As her eyes welled up and tears started to fall down her cheeks, she swore. Tears were rare for her. Aside from that time, my mother, Allen, and Aunt Martha passed away. Her hormones and her emotional heart must be at odds with each other, dammit. I was devastated. ‘I couldn't believe it.’ It seems like her pregnancy worsened her temperament. Unending torment, she corrected. Her mind is full of pointless banter. A few minutes later, everyone was yelling in her head. She leaned back in her chair and nestled her head in the crook of her arm because she was exhausted from feeling so many emotions at once. At that spot, David discovered her. He remained there for quite a while, staring at her delicate features—the way her hair clung to her neck, the beautiful arch of her slim neck highlighted by the bedside lamp, the slim curves beneath her plain white cotton nightgown. And the subtle sign of crying. He undressed slowly, walked over to the chair, and gently took her into his arms. Som
"Let Jacob know that I'll be waiting at the Culver Blvd near Centinela Ave."Thirty minutes later, though, the black Porsche, not the Pajero, was the one that rolled into the curb.It just took one look at David's features to know that a fight was likely to break out.Opening the passenger door, David leaned across. Then enter. Anna buckled her seatbelt and snuggled in next to him as his voice sounded raspy.The sheer volume of vehicles leaving the city made it difficult for him to maneuver the Porsche ahead of the traffic, and it took until the following set of lights to do it.“I was hoping to be home earlier than this.”The comment did not constitute an apology. A no-brainer.She pivoted to face him, her anger bubbling to the surface."I refuse to be confined in a golden cage by you, David."A glimmer appeared in the corner of his eye.“The press has done a good job of covering my business stance.” On the side of his jaw, a muscle tightened.“A small number of extremists in today's
She surrendered fully to the pleasures of unrestrained passion as, beneath his sensual dominion, a dormant fire burst into flaming life. Anna did not object as he undressed her and himself; she voluntarily arched her back as his lips traced a path over her entire body. Her hands clasped his hair as he lingered in between her legs. A surge of pleasure rushed through her as he licked her sensitive clitoral area over and over until she trembled in ecstasy. A series of hushed cries came from her lips as she pleaded with him, expressing her deep desire for his undivided attention. He slid on top of her and plunged deep into her. Anna savored his every thrust as her hands caressed his buttocks. She let out a scream as she eagerly welcomed his mouth to hers, her intense sensations building to a joint climax that probed the depths of primal gratification. She unwillingly embraced the pinnacle of sexual bliss. Anna took pride in her independence and decided to drive the Mercedes out every d
Anna caught her breath as David locked eyes with the model, who appeared innocent, in a way that only Amelia could.“Yes, to my great joy.” Underneath the velvety smoothness of his voice, there was no mistaking the steely core.As the guest speaker stepped up to the podium, Anna removed fruit segments from their meringue nest and set the plate aside, choosing tea as the dessert arrived, which was a letdown.Then, a DJ played some tunes in the background and urged everyone to get down on the dance floor. With grace and elegance, Amelia and her partner were among the first to ascend the stairs.She had an air of confidence and sophistication. Anna could tell the model was fully aware of the impact she was making on her partner from the subtle allure of her face.She wanted to know if it was helping David out or not.Meeting his shadowed stare unsettled Anna, who sneaked a peek at him. She blinked when he reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers, and she smiled tentatively becau
When another couple joined them, Anna let out a breath of relief because most of the people were aimlessly wandering from table to table. While the woman had a light talk with Anna, the man—a business associate of David's—began an intense debate with him.Anna glanced at David with a look of surprise as he rested his arm across the back of her chair twenty minutes before they departed.“It is getting close to eleven o'clock.”“Our mission has been accomplished.”“Are you ready to go?” Anna nodded in agreement.Without saying a word more, he had them leave the ballroom and start to lead the way. A number of his friends wanted to talk to him, and while he waited a second to say a few expressions of courteous reply, he did not remain.Anna sank into the leather-cushioned seat and relaxed as David lowered the Bentley to street level, joining the steady flow of traffic leaving the city.It was pleasurable just to relax in the car. The pulsing in her hand had diminished in intensity, and th
‘Would it ever be any different?’‘Could it be? Sadly, she didn't think so…’Even if she prepares herself for what is to come, she knows that David will also fight for this child to be his. ‘It will be a long battle.’Anna wandered down to the swimming pool and sat in one of the chairs positioned beneath a wide sun umbrella. The sun felt warm against her bare skin, and she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.“Anna? It is eleven-fifteen.”She came sharply awake at the sound of Amy's voice, amazed that she could have lapsed into a light doze. Her hand had swollen slightly and was beginning to show signs of bruising. There was also a degree of pain when the physiotherapist supervised her exercises, a fact which he noted, adding an admonition to be more careful. There didn't seem to be much point in assuring him that it was not self-inflicted.At home, she ate the chicken salad Amy had prepared for lunch, and then she changed into a bikini,selected a book, and wandered out to sit b
“Anna. How are you, darling? Sorry to keep you waiting.”She closed the magazine and rose to her feet with a ready smile. “Michael.”“Your hand? It is still giving you pain?' He drew her towards the far end of the salon and seated her at a basin.“It aches a little.”Michael's personal attention was rare, and Anna, by virtue of being David's wife, appeared tobe one of the favoured few.She wrinkled her nose as he sluiced water over her hair and applied shampoo, rinsed and repeated the process with conditioner, then towelled it dry before leading her to a mirrored cubicle.“Are you able to drive again?”‘The specialist says I can. David would prefer Jacob to continue in the role of chauffeur. Although he has compromised and bought me another car.'“He is being protective, hmm?”“You could say that,” she agreed with suitable dryness.Michael picked up his scissors and comb and went to work. “Don't knock it, darling,” he cautioned wryly.“Men are not usually protective unless they care.
“There's an excellent piece you really must see. Expensive, but worthy of investment.” He riffledthrough the catalog pages and brought the item to David's notice, then made his excuses assomeone else demanded his attention.“I happen to like Zhang Hongtu,” Anna protested as David's amused gaze rested on her expressive features.“So do I,” he assured her, and, placing an arm around her waist, he directed her towards a display.“Shall we begin viewing?”Some paintings verged on the bizarre, others resembled caricatures of design over brilliant slashes of color. One, in particular, looked as if a very young child had indulged in a wild battle with numerous pots of multicolored paint.“What do you think?”Anna turned towards David and tried to present a considered viewpoint. After severalseconds she voiced with restraint, “I'd prefer not to answer on the grounds that anything I saycould be overheard, taken into account, and held against me.”“A remarkable nonconformist piece,” David d