In Love by Design (The Adventures of Anabel Axelrod) (52 page)

I stare
d at Luke with my mouth dropped open and then I snapped it shut. “That is unbelievably great and I don’t mind at all,” I glanced pointedly at my boyfriend, “since I’ve never seen this condo, but I have heard it’s a popular place for women.”

Luke st
ood up straight and chuckled. “Thanks, Pam, for telling Anabel that things are fixed between us and I’m sorry to have woken you up.” He returned my pointed look and added, “Apparently, I have been very lacking in the boyfriend department with Anabel, so if you’ll excuse us, I have some suffering to alleviate.”

“Good God, you can wake me up anytime! I’ll leave you two to your suffering.” Waving goodnight and cracking up,
Pam walked down the hall to her room. She called over her shoulder, “By the way, Bel, love the lingerie!”

Luke ha
d the bedroom door closed and locked before Pam was finished speaking. This was rude, but I forgot this discourtesy when he spun me around. My arms were stretched up high over my head and my hands were flat to the door. Luke’s weight held me against the wood while he stripped off his clothes.

Luke
pulled down my rosy pink, stretch lace boy pants with one hand. When the tiny panties were on the floor, his knees spread my legs. Both hands reached up and pulled down the same stretchy lace of my short bustier until my breasts spring free and the bustier bunched around my waist.

Luke breathed into my ear,
“I love the pink thing, too, but I hope you’re still wet for me because either I do this,” he entered me from behind and thrust up inside me, “or I do this.” He smacked my left butt cheek with a resounding slap that caused me to cry out at the unexpectedness of the sharp, painful sting where I was still tender from the splinters.

His hand
palmed my ass and soothed before slipping around my hip and cupping between my legs. Luke made a deep noise in his throat that drowned out my own fast moans when he felt how he excited me. Fingers moved against me at the same time he thrust. He bent his legs to penetrate deeper.

His other hand r
an up my body, squeezing and rubbing over my breasts and nipples. He wrapped his arm around my chest and held onto my shoulder with his big hand. Using my body as leverage, he pulled me down onto his cock, as he moved his hips up and I arched my ass down.

He
was rocking me steadily. I was delirious against the door. My body pushed back and down in countermotion to his, at the same time I was writhing on his fingers.

I was shocked
when he threw back his head and warned on a roar, “If you ever pull a gun on me again, I’ll make you shoot me and that’s a promise!”

I lean
ed my mouth down and bit his forearm. “Don’t you ever choose to make me because I’ll die before I shoot you, I swear!”

Luke’s answer
was to pull out of me and turn me around until my back was against the door. He lifted my legs over his arms and held me pinned to the door with his hands gripping my ass. He penetrated me with one, long smooth motion and found my mouth with his in the dark room. Our breathing was coming in loud gasps as we kissed hungrily. I ran my hands all over his chest, arms, back, and through his hair, as his arms held my legs open farther to receive his thrusts. His muscles strained hard when he increased the tempo of his hips grinding against me. Within a few seconds, my first orgasm consumed me, at the same time I was chanting “Yes! Yes!” repeatedly in his ear. Luke captured my mouth on his own groan and we slowed down, moving slower and slower while enjoying soft kisses and murmurs of love

T
hroughout the long night, we talked openly. I felt there were no shadowy walls between us for the first time since I’ve known him.

Luke t
alked about Tommy and their friendship, his years in the army and the years of plotting revenge. When I asked about the condo gift to Pam, he laughed. He told me it was the only property he owned free and clear, but it was a small price to pay to fix what he’d done to her.

He add
ed dryly, “Plus, I had to immediately end your suffering, Princess.”

I
only hugged him tight. I figured Luke’s had enough of me giving him commands, so I didn’t tell him that he’d also hurt his friend John by encouraging his dark side. Luke had some fixing to do there as well, but that could be a conversation for another night.

Luke voluntarily br
ought up his finances and explained he’d invested not only his time, but his money into bringing down the Ogelbachen’s. He shared much of the same information that James Byrd reported, except with Luke doing the telling, I understood what his plans for the future were now. Luke may be broke on paper, but he’s got huge reserves of illegal cash from playing poker all over the country for years. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised to learn he’s an expert card player that could be a pro, but he wasn’t interested in that way of life. We had a lively conversation about putting his money to work. Luke was interested in meeting with James Byrd when I told him about his expertise in finance. I did not tell him of James’ investigation, as that was part of my own personal finances that was nobody’s business but mine.

When we weren’t
talking, we loved each other and it was wonderful in a different way. Our new level of closeness made every word, gesture, and touch fraught with a new meaning that was almost too much to bear. But I’m an Axelrod, so I squared my shoulders and loved Luke until he passed out at dawn. For Luke, it had been an emotional few days. He’s had very little sleep and my needy man was exhausted. I soothed him to sleep with a rubbing massage and gentle words that he didn’t need to worry, I’d have his back.

I was the happiest woman on Earth at that moment when
my Delta Force badass motherfucker went off to sleep with a sweet smile on those cruel lips.

Smilin
g at my image in Mac’s mirror, I was thinking maybe it’s the Universe and not just Earth, when I heard the women chanting Anna’s name in the other room.

Wondering what she’s up to,
I started to leave at the same time there was a rap on the bathroom door. Damaris was waiting in the hall.

She smile
d, and her normally cool and calm demeanor was flushed and pink from dancing.

“Come on, dear. Everybody
’s waiting for you. Some of the women need to leave soon and the men are starting to arrive.”

Now I can hear that the name
was not “Anna” that was being chanted, but “Anabel”.

“Well, crap, Mama D
,” I griped, following her down the hall. “I thought they’d forgotten by now.”

“You promised,”
Damaris replied, and then shot me a dry look over her shoulder. “Your NanaBel is leading the chant.” She grinned, and I responded automatically because I still can’t get over how she and Luke shared similar expressions, their grin being my favorite. “Although, I must admit that I’m very interested, too, since this does involve my family, as well.”

I laugh
ed ruefully and shrugged my acceptance of the inevitable, knowing I was trapped.

Reaching the crowded room, all the lights
were on now. The large screen TV was playing a local station over in the corner where a few husbands and boyfriends sat with Diego and shot the breeze. They appeared to not be paying attention, but their eyes were casually looking over the crowd of women mingling in the open space. They were probably wondering what rites and rituals we performed at these types of gatherings when they weren’t around.

I wave
d at Diego and he grinned broadly in return. We haven’t had a chance to talk today, but Mac assured me that Diego knows nothing about what I’d been involved at his store with Mia.

NanaBel
was sitting in a comfortable chair that had been pulled into an open area. There were two empty folding chairs next to her. NanaBel was surrounded by my family and friends, and was gesturing with strong hands wearing many rings, as she chanted my name and whipped up all the other women.

When
Damaris and I entered the room, a cheer went up. Stella ran over and grabbed my hand, and Anna grabbed Damaris’. They led us to the two empty chairs, and I gave Damaris a wry look, nodding to Anna holding onto her hand.

Damaris
quickly turned her head to hide her smile.

Anna st
ood in front of us and waved her arms to get everyone quiet while NanaBel leaned over and rapped me on the knee with a knuckle.

“Your turn,
Anabel Katrina. I bet you thought you got away scot free without having to do this, didn’t you?” NanaBel’s laughter rang out at my frowning moue.

NanaBel’s appearance
was as vividly bright as her personality. Her once dark red hair was now pure white and worn in a stylish short cut, her bright blue eyes flashed humor, her wide mouth was born to wear red lipstick, her teeth were sparkling white, and two perfect dimples appeared under her strong, high cheekbones whenever she smiled.

She
was beautiful. Castles with dungeons in Germany must agree with my grandmother, but I was overjoyed she came home early to attend her honorary granddaughter’s bridal shower. This was the perfect touch to Anna’s planned day. Anna was standing behind NanaBel with her hands on her shoulders while beaming with happiness and wiping her eyes constantly.

I me
t my best friend’s eyes and we shared a small smile when Stella whistled sharply and called out, “Quiet!”

The room instantly quiet
ed, except for Pam’s nervous giggle that was soon hushed, and Stella bowed to me. “Okay, everyone has told their romantic stories about meeting their boyfriends, getting proposed to, or having their babies. Anna said you would tell your story of the birthday ring when we were all around. Well, we’re all around, Auntie Bel, so it’s time to give it up! We want romance!”

Jazy start
ed chanting, “Romance! Romance!” and Tre J joined in and then Pam. Soon the room was thundering with the word and I stood up laughing, holding my arms out in supplication.

Sparky cho
se that moment to bling out. Soon the “oohs” and the “aahs” started. Sparky was really showing off and the women loved it. Stella had to settle them down again.

Damaris shift
ed in her seat, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. She was staring at Sparky with a rapt expression on her face and wearing a huge grin.

Damaris spotted the ring on my hand the minute she arrived today
at the apartment, but other than saying that she loved the ring and that it suited me, had made no other comment. I was surprised to see her reaction now.

Shrugging it off, I smile
d at the crowd. I have listened to women for years tell their stories of first meetings, first dates, marriage proposals, wedding vows, anniversaries, and birth stories. For once, I really had a romantic moment to share with a group of women and I felt a sense of sisterhood.

“
They are all going to love this story!’

I clap
ped and did a little shimmy. I started my story when Luke and I were at his farm and I had placed the white gift box on his bedside table. I omitted the part about our fight over the little red bag and the make up session in his truck.

“Okay, so picture this. Luke comes walking out of the shower wearing only a towel…”

The room erupted with whistles and catcalls while Damaris laughed good-naturedly.

“…and he picks up this pretty velvet box from the bedside table.
Luke walked towards me with the box and said, ‘I’m offering you this small piece of a parure that was originally fashioned from the decorations on a justaucorps.”

“Holy Hannah! I about fainted, as you can imagine. I asked
Luke, ‘Is this a full-set parure or a demi-parure?’ I have seen paintings of parures worn en suite, and I’ve got to tell you all, they are super cool. I don’t know what I’d do with them all, but I’d think of something.”

The room
was totally silent, enthralled.

I nod
ded and grinned. “I know. Incredibly romantic, right? Not too many girls these days get offered a piece of a parure. From the baroque period, no less!”

D
amaris was nodding while watching me with a fond silvery smile, and I smiled in return. It was really great having a mother’s encouragement.

I t
ook a deep breath. “So my boyfriend said, ‘A full set, of course, Anabel. They are from my mother’s side and have been in the family for a couple of hundred years. Wait until you see the stomacher and diadem.’

“Of course I am
amazed to hear this and I asked my boyfriend, ‘Seriously, a stomacher? Is there an aigrette, too? If you tell me there’s a sevigne I may have an org… er…tizzy fit! I love the girandole style!’

Someone behind me
that I couldn’t see asked in a loud whisper, “Is she speaking English?”

I obligingly turn
ed more, so people behind me can hear. “Is this better?”

The room ha
d gone silent behind me again, but there was an expectant quality and a few titters. I felt my nipples stiffen. I was wearing a blue sleeveless dress similar to Anna’s from last night because she never went home before the shower. We decided her dress would make a good costume dress for our dance performance, so I dressed up accordingly. The material was silk and right now, my nipples have pointed to attention like hounds on the scent.