“I didn’t until just now. It was just a hunch, since Anthony liked me so much.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Sarah said, pressing further into Stephen’s side for comfort and strength.
“If what I’m thinking is correct, then Christina was only your guardian until I turned 18 at which point I was named guardian and executor of your trust. A lawyer did try to find me last year, but they kept missing me on the battlefield because my battalion moved around so much. This could be what he wanted. Mother, where is the paperwork?”
She stood there, a defiant look in her eyes.
“Where is the bloody paperwork, Mother!”
She flinched at that before answering, “I burned them. So no one would find out.”
“Well that solves that then. Sarah and I will get married. We will go to Gretna Green to get married and I will get a commission in the army so my wife and I can join the ranks. Luckily she’s used to getting dirty. When we have a son, which I sure we will, he will be a viscount and we will be able to have this house back. That is the plan. Sarah please pack darling it’s time to go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“Gretna Green so we can begin our life together before heading to the coastline for war.”
A look of fear fell into Sarah’s eyes at the thought of war. “Don’t worry Sarah, I will protect you like I should have all along.” With a short but lingering kiss to her lips, Stephen pushed her towards the stairs to back what little belongs she had before following to get his own. One suitcase of hers to his two later and they were ready to go. Ready to begin a life of adventure, as a real family.
When they came back downstairs Stephen’s mother and sisters were just standing there, arms crossed, feet tapping. As though they knew they had lost but could hardly believe it.
“Dobbins call the carriage,” Stephen said, strolling to the door hand in hand with Sarah.
“Of course sir,” Dobbins said, looking more than a little gleeful about the whole thing.
Moments later they were in the carriage, ready to depart for their new lives. “To Gretna Green,” Stephen said.
“To the rest of our life,” Sarah responded, snuggling as close into Stephen’s side as she could.
Epilogue
Sarah was already in their bed when he walked into the room. By the looks of it she was very much naked under those bed sheets. He slinked across the room, unbuckling his trousers so he could pull his shirt over head. He was so glad they decided to stay at the inn before heading out to the coast to join his new regiment. A man and a woman’s first time together should not be spent aboard a ship crossing the channel. Neither should their second or third. He brought over to the bed the light fare he planned for them to eat: bread, cheese and cold meats. Just enough to satisfy without becoming stuffed. Pulling off his trousers he joined his bride Sarah on the bed, both of them entirely unclothed. Sarah blushed in the most adorable way upon his arrival. “Those blushes, they must go all the way to your feet.”
“They do not.” she giggled, with a smile at the thought. “Okay maybe. We should find out.”
Stephen lifted the bed sheet to check and was distracted by the womanly curves that greeted him. “Pity, no blushes past your neck. Lovely stems though,” he said, running his hand down her leg and causing her to gasp and scoff, unused to such flatteries. “You know it’s true. Don’t act like you don’t have the most beautiful body in the history of the world. If Helen of Troy and you had a beauty contest, you would have won hands down.”
At that Sarah laughed, rolling over onto her stomach. Stephen ran his hand along her spine, stopping sporadically to knead the muscles he felt there. He moved down with his hands, planting fiery kisses along the way right down to her bottom which he kneaded aggressively, swapping kisses to either side. Then he moved down to lick her mound from nub to anus before sticking his tongue inside the space, spreading her legs apart to give him better access. Stephen kept licking like a dying man, easing a finger into the mix and scissoring both tongue and finger into her passage together.
Stephen thought about what would happen next. He was sure it would hurt no matter how gentle he was as a lover. Sarah’s mother had died at birth and he knew Christina would have never imparted any wisdom on the facts of the birds and the bees. Stephen doubted anyone was able to tell her how things would be on their wedding night. Not wanting to cause her an unnecessary amount of pain, he wanted to ready her as much as possible before they take the next step together. Drive her to the point of distraction so she wouldn't notice the pain. With that thought in mind, Stephen added another finger, taking the nub in his teeth and nipping and sucking it, bringing her to climax before flipping her onto her back. Once there, Stephen started loving each nipple in turn, sucking almost an entire breast into his mouth before swapping to the other. The suckling and loving every inch of her breasts and nipples, caused Sarah to writhe beneath him. He stroked her sides lovingly, feeling the silky texture under his hand. He couldn’t believe all of this was his now, his to love. He shuddered at the thought of what his life would be without her. She was so eager, so sweet to taste and touch. The way she gently stroked his stomach was slowly driving him insane. The delectable heat of her body like a siren’s call. He ran a fingertip up along the lower curve of her breast, moving with perfect slowness over the pebbled point of her erect nipple. She gasped and closed her eyes. Encouraged, he took her nipple gently between forefinger and thumb and squeezed gently, licking his lips at her sigh of delight. She slid her palms slowly up his muscled biceps to his shoulders then wrapped around him close. “I love you, Stephen.”
Stephen braced himself at her entrance, preparing to move slowly into her dripping core. “I love you too, Lady Knight.” With that last word he thrust into her, their bodies so on edge that they immediately climaxed together. Lord and Lady Knight. Cinderella and her loving stepbrother.
Part VIII
Wanted by the Biker
Romantic Comedy
About the Book
I stopped just a few inches from him. “Are you curious?”
“Curious about what?” He said as he lowered his lips towards mine.
“Curious to know what I taste like?”
I had always been attracted to bad boys. So it was no surprise that when Lee Keating walked through my door---tattoos adorning his beautiful body---that I couldn’t resist him. He looked like the type of man who could handle himself in a brawl, so he would have no problem handling me in the bedroom or otherwise, right? I was a kitchen table kind of girl myself, but he could have me anywhere. That’s how badly I wanted him. Could you blame me? Lee had a body like a god, which my hands and mouth were dying to explore.
There was just one complication. He had enemies: Enemies that took ‘dangerous ‘to a new level. Enemies that belonged to a biker gang Lee claimed to no longer be a part of. And for that reason, he didn’t want any emotional ties, any emotional connections. Normally, that wouldn’t bother me. I was a “love them and leave them” kind of girl, but something about Lee made me want to stay.
Danger and Lee Keating? Definitely a turn-on. I wanted... No... I needed more.
Chapter One
He looked like trouble the moment he walked through the doors of my small antiques shop. He had tattoos that covered both arms and a look on his face that said he had seen the world and was bored of it. Something about his body language just screamed gritty, dangerous, and unfortunately, I found it undeniably sexy.
And then he smiled at me and for that one moment I felt that I was gifted with a beautiful rare view. If I had thought he was trouble before, it was clear that he was going to be my downfall now. I couldn’t resist a beautiful smile. As he came closer to my desk, I admired the way he walked. His strides were confident and easy, as if he had all the time in the world. He gave off this sense of untouchability as if he were beyond reproach, above the law. His demeanor was almost royal, deity like and I felt that if I had been around to m
eet Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar in the flesh, this is what it would have felt like. He radiated strength, importance and sheer masculinity. He carried himself as if he owned the world and he knew it. And I didn’t even know this man’s name, but if he were in the business of conquering small nations or small women, I was interested in being his next conquest.
“Hi, I’m looking for the owner of the apartment for rent on West Hills. The sign said to come to this address for more information.” His voice was deep and his accent sounded foreign, European somehow. Maybe British or Irish? Strange. I wouldn’t have thought he was anything but American and it was unusual to get foreigners in our small town since it was so far off the beaten path. I let my eyes travel over him before answering. I blatantly looked him up and down, letting my eyes roam over his muscular thighs encased in loose fitting jeans. He wore a plain black t-shirt and it was snug, leaving me free to gawk at his strong biceps, wide shoulders and perfectly flat stomach which I was sure would showcase perfect abs if I were able to actually get him out of his shirt.
Behave yourself, Angelica.
“What’s your name? I’m Angelica Fields, by the way,” I said to the attractive stranger. I was immediately curious. He didn’t seem like the type who would want to be cooped up in a little two-bedroom garage apartment.
“Nice to meet you Angelica, I’m Lee. Lee Keating.”
“Well, Mr. Keating, you’re in luck because I’m your girl.”
His lips tilted up to form a smile that reached his light brown eyes which seemed to darken as he looked at me, “My girl, huh?”
“I could be a lot of things and maybe if you played your cards right...who knows?” I gave a carefree shrug and leaned over just a little bit towards him and smiled. I loved to flirt. His gaze traveled down my body and he briefly let his eyes linger on my exposed cleavage that I had deliberately put on display by leaning closer to him.
He licked his lips and slowly brought his eyes back to mine, “Is that right?”
I just as unhurriedly righted myself and placed a hand on my hip, “Well, I’m the owner, but I’m also available for other things, depending on my mood.”
He laughed, “And what type of mood are you in now?” This time he leaned on the desk, bringing his body closer to me. And I could smell his cologne or was it aftershave? I didn’t know. He had a beard so I doubt that he shaved, but his beard was well manicured, making him look like a rock star instead of a hobo. But anyway, he smelled heavenly, like a man should. The motion of him leaning forward towards me, made his hair fall across his shoulders and I realized that his hair was long and wavy. I envied it. My hair was fine and blonde and I kept it cut into a bob, given that it didn’t have much body for anything else. My fingers itched to touch his hair, but I controlled the urge at the last moment and went to answer him when a voice came from the other side of him.
“Seriously, Lee? You’re in here flirting, while I’m stuck in the hot car dying. Seriously?” The whiny voice came from a teenager, not more than fourteen years old. She was the splitting image of Lee but just short and female. She had the light brown eyes and the wavy jet black hair and from the look of her face, she also had the same sense of confidence. And she gave me an appraising look and then dismissively looked away.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car?” Lee questioned, a sigh in his voice.
“So you want me to go back to the car and die? Because I’m pretty sure I might have suffered a heatstroke if I hadn’t gotten out.” Gosh, she was sassy.
“I’ve been in here what? All of sixty seconds. Have some patience, Avani. I’m pretty sure you weren’t knocking on death’s door.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know that you’re already driving me crazy and it’s still morning. You need to chill kid. Go look at something. I’m doing business here.”
She made a rude sound with her mouth, but then disappeared to go study a shelf full of figurines. I eyed her, hoping she wouldn’t break anything.
“Cute kid,” I said, attempting to keep my voice light.
“You don’t lie well.” He remarked again smiling.
“You’re right,” I conceded and laughed. “Is she your daughter?”
“God no!” The kid said loudly and then quickly turned away when Lee shot her a warning glance.
“She’s my sister. Drives me crazy.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” Avani said with a bright smile. I had to admit, her sass was starting to grow on me.
“She’s funny.”
“When she wants to be,” Lee said, “but back to our discussion...”
“Yeah, well I’m the owner. My grandparents actually are the owners, but they live elsewhere, so I’m in charge of renting it out for them. It’s nine hundred a month, plus utilities and water. I’ll take one month deposit. And your credit history better be pretty impressive.”
“It’s not,” he said bluntly, “But I’ll give you first and last month rent as a deposit.
“That works for me. You want to see the place?”
“Right now? Aren’t you busy?” He said looking around.
“Everyone in here is a regular. They can watch the shop while I’m gone.” I approached a pair of older women who were sitting at an antique table watching the action between me and Lee play out while sipping tea.
“Hey ladies, can you watch the shop for me? I’m just going to take this kind gentleman out to see the property.”
They nodded eagerly, sneaking glances of Lee under lowered eyelids, “Sure. Not a problem, dear,” Mrs. Averly, said. I’d known her my entire life. She had been my grade school teacher from kindergarten to fifth grade. “He’s a cutie,” she added and winked at me.
“I think he heard you,” I said looking back at Lee, who was trying to hide a smile.
“Oh good, I wanted him to,” Mrs. Averly then giggled and her long-time friend, Mrs. Kasenow joined in. I shook my head. Those two were incorrigible. I dropped the keys to the shop in Mrs. Averly’s hand and told her I would be back in about an hour.
I gestured for Lee to follow me and as he did, Avani came running up behind us.
“You have some cool things in you shop. Even though they’re seriously old, they’re pretty cool.”
“Thanks, I think,” I said not sure how to respond. “I guess you’re into stuff like Xboxes and PlayStation, huh?”
She gave me a look as if she were offended, “I’m not a gamer. I would rather write or something.”
“You write?” I asked as I paused at their car.
She shrugged her shoulders, finally showing a hint of self-doubt, “Just blogs.” She admitted not meeting my eyes, “That apartment does have Wi-Fi, right?”
“I’m sure it has Wi-Fi,” Lee said gesturing for Avani to get in the car. She rolled her eyes at him, smiled at me and slid in. He closed the door behind her and said, “Do you have siblings?”
“I wish.”
“Do you want one? Let’s say about fourteen years old and talks a lot of smack.”
“Umm...I think I’ll pass.” Even though his words might have sounded harsh, he said them with a smile on his face and looked at his sister warmly, who was staring at us through the window making mock kissing sounds.
Lee laughed and shook his head, “I’ll meet you at the apartment.”
“Sure thing,” I said as he climbed into the car and drove away. I was intrigued as I headed to my own car. What was this dude who looked like an outlaw doing taking care of his little sister? Clearly, there was more to Lee Keating than what met the eye.
Chapter Two
I ended up renting the apartment to Lee. He asked to sign a lease just seconds after I finished giving him the full tour of the garage apartment that sat behind my own home. I didn’t know how I actually felt about being attracted to a tenant, but it was my job to lease the apartment and so that’s what I did.
As he promised, he paid me first and last month’s rent and signed a year-long lease. I didn’
t ask if his little sister was going to live with him as I assumed she was just visiting. Either way, I didn’t feel that it was any of my business and the garage apartment was two rooms, so even if she stayed, it wasn’t as if he didn’t have the extra room.
It had been about a week or two since I had rented the apartment to Lee when he knocked on my door one morning. I had just gotten in from my daily run and wasn’t expecting someone, so I was a little taken aback when I looked out of the peephole and saw Lee standing there.
I immediately opened the door, “Hi,” I smiled warmly at him, “Is everything okay with the apartment?”
He didn’t answer immediately as he was distracted by my long legs clearly on display given the very brief running shorts I had on. Frankly, if I were to bend down and pick anything up, the shorts would err on the side of indecent. I liked Lee’s attention and welcomed it. His eyes seemed to burn a slow trail from my legs up my flat belly that was uncovered given that I was only wearing a cropped top and then he gave my breasts a cursory glance. I didn’t think the sports bra I was wearing did my breasts any justice, but frankly, Lee didn’t seem to care.
I cleared my throat to get his attention and he looked up at me, clearly a little embarrassed having gotten caught checking me out.
“Do you run every morning?”
“Yep. I like to keep in shape. I was in the military for a while so it’s ingrained in me.”
He looked surprised, “I was in the military too.”
“Really? Here in the U.S.?”
He seemed surprised by my question, “Oh, it’s the accent. I grew up in Ireland, but my Mom moved here when I was about fourteen. I’m a U.S. citizen now.”
“I’m sorry, I just figured...”
“No need to apologize. I didn’t know my accent was still so detectable. So what branch were you in?”
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