Of Love and Deception (19 page)
Read Of Love and Deception Online
Authors: Melisa Hamling
Little bubbles stirred in Daniella's belly when her gaze locked with his. He was watching her intently. Did she catch a hint of greed in his eyes? A warning promising to ravish every inch of her body? God, she hoped so. She shot him her best smile. He grinned and the single dimple she adored creased his cheek. Daniella crooked a finger, gesturing for Cruz to come to her.
As he approached, Daniella wondered if he'd even heard the announcement. He walked slowly while his gaze sized her from the ground up.
“Hey, Mr. Canton. Would you mind joining me on the dance floor? The DJ did just announce the bride and groom dance. If I'm not mistaken, I think he had us in mind.” Daniella reached for his hand and led him to the dance floor. She tugged on his ear. He leaned down and she whispered, “What were you thinking about, handsome?”
He grinned, but said nothing.
Daniella turned her head slightly, tilted it, leaving her ear open to his lips—a hint of sorts, and said, “Please, do share.”
This time she earned his fingers digging into her sides as he attempted to tickle her.
Daniella slid her hands up his neck, pulled his head down and stood on the tips of her toes, pressing her lips against his ear. “Mm,” she moaned after inhaling a mixture of his scent and cologne. “Speekith to me, Mr. Canton. Tell me, is it our wedding song? Are you worried about whether you picked the right one?”
Locking his arms around her, and drawing her tightly against him, he said, “You look beautiful. I could always stare at you before, but tonight, you're exceptionally divine. I want to feel and taste every bit of you, and I have to keep reminding myself that I'll get to delve into you for the rest of our lives. You… are mine, Mrs. Cruz Canton.”
Daniella blew into Cruz's ear and he groaned. His grip tightened, drawing her closer as he stepped in a slow rhythm, swayed side to side, coaxing her to follow along, though the music hadn't started yet. “I think you'll like the song, maybe even enough to say you'd have chosen the same one.”
“Ah. If it's Celine Dion, then I imagine I would agree. But is that what you were thinking about?”
Cruz dipped his head down and nuzzled his lips into her neck. “Mm. I was thinking I can't wait to make love to you—” he nibbled her ear, “—and make babies with you.”
Daniella attempted to pull back. “Whaa—” But he cut her off by lifting her, leaving her feet dangling. She could feel the vibrations in his chest—his obvious attempt to hold back his amusement.
Between small chuckles, he said, “Sh, sh,” just before their song streamed through the surrounding speakers.
The lyrics floated softly into the air and silenced the chattering crowd. Cruz caressed Daniella's cheek and drew her ever so close, stroking her bare back as he swayed back and forth in smooth delicate steps. He whispered the lyrics, as if speaking directly to her heart.
Celine Dion's “The Power of Love” and the way Cruz sang specific phrases instantly saturated Daniella with his passion, enhancing her already over stimulated emotions.
Cruz dipped his head and in a low sing-song voice, he mimicked the lyrics in a way that Daniella knew he was speaking directly to her soul. She clutched him tighter and rested her head against his chest. The mellow thumping of his heartbeat kissed her ears and traveled into the very beat of her own heart.
“Sing the next line to me, love.”
“C-CCan't.” Daniella choked back the tears.
Cruz shifted slightly and cupped a hand under her chin. He tilted her head so she would have to look at him, but she closed her eyes, willing the tears to stay put and not spill over. The instant shock of his warm lips suddenly pressed against her own, threw her eyelids into a fluttery awakening—a single teardrop reared and tumbled down her cheek.
“I love you.” His lips crushed back onto hers. In that very moment, Daniella lost all senses of her surroundings and only she and Cruz existed. Never did she imagine such a thing was possible, to forget the world existed, that only God carried her and Cruz into a heavenly abyss.
“Hey-yah! Virgin eyes over here!” Lori's voice, the clapping of hands, and the piercing whistles brought them out of their moment of splendor.
Daniella buried her head into Cruz's chest, and they both chuckled. She loved him and clung to each word of
their
song.
“It's… perfect. The song,” Daniella said, her voice barely audible.
Cruz circled the bare skin of her back with an occasional slip of his fingers inching under the fabric of her dress, walking their way toward her breast. He dipped his head low and whispered, “I thought you'd approve.”
~~~
After the parent dance, wedding party dance, and all those special dances in between, Daniella let go of Cruz and inched away, attempting to escape the dance floor.
“Hey. Where are you going?” He grabbed her hand, pulled it to his lips and brushed feathery kisses against her fingers.
“I'll be back. I need to use the ladies room. Gotta have the girls help me pin up the train, so don't go anywhere. Stay right here on the dance floor until I get back. We have more dancing to do, dear.” She wiggled a finger at him and winked.
Cruz released her. His eyes beamed when he said, “Hurry back, Mrs. Canton.”
Daniella had the girls help her remove the front panel and the train of her dress.
“Oh no! You didn't!” Lori laughed.
Jill coughed. “Daniella! O-M-G!” She clapped a hand over her mouth and laughed.
“Yeah, I did. I wore them the entire time. Aren't they cute?” Daniella admired her white stocking cowgirl boots with diamond rhinestones.
Mrs. Kurtz walked in just as Daniella, Jill and Lori were about to exit. She examined Daniella and stopped at her feet. She shook her head and grinned. “Only you, Daniella. Only you could get away with it and do it in style.” She drew Daniella into a bear hug.
“Aw. Thanks, Mom. Just remember, it all comes from you—maybe a smidge from dad.” Daniella kissed her and wiped away a tear from her cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
“Okay, okay. I'm good now. No more tears.” Cari blinked several times, obviously an attempt to regain control and not break out into an emotional outpour. “Now go out there and have fun. Maybe I'll get a grandchild, sooner rather than later.”
“Mom! What is it—oh no. No, no. Have you been planting ideas into Cruz's head, plotting ways to get a grandbaby?” Danielle's eyes widened.
“I would never do such a thing.” The devious grin gave away her mother's guilt.
“You know, Cruz was just mentioning to me… imagining me pregnant. Now why would he do that when he really hasn't brought up the idea of children? Hmm?”
“I know nothing,” her mother said and darted out of the bathroom.
“Aw! A ba—”
Daniella pinched her thumb and finger together. “Hush, hush. No more baby talk. I'm not getting knocked up any time soon so just put a cap on it, Lori.”
Lori grinned, her eyes mere slits. “Mm-hm.”
Daniella glanced over at Jill.
“What? I didn't say anything.” Jill raised her hands. “I'm innocent.” She walked past Daniella and let out a gasp of laughter.
“Uh-huh.” Daniella giggled as she exited the ladies room.
Just as her favorite country song started, Daniella skipped through the tables and rushed to the floor, taking her spot next to Cruz in the line dance.
“Holy shi—” Cruz held Daniella at arms-length, his gaze traveling down to her boots. “That's freakin' sexy… oh so sexy.” His eyebrows arched. “Did… did you wear those the whole time?”
“Yep, I sure did. You likey?” She wiggled her foot to show off the boots.
“I lovey. I'd lovey even more if that was all you wore.”
“Mm. We can arrange that for later.”
Cruz grinned. “We sure can. Just a few more hours, and I'll have you in nothing but those boots.”
“Well, right now we better separate. The line is moving and everyone is staring at us.”
“Oh no. I'm staying right here behind you,” he whispered into her ear. “We can move together.”
“Don't do that.” Daniella chuckled.
“Do what?”
“Whisper against my ear and then breath the way you did.”
“Why? Am I turning you on?” His voice heated with passion.
“Always.”
~~~
The limo ride to the hotel took forever. Well, maybe not forever, but keeping Cruz from stripping her took all of her efforts. She stepped into their suite and lost her breath. Everything was white, but in the center on the bedside table was a vase full of red roses. Dimly lit crystals cast soft light over the bed.
He unzipped her wedding gown and it fell to the floor. As promised, he left her in rhinestone stocking boots and white lace frillies. Lifting her up, he placed her on the bed on her knees. He hooked his fingers around the strings of her panties, unraveled the bows, and peeled them off. His lips pressed against hers as he squeezed her behind and slowly dragged his fingers up her back, around to her chest, and up her neck.
Daniella tried to pull back as she unbuttoned his shirt, but he wouldn't let her. She worked her fingers and managed to rid him of his shirt anyway. She shoved her hands down his pants, and he groaned long and loud. He helped her shed the rest of his clothes. His warm, sensual lips pressed against her forehead, traveled over each eyelid, down her nose, across her cheek, and stopped at her ear.
In a heated breath, he whispered, “I want to taste every inch of you over and over again.” His eyes swept over her in sweet seduction, and she watched as he slid one hand down along her abdomen, settling it between her thighs. With his free arm placed across her back, he palmed and squeezed, pressing her chest against his.
Inhaling his scent, Daniella was instantly saturated with his passion. Butterflies surged deep within her lower half. She was lost in the moment, rolling her eyes back, closing them.
“Open your eyes, baby,” he commanded. “Open your eyes and look at me.” Cruz pulled back until Daniella opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her head was hazy, lost in sweet bliss…
“Cruz?”
His stare was full of passion as he impaled her. She was now sitting, Cruz embedded deep inside of her. In rugged breaths, he said, “I want to see your eyes, your mouth, your expression as you climax. I want to know that I am everything you want, the only one you see, the only one who can bring out your sweet love.”
“Wh-what—
”
Daniella gasped as Cruz slowly thrust his hips, rocking deeper, his arms wrapped around her, hands at each of her shoulders, pressing her down into him. She couldn't help letting her head fall back as the sensation deep within her ignited spasms of ecstasy to course through, only to be captured and held in every secret spot.
Between grunts and moans, Cruz laced his fingers through her hair and coaxed her head back to his visual path. She opened her eyes and he leaned forward and held his mouth to hers. He rasped, “Stay with me… Daniella, look into my eyes.”
His breathing turned rugged and rapid. He clenched her hips and pulled her into him, drove into every corner within her, enhancing the sheer pleasure ripping through every part of her existence.
“Oh, gawd, oh, gawd.” Daniella gasped and panted. “Oh, gaaaaw—” Sensation assaulted her until her entire body trembled and shook as he impaled her over and over again. He stared intensely into her eyes, his hips jerking—strong, deep and slow, and then he let out a sound so primal, so male, so freaking sexy. He collapsed on top of her and planted little kisses into the crook of her neck.
15 - Flipping Out
Daniella could hardly contain her laughter as she drove along the winding road nearing the hotel.
“Where are we going?” Cruz asked for the billionth time.
“Tsk, tsk. Must you ask again? You know I’m not going to tell you!” She sniggered knowing he was going to kill her for this. But what fun would a first year anniversary be if they were to go to a fancy restaurant and gave gifts? Or stayed at a ritzy hotel? B.O.R.I.N.G.
She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she closed in on the hotel.
One brow raised and a crooked smile, he turned to her but she held her composure and calmly said, “Look! We’re here. Isn’t it lovely?”
A creepy black sign with red letters flashing DA-Oh greeted them.
“What the hell?” Cruz muttered as they gathered their overnight bags and headed toward the rickety porch leading to a crooked door marked ‘Entrance.’
“It’s just the shell, Cruz. Wait till you see the inside!”
“It looks like a haunted house or something. And why do I get the feeling you’ve got something up your sleeve?” He gave her the evil eye.
“My lips are sealed.” She pinched her thumb and forefinger and dragged them across her lips.
They stepped up to the admission counter. “Welcome!” Two men with shrunken heads, one an Indian while the other…
Cruz roared with laughter. “Is that… Beetle—”
“Ah! Ah! Ah! Nobody says—” He grabbed Cruz by the ear and whispered, “The ‘B’ word!”
Before either of them had a chance to react, their bags were snatched and plastic keycards on a chain were placed around their necks. Daniella was whisked in one direction while Cruz was whisked in the opposite direction. Daniella let out a burst of laughter at the way Cruz jacked his face up. She laughed harder knowing he wondered what the hell this was.
Twenty minutes later, harnesses under their wedding attire, they were hoisted into the air and joined together in a dark hallway with blue neon lighting.
Daniella rolled, almost throwing up from laughing so hard at how ridiculous Cruz looked.
“I-I… you… you look so—”
“Fucking sexy as hell!” He lifted the spectacles and wiggled his eyebrows. “And loving that gown, babe.”
Okay, she hadn’t expected him to say that, but it tickled her pink. It meant he was good with her crazy idea. She felt brilliant for finding this place. The whole Beetlejuice theme, Barbara and Adam Maitland in their wedding attire, had sounded like a blast.
“Ha-hem. Disclaimer. No straying… yada, yada.” He, being Beetlejuice imposter, mumbled more lines of gibberish. “Ah. Ah. Ah. No saying the ‘B’ word… Beetle…” he grunted. “Whoever says the ‘B’ word, under their breath, under their tongue, anyhow, anyway, earns a card of deed.” He coughs. “Er… Um I mean a ticket.”
He reached into his pocket, brought his hand out in a fist, nodded at Cruz and after Cruz opened his hand, it was instantly filled with goo and worms, which he quickly dropped and rubbed his palm against his thigh.
“Oops. Wrong pocket.” He reached in the opposite pocket and pulled out a card, read it, reached in his pocket again and pulled out a can of whip cream.
“Yah get a card and yah gotta do what it says. Ooo. Whip cream on titties. Mmm. You get it?” He didn’t wait for them to answer. “Good!”
Before they knew it, their pockets were filled with wacky things, they were lifted in the air by their harnesses, and they played out the parts. Flying up flights of stairs, shooting out through a trap in the ceiling that opened before they hit it, and they were looking down at a makeshift graveyard where Beetlejuice lounged on a headstone. They glided down and stood before him.
“Till death do you part?” he asked.
“BEETLE—” The words came from somewhere other than her lips. Daniella felt the vibrating teeth in her pocket, grabbed them and squished them. She shoved them into Cruz’s tux pocket before the last half of the name was said.
Cruz laughed until…
“Beetlejuice!” He wasn’t quick enough.
“You little shit!” He grabbed Daniella, smacked her with a kiss, and shoved the teeth between her breasts, his body shielding her.
Before their tour finished, they’d flown to the top of the house, through a maze of rooms, howling at the sight of each other in the maze of mirrors distorting their bodies. They got a snapshot of them sitting on a couch in a busy basement, the top torso of a woman sitting on the far left while the bottom half sat in the far right, Cruz and Daniella in between, their heads shrunken and their bodies blown up.
By the time they finished, now back in their own clothes and in their suite, Cruz had earned six cards and Daniella four.
Daniella plopped on the large, round, cloud-like bed. “Did you have fun?”
“Well, it was the stupidest movie, but I’ve got to admit, this has been one of the craziest good times I’ve had since I was a kid.” He crooked a finger. “Come here.”
She obliged and he wrapped her in a hug. Grinning down at her, he said, “Let’s get naked and open our D & S cards?”
She licked her lips and gave him a wicked smile. “D & S… Dirty and Sexy.”
He leaned down and grazed her ear with his teeth. His voice was husky when he said, “I want dirty, sexy words spilling from those beautiful pouty lips. Got it?”
Turning and walking toward the bed, she glanced over her shoulder, lowering her eyes, and smiled seductively as she stripped out of her clothes and pulled the silky white comforter off the bed to reveal a plastic liner. A mini refrigerator hid within the nightstand and she slowly spread her legs as she squatted down, opened the refrigerator, and pulled out a can of ready whip. A five-gallon bucket of chocolate syrup sat off to the side of the nightstand.
Tapping a finger against her lip, she looked to the side to see Cruz pushing his boxer briefs down, the last of his clothing and said, “I’ve read my cards too, and there’s something about whip cream and chocolate syrup. And since I pretty much won the “B” word game, I say you should get that sexy butt and body of yours on that bed and lay on your back.”
“Oh, I like this already,” he said as he lay on the bed, stretched out, hands folded and tucked under his head.
“Okay, now close your eyes.” Inside, she was dying with laughter. If he only knew what she was going to do, then he wouldn’t have closed his eyes and smiled the way he was smiling all sexy right now.
Before she crawled on the bed, she lifted the bucket of chocolate syrup and set it next to the bed. She kneeled next to Cruz and whispered in his ear, “Baby, I’m going to flavor you up, so be patient and still. And don’t open your eyes!”
He nodded and did as instructed.
Lifting the can, she shook it and then made circles over his nipples… a trail down his belly… over his balls… and then along his impressive length as it twitched its approval. He groaned when she swirled her tongue over the tip of him and dragged it up and down. She did this for several minutes before she moved up to his lips, barely touching them, she said, “I’m not done with you. Now be good and don’t peek!”
He grinned and closed the single eye he’d peeked from.
It was difficult, but she managed to pry the lid from the five-gallon bucket, lift it onto the bed, and stood over him as she barely tipped the bucket, dribbling a small amount of it over his tummy. His muscled abs twitched in response but he didn’t open his eyes.
“Okay, baby, keep em closed. I’m gonna do a little more of that…” She heaved, shifted the bucket, and with all her strength, she quickly dumped the entire bucket of chocolate liquid over every inch of Cruz’s naked body. Then she jumped off the bed and laughed.
He shot upright with his jaw dropped. His white teeth, pink tongue and the whites of his eyes were all that stood out through the chocolate goo.
“You… y-you look—” She couldn’t finish, she was laughing so hard she was crying and holding her stomach.
She stopped laughing when he jumped off the bed and charged after her.
“That’s it! No more Mr. Nice Guy!” He caught her around the waist, dragged her back to the bed and lay on top of her. He was smiling down at her, the chocolate on his body now smeared all over hers and much of it dripping off his face onto hers. “You think this is funn—”
She grabbed his face and dragged his mouth to hers, not letting him finish his comment. She licked up the side of his cheek and when she got to his ear, she breathed, “I want you to suck these.”
Daniella pushed him up and cupped her breasts.
“And this.” She slid her hands down the length of her belly, over her hips and ended between her legs by dragging her fingers between her lips.
Without pause, Cruz was quick to separate her legs with his knee.
She couldn’t help but smile at him. “So serious, Mr. Canton.”
He ran his finger along her bottom lip and dove in with his tongue. His hands ran along her bare skin, caressing, gently squeezing and tasting everything he touched. Then he slipped in slowly. “Let’s—” He paused to hook his arms under her thighs. “So tight and so damn—” He grabbed her legs, drew them up against her abdomen, and then pressed the weight of his upper body against her knees.
In his eyes, she could see a deep desire burning fiercely. With bittersweet fervor, he captured her lips and the sweetness of his mouth drove a passionate urge deep within her. Not wanting the emotions to end, she ran her hands along the ripples of his abdomen, chest and up to his head, where she held tightly. The sensation was so good they couldn’t hold on any longer. He captured her cries, and she caught his moans as his lips sealed lightly over hers.
Cruz’s breathing slowed. He lifted his head and planted little kisses along Daniella’s neck. “Mm. A year later and the sex is hotter than ever.” He nibbled her lower lip.
“No argument here.” She stroked his sides, loving every moment they shared together. “We gotta take a shower and get this sticky goo off.”
They climbed off the bed, made their way to the shower and after they were clean, Daniella attempted to exit, but Cruz grabbed her, flipped her around and wrapped his arms around her. She glanced up to catch him smirking. He pressed his cheek against hers, his lips formed a smile against her ear as he pressed her against the tiled wall.
Raising his hands, cupping her cheeks in his palms, he said, “Let’s have a baby… start a family.”
She blinked several times, gauging his expression; words failed her.
Whoa. He’s totally serious.
He circled his thumbs against the arches of her cheekbones. “You disagree?”
She shook her head. “I… I hadn’t considered children yet, but the idea of giving you a baby excites me.”
“And that, my dear wife, is why I’ve busted butt with business deals over the last year. I want to stay closer to home when you do get pregnant and hopefully for our baby’s first year.” He lifted his head and kissed the tip of her nose.
“And that, my dear husband, is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I love you.”
Their first year together had been wonderful, even if Cruz had been swamped with work, and away on business much too often for Daniella’s liking. The steamy, passionate reunions always made up for time lost.
~~~
The thrill of having a baby and making love to Cruz slowly turned into an obsession. Daniella wanted desperately to tell him they were finally pregnant, but every time she thought maybe this was the month, her period never failed to show up. There were a few times she’d been certain she was pregnant. Tender breasts, nausea, fatigue—all symptoms of pregnancy. After several trips to her family physician, she’d been told she was not pregnant and that her symptoms were likely a side effect of her strong desire to be pregnant. In other words, it was psychological.
“You’re focusing too much on the idea of pregnancy. Relax and live a little, and then maybe it will happen when you least expect it,” Dr. Beaver stated.
Months had passed, and Daniella began to feel guilty. She often wondered if something was wrong with her… or maybe she couldn’t have children. She made another appointment with Dr. Beaver. They ran a battery of tests, including a Pap, hormone levels, and several other blood tests, which all came back normal.
“Well, Daniella, I think our next step is to send you to a fertility specialist. I can give you some recommendations if you’d like?” Dr. Beaver pulled out a prescription pad and jotted something down. “Here’s where I refer my patients. I’m confident they can help you and your husband. They have one of the highest success rates and one highly renowned fertility specialist.”
Daniella took the script Dr. Beaver gave her, slipped it into her purse, and headed back to work.
Eight months seemed like an eternity when living month by month, doing one pregnancy test after another. The biggest stress was the anticipation or hope of seeing a positive line form on the test, only to find negative results every time.
“Of course it’s negative! Why would I expect anything more.” Tears tumbled down her cheeks. She tossed the test into the wastebasket, vowing this would be the last one she’d do. She kept telling herself she’d have Cruz’s baby, eventually.
“Hey,” Cruz said as he stepped into their room. “You about ready to go?”
Stepping into the walk-in closet, she thumbed through her wardrobe attempting to hide the disappointment she knew he’d see in her eyes.
“I just need to get dressed. Give me a few minutes and I’ll meet you in the car.”
Big warm hands greeted her shoulders, his thumbs pressing and circling against her neck. “Mm. Need some help?” he whispered and slipped his fingers under her bathrobe and down along her arms causing the robe to pool at her feet.
“Meg won’t appreciate us strolling in late for dinner…” Her breath caught when his hands met and clutched between her thighs.
Biting her earlobe, he mumbled, “Damn, I love your body.”
“Cruz! We don’t have time. Now let me get dressed so we won’t be late.” She cupped her hands over his.
“This…” He dragged his finger up the center of her desire and she shivered with pleasure. “This is mine tonight.” His breath was heated and seductive.
Staying home sounded like a better plan, but Daniella decided they could also use a night out, even if it was only dinner with Meg and Falcon.