The Bridal Candidate 1 (Heart Connections)

by Linda Verji

  The kiss dragged on for a long while; soft, tender and soothing. But eventually they separated to drag in a breath. Breaking their embrace, Damián led her to the settee. He settled on it, pulled her down to his lap then buried his forehead into the hollow between her shoulder and neck.

  Stroking his hair and weaving her fingers into its thick strands, she said softly, "Zoe will settle down once she realizes she's fighting a losing battle."

  "Will she?" His tone held a note of despair. "I don't know how long I can keep this up."

  "She will," Aiko assured him, even though she wasn't feeling that confident herself. She squeezed his shoulder and buried her nose in his hair, inhaling its fresh, outdoorsy smell as she repeated, "She will."

  Damián's arms tightened around her waist, as he lifted his face to hers. She instinctively pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He captured her in a kiss so fierce and sweet, they almost didn't hear Zoe screaming, "Get out," in her room, followed by a loud crash.

  Damián ended the kiss with a heavy exhale. Shifting Aiko off his lap and standing, he grated, "Round three, or is it four?"

  "I've stopped counting." She lifted up on tiptoes to kiss him before letting him go.

  Despite her sympathy for Damián, Aiko was glad she wasn't in Zoe's direct line of fire. The kind of insults that girl threw at her father when he ordered Major and Virgil to clear out everything from her room except the bed and desk, would've blistered a sailor's ears.

  Frankly, Aiko was surprised that Damián managed to keep his cool, because she was sure that by now she would've slapped the taste out of Zoe's mouth. Seraphina clung to Aiko as they watched the commotion from their side of the hall with wide-eyed shock.

  "Fuck you. You're not taking my TV," Zoe wailed as she clung onto the moving TV with both arms. Unconcerned, Major and Virgil carried the TV - and Zoe - out of the room. "Bring it back. Bring it back."

  She let the TV go somewhere near the stairs and dashed back to stop her father from chucking all her makeup into a garbage bag. Too late; all her makeup was gone.

  "No. No. Don't. Bring them back," Zoe howled. She clung to his waist and stretched her legs behind her so he had to drag her weight as he plodded out of the room. "I want them back."

  Aiko didn't miss the comedic value in the scene; neither did her daughter. When Seraphina started giggling, Aiko had to carry her into her room so that their amusement wouldn't further agitate the situation.

  The storm raged on. And on, and on, and on. By the time Zoe quieted, it was past nine p.m., Seraphina was already asleep and Major was ready to close the kitchen.

  When Aiko approached Damián about Zoe's dinner, he said, "Tell him to leave her a plate in the microwave. She can eat after she does her homework."

  Sitting down beside him, Aiko snorted. "In that case she'll end up starving."

  Damián shrugged. "Then that's her choice."

  Aiko didn't say anything for a moment. Then she asked, "Do you think you're being too hard on her? Electronics and makeup are one thing. But food?"

  Damián studied her. "You think I'm being too strict?"

  Straightening in the couch. "I just think she's had enough upheaval tonight. She could do with a break."

  "Fine." Damián huffed. He opened his mouth to yell, "Maj-"

  "I'll take it to her," Aiko cut him off as she stood up.

  He watched her for a moment, then gave her a ferocious scowl. "Are you playing good cop?"

  "Of course not," she denied but there was laughter in her voice as she left the family room and headed to the kitchen. Yes, she was playing good cop. She'd been bad cop for long enough. Minutes later she was walking up the stairs, balancing a plate full of food. She found Zoe curled fetal-style on the bed, atop her covers. The girl opened her eyes when Aiko entered the room but immediately closed them again.

  "Zoe?" Aiko set the food on the nightstand. "I brought you dinner."

  Zoe turned on the bed to face the other side of the room.

  "It's stuffed chicken breasts." Aiko sat on the edge of the bed. "Major says it's your favorite meal."

  Zoe's response was a sniff.

  "Are you okay?" Aiko set her palm over the girl's shoulder. Zoe immediately scooted away until she was so close to the edge of the bed, Aiko was surprised she didn't fall off. "Okay, I'll let you eat. Let me know if you need anything."

  After one last look at Zoe, Aiko left the room. She stayed outside the door for a couple of minutes, long enough to hear the groan of the bed then clinking of cutlery against glass. Smiling, she entered her room. Zoe would be just fine.

  Like the previous night, Damián didn't come looking for her. When he'd said it wouldn't happen again, she'd thought he meant he wouldn't sleep with her if she didn't want it. Not that sex was completely off the table. Was it off the table? Good God. Aiko hoped not because she already missed his touch.

  Missed it very much.

  CHAPTER 18

  The next two days were a literal war zone in the Colter household. The only person Zoe was nice to was Seraphina - everyone else was in her black book and subject to her insolence. However, by Thursday, she'd lost a lot of her steam. Enough so that that evening Damián and Aiko were able to sit down with her in the family room to reiterate the rules.

  "But I can't do it. It's hard," Zoe complained, sulkily when Damián repeated the homework rule.

  Resisting the urge to remind her that the reason her homework was so hard was because she'd skipped her classes, Damián said, "Then Aiko or I will help you with it."

  Zoe shot Aiko a venomous look then shook her head vigorously.

  "Or we could also get you a tutor," Aiko offered before Damián could inform Zoe she wasn't in any position to choose who would be helping her or not.

  "But every evening as soon as you get home you have to do your homework." Damián warned, "And I'll check."

  Zoe stared at the floor between her feet.

  He continued, "If I see that you're making a genuine effort to follow the rules, I'll begin returning your stuff."

  Zoe's eyes widened and her voice was in near-pleading, as she asked, "Starting with my phone?"

  "We'll see," Damián said.

  Rebellion glinted in Zoe's eyes and she stuck her lip out as if preparing to throw a fit. Damián watched her grimly, mentally daring her to try. Zoe must've seen something in his expression because her shoulders slumped and the glint in her eyes faded replaced by defeat. She looked down at her hands, playing with them over her too-short skirt. Which reminded him…

  "I think you also need to go shopping for new clothes," he said.

  Excitement immediately leaped into Zoe's gaze and she nodded. "Yes."

  The excitement faded when he clarified, "For more appropriate clothes. I think it's time you started your wardrobe over." He turned to Aiko. "Do you have time to take her shopping over the weekend?"

  Aiko started, "Ye-"

  "I won't go with her," Zoe exploded.

  Her dissent was vigorous enough that Damián asked, "Why not?"

  Zoe mumbled under her breath. "Because it's her fault."

  "What's her fault?"

  "That you're changing." Zoe shot Aiko an angry look. "Before she came, you were nice."

  He supposed 'nice' was the codeword for 'pushover'. Resisting the impulse to smile, Damián moved from the couch he and Aiko shared, to the one where Zoe was. He wove an arm around his daughter's stiff shoulders. "It's not her fault, and I'm only doing this for you."

  "No, you're not." Zoe shook her head, even as she stayed stiff in his half embrace. She swiped her hand over her eye to brush away a tear. "You don't love me anymore."

  "Of course I love you." Damián brushed his palm over her arm. "And I'm sorry you feel like I don't. Sometimes I don't like the things you do and say, but that doesn't mean I don't love you or respect you. You're my daughter and I'll always love you." He flicked her nose. "But that doesn't mean that I won't correct you when I feel you're doing something wrong."


  "You weren't doing it before." Her tears were in free-fall now. "It’s not fair."

  Her tears were like needles pricking at his conscience, reminding him how much he'd been shortchanging his daughter. He tightened his arm around her. "I know it doesn't feel fair. And that's my fault. I wasn’t doing my job. But I promise from now on, I'll be better at it. And if you feel like I'm not being fair, then we can talk about it and I'll explain why I'm doing what I'm doing. Is that okay?"

  "Okay." She nodded. She was quiet for a long moment, but when she snapped her eyes towards him, they were filled with mischief. "Why did you take my phone? Not fair."

  Damián's lips twitched. He fought to still them, but failed. He kissed his daughter's forehead as a rumbling laugh escaped. "You're terrible."

  When he knocked on Aiko's door much later that evening, he was feeling much better about his actions in the past week. Despite how difficult it'd been to stand up to Zoe, it was paying off in leaps and bounds.

  "Come in," Aiko called out and he entered her room. She was already in bed, and speaking on the phone. "Femi, I told you we've got it under control. You don't have to call me every night for a status update." When she saw him, her face lit up in a warm smile even as she listened to her sister.

  This. This was one of the advantages to taking control of his family. In the last four days, he'd seen more of Aiko's smiles than he could count, and each time his heart leapt in thrilled response. He loved seeing her smile at him and happy to see him. He also loved how encouraging and comforting she'd been. Without her, he would've given up days ago. She made him a better man, made him feel like a better man.

  Returning her smile, he sat down on the bed next to her as he waited for her to finish her phone call. The comforter only covered her lower body, giving him a delicious view of her upper body. The black filmy confection she was wearing clung suggestively to her breasts leaving no doubt that she wasn't wearing a bra.

  It was the sort of nightdress designed to reduce men to liquid fire and Damián was no exception. His cock immediately reared up in awareness and anticipation of touching. It took everything in him to remind himself that he wasn't here for that, and to turn his gaze to the safety of her covered legs.

  "Femi I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Aiko listened for a second then rolled her eyes. "Yes, Ma'am. I'll keep you updated. Goodnight… uh uh. Femi? Good. Night." She blew a breath as she ended the call. "Wow."

  "Problem?"

  "No, Femi's just being nosy," Aiko said as she tossed her phone onto the nightstand. "Is Zoe asleep?"

  "Yeah. No drama tonight." He cleared his throat as he pulled a platinum, credit card from his wallet and held it out. "I just came in here to give you this." When her brow furrowed in confusion, he clarified, "For Zoe's shopping. Virgil used to have it, but I figure you'll be harder for her to manipulate."

  "How much do you want me to spend on her?" Aiko asked as she took the card from his grasp. Her fingers brushed his in the process, sending pinpricks of sensation through him.

  "Just spend what you need to spend." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Use it to get stuff for you and Seraphina too."

  "No, thank you." Her response was quick and unequivocal. "What you're paying me is more than enough for us."

  For some reason her quick refusal irritated him. "Aiko, when I came to you I told you I was looking a wife and a mother - for someone who would become part of my family. And I provide for my family."

  "But our situation is different," she argued. "First, I'm not your wife yet. And even if I was; my daughter and I wouldn't be your responsibility. You and I aren't the typical couple; we've got a contract."

  "So do many other couples," he countered. Arching his eyebrows, he asked, "Ever heard of pre-nups?"

  "It's not the same thing," she countered. "You'll be paying me a salary. I don't think real husbands do that. I won't be your wife or part of your family in the truest sense of the word."

  As far as he was concerned they would be a true husband and wife - just without the love part. But he understood what Aiko meant. Frowning, he said, "I just want to make sure you're both well taken care of."

  "I am." She looked down at their linked fingers and ran her thumb over his hand. "I appreciate the thought, but we're fine."

  Any other woman would've jumped at the offer for more money. And Damián appreciated that Aiko wasn't any other woman. But how did she think their relationship would work without her ever taking more money from him? Ten thousand dollars was a decent income, but, if he guessed right, a fair amount of it was going to her extended family. Whatever she had left couldn't possibly be enough for her to fit into his lifestyle.

  Maybe there were things they could get around, like designer clothes and what not… Still, there were some situations there was just no getting around. For instance, there was no way they could keep Seraphina and Zoe in different schools - schools that were such a wide class apart. People would begin to talk, and their opinion would be that he was either a really shitty step-dad or something was wrong with their marriage. Then there was her car. What kind of man drove a Bugatti while his wife rode in a banged up Taurus.

  Eventually they'd need to iron out the details of future finances, but seeing Aiko's determined expression, Damián knew this wasn't the time so he shrugged. "As you wish." Squeezing her fingers, he stood up. "I guess I'll head to bed then."

  Her hold on his fingers tightened as she turned surprised eyes up at him "You're leaving."

  "Yeah," he said. But the disappointed gleam in her eyes had him asking, "Isn't that what you want?"

  After how he'd attacked her in the shower, he'd thought she needed space away from him, and he was trying to give her that. But she wasn't looking at him like a woman who needed space. Her brown eyes held his, warm - hot - emotions roiling in their depths.

  Then she said the sweetest words he'd ever heard, "Please don't go."

  With speed he didn't even know he was capable of, Damián lowered himself back to the bed, leant forward and kissed her. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him back - brazenly, without reserve. She plunged her tongue into his mouth, inciting a duel that shot him straight into desire. Hardness infused his every muscle and his blood raced so fast he could almost hear it rushing in his veins.

  He couldn't believe that she was the one who'd started this. In all their previous interludes, he'd always been the instigator and she, the reluctant partner. Hunger, blatant and powerful, consumed him at her enthusiasm, agitated by how soft pliant and ravenous her lips were beneath his.

  Without thought, he backed her until she was lying on the bed and he was over her. The feel of her, all warmth and curves beneath him, was nectar for his hunger. But it wasn't enough; he wanted her naked - nothing between them. With a low groan, he separated from her so he could rip the comforter from between them.

  "Damián." Her voice was a sultry demand as were her arms as they circled his neck and brought him back down to her. Now that only her nightdress and his clothes were between them, the feel of her beneath him was even more intense. The feel of her breasts pushing against his chest and her stomach cradling his erection sent a jolt through him, racked up his awareness of her.

  That distant part of his brain that still functioned realized that they were going too fast. If she continued to kiss him this ravenously, this passionately; if she continued to writhe below him so deliciously, this would end quickly- quicker than he wanted.

  As hard as he was, he wanted to savor her surrender, revel in it. Gathering his strength, he tried to ease back and moderate the kiss into something softer. But Aiko wasn't having any of it. The moment he eased the pressure of the kiss, she stoked it right back up with a fiery, passionate demand. Her lips fastened onto his, her hands clawed over his back, her legs locked against his flanks and she pressed hard against him. It was enough to shake his will.

  Before he knew he was locking his lips fiercely on hers, filling her mouth and giving her what
she clearly wanted. Tasting her deeply, and drinking in her unrestrained desire, he let his hands wander down her body to the hem of her nightgown. She whimpered in protest when he separated their lips so he could flip the flimsy fabric over her head, but that whimper died when he resumed the kiss.

  There was something desperately erotic about having her naked while he was still dressed. His hands roamed over her body relentlessly, touching and squeezing, doing everything to possess her. And when that wasn't enough, he used his lips to imprint himself on her skin. His kisses trailed from her lips, down her neck, her upper chest…

  "Damián." She sucked in a sharp breath when he blew gently on her nipple, hardening it. And when he touched his tongue to that nipple, her low cries echoed in the room.

  He loved how responsive she was, how she didn't hold back her desire. How she cupped the back of his head and arched into his mouth, begging for more. So he gave it to her. He captured the nipple completely into his mouth.

  "Ooh!" she whimpered, writhing back and forth as he teased and taunted her. She liked little bites, so he switched to the other breast and gave it the same special attention. And when he started to move downwards, she unabashedly opened her legs giving him better access to her most intimate region.

  "Beautiful," he murmured, his eyes riveted to the brown folds, that were as rose petals sleek with desire. "So beautiful."

  He had to taste her. So, he pushed her legs wider and touched his mouth to her.

  "Oh - ah - my- Damián." Her broken cries rent the air and her fingers burrowed into his thick hair gripping the back of his head with such ferocity that it almost hurt. He paid it no mind. He sunk into her taste; swirled his tongue over and around each beautiful inch of her sweetness, driving her to arch her hips again and again.