by Melody Anne
He lifted her hip, and slid effortlessly into her waiting heat. She was more than ready for him. He stopped, while deep inside her, letting the pleasure of them coming together, once more, engulf his system. They fit together, perfectly. He couldn’t ever remember being happier. She jerked her hips up and he was done playing. He moved quickly in and out of her, seeking his own pleasure.
It didn’t take Jennifer long for her body to throb once more, and they fell apart together as he released his long awaited seed deep inside her. She sunk into the couch, still gripping him tightly, afraid to let go, afraid of the intimate moment ending. He turned them so she was cradled in his arms, and his hands stroked up and down her back, luring her into a deep sense of security. They napped for an unknown length of time, and she was awoken by his roving hands.
He loved her several times on the couch and she responded in a way that showed her the distance she thought she’d created had been in her mind only.
After they were both sated, fully, and began to dress, Jennifer stood up, unsure of what to say or do. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the lovemaking and certainly couldn’t complain, but she felt like a person must after a one night stand. She was so unsure what she should do next.
“My Uncle is having his annual Christmas Party this weekend. You’ll come with me,” he said, finally making eye contact. It was a command, not an invitation. She narrowed her eyes. He couldn’t seem to quit bossing her around.
“Maybe I already have plans,” she bluffed. He stared her down, and she finally broke the eye contact. She could feel his eyes drilling into her and was desperately trying to think of an excuse to get out of the party, but she did like his family and she’d enjoy a party at the famous Anderson Mansion she’d heard so much about.
“I’ll send a car for both you and Molly, dress formally,” he said, ignoring her other statement. Since he was allowing Molly to come she decided to go. She knew her niece would have a good time. She was a bit worried about what to wear, though.
She’d brought him back the dress he’d given her in Vienna and left it in his office after they returned. When he got back and found it, he’d flipped and told her she either take the dress back or he’d personally strip her and put it on her himself. She’d decided it was better to just keep it, but had vowed never to wear it again.
Well, she did own the dang thing and it would be appropriate for the party, so she guessed she could cave in on that issue and wear it once more. She absolutely refused to wear the jewelry, though. He may not take the pieces back but she had them hidden under a loose floor board in her home, terrified of someone robbing the expensive pieces. She was determined to get them back to him at some point, when she wouldn’t have to deal with the aftermath of his anger.
She left the office without saying another word. She knew it wouldn’t do her any good and what was the point, anyway? They both knew she’d lost their little battle so she may as well walk out with her head high.
Jennifer went home and told Molly about the party, which had her niece ecstatic for the rest of the week. Her week also passed pleasantly. She got the entire building decorated, with a lot of extra help from other employees and felt joy when she walked in each day, listening to the Christmas Carols coming over the speakers.
The party snuck up on her before she knew it and she took her time getting ready. As she slipped the beautiful dress back on, she was amazed at how pretty it made her feel. She supposed the saying about clothes making the person had some merit, because she felt good in the gorgeous dress and stunning heals.
Molly looked adorable in the dress Jennifer bought her. It was a pretty blue color because her niece had insisted they have matching dresses. There was no way Jennifer would put her niece in a gown like the one she had on, but she’d found a similar color, satisfying Molly. She’d also been able to find sparkly shoes her niece instantly loved.
By the time the car came to pick them up, her nerves were stretched thin and she was unbelievably anxious. She was relieved when Trenton wasn’t in the vehicle. It gave her extra time to compose herself before she had to face him.
Trenton was beyond irritated by the time he finally arrived at the party. He’d gotten held up with business and was over an hour late. He’d wanted to ride to the party with Jennifer, and wasn’t happy about missing part of the evening in her company. He was finding more and more that he needed to be around her. He was learning to accept the fact.
He stepped into his uncle’s large mansion and immediately went on a search to find her. He spotted her niece, Molly, without trouble, sitting with his cousins’ children and Santa. Molly was receiving a lot of presents. Trenton had to smile, as his uncle certainly went overboard when it came to his grandkids, and if there were any extra children in the mix, the old man figured, the more the merrier. All of the children were getting gift after gift and were squealing in delight.
He searched the room for Jennifer and couldn’t seem to spot her in the large crowd. He was about to go searching somewhere else when he heard her laugh and turned in that direction. He could pick her out of a crowd anytime, and as a sea of people parted and he finally spotted her, he felt a tight fist of jealousy knot deep inside him and for the first time in his life, he wanted to rip his brother’s head from his shoulders.
He began stalking toward the two of them, who were as yet unaware of him, and there was murder in his eyes. He logically knew his brothers would never poach on his woman but he hadn’t staked his claim on her yet, so as far as they knew she was available. He was about to make it more than clear she was indeed not available.
“Good evening, beautiful,” he stated and took her in his arms, in front of everyone, and kissed her with so much hunger, she forgot where they were. Her arms wrapped around his neck drawing him closer and she moved her hips against his straining erection pushing against her stomach.
As suddenly as it started, Trenton pulled back, and she whimpered in her sexual haze, trying to draw him back to her. He was staring into her clouded eyes with a look of frustration on his face and she finally noticed the soft chuckle.
Jennifer looked in horror at the laughing face of George and she felt immediate heat suffuse her cheeks. She buried her head into Trenton’s neck for a moment, trying to get herself together. She’d never kissed a man like that in a crowded room.
She heard conversations around her and braved another look. She wasn’t reassured by the glances still coming their way.
“I guess someone just staked their claim,” Max said with his brows raised.
“Damn right,” Trenton said, not even trying to deny it in front of her.
“Excuse me, please,” Jennifer said, pulling away from him and disappearing from the room. She found the bathroom and locked herself in. She didn’t know which emotion she was feeling more at the moment, anger or embarrassment.
She was infuriated Trenton would decide it was his right to claim her, and then proceed to embarrass her in front of his family like that. They most likely thought she was a money hungry tart, which is what she always thought of women who slept with their bosses.
She wished she hadn’t worn the sexy dress, feeling far too much skin was showing. She rinsed her face, reapplied her light make-up, then squared her shoulders, and walked back out. She would’ve loved to slip away but she couldn’t do that to Molly, who was having a wonderful time.
She found no one was acting any differently toward her from how they’d been before the kiss so she started to relax, but she certainly avoided Trenton, though she felt his eyes on her no matter where she was. She’d certainly have words with him later about his high handed behavior but she wanted to enjoy herself at the Christmas party.
Trenton watched Jennifer, wanting more than anything to drag her from the room and straight to his bed. He normally just took whatever he wanted, when he wanted it, but his family would skin him alive if he tried to drag her from the room and it wasn’t worth the fight, so he dealt with his frustration and even found
himself having a good time as the evening progressed.
He’d been away from his cousins and siblings for a long time, and it felt good to be in their presence. He found himself laughing and giving as good as he got, but no matter who he was speaking to, or where he was, he knew where Jennifer was. He found he didn’t even do it consciously, he just sought her out.
The night flew by for Jennifer and before she knew it, she found herself yawning and reluctantly deciding she should get Molly home. Her niece had a wonderful time, but now it was time for bed. She found Joseph and Katherine, thanked them for a wonderful evening and then found Molly sleeping on the floor with a bunch of other children.
She smiled down at her tiny body, lying there with her friends. The Anderson family had been so great for her vulnerable niece.
“Let me carry her for you,” she heard Trenton say, causing her to jump. She hadn’t realized he’d followed her into the family room.
“I’d appreciate that. She may be small, but in her sleep she can get pretty heavy,” she accepted. He easily bent down and scooped Molly into his arms, as if she weighed nothing at all. The sight of Molly’s head lying against his masculine chest brought tears to her eyes. Her poor niece had lost both her mother and father and so deserved to have parents to love her. She’d do anything to give her niece all the love she deserved.
Jennifer walked outside with Trenton, enjoying the cool evening air touching her heated face. She realized she’d drank one too many glasses of champagne throughout the night and the breeze felt good. She also forgot she’d been picked up for the party and didn’t have her car.
“I’m going to call a cab,” she told Trenton, who didn’t slow down. “Where are you going?” she asked, as she trudged along after him.
“I’ll give you a ride home,” he told her.
“That’s not necessary, I can get a cab,” she tried again, not sure she could handle the ride home with him. Her hormones were all over the place and she was at an all-time low in resistance levels.
“Deal with it,” he stated and then he was buckling Molly in the backseat. Her niece was so exhausted she didn’t budge an inch with all the movement. He opened the passenger door and manhandled Jennifer into the seat. She sat there pouting but unable to move, considering her niece was in the back.
He drove them through the deserted streets and it seemed like the drive took twice as long with the nervous tension filling up the car. She sighed her relief as they pulled up to her apartment. She immediately scrambled out of the car, planning on retrieving Molly and rushing inside. Trenton had other plans, though, and beat her to Molly’s door.
“I have her,” was all he said, so she sulked up to her front door and was mad when it took her shaking fingers three tries before she was able to get the door unlocked. “Where is her room?” he asked. She pointed down the short hallway and then headed to her kitchen. Waking up in the morning with a hangover wasn’t an option, so she started a strong pot of coffee brewing and waited at the counter.
“She didn’t budge when I laid her down,” Trenton said, startling her. She hadn’t heard him come back to the kitchen. “I could use a cup of coffee,” he prodded her, since she didn’t seem willing to offer him one.
“Okay, but I’m really tired, so…” she let her words trail off at his look. It seemed he didn’t like being booted out of her house. He accepted the cup, leaning on the counter, only a few feet away from her. Her entire body was aware of his presence in the room. They hadn’t been alone since that day in his office and she felt the sensations rushing through her, needing his touch in ways that angered her.
“Invite me to stay,” he whispered to her seductively, leaving her trembling.
“That’s not a good idea,” she said, gripping the counter in her efforts to not reach out for him.
“Our entire relationship hasn’t been a good idea,” he told her and swiftly moved toward her, his intentions clear in his beautiful eyes. She tried to sidestep him, but it was useless in the small space.
He took her into his arms and her already weak resolve to not sleep with him again, evaporated as his lips touched hers. She ached for him in a way she never thought possible, and every time she was in his arms was a relief. What difference would one more night make?
Trenton couldn’t even think straight as he pulled her close. He lost all thoughts but to find her bed and take her. He found that no matter how many times he loved her, it was never enough. He didn’t think it ever would be. He lifted her up and carried her the short distance to her tiny bedroom.
He was barely able to remove their clothing before he sunk himself deep into her inviting heat. Her moans of pleasure sent him over the edge and their first time that night went too quickly. He made it up to both of them over the next couple hours, making slow, sweet love to her half the night. She was amazed how long he could pleasure them both, and she was very satisfied.
Both Trenton and Jennifer fell into an exhausted sleep as the sun was just starting to rise in the sky. He knew at that point he couldn’t let her go. He figured it was going to take a lot of convincing on his part, but she was his woman and he refused to release her from his life.
Chapter Nine
Jennifer was woken by a knocking on her door. She groggily opened her eyes, relieved when she didn’t feel a pounding beneath her eyelids. She tried to move and found herself pinned to the bed. She turned her head and her night was quickly brought back. Trenton was staring at her with a satisfied smile on his lips.
“Good morning,” he murmured before kissing her softly, making her forget all about the knocking, until another insistent one pounded her door.
“Um, I have to answer the door,” she said, not good with morning after conversations, considering he was the only one she’d ever had one with. She jumped from the bed, self-conscious of her very naked state. She grabbed her bathrobe and secured it, before heading to her front door, aware she most likely looked a mess, even though it was some time in the afternoon. She felt horrible to have slept so long. The house was quiet, which meant her niece was still asleep as well. She wasn’t surprised, considering all the excitement of the night before, and how late she’d gotten to bed.
Jennifer opened the door to the disapproving look of her niece’s social worker. She wondered what the woman was doing there.
“Hello, Ms. Ellis, did I forget about an appointment?” she asked, a lot more conscious of her own ragged appearance. The woman looked her up from head to toe and by the look in her eyes, didn’t approve.
“I have some news to share with you that couldn’t wait. May I come in?” the sour woman stated and pushed her way forward. Jennifer found her rude and annoying but couldn’t let her temper get the better of her. The woman was the difference of her having her niece permanently or not, so she’d play nice.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” she offered.
“That would be great, thank you,” she said. Jennifer quickly made a pot and placed a cup in front of the woman and then joined her at the table. She pulled out a bunch of paperwork from her file and a cold sweat broke out on Jennifer’s skin. This didn’t seem to be a happy visit.
“As you know, your custody of Molly has been temporary until we determined if this would be the best environment for her,” the woman began and by her tone of voice, she seemed to be saying she indeed didn’t think it was a good environment.
“We’ve had interviews with Molly and then you, of course, and have come to the conclusion Molly would be much better off in a more traditional family setting. She had two very loving parents and we don’t think moving into a single parent household is what’s best for her,” the woman said in the same cool tones. It took a few moments for Jennifer to realize what she was saying, but when it hit, she felt all the color drain from her face. The woman was telling her they were going to take Molly from her care.
“I don’t understand. Molly is doing great with me. I have her in school and I have a great job, so providing for h
er isn’t a problem. I’m her aunt and I don’t think living with strangers would be good for her,” Jennifer pled.
“We do try and have children with relatives if that’s what’s best for them, but with your long work hours and single status, this isn’t an ideal living environment,” the woman said, looking around the tiny room and finding it wanting.
Trenton picked that moment to walk into the room, looking sexy as sin in his clothes from the night before. He certainly didn’t look bedraggled like her. He looked like the confident businessman he was. He stepped over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup and then joined them at the table. Even the snooty social worker seemed a bit flushed in his presence, as the man seemed to have that effect on all women, no matter their age.
“Good afternoon. I’m Trenton Anderson,” he said, while sticking out his hand. The woman actually blushed as she took his hand and Jennifer sat there in shock.
“Hello, I’m Betsy,” she replied and Jennifer’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t even know the woman had a first name, let alone been allowed to hear it. She sent Trenton a glare and he actually had the nerve to wink at her. She’d have words for him later, since her temper was starting to rise. She hated the power he held, when she herself, felt so hopeless.
“That’s a beautiful name, I’m sorry to interrupt but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he told her, causing the woman to blush, again.
“That’s perfectly okay, Mr. Anderson,” she said. Jennifer had the feeling if she were the one to interrupt she wouldn’t have gotten such a pleasant response.
“You won’t have to worry about Jennifer’s single status any further, as she’s my fiancé. We’re getting married at the end of this week. My father has always wanted a Christmas wedding,” he told the woman. She looked at him dreamily, while Jennifer stared in shock. She couldn’t believe he’d lie to the social worker. It wasn’t like she wouldn’t figure out the truth when a wedding didn’t occur.