of the kitchen counter. Through my cries of pleasure, I managed to push some of the plates to the side to make room for my naked body as his teeth and tongue bit and soothed my nipple in alternating intervals, sending jolts of electricity down below where a pool of

wetness was developing in anticipation. “Ben, what about breakfast?” I managed to ask between my pants and cries as my hands ran through his hair in frenzy. He paused and looked up at me swollen breasts with a wide, sinful smile across his lips. “Baby, I’m having my breakfast right now.” I saw the raw hunger in his eyes and the wetness inside me began to drip down my thighs in anticipation. As if he had a sixth sense of how turned on I was, he went down on his knees and disappeared between my legs. I gasped as I felt his hot tongue lick up my wetness along my inner thigh. “Can’t let this sweetness go to waste,” he groaned as his mouth slowly moved toward my epicenter of my pleasure. “And jackpot. Breakfast of champions.”

His voice was ragged and wild as I felt his mouth linger at the entrance. “Oh God, please, Ben!” I begged as I arched my hips toward his mouth. “Baby, I aim to please, and I’m ravenous,” he growled in response. Suddenly he grabbed my hips with both hands as his mouth engulfed me. I let out a scream and threw my head back as an onslaught of pleasure crashed through me. As his hands tightened their grip against my flesh and he pulled me against his mouth, his tongue moved deeper and deeper inside me. Within seconds, I reached my breaking point and my entire body began to quiver around his mouth. “Come for me, baby. Come all over my mouth.”

I cried and gasped uncontrollably as his tongue pushed me over the brink of sanity, where several long seconds of earth-shattering pleasure thundered down my body. “Oh my God, that was incredible,” I panted. “And delicious to the last drop.” He appeared between my legs and flashed me a wide grin, his face covered with my wetness. “Well, that was certainly a pleasant surprise.” I beamed at him. Suddenly he picked me up and threw me over his naked, broad shoulders. “Where are you taking me?” I squealed as I half-struggled to get off of him. “You didn’t think I was done with you yet, did you?”

“What?” I pretended to protest. “Baby, we just had some strong coffee, courtesy of yours truly. But now it’s time for the main course, and as you can feel,” he grab one of my hands and moved it under his boxers and on top his rock-hard erection, “I’ve worked up quite an appetite.” I could picture the sexy smirk on his determined face as he carried me into the bedroom. As much as I wanted to resist him, I knew I couldn’t. He was the first man who’d made me feel this sexy, free, and safe, and the more time we spent together, the more confident I was about the fact that nothing would change the way I felt about him.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ben The pure euphoria that swallowed me when I came inside Blair was all that seemed to push the problem of Katherine from my mind lately. If I had the power, I’d have whisked Blair away to a secluded island and made love to her for the rest of my life. The idea of how incredible that would be floated around in my mind as I came down from my last release. “You know, Mr. Chase,” Blair’s dreamy, soft voice broke though my thoughts. Her fingers laced and intertwined with mine as they methodically moved up and down the length of my fingers, sending tingles of pleasure down my chest and toward my tired but excited cock that was

quickly responding beneath the sheets. “What’s that, Ms. Parker?” My voice was deep and hoarse. I met her gaze and couldn’t help but to smile. “I didn’t think it was possible to orgasm three times in an hour’s time, but you sure proved me wrong.” She was lying next to me in the bed and I turned to face her and gazed into her warm emerald eyes. My hand slowly trailed up and down the outline of her arm. “There’s a lot of things I intend to prove you wrong about, Ms. Parker.” She raised an eyebrow and shot me a look. “I’m not often wrong, dear sir,” she challenged. “I still remember the very first time we met at that grocery store—” “By the fruit stands,” I finished.

“Yup. If I recall correctly, I said to your face that you were one cocky guy.” “And I said that I had a lot to be cocky about.” I winked at her. She giggled. “Well, you weren’t wrong there.” Her eyes glanced down at my cock, which twitched the second it was mentioned. “But my point was I’m rarely wrong. We weren’t even talking about whether or not you were.” She laughed. “And the fact that you turned the conversation back to you proves my point: you’re one cocky guy.” I threw my head back in laughter. “I sure am.” Then I grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her to me. Our lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, our tongues darted in and out of each other’s mouths, and our lips playfully nipped and kissed.

As we finally pulled away, my lips curled into a wide grin. She cocked her head and eyed me suspiciously, “What are you smiling about?” I feigned an innocent look. “What? Can’t a guy smile at his girlfriend adoringly?” She punched me lightly in the arm. “Spill it.” I laughed at how well she could read me. “Well, I was just laughing at the fact when you were saying you’re rarely wrong about things, you actually said something that was, in fact, wrong.” She glared at me and pouted. “And what exactly did I get wrong?” I flashed her a smug smile. “Well, you said that the very first time we met was at the grocery store.”

“And how is that wrong?” she challenged. “It’s wrong because the first time we met was at that speakeasy bar in the Financial District.” She frowned. “I never met you there.” I chuckled. “You did.” “Well, you must not have been that memorable, then, if I can’t remember,” she challenged with a smile. “Oh, I’ll show you how memorable I am,” I shot back as I reach over to tickle her. She squealed as she tried to squirm away from my threatening fingers. “Okay,” she managed to get out between her uncontrollable giggles, “Tell me what happened.” I finally stopped, feeling childishly

triumphant like I had just won something. “Well, that was actually the very first time we met. You were walking through the front door while I was walking out. I didn’t see your face, but I had smelled that perfume of yours that seems to drive me crazy.” She shot me a doubtful look. “I’m not the only person that wears Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom & Honey perfume. How could you be sure if it was me if you didn’t see my face?” I reached for her wrist and turned her palm up to face us. “I also saw your long, beautiful hair and this infinity sign tattoo.”

“Oh.” She laughed. “I can’t believe you still remember these details. So on top of being cocky, you’re also a stalker.” “Ha ha. Joke all you want, but let’s not be derailed from the point of this story—you are wrong.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so smug. For a lawyer, you know it’s all in the semantics. I said

the very first time we ‘met’ was at the grocery store. We didn’t ‘meet’ each other at the bar when I didn’t even know you existed and you didn’t even see my face. Your argument is weak and doesn’t hold water.” I laughed at how much of a smart-ass she was and how much I loved that about her. “You’ll never just let me have the last word, will you?” She beamed at me. “Nope,” she said, causing her lips to make a smacking sound. I turned my attention back to the infinity tattoo on her wrist. It was an infinity sign with four small birds flying in a line around a portion of the infinity sign. On another portion of the infinity sign was the word “Always.” My thumb traced the lines of the infinity sign. “So when are you going to tell me what this means?” I teased.

She smiled. “Are we telling each other our deepest secrets now?” she teased. Her question was like a punch to the gut, and I felt the guilt that’d been following me around during this past week suffocating my airways as she looked up at me with those gorgeous eyes, drawing me into her world. I wanted to tell her then about my history with Katherine, but as her naked body gently brushed against mine, I couldn’t seem to get myself to confess what’d been weighing on my mind since I saw Katherine and found out who she was. “You know I was only joking, right?” “What?” I searched her face, confused by what she was talking about. “You asked me about my tattoo, and I was just joking about it being a deep secret. You just

didn’t respond just now, so I thought maybe my dry sarcasm didn’t make that clear.” I forced a chuckle. “Oh, sorry. I knew you were joking. Not sure why I didn’t respond. I was just a little preoccupied.” She studied me. “Yeah?” “Nothing important. Just work,” I reassured her, instantly feeling like shit inside as I heard the blatant lie escape my mouth. You’re a fucking coward, Ben, I thought to myself. “So what does the tattoo mean?” I changed the subject, desperate to take my mind off anything related to Katherine. “Well, it’s an infinity sign, which means endless or timeless—something that goes on forever. The four birds represent my dad, my mom, me, and Trent. The tattoo represents that we’ll always and forever be a family.”

I saw her eyes glisten with moisture as she looked at the tattoo. “That’s a cool tattoo.” “I got it when I turned twenty-one. That was before I knew about Trent and Katherine.” “How are things with Trent?” I tried to steer the conversation away from the Blonde Bitch. She brushed away a tear and smiled. “Actually, pretty good. Now that everything’s out in the open, he’s back to being the protective older brother that he was before his mom passed away. I mean, things aren’t prefect yet between us. I’m still learning to trust him, but it’s on the right track.” I squeezed Blair’s arm affectionately and kissed her gently. “That’s really great. I’m so glad to hear that.” “Ben?” She paused and looked into my eyes. “Yeah? What is it?” I sensed a wave of

anxiety laced in her one-word question. “I’m sorry about last week.” “What are you talking about?” I was confused by her comment and wasn’t sure where it was coming from. “Well, the night you met Katherine for the first time…you seemed upset with me. I’m really sorry I ruined the special night you planned for us.” “Blair,” My face twisted in anguish as guilt gnawed at my insides when I realized what Blair must have thought. “Baby, you did nothing wrong, and I can never be upset with you. You didn’t ruin anything.” Katherine did, I thought to myself. “I thought it was just a low-key night,” she continued, “and Katherine thought it’d be fun to surprise you.” “I bet she did,” I said under my breath.

“What do you mean?” She frowned. “How much do you really know about Katherine, Blair?” I asked, the question seemed to slip out before I knew I had asked it. “What’s that supposed to mean, Ben? I just met her a week ago, but I think I’ve gotten to know her pretty well in a week’s time.” “And does she seem genuine to you?” My body stiffened, shocked by my line of questions. Blair glared at me. “Why would you ask that? Do you know something I don’t? Did something happen in your bedroom that night?” Fear spread across her face. “No! Nothing happened that night, Blair. You got it all wrong.” I took a deep breath, knowing this was the right moment to tell her. “I’m sorry, I should have told you that night. Katherine

and I—” Just then, Blair’s phone vibrated. Katherine’s name popped up as the iPhone screen lit up. Blair reached for her phone and giggled. “What is it?” I tried to hold back the anger that was raging inside me. Once again, Katherine interrupted us at the worst time possible. Does that bitch have “best time to interrupt Ben and Blair” radar? Blair put her phone down and flashed me a happy smile. “So I’m completely free this Saturday. What are you doing that night?” She bit her lips, knowing how much that turned me on. I chuckled and immediately forgot about Katherine. “Spending time with you, of course,” I played along.

“Great! That’s what I want to hear.” Then my stomach lurched when I saw her reach for her phone again and began to frantically text Katherine back. “What exactly do you have in mind?” I tried to keep my voice calm and level as I waited anxiously for her response. She swung her arms around my neck and smiled up at me. My heart melted at how beautiful she looked when she was in a completely happy mood. “Well, I was thinking we could have a game night. I feel like I’ve really bonded with Katherine in the last week, and I really want my amazing boyfriend and my long-lost big sister to get to know each other. I want you to see why she’s so fun and cool, and I want her to see how amazing you are as a boyfriend.”

“Oh.” My body froze at the thought. “Well, actually…” I racked my brain, trying to figure how to tell her to truth. Her face fell in response to my hesitation. “Look, I know I shouldn’t have surprised you last week, and in hindsight, it wasn’t the best way to introduce you two. But Ben, she’s very important to me. She’s my sister, and she’s going to be a very big part of my life. I really need you to try to get along with her.” Her eyes searched my blank face for an answer. “Please, Ben. For me?” I opened my mouth, ready to tell her the truth, but before my words came out, I stopped. Blair’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. They were sisters, and I didn’t need to know the meaning behind her infinity tattoo to know how important family was to her. I knew that if I told

her now, I might lose her forever. Forced to pick between two difficult choices, I once again chickened out. I smiled at Blair and caressed her face. “Blair, you know that I’d do anything for you, right? You know that you’re the most important thing in my life now, right?” Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. “I feel the same way, Ben. You mean so much to me, and I can’t imagine a life without you.” My heart felt full at her words, but my body felt tense with dread for Saturday night. Just let her be happy for another week, Ben. Just get through that night and tell her next week. Just enjoy your last week with the woman you love before you lose her forever. ***

“Dude, thanks for agreeing to do this,” I greeted Josh when he got into my car. I knew going into tonight that I need another guy friend around to be a buffer between me and Katherine. “Anytime. Thanks for thinking of me.” I chuckled. “You make it sound like I’m inviting you to a real party. Like I explained on Thursday, this is a game night between you, me, my girlfriend, and my crazy old ex who turns out to be the long-lost sister of my girlfriend. I’ve recruited you to keep the crazy bitch busy, so I don’t have to interact with her too much tonight.” Josh shook his head. “That’s really nuts. What are the chances this would happen?” “Tell me about it.” I cursed my bad luck. “Anyway, I just need to get through tonight. I’m going to sit Blair down tomorrow when it’s just us

and tell her everything.” “Good for you, man. I’m glad you’ve decided to tell her. I know it’s a shitty decision to have to make.” “Yeah.” I pushed away any further thoughts of how my conversation with Blair would go tomorrow. “But I’m serious. Thanks for inviting me. I know it’s not going to be a fun night for you, but I really needed to get out of the house.” Josh sighed. I looked over at Josh and felt sorry for him. “How are things with you?” “I’m not going to lie, bro. It’s been rough since Kim moved out. Sometimes I forget she’s gone and I reach over in the middle of night to wrap my arms around her, but she’s not there.” He shook his head at the thought. “It sucks.”

“Sorry to hear that. Have you guys talked since you broke up with her?” “Nope. Two months and counting of complete radio silence. It hurts, but I don’t want to reach out just because I’m lonely. I don’t want to give her false hope. I broke her heart, I’m not about to bat it around and hurt it some more.” “You’re a good guy, Josh. Did you really think your issues with her were things you couldn’t change?” “Yeah, it sucks. There wasn’t really anything wrong between us, per se. We had become a boring old couple, but we still loved and cared for each other. But…sometimes there are things outside of a good relationship that can ruin it. Her parents hated me and thought I wasn’t good enough for their daughter. I would constantly hear them

talking shit about me to her on the phone, and I never once heard her stand up to them and defend me. After two years of that, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I started wondering if she thought the same thing—that I wasn’t good enough.” “But shouldn’t your relationship with her be the only factor in deciding whether to stay together?” I wasn’t sure why, but I felt the need to defend their relationship. “You two loved each other. Isn’t that enough? Who cares what the parents think.” “Blood is thicker than water, dude. Yeah, we may love enough other, but no matter how much we love each other, they are her parents, and they’ve always been a tight-knit, close family. I knew that they would always be an important part of her life. I couldn’t ask her to choose between me

and them—I didn’t want to, either. Plus, I would never want her to resent me for being the rift between her and her parents.” “Right.” I thought about his comments as we drove the rest of the way to Blair’s place in silence. Blood is thicker than water— the words rang in my ears as a growing knot twisted in my stomach. *** Two hours later and several drinks in for the four of us, I began to relax as I watched Katherine and Josh talking excitedly about some elaborate drinking game. I smiled for the first time tonight as I pulled Blair closer into my chest and kissed her forehead. Blair looked up at me with a gorgeous

smile, and I could see the sheer joy in her eyes. She leaned up against my ear and whispered, “Don’t you think they’d make a cute couple?” I could hear the delighted squeal in her voice and couldn’t help feeling hopeful that maybe Katherine found someone else to be interested in. I knew Josh needed a rebound to help him get over Kim, so this could be perfect. I watched as Katherine flirted with Josh and wondered if I had it all wrong. Maybe Katherine finally realizes that nothing will ever happen between us again. Maybe she finally realized that things were serious between me and her sister when I had told her that I loved Blair. “Let’s play a drinking game!” Katherine broke through my thoughts. “I’m in!” Blair agreed in delight. “What do

you wanna play?” A devious smirk spread across Katherine face. “Let’s make this interesting. Let’s play strip blackjack.” She giggled as she got up and walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed a bottle of rum. She placed the bottle between us and flashed one of her high-voltage smiles. “So, it’s easy. I’ll be the dealer. If I lose against two of your three hands during a round, I lose and have to take a shot and remove an article of clothing. If you lose your hand, you take a shot and remove an article of clothing.” “Um.” Even through the numerous glasses of wine Blair had taken with Katherine, I could tell she still had some reservations. “Are you sure you want to play that?” “Oh, baby sister of mine, don’t be so

modest.” Katherine flung her hair back with the back of her hand and laughed. “We’re all adults here. It’s not like we’re going to see something we haven’t seen before.” She swung an arm over Josh’s shoulder and beamed at him. “Don’t you wanna play, Josh?” “Cool. Sssure,” Josh slurred. I rolled my eyes at how drunk Josh had gotten tonight. He was supposed to be my buffer, but instead of making things better, he was making them worse. “Well…” Blair tried again. “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said flatly as I shot Katherine a look. What is she trying to do? “Oh, come on, Ben.” She shot me a smoldering gaze as she leaned toward me, letting

the soft flesh of her cleavage to spill out from her tight top. “From what Blair told me, you’re quite the adventurous type. This seems right up your alley.” I glanced at Blair from the corner of my eyes and noticed her blush at Katherine’s admission. “Come on. Don’t be prudes. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it all,” she gave me a meaningful look and smiled. “Besides, it’ll be a lot of fun! Little sister, wasn’t it you that said tonight I should try to get to know Ben better? He’s been pretty quiet all night and hasn’t come out of his shell yet. Don’t you think this would be a fun ice breaker to change that?” “You’re not making any sense, Katherine.” My body tensed as it became apparent that Katherine was up to her old tricks again and hadn’t

lost interest in me. “Oh, don’t be a party pooper. Blair says you’re such a fun boyfriend.” She turned to Blair. “Didn’t you say that, little sister?” Blair shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I did, but…” Katherine turned her attention back to me. “Well, I’d just like to see for myself how fun you really are.” She kept her eyes trained on me as she sipped her drink. Her tongue moved purposefully around the straw. Rage engulfed me as I stared at disbelief at how low Katherine was able to stoop. “Hey, babe.” I rubbed my hand up and down Blair’s arm. “Bathroom break. I’ll be right back.” I gave her a kiss and got up and headed to the bathroom down the hall.

When I got out of the bathroom, I found Katherine standing in the hallway waiting for me. “Hey there, stranger,” she purred through the crooked smile on her face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hissed at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked at me innocently. “Cut the bullshit, Katherine.” “Fine,” she said matter-of-factly. “I’m doing everything you want me to do but are afraid to admit.” She walked toward me, causing me to back up away from her. “I don’t want you to do anything, Katherine.” “Oh, come on, you don’t mean that.”

“I do.” “Don’t you remember how much you loved me? Don’t you remember how whipped you were? And rumor had it, that day when I broke up with you over the phone, you’d flown to LA to surprise me and ask me to marry you.” Fury churned inside like molten lava as she reminded me of the fool I once was. “That was when you were the only pussy I’d had. But that’s not me anymore, you conniving bitch. I’ve had 735 different pussies after you, so if you must know where you rank now in my mind: you’re in 736th place.” She glared at me, but her lips challenged me as they curled into a smile. “Ben, how do you really think this will play out?” “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t

follow.” “I’m talking about you and Blair. Do you honestly think things will work out?” “My relationship with Blair has nothing to do with you, so stay the fuck out,” I hissed at her. I tried to walk past her to get back to the living room, but she blocked my way. “Baby, I just call it the way I see it. And the way I see it, I have everything to do with you and Blair.” She ran a finger down my chest. I quickly pushed her hand off me and backed away. “Get your hands off me.” “You see, Ben. You’re mine, not hers. She has nothing on me.” She took a step toward me and batted her eyes up at me. “You’re fucking nuts!” I spat in a low, forceful voice. “I’m not yours. I wasn’t yours the

day you decided to fuck my frat brother. And do you know what the funny thing is? I’m so relieved that you did fuck him. I can’t imagine having to be married to a crazy bitch like you.” For a second, Katherine seemed taken aback by my words. But then to my surprise, she started to smile. I saw her eyes look past me at the end of the hallway and before I could turn to follow her gaze, she grabbed my shirt and pulled me on top of her. Shock paralyzed me for a second when I felt her lips on me and her tongue pushing it ways into my mouth. A gasp came from behind me. “What the fuck is going on?” The last voice I wanted to hear at that very moment cried out from behind me. I pushed Katherine off me and turned toward

the voice. The look on her face stopped me cold and I felt my chest tighten as all the blood drained from my face. It was Blair.

CHAPTER FIVE Blair My chest constricted, and I couldn’t seem to breathe. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them kissing passionately in the hall. Were my crazy suspicions about them actually right all along? “What the fuck is going on?” I managed to scream out. There must be a reasonable explanation for this that doesn’t involve Ben cheating on me, a part of me tried to reason. But as soon as I saw the pale, guilty expression all over his face, my heart lost all hope. I didn’t need to wonder whether something had happened between them. The look on his face told

me all I needed to know. Time seemed to pass slowly. Seconds seemed to feel like minutes as we stared at each other in shock. It was Katherine who broke the silence. “I wanted to tell you, Blair, but I was trying to protect Ben. I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.” Her face twisted into a forced frown, and it felt as if she had stabbed me with a cold, sharp knife and twisted it inside my wounded flesh for good measure. How can my own sister do this to me? “Blair, she’s lying to you. Please let me explain. This isn’t what it looks like!” Ben pushed past Katherine to rush to my side. I took a few steps back to maintain his distance from me. The ultimate betrayal committed by both the man I loved and my sister fueled the

anger that grew inside. “So, you’re telling me I didn’t just witness the two of you kissing or my sister’s tongue down your throat?” “I…” He blinked. “She kissed me, but I didn’t kiss her back. It all happened so fast, I was shocked when it happened.” Waves of confusion crashed through me as I tried to make sense of what he was telling me. I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t try to rationalize what you just did. The two of you kissed. That shit just doesn’t happen!” He flinched at my words and his face feel into a sunken despair. “No, you’re right. This doesn’t just happen. There is a reason it had happened, and it’s something I’ve wanted to tell you since that night you brought Katherine over to my place.”

His words were more than I could take. He had just admitted there was indeed something going on. I felt sick to my stomach as the image of Ben and Katherine kissing replayed in my head. Suddenly the room began to sway back and form. I braced my hand against the wall as the room spun around me. “Oh, God,” I moaned, “I need to throw up.” “Blair?” Ben’s alarmed voice came rushing toward me. “Don’t touch me!” I screamed as I pushed him and stumbled toward the bathroom. “Blair, you look sick. Please let me take care of you.” Ben’s face twisted in agony as he reached for my arms. “What the fuck, Ben! What the fuck!” I screamed as my hands pounded against his chest as

I felt myself spiral deeper and deeper into a state of crazed frenzy. Just then Katherine walked up to us and I saw a triumphant smile spread across her face. “For the record, little sister, I didn’t steal Ben away from you. You’re simply having some fun with my leftovers. So if there was any sort of ‘sister code’ for dating, I’d say you’re the one that broke it.” “Shut the fuck up, Katherine!” Ben interjected. “Haven’t you done enough damage? She’s your sister! Do you have no compassion?” Their words and Ben’s angry expression sent my world into a tailspin. Her leftovers? I broke the sister code? I looked at Katherine, unable to respond. I then turned to Ben, searching his face for answers. I saw the guilt, betrayal, and

fear splashed across his face and knew Katherine was telling the truth. “Blair, please let me explain,” he pleaded as he approached me. It was then that all my crazed anger gave way to intense, unbearable pain. I pushed past Ben and Katherine and ran as fast as I could toward the bathroom. Ben raced after me but he was too late. I slammed the bathroom door right on his face and immediately locked the door. My heart ached and I gasped for air. I felt everything inside me shatter into a million little pieces, with each shard of my being seeming to cut against my insides, causing such an overwhelming intensity of pain that my body began to feel numb and detached. How had things turned out like this? In a

matter of minutes, my lost-long older sister had become more of a stranger to me than she was the second we had met over a week ago. “Blair, please can we talk?” came Ben’s voice from the other side of the door. “Please just go home, Ben. I want to be alone.” “Josh and Katherine are gone now. Please, let’s just sit down and talk about this. I need to explain this to you. Baby, this is a misunderstanding.” “How is any of this a misunderstanding?” I spat, feeling the anger take over my every thought. “Are you telling me nothing has ever happened between you two?” “Blair, that’s what I’m trying to tell you.” “Answer my fucking question, Ben! For

once in your life, can you tell me the complete truth? It’s a simple yes or no question. Do you two have a history?” “Yes,” he mumbled. “I was going to tell you everything, Blair.” I scoffed in disbelief. “Right, and when exactly were you planning on dropping this bomb? It’s been over a week! And this entire time, I thought I had done something wrong to upset you, that it was my fault things were so awkward the night I introduced you two.” “Please, Blair. I fucked up. I wanted to tell you the day you brought Katherine to my place, but she twisted things around and I…I was afraid if I said anything at the wrong time, I’d lose you forever.” “I don’t even know how to respond right

now, Ben. I feel so betrayed and hurt. You just broke my heart.” “I am going to tell you everything, Blair, and I’m going to tell you now.” I didn’t respond but waited for him to continue. For the next half hour, Ben told me about his past with Katherine over a decade ago, about how she was his first love and lover, about how he had flown to LA to propose to her, about how he found out she had cheated on him, and about how he had transformed into the anti-relationship playboy. After he finished his story, I no longer felt anger toward him. While I was upset that he hadn’t told me sooner, my anger was directed toward Katherine and fate for putting us into this situation. I finally opened the door to the bathroom

and saw Ben stumped against the other side of it. He nearly fell backwards as the door opened. He got up immediately and grabbed my hands. “Blair, I’m so sorry. I fucked up. I should have told you sooner. I…I just didn’t want to lose you. You had just met your long-lost sister, someone you’re connected to by blood. I guess…I guess I was worried that at the end of the day, you’d pick her over me.” “Ben,” I began softly. “I want to be honest with you…” I saw his body tense at my words. “I really need time to think through all this. My head is spinning at everything I found out tonight. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I met his gaze and saw the pain on his face —it was the same pain I had in my heart. How had

everything between us gone so wrong? How was it possible that my long-lost sister was Ben’s exgirlfriend, the one that had broken his heart years ago? “Blair,” he begged. “This changes nothing about how I feel about you. I want you in my life, not her. I’ll do anything to make it right. Please.” I shook my head as tears streamed down my face. “That’s just it, Ben. There’s nothing you can do to change things. There are some hard, cold facts that we have to face. Katherine is my biological sister and will probably be around in my life. Katherine was your first love, the one you were going to propose to, and the one that broke your heart. You can’t deny the fact that you haven’t dated anyone since her. She had hurt you that much. I…” I looked away from him and

whispered, “I don’t know how to reconcile these two facets of my life. I don’t know how we can coexist.” “But how can you think about letting her into your life after what I’ve told you about her?” Confused and pain fought for space upon his face. I sighed. “I’m not ready to give up on her yet. She’s my sister, my real sister. Everything she’d done that hurt you is in the past and that was over ten years ago, Ben. People grow up. People change.” “She hasn’t changed!” he cut in. “You don’t know that. When you look at her, all you see is the person that hurt you the most in life. I remember the day I met her, she mentioned you during lunch. She told me you were the love of her life, and she had taken you for granted. She told

me that she was young and stupid, and letting you go was the biggest mistake of her life. And from what she told me, after things ended with you two, she had a pretty rough life.” Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I tried to imagine how it would have been like to have to go through everything Katherine had. Ben shook his head. “You’re too kind and forgiving of a person, baby. She doesn’t deserve that from you.” “Ben, she’s my sister. She doesn’t just deserve it, but I owe it to her.” “Baby, don’t think like that.” “Stop,” I raised my hand to motion for him to stop talking. “Ben, I’m really tired. I have a lot to think about.” I paused. “I don’t think we should see each other right now.” My heart lurched as I

heard the words come out of my mouth. Ben didn’t say a word, but simply looked at me in shock. The torment and despair across his face was more than I could bear. I walked him to my door and hugged him goodbye. “Can I call you?” “I don’t know.” I looked away, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. “Please.” There was an unnerving desperation in his voice that broke my heart all over again. I finally nodded but added, “But if I’m not ready to talk, I might not pick up. I hope you can forgive me if that happens.” “I’ll really miss you, Blair.” He hugged me.

“Me too,” I managed to choke out. As soon as I closed the door behind him, I slid down to the cold, hard floor. I grabbed my knees tightly and hugged myself, trying to somehow numb out the ache I felt in my heart. I wasn’t sure how long I had stayed in that position, but at some point, I had cried myself to sleep. I didn’t get up from that floor until the next morning when my phone buzzed to life in my pocket. I jolted awake, half-hoping that it was Ben who was calling me. But it wasn’t. “Hi, Trent. What time is it?” “Hey, Blair. I’m sorry, it’s 8:15 a.m. Did I wake you?” “No, it’s fine. What’s up?”

“I need you to come over as soon as possible.” “Why?” I sat up in full alert. I could hear a sense of urgency in his voice. “What’s wrong?” “I’m at Dad’s house right now.” Fear washed over me. “Is Dad okay?” “Yes, he’s fine. I didn’t mean to startle you. I have good news. He seems to have regained a large part of his mobility and speech ability in the past two weeks.” “Oh, my God, that’s great news, Trent!” I beamed at the news, and for that moment, I forgot about Ben and Katherine’s betrayal. “Yeah. So, Blair, I think it’s time we told him about me and Katherine.”

CHAPTER SIX Trent “Looks like I missed a lot recently.” Bill looked between me and Blair as we sat on adjacent couches in the living room. We had spent the last hour recounting everything that’d happened recently. Blair had tried to sugar coat the part where I tried to sabotage her position at Parker, Inc., but I hadn’t felt right about it. As much as I wanted to be a part of Parker, Inc., I couldn’t find any glory in being reaccepted as a part of the family, or even a part of Parker, Inc., if the man who I once thought was my father—the man who I looked up to, the man who I

worked so hard to impress—didn’t know the whole truth of what had happened and the grave errors in judgment I’d made along the way. “Dad, we really wanted to tell you sooner, but we wanted to make sure you were in good health and could voice your thoughts and opinions once you knew everything.” “That was very thoughtful of you, Blair.” I watched Bill look at his daughter with pride and love, and a dull ache inside my chest reminded me of what I did have, and what I would never have—a father who’d look at me in that same way. “Trent played an instrumental part, too,” Blair tried to share some of the credit. This was something she’d often done when we were growing up. While I appreciated it, I always

wished that she would just take complete ownership over something great she’d done. “Don’t listen to Blair, Bill. I probably did more harm than good.” Bill looked at me and smiled. “Son, you know I never thought it was polite to call your old man by his first name.” What was implied in his words stung me to a halt, and the word “son” rang in my ears like a beautiful melody. “Sorry, Dad.” We shared a knowing look and I saw Blair beam at us from the corner of my eyes. “So I’m glad you guys decided to tell me about what you recently discovered about Trent and Katherine because there’s something that I’ve been waiting for a long time to tell you.”

“What is it?” My eyes grew wide as I looked at Bill. Blair and I exchanged a quick glance before we looked back to Bill. “I knew about Katherine before you guys told me today.” I heard Blair let out an audible gasp, mirroring the same surprise I felt inside. This revelation was the last thing I’d expected from Bill. If he already knew, why did he keep me around? “When? How? Why didn’t you say anything?” I heard myself ask in quick intervals. Bill chuckled. “Slow down, Son. I’m going to tell you everything.” “Dad, you must know this is quite a shock for both me and Trent.” The shocked expression hadn’t left Blair’s face. “Can you start from the

beginning?” “So when you were about ten, Trent, I had my tax account do an audit of all my financial accounts. It was when I was thinking of taking Parker, Inc. public, and I wanted to make sure all my financial records and transactions would pass scrutiny by the SEC. Anyway, my accountant notified me that in the bank account I had set up for you and your mother, there was a monthly check payment for a substantial amount of money that went back as far as three years. The accountant knew that I paid for your mother’s house and car, so the monthly payments to a random individual I’ve never heard of raised some red flags. I had it looked into and found out that your mother was sending money to a family on a monthly basis. I confronted her, and that was when she told me

what she had discovered three years earlier—that you were accidentally switched at birth with our biological daughter. Your mother told me that she couldn’t bear to give you up so she started paying them off monthly to keep quiet.” “But,” I couldn’t help but interrupt his story, “My mom said in one of her letters that what happened was a secret and you didn’t know. Why would she tell me that if it wasn’t true?” “Your mother and I disagreed on whether or not to tell you. She went back and forth on whether or not to tell you. At the time, I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell you. I thought it’d affect you and your relationship with your mom, Blair, and me. I had told your mother that if she wanted to continue to pay the monthly payments to the other family, she couldn’t get me involved or tell anyone that I knew

about the payoffs. I didn’t want this to cause legal issues for the company if it was discovered that the CEO was not only involved in the scandal but used the company profits to fund the monthly payoffs.” “Oh.” “But now that you know a lot of what happened, there’s no longer a reason to keep it from you.” “What do you mean ‘a lot of what happened’? What else is there?” “That’s the part I wanted to tell you today. A few years after I discovered the secret your mother was hiding, I talked with your mother and we made a decision.” “What was it?” Blair’s eager voice cut in. I could tell she was just as eager to find out everything as I was.

“Your mother and I decided to legally adopt you, and the other family had legally adopted Katherine. We had promised that they would continue receiving their monthly payments for the rest of their lives. I also created a separate living trust for Katherine so that she would be well provided for once she reached the age of twentyfive. However, she would not have entitlement to Parker, Inc.” “A living trust?” Blair’s voice piped up again. “So she’d get monthly payments sent directly to her, not her parents, when she reached twenty-five?” “Exactly. Even though she wasn’t a part of my life, she was still my flesh and blood. I set up a multi-million-dollar trust fund for her, and made sure she received a sizable monthly allowance so

that she could live comfortably even if she never worked a day in her life.” “But?” I saw the confusion on Blair’s face and wondered what she thinking. But before I could ask, her expression changed and she dropped her question. “Dad?” I looked at Bill, my mind full of questions I wanted to ask him. “Yes, son?” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Why did you and mom decide to adopt me?” “Son, what are you getting at?” He furrowed his brows in confusion. “What I mean is, when you found out Katherine was your biological child, why didn’t

you use the money you probably had to use on the formal adoption to get her back? You wouldn’t have had to create that trust fund for her, and all those monthly payments to her parents would have stopped.” “Oh, Trent. You still don’t get it, do you? After all these years, I thought you’d eventually understand.” “Understand what?” I glanced at Blair for answers, who shrugged in response. “You’re my child, not Katherine.” I stared at him blankly. He shook his head. “I was the one that suggested to your mother that we should legally adopt you. We talked and both agreed that, to be fair to everyone involved, we could only pick one child between the two of you to call our own, and

to love unconditionally as our own.” I felt a swarm of emotions evade me as I took in his words. “And you picked me?” He smiled and nodded. Tears welled up in my eyes. “But…I thought you never cared for me.” “And why would you think that?” I saw the genuine hurt on his face in response to my words, and I was overcome by a wave of guilt. “You were always so tough on me. Blair seemed to be the perfect child in your eyes, but you never really acknowledged any of my accomplishments. I grew up trying so hard to make you proud of me.” I blinked violently as tears fell from my eyes. “Son,” he beamed at me, “I wish you wouldn’t be so hard on yourself. I wish you could

see what I see. I’ve always loved you like you were my own. I was always tough on you because I wanted to cultivate you into the future CEO of Parker, Inc. when I officially step down. I am proud of you, so much so that I feel so confident leaving you in charge of our family company.” I looked into his eyes. Even though he gave me the same look he’d always given, it looked different now. For the first time in my life, I saw the same look of pride and love that I’d always seen him give to Blair—that same look that I’d craved my entire life. It wasn’t until now that I realized my father had always looked at me that way. It was me who had been the one to shut him out. “I love you, Dad.” I wiped away the tears from my eyes. “Thank you for everything you’ve

done for me through the years. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make you proud.” “I have no doubt, son.” For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged. I felt loved. I felt like a real Parker. *** “I’m glad to have you back, big brother,” Blair giggled as we walked toward our cars that were parked along Dad’s circular driveway. I laughed, feeling the dark clouds that’d surrounded me throughout my life had finally disappeared. “Well, technically, I’ve been legally your big brother since we were young.” She joined in my laughter. “I’m glad you’ve always been there.”

Just then, I recalled something that had bothered me earlier. “Hey, Blair?” “Yeah?” “When Dad was talking about the living trust fund for Katherine, why did you seem confused?” She frowned. “Well, on the first day I’d met Katherine a week or so ago, she told me that after her parents died, she had to deal with the mortgage and funeral expenses. She ended up swimming in debt ever since.” She shook her head in confusion. “I even wrote her a check for $5,000 to help her out…but now, I don’t know why she lied. If she was getting more than enough from the trust fund, why did she need me to think she was poor? Why did she cash the $5,000?” “Hmm. That is strange behavior. So why

didn’t you bring this up earlier?” “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I guess I didn’t want to break Dad’s heart if he knew Katherine was lying to me about money and how bad her life had been. I didn’t want Dad to worry.” “Blair, sometimes you’re too selfless. I know you want to get to know your biological sister, but from everything that you’ve told me, please be careful with her.” Her face suddenly fell, and I suddenly noticed the pain and heartache in her sad emerald eyes, and I knew that something had happened that I wasn’t aware of. “What happened, Blair?” Tears immediately streamed down her face. “Ben and I broke up,” she sobbed. “What? How did that happen?” I couldn’t

believe my ears. From what I had seen between the two of them, I thought they were meant for one another. “I…God, this just sounds too crazy to believe.” I’d never seen Blair fall apart like this before. “Start from the beginning, Blair.” I was shell-shocked by Blair’s account of what had happened and what Ben had told her. I’d met people like Katherine, the cold, manipulative type who preyed on others to get what she wanted. “Blair, I once promised you when we were kids that I’d protect you forever.” A small smile appeared on her lips as she blinked back her tears. “You remember that?” I nodded. “I never told you this, but my happiest moments in childhood were with you.

Outside of my mom, you were the closest family to me—you always loved me unconditionally, and you always giggled and looked at me like I was the most important thing in your life. You were the only person that seemed to look at me like that. Even though I hadn’t known then that I was switched at birth, I had always felt like an outsider. But you were always there to love me. I want to be always there to protect you.” “Thank you, Trent. That means a lot to me.” I smiled at her, “The big brother in me is dying to give you some advice.” She chuckled lightly. “Okay, lay it on me.” “Okay, I know you don’t want to believe it, but it’s clear to me that Katherine’s intentions aren’t genuine. She lied about not having money. She lied about not knowing Ben. And from what

you told me, she was the one in the wrong when she cheated on him.” “I’ll be more careful with her.” “Good. And for my second, and more important, advice.” She laughed. “You’re on a roll.” “You betcha.” I winked. “But in all seriousness, from the interactions I’ve had with Ben, I can tell he’s a good guy. I also know that he cares about you a lot. Six months ago, the temporarily-insane Trent tried to recruit him to help me get you kicked out of the company.” “I remember that.” She shot me a knowing look. “Sorry again,” I said sheepishly. “Anyway, he wouldn’t do it. He said he cared about you and wouldn’t do that to you. I knew then that he loved

you.” Tears returned to her eyes. “Blair, you know me. You know I’m a pretty good judge of character. I know the type of guy Ben is, and I think he’s perfect for you.” “But I…I don’t know if we’re meant to be.” I frowned. “What are you scared of, Blair?” Her voice cracked as she answered me. “I’m scared that he’s not over her. She was his very first love, and if she hadn’t cheated on him, he would have proposed. It was because of her crushing his heart that he’s been a commitmentphobe bachelor for the last decade.” She sighed. “I’m worried that she will always be a part of him —that there are feelings there that he doesn’t even know he has because he’s been resisting her because he wants to be faithful to me.”

“Blair,” I grabbed both her arms and looked intently into her eyes. “Fuck Katherine! There was a reason that relationship ended. It’s also been over ten years. People change. Ben’s changed. Blair, I let the secret of Katherine almost destroy our relationship. Don’t let her destroy the relationship you have with Ben. I can tell you both love each other.” I could tell my words were marinating in her mind as she tried to decide what to do. Finally she smiled and threw her hands around me, hugging me as tightly as she could. “Thank you, Trent! You’re right. I made a big mistake.” She then walked quickly to her car. “Where are you going?” “I’m going to go tell Ben exactly how I feel about him before it’s too late!”

Before I could respond and wish her luck, she sped off. I stood there smiling after her, happy that she was going to go fight for her happiness.

CHAPTER SEVEN Ben I felt numb as I stared up at the off-white ceiling over my bed. I had been awake for a while now, but I had no motivation to get up. I knew time had passed. Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours. But I continued to stare up at the off-white ceiling in a vegetative state, willing myself to not think about anything or anyone. It was the only way to numb out the excruciating pain that radiated from my chest and into every fiber of my body. It must have been early afternoon when I heard the lobby intercom to my condo buzz. Blair!

I immediately thought, my spirits instantly lifted by the possibility that she’d changed her mind. I raced to my door and looked at the video surveillance of the lobby entrance. My chest tightened and anger enveloped my body when I saw who it was. The Blonde Bitch. I was about to shut off the surveillance and ignore her, but her voice boomed through the intercom. “Ben, I know you can see me. Don’t ignore me. I need to talk to you about Blair.” The mention of Blair’s name through her lips grated against my last nerve. “Don’t fucking say her name to me,” I said through gritted teeth. “You don’t deserve to say her name.” Adding fuel to my fury, she laughed coolly.

“Well that’s a new one. Now come on, Ben. Let me in.” “Go fuck yourself, Katherine!” I screamed into the intercom. “Well, I’d much rather you fuck me,” she purred. My mouth gaped open at how brazen this bitch was. “You know very well that shit will never happen!” I saw her roll her eyes. “Ben, I’ll ask you one more time. Let me in now.” I snorted. “Or what?” A smirk appeared on her face. “If you don’t, I’ll destroy any shred of a chance you might still have with Blair.” “Don’t threaten me. You’re just talking out

of your ass.” “Are you sure about that?” She looked directly at the surveillance camera. “Do you really think it’s worth risking it?” I clenched my fists, trying to stabilize my rage. “How do I know you’re not going to try to destroy my chances of a relationship with Blair even if I let you in?” She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t.” “Katherine, I’m fucking tired of your mind games.” “Well then, that’s easy. Just let me in.” I thought about my options and knew that I had to let her in. From my conversation with Blair last night, I knew that she still wanted to make her relationship with her sister work. I didn’t know how much power Katherine had over Blair, and I

wasn’t ready to risk it before I had a chance to talk to Blair again. Begrudgingly, I pressed the intercom button. “That’s what I thought.” Katherine beamed at me before walking through the unlocked lobby door. I punched the wall in frustration as I waited for her to come up. “Well, hello, Ben.” Katherine walked through the front door. “What do you want, Katherine?” I asked impatiently as I walked to my living room without looking over at her. “Shit, Ben!” she suddenly cried. I glanced over to see what happened, but I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. “What

wrong?” “You, actually. You look like shit.” She shook her head in disapproval. “I’ll need to teach Blair a few things about taking care of her boyfriend.” I bit my tongue and didn’t react. I knew she wanted to get a reaction out of me, and it was the last thing I was going to give her. “What do you want, Katherine? I’m busy.” “Well, I was just concerned about you after everything that had happened yesterday.” She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I immediately yanked her hands off me and took several steps back. “Cut the bullshit, Katherine. I know you well enough to know this is all an act. What is it that you want?”

She sighed and her tone changed. “You’re right, Ben.” I knew immediately this was her normal voice. “I’m tired of this cat and mouse game, and I came to ask you something.” I looked over at her and met her gaze. “Okay, what is it?” Her expression changed, and it unnerved me when I saw a glimpse of the Katherine I remembered from years ago flashed before my eyes. “Now that Blair knows everything, I want to tell you something I’d wanted to tell you over a decade ago.” “And what is that?” “I’m sorry for cheating on you. I was young and stupid. I couldn’t see the incredible man that I had in front of me. I took you for granted.”

“Katherine,” I cut her off, “I need to stop you there. All that is ancient history. We don’t need to rehash anything. None of that is important to me anymore.” “I don’t believe you,” she insisted. I groaned in frustration. “I don’t know what I can say to make you believe me, but I have no reasons to lie to you. I’ve long moved past everything that’d happened between us. So let’s not waste each other’s time in talking about it.” “But our kiss last night? That was amazing.” I stared at her in disbelief. “What the fuck are you smoking? Because clearly we are not talking about the same kiss.” For a split second, I saw her face fall in despair. But it quickly disappeared, and in its place was a stone-cold, expressionless Katherine.

“Do you want to know a secret, Ben?” “Not particularly when it’s coming from you.” “Well, I think you’ll be interested in hearing this one. It’s about how I came back into your life.” My ears perked up, but I kept my face free from expression. “I don’t think I can stop you from telling it, so be my guest.” A grin spread across her face. “Well, so I wasn’t exactly honest with Blair when she called me that first time.” I glared at her. “How am I not surprised by this?” She ignored my comment. “You see about a year or so ago, I had seen your picture in Forbes Magazine under San Francisco’s ‘30 Most Eligible Bachelors Under 30.’ It was then that I had realized

the mistake I’d made years ago when I cheated on you with your frat bro. And then months later, something cosmic happened. Blair found me and called me for the first time to tell me that I was her sister, something I had already known, actually. But what I hadn’t known at the time was a pleasant surprise. While she was rambling on and on over the phone about how she’d been looking for me and how much she wanted to meet, I’d jumped on Google and looked her up. That was when I saw a picture of her with you in some local social magazine. When I saw your picture, I knew it was fate. I knew it was the Universe giving me a second chance. And as if the signs hadn’t been clear enough, Blair had then asked me if I could meet that week.” She paused and smiled at me. “It was

destiny that brought us back together, Ben. So I vowed to do whatever it took to get you back.” “But she’s your sister, Katherine. Your real sister. And you knew that I was her boyfriend. How could you hurt her like that?” Katherine’s expression hardened. “Because you were my boyfriend first! I was your first love. I was the first person you made passionate love to. And if I hadn’t cheated on you, you’d already be my husband. And you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m the person you pictured when you were fucking her and all the other women you’d slept with after me.” “You’re delusional! I was your boyfriend over a decade ago! I am no longer that guy anymore. I’m Blair’s boyfriend, and nothing you say will change that.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Ben. Blair’s the delusional one. Now that she knows everything, she knows that I was your first. For such a familyoriented girl like her, I’m not sure she can let you fuck her without picturing how hard you once fucked me, how wet you once made me, and how much you loved eating me out. That’s something she can’t change. I was your first love, your first fuck, and your pussy that you worshiped. She’ll always know that when you’re deep inside her, she’s having my sloppy seconds.” Katherine threw her head back in laughter, and that was when I’d lost it. But before I went over and slapped her across the face, a sudden movement from the corner of my eyes caught my attention. It was Blair, and she’d walked through the

half-open front door and stormed toward Katherine. Katherine turned to see who it was but before she could react, Blair curled her hand into a tight fist and threw it across the air. As if in slow motion, I watched the fist of the woman I loved forcefully pound into the face of the woman I hated.

CHAPTER EIGHT Blair “Fuck!” Pain radiated from my hand immediately after my fist collided against Katherine’s jaw. I watched as she toppled back and fell to her knees. A visible gash appeared on the corner of her lips. “Shit, that was quite a punch! Are you okay?” Ben rushed to my side to take a look at my hand. “Yeah, I didn’t know it’d hurt this much.” I looked at my battered hand and then at Katherine who had just regained her grounding. “But it was totally worth it!” I flashed Ben a smile of satisfaction.

Ben laughed. “If that’s the first time you’ve thrown a punch, you’re a fucking natural.” “I guess I am.” I relished the moment as Katherine began to glare at me. “Why the fuck did you hit me?” I could see the vile hatred she had for me in her dark eyes and I knew she wasn’t the person I had first thought she was. “Why did you think?” I challenged. “I heard everything you’d just said to Ben.” “Really, little sister, you really should learn to grown some backbone.” “I’m not your little sister, you bitch! So don’t think you can use that to somehow push me around. Yes, we may be sisters by blood, but Trent is more of a family than you’ll ever be. I don’t ever want to see you again! I want you out of my life!”

She flashed me a condescending smile and licked some of the blood from the corner of her mouth. “Or what? You’ll throw a girly punch at me again?” “No,” I smiled back and took a step toward her, “I have something even better. I spoke with my Dad today, and it appears that you’ve been living comfortably since you turned twenty-five five years ago when the living trust Dad set up for you went into effect.” “So what if I lied about being poor?” she shot back. I smirked. “You see, I threw you a lifeline today. I didn’t tell Dad about how you treated me or about how you lied to me. Since you were legally adopted by your parents, you can’t inherit any money from my family. And if you mess with

me or the ones I care about ever again, I will make sure that living trust is revoked and you’ll never see another dime from my father again!” “You wouldn’t!” She sneered at me. “I’m your sister!” I looked at her with disdain. “You lost the right to call me your sister the moment you lied to me. I’d do anything to protect those I care about. You may have confused my initial love and care toward you as a sister for weakness, but let me warn you now, there’s nothing weak about me when you get on my bad side.” Katherine’s face with bright right with anger as she gritted her teeth. But she remained silent. Finally she stormed to the front door with a huff. When she got to the frame of the door, she stopped. “He’s just my leftovers. He’s nothing special. If

you really want my sloppy seconds so much, then he’s all yours. But, Blair,” she paused and turned to me with a wide smile on her face, “be sure to think of me when you’re sucking his cock tonight.” “Get the fuck out of my house, Katherine.” Ben shoved Katherine into the hallway and slammed the door on her. After Katherine was gone, Ben and I smiled at each other, and I felt my heart ache at the sight of him. He reached his hands and caressed my cheeks, pulling me up to kiss him. But before our lips met, I moved away. “I can’t, Ben.”

CHAPTER NINE Ben Her words sent a shock wave through my system and I wondered if I’d heard them correctly. “What do you mean? I thought…” She shook her head. “So much has happened recently, Ben. I wonder if…” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and I felt my chest tighten in fear for what she’d say next. I grabbed her arms. “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened, baby. But we can make this work.” She slowly pushed me away and met my gaze with somber eyes. “As much as I don’t want to admit it, Katherine’s right about one thing.”

“What?” I was completely shocked by her words. “There are some facts that we will never be able to change. The fact that she’s my sister. The fact that you’ve slept with her. The fact that you’d loved her so deeply that when she broke up with you, you refused to be in a relationship for over ten years.” “That’s all in the past, Blair.” I needed her to know that I didn’t love Katherine anymore. “What I felt for her doesn’t stand a chance to how I feel about you.” “Tell me this, Ben. If she hadn’t been a bitch to me, and we had became close sisters, would you have been okay with that? Would you have been able to appreciate her as my sister?” “I…” I was taken aback by her questions. It

wasn’t something I’d thought about. “Would you have forgiven her for all the things she’d done to you?” I knew she wanted the truth, and I was tired of lying to her. I looked away. “I don’t know.” “You’ve been holding on to so much anger and resentment against her for over ten years. I don’t think that just goes away overnight.” “But that doesn’t change how I feel about you,” he insisted. “But it changes how I feel about us.” I watched her fight back her tears as she tried to hold it together. “I’m still trying to accept and move on from the fact that she’s your ex.” I wasn’t sure what to say. She was right. I couldn’t change any of these facts.

“Ben, since the first moment we met, it’d seemed like life has been trying to pull us apart. Maybe we don’t work.” “Don’t say that,” I begged. “You know, when I was younger and got my heart broken by a guy, my Dad said something to me that has stayed with me. He said, ‘You can’t force love. You can’t control the future. But you deserve the best in life. So if the time is not right, then move on. Second best is never enough. You’d do much better on your own.’” She turned to meet my gaze. “Those words stuck with me all these years, and it holds true more so than ever. People always say that timing is everything when it comes to relationships. And it’s been pretty clear from the very moment we met that timing has never been right for us. Something or someone was always

just around the corner to break us apart. So… maybe it’s time for us to move on…from each other.” “No, Blair. I think we should talk about this.” She tried to force a smile but more tears fell down her flushed cheeks. “What else is there to say, Ben? I want all of you, Ben. But I don’t think you can give it to me right now.” “That’s not true,” I argued, but a part of me wondered if she was right. I had never truly let go of what Katherine had done to me over ten years ago, and the pain and anger had stayed with me all this time. “Even if it’s not true, even if you could move on from your anger for Katherine and be okay that she’s my sister, I’m not sure I can move

on from the fact that she’s your ex.” I wanted to tell her that I loved her, but fear held me back. I could tell from the expression on her face that she’d made up her mind. “Maybe it’s not meant to be.” Her voice was soft and pained. My chest constricted and I found it hard to breathe. A heaviness was in the air as we stared at each other in the still, tense silence. There was nothing left to say. Finally she broke the trance between us and kissed me gently on the cheek. “Goodbye, Ben,” she whispered in my ear, and I felt her hot tears wet my face. Unimaginable pain paralyzed me, and I couldn’t seem to speak. My stomach lurched with regret and agony as I watched her walk out of my

life.

EPILOGUE Ben THREE YEARS LATER Today was a day I’d been waiting for as long as I could remember. It was a day I’d dreamt about for so long. It was a day I’d worked my ass off for during the past eight years. Today, I became a partner at William & Sutter LLP. I had once thought that when today came, I’d have everything I’d ever wanted. I would feel elated. I would feel proud.

I would finally be the happiest person in the world. But I was wrong. I’d never felt more empty than I did today. It was early evening, and I’d left my celebration party early. It was hard to smile and laugh when I felt none of it. When I’d made partner today, I finally realized that it wasn’t the thing I wanted the most in life. I wasn’t ready to go home, so I walked aimlessly around the city, watching all the happy people pass me by. I envied them. I blinked and realized that I was in a grocery store. I wasn’t sure how I got here, but there I was, standing in front of a stand of peaches. Suddenly, a figure with long chestnut curls ahead caught my eye.

When I looked toward the figure, my chest tightened. Her back was turned to me, but I knew it was her. I saw the infinity tattoo on her wrist and I could smell a hint of her light floral perfume in the air. The sight of her made my heart soar with more joy and happiness than I’d ever felt. “I’m sure yours taste a lot juicier than those peaches,” I said, loud enough for her to hear. She froze. After a few agonizing seconds, she turned around to face me. She smiled, and it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. “Hi, Ben.” “Oh God, Blair, it’s so great to see you.” “You too, Ben. You look great, too.”

The moment I’d seen her, I knew that I needed her in my life, I knew I needed to tell her everything. Then I had a thought. “Hey, I’ll be right back! Give me thirty seconds. Promise me, you’ll stay right here, okay?” “Okay, sure.” She nodded, her brows furrowed with confusion. I ran to a nearby section of the store and seconds later was back by her side. “These are for you.” I handed her a bouquet of wild flowers. “I hope they’re still your favorite.” “You still remember.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at me. “Blair, I’ve missed you so much,” I blurted out. “I know it’s unlikely and unreasonable to expect that you’re still single or even willing to

give me a chance, but letting you walk out of my life that day has been my biggest regret, the worst mistake of my life, and the one thing I’d give anything to change. I know that I should have fought for you harder, fought for us harder. I’ve lost three years of my life without you in it—that’s 1,095 days I’ve lived with a hole in my heart. If I could do it all over again, I would fight for every single one of those days so that they would be complete with you in it.” She paused and there was a spark in her eyes that I couldn’t quite understand. “Ben, I’m—” “Before you tell me to fuck off, or tell me that you’re happy and can’t have me in your life, I want to tell you everything I had wanted to say three years ago.” I took out the old piece of paper that’d been

folded up and kept in my wallet for three years. The edges and folds of the paper were worn from the passing of time. Blair looked at the paper with curiosity but remained silent. “Blair, that night when I planned the surprise sushi dinner for us, I had wanted to tell you something. I had written my thoughts down on this piece of paper earlier that day and I wanted to give it to you at dinner. After everything that happened after that night, I never found the right time to give it to you. But I’ve kept it folded in my wallet, hoping for the day that you’d be able to read it. I want you to read it, Blair.” I handed her the letter.

When she finished the letter, she looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s beautiful, Ben.” “Blair, those were my feelings then, and I want to tell you that my feelings haven’t wavered but have only gotten stronger over the years.” “Ben, I don’t know what to say…” “Do you know that I was made a partner at the firm today?” I cut her off. I was afraid of how she’d react or what she’d say, and I needed to tell her everything when I still had the chance. “Really? That’s amazing, Ben. Congratulations!” She swung her arms around me and gave me a warm hug. “So, I thought that would make me happy, that it would be the happiest moment in my life.

But I was wrong, Blair.” I paused. “Do you want to know what’s the happiest moment in my life?” “What?” “This very moment. Right now. Here with you. This is the happiest moment in my life. To finally be in front of you again. To tell you something I’d waited so long to say.” I caressed her face with my hands and gazed into her emerald eyes. “I love you, Blair Parker.” “Ben, you had me at ‘peaches.’” She pulled me down and our lips met in perfect harmony, like two pieces of the puzzle finally finding each other. When we finally pulled away, our eyes locked, and I saw the same woman that I’d fallen in love with three years ago. “I love you too, Ben Chase. I have for a very long time.” Her words radiated through my body like a

ray of sunshine, and for the first time in my life, I felt completely whole, completely happy. THE END

OTHER BOOKS If you would like to stay informed of new releases, teasers, and news on my upcoming books, please sign up for Jessica Wood’s mailing list and visit me at my website: http://jessicawoodauthor.com. Below is a list of Jessica Wood’s books: Emma’s Story Series A Night to Forget – Book One The Day to Remember – Book Two A Night to Forget Series Box Set (Emma's Story) – Contains A Night to Forget and The Day to Remember The Heartbreaker Series

This is an Emma’s Story spin-off series featuring Damian Castillo, a supporting character in The Day to Remember. This is a standalone series and does not need to be read with Emma’s Story series. Damian – Book One The Heartbreaker – Prequel Novella to DAMIAN – can be read before or after Damian. Taming Damian – Book Two The Heartbreaker Box Set – Contains Damian, The Heartbreaker Prequel, and Taming Damian The Chase Series This is a standalone series with cameo appearances from Damian Castillo (The Heartbreaker series). The Chase, Vol. 1 The Chase, Vol. 2 The Chase, Vol. 3

The Chase, Vol. 4 The Chase: The Complete Series Box Set – Contains All Four Volumes Oblivion This is a standalone full-length book unrelated to other series by Jessica Wood. Oblivion Promises Series This is a standalone series unrelated to other series by Jessica Wood. Promise to Marry – Book One Promise to Keep – Book Two Promise of Forever – Book Three Promises, Love & Baby – Book Four ***

Pre-Orders Currently Available Contracted Love – July 11, 2017

Synopsis of Contracted Love We met in the dark as strangers, had sex by mistake, and married each other to hide a secret. We both agreed it'd be a marriage of convenience, to fix the mess we had gotten ourselves in the day we met. But when it was time to get an annulment, my feelings had changed. I wanted more. I wanted to stay by his side. But did he want the same? *** Synopsis of Oblivion Oblivion is a completely standalone fulllength book and is currently available for purchase here.

I wake up to a life and a man that I can’t remember. He says his name is Connor Brady—the tall, sexy CEO of Brady Global, Inc. He says my name is Olivia Stuart, and that I was recently in an accident and lost my memory. Also, he says I’m his fiancé. Although I don’t remember Connor, or anything about my past, something about him seems familiar. He is kind, protective, and breathtakinglygorgeous. But there is just one problem—he seems too perfect. As I begin to rebuild my relationship with Connor and accept the idea that I may never remember my past, I unexpectedly meet Ethan James. Ethan is the mysterious, rebellious stranger who pushes my boundaries to their limits and makes me feel alive. As our lives collide time and time again, the bits and pieces of my past start to unravel, unearthing the secrets that have been buried deep inside my subconscious. With every

new memory I gain about who I once was, I become more torn between the man who is my fiancé and the stranger who is the key to my past. Is my life with Connor really as perfect as he leads me to believe? You can get your copy of Oblivion here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jessica Wood writes new adult contemporary romance. While she has lived in countless cities throughout the U.S., her heart belongs to San Francisco. To her, there’s something seductively romantic about the Golden Gate Bridge, the steep rolling hills of the city streets, the cable cars, and the Victorian-style architecture. Jessica loves a strong, masculine man with a witty personality. While she is headstrong and stubbornly independent, she can’t resist a man who takes control of the relationship, both outside and inside of the bedroom. She loves to travel internationally, and tries to plan a yearly trip abroad. She also loves to cook and bake, and—to the benefit of her friends—she loves to share. She also enjoys ceramics and being creative with her hands. She has a weakness for good (maybe bad) TV shows; she’s up-to-date on

over 25 current shows, and no, that wasn’t a joke. And it goes without saying, she loves books —they’re like old and dear friends who have always been there to make her laugh and make her cry. The one thing she wished she had more of is time. If you would like to follow or contact Jessica Wood, you can do so through the following: Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/bpCEoL Blog: http://jessicawoodauthor.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessicawoodauthor Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesswoodauthor Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jessicawooda/