by Ava Walsh
We were quiet for a few minutes.
“So aren’t you going to ask me for a last time?” she asked, her voice dropping and growing softer.
“Ask you for what?” I asked, and I saw her jaws clenching.
“Sex,” she replied.
“No. I won’t,” I said and her eyes widened. “It’s over. That is over. I would rather have you first, as someone real, to talk to, and then your body.” For the first time she really looked at me, straight into my eyes and my arms shook in fear of what she was going to say.
Chapter Thirteen
Kayla
I couldn’t decide if this was a part of some kind of trick that he was playing on me. I wasn’t even sure if I had heard him correctly. He wanted me as a person? He said that when I had practically just offered him my body?
I stared at him, while he looked back at me, his eyes boring into me intensely. He wasn’t smiling, he was serious.
“I don’t know if I understand what you mean,” I managed to say after several seconds of silence.
“I mean Kayla, that I want you. Of course I want you. But not just as a part of a contract,” he said. I could see his lips moving, his blue eyes sparkling in the dim light of his living room. His strong shoulders squared and tight. He was as defensive as I was. I didn’t know what to say to him, this wasn’t what I expected. I prided myself in being able to judge people accurately. In Oscar’s case, I had missed the mark by miles.
“Kayla, I know you don’t trust me…I know you’re scared,” he began and something in me made me interrupt him.
“It’s not you, Oscar. It’s my own family, or rather the lack thereof,” I blurted out and I saw his face change. His defenses came down a little.
“You don’t trust me because of your family?” he asked, confused.
“Because of my father.”
“What did he do to you?” There was a glint of rage in his eyes as he said it. I could see now how the punch on Jonathan’s face came about.
“Nothing. He was my mother’s boss. He left her when she got pregnant with me. I’ve never met him, I don’t even know who he is,” I blurted it all out, and only at the end of it did I realize that I was crying.
Oscar lunged towards me, enveloping me in his arms as he held me to his chest.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Kayla,” he said as he stroked my hair. I held on to his chest for dear life. I felt safe in his arms. Besides mama, nobody had ever made me feel like they genuinely cared. This man, who I thought I had all figured out, did.
“Is that why you pushed me away? Because you thought I would do the same to you?” he asked and I nodded.
“I kept pushing you away because of an ex-girlfriend who cheated on me,” he said and I pulled away from him to look into his eyes.
“That bad huh?” I asked and he raised his eyebrows.
“She slept with Jonathan,” he said and I nearly broke into a laugh. Who would ever choose Jonathan over Oscar?
“So that punch was a long time coming then,” I said and he squeezed his arms around me a little more.
“Kayla, can we start over?” he asked and I nodded. There was nothing more that I wanted. I hadn’t even realized that this was what I wanted. I had been so angry with myself for falling in love that I had refused to acknowledge that falling in love could also be beautiful and mean happiness.
And the last person I had expected to feel happy about was Oscar Connell.
“I have never been this excited to have a contract of sexual favors ending,” he said, and I raised an eyebrow at him.
“How many have you had?” I asked him, lightly punching his arm. He laughed and then held me even tighter in his grip.
“I’m not going to lie, a few of them,” he said. It didn’t surprise me. His proposal had been too casual, too easy. He had done it a few times before.
“But never before did I end the contract so I could date the girl, Kayla. This is a first,” he said, softly kissing my forehead. I licked my lips and accepted the kiss. I could live with that. As long as what he was offering now was real, it was a good deal.
“Is this the part where you rip my clothes apart and take me here on the carpet?” I asked him, but he pulled away from me and shook his head.
“I could if you really want to. But I was thinking that the best way to start over would be to get Maria to set us a candlelit dinner, where I ask you about where you grew up and what kind of ice cream you like. You can maybe ask me what colors don’t suit me and who my best friends are. You know, like normal people,” he said, drawing away from me as I laughed.
“You may be right, but normal is boring,” I said and he was laughing too. Then I felt his hands on the buttons of my jeans. The next thing I knew was that his hands were on my bra under my t-shirt. He was making me moan already, his hands finding their way into my pants. I was on the carpet, tugging at his clothes and he was smiling, watching me as he kept me pinned to the floor.
I was not tired of him yet, he had got it wrong. I would never be tired of him. Oscar Connell was one of a kind, and I was wrong to assume that all men were like my father.
No, Oscar Connell was the love of my life and I could see it in his eyes as he entered me, that he loved me back.
*****
THE END
Bonus Book 3: The Hockey Player's Secret Baby
Description
He can never know! My secret will destroy him...
Chelsey and Hannah practically grew up together. They were best friends, sure, but there was one secret Chelsey kept to herself: her feelings for Hannah’s older brother, Aron Keels...
Chelsey believed that she could keep her feelings for Aron in check, save her friendship and move on with her life. That, is until college ended, and Aron was all set to leave town. He had been scouted and picked up by an NHL team in Los Angeles.
On his last night in town, at the end of a drunken party, Chelsey and Aron fell into bed together. And then he left...
Three years later, Chelsey is still in the same town, working at the same hair salon where she worked while at college. She has cut off all ties with her family and her friends, including Hannah. She lives a life of seclusion in a cramped apartment, trying to make ends meet.
When Hannah walks into the salon, she is surprised to find Chelsey still works there… Then she delivers Chelsey some news—her celebrity brother is going to be in town as well, attending their parents’ thirtieth anniversary party.
How will Chelsey continue to keep her life a secret, now that everything she is protecting seems to be unravelling?
Chapter One - Chelsey
Chelsey was tired of smiling, especially since she also had to concentrate. People entrusted their hair into her hands, literally, and it was her job to give them a fabulous new look which they might tip her extra for. She was holding the large oval mirror behind her current customer’s head and also trying to keep the usual fake smile plastered on her face.
“That is gorgeous! Exactly the way I wanted,” the woman with the unmanageable cowlick on her forehead turned in her seat to say. Chelsey continued smiling, nodding as she plugged in the blow dryer. The woman sat back again and, from the corner of her eye, Chelsey noticed her digging around in her purse. Great success! She was going to get the tip.
“I have to leave in like fifteen minutes, Monica,” Chelsey said, tapping the floor manager’s shoulder after her customer had left.
“But your shift doesn’t end for another half an hour, Chelsey.” Monica whipped around, passing a quick look to the clock on the wall.
“I know, but the sitter texted me to say that she can’t stay for much longer. I’m sorry. I promise I’ll make up for it soon,” Chelsey said, pouting her lips in the hopes that she might be able to charm Monica just as successfully as she did her clients.
“I’ve already signed on one more customer for you. So you’ll have to do that one. Apparently it’s just a trim,” Monica said, shaking her head indulgen
tly.
“It’s never just a trim. Thanks anyway, Monica,” Chelsey said, walking away from her with an accomplished smile on her face.
She stood waiting behind the high chair, staring at herself in the mirror. Her natural poker-straight hair was cut to a manageable length right at her shoulders, her face looked pale and overworked, she hadn’t had time to touch up her pink-tinted lipstick since the morning and her clothes were covered in hair and chemical products.
Her next customer brushed past her and sat down with a thump on the chair in front of her, snapping her out of her self-pitying thoughts.
“How are we today?” she automatically chirped. It was a strange, robotic voice that turned on without any initiation in front of customers. She turned to pick up the robe and tie it around the customer’s neck but when she looked up into the mirror, her hands froze and she nearly dropped the pair of scissors and comb from her hands.
The girl was staring at her in the mirror as well, a slow grin forming on her face.
“Chelsey?” she shrieked, and she whipped around in her chair to look up at her directly.
“Hannah.” Chelsey couldn’t smile any longer. Her pretend face had long disappeared.
“How crazy is this?” Hannah jumped out of the chair and flung her arms around Chelsey’s neck, nearly strangling her.
“It is crazy. What are you doing here? Are you back in town?” Chelsey managed to ask, even though she could feel her heart racing in her throat and her palms growing sweaty. She hadn’t seen Hannah in three years. She didn’t want to see Hannah. She wished she could forget that they had ever been best friends.
“Well, not back back. Just for a week, actually,” Hannah said, finally pulling away from her, giving her some space to breathe.
“How come?” Chelsey asked, realizing that she still had the scissors in her hands, dangerously pointing towards herself in fact. She placed them on the counter in front of the mirror.
“It’s my parents’ thirtieth anniversary. They’re throwing a big party. Aaron is flying in as well. Fingers crossed.” Hannah giggled and Chelsey tried to smile. “I had no idea you were still in town,” she added.
“I had to come back,” Chelsey said, probably too quickly, and then stole a look at the clock.
“Why? I thought you were liking New York,” Hannah probed.
“My mother…she got ill and I had to come back and take care of her,” Chelsey said, and ran her hands through her hair. She could feel herself blushing, and her nerves were giving way to full-blown panic. Hannah clucked her tongue in sympathy.
“Is that why you stopped replying to my emails and texts? I’m so sorry, Chelsey. I had no idea.” Hannah looked genuinely upset and sympathetic, and Chelsey immediately felt guilty for lying.
“She’s alright now, though. So, all is well.” Chelsey tried to shrug it off with a nervous laugh.
“So you’re working here now?” Hannah asked. Chelsey took a deep breath and smiled her widest fake smile.
“Only temporarily,” she said, and started to take a few paces back.
“Well, that’s exciting, then. It’s been years since you gave me a haircut. Remember when you used to practice on my hair, and sometimes even on Aaron’s?” Hannah giggled again, but Chelsey was slowly backing away from her now.
“I do remember. But…it’s just that I have to go now. Something’s come up,” Chelsey said, interrupting Hannah’s laugh. She had backed away from Hannah far enough to be able to reach the coat rack on the wall, where she turned to pick up her jacket and bag.
“Are you serious? You can’t be serious. I just got here, Chelsey. What’s wrong?” She could hear Hannah’s voice behind her as she ran towards the door, pushed it open and hurried out without turning to inform Monica that she was leaving. She wanted to get as far away from Hannah as possible, as far away from the mention of Aaron’s name as possible. The guy who had ruined the possibility of continuing a friendship with Hannah. The guy who she thought she was in love with. The guy she could never get over.
Chelsey arrived at her car, jerked the door open and sat down with a thump. She breathed out deeply and tried to steady her heartbeat. She had a daughter to go back home to.
Chapter Two - Aaron
Aaron knew she was looking at him. He had been thumbing through his phone, while his carry-on bag remained slung over his shoulder. But he could sense it, she was looking at him. He had noticed her when he joined the queue. He was sure everyone else had noticed her too. Sleek blonde hair, blow dried to perfection, plump red lips, matching red nails, a tight pair of jeans and a crop top that showed off her flat belly and her tiny waist.
He didn’t recognize her, but it was easy to tell that she was a model and judging by the brands of accessories she was carrying, she had to be a super model.
And now she was looking at him, while he stood a few paces behind her.
The airline staff were checking their tickets, and Aaron bit down on his lower lip. He wondered if he was going to be seated beside her.
“Hi.” He heard a voice and even before he had looked up, he knew it was her. She had a soft refined voice, but she wasn’t shy. She had recognized him and she was going to take the opportunity to introduce herself.
Aaron looked up and took a few steps forward to reduce the gap between them. She stepped around the man who was standing directly in front of Aaron. She seemed happy to give up her place in the queue, just to be able to talk to him.
“Hello,” he replied, flicking his phone off and sliding it into the pocket of his pants.
“You are Aaron Keels,” she said, a wide smile spreading across her face. He could sense other people looking at them. He could almost hear what they were all thinking, this gorgeous bombshell and Aaron Keels. How good they look together!
“In the flesh.” Aaron extended his hand to her and she shook it, confidently, he noticed.
“I’m Becca Lowry,” she said with a twinkle in her dark green eyes, as though he was supposed to recognize that name.
“I know,” Aaron said, still clasping her hand in his. That was the first time he heard that name, and even though she was drop dead beautiful, he couldn’t quite place where he had seen her before. Nowadays, they all looked the same to him.
Becca’s smile grew. She believed him, that he had recognized her.
“Fancy us being on the same flight. I was at one of your games this season. In LA.,” she continued.
“I’m honored that Becca Lowry attended my game. You should have come up and said hi after we won.” Aaron slowly pulled his hand away from her, and watched as her cheeks blushed a bright red. He hadn’t pegged her for a blusher, but he knew he could make any woman in the world blush. He always knew what to say to them.
“I figured you were busy,” she said, shaking her head gently so that her hair fell into place again. He noticed how long her arms were, and slender, and the chunky diamond studded watch around her right wrist. He still didn’t know anything about her, but it was evident that Becca Lowry was successful.
“I wouldn’t have been busy if I knew you were at the game,” Aaron said, looking directly into her eyes, and she blushed again.
“What is your seat number? I wonder if we’re sitting anywhere close to each other.” She ran her long red nails through her hair and Aaron gazed at her voluptuous breasts, the way they stretched the thin silk material of her designer crop top.
She caught him looking, but she only smiled at him.
“I’m in Business class,” Aaron said, and Becca shrugged her shoulders.
“So am I. I’m in 9A,” she said, looking at him with hopeful eyes. Aaron caught sight of her belly again and he felt himself stir in his pants. He had never seen her before, but he wondered if Becca Lowry could be one of the most beautiful women he had ever met in his life. She probably was. Her features were too defined, her high cheekbones were like royalty, her hair was perfect, her body was smashing…the list went on.
“I’m in 4A,” A
aron said, without looking at his ticket. He knew his seat number by now.
“I’m sure we can figure it out. We can speak to the flight attendants and find a way of sitting next to each other,” Becca said softly, and leaned in towards him. He got a whiff of her expensive perfume, and a thought occurred to him. He wondered how delicious she would smell between her legs. He wondered if in another hour she might be begging him to fuck her in the toilets, to join the mile high club. She wouldn’t be the first one, and she wouldn’t be the last. On his last count, he had fucked seven women on different flights, so that would make Becca Lowry the eighth.
Aaron only smiled at her, and she smiled back. She had caught him gazing at her body, and she knew what he was thinking.
The queue was growing shorter and now Becca was only one person away from having her ticket checked and being led through into the aircraft, followed by Aaron himself.
“So should I speak to them, or will you?” she asked, poised to take the step towards the staff member waiting for her now.
Aaron shrugged and continued smiling.
“I really need to catch up on some sleep, Becca. It was nice to meet you though and I hope you have a good flight.” He touched her waist gently and then pulled his hand away to take his phone out of his pocket. He didn’t bother to look at her, he knew what the expression on her face would be. Shock and embarrassment.
Chapter Three - Chelsey
Chelsey carried Ruby to the kitchen. She couldn’t believe her luck: Ruby had fallen asleep in her arms. This meant that she would have some time to herself, to think things over. She started boiling the vegetables and the chunks of chicken breast, placing Ruby on her high chair, still sleeping. So, Hannah was back in town, and Aaron might follow. Chelsey knew what that meant: there was no avoiding facing them. If she knew Hannah at all, she was not the kind of girl to just take no for an answer.