Soul Temptation (Souls Entwined) (15 page)

Serene bit her lip, barely containing a wail of pleasure when his wicked fantasy catapulted her into her second unexpected climax of the night. Oliver whispered her name as he came, taking her rapture to new and unfamiliar heights. Serene wrapped her arms around him and he held her tightly as their breathing slowly returned to normal. Still inside her, he carried her back into the bedroom and she groaned when he slipped from her body and placed her on the bed.

Physically and emotionally spent, Serene lay back on the soft sheets and closed her eyes with a small groan. Every muscle was limp as a noodle. “I should go.”

She felt Oliver’s lips on her forehead. “Stay.”

Serene looked up at him and sighed. She didn’t want to move, despite her better judgment.

“Come take a shower with me.”

“Another one?” She pressed her sticky thighs together, already in agreement that a second one was in order.

Oliver held out his hand. “First one didn’t count since I wasn’t in there. We’ll make sure this one does.”

Serene giggled as he pulled her up. “You can’t seriously be ready for round three?”

“You mean four?”

Serene dropped her gaze from his handsome face to his semi-erect cock and gasped. “Wow. You have the stamina of youth.”

“So do you. Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything more than soap your back.” Oliver swatted her ass when she moved toward the bathroom. “On second thought…”

* * * *

“Oliver, you awake?”

Oliver groaned, teetering between sleep and consciousness, annoyed to be hearing his father’s voice in his dreams now.

“Oliver?”

Oliver sat up in the bed and cursed. His father wasn’t disturbing his dreams. He was
in
the sitting room. “Holy hell.”

Serene stirred next to him as he scooted from the bed. “What is it?”

Oliver pulled on his pants as Serene opened her eyes to look at him. “Not what. Who. It’s my father.”

Serene’s eyes widened as she sat up in the bed, hefted the sheet up over her breasts and stared at him. “He wouldn’t come in h—”

Both of them froze when his dad popped around the corner. “It’s nine o’clock. Oliver—” Stephen’s gaze shifted between the two of them, lingering on Oliver before he pivoted and left without a word.

“Oh, my God.”

Oliver swore again. “I’m sorry about that, Serene. Stay put.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Serene flopped back down on the pillows. “My clothes are out there.” She shook her head, her look of mortification grating on him. “This is so messed up.”

Oliver went to her side and kissed her cheek. “I’ll handle things.”

Serene nodded before he turned and headed out into the living room.

“Since when is it all right for you to barge into any space of mine unannounced?” Oliver ignored the disapproving look on his father’s face as he grabbed his T-shirt off the couch and put it on.

“Oliver, I left you a text and a voicemail about meeting me this morning.”

“Okay. I didn’t respond.”

“That’s happened before. I’d heard from Cameron your date had gone home early, so I assumed you’d be alone.” His father glanced around at the various items of clothing lying around. “I had no idea you’d take your playboy ways to an all-time low. You’re sister-in-law? Really? You couldn’t have found a bed-mate for the night that you wouldn’t run into at a family gathering?”

“Why are you here, Dad?” Oliver asked, keeping his anger in check. He refused to get into a discussion about Serene.

Stephen shook his head. “You didn’t tell me that, with the latest developments in Vegas, we’re two million dollars over budget.”

“We’ve been turned around like that before. I will handle it. You put me in charge. Let me do my job.”

“Can you?”

“Damn it, I’ve proven to you over and over I am the right man for the job. I know I’m not the son you wanted by your side, but I’ve stood by yours despite the constant bullshit you’ve given me.” Oliver dragged a hand through his hair, aware that his voice had risen despite his best efforts to remain cool. “Honestly, at this point, if you still question my judgment, I’m not sure I want to be a part of the family business any longer.”

His father’s usually stoic face reddened. “Careful, Oliver.”

“I’m always careful.”

Stephen snorted. “Maybe with business. Never with your personal life.”

“The latter is none of your business, but for the record, my personal life has never affected the business. Keep that in mind.” Oliver walked to the door and opened it. “We will discuss any further business back home.”

“That we will,” his dad said as he walked past him.

Oliver slammed the door, pivoted and saw Serene standing in the doorway wrapped in a sheet. “I’m sorry about this.”

“Me too.” Serene padded forward and picked up her clothing. “He was tough on you.”

“Nothing new. Did you hear—?”

“Your father say you’ve taken your playboy ways to an all-time low? Yes.” Serene gave him a bright smile.

“I apologize.”

Serene fiddled with the tube top in her hand. “You didn’t say it.”

“Serene, he was way out of line with that.” Oliver walked up to her and frowned when Serene took a step back.

“He is right about this”—Serene gestured between them—“being hella messy. Could definitely make those future family barbecues awkward.”

“Stop.”

“Hey, it’s the truth.”

The strained tone in her voice pissed him off almost as much as his father had. “Doesn’t have to be. Are you saying you now regret what’s happened between us?”

“We both know it probably wasn’t the best decision to be together, but we understand how this game works.”

Game?
Wait, no. He wasn’t going to let her so casually dismiss what they’d shared together. Oliver enfolded Serene’s stiff body in his arms, holding her tight until she softened against him. “Serene, I have no regrets. I loved every minute of being with you and I know you did too.”

“I did.”

Oliver hated the sadness he heard in her voice.

“But you know the funny thing about some regrets?” Serene pulled from his embrace to look him in the face. “They require hindsight twenty-twenty.”

“True, but not in this case.”

Serene lowered her gaze. “I’m going to get dressed.”

Oliver watched her retreat into the bathroom. It bothered him to think that Serene felt remorse over any of the time they’d spent together because he would never regret a single moment. Hell, he wished he had
more
time to be with her. A lot more, and Oliver didn’t think he’d be satisfied until he’d proven to Serene that she needed the same damn thing.

Chapter Ten

Serene edged her seat backwards the instant the lit sign in the airplane indicated it was safe to do so. She glanced out of the window, stared at the ocean below and exhaled. All she wanted to do was sleep and forget about how fantastic Tahiti had been.

How fantastic Oliver had been.

Serene shifted, trying to find the perfect position in which her sore body wouldn’t constantly remind her of him. They had ended things on a strange note, or rather she had. Oliver had made it clear he wanted to stay in contact, but Serene didn’t see the point.

“Not going to watch the flick?” Ava asked, taking the headphones from the stewardess beside them.

“Nope.”

“It’s that cute romantic comedy that came out last month.”

Serene groaned. “Double nope. Enjoy.” She wanted the intuitive Latina to tune into the movie and hopefully keep their conversation to nil. The last thing she wanted to do was find herself in a discussion with Ava about her love life. Correction,
sex
life.

Because that’s all it ever is, when you do go there, right?

“I can’t believe it’s time to go home. I want more time in Tahiti with NJ.”

“So you think things will continue once we’re back in the States?”

Ava beamed. “I do. I really, really have a good vibe about this guy.” She peered at Serene. “Speaking of vibes—”

Serene held up her hand. “Oh, no. Don’t start.”

“What?” Ava swung her long ponytail over her shoulder. “I’m picking up on a strong vibe from you, which is strange because Misha said you weren’t serious about anyone right now.”

“Speaking of Misha, remind me to show you some new shots she just sent from France.”

“She probably already sent them to me.”

“She did. I looked at them before I powered down my phone,” Josie said, leaning across the aisle of the plane. “Amazing footage of the Eiffel Tower at night.”

“Aww.” Ava pressed her hand to her heart. “Cameron picked the perfect place for their honeymoon.” She clucked her tongue. “As if Tahiti wasn’t enough. I’m going to miss that island sun.”

Josie sighed. “Me too.”

Both women looked at Serene. “Oh, me? I think it was a little too hot.”

“Well, I’m not sure that mid-August sun in Chicago is going to be much better.” Ava popped her headphones into her ears. “The movie is about to start.”

“Yay.” Josie ripped open her package of headphones. “I love these two actors together.”

Serene plumped her mini pillow and placed it by the window. “Wake me up when they’re serving drinks.” She tucked her burgundy shawl across her shoulders, closed her eyes and focused on the oddly comforting sound of the airplane, determined to sleep.

Twenty minutes later, she was no closer to dreamland. Erotic flashbacks of Oliver bringing her to climax not once, but twice consumed her thoughts. She wanted more. How was she going to carry on knowing her ultimate lover lived in the same city?

And he wants to see me again.

Serene groaned and pressed her cheek against her tiny travel pillow. She had no intentions of seeing Oliver again, no matter how much she might like to indulge in another orgasmic tryst.

Well, I won’t see him until that forced family gathering.

Damn. Talk about awkward. Serene shifted her head on her cushion, trying to get comfortable. She needed to stop thinking about all the wild and erotic things they’d done. What had she been thinking, sleeping with her brother-in-law?

She usually used better judgment. With Oliver, logical thinking had flown out of the window within the very nanosecond he’d looked at her or touched her. Serene squeezed her inner thighs together and a spike of pleasure raced up from her center to her nipples, hardening them beneath her sundress.

I was schooled in the art of sex by a younger man.

Thank goodness Oliver didn’t have a clue what a powerful effect he’d had, was
still
having on her. Serene opened her eyes when she heard the stewardess close by. She needed a drink, something to numb her need and quiet her thoughts. Oliver’s mastery over her body had left her in utter awe. There couldn’t be any good to come out of a man knowing or wielding that kind of power.

Could there?

* * * *

We need to discuss your birthday plans.

Her sister’s text made her grin as she typed back.

I told you no party.

Misha’s reply came back seconds later.

You have to celebrate the big 40.

Serene groaned. She still couldn’t believe she was about to turn forty. Serene pushed send on her text message.

Don’t remind me, Mish.

You don’t look a day over thirty and you know it. Okay. If you won’t give me any ideas for your shindig… I’ll come up with my own.

Serene picked up her cell to call her sister when the second business line rang, indicating that her receptionist was taking another call. She lifted the receiver while typing to let Misha know she’d deal with her pesky behavior later. “Tempting Beauty Spa, how may I help you?”

“Serene, it’s Shawn.”

Damn it.
“Hey. Why are you calling on the business line?”

“Because I can’t seem to catch up with you otherwise. I’m sorry our plans to go out fell through last weekend.”

“No worries.” Serene doodled on the inventory list in front of her. She’d been glad he couldn’t make it. “How’s your sister doing now?”

“She’s good, navigating those crutches like a champ. So are we on for Friday night? I can’t believe I haven’t seen you since you got back from your sister’s wedding.”

Serene briefly closed her eyes. Her dating life was all screwed up. She’d answered Brady’s call upon her return. He’d awkwardly informed her that he’d met someone else while she was away, but she hadn’t been upset when they’d said goodbye and whatever interest she’d had in Shawn had shriveled up to nothing since being with Oliver.

Maybe going out with him is just what you need to take your mind off him.

“Stop.”

“Stop?”

Serene blinked. “Sorry, Shawn. Someone distracted me.” No need to explain that the person was in her head and not standing right next to her. Serene scribbled out her doodle of a palm tree.

Face the facts, Serene. I can’t have Oliver, and I need some type of social life.

“Serene, you there?”

“Yes, let’s do Friday night.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“See you then.”

“Or I could just call you later.”

“Right, later.” Serene waved Sylvia in when she popped her head in the door. “Call my cell.”

“Answer it when I do.”

Serene grimaced. “Will do.” She hung up and wondered if she’d be able to muster up some excitement for her Friday night date. “What do you have there?” Serene asked, pointing to the parcel beneath Sylvia’s arm.

“That shipment you were waiting for has arrived.”

Serene smiled at Sylvia, her best masseuse and close friend. “Yay! I’m so excited to try these out.” She took the box from Sylvia before opening it to reveal four bottles of exotic oils.

“I love the packaging.” Sylvia touched the lime green tissue paper the bottles were nestled on then lifted one. “This one’s called Hibiscus Joy.”

“Open it and see if it is.”

Sylvia giggled and complied. She unscrewed the cap, took a whiff and nodded appreciatively. “Divine. Which one do you have?”