“Alistair Connor.” His name left her lips in a husky moan when she lowered herself on his erection. Being with him felt so right, so perfect, she couldn’t imagine being any place else. She thrust her hands into his hair, entwining the silky long strands around her fingers. “I missed you.”
This is where I belong. He groaned possessively with delight as her tight walls sheathed him. He opened his eyes and looked down at her yellow diamond ones, “You are my private paradise.”
“And you are my pagan god,” she replied, bringing his head down to kiss him long and hard.
Alistair was resolved to conquer all of her, to make her so giddy with desire and passion she would never think about leaving him again.
“Yes,” she whispered and arched on his mouth as he licked his way to the other breast and she slowly moved up and down.
Alistair groaned in response as his hands gripped her hips, making her go faster. “Mine, Sophia. You are mine!”
“Ah. Yes,” Sophia cried.
He opened his eyes to look at her. He hardened even more at the sight of her raven hair spilling around her lightly tanned skin, her head thrown back in pleasure. Fuck, yes!
“Come with me. I’m close,” she demanded, lifting her hips higher and sinking down, riding him fast. “I’m-”
Suddenly, it was there.
Her internal muscles clamped around him, her hands gripped his hair hard, as a thrill rippled through her, making her come hard, screaming his name on his lips.
It was a call he could not resist.
They climaxed in unison as her moment triggered his and he plunged deep, holding her down for several moments as his orgasm overwhelmed all rational thought.
He collapsed back on the bed, taking her with him.
Sophia was too tired to move, to even open her eyes. Her bones felt as if they’d melted and every nerve was numb and relaxed.
He caressed her hair, grinning as relief roared through him and love swaggered in its wake. She is mine.
For a long time, they didn’t speak, merely held each other.
Alistair’s body was wrung out with physical satisfaction, his mind fogged and sluggish. But his heart was bursting with so much joy that he needed to voice his feelings, “I love you so much that I think I’m going mad.”
“If this is madness,” amusement could be heard in Sophia’s voice, “take me to the asylum.”
He chuckled and replied, “I don’t think I can make it right now. Maybe later.”
She laughed quietly, and the vibrations rippled through her body into his.
“I could stay here forever,” he added, almost to himself.
She lifted her head and gave him a mischievous look. “Forever? How many wicked plans do you have?”
You have no idea. “Did you really want me to never contact you, Sophia? Did you really think I would stay put and let you go?” he murmured.
“No. No,” she whispered on his lips, spreading gentle kisses on his face. “I was ashamed and afraid. Afraid of what you would think. Afraid that my dark secrets would poison you. Us. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough.”
“Promise me you’ll never do that again. Promise me you will trust me no matter what.”
“I do. I promise.”
She stood up and went to the bathroom, returning later with a moist towel for him.
He had already opened the coverlet and settled himself on the pillows. He wiggled his fingers at her.
She crawled over his body, sighing contented. Caressing his nipple with her finger, she whispered, “I love your chest.”
He threw the towel on the floor and smiled, asking teasingly, “Only my chest?”
She chuckled and her hand glided down over his flat abdomen and held his now flaccid penis in her hand, “This too. All of you.”
His smile just broadened as he stretched, sated and happy.
Should I ask? Courage, Sophia. “Alistair Connor?” Oh, God.
“Hmm?”
Her courage deserted her. Don’t spoil the mood, Sophia. Come up with something! “Well... I...” Quickly! “Hmm, now that I have you completely, I have a confession to make... My breasts are not original.”
Uh? He smiled, frowning amused at her, “Come again?”
She laid back and raised her right arm, showing him a faint scar under her armpit. “I breastfed Gabriela for eight months and, my, she was a hungry baby.” She half-smiled fond of the memories and, at the same time, saddened by them. “Afterwards, I had plastic surgery and put in implants.” It’s important. Say it.
His eyebrows rose high as he pushed up on an elbow to look at her. His hand held her breast, “Really? Mmm,” he smiled naughtily. “So, could you get bigger ones?”
“Maybe. Depends on your behavior,” she giggled nervously and hid her face again on his neck. Come on, Sophia.
He curled his fingers under her chin and lifted her face. “But that wasn’t what you were going to say, was it, Sophia?”
She bit her lip and shook her head, lowering her lids.
Oh, Christ! What comes next? “Look at me, Sophia. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
She raised on her elbow and looked up into his forest green eyes. “Kids,” the small word, softly whispered, was a glass breaking in the silent room.
Fuck. Fuck! “I see,” he breathed deeply and tried to sit, but she wouldn’t allow him to move.
“No. Don’t get away from me.” She combed his hair with her fingers while she explained her idea. “Listen to me. I’d love to have one more child. Maybe with a donor, maybe an adoption. I don’t really care. But I don’t want Gabriela to grow up as my only child. I need to know if you are okay with that.”
He concurred with a nonchalant, “Hm-hmm.”
Sophia felt empowered and decided to drop all her bombs. “And also...” she breathed deep. “Also, I want to continue living at Atwood House.”
He stiffened. He looked into her eyes for what seemed an unnervingly long moment. “How,” he inquired, his voice steely calm, “do you imagine I would feel living in the house you bought with Gabriel’s money? Knowing that our home was paid for by him?”
Instantly, she saw her mistake. She saw it in his darkened green eyes, in the pride that flashed in their depths.
She shifted closer to his warmth. “I... don’t know. It’s...” It’s because it would make me happy? Ugh! No, too selfish. Because it’s a beautiful house I built over many months of work? No. Worse. And stupid.
“Make an effort. Put yourself in my shoes.” His voice had dropped to a gravelly purr. Would you have moved in with me to where Heather had lived?
Inwardly cringing, Sophia cupped his face running her thumbs over his clenched jaw, which slightly softened at the caress. “It’s my money. I bought it. I did the refurbishment. Atwood House is my house, and Gabriela’s too. She loves it there. Her bedroom. The garden. The pond. Everything. You can make it our home. You can pay for all the expenses. You can make all the changes you want.” She felt as he gradually relaxed. “I want you-”
He put a finger on her lips and murmured, “I’ll think about it. With tender care.” I can’t deny you anything, can I? Besides, it’s not so unreasonable.
“Thanks.” She kissed his lips. “We have to tell Gabriela.”
“Mm-hmm. Later.” His finger tips trailed down her arm and he entwined his hands with hers. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered drowsily.
As Sophia closed her eyes in slumber, she knew that her heart was not hers anymore. After a few minutes, she was deeply asleep.
Alistair’s gaze roamed over her gently flushed face and her reddened lips. Caressing her slim back, he looked at the skyline. The sun was setting behind the snow capped mountains and the whole scenery was tinted in teeming colors almost as if a rainbow graced the entire sky.
Alistair’s heart beat lighter as he stared back at the woman sleeping on his chest.
For the first time in many years, he all
owed himself to feel hope.
Chapter 26
Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa.
Saturday, April 10th, 2010.
9.35 a.m.
Alistair raised his eyebrows at Sophia’s and Gabriela’s small suitcases, which the bellboy was taking to their waiting car. “Is this it?”
She shrugged, “It was just a few days and I left my other clothes in Rio.”
“You’re a piece of work,” he whispered, shaking his head, amazed. “I have never seen a woman travel with so little. Are you sure you don’t have OCD?”
“As if you weren’t organized too,” she jutted her chin to his small luggage.
“I’m a man,” he said dismissively, as an explanation.
She sighed dramatically, “You’re incorrigible.”
He chuckled, “That’s why I’m marrying you.”
Right. I know. “Indeed,” she mocked.
Gabriela came down to meet them, bouncing lightly between Edward and Felipe. She was wearing a lovely pink wool dress with a white sash. Her long blonde hair was tied in pigtails and held by white silk ribbons. She threw herself in Alistair’s open arms.
“Good morning, Alistair.” She kissed and hugged him. “Are you looking forward to going to the beach?”
He smiled at her and put her back on the ground. “Only if you take me, Fairy.”
“I will. Promise.” She jogged to the car where Maria and Zareb were waiting.
“Ready for the jungle?” Edward asked Alistair.
“Good Lord, Edward. You’re going to scare him like that.” Felipe smacked his hand on his forehand. “Don’t listen to Edward. He-”
“Yes, don’t listen to him,” interrupted Sophia, her gaze distant. “In the jungle, you know the rules. In Brazil, you don’t.”
Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema. Fasano Hotel, Fitness Club.
12 p.m.
“WHAT?!” Ethan lost his composure for a split second. He smiled apologetically at the surprised woman on the other treadmill and pushed the stop button, getting off.
He accepted a towel from the personal trainer, drying his face and grabbed a bottle of water. He exited the fitness center, emerging by the rooftop infinity pool, and dropped into one of the comfortable reclining chairs. He lowered his tone, “Are you sure, Scott? When?”
He looked at Christ the Redeemer, the huge statue atop the Corcovado Mountain, when a sharp pain made his eyes tear. The view was lost on Ethan as he felt nauseated by Sophia’s betrayal.
She’s going to marry MacCraig. MacCraig.
The thought turned his stomach and he drew in a gulp of air. He ended the call after giving Scott some instructions and headed for his room with angry and firm steps.
London, Chiswick. The Ashford’s Mansion.
Friday, April 13th, 1979.
11.27 a.m.
Calista’s eyes popped open and she wriggled her perfect, small nose in disgust, when the childish giggles mingled with the zen music her brawny masseur had put on before he started.
“Relax.” Adam, her therapist, kneaded her shoulders more firmly.
She sighed and closed her azure eyes just to open them angrily when, five minutes later, Ethan’s piercing shriek followed his happy laughter.
“That’s it,” she said, sitting up, her lilting accent pronounced. “Adamos, call that horrible brat here. Now,” she ordered as she got down from the massage bed and put on her silk robe. “He can’t give me a moment’s peace.”
“Calista, honey-”
“NOW!”
Adam turned to obey, with a grimace on his lips. He hated to see the way that selfish, pampered and promiscuous woman treated her sweet, gentle son.
Calista paused in front of the full length mirror of her private rooms and tied the sash around her slim waist, observing her stunning figure. She turned her face from side to side and ran her hand over her neck and breasts. She smiled satisfied with what she saw.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” she mocked her own image, picking a brush up from the vanity table and brushing her long black hair with vigorous strokes, thinking about her son. Her smile disappeared and she thinned her full lips.
“You called me, Mum?” Ethan’s innocent and eager voice made her turn from her own mesmerizing image.
In front of her was a lovely blond boy with her own azure eyes, perfect nose and strong features.
“For you, Mum.” Ethan was holding a bunch of red roses from the garden in his hands. At six, his still childish face already showed the signs of the handsome man he would become.
However, he was also a constant reminder of what Calista hated most in her life.
She had never wanted a child. She had never wished for married life. She wanted freedom and Ethan had chained her from the moment he had been conceived. To make things worse, he always looked at her with adoring and beguiling eyes.
She put the brush with a thud back on the table and he flinched.
She looked at the flowers with a rictus on her lips and, snatching them from his hands, threw the roses in the waste bin, saying, “Are you stupid? I’m allergic to flowers. Bring me diamonds next time.”
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Ethan lowered his head hiding the tears that invaded his eyes. “I’m sorry, Mum,” he whispered through the huge lump that blocked his throat, wringing his hands. “I’ll remember.”
“What were you doing screaming like that? You are disturb me.”
“Disturbing,” he corrected, unconsciously.
The sound of a slap rang in the room. “Shut up!” she hissed at her son in Greek. “SHUT. UP. You’re no better than me, you undeserving brat.”
“Calista,” Adam moved from his position at the threshold, shocked at the gratuitous violence, “he’s a child-”
She raised her perfect eyebrows at him, and ice coated her voice when she stated, “Child or no, he have to learn that this is not a fairy tale world.”
Child or not. He has to learn that this is not-
“Look at me, Aethon,” she was speaking again with her strong accent.
My name is Ethan. Not Aethon. I’m your son. Not your horse. He blinked his eyes at the beautiful woman that looked at him from such an enormous height. Too far for him to reach. The distance too great to find a way into her heart. “I’m sorry, Mum. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry is not enough! On the corner. At your knees. ‘Til I say so.”
In the corner. On your knees. In his mind, Ethan kept correcting the mistakes his mother made to stop the tears from falling as he walked to the corner of the room and knelt there, facing the wall. Why you never smile at me, Mum? Hug me, Mum. A kiss. Stroke my hair. What have I done so wrong?
Calista took off her robe and lay down naked on the massage bed, “I’m ready for you, Adamos.”
The masseur masked his disgust and controlled his anger as he put the small towels back in place over Calista’s breasts and hips. He eyed the little boy’s back with his head lowered. The slight trembling of his formal white shirt revealed how much he had been hurt.
Before she closed her eyes, Calista told Adam with a sneer in her voice, “He’ll never get a woman. Flowers! Imagine...”
Ethan counted the white stripes on the colored wallpaper of his mother’s room. I’m not going to cry. I am not.
Only later.
Only alone.
Fasano Hotel, Deluxe Suite.
Saturday, April 10th, 2010.
12.07 p.m.
Ethan yanked off his sweaty clothes and got in the cold water, not caring about the temperature of the shower.
The noise that burst agonizingly from his throat surprised him.
He never cried, much less sobbed. Since that fateful day he discovered Eve’s betrayal. He had promised himself he would never let a woman hurt him again.
But it was uncontrollable.
He dropped to his knees under the water and cried as if he were a child with his face in his hands.
He had been used all his
life and then thrown away like spoilt goods, without a thought from the ones that were supposed to care for him.
He couldn’t believe Sophia was doing the same thing.
I am the one who brought you back to life, Sophia. I am the one who made you happy. You said so yourself. And you’re turning your back on me. Like all the others. Like all the others.
In his mind, Ethan concluded she didn’t care for the deep feelings he had for her.
He shouted out in pain and banged his fists on his thighs as he sobbed.
He was sure Alistair MacCraig was not the man for her.
The man is not trustworthy, Sophia. He’s a creep with unusual sexual preferences. He’ll make you suffer. You’re too innocent for the likes of him. I am the one for you. I am the only one you should love, Sophia.
What was left of his rational personality had been divided into two separate beings. Ethan felt torn apart, as two different sides coexisted inside his soul and fought for control, two parts of himself that he didn’t usually acknowledge.
His gentle side, which had survived the lies and abuse of his parents and grandfather, wanted Sophia to be happy with whomever she wished.
His confused and frustrated side, moulded by the constant bullying and lack of love, selfishly wanted Sophia all to himself.
Once again, Ethan had lost control of his life. He had failed himself.
After a long time, he rose and finished his shower, drying himself without looking in the mirror. He wrapped a towel around his lean waist and picked up the telephone, gazing at it absentmindedly for a moment before calling the concierge and turning to the mirror.
A cold smiling face with a raised eyebrow stared at him from inside the mirror.
“Good morning. Do you have round the clock CCTV surveillance?”
Rio de Janeiro, São Conrado. São Conrado Fashion Mall.
3.30 p.m.
Alistair immediately felt something was off when Sophia stopped and stiffened beside him. The hand he was holding became suddenly cold. He gazed at her.
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