Unwanted Desire

by Skye Turner

  As the sweat cools on my skin and we kiss, a light breeze stirs under our private canopy. I shiver both from the feelings swirling inside of me and the cooling temperatures. A rumble of thunder causes both of us to jump.

  Pulling back, I try to finger comb my hair as Ty looks around. He chuckles. I look around too and see the discarded mess of our clothes.

  My brows rise as I realize we have to go back to the house and I have no underwear and Ty’s shirt is destroyed.

  He stands and slips his jeans back on. Then, he picks up his shirt and smiles as he shrugs it on. It hangs open in the front from the lack of remaining buttons.

  My face burns as I gasp. “Oh my God, Ty. If you walk into the house like that, everyone will know what we just did.”

  Reaching down, he helps me up. As I slip my skirt on over my hips, he waggles his brows at me and chuckles. “I’m pretty certain Grandma had a pretty good idea on what was going to happen when she sent us out here, princess. Grandma is a romantic.”

  As I hook the clasp on my bra, he grabs my panties from the ground and stuffs them into his pant pocket.

  He smirks. “I’m keeping these.”

  Shaking my head, I slip my tank top on and laugh as I straighten my clothes as best I can. “You’re ridiculous. What are you going to do with those? They need to go into the trash.”

  He shakes his head and mock glares at me. “Screw that. I’m treasuring these! This is my remnant of my princess tearing my clothes off because she was so hot for me.”

  Rolling my eyes as I slip my shoes back on, I part the branches and step out. “Whatever.”

  The sky is dark ahead of us toward the house. I turn back. Ty is just standing there looking at me. With a wolfish grin, he reaches out and pulls me back under the tree, pressing me back against the trunk. I gasp as his hands trail over my legs. He curves my thigh around his hip as he boxes me in.

  My breath catches as I gaze at him in wonder.

  His hands wander over my thighs before trailing butterfly soft over the apex of my thighs. As he barely touches my swollen sex, his fingers encounter our combined moisture. With a groan, he delicately rubs my swollen nub as he takes my mouth.

  He gently applies pressure as he slips a finger into me. I can’t believe it, but I’m aroused again. He kisses me as he fingers me, though he’s careful to stay gentle. Within minutes, I’m coming again. He swallows my moans as I shudder and my muscles clench around his hand. My head falls back against the tree and the kiss ends. My eyes flutter open as I try desperately to catch my breath.

  Ty is smiling at me sexily as he whispers, “That one was just for you, princess.”

  It’s an effort for me to raise my arms to his neck. His arms support me because my knees are so weak. Looking up into the face that has haunted me forever, I smile at him. “Thank you. I love you, Ty Boudreaux.”

  His eyes light up with his smile as he hugs me. “I love you too, AnnaBeth Bellaforte.”

  He parts the branches and together we walk back to the house. As we near the maze, the heavens open up and as we laugh in delight, we race for the cover of the house.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Ty

  That time with AnnaBeth just now… I’ll cherish it forever. No matter what happens, no matter what we face… I’ll always have the romance of our time together at her “castle” on my side.

  We’re laughing and holding hands as we’re being pelted by fat rain-drops on our race back to the house.

  The sky is really dumping some water. AnnaBeth’s hair is plastered to her head and her skirt is practically see through. Damn my lack of restraint in ripping off her panties.

  We approach the house and over the thunder and rain, I can barely make out raised voices. AnnaBeth looks at me as she hears it too. She calls out, “What the hell is that?”

  I shake my head because I have no idea. We head into the back yard from the gardens and the voices are clearer. It sounds like men.

  AnnaBeth realizes it too and a look of apprehension crosses her face as she splits from me with a scream. “Daddy! That sounds like my Daddy! Something’s wrong!”

  A surge of adrenaline courses through me as I realize that the Senator does appear to be very irate. I’ve never heard him so agitated before, so whatever is going on can’t be good. I pass AnnaBeth as I round the side of the house.

  A black Audi is crashed into the side of the porch. It’s crumpled in on itself. One of the columns is splintered, while half of the porch appears to have collapsed, and the chairs where Grandma usually sits are a crumpled heap of busted wood.

  My medic instincts take over and I search the scene, looking for any injuries. Scaling the steps that are tilting to the side, I land on the porch.

  I have to blink to make certain I’m seeing correctly.

  Senator Bellaforte is holding Stanton up by the shoulders of his sports coat and he’s breathing heavily as he shakes him.

  Stanton is looking around wildly with wide eyes as he screeches, “Help me. He’s trying to kill me!”

  AnnaBeth makes it to the porch and screams out, “What the hell is going on? Daddy! What are you doing? Why the hell is Stanton here?”

  Senator Bellaforte takes in our bedraggled appearance and says, “This idiot…”

  Stanton notices AnnaBeth and then his head whips to me. I see the split second he notices my ripped shirt and the grass stains on her soaking wet white, now see through, skirt. He sneers. “You whore! It’s true. You are fucking this trash.”

  Senator Bellaforte shakes him again and grits out, “Don’t you dare speak to my daughter that way!”

  Taking quick stock of the situation, I see that Stanton’s pupils are abnormally large and his face is blotchy. He’s also wobbly and unable to stand or hold himself up. I grit out, “You’re drunk, Stanton.” Turning to Senator Bellaforte, I implore him to let go of Stanton. I don’t want him to unintentionally hurt him. Even though Stanton deserves a good lashing, the repercussions from that action could be really bad for him. Looking at the Senator, I speak calmly. “You need to let him go, Sir. I know that you’re angry…” I look into AnnaBeth’s pale face. She’s shaking from Stanton’s insults. Looking back at the Senator, I continue, “You have every right to be pissed off, but he’s not worth it. You’re better than he is. You need to let him go and we can call the police.” Gesturing around me at the damage to the porch, I smile maliciously. “With his blood alcohol content and the destruction of property here, not to mention the fact that he’s trespassing… his career is over. Don’t end yours too, Sir.”

  Senator Bellaforte looks from me to Stanton to the wrecked car. He nods. “You’re right, Ty.” He calls out to the women standing in the doorway, “Dolores, call the police. Once they arrive, call the news station to drop a tidbit that Stanton here is being arrested.”

  He drops Stanton and the drunk idiot crumples to the porch. He tries to push himself up, but stumbles. Once he regains his footing, he turns a murderous gaze on me. His eyes are bloodshot and his color is not good. As much as I’d like to ignore him, I took an oath to help those in need and Stanton does not look good. “Stanton, how much have you had to drink today?”

  He laughs harshly and flings his hand out to me. “Oh, are you going to fix me now? As if I’d let you touch me, you filthy trash. You’re nothing. You think you belong here.

  “You’re nothing but pitiful trailer trash. A bottom dweller. I have more money in my checkbook right now than you’ve made in your whole life.”

  He turns his cruel gaze onto AnnaBeth and she cringes from the look on his face. Stanton’s eyes trail over her body. Her wet clothes are hugging her frame and her skirt is see through. He leers at her and smiles maliciously. “Well, well, well… look at what I missed out on. Your body is delicious. What a shame you’ve given yourself to this man.

  “For three months, I put up with your Ice Queen routine. The beautiful, yet untouchable Ice Queen. I wanted you, yet, I wasn’t allowed to touch you. I w
as going to marry you. I deserved for you to pay me some attention, you frigid little bitch, yet you held me off and now… now you spread your legs for him.”

  She shudders and moves behind her mother in the doorway as he ogles her soft curves.

  My blood starts roaring in my veins at his blatant disrespect. I don’t give a shit what he says about me, but he’s not going to talk to her that way.

  Stanton looks from me to AnnaBeth and smirks. “How fitting that the fucking ginger trash sets the Ice Queen on fire. How does that rich pussy taste? How lucky you must feel to sink between those thighs.”

  He laughs cruelly as he spits out with a glare, “You know how the story ends though, right?! The princess will never stay with the pauper. She might fuck him and let him make her scream… he can taste the treasure, but men like me get to claim it. She might slum with you… But you’re nothing. She left you for me, asshole and at the end of the day… I’ll be the one laughing.

  “She can play all she wants, but the fact of the matter is people like her end up with people like me… she can dally with you all she wants… hell, I have mistresses too. People like you are who we fuck. We take our carnal pleasures and then we go home to our equals… the elite that we have children with. That’s how this life works. You’re delusional if you think this is going anywhere.”

  AnnaBeth’s tortured gasp is the last thing I hear before I drive my fist into Stanton’s face. I feel the satisfying crack of bone as his nose breaks under my hand.

  He grabs his nose as blood gushes out from between his fingers and screams, “You piece of shit! You broke my fucking nose!”

  Looking at my throbbing hand and then at him, I mutter, “Yup. I saw that movie, asshole. I think I remember the princess knocking the pathetic prince on his ass. Pretty sure the pauper with the reindeer ends up marrying the princess and living in the castle.” Sirens in the driveway have me looking away. I smirk. “While the prince is tossed in the dungeon for treason.”

  With a whistle, I step away from the man lying on the porch as blood continues to gush out and walk over to my girlfriend. She’s staring at me in shock and awe.

  Everyone is…

  *

  AnnaBeth

  Oh my God.

  Ty just broke Stanton’s nose. He punched him because he was insulting me and trying to shame Ty.

  I’ve never been a fan of violence.

  But… That. Was. Fucking. Hot.

  I cannot believe that Stanton showed up here. Drunk…

  He always drank a lot, but I honestly didn’t care.

  He crashed into our porch and attacked my daddy?

  I’m still not certain what happened before we made it back.

  Shit… the cops are here and Ty just broke Stanton’s nose…

  Three sheriffs’ cars stop in the driveway. They get out and look around. Shaking their heads, they hop up to the porch quickly to escape the rain. “Well, ok then. What’s going on here, Senator?”

  Stanton screams from the ground and points at Ty. “Arrest that mother fucker! He assaulted me! He broke my fucking nose.”

  Everyone snickers and I swear one of the cops smirks. He sobers his expression and looks over at Ty before looking at my daddy. “Sir?”

  Daddy looks at Ty and then back at the cops. “No, he came here drunk and destroyed my porch. Then, he insulted my daughter. I want to press charges for destruction of property, assault when he got in my face, and trespassing.”

  One of the cops looks from Daddy to Stanton to Ty. “What happened to his face?”

  Daddy shrugs and says, “No idea. I guess he hit it when he slammed his car into my porch.”

  Daddy is lying? For Ty?

  WHAT?!?!

  Ty sputters, “Sir…”

  Daddy waves him off. “He’s drunk as Cooter Brown. My daughter ended her engagement with him and he’s been calling my office leaving drunk threats regularly.” My eyes flash to Daddy. He shrugs. “My secretary has detailed accounts of all of them and we have several recorded on my answering machine. He’s threatened my daughter and my candidacy with his drunken rages. He was blocked from calling my office and he showed up here today.”

  The sheriff’s deputies look at the wrecked car, the damage, and then at Stanton. One takes out his cuffs and as he cinches them around Stanton’s wrists, he reads him his Miranda Rights. “You’re under arrest for the destruction of personal property, assault, and trespassing. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…”

  Stanton rages at us and the cops as he’s led to the car. As he’s ushered into the back, he starts screaming and kicking the officer. “Do you know who I am? You fucking pig. Don’t you touch me! I’ll have you fired. Do you know who I am?”

  My mouth drops open.

  Jesus, AnnaBeth. You were going to marry that man?

  He’s insane.

  He continues to rage against the windows as they close the door on him. The sheriff walks back and chuckles. “Someone is unhappy.”

  Ty mutters, “Someone is a complete asshat.”

  Daddy laughs and claps Ty on the back. Ty stands with Daddy as they fill out the police report and wait for the tow truck to haul off the demolished Audi.

  Momma and Grandma Clarabelle pull me into the house, muttering about changing into dry clothes.

  I’ve forgotten that I’m soaking wet. I feel my face flame as I realize that I’ve been standing on the porch with everyone in a skirt that’s basically transparent and no underwear.

  Momma takes me into the bathroom and closes the door. As I strip off the wet clothes, she hands me a towel. Wrapping it around me, I sit at the vanity and she hands me a brush to try to untangle my wet hair. She’s quiet.

  I’m self-conscious. She knows what Ty and I were just doing. Everyone knows. I’m an adult, but she’s still my mother.

  Finally, I peek at her. She’s grinning down at me. My gaze rises to hers. “Why are you grinning at me?”

  She laughs. “Quite a man you have, AnnaBeth.”

  I nod as I think back on all that transpired this afternoon and then on Ty defending my honor and breaking Stanton’s nose.

  I giggle. Once I start laughing, I can’t stop. She joins me and as we both gasp and try to catch our breath, there’s a knock on the door. Grandma Clarabelle calls through it. “Open the door and take these clothes. Get dressed and come to my sitting room. I can’t fit in that tiny ass bathroom and I need to sit down. I’ve ordered some tea and coffee for us. No telling how long the menfolk will be dealing with that damn mess.”

  We laugh again and Momma opens the door to take the clothes. Through the crack, I see Grandma wink.

  A few minutes later, I’m settling on the chaise as Momma sits in the chair across from Grandma. Mrs. Dolores comes in with a tray of coffee and tea. On the tray is also some RumChata. My brow raises and Mrs. Dolores laughs. “I figured you ladies could use it after that circus on the porch.”

  Grandma laughs and says, “Pour away, dear. And sit down.”

  Mrs. Dolores looks up in disbelief. Grandma mutters, “Don’t look at me like that. Sit down and have some coffee with this deliciousness. You deserve it.”

  She looks at me and I laugh. “It’s her house. Do what she says.”

  We all sip on our drinks. Finally Grandma looks over at me. “I told you, you needed that man out there. That man loves you, child. He knocked that weasel on his pompous ass for you. You better hold on tight. Men like that are hard to come by.”

  Momma chuckles. “I can’t believe he did that. But our beautiful porch… and your chair, Clarabelle!”

  Grandma chuckles and waves her hand to dismiss it. “We can fix it and buy new chairs. I’m just glad that my granddaughter is with a man now instead of…” She flits her hand in the direction of the front door. “That thing in the cop car.

  “I can replace whatever I have to. That’s nothing.”

  I frown. “No, Stanton is going to replace everyth
ing!”

  Mrs. Dolores has been quiet, but she sighs into her coffee cup.

  We all look at her and she says with a smile, “Miss AnnaBeth that is quite a man you have. Quite. A. Man.” She sighs… “Agh…..”

  I can’t agree with her more.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Ty

  Things have been relatively quiet the past month. After the excitement with Stanton at Chateau du Bellaforte last month, his arrest made the news. Footage from the dash cam leaked and his manic outburst in the back of the car became mainstream news. It even got picked up by the national news stations. Someone added music to the video and with some splicing it went viral on YouTube.

  Today is a big day for AnnaBeth and me. We’ve decided to take the step to move in together. Her family has embraced me wholeheartedly. Even more so since I broke Stanton’s nose on the porch. We approached her parents about our decision to move in together and we weren’t sure what to expect.

  Senator Bellaforte laughed and clapped me on the back as Mrs. Bellaforte hugged AnnaBeth and got teary eyed.

  I’ll never forget what he said to me. “Son, you’re not the man I ever expected to entrust my daughter to¸ but you’re the perfect man for her. Sometimes it takes someone like you to open the eyes of someone like me. You told me once that you’re not from our world… You’re right… You’re better. You work for what you want and you give everything your all. You appreciate what you have because you’ve earned it.

  “You fought for my daughter. You released her from the chains I didn’t understand I’d draped her in.

  “I’m proud of you and I’m proud of her. I couldn’t entrust my AnnaBeth to a better man.

  “Thank you. Thank you for loving my daughter.”

  As I remember his words, my chest swells once again.

  I clear out the last of the dresser and package it up. AnnaBeth and I decided my house was the best option for us. It’s not huge, but it’s bigger than hers and it’s homey. My neighborhood is perfect for a couple.

  She’s going to rent out her downtown apartment and, of course, we’ll still use the house at Chateau du Bellaforte when we can. We plan on spending a lot more time at AnnaBeth’s “castle.”