Family & Promises Read online

  Phaedra felt her legs buckle and in the next instant, she was on her knees in front of him. She heard Rand groan above her, and his hands moved to her shoulders, trying to stop her. But she resisted and lowered her head to complete her journey.

  Rand felt like he’d died and gone to heaven. He had to brace himself as her mouth opened and took him inside. His hands lifted to the wall behind Phaedra, steadying himself under the wild and sensual assault by her mouth. He felt her tongue caress the underside of his cock, even as her lips closed and sucked him more deeply. He had to stop her, and he moved one hand from the wall, where he was bracing himself, down to her head. His fingers threaded through the reddish strands to pull her back. But she slid one hand down and started to fondle his balls even as her head started to move.

  He couldn't pull her away. So his fingers slid free, dislodging her neatly styled hair. He knew he couldn't last much longer. He was so hot and aroused now, with her mouth sucking his cock and her hands caressing and stroking him, he knew it wouldn't be long before his control broke.

  Rand choked back a shout as his orgasm rampaged through his body, and his cock jerked within her mouth. Before he could pull free, or Phaedra was fully prepared, his cum shot free and she swallowed it all.

  She pulled back, looking dazed. Rand opened his eyes and looked down. The woman kneeling at his feet didn't look like the ice statue he had first seen in the grand hotel lobby. Her lips were swollen and bare of any lipstick. Her hair was half falling down and mussed beyond any hope of repair. And she still had one breast bared to the cool air of the hallway.

  Rand was no saint, having had his share of lovely women in his bed from time to time. But he had never felt anything this uncontrolled before. He reached down and pulled Phaedra to her feet. He watched the flush stain her cheeks as she saw his eyes traveling over her. Hastily, she moved to pull her dress back up. Rand stopped her and pressed a light kiss to the taut nipple before covering it with the stretchy black lace. He started to lower his head to kiss her luscious mouth when a door at the end of the corridor swung open. Music and voices came through to remind them both of where they were.

  Rand took her arm and turned her back towards the way they had come a few minutes earlier. Trying to avoid the bright lights and people, Rand found a way to the restrooms. Rand lightly touched her arm and spoke to her softly, wanting to show her that he wasn't deserting her.

  "I'll wait for you here, honey." The hoarseness in his voice caused it to break slightly. It surprised him how difficult he was finding it to recover after the mind-blowing climax he had just experienced. His eyes followed Phaedra as she disappeared in the ladies room. He thought she nodded her head, as if she had definitely heard him, but she didn't say anything. As though she, too, was still enfolded in the mind-numbing fog of her passionate climax.

  Phaedra walked unsteadily into the bathroom. She grabbed some wet paper towels and went into the bathroom stall. She cleaned herself as much as possible, peed and came back out.

  She was washing her hands as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. It didn't seem possible that such a short time ago she had been in this same position, wanting to hurry home and forget the whole evening. And now, her hair looked like she had been dragged backwards through a briar patch. She dried her hands and tried to reapply her lipstick with trembling fingers. She stopped finally, deciding it was useless and blotted most of it back off, which only left her lips looking even larger and recently kissed.

  She pulled the pins from her hair and shook it free. Using her fingers to sift through the long curly strands of hair, Phaedra tried to restore some order to the disheveled curls. She had just decided to leave it down when her aunt Alicia and uncle Preston's daughter-in-law entered the restroom. Clarice was the epitome of style and grace and good upbringing. She was tall, slender and looked like a thoroughbred racehorse. She was attractive, but not pretty.

  Clarice smiled at her thinly. She didn't like Phaedra, and seldom hid her feelings when the two women were alone. But she was aware that the family business was going "down the tubes" fast and that Phaedra was her father-in-law's last hope of convincing Rand Scott-Thomas to leave them alone.

  "Why did you take your hair down, Phaedra? It looked so much more attractive when you had it up."

  Phaedra grimaced. Clarice had perfected the art of making a compliment sound like a put down. She shrugged nonchalantly. She looked at the mirror, seeing Clarice's reflection next to her now.

  The two women were night and day, in looks, and personality. She had often wondered what had attracted the svelte, sophisticated woman to her cousin Carter. He was a little overweight and inclined to be too nice. Since his marriage though, Phaedra had noticed that he was becoming more like his wife in his outlook and attitude. Phaedra stiffened her back, determined to keep her temper and be nice.

  "I was getting a headache."

  "If you would cut it, you wouldn't have those problems. After all, when a woman is your age, she should have a more mature haircut."

  Phaedra had to bite her tongue to keep from lashing out at the other woman. But Clarice was oblivious and went on. "By the way, you really do move fast, I must say. I thought for sure you would botch this request of Preston's. And yet, the party's barely begun and I see you dancing with your prey. I must admit, Rand Scott-Thomas is one dreamy hunk of man, and with that eye patch, he looks like a marauding pirate. I wouldn't mind him capturing my vessel and claiming me as his pirate's wench!"

  Phaedra thought she would pass out. Suddenly she felt as if she couldn't breathe and the roaring in her ears grew louder with each passing second. Clarice was saying she had seen her dancing with their raider, Scott-Thomas. But the only person she had danced with was Rand Thomas.

  The roaring grew louder as she realized how stupid she had been. Her hands moved down to rest against the cool countertop, but she still felt sick to her stomach. One part of her brain called her every name in the book while another part logically told that at least her "task" was done. She had "talked" with Scott-Thomas, at least.

  Suddenly, she flushed as she realized how Rand had suggested she offer something beyond just words, and then he had taken her outside and made love to her. Her face paled as she remembered how she had reciprocated. And while Phaedra wasn't a virgin in the strictest sense of the word, her experiences limited to a few groping attempts, and one rushed coupling in a dorm room. Still, she had never been that intimate with a man so quickly and for it to turn out to be the man who was taking her family's livelihood away made her feel cheap and used.

  She reached down and picked up her tiny beaded purse. Without a word to Clarice, she turned and walked out of the restroom.

  Phaedra had only gone a few feet when she saw that Rand was talking with her uncle. She stopped, watching Rand as he talked with her uncle. Her mind enacted all kinds of unpleasant scenarios that he might be discussing with her uncle. None of which made her feel more relaxed or comfortable.

  She cursed fate for not allowing this to have been the scene when she had exited the restroom a little over an hour ago. Hastily, she looked around, wondering if she could possibly reach the exit without either man seeing her. She had actually turned and taken a step when she heard her uncle called out to her.

  "Phaedra! Come over here, dear. I want you to meet someone."

  Phaedra closed her eyes for a moment and then turned slowly. She saw her uncle waving to her, with Rand on one side and Clarice on the other. She must have stood there longer than she'd realized. Her stomach wanted to rebel and she promised herself that she would get back at Clarice somehow before walking towards them. Her uncle reached out and lightly kissed her cheek.

  "Hello, Phae," Preston Astor greeted his niece as put his arm around her shoulder. "Rand was telling me you two have already been introduced. I hope you won't mind me deserting you, but I promised Clarice a dance." He winked at Phaedra and quickly left with Clarice on his arm.

  Rand reached out to touch her arm, but s
he jerked away from him, refusing to look at him. "Don't! I hope you've enjoyed your little joke, Scott-Thomas. I'm surprised you didn't tell my uncle that it was no good, and that you would be continuing with the official takeover after all."

  Rand cursed under his breath. He had known this would be a tense and uncomfortable moment, but he hadn't thought that it would hurt like this. Hell! Phaedra was a stranger to him, so why should he care what she thought or felt? It shouldn't matter that she might be feeling hurt, betrayed and humiliated.

  "Let's get out of here and go somewhere and talk," he said briefly.

  Phaedra looked up at him and he almost winced at the pain he saw on her face. "No thank you, Scott-Thomas. I've been made the butt of your joke once tonight. I don't need to be made to feel the fool twice."

  She spun away from him and took off towards the main entrance, almost running. It was difficult in her high heels, but she had the advantage of being smaller and able to weave her way between people more easily than Rand could. She exited the lobby just as a cab dispatched its passengers. She climbed in quickly, and gave the driver her home address. She didn't see Rand exit a moment later.

  * * * * *

  Phaedra entered her apartment and threw her purse onto the table near the door. She kicked her shoes off angrily and quickly stripped her dress off, letting it fall the floor. She walked straight into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  She washed quickly, not wanting to remember how Rand's hands had felt such a short time earlier, when he had been touching her. Climbing from the shower, Phaedra wrapped a towel around her wet hair, and another around her waist. Her nipples were still taut and hard and just drying them with the towel had seemed too rough. As she reentered the living room, Phaedra debated the advantages of having a stiff drink and thereby speeding her ability to forget the whole damned night!

  Phaedra stopped abruptly, seeing she was not alone. Somehow, Rand had gained access to her apartment and was seated on her sofa—watching her. Her feet froze as he stood and started towards her.

  "I told your aunt you'd dropped your wallet and she offered me your spare key so I could return it tonight." His gaze moved from her face, to her naked shoulders, then down to linger on her firm, full breasts that jutted so proudly from her chest. "I didn't realize you were in the shower until I'd come in and I felt it would be better to wait for you out here."

  Phaedra heard his words, but didn't seem able to react. Suddenly, she remembered her state of undress and pulled the towel from her wet head and held it in front of herself as her long hair fell to her shoulders. She watched as Rand's eye moved back up her body, and she knew her face was flushing under his scrutiny.

  "Please leave. We have nothing else to say to each other."

  Rand shook his head slowly. "You're wrong there, Phaedra. We have a lot to discuss. For starters, I'll call my hounds of hell off your uncle's company."

  Phaedra shook her head. She couldn't have heard him correctly over the roaring in her ears. She knew it couldn't be that simple. "Why would you do that? Forgive me if I seem a little slow, but I'll be the first to admit that business matters are not my strong point."

  Rand reached out and lightly ran his fingers over her naked shoulder. He didn't say anything when she jerked back. "Well, I decided that you and I could come to an understanding. Every so often a man encounters something that… Well, let's just say that I want what you're offering more than I want your uncle's company."

  Phaedra froze at his words. "I didn't offer you anything." Her words sounded weak even to her. When he had suggested she offer herself in lieu of the family business, it had been a joke. Nobody did that kind of thing for real anymore. This was the real world, not some kind of prosaic romance novel!

  Rand must have thought so too for he shook his head and smiled. "I think your demonstration in the hallway spoke louder than any words."

  Phaedra closed her eyes in horror. It was her worst nightmare. It was true that sometimes life sucked. She did have the fleeting thought that if she not "sucked" earlier; she most likely would not have found herself in the present situation. But she pushed that thought away, and she shook her head negatively. She opened her eyes when she felt Rand's hands come up and close around her shoulders.

  "I can't remember the last time I had such hot sex with a woman, and the amazing part is that we haven't even had intercourse yet." He paused as he saw the blush staining her cheeks. "Having you in my bed will be worth more than any failing company I could takeover."

  He curled one long wet strand of hair around his fingers idly, almost as if he had nothing else on his mind. "Long, hot steamy nights of wild and unbridled sex with you will more than make up for the work invested. As for the money I've spent, well I'll consider that a fair trade off."

  Phaedra stared at Rand in disbelief. His words destroyed the last lingering of warmth and hope she'd had that she might salvage something from this debacle. She struggled to find the words she needed. "You'll stop the takeover if I become your mistress?" She asked in disbelief, shaking her head.

  Rand shook his head also. "No, not my mistress. I want something more than that. We'll live together until the fire fades, and then you can go on about your life, and that will be it."

  Phaedra took a deep breath and it rattled unsteadily in her chest. Why wasn't she yelling and screaming no? That would be the normal, logical, and surely the right thing to do in a situation like this? Of course, she'd never been in a situation such as this before. She did wonder for a moment if this was something he did on a regular basis?

  Rand reached out and yanked the towel from her fingers. A moment later, the second towel was whipped away and she was standing naked in front of him. He looked her over, down very slowly and then back up. Phaedra was shocked more by his words than his actions. As he spoke, she realized that she must have spoken her thoughts out loud.

  "No, my sweet Phaedra." He coiled one strand tightly around his finger, and then used it to pull her a step closer. As she took a deep breath, her taut nipples brushed against his tuxedo jacket. With a start of surprise, she realized how aroused she had become.

  It felt incredibly naughty, she thought, for him to be so exquisitely dressed to the nines in his tailor-made silk suit while she was now completely naked. Into her jumbled brain came the seductive scenario that this was rather like the desert sheik and his newly acquired houri for his harem. On one level she was ashamed at her lack of feminist outrage. But on the other, she was aroused by his mere presence. "I've never done this before. This is a first for me, as well."

  Phaedra shivered under his intense gaze. She saw that his eyes were focused on his finger as he slowly unraveled the curl of her hair. His fingers then moved down to lightly rub back and forth across one very taut nipple. Phaedra shivered under his touch. This should not be so arousing she told herself. She should be resisting or at the very least stealing herself to merely lie beneath his rutting body and not move an inch. That is what a modern woman would do, right?

  Rand let his gaze move down over her naked body. His attention was caught and held by her smooth mound. Without forethought, he reached out and covered her shaven flesh with his hand. His lips curled upwards as he heard her gasp of surprise. His voice was deep as he spoke.

  "I admit I was delightfully surprised when I discovered this earlier. Have you been shaving for long?" His fingers moved against her soft, smooth skin.

  Phaedra nodded her head, and found it difficult to speak around the lump in her throat all of a sudden. "Yes…" She stopped as Rand slid one finger in between the petal soft folds of skin and gentle wiggled around until he found her clit. Her gasp alerted him to his success.

  "How long?" he prodded gently while his finger continued to work magic on her sensitive flesh.

  "A friend did it for me the first time, in college."

  Rand stiffened and felt compelled to ask, "Male friend?"

  "No," Phaedra shook her head. "Another girl, my roommate actually. We'd gon
e on spring break and splurged on those thong bikinis…" She looked up and met Rand's eyes. "She'd already done her's and offered to help me…"

  Rand moved swiftly and lifted her into his arms. He strode in the direction she had come and found his way into her bedroom. He dropped her onto the bed and she watched in disbelief as he began tearing his clothes off.

  When he moved to lie above her, Phaedra couldn't stop the vision she had had earlier of just this very scenario. But in that one, she had been…

  Phaedra groaned as she felt his hands caressing her still damp flesh. His hands cupped and caressed her full breasts, pausing to tease and torment her hardening nipples. As Rand's hands massaged her sensitive flesh, he spoke to her, with his voice breaking with emotion and passion.

  "You have the most beautiful tits, honey! So big and round…" He stopped as he caressed the tender globes. One hand shifted though, moving down to cup and caress her mound once again. Phaedra jumped in surprise.

  "God, Phaedra! I don't know that I should tell you this…"

  Phaedra was surprised at the unsure tone in this confident and usually very assured man's voice. "What?" She asked, unable to resist her curiosity.

  Rand smiled and kissed her hand that was cupping the side of his face. "The thought of you and another woman, naked and she shaving you… Damn! That makes me so horny!"

  Phaedra couldn't help the laugh that spouted forth. It made her feel joyful, and aroused, to know that this man was attracted to her. Again her actions surprised her. "Why does it arouse you?"

  "I want to shave your pussy. I want it to be my fingers caressing your newly shaven skin."

  She didn't want to be aroused, but she could feel herself melting and a fire starting low in her belly. He moved one hand to her pussy and without pause, worked her clit until she cried out in passion. "Yes!" She shouted as her body was still jerking and coming as he shifted her thighs. "Oh, Rand…" He thrust into her contracting cunt, made wet and juicy from her orgasm.