by Mia Ford
Just after Rebecca and I had rekindled our friendship – we’d started slowly, having drinks together a few times a week, things like that – she met someone. A chubby brunette named Alice, who fell hard and fast for my best friend. They were the cutest couple, and it was great to finally see Rebecca so happy. Best of all, it made me feel as though she’d truly moved on from her weird obsession with me.
I was getting to my feet just as the front door opened and Alice walked in. When she saw me, she smiled.
“Hey, Molly,” Alice said. “I didn’t know you were coming over today. How are things going?”
I smiled happily. “Good,” I said. “I can’t stay for too long, Alex said he’s actually going to cook dinner for me tonight.”
Rebecca burst out laughing. “You might want to have a backup plan,” she said. “I’m pretty sure that to Alex, ‘cooking’ means mac and cheese from a box and soup from a can.”
I shrugged. “I love mac and cheese,” I said honestly. “And besides, I love Alex. I think it’s sweet.”
Rebecca shook her head. “You’re hopeless,” she said. “But I’m glad you found happiness and somehow managed to change my asshole of a brother into a good man.”
I nodded. “It wasn’t on purpose,” I said.
“No, he’s totally transformed,” Rebecca said. She turned to Alice. “Alice, you wouldn’t believe this, but my brother used to be the biggest player in Rolling Hills.”
Alice snickered. “It’s not hard to imagine,” she said. She sat down next to Rebecca and started rubbing her back.
I nodded. “He was like that before, but not now.”
Rebecca rolled her eyes. “Speaking of family, are you coming to dinner this weekend? Mom is making a really big deal about it for some reason.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Alex told me he had a surprise for me, and that we’d go to your parents to celebrate.”
Rebecca blushed. “Cool,” she said. “I’m glad Mom finally came around.”
“Me, too.” When I’d first gotten together with Alex, his mother hadn’t exactly been…welcoming. But after a few months, when she realized I truly loved her son, she relaxed We weren’t super close, but I was enjoying building a relationship with her.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out of my pocket. There was a text from Alex that read: “coming home soon? I have a surprise for u.”
I blushed. “I’ve got to get going,” I said. “I think Alex is starting dinner.”
Rebecca laughed. “If you get food poisoning and want us to bring you some soup later, let me know.” She stood up and hugged me. I waved to Alice, then grabbed my bag and headed outside. Alex’s shiny Mustang was parked on the curb and I grinned when I saw him.
“Hey,” Alex said. “I thought I’d offer you a ride home.”
I smiled happily. “Thank you,” I said. Climbing into the car, I leaned over and kissed him. As always, kissing Alex made my heart thump faster and my nipples stiffen with excitement.
Alex pulled away. “I have a surprise for you at home,” he said.
“You mentioned,” I said, flushing. “What is it?”
Alex laughed. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise!”
I grew anxious and excited as Alex drove across town. As soon as we stepped inside our condo, I gasped. The living room was filled with peonies – my favorite flower – and takeout from Spice Nation, my favorite Indian place, was set up at the table.
“This is better than your cooking,” I said, grinning. My stomach rumbled and I leaned over to kiss Alex.
“I’m glad you approve,” Alex said, raising an eyebrow. “Because there’s one other thing I want from you.”
“Oh yeah?” I blushed and bit my lip. “What?”
Alex dropped to one knee. When he pulled a small Cartier box from his pocket, I gasped.
“Molly Peters, will you make me the happiest man on earth by doing me the honor of becoming my wife?” Alex’s blue eyes shone with sincerity.
“Oh my god!” I squeaked. “Yes! Yes!”
Alex got to his feet and slid the beautiful diamond ring onto my finger. He pulled me into a close hug and kissed my neck. Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes and I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
“I love you,” Alex said, pulling away, just so he could look at me. “I always will, Molly.”
Happiness filled my chest and I couldn’t keep from crying. I was torn between staring into the face of my fiancé or staring at my ring.
“I love you, too,” I said softly. “You’ve made me the happiest woman on earth.”
Alex grinned. “Good,” he said. “I hope I can do that every day, Molly.” He reached up to wipe a tear from my cheek. “I love you more than anything, and I will always care for and protect you.” He smirked. “And give you lots of orgasms. I promise to do that, too.”
I blushed. “You’d better,” I said quietly. “Because I’m looking forward to a long, happy, orgasmic life with you.”
As I closed my eyes and nestled my head into Alex’s neck, I knew that everything had finally turned out just like a fairy tale. I’d never expected to find this kind of happiness, but becoming Mrs. Alex Travers was a dream come true. I had no idea what the future would hold – but I knew that as long as Alex and I were together, everything would be absolutely perfect.
The end
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading ‘Thirst’. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, may I ask you to write a review? Seriously, it would mean the world to me. Reviews are very important and allow me to continue to write books that you love to read.
As a thank you for downloading this book, I have included loads of yummy goodies including an EXCLUSIVE NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED Super Steamy Kinky Romance – “Dirty Star”.
Also included is a short story collection if you like reading about bad boys and billionaires!
Thank you for allowing me to keep doing what I love.
xoxo,
Mia
Mia Ford
Let Loose Your Inner Nymphos.
Short Story Collection
SECOND CHANCE
Blurb
Beverley Wade has always been a nerd. In college, she had eyes only for her books and the campus heartthrob, Grant Jennings. Grant was not only a fantasy for her but was way out of her league and also was her biggest competitor. By the time college was over, Beverley was relieved that she wouldn’t have to deal with her conflicting emotions for Grant any longer.
But when her start-up tech company in Silicon Valley faces financial disaster, the highly successful Grant Jennings swoops in to buy her off. Not only is Beverley furious that her old rival wants to buy her company, but it seems like suddenly he can’t keep his hands off her either.
Can Beverly trust Grant? Or, will Grant’s chiseled body and dreamy eyes be too hard for Beverly to resist?
Chapter 1
Beverley
I looked on either side before crossing the road, safety first! Even though my mind was whirling with thoughts and I couldn’t concentrate on a single thing, I could still walk to my office blindfolded. I knew these streets like the back of my hand. I couldn’t fathom what it would feel like, to not go to that office any more. I’d dedicated the past four years of my life to it. Building up the company from scratch, working weekends to ensure that we might be able to finally break even. I had poured my blood and sweat and soul into it, and just when I thought that I just might be able to make it…my accountant told me that the company was going under, that I wouldn’t be able to pay my employees and the only way out would be to sell the company while I still could.
This was an absolute nightmare. I was walking to the office, but I might as well have been a ghost, because I wasn’t thinking any more. What was I supposed to do now? Get a job? I’d been self-employed since college.
From the moment I graduated, I made plans of starting my own company. The tech industry was reaching its peaks and I had a
n idea for a mobile game. I moved to Silicon Valley, rented a small apartment and converted it into an office. I wrote the code for the app myself and within the first three months, it had reached a thousand downloads on various app stores. I hired employees, I set up a separate office space and we worked tirelessly to ensure its success.
And now it wasn’t the way I expected. I would have to sell the game to a bigger corporation just to stay out of bankruptcy and be able to pay my employees. I was ashamed and angry and feeling completely lost.
I took the stairs up to my office, and pushed open the wooden door that led me to the small reception area. My office had three rooms. A reception area for Susan, the receptionist, a room for the other two programmers and one for myself where I sat behind a desk facing three connected computer screens.
Susan looked up at me with a nervous expression on her face when I walked in.
“Morning, Bev,” she said and I forced a smile on my face. There was no reason for me to smile any more.
“Morning, Susan. I’ll be in my office if there are any calls for me,” I said, still in a daze. But, Susan stood up all of a sudden and startled me.
“Bev, there has been an offer” she said, and I looked at her still a little confused with my brows crossed.
“An offer for what?” I asked her and Susan looked like she was struggling to get the words out.
“For the company, you know?” she said and my heart sank. This was getting more real by the minute.
“Someone made an offer to buy my company?” I asked her in a raised voice. Sasha, one of the programmers, stuck his head out from his room and looked at us. Susan sat back down and nodded her head, like she was ashamed of herself. They all knew exactly how badly I was taking this.
“Who is it?” I asked Susan, who also doubled up as my assistant and secretary. She looked at her papers, and shuffled through her notes.
“I got a call from them only half an hour ago. From the offices of Lonex Apps?” Susan said and looked up at me. Now, she was beginning to look like she was worried for me.
“Lonex Apps?” I said, in a much shriller voice. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“That’s what the man said on the phone,” Susan replied and I fisted the palms of my hands and tried to control my rage.
“You mean, Grant Jennings’ company?” I asked and Susan shrugged her shoulders.
I was asking the wrong person, Susan wasn’t up to date with the inner workings of Silicon Valley. But, I had no one else to take my temper out on, and I had a lot of temper inside me at that moment. I couldn’t believe that Grant Jennings’ company wanted to make an offer.
“What does this mean?” Sasha’s voice interrupted my thoughts and I whipped around to face him with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t know what this means. I don’t even know what they want,” I growled at him.
“Lonex is huge, they are becoming even bigger by the day. I’m sure if they want to buy us out, they’ll have a big sum to offer…don’t you think?” Sasha continued, unaware of the bubbling feelings of rage that were erupting in me.
I tried to control them, I barely could. Sasha’s words were slowly sinking into my brain and driving me nuts. Just when I thought that my day couldn’t get any worse, it had.
“I mean, Grant Jennings…that dude really knows what he’s doing. I bet he has big plans for the app. This could actually be great, Bev,” Sasha said and I shook my head silently. I didn’t want to hear his name, I didn’t want to think about what Grant Jennings wanted to do with my company. I wouldn’t sell to him even if I had to go bankrupt.
“Hey, didn’t you go to college with him or something?” Sasha said and I glared at him, before turning on my heels and walking straight into my office. I banged the door shut behind me and leaned against it, just to catch my breath.
This was the worst possible way that Grant Jennings could make a re-entrance into my life. I thought I never had to think about him again. That my feelings for him in college were over and I could finally move on with my life. But here he was again, turning my world upside down…but this time I was resolved not to let him.
Chapter 2
Grant
The meeting was set up for the next afternoon. Our secretaries had spoken to each other, so I hadn’t actually heard Beverley’s voice, but I got the feeling that she wasn’t pleased. In fact, I had expected her to turn down even before meeting up with me. But, I had a look at the company’s financials, I was aware of their state of affairs. That would have made her desperate to meet with me.
I was sitting behind my desk in my swanky new office, and a smile erupted on my face when I thought about her. Beverley Wade…my biggest competition in college. We had four classes together, and in each one of them she always made a point to try and prove herself to our teachers and to me. She had underestimated me in the beginning. I was captain of the basketball team, I dated cheerleaders…she had probably assumed that I was just a jock. That I was also an ace student and that I’d turn out to be her biggest competitor in class; was not something she anticipated.
Beverley was something of a nerd in college, the exact opposite of me. That is what the rest of the world thought, including her. With black rimmed circular glasses, her dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail at the back of her head; she was always in oversized t-shirts and plain shirts and ill-fitting jeans. She took pride in her scores, not in her looks. She had a fiery temper and always took the high moral road.
Beverley sat at the front of the class and always had her hand up when questions were asked. While I sat at the back, and if I happened to give the right answers; she never failed to whip around and shoot me a look. But, surprise was always mixed with her rage. She was always shocked that I had the answers and then that shock immediately turned to anger that I had managed to trump her.
My friends thought she was a geek. Everyone thought Beverley was a geek. A fairly attractive geek but a geek nevertheless!
To me, Beverley was delicious. Her anger and competition with me, made me secretly smile and fantasize about taming her. What would Beverley taste of? What would it feel like to pin her down in my bed? Sometimes, when I slept with another new cheerleader, or a sorority girl…I imagined Beverley’s face and I could never control myself after that. She was like a forbidden fruit. I knew I could never have her. She detested me, but it was exciting just imagining it. Undoing that ponytail, taking off her glasses, overpowering her and making her orgasm. That would teach her.
It wasn’t just sexual though, she challenged me. I found it refreshing to go to class and try to beat her to it, but she never seemed to be having fun. It was always a competition to her, while to me it was just a friendly game. And now we had found ourselves in this position. We had both started tech companies to build apps and games, and we had big ideas for it. We had both moved to Silicon Valley with this idea and very little money in our pockets, and she maintained her distance from me. But in the past four years that we had been here, I had not once bumped into her. It had to be a carefully constructed scenario, I could sense that she had been avoiding me like the plague. Probably because of my company’s success.
I had the backing of wealthy investors within six months of starting Lonex, while I heard that Beverley was still trying to perfect her app. I paid attention to the business side, passing over programing reigns and responsibility to a dedicated team of experts. I focused on expanding my company, while Beverley still wrote her own code, worked with only two programmers and hadn’t found any investors yet.
I wished I could reach out to her and give her some advice, but there was no way that she would have accepted it. In her eyes, I was still the womanizing basketball heartthrob who sweet talked his way into getting better grades. She thought I was an airhead, while she was the genius. And probably I didn’t deserve any of the success I had gathered.
Now here we were. She was on the brink of bankruptcy and I was a billionaire. I didn’t have to talk to her to know
that she was not a fan of this situation. But there was no way that I was simply going to sit back and allow Beverley’s company and hard work disintegrate into nothing. Whether we were friends or not, I still believed that she was the smartest person I’d ever met. Buying out her company was a no-brainer. Even if she didn’t look at it as a rescue, that was the only way I knew how to keep her afloat.
It had been close to five years since I last saw her, we were both in our late twenties by now, on two different ends of the spectrum; but I hadn’t stopped thinking about her. I knew nothing about her personal life, I practically knew nothing else other than that her company was sinking; but just the prospect of seeing her again excited me.
Our lives had changed drastically now, and she probably hated me more but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if we could work together. If we could finally put our differences aside and work as a team. It would require a lot of effort, because Beverley was a tough cookie, but it would ultimately be beneficial to my company as well as to me.
Now, all I had to do was make sure that our meeting the next day went according to plan.