Deception Read online

  He seemed so angry as he pulled over into a copse of trees, little Anthony was really bawling his little heart out by now and any embarrassment I felt at baring my breast in front of his father to feed him was superseded by my motherly instinct to give him what he needed.

  I avoided Colin's eyes as I opened the shirt, pulled down my bra and fed my breast to my impatient son. It was only then that I remembered what I was wearing. It's something I did when the separation became too much to bear, it made me feel connected to him somehow. His scent had been long gone, but the soft texture next to my skin brought some comfort.

  He took a harsh indrawn breath before exiting the car; it was only then that I lifted my head. He paced back and forth in the grass his hands tugging at his hair in that way of his that I used to find so adorably cute. He was still so beautiful I ached. Even with the anger today was my best day in a long while, in fact except the day I gave birth this was my brightest day in almost a year. All because he was here, it was almost disheartening to realize that I would accept any part of him, even his anger.

  There was fear here, fear of the unknown, of what he would do. Obviously I couldn't run he had proven that he would find me wherever I went, but he couldn't take my son. He had money and power yes, but I had a mother's natural instinct and no one was taking my little piece of heaven away from me.

  I looked down at my son in wonder, this amazing being had been created out of love no matter what came after. For those two weeks on that island we had belonged to each other wholeheartedly I still believed that. We had connected immediately, both surprised and astounded by the electric currents that had flowed between us. From our first meeting we had been inseparable, until we came home and I walked into my own personal hell.

  I turned back to his pacing only to find him staring at me.

  Chapter 5

  How could she still seem so innocent? Everything I had learnt about her said she was the worst type of female. So why couldn't I feel it? Why did my traitorous heart insist on wanting her?

  I have every right to hate her she had played me for the biggest of fools. The great Colon Stewart, business tycoon and one of the country's most eligible bachelors. It wasn't easy accepting that I'd been duped it was even harder accepting that I was stupid enough to still want her.

  And then there was my son, my child, a part of me the best part of me. Already I felt so much love for him. I couldn't wait to introduce him to my family, especially mom. They were going to spoil him rotten I was sure.

  I hadn't said anything to anyone about my search for Amber. I didn't want them to know how deep my foolery ran. They only knew that she was no longer a part of my life, here one day gone the next. Nothing was ever said as to why; my refusal to even discuss her with any of them had soon put an end to any awkward questions.

  The first few weeks after she'd left me I'd been fit to be tied, everyone had been wise enough to steer clear of me. No one dared cross me they trod very carefully. My family understanding my need for privacy had left me alone.

  I had plenty offers from women of course, but none I found of interest. Not because I was shying away from all intimacy, but because the very thought of taking anyone else to my bed left me cold. I only wanted her, since the beginning it had been only her. And that really pissed me off. I will make her pay for making me want her.

  I watched her now with my son, so loving, so tender. Was it all an act I wondered? That wail back at the cabin seemed genuine enough. It seemed to have come from her soul, but I couldn't afford to be sucked in by her again. The last time I'd almost lost myself, this time would probably kill me, and I couldn't have that I had a son to raise; Alone.

  I felt the familiar strains of anger once more, only this time they were tempered with lust. Was there anything more beautiful to a man than his child feeding at his woman's breasts?

  Oh the anger was still there but my vengeance was now taking a different form.

  Maybe I'd just use her as she'd used me then discard her in much the same way. Yes, I like the sound of that. How does the saying go? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Yeah, I'm going to keep her close all right; I'm gonna bury myself so deep inside her she wouldn't know where she ended and I began.

  My body stirred with the burning hunger only she had ever been able to call forth from me. Yes indeed my revenge was going to be the sweetest. I would have the added bonus of her delectable body, while I destroyed her bit by bit.

  I watched as her eyes widened through the windshield at the sinister smile that formed on my face. That's right my little deceiver, be afraid, be very afraid.

  Almost One Year Earlier

  He was too beautiful to be real, nothing about him fit a mere mortal. From his chiseled cheekbones to his burnished copper hair, he was...perfection. I felt the smile grow in my heart and spread across my face, before compulsion forced me to raise my camera and snap away. I had to capture that beauty for prosperity sake.

  When he threw back his head in laughter, the sunlight glinting in his rapscallion hair I lost my heart.

  We were standing before each other before I realized I had even moved. As I gazed into the most amazing green eyes I'd ever seen I wondered if I'd had too much of the Greek sun, there was no way he was real. But he smelt real, all sunshine and man with a hint of spice.

  "Hello." Was that really my voice? I sounded out of breath like I'd run a mile in high heals. And when he smiled up close and personal I almost swooned. No joke like a sixteenth century maiden. Okay the maiden part was dead on, but women didn't swoon over gorgeous men in this day and age, not with television and Hollywood exposing us to them in droves.

  "Hello to you too."

  O.M.G that voice, tingles ran through me. I am in so much trouble, my body was misbehaving in ways it never had before. I'm not a complete dunce I know about physical attraction and pheromones and all that scientific drivel. Well there was nothing remotely clinical about what I was feeling. I wanted to get naked, with him, right now. Bad Amber, you shouldn't even think that way what would your friends say?

  My eyes were eating him whole, but wonders of wonders he seemed to be doing the same.

  "I'm Amber and you are?"

  "Hello my Amber, I'm Colin." The feel of his hand on mine sent static shocks up my arms, I felt flushed and overheated and of course my traitorous cheeks were blazing.

  Seemingly without thought he raised his hand to my cheek as if to capture the heat in the palm of his hand. Now usually I wouldn't allow a complete stranger such familiarity but things seemed to be out of my control. When he rubbed his thumb over my cheekbone I purred like a cat in heat. I kid you not.

  Alright so I'm an eighteen almost nineteen year old virgin, but I should have just a tad more tack no? I mean I just met the man and already I was planning our babies' names. That's right plural. Yummers.

  "You're American..." We both laughed as we came to the same conclusion and voiced it together.

  "Yes I'm from Washington state, you?"

  He gave me a quirky look as though disbelieving.

  "Seriously, Washington?"

  I nodded my assent while he laughed at some secret joke.

  "Well hello neighbor I'm from Seattle."

  My mouth dropped open, no wonder he was so disbelieving, what were the odds?

  "Are you here on business or pleasure?" I hope I wasn't being too forward, but while I'd been planning my instant family I hadn't even stopped to think whether he might already have one or not. Although he did seem kind of young, mid twenties maybe or even a little younger I took a quick sneak peak at his left hand. No ring, though that didn't really mean anything, my heart fell just a little, it would be just my luck to meet Mr. Wonderful only to have him be married.

  "My mom forced me to come here so I guess that would be pleasure. Wait that didn't come out quite right."

  He laughed that killer laugh again and my nipples went on high alert. Hold it down there hussy.

  "Mom thinks I work
too hard so she kind of forced this vacation on me, I'll have to remember to thank her when we get back."

  We? Who's we, was he here with someone else?

  "Why's that?" I was almost breathless by now.

  "Because if she hadn't been so forceful I wouldn't have met the most beautiful girl in the world."

  He wouldn't say things like that if he were married right? I so hope he wasn't, the life of our future children depended on it. Get a grip Amber you've baked your head in the sun. There's no way this walking dreamboat could ever really be interested in someone like you, he's probably just being nice because you're from the same place. Yes but he was smiling and touching me before he knew that.

  "Are you here alone my Amber?" I could only nod since his eyes were holding me hostage. I'm not quite sure it was legal for him to be out and about without a warning. Geez the things he did to my heart, not to mention other more interesting parts ...stop that floozy, man, where did you come from?

  "Good, then you can have dinner with me tonight." He clasped my hand and turned and walked down the beach with me. He didn't ask, just took control, okay I was going to be a puddle any minute now. I felt all kinds of warm and feminine walking next to his six foot three self because I was a whole foot shorter. I didn't feel any trepidation at being alone with a strange man in a strange country, I just felt right, so right. We walked for hours filling each other in on our lives back home.

  I was about to start my first year at Washington State while he was an established businessman, would he hold that against me? It didn't seem like it. We talked easily with each other for hours and every time he hugged me to his side I fell a little more in love.

  Chapter 6

  Present Day

  "Where are you taking us?"

  She'd built up enough courage to pose that question after I pulled back onto the road.

  "Home." I saw her tense out of the corner of my eye but couldn't quite figure why that would be. The last time she'd been in my home she'd been treated like royalty, my whole family had been exceedingly supportive of her, of us. My little sister Terry had taken to her right away, maybe because they were the same age, though they couldn't be any different if they tried. Where Terry was a girly girl Amber was a bit of a tomboy who would eschew shopping to go fishing of all things.

  My mom had been over the moon. She'd laughingly bragged to any and everyone taking credit for our romance, claiming that had she not sent me packing I never would've met my Amber. She was right of course, but the woman was hard enough to live with as it was.

  After Amber disappeared mom had taken it hard. Whereas before she took joy in having somewhat orchestrated our meeting, she now blamed herself for her son's heartbreak. That was another one of the reasons I would make Amber pay. She'd used me to hurt my mom. In a roundabout way of course, but the result was still the same. Maybe that's the reason for her tension, she knew they wouldn't be as welcoming this time around because of her deceptions.

  "Who's there?"

  Did she sound afraid? What the hell was her game now? Why should she be afraid of anyone or anything in my home? She was the guilty party here, no one had wronged her; they’d all been welcoming even my cousins. Well distant cousins who weren't really related, just old friends of the family.

  Whatever! I'd seen the way everyone had been with her and there was no reason for her to be afraid of anyone there. Now me, that was a different story, she should be very afraid of me and I won't let her forget it for one second.

  "No one's going to be there, I live alone you know that."

  She gulped as her body relaxed back into the seat.

  "What about your wife?" There was a little bite to her tone.

  "What the hell did you just say?" I was incredulous, now I knew for sure she was playing a game.

  "I said..."

  "I heard what you said, I just don't get what you're playing at you know damn well I'm not married."

  "But I thought..."

  "Enough, I don't want to hear anymore of your lies, save them for someone who'd believe your bullshit, that no longer applies to me. You burned that bridge good and proper."

  I was fucking livid, how dare she? Did she know that I'd been planning to give her my grandmother's ring? Is that why she was throwing the wife thing in my face? The black hearted bitch. I'll make her pay for that insult.

  Right after I fucked her to within an inch of her life. I'm going to bend her to my will and leave her a broken shell, just as she'd left me. Only thing was, where she didn't quite succeed, I’m going to be very thorough.

  I couldn't wait to get her home this time there would be no escape. I had taken the necessary measures as soon as I'd learned her whereabouts. Not all having to do with her of course.

  There was now a brand new top of the line nursery set up with everything my son could ever want or need, because although doubtful of the report, I’d needed to be prepared. And even though I'd had doubts in the beginning as to whether the child really existed, or later if he was mine, I had decided to bring him back with me.

  I had claimed her on that island, what was mine I kept. Her and my son belonged to me. Him forever, her, until I was through with her, until my thirst for vengeance was appeased and the way I still lusted after her that could be a very long time.

  We stopped three more times so my son could eat and once so we could grab something at a drive through. Conversation was very light as in nonexistent but I could tell she was thinking really hard about something. She could plot all she wanted to in her little head, there was nothing she could do about what I had in store for her, not if she wanted to see her son. Yes I was not above using him to tether her to me for as long as I needed. I could see that she wasn't putting on a show. She really did love my kid that was something I guess; too bad it wasn't enough to sway me from my determined course of action.

  "Where did you go?"

  "What?"

  "When you left me, where did you go?"

  "Nowhere." Did she really think that was going to work? She must really think I'm a chump.

  "Don't fuck with me where the fuck did you go? And don't lie to me." I knew she hadn't been at that cabin all this time, but her trail had been cold for months after she left. I needed to know what she'd been up to, who she'd been with. I'm not in the least fucking jealous dammit.

  "I went to Melissa's aunt in Chicago."

  "Melissa huh, the same Melissa who swore to me that she didn't know where you were?"

  "Don't do anything to her because of that please, she was only trying to help me she was protecting me, please, just leave her out of this, this is between you and me."

  "We'll see don't think for one second you can tell me what to do, I don't care what you want or what you think." She looked like I had kicked her, too fucking bad.

  "Did you know you were pregnant when you ran or was that your whole purpose? Did you plan to get pregnant in order to extort me at a later date, is that why you were in Greece, huh, was I some kind of mark?"

  "Stop the car." She reached for the door handle."

  "No, take your hand away from there."

  "Colin please, pull over, I'm going to be sick."

  "Fuck." I pulled over to the side of the road; we were about forty five minutes from home. Before I could stop the car completely she had placed the baby in the seat and was rushing off to the side where she was violently sick.

  Amber

  Oh my God I can't believe how much he must really hate me to even think I was capable of such a thing. The mere thought made me sick to my stomach, the fact he even entertained the notion makes me heartsick.

  Things just kept getting better and better, when we'd met on that island I'd been the happiest I've ever been in my life. There was so much promise for us, I should've known with my luck it wouldn't last. It was almost too good to be true, I'd fallen fast and fallen hard only to have it ripped away from me a few weeks later. Now I was more confused than ever, because I thought for sure he'd be
married by now, after all that's the whole reason I’d left. So he could marry the woman he was promised to.

  Chapter 7

  I watched her as we got back on the road to see if she'd be sick again. She just held the baby as he made waking noises not saying anything, but with a frown puckering her brow. She was confusing as hell, I didn't see before me the hardened manipulator she'd turned out to be, but instead the innocent I'd fallen head over heals for. My heart gave a little pang but I squelched it quickly, all I had to do was remember my first few days after she'd left. I'll never let myself be gutted like that again. So my heart could just shut the fuck up.

  She bit her lip again and my treacherous body reacted. Soon buddy, you'll have her again soon, only this time around have the good sense not to get hooked. This time they would be no loving between us when I take her, which I would very soon. It will be just plain sex, sex for the sake of working her out of my system.

  "We're almost there."

  She nodded without answering; okay let her play little Miss. Innocent if she wanted I wasn't falling for that shit again.

  When we reached the house I took my son and left her to bring in her bags, we were upstairs in his room by the time she found us. I undressed him and really looked at him for the first time. A silly grin broke out across my face before I could stop it. Were all babies this adorable? My boy was, he looked up at me with my eyes and I fell in love. He was mine, I couldn't believe it, I had a son.

  "Daddy loves you buddy." The thought that he could've been lost to me forever makes me see red all over again and when she finally joined us I gave her such a look of hatred that she stumbled back.

  "Tomorrow I 'll be interviewing nannies."

  "He doesn't need a nanny he's got me."