Ending with Forever (35 page)

“Dr. Ly-Bradley, your husband is here to see you,” the receptionist announces over the speakerphone. Shit! It’s past 6:38 p.m. and I’m still finishing up with dictations.

“Thank you. Send him in please,” I tell Charlotte and then race to the door to receive my husband.

“Hi, angel,” he greets with a kiss and one white lily after entering my office. “Did you forget it’s date night?” he inquires with a penetrating gaze that has the same effect on me like a moth is to a flame.

“Of course not,” I fib. It’s my night to come up with something clever and sexy, and I haven’t a clue because my mind’s been preoccupied with work. I’ve been covering for Stewart while he’s volunteering in Guatemala.

“Well…what are we doing tonight, babe?” he demands, pulling me into his chest. “The girls are staying overnight at Uncle Wes and Aunt Bridgette’s place. They want to spoil them since they don’t get to see them often. We have the entire weekend to ourselves,” he tells me suggestively.

“I’ve always wanted to pick up a stranger and have a heated one-nightstand with him,” I reply with the first thought that comes to mind.

“Really?” he asks with a sexy cocked brow and a flirty grin. “Where and when, vixen?”

“Meet me at the bar at the Mandarin Oriental in an hour dressed as a smart biochemist,” I instruct in a business manner while forcing back my amusement.

“What will you be wearing?” he asks.

“As little as possible,” I answer and then press my lips into his, nipping at his bottom one. My taunting begins now and will end with him in a hotel room satisfying me until I beg him to stop, which is probably unlikely because I can never get my fill of him.

~~~~

Knowing my husband, he’s already punctually sitting at the bar expecting me. I’m going to purposely make him wait an extra five minutes. Anticipation is fuel for desire. The longer he waits the more eager he’ll be to get me into bed. I predict a very passionate evening for us. While I tease him a little longer, I pull out my phone to text Bridgette to see how my girls are doing.

Just checking in :) How are you two holding up?

Bridgette’s reply:

No worries. Clarisa and Larisa are angels. They have their uncle wrapped around their little fingers. Enjoy your night with Carson ;) x Bridgette

My reply:

Thanks. We’ll be at the Mandarin if you need us. Give my girls BIG kisses for me and their daddy. xox Lily

Her reply:

Will do. Daddy already beat you to the text. Now go seduce your husband, lady! ;) Night…

“Lily, your five minutes are up,” Rollin reminds me as soon as I tuck my phone in my purse with a chuckle from Bridgette’s response.

“Thanks, Rollin. Have a good evening with your grandkids,” I tell him before stepping out of the limo in three-inch heels and a seductive red cheongsam dress with lethally high slits on both sides. My hair is held together in a bun with a dragon hairpin with a dangling gold chain at the end of it.

When I approach the entrance, two doormen greet me with raking and inquisitive eyes, probably wondering if I’m a lady or a whore. I’m sure they’ve seen all kinds of women come and go through these doors. Most likely, the fake dragon tattoo running down the entire length of my naked back classifies me as a tramp, along with my dark eyes and crimson lips. I had to drop by Andrew’s place for him to put it on me. Adorable Nolan, his adopted son from Guatemala, was very curious about our artwork while he stared at my unrecognizable face. He knows me as Aunt Lily, not temptress of the night with too much makeup.

Ignoring the men’s pigeonholing of me, I sashay past them to go find my husband. The bar isn’t very busy for a Friday night. There’s just one bartender attending to six patrons sitting along a stainless steel countertop. Straight away, all eyes are fixed on me as soon as they hear my sharp heels clank deliberately loud on the marble floor. The only set I’m interested in is the hazel one concealed behind a pair of black frame glasses. Carson did exactly what I asked him to do. He’s here as a smart biochemist donned in khakis, a sweater vest over a plaid shirt with a white bow tie, and glasses.
Damn it. I’m a sucker for hot-looking nerds.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask the geeky man with his eyeballs hanging out of his sockets from staring too hard at me and my tattoo.

Shaking his head timidly, he replies, “Are you talking to me, Miss?” and then adjusts his glasses at one corner.
Don’t laugh, Lil
. Carson is acting out his nerdy character perfectly.

“Yes. Want to buy me a drink, cutie?” I ask, placing a hand on his galloping chest. The other men, dressed in expensive tailored business suits, all ogle at us in disbelief. They can’t understand why I’m choosing the gawky man instead of one of them—the obviously better catch.

“Shh..sure,” he stutters on purpose. “Wh…wh…what would you like, Miss?” He exaggerates his artificial shyness.

“Something sexy and hot,” I whisper an inch from his salivating mouth while trailing my fingers south toward his pelvis.

“Excuse me, Mr. Bartender. Can I have a Sex on the Beach for this lady?” he orders with a sly smirk.

“Yes, sir and what would you like?”

“I’ll have the Full Monty,” he replies, being so clever. I bite on my lower lip to keep from smiling or laughing at his humor. He’s so darn cute right now I could hop on his lap and grind myself satisfyingly against his growing bulge. I find him sexiest when he makes me giddy with happiness.

“I think she needs a Climax,” the business man to the right of Carson perversely suggests. He’s perfect like a Ken doll—blond and built with a flawless complexion. “And I know how to give her one,” he slurs with a flirty wink in my direction, making me squirm uneasily in my seat. It appears that he’s already had one too many drinks.

Reddened, Carson turns to face him.
Oh shit. I hope he doesn’t punch this prick
. “I see that you’re married.” Carson points to his wedding band with five large embedded diamonds. “Does your wife know you offer Climaxes to other women?” Backing off, the man gives him a panicked look and then struts away shamefully.

“Amazing. You’re so smooth,” I compliment, moving my hand closer to my prize.

“I’m done playing this trivial game,” he groans with my wrist in his grip. “I want you in room 5317, now,” he demands, abandoning his timid biochemist façade to resume his dominant alpha male role.

“I’m not that kind of woman,” I argue, testing his fickle mood with a little resistance.

“We can go up there quietly or loudly. It’s up to you,” he counters. “Choose wisely, baby. I have no problem carrying you on my shoulder, kicking and screaming through the lobby,” he warns with a devilish smirk and then winks at the bartender.

“Quietly,” I answer, knowing Carson doesn’t make idle threats.

“Good girl.” He pulls out a hundred dollar bill for the bartender and then laces his fingers through mine to lead me to our one-night stand room.

The passion between us is so intense; the steam is oozing out the metal seams of the elevator as Carson stares at the increasing floor numbers instead of me. Red is his favorite color, so guess what color my entire body is purposely covered in? The car can’t ascend fast enough for either one of us. His arms are locked by his sides, knowing that if he’d allow himself even the slightest touch we’d both be sprawled naked on the floor or against the wall.

Finally, the bell dings and it’s our floor. Carson grabs my wrist to urge me to dash down the hallway with him. His erection is growing with need. With one quick swipe of his room key, the door clicks open and I’m pulled into a suite decorated in scarlet. He kicks the door closed behind him and then circles his arms around my hips to detain me.

“You look incredibly sinful in this get-up,” he murmurs along the crook of my neck while thrusting his firm bulge into my back. “Those men downstairs couldn’t keep their greedy eyes off you, but who could blame them? You’re fucking irresistible in my favorite color.”

“I didn’t get very far with you downstairs,” I whine.

“Oh yes, you did. I practically came in my pants when I saw you enter the bar in these heels and this curve-hugging dress with a rebellious attitude.” He releases his hold on me to unzip his khakis. “I’m done talking for now,” he tells me. “I need to be buried deep inside you.” With a firm grip of the slits of my dress, he rips it off me. “Fuck! You are wearing as little as possible.” Shaking his head, he tells me, “Someone’s being really naughty and I like it.” My naked body is scooped into his arms and carried over to the bed. He lays me flat on my belly and then pulls me by the ankles until I’m bent over the edge of the mattress with the bottom of my feet on the plush carpet. “From the fierce tattoo on your back, I think dragon lady likes it rough,” he groans before plunging his shaft inside my channel to claim me, to fill me with pleasure.

“Daddy, one more story, please,” Clarisa pleads, squeezing her used-to-be-white stuffed puppy that she won’t let go so we can wash it. “The one with the Wise Princess and the handsome CEO,” she suggests with a heart-melting chuckle. Clarisa is my sentimental one, who’s very protective of her parent’s feelings.

“We promise we’ll go to sleep after you tell us that awesome story,” Larisa persuades with her pink blanket that grandma Ly made for her. She’s my spunky one with her own personality. She makes us laugh even when we don’t want to and happy cry because she’s so damn cute.

“Alright. You two cuties drive Daddy a hard bargain. Will I get some kisses in return?”

“Yay! Thanks, Daddy!” they yell in unison and jump at me with open arms and puckering lips to pepper kisses all over my face. By far, being a father is the best job I’ve ever had. I’d gladly take kisses as payment over cash any day.

“It sounds like a party in here,” Lil complains from the door entrance. “It’s bed time, you three,” she reminds sternly with her arms folded in front of her chest. Lil’s the disciplinary parent between us. I can’t seem to ever say no to my little princesses and they know it too. What can I say? I’m a sucker for adorable little cherub faces that resemble a bit of me and Lil.

“But Mom…Daddy’s going to tell us one more story,” Larisa pouts, sticking her lower lip out like Lil does when she wants something from me. Believe it or not—it stills works on me every time.

“It’s already way past your bed time, honey,” Lil explains as she tucks her back into bed. “Daddy will tell you that story tomorrow.” She kisses Larisa’s cheeks and lips several times and then turns to offer Clarisa the same tenderness. Every time I watch her interact with our daughters, I fall madly in love with her all over again. She’s a wonderful mother as well as a compassionate doctor to her patients. She always gives at least two hundred percent to everyone, including me.

“Love you, Mommy,” they both whisper. “And you too, Daddy,” they add.

“Good night, my princesses. I love you all.” I send my two mini-princesses off to dreamland with more kisses and then take the third one to bed with me.

~~~~

“Lil, what’s taking you so long?” I holler from our bed, waiting for her to join me, so I can fall fast asleep with my body pillow after we fool around, of course.

“Um…remember that weekend at the Mandarin where we spent most of our time in bed?” she reminds, walking back into the room with her hands concealed behind her back.

“Of course, I do. How could I forget that incredible weekend with dragon lady? We made love and fucked and only stopped for food, drinks, and bathroom breaks. It made my top three for favorite date nights.”

“Well…our happily forever after now includes baby number three. I’m pregnant,” she tells me, holding up a positive pregnancy test.

“Baby, that’s wonderful!” I rejoice, hopping out of bed to embrace her. “I hope our happily forever after keeps growing. I love you, Lillian.”

The End

Kisses to all of you who’ve opened up your hearts to Carson and Lillian.

I hope they will
forever
remain in your hearts, as they will for me.

Love, Lan LLP

(Turn the page for a special surprise…)

Ever since Carson shared the folklore of the elm tree with me, I haven’t been able to get the tragic ending of the peasant girl and the prince out of my head. This entire island with all its beauty and legends intrigue me. What’s even more exciting is the fact that Nikki personally knows the current prince and his family.

“Nik, what can you tell us about Prince Alessandra?” I ask nosily while François curls my hair and Remée does her magic with my face. All ears are now peeled opened, waiting for Nikki to give us the inside scoop on the eligible prince.

“What do you want to know about him?” she taunts, knowing full well what we’re all prying about as she reapplies more lipstick to her already red lips.

“Why is he still eligible?” Remée blurts impatiently. “He’s so incredibly good-looking and rich. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Is he gay?” François asks with a wink. “I’d like a piece of him. He looks scrumptious,” He snickers.

“No. He’s not gay, François,” she counters with a smart smirk, shaking her head. “He’s had a few broken hearts, so he’s afraid of commitment.”

“Aw…that’s terrible. I hope he hasn’t sworn off love for good,” Remée adds. “I wouldn’t mind letting him figure things out on me,” she trifles. “But I just gave James another chance.”

“It would be a shame if he did. What a loss that would be for so many willing women,” Belle regrets. “By the way, how old is he?”

“He’s thirty-six and has never been married. He came closed about six years ago when his parents arranged for him to wed a princess from a nearby island. A week before their wedding, she ran away with her lover.”

“Oh my…that’s horrible. Poor guy. Okay…What’s really wrong with him?” I ask frankly. There has to be some catch.

“Nothing. He’s just a really nice guy who doesn’t care about his royal background. He’d rather live in a cottage in the countryside, making his own wine and cheese than be spoiled in a castle with uptight rules. For most women he’s encountered, this was a turn-off for them. I guess.”

“It seems to me you need to hook him up with a sweet girl from a small town like mine,” I suggest slyly.

“I might have to do that. We can’t let a good man go to waste,” Nikki agrees, grinning in contemplation.

“Just make sure they have a happy ending. I didn’t like the tragic ending of the peasant girl and the prince,” I insist.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she replies. “Right now, we need to focus on your happily forever after. Are you ready, beautiful? Your handsome prince is waiting downstairs for you.”

“More than ready,” I exhale.

A special request from me to you…Please leave a review when you’re done reading this book. It means the world to me to hear your thoughts.

Hope to meet you again between the pages of my next romance book.

Love, Lan LLP