Chapter 14

Blake awoke at the crack of dawn and began planning his evening with Liya. He wished he could book his favorite suite at his favorite hotel but that would mean leaving Sophia alone with Mrs. David. What if she wasn’t ready to be left without him or Liya just yet?

He hired his most trusted event planner to turn his bedroom into a romantic suite complete with rose petals on the bed, wine, and chocolate. He gave specific instructions for his bedroom to be turned into a soppy romantic’s dream. He’d promised his fiancée a night to remember and he needed to deliver on that promise.

Thankfully Liya and Sophia were still asleep as he made his plans. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Liya’s face when he surprised her. He planned to deliberately keep out of her way until dinner. Sophia had a reading class at 9 a.m., followed by art therapy at 11 a.m. By the time Liya and Sophia returned home, he’d be in his Charleston office. Blake grinned triumphantly. Nobody, not even Liya would suspect their engagement was just a farce. Still, despite his fake engagement, he found himself looking forward to tonight.

***

Liya found Blake’s note on her dresser when she awoke.

“Something urgent came up. Please take Sophia to her reading, and art classes. My chauffeur will drive you.

Blake.”

Disappointment filled Liya. Why did he have to leave so early? She’d been looking forward to having breakfast with him.

“Liya?” Her disappointment vanished at the sound of Sophia’s voice.

Sophia’s bubbly excitement returned the minute she woke up from sleep. She grabbed Liya’s hand and looked at the ring. “I still can’t believe you’re going to be my Mom.”

Liya’s chest filled with a mixture of emotions. She recalled being this excited when she went to live with her aunt. Only things hadn’t quite worked out the way she’d wanted.

Sophia didn’t waste time getting ready for her art and reading classes. Liya dressed in a pair of jeans and a white shirt. She felt strange being chauffeured. But, she had to get used to it because this would soon be a part of her daily routine while her husband —was Blake Stone really going to be her husband? She glanced at her ring as if needing confirmation that the engagement had really happened. She snapped out of her daydreams when the driver pulled into the parking bay outside ‘Kelly McMahon Art and Reading School’.

“I will pick you up in two hours, Miss Ahuja,” the driver said.

“Thank you,” Liya replied. She held Sophia’s hand and walked with her inside the ‘Kelly McMahon Art and Reading School’

She was aware of people pointing in her direction as she walked with Sophia, and whispering discreetly. She wished she’d asked the driver to remain behind so she could have at least sat in the car while waiting for Sophia. Instead, Liya sat in the waiting area and tried her best to hide behind a months old copy of a women’s magazine.

“Excuse me,” a woman said, forcing her to lower her magazine. “Are you, Liya Ahuja? Blake Stone’s fiancée?”

Liya’s face heated up. “Yes, I am,” she half-whispered.

“Congratulations on your engagement.” The woman’s blue eyes shone with joy. Her chocolate brown hair was pulled into a low bun. “Sophia spoke non-stop about you after she first met you.” The woman extended her hand. “My name is Rachel. I’m Sophia’s reading coach.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Liya said, relaxing a little.

“Sophia has really changed since meeting you. She’s more enthusiastic about learning and definitely expresses herself better. I can see now why Blake didn’t waste any time proposing to you.”

Liya blushed. “Thank you, Rachel.”

Rachel invited her to tea. Time flew as Rachel filled her in on Sophia’s progress. Liya was grateful when it was time to leave. Mrs. David texted her a list of things to buy after Sophia was done with her classes. Liya and Sophia had lunch at the school’s cafeteria first before doing the housekeeper’s shopping.

“I’m tired, Liya,” Sophia said. They were finally on their way home.

“Me too.” Liya yawned. It was nearly five p.m. Mrs. David had asked her to buy the oddest things from opposite ends of the city. The odd shopping list coupled with evening traffic added to their long day.

“Something smells good,” Liya murmured. The aroma of food filled the hallway.

“Why don’t you two go freshen up and I’ll fix you something to eat?” Mrs. David said.

Liya’s stomach rumbled in answer. She helped Sophia change into a comfortable dress, then changed into a cotton dress herself. She was surprised to find Blake waiting for them at the table. Butterflies filled her stomach. Her tiredness vanished as she joined Blake for an early dinner.

Sophia yawned throughout dinner.

“Let me put her to bed and tuck her in,” Liya told Blake.

“Sure, I’ll wait for you to join me for dessert.” He winked at her. “I have a surprise for you.”

Mrs. David and the rest of the house staff had mysteriously vanished when Liya rejoined Blake at the dinner table.

Liya’s body tingled when she recalled Blake’s promise. Heat lit up her cheeks. “Blake, I—”

He rose from his chair and pulled her towards him. “Shh.” He silenced her with his hard, hungry, hot mouth. Liya shook from the impact of his kiss, stunned by the fire licking at her insides. Blake pulled her closer, holding her tight against him so that she felt his strength and his physical power and the hunger of his lust.

Her gasp was lost in his mouth.

“Blake,” she tried to whisper, suddenly uncertain if she could handle his hunger.

He kissed her deeper, harder, sliding his finger through her hair, twirling the strands around his hand, and moving her against the wall so that she was plastered against him from chest to pelvis.

“Kiss me, Liya,” he murmured when he eventually broke free.

Her mind raced. Blake wanted her to kiss him. She dared open her eyes and meet his. Fire burned bright in his irises, destroying whatever inhibitions she had. She bit her bottom lip.

“Liya,” he groaned, “do you have any idea what you’re doing to me?”

She smiled shyly before winding her hands around his neck.

“Tell me how much you want me,” he said gruffly.

“I want you,” she admitted, not quite sure what to say next. She wasn’t that practiced in sexy talk.

“How badly?” he asked, his breath fanning her lips.

She trembled. “I want you so badly that I can’t think of anything else.”

He groaned before wrapping his arms around her hips and lifting her against him. His tongue teased her mouth, slipping between her lips, urging her to feel and taste his hunger. He spread her legs, nudging them apart with his own, and pressed his erection against her, pleased when she moaned at his hardness rubbing against the tender flesh between his thighs. His knees weakened when she gyrated against his erection, eager for him to enter her. He lowered her to the floor.

“Blake,” she moaned.

Her soft voice threatened to tip him over the edge. Her mouth was the sweetest he’d ever tasted. She tasted of more than just sunshine and summer. She tasted of honey and chocolate. She was the warmth of summer and the delicate blossom of spring, all rolled into one. Liya was everything he’d ever imagined a real woman to be, everything he’d dreamed of in the last two weeks.

He lifted her from the floor. She wound her arms around his neck eagerly.

“Do you want me?” he demanded.

“Yes,” she whispered urgently, “more than I’ve ever wanted anyone or anything in my life.”

“I want you too,” he admitted. He scooped her in his arms and carried her to his bedroom.

She gasped when she saw the rose petals on the bed, the silk sheets, and a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket full of ice. “It’s beautiful, Blake,” she said. “Did you do all this for me?”

“Yes, my love. Only the best will do for my future wife,” he assured her before covering her mouth with his and slipping his hands beneath her dress. He pushed aside her panties.

She gasped when he caressed her, awakening emotions she had never experienced before.

“Liya,” he groaned.

She shut her eyes letting wave after wave of raw sexual need wash over her. she wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Blake carried her to the private TV room, kicked the door shut behind him, and peeled off her clothes.

***

Blake was unsure of how much more he could bear. Her eyes were shut and she seemed to be lost in a dream. “Liya,” he called again, his voice gruff with need, “look at me.”

Her marvelous grey-green eyes flew open then.

“That’s it,” he said before thrusting forward, sinking into her softness, moaning when her tight muscles closed around him.

She cried out when the seal of her innocence snapped. He stilled for a moment, allowing her a moment to recover, before pulling out again and thrusting into her until her muscles exploded into multiple spasms around him. He held her when she trembled from her first orgasm before his own orgasm claimed him. His seeds burst inside her, leaving him breathless for the first time in his life.

He whispered something against her hair when he rested her head against his shoulder. He held her tight before gathering her into his arms and carrying her into his bedroom. He realized with a start that he hadn’t used a condom. Liya kissed his neck, and whatever he’d been thinking shifted into the depths of oblivion. All that mattered was that he made love to her again and again until she thought of nothing but him.