MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) (2 page)

              Cool soil pressed into her bare feet. The summer night air clung to her clammy skin. Her hard nipples tingled. A dull ache formed in her center. Wishing she could refute Zeke’s sexual advances, she yearned to join him for a romantic swim.              

              Floating on his back, her man smiled at her. “You have the prettiest tits I’ve ever seen.”

              A tinge of jealously crept up inside Taylor at Zeke’s remark. She fisted her hips and pouted. “Considering you’re only eighteen, how many tits have you seen? I hope not that many.”

              Feet treading in the dark water, Zeke chuckled. “I’ve only seen two. Your right one, and your left one.” He got to his feet, held out his hands.

              “You better had said that!”

Giggling, Taylor hopped in the air, and then plunged into the depths of the lake. Gravity sucked her to the bottom. Kicking her feet and flinging her arms, she swam back to the top. Immersed in darkness, she popped her head up from the cold water and looked around for Zeke. Staying afloat, she turned to find him behind her.

“This water is cold!”

              “I’ll warm you up.”

Zeke swam over to Taylor. Putting his wet, muscular chest to her breasts, he wrapped his strong arms about her shoulders. Teeth clattering, she shivered. Her nipples felt like frozen peas.

“I’m c…c…cold, Zeke.”

              Keeping one hand to her shoulder, Zeke reached down between them. “Let’s see if this will warm you up,” he said, gliding his steely tool across her pregnant belly.

              Turned on, her heart clenched. “Zeke, there’s something I have to tell you.”
Tell him you’re pregnant, Taylor,
she thought, chastising herself
. Stop being so freaking scared.

Chapter Two

             
Z
eke’s eyes caressed Taylor’s as he draped his arms around her waist. “Not now, Taylor. Tell me later. Tell me after I make love to you, okay?” Rubbing the pad of his wet thumb across her lips, his sensual eyes kissed her face. 

              Wanting him just as much as he wanted her, Taylor nodded in assent.
Why ruin the moment?
she thought, the pit of her stomach twirling with butterflies. “Okay.”

              Zeke slipped his shaft inside Taylor. Feeling him stretch her walls, she twined her arms around his neck. Wrapped her legs around his waist and rode him. Driving into her, Zeke slanted his mouth over hers and tongued her down.

              As usual, Zeke set her insides aflame. Bucking on him, Taylor lolled her head back and glanced up at the dark sky. Bouncing up and down on Zeke’s tool, water rippled along her spine.

              “Look at me, Taylor,” Zeke requested. Hair soaked and matted to her skull, Taylor rolled her neck forward to meet his deep, sensual gaze. “I love you, Taylor.” He softly bit her bottom lip, then released it. 

              She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, then spit it out. “I love you, too, Zeke.”

              “Are you about to cum?” Zeke asked her. Taylor nodded. “Good. Me, too. Let’s come together.” He twirled her creamy walls, and Taylor’s sex exploded. And so did Zeke’s. Like he’d wanted, they’d cum together.               

              After Zeke and Taylor made love in the lake, they swam to the edge of the water. Zeke climbed out first. Knees pressed into the grass, he hooked his arms beneath Taylor’s armpits and pulled. Taylor somehow ended up on top of him.

              Laying on his back with her on top of him, Zeke smiled. His member grew hard on her stomach. Gazing into his handsome eyes, she threaded her fingers through his wet, wiry hair. He clenched her hips with one hand, raised her from his lap. He slipped inside her again, and they ended up making sweet, tender love in the grass.

              Long moments later, Zeke and Taylor lay side by side in the grass, gazing up at the sky. He pushed up on his elbows. He scooped her wet hair up in his hands, brought it up to his mouth, and kissed it. “I’ll never forget this night for as long as I live.”

              “Me either.” Taylor stood and walked over to the makeshift tire swing. Holding on to the sides of the tire, she slid inside the circular part of the rubber, and then gripped the twined rope. Batting her lashes at Zeke, she smiled. “Push me, Zeke. Push me as high as you can,” she said, wildly kicking her feet.

              “Hold on!” Zeke lifted the sides of the tire up to his chest, then gave her a hard push. Giggling hysterically, Taylor went flying in the air. Her wet hair whipped at the sides of her smiling face.

              Suddenly, a voice rang out through a bullhorn. “Zeke!”

              Taylor shrieked. “Someone’s coming, Zeke. Stop the swing. Stop the swing.”

              Zeke gripped the tire, bringing it to an abrupt halt. “That’s my stepmother, Katherine. How in the hell did she find me?”

              Touching the tips of her toes to the ground, Taylor writhed her way out of the circular hole of the tire. Covering her breasts, she ran and snatched up her clothing. “Oh God, I’m really in trouble now,” she said, quickly pulling her shirt over her head, then shoving her arms through the sleeves.

              “What do you mean you’re in trouble?” Zeke questioned, observing fear in Taylor’s wide eyes.

              “I’m so sorry, Zeke—”

              “Zeke! Where are you?!” Katherine’s loud voice echoed through the dense wooded area.

              “Your stepmother sounds mad, Zeke.” Taylor prayed like crazy that Katherine hadn’t somehow found out she was pregnant before she had the chance to tell Zeke herself.
Oh God, I should’ve told Zeke sooner.

              Zeke’s brows drew close together. “You’re right. She does sound angry.”

              Taylor yanked her jeans up over her hips, grabbed her brown sandals. “I’m going home. Call me later.”

              Zeke clutched Taylor’s arms. “You don’t have to hide from my stepmother, Taylor. You’re my girl, and I think it’s high time that Katherine finds out about us. I love you, my love.”

              Moisture wet Taylor’s pupils. “Oh, Zeke. She probably already knows about us. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.” With her worn sandals clenched to her chest, Taylor took off running through the forest. Breathing erratically, she ran as fast as she could past all those trees. 

“
THERE YOU ARE!”
Gripping the handle of a bullhorn in one hand and pointing a bright flashlight in the other, Zeke’s stepmother, Katherine, marched toward him with a noticeable frown on her white, round freckled face. Wearing a long ivory dress and her red hair pulled into a low bun, Katherine pinched her lips together. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” Her eyes lowered to his bare shaft, then back up to his face. “Where are your clothes? Have you been out here fucking that girl?”

              “What girl, Mom?” Although Katherine wasn’t his birth mother, his father insisted he call her that. At times, he hated he had to refer to the snobbish Katherine as his mother. But considering his birth mother, Bridget, had had an affair with his father while he was married to Katherine, she probably hated it, too.

              Right after his birth mother Bridget had died, his father Colton had brought Zeke to live with him and Katherine, and their other two children—Antonio and Bane. From the very first day that Zeke had stepped inside their mansion, Katherine had despised his mere existence. Despised him for being born. Despised him because he was the result of an affair.

              Katherine narrowed her eyes at Zeke. Pointing her finger in his face, she barked through clenched teeth, “Taylor. Taylor Spelling. Have you been out here fucking that girl again?!”

             
How does she know about Taylor?
His mother’s–well, not his real mother, but Katherine’s–harsh tone irked him. Made him angry. His face scrunched as he snatched his jeans from the ground and put them on.

              Hooking his gaze on Katherine’s furious green eyes, Zeke sucked his teeth. “As a matter of fact, I have. What’s it to you?” he asked snidely, buttoning his jeans.

              Katherine threw her hands up in the air. “Dear Lord! It’s true! It’s true!”

             
What the hell is she screaming about?
Bemused, Zeke gave his stepmother a dumbfounded stare. He shrugged. “What’s true?”

              “Taylor’s pregnant! You got that hot little bitch pregnant!” Stunned, Zeke’s heart clenched. His stepmother continued, spatting, “Now she’s going to ruin the family’s name. Everything your father has worked so hard to protect, you’ve destroyed it, Zeke. You and Taylor. Other than you, we’ve never had a bastard born in this family. Never.” Hatred dulled her green eyes.

              Zeke’s face turned beet red. Seemingly confused, his brows lifted. “Taylor’s pregnant?”
This is what she wanted to me. She wanted to tell me she was pregnant.

              “Yes. She’s pregnant.” Still holding the bullhorn and flashlight, Katherine’s green eyes narrowed. “Taylor’s mother just paid me a visit and told me out of her own darn mouth.” Taking a step closer to him, her eyes roamed over his face. She fisted her hips. Head tilting, her eyes stretched wide. “Oh. My. God. Your little supposed girlfriend didn’t even bother telling you, did she?” Zeke shook his head. Katherine continued. “These little sluts around here been trying to get their hands on the family’s fortune for years. For all I know, the baby may not even be yours. Taylor’s getting an abortion, and that’s all there is to it.”

              Folding his arms across his chest, Zeke gave Katherine a brutal stare on purpose.
Like hell she will
. “No, Mom. If Taylor’s pregnant, she’s keeping my baby.”

              Katherine slapped Zeke! Face stinging, his mouth dropped wide open. Lips twisting, she clutched his shoulders and shook him. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting another bastard child come into this family. Into my house. No way in fucking hell! Do you understand me? Do you?”

             
This lady is crazy.
Knowing he had every intention of keeping his baby, Zeke nodded yes just to appease the redheaded Katherine. “Yes, ma’am.”

              Gently patting his face where she’d slapped him, the corners of Katherine’s lips lifted. “I’m glad you agree with me, Zeke. You let me handle Taylor and this stupid pregnancy. Now, let’s go home and have dinner. Don’t argue with your brothers tonight while at the table. I’m not in the mood for any more drama tonight.”

             
Lady, you put the D in drama. And you put the D in damn fool if you think my girl is getting an abortion.
Zeke shrugged on his shirt, then followed his stepmother through the forest. Thinking about how Taylor was pregnant with his child, warmth infused his heart. Smiling inwardly, he couldn’t wait to talk with Taylor and let her know of his new plans.

              Walking behind Katherine and heading home, a mild smile touched Zeke’s lips.
I’m going to make sure Taylor and my baby don’t ever have to worry about a thing. As soon as I graduate from high school, I’m going to convince Taylor’s mother to sign papers stating she can marry me. But even if she don’t sign them, we’re going to get married as soon as we can. If anyone tries to stop us from being together, we’ll run away and raise our child together. Yes. I’m going to be a father. Yes! Oh God, I love myself some Taylor.

             
Trailing closely behind Katherine, Zeke finally reached the back of his parents’ red brick mansion. Katherine fisted the sides of her long dress and marched up the steps of the back desk.

              So glad Taylor was pregnant, Zeke felt like jumping up and kicking his damn heels. However, knowing that action would piss Katherine off, he decided to keep his excited emotions on the down low and just clambered up the steps behind the stuck up woman instead.

GAZING DOWN
at the sparkling promise ring that Zeke had given her, Taylor crossed the railroad tracks leading towards her home and smiled
. Zeke said this is a promise ring. A token of how much he loves me. He said we’re going to get married one day.
Placing her hand to the bottom part of her belly, Taylor’s heart sang with delight.

              Feeling blissful and hopeful about her future with Zeke, Taylor wondered if he knew she was pregnant by now. His stepmother’s voice had sounded quite angry about ten minutes ago. Maybe she should’ve just stayed and faced mean-behind Katherine head on. It wasn’t like the lady could do anything about her situation. If anything, Katherine should be happy that she loved Zeke more than life itself.

              Close to her home, the sky had grown even darker. Almost pitch black. Burning wood wafted up her nose. Gazing down at the ground, she kicked at a rock and looked at her sparkling promise ring again.
Oh, Zeke is so sweet. And good looking. And ooo, he’s so fine.
 

              Suddenly, Taylor felt a shadow behind her. Just as she whirled, someone covered her head with a sack. Clawing at the hands squeezing her neck, the locket necklace around her neck snapped and fell to the ground. Losing her breath, she plummeted to her hands and knees.

              Scurrying away with the bag covering her head while on her hands and knees, the crazy man yanked her off the ground. Unable to see, Taylor screamed. Terrified, she kicked and punched. Jerked harshly in the strong man’s arms. “Let me go! Let me go!”

              “Shut up. You should’ve thought about your consequences beforehand.”

              Crying her eyes out, she heard bleeps from a car, as if her abductor were unlocking a vehicle. The strong man tossed her, and she landed hard on something.
Bam!
Sounded like the trunk of a car had slammed close.

              Frightened to her wit’s end, Taylor snatched the bag from her head to find herself trapped inside the truck of some man’s car. Lying on her back, surrounded in sheer darkness, she felt the car rock and shimmy over the railroad track. Short moments later, a train’s whistle resounded throughout the night’s air and sailed into the dark trunk of the horrible monster’s car.

              Kicking and banging on the trunk’s roof, Taylor wailed.
He’s going to kill me and my baby. Oh God, please help me.
“Somebody help meeee!”