“We both know that’s the last thing you want to do, Paxton,” she muttered.“You are carrying the Ridgway heir,” he said, pointing at her womb. “His or her well-being is my concern as much as it is yours.” Rhiannon automatically wrapped her arms around her belly in a protective gesture.“No, Paxton, it’s not. We are behaving like civil people, we are talking nicely to each other, but we both know the truth. You’re doing this against your will. You’d rather chew your arm off than be here. All you see in me are lies and money interest.”“Since we’re being honest, I’ll say it one last time… I’m still mad at you and my brother… For the secret marriage, the money he invested without talking to me first, the pregnancy. But I wouldn’t blame a child for his parents’ sins.” She stilled as Paxton’s words stung.“I’m not willing to test that out,” she replied and took a deep breath. Paxton flattened his hands against the wall as a dark, unpredictable energy swirled a
“Have you got those food costs for me yet, Rhiannon?” Anthony Ramsay smiled down at her as he stepped into her office.“Not quite but almost. During my absence, my mother decided to surprise me for the first time in her life and she… she cleaned up the office. So, I’m finding bits and pieces of documents here and there.”“Still, remember it’s essential that you know what they are. You can’t be fuzzy about numbers or they’ll kill you. Trust me, I’ve learned that the hard way,” Anthony said.“I’m almost there… Just a second… Ah, there it is!” When Rhiannon handed him her notebook, which bulged with dog-eared receipts, Anthony took the jumble and sat down. Rhiannon couldn’t believe how easy it was to work with him once Barbie and everybody had warmed up to him. With his shaggy blond hair and affable smile, he seemed like a huge blond bear, albeit a friendly one… most of the time. His quick temper could be formidable. She discovered that since day one.
Anthony poured two glasses of water and offered one to Rhiannon.“There was this one time, a few years ago, when we both were so… wasted,” he continued after he took a sip. “That night, in front of a good scotch, Paxton talked of things that happened in his life I knew nothing about. I mean, I knew something about his childhood years but not everything. Even at school, Paxton wasn’t talking much, keeping a low profile, focusing on his studies.”“What did he say to you?”“Paxton was living with Amelia in a very small apartment. So, every time his mother was… uhm… falling in love, that boyfriend would come and stay with them. He said every man present in his mother’s life has tried to buy his affection with gifts, trying to bribe him into accepting them, but he never liked that. And hated all of them.”“Oh…&rdq
Hey, Y'all! May 6th is the most important day of my life. It's my birthday. After a certain age, celebrating this day or talking about it in public, didn't seem all that important to me. But this year... well, this year I felt the need to make an exception. The other day, a friend asked me what gift I wanted for my birthday... Well, I said to her I wanted nothing because thanks to you all, I have everything I want and more. You, guys, are the best gift ever. Every single one of you. I'm not trying to suck up, if that's what you're thinking. No! I pride myself on being honest and real with you. I've said those things to you because I like to think we're friends, and because I think you deserve to know how I feel about you. 2023 has been a tough year for me, so I've entered 2024 kinda tiptoeing around Goodnovel, not sure about writing anymore. Up until a few of you contacted me here and on my socials, asking if I was okay, and wondering about a new story. So, I've decided to push
He knew how things were going because he talked to his friend every night. But he wanted to hear it from her.“We are,” Paxton replied. “I said nothing because it wasn’t important.”“Oh… It wasn’t my intention to make it sound like an accusation or something.” Paxton shook his head letting her know it was okay, he wasn’t mad.“Anyway, thank you so much for asking Anthony to take a look at the restaurant. He’s made me see all sorts of things I never saw before. And all the changes… the way he talked to my staff… Your friend is an amazing person and a great chef.”“I’m glad it’s working out.” He was, but at the same time, Paxton envied her easy friendship with his be
Even before the doors of the elevator trapped her inside that tiny box with Paxton, her heart was drumming madly in her throat. Then the cage jerked, throwing her against his strong body. She let out a shriek before they shot upward. Her heart spiked to rocket speed, and her wide eyes lifted pleadingly to his. “Oh, God…” she whispered. “I will never feel comfortable… or at safe… in your elevator…” He put his lips softly against her ear. “Don’t be so afraid, darlin’. You know you are perfectly safe in ‘my’ elevator… Besides, I’m on a committee that oversees maintenance issues. And, this stuffy building, as you call it many times, is state of the art.” His deep voice was a comforting rumble. “If you say so,” she mumbled, while her heart was still beating extremely fast. “I’m fine… I’m fine… I’m perfectly fine…” Rhiannon took a deep breath and kept repeating her little mantra. “I’m fine… I’m fine… I’m…” “Let’s make sure, why don’t we?” When
“Darlin’…” The sweet sound in his voice brought her back to that bedroom. Soon she will find herself deliciously pinned beneath his massive body. Soon she will feel his naked, warm skin against hers. Soon he will fill her and make her scream his name. So, Rhiannon didn’t want to think about all the negatives anymore. Dimly, she remembered her plan to pack and leave his penthouse, to get herself as far away from him as possible. But she was much too weak to follow such a wise course that might protect her heart from a man who wanted to break it once again. So, Rhiannon smiled up at him and kissed him on the lips.“Tonight, I’m yours…” she whispered against his lips.“Rhiannon…” he replied, trying to make Rhiannon change her mind.“Tonight, Pax… Tonight, I’m here… for you. Just for you. Willing to do everything you want. Extremely willing.” Tomorrow, and all the dreary tomorrows after that one, would be soon enough to deny herself. Tonig
“Don’t leave, Rhiannon,” Paxton said, touching her forehead with his lips. “This isn’t what you really want and you know it. Just stay here, with me… I hate what you did to my brother, but I just can’t watch you walk out that door, walk away from me, knowing you will never come back here. Dammit, I don’t know why, or what you did to me, but I need you. I can’t breathe when you’re not here.” He held Rhiannon tight while whispering the words as sweetly as possible, as gently as possible. Paxton said them to Rhiannon while she was asleep, knowing that, for now, it was the only way she would listen to him without thinking of packing and leaving the penthouse.“Pax… Sweetheart…” she murmured slowly, nuzzling her cheek against his chest. Those words as they left her lips filled him with pleasure and a deep sadness. They were the same words she said to him that night… after they had sex for the first time. Even that night she called him “sweetheart” while he mistreated he