Blake Chandler- 22 years old. Has won five lotteries the previous year as he traveled across the country to spread his parent’s ashes and purchased lottery tickets with money they left him and instructions to do. He won twenty billion, but after taxes he’s down to a mere ten billion and is looking for financial advice. He lives in Lubbock, Texas, next door to Lexi’s brother, Josh. Josh sets him up with Max Lane to help get his finances straight before he loses it all to taxes. Blake’s physical appearance is; tall, 6’3” muscular, shoulder length blonde curls, symmetrical chiseled features, brown and blue hazel eyes. He’s a sweet, happy-go-lucky guy. He makes fast friends with Max and Kip. (He’s met Kip and Peyton in L.A. at the beach)

Rachelle Stone- 20 years old, but turns 21 in the first book- In college at UCLA, in L.A. in the Culinary Arts Program. Her mother doesn’t know who her father is and has little to do with her. When she was three her mother placed her in a children’s home. (The same one Max Lane was in, he was fifteen at the time) Her grandparents live in Round Rock, Texas and that’s her only real family. She has abandonment issues. Her physical appearance is; Small frame, 5’2”, deep black, straight hair that hangs to her small waist. Brilliant, deep blue eyes fringed in dark, thick lashes. Porcelain skin with hints of pink staining her high cheek bones and red, pouty lips. Her character is trying hard to be tough and keep most people at arms-length. Peyton is her best friend and after meeting Max again, she forms a little bond with him as an older brother figure.

Part 1 Lucky Stars

Blake

Pinks and oranges fill the sky as the sun sets behind my parent’s home. The mailbox has become my enemy, but I check it anyway. The last letter from the IRS took millions from me. I close my eyes and hope there’s nothing else from them in the box shaped like a large mouth bass.

My father was a novice fisherman, but you wouldn’t know that by the amount of fishing paraphernalia he had accumulated in his lifetime. My mother was not a very good cook, but she had enough cookbooks to stock an aisle in Barnes and Nobles.

They passed away last year, together, right in the house I still live in. I was away at college, thankfully, or I’d be where they are now. A gas leak in the house took them as they slept one night.

I should sell the place and move, especially since I lucked out on the road trip they had me make. In their will they left me three thousand dollars, and I had to use every penny of that money to play the lotteries through every state I went through on my journey to spread their ashes.

Dad was spread in the Atlantic Ocean and Mom in the Pacific. The crazy thing is that I won seven of the lotteries and each jackpot was larger than the next. I ended that week a billionaire.

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Every time I tell that story I have to thank them. Between them and God is the only way I got that money. I don’t think I’ve ever been this lucky.

Well, the luck is running out as the IRS is finding way after way to get the money.

“Hey, what ya doin’ out here at the ol’ fish box?” my neighbor, Josh asks me as he strides out of his house next door.

He moved here a couple of years ago and we hang out now and then, he’s a bit older than I am. I’m a kid to most at twenty-one, so I get left out of a lot of the block parties the older people have. Josh is a pretty good guy though and a great neighbor.

“Just checking to see if there are any more letters from the evil government, trying to take my money,” I gripe as I close the fish’s mouth and am happy to see there are no letters from my arch nemesis.

“About your money,” he says. “It’s none of my business and I love having you as a neighbor, but why the hell are you still here in the two-bedroom house you grew up in? Get a mansion like all the other billionaires, dude!”

With a shrug of my shoulders, I say, “It’s not the right time yet. I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t want to leave the old house behind just yet. I’ll get out of it someday, but not just yet. My parents’ things are all in it and I’d have to pack them up if I move. Frankly, I kind of act like they’re on vacation and will be home anytime. It makes me keep the house cleaned up.”

He chuckles and pats me on the back.

“You should come over and eat dinner with us tonight. The wife made spaghetti.”

“Thanks, but I have a frozen dinner cooking in the oven and I’d hate to let it go to waste. Maybe another night.” I stroll back up the walkway to the old home my parents bought when they had me. It’s looking a little worse for wear and I make a mental note to at least get new siding on it. I’m a freaking billionaire after all.

“Hey,” Josh calls out, stopping my retreat. “Did you say the IRS took a lot of your money?”

I nod and whine, “Yeah, I have no idea what to do about it.”

He jogs up to me.

“My brother-in-law happens to be a man in your position.”

“What position is that, a top player in Halo? Cause hook me up, I love a challenge,” I say as that can be all he means. I do little else since I won the money.

“No,” he says with a laugh. “He’s rich too. Filthy, stinkin’ just like you. He lives in Houston. I could set up a meeting so he could help you figure out your finances and how to keep most of your money.”

“Really!” My heart speeds up with the first good news I’ve heard in a while. “That would be awesome, dude!”

He turns to go back to his house. “I’ll call him and ask when would be a good time for him. You’re pretty much wide open aren’t you?”

“I’m completely wide open. Thanks so much.” I wave and go inside.

I break into a dance as I finally may have someone to help me not only take action to keep my money, but maybe they can help me figure out something worthwhile to do with it as well.

Looks like I got another lucky day!

Max

“For the love of all which is holy!” I jump to avoid tripping over the Barbie dream car hiding at the bottom of the staircase. “Zoey, what did I tell you about leaving your toys lying around? Especially on the stairs!” I round the corner to see my four-year-old daughter diving behind her mother as she sits on the sofa in the sitting room we use for the kids to play in.

“Max!” Lexi shouts at me. “No need to yell! She’s just a little girl. She forgets things. It’s not her fault.”

“Then who’s is it, Lex? You baby these kids. The twins are in pre-k for God’s….”

“Stop!” she interrupts. “Remember there are little parrots in this home and they repeat every word we say.”

“For goodness sakes. Okay? Happy?” I ask as I look around for my car keys. “Do you happen to know where the keys to my Jag are?”

She points to our one and a half-year-old son, Zakk. He has them in his mouth and is slobbering all over them. I look around for something to trade him and find a candy cane that may have been around since last Christmas, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

I pick up the slightly chewed on candy and make my way to the smiling baby boy.

“Look what Daddy’s got.” I wiggle the candy at him and his blue eyes shine up at me. He has my eyes and his mother’s silky, blonde hair.

Lexi clears her throat, drawing my attention.

“No way. Keep looking for something else to trade him with.”

With a growl I take the candy cane to the kitchen and dispose of it like it should’ve been done long ago. I find him one of his little cookies and take that back to the sitting room my not so little family is in.

Lexi meets me just outside the door, my keys in her hand.

“Now I have them. What are you going to trade me for them, huh?”

Wrapping my arms around her, I whisper behind her ear and press my body to hers, “I’ll trade you one kiss and a hell of a lot more tonight when I get you into our bed.”

“Deal,” she says as she places the keys in my hand and turns her lips up to mine.

Though we’ve been together for a good few years now, her kiss still takes me to another place and time. Heat fills me as her sweet lips press against mine. Her lips part and I swirl my tongue around hers.

I grind into her soft body and wish like hell we could run upstairs for a little alone time. Her hand runs over my ass and my insides turn to jelly.

Then she tugs on my shirt.

“Daddy, hey, Daddy!” my four-year-old son, Zane, shouts. “Hey, can I go too?”

It was his hand on my ass apparently. I pull my mouth from my wife’s and place my forehead to hers.

“How many more of these things did I say I wanted to have?”

“You said several more, but I’m getting the distinct impression that three is enough for you.” Her hand runs over my cheek and I grab it and kiss her palm.

“Yeah, for now and maybe forever, three is more than plenty.” I turn and rub Zane’s little, blonde head. “Hey, buddy, not this time, okay? Daddy’s picking up a man at the airport and it can be a little taxing to try to keep up with you when there’s so many people. I’ll be back home soon.”

“Well, can you at least bring me something back, like a puppy or a kitty cat?” he asks as his bottom lips juts out in a pout.

“Oh! A kitty!” Zoey shouts as she runs out of the room.

“No! Lord have mercy! Lexi, these kids!” I walk away as Zoey grabs one leg and Zane grabs the other. They giggle like crazy people as they try to slow me down.

Lexi grabs the baby and follows behind me. Once I reach the door she gets the kids to leave me alone, using just one word, “Stop.”

They let go as if she magically made them somehow. I look at her.

“You have to teach me your ways, you’re a Jedi master.”

“I am,” she says as she scoots the kids back. A little kiss she leaves on my cheek.

“Hurry back to me. And thanks again for meeting with this guy for my brother, Josh. It’s a really sweet and nice thing for you to do, Max.”

I smack my head and turn back as I remember we have guests coming.

“What time are Kip and Peyton getting here?”

“Around four, Peyton said. They’re coming in on his new chopper, since you helped him get his license.”

“Cool, I’ll try to have this guy squared away by then so we can chill out by the pool with you guys,” I say and make my way to the car.

Looks like it’s going to be a full day!

Kip

“I know I put his toy in the diaper bag, Peyton. Keep looking,” I say as our one-year-old son, Pax, screams his head off.

Rachelle, my wife Peyton’s, best friend tries to distract the child by making silly faces at him. We’re in my new helicopter, flying to Houston to spend the weekend with our friends, the Lanes.

I didn’t know Pax was going to freak out when he realized his little stuffed bear wasn’t by his side once he woke up. Peyton pulls the bear out of the bag with an expression of triumph on her pretty face.

“Here it is! I have it,” she shouts over his wails. “Here, baby, look Mommy found it.”

His mouth shuts, and he sniffles and holds his hand out for his toy. I roll my eyes at my wife.

“You really need to work with him more. He’s a very demanding child.”

“He’s your son. All the way around, Kip, he’s you. From his dark blond hair to his deep blue eyes, the boy is you all over again, bad temper and all.” She pats the back of my hand.

“I don’t even have a temper, Peyton,” I say as I adjust our speed as we come into a little cloud bank.

“No, sure you don’t,” she says with a laugh. She turns to look at Rachelle in the back seat. “This man has no temper, but let me tell you what. If you use the last egg without getting more and it is early on a Sunday morning, watch out! This man will read you the riot act and let you know that can never happen, not ever.”

I do recall that particular little scene, but I was dog tired from a night of agony as our son was cutting his first tooth, and there was no coffee either.

The mansion comes into view and I see the pad has been cleared for me. Max and I have been mates for a couple of years, but it seems like forever. He and his wife are as close as siblings to me and mine.

It doesn’t take long once we land to find their twins running towards us. Zoey shouts, “Hunky Kip, Auntie Peyton!”

I hold out my arms and she rushes into them, little kisses she pecks all over my face as she holds my cheeks between her small hands.

“How’s my girl?”

“I’m fine. How’s my pony?” she asks. I bought her and her brother ponies last Christmas and kept them at our place in Los Angeles.

Her brother, Zane, tugs at my pants leg.

“Is my pony being good, Uncle Kip?”

“He is,” I say and put Zoey down and tussle the little, blonde boy’s hair.

Lexi walks out with their baby, Zakk on her hip. Her long legs clad in a pair of pink shorts and a little, white T-shirt hugs her toned body. She’s a true beauty all the way through. Max tells a story about how she was when they first met and I have a devil of a time believing the man.

He said she was a nerdy girl hidden behind owlish glasses and hid her spectacular figure beneath clothes too big for her. I just can’t believe that. She takes long strides towards us and gives me a hug.

“I’m so happy you all are here.”

Peyton pulls the baby out of his car seat and gives Lexi a hug.

“Thanks for inviting us.” She holds our son out to Lexi. “Wanna trade? I have to give my Zakkie Poo a kiss and hug. I missed the little monkey butt.”

Lexi takes Pax in her arms and coos at him, “Who’s the pretty baby boy?”

He giggles and grabs a handful of her long, blonde hair. Lexi smiles at Rachelle who’s made it out of the chopper.

“Good! You were able to make it. I’m so glad. Our house manager and chef, Hilda, is dying to get to cook with you this weekend. It’s all she can talk about, getting to cook with someone who’s training at the culinary arts program at UCLA.”

“It’ll be an honor to get some of her training. She’s a fantastic cook from what Kip and Peyton have told me about her.” Rachelle says as she runs her hand over Zane’s head. He reaches up to take her hand.

“You’re really pretty,” he tells her. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

She giggles. “Thank you and no. You interested, Zane?”

He laughs and blushes. “Maybe.”

We all laugh as we go inside.

Looks like Rachelle’s finally found a man!

Blake

A boisterous bunch of people walk into Max’s mansion, led by his wife, Lexi. The man and woman who follow behind her look vaguely familiar. The man especially. Into the doors Max’s little son, Zane, pulls someone along behind him.

“Come on, Rachelle!”

My heart skips a beat and I forget to breathe. She has long, black, silky hair that goes to her waist. She’s a tiny thing, maybe five foot two, her eyes are the most beautiful blue I’ve ever seen. Thick, black lashes surround them. Her skin is like porcelain and the slightest tinge of pink stains her cheeks. Her lips are red and have a natural little pout to them.

I’m moving across the floor as if she’s pulling me with some invisible cord to her.

“Hi, I’m Blake Chandler.”

She smiles and blushes as everyone laughs at me.

“Hi there, Blake Chandler.”

Max claps me on the shoulder as he comes up behind me. He gestures to the man with dark blonde, straight hair that goes to his shoulders and he has dark blue eyes.

“This is Kip Dixon. Yes, the recording artist, Kip Dixon. He’s just not wearing the make-up. He ditched it last year.”

“Yeah, I know, I saw him on a talk show a few months ago.” I extend my hand. “Nice to meet you, Kip.” He shakes my hand and I turn my attention to the lady next to him who has long, blonde curls which fall to her waist. Her eyes are a mix of green and brown and she’s very pretty. “You must be his wife.”

She takes up my hand and gives it a shake.

“Hi, Blake, I’m Peyton. This young lady here is my best friend, Rachelle Stone. She goes to UCLA. Where is it you’re from?”

“Lubbock,” I say then turn my attention back to the raven haired beauty. “What is it you're studying at UCLA?”

“Culinary arts. And what is it you do, Blake?” she asks.

I don’t have a damn answer for that. I do as little as humanly possible, but I don’t want her to know that.

“I’m kinda rich, so I’m looking for something to do.”

“Kinda rich?” she asks as she narrows her eyes.

Max saves me.

“He’s looking into becoming an investor. He inherited a little sum of money from his parents when they passed on and played the lottery in states across America. He won several of them and ended up with quite a tidy sum. He’s here so I can teach him a thing or two about investing his money to make more of it and keep as much as he can out of the government’s hands.”

Peyton wags her finger at me with a look in her eyes.

“You! I think I know you. Well, not know you, know you, but did you go to L.A. and drop your mom in the ocean?”

“Her ashes, yeah!” I look harder at her and slap my leg. “Yeah, it’s you two. I knew, I knew you guys from somewhere. Small freakin’ world!”

Rachelle nudges Peyton’s shoulder.

“So, you know this guy?”

“Kip and I were strolling along on the beach before the baby was born and saw him tossing the ashes into the water. We stopped and talked to him and he told us this heartwarming story about his parents passing on together. It was really sweet, in a sad kind of way.”

Rachelle’s eyes go soft as she looks at me and touches my hand.

“I’m sorry to hear that. How are you doing with that?”

“I’m fine. They died happy. No reason to be sorry for me.” I smile at her and want to take her hand in mine so damn bad.

Max saves me from making a fool out of myself. Another clap on my shoulder and he says, “Why don’t we let them get settled in and we can all meet out by the swimming pool.”

They agree and Lexi leads them to their rooms. She looks over her shoulder at me.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing a bathroom with Rachelle. I have her in the room that’s by yours.”

I shake my head. “I’m sure we can stay out of each other’s way.”

Not that I want that. I want to get all up in her way!

Rachelle

“Can you tie me up?” I walk into Peyton’s bedroom and ask.

Kip’s already taken the baby and went out to the pool. Peyton and I are changing into our bikinis and mine is being difficult. She ties it tight.

“I don’t need these babies breaking free,” I say with a laugh.

“So, the stud, Blake, what do you think?” she asks me.

I haven’t thought of him at all, at least in the last few seconds. He’s tall, I’d say about six feet, three inches. His blonde curls just touch his broad shoulders and he’s got amazing blue, brown eyes. His bone structure is probably the most symmetrical I’ve ever seen. He’s handsome, not boyishly cute, not adorable, and completely handsome.

“He’s okay,” I say.

Peyton huffs.

“Sure, he’s okay. That man has classic good looks. And I know you got a look at those monster biceps he has. Damn it girl, can you imagine getting swept up in his strong arms?”

We giggle and I pull a thin, white cover-up that’s see-through over my red bikini as we walk out of the room.

“Don’t go there, Peyton! You and Kip are always trying to play match-maker.”

Her arm goes around my shoulders and she squeezes me in her embrace.

“The joys of a good relationship are all we wish for you, Shelly.”

I can see the men all sitting around the edge of the swimming pool as we get to the glass patio doors. With no shirt to hide him, I see Blake is covered in muscles. Sharply I pull in a breath and tighten my hands into little fists.

“Holy crap!” Peyton hisses. “Would you look at that?”

“He’s gorgeous,” I mutter. “So many muscles.”

Peyton has to tug me along as my feet have stopped working for some damn reason. “Come on, let’s go play with the kids.”

I wanna play with something, but it’s not any kid!

Blake

Kip let’s out a long whistle as he looks back over his shoulder. I turn to see what he’s looking at and my eyes nearly pop out of my head.

“Oh my God!” I whisper.

Rachelle’s legs aren’t as long as Peyton’s or Lexi’s but they are perfectly formed for her body. She looks like a little doll, perfectly proportioned. Her breasts fill the little, red bikini top and the bottoms mold around her curvy ass.

“Breathe, Blake,” Max whispers as he jabs me in the ribs.

Peyton and Rachelle walk straight into the water, joining Lexi as she pulls little Zakk and Pax in a little inflatable boat. The twins swim around with floaties on.

Me, Max, and Kip sit on the side of the pool with our legs dangling in the cool water. I watch Max’s son, Zane, swim right up to Rachelle. He wraps his body around hers and I’m suddenly real jealous of the kid.

“Hi,” he says. She smiles sweetly at him and runs her hand over his little head.

“Hey there, sweetie.”

Kip nudges me with his elbow. “She’s great with kids.”

“Huh? Kids?” I stammer as I watch her interaction with the little boy.

Max pulls his shades off and hands them to me.

“Here, put these on so she doesn’t freak out that you’re staring at her. Then you can stare, but she won’t know.”

I put on the dark sunglasses and try to move my head so she’s unaware of how much I’m checking her out. Her little, hot body has me feeling heat in places it’s been a while I felt heat in.

“What’s she really like, Kip?” I ask. “Is she sweet or a complete bitch? Please tell me she has some terrible flaw I could never deal with. Because she’s stealing my heart way too quickly.”

“I wish I could help you out, bro,” Kip says. “The fact is she’s pretty selfless and quite nice. She’s funny and the best cook. I’ve asked her to become our personal chef, but she refused. She wants her own restaurant once she graduates though she knows it’s a pipe dream for her. Her family doesn’t have that kind of money.”

Her head turns to look at Zoey as the little girl shrieks for someone to watch her swim like a fish. Her dark, silky strands flow over her shoulder in slow motion and her chest rises with her intake of breath and it’s all in slow motion for some damn reason.

“Is anyone else seeing things in slow motion?” I ask.

They both laugh at me. Max sighs.

“You remember the first time you ever laid eyes on Peyton, Kip?”

He nods and picks up the beer sitting on the patio next to him.

“Like it was yesterday. I know you remember the first time you saw Lexi.”

Max leans back on his palms and looks up at the clear blue sky.

“That was so fantastic. Well not the first time I saw her. The poor girl didn’t have a clue and was hidden behind clothes that were too big and a nerdy look. Once I got her out of those clothes and the damn bun pulled out of her hair that was when I knew she was the one for me.”

“Damn it,” I murmur. “I’m done for.”

They both nod and Max hands me a beer out of the little ice chest next to him.

“I hope it goes a hell of a lot smoother for you than it did for either of us, guy.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask. “How can it go bad?”

They laugh again and Kip pats me on the back. “Don’t even ask that, mate.”

I take a long drink and watch Rachelle pull the little boy up on her shoulders and he jumps off them, squealing in delight. Zoey paddles up to Max and splashes us.

“Daddy, come in and let me jump off your shoulders like Zane’s doing with Chellie.” She splashes a little more water at us.

Max gestures for us to follow. “Come on guys, time to get wet.”

We slide into the cool water and make our way to the women and children. I glide up beside Rachelle as Zane is trying to climb up her to get back on her shoulders.

I take his little body and pick him up on my shoulders.

“Please allow me to help you out with this one, Rachelle.”

“Hey,” Zane whines. “I want Chellie.”

“Give her little shoulders a break, dude. Mine are a lot sturdier.” His little toes dig into my flesh and I look at her in amazement. “Wow! You didn’t even flinch when he climbed on your shoulders. His toes are like Eagle talons.”

She giggles. “I guess I’m not as wimpy as you.”

Wimpy! Damn!

The kid jumps off, and the force pushes me a little and my shoulder bumps her breast. I know I’m beat red as she clutches it.

“Oops! God, Rachelle, I’m sorry.”

She looks at me with a frown as she rubs her boob.

“That’s okay, Blake. But ow.”

My hand juts out to help her and it’s on top of hers as she rubs it.

“Hey,” little Zane screeches. “Don’t touch that!”

Max turns back and lets out a loud laugh. Kip shakes his head and I look up to see Rachelle’s mouth wide open. She steps back. “I got this, thanks, Blake.”

I’m an idiot!

Rachelle

The aroma of cilantro fills the large kitchen as Hilda and I make her famous enchiladas and my famous ceviche. She has Spanish music playing as we cook and we dance around the kitchen.

A tall shadow fills the doorway.

“Need any help?” Blake asks.

I look up to see him freshly showered, his blonde hair hanging in damp curls. The smell of him assaults my senses. It’s woodsy and all man. I fight not to inhale deeply as he comes up next to me.

A tight, black T-shirt he has on, along with some tight, blue jeans that hug his muscular legs. His large stature next to me has butterflies moving all over my insides. I gesture to the wooden block full of knives.

He takes one out and looks at me.

“Now what?”

I can’t seem to find my words for some reason. He has me a little wobbly in the knees. This never happens to me. I’m friends with a ton of cute guys. None of them have this effect on me.

I swallow hard and point to the jalapenos.

“Can you cut those up?”

“Sure,” he says as he takes them and looks around. “A cutting board?”

There’s one right behind him and I point at it. “There ya go.”

He looks back and grabs it. Hilda places a beer in front of him.

“Here you go Blake. Do you like to cook?”

“I think I might like it, if I knew how to make a few things. I eat mostly take out and frozen dinners since my Mom isn’t around to cook for me anymore.” He slices the pepper down the middle. “Like this, Rachelle?” His elbow nudges my side and little electric jolts run through me.

I reach across him, accidentally grazing his chest with my breasts and pick up a pepper. My body is quivering and I fight to regain some damn composure.

“Like this,” I say as I place it on his cutting board and dice it up into tiny pieces.

His body is tense as he watches me.

“Okay, I got it now.” He looks at me and smiles. “I like your dress. Coral looks good on you.”

A little smile breaks free and runs across my face. “Thank you. Black looks good on you.”

He looks around and says, “Thank you, Rachelle. You don’t drink? I noticed you haven’t had anything. You want something else. Maybe you don’t like beer.”

“I’m not old enough,” I say and continue to chop the cilantro.

“Oh!” He stops chopping and looks me up and down. “How old are you?”

“Twenty. Tomorrow is my birthday.” I stop myself from saying anymore. I haven’t told anyone that. I hate for people to make a fuss over me and birthdays are one of those times people will fuss if they know about it.

“Tomorrow! Well, what’s the plan for your special day?” He turns towards me and waits for my answer.

I shake my head. “No one else knows. To be honest, I don’t want anyone else to know. I don’t know why I told you that. Forget about it, okay.”

“I doubt he will and neither will I,” Hilda says as she places the large pan of enchiladas in the oven. “What’s your favorite flavor of cake?”

I shake my head. “Really. I don’t want anyone to bother. I kind of hate birthdays.”

Blake turns and leans back on the counter, his arms crossed in front of him and it makes his large biceps flex. “Why would you hate them? And it’s your twenty-first birthday at that. That’s a big one. I know, I turned that last year. Me and my friends partied hard.”

“Well, I’m not a party type of girl so let it go,” I say and take the cilantro and toss it into the large, stainless steel bowl.

His eyes never leave me as I walk away to take the tomatillos to the sink to wash them. I catch him and Hilda exchanging looks and it pisses me off. At myself mostly. I should’ve kept that to myself.

When will I ever learn?

Hilda grabs some linens out of a cabinet. “Do you have this, Rachelle? I need to go and get the dining room ready.”

I wave her away. “Yes, go do what you need to.”

Blake seems to have cooled towards me. It’s best anyway. He lives in another state after all. Me in California and him in Texas. That’s how it happens most times. I refuse to let anyone in, much. Once a guy realizes that, they move on to the next girl.

“You know I can almost hear the gears in your head grinding,” he says as he moves in behind me. “Max told me you spent a little time in the children’s home. Just because your mother wasn’t a good one, doesn’t mean you have to live life trying hard not to be a nuisance to anyone.”

I spin around and find he’s so damn close I can smell the shampoo he used. It’s crisp and clean and I’d love to run my hands through those damp curls and get that smell all over them. But I won’t.

“He shouldn’t have told you that.”

“People talk, Rachelle. People tell each other things. It’s what friends do.” His fingertip touches my cheek and he runs it over my cheek bone. “You have beautiful bone structure.”

I blink as I look into his blue, brown eyes.

“You’re forward.”

“Your prefect,” he says in a whisper.

“Oops!” I hear Kip say as he walks into the kitchen. “I just have to fill Pax’s bottle with milk then I’ll be out of your way.”

He goes to the fridge and pours milk into a bottle and I move away from Blake. “No reason to hurry, Kip. We’re just cooking in here.”

“It smells awesome,” Kip says. “Get back to it, you two.” He leaves and I feel Blake’s warm body come up behind me.

His hands slip over my arms and my knees nearly buckle as his lips graze my shoulder. “I find you fascinating.”

My heart stops and my body quivers. He’s just too much. It’s too intense, and he’s most likely a huge player. “Look, I know you must always get your way with the females but I’m not easy. I’m really a waste of your time.”

My hair he pulls back, warm lips touch my neck and I moan.

Crap! That was a mistake!

His arms run around me and he rocks me gently as he trails kisses down my neck, lingering near my ear. “Want me to stop, Rachelle?”

Hell no, I don’t want him to stop. It feels amazing!

“Stop,” I say. I try to tense my body up, but the damn thing is rebelling against me as he holds me to him like this. It refuses to tighten up in his strong arms.

He lets me go and I have to lean on my hands on the countertop to hold myself up. My brain is screaming at me to turn to him and throw my body back into his huge arms. I can’t though. The pain of what will surely happen isn’t a thing I want in my life.

“School is my focus. I can only focus on one thing at a time and my career is what that is right now,” I say as I pull myself together.

“Hmm,” he says as he moves further away from me. “School, huh? Only one thing at a time, huh? Sounds dull and you seem anything but dull, Rachelle.”

“I am dull. Dull as they come. You’d be very dissatisfied with me. I can assure you.” I wipe away a stray tear that got away from me somehow. “That’s what always happens. They all leave.”

“How many?” he asks as he leans over the counter and looks at me, but keeps his distance across the island.

“How many what?” I ask, focusing on cutting the tomatillos.

“How many men, or boys left you?” he asks as he threads his fingers together and leans his chin on them as he props his elbows on the countertop.

“All of them.” I look up at him and glare. “All of them, okay? Happy now? I’ve been dumped by all I’ve dated. I’ve never been the dumper, only the dumped. So, you see I don’t want to get hurt again. And let me tell you, Blake, you would hurt me bad. I can feel it clean to my toes, you’d be the one who’d break what’s left of this heart.”

He straightens up and frowns at me.

“How can you be so damn sure of that? I’m a good guy. I’ve dated only a couple of girls and we parted ways in very amicable manners. We still exchange pleasantries when we accidentally meet. There are no hard feelings on either side. So, what makes you so sure I’d hurt you?”

I look down and don’t want to answer him, but my mouth opens up anyway.

“Because the moment I saw you, I wanted you. I wanted all of you in a mere instant. That’s why I know you’ll hurt me.” I run from the kitchen and mentally kick myself.

Never have I not had control over letting my true feelings out. I always keep the real things in. It’s what I do. That man has some kind of magic over me and that’s nothing but dangerous.

I need to get out of here right now!

Blake

I watch as Rachelle runs from the kitchen and know I should just let her go. I should pack up and leave. She’s got a lot going on in that pretty little head of hers.

Only I can’t stop my feet from following her. I can’t stop myself from wanting to show her how wrong she is and how I would never hurt her. If she would give me the chance, I would never leave her.

I see Hilda in the dining room as I walk by it and lean in.

“Hey, I kinda upset Rachelle. Looks like you have to finish up dinner. I’m sorry.”

Hilda nods. “That’s okay. She’s a fragile girl. Max was much the same way until he found Lexi. She just needs a good man in her life. A good person to show her not everyone is like her mother and father. Not everyone leaves them alone with nothing but a bunch of strangers to care for them.”

I nod in agreement. “It’s a terrible thing some parents do to their children.”

“It is,” she says then turns stern eyes on me.

“Blake, I don’t know you. I’m not one to butt in, but this girl. Well, she’s had a difficult life and if you can be no more than another brick in the wall which surrounds her heart, leave her be.”

I nod and smile before I walk away. Hilda’s right. If I can’t go all in, I need to leave her alone. Rachelle told me she knew I could break what’s left of her fragile heart. I don’t know the future, there are no guarantees.

One step I take after another until I find myself in my bedroom. I hear something in the bathroom that’s connecting Rachelle’s bedroom to mine. My feet take me towards it and I stop just outside the door.

I should turn back. I should leave her alone. My hand touches the door knob and I twist it to find it unlocked. I should walk away. The last thing I should do is open the door on her privacy.

The hell with it!

I hear water running in the sink so I know I won’t catch her with her pants down, so to speak. I throw open the door and she flips around, her mouth open and her cheeks stained with tears.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I walk straight to her and take her in my arms and bring my mouth to hers.

Her body stiffens, and she presses her hands against my chest. I wrap a section of her long hair in my fist and pull it back, making her lips part under mine. My tongue moves into her mouth and the low moan she makes fills me with relief.

She likes it!

My body is on fire for her. Never have I felt this way. I lift her off the floor and wrap my arms around her tiny waist. Back to my room, I carry her. Her arms run around my neck and she returns my kiss.

Lying her back on the bed, I never let our mouths part. She might bolt again and I need her to trust me, to believe in me, to want me like she’s never wanted anyone before.

Her hands tangle up in my curls as I run my hand down her shoulder, over her arm then over her side. She trembles and when I run my hand back up her arm I can feel the goosebumps which have sprouted over her skin from my touch.

I move my body a little so I can run my hands over her thigh. One of her hands moves over my back and she moans into my mouth, sending vibrations through me. I go at her more hungrily, touching every place in her sweet mouth, feeling all I can possibly feel. I have no idea if she’ll ever let me this close again.

The skin on her thigh is soft and supple. I push her short dress up a bit and run my hand up and over her flat stomach. It twitches beneath my palm. She’s warm and inviting as I keep moving my hand until I hit a breast.

A perfect mound of taut flesh I find which drives me to want so much more. Over her silky bra I run my hand and cup her breast. One of her legs moves over mine as she presses her soft core to me.

There are things that should be asked, but I’m so damn afraid of pulling my mouth from hers that it is unbelievable. My hand flows around her to the back of the bra and I unclasp it, releasing the part of her body that’s intrigued me from the start.

With the bra loose, I run my hand back to the breast I had before and move the bra, touching her soft flesh and finding her hard, erect nipple. I press it with my fingertips and she moans again.

My God what will actual sex feel like?

Rachelle

My heart’s pounding so hard I fear I might pass out. My body is reacting so differently to his. I can’t stop myself from running my hands all over him. For the love of all that’s holy, I’m pressing my body to his like I have to have it to live or something.

I didn’t even flinch when he undid my bra and cupped my bare breast in his large and sure hand. I’m putty in the man’s hands. Never has this happened to me before.

His kiss softens, and he pulls his mouth from mine. My God, I’m lifting my head and cupping the back of his neck to make him bring that luscious mouth back on mine.

Who am I?

His eyes are dark and full of desire, his lips are swollen from our hard kissing and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life. If he’s about to walk away from me I may have to kill him.

His finger traces my lips. “Baby, I didn’t bring any protection.”

My mind says to stop this now. Never do I allow a man to have intercourse with me without a condom, even though I’m on the pill to regulate my periods. This one though…

“Have you been tested? Are you clean?” I ask.

His lips curl into a smile. He nods. “Are you on some type of birth control?”

I nod and his smile goes wider. He looks into my eyes as if he’s looking into my soul. He swallows hard and says, “I don’t want to do this until you trust me, Rachelle. I want you to feel safe with me.”

“So, we aren’t going to continue this?” I ask, my voice full of disappointment.

He smiles and chuckles. “I’m glad to see that disappoints you.” He tweaks my nose. “I was beginning to get the distinct impression you wanted none of this.”

“I know I’m closed off, Blake. I don’t give my whole self to anyone, or never have before. You terrify me.” I look right into his eyes so he can see how real I’m being with him. “This isn’t like me at all.”

“We don’t have to take this fast. We can go as slow as you need to.” His hand runs over my chest and he takes a breast in his hand. “We can mess around some more if you want. But I won’t ask anymore from you until we know each other better.”

My God this man is fantastic!

I bite at my bottom lip. “You’re different, do you know that?”

He nods. “So are you.”

I cup the back of his neck and pull him to me. His lips fall soft on mine and he swirls his tongue into my mouth as he gently squeezes my breast and runs his thumb over the nipple, teasing it.

His mouth pulls away from mine and he trails kisses down my neck and over my chest, then he takes my breast into his mouth and suckles it. It sends shock waves through me and I arch up and groan.

I’ve never really liked my breasts sucked on, but he’s doing it so much better than anyone ever has. His other hand finds my other breast, and he massages it while he sucks on the other.

I run my hand over the back of his head, threading my fingers through his curls. The other hand I run over his tightly muscled back. Relishing the contours of his corded muscles.

I can’t believe this perfect man wants me. Not just to have sex with tonight, but he seems to want to have a relationship.

With me!

My mind is going crazy with wonder about his male appendage. It’s growing and pressing on the side of my leg as he lies next to me, pressed up against my side. I take my hand and run it down his back until I reach his waist then I slide it down slowly.

His body is warm under my palm and I keep moving it until I find his bulging male member. From what I can tell, it’s pretty long and wide. I run my hand up and down its length over his jeans.

Blake sends one hand between my legs and rubs it over my silk panties. The heat his hand gives me nearly melts my insides. I want this man so damn bad, it’s nearly killing me.

My clothes feel like they weigh a million pounds, I want them off and his off and his warm skin all over mine. He pulls his mouth off my breast and kisses down my chest and over my stomach.

His lips move over the skin of my stomach as he asks, “Can I take your dress off?”

He must’ve read my mind. “Please.”

Slowly he moves the dress up, kissing every bit of exposed flesh he finds as he does. Over my head, he slips it, then he takes the straps of my bra and pulls it the rest of the way off me.

Only my panties are left on as he looks down at me and takes me all in. His fingertips he glides over my breasts and stomach and down my legs. “You are really perfect, baby.”

I take in a ragged breath. I’ve never allowed anyone to just look at me like this. It’s unnerving a little, but the way his eyes shine as he takes in every inch of me has me feeling like it’s okay. Like it will all be fine.

Slowly his eyes and fingers trail back up to my face and he runs them over my cheeks. “Thank you, I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“It’s not. I don’t let myself be this vulnerable, ever.” I close my eyes as he runs his hands through my hair.

“I’m glad you’re letting me get close. I promise you’ll never regret it,” he says then his lips touch mine, and he kisses me so softly I think I might cry.

He’s not going to make this easy on me!

Blake

Softly, I take her lips and run my tongue over them, lightly. I stroke her bare breast with my fingertip, feather light. Her body is gorgeous, tiny yet full. Voluptuous breasts that quiver with my touch beg to be taken.

Tonight isn’t about sex, tonight is about learning about one another. All her life she’s kept her true self hidden deep inside and I want her out in the open with me.

Her hand presses against my chest and she moves it over my pecs. I can tell she likes the way my muscles feel. I pull away from her and sit up, pulling the T-shirt off. The way her eyes light up as she looks me over has me smiling.

I take her hand and hold it to my abs. She smiles. “How did you manage to get an eight pack?”

“The usual way, hard work.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “When not playing video games, I work out. I have a whole gym in my parent’s living room. I don’t really go in there to hang out and watch television like I used to when they were there.”

A frown covers her face.

“Is it lonely? I mean, I’ve lived by myself for nearly three years now. The apartment I have in L.A. has always been just mine, so I don’t have anyone to miss there. Where you live used to be full with your parents and you. You have to miss them.”

Her skin is light and glows in the dark room. “The truth is I do miss them. I miss them more some days than others, but I miss them more often than I let on.”

The way her hand moves over my stomach makes me tremble and she notices. “You hide a little your own self too, don’t you?”

I hate to admit that to myself more than anyone else, but she’s right. “I suppose I do.”

“Why do you stay there?” she asks, with slight confusion on her face. “I mean, why not buy yourself a grand mansion like the other billionaires have?”

“I guess I don’t see a reason to do that yet. I’m fine where I’m at for now. And I’m not ready to leave my home at the moment.” I lean down and nuzzle her neck. The way her hair smells like honeysuckle is amazing.

She strokes my cheek. “Maybe I could help you look for a place. That might be fun. Where is it you want to live?”

“I have no idea. Wherever you are sounds nice,” I say with a chuckle.

The way her hand runs over my back and up into my hair sends chills through me. Her words come out soft as she says, “We’ll see if you continue to think that way, Blake. No one else ever has.”

A knot forms in my throat at how she must feel. Her own mother gave her up, of course she thinks she’s unlovable. I press my lips to her neck and move them until I find hers.

I pull them away and look at her, tracing her lips. “Spend the night with me.”

“Here, in this bed?” She pats the blanket under her.

“Yeah, let me hold you all night. I swear I won’t do anything other than that.”

“Take your jeans off and let’s climb under the blanket. I think I’d like to see how that works. Truth be told, I’ve never been held all night.”

I get up and drop my jeans and kick off my shoes as she moves up and pulls the blanket down. I climb in beside her and pull her to me. Little kisses I give her cheek and sigh.

“It’ll be hard to keep myself from ravaging you, but I want you to trust me.” My hand runs over her breast under the blanket.

“I’d like to trust you, Blake. If it helps, I’m exercising great restraint. I’d really like to feel you all over me.” Her hand runs over my shoulder and I can see lust burning in her blue eyes.

I want to see more than lust in them though. I kiss her forehead and whisper, “With you, I need more than sex. I feel like you and I can have a real connection if we take things slow.”

It’s going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I have to follow my instincts.

Rachelle

Warm breath on the back of my neck wakes me up. An arm is draped over my waist and a leg is thrown over me. Seems Blake held me possessively all night long. I really expected him to let me go and roll over, away from me in the night.

He and I talked in whispers until we fell asleep. He wrapped me up in his strong embrace and I’ve never felt more comfortable. Safe and cared for is what I felt and find it hard to believe the man was a stranger less than twenty-four hours ago.

Something moves behind me and a long pulse presses into my back. Seems someone is getting morning wood. Let’s see if he can maintain this restraint he’s been exercising.

I roll over and kiss the tip of his nose. A light, blond stubble covers his handsome face and I have to touch it. I run my hand over his cheek and his blue, brown eyes flutter open.

Immediately, he grins. “Hey.”

I press my bare boobs against his broad chest. “Hey.” I wrap my arms around his neck and cuddle into him.

“What a sweet way to wake up,” he says. His lips touch the top of head and I grow warm as I rest my body against his. “I could get used to this.”

I could too and that’s a bad, bad thing!

“Well, better get up. We’re leaving today. I don’t want to make them wait on me,” I say and pull away from him.

His hands close around my back, halting my retreat. “Where does that leave us, Rachelle?”

“I’m in Los Angeles and you’re in Lubbock. Why don’t you tell me where that leaves us?” I say as I blink back tears.

“I could take you home, you know. I could hire a private jet and take you home.” His hands roam over my back and they send waves of want throughout my body.

“What happened to taking things slow?” I ask as I think about how this will never work. “I’ll go back with Peyton and Kip. We can talk over the phone and get to know one another better before we go any further.”

His arms tighten around me, holding me to him and his ever growing erection. “You sure? Think how nice it would be to wake up just like we did today. Think about how nice it felt to sleep with me wrapped around you.”

“This was nice. Nicer than anything I’ve ever done.” I pause and try to think of a good reason why I wouldn’t want to keep this going. I have nothing and he seems to know it.

“I won’t push you. Come on, let’s get up and enjoy what time we have left before you’re whisked away from me.”

He pulls away from me and gets out of the bed and I feel colder than I’ve ever been.

This is going to be so hard!

Blake

Zane is wrapped around Rachelle and glaring at me. He looks up at her as he hangs on her leg. “I thought you said you don’t have no boyfriend, Chellie!”

She smiles at him and looks up at me with a wink. “I don’t.”

I step forward and throw my arm around her. “Yes you do, if you want one that is.”

Zane sticks his tongue out at me. “Her is mine!”

I lean down and tussle his blond hair. “Isn’t she a little old for you?”

He shakes his head. “She’s pretty, and she’s sweet and her is mine!”

Max grabs the kid up and tosses him in the air. “I’m sure Rachelle has plenty of love to go around, Zane.”

The word, ‘love’ he tossed out so effortlessly has Rachelle frowning.

Too fast, too soon!

With Zane out of the way, I run my arm around her little shoulders and pull her along with me. I have to have at least one kiss before she gets on the helicopter that will take her away from me until I can persuade her to let me come to her.

The pool house looms ahead of us and I take her inside. As the door closes she throws her arms around me and her lips are on mine before I even have a chance to ask for a goodbye kiss.

Her mouth is hot, and she kisses me like I have the air she needs to live. My hair is tangled into her fingers and she presses her small body into mine. I pull my head back and look at her.

I push her dark hair back. “Say the word, baby and I’ll come to you. The minute you ask. Understand?”

Her eyes search mine. “Really?”

I nod and press my lips to hers again, backing her up until she hits the wall and I pull her ass up as she runs her legs around my waist. I grind into her and wish like hell she’d change her mind.

Her chest heaves with her ragged breaths. “I have to go.”

And with those words, I let her go and pray she decides to let me go to her, and sooner rather than later.

Part 2 Lucky Investments

Blake

Out the window I gaze as I talk to Rachelle on the phone. The full moon fills the last pane of glass and I press my hand to it. The same moon hangs over her sweet head right now. It’s where I want to be so desperately.

“So, finals, huh?” I ask, despondently.

“Yeah, tomorrow is the last one,” she says. “But it always takes me a few days to unwind from the stress I put myself through to pass them all. Want to know what recipe I’m making for my baking class in the morning?”

“Is it the one I got from Mom’s cookbook of French recipes?” I ask as I run my finger over the glass, tracing it around the rounded moon.

“It is,” she says. “Only I’m adding a little extra French vanilla and instead of lady fingers, I’m using graham crackers and homemade whipped cream. Instead of calling it Tiramisu, I’m calling it Taramisu. In honor of your mother, Tara Chandler. I’m also dedicating the recipe to her in my written recipe.”

My heart pounds at how sweet she is. “She’d love that, baby. She wasn’t a good cook, but God knows she tried hard. You should let me come to celebrate the end of finals with you. I could take you out or we could stay in or something. Whatever you want.”

“That’s nice and I know most people would really love that, Blake. I just want time alone though. I hope you can understand. It’s been a ton of pressure.” She pauses and I can hear a long sigh. “Oh, and for my class where I’m learning to cook different types of proteins, I picked to make a ham. Wanna know why?”

“I do,” I take in a deep breath and wonder how long she’s going to keep me away. She’s let me in a lot. Told me so many things over the phone I doubt I would ever get to know if we were face to face. “Please tell me, baby.”

“I picked a ham so I could call my recipe Cam Ham. In honor of your dad, sweetie. I’m putting an injection of a jalapeno, cream cheese mixture all throughout it. What do you think about that? Oh! I’m dedicating the written recipe to him as well.”

Her voice is so high, and she’s so excited. “I think you’re the sweetest, most compassionate and sentimental woman I’ve ever known.”

“Nah! There’s much better women than me. Anyway, it’s cool too because the college makes a cookbook that sells all over the world and your parents’ names will be in it. That’s the real reason I did it. So you would have a cook book with their names in it. You said your mom had tons of cookbooks.”

The woman is too great. “That’s amazing you even thought to do that, Rachelle. You seem to be more than able to do things for me. Let me do something for you, baby.”

“It’s nothing, really. It was fun for me to think about. I’ve made recipes for my grandparents too. No big deal. Anyway,” she says and her voice goes soft and a lot quieter. “Do you miss me?”

“So damn much it’s not fair.” I chuckle. “Tell me how you did that to me. One night with you and you consume my thoughts. I kinda ache to hold you in my arms again.”

“You ache?” A long pause she makes then she sighs. “Me too.”

The fact we could be together if she wasn’t so afraid of being left by me haunts me. I feel mad sometimes then remember her mother left her at a children’s home full of strangers when she was only three years old.

How afraid she must’ve been. It makes my heart ache with the thought, but she never seems to want to talk about how she felt. She merely maintains she has no memory of that time.

“So, how’s that noisy neighbor?” I ask as she’s complained about some young man who plays video games all night.

“He’s gone I guess. I didn’t hear anything last night, and it’s nearly nine tonight so he must’ve went somewhere,” she says.

“Or got a girlfriend to occupy his time. Lexi’s brother, Josh, my next door neighbor, has asked me several mornings as we pick up our newspapers out of our driveways if I’ve been picked up by a spaceship or something as my house is much quieter than it’s ever been.”

“Why’s that?” she asks.

“Because instead of nights full of playing video games and making all the noise that goes with that. I’ve been watching movies in my bedroom. Love stories, mostly.” I wait to see what she says about that.

“You’re full of crap!”

“Maybe, a little.”

One love story I watched, and I had to watch anything else. The truth is I’ve been working out like a maniac. Burning up energy has been my topmost priority.

“Why do men even try to pull that line? Women are not fools! So what have you really been doing?”

“Working out. Okay, there it is! Happy! I’m addicted to working out.” I end with a maniacal laugh.

She’s quiet then she takes in a breath. “So, you’re even more built than when I saw you?”

Half my mouth moves into a quirky smile. “I don’t know. You want me to come to L.A. and you can tell me?”

The way she hesitates lets me know she does. But I’m ready to hear her say the words I’ve heard every single time I’ve talked to her in the least two weeks.

‘I’m just not sure yet.’

“Well, I do miss you like crazy,” she says.

Those aren’t the words!

My heart stops and I wait, holding the phone to my ear as I cross my fingers. “Rachelle, it would be fun. I promise not to make a big deal about your accomplishments, I swear.”

“Let me think about it and get with you after my exams tomorrow. The last one is at two in the afternoon. I’ll call you after that and let you know.”

It’s the first time she hasn’t given me a straight out, ‘no’ so I take it. “Okay! I’ll await your call then, baby.”

“Good night, Blake.”

“Good night, Rachelle.”

Rachelle

Beads of rain drip down the window as I finish up my last test. The day’s been long, but it’s almost over and I can go home and make myself a cup of coffee and read a book.

It crosses my mind that Peyton wanted to take me to a special dinner to celebrate the end of this semester, but I just feel like unwinding at home, alone. Kip and Peyton have been the best friends I’ve ever had.

Friends are a thing I’ve kept at bay as well as boyfriends. People confuse me. When there’s only me, there’s no threat of upheaval. I’m not going to screw myself over, so it’s safe that way.

I turn in my test after answering the last question about food safety and leave the classroom. It’s four in the afternoon, but you wouldn’t know that as the sky is grey with rain clouds.

Even if I wanted Blake to come, he’d not be able to make it in this weather.

I should’ve told him he could come yesterday. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I want him to come like I want air to breathe, but I can’t say the words.

My umbrella opens, but half of it pulls up and breaks as the wind pulls it. I ditch it in the nearest trash can and make a run for my car. The little white 2012 Honda Accord’s lights flash as I hit the button to unlock it.

I slip into the driver’s seat and put on my seatbelt. One look into the mirror on my visor shows me a soaking wet girl, with wide eyes. She looks back at me with water streaming down her face.

The fact some of that water is tears is something I’d rather not think about. Some of the other people who I have classes with talked about the parties people were throwing them. Others talked about where they were going to celebrate.

Though no one’s fault but my own, I’m feeling sorry for myself that I shut out all who wanted to make this a special time for me. I grab a few napkins from the glove box and wipe away the tears.

My face is left pale and my eyes look huge and tired. I am tired. So damn tired of living life like this. I shake my head and water is thrown all around my little car as the rain leaves my long hair.

With slight determination to make some much needed changes in my life, I press the gas and leave the parking lot. No school for a month and all the time in the world as I have the month off from the restaurant I intern at.

The boss said I could go in if I want, but I don’t think I’ll want to do that. I’ll go home, take a nice, hot bath and put on my PJ’s and relax.

Alone.

Blake

The rain pounds the windshield of the car I rented this morning at the airport. Thank the good Lord I decided to take off super early this morning instead of waiting to see if Rachelle would let me come see her after she finished her classes.

Using the GPS and the address Kip gave me to her apartment. I wait outside of it for Rachelle to come home. My heart pounds as I have no idea of how she’ll take this.

I pray she doesn’t see it as an intrusion into her life. But truth be told, I think that’s the only way to get into her life is to force your way in. I have a bouquet of flowers in the passenger seat and a bottle of red wine too.

A little, white Honda pulls into a parking space in front of her apartment. Kip said she drove a little, white Honda Accord. The door opens, and she darts out of it, going straight to her ground floor apartment and then she’s gone inside.

Here I go!

I need all the luck I can get to make her happy to see me. I run through the rain, flowers and wine in one hand. I’m soaking wet already. I pound at the door. Not how I planned on knocking, but the driving rain makes it hard to have the patience I would normally have.

The door flies open. Her eyes are wide and her hand is over her mouth. Then her arms go around my neck and her mouth is near my ear.

“I’m so happy to see you!”

Thank God!

Her little body, I lift up and walk inside, closing the door, leaving the rain and wind comfortably behind us. Kisses she trails over my neck and down my cheek until her lips touch mine.

Heat shoots through me and I have to stop walking. My arms are around her, but I have the wine and flowers in the one hand. I pull my mouth away just long enough to look around and find a place to sit the things down.

Her reaction to me is better than I thought it’d be. I put the things down on a little table by the door.

“Miss me?” I ask with a laugh.

“Shut up and kiss me,” she says then cups the back of my head and pulls me to her.

Her mouth is hot and her tongue slips over mine. I can’t believe how glad she is I’m here. Moving my mouth to trail little kisses over her neck, I say, “Sure am glad I came without waiting for you to ask me to.”

Rachelle places her hands on either side of my face. Her blue eyes dark. “I was just about to take a hot shower. You’re soaked too. Why not join me?”

Putting her feet on the floor, I say, “Lead the way.”

She takes my hand and leads me to the one door off the little living room. Her bedroom is small and has a blanket the color of chocolate on the queen size bed. The curtains on the windows are the same color.

Thunder rolls outside as she opens the door to the little bathroom and reaches in to start the shower. She turns back to me and starts unbuttoning the blue button up I have on.

Once she has it open, she runs her hands over my defined abs. “Oh, even better than I imagined they’d be.” Her hand goes for the button on my jeans and I grab it, stopping her.

I pull her red shirt off over her head and unhook her red, silk bra. Her breasts are perky and her nipples are erect with the cold. I run my hands over them. “Even better than I remembered. Gorgeous.”

With a smile, she unbuttons my jeans then unzips them and pushes them down. My black, tight, boxer briefs are all that’s left, and she hooks her thumbs onto each side.

“Uh, uh,” I say as I take them away.

I unbutton and unzip her jeans and push them down, revealing red silk panties. She smiles and then she pushes my underwear down as I push hers and we stand before each other naked, finally.

She takes my hand and steps into the shower. I follow her in and the hot water is welcomed by us both as our bodies were a little cold from the rain. Rachelle squeezes some fruity smelling shampoo in my hand then turns away from me.

I rub my hands together and run them over her long, black hair. Suds form and I massage her scalp as she makes a little moaning sound. Leaning her under the water, I rinse the shampoo out.

No make-up left at all as she blinks her eyes open. “You are a true beauty.”

My mouth is on hers without me realizing I was moving forward. My hands flow over her narrow shoulders, down her arms to her tiny waist. She tangles her hands in my hair as she lets me deepen our kiss.

I press her small body against the wall and run my hands down until I have both her ass cheeks in my hand. It’s taking everything on me to only caress them. I want to pull her up and slam my dick into her. But I won’t. Not yet.

Pulling my mouth from hers. I let her go and take the shampoo and pour some in her hand. “Do me.”

She smiles as I turn away from her and I have to lean way back for her to reach my head. Softly, she rubs the shampoo in. Then rinses it away.

“My plans were to take a long hot bath when I got home. This is much better, I must say.”

The shampoo all rinsed out, I stand up straight and take her back into my arms, lifting her up. “What else did you have planned I can make better?”

“I was going to curl up in my bed and read a book,” she says with a grin.

“Let’s do that then. I’m not here to interrupt your plans. Only to enhance them,” I say then leave a little kiss on the tip of her adorable nose.

After turning the water off. I carry her out of the shower and see white, fluffy towels hanging on a towel bar. I wrap her in one and wrap one around my waist after running it over my hair.

“Your curls are amazing,” she says in a whisper.

She presses at her long, dark stands with her towel. I pick her up and carry her into her bedroom, tossing her playfully on the bed. She giggles and I find the sound sends jolts of electricity straight through me.

“Get your book and I’ll get the wine and some glasses. And don’t you dare put a stitch of clothing on. You and I are going to lie naked in your bed while we read the book you have to each other.” I walk out of the bedroom and hear her laughing.

Going to her small kitchen, I easily find where she keeps the glasses and take a couple of wine glasses. I see a glass vase and take it, filling it with water for the flowers I bought her.

I bring in the flowers, the wine and glasses and find her underneath the blanket and digging in her nightstand. She looks up at me as a smile spreads across her beautiful face.

“You brought me flowers? How did I not notice them before? They’re gorgeous. Put them on my dresser so I can look at them.”

I do as she’s said and take the wine and glasses to the other side of the bed and place them on the nightstand. She folds the blanket back for me and pats the bed. I lose the towel and her eyes go right for my package.

She turns away quickly as red covers her cheeks. I climb into bed and act like I don’t notice her reaction. Pulling the blanket to cover me, I lean over and look at the cover of the book she has on her lap.

“Steamy,” I say as I pick it up. A tall man with dark hair holds a blonde woman in his arms. “Let’s see what this is about.” I turn back to grab a glass and fill it with wine and hand it to her.

She takes it and smiles, shyly. “Thank you. We can find another book to read. I have my Kindle in the nightstand. I can find something on that maybe more to your liking.”

I pour myself a glass of wine and take a sip then turn back to her as I set the glass down. “No, that books fine.”

I pick it up. “I’ll read to you first.” I pull her back to lie on my chest as I run an arm around her. I hold the book up and begin to read the first line. “Once, a long, long time ago there was a princess who longed to find her prince.”

Rachelle

My skin is on fire where it is touching Blake’s chest. He’s reading to me and all I can think about is how badly I want him to press me to this bed and make crazy, hot love to me.

He puts the book down and squeezes me. “I want to offer you something. Before we get any further into this book you’ve picked out.”

I turn to look at him. “What kind of offer. I don’t accept charity, Blake.”

His head shakes, making his little curls bounce around his handsome face. “It’s not charity. It’s an investment. I’d like to buy you a restaurant. Anywhere in the world you want.”

I want to accept so bad I can taste it. The menu designs spring up in my head before I can even speak. It’s my one wish to own my very own restaurant.

“I can’t let you do that, Blake,” I say as I look away. “It’s very nice of you. But I can’t accept that. Thank you for offering.”

“Why not?” he asks. “I know it’s like the only thing you really want in this life and I can help you make that dream come true. Let me. Please.”

I shake my head. “I can’t. Blake, I don’t know the first thing about really running my own place. I can cook, but all the business part, well, I don’t know how to do that.”

“We can find someone who does, can’t we?” he asks. “As a matter of fact, I could pick up where I left of with college. I was only about a semester away from graduating with a Bachelor’s in business. I could finish and I could run that part of it.”

How fantastic would it be to have a place of my own to cook what I wanted?

“So it would be yours too. I could just work for you then. It doesn’t have to be mine.” I trace a line over his tight stomach.

“No,” he says as he pulls my hand up to his lips and drops a sweet kiss on it. “I want to give you the whole thing. I can help you, but it will be yours.”

“Blake, what if I’m no good at it and it doesn’t make any money? I couldn’t do that to you,” I say as I bury my head in his wide chest. “It’s just too much.”

“I’ve got a ton of money, Rachelle. Believe me, it’s not too much.”

It makes a little bit of sense. “Maybe it would be a good idea. I’d like to try one here, in Los Angeles. It might be fun to find a place and fix it all up.”

“So say yes then, baby. Not maybe, yes!” He tickles my ribs a bit, sending me into a fit of laughter.

He stops and I’m left near breathless. He looks at me with the most sincere expression. I place my palms on his cheeks and say, “Yes.”

Surprise invades the sincerity of his expression and he smiles. “Did the word, yes, just come out of those perfect, red lips of yours?”

I nod and he laughs. Something deep inside me makes me hot as hell for this generous man and I find myself climbing over him, straddling his body, pressing my inner heat to his waist.

“What are you doing?” he asks as I pull my body up his, sliding it along his taut muscles.

“I’d really like it if you’d do a little more than cuddle me.” I reach up to run my hands through his hair.

He takes my wrists, stopping me as he looks deep into my eyes. “You don’t have to do this, just because of what I’m doing for you. That’s not why I offered you that.”

I return his look. “And that’s not why I want to do this. You showing up here like you did was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. You pushed me out of my comfort zone and I found myself happier than I’ve ever been. I just want to see if you can make me any happier than I am now.”

The blue nearly leaves his blue, brown eyes as they darken. He tugs at my hair as he runs his hand through it. “You really want this? Cause it won’t be just sex, baby.”

“What will it be?” I ask in confusion.

“It’ll be a commitment I make to you, and you to me. It will be what cements this thing you and I have. Where you’re concerned, I feel extremely possessive. When I make you mine, you will stay mine.”

I’d laugh if he wasn’t so fucking intense right now. His hand runs over my back then he does the same with the other one, pulling me down to him. His body is hot and mine is quivering with need for him.

“Make me yours,” I whisper though I’m scared to death what that really means.

“As you wish, Rachelle.”

Rolling me to my back, Blake rakes his fingers across my chest. One breast he takes into his large hand and leans over to kiss it then he takes a little pull on it. A harder pull he makes and I groan as it pulls something deep in my stomach.

His hand runs over my stomach and down between my thighs. Soft strokes he makes up and down my heating folds. My little bud he takes between two fingers and twirls it until it aches.

Between the way that he’s sucking my breast and pulling on my clit has me shaking with desire with the need for him to fill me. But he’s not making that move yet and I’m about to fall over the edge.

This is the first time a man has made me orgasm. I was unsure I could under a man’s touch. But Blake is no ordinary man. One more press of his finger against my clit and a hard tug on my nipple sends me screaming his name as I fall into the abyss.

My legs shake as he releases my breast and moves down my body. His tongue darts inside me as he places his hands under my knees and pulls them up. My body is pulsing with the orgasm and he tastes the juices his touch made.

I shiver as his wet, hot tongue glides up my folds and taps at the swollen bud. My hands fist in the sheets as he kisses me gently there. His hands run around, cupping an ass cheek in each one as he pulls my body to him.

His sweet kiss goes hard in an instant and he nips at my little bud, making me scream for him. “Blake, God! Blake, please take me!”

I can feel him smiling and he licks at my folds with a fervor I’ve never seen before. Like an animal, he licks every part of me, as if he’s marking me with his scent. Little bites he leaves behind every lick he makes.

My body is growing hyper-sensitive with his attention. Nipping and sucking at my clit, he stops suddenly and looks at me. I open my eyes to see why’s he’s stopped. I’m so close.

“Come!” he orders and stares into my eyes.

As I look at him, my body starts climaxing and I can’t seem to look away from his dark eyes. He smiles and leaves gentle kisses on my sex before he kisses all the way up my body as he glides over me.

My vagina pulses and when I feel the tip of his large dick against it, I nearly come again. He can’t get inside me fast enough. I arch up to him and he presses me back down.

“Slow, baby. Let me take you how I want to. You’re mine now. To protect, take care of, and cherish. Let me do that.”

He moves closer and slides his tongue over my closed lips. I part them for him and he slips it in. The taste of myself in his mouth has me ravenous for him. Yet he holds back as the ache I had for him continues to build inside me.

His dick toys with the edges of my vagina. A little dip he makes then pulls it up and runs it over my folds and presses the satiny tip to my clit, swollen to the max.

My breath comes in spurts and his kiss goes deeper. His tongue runs over mine at the back of my throat. My body shakes as his cock presses into me a little more than just the tip.

My hands run over his back and I press gently on his ass to go deeper. He pulls back out, making the tiniest of strokes. My vagina is quaking for him to give me more.

Short, little strokes he makes. It’s taunting the shit out of me, making me squirm beneath him to try to get him to move his thick dick deeper into me. He pulls his mouth from mine and grins.

He thrusts hard into me up to the hilt of his long thick, and hot dick. I gasp as it fills me entirely. Warmth spreads through me as he leaves it there. My body has to stretch to accommodate his girth.

He pulls out all the way, slowly. The space he leaves cries for him to go back and I have to hold back tears that threaten to flood as I’ve never felt this good before. Lowering his head, he takes a bit of flesh from my neck between his teeth and bites it as he pushes into me hard again.

I wrap my legs around his waist, trying to hold him to me. I don’t ever want him to leave me. I never want this to end.

He pulls out again as he kisses my neck then my shoulder then my lips. And he strokes back into me with a vengeance. Deep, hard strokes he makes as he kisses me, his tongue mimicking what his dick is doing to me.

My hands roam freely all over his back and into his hair before going back to his ass and reveling in how his muscles moves as he does. It’s magnificent and I can’t believe how lucky I am.

A tear escapes and then another as my body arches up to his. I never needed anything or anyone so damn much and I find myself afraid. But I can’t stop. I have to feel him inside me, stroking and easing a pain in me that has lingered so long I thought it was a part of me.

It’s not though. I can feel it leaving me. As if he’s somehow pushing it away as he takes my body, making it his. Seems his body wants none of that pain mine has kept hidden deep inside. It’s pushing it all away. Leaving an empty spot where it was.

Pleasure and happiness begin to fill the voids and my tears stop flowing as he loves me. I arch up to him and try to let him know how happy he’s making me. I want to please him as much as he’s pleasing me.

Time stands still as my body splinters into a million pieces then reforms as his tenses and heat fills me as he holds me tight to him.

That was nothing like the sex I’ve had before, not one damn thing like it!

Blake

Her sweet, sleeping face I gaze at as I hold her in my arms. She’ll play hell getting me to ever let her go. Her body reacted to mine in a way no one’s ever has.

She needs me more than she even realizes. She has deep pain and only the love I have for her can take that away. Her body gave itself to me, easily. Her mind will take a little longer.

The morning sun is beginning to peek through the sides of the curtain and I slip from the bed to make a surprise for her. A little breakfast in bed should show her how much she means to me.

She made an attempt to bring me more pleasure by taking me into her sweet mouth, but I wouldn’t let her. I wanted our first time to be about her and her alone. I had an abundance of pleasure anyway.

I felt at home inside her. It was an experience that I had no idea could even occur. Naked as the day I was born I look through her fridge to find it nearly bare.

I will have to fix this!

Sneaking back into her bathroom, I take my cell phone from the pocket of my jeans. Back into the living room I go and look up what restaurant is near us. I find one and make a call, ordering us something for breakfast.

Going back to the bathroom, I put my jeans on and get my rental car keys. I glance at Rachelle who is still sleeping soundly, making the tiniest snore as she does.

I go out and get my bag from the back of the car and go back inside. A car pulls up and a young woman gets out with a takeout bag in her hand.

“Blake Chandler?”

“Yep. Is that for me?” I ask as I go back to meet her.

Her eyes run over my body and she sighs.

“Good morning. I hope you enjoy it. You should come into the restaurant. Maybe for lunch. I work until two today.”

I laugh. “We’ll see what my wife wants to do.”

The young thing blushes and mumbles, “Crap! Okay, thanks for ordering from us.” She climbs back into her car as I go inside.

I find a couple of plates and take the omelets out of the Styrofoam containers and plate them up as prettily as I can. The red and green bell peppers I artistically place atop them.

Orange mimosas, I ordered as well and fill a couple of juice glasses with the sweet liquid. I see a hint of something red and find a single small red rosebud they added in. I smile as I told the person who answered the phone and took my order I was making breakfast in bed for my girlfriend.

I find it’s in a tiny vase and add a little water to it and find a tray to carry it all on. Rachelle stirs as I come back into the bedroom. She rubs her eye with the back of her hand and stretches.

“Hey,” I say, quietly. “You look like you slept well.”

Her cheeks are red from how much we kissed and the stubble from my five o’clock shadow rubbed them. She pulls her body up into a sitting position and moans. “God, I’m sore.”

“Mission accomplished then,” I say with a chuckle. I take the tray and sit it on the nightstand next to her. “I was going to make you breakfast, but you are lacking the little things they call food to prepare you anything. So I ordered out and I think I might have a date for lunch later if what the teenage girl said was any indication.”

“You’re taken,” she says with a grin and takes a lock of my hair and pulls me to her. “So, she’ll just have to be disappointed.” She places a kiss on my cheek and lets me go. “So what did you get us?”

I place the tray over her lap and she looks at the food hungrily. “I am starved. I haven’t eaten since breakfast yesterday.”

As I climb into bed next to her I frown. “You shouldn’t wait that long between meals, baby. I’m taking you to the grocery store in a little while. We’re filling this place up with food. I want you to make me something you love to make for dinner tonight. I’m taking you to your most favorite restaurant for lunch today.”

“You don’t have to….” she says.

I place my finger to her lips. “It’s so we can check out the competition of what you want to make yours like. Don’t worry, I remember how you don’t want anyone to make a big deal over you or your accomplishments.”

“So, a recon mission then?” she asks with a smile. “Yeah, I can do that.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman who was so dead set on no one doing anything nice for her before!

Rachelle

As another round of rain storms blows in I get dressed after another amazing shower with Blake. The man is beyond generous in the bedroom. I catch my reflection in the mirror as I button the last button on my pale blue shirt.

I’m reminded of a picture my grandparents have in their home of my mother. Her hair is brown where mine is black but it’s straight as a board, just like mine is. Her eyes are blue like mine and in that picture she had on a pale blue shirt.

It settles back in, the pain that Blake managed to move out of me. The reality of life sets in and I know this thing with Blake won’t last. It can’t. It’s too much like a fairy tale.

What did I do last night?

The man said he’d give me a restaurant and the next thing I know I’m handing myself over to him.

What a complete whore I am!

Who does that? Who just gives themselves to someone they barely know because they gave them something?

A whore, that’s who!

Taking long strides I go out to the living room to tell Blake I can’t take his offer. He sits on the sofa, messing around with his cell phone. He looks up with a smile on his handsome face. It quickly turns to an expression of concern as he sees me.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

He tries to get up, but I beat him to it and place my hands on his broad shoulders.

“I thought it over and I can’t take you up on that offer you gave me yesterday.”

“No,” he says as he shakes his head. “No, way, Rachelle. That’s a done deal. You can’t go back on it. I’m all types of excited to do this and I’m not letting you stop me. Your fear or whatever it is, I want that shit gone. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Blake, I’m ashamed of myself.” I sit down across from him and put my head in my hands. “You have no idea of how much shame I feel right now.”

“For?” He looks at me like I’m nuts.

“For handing myself over to you after you gave me such a fantastic thing. Just like a damn whore!”

“A whore?” He rises and comes to me. His hand is gentle on my cheek. “Baby, you are nothing at all like that. You’re the sweetest thing and I respect you to the hilt. Don’t ever let me hear you talking about yourself like that ever again.” He takes my chin in his large hand and makes me look at him. “Do you understand me, angel? Tell me you do.”

“Blake, that was a cheap thing for me to do. Something akin to what my mother would do to get what she wanted.” I look away, even though he holds my chin tight in his hand.

“Look at me,” he says with a commanding tone. “Rachelle Stone, look at me!”

My eyes move slowly back to his. “There’s really not a thing you can say to me to change my mind.”

“You are not your mother.” He lets my chin go and walks away from me.

He disappears around the corner and into my bedroom. Leaving me to think about what he’s said I suppose. My mind spins as I think about the things I’ve done.

I move a little, igniting the pain for an instant that came with the stiffness from letting my body react to him. The way he filled me completely, stretching me to fit him.

Running my arms around myself, I shiver with the memory of the fantastic sensation. I felt whole for the first time ever. In his arms, with him all around me, I felt complete.

He steps out of the bedroom. Something in his hand draws my attention. A long, gold chain he holds out to me. Something round dangles from it and I take it in my hand to find a picture of an adorable little dark haired girl, maybe two or three years old. No smile covers her sweet face. No frown either, just nothing. A vacant stare into the camera.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“That’s you, baby.” Blake kneels in front of me. “Max called your old foster mom. She said she had that. It was the only picture of you she managed to get. She sent it to me when I called her to talk about you with her.”

I snap my head to look at him. “Blake! That was not something you should’ve done! How dare you!”

One finger he places to my lips. “Baby, I care about you. I have to know what all happened to you in order to understand what’s going on in that mind of yours.”

“Not a lot, to be honest. Okay, not much goes on in here.” I point to my head. “I live, I exist. It’s what I do. Not much thinking or contemplating things goes on in here.”

“Well, I want to help you fix that. You see, I realized something last night as I held you and made love to you. You need me. You need me more than even you realize. So let me help you make the future you have seen for yourself a reality.” His hand runs through my hair and he sighs.

“I can’t.”

“It was Max who told me that helping you get your own restaurant was a good investment both financially and in you as a person. He cares for you, Rachelle. Like a brother cares for a little sister. He sees you struggling with the same things he did.” His hand roams over my shoulder and he pulls me to him.

I bury my face in his chest and feel helpless. “Max is a good man. I look up to him like a big brother. He and I have gone through the same things in our young lives. He thinks I need this?”

“He does and so do I. Even if it goes under, it makes no difference. It’ll be a write off and either way, I keep more of my money than the IRS does. It’s a win, win, baby,” he says then hugs me tighter.

“Blake, I…. I…” I stammer and pause. “Okay, I’ll take you up on your offer. Thank you.”

Soft kisses he places on top of my head. “Good. Now let me take you to lunch and let me see what kind of place you want to build.”

My heart pounds as I let him lead me out to his car. I’ve never put so much of my life into anyone’s hands before and I’m scared to death.

Blake

We ate lunch in Venice Beach at a fairly new restaurant named ‘Leona.’ The interior was cool and upscale but not so upscale patrons were put off by extravagancies. The food was great and Rachelle was confident she could do it a little bit better.

“So that’s the competition then?” I ask as we walk back into her apartment.

The locket of her as an abandoned three-year-old hangs around her neck. It’s a reminder of who she was back then, something she seems to have put far out of her mind, only I know it’s there. A deep festering sore in her mind that keeps her from really living this life.

“It is. I want to do something similar, yet completely different, if you know what I’m saying.” She sits down on the sofa and pulls off her high heels.

I sit at the other end and take her feet in my hands and rub them. “You know, if the shoes hurt you, you should probably not wear them.”

She laughs as looks away. “Most would see it like that. I don’t have a boat load of shoes and the ones I do are pretty cheap and cheap and comfortable seem to go against one another.”

I make a note to find out her size and get her some high end shoes. “So anyway, you’d like to make a place like Leona’s only completely different. Sure, I get it. What’s not to understand about that statement?”

She points at me with a smile. “See, you get me. I don’t know how, but you do.”

I pull her legs until she’s lying on the sofa and I move up her body until my lips touch hers. She’s tiny beneath me and so frail and fragile it nearly hurts me to look at her.

Her arms wrap around my neck and she moans into my mouth as my tongue moves over hers. I take her in my arms and stand up, taking her to the bedroom.

My need for her is overwhelming. I lie her down and strip away her clothes then take mine off as she watches me remove each stitch of material. Her eyes run up to mine. “You’re really gorgeous, Blake.”

I pounce on her playfully. “You are.”

Her lips touch my ear. “Let me show you what you mean to me.”

With a hot kiss, she melts into me. I release her lips and look into her blue eyes. “Not yet, baby. Let me show you how much you mean to me. I want you to feel safe and special. I want you to feel me until you understand what it is I have that you need.”

Her eyes widen as I take her mouth, claiming it with a hard kiss. I run my hand over her tight stomach and down the upper part of her thigh. I move my body over hers and press myself to her.

She arches up, ready for me to fill her. I tease her, rubbing my hard dick over her, but not letting it go inside. She wiggles against me and groans. I pull my mouth away and look at her. “Tell me the words I need to hear.”

“What?” she asks in a ragged breath.

Her stubbornness will be the end of her. I rub my dick across the edge of her hot as hell and wet vagina and she arches up as I do. Her body is begging me to fill her, but her mouth won’t follow suit.

Her eyes dart back and forth. “Please, Blake.”

“Tell me then I will.” I run the head of my dick to press against her throbbing clit and she moans.

Her hands run over my ass, gripping it and pushing at it. “Blake! Come on, please. You’re tormenting me.”

“It’s just three words. And don’t worry they aren’t I love you. I can wait a little longer for you to realize that.” I kiss her hard and grind into her without making penetration.

Once I release her sweet lips she moans. “I need you, Blake. Like I’ve never needed anyone or thing. I need you.”

A grin spreads over my face and I press my lips to her ear and press my dick deep into her. “I need you too, baby.”

The moan she makes rattles her chest, and she clamps her legs around my waist as she arches up to me. She wants me deep inside her. I pull all the way out and push her legs to make her release me.

“I’m going to turn you over.” I take her and flip her over on her stomach, then pull her back to me. Just to hear the sweet words again I put just the tip of my dick to her and say, “Tell me again, Rachelle.”

“Fuck, Blake! I need you!” she shouts and presses her hips back.

I thrust into her hard and grab a handful of her long hair, pulling her back to me as I do. She lets out a loud moan and drops her head to the pillow.

Pulling nearly all the way out, I ram into her hard again. She arches back and her scream is smothered by the pillow. Harder and harder I thrust into her as her body shudders and she screams with the intensity of it.

Her insides begin to clamp down on my hard dick as she comes, and it takes me right along with it. I ride the wave of the strong orgasm until we both stop. Our hard breaths are all that fill the dark bedroom.

I lie her down and lay beside her, running my hand over her back. She takes in a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She turns her sweat soaked body towards me as she rolls over on her side.

I stroke her cheek and look into those deep blue eyes and know I’ve found everything I never knew I was looking for in her. Her soft lips, I run my finger over and she lifts them in a sweet smile.

My heart bursts with all I feel for her.

Without thinking about it, I say, “I love you, Rachelle.”

Part 3 Lucky Break

Rachelle

Someone’s car alarm goes off outside waking me up from a deep sleep. Blake has me wrapped in his arms and his breathing is making a few hairs on the back of my neck move and it tickles me. I try to move a little, but he holds me tighter.

Is this what life will be like with Blake loving me?

Are my movements to be constricted by him always? Is it only going to be what and how he wants every little thing? Can I live that way?

He told me he loved me after we made love. Or rather he made love to me. He won’t allow me to do anything to him. To say he’s over-bearing is a bit of an understatement.

I have the necklace on he gave me with my picture in the pendant which hangs from it. It’s me when I was three and the absence of any emotion on my young face bothers me immensely.

The fact that he called my old foster mother is cause for concern. He could be considered a stalker by some. Sure, he sugar-coats it with the idea he wants to learn about me to help me.

But I don’t recall asking him for his help!

It’s a bit disconcerting he thinks I’m such a damn mess I need help in the first place. I mean, he’s over here thinking about how he can fix me and not looking at the fact he’s a billionaire who still lives in a tiny, old house his dead parents raised him in.

I mean, he has his issues he isn’t dealing with too!

And just what is supposed to happen now? Is he thinking he’s moving in with me and we’ll get married? Is he thinking he’ll buy a mansion here in Los Angeles and we’ll live here forever?

I don’t want to live in L.A. forever. I want to live in a woodsy area where there are actual seasons. Spring, summer, winter, fall. I’m from Texas where there is summer and some days there’s a little winter, but very little else.

Here I am in California, which ain’t a hell of a lot different. Colorado, Montana, or Wyoming have always been places I’d like to try out. But Mr. Take Charge and Let Me Fix You, may not have that in his plans for our future.

‘Our future’ now that’s something to think about!

Here it is, the third night we’ve spent together in a little over two weeks and he loves me and we need each other. No way! No damn way!

I can’t figure out why my body reacts to his like he’s the air I have to fill my lungs with. It has to be his air, no one else’s. I have to ask myself if it’s because he’s so fucking handsome or built or a combination of them both?

I don’t know who could be filled by his monster cock while looking at his golden curls, which hang around his head in the dim light, shining like a fucking halo around his gorgeous, fucking face and not think they need him!

Fuck yes I need him when he’s right there, looking at me in all his beauty and his bad ass muscles all rippling beneath my hands. Fuck yes, I want him to fill me with the pulsating, firm, wide, and long cock that feels like a satin covered cement log of pure pleasure!

Who the hell wouldn’t?

I have to wonder about the two women he said he had relationships with. Why did they break it off with him or did he break it off with them? And why was it so amicable?

Probably so they could get under him every once in a while to get another dose of Doctor, Fucks So Great.

I don’t know if I’ve only let really bad lovers into my life prior to Blake or what. But not one of the guys I’ve ever had sex with even came close to doing what he does. He’s a master! Hands down, a master!

The man looked at me and told me to come and I did. No coherent thought was going through my mind. No stimulation of any kind was happening. He just said to do it and my body was all like, ‘sure, anything you say, master.’

I can’t live this way. He’ll rule me like a king rules his kingdom. Like a shepherd rules his sheep. I’m no sheep and I don’t need to be ruled. Or held so fucking tight that I can’t move.

With a forceful movement, I try to get out of his grasp, but he holds me tight and groans a little, pulling me even closer. His soft lips touch my neck and he mumbles. “Love you, baby.”

What an ass!

I jab him in the ribs with my elbow. “Let me up, Blake!”

He jerks and releases me. “Oh, sorry, baby.”

“I have to go pee, damn!” I say as I get out of bed and stomp away to the bathroom.

“You okay, baby?” he asks.

I slam the bathroom door without answering him.

Blake

Pushing a cherry Danish towards Rachelle as she taps incessantly at her cell phone, I ask, “Do you want to talk?”

She shakes her head and pushes the food back as she seemingly ignores me. I have no idea of what I did to piss her off, but she is most definitely pissed for some damn reason.

I take the plate with the pastry on it and take it back to the little kitchen.

“What would you like to do today, babe?”

Her tapping stops and I glance at her to find her looking at me with what I believe is a glare for some reason. “Oh, you haven’t already set up our day, dear?”

“That was quite the sarcastic tone. And if you want to know, I thought we might look around at some places for your restaurant.” I walk back into the living room and sit next to her on the sofa.

She scoots away a little and taps away again at her phone. “I don’t want to do that today.”

“Okay,” I say and lean over, nudging her shoulder with mine. “Wanna fool around?”

Her dark blue eyes level on mine. “No!”

Placing my hand over her phone, I press it down and take her chin in my other hand. “Okay, spill it. What has you so mad?”

“You held me to you all night!” she says with clenched teeth as if it’s some horrible thing I did. “I couldn’t even move until I hit you in the ribs to make you let me go.”

“Is that why you did that?” I rub the place on my ribcage that still is tender from that. “Baby, you could’ve just woke me up and I would’ve let you go. No need for violence.” I chuckle and she frowns.

“I tried to get away from you twice. Do you think I need you to hold me when I sleep? Do you think I need to be taken care of? Do you think I even want that?” The way her eyes go dark, and not in a good way, has me wondering what’s happening in her head.

“Look, the whole abandonment issue thing is complicated, but this is a prime example of….”

She screams and gets up. “Stop! Just stop it!” She throws her hands up in the air as she paces in the small living room. “You’re no therapist. I haven’t even looked for one as I don’t think I’m as fucked up as you think I am.”

“I never called you, fucked up, Rachelle!” I stand up too. “I just want to help…”

She holds up her little hand, stopping me. “Help me, I know. You’ve said it more than once in the last couple of weeks since we’ve known each other. By the way, Blake. Who the fuck tells someone they love them after only two weeks, huh? Talk about having issues!”

She may have just punched me in the stomach as the same amount of wind is knocked from of me. “Rachelle! Don’t act like you don’t love me too. You just don’t want to admit it yet.”

Her eyebrows go way up on her forehead. “Excuse me! Do you read minds too, Mr. I Know Everything and You Should Allow Me to Run Your Life?”

With an eye-roll, I say, under my breath, “That’s a bit of a long last name, babe. Anyway, I can tell from how you react to me that you do, if you must know.”

A loud laugh comes from her mouth and she makes some grand gestures and bows in front of me. “Well, let me be the first to bow at your feet, King of Great Sex! You are a very good lover, Blake. My body likes what you do to it, okay? It does not mean I love you! Okay?”

“What we’ve had is so much more than sex and you know it, Rachelle. It’s the fear of abandonment that has you talking and acting like this. You’re trying to push me away before you allow yourself to really fall for me. But it’s useless, ‘cause I’m going nowhere. I’m in it for the long haul, baby.” I sit back down and she glares at me.

“Get out! Get the fuck out, Blake!” she shrieks at me. “You can’t tell me you’re not going anywhere. This is my damn house. My damn money pays the bills around here and it’s me who decides who stays here. Not you! Boss man!”

I take a deep breath and try to de-escalate this situation. “Baby, just sit down and let’s talk rationally for a minute. I know it’s early, but how about a little of that left over mimosa from yesterday to help calm you down?”

“Are you suggesting that getting me drunk will help me to fall into your little Stepford Wife ideal of what relationships are like, Blake?” she hisses at me. “I’m me. Faults and all. This is me, man!”

“Your only real fault is thinking you’re not worthy of love, Rachelle.”

“And yours is that you are a control freak.” She sits down on the opposite end of the sofa and looks away from me.

I remain quiet, hoping she’ll calm down and realize this is her issue with being left alone with nothing but strangers as her mother walked away from her, and nothing more than that. She sits back after a few minutes of intensely staring at the floor.

I scoot over a tiny bit and her eyes go narrow and I wish I would’ve waited a little longer. “Out!” she shouts as she jumps up and points to the front door. She runs into the bedroom and I hear things being tossed around.

When I go in, I find her throwing my things into my bag. I walk up and nudge her away with my shoulder. “I’ll do it. I’ll leave. If that’s what you really want. I’ll leave, baby.”

I wish I could be mad at her, but all I feel is a deep sadness as she shoves away her feelings for me. I turn to her after I have all my things packed. She walks away and opens the front door.

She looks at me with so much hurt and anger in her eyes. “Blake, take a look at your own things before you go taking a look at mine. Figure out how you should move on from the death of your parents before you think about fixing me. I’m not broken, I’m merely a human who has gone through shit, much like yourself.”

She’s right, and I just realized how right she is. “I’m sorry, Rachelle. You’re right and I can be no good for anyone until I deal with my own issues.”

I walk towards my car and she makes a little sound that has me turning back to see her sad eyes. “Blake.” She hesitates as tears start to fall down her pink cheeks. “Have a nice life.” She closes the door, leaving me alone with what I’ve done.

What have I done?

Kip

“The kid’s barely walking and already I’m tripping over his shit!” I shout as I hold my toe I stubbed on Pax’s toy truck which apparently is made out of real steel.

Peyton frowns at me. “I think it’s time to stop using foul language, Daddy.”

Pax takes his toy from me and looks up at me with a smile. “Dada,” he says. “Chit.”

I raise my eyebrows as Peyton glares at me. “Gotta go meet Blake. See ya.” I run from the room and out to the garage door.

I climb into my tall, four-wheel-drive pickup truck. Blake called and wants to meet for drinks at a little bar nearby. Seems he and Rachelle have had a bit of a falling out and he needs some advice.

His little rental is parked in the parking lot as I pull up and he gets out once he sees me. He waves and I hop out of my truck and make my way to him. “Hey there, bloke. Sorry to hear ‘bout your bad times. She’s a tough one, I can tell ya that much.”

He looks at me like I’ve said something looney. “I asked you if she had something wrong with her when I first laid eyes on her and you said there wasn’t. You sang her praises if I remember correctly.”

“Did I?” I ask as I clap him on the back and we walk into the bar. “I’m nearly positive I told ya she has intimacy issues. Didn’t I?”

“No, you did not, Kip!” Blake says as he walks into the dark bar in front of me.

“I.D. please,” the doorman asks Blake.

“He’s of age and with me,” I say and the doorman waves us on.

Blake turns back, wallet in hand. “No cover charge?”

“Not for me, mate.” I steer him to a corner booth and he settles in one side while I take the other. “So tell me what all happened.”

“I have no idea where to start,” he moans and looks so sad.

“Ya know, it happens to us all, mate.” I tell him as the waitress comes to our table with a bottle of Hypnotic and two shot glasses.

“You didn’t even order,” Blake says as he looks across the table at me.

“They know what I like. Do you like this?” I ask with a gesture to the light blue liquor.

He shrugs. “I’ve never had it.”

I nod at the young waitress in the tight shirt and short skirt. “That’ll be all.”

I watch Blake and notice he doesn’t even look at the beautiful girl as she walks away. “Damn it man, you have it bad for our Rachelle. Your work is cut out for ya, I’m afraid.” The way his eyes sag at the corners lets me know he has genuine feelings for Rachelle. “Tell ya what I think will do the trick, mate.”

He’s all ears for my advice and I cross my fingers I’m not going to make this situation worse with it.

Peyton

Pax chews on Rachelle’s cell phone. Thank goodness it’s in a case that’s water proof. “So he had the unmitigated gall to hold on to you like you were his possession as you slept?” I ask her as she’s told me Blake holds her like he owns her all night long. “The bastard!”

I cover my mouth as Pax looks up at me and laughs then says, “Asturd.”

My cheeks go red. “Now I have to get Kip to say that word in front of Pax so he never can blame me for that new word that was just added to Pax’s small vocabulary. Crap!”

“Rap,” Pax parrots.

Rachelle picks up her drink and motions toward my son. “One day, even little Paxxie Poo is going to be a grown man and how will he treat women? Like he owns them, I bet.”