by Pamela Ann
“I’d rather you not witness any of it, my darling,” he murmured weakly before he lifted a hand to halt them from going any further. “Will you and Jared join me for supper later? It’ll be in my breakfast room. It’s going to be a full moon tonight. I thought it might be good to enjoy it from the balcony.”
“I’d love that.” I nodded as I gazed at his ashen pallor. “Jared’s outside. I’ll let him know.” A large part of me badly wanted to go over to him and give him a hug, but I knew he wouldn’t appreciate it yet, not when he appeared too feeble and weakened.
A trace of a smile faintly appeared on his face. “You’re a brave girl, Gisele. Thank you, my darling girl.” Those were the last words he uttered before he nodded towards the people who waited around him, prepared to have the medication administered that they came in for.
He and I used to bring fruits and pastries up on his balcony while Mother slept, and we’d star gaze for hours on end. I was three when I learned the solar system. Four when I thoroughly studied stars and their organic compounds. Once upon a time, I was the apple of his eye. However, after losing Mom, that affectionate man vanished. Gone was the doting father, replaced by someone who couldn’t tolerate my presence if it went over an hour.
I stood at the door, hovering for a good minute or two, realizing that I was about to lose my father. My hero. The man who taught me everything, the one who embedded how essential it was to learn, to keep learning, and to never stop my hunger for knowledge. My mother taught me the essence of life. My father taught me the vital lessons of life. They were the very fabric of my existence, and soon, I’d be on my own.
Alone.
All I can do now is cherish what little time I have left with him…
My heart ached. Blow after blow, my world began to unravel, gradually crumbling my safe haven to smithereens. I barely had a chance to fully comprehend what was going on with me personally when another problem whacked me full throttle. Dwelling on my present condition could wait. My father came first.
Jared was nowhere to be found, so I went upstairs, intending to go to my bedroom until I realized the door across from mine stood ajar. Curiosity piqued, I entered the bedroom and found him there, standing on the balcony, deep in thought as he gazed into the English-designed garden and the Greek-style pool below.
“Do you need me to prepare the room so you can rest for a while?” I carefully suggested with his back facing me while I reprimanded myself for why it hadn’t occurred to me that he could be exhausted after a long journey. Since I was ensconced in the jet’s room, I had no clue if he managed to get any shuteye. Jared always functioned efficiently, never showing signs of exhaustion, not in the last nine years I’d known him.
Without twisting his body, he softly spoke. “Thomas suggested I use this room to put my belongings in.”
Oh. Thomas had to conveniently choose this room when there were four others to choose from. Was he in cahoots with my father? I wouldn’t put it past them. They were closer in age, so my father tended to divulge thoughts, particularly regarding me.
Slowly, I crossed the bedroom threshold, only halting against the frame of the French doors that led to the balcony. It was past noon; the sun was at its height, but the soft breeze caressing my skin felt cool and marvelous. For a brief moment, calmness temporarily pacified the heavy ache in my chest.
Jared began to turn to face me, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on my serene face. “You don’t mind sharing a bed with me, do you?”
My heart stopped functioning the moment the word bed escaped his lips. Breaking eye contact, I tried to subtly release a breath. “I don’t mind at all.”
Magnetic eyes trained on me. “Since you’re here, I’d like to let you know we’re set to marry tomorrow.”
“That quick?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, everything has to move at a speedy rate.”
Try not to panic; it’s better to get it over now than later. This was for Papa. I’d give anything for him to attain as much peace as possible before he departed from this life.
With that in mind, purpose settled within. I mustered the courage to look Jared straight in the eye. “Where’s the ceremony taking place?”
“Here,” he duly informed before his eyes diverted towards the garden below again. “It’s the securest place to be in. No word will get out.” He had thought of everything, as expected.
“Of course.” It was no wonder his attention was fixated on the garden; he probably loathed the sight of it.
“Thomas arranged tomorrow’s preparations, so there’s nothing for you to worry about except your dress.” He paused. “I’ve also invited my mother if you don’t mind.”
His mother? I thought he had wished this to be a secret? Having her here would make it awkward, on my part, anyway. “Why would you do that?”
“So she stops nagging me to get married. What else?” He shrugged. “Thought it better to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.”
Rose won’t be meeting mommy dearest anytime soon, then…Jared would be leading a double life. Did he know what he was signing on for? Was he even up to the challenge?
Rose. I had a feeling she’d be a thorn in my side very soon. My life sure wasn’t getting any easier. While my friends enjoyed the rest of summer, daydreaming about our first year at Stanford, my life, on the other hand, was far from exciting. At only eighteen, I was faced with problems I wasn’t sure I had the proper tools to fix. I dreaded what life at twenty-five would be like.
I was on the verge of losing my father, overwhelmed by my impending marriage, and the very image of my fake husband-to-be spending carnal nights with Rose left a sour taste on my tongue.
The imperative word to continuously drill into my hazy, lovesick mind was fake—and don’t I dare ever forget it!
“Papa wants us to join him for dinner at seven. Will that be good for you?” I straightened my stance, dejected, as I readied to leave him be.
He glanced at his watch. “Sure. I have to stop at the headquarters for a little bit, but I’ll be back before dinner. Will that please you?” Vibrant blue eyes drew me in, holding me entranced.
My throat ran dry. My sight flickered to his lips, and I unintentionally constricted my vaginal muscles. Oh, the things that pleased me…if only he knew. Well if he did know, he’d run for the hills. How was that for irony? “Whatever makes it easier for you, Jared,” I blandly said before readying to leave him in his reverie, but before I managed to take a step, he took hold of my arm, halting me altogether.
Confused, my eyes snapped to his face where a soft smile tugged at his lips.
“I think you and I will be fine, Gisele.” He gently placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me close to him as he intently gazed down on me. Intense cerulean blues held me in place, momentarily rendering me stupid. “This is a difficult time for all of us. I want you to know I’m here for you, too. You can vent and air out all your worries; I won’t mind it at all.”
My God, those powerful hypnotic eyes…I could drown in them forever.
Things were falling apart around me, and yet, right this very moment, all I could focus on was how my body reacted to him in the most wanton, licentious manner.
He then did the most unexpected, surprising me with a soft kiss on the forehead. “Ease up, you’re stiff as a board. You’re going to be my wife tomorrow, so you have to get used to me being close to you.”
His wife. In name only. But still, something primal stirred within me when I heard him say his wife. Like I was some sort of property. Under normal circumstances, I was all for feminism and what not, but that didn’t apply where Jared was concerned. The thought of him manhandling me wasn’t appalling; it actually turned me on. So, what did that make me? You’re just like any other hormonal, oversexed eighteen-year-old woman.
The soft brush of his lips against my skin, though innocent, engulfed me in flames. My groin tightened, fighting the deep arousal his scent and nearness did to my body.
Stiff as
a board, he said. I’m horny; can he not tell?
“Maybe if you do it often, I’ll get used to your touch,” I said coyly before tapping him lightly on the shoulder, needing to immediately disengage before I said something idiotic, like begging him to alleviate the ache within me—yeah, that’d be disastrous. So it was best I retreated to my bedroom and pondered how I could ruin my already chaotic life some more. “Anyhow, have fun at work, my fake sexy fiancé.”
I could feel his eyes on me as he watched me strut into my bedroom.
For a second, I wondered how excruciating it’d be sleeping in the same bed with the man I was nuts and bolts about when I wouldn’t be able to touch him at all. It would be a nightmare. I could already feel the frustration permeating from my pores.
Left to my own devices and in the safe confines of my bedroom, I took the liberty of calling for an emergency check-up. Since the ceremony wouldn’t be until noon tomorrow, anyway, I was pleased to slot the appointment at seven-thirty in the morning.
With a few hours to burn until I’d get to see Papa again, I decided to call Blair but was sadly sent to her voicemail box.
“Hey, it’s me. I’m back and Papa’s really ill. So, um, yeah, you guys have fun, and I’ll see you both when you’re back. If there are any changes, I’ll make sure to keep you guys updated. Miss and love you both.”
Part of me ought to have wondered what in God’s name happened to Jack, but I also didn’t want to know. Who had time to spare for a lying, cheating lowlife, anyway? If tomorrow’s results proved he was to be the father, then I might be singing a different tune. But for the time being, I was content with my decision.
I let out a long drawn out sigh as I strode into my walk-in closet and stripped myself bare. A hot shower would temporarily calm my nerves. Unlike Blair’s opulent bedroom, mine was rather on the Spartan side. I liked the minimalist contemporary designs, a preference I gained from my father. All white or all black scheme, or a combination of both, with a random hint of color in the form of a vase or a painting—I normally chose cerulean blue, crimson red, or eggshell yellow to contrast the monotonous design schematics. It made everything immaculately organized. Father once said that colors could sometimes distract one’s concentration; that was why he preferred his surroundings less stimulating.
Once nude, I strode across the vast closet and stepped into the bathroom. But before showering, I took a moment to study myself in the three-paneled mirror, observing if there were any changes in my body. So far, there were none to be significantly noted. However, my mother didn’t see stark changes in her body until she was five months pregnant. Maybe my body was like hers. My breasts remained pert and full. My belly flat and my seemingly two-pack abs attained from swimming were still in place. My long blonde hair had natural silvery highlights due to the time spent under the sun. My tanned skin looked healthy and glowing. My silver eyes blazed, as if fire ignited within me, within my soul. There was sadness in there, too, but the blatant light shining in their depths couldn’t be denied. Thanks to Jared. All it took was a simple chaste kiss on my forehead, and the after effects of that one simple gesture went straight into my bones.
Hopeless as always where Jared St. James was concerned. When would that die out? And if it wouldn’t…I was forever stuck in this sweet purgatory of my own making.
Remember Rose? The woman he’s with? my mind irritatingly rebutted. Yeah, she’s getting all of him—lips, dick, and fingers. Do try not to forget that.
“Get a grip, Gisele. It’s not real.” My shoulders slouched as I huffed out a pained sound. I shook my head as I walked into the shower. Thoughts of him rutting between Rose’s legs hurt more than I cared to admit. All I could do at this point was to better my craft at playing “I’m not crazy in love with Jared.”
After relishing the hot soothing spray of a shower for almost an hour, I noticed that my belongings were now neatly parked inside my closet. Ignoring the items, I pulled on one of my favorite black kimono robes before sliding into bed, wet hair secured with a towel into a big knot atop my head. The second my head touched the pillow, I dozed off in a heartbeat.
The past twenty-four hours surely had drained all energy out of me. My mind shut down, and my body soon followed.
Chapter 7
Gisele
“Gisele…” a soft voice tried to pull me out of my slumber. A warm hand took hold of my shoulder, lightly shaking me. “Gisele…time to wake up, sleepy head.”
My lips parted, deeply breathing, ready to dive back into sleep until another shake brought me out of the sleepy haze. “Uhrgggh,” I groaned with frustration before I reluctantly drew my eyes open. The illumination coming from the lamp made my sensitive eyes squint in vain before I found a grinning Jared lazily situating half of his body across the unused side of the king size mattress. His striking face merely a foot away, cerulean blues avidly scrutinizing my sleepy ones.
How long was he staring at me before waking me up? “What do you want?” My grumble somehow turned into a soft smile. How could I get pissy when his lovely self greeted me upon waking?
“Your father granted me permission to wake you up, so I don’t deserve the moody pout. Dinner’s waiting in his suite, princess.” His eyes flickered towards my head and snickered. “Your hair’s a crazy riot.” He found entertainment in seeing me in such a disheveled state.
“Yeah, let’s see what you look like waking up, too. I bet you drool all over the pillows.”
“I do not!”
“You seem like the kind to be farting in your sleep, too.” I cackled at his stricken expression.
“I certainly do not!” He took hold of a pillow and lightly thumped it on my head. “A gentleman never addresses when ladies fart, but with you, I’ll make sure you’re thoroughly fart-shamed.” He began to tickle me, and I screamed with delight.
“Ladies don’t fart, and that’s a fact!”
“It’s fiction.”
I squealed when one hand tickled the side of my hip while the other was on my neck, simultaneously driving me into a squeaking, giggling mess. Then he abruptly stopped, confusing me.
“What?” I beamed, blinking at him as I brushed my hair aside.
His throat bobbed.
My robe came undone, and he could fully see my nakedness, breasts and my daring warmer (wetter?) region.
His eyes were glued to my breasts before they excruciatingly gazed below, in between my slightly parted legs. His lids masked his eyes so I couldn’t very well see them, but I knew his gaze was stuck to my smooth, bald slit.
What is he doing? My heart rammed viciously against my chest. Did the view please him or…
Yeah, the or part got to me. Bad.
“Oh, don’t look so horrified. Relax. It’s not going to bite you.” I tried to make a joke out of it as I gingerly teased him.
When those hypnotizing eyes snapped to mine, I was jolted by electricity. I was transfixed. My lips parted before I slowly began to pant, aroused beyond comprehension.
“Do you sleep with only a robe on?” His eyes dipped towards my full breasts then southwards. Again. Summoning the horny gods to provoke me.
“Yes, Jared…Will that be a problem?” I liked getting a rise out of him. Besides, the man was too serious; he needed to lighten the hell up. It felt mighty wicked to toy with him; it couldn’t be helped. Call it lunacy, but I considered it foreplay. There was nothing like a good mind-fuck.
“No, that won’t be a problem at all.” He shook his head, looking away as if the novelty of seeing my bare body had already expired and it no longer interested him.
I had expected this. Of course I did. But I wasn’t going down with embarrassment. I loved my body. I owned it. I was damn proud of it. “Yes, yes, yes, we know…tight eighteen-year-old bodies don’t do it for you.” To prove a point, I slid out of bed, audaciously slid the robe off my form, and then I cheekily strutted towards the closet to change for dinner. His eyes lingered, getting quite an eyeful of my backside.
&
nbsp; “Stop staring at my ass, Jared,” I hollered at him without stopping my stride.
He remained mum.
I grinned. Yes, the man had gotten his comeuppance. I hoped I didn’t make him blush. Ha.
Stepping into my color-coordinated closet, I strode over to the floral dresses section. Dinner was to be a simple affair, so I opted for a simple white short dress with pale pink daisy flower imprints. I then lazily piled my hair into a messy bun. Once finished, I walked over to the adjacent room where my shoes were on glorious display. My mother specifically had these built because we both had a serious fixation on beautiful, well-crafted footwear.
I tiptoed and skittered across to the bathroom to quickly brush my teeth. Except for a subtle pink matte lipstick, I didn’t bother with any makeup.
Where’s my phone? I pondered as I retraced my steps back into the bedroom and was shocked to find Jared lying on the bed with one leg hanging off the edge, hands behind his head, silently staring at the ceiling and looking like a delicious piece of heaven. My mouth salivated. I wanted to devour him—all of him.
“You’re still here?” I bit my lip, wondering if he was ticked off at my little naked display earlier. “Have you seen my phone?”
Jared untangled his hands before sliding it across a pillow and casually handing me the device. “Jack Yates called.”
Shit.
“Thanks,” I murmured, grasping the phone in my hand. What did Jack want now? After that explosive confrontation we had, he hotheadedly walked out the second we moored off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, only to be never heard of again…until now.
Unlocking my phone, I stared dismayed at his name, weighing if I should bother with him again. He and I had tons of fun…up until his arrogance surfaced and when I caught his phone unguarded…and the plethora of lies was discovered.
“Is that the same man those empty condom packets belonged to?” he asked in a manner where I wasn’t sure if he was merely asking or if he was piecing together a broader picture.