The Tycoon's Temporary Bride: Book Four (42 page)

The fact that the door was wide open and that
any of the servants could have walked in on them had only amplified
the thrill of their erotic coupling. It hadn’t lasted long. A few
more deep powerful thrusts and Adam was coming, groaning loudly as
he emptied himself inside her. He’d instantly pulled out and as his
hot seed dripped down her thighs, he’d zipped up his fly and
carried her down the hall to the master suite and stripped them
both naked.

There were still no words between them as
they’d made slow love to each other. Their eyes and hands and
mouths and sighs and moans had said what needed to be said:
I
want you. I need you. I desire you. I worship you. I love you
,
until the silent words themselves had materialized into tiny
floating matter between them, growing, thickening, lengthening,
wrapping around them like sweltering mist, melting them down, then
bonding them together into one rolling, heaving liquid globe of
flesh.

“And then there’s Cameron and—”

“Did somebody call my name?”

Tashi snapped out of her daydream and turned
to see a handsome young man in a tux, and an attractive young lady
in an orange gown approaching them. The girl was giggling and
leaning against the young man’s shoulder.

So this was Shaina’s brother and his
girlfriend, Monica. Shaina had told her that they’d been away
visiting Monica’s family on the island of Dulcina in the Caribbean.
They just returned yesterday and were spending some time with her
and Mass before they left for MIT in Boston to begin their second
year of college. They were both pursuing engineering degrees.

“What have you two been up to? Why did you
leave the party?” Shaina asked, frowning at the young couple. “What
were you doing in that dark empty room?”

“We’re both over eighteen. We don’t need your
permission for anything,” Cameron retorted, his hand on his
hip.

Monica giggled, flipped her hair over her
shoulder, and burrowed closer to him.

Shaina crossed her eyes at them. “Cameron,
don’t think you’re too old for me to ground. As for you, Miss
Hamilton, in your culture, you’re not an adult until you turn
twenty-one. Do I need to call your father?”

Cameron flashed a boyish grin that made his
gray eyes sparkle. “Oh come on, sis. You know I’m just messing with
you.” He gave Shaina a peck on her cheek, and then pinched Aria’s
cheeks and tried to pry her away from her mother. “Give Uncle Cam
some sugar.”

Aria whined and, yanking the band from around
her head, she threw it at him, her bright brown eyes flashing under
her long eyelashes.

He stepped aside and, just before it landed
in Monica’s face, she caught it and swung it around her forefinger.
“Look, Cameron, I caught the garter. You know what that means,” she
said, her brown eyes flashing impishly at him.

“Teenagers. Teenagers in love.” Shaina
growled and snatched the headband from Monica. She turned to Tashi.
“I guess you figured out that this is my pain-in-the-butt younger
brother.”

“Oh, yeah, you must be Uncle Adam’s new
bride,” Cameron said, smiling at Tashi.

“Yes, I’m Tashi. It’s nice to meet you,
Cameron, and you Monica.” She offered her hand to them.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm. Uncle Adam is one lucky
devil. You are hot!” The next instant Cameron was groaning and
dropping Tashi’s hand as Monica’s fist went flying into his chest.
“Girl, you trying to break my ribs? Football season is around the
corner. What’s wrong with you?”

“That’s what you get for ogling another man’s
wife, especially when you have a lovely, intelligent girlfriend of
your own.”

Tashi took a deep breath, trying to conquer
her spontaneous reaction to Adam, as his well-muscled body, clad in
a black tuxedo, moved with easy grace toward them.

“Thanks, Uncle Adam.” Monica poked her tongue
out at Cameron.

“Cameron’s right. All you ladies look
stunning. Even you, little sweetie,” Adam added, kissing Elyse on
the cheeks.

Elyse hung on to Tashi as if to tell him that
she preferred his wife tonight, but the other little lady in their
presence reached out for him.

“Hmm…hmm. I see how it is. She likes her
white uncle better than her black uncle.” Cameron scowled.

“Well, her white uncle doesn’t pester her
like you do.” Shaina glared at her brother.

“Come on, Moni. When our brown little babies
shun their white uncles in favor of Uncle Bryce and the black part
of Uncle Erik, let’s see how that goes down with them.”

They laughed when Monica made the crazy
person gesture with her finger and allowed him to drag her toward
the room from where music, laughter, chatter, and the delicious
smell of gourmet food made Tashi happy that she’d come to Granite
Falls.

“We’d better get back inside before Mom and
Dad think we ditched them for a better party,” Kaya said, taking
Elyse from Tashi.

“We’ll just be a minute,” Tashi said.

“Don’t be too long.” Shaina took her daughter
from Adam and followed Michelle and Kaya down the hallway, their
long dresses making swooshing sounds as they hurried.

“Adam, what’s going on?” Tashi asked as soon
as they were alone. “Was that phone call really from your
father?”

He averted his eyes for a few seconds. “No. I
lied because I didn’t want to upset you.” He placed warm comforting
hands on her shoulders. “I just want you,
us
, to have a good
time tonight.”

“Who was it from?”

“Someone I’m working with in New York.” He
began leading her down the hallway. “A man has been asking
questions about you. He’s been questioning your former neighbors
and students at your university.”

“Well, we know people are looking for me,
so—”

“No, this man was asking questions those
people would already have the answers to.”

“You think it could be Agent Dawson?” she
asked on a glimmer of optimism.

“Paul wouldn’t be asking questions about you.
He’d call you on the phone he gave you.”

Tashi halted and stared up at him. “There’s
another threat I have to be worried about?”
When was it going to
end
?

Adam wrapped her in his arms. “No,
cara
. No one is going to hurt you. I promise. I’ve already
given orders for the man to be picked up by some associates in the
city. I will get to the bottom of this.” He eased her away to gaze
into her eyes. “You are safe. Say it.”

Tashi swallowed the lump that had formed in
her throat. “I—I’m safe.”

“Now put it all out of your pretty little
head. Just have fun tonight, for me. I need to see you having fun.
Especially when you look so sexy and hot.”

His irresistible grin snapped the burdensome
chains of Tashi’s paranoia and fear. She’d lived for a year and a
half by herself with danger looming over her. She was now married
to one of the most powerful men in the world, and into a family
that would pull out all the stops to ensure her safety. The least
she could do was make her husband happy tonight. “Okay. I’ll have a
good time tonight,” she said on a vivid, ecstatic smile.

“That’s my girl.” He kissed her lips and
walked her to the door of the party room that had suddenly become
very quiet.

“Congratulations, Adam and Tashi!”

Tashi gasped at the loud cheer as she and
Adam made their entrance. Before they had time to recover from the
surprise, Monica took her clutch and placed a glass of sparkling
cider in her hand while Massimo handed Adam a drink.

“It’s your night, too,” he said, giving them
both hugs, before stepping back to stand beside his wife, along
with Michelle and Erik, and Bryce and Kaya who’d formed a small
circle, nearby.

Tashi took a quick glance around the room
that was romantically decorated with flowers, balloons, red and
white heart-shaped garlands, and two aesthetically set dining
tables—one for the adults and one for the children.

But more importantly were the three
generations of family and friends, dressed in elegant evening gowns
and tuxedoes, holding glasses of wine, mixed drinks, sparkling
cider, and milk, and chanting, “Adam, Tashi.” Even Eli, the
smallest male present, was clapping his little hands and shaking
his head from the safety of his father’s arms.

Tears stung Tashi’s eyes as she felt Adam’s
warm hand in the small of her back. Never had she felt so wanted,
and appreciated. These people didn’t even know her, and yet they
were welcoming her into their family and close-knit circle, simply
because she was Adam’s wife.

“Everyone, let’s get ready to toast the
newlyweds,” Galen said, from a temporary stage on the far side of
the room.

Tashi waved at him. He looked debonair in a
beige tux, with his curly dark hair brushing the white collar of
his shirt.

He winked at her and raised his glass. “To
Adam and Tashi.”

The chinking of glasses filled the room,
followed by another round of cheers and well wishes while Luther
Vandross’ “There’s Nothing Better Than Love”, a song that was so
appropriate for all the couples present, floated from the
speakers.

Then one kid screamed, “Mommy”, and another
“Daddy,” and her friends were rushing to the back of the room to
take care of their children.

Adam hoisted two pieces of crostini topped
with chopped clams sautéed with garlic from the tray of a passing
waiter. “Try this,” he said, popping one into Tashi’s mouth.

“Hmm, that’s good,” she said as the flavor
burst inside her mouth. She was starved, and she knew Adam was too,
since they’d both worked up hearty appetites in their bedrooms. She
was about to grab a bruschetta topped with tomatoes, when Philippe
and Felicia—Erik’s parents—and Henry and Lillian, flocked around
them, giving them hugs and kisses.

The men looked sharp—both sporting goatees
that matched their full heads of hair—Philippe’s a rich gold, and
Henry’s black, both seasoned with silvery strands. And their wives
were gorgeous. Felicia—a Diahann Carroll look-alike—in a black,
off-the-shoulder sequined dress, and Lillian—dark-eyed and
smiling—showing off her curves in a white satin gown. Tashi hoped
she looked that good when she reached their age.

“You ladies look amazing.” Adam voiced her
thoughts as he caressed her shoulders. “These young women have
nothing on you.”

“I thought this was supposed to be your
night,” Tashi said to Lillian and Henry.

“It is, but we don’t mind sharing the
spotlight,” Lillian replied.

“We’re just happy that Adam found love, the
love of his life,” Henry added.

“So he can stop using my granddaughter as
bait for chicks.” Philippe punched Adam on the arm.

“No! He didn’t.” Tashi gave her husband a
look of disapproval.

“Think about it,
cara
. If it weren’t
for Tiffany, you wouldn’t have trusted me, would you?” The warmth
and veracity of his voice echoed in his azure eyes.

It was Tiffany’s presence that had calmed her
anxiety about him, made her trust him enough to tell him her name.
Her gaze wandered across the room where the moon-faced, brown-eyed
little girl in a red dress played with Anastasia—an equally
beautiful hazel-eyed darling in a yellow dress. “You’re right,” she
said, smiling up at Adam. “It was because of Tiffany that I trusted
you.”

“And now that I’m pledged to you, you’re the
only chick I want to pick up for the rest of my life.”

“As it should be,” Felicia said. “Enjoy the
evening.”

“You, too,” Tashi said as the older couples
wandered into the middle of the room and began to sway to “That’s
What Love is All About” by Michael Bolton. Their love and adoration
for each other after so many years was something to strive for.
Feeling inspired, Tashi wrapped her arms about her husband and gave
him a lingering kiss as they too began to sway.

“You guys need a room? There are children in
our midst, you know.”

Massimo’s voice broke them apart and Tashi
turned to see him approaching them, with Aria clinging to him.

“I’m in with the owners at this grand place
called Hotel Andreas. I can get you a discount,” Massimo said.

“Actually, they told me that you and your
wife come around every once in a while to use their facility, and
leave without paying. Think I can get the same deal?” Adam retorted
with a grin.

Massimo lifted an eggplant fritter from a
passing tray. “Tashi, if you have any trouble with my cousin, I’m
just a few acres across the mountain.” He placed the appetizer into
his mouth and licked his finger.

“And what will you do?” Adam asked.

“We’ll set Cameron on him.” Shaina appeared
and laced her arms around her husband’s waist. “He made a punching
bag out of Mass’s face two seconds after meeting him.”

“Why?” Tashi asked.

“For having me arrested, among other
things.”

“Oh.” Tashi giggled, remembering how Shaina
became Massimo’s fugitive bride.

Mass rubbed his jaw as if it still hurt. “You
don’t want to meet his fists. They’re lethal,” he said on a
chuckle.

“My poor baby was in pain for days.” Shania
reached up on tiptoe to kiss her husband—a kiss that was
interrupted by a screaming Aria, pulling on the bodice of her
mother’s dress. “Feeding time, I guess.” Shaina took Aria and made
her way to the back of the room, and into a smaller one.

“She probably needs help.” Massimo winked and
followed his wife into the room and closed the door behind him.

“Aria isn’t the only one who will be nursing
back there,” Adam said with a chuckle as he steered Tashi toward a
table where Michelle and Kaya were filling plates, before taking
them over to the highchairs, three of which were occupied by
Anastasia, Tiffany, and Elyse—all banging on their trays with
impatience.

“Take a good look.” Bryce, still carrying
Eli, fell into step beside them. “That’s your future. And don’t
even try to sneak a quickie in the morning. Before you get halfway
to first base, they’re bouncing on you. I suggest you enjoy each
other as much as possible before that happens.”