“Well they’re sexy as all hell, I don’t care,” Noah quips.
Then he asks the question I’m dreading.
“How’s the merger going?” He asks.
“It’s looking like it’s going to take well into November,” I lament.
“November? What happened?” Noah raises an eyebrow.
“Connor happened,” I shrug.
“He’s dragging this out because he knows you’re going to divorce him then?” Noah states.
“Probably, though I haven’t the slightest clue why he cares. Our energy contracts are important. We can’t lose them because of some silly whim of his. The board is getting sick and tired of his crap,” I explain.
When Noah stops kneading my feet, we cuddle together in front of the fire for a long time. No words pass between us, just the crackle of the fire and the sound of Noah’s breathing.
Every once in a while, he plants a chaste kiss on my head or my neck.
This is bliss for me. This is what I needed.
To relax.
27
Noah
September 21, 2017
My first thought in the morning is that we free, we are away from everything else, and we will finally get some peace and quiet.
I had to watch Connor and Tinsley at her birthday party as Connor played the role of perfect husband, and I was not enthused.
It was all for sure, but it still hurt to watch, and my ego was a bit bruised.
This was all my idea; however, I thought the best way for me to relax about the situation was to take Tinsley away for the weekend, apologize, make sure she knows that she is my priority.
I know in the past I’ve put my business before Tinsley, and that wasn’t fair to her.
How different would things have been if I’d just run away with her then, instead of having to let her go?
Duke Whittaker lays heavily on my mind, however.
The possibility that she could be royalty is mind-boggling.
There’s been some discrepancy with my father’s Duke-hood, as, along the family lines, one of our ancestors was an illegitimate child of Edward VII, and subsequently that’s how our family ended up in a long line of royalty.
It makes me laugh.
In either case, Athena is right, and I should return to England once this mess is taken care of.
So far, I’ve been in England enough to appease the monarchists, and charitable donations go exceptionally far in that respect.
But my father carried such dignity in politics, and I could never live up to his shadow.
I chose the business world instead.
Thank god my uncle took over his Duke hood.
I was in no state to do it, myself.
I am, of course, supposed to take my Uncle’s place when he dies.
That’s not the problem anyway.
The problem is that, if she’s directly related to Duke Whittaker, I may have to seek consent from him to marry her.
Duke Whittaker is part of the Royal Family.
That enters the possibility that the Duke approved of Tinsley’s marriage to Connor, and that’s why Jamesen had to enforce it.
Oh my god!
I shoot bolt upright in bed.
That’s why Jamesen pushed so hard!
If Duke Whittaker agreed to the marriage, he had no choice!
And who am I to ask him?
The Stones can be quite scandalous.
Athena’s always in those damn tabloids, with their wretched spins on her love life.
“Noah?” Tinsley rubs the sleep from her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She asks.
Her hazel eyes shine in the morning light, her hair messy around her face.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her instantly.
Everything is forgotten.
“Mmm, morning handsome,” she kisses me softly.
“What was that? A bad dream?” Tinsley asks.
“A bad dream,” I tell her, even if it is a slight lie.
I’m not sure if it’s my duty to inform Tinsley that she could be royalty when I don’t know the whole story myself.
“What do you want to do today?” She asks in a dreamy voice.
“Take you over and over again,” I tell her in a sultry voice.
“Oh?” Tinsley feigns innocence.
“What will my husband say!” She laughs.
“He’s not good enough for you,” I growl.
It’s a beautiful thing, sleeping naked together because now I have easy access.
Then I sink between the blankets, between her legs and spread them.
My tongue slips into her slit, sliding along her clit until she’s screaming my name and squirming under my touch.
Then I slide my fingers inside her and curl them at just the right angle I know she loves.
“God yes! Noah!” Tinsley screams.
My tongue and hands work the magic, and Tinsley is putty in my hands.
“Cum for me!” I demand.
Tinsley’s body begins to tense up. I curl my fingers deeper, lap at her clit a little faster.
“Oh! Noah!” She screams.
I watch with satisfaction as her body convulses and shakes with the orgasm rolling through her, my tongue still plays with her clit until she can’t take any more.
Tinsley is laughing when I pop up from under the blankets.
“Well that’s one way to wake up,” she laughs.
“I’ve got a better one,” I smirk.
Then I sink my cock between her legs and her beautiful form arches in front of me; I run my hands over her body.
Tinsley moans and writhes on my cock as I penetrate her deeper and deeper, her wetness only increases as we continue to get lost in each other.
Her orgasm overtakes her swiftly, and her face contorts as I find my release and shoot the first load of the day inside her.
There’s more where that came from.
We both collapse in each other’s arms, satisfied.
“Maybe we’ll go for a walk?” Tinsley suggests.
“Maybe something a little stress strenuous?” I ask, then glance at her stomach.
“I’m not an invalid Noah,” Tinsley replies wryly.
“Let’s go have breakfast instead,” I urge her.
“Well, I would, but I have nothing to wear,” Tinsley says.
“Except for these,” I reach into the suitcase I packed for her, and pull out a box.
“For me?” Tinsley is surprised.
She opens the box to find a brand new pair of Louboutins in classic black leather.
“Noah!” Tinsley squeals.
She goes through the rest of the suitcase, amazed that I not only know her size but precisely what she’s been eyeing.
“I asked what you had on hold at Bendels,” I admit.
Tinsley laughs as she pulls on an empire waisted mini dress in black, with straps across the back and low V-neck.
Her bump it just pronounced enough that I wonder if I can wait, as long as it will take, to be with her.
I want to be with her now.
But now, we are together and alone.
That will have to be enough.
The restaurant patio overlooks the magnificent vista of the lake, as Tinsley and I look through the modern menus the waiter provided.
“It’s like different air over here,” Tinsley comments.
She’s right, and it’s the smell of nature around us.
It makes me wonder why I’ve always hated the West Coast.
Maybe I was wrong.
“Oh god,” Tinsley takes a deep breath and looks away from me.
“What?” I ask.
I automatically look behind me, to see Olivia approaching us with a man half her age.
A man that’s probably Ava’s age, maybe younger.
“Oh, look who it is,” Olivia’s voice drips with malice as she approaches our table.
“Mr. Stone and Mrs. Bradford,”
“It’s Mr
s. Whittaker,” Tinsley corrects her bluntly.
“Oh, that’s right, you married someone, who was that now?” Olivia decides to play stupid.
“What are you doing here?” I sneer at Olivia.
“Enjoying my vacation with Zane here, of course,” Olivia purrs.
The younger man wraps his arm around Olivia.
I don’t miss the wink he sends Tinsley’s way.
Zane is apparently in it to get whatever he wants out of Olivia.
“See you two later,” Olivia crows one last time before she makes her exit.
Tinsley watches them, a few tables over.
“She’s going to tell Connor,” I mention.
“Do you think I care?” Tinsley asks.
“My appetite is spoiled, let’s go somewhere else Noah, please,” she pleads with me.
“Yes, let’s,” I agree.
I escort Tinsley out of the restaurant with my arm around her, sure to pass by Olivia’s table.
This will ignite her ire, and as much as I know that may get us into trouble, I don’t care.
“Do you think she knew we were here?” Tinsley asks.
“I don’t know, but I suspect as much. No one knew my travel plans, not even my staff. I simply said I was going to be away,” I tell her.
“Did you tell anyone else? Corban?” Tinsley asks.
“I mentioned it to Ava, but I doubt Corban would tell his mother anything,” I reply.
With Tinsley taking a short nap, I take a moment to call my sister.
“Athena, can you check something for me?” I ask immediately, as she picks up the phone.
“What is it?” Her business note is in place, and I am sure she is wearing her glasses.
“I need to know if Duke Whittaker approved Tinsley's marriage, or would that have had to be the case?”
“It’s funny that you called, I just seem to have finished my little investigation,” Athena croons.
I hear her blow on her nails.
“What did you find out?” I ask.
“Well, Duke Whittaker has no direct heirs, of those that could be in line through blood, Tinsley is the closest. He was wary of a young woman taking the position as a duchess, so Jamesen Whittaker presented Duke Whittaker with a prospect. The prospect being that if she married Connor, she would be a steady choice, seeing as they would own the most powerful energy company in the world,” Athena explains.
“He accepted that offer, from what I suspect,” Athena adds carefully.
“Are you serious?” I ask her.
“As ever,” Athena replies.
“That’s why Jamesen pushed her so hard, now she’s married Connor…” my words trail as I wander off in thought.
“Yes, and it’s been all quiet on the Duke’s end so far, my assumption is he will extend an invitation to Tinsley, sooner or later. Once the grieving period is over, and they’ve been married for a period of time, I suspect,” Athena says with authority.
She knows all the tricks of the royals, all the ins, and outs.
She’s been playing this game for years and years.
“This is bloody fucked,” I tell her.
“You’ve got that right,” Athena agrees with me.
“What are you going to do? If she divorces him, she’ll lose that chance, and you know that right?” Athena tells me.
“I’m quite aware,” I answer back.
Athena continues to chatter, but my mind is utterly lost in thought, I can’t pay any attention to her words.
“Leviathan!” Athena finally screams.
“What!” I yell back.
“Do you honestly want to stand in the way of this for Tinsley?” She asks.
“I don’t care what happens, and I’ll always love her,” I say.
I don’t tell Athena that Tinsley would do anything to be with me, even if it means losing out on a chance of a royal title.
I know this, deep down, in my heart.
28
Tinsley
October 13, 2017
I’m still dreaming of the fantastic weekend away I had with Noah as I stand for the final fitting of my dress for tomorrow night.
It’s a little red silk number, strapless, with cups that hug my ample breasts, and a slit so high up my thigh it’s almost scandalous.
My favorite part is the way it wraps around my body and accents my little bump.
“You look gorgeous,” Lauren’s voice fills my ears.
“Yes, I do,” I reply shortly.
She disappears into the dressing room with her dress and comes out in a slinky little backless dress that hugs every inch of her tiny frame.
Noah’s favorite color.
Surely this is an attempt at impressing him.
It won’t work.
I rub my stomach as she stands on the platform next to me.
“Your husband will love it,” her words curl with malice.
“And so, will all the other men,” I tell her.
“I don’t dress like a common whore,” I bite back at her.
“But you’re Noah Stone’s common whore; I believe it takes one to know one,” Lauren snickers at herself.
The ladies that pin our dresses into place ignore the both of us.
“I’m not a common whore, and he won’t dispose of me, as everyone else does of you,” I spit back.
“Noah won’t end up with someone as common as you,” Lauren laughs harshly.
“Common?” I scoff.
I roll my eyes at her words.
“You know his father was a Duke, right?” She asks.
I didn’t know that.
I know very little about his parents.
“His uncle took over the Dukedom so that Noah could go chase after my blasted sister. The stupidity!” Lauren bemoans.
“In any case, I highly doubt he’ll marry a commoner, when he could have his pick of anyone, from good English breeding,” Lauren continues.
I’m a little stunned.
But I manage to regain my bearings.
“What Noah and I have, is more important than any of that, it’s more important than your stupid titles,” I spit back at her.
“We’ll see,” Lauren says.
She hops off the platform and twirls around in her dress.
Then she disappears, and I stumble into the dressing room in shock and unzip the side of my dress.
Noah never told me this.
Why?
“Did you always know?” I ask Noah.
“Of course, I knew,” his voice is pained.
“But I was never ready for that; I’m still not ready for that. I was going,” he pauses.
“I’ve tinkered with the idea of Athena taking over, instead of me. I’m not sure that I want any part of that,” Noah admits.
“Would you leave me if you did? I’m nothing in that world,” I tell him.
“Tinsley, you are not nothing to me, you are my choice, whether anyone likes it or not, you are the only woman I ever want to be with. Understand that,” Noah’s voice is sure.
I feel a tear slide down my cheek.
“Truly, I don’t know why I doubted you, I just, Lauren shocked me with that news,” I tell him.
“Lauren shouldn’t have told you about that, she had no business telling you, or anyone else for that matter,” He rages.
“I like to keep this rather under wraps, my family was somewhat scandalous about an illegitimate child of some sort further down the line,” he starts but stops himself.
“You don’t need to hear this, it’s not important,” Noah dismisses the conversation.
“But we can talk about it, if you want to talk about it,” I tell him carefully.
“I no more wish to talk about my impending doom as a Duke, than I do wish to talk about your marriage to Connor,” Noah says boldly.
In his apartment, we are alone, we are safe, and I am happy.
“Shouldn’t you be practicing your speech? For tomorrow night?” I ask.
“
Victoire will probably feed it to me anyway; she knows what to say better than I do myself,” Noah laughs.
We retire to the den and cuddle up together on the couch as Noah turns on a James Bond movie he tends to favor.
“Are you sleeping over tonight?” Noah asks.
Soundgarden’s ‘You Know My Name’ fills the room.
“Maybe,” I tease him.
“You know Noah, you remind me James bond, in this movie anyway,” I tell him.
“I’m quite sure he’s not as dapper as I am,” Noah quips.
Wrapped up in Noah’s arms, I feel hope and comfort.
29
Noah
October 14, 2017
“Tonight, I'd like to introduce to you the man of the hour. Not only does he work tirelessly, placing profound importance on family values, but Noah Stone goes out of his way to better our community. Tonight, we celebrate the NLS Financials Underprivileged Students Scholarship Fund, and who better to say a few words, than Noah Stone himself,” Victoire raises her glass, her plump lips forming a rare smile as everyone in the room claps politely.
Her well-rehearsed speech has more to do with her PR stance than anything else.
Lord knows my family values leave much to be desired.
“Mr. Stone?” She turns to me as I take the microphone from her.
“Thank you, Ms. Bishop,” I say.
Then I give them my best smile as Victoire instructed.
“I'd like to thank every single one of you, for trusting NLS Financials over the years. We strive to do better, and part of that means, doing better for our communities,” I pause for effect, and the hush that's fallen over the crowd is magnificent.
“Every single one of you played an important role in bringing us here today, to celebrate this program. Every single student we send to college has you to thank. Without you all, this program could've never happened,” I continue.
Victoire nods on the side as she mouths to me.
“Family,” I can hear Vic’s harsh whisper.
“But most importantly, I would've never gotten this far without the encouragement of my family. My son Evan was extremely supportive of the project; he took it under his wing with vigor,” I say.
Denial_A Stone Billionaire Series Novel Page 14