Deadly Deception

Chapter 4



Adam’s dashing smile and childlike dimples sent a flutter of heat through her chest. His hazel eyes were glinting with animation. He curved down to find her lips. She reciprocated, running her hands over his taut chest which she could feel through his black tailored vest and white oxford shirt. Adam’s hands twisted behind her, splaying across her lower back, eliminating any space between them.

His urge to ease her anxious mind came through in his deepened kisses. Anne welcomed the much-needed affection. His touch was her kryptonite. Breaking away from their impromptu make-out session in the hallway, Anne ushered him in. They attempted to calm their heated breathing.

“That’s my favorite kind of greeting,” Anne said, biting her swollen lower lip.

“I won my case today so we are going to go out and celebrate.” Gazing at her, he could see her eyes were rimmed with red. “You’ve been crying.”

Anne attempted to shrug off his observation.

“It’s nothing. I was watching this silly movie on Lifetime.” Quickly she changed the subject back to his courtroom victory. “Congratulations babe, I bet Richard was thrilled.”

Richard Morris was Adam’s partner at the law firm. Anne had never taken a liking to him; he had been through half a dozen wives whom he left high and dry. He was overweight, balding; a halo of cigar smoke followed right along with him and he had an ego to match his size. The women only stayed with him simply because he was wealthy and bought them whatever their gold-digging hearts desired. The thought of him turned Anne’s stomach.

“He was indeed, and invited us out for drinks tonight to celebrate. Are you up for it?”

Anne crinkled her nose at the thought of sharing atmospheric space with Richard and his bimbo of the week.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Adam replied.

He strolled over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. He leaned his statuesque frame against the island. Anne could honestly say she rarely ever saw Adam not clad in an expensive tailor-made suit. Even when it was just a casual day at home he wore fit chinos with a buttoned shirt, a sweater or a knit pullover. On occasion, he wore plaid shorts in the summer months. He was a walking Banana Republic ad.

She thought Adam looked gorgeous in everything he wore. That’s what she loved about him; he was the opposite of Carter. Adam worshiped every inch of her, devouring her exquisite courage and her harrowing burdens. She credited him for saving her. Anne fought her way out of the void that was Carter and clung to the rapture that was Adam.

“I was thinking we could order in, pop open a bottle of wine and relax with a nice movie.”

She nuzzled against him batting her long blonde eyelashes.

“You don’t play fair, my angel,” Adam said, running his finger down her jaw.

“No, you’re my angel remember?”

The heat and heaviness from his body made hers shift with yearning. Without speaking another word, Anne began unbuttoning his vest, still holding his gaze. His hazel eyes churned black as she pushed the vest off, letting it tumble to their feet. His shirt was next. The chiseled glory that stood before her left her lungs without air.

Adam pulled her blonde strands down, watching the golden cascade sweep over her shoulders and down her back. Tangling his fingers through the nape of her neck, and arching her face up towards his, his mouth collided with hers in a fervent display. Their breathing was heavy but in sync, which made it all the more arousing.

Clothing trailed to Anne’s bedroom. Their bodies twisted harmoniously in sheets of white. Anne wrapped her fingers through the iron gate headboard. Adam raked his teeth over her collarbone then repeated it with kisses of revere. The torrid sensation in Anne’s body escalated with every touch to the point of unimaginable bliss as every nerve ending imploded with euphoria.

Adam always made sure Anne was contented first. Her pleasure pleased him, then he would follow suit. They laid there in a most gratifying embrace gazing at one another. Adam gently stroked Anne’s flushed cheek then placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead.

“I‘m madly in love with you, Anne, and I want you in my life always.”

Adam’s baritone voice melted against her ear.

“You were meant to find me, to save me, to love me and I can’t wait to be your wife. And I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me,” Anne said, kissing the curve of his carved chin.

Adam let out a deep sigh as he lifted her finger where the diamond sat kissing the inside of the platinum band.

“You did the same for me.”

“What?” Anne asked, shifting up on his chest so she could see his face.

“Saved me.”

“From what?”

Her eyebrows pushed together while Adam remained silent for a moment until he changed the subject.

“I have a case up in Duluth this week. What do you say we go up and stay at the cabin for a few days?”

Adam’s family had an impressive cabin in Little Marais which was a seventy-mile jaunt from Duluth. They had been up there with Adam’s family during various holidays. It was a huge house and Anne couldn’t imagine staying there alone while Adam was in Duluth. However, the quiet and seclusion would probably help her unwind, and get her away from all this Carter nonsense.

“I think that sounds wonderful. I love going up there.”

Anne could see he was pleased with her response.

“Great! How about we leave Thursday morning?”

“I have a patient at nine but I can leave after that—does that work?”

“Works perfectly.”

He leaned over and kissed the edges of her full lips.

“You have made me the happiest man in the entire universe,” Adam said.

“You’ve been so patient with me. I know I haven’t been the most compliant girlfriend in the commitment department.”

“I would have waited an eternity. You’re worth it and I’m not going to pressure you into setting a date. If you want to elope in Las Vegas, I will call Elvis right now, or if you want a luxurious royal wedding I will buy you every inch of taffeta in the world. You know I would do anything for you, Anne.”

His face softened as he leaned in for an eager kiss. His fairy tale words made her dizzy with delight.

At that very moment, Anne felt like she was meant to be there, in his arms, feeling overwhelmed with joy and excitement. What she had with Adam she couldn’t have with Carter—she never could. Their relationship had been passionate, yes, but it was also tumultuous and reckless. It became obsessive for both of them and dangerous. He was now just a ghost in the unseen room that lays deep within her subconscious, simply a figment of her imagination.

“I’m going to jump in the shower. Why don’t you call Richard and tell him we’ll meet him later.”

Adam gazed at her with surprise, watching her nakedness saunter towards the bathroom.

“Really? We don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Adam replied while in the process of locating his clothes that were puddled on the floor.

“I know, but you won your case today, and that’s something we should be celebrating instead of watching a sappy chick flick.”

“I thought we just did celebrate.”

“Funny!” Anne sang.

“I’ll run home, change, and pick you up in about an hour.”

“You know, you do have clothes here and we could celebrate more in the shower,” Anne said, coaxing her fiancé with a come-hither voice.

Having already turned the faucet on, Anne watched the steam from the shower begin to coat the mirror with thick condensation. His honey-hued skin silhouetted beside her. They each washed away their sins from the day, stripping the skin that had been tainted with memories of the past.