LOVE QUAKES: BOXED SET (BOOKS 1-4) (26 page)

I've never been this intimate with another person. Joanna's innocence and lust are the reason I'm able to move in this direction. I trust, desire and love her. I can’t believe I’m having the best sex of my life with Joanna.

Before I know what's happened, she's moaning my name and in the throes of an orgasm. My sense of satisfaction and stimulation are in overdrive. As her walls convulse around me, I come undone myself. I'm in a state of bliss as my release takes over. I look into her now open blue eyes and see nothing but happiness and joy.

"Thank you, for the most wonderful day, Joanna. I guess my ribs are fully healed, after all."

"I’d say. That was the best time ever, Tristan. I had no idea how much fun making love could be. Can we try that again?"

"Coming right up, baby. Just give me a minute to recover."

Tristan’s POV

When I'm back at work on Monday, I receive a text from an unknown source. Hawk traces it and informs me of its origin.

"Sent from a TracFone that was purchased in San Diego from a store with a nonfunctional security camera."

I immediately think of Kristen or Richard but something suggests that it's not them. It’s the tone of the message that seems almost flippant; even tentative. The text offers me a warning. I'm surprised since a threat is what I expected. This is what it says:

“Carmen manipulates men. Joanna in training.”

The gist of the warning is that Carmen is a conniving manipulator and that she's instructing her daughter Joanna along the same lines.

"Sure!" I chuckle and close the message. There's no way that Joanna could have caused us to get trapped in the elevator during an earthquake. This person's paranoia knows no bounds.

Later in the day, I receive a another text and photo. This time the text shows Joanna deep in conversation with Janelle. They're examining a photo and it appears as though I'm the subject. The text message reads:

"You are next."

Again, the rebuttal to such a claim would be that Joanna's merely showing Janelle a picture of her boyfriend, which happens to be me. I'm such a lucky man to have this loyal young girlfriend. Most girls her age would still be hedging their bets with other possible hookups.

By the end of the day, I've received several more photos by text with the label 'going public'. This text and message gets my serious attention. At first, I'm tempted to zap them without a glance but my curiosity or maybe my sense of humor causes me to open them. I'm not happy, though, when I see their contents. I know where this is going.

The first photo shows Joanna and me eating on the deck of the boat. We're laughing and having a great time. I love seeing Joanna so happy. I actually also look young and carefree. The remaining photos show Joanna running around topless with me in hot pursuit. God, does she look sexy. I should have taken some photos myself. Then, of course, there's a couple of pictures with me enjoying her breasts. They're making me hot just looking at them. Joanna's got her head thrown back with an ecstatic expression on her face. I'm definitely saving these gems. I'd be pleased to pay this lunatic for the photos.

There's no way anyone else is going to see my Joanna nor me in such an intimate encounter. Our relationship and private moments are no one else's business. My guess is that some pap is trying to blackmail me to keep the pics from appearing in the social media. I'm sure Joanna would be mortified to know that half of San Diego might see her topless. Then I think of our family and friends and a chill runs through my body. I'm certainly not going to let that happen.

I text only the first photo to Tom Hawk. Then I call and instruct him to locate the sender and put the lid on these photos, immediately.

"Pay whatever fee the sender wants."

"It looks as if these shots were taken with a high-end telephoto lens. So, it could be a pap. However, we first need to find the sender. Has there been any request for a payout?"

"Nothing yet. I'm guessing that’ll come next."

Even though my instincts tell me that some hack probably took these pictures, I can't help feeling a twitch of fear and even despair when I consider the context. I know that the most important thing to do is talk with Joanna about the pictures. We’ve already been compromised by provocative pictures sent by Kristen. At least this time we’re both together in them. 

Perhaps a call to Dr.  Wong, first, might make the most sense. After all, I have a number of issues I'd like to discuss with him. I thank my lucky stars that we took the rest of our lovemaking on the boat to the bedroom. My feelings for Joanna are spiraling to the next level and I need some advice. 

I'll be taking Joanna to dinner tonight around 6:30pm and that means I'll have time to fit in a session with  Wong.  Wong ushers me into his office at 5pm. I've already sent some of the offending texts and photos to Jim and he knows what I'm concerned about. At least Jim knows Joanna already.

"Tristan, how are things with Joanna just now?" is the first question out of his mouth. He's smiling from ear to ear.

I can't help but respond with humor as well. "Other than our invasion of privacy, they're great, Jim. As you can see from the pics, we spent time sailing on my yacht this Sunday. I gave my staff the day off and it was just the two of us out on the water or so we thought. Joanna's coming out of her shell or maybe I should say bra, very quickly. However, someone’s been watching us."

Wong laughs heartily. "Yes, you're never really alone in this world. Does that mean you're going to pay to keep these photos private, Tristan? Obviously, you enjoyed yourselves on the sailing excursion."

I nod my head affirmatively. "It'll be an expensive lesson for me. I hope Joanna learns from this episode. She convinced me to take a chance. However, no request for cash has come through."

"Why else would the photographer send you the text and photos? Yet, you also thought no one else was around, then. You're usually a very careful person who doesn't like to share private moments."    

"It wasn't my idea. Joanna made some good points about the fact that it seemed we were completely alone. She was wrong. However, the breeze felt good and her body looked amazing," I add while I chuckle at the memory. "I got carried away, Jim."

"Well, Tristan, it's great to see you having so much fun. Joanna really brings out the playful side of your personality."

"You have no idea! I hope these photos are the end of the matter. In fact, I'll be more than happy to add the shots to my collection. They're priceless."

"However, you've come to see me about more than an invasion of your privacy, I suspect." 

"Jim, I'm in uncharted territory with the relationship. These feelings are all so new and my sense of vulnerability is being stoked."

"Relationships always entail some level of risk. No risk, no reward. The question you need to weigh is whether you think Joanna is worth the risk."

"From all that I can see, she's certainly worth it, Jim. However, the person who sent the pics also sent me a warning about Carmen, Joanna's mother, and her motives."

"Have you investigated Carmen?"

"To some extent but she's quite different from Joanna. Carmen's all about impulses and cheap thrills. Joanna's about depth and thoughtful, careful actions."

"So, your question is?"

"Whether Carmen can twist Joanna's feelings about me."

"Does Joanna seem particularly close to Carmen?"

"No, not really. In fact, she appears disdainful at times. She thinks her mother doesn't care enough about her. She seems to think that her mother is selfish. Joanna says she more the parent and Carmen, the child."

"What's your gut instinct, Tristan?"

"That I'm safe with Joanna. I think she’s falling in love with me."

"I would trust that instinct," he urges me with feeling.

"In truth, Wong, I'm in love with her," I blurt out suddenly. "I just don't want to think that I'm being shaken down by an outside force."

"Tristan, I'm not at all surprised to hear your admission. Someone with your resources needs to be careful. Have you discussed these feelings with Joanna?"

"I've said the words 'I love you' to Joanna a couple of times already. Typically, I huff them out when I’m in the throes of passion but I’ve told her that at other times as well."

"That sounds more than appropriate. Well, what's Joanna's response?"

"She hasn't admitted that she loves me, yet."

"Joanna's got baggage but so have you Tristan. Maybe you're more ready for a committed relationship than Joanna is at this point."

"Should I give her more time?"

"Why don't you explore the issues with her? Only she knows the answer to your question. My instinct is that Joanna has no intention of manipulating you. She's truly smitten by you."

I nod my head as a sense of relief floods my body. Wong's instincts are never wrong. "I'm going to speak with her tonight about making our relationship exclusive, Jim. However, I don't want to frighten her."

"How long have you known Joanna?"

"A little more than five weeks," I admit with some hesitation. "Am I rushing it?"

"That's for the two of you to decide," he advises. "But, it looks as if it's time for you to eat. Give my regards to Joanna." At that, he rises and sees me to his door.

I pick Joanna up from my condo  at 6:30pm. She looks excited and pleased to see me. I give her a quick kiss and then drive to a nearby intimate Italian restaurant.

Once we're seated and our wine's been ordered, I take out my phone and share the texts and photos with her. She's turning crimson as she flips through the pictures.

"I'm so sorry that I convinced you to take a chance with our privacy," she apologizes. "I guess I'm a poor judge of safety and I've lost my credibility with you."

"When you're as visible as I am, there are all sorts of crazies out there looking for a quick payday. You're just not accustomed to all the attention, Joanna."

"I love the pics of you and me, though," she gushes and points to my favorite.

"Me too," I admit with a smirk. "I should have paid someone to take the shots of me tasting you. Now I'll be paying this nut but I'll have the photos forever." Joanna giggles and that sends a quiver through my member.

"What really disturbs me is what this 'crazy' said about Carmen," she admits. "Are you sure that Kristen didn't send these pics? That's her way of communicating, to date."

"The language isn’t what Kristen would use. My gut tells me that the C&D letter has put  Kristen on ice for now. Further, how would  Kristen know anything about Carmen?"

"That's a good point, Tristan. Let's see. Who would know about Carmen, has expensive photographic equipment, and also knows about us?"

I look directly into Joanna’s eyes as I make the connection. "Juan," I suggest as we both look at one another in horror.

"No, he would never do such a thing. I've known him for years, Tristan. He's such a great guy and our dads are best friends."

"Remember how ardent Juan was with you, after your move to San Diego?"

"Tristan, that's true but he accepted the fact that I didn't care for him as anything other than a friend, eventually."

"Are you sure, Joanna?"

"Well, sort of," she admits at last. "I haven't really kept in touch with him for the last month or so."