Silk

by Heidi McLaughlin

  Shrugging his shoulders angrily, he lifted his head and met my gaze. “I don’t know … why to everything maybe. You should’ve had faith in me to know that I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

  “I know,” I agreed, “but you have to let me explain. You see, Daniel wasn’t always like the way he is now. He didn’t start getting greedy and turning into the giant dick until much later when some big time investors sought him out. Once the money started really rolling in, he got cocky,” I explained warily.

  When all he did was stare at me, I balked under his gaze and lowered my head. I was afraid of what I’d see … rejection, disgust, hate, anger. My heart was already broken to the core and I couldn’t bear to see what he must honestly think of me now. Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I slowly got out and grabbed my bag off the floor that held my things and draped it over my shoulder.

  When I ambled out of the bedroom, Brett shouted behind me, and I could hear his heavy footsteps following me. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  Sniffling, I wiped the tears from under my eyes and turned to face him. He was breathing hard and fisting his hands at his sides, looking like he was ready to kill. “I’m leaving, Brett. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you and for lying. I didn’t want to, but I felt like I had no other choice. I’ll still meet with Korinne and Galen tomorrow so I can let them know what is going on. Once Daniel gets figured out it’ll all be over. I know my cousin will help us expose him.”

  His features started to soften and he slowly approached me. “You’re not going anywhere, Melissa. You have to understand how pissed off this makes me, especially with being lied to when all you ever used to talk about is trust. I love you, and no matter what happens I’m going to be here for you. I’m not going to let your ex get away with anything, and he sure as hell isn’t going to threaten you.”

  He took my face in his hands and crushed his lips to mine, protectively yet demanding. “Don’t you ever … ever lie to me again or not tell me what’s going on in your life. This whole situation could’ve gone differently if you would’ve just had faith in me to help you.”

  “I know,” I breathed against his lips. “I’m so sorry, Brett. I love you so much and I was afraid of what this information would do to us.”

  Brett pulled away and slid the bag off my shoulder before taking my hand to lead me back into his room. The second he touched my right hand, I hissed in pain and bit my lip, hoping the sting would go away quickly. One of my knuckles was torn open and bruised from hitting Daniel and my wrist was slightly swollen. I had been so upset over everything else that it dulled out the pain until now.

  “What happened here?” Brett asked, lightly grazing his finger over my knuckle.

  Groaning, I sighed regretfully. Things were about to get worse once I told him about what Daniel did to me, but if I didn’t tell him and he found out then Brett definitely wouldn’t trust me.

  Hesitantly, I bit my lip and took my aching hand out of Brett’s. “You might want to sit down for this one,” I suggested. He was already holding his anger in check, but I knew what I was about to tell him would send him over the edge. By the danger swirling in his eyes, I knew it would only take one push to unleash that anger.

  “There’s more?” he snapped, gripping the edge of the couch as he sat down. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What else haven’t you told me?”

  Instead of sitting beside him, I sat across from him in one of the other chairs so I could face him. “Did you get a call from Daniel while you were stuck in Texas?”

  Snarling, Brett closed his eyes and punched the side of the wall after he stormed off of the couch. Gasping, I quickly leaned back in my seat to give him distance, breathing hard while I watched the fire in his eyes explode. “That motherfucker,” he hissed. “He came to see you, didn’t he? He knew I wouldn’t be there.”

  “Yes,” I sputtered nervously. “He did. That’s why I wanted to come here to your place and stay. I’m not afraid of him, but after what he did I didn’t want to be alone at my house when he could obviously get in.”

  Immediately, Brett grabbed my shoulders and hauled me up to him, a look of terror marring the beautiful planes of his face. “He got into your house! What did he do to you, Melissa?” he growled. “So help me God, if he touched you I don’t know how I’m going to get through this without beating the shit out of him. It’s just not going to be possible. What … did … he … do?”

  “You can’t go after him,” I warned him, placing my hands on his chest. “That’s one of the reasons why I didn’t want to tell you, but I knew I had to.” Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly before meeting his angry glare. “I was out by the pool reading, and since I hadn’t slept well the past couple of nights I ended up passing out. I was out there for a couple of hours and when I woke up, I was blindfolded.”

  Fuming, Brett tightened his protective hold and hung his head, clenching his jaw. “What else?”

  “I thought it was you back from your trip,” I explained warily. “I didn’t know he would have the balls to do what he did.”

  “How far did it go?” he demanded, finally lifting his fiery gaze to mine.

  When I didn’t answer right away, he repeated it by shouting, “How far did it go?”

  Quickly, I shuddered in his arms and replied, “Not far, Brett, I promise. He touched me and tried to kiss me, but as soon as he kissed me I knew it wasn’t you. I bit his lip hard and punched him in the face. That’s how I hurt my hand. He’s wanted me back for a while now, and every time I turn him down. Unfortunately, he keeps coming back; he’s relentless. He said that if I come back to him he’ll forget all about the threats on my career.”

  Brett closed his eyes and trembled with fury. A second later, he bolted for the front door and grabbed his car keys from the kitchen counter as he passed. “Brett, where are you going?” I shrieked, scrambling along behind him. I grabbed his arm hard and didn’t let go; he stopped. “Please, don’t go out there like this. I’m so sorry … for everything.”

  Breathing hard, he looked down at me clasping his arm and then into my teary gaze. “I need to go, Melissa. I’m too angry to think straight and looking at you is only going to fuel my persistence to kill your fucking ex. Let … me … go,” he ordered.

  Sobbing uncontrollably and with tears streaming down my face, I removed my hand from his arm as if it burned me. He stormed out of his condo and slammed the door, only to leave me breaking down on his living room floor … alone.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  I cried until I passed out on the hardwood floor, tired and full of guilt. I didn’t know what time it was or how long I was there, but I knew it was late-morning by the sun creeping in through the blinds and leaving trail marks on the floor. The front door opened quietly, but I was too tired and sick to move. I was afraid this was the end to me and Brett.

  However, when his fingers tenderly brushed the hair off my face I felt a new surge of hope travel through my veins. Brett lifted me off of the floor, wrapping me into the warmth of his scent and his protective arms.

  Sniffling, I snuggled closer. “Brett,” I whispered.

  “I’m here. Just rest.”

  I didn’t think I could cry anymore, but the sting behind my eyes burned like fire. He was there and he was holding me; that was enough. When I drifted off to sleep and woke up again, Brett was behind me, cradling me in his arms. I didn’t want to move because I was afraid that if I did he would pull away again. Instead, I lay there and stayed quiet.

  “I know you’re awake, Melissa,” he breathed softly against my neck. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I just needed to leave and clear my head. I didn’t mean to leave you the way I did, but I had to go.”

  “Where did you go?”

  He sighed and ran his fingers over my bare arms making me shiver and move closer to the heat of his body. “I mainly just drove around so I could think and calm down. I spent the
rest of the time at the airport watching the planes take off. I had to do something to keep from going after the bastard.”

  Turning around in his arms, I was scared to face him, but I had to look into his eyes. “Please forgive me,” I begged. “I don’t want you mad at me when all I wanted was to protect us. You have to know it made me sick to keep it from you. I was angry and disgusted with myself for not telling you.”

  He nodded. “I know, baby. I understand now that that’s the reason why you haven’t been eating.” When I averted my gaze, Brett lifted my chin so I’d look at him. “Look, I’m not mad at you anymore, okay? I know I stormed out of here last night, but I do understand why you didn’t tell me. I just had to have a clear head to think straight. I promise I’m not going anywhere. If I get mad and walk away that’s just how I deal with things sometimes. We’re not always perfect.”

  He leaned over, kissing me softly on the lips, and whispered, “Just always know that I will come back to you no matter what. No matter what obstacles are thrown our way, I will always come back. But there is something I have to know.”

  Slowly, and with his unwavering gaze, he traced my cheek with his finger and then trailed them down to my heart, placing his hand over the pounding rhythm inside my chest.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked warily.

  And there it was, the one question I’d been dying to answer all my life with the sound of three simple words. What’s crazy is that I should be asking him the same question? I was the one who betrayed his trust, but yet I loved him with all my heart. Why was it so easy to love someone, but so hard to trust? Did I trust him?

  Deep in my heart, I knew the answer. I’d known for a long time. Yes, I trust him.

  “Do you?” he repeated, his brows furrowing with my hesitation.

  With tears flowing down my cheeks, I nodded my head and cried softly, “I do, Brett. I trust you with all my heart and soul. But I’m the one who should be asking that question to you. I’m the one who kept things from you when I should’ve been honest. So …” I paused for just a moment, “… do you trust me?”

  Biting his lip, Brett slowly rolled on top of me and pushed my legs apart with his knee. Running his fingers through my auburn hair, he smiled down at me with such longing and need. “Firecracker, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, and right now I want us to enjoy this morning together with no thoughts of anything else except you and me … making love. Can we do that?” he asked, lifting my tank top up and over my shoulders, exposing my bare breasts.

  For the first time in days I had a genuine smile spread across my face. “I think I can live with that.” Because once we met with Korinne and Galen everything was going to come back full force; the stress was going to come right back.

  Even though our emotions were running high, once we were both naked and laid out on his bed, he entered me gently and rocked his hips in a slow, torturous pace while holding me tight against his body. His muscular arms caged me in as he took my face in his hands and kissed me slowly, passionately.

  “I think I like it this way,” he uttered huskily. “Slow … gentle, because now I can feel everything inside you, every clench, every muscle wrapping around me. It feels so fucking good and I love it … I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I breathed. And that’s what we did. We loved each other for those precious moments we had before things took a turn for the worse once we had to deal with Daniel.

  Brett continued his slow rhythm while I rocked my hips against his, countering his pace, and lifting up to allow him in further. He loved it when I lifted my hips because he could get in deeper, giving me all of him.

  My orgasm was closing in and he could sense it because he tensed in my arms and picked up his pace. I could feel his arousal pulsating inside me and I knew he was close as well. Moaning, I gripped the smooth plains of his shoulders and dug my nails in as my release started building swiftly.

  “I’m coming with you, baby,” Brett growled. “Let it go.”

  Arching my back, my eyes fluttered closed as I rode wave after wave of him taking my body to new limits. My blood sizzled in my veins as the tremors of my release shuddered throughout my soul, to the point where tears clouded my vision and my heart swelled, feeling as if I’d explode. Brett clutched me tighter as his release had him spilling his warmth all inside me, coating me in his desire. I loved the intimacy of it and I craved it. I craved him.

  Breathing hard and slick with sweat, Brett lowered his lips to mine and kissed me gently, tasting me like I was tasting him while he wiped away my tears. “Everything is going to be fine, baby. I promise. We’re going to get through this … together.”

  “That’s not why I’m crying,” I told him.

  With his brows furrowed, he gazed down at me and asked, “Then why?”

  “Because I love you too damn much and I don’t deserve you,” I answered honestly.

  Brett shook his head and smiled. It was the first show of happiness on his face since he’d gotten back and I couldn’t help but grin along with him. He murmured, “You’re wrong, firecracker. We’re perfect for each other in every way, but if you feel the need to make it up to me then so be it. I’m sure another strip tease would do wonders.”

  Laughing, I wriggled my hips against his still hard cock. “Yeah, I can tell you like the idea of another strip tease. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you … I promise.”

  We didn’t have long before we needed to get ready and meet Korinne and Galen at the firm. So after another round of lovemaking, only this time more persistent and vigorous, we took our showers and got dressed quickly.

  On the way to downtown I called my cousin, Mason, and waited on him to pick up. “Perfect timing,” he answered. “I was just about to call you. I have some news.”

  “And I hope it’s good news,” I said, “Can you meet me at M&M in half an hour? I told Brett everything already and now we’re going to see Korinne and Galen and tell them.”

  “I’ll be there,” he promised. “Oh, and Mel?”

  “Yeah …”

  “You are not going to believe the shit I found out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  We arrived at M&M right after the lunch hour traffic, so it didn’t take us long to wind through the crowded downtown streets and into the parking deck. Brett stayed close to me the entire time and ran his fingers soothingly over my back as we rode the elevator to the top.

  When the doors opened, Rebecca lifted her head from the receptionist’s desk and beamed. “Hey you two,” she greeted happily, fumbling with the mountain of papers on her desk. “Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are waiting for you in their office.”

  “Thank you, Rebecca,” Brett said warmly.

  “Oh you’re welcome, dearie. You had a couple of phone calls this morning so I took messages.” She rumbled through the documents and smiled when she found them. Handing them to Brett, she said, “I told your client you would be in later today. He’s a very persistent man that Mr. O’Briene.”

  Brett stiffened beside me and nodded stiffly. “Yes, he is,” he agreed through gritted teeth. “I’ll call him this afternoon.”

  Brett immediately took my hand and led me toward Galen and Korinne’s office, which was on the opposite side of the building from his. The door was open and when they both saw us approaching they motioned us in. Brett shut the door just as Galen stood up, arms crossed over his chest, and demanded, “Okay, what’s going on?”

  I looked up at Brett and raised my brow. Did he want me to explain or him? “I think it’s best you tell them,” he said, gently nudging me forward. “Because if I do I’m liable to break something.”

  Galen and Korinne both waited patiently for me to explain, so I took a deep breath and told them everything from start to finish. They listened and didn’t interrupt at all while I informed them about my knowledge of the land Daniel claimed was his.

  “So you’re saying that your ex-husband doesn’t own rights to that land?” Galen asked to confirm.
>
  I nodded. “That’s right. It was supposed to go to his sister. I tried calling her, but I can’t get in touch with her. Daniel is very persistent on getting this project started and was very adamant on Brett being the one to help him, no one else. That’s why when he saw me with Brett he came up with this whole blackmail scheme to make sure that your company doesn’t fall through.”

  Galen lifted a brow at that, so I held up my hands and explained, “Not that your company wouldn’t take on a client just because he was the ex of your girlfriend, but this is Daniel we’re talking about. When he saw me he freaked. He said he had to make sure I didn’t screw that up for him. I’m thinking it might be a good idea to find out who this investor is and why he’s so adamant he has Brett on the project.”

  Galen sighed and took a seat at his desk. He closed his eyes and rubbed them with his fingers while he leaned back in his chair. “We need to get to the bottom of this before we start anything. Are you sure without a doubt that you think Daniel is lying about the will and that his family didn’t leave him the land?” Galen questioned firmly.

  Confident, I nodded. “I’m sure, Galen. If I can just talk to his sister I can get her help and figure out what happened. And once my cousin gets here he said he had some news for us, so hopefully it’ll lead us in the right direction.”

  As soon as I said that a knock sounded at the door, interrupting me. “Perfect timing,” I chimed in.

  Brett opened the door, and standing there was my cousin Mason in a pair of blue jeans, a tight gray T-shirt, and his favorite New York Yankees baseball cap that hid his shortly cropped blond hair. He was also holding a folder in his hands which I hoped was the information we needed.

  “Thank you for coming,” I said to him. I introduced him to everyone, and after he shook everyone’s hands I gazed at him expectantly and asked, “So what do you have for us?”

  He took a seat in one of the chairs and removed his cap. “All I have to say is that you owe me, Mel. I had to sit through the most boring ass dates with Daniel’s receptionist to get some inside information I needed and believe me that wasn’t easy. But it did have some perks,” he said, waggling his eyebrows up and down.