Twisted Pursuits (13 page)

What had he expected, that they had simply stepped outside to enjoy the sea breeze? He turned to leave but not before something caught his attention. Nickolas’ body was pinning Lauren to the palm tree as if to restrain her. At that moment Lauren began to struggle against him, to which Nickolas made no indication to relent.

Jordan sprung immediately into action, ripping the man from her body, hardly cognizant of Lauren crumpling to the sand as both men tumbled to the ground and Jordan’s hands curled around the other man’s neck and squeezed. Nickolas fought against him, trying to prize Jordan’s fingers from his throat but he was no match for Jordan’s strength and he was struggling to   breathe.

“Jordan, let go”, a second pair of male hands sought to loosen Jordan’s grip with little success.

Jordan
recognized the voice as Harry’s, through the murdering rage consuming him but he could not relent. Nickolas deserved to die for what he had done.

“Don’t do this”, Harry pleaded, “Lauren needs you more right now”.

At the mention of her name, Jordan’s ire cooled somewhat and he heard the whimpering sounds coming from her. Slowly Jordan’s fingers unfurled from Nickolas’s throat and he began to gasp for air.

“Get him out of my sight”, Jordan demanded scornfully, “before I’m tempted to finish what I’ve started”.

Nickolas pulled himself up from the sand and ran towards the ballroom Harry in tow as Jordan turned to Lauren. He could see that she was trying hard to hold on to her composure even though she trembled uncontrollable. He realized that her dress was torn almost to her navel, exposing her bra. He shrugged out of his Jacket and placed it over her shoulders and pulled her to her feet.

She stumbled and he swept her into his arms, inquiring of her room number. She told him shakily
and he turned in the opposite direction he had come in an effort to skirt the ballroom. He frowned noting that she had lost weight, but why? Had she not been eating properly? Probably working too hard, he concluded. She groped in her purse for her key as they got to her room, but her hands shook so badly that he had to open it for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

KICKING THE DOOR CLOSED;
he deposited her on the bed to rummage through the small fridge for a packet of ice. Pausing to collect a glass and a decanter of brandy that he knew was supplied to every room. Placing the ice on the night table he poured a sniffer of the liquid into the glass and handed it to her. She made to take it but it merely slipped through her shaking fingers and fell silently to the carpeted floor, staining the cream surface.

“I’m sorry”, she mumbled, attempting to recover the glass.

“It’s ok. I’ll get it”, he said as he picked up the glass and retrieved a fresh one.

This time he was careful not to give her the glass instead he placed it against her bruised lips and instructed her to sip. She choked on the first taste but drank meekly none the less. That done he pressed the ice packet to her injured cheek. Slowly the color returned to her face but her eyes were wide with fear. He did not want to think of what might have happened if he had not happened by when he did or if he had gotten there a few minutes later.

Her entire face began to tremble all of a sudden and huge droplets of tears fell from her eyes. He threw aside the ice and took her into his arms. She pressed her face into his neck as he attempted to reassure her; telling her that everything would be fine and that she was safe now. Gradually her sniveling ceased and the air in the room seemed to electrify. 

Her warm breath on his neck sent delicious thrills along his body as her soft bosom pressed provocatively into his chest where he held her against him.  She was no longer someone in need of comfort but the woman he had, against his best intentions, longed to stroke until they were both mindless with desire.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and her eyes met his, the fire he was feeling reflecting in their smoky depths. Her lips rose to meet his, soft and persuasive and he was like a ship drifting aimlessly at sea. Groaning he gave in to the raw passion that was brewing inside him, devouring her lips in a searing kiss that was rough in its intensity. Before he knew it, they were tearing at each other’s clothes until they were both completely naked. He flipped her unto her stomach, gripping her hips; he pulled her to her hands and knees, resting his shaft at the crest of her moist opening.

They had never done this position before and she found it wickedly exhilarating. She moaned in
pleasure as he flicked her nipples between his forefingers and thumbs as he nipped her shoulders down to the small of her back. She squealed with delight as without pre-empt or warning he thrust inside her feminine core, hot and hard, in one solid stroke. She sensed something raw and primal in him as he pummeled her quivering flesh, his wild strokes brimming on pain. Gone was the tender lover she had once known instead he was like an angry beast charging at his prey. Yet she wanted it, needed it, she felt as if she wanted him to rip her apart.

He wanted to punish her for what she had done to him, destroy her the way she had destroyed him but the little minx seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Good God, he had forgotten how loud she could get, he thought, as he drove mercilessly into her soft flesh. Lost in his pleasures he smacked her plumy smooth buttocks cheeks, she moaned loudly, leaning further forward until her breast were smothered against the mattress and spread her thighs wider.  

Mind numbing pleasure overwhelmed him, blinded him. More so as she met him stroke for   stroke, pace for pace. Sweat poured down his body as she pulled him over the edge along with  her, her body tightening around him, sucking the very breath from his lungs.

Jordan took one last look at the woman sleeping so peacefully in the vast bed. It was hard to believe that the woman who had welcomed his turbulent possession, not once but three times, the night before was the same person who had so coldly rejected him a month ago. Even as he thought of her rejection, he had to admit it had hurt as hell. He should never have allowed last night’s happenings. Yet as he stared at her barely concealed breast, his body hardened. He had to leave soon before the cleaning staff began working at daybreak. Either that or returning to that bed and the warmth he knew was waiting there.

“I’M COMING!”
Lauren shouted, rushing out of bed to answer the door.

“Rise and shine, its way past noon”, Harry muttered enthusiastically, barging into her room as she opened the door.

“Good morning to you too, Harry”, she muttered sarcastically, “you may come in”.

“Listen, I don’t have much time”, he said glancing at his watch; “I have to go into Kingston”.

“You could have called you know”, Lauren pointed out, “That’s why you have a cell phone”,

“Actually I was on my way from Jordan’s Office”, he said, “he wants the band to
perform tomorrow, so that means no day off’”.

“Oh”, Lauren muttered trying to calm her heart rate at the mention of Jordan’s name.

“I had already made plans, so I can’t be there”, he said, returning the way he had come, “You’re in charge until I get back”.

“Ok. Have a safe trip”, Lauren said closing the door behind him.

So, Jordan was in office. She had not seen him since that night after the incident on the beach almost a week ago.  She had been sorely disappointed to find him gone after such a wonderful night together. Her body thrummed with excitement at the recollection. She was growing tired of sitting around, waiting for him to call or show up at her doorsteps. It was time she went to him. She smiled as she hit the showers, a plan formulating in her head.

Two hours and a dozen outfits later she appeared in the receptionist area to Jordan’s office. Probably this was not such a good idea after all, she thought as the woman around the desk appearing to be in her early thirties and immaculately dressed eyed her speculatively. She had not counted on anyone else being in the office, what had she been thinking coming up here dressed like this. Stop it, she chided herself, she had come too far to lose her nerve now. Lifting her chin, she marched to the desk.

“Good afternoon Miss”, the woman said, her expression neutral, “is there something I can help you with”.

“Good afternoon. I was wondering if I could speak to Mr. Myles”, Lauren said with a confidence she was far from feeling.

“Do you have an appointment?” The woman inquired matter a factly.

“Well, No...” Lauren answered hesitantly.

“I’m sorry but he has a full schedule today”, the woman said not sounding very sorry at all, “I can make an appointment for another time, if you’d like”.

“No, that’s Ok”, Lauren assured her, “I’ll wait”.

Lauren did not wait for a response as she made her way to a chair in the waiting area.  She had been waiting for roughly fifteen minutes when he emerged from his office, a rotund balding man preceding him.

“Ms. McKenzie?” he said as she rose to meet him, his eyes seeming to undress her, “what a pleasant surprise”.

“Hello, Mr. Myles”, she felt unsure as she stood before him, her plans at seduction wilting.

Desire unfurled within her as she appraised his stunning profile. Yet there was something
different about him, the wariness in his brown eyes and the hard set to his chin. She hated to think that she might have had something to do with that change.

“Mrs. Murphy, could you push back my next appointment about half an hour”, he said to the woman around the desk as he ushered her into his office.

“Certainly sir”, she answered, apparently shocked at his request.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked, after he had offered her a chair in front of his desk, “Water? Champagne?”

“Champagne please”, hopefully it would calm her nerves.

Too strung up to sit, she took the wineglass he gave to her and traipsed over to a wall containing a few paintings. The office was magnificent, with a lovely oak desk in the centre, a plush leather sofa and an array of office essentials and a few luxury items.

Jordan reclined in his chair, watching her through hooded eyes. Goodness, if that dress was an inch shorter, she would be naked. It was a wrap dress that belted at the waist and although it sat loosely on her body, it did nothing to hide her delectable curves.

“So, what brings you by”, he asked casually, his eyes glued to her gorgeous legs that seemed to go on forever.

The sooner she was out of his office the better, he decided.

“No reason in particular”, she responded nonchalantly, “these paintings are beautiful. Who did them?”

“I did”, he admitted reluctantly.

What was she up to? Desire slammed into him, urgent and intense as she turned to face him, her breast nipples clearly outlined under the thin fabric of her dress.

“They’re beautiful”, she exclaimed.

Rising, he came around to lean on the edge of his desk in a bid to calm his raging libido.

“I am flattered, but I don’t think you came here just to appraise my office”, he said roughly, angry that even now she could affect him so.

What did she want, money? He was disgusted at the thought.

“You’re right. I didn’t”, she purred, gliding over to him, she unwrapped the dress so it slid sensually down her body and pooled around her feet.

Shock gave way to a roguish grin as she stood before him gloriously naked, save the becoming blush staining her lovely body. Lost for words he pulled her into his arms, devouring her lips hungrily as she undid his tie. He never mixed business with pleasure, however today would have to be an exception.

Hoisting her unto his hips, he perched her on his desk as his lips found her breasts. He tickled her clitoris with his thumb as he pierced her dewy heat with his fore finger. Moaning softly, she unbuckled his trousers, exclaiming quietly as his hardened member sprang free. She stroked his massive length lightly and he almost became undone.

He had to take her, now! Either that or the desire coursing through his veins would burn him to ash.

“Not a sound”, he warned huskily against her lips.

She nodded, folding her lips together as if to prevent her screams of pleasure from escaping as her lids drooped, heavy with passion and closed entirely as he plunged into the sweet abyss between her thighs. He drove deeper within her, quickening his pace, giving way to the intense pleasure.

Lauren squeezed her eyes shut, convinced that she would burst with enjoyment. Tears slid down her cheeks as pin pricks of pleasure assailed her. She beseeched him to end the sweet torture as she trembled with the force of it. He laughed wickedly as he gripped her hips and thrust madly into her pulsating flesh. He must have seen that she was about to scream as he captured her lips in a scorching kiss that swallowed her cries as her orgasm began at her toe points and crawled all the way to her scalp and back. She was certain a thing of this magnitude would no doubt destroy her

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

LAUREN WAS SCARCELY
AWARE OF JORDAN
carrying her to the sofa she had observed earlier and disappearing for a few seconds.  She opened her eyes as she heard his footsteps approaching and the world seemed new. The office suddenly seemed brighter, even her dress seem a more vivid shade of blue as he handed it to her after retrieving it from the floor.

“The bathroom is that way”, he pointed to a door left of his desk, she realized that was where he must have gone because he was as neat as when she had first entered the office.

She felt light headed, giddy as she rose from the chair. She took one step and her legs gave out beneath her. Jordan caught her before she could hit the floor.

“Are you alright?” he asked, the passion of a few moments ago gone from his expression replaced by a chiseled mask.

“I’m ok”, she responded breathlessly, moving out of his grasp, she wobbled to the bathroom and did her best to repair her disheveled appearance.

Jordan hung up the phone just as she emerged from the bathroom, thankfully more steady on her feet. Perhaps he had been too rough in his ardor. He held his breath as she drew closer. Good God she resembled a firecracker that had just exploded; all sparks. Her wide brown eyes sparkled, her lips were swollen from his kisses and her hair was a delectable mess. Christ, every visible inch of her was noticeably flushed. His body stirred to life at the sight. Everyone would know exactly what they had been doing just by looking at her.

Perhaps some water would at least return her color to normal, he thought as he poured a glass and handed it to her.

“Thank you”, she said in a husky tone, drinking greedily.

“I’m sorry if I was rough with you earlier”, he apologized gruffly.

“That’s ok. It was wonderful”, she whispered, a dreamy glow in her eyes.

He turned his back to her. He hated that look in her soft brown eyes. It reminded him too much of the woman he had thought her to be, the woman who loved and adored him and he in turn, at least so he had thought.

“You should leave”, he said brusquely.

“Will you come by later?” she suggested seductively, “I’m not working tonight”.

The offer was so tempting. The idea of spending the night between those magnificent thighs was like heaven.

“I have a date tonight”, he said instead, turning to face her with a bland expression.

“Oh...” she muttered, the color in her face heightening, if such a thing was possible.

She had the nerve to look crushed, he thought cruelly. It was time he gave her a taste of her own medicine.

“Don’t look so wounded honey”, he said silkily, “after all, that was just sex”.

“I see”, her face transformed into a sickly shade of purple.

She inhaled sharply as he inched closer, her pupils dilating as he leisurely stroked her face, his lips inches away from hers.

“You know, it’s ironic how...” he said, his free hand sneaking between her thighs.

“Stop it”, she said weakly, yet her lips parted invitingly.

“...You could have rejected me so casually a few weeks ago”, he continued, his fingers caressing the moist flesh of her inner thighs.

“Stop, please..?” she begged, closing her eyes, she moaned in pleasure.

“What do you want”, slowly, he inserted his forefinger into her silken heat, “tell me!”

“I want... I want you”, she admitted, her breathing raspy.

He flicked his finger inside her and her head lolled back, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

“Please!” she begged.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed his own rising desire aside. He released her so suddenly that she almost tumbled to the floor, her eyes misty with desire.

“...Yet you’re so wet for me”, he laughed harshly as his words seemed to penetrate the fog of passion enveloping her, “I took you earlier and I could have taken you again...”

“Stop it!” she shouted, her face a picture of horror as her palm connected with his cheek with a resounding crack.

They both stared at each other, the shock he was feeling displayed in her wide brown eyes. Lauren appearing as if she could not believe what she had done, she ran from the room. He should be satisfied with himself, however the only feelings he had at that moment were feelings of remorse.

TWO DAYS LATER LAUREN DRAGGED
herself out of bed for rehearsals. She barely made it to her bathroom before she fainted dead away.

She awoke sometime later to find Doctor Hedley hovering above her.

“What happened?” she asked groggily.

“You fainted”, he pronounced tight-lipped, “I’ll have to do some procedural tests before we proceed”

She spent the better part of twenty minutes answering a barrage of questions as Doctor Hedley collected blood and urine samples from her and excused himself from the room. She wringed her hands nervously as he returned; his expression stern.

“Well, Ms. McKenzie”, he began tersely, “you are six to eight weeks pregnant...”

“That’s not possible”, she muttered, shell shocked.

“If my memory serves me right”, he said slowly, “you and Jordan were supposed to be married less than two months ago”.

Her mouth fell open in shock as she realized the likelihood of what he was saying. But he had said that she had suffered complications during the abortion and as such might have difficulties getting pregnant again. She had thought it was his way of telling her that she would never have another child.

“Are you sure Doctor..?” she asked distractedly, something wonderful unfurling in her stomach.

  “Positive”, he said exasperatedly.

She was going to have a baby! She felt like shouting it across the seven seas.

“I also noticed that you are very anemic” the doctor continued, “I would suggest bed rest for the next few days and avoid being alone in case this reoccurs....”

Doctor Hedley proceeded with his directives as to her diet and changes that she should expect. However she scarcely registered his meaning as she struggled to wrap her mind around such
surprising, yet pleasant news. She frowned as a disturbing thought occurred to her.

“Jordan must not know about the baby”, she blurted fearfully, her eyes pleading.

He was a powerful man and if he decided to take her child from her there would be little she could do to prevent it. She recalled that long ago conversation where his mother had clearly stated that they should marry before they had a child. Would Jordan share the same view? Would he try to coerce her into marriage for the sake of his parents? She could not take the risk. After their disastrous parting of two days ago she was positive that anything they had shared was long dead to him. Besides it was evident that he had moved on. Her eyes stung at the notion.

He frowned. “Well
as your doctor I can’t but you’ll... – “

He had hardly spoken the last words before Jordan came charging in, his face a depiction of horror, a nurse trailing behind him, apparently attempting to stop him. Doctor Hedley gestured to her and she quit the room. Lauren’s eyes rested on her lap in an attempt to avoid his searching gaze, her cheeks flaming at the reminder of their last meeting.

“I’ll leave you two to speak”, the doctor broke the uncomfortable silence, heading towards the exit.

“That’s fine doctor, I’m leaving”, she said scooting off the bed.

“That won’t be possible. All things considered I can only release you in the care of a capable person”, Doctor Hedley asserted, “or I keep you here until your blood results are ready”.

“But...” she argued lamely.

How could she tell the doctor that there was no such person, that she lived alone in a house that she had not visited in so many weeks. While Anna would probably help, she had her own family to care for and Lauren did not want to pressure Anna with her problems.

“She is leaving with me”, Jordan spoke for the first time since he had entered the room.

“Never”, she responded vehemently, meeting his shuttered expression head on.

“Don’t be silly. The house is so huge we’re not likely to see each other”, Jordan said silkily, his eyes glittering coldly, “I assure you, my intentions are pure”.

She blushed, averting her eyes as she realized his underlying meaning.

“I suggest you consider what is at stake here, Ms. McKenzie”, Doctor Hedley said pointedly
, “you said it yourself that you have felt dizzy on more than one occasion recently. I will take no chances until the blood results are back”.

“OK”, she conceded grudgingly.

It would be foolish not to accept. She wanted her baby so badly that her discomfort meant little as long as it would ascertain her unborn child’s safety. Besides, as he had said, they were not likely to see each other and it would only be for a week at most.