“You don’t know the whole story.” she shot back. “You have no right to judge me.”
I shook my head. “You’re the lowest kind of bitch.”
“I didn’t do it alone.” she spat. “You think you have it all figured out? You don’t know shit.”
“Please. At least be bold enough to own your shit. Don’t try to throw the blame.”
She sighed and her eyes fell to the floor.
“It wasn’t just me.” Sophia whined. “I couldn’t have bought off judges and lawyers.”
“So what happened? Who would want to hurt the firm so much that they would sabotage this case?”
“Pete.” Sophia said the name like it would burn her tongue if she let it sit there too long.
“My father?” the voice intercepted mine before I could reveal my shock.
“Dylan.” Sophia stated. “I’m so sorry for all of this.”
His tone turned vicious and he took measured steps toward Sophia with a dangerous gait.
“Keep your apologies to yourself.” he barked. “Tell me what happened.”
Dylan looked formidable in front of Sophia. Had I not known him well, I would have feared for her safety.
“He was my father first.” Her voice wavered as she spoke slowly. “His only little girl until she came along out of the blue. When he married her mom, she got everything: my dad, my money, his time, his love, my life.”
“Her husband was sick.” I interjected.
“She didn’t deserve him either.” she spat out the bitter words.
“How was my father involved?” Dylan bit out.
“He made a deal with Menory. He set up a side situation that would allow him to receive half of whatever settlement they were able to save. He set up the lawyer and judge and paid them off based on what he stood to gain.”
“That ass.” Dylan pivoted quickly and stalked through the door.
Sophia’s issues were a distant memory when I saw the murderous look on Dylan’s face.
I didn’t like Pete, but I couldn’t let Dylan go to jail for killing him.
“Wait. Dylan. Listen.” I tried to grab onto a piece of him, any piece, but he was moving entirely too fast.
He didn’t respond, didn’t acknowledge my presence, but actually quickened his pace. He was nearly jogging.
Dylan didn’t have to search for his father. Pete was standing right near the front desk area when we stepped in.
“You just couldn’t stand it that she left it to me?” Dylan yelled before he charged toward his father.
The older man’s eyes bulged as his body thudded against the wall from the entire weight of Dylan’s.
“Stop!” I yelped, afraid that Dylan could be disowned by his family at any moment.
“You’re damn right.” Pete screamed, raising up as much as he could. “You’re a spoiled …”
Pete wasn’t able to finish his sentence, Dylan decked him.
“You’re fired.” Dylan told his crumpled father.
“Can you do that?” I questioned before I stepped closer to Dylan and took hold of his arm.
“He can’t.”
“Mother left this company to me. I just allowed your sorry ass to stay here.” Dylan exclaimed. “So get the fuck out of here while you can still walk.”
Dylan quickly made a phone call to security.
I had been in shock to find out that the company was really Dylan’s.
“I need to get my things.” he explained while moving his face in awkward positions to stretch his jaw.
“I’ll have them shipped.” Dylan ordered.
He hooked his father by the arm and pulled him out of the suite door.
“This is my firm.” Pete yelled seeming as though he was trying to convince himself. “I generate revenue.”
The few people milling in the hall turned to pay attention.
Dylan still had a grip on his arm and wasn’t letting go. He marched Pete through the halls with frustration.
“Most of the clients that you had, left when my grandfather passed away. You’ve been nothing but a burden for the last few years.”
Security arrived and took hold of Pete.
I looked up at Dylan, looking for emotion. Anger was all that I found.
“Come with me.” Dylan requested stone faced.
I followed him to his office, where he promptly pulled out his liquor.
“What a fucking day.” he murmured.
Dylan downed the liquid in his glass before he slammed it against the table.
He took a deep breath.
“Come here.” he requested.
I walked over to him.
“Come to me.” Dylan repeated.
I slid into his arms. He pulled me close to him and I rested my head against his chest.
“It was a really rough day.” I admit.
“Now that I’m holding you, it’s starting to get better. We’ll fight this together.”
I smiled and inhaled his scent. The strength of his solid arms held me in place.
“I need you.” he rasped and then took my lips with such force that I nearly fell over.
Epilogue
Dylan - 2 Years later
My private plane began its descent at the same time that Yvette’s head ascended from my lap. After 2 years, I still couldn’t get enough of her and those platinum worthy lips. Her mouth should be bronzed as a statue and handed out as an annual award for the best sucking skills.
She licked her lips as she sat back.
“Tasty.” she winked.
I pulled her mouth to mine and kissed the taste of me on her tongue. She was just so damn sexy. I couldn’t resist her even if I had wanted to. When I thought back to the day we met and remembered that I had almost fired her, it nagged at my heart that I’d almost lost the opportunity to love her.
“You are mine.” I whispered into her mouth.
“Yes.” she whispered back and stroked my hair in that way that makes my pants stretch.
Everything about her turned me on.
The stewardess, who had been in the front with the pilot while Yvette pleasured me, opened the door to the cabin. Yvette and I descended the steps into the Aruban sun hand in hand.
“So where are we? Will you tell me now?” Yvette bounced against me.
I had wanted it to be a surprise. We had been through hell in the beginning of our relationship. I wanted every second, every minute of every hour of the rest of our lives to be beautiful. She deserved this vacation and much more.
“Aruba.” I told her once we entered the chauffeured town car waiting for us.
Her face lit up. Everything that I had planned for her was well worth it for that smile, for the look of pure joy that covered her face.
“Wow!” she exclaimed. “I have never been to an island before.”
This may be her first time, but it wouldn’t be the last. It had been so busy after the Menory case at the firm that I hadn’t had the time to take her on a proper vacation.
“From here on out, I’ll make sure that we get to see every island documented on the map at least twice.”
She tore her eyes away from the window to see me.
“Dylan that could take years and a lot of money.” she said disapprovingly.
I kissed her cheek.
“I’m not lacking any funds, and the years only matter if I’m spending them with you.”
She laughed and it slightly hurt my feelings.
“Who are you with these sweet words today?” she questioned.
“Your man.” I kissed her hand. “Always the man in your corner, who would do anything for you.”
A blush spread and rose over her perfect face.
“I’m just not used to—” she began.
“Well you should be and will be.” I countered before I kissed her mouth.
“I know we’ve been busy with all of the firm stuff—” I start. I had to let her know that from here on out, now that everything was settled, she would be m
y number one priority.
Yvette placed a hand on my arm.
“I know.” she said sweetly. “I know that you care about me.”
There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she looked out of the window. The word “care” stuck out sorely. It didn’t sum up my feelings at all.
The driver turned into the private drive of the secluded villa.
“This is beautiful.” she mused as her head darted in every direction.
Suddenly, she faced me with serious concern.
“Why did you bring me here?” Yvette asked.
I swallowed hard. Usually not at a loss for words, but I couldn’t tell her the truth of my plans.
“Alone time. To have fun.” I answered.
The driver opened the door for us, and Yvette seemed satisfied with that answer for the moment.
“To have fun, huh?” she repeated with a devious grin.
Yvette jumped out of the seat and took off running onto the adjoining beach.
“Bet you can’t catch me!” she yelled.
I stood and laughed at the beautiful woman.
“I don’t run.” I called after her. I had never really played games as a child. Everything was about preparing for my future.
Yvette seemed so carefree in that moment. Her happiness lifted me.
“Come on.” she teased back, slowing her pace.
I took a few quick steps toward her, before I noticed that with each step another article of clothing was removed. She had started with her shoes, then the slip on dress.
“Wait.” I yelled.
It was a private beach, and a nearly private island. There was no one around for miles, but I still needed to be there to cover her body. No accidental sneak peeks were allowed for random visitors.
She giggled at me.
Her delicate lace panties had already been discarded in the sand by the time I had stripped down to my boxers and reached her luscious body.
“I thought you’d never catch me.” she smiled as she trailed a finger across my chest.
“I’ll always catch you.” I explained against her lobe. “Even if I never plan on letting you go.”
I pull her closer against me and our bodies connected in the water.
Being in the water with Yvette was the best way to start a vacation. From the very start of our time together she had known how to make me feel good. After the welcome in the water, we christened the beach, the balcony and finally the bedroom.
Yvette hummed a tone of satisfaction.
“This is paradise.” she sighed.
“You like this island that much?” I asked. “I’ll buy it for you and we can visit on the weekends.”
She chuckled a light laugh.
“No, Dylan. You were able to settle a big windfall for the firm and secure even more clients after the damage your father had done, but I wouldn’t want you to spend all of your money on little ole me.”
Her tone was joking, but it made my anger tick that she believed that her presence held such little significance in my life.
I touched her face.
“I would do anything for you, because you mean everything to me.” I told her as our eyes locked.
Yvette seemed to search for the truth. I meant every syllable, word, and sentence. She was my all.
I was free, no longer anchored to the weighty expectations and misgivings of Peter Hanson. I no longer had to walk in his shadow but in the beckoning sunshine that Yvette provided. I would have never been able to see the light had it not been for Yvette.
“I know.” she replied sweetly before kissing my lips.
I pushed my lips against hers and inserted my tongue between her pillowy ones.
Yvette’s ringing phone interrupted what I hoped would have turned into more.
“Let it go to voicemail.” I whined and nipped at her top lip.
“It may be important.” she teased and pulled away from me to answer her cell phone. “I’ll make up for it. I promise.”
Yvette batted her eyes.
“I’ll hold you to that.” I responded and tugged her shirt up. If I couldn’t have her lips, then her nipples would have to do.
“Hello.” she said to the person on the phone with a wavy voice.
I lapped my tongue in wide circles around her perfectly sized areola.
“Hi Sherry!” Yvette said too loudly as she shook when I took her budded nipple between my teeth. “Stop.” she whispered to me away from the phone.
“Never.” I whispered back cupping her breast.
Yvette arched her back in response but held onto the phone.
“That’s such good news.” Yvette shouted into the phone and leaped out of the bed. “Oh my God. A baby! That’s amazing.”
This caught my attention. Yvette was practically gleaming from the news that Sherry, Sophia’s half-sister and widow of Brandon Hunter, was having her first child with her new husband.
Yvette jumped and squealed around the room as if it were her who was having a baby. As though she were having my baby, because there was no scenario that would allow another man to ever enter her. Yvette was only for me and for me alone.
I knew that she must have felt the intensity of my gaze as I imagined Yvette rounded at the hips with her belly growing a product of our love.
“Thanks for sharing the news with me, Sherry. I’m so excited for you.” Yvette spoke into the phone but watched me.
I was glad that we were able to get more than the original estimated compensation for Sherry after it was discovered that Menory Medical had not only defrauded their patients but colluded with a government official to commit a conspiracy. The law firm had prospered from the settlement too. I had already been well off, but now even if I never worked another case again I could live the life of luxury and still be able to fund the same lifestyle for another three generations. Clients popped up out of the wood work in the aftermath of Menory. This caused us to expand the firm to two other states.
“Ok. We’ll keep in touch.” Yvette ended the call and flopped onto the bed next to me.
“That took way too long.” I complained with a smile.
She looked up into my eyes.
“I’m all yours now.” she cooed.
A knock at the door interrupted the tender moment.
“I got it.” I resigned with a huff.
I jogged to the front door and opened it for the uniformed man with a folded table and bag of supplies in hand.
“You can set up over there.” I told him quietly.
Surveying the room, my stomach knotted. I couldn’t be sure how Yvette would feel. I wasn’t sure if I had done too much or not enough. I had done my research, even gathered a panel of ladies to gather their opinions about the best way to approach the situation. I had known how to prepare for a case, a fight of words, a negotiation, but not how to surrender to love, to Yvette and her choice.
I took a whiff of the fresh food that I’d had delivered while Yvette was in the shower and the hundreds of Orange Blossom flowers that were perched in every part of the room.
“Everything is ready sir.” The masseuse said as he stood behind the table.
“Thank you.” I nodded.
The room nearly resembled a rainforest with all of the foliage.
“Who’s at the door?” I heard Yvette shout from the bedroom.
“Um. A salesman.” I stuttered.
“What?” her voice was growing nearer.
I tried to block her entrance to the living room. It wasn’t ready. It had to be perfect for her. It was the only acceptable way for my Yvette.
“Go back to the bed—” I started but stopped as Yvette reached the room and broke through the weak, half body barricade I was able to put up.
“What’s going on?” she asked suspiciously. “You’ve been acting—” The rest of the sentence died in her throat somewhere as she surveyed the room. A hand covered her gaped mouth.
“I wanted to surprise you.” I told her, taking her hand into mine
.
“There are Orange Blossoms everywhere.” she gasped. “My favorite flower.”
Yvette walked over to one of the plants and glided a finger along a leaf.
“My aunt always had at least one of these in the house. She said that they brought good luck.” Yvette looked wistfully at the plant.
I knew that her aunt had meant a lot to her.
“You bring luck to me.” I told her honestly.
“She would be proud of me.” Yvette stroked the petal lovingly. “I’d felt so alone without her. She was the only one in the world that cared about me. Well, until you.”
Yvette turned suddenly to face me.
I had moved from a standing position to kneeling.
“Dylan. Oh my God.” Yvette gasped through gulps of breath with her eyes widened in surprise.
She lowered her gaze to me perched on one knee.
I took in a deep breath. I didn’t know how it would end, but I that the moment was then.
“Why are you on one knee?” Yvette asked through a quavering voice. “I love you.” I admitted.
A tear sprung from her eye and I fought the urge to wipe it.
“You’ve never said that before.”
I hadn’t realized that it was my first verbal admission. I felt like the word wasn’t strong enough to describe what we felt.
“And there will be never be a day that you don’t hear it if you say that you will share your life with me.” I gushed nearly all in one breath. “Marry me.”
I pulled the ring from my pocket swiftly and popped open the lush black box. The inside was a silk orange material the same color as her favorite flower. The ring itself was a multi-carat princess cut on a platinum band.
“Will you be my wife?” I asked, plucking the ring from the box.
There seemed to be a year between each second. There seemed to be a decade before she moved her hand from her chest and slid it out in front of me.
“Yes.” she nearly whispered. “Yes. Yes. I will be your wife.” Her voice grew stronger with each word.
I slid the ring onto her finger and took her into my arms.
She would be mine forever.
Fourth and Goal: A Bad Boy Sports Romance
Book 4 of the Pass To Win Series.
Lethal Seduction: A CIA Romantic Suspense (CIA Agents Book 1) Page 23