The Only Choice (The Choices Trilogy #3) (44 page)

“I should say hi, don’t you think?” I nod to the splashing noise from the pool, not sure who is out there but I have a pretty good idea.

“Not a fucking chance, they won’t let you go and I’m not waiting another minute. Still struggling with the sharing thing and they are
my
children too. Fuck I need to be inside you right now and I don’t think Nanna’s going to approve if I bend you over the sun lounger.” He hasn’t broken his stride and I don’t mind, there is plenty of time for catch up and by the sounds of it they are having too much fun to even notice I’m there.

“It’s gonna need to be quick then, as soon as Sofia shows herself they’ll know I’m here and hunt me down.” I giggle as he takes the stairs two at a time.

“Not a problem.” He draws in a deep breath as the door of our bedroom slams shut and in the next breath he has me pushed flat against the weathered oak with him flush against me. I feel the tight tug of my panties and the sharp sting as they disintegrate in his fingers. He smoothes the skin on my hip before he grabs the flesh and squeezes, his hands then travel at a rapid speed all over my skin sending a trails of fire in their wake. His lips cover mine, his tongue dives and swirls and tastes, his kisses along my jaw and up my neck are feather light, his kisses on my neck are fierce and proprietary and I moan as he sucks and draws my blood to the surface. I cry at the point of pain as he marks me, the moment he surges hard into me and with a guttural groan of his own. I throw my head back with a thud against the door and writhe in ecstasy against his relentless driving thrusts, deeper, harder, every grind, every step closer sending me higher as I gasp for the air to breathe. My body starts to tremble when he stills and holds my chin delicately, his eyes boring into mine.

“Wait baby, come with me.” He pants, my mind is fuzzy and my body isn’t listening to me, it just wants to take what he’s giving. “Baby, I want you to come with me and I want you to look at me. I need to see you fall apart.” I know I whimper at his words and he smiles when I manage a slight nod. Honestly, it is a big fucking ask given our separation and the fact that I am so desperate to let go I feel a little insane right now but he just asked so damn nicely, I have to try.

He pulls back and slides back in, slow and deep, deeper than he had been, if that was possible but it is and he hits such sweet spots inside a tiny cry escapes and he lets his head drop to my shoulder with a moan. He picks up his pace and I can’t stop the build inside, he lifts his head to gaze once more into my eyes, his passion, lust and love sears my soul. He can feel me and I can feel him and just like him I loved to watch him fall apart too. I cling to his broad shoulders and he pounds hard once, twice and swallows my cry as I fall. I fall and he catches me and I catch him right back; holding him tight as he regains his even breathing and gently lowers me to the floor. His head resting on my forehead, my legs feel like jelly and he scoops me into his arms before I collapse.

“Well I did say you’d have trouble walking but I’m really looking forward to the bit where you aren’t able to sit down.” He kisses my hair and sits me on the edge of the bed. He walks over to the chest of draws and it’s the first time I have time to take in what a beautiful room we are in. The white plastered walls are edged with thick stone and the depth of the window ledges indicate just how thick the walls are. The exposed wooden beams are pale and the floor boards are natural too and highly polished. There is a small writing desk and a full length mirror and what looks like an ensuite from the tiling on the floor. The room is light and the décor is modern and in keeping with the region, stylish and elegant. The four poster bed has white with black striped linen, the black lacquered posts don’t reach the ceiling or connect in anyway but I know they will be put to use. Daniel grins as he kneels in front of me and threads my feet through some new panties.

“I like what you’re thinking Mrs Stone.” He runs his hands up my thighs lifting my skirt as he pulls my underwear into place, I lift to help his progress. “But there are little people waiting. . . .” He pauses as he traces his finger along the edge of my newly restored panties. “Actually on second thoughts, they can wait a little longer . . .” He starts to kiss on the inside of my thigh and I fold over onto him in a fit of giggles, his longer than normal stubble tickling the sensitive skin but before I can argue or acquiesce, he sighs as the simultaneous sound of what seems to be a heard of wildebeest charge up the stairs and fly into the room. Lucas splats himself against Daniels back as he is still crouched on the floor and L bumps into the bed beside me and I quickly lift her into my lap as she squeals and wraps her tiny arms around my neck. They are both wet from the pool and too excited to actually make any sense so I just cuddle and tickle and laugh with them. Daniel throws Lucas onto his shoulders and points at me and mouths that he’s not done with me and I can feel my cheeks flush and mouth back ‘good.’ I carry L and Daniel follows with Lucas back down the stairs to the pool to find the others.

We carry them back up the stairs several exhausting hours later, not exhausting for us but certainly their Uncle Marco and Uncle Paul were put through their paces. We set them down on the low beds and cover their tiny bodies with a light sheet as the heat from the day persists into the night. Having fallen asleep in our arms during dinner they both remain undisturbed by the change in location and I take a moment to marvel at the little carbon copies of Daniel before me. Only the slight difference in sizes marks that they aren’t twins with their dark tousled hair and crystal blue eyes. The lazy afternoon bled into the perfect evening. The terrace was laid out with one long table and benches either side, at one end was an alcove of large cushions and hammocks for lazing around after the meal. The food, was simple, rustic and plentiful and the company couldn’t be better, Marco, his Mum and Dad, Sofia and Paul, Ethan, the cousins Pip and Fia, Pip has been working as an intern under Jason at Daniels London office, since graduating last year. Daniel gave out an open invitation and anyone who was available jumped on the plane. I never take for granted the privileged position I am in but I am in awe that Daniel understands how important this family thing is, given his own limited experience, his love of privacy and his dislike of sharing. But he does understand and when he does something like this, I just manage to love him a little bit more.

We must have taken longer to put the kids to bed than we thought or the day had taken its toll because the terrace is bereft of bodies and the table clear of dinner debris. Daniel takes my hand and we walk to the edge of the pool, sit and dangle our legs in, the cool water swirling and swishing around our legs as we drag them back and forth. The night is alive with the sounds from the surrounding mountain and the evening scents of lavender and citrus fill the air, the villa is softly lit and the whole evening feels magical. I let my head fall back and gaze at the sky bursting with too many stars to comprehend but the moment is instantly gone when I hear him slip into the water and feel the tug on my hand to follow. He is submerged and pulls me in without resistance despite being fully clothed and I reach for him and we wrap around each other before returning to the surface for air. He starts to peel my sundress that is slick to my skin down my shoulders and off my waist and I unbutton his shirt, the water is just shallow enough to reach the bottom on my tip toes but he is easily standing firm. He unties the straps of my bikini, top and bottom and the materials glide over the surface of the water and out of reach. He grins as I take a furtive glance around, the only sound is nature, wild and cacophonous and a little bit breathless. There is not another soul around, just our souls entwined and helpless for each other. I tug at the cord in his shorts and my fingers slide to push the material free from his body, freeing him, hot and hard against my water cooled skin. I am surprised I can’t see steam rising from the pool or hear the sizzles as his skin touches mine.

“You are too naked.” He grumbles and I pull back to see he actually seems serious and I look around again to check why now he would think this when he was the one that has made me naked but there is still no one but us around.

“I thought you liked me naked?” I let my legs float around his waist and squeeze to pull him into me; he groans a deep throaty sound that vibrates through the water.

“Mmm not any more, I want you to put something on.” He is trying to sound stern but I can see in his eyes the wrinkle and crease as he fights one of his breath taking smiles that is just waiting in the wings, but why?

“Something on or in?” I tilt my hips and use the weightlessness to roll my core softly against his rock hard erection that is bobbing just against my folds and I snicker as he takes a sharp breath.

“Fuck, you’re making this very hard.” His voice is gruff and he coughs the last part which just makes me giggle more.

“So it would seem and your point is?” I am now hovering just above him and I can feel the tip of his cock bob at my entrance but I need him to take this further because I have no purchase.

“My point.” He starts to swish his way to the edge of the pool, where I know I will find my purchase. “My point is I want to do this in a
not
arse backwards way and you are distracting me.” His lips cover mine as I am about to ask what he is talking about. I love that our perfect is arse backwards, so what is it he wants to do now that isn’t and that involves me putting more clothes on. My questions dissolve as his tongue delves deeper, demanding and devouring and all I can think is I really want his other point right now. But he stops and gently cups my cheek, his eyes intense, serious and his jaw is clenched like he is suddenly nervous. “Our normal was arse backwards; the baby, the wedding, the other baby, this hen trip and I love that about us . . . So this should be an engagement ring but I hate the idea of a limited period of time with you, even if that time is now irrelevant, so this . . .” He takes my left hand that was resting on his shoulder and slides something on my finger. I can’t see it because my brief glance down only saw his fingers over mine and I can’t seem to take my eyes away from his. “
This,
is the only period of time with you that I do like the idea of.” I feel his hand slip away and I get my first look at the stunning diamond eternity ring that is now nestled next to my wedding ring.

“Eternity,” my thumb strokes the underside of the ring to feel more diamonds and I look back into his eyes which, tonight sparkle brighter than any precious stone and whisper my understatement of a lifetime, “I like that idea.”

The End (Again)

Read on for a sneak peek:

Ethan’s Fall

by Dee Palmer

PROLOGUE

Four Years Ago

Ada

“I fucking hate you!” I scream it so loud, I can feel rawness burn in my throat, but there is no sound. Not even a whimper escapes my silent body, as the sorrow I feel in my heart rips me apart.

“She’s crying. Are you sure she isn’t in any pain?” My mother’s voice sounds as pathetic as the pitiful expression on her immaculately made-up face. Like she fucking cares. She’s married to a monster, and she is just as guilty to stand by his side now as they both decide to commit me to Hell.

“Oh, Lady d’Aubeney, I can assure you she doesn’t feel a thing.” The pallid weasel of a doctor’s smile creeps across his face, as he takes the opportunity to comfort my mother with a carefully placed hand on her shoulder, fake concern crinkling his eyes.

But he is so fucking wrong because that is all I feel pain---fucking brutal pain.

“Her tears then-”

“Just a side effect of the sedation,” he interrupts, drops his contact, and walks to my side. I mentally flinch at his nearness, but my body is lifeless. I so want my mind to join it. “It’s for the best. This way we can keep her safe and more importantly keep everyone else safe too. I can’t imagine what would make a young lady with such a privileged, supportive family steal a child.” He fiddles with the clear tubing attached to my arm, but I squeeze my eyes tight, as his lies slice through me. Lies…Fucking lies and he believes them.

“Yes.” My father’s detached voice still manages to freeze my soul, despite the drugs coursing through my veins, numbing my nerves. “She has been a disappointment, but we have hope that with time she will be able to come home one day. Although given her little outburst….” He absently rubs the red marks at his neck. Tiny spots where my fingernails managed to scrape the skin before the needle ended my rage and I slumped to the floor. “We have an understanding doctor, which is why we brought her here to your private facility. I want to make myself clear. She doesn’t leave this place without my permission…yes?” His tone is resolute, as my mother dabs at her eyes that even I can see are dry.

“Of course, Lord d’Aubeney, you don’t need to concern yourself with her now. We will keep her sedated for the foreseeable future and will await your instruction. We pride ourselves on our ability to give a very special, discrete service to our clients. Trust me, your daughter, Artemis, will be quite happy here.”

“Well, you certainly won’t hear her complain.” My father’s deep chuckle turns my stomach, and I am incredulous when the doctor joins in the laughter. Yes, this is one big fucking joke.

I close my eyes once more. I don’t want to see them or hear them, and I don’t want to feel the desolation of my life now, when only two days ago was bliss. It wasn’t just happiness, it was utter ecstasy.

I can see them as clear as if they were in this sterile capsule I am lying in. A burst of vibrant colour against a clinical background of four white walls. They brim with life and are overflowing with love. Cal and our beautiful baby girl, Pip.

I turn sharply and my smile hurts as it stretches across my face when Pip squeals with a fit of giggles. Peek-a-boo, the simple game that keeps our baby girl entertained on the long car journey. Her tiny pudgy arms flail, her floppy wrists shaking her hands wildly. It’s the best game ever. I laugh out loud and turn to look at the most beautiful man on the planet. His jet black hair flops in spikes, which he absently drags out of his eyes. His jaw is all hard angles, his cheek bone high. He has thick dark brows, indecently long lashes and soft full lips but his eyes…I sigh. They’re something ethereal; dark green with hazel gold slashes in the iris that draw you in and hold you captive. I didn’t stand a chance, but I didn’t
want
to. My heart warms, though not from the sunlight streaming on through the front wind screen, burning up the worn plastic of the dashboard, but from the knowledge that he is mine. He loves me and our baby, and he didn’t run when I’d told him I was pregnant. I was only fifteen, though he was a little older. Twenty-one at the time and already more of a man than my father would ever be. He glances over at me and his soft lips curl into a faint smile, but his eyes don’t wrinkle with the same emotion. At the time, I thought it was tiredness from the drive I was unable to share. Concentrating on the road for eight hours with only the briefest of toilet breaks would make anyone tired and distracted.