“Forget about him,” he hisses. “You won’t be seeing him again. Not under my watch.”
I feel a heaviness in my heart at his words. I want nothing more than to find Jaxson now and figure out how this chemistry between us works in practice. I want to know if I’ll feel the same when I see him next. But one thing is for sure…
I won’t be forgetting him in a hurry.
Jaxson
In my hotel room, I pace back and forth in frustration. I can’t believe Sam is here. Of all the people in the world that I could come across, it just had to be him. Finding out Stella is his daughter is the biggest blow I’ve ever been dealt.
She’s perfect, even if she is his family. Sam and I haven’t seen eye to eye for a long time...in fact, I can’t remember how long it’s been since we went our separate ways, but I’ll never forget the aggressive tension between us.
I want his daughter more than anything in the world, and she will be mine. I knew it from the moment I laid eyes on her. I wanted to sweep her up off that sun lounger and bring her back to my room and take her. Have her body in every single way possible. Explore these sexual desires she’s brought out of me for the first time in my life.
But Sam is always going to try and stand in my way. He would rather see me crash and burn if it was up to him. But knowing him, his daughter is his entire world. And that means that she’ll never be mine.
At least that’s what he believes.
He probably doesn’t think I’m serious about pursuing his daughter, but what he doesn’t realize is that I’ll never give up until she’s mine. He might’ve won the battle, but he’ll lose the war. Tonight, I’ll find her. Tonight I’ll show her just how much I want her.
Sam probably thinks that I’ll give up after a while, but I won’t. I need her. I want her. I crave her. I can be patient if I have to. I’ve waited my whole life for her. I can wait a little more.
Although my mind is strong, I’m not sure my body is strong enough to resist her. It took every ounce of self control in me to resist from throwing myself at her and taking her right there and then, on the beach. She’s so damn gorgeous and she doesn't even know it. I want to bury my face between her breasts as I press my throbbing cock up against her core. I want to hear her gasp at the size of my manhood as I slipped her bathing suit aside and entered her for the first time.
And now that I’m alone in my room, I’m driving myself wild with my own thoughts. My cock has been rock hard since I met her, desperate to be buried deep in her tight little pussy. I know she can have anyone she wants. A woman like her can entice any man on this earth but if she wants me, I will show her the time of her life. I’ll give her everything she’s ever wanted. I’ll take her back to my New York penthouse and we can spend our days in luxury, drinking champagne, and making love under silken sheets. I’ll take her on the trip of a lifetime, take her to the best restaurants in the world and give her a home wherever she chooses. I’d do anything for her. After all, when I make her mine, I want her to be the happiest woman in the world.
But first, I have to find her again. Her father isn’t going to make that easy, but I’ll do it all the same. Driven by lust, I change into one of my best suits and head down to the hotel lobby. It’s time to get serious about Stella. It’s time to make sure she ends up in my arms for good.
I know the odds are stacked against me. She won’t want to anger her father so maybe that’ll be enough to make her reject me. But if she felt the same spark that I did, then maybe she’s scared to let it go. Maybe she’s afraid to let the opportunity of a lifetime pass her by. I certainly am.
In the lobby, I lean across the desk and a woman greets me with a flirtatious smile. She’s conventionally pretty and she’s obviously interested, but I only have one woman on my mind. And she’s the only woman who will ever be on my mind.
“How can I help you?” the woman asks. Her name tag says her name is Debbie so I offer her a charming smile and get ready to schmooze.
“Hello, Debbie. I’m hoping that I can hire out the pool tonight. The whole thing.”
Debbie blinks. “Well, that’s not really something that guests can do.”
“I’m not like most guests,” I growl, handing her my credit card. “Here. You can charge as much as you want. But I want it to be private. I’d like there to be a bartender on hand for cocktails. And I need you to send an invitation to another guest at the hotel. Her name is Stella Thorn. I’d like her to join me there.”
Debbie smiles uncertainly at me. “Well...this isn’t something we usually allow…but let me speak to management. Leave it with me. What time would you like the pool to be available to you? And for how long?”
I smile to myself. “I think, Debbie, I’m going to need the pool all night long.”
CHAPTER THREE
Stella
Sitting alone in my hotel room, I let my misery wash over me. Dad hasn’t spoken to me since we argued over Jaxson on the beach, and now I’ve got the lonely night ahead of me to think it all over.
I never expected to come here and find love. I’m on vacation with my father for goodness sake. I didn’t expect to find someone, and I certainly didn’t expect for that someone to like me back…
When I think about the way Jaxson looked at me, I get the feeling he felt exactly the same I do. There was lust in his dark eyes, at least I think so. He looked at my body like he wanted to make me his own, and I wanted to give myself up to him. There’s a throbbing between my legs just at the thought of him tenderly kissing my lips. I’ve never even been kissed before, but I know it would be magical with Jaxson.
And now it’s never going to happen. No doubt dad has scared him off. Even if they were on good terms, I guess guys have an unspoken rule not to hit on their friend’s daughters. And honestly, I understand that in a way.
Before today, I never expected to be so attracted to an older man. Now that I’m twenty-one, I was expecting to find someone my own age who was mature enough to be suitable, but if Jaxson is my father’s age, that puts twenty years between us. Somehow, that makes him even sexier. He’s mature, sexy, and looks amazing for his age. He’s not like those dumb men on the beach who tried to hit on me with their creepy antics.
No, I felt like he really understood me. We only had a few minutes to talk and yet, I felt a connection so strong that I feel I’d be a fool to let it go without a fight. He can have anyone, but I want him to want me.
What were the chances of dad and Jaxson having their uncomfortable reunion after years apart on the beach today? What were the chances that I’d fall for the one man on Earth my dad can’t stand? I feel like fate has something to do with it. It’s placed me in a conundrum...do I follow my heart to Jaxson, or do I listen to my dad, who says Jaxson can’t be trusted?
I love my dad, but I feel like I’m old enough now to make my own choices, even if they turn out to be mistakes. I know that if I don’t explore these feelings I have for Jaxson I’ll regret it. But how am I supposed to find him now? This hotel is huge and he could be anywhere. Hell, maybe he’s flying back to New York tomorrow and I’ll spend my life knowing he’s somewhere nearby, but just out of reach.
I lay back on my bed to think about how I might find him. I’m so turned on just thinking about him on the beach today that I can’t concentrate. I’m lucky dad booked me my own room so I can just allow these feelings to wash over me. My pussy is throbbing and my mind begs me to pleasure myself, but I don’t want to touch myself. It wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as having Jaxson’s body on top of mine. I want to wrap my legs around his waist and let him take me long and hard. I want to feel him deep inside me. I want him to take my virginity.
But I guess now I’ll never know how that feels.
I feel like screaming into my pillow. I’m hot and bothered and completely frustrated. I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight, knowing he’s in the same hotel as me, but not in the same bed. I want him here beside me.
There’s a knock at my d
oor and I nearly jump out of my skin. Surely he’s not here right now? I get my hopes up for a moment, but then I remember he has no way of finding me. It’s probably my dad. I sigh and get up, slowly making my way toward the door.
But it’s not my dad. In the doorway, is a woman in a slinky black dress waiting for me. She has a silver platter on her hand with a white envelope on it. I frown in confusion.
“Um...I wasn’t expecting any room service or anything.”
The woman smiles at me. “I’m not here for room service. I’ve been asked to deliver an invitation to you.”
I can feel my heart pounding against my chest. Is this Jaxson’s doing? I take the envelope from the platter and the woman walks away, sashaying her hips. I can barely believe that I might have an invitation to join Jaxson somewhere when he could have a woman like her. She’s slim and beautiful and confident...all the things I will never be. But when I open the envelope and see my name at the top of the note, I know there can’t be any kind of mistake here.
Dear Stella,
I need to see you again. Join me tonight by the pool at nine pm. I’ve made sure we can be alone...wear something nice. I want to see your beautiful body in a dress.
J.
My heart is racing so hard I think I might faint. He wants to see me again? I never expected that he’d do something like this for me.
I try to control my breathing, but my thoughts are running wild. I need to wear something amazing for him. I packed my best clothes for this trip, but nothing seems perfect enough for seeing him.
There’s another knock on the door. More surprises? I open the door again. This time, there’s a man in a suit and white gloves holding up a dress for me.
“Compliments of Mr. Jaxson,” he says with a pleasant smile. I gasp in shock. The dress is incredible. It’s blue and silky and I can already tell it will cling to my body. It’s obviously very expensive, but I don’t want to turn down anything Jaxson has picked out for me. I take it gratefully and shut the door, ready to try it on.
This night is already shaping up to be something pretty special.
Jaxson
The moment she arrives is one I know will be etched into my mind forever. She looks so damn good I feel a growl rise in my throat, and my cock stiffen in my pants. The dress I bought her fits like a glove, clinging to every curve of her sexy body. Her hips sway as she walks, her eyes on the ground, but I can tell she’s excited to be here.
There’s a bartender waiting to make us cocktails at the poolside bar, and I motion her over. She walks precariously in her heels and I stand, ready to catch her if she falls. In fact, part of me wants her to stumble just so I’ll have an excuse to hold her in my arms. But when she reaches my side, I find myself putting a hand on her waist anyway. Fuck the rules. Fuck Sam. I’m going to make her mine.
I want to strip her of that dress and fuck her right here, right now, but I’m going to do this properly. I want a chance to get to know her mind as well as her body. I like what I’ve seen so far, but there’s so much to this woman that I don’t know yet. I look her up and down.
“You look incredible, Stella,” I tell her. Her starry eyes twinkle in the moonlight and I almost growl again. She’s woken an animal inside me that I can barely keep under control. I want her desperately. I want to hear her moan under my touch. But all in good time.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “And thank you for inviting me here.”
“Well, there’s no one else on earth I want to spend my evening with.”
She blushes which makes me smile. I gesture to the bartender.
“Would you like a drink? This man is here to help us out this evening. I wanted this to be the perfect first date.”
“Date?” she says, testing the word on her lips. I almost curse myself for being so forward. She hasn’t said anything that indicates she wants to date me, though the chemistry between us is undeniable. But after a moment she smiles. “Well, I’ve never been on a date before, but this is kind of perfect.”
“You’ve never been on a date? Really?”
She blushes. “Well, no one has ever really asked me.”
“That’s impossible,” I growl. “How can any man resist a woman like you?”
Her cheeks flush and I can tell she’s embarrassed by the conversation. I move my hand to her arm and stroke her silky smooth skin.
“Don’t be shy. You don’t need to be embarrassed around me,” I say. “I just want you to feel good. Now, what can we get you to drink?”
She chews on her lip. “You pick something for me. I only turned twenty-one last month...I’m still a little unfamiliar with what to drink.”
I order her a fruity cocktail. I don’t want to give her anything too strong. After all, we’re not here to get drunk. We’re here to get to know one another. She thanks the bartender and he makes himself scarce to give us some privacy, just like I asked. I’ve got his number if we need anything else from him, but somehow, I doubt we will. By the time we get to the bottom of our drinks, I have the feeling things will have ramped up another level.
“So you’re an art student,” I say. “Tell me more.”
She blushes. “I’m still in my second year. I took two years off to work and travel. I wanted to see the world to get inspiration for my art.”
“And did it work?”
She looks me up and down shyly. “Well...I certainly found my muse here.”
I growl in delight. I wasn’t expecting her to be flirtatious considering she’s so shy, but I guess I’ve brought out a new side to her, the way she has in me. I’ve never been a possessive man, but now, all I want is to make her mine and never let her go. The thought of any other man ever touching her is enough to send adrenaline racing through my veins, like fire. I couldn’t be happier that she’s never dated another man, though that doesn’t mean she’s never been to bed with one. I clench my fists at the thought. It’s not my business, and yet I think if I ever found out another man has so much as kissed her, I’d have to hunt him down and take him out.
“Well, you can draw me whenever you want,” I growl. She sighs, her smile disappearing.
“I guess I’ll have to have a second go at drawing you. My dad ripped up the first one I drew,” she whispers. I feel a rage course through my veins. Once again, Sam is trying to stand in the middle of me and Stella. He’s always trying to deny me the things I want, especially if he can’t hold onto them himself. I clench my fists.
“I can’t believe he did that.”
She watches me with gentle eyes. “Jaxson, what happened between the two of you? He wouldn’t tell me. But I need to know. I can’t just pretend I haven’t noticed something’s wrong.”
I sigh in annoyance. Of course, I’m not angry at her. I just really didn’t want Sam to come up in conversation tonight. But I owe her an explanation. Stella shouldn’t be kept in the dark. I rake a hand through my hair.
“Years ago...you would’ve just been a child...we worked together. We were both young and ambitious. We were good friends and we had plans to go on and start our own business eventually. But starting a business was always going to be a risk, and we didn’t have the kind of money we needed for a venture like that. Of course, he had a wife and kid to think about too, so he wasn’t going to be ready to take any risks for a long time.”
Stella nods. “That makes sense. So what happened?”
I sigh. “I was poached by another company. One that was willing to pay me triple what I was earning back then. I knew I had to take it. I planned to use the extra money to save up and start the business your dad and I had planned. But he was angry with me. He said I was selling out, giving up the dream. He wouldn’t listen to me when I insisted that I was just setting up our future for us. He told me he never wanted to see me again.”
Stella blinks. “But...but that’s ridiculous. It wasn’t like he had the means to start a company then either. Surely he saw that you were doing it for both of you?”
I shrug. “Part of me
thinks he was just angry that it was me moving on without him...maybe he thought that as a young bachelor, I was living a dream he’d never have. Don’t get me wrong, he loved family life. But he started a family at such a young age. He never had the same freedom to take risks like I did. But anyway, I tried to contact him a few years later. I figured he’d had time to calm down by then, and I’d saved up enough money to go solo and start the business venture we’d dreamed up. But he didn’t want to know...so I did it without him.”
Stella chews on her lip. “I can’t believe this. And he's still angry about this? It was his own fault! All he had to do was trust you.”
I shrug. Though I act like I don’t care, losing Sam as a friend all those years ago has haunted me for a long time. I’ve missed him. We clicked in a way I haven’t with anyone else in years. But the past was the past, and it was what it was.
But if he thinks he can stand in the way of me and Stella...well, he’s got another thing coming.
Stella looks sad, I lean in and cup her cheek. The electricity between my skin and hers makes me want to rip her clothes off right here, right now. But I have an idea that will get her down to her underwear in seconds. The moment for being sad about Sam has passed. I want to enjoy myself.
“Don’t worry about him. Just for tonight, forget all about him. Let’s have some fun, hmm? Try and relax. Enjoy the moment...just you and me.”
Her beautiful eyes meet mine, and she offers me a small smile. “I think I can do that.”
I stand up with a grin and shrug off my dinner jacket. She watches in awe as I begin to unbutton my shirt. I take it off, revealing my toned chest to her. She looks completely in shock, but I can see the lust in her eyes.
“What use is a pool if we don’t swim in it?” I say in a husky tone.
CHAPTER FOUR
His Unexpected Love Page 2