Family & Promises Page 6

  "Accusing me of being a sore loser?"

  Phaedra acted like she was considering the question seriously. "No, I don't think you are a sore loser. I just think you weren't real happy with the way the day went."

  "Well, I was pretty surprised that you wanted to play at all. And I was downright pissed that Joe picked you for his team first thing. We usually fight over Tom or Will, since they're both good players. And I guess I never realized how much flirting he actually does with the women before. I came close to slugging him the one time I saw him pat your fanny. It was not just a friendly slap on the ass between football players."

  Phaedra smiled. "He's a nice guy, but I don't think he knows what he wants. And one woman there is so lovesick for him that I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her."

  Rand looked surprised. "Who's that?"

  Phaedra shook her head. "I'm not going to tell tales." She turned and opened the car door, stepping out. Rand quickly followed and met up with her at the house. The door was unlocked and Rand opened the door, then stood back for her to walk in. Phaedra chided herself, reminding herself that of course since he had servants around, he would not need to lock his doors each time he came and went.

  Phaedra stood, waiting and wondering what Rand wanted to do now. She didn't feel comfortable in his home. She didn't feel comfortable with the entire situation. She wasn't sure how a "kept woman" acted. And then, almost as if he could read her mind, Rand suggested they go and clean up.

  Inside the bedroom, she sat down on the bottom of the bed, watching as Rand began tugging his clothes off and tossing them into the hamper. He looked surprised when he saw her still dressed and seated on the bed.

  "Aren't you coming?"

  Phaedra paused, not sure what to say or do. Should she go with him, or what? It was very obvious what he had been thinking. She stood and walked towards him.

  "I wasn't sure if I was to wait until you were done, or not."

  Rand shook his head, but didn't realize that she was nervous and unsure. He reached out and without a word grasped her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Her shorts were next, and since she had already taken her shoes and socks off, she stood before him naked. It was impossible to stop her hands from coming up to cover her breasts.

  But Rand still seemed oblivious to her discomfort and gently pushed her towards the huge bathroom. He turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature, and then stood holding the door open.

  Phaedra flushed and walked past him into the larger than normal shower. She edged to the corner, and watched as Rand wet himself down completely, then reached for the soap. He seemed so unselfconscious, that it only made her more so. She flushed when he passed her the bar of soap.

  Phaedra tried to concentrate on what she was doing and not on his tanned and muscular body. Suddenly, the soap was taken from her limp hand. And before she could protest, Rand muttered in ear. "I'm sorry honey. I didn't realize that you were so worn out."

  To her further embarrassment, he began running his hands over her shoulders and down her arms after filling them with lather. He lightly reached around her and washed her back and then moved back around to wash under her arms. His hands paused briefly before gliding over her breasts.

  Phaedra closed her eyes as her breasts firmed and her nipples hardened under his sensitive and light touch. She knew he had to feel the change, and knew she had a blush staining her cheeks. Instead of commenting or turning the light touch into something more deliberate, he moved his hands down to wash her legs and feet. He had her turn around so he could get the backs of her legs.

  As he reached her bottom, she felt his touch change for the first time. There was something in the glide of his fingers over her full cheeks that she had not felt before. And when he stepped closer to slide his hands around her waist, she felt his hardness pressing between her cheeks. She would swear she didn't tighten her ass muscles just then, but they tensed and pressed more firmly against him. In the next second, her breath caught as his hands slid upwards to cup her breasts. This time there was no mistaking his touch.

  His large hands curved around her full breasts, and began squeezing, and molding the firm, responsive flesh. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known, Phaedra. You were completely oblivious to all the looks you kept getting this afternoon."

  He paused to trace a finger around each nipple before testing its hardness with two fingertips. When he did that, Phaedra felt her knees give way and she leaned back against him. Rand chuckled and told her "not just yet." He shifted them so he was seated on the built-in bench in the shower, and pulled Phaedra to stand between his thighs. He soaped his hands again, and Phaedra felt her eyes were glued to them as they came nearer.

  One slipped between her parted thighs. The other hand slid under her arm, washing the sensitive flesh under one and then the other. As that hand moved once again, this time to her breast, the hand between her thighs stopped all pretense of washing. One slippery finger moved between her smooth folds and straight to her clit.

  "Oh, God!" Phaedra whispered as Rand's touch started its path to making her crazy. Phaedra cried out in reaction, and her body responded instantly.

  Rand smiled and slowed his hand movements. "I knew that I wasn't the only guy out there with his eyes glued to your tits. I could argue that you provided too much distraction for my team."

  Rand didn't pause in his movements, slowly increasing his tempo and continued to work her without mercy until she climaxed completely and without reservation. He then pulled her forward, only this time he pushed his legs between hers, spreading them. He grabbed the handheld showerhead, and directed it between her legs. Phaedra gasped as the water turned her on even more. He poised her over his hard cock, and redirected the water flow at her breasts. As her body enveloped him, she pushed the water away and slid her arms around Rand's neck, pressing her body close to his.

  With his hands on her hips, she let him direct the rhythm and flow of their mating. With her eyes closed, she listened to the water around them, and the feel of their bodies rubbing against each other. She didn't want to think, or worry, just feel. Moving a little, she could force his hardness to stimulate her clit with each movement. She didn't stop to think about her actions. Her hands moved to caress Rand's face as she lowered her mouth to his. Her tongue entered his mouth eagerly.

  Rand was surprised by Phaedra's sudden aggressiveness. She was once again surprising him when he least expected it. He realized that he was no longer directing her hips. She was moving in circles and then up and down. Phaedra's mouth slid to his neck and she bit him lightly and then sucked his skin into her mouth. Her fingers curled into his muscular chest as her palms rubbed over his hard nipples.

  "Slow down, honey," he whispered to her softly. "There is no need to rush." Rand moved his hands to just above Phaedra's waist, trying to resume control as he felt his climax building. He had wanted to make this last longer, but things were escalating too fast thanks to Phaedra suddenly taking control of their lovemaking. But she wouldn't let him slow the pace and moved her hips deliberately, flexing and squeezing muscles that made him groan loudly.

  Phaedra covered his mouth once again as she moved on him even faster. He gasped and pulled free of her lips and tongue to cry out her name.

  "Phaedra!"

  Phaedra smiled and pulled back to meet his gaze. She was feeling out of control and at the same time she had never before felt so powerful. She circled her hips, flexing and squeezing her muscles, to pull him even deeper into her body. She spoke without thinking.

  "Fuck me, Rand! Fuck me now…!"

  Rand was caught in complete surprise by her words. He never would have expected her to even whisper the words, yet alone cry them out in fierce demand. In the next moment, he was climaxing hard and fast, shooting his seed into her body. He couldn't think beyond this moment even if his next breath depended upon it.

  As his arms wrapped around her body and pressed her breasts flat to his chest, he closed h
is eyes and leaned his head back against the tile. It wasn't until he felt Phaedra moving that he opened his eyes. Rand had no idea how long they stayed like that. He watched though, as Phaedra slid off his lap and stepped out of the shower. His eyes appreciated the firm, round cheeks as she walked away from him. He had to physically resist reaching out to caress her ass.

  Rand quickly turned off the water and followed Phaedra. With a towel wrapped around his waist and a smaller one drying his hair, he walked into the bedroom. He wasn't surprised to find her already under the covers of the bed, with a towel wrapped around her wet hair and sound asleep.

  He watched her for a few moments and thought about all the things he usually did on a Sunday, after the game. But suddenly, with a start of surprised revelation, he knew the only thing he really wanted to do on this amazing Sunday was curl up in the bed behind Phaedra and sleep with her. It didn't take Rand more than a few seconds to ease into position right behind Phaedra, spoon fashion, while one of his hands cupped her upper breast, holding it possessively, even in sleep.

  Chapter 4

  Phaedra was up and gone the following morning when Rand awoke. He was surprised to find that the bed was empty. He remembered slowly, that Phaedra had talked yesterday about her work. He jumped out of bed and glanced at the clock. Assuming she must be downstairs having breakfast, he showered and shaved quickly.

  He was surprised again to find the kitchen empty. He paused for a glass of juice, and then went out to his waiting limo. He usually took the limo to work. It was easier and faster and left him free to take calls on the way to work and deal with a few things before reaching the office. He wondered how Phaedra had gotten to the hospital. He knew she didn't have a car.

  As soon as he reached the office, Rand had his assistant place a call to Phaedra's uncle. He acted casual as he spoke to Preston. He spent several minutes in conversation before he could ask about Phaedra and her work. He resisted hanging up as soon as he learned the name of the hospital where she worked, and continued making small talk with Preston for a few more minutes.

  He should have guessed it was the same hospital where she did all the committee work that she had told him about that first evening. Rand then called his assistant into the office, and told the surprised that woman he was leaving for the day. He delegated all the scheduled meetings, and told her to send all inquiries and problems to Mark Phillips.

  Rand called Mark from the limo. "Mark, I'll need you to take over some of the meetings I had scheduled for today. My assistant will be contacting you with the information. And if you have questions, I have my cell phone with me."

  Mark was stunned to hear Rand was leaving the office on a Monday morning. Mark listened to Rand's instructions, but he still had a hard time taking it all in. For as long as he'd known Rand, he'd never taken a day off, even when he was sick. His vacations were usually working business trips. To hear the boss saying he was taking the whole damned day off was more than a shock.

  "Sure, Rand, no problem." Mark paused for a moment, knowing he could be pushing his friendship with his boss. "Is everything all right? Is Phaedra okay? Uhm," Mark couldn't resist the urge to tease him though. "You didn't injure anything important during the game yesterday, did you? Or last night?"

  "What? No, everything is fine, Mark. And I'll check in with you later, to see if anything has come up." Rand hung up just as the limo stopped at the hospital entrance. Climbing out, he told his driver to standby and he'd call him on the phone when he was ready to leave. Glancing at his watch, Rand was surprised that in spite of his hurrying, it was nearly eleven.

  Inside the hospital, he got directions to the pediatrics ward. On the second floor, he emerged from the elevator, and looked around, not sure where he should start to look for Phaedra. He didn't have to wonder for long. Being male, and attractive, his presence was unusual, and quickly noted. One of the nurses, dressed in a print top approached him. She smiled at him, which turned into a grin upon learning that he was looking for Phaedra.

  Rand soon found himself standing outside a playroom. It was brightly painted, with some child-sized furniture scattered about. He saw that Phaedra was seated at a table with two children. They were doing something, but he couldn't tell what it was. He did notice that one of the children was wearing a scarf on her head, and had an intravenous drip next to her. The other child was in a small wheelchair, and had one leg sticking out, encased in a bright green cast from toes to thigh. The young nurse at Rand's side encouraged him to go in.

  "Go on in if you want. Phaedra usually welcomes all the help she can get in the playroom. We all love to help out, when we have time."

  Rand nodded, his gaze still fixed on Phaedra. "Thanks for you help," he told the nurse, and then after another pause, and a deep breath, he finally pushed open the door.

  Phaedra had her hands immersed in a large plastic bucket, mixing something that sounded squishy. Once she got it thoroughly mixed, she would scoop out a portion for each child to add his or her own choice of color.

  It was the kids stopping their chattering that got her attention. She looked up and found a pair of masculine legs, obviously dressed in very expensive suit pants standing by her side. Her eyes traveled upwards over the expensive material and found that she was looking into Rand's intense gaze. She felt the hot flush rush up her cheeks. It was Charlie, the small child with the cast, who drew her attention.

  "Is it ready, Phae?"

  Phaedra looked at the small boy and smiled. She kneaded the gooey mess for another second. No matter how many times she made the cold, slimy goop, she still didn't like the feel of it in her hands.

  "I think it should be fine. And it will continue to firm up as we knead the color into it." She scooped up a big handful and set it on the plastic table that had been fitted across his wheelchair. Phaedra looked at her hands, and then up at Rand.

  "Can you open the dropper bottles, please?" She indicated with her head towards the small bottles on the table. Not sure if he would do it, Phaedra watched as Rand moved around the table. He saw the bottles held food coloring. He then looked at the young boy, who was looking up at him eagerly.

  Charlie smiled up at the big man, who reminded him of the doctors he usually saw too many of. "I want red on mine…. Please." And being Charlie, he added guilelessly. "You look like a pirate I saw at Disneyland."

  Phaedra flushed and wondered what Rand would say to the young boy. She watched as Rand smiled, nodding. He opened the bottle marked for red, and lifted out the dropper. He paused and looked at Phaedra. "How many drops does this take?"

  Phaedra smiled. "Just two or three. Start with just two though." She looked at Charlie. "Don't worry. We can always add more if you want it." That seemed to satisfy the little guy, and he eagerly put his hands into the gooey slime and began turning it from a bluish white, into a reddish blue color. Phaedra handed a big glop of the gooey stuff to the girl at her side, who was holding her hands out. The girl turned to Rand. "I would like yellow, please."

  Rand smiled at the skinny girl, feeling a touch of sadness as he realized all the treatments and therapies that she must have been through so far, in her short life. He added two drops of the yellow dye, and watched as her small, and obviously weak hands tried to knead the gooey mess, and blend in the color that would make it the color she wanted. Without considering his expensive suit, Rand pulled another small chair over, and sat down at the girl's side. He slipped his jacket off and rolled his shirtsleeves up.

  "You mind if I help you with yours?" he asked her softly. "I'd like to learn how to do this, if you'll tell me what to do."

  Phaedra looked at Rand in disbelief as he plunged his fingers into the gooey junk, and began to knead it until the color was spread through out, making it a pretty pale yellowish green color. She quickly wiped her hands, and helped Charlie add more color to his concoction. The young girl, Shelly, requested more yellow, and Phaedra stood to come around the table. She leaned over Rand's shoulder, and added two more drops of yell
ow. She was still surprised to see this wealthy and powerful man sitting on a kiddy's chair, making silly putty. She had seen so many different sides to this strong man in the last two days, that she wasn't sure just who he really was anymore.

  Phaedra moved around the table, helping here and there, as she was needed. She finally sat down opposite Rand and watched him mixing the gooey mess for Shelly. Shelly told Rand that she liked yellow because it was the color of sunshine, and sunflowers, and bananas. Shelly was on her third round of chemotherapy to fight the persistent cancer eating at her body. The girl was ten, but looked about seven. As Phaedra continued to watch, Rand carefully placed the gooey mess into Shelly's hands, and slowly helped her work the mixture. Shelly laughed, and Phaedra couldn't stop the tears that smarted her eyes all of a sudden.

  At that exact moment, Rand looked up and caught her watching him and she felt color bloom in her cheeks. His penetrating gaze held hers, even though she wanted to look away. It was almost as if they were suddenly connected by something no one could see, but Phaedra could feel it, all the way to her toes. She finally pulled her eyes away, and quickly asked Charlie if he needed any help.

  Phaedra was relieved when Charlie started talking about his family's trip to Disneyland. With just one comment from Rand, Charlie went on to tell them all about the pirates ride and how much fun it had been. And when the nurses came to gather their charges a short time later, Phaedra felt as if she had run a marathon, she was so drained.

  Rand was a big hit with the nurses, of course, and he helped Charlie to clean his hands, before he had to go back to his room. Once they were alone in the playroom, Phaedra stood suddenly and started to put her things away. She quickly washed and cleaned everything up, and stored them away in her locked cupboard. When she turned around, she saw Rand was looking out the bank of windows of the playroom.