Beginning with Forever (56 page)

“Thanks
, Luke. Lil, do you have any questions for Luke?” Carson asks.

I shake my head, not knowing exactly where to begin. All I could do is
offer my hand and an appreciative smile to my bodyguard. He shakes it firmly. “Luke, it’s nice to meet you.” I can’t read his eyes because of his dark glasses, but I think he elusively smiles and then nods his head.

“Lil
y, are you ready to get going?” Luke takes Carson’s leather bag and stows it in the front seat with him.

“
Yes.” Carson and I enter the back of the SUV and sit snugly close to each other.

“Where are we heading first
, Mr. Bradley?” Luke inquires as he looks back to us in the mirror.

“
St. Croix Medical School,” Carson promptly replies and then turns his attention to me, “Lil, are you hungry? Craving anything?” I shake my head. Who can think of food at a time like this? His phone vibrates continuously in his pocket, but he ignores the calls until the fifth time. It must be urgent. The caller is persistent. Carson finally picks up and switches his tone to impassive CEO. “Bradley here, what’s the current situation?” I watch him listen intently to whoever is on the other line. Carson’s deadpan expression makes it impossible for me to decipher if it’s good or bad news. “Have Hayden check on how soon we can get our hands on that information.” He smiles reassuringly at me while still attentively listening to his caller. “I’ll be back tomorrow around noon. Have your team meet me at Steward Lab around that time.” He disconnects the call abruptly.

After hearing him confirm his new departure time, I’m
saddened. My displeased expression gives me away. “Lily, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to leave you sooner than I planned. This crisis needs my immediate attention. I can’t delay it,” he caresses my face in his hand as he apologizes.

“Carson, you don’t
owe me any explanations. Take care of your business first, and I’ll see you when you’re done,” I encourage him while fighting back my disappointment.

“
Thanks for understanding. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can. Owen will assume my responsibilities when I spend the next couple of months on and off with you.”

“Holy laughing Buddha!
Carson, are you serious?” I shriek excitedly like Belle would in a situation similar to this. “You’d really do that for me?”

“Yes
, future Mrs. Bradley. Didn’t I promise you forever?” He imprints his soft lips on my forehead.

Luke enters my school via a private
underground entrance. After my talk with the Dean, he granted Carson and me access to it in order to help maintain the integrity of his school. The guards are all on a first name basis with Carson due to his frequent visits here. They swiftly wave us through without a formal security check. Carson will make a request to the Dean for Luke to have the same privileges for the next several weeks. I’m not sure what he’ll tell him since he still refuses to explain anything to me, but I’m confident he’ll be convincingly persuasive.

We stroll to my dorm
itory after Luke drops us off. I’m looking forward to seeing Amelia for updates of our new health clinic. I can’t help feeling guilty for leaving them with my portion of responsibility. After all, this is my dream, not theirs. Ever since Richard and I stumbled upon this part of town that initial day of our arrival, I never stopped thinking of how I could help those humble people, especially the kids. A few days after my devastating heartbreak with Carson, Richard created a meaningful and constructive distraction for me. He explained the circumstances of the town to his mother, and she generously wired a check over to him to resurrect a timeworn, sugarcane mill into a medical clinic. Overall, it’s been an unforeseen and impressive success. Carson donated a substantial fund for medicines, equipment and further remodeling of the entire clinic after he realized how important it is to me. My goal is to have it functioning with the continual help of incoming new residents, long after we’ve all graduated.

We step out of the elevator onto th
e tenth floor to my room. “Would you like to spend the night here or at your place?” I ask Carson as I dig for my keycard in one of the numerous zipped pockets on my backpack.

“It all depends on
how you want to end the evening.” He glances my way with simmering, taunting eyes. The depth of passion in them effortlessly wills my body to surrender to him. Why is my ravenous need for him like the forbidden need to open Pandora’s Box? Instead of allowing the evils and sufferings of the world to be released, I want him to release endless bliss and pleasure to me.

“I think it would be
wise to stay at your place then.” I slide my keycard into the reader, the lock clicks and the door opens. Carson and I enter my room to find Amelia and Richard wrapped in each other’s arms in her bed. They quickly disentangle their bodies with bashfulness the second the door closes behind us. Carson has a satisfied grin on his face, and I think I know why. Richard will no longer be a vague, aching splinter in the back of his mind.

Amelia has
been attracted to Richard ever since they lived at the same boarding school in Essex. She kept her feelings hidden for years, fearing his rejection. I always felt that she had something for him, but never knew for sure until several weeks ago after I confessed my pregnancy to her. Amelia didn’t want to share her secret with me before then because she knew Richard was attracted to me. I’m filled to the brim with happiness for them. They’re perfect for each other.

“Hey guys!”
I ignore the awkwardness in our confined room and act like any other day. “How’s the clinic running? Have we run into any staffing issues?” I practically sound like Carson when he’s in his executive mode.

“U
m, no worries, Lily. Everything is under control,” Amelia clears her throat and pipes up first, looking embarrassed. I watch her smooth her disheveled red hair from the corner of my eye. I had to press my lips tightly together to hold back a grin.

“We have a steady rotation of
medical-resident volunteers for the entire year. Amelia and I already drafted the schedule for the rest of this quarter. I hope you don’t mind,” Richard gives me the rundown with no attempt of eye contact.

“
Well of course I don’t mind. I’m indebted to you both for carrying my load. In fact, I feel really guilty for slacking.”

“Yo
u can make it up tomorrow. The three of us are scheduled together after our Ethics class. We decided to offer extended hours on Wednesdays to accommodate patients who can’t make it during our regular hours.”

“Sou
nds like a perfect plan to me. Thanks for everything. Ame, I’ll be spending the night with Carson, so I’ll see you two tomorrow morning then.”

Carson sits on the edge of my bed
, facing the window, watching me gather my books, Jean’s note and a change of clothes. He’s deliberately not looking anywhere near Ame’s vicinity because he wouldn’t be able to hide the overly delighted expression on his face. Richard will no longer be an aching splinter in the back of his mind.

____________________

We enter through the familiar sliding French doors after Carson punches in his personal code. I look around and remember the unsettling anxiety that plagued me that first day when I agreed to spend an extended weekend with him. I was willing to offer my body and soul to him even though his identity was unclear to me. I was and still am undeniably drawn to his charm, integrity and will. “I thought this place was a temporary rental. Did you extend the contract?” I curiously inquire.

“No
baby, this will be one of our many vacation homes. It’s ours for keeps. I could never give it up after all the memories we’ve created here.” He must be on the same wavelength as me. “Is my other baby hungry yet? You’re eating for two, so it’s important to consume enough calories for my son.” He smiles slyly at me.

“I’
d love one of your delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and so will our baby girl.” Oh my, there’s that killer, no-woman-can-resist, dimpled smile.

“Come here, my fiancée.
I’ll give my baby girl whatever she wants.” He presses my body against the wall leading into the kitchen with his and gingerly tugs on my lower lip with his teeth. My chest tightens in anticipation for his seduction, his craving touches. Our eyes reveal more than just heated lust in them. We need each other in the sense of forever. We could never functionally exist without one another. “I need a quick dose of my Lillian drug.” He inhales my scent along my neck and down between my breasts. His lips return to mine, tasting the longing and urgency I have for him. I run my fingers through his thick brown hair. My hands attempt to lock him firmly against my lips. I want to tell him to hell with the food, but he unravels my arms before the words make it out of my mouth. “We better eat first.” I close my eyes, clasp my fists firmly and then slowly exhale my insatiable yearning. Where does he find his willpower?

Not against my will,
I’m forced to sit on the deck while he prepares our late lunch. He told me he can’t have me learning the secrets of his amazing sandwich. I lounge lazily on a wicker chaise reading my histology book. The tranquil sound of surging ocean water distracts my attention from cell composition, so I put my book aside, knowing it’ll be pointless to continue. I hike my shirt up to expose my invisible baby bump. The warm beams feel amazing, bouncing off my skin. Carson sets our lunch tray down and kneels beside me. He strokes my belly with both his hands and then leaves a tender kiss in the center. “Peanut, Daddy can’t wait to see you,” he whispers into my belly. I frame my hands around his face and stare intently into his doting hazel eyes. His love for us is obvious and palpable through his tender touches.

I
was fucking pissed with Carson when he sent his attorneys to meet me at his office to end our business relationship. He didn’t even have the balls to see me face to face. It angered me even more. I was a lethal ball of fire ready to explode. What he didn’t realize is that his last insult sealed Lillian’s fate forever.

After tomorrow,
she will no longer be a pain in my ass. I’ll have Carson all to myself without her ever interfering again. I had to fire that Mr. I’m-too-good-to-be-involved-with-an-accident Evan Miller. Sasha will personally handle my plan for me. She’s currently in St. Croix scoping the whore’s daily routine and figuring out when it’ll be best to induce a life-ending accident. I know that I’m completely taking advantage of Sasha’s vulnerable affection for me, but I’m desperate. I want Carson back with me, and I’ll use whomever or whatever it takes. I won’t lose any sleep over it; I’m not cut from the same fabric as every other soft-hearted woman out there.

I’ve put on quite a dramatic show for Sasha
, crying and exaggerating my pain of losing Carson to her for weeks. I finally have her convinced that the only way I’ll ever be happy with her and Carson both is when Lillian is permanently out of the picture. I made her believe that she’s ultimately doing this for us. I told her I loved her, but I have to get over this emotional hurdle before I can offer her all of me. She agreed to whatever it takes even if it means to end someone’s life.

M
y heart is pounding uncontrollably with fear. It’s desolately dark and silent. The sheets underneath and on top of my body are soaked with perspiration. I pat hysterically around me, trying to figure where I am at and fumble into Carson’s slumbering body with my trembling hands. It was only a dream or more like a nightmare. I was falling to my death again. Why am I having these horrible plummeting dreams? Is it from all the flying I’ve been doing with Carson? My subconscious fear of heights is catching up with me. I think Jean-Pierre’s crazy note could have something to do with it, too. Ever since I read it, his warning has found an unwelcome residence in the back of my head like a stubborn tenant, and I haven’t been able to kick it out.

Carson
’s arm reaches over for me and feels the remnant of my moisture instead. It startles him from his restful sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he tries to focus his vision on my face. “Lil, are you okay? Did you have another bad dream, Angel?” He sits up and hugs me against his bared chest.

“Carson,
did you have any luck reaching Jean, yet? I need to talk to him in the worst way. I need him to explain his note to me,” I struggle to get the words out while my body is still shaky from my frightful dream.

“I’ve tried
, but I haven’t had any luck. I did leave him a message. He’s usually very reliable, so it won’t take him long to return my call. But in the meantime, I’ll make sure Luke will watch you like a hawk. He won’t let anything happen to you while I’m gone. I promise, Angel,” Carson attempts to pacify my fear as he embraces me in his arms.

“I
hope not,” I murmur into the crook of his neck. He eases my body beneath him while I’m caged between his arms and his pelvis is nestled between my thighs. He distracts my restlessness with his hard body, and I’m immediately under his spell. Though we’d made love several hours ago, my craving for him still pulsates deep inside my body.

“Lil, you’re
irreplaceable to me. I can’t be without you.” He enters me with two fingers, stretching my walls for his impressive erection. My back arches in response, and I exhale whimpering moans into his ear. His rugged breathing hastens, and it excites me even more. I grip the sheets tighter in preparation for his initial stinging penetration. He’s inside, filling me with his warmth and firmness.