THE MITUS TOUCH: Book One of The Touch Series
Page 34
The staff burst into laughter.
“Oh, God, I’ll drink to that.” Taylor raised her glass.
“Did no one like my wild parties?” Colton asked.
The room quieted.
“I thought they were…um…exciting.” Shane’s cheeks turned scarlet.
The group cracked up again.
“Tonight’s entertainment involves your fiancée,” Ryan said.
Colton shot Brigit a puzzled look.
“I’ve agreed to play a few Christmas carols.” Brigit squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.
Colton raised his glass to the staff. “Thank you for your efforts this year. It’s teamwork that makes us successful. Pick up your bonus checks tomorrow before you head home for the holidays.”
The doorbell chimed and Vonn threw open the front door. While Brigit was excited to meet Colton’s mom, butterflies tumbled in her belly. In walked Alexandra Reed holding Colton’s mom by the arm. Though somewhat frail, Kimberly Mitus was an elegant woman. Her dark hair was cut blunt at her neckline with side-swept bangs. Even with the aid of a cane and a doting daughter, Kimberly carried herself with grace.
“Come meet my mom,” Colton said to Brigit.
“Merry Christmas, dear,” Kimberly kissed her son’s cheeks.
Colton threw his massive arms around her but hugged her gently. “You look great, Mom. I’m glad you’re here.”
The sweet embrace between mother and son tugged on Brigit’s heartstrings. She admired the woman who’d endured the loss of a child and carried on without a spouse when Wilson had failed his family so miserably. Kimberly Mitus had been both the backbone and the heart of the Mitus family.
“Mom, this is Brigit Farnay. Brigit, this my mom, Kimberly Mitus.”
Kimberly’s eyes softened. “I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you.”
Brigit hugged her. “I’m so happy to meet you, Mrs. Mitus.”
“Call me Kimberly.” Her gaze floated between Brigit and Colton. “I’m relieved my son has found his copilot.”
“Congratulations!” Alexandra hugged Brigit. “I’ve always wanted a sister.”
“Me, too,” Brigit said.
“Hello, Kimberly.” Dez gave her a soft hug. “I have the paperwork you requested. Should we take care of things before dinner?”
“What paperwork?” Colton asked.
“My will, son. I’m feeling energized and I’m awake.” Kimberly looked at Dez. “Two things I used to take for granted. Lead the way, my friend.”
Alexandra’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry…I can’t do this.” She set off toward the kitchen.
Kimberly sighed. “Alexandra is all emotion, whereas Colton contains his.”
Brigit darted on her tiptoes and pecked Colton’s cheek. “I’ll go to her.”
Colton helped his mom remove her coat. Then, with a rueful smile, Kimberly wrapped her long fingers around Dez’s arm and ambled down the hallway toward his office. Though Colton’s eyes stung, he cleared his throat and turned away. Stay strong.
The doorbell rang and Crockett squeezed into the foyer, thick with people. “Merry Christmas!”
Colton slapped him on the back. “Glad you could make it.” With a smile, he added, “You look good, bro. Showering helps.”
Chuckling, Crockett extended the bottle of Dom Perignon. “For toasting or to share with the fiancée. Congratulations on the big news.”
“Thanks. Great vintage.” Colton grasped the champagne. “I never thought about marriage until I met Brigit. It’s all about finding the right woman. You next?”
“Hell no.”
Colton pointed to the bouquet. “For me?”
“You’re a smart ass, you know that? Where’s Brigit?”
“Consoling my sister.”
The knot between Crockett’s brows deepened. “Did something happen with your mom?”
“All things considered, she’s doing well.” Colton paused, then cleared his throat. “She’s reviewing her will. That upset Alexandra.”
“Totally understandable. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.” Colton threw an arm around Crockett and the two men headed toward the kitchen. “So, how often do you talk to my mom?”
“Every week.”
“No wonder she calls you her favorite.”
“Not me.” Crockett glanced around. “That baby sister of yours has always been her golden child.”
After setting the champagne on the kitchen island, Colton asked, “Elliott, did Brigit come through here?”
“Porch,” Elliott called as he opened the oven door.
Just then, Brigit and Alexandra rose from the sofa and hugged.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen Alexandra?” Colton asked.
“Eleven years. Goth girl had just graduated high school.”
The two women scooted inside bringing a blast of chilly air with them. “Too cold.” Brigit’s teeth chattered as Colton pulled her close.
Alexandra stopped short and her eyes grew wide. “Crockett.”
After several seconds, Crockett murmured, “Hello, Goth Girl.”
The corners of Alexandra’s lips lifted. “Thanks for talking, Brigit,” she said though her gaze remained locked on Crockett. “Excuse me, I’m going to check on mom.” As she exited the room, she glanced over her shoulder before vanishing around the corner.
Like a locomotive, Chad barreled into the kitchen, escorting a blushing Kat whose white-knuckled grip choked the neck of a wine bottle.
“Kat!” Brigit exclaimed.
Kat bear-hugged her. “Hey bestie!”
“Merry Christmas, Kathryn.” Colton kissed her cheek.
Kat offered the bottle to Colton. “Your home is beautiful.”
After introductions, Brigit hugged Crockett. “Good to see you.”
“Congratulations.” Crockett handed her the bouquet. “I heard you said yes.”
“I did, and I couldn’t be happier.” Brigit cradled the giant bouquet in her arms. “Thank you. These are lovely.”
Elliott shooed them. “Please, out of my kitchen. Shane, uncork the champagne, then put the flowers in a crystal vase.”
Smiling, Colton shook his head. “I’m being ordered around in my own home.”
“Your home. My kitchen!” Elliott winked.
Shane collected the items and the group scooted into the living room, but not before Chad collected five flutes filled with chilled bubbly.
“Friends make the best family,” Crockett said and raised his glass.
“Hear, hear,” Kat said.
“Merry Christmas,” Chad said and looked at Kat. “Here’s to a damn good New Year.” Her cheeks flushed.
Colton gazed lovingly into Brigit’s eyes and tapped her flute. “Better together.”
Brigit beamed. “To the man with the Mitus touch.”
When the last guest had left, the couple retreated into their bedroom. Brigit needed alone time with her man.
Colton pulled her into an embrace and gazed into her eyes. “Hello, fiancée,” he murmured.
Feeling deeply loved and totally adored, she smiled. “I have something for you. Santa came early.”
“Lucky Santa.” Through their smiles he kissed her. “I have a surprise for you too.”
She caressed his crotch.
Colton ended the string of doting kisses, took her hand and strolled into the sitting room. “No, a real surprise.” He sat on the sofa and patted his leg.
After she got comfortable in his lap, he slowly ran his hand up her thigh until his fingers vanished beneath the dress. Her breath caught. Delicious tingles had her blood pumping as the air sizzled between them. With one possessive hand on her bare skin, he reached down with his other hand and plucked a wrapped box from the side of the sofa. “A ‘too big for the stocking’, stocking stuffer.”
Brigit lifted the lid. Resting on a bed of tissue paper was a framed picture from the gala. “I love this, Colton.” The two were gazing lovingly i
nto each other’s eyes.
“I thought you might. That photo says it all.”
She kissed his cheek. “Thank you for this special gift. Be right back.” With frame in hand, she disappeared into their bedroom. After setting the photo on the bureau, she collected a gift from their closet and sat beside him.
“For you.” She set the gift box on his lap.
“First, I have a confession,” he said.
Her stomach dropped. A confession?
“There’s something I haven’t told you about the Francesco transaction.”
Oh, no. Her chest tightened.
He placed the box on the coffee table and enveloped her hands in his. “Melvin and I converted your Francesco shares back to private equity. You still own twenty-two percent of the Francesco Company. I want us to be true partners in every sense.”
She stared at him for several seconds, absorbing the weight of his words. “Oh, Colton.” Beaming, she flung her arms around him. “Thank you! You are the most wonderful man I have ever known.”
“How wonderful?” he murmured, then brushed his lips against hers.
Placing the box on his lap, she gave him a flirty grin. “You’re about to find out. Go to the guesthouse and open this. I’ll be there shortly.”
Colton unwrapped Brigit’s gift and swelled with anticipation. As he donned the black silk pajamas and ornate black and silver baroque eye mask, his imagination went to dark, erotic places.
Five minutes later, there was a knock on the guesthouse door. Colton swung it open. His breath caught and he hardened. Brigit stood on the doorstep, covered in a full-length red hooded cape, her fiery green eyes framed in a white and gold Venetian mask. She was his best fantasy come to life.
A low, raspy groan shot from the back of his throat. “You are so fucking sexy.”
“Good evening, Wolf.” She ran her tongue over her lower lip.
“Miss Riding Hood.”
She opened her cape and revealed a black lace push-up bra and thong, a garter belt with thigh-highs and open-toed stilettos.
His gaze roamed freely over her beautiful body, then back into her eyes. “You look good enough to eat,” he growled.
With a beckoning smile, she extended her hand. “I guess you’d better invite me in, then.”
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Coming Fall 2017
The Wilde Touch
Book Two of The Touch Series
Looks can be deceiving…
The instant she gazes into his piercing baby blues the unrelenting passion she once felt comes roaring back. The strikingly handsome CEO is built like a tank, brimming with confidence and relentless. She vows to stay clear. But their blazing hot connection unleashes a tornado of long-buried emotions and a heavy dose of lust. Crockett Wilde makes staying away impossible.
The shy Goth teenager has blossomed into a self-assured, breathtaking beauty. Alexandra Mitus' sultry smile and soulful eyes reawaken lost love, but it’s her dark desires and kinky sex-play that ignite his insatiable need. Propelled into her sex club, he’s committed to make her his—and on his terms.
By day, they join forces to uncover the terrifying, unthinkable truth. By night, they ravish each other with a million-candle power of blinding, searing passion. Her erotic world becomes his. His phenomenal success paves the way for hers. The secrets they unearth unmask a maelstrom of evil. But the moment she goes missing changes their lives in unimaginable ways.
A Note From the Author
Thank you for reading my debut novel, The Mitus Touch! My journey began a few years ago with a loving nudge from my husband, a plot idea, and an outpouring of words. But it was after connecting with other romance writers and readers that my journey really began.
The Wilde Touch, Book Two of The Touch Series, is scheduled for release in the late fall of 2017. The story revolves around Colton’s best friend, Crockett Wilde, and Colton’s little sister, Alexandra Reed Mitus. And a sex-play club. Those naughty Mitus siblings!
I love connecting with readers. You can find me here:
Website – http://www.StoniAlexander.com
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Facebook – https://bit.ly/stonifba
Twitter – https://twitter.com/stonialexander
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Cheers to Romance!
Stoni
About the Author
Stoni Alexander writes erotic romance about tortured alpha males and independent, strong-willed heroines. In a previous life, she ventured into acting, appearing in numerous television, film and stage productions before transitioning to a successful career in business. Stoni spent her childhood moving around like a gypsy and appreciates her deep-seated roots in the DC metro area. She’s married to the love of her life, is an überproud football mom, and dreams of the day when her muse will inspire her at will.
@StoniAlexander
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