Shades of Trust

by Cristiane Serruya

  “There’s no point in whining and complaining. I don’t have much patience for self-pity. And I find it immensely boring to be fussed over all the time.”

  Tavish was eyeing her intently with a strange look on his face.

  What?

  He shifted on the seat and his eyes roamed over the maze. “Alistair Connor told me you aren’t pressing charges. Do you really think that’s wise?”

  Sophia took a long time to answer. “No. I don’t think it’s wise. Not at all. However, I don’t want to draw more attention to myself. Yeah, she deserves punishment, but…can you imagine what she would say about, uh, Alistair’s relationship with…” She made a vague gesture with her hand. Shut up, Sophia. You don’t know if he knows.

  “With?” Tavish put a leg on the bench, facing her. When she thinned her lips, he said gently, “Alistair Connor’s relationship with the two sisters?”

  Dammit! She exhaled a loud breath of air and closed her eyes. “Is it common knowledge?”

  “Nae. But I knew,” he answered. “So, you are protecting Alistair Connor.”

  “And myself, and Gabriela, and the future of our relationship. I was shocked when she told me he—” She opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows high. “Can you imagine the scandal?”

  Tavish nodded, “Indeed. Looking at it that way…”

  “Tavish Uilleam?” She bit her lip and lowered her lashes. Should I ask? Well, he’s a doctor. But, Sophia, he will guess…

  “Sophia, you can ask me whatever you want,” he said, and waited patiently.

  Oh. Dammit. “Have you heard about a STD called Mycoplasma genitalium?”

  He frowned. “Yes. Why?”

  “Is it true…that it can cause sterility?”

  “Human reproduction…or gynecology were never my speciality, but…” He studied her blushing face, intrigued.

  Oh. God. He thinks the problem is mine. However she didn’t correct him.

  “What I have heard recently is that it is often quite difficult to diagnose because it usually occurs in conjunction with other infections, but it can easily be treated with antibiotics.” He didn’t know what to make of her question. Sophia didn’t look like a promiscuous woman. “Well, to answer you, if Mycoplasma genitalium is left untreated, it may cause infertility, yes.”

  Sophia’s previous happiness deflected. “Oh…and is there any—”

  “Mama, Mama.” Gabriela arrived running, interrupting them. “Mama, Alistair told me there’re daffodils near the loch. Can we go there?”

  Alice and Sophia followed Tavish and Alistair out of the maze and down toward the loch through a lane lined with tall, old sequoias. The girls ran ahead together, shrieking at Michael that he was a rotten egg.

  She turned to Alice. “The estate is enormous.”

  “Yes, it is. And it’s very costly to maintain. That’s why they are all resorts. We’re building airstrips and helipads at each one to make them more accessible.”

  They talked about inane things until they reached an open lawn.

  Sophia stopped short with her mouth agape.

  To their left were the famous Airgead gardens. They covered sixteen acres of formal lawns and flowerbeds, in vibrant yellows, oranges and reds along with Conifers and fine specimens such as Sequoiadendron Wellingtonia, Cryptomeria Japonica and others, backed by an extensive woodland and forested mountains. On the other side, the castle gleamed under the sun with the Craigdale coat of arms flag on the top of the roof waving at them, and in front of them the loch beckoned with its calm waters.

  “This is…” Sophia had no words to describe the amazing view.

  Alice smiled. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Otherworldly. This is where I want to get married. On an impulse, Sophia turned to Alice and taking her hand, asked, “Alice, you have received me with opened arms into your family and in your home. Would you help me with the wedding?”

  “Oh, Sophia! I’d be delighted. Delighted.” Alice’s smile was emotional as she hugged Sophia. “We’re so happy that Alistair Connor has found you.”

  “The traditions here are so different from Brazil. I went crazy with all those princes and peers on Alistair’s and your father’s guest lists. There are so many things to do and…I’m lost. I won’t be able to do it all alone. And Alistair is not very forthcoming with help.”

  “You can count on me. For anything.”

  They smiled at each other and followed the men down to the loch, chatting and laughing about Sophia’s inventive ideas for the wedding.

  Chapter 22

  Ethan Ashford’s Penthouse

  Friday, July 2, 2010

  3:07 p.m.

  “I’ve never seen him so depressed. He’s thinner. And unshaved. What’s happening, Scott?” Barbara’s leg was jerking up and down nervously as she sat in Scott’s office on the first floor of Ethan’s penthouse. “Do you think it’s something I’ve done?”

  “Oh. Don’t flatter yourself, my dear. The problem is this. Or rather, her.” Scott handed her the biggest of the cream envelopes that were under a glass weight on his desk. “He has been like this since this arrived yesterday morning.”

  “What is it?” Barbara took out a beautiful invitation from the envelope. A watercolor painting depicted the Craigdale coat of arms over the imposing entrance to Airgead flanked by sequoias and flowery shrubs. At the bottom of the card there was a stylized monogram with the letters S and AC. She opened the heavy card. “Ah…I see. Is he going?” she asked, handing back the envelope and card to Scott.

  “Of course. To all the events.” He tapped on the envelopes.

  She raised her eyebrows and picked them up, whistling. “Five parties in a row! I’ve never seen such beautiful invitations! All hand-made. Am I going?”

  Scott crossed his arms and smirked at her, “Yes. And no! You are accompanying him but no, you aren’t going to the parties. But don’t you worry, my dear, he has already asked me to buy you a consolation prize.”

  “A consolation prize! I bet he is buying her something memorable. This is so unfair,” she huffed. “You could help me with him, Scott. Praise me to him.”

  “Mr. Ashford may seem frivolous and selfish. Sometimes, he is scary and insufferable, I know.” He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. “But let me tell you one thing, Sophia. I thank God every day for having met him. He has been my fairy godfather. He knows how to value the people that serve him well. Do you remember that loan you asked him?” Scott opened a drawer and took out an envelope. “He is planning to give you the promissory note you signed as a birthday present. Plus the other present for accompanying him to Scotland for a week. Don’t be an idiot, Sophia. You have a treasure in your hands.”

  Barbara blinked at Scott’s fierce defense. “But, Scott—”

  “Don’t you but me. Think. Use your brain! He loves that woman. Say a word against her and you are fired. Don’t you think that I am shocked by his ways sometimes? Oh, yes. However, my dear, this is real life. I have a sick mother and younger siblings to raise. Understand Mr. Ashford’s ways. Learn how to manage him. Use him as he is using you.” Scott leaned back, fixing Barbara with his eyes, and twirled his Montblanc in his fingers. “But, Sophia, just an advice: don’t you ever think about hurting Mr. Ashford. I’ll be watching you.”

  Essex, Saffron Walden

  Galewick Hall

  Saturday, July 31, 2010

  8:03 a.m.

  Running his fingers through her long hair, Alistair sat on the bed and looked down at Sophia, sleeping on her side, breathing softly. Her cheeks were pink from the warm air that was coming in through the open window. The bed covers were deliciously rumpled, smelling of vanilla. He spooned her and wrapped his arms around her body. In less than a week, you’ll be mine forever, you neurotic, domineering bride.

  If Alistair thought himself a perfectionist, Sophia was obsessive.

  If she thought him a tyrant, she was every inch the despot.

  She’d asked for advice from her s
iblings, her grandmother, Alice and Domitila, had hired an army of people, and just like a maestrina, she conducted them all, supervising every little detail.

  She chaired the wedding meetings as if she were dealing with a business transaction, with smoothness and an iron will. She decided on every color, taste, gift; she made sure she knew every person that was going to be invited, where they were going to be housed, what were their preferences and idiosyncrasies. Each room had been planned for its guests’ particularities with a personalized gift.

  The wedding teams at Craigdale Castle, Airgead Caisteal, and Dryad Manor were in love with her ideas and creativity.

  Alistair could not say the same though.

  She had wanted his opinion on the cake, the favors, the menus, the seating plans, and things he had never imagined could exist. Every time he complained, his father and Leonard teased him that he should have married in Las Vegas.

  When Alexander and Tavish also started to pester him, he cursed them with the same fate. Alexander shuddered, made the sign of the cross and never again teased him. Tavish had just smiled and said that if he wanted to change places he would oblige, and almost got punched in the eye.

  And still I love this crazy woman just as she is. He chuckled happily. Soon you’ll be telling me what I can or can’t do.

  “What?” she asked lazily, stretching against his warmth, as the rumble of his joy woke her up.

  “You. If I’d had the faintest idea what I was creating when I gave you such a short deadline for marrying me, I would have eloped.”

  “Hmm?”

  “My own private paranoid, obsessive-compulsive Nessie.” Alistair squeezed her in his arms.

  “A monster? Me? Ha!” She turned to look at him. “What about you? You are an insensitive, obnoxious, overbearing, stubborn troglodyte, Lord Ells. It would have been easier to have done something small, just for the family or postponed the wedding till next year. But, you,” she poked in his chest, “you wanted to marry quickly and in style. I had to do everything alone.”

  “Hey! Not totally alone. When I wasn’t making love to you, you were driving me crazy with unnecessary details.” He kissed her lips, as deep contentment filled his soul. “We really should have eloped.”

  She laughed and jumped out of the bed. Sauntering happily to the bathroom, she retorted, “We should have. Too late now, Handsome.”

  He smiled wickedly, stretching his arms above his head, waiting for her reaction to what he left on the sink. He licked his lips. My wedding gift.

  Sophia looked at her body in the mirror. Her fingers ran over the small scar on her belly and stopped short when she noticed a small white toiletries bag leaning on the mirror. Propped on it, was an envelope with a message in Alistair’s handwriting.

  Sweetheart,

  If you feel like trying, I’d love to be your teacher.

  Alistair Connor

  What the hell? She opened the envelope and took out a sheet of paper. Her mouth fell open as she read the directions on how to use the contents of the bag. She could hear his husky voice whispering them in her ear and anticipation made desire pool between her thighs.

  Well, well, well. She looked at her flaming cheeks in the mirror and raised her eyebrows at herself. So, Sophia, what is it going to be?

  Alistair suppressed a feral grin when many minutes later Sophia emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a bath robe with wide eyes and a telltale flush in her face.

  She bit her lip and lowered her eyelids when she noticed his scorching gaze. A shiver raced through her and molten heat coursed through her veins.

  His tsking called her attention. She saw his feet approaching, silent like a panther. She breathed in his masculine scent as her gaze climbed up his strong legs, skimming over his very hard arousal, his sculpted abdomen and chest, seeing the jagged ends of his long black hair touch his broad shoulders, stopping on those dark pink lips that drove her wild. He was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen and she had an overwhelming hunger to pleasure him.

  “Aye or nae?” His voice, deepened by passion and his thick accent, rumbled between them.

  Sophia blinked, dazed by undiluted lust, and looked up.

  Deliberately, he gripped her chin in his fingers.

  “Yes,” she graveled showing her desire.

  White hot pleasure made him groan. He stepped closed and bent his head. His hand on her face lowered in a languid caress to encircle her throat as the other untied the bath robe, pushing it away from her shoulders.

  “You won’t regret it. I promise you,” he whispered on her lips before taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

  Alistair ran his hand over her shoulder then down her side and under her breast, cupping it in his hand, loving the velvet feel of her skin and how it filled his palm.

  There was no part of his body that didn’t scream out for her. He slanted her head to deepen the kiss, enjoying the raspy sound of her breath. His fingers moved in between her thighs and he felt she was as aroused as he was. He wanted to pleasure her, but he also wanted those lips around him.

  Cupping his hand around the back of her neck, he slowly, but firmly, eased her down. With his other hand, he circled his fingers around the base of his erection and guided it toward her waiting mouth.

  Fuck. He groaned out loud and threw his head back with pleasure as her tongue slid over his length and her mouth engulfed him.

  “So. Fucking. Good.” He tangled his hand in her raven hair, holding her in place as his hips jerked forward.

  Sophia took him, her tongue swirling around the head and sucked, coaxing him deeper. Her tongue ran over the vein on the underside of his erection and her hand cupped his balls. She raised her eyes and the pleasure she saw on his face made her take him even deeper and faster.

  She’s magnificent. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw tight, enjoying the slick and hot caresses of her mouth. He wanted to come in her mouth, but he also wanted to taste her. With that in mind, he tugged her hair and ordered, “Up!”

  She stood up and leaned on his body, her hands running over his thighs and arms to fist his hair and pull him down for a kiss.

  He stroked his hand down her back and over her buttocks, pausing there and kneading them.

  “Teach me,” she said hoarsely, handing him the lubricant tube. There was a need firing through her veins that only he could quench.

  With his eyes fixed on her, he guided her until the back of her knees bumped on the edge of the bed. With his open palm he pushed her down as he kneeled between her thighs. He slid his finger over her wetness and she gasped.

  We’re driving each other crazy. He burrowed his finger in her, nibbling her inner thigh.

  Oh, yeah! A loud moan left her when another broad finger followed the first and he dipped his head, his open mouth immediately closing over her clitoris.

  She tastes fucking good. His tongue was hot and firm teasing her in long swipes as he withdrew his fingers and put her feet on the edge of the bed. His fingers ran down, delving into the cleft of her ass.

  She tightened in reflex and then relaxed. “Alistair, please.”

  Without taking his mouth from her clitoris, he wetted his finger and eased it in her ass.

  “Oh, yes!” She squirmed under his caresses. When she moaned asking for more, he obliged sliding two oiled fingers inside her, in and out, as his tongue licked her clitoris.

  He looked up and saw that her fingers were playing with her nipples. That nearly made him come right then and there. Fucking hot.

  Her moans and gasps filled the room making heat build up inside him.

  “Move back,” he commanded, lowering over her body.

  She arched up on him, her eyes glazed with desire, “Take me.”

  Her legs wound around his waist and he cupped her buttocks in his hands, spreading her with his thumbs. In one hard thrust, he was inside her.

  They cried out in unison.

  “I want you.” Her hands clawed at his hair, pulling him down
in a desperate attempt to kiss him.

  He smiled at her effort and bent down to capture her mouth with his.

  “Don’t come,” he whispered against her lips as he slowly drove her to the edge. “Tell me before you reach the edge.”

  She bit his lip and heaved, “Now, now!”

  “Sure?” On her nod a rush of desire filled his manhood even more. He thrust one more time and paused deep inside her. He cupped her face on his hands while he withdrew slowly.

  A shudder ran over her body as she saw the intensity of his feelings, the love and lust mirrored in his eyes. She could feel his desire singeing her as he knelt between her legs and rotated his finger in the air.

  Alistair grunted when Sophia turned on her stomach and pushed up her rump in his direction. He smoothed a hand over her buttocks and murmured, “We are doing this nice and slow. I want to hear you.”

  Sophia saw his hand close around a double vibrator and she closed her eyes, arousal sparkling from the suspense. Its broad crown brushed her opening and slowly slid inside her.

  She gasped at the invading feeling and jerked back on his hand. “More.”

  “Easy,” he said, pushing it to the hilt and turning it on a slow pulse.

  Sophia’s body immediately tensed when the clitoris stimulator massaged her. She moaned, concentrating on keeping the impending climax at bay. “I need you. Now.”

  He eased again two oiled fingers into the tight opening of her ass. His fingers left her for a moment and then she felt one of his hands grip her hip hard and the head of his penis pressed against her sphincter.

  Oh. Sophia’s eyes flew open. A multitude of sensations washed over her. A touch of fear and a hot wave of excitement. Pleasure rocketed through her abdomen.

  “Relax,” he ordered before he pushed forward slowly, ever so slowly, until it breached the initial resistance and he stopped, allowing her to adjust to the sensation.

  Sophia gasped, tightened and then relaxed, moaning.