An Old Flame
Page 1
Table of Contents
An Old Flame
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
Epilogue
An excerpt from “My Not So Fake Boyfriend”
My Not So Fake Boyfriend
Follow Me On Amazon
An Old Flame
Imagine you’re Stephanie Renner. Imagine that you’re in college, you’ve been dating your boyfriend for years, you’re the ultimate couple, the envy of EVERYONE!
You’re engaged...you both know there’s no one else for you in the world.
To top it off your boyfriend, Mark Mason, has just gone with his two best friends to pitch their idea to some venture capitalists...AND THEY NAIL IT!
You’re going to be millionaires and you haven’t even graduated yet!
That’s a heck of a start in life.
But that’s the weird thing about life. Maybe sometimes it’s just too good to be true.
While Mark is out with the boys, Stephanie pees on a stick and it’s positive.
That’s hurdle number number one.
The second ... and here’s the clincher ... Stephanie receives absolutely damning pictures of Mark in a VERY compromising position.
What would you do?
Things are further complicated when moments after Mark banging on her friend Leena’s door, begging for forgiveness, trying to tell her it was all a mistake...the unthinkable happens.
So what would you do?
Well if you’re Stephanie, she cuts Mark out of her life and ghosts him entirely. He’s left with no recourse but to walk away.
They had the promise of the perfect life…and it all ends in tears for both of them.
But fate has different plans.
Very different.
Now…
It’s seven years later.
Their career goals have been realized.
Mark Mason is a Billionaire with an ever expanding enterprise. Stephanie Renner teaches at one of the most exclusive schools in Seattle.
When Mark attends a school’s fundraiser in lieu of his business partner … he’s shocked to see Stephanie on the podium. Mark knows beyond a shadow of all doubt that this is his second chance.
He knows with every fiber of his being that Stephanie is the only woman for him … and for seven long years he’s been pining for her, he’s just not going to lose her twice. He won’t let it happen. He’s going to do anything and everything to reunite them.
But it’s just not that easy.
Will these lovers manage to find their way back to each other?
Will Mark manage to win back and mend the heart he once broke?
Will Stephanie’s secret prove to be their undoing?
Find out if destiny is all it’s cracked up to be in this brand new, riveting - second chance novel from Raquel Belle.
An Old Flame
Raquel Belle
Copyright © 2019 by Naughty Bird Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations or excerpts for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental.
Raquel Belle. An Old Flame.
Chapter One
Stephanie
Seven Years Earlier…
She held the test in her hands, and her eyes were wide with shock. Pregnant the little screen read in letters plain as day. Slowly, she stood up from the bathroom floor and put the test on the sink counter. Her stomach was uneasy, and her chest felt tight.
“Holy shit, holy shit, holy shi—” she stopped abruptly and slapped her hand over her mouth. Tentatively, she put her hand over her belly. “Don’t you curse when you get older. Cursing is bad.” Even though she spoke to what must’ve been no larger than a bean, she was still in shock. Pregnant! “Oh my god,” she groaned and sank down to the ground again.
Stephanie imagined having such a moment before—after watching countless rom-coms and reading romance books. She thought she’d have a million thoughts running through her mind. She thought she’d freak out even more, maybe even faint. But her mind was blank and her heart rate was returning to normal. A curious warmth spread through her. Okay … so she was pregnant.
It wasn’t like she was alone. She had Mark, and they were engaged. Sure, they were both still in college at The University of Washington, but graduation was nearing and Mark had future business plans with his friends Neil and Jimmy. They were going to open up a tech firm. Stephanie was going to be a second grade teacher, and she and Mark would start off a great life together in Seattle. Only, they’d have a little baby earlier than planned. She took a deep breath and stood up. She looked at herself—her blue eyes were a little red and puffy from unshed tears, but she still looked the same.
“Okay, no big deal then … well it’s a very big deal, but nothing to break down about,” she said to herself. She washed her hands and face. She took the test to the kitchen and wrapped it in a paper towel before hiding it in her purse. It was the one place Mark never veered towards because he referred to her huge dump-me-all as a black-hole. She’d just zipped the test into a compartment at the back of her bag when the front door opened. Their place had an open-floor plan, so the front door opened into the living room, beside which was the dining room, and behind it was the kitchen.
Mark rushed inside, closed the door behind him, and practically ran to the kitchen. “Hey babe, you won’t believe what happened today.” He wrapped his arms around Stephanie and pressed his lips against hers in a brief, excited kiss. He stepped back and ran his fingers through his shoulder-length, brown hair—his green eyes were wide and eager. He looked like he was bursting with news.
“Well what is it?” Stephanie asked, laughing. Mark wore a light-blue, button up and navy blue slacks. His matching tie was loose around his collar, and his sleeves were rolled up. The form fitting outfit showed off just how lean and muscled he was.
“Those venture capitalists from Silicon Valley who reached out to us after our TED Talk are going to ‘fly us out,’ so we can give them a formal pitch!” Mark squeezed Stephanie’s shoulders and kissed her again. She couldn’t help but laugh at his exuberance. “Holy shit!” he said and exhaled as if he’d been keeping all of his breath in. Mark rounded the breakfast bar and headed for the fridge. He pulled out a beer and then offered Stephanie one. She paused, panicking briefly, because she wanted to tell him—she really did. But she knew that he needed to focus on his dream more than anything else at the moment. She decided to wait until after his big California trip to share the news.
“Sure,” she said, hoping he didn’t question the hesitation in her voice. Usually she’d say yes to a beer before he could even offer. He twisted the cap off and slid her the bottle across the marble, breakfast bar. She pretended to take a sip while he shut the fridge and ran his fingers through his hair again, still on the excited high of getting such big news. She was thrilled for him, but the pregnancy freak-out was finally catching up to her. She wouldn’t be able to sit on such monumental, life-changing
news for too long.
“So … when is the trip, and what does it entail?” Stephanie sat at the bar and rested her chin in her palm. Mark took another swig of the beer—his eyes suddenly lit with a different kind of passion, as he looked at her. Her body flushed, as she recognized that look all too well. “Are you gonna finish telling me the news or continue to stare at me like a horny meathead?” she teased.
Mark laughed. His boyish grin brightened his entire face, making him look even sexier than he normally was. He looked like a green-eyed superman, and his throaty laugh made him ten times more attractive, as if he needed the help.
“You know … I can’t resist you even for a second, right?” He put the bottle down and walked towards her with a clear intention in his gaze.
“Please, Mark. I thought we talked about your corny hook-up lines,” Stephanie said. She pretended to take another sip of her beer and then put it down.
“They haven’t failed me yet, have they?” he wagged his eyebrows and scooped her out of the bar chair. She squealed and giggled. He cradled her to his chest and walked leisurely down the hall that led to their bedroom.
“Everything’s falling into place,” he said, his tone relieved. “Soon we’ll be done with UW and coasting into the next chapter.” Stephanie’s chest filled with happy warmth, his good mood was infectious. She couldn’t help but to kiss him, again. He turned around to push their bedroom door open and walked towards the bed.
“You still haven’t told me everything that happened,” she teased.
Mark chuckled, as he plopped her down on their bed and started to unbuckle his belt. “I can’t focus on that right now …”
“To be honest,” Stephanie bit her bottom lip and watched as Mark opened his shirt, revealing his defined chest and abdomen, “neither can I.” All banter stopped when Mark kissed her. Their lips pressed passionately together and moved in sync, Mark’s tongue tasted like the beer he’d just drank.
Stephanie finally pulled his belt free and unzipped his pants. He was already hard as she pulled his cock out and pumped it in her fist. Mark groaned but he gently pulled away and lifted her shirt off, over her head. Mark undid her bra and he kissed her neck then nibbled on the sensitive skin, sending electric sensations of pleasure through her. Stephanie’s nipples hardened and he picked her up to trade places. She straddled his waist and he squeezed her breasts in each hand. Stephanie was flush with heat and her sex throbbed with need as moisture slicked her folds. She rubbed Mark’s cock against his belly as he sucked and gently nibbled her nipples.
“Are you wet, baby?” Mark whispered in a hoarse voice. He kissed her and his fingers slipped between her folds. Stephanie let out a breathy moan and moved her hips—rubbing her clit against his fingers.
“Yes, Mark, I want you inside,” she breathed. He pushed two fingers into her quivering pussy and rested his forehead against hers. His green eyes never left hers as he thrust his fingers in and out against her g-spot. Stephanie moaned as her pussy clenched around his fingers and her body started to tremble. Mark tightened his arm around her waist and she rode his fingers, chasing the orgasm that was building hot and intense in her belly.
“You’re so close,” Mark whispered, he knew all the signs. They were more than intimate with each other’s bodies. Whenever they were together it was like Stephanie was an extension of Mark, who was an extension of herself. He kissed her again and withdrew his fingers just before her body could give in to the climax.
“Mark!” Stephanie gasped. He lifted her and she guided his stiff cock into her slick sex. He filled her up, her core squeezed and massaged his dick and her body shuddered from the pleasure. Mark held her waist as she bounced and ground on his cock. Their shared moans filled the room. Stephanie’s body tensed as the orgasm that had been building finally crashed through her.
“Oh, fuck,” Mark groaned. They fell flat onto the bed and Mark thrust into her hard and fast, shooting Stephanie into another orgasm. She cried out, her fists squeezed the blanket tight and Mark buried his face into the crook of her neck. His body tensed underneath her and then Stephanie felt the warmth of his release erupt inside her. Mark stilled and they trembled, clutched together, breathing hard, until their bodies relaxed, spent.
Stephanie was dizzy from her orgasms. They were as intense as they always were with Mark. She propped herself up on her elbow and met his sleepy eyes. He gave her a goofy grin and she giggled. Everything felt perfect between them, little did Stephanie know how soon that would all change.
Chapter Two
Mark
The guys were jittery. They’d all caught a case of nerves as soon as the plane touched down in Palo Alto. Mark kept looking at Neil and Jimmy as they waited for their bags at the conveyor. Outside, at the gate terminal, a car was supposedly waiting to take them directly to Mifflin and Star—the venture capitalist firm that had sponsored their trip and wanted to hear their pitch.
Neil was as stoic as Mark had ever seen him. His platinum, blonde hair was slicked back, and his blue eyes were clear of the usual hangover-haze he sported. His mischievous grin was briefly replaced with a focused frown. Jimmy, on the other hand, was not his usual calm and collected self. He was actually sweating, and he kept dabbing his forehead with his handkerchief. He’d recently cut his tight, golden brown coils into an undercut. His caramel-colored skin made his hazel green eyes seem golden, as well. The guy was often a magnet for women, but even as plenty passed by with lingering looks, his gaze stayed locked on the conveyor, which had yet to move.
“Guys …,” Mark said abruptly. Neil and Jimmy’s gazes snapped to Mark. “You’re really fucking, bumming me out.”
Jimmy snorted, and Neil groaned. “What if we mess this up?” Neil asked intensely. “I’ve never had a good idea while sober. Hell, I didn’t even do the TED Talk while sober.”
Jimmy patted him on the shoulder to try and calm him down. Mark was grateful to at least pull some regular behavior out of them. “Hearing you finally admit that two months later, scares me,” Mark said. “You might have an alcohol problem, but anyway, what’s there to be worried about? Jordan and Timothy wouldn’t have flown us out here if they weren’t already ninety-five percent sold on the innovation we came up with. Who out there has the bat-shit crazy idea to create a third-party, Internet security service that also filters out annoying ads, yet gets paid by those same ad companies? They want in on that cash and our idea, before someone off-shore tries to replicate it.”
The conveyor belt finally started moving. Other passengers from their flight started to collect their bags. Jimmy adjusted his tie and Mark straightened his shirt. Soon, they wouldn’t have an excuse to wait around anymore. They needed to work off the jitters and focus. “All we have to do is assure them that the decision they already made is the right one,” Mark reminded them.
“Right, yeah … you’re right,” Neil said, bobbing his head in a nod.
Jimmy took a deep breath and nodded too. “They’ve already decided. What are we pissing ourselves about?”
Mark smirked. He’d known his boys and soon-to-be business partners since he started college in Seattle. Neil was the craziest asshole around, and Jimmy could’ve been a monk in his past life, but he was the coolest guy anyone could ever meet. They’d been through everything together. Just like he and Stephanie had. Mark met her during freshman year, in the library. She’d been studying with a friend at the table he was sitting at. Her friend had kept sneaking glances at him when she thought he wasn’t looking. But the truth was, he couldn’t take his eyes off of Stephanie from the time they had sat down.
No wonder he made her his fiancée. She was gorgeous, with wavy auburn hair and the most striking and perfect aquamarine eyes. She looked like Scarlett Johansson. She was his dream girl, and he would’ve been an idiot if he didn’t introduce himself then. Since that afternoon three years ago, the rest was history.
Mark, I think that’s your bag coming up,” Jimmy said, as he hit him lightly on the chest.
Mark snapped out of his daydream. As he bent to pick up his duffel bag, he slipped his cell out of his pocket and called Steph.
“Umm, shouldn’t you be on your way to the meeting by now?” she answered, her voice was smoky and tired. It was pushing seven in the morning. Their meeting was at eight.
“Yeah, but I … I had to hear your voice. I need a vote of confidence. Tell me I’m gonna be somethin’,” he said in a low voice. Mark would readily admit that he depended on Steph for a lot of things. Emotionally he was crippled without her, and the guys always hounded him because his zodiac sign was a Cancer, whatever that meant.
“You’re gonna be something, babe. But you don’t need me to tell you that. Look at where you guys have gotten. It’s all because of your own smarts and resources. I’m just a cheerleader,” she said and yawned.
“You’re more than that,” he said. Jimmy and Neil both got their bags. Mark’s heart rate sped up as their group started walking towards the exit.
“Just treat those guys as if they’re already your business partners. Give them a glimpse of how great it’s gonna be backing your idea. Then call me when it’s done, and pick up bacon on your way home,” she said in her housewife voice.
He chuckled. “But wait, do we actually need bacon?” Hearing her giggle made him feel a thousand pounds lighter. Suddenly, the meeting didn’t seem so daunting.
“Babe, focus. We’ll talk later. I’m rooting for you,” she said.
He smiled. To him, that was just as good as an I love you.