Aurora shook her head. She wasn’t up to a fight. “No. I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well.”
An evil smile curled Tina’s lips, giving her a Grinch that stole Christmas look. “Well, that’s too bad. Here,” she said, shoving a large yellow envelope into Aurora’s hands. She turned abruptly and marched away.
Aurora frowned at her retreating back, glad she didn’t have to find a way to get rid of the girl. She looked at the envelope in her hands with a frown. She hoped it wasn’t some fru-fru invitation to the girl’s birthday party. She unbent the brass brads and opened the flap. After peaking in and realizing she held large photos, Aurora pulled them out.
The fog of her brain lifted quickly as she realized what she held. It was pictures of her and Phillip, out on his balcony. She flipped through them to find him and her in various stages of undress, and then completely naked, and then, finally, in many positions making love. Behind the last photo was a note made from pasted newspaper and magazine letters. As each letter had been cut out from different papers, she knew it had taken a lot of time to put the note together. She swallowed, and forced herself to read it.
One hundred million dollars or these will be sold to the newspaper on your birthday. No cops. Instructions forthcoming.
Aurora’s legs nearly gave before she thought to search for a bench to sit upon. It took all her strength to make it to the closest one several feet away. Who? How? She frowned and forced herself to look through them again. The pictures had been taken the evening before. The fruit was plain to see. From the angle it had to have come from the Trump building, perhaps even from the rooftop.
Did this have anything to do with the crazy woman she’d only just learned about, or was Tina responsible for it? No. The girl was follower, a hanger-on. She wouldn’t have the strength of character to orchestrate something so horrible. It had to be that woman who had already ruined so much of her life. And now, through no fault of his own, Phillip could be in terrible danger just because she knew him!
Aurora made herself stand before running to her car. She had to get to Phillip. She might not be able to keep him in her life, but she couldn’t let anything happen to him.
She knew now, without a doubt, she loved him too much.
****
“I can’t see you anymore.”
Stunned, Phillip shook his head. “No. Why? What did I do?”
“Can I come in?”
Nodding he backed away from the door and led the way to the living room. “What’s going on, Rose?”
She took a deep breath and walked up to him, placed her hand on his jaw, and leaned in for a soft kiss. “I need to tell you so much and then I have to leave here and never come back. And I have to start with my name. It isn’t Rose. It’s Aurora Rose DeLaCourt.”
Phillip walked to the couch and plopped down onto it. “What?”
She joined him, settling at his side. “I know. ‘What?’ was my reaction, too. I only learned last night who I am. I’m still numb about that. But there is something so much more important than that. You could be in danger, Phillip. Just from knowing me. I have to get out of your life and get out now. That way the woman who killed my parents, and who is going to blackmail me, and possibly attempt to hurt me physically, won’t be able to get to you.”
As Phillip sat shaking his head, she repeated everything the aunts had told her, somehow maintaining a level of composure. “You can leave here, Phillip. I know you have it sweet here while your friend is away, but you can’t stay. She took pictures of us yesterday on the balcony. Horrible pictures meant to destroy me. And I’m afraid she will come after you, too. Just to hurt me more. You have to hide. Go back to where you came from and stay safe.
“When the coast is clear, I’ll find you. I’m so sorry about this. I’m so sorry!”
Phillip pulled her into his arms and held her close. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not leaving you to the whims of a crazy woman. I can help you. I’ll get you protection. You know Bart. I’ll reassign him to protect you when I can’t be with you.”
Aurora frowned at him. “What are you talking about? You can’t reassign Bart. He’s security for Princeton Enterprises. I don’t know if you noticed, but this is their building.”
Phillip grinned sheepishly. “I’m Princeton Enterprises. Or at least my dad is. I should have already told you, but I loved being wanted for myself rather than for being the son of one of the richest men in the country. Phillip Princeton, at your service.”
Shaking her head Aurora leaned back to rest against the back of the sofa. “This is too weird. I’m the DeLaCourt heir, you’re the Princeton heir, and we are in deep doo doo. That woman has pictures she can use to destroy both of us. I have to catch her and stop her from selling them to the tabloids on my birthday. Or I will have to go under cover for the rest of my life. I can’t taint my parent’s legacy just because I like having kinky sex with you.”
Phillip grinned and pulled her back into his arms. “I’m glad you like having kinky sex with me, beautiful, but is that all it is for you?”
She hugged him close. “No. It’s so much more. That’s why I have to protect you. She is coming after me. We’ll go to your father, who I happen to have an appointment with in an hour, and tell him everything. He should be able to tell us how dangerous she can be for you.”
Phillip snapped to his feet. “Damn it, Aurora! I am not going to let you face this alone. I am a man. I don’t need to have my father telling me what to do to stay safe. But you’re right about talking to him.” Phillip flipped open his cell phone and began punching numbers. “This woman has no idea who she is dealing with.” He shifted as the call was answered. “Hey, Dad, meet me at my place, pronto.”
****
Half an hour later, they stood before Phillip Princeton Sr., who immediately moved to take Aurora in his arms. “My, child, you look just like your mother!” He took a step back and noticed his son’s frown, then led the way to the leather couch in the center of the large living room. “What’s going on here, son?” He looked between the two of them. “How do you know each other?”
Aurora grinned, taking Phillip’s hand into hers. “We met at a party. We’ve been seeing each other ever since. Phillip has been painting me.” She flashed Phillip a grin then turned back to his father. “I know it makes no sense, and it’s way too soon, but I’m in love with your son, Mr. Princeton. And I’m in trouble with that woman that killed my parents. I need you to convince Phillip that he needs to stay away from me. I don’t want what is happening with me to hurt him, or your family’s name.”
Fury built on Phillip’s handsome features. “Aurora. Stop it. I love you, too, and I am not disappearing so that crazy bitch can get at you.”
“You can’t. I won’t let you. She can smear your name just like she’s planning to smear mine!”
“You aren’t doing this by yourself! So get that out of your stubborn head!”
“Children!” Phillip, Sr. moved to stand in front of them. “Stop this. There is a time for foreplay, and a time for cool heads. This is the latter. Let me see the pictures you told me about on the phone.”
Aurora pulled the envelope from her purse. It was one thing to tell her godfather about the pictures before she’d known his relationship to the man in them. It was something else altogether actually showing him that the man she’d been talking about was his son.
Aurora glanced at Phillip to find him grinning. She grinned back before turning to his father. “I’m thinking it best not to. It’s me and Phillip on his balcony making love. I’d feel awkward showing them to you.”
“In that case, so would I. We’ll hold them until we decide if we need them. I’d rather not embarrass either of you.”
“So what do you suggest we do, Mr. Princeton?”
A satisfied smile lifted his lips. “Marry each other.”
Surprise lifted both their brows. “What?”
“What?”
“We’ll post the nuptials in the paper a
nd draw her out. We have to do it before Aurora’s birthday. I think a quick, widely publicized wedding will be too much for her to resist. I think she’ll come after you or just show up to watch since it throws her plan off. Either way I will make sure she is taken down before she gets close to you.”
Aurora turned to Phillip. “What do you think?”
Phillip pulled her close and kissed her deeply. “What do you say? Marry me?”
Not sure if he was kidding or serious, she shook her head. “I can’t marry you. It would make a mockery of my dreams of true love and happily ever after.” She held up her hand when he started to speak. “And I know we barely know each other, and you would never think about this if it were not for this situation.”
Phillip lowered himself to one knee and took her hands in his. “I am asking you, with all sincerity, and all the love I could ever feel for another human being, Aurora Rose DeLaCourt, will you be my wife? I love you so much I couldn’t stand the thought of a life without you.”
Tears slid down her face. “No. Not now. Not until this is over.”
“Ahmmm.” Phillip Sr. cleared his throat. “Maybe I’d better give you a little room to exercise those persuasion powers of yours, son. They work so well with your mother.”
Though usually annoyed by his father’s sarcasm, Phillip laughed. Maybe his father had something there. If there was ever a time to fight for what he wanted, it was now.
Walking across the room, Phillip Sr.’s gaze jumped from his son to Aurora. “You know, some things do end as they should. You two were always meant for each other. Jorge and Leigh, and Jessica and I had so many dreams for your future together when you were toddler and infant. We watched you, Phillip, at nearly three when you were with baby Aurora. You loved her even then, and she always watched you with adoring eyes.
“It broke our hearts when we lost first our dear friends, and then you, too, sweet girl, because of the dangers that woman represented. Amazingly, you found your way back to us and now you have each other in spite of all that kept you apart. Let yourself be convinced it’s right. Life is too short. And sometimes, even shorter.”
Phillip nodded to his father and waited until the older version of himself left the apartment, closing the door with a soft click. Wasting no time, Phillip approached Aurora and took her into his arms, ignoring both the stiffness of her body, and the slight pushing away. “I love you,” he stated again, needing her to understand he couldn’t let her go. He kissed her face over and over again until there wasn’t an inch left untouched. Then he moved to her neck, nibbling, licking, savoring the scent and taste of her until thrillingly he heard her moan of response.
She was kissing him back then. But they weren’t kisses of passion. They were rough, anger-filled bite-like kisses that were meant to push away, but he wasn’t having it. He grasped her jaw with both hands and anchored her head, making his kisses just as aggressive as hers. With a whimper of defeat, her lips gentled, her anger turning to passion, and he followed suit.
Clothes became an impediment. A barrier to what they both needed. She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, as he ripped hers open. They fought to remove each other’s clothing, battled to touch flesh to flesh.
Somehow they were atop the plush carpeting. He was inside of her. She was all around him. The room became an inferno of passion filled with moans, growls and flesh smacking flesh. Aurora reared back, a gurgle of sound built from her throat until it became a shattering scream. Phillip rode her climax, then allowed his own. The release of his seed was a long drawn-out process that left him exhausted, and depleted, and happier than he’d ever been in his life. He collapsed, his sweat soaked body covered hers. Their hearts pounded against each other’s chests.
Finally Phillip pulled himself up to stare into her satisfied blue eyes. “Nothing will ever change what is between us. No one will ever separate us. Certainly not that bitch out there. She’ll be dealt with before the day is over. I promise.
“Aurora, I make you another promise: With my life, I will honor and defend you. With my heart, I will love you, always. With my body I will worship you. Marry me, Aurora. Marry me.”
Pulling him back to within an inch of her lips, Aurora smiled. “With my hands I will hold you. With my heart I will love you. With my body… Oh, my! Again? I do love you! Of course I’ll marry you. I’ve waited my entire life for my Prince Charming. You are my happily ever after.”
Phillip grinned as his manhood stood rock hard and waiting. “Oh, I have a happily ever after for you.” He lowered his head, took her lips, and made her very happy, indeed.
THE END
HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
Jennifer Johnson
Chapter One
Abigail
I’m Abigail Benton, and I am an embarrassment to my parents.
My grandmother’s name, which is also my name, is on one of the buildings where I went to college, but that didn’t mean much when my ex-jerk-of-a-pot-smoking-boyfriend stole money from the accounting firm where I used to be employed. My grandmother’s legacy only served to make the wise judge and the D.A. who I’m pretty sure are my uncle’s golf buddies, work out a plan to teach little Abigail a lesson in humility.
I now work the graveyard shift at Waffle Mania and do five hours of community service a day in Clavanaia at a youth center where I get to babysit a bunch of hoodlums who hate me as much as I hate being there.
However, I haven’t lost my sense of humor or my shiny bright outlook on life.
Men, though.
I’m done with them, romantically speaking.
****
On the third day I was at the community center, in, if I’m honest, what was a pretty scary part of town, my car was broken into. I even saw the punk who did it. This young man’s name was Yo-Yo. I’m sure it wasn’t the name his mother gave him, if she even stuck around long enough to name him, that is. If you knew half the stories of the lives of these kids, it would break your heart into at least ten pieces. It’s so sad what these kids have been through. However, does it give them the right to break the lock on my car and steal my MP3 player? I don’t think so.
I walked out the door with Mr. Harvey, the bald colossus of a man who directed the center, when we saw Yo-Yo jump away from my car and pull the I’m too cool to be doing anything I shouldn’t be doing act. Mr. Harvey’s lip curled, and I could have sworn I saw a small puff of smoke come from one nostril—no, he wasn’t smoking at the time.
We both knew Yo-Yo was doing a no-no. This could either make me or break me with the little guy and all of his buddies.
“Any rule against Yo-Yo taking a drive with me while we work things out about respecting people’s property?”
“You can’t take him off the premises.”
“Can I sit with him in my car for a little while?”
“That’s pushing it. What if you two sit in the front, and I sit in the back as a silent observer?” Mr. Harvey stared at Yo-Yo, but directed his comments to me.
I liked that idea. Mr. Harvey’s presence would indicate to Yo-Yo that I had the Big Man On Campus on my side. “Lovely.” I fished my keys from my purse and swung them around my finger like I was slinging a gun.
I marched over to where Yo-Yo was trying to sprint from my car and still act as if he had no care in the world.
“Yo-Yo,” I called and ran to catch up with him. He pretended like he didn’t hear me. Big surprise, right?
When I was walking abreast with him, I smiled so sweetly as if this kid was my best friend. I invited him to come with me, linked my arm into his, and turned us around to my poor violated Toyota. Mr. Harvey stood at the rear door waiting for entry. At the car, I noticed that, sure enough, my player was missing. It was small so I hoped it wasn’t in one of his pockets. I studied his low hanging pants. I’d hate to feel up his knee caps searching for my tunes. I’d check the backpack first.
“Mr. Harvey, you, and I are going to sit in my car for a bit and visit,” I said.
His gaze jumped from me to Mr. Harvey. I could see the wheels spinning in his brain. Did he know the jig was up, or did he think he could he fake his way out of this?
“I can’t. My…uh…sister is s’posed to pick me up in ten minutes. I’ve got to wait on the sidewalk for her.”
“We’ll be able to see her when she gets here.” I reached for his backpack which he had slung low on one arm, but he moved it to the other side. I guided him into the front passenger seat. “Won’t this be nice getting to know each other?” I winked at him. Hurrying around to the other side, I sat on the driver’s seat, and Mr. Harvey sat behind me. As I settled in, I noticed Yo-Yo stared straight ahead, playing it cool. My heart sped. I was nervous, but I couldn’t show it. Not only did I need to prove myself to this kid but also to the man in the backseat who signed off on my service hours.
“I had an MP3 player on the seat. Do you know what happened to it?”
Silence.
I glanced in the rearview mirror to Mr. Harvey. I appreciated that he still hadn’t spoken.
“Yo-Yo?”
“I didn’t do nuthin’.” His fair skin had reddened all the way to his hairline.
“Would you open your backpack and let me see?”
Bending forward he unzipped a pocket on the backpack resting at his feet, pulled the MP3 player out, and slung it at me. So, did I berate him for throwing it at me or for stealing it in the first place? Both?
“Don’t you know better than to take other people’s things?”
“Don’t you know better than to put your…stuff where people can get it?” YoYo snapped.
I sighed. Stupid me thinking a locked car was enough of a deterrent. I was the injured party here. What right did he have to be mad? “Come on, Yo-Yo. You know better than to break into a car and steal.”
“Why don’t you leave? Ain’t nobody here want you here sticking your nose in our business.”
That’s funny. He violates my car and steals my stuff, and I’m sticking my nose in his business? Glancing in the mirror again I wished the silent observer would comment. How about some help here, Mr. Harvey? No such luck.
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