Breathless (Meadowlarks) Read online

  “You look gorgeous, Riley. You're glowing,” she said melodically. “I’m sure I know why!”

  She pointed across the room to Alex, he was sitting beside my father and my Uncle Wes, telling yet another story from Wyoming.

  “Maybe.” I smiled. “But, yes. Really, Aunty...I am so happy.”

  I wasn’t saying my family members were a bunch of alcoholics, but they enjoyed their wine like nobody's business. After dinner everyone started drinking a little more, and out came the hard liquor. My dad had a few glasses of wine and came to find me to tell me he was going to bed. “Enjoy yourself, my darling,” he said. “I am so happy you're here.”

  “I love you, daddy.”

  “I love you, my baby.”

  “Riley, dear?”

  I turned to see my Uncle Wesley walking toward me, a tall blonde woman attached to his arm. She was wearing a long black dress with a long slit up the side, revealing her tanned and toned leg.

  I gazed up her body, kicking myself for doing it, but I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Her boobs were all but falling out of her dress, they were spilling over the seam across her chest, and they rose and fell with each breath she took.

  “Hello, Riley,” the woman said, extending her hand with its painted nails and ridiculous diamond ring at me. “I’m Celeste.”

  So that was the newest Mrs. Wesley Harrison.

  Celeste.

  I sized her up and smirked at my uncle, who looked a little like Hugh Hefner in this newly adjusted light.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, too sweetly and shook her cold fingers with my hand, not wanting to really touch them as I wasn’t sure where they had been.

  “Wesley, I need another drink, sweetheart,” she said and smiled at me. “I'll only be a minute.”

  “Okay, darling.”

  Celeste turned on her heel and slowly walked away, the sway of her hips moved the dress in such a way it was almost mesmerizing to see.

  I shook my head and looked at my uncle with narrowed eyes. “How old is that one?”

  He grinned at me. “Riley! I’m offended. What kind of man do you take me for?”

  I crossed my arms, waiting for his answer.

  “Thirty. She's thirty, okay?” he said, acting insulted, but smiled.

  “She seems a lot like the others, Uncle Wes.”

  “Eh.” He shrugged. “She's good to me, and she's not too bad on the eyes. What else does a man my age need?”

  “You're too much! But, I love you. And if you're happy, then I am happy.” I smiled and hugged him.

  ***

  There were so many people here, I thought even more had shown up since dinner. Faces I didn’t recognize at all, I thought maybe they were people who worked with my father.

  I slowly moved through the crowd, smiling at the faces I did know and even to the ones I didn’t. By the edge of the garden I swore I saw something, so I stood on the tips of my toes, stretching up to see over the crowd. Standing and talking to my uncle's new wife, Celeste, was a man with olive skin and a shaved head. Someone bumped into me and I lost my line of sight.

  I made my way over to where I saw Celeste just moments before, talking to the stranger. They had both gone, so I looked around the vast back lawn, hoping to find Alex. I hadn’t seen him since just after dinner, which was very odd.

  A sexy man with dark eyes and a shaved head walked by carrying a serving tray with glasses of wine and I took two, thanking him. I tossed back one glass in less than a minute and started on the second; now that my dad was sleeping I could let go a little and enjoy myself. I swallowed a long sip of the wine, and scanned the crowd again with my cheek full of the sweet alcohol.

  Sexy server was back at my side, and he took the empty glass from my hand, and passed me another. “Un altro?”

  “Si,” I breathed.

  His dark eyes towered over me, he pulled his lip into a smile and traced his finger down the bare skin of my arm.

  “Delizioso.”

  Oh, shit.

  Really?

  I smiled innocently and started to walk away from him.

  There's no fucking way, sweetheart.

  The man stood where I left him, still holding the serving tray with wine glasses sparkling underneath the blanket of lights hung from tree to tree.

  The alcohol started to hit me quick and I stumbled a little on the grass, so I pulled my heels off and held them by their straps between my fingers. I still couldn’t find Alex, so I decided to make my way into the house to find my cell to call him. I remembered I left it upstairs in my bedroom, and knowing my father was sleeping I crept up the stairs slowly.

  I had four missed calls and seven text messages. Two calls and three texts from Addison. I cursed myself for not having my phone on me earlier.

  Addison: Hey girl, just wanted the kids to say goodnight before they went to bed.

  Addison: Isaac had a great day and he's excited for tomorrow.

  Addison: Hope all is well. I'll call in the AM! XO

  Shit! I slapped my thigh with my hand, angry at myself, as I quickly texted back.

  Me: Sorry, babe. I didn't have my phone on me, but I do now.

  Me: Give my babies a kiss. You're the best. XOXO

  The other calls were from Leah and so were three more texts. She wanted to know if I was up for going out with the girls before go back to Wyoming. I decided to message her back later.

  The last text was from Alex, the time stated it was only sent fifteen minutes ago.

  Alex: Where R U?

  Me: In the house! Where have you been?

  He didn’t respond, so I shoved the phone under the strap of my bra. Without pockets in this dress I had nowhere else to put it. When I reached the top of the staircase my phone vibrated against my skin, I fumbled into my dress to pull it out. It was Alex calling.

  “Hello? Alex?” I couldn’t hear anything except muffled voices and the faint noise of the music playing from outside. “Alex!” I said a little louder, but he still didn’t answer me.

  “Don't worry about her,” I heard a woman's voice say huskily. “No one will know.”

  I gaped. “Alex?”

  Still nothing.

  “I can't do this,” Alex's voice muffled through the phone into my ear. “No, fuck. I can't.”

  “Oh, baby. You can do anything you want,” the woman's voice said.

  “No, I can't do that to Riley,” Alex's voice said, sending shivers into my ear and down my spine. “I love her.”

  The sound of scratches and fumbling around overpowered the voices and the line went dead. I held the phone out and stared at it blankly. There was no way in hell I just heard what I thought I heard. I braced myself on the railing and almost fell down the stairs trying to get outside as fast as I could, my shoes and cellphone still clutched tightly in my hands.

  The view from the French doors leading outside remained unchanged, friends and family were still mingling and drinking. Music was still softly playing from speakers set in the corners of the lawn, and I still didn’t see Alex anywhere. My mom saw me from across the lawn and waved, I waved back and forced a smile.

  When I stepped out on to the stone patio I saw Celeste out of the corner of my eye. My head felt woozy and I almost needed to hold on to something to steady myself.

  She walked toward me, and stuck her finger suggestively into her mouth. “Mmm, he's sweet.”

  Behind Celeste's big and blonde head I saw Alex walk from around the house and look around the crowd of people, he didn’t see me standing in front of her as he slipped through the bodies of people, adjusting his suit jacket over his t-shirt.

  “You've got to be shitting me,” I hissed.

  Celeste grinned. “Younger is better, sweetie. But, obviously you know that.”

  Before I could reach out and pull her hair from its roots she brushed past me, tipping me over and I nearly fell before someone caught me.

  “Let's get you out of here,” a deep voice said. “Ora.”
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  I turned to look into the dark eyes of the man who served me wine earlier. “Now?” I asked.

  “Now,” he whispered.

  “Let's go.”

  The man led me through my parents’ house and out the front door, down the paved driveway and out onto the street where a long black Cadillac limo as idling. He opened the back door and motioned his hand for me to get in, I inhaled deeply and turned to look back at the house.

  Riley...what the hell are you thinking!?

  I leaned into the door of the limo as my hand searched for the seat in the darkness. My breath was heavy as I was coming to terms with what I was actually doing.

  What was I doing, anyway?

  I sat on the leather seat as the door closed behind me, the man disappeared behind the car and I expected him to open the other side and get in, but he didn’t. Instead, my heart stopped completely when a voice, dripping like honey and raw sex, flowed from the seat a few feet in front of me.

  “Hi, baby.”

  “D-Dane?” I breathed.

  “Drive until I tell you to stop, Maxwell.”

  A dimmed light graced the floor of the limo, slightly letting me see what exactly I had got myself into. I pushed my knees together when I saw Dane sitting in the seat across from me, he was leaning back into the leather, his thighs were spread apart and my eyes automatically gazed on the massive bulge in his dress pants.

  Dane had always dressed to kill; like his wardrobe should come with a warning label to all women. Even when he was just a landscaper, he would wear jeans that hung on his body in the most ridiculous way, and tight t-shirts or tanks that left nothing to the imagination.

  I breathed sharply when he unbuttoned the top of his crisp white shirt, letting it fall open and showing enough of his chest to make my insides do back flips.

  “Riley, you look...” He shifted in his seat. “Beautiful.”

  “Dane, what's going on?” I asked, trying not to let him see I was flushed, but I was sure he could tell regardless of what I did. “Who was that guy?”

  Dane laughed. “That's Aldo, my personal assistant.”

  “What!” I paled. “How was he working at my parent’s party?”

  “He wasn't. He was there for you.” Dane smiled. “And here you are. Remind me to give him a raise, will you?”

  “You're crazy. What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice clipped.

  “I told you when I visited you in that joke of a town you live in. I want you, and here you are. Simple.”

  “And I told you to leave us alone.”

  “I don't take orders very well, you should know that by now Riley.”

  My phone vibrated.

  “Go ahead, answer it,” Dane commanded.

  My fingers shook but I managed to answer the call. “H-hello?”

  “Riley! Where are you, baby?” Alex said.

  “Check your phone, Alex. You called me earlier, remember that?” I looked over at Dane, he was still staring intently at me. His green eyes twinkled savagely in the low-lit interior of the limo.

  “Baby, I don't know what you're talking about, I didn't call,” Alex said.

  “Oh, no? Well, maybe your dick dialed my number while Celeste had her skanky fingers all over you,” I hissed, and glared at Dane.

  Dane unbuttoned his shirt all the way and loosened his tie, letting it hang on either side of his chest. He unzipped his pants and pulled his mind-altering manhood from his boxers, he slowly stroked himself while not looking away from me once.

  Oh, hell.

  “I don't know what you heard, but if anything you should have heard me telling her no!” Alex roared into the phone, his voice loud and breathy. “I didn't do anything, I swear to you, baby.”

  “I heard what I heard. Then I saw her licking her finger,” I snapped. “I'll call you later, Alex. I need to breathe for a fucking minute.”

  “Just tell me you're safe, Riley. Please.”

  “I am just fine,” I said, and hung up the phone.

  “Trouble in Paradise?” Dane asked, dryly.

  “Shit, Dane. I can't do this. Pull over and let me out,” I said, panting and reaching for the handle of the door.

  “Get your sweet ass over here, and tell me no to my face,” Dane bit out.

  “No.”

  “It wasn't a suggestion, Riley.”

  I pulled myself together in every way I knew how, and silently prayed for Alex's forgiveness before crawling over to Dane's seat and kneeling in front of him. Dane's eyes flared with a wicked gleam, and I knew just how much he liked to be dominate, so I played this as best as could.

  “I said...” I closed my eyes. “No.”

  He let go of his erection, it smacked back against his naked stomach and I swore I could see it pulsating from his strokes. His hands reached for my shoulders as he pulled me up, lifting me onto his lap. I winced and looked away, disgusted in myself and my body for making me so weak to his powerful allure.

  “I need this. I need you. You've tortured me for too long,” Dane breathed into my neck.

  “I've tortured you?”

  “Always wearing those fucking dresses to The Club, dancing the way you do, and even when you would wear a suit to sell a fucking house, Riley. You kill me,” he growled, then sunk his teeth into my shoulder and sucked my skin. His tongue lapped my flesh and my heart thumped so hard I thought it was going to burst.

  “Stalker.”

  “I have a keen interest in the real estate market,” he whispered. “Especially when you're selling it.”

  “You left me, Dane! You left my son!” I cried out, angry and seething, but so very hot.

  He ignored my statement and continued. “Then you go and play house with that redhead's brother. What the hell was that about anyway? He's nothing like me.”

  “That's exactly why I love him, he's nothing like you,” I hissed, as my fingers gripped the back of the leather seat.

  Dane lifted my dress with one quick motion, he ripped the side of my panties and pulled them away from me. He lifted them up in the dim light, examining them. “Oh, damn. You know how much I love this things.” His fingers rubbed the fabric, circling around the eyelet pattern on what was left of the panties, as he stuffed them into the pocket of his jacket.

  “You're drenched.” Dane's eyes closed tightly when he reached down between my legs and touched me.

  I couldn’t look at him, so I turned my face away, but he reached up with his other hand and forced my face down to his. Keeping a grip on my chin, Dane pulled his fingers out of me and touched his lips with them. They glistened and he closed his eyes again, slowly shoving them into his mouth, he licked and sucked his fingers like they were lollipops.

  I died. Right there.

  Completely unable to come to terms with what was happening, I pushed every single thing I cared about out of my head and whispered goodbye to myself.

  Dane lifted me and turned to sit me on the seat so he was then kneeling in front of me, his body in between my legs. I quivered when his hands traveled up my legs and unbuckled the belt around my waist, letting it fall away. He lifted up my dress up and over my head, then he leaned up and gripped my hair in his hands, the black curls woven tightly in his fingers.

  “I am going to lick every inch of you,” Dane breathed, his lips sucking and biting my chest and over each breast. One hand left my hair and reached down between my legs again, touching and tantalizing me. “Careful, baby. You're so wet you might just slide off the leather.”

  “Oh, God!” I hissed between gritted teeth. “Just do it already!”

  “That's my girl,” he said. “Dig those claws into me, baby.”

  I gripped his shoulders as he pulled me down the seat so I was right on my back, my behind cupped in his arms as he held the bottom half of my body in the air.

  I bucked and heaved when his tongue built the torture by flicking across my belly, from hip to hip. My fingers tingled as they traveled all over the short hairs on his shaved head, I p
ulled his face down into my body and cried out when he starts to devour me entirely.

  Dane growled and forcefully pushed his face harder into me, he was so intensely consuming me I didn’t think I couldn’t take another second of it. I screamed out and begged him to stop.

  He didn’t.

  He kept going and going and I wasn’t sure if my heart could take it. I covered my face with my hands and started to cry. I was an awful, awful person.

  Alex, baby.

  I am so sorry.

  “What did you just say?” Dane lifted his head and glared at me.

  I looked at him, my eyes tired and empty. “I didn't say anything.”

  “Yes, you did. You said 'Alex, I am sorry,’”

  “Oh, God. Dane,” I whimpered. “Please take me back home.”

  One thing I did know about Dane Sullivan was that he wanted to be solely the centre of the world of the woman he was with. He refused to share, he loathed the idea of a three-some or anything like that. He didn’t even partake in role play, never wanting to be someone else or have someone call him by another name.

  “You're making a mistake, Riley,” he hissed. “You sure you're ready to pay the price?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing.” He smirked and pressed a button on a panel under a window. “Maxwell, back to 870 Milestone Avenue.”

  I quickly found my dress and pulled it over my body, trying to cover my shame, but it didn’t help. I smoothed my hair, as I was sure it looked like I had just been on a roller coaster ride.

  Dane calmly pulled his pants up and zipped the zipper, he fastened three or four buttons on his shirt and pulled back on his suit jacket. I sat across from him again, feeling like a complete idiot, reeling through my emotions and how exactly I was going to explain myself to Alex.

  Time crawled on its raw and bloodied hands and knees, and we did not speak again until the driver finally pulled up to the end of my driveway. I couldn’t look at Dane when I reached for the handle to get out of the car, but he grabbed my hand and held it tightly.

  “Thank you, baby.” He grinned, patting the pocket of his jacket where my torn panties were stowed safely. “See you soon.”