HEAT Vol. 3 (Master Chefs: HEAT Series #3) (4 page)

I
knew he meant well, but I still felt demolished.  “Like what?  Get the CIA on
the case?  Interpol?”

“There
must be records of you somewhere.  Your birth certificate… things like that.”

“But
I know who I am, Bobby.”

“But
do you know who your father is?  Who he really is?  What his name is?”

“Yes,
it’s Emile Cooke.

 “Are
you sure that’s his real name?  Have you ever seen your birth certificate? 
What if he came here to drop you off and used a fake name?”

He
was right.  “Maybe I’m not even a Cooke.”

Pulling
me tight in his arms, he kissed my cheek.  “Well, you’ll always be the cook in
our house.”

It
was such a silly attempt at a joke that I couldn’t help but laugh.  “You're so
sweet, Bobby, going through all this with me.”

“Come
on.  I’ll buy you a nice country dinner out in one of those quaint little
bistros, we’ll have a glass of wine and then we’ll plot out our next move,
okay?”

Nodding,
I hooked my arm through his, but instead of guiding him straight out the main
entrance, I led him back out to the garden.  “Just one last look around before
we leave.”

“Sure. 
There’s no rush.  We have all night if we want to.”

I
playfully leaned into him, happy to have his support.

As
we turned onto the lane between the various tomato plants we came upon a
worker.

“I
didn’t know they allowed men to work here,” Bobby said.

“He
doesn’t really work here,” I said, looking at the older man with greying hair and
kind twinkling blue eyes. “He comes around on a regular basis to keep the
irrigation system running smoothly.  Hello, Mr. Portuas.  How’s the system
running?”

He
grinned.  “Smooth as cold water on a duck’s back, Miss Lilly.”

“Mother
Superior isn’t working you too hard, I hope.”

“Nope. 
Not enough, if you ask me.  I like to keep busy.  You know what they say about
idle hands.”

“I
do.”

“It
sure is nice seeing you here again, Miss Lilly.  You know, the place isn’t the
same since you left.  No.  Just not the same.”

“You’re
sweet, Mr. Portuas.”

“Yeah,
yeah.  Sweet, all right.”  He eyed Bobby.  “This your suitor?”

I
laughed at his choice of words.  “You could say that.”

He
poked his index finger into Bobby’s chest.  “You better take good care of this
one.  She’s not just some chick you can have fun with and let loose.”

“Don’t
worry.  I have no intention of letting her loose, sir.”

With
a chuckle, Mr. Portuas turned to me and pinched my cheek.  “Watched this one
grow up, I did.  Yep, right from when she was this high.”  He leveled his hand
at his hip.

Remembering
all the times he’d helped me, I smiled and looked at Bobby.  “Mr. Portuas was
always there to lend a hand whenever I had problems.  When the irrigation
system was first installed he was here almost all the time and he showed me a
lot about the plants.”

“Show
her how to tell the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini.”

I
laughed and patted the old man’s arm.  “I sure do miss seeing you, Mr.
Portuas.”

“Hey,
that’s what happens when you grow up and move to the big city.  You study hard,
work hard and if you're lucky you’ve got a good life coming ahead of you.  The
good Lord always rewards good, honest work.”

“He
sure does.”

“And
in between all that work and study, well, you can always come around for a visit. 
I’m here just about every Tuesday and Thursday just before sundown.”

“I’ll
make sure to come around again soon, Mr. Portuas.  Take good care of yourself,
now.”

Chapter 5

T
he sun was bright and hot as I ran through the
garden maze, delighted by the game.  The hedge that made up the maze was so
high, I couldn’t even see the French chateau nearby, but I knew I’d eventually
find my way out.  I always did.  I grabbed the skirt of my frilly princess
dress and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me.  I knew the first three
corridors led nowhere.  Turning the fourth corridor of the maze, I turned left,
then right, then left again, only to come to a dead end.  At the very end, I
saw my reflection in the mirror there and stuck my tongue out at myself.  I
hated when I took a wrong turn.  However, I did like the sight of my
reflection.

My
hair was pulled up into two pigtails, and although I hated pigtails, I did like
the big velvet ribbons that held them in place.  They were of the most
beautiful purple I’ve ever seen.  I was a true princess in my lavender dress; a
six year old princess who dreamed of her prince.

I
giggled as I hurried out of the dead end and rushed to the next corner before
my playmate could find me.  But around the corner, I smashed into something
hard and stumbled back to fall to the ground.

Looking
up at the tall shadow that blotted out the sun, I grunted with humiliation and
pain while he laughed.

“You’re
so clumsy, Lilly,” he said.  “How do you ever manage to get through a day
without ending up in the hospital?  It seems I’m always picking you up from
some fall or another, even here in your own garden. ”

“It’s
not my fault,” I said, rubbing my leg.  “You bumped into me and made me fall.”

He
laughed even harder.  “It’s not very mature of you to blame someone else for
your clumsiness.  I was just standing here and you ran right into me.” 

“You're
fourteen and I’m only six. 
You
should be more careful.”

“Excuses,
excuses.”  He shook his head in disapproval.  “I’ll never understand why my
parents chose you to be my future wife.  How can I possibly marry such a
klutz?  You’ll probably embarrass yourself and me by stumbling down the aisle.”

Pouting,
I glared up at his dark shadow.  He could be so positively mean sometimes.

“Although
you are kind of cute, in a very little girl way.”

I
had one second to be elated that he found me cute, but was instantly demolished
knowing he saw me as such a little girl.  “Well, I don’t know why my Daddy
wants me to marry you, either.  You're rude, brash and you have no manners
whatsoever.”  I tried to get up, but fell back down.  “Ouch.”

“You
okay?” There was no concern in his question, just mirth.

“No,
you bubble head.  Look at my knee.”

He
bent down beside me, no longer blocking me from the sun.  With the light in his
face, I blushed like I always did when I saw him.  No matter how bad his
manners, he was just so darn handsome, so much more handsome than any of the
princes I’d ever seen in a fairy tale.

His
dark hair curled around his ears and his eyes were bluer than the sky behind
him.  I could stare at him forever.

“Stop
looking at me like that, Lilly.”

“Like
what?”

He
scooped me up in his arms.  “Like a lovesick puppy.”

I
wanted to kick my way out of his arms, but I wanted to stay there all day.  “I
am not.  I’m just grateful you offered to help me.  You're not usually this
nice, you know.”

With
ease, he found his way out of the labyrinth.  I was like a feather in his arms
as he marched toward the grand manor beyond the manicured lawn.

“Oh,
Lord,” one of the maids called out as he walked inside.  “What happened to her
now?”

“She
fell.”

“Is
she seriously hurt?”

“Nothing
a little rest in her bed won’t cure.  I’ll bring her up.”  His smile was all
charm and even the old maid was drawn in.

“Such
a sweet and handsome young boy, that Rial.  You sure are lucky to have him
around, Lilly.”

I
wanted to yell at her that I wasn’t lucky at all, that I wouldn’t have fallen
to begin with had it not been for him, but I simply sulked in his arms.

“What’s
eating you?” he asked on the way up the stairs.

“It’s
not fair.  You hurt me and everyone thinks you’re a hero for helping me.  It’s
just not fair.”  With tears fighting their way to my eyes, I looked away from
him as we entered my room.

“There
you go, little princess,” he said as he set me on my bed.  Taking a look
around, he gagged.  “Geez, any pinker and you’d think a batch of cotton candy
had exploded in your room.”

“I
like pink,” I said with all the haughtiness I could muster.  “If you don’t like
it, you’re welcomed to leave.”

“I’ll
leave as soon as I’ve cleaned you up.”  He turned around and walked into the
adjacent bathroom and returned a moment later with a damp washcloth.

The
minute he sat down beside me, I pulled away.

“What
are you doing? Get over here.”

“You're
just a rough boy who like to hurt little girls.  You’re not a nurse.  With my
luck, you’ll just going to hurt me even more.”

“Stop
being silly and get over here,” he said as he pulled me back to the edge of the
bed.  “I can be as rough as you are clumsy, but I’ll be as gentle as you are
pretty if you sit still.”

Again,
I could feel my face heat up just knowing he thought I was pretty.

Patting
the washcloth over my knee, he scrutinized me.  “Yeah, I guess I could do
worse.  I mean, you have pretty hair and big doe eyes.  I could probably get
used to having a girl like you around, maybe even as a wife.”

“Oh,
the thought is so gross,” I said with an exaggerated grimace.

He
laughed.  “Give it a few years.  You won’t find it so gross.”  He kissed my
knee.

“Why
d’you do that?”  I was stunned by the softness of his lips and any pain that I
might have felt was instantly gone.

“To
help it heal.  That’s what my mother always does.”

“What
if you decide to marry another girl?”  I said, trying not to whine.

“I
can’t.  Our parents made it so we would end up together, like it or not.”

“Daddy
won’t talk to me about it.  He won’t tell me why I have to marry you.”

He
shrugged.  “Our families are very close.  They’ve always been.  Maybe it’s just
a question of strengthening our bloodline.  You come from a strong, powerful
family and so do I.  Together we’ll take on the world.”

I
laughed and so did he.  He was so cute when he laughed… not when it was a
mocking laugh like when he made me fall, but when it was a real hearty laugh. 
I could listen to him for hours and, when I looked into his eyes… why did he
have to have such dreamy eyes?

But
as I stared at him, into his beautiful eyes, he was no longer the fourteen year
old boy who teased me so mercilessly, but a twenty seven year old man, so
strong and virile, I wanted to melt.  I’d lost my pigtails and princess dress
and my mature, young woman’s body yearned for his.

He
pinned me to the wall, his eyes hard with determination as he brought his mouth
over mine.  The little girl in me wanted to pull away and deny him the
pleasure, but the pleasure he brought me was so great, I couldn’t help but
leaned into him for more.  When his tongue swooped in to dance with mine, I
reluctantly  went along, unsure what I was supposed to do.

“Let
go, Lilly.  Just let go and enjoy the moment.”

His
simple command was enough.  I melted into him, and dug my nails into the flesh
of his neck.  My lips sucked on his, my tongue tasted him and my breasts
pressed against his chest.  All I’d ever known were the chaste kisses of
friends and family.  No one had ever told me, had ever warned me what a real
kiss could be.

My
body stiffened and a strange tingle rode up my spine when he unbuttoned my top
and slipped it off my shoulders.

“Rial…” 
His name hung in the air; a plea, a protest, a promise.

He
pulled the straps of my bra down and fully exposed my breasts, but not for
long.  Just as quickly, he clamped his mouth over my hard, erect nipple.

I
thought I’d faint.  I thought I’d fall.  Surely it was a sin to feel such pleasure. 
His tongue played over the intensely sensitive nub of skin, lifting me higher
and higher. Raking my fingers through his hair, I pulled him to me, eager for
more.

“Lilly,”
he muttered as he switched breasts.  “How delicious you are, Lilly.  More than
I could have imagined.  Pure honey.”  He reached down between my legs and
tugged up my skirt.  His fingers ran along my upper thigh and I was curious and
eager to see what would come next.

I
sucked in a deep breath and held it as he brought his fingers up, up…  Whatever
was coming, I knew it would be good.  My entire body wanted it, waited for it,
and I thought I’d die if it didn’t happen.

But
it did.  His fingers glided under my panties and quickly found the slick folds
of skin that were hungry for his touch.

I
gasped, and the world ceased to exist.  I thought I’d burst open and I wanted
to cry out so strong was my need for release.

“My
little Lilly isn’t a little girl anymore, is she?” Rial murmured.

All
I could do was groan.

“I
never would have thought you’d be so hot.  You’re molten.”  His fingers delved
deeper between the moistened lips that wanted nothing more than to be touched
while his thumb concentrated on the tiny nub of pleasure.

Without
warning he stopped and leaned back to look at me.

My
clitoris pounded with rage and need.  Don’t leave me like this, I wanted to
beg.

“Look
at you,” he whispered.  He pulled my skirt up to my waist and pulled my panties
to my knees and just looked.  “Yes, look at you.”

I
was wet, almost too wet, and felt suddenly vulnerable for wanting him so much. 
I wanted to beg him to do something, anything to alleviate the growing need,
but he must have seen it in my eyes.

He
inched closer and my wildest imaginings could never have predicted what he was
about to do.  His mouth closed in around my clitoris and he slowly ran his
tongue, so smooth and hot, over my wet lips.

“Oh,
my God.”

Again
his tongue ran a smooth line over my lips, coaxing another thrilled gasp from
me.

“Have
you ever…?” he whispered before running his tongue deep between the folds of
inflamed skin.

“Oh,
my God.  No.  No!”  My fingers were in his hair, pulling him, urging him to
bring me relief before I collapsed.

He
chuckled and pulled away.  “Let’s keep you waiting, then.  It’ll be all the
more eruptive.”

“No,”
I pleaded.  “I can’t.  Please, Rial.”

“Patience,
dear Lilly.”  He pulled off his shirt and quickly rid himself of his pants and
briefs.

Nude,
he was a glorious god.  How could a man look so good, so strong?

His
shaft was hard and erect, pointing at me and I was pleased to see he wanted me
as much as I wanted him.  He came to me, wrapped his arms around me and grabbed
my buttocks to pick me up and wrap my legs around his waist.  All I could think
of was the hardened shaft between us.  It pressed against me and I could feel
myself opening up, eager to take him all in.

With
a few steps, he brought me to the bed and fell over me, but still he refused to
bring me what I wanted.  Instead, he continued his merciless teasing as he ran
the length of his cock over my sex, bringing another slow flow of pleasurable
moisture.

“You’re
a girl who needs to be fucked, if ever I saw one.”

“Then
stop teasing, and fuck me, Rial.  Just fuck me.”  I couldn’t believe my
language.  It wasn’t me.  It wasn’t what I was taught.  I hadn’t been raised to
say such things, to think such vile thoughts and to feel so wanton.

“I’ll
fuck you, all right.”  He got up and flipped me over on the bed so that my ass
was in the air, in his face.  He slapped my ass then kissed the very spot he’d
slapped.  His tongue snaked between my cheeks as he pried them apart, bringing
his tongue closer and closer to the heated volcano.  Just when I thought I
couldn’t take anymore, he pulled up, inched his enormous cock closer then
rammed it deep inside me.

I
let out a gasp of surprise then groaned as he filled me.  All my senses were
tuned into the workings of his cock deep inside me and I never wanted it to
end.

“I
want to fuck you all night,” he whispered as he brought his hands around and
pressed his fingers to my clitoris.

“Yes,”
I gasped.  “All night.  Oh, my God, yes.”

He
plunged deeper and deeper while bringing me higher and higher until I was
floating on air waiting for the rush of pleasure to take over me.

It
hit me so hard, I screamed and suddenly began thrusting to and fro, pounding
into him and wanting more.  My body was like a flower, opening up to all the
pleasures he could bring to it.

I
never wanted it to end, but as the explosive orgasm subsided, I opened my eyes
to the familiar setting of my room in Paris.  Damp with sweat and confused by
the dream that still clung to my brain, I looked at the hard body beneath me
only to find Bobby’s eyes looking up at me instead of Rial’s.

“Holy,
shit.  I don’t know what got into you tonight, but keep it coming.”  Grabbing
my hips, he thrust deep inside me.  “Don’t stop now.  I’m almost there.”

All
I could do was stare at him.

“Baby,
I’ve never seen you so horny, so wet,” he grunted as he continued to pound his
cock into me.  “You’re a tigress, all over me, just hungry to get what you
could get.  Damn, you're so sexy.”  He gave me a final, hard pounding of his
cock and erupted inside me with a loud cry of rapture.

I
forced a smile and tried to bring myself completely back to reality.  I was
happy to be with Bobby and happy to know he’d enjoyed my wild dream just as
much as I had, but the passion I’d felt with Rial gnawed at me.