Deceived 6 - Ultimate Deception (11 page)

He released my breast, a regretful expression on his face. He glanced at his watch. “Still have ten minutes.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You going to be able to get the job done?”

He glared at me as he opened his pants and shoved them, along with his boxer briefs, down under his hips. He took a step forward and I opened my legs. His eyes locked with mine and his hands moved between us. I felt the tip of his finger ghost over my lips as he moved my panties aside. I’d been damp before but I was thoroughly wet now.

“You’re soaked,” he said, his voice rough.

“I need you.” I wrapped my legs around his waist and tried to pull him into me.

If we’d had more time, he would have teased me until I was begging, but the combination of our surroundings and how long it had been was enough to prompt Patrick to move things along more quickly. He entered me with one quick thrust and we groaned in unison. I held him there, my entire body shuddering as it adjusted to the sudden intrusion.

“Fuck.” The word was a growl. “I’ve missed this.”

I put my arms around his neck and leaned back, giving him better leverage. His hands slid up my legs to my hips and he held me tightly as he began to move. His strokes were hard and fast, his grip bruising, and my orgasm built fast. Each thrust took my breath away and still I raised my hips to meet him, driving him deeper. When I felt one of his hands slide between us, his fingers unerringly finding my clit, I knew he was close. His thumb began to make little circles and I whimpered. His touch sent electricity through my body, pushing me that much closer. Our movements were almost frantic as we chased our release, desperate to reach it together.

Someone banged on the door. “Ryan’s looking for you two.” It was Ricky.

“We’re coming!” Patrick called out as he picked me up in his arms, holding me close as he thrust up into me.

The change in angle rubbed him against me in a new way and I tensed; pleasure crashed over me as I came. I tightened around him and that was it. He covered my mouth to keep us both from crying out as he pulsed inside me, the sensation sending an additional ripple through me.

I clung to him, my tongue tangling with his as we came down from our high. I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to stay right here, Patrick inside me, our bodies joined. I’d almost forgotten the pure bliss that came with making love to my husband. Hard and fast in a bathroom didn’t matter. With him, it wasn’t fucking. It was always making love.

“If we don’t head back, Ryan will send out a search party.” Patrick spoke against my lips and I could feel his reluctance.

“Don’t care,” I muttered, even as I unwrapped my legs.

Patrick reached over and grabbed a handful of paper towels. He handed some to me while he cleaned himself up. “You want a bunch of strangers to come crashing in here, seeing us like this?”

“Maybe.”

His head jerked up and I laughed at the look on his face—the entire point of the comment. I wasn’t an exhibitionist, but it was fun to tease.

“Nobody gets to see you naked but me.” Patrick grabbed me around the waist and pulled me against him. His mouth came down on mine, hard and wanting. I made a sound in the back of my throat as the heat inside me flared again.

Another knock on the door. “Seriously, guys. Ryan’s going to have a fit if you’re not out here, like, now.”

Patrick stepped back. “Dammit,” he grumbled as he tucked himself back into his pants.

Patrick reached for my dress as I adjusted my breasts into the cups of my bra. I grabbed a tissue, folded it several times and stuffed it in front of my nipple. Patrick paused and looked at me. “Leakage,” I said and he pulled several more tissues from the box, folding them as I had done and shoved them in my direction.

“Hurry.”

We both broke out laughing as I finished folding and stuffing and, less than two minutes later, we were opening the door to a slightly embarrassed looking Ricky.

“I knew you two were in there. Damn, don’t you two have a place of our own by now?”

Patrick laced his fingers through mine and shrugged. “That’s what happens once you have kids.”

Ricky shook his head with a laugh and we followed him back to the reception hall just as they were calling for the best man’s speech.

Chapter 13

Patrick

One look at Ryan told me that he knew exactly what Chloe and I had been doing. I grinned at him and he smiled back, his eyes sparkling. I took my place next to him at the head table and waited for Chloe to sit before I raised my glass.

All eyes turned towards me. I’d spent weeks trying to write the perfect speech but as I looked over at my wife and then down at Ryan and Liam, I knew that what I had planned wasn’t going to cut it.

“When I first met Ryan, he changed my life and I didn’t even know his name. Now, he’s my family and I owe him more than I’ll ever be able to repay. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have my beautiful wife or our amazing daughter.” My eyes flicked to Chloe and I saw tears shining in her eyes. “He stood by me and encouraged me to fight for love, and I know I wouldn’t have gotten through these last few years if it hadn’t been for him.” I took a deep breath, struggling to control my emotions. “I’ve been hoping for him to find the kind of love I have and I know he has it with Liam. The two of them are soul-mates, and that’s not a word I throw around lightly.” I looked over at Liam. “Take care of my brother.” I squeezed Ryan’s shoulder. “And welcome to the family.”

Ryan stood and embraced me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For everything.”

“Like you said, we’re family.” Ryan let me go and grinned. He glanced over his shoulder at Chloe and added in a low voice, “Just wait until we cut the cake before the two of you duck out for round two.”

I laughed and promised that we would. The two of us sat down and I looked over to where Chloe was sitting. She gave me a thumbs up as she dabbed the corner of her eyes with her napkin. A surge of love went through me, strong enough to make my heart hurt. If someone had asked me when I’d first fallen in love with Chloe if I thought it would be possible to love her more, I would’ve said no. Now, I understood. My love for Chloe grew every day we were together Whenever I thought that I loved her as much as I possibly could, I would discover something new about her and love her even more.

I watched her through the first dance, and when the DJ called for the rest of the wedding party to join in, I held out my hand and led her onto the dance floor. As I took her in my arms and we began to sway to the music, I thought about everything we’d been through to get to this point and knew that it had been worth it. I would do it all over again, and more, if it led me back to this point. My arms tightened around her and I glanced towards the cake.

“They’ll be cutting the cake soon.”

“I know.”

“Everyone will be busy, preoccupied.”

“I know.”

We continued swaying to the music in silence. “Do you think the babysitter can stay a little longer? I’m getting the feeling that this wedding might run into overtime.”

Chloe paused her movement and looked up. “Really? A football metaphor for this celebration of love?”

I looked down, adoring her with my eyes, and said, “Do you know how much I love you?”

Chloe said, “I do.”

I leaned my lips close to her ear and whispered, “Do you know how much I want to take you again and show you how much I love you?” I pulled back and continued dancing hoping my heavy breathing in her ear had made her as wet as before.

But this time when I glanced down at her face, expecting a lustful smile, I saw a pained look. “What’s wrong?”

“Just one of the joys of motherhood…I’m leaking.”

I smiled, stifling a laugh. “The football game can wait. Let’s go home to our daughter. To tell you the truth, I’ve missed her.”

Chloe stopped dancing, and with a big grin on her face said, “I love you, Daddy.”

Epilogue

Chloe

This was my life. A party in the Hamptons. My life with Patrick had come full circle back to the place where it all began, when I knew I really loved him, at a party in the Hamptons, only this time I was here for a celebration of a different kind. I took a mental step back for a moment and looked at my life, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction at what I saw.

Elyse and Ricky were sitting on the couch, laughing as my daughter toddled over to them, a pink tiara in her hand and a determined look on her face. At two years old, she would’ve been the center of attention even if it hadn’t been her birthday party. Victoria had all of the men in her life wrapped around her finger. Her daddy doted on her. Her uncles, Ryan and Liam, spoiled her, and Aunt Elyse’s Ricky had been charmed since day one, so it wasn’t a surprise when he leaned over and let her put the tiara on his head. He made a silly face at her and bobbed his head from side to side, making Victoria squeal with delight.

I’d never seen Elyse as happy as she’d been with Ricky. When they’d moved in together six months ago, she’d been over the moon. Then, he bought this huge house in the Hamptons and it was all Elyse could talk about. And now she was hosting Victoria’s party in it, quite possibly to show it off a little, but I didn’t blame her, the place was gorgeous. I scanned the room, looking past the balloons and party streamers, seeing only the amazing decorating job she’d done. The gray and white color scheme managed to be warm and inviting as well as chic and stylish. She definitely had a knack for interior design.

A burst of laughter from the armchair drew my attention. Ryan and Liam were there, Liam in the seat and Ryan perched on the edge, leaning against his husband. As Victoria climbed up onto Liam’s lap, Liam slid one arm around Ryan’s waist and a sort of silent communication passed between them.

“So,” Ryan drew out the first word and raised his voice so that he could be heard. When everyone was looking his way, he continued, “We have a favor to ask of you guys. Liam and I were wondering if you would all write us letters of recommendation–drum roll please–for adoption.”

Elyse squealed and threw herself at Ryan. “That’s amazing!”

“That’s great.” I crossed to Ryan, Patrick only a few steps behind me. I hugged Ryan first, then leaned to hug Liam over Victoria who’d snuggled up against her Uncle Liam’s chest.

“We know there’s a lot of paperwork and legal things to go through,” Ryan said. “But we’re hoping that, this time next year, we could have baby.” He squeezed Liam’s shoulder.

“That’s right,” Liam chimed in. “I guess we’d better ask Chloe and Patrick for the name of a good babysitter, too.”

Elyse squealed again and in a flash she was back on the couch next to Ricky, but was virtually bouncing on it. All eyes turned towards Elyse and I said, “Geez girl, calm down. Getting a babysitter isn’t worth that much excitement.” I’d been sensing something from her all night, but now I was sure. She had news, and I had a feeling I knew what it was.

She looked like she was about ready burst when the words came gushing out. “November fifth of next year.” Her hand was in her pocket and she pulled it out now, flashing a massive diamond. “We’re getting married!”

New congratulations erupted, prompting Victoria to climb off of Liam’s lap and toddle over to Elyse where the attention had focused. Elyse picked her up and kept chattering about all of the plans she had for the wedding. I would, of course, be the matron of honor.

Between the wedding and adoption talk, Victoria’s candles, present opening and cake eating, all was underscored by warm conversation. As Victoria took a bite of icing, smearing it up over her nose, I looked at my friends, my family. And that’s what the six of us were. Family. It was clear from the way we smiled at each other, the joy we felt at each other’s news. We were so much more than friends.

I smiled as I settled in the chair closest to the fireplace to watch Ryan and Victoria play with one of her birthday gifts. Needing something for my hands to do, I picked up the mail I’d stuffed in my purse on my way out the door. The first two were obviously junk mail, so I tossed them into the fire without bothering to open them first. The third envelope was plain and didn’t have a return address, but it looked official enough that I thought I’d better take a look.

The paper I pulled out looked like an online article and, as I unfolded it, I began to read. I didn’t make it past the first paragraph before my fingers went numb and my chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be right. The article said Anna Von Lamberg had been granted parole.

Something else was poking out of the envelope and I pulled it free. The sounds of joy and laughter were dim background noise now, something far and detached from the world I inhabited.

It was a picture of Anna and Nina, almost identical to the one I’d seen at Nina’s house, the one that revealed Nina’s identify, the one Nina and I had fought over at the top of the stairs.

“Chloe?” Patrick was kneeling in front of me, concern on his face. “What’s wrong?” His voice was soft, as if he was trying not to attract attention from the people several feet away.

I couldn’t say anything. I held up the article and the picture. His face darkened as he looked at them, but when he turned back to me, I didn’t see any of the panic I felt breaking through the cold that had frozen me.

“The article’s a fake.”

I blinked, the words not making sense. “How can you be so certain?”

“I got a call from the parole board a couple days ago. It was denied.” He stood up and tore the article in half. “Besides, even if Anna had made parole, you don’t have to worry.” He tossed the letter into the fire. “If she comes near us, I’ll make sure she spends the rest of her life in jail.”

I stood, my knees weak. I leaned against him and he put his arm around me. I believed him, but the fear inside me was taking its time leaving.

“You know,” he said, “I heard somewhere that if you burn someone’s picture, you’ll never see that person again.” He tossed the picture into the flames and we watched it curl and blacken.