RISE - Part Three (The RISE Series Book 3) Page 6

  The words are vile. They mirror the things that my own father might say when asked about why he worked so hard selling insurance, even after he knew he'd broken the law.

  "All your boys wanted was you," I point out as I push my hands on the edge of the table so I can finally stand. "That day in the boat with Landon changed him forever."

  "He loves me," he says quietly, his bottom lip trembling. "My son held onto me for hours after I tipped the boat. He didn't want to let me go. That shows how much he loved me."

  I pull myself to my feet, smoothing my hands over the legs of my jeans. "He loved you. Your son loved you once. You lost that when you left him in that water so you could save yourself."

  Chapter 18

  "Your dad and Gianna?" Landon rakes his hands through his hair. "They had a thing?"

  I nod as I reach for his hand. "I spoke to Gianna about it two days ago. She told me that they still see each other, but anything romantic between them faded away a long time ago."

  "That's wild." He furrows his brow as he studies my face. "How long did that go on for? The meeting in hotel rooms?"

  "On and off for years." I half-shrug my shoulder as I lean against him. I've been sitting here since I arrived at his apartment. He'd called me once he landed and I agreed to meet him right away. "She said they both needed something then and found it in each other. She apologized. She felt badly that she hadn't told me sooner."

  She had felt horribly about it she said when I met her for dinner after I saw Frederick. I had wanted to postpone my meeting with her because I felt so emotionally raw already, but she was insistent. I sensed that she could tell that I knew about her relationship with my dad.

  They had met at a business dinner before I was even born. The company my father worked for hosted a large dinner for their corporate clients. Gianna was there alone because her husband at the time was so immersed in his work that he rarely left the office.

  They had laughed over dinner when my father told her insurance jokes. They weren't funny she admitted but the smile on his face was irresistible.

  Over drinks the next week they shared stories about their children and within days they had agreed to meet at a hotel. It was something she needed and he did too. They had wept together after the first time, both filled with guilt about their families.

  "They became friends, or at least Gianna wanted them to be friends."

  "What do you mean?" He pushes a wayward strand of hair from my face. "She wanted to be friends before or after they slept together?"

  I push through the words, not wanting to dwell on them. "They fell into an awkward friendship when they first stopped meeting in hotels and it didn't work. They lost touch for a long time."

  "Are they in touch now?" His eyebrows dance playfully.

  I nod faintly. "She introduced herself on the flight from Milan, so I did the same. She asked where I grew up and what my parents did. I thought, at the time, that she was just an overly friendly person so I answered it all."

  "She knew then, didn't she? She knew you were the daughter of her old lover?"

  "I don't know how I didn't put two-and –two together that day." I run my fingertips along his forearm. "She got a little emotional when I told her my parents had divorced and my dad was living in California. She said she looked him up right after that."

  "What's going on between them now?" His lips dip to graze over my neck. "Have they reconnected?"

  "She's seen him a few times since the flight." I reach to pull his arms around me. "I didn’t ask for details. My father's life is his own."

  I feel the gentle movement of his head against mine. "My father's life is his own too. I hope he spends the rest of it in hell."

  Chapter 19

  "No one asked you to go see him, Tess." He's on his feet now. "You had no business going there."

  The words, although not unexpected, still sting. I wasn't sure how he would react once I told him I had gone to see his father. "I went because of my father. I went because of you too but I had questions about my dad."

  His expression softens but his stance doesn't. His arms are crossed over his chest. "I know that your dad's situation has been hard for you but he's been released. He's gone back to his life."

  He has. I spoke to my father yesterday and for the most part, he's picking up the pieces of his life again. Some of the friends he made in California after his move there, have stopped returning his calls and he's facing a large legal bill, but other than that, I could hear the joy in his voice.

  I'll be visiting him in soon when I fly there with Landon. That is, if Landon and I can get past my latest confession.

  "I had to know about the connection between Frederick and my father." I wring my hands together on my lap. "There were so many things that just didn't make sense to me."

  "What doesn't make sense to me is why you went there without telling me." He stomps his shoe against the hardwood floor. "I would never have gone to talk to your dad when he was being held in custody without running it by you first."

  I have no doubt about that. I've seen the honest parts of Landon. I don't think he's ever held anything back from me and that's been a true gift. I didn't think I could care about a man again after my relationship with Ansel ended, but Landon has opened himself up to me in such a way that I trust each and everything about him. I realize now that I may have risked all of that to get answers to questions that weren't mine to ask in the first place.

  "I know that I should have told you."

  The look in his eyes is resolute. "Trust has to work both ways. I don't know what happened between you and Ansel, but with me, I don't stick around if trust isn't there."

  It's the first time either of us has even hinted at the notion of ending our relationship. The words jar me enough that I'm on my feet. "Please, Landon. Please try and understand."

  He swallows hard, his eyes focused on something just over my head. "No one knows what it's like to replay that day over and over again. For almost fifteen years I hated myself for letting go of his hand."

  I take a step towards him but his hand flies into the air in a silent gesture to stop me.

  "It has taken everything I have inside to forgive myself for letting that man drown."

  "I understand," I begin. "I do, but..."

  "You don't understand." His eyes finally fall to my face. "He gave me burdens to carry. I wasn't old enough to do that. He changed who I was."

  I nod as I feel all of my emotions rushing to the surface. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

  "I don't care what he said to you. I don't want to know any of it."

  My fingertips pull on a loose thread on my sweater as I consider his words. "Maybe one day we can talk about it."

  "Did he have answers to your questions about your father?" His arms fall to his side. "Was he able to put any of that to rest for you?"

  I nod silently.

  His hand leaps to my cheek. "I care about you. I think I'm actually falling in love with you. I need to know right if you can put this bullshit between our fathers in our past."

  There's nothing I can do to stop the tears. I feel the first as its heat hits my cheek.

  "Don't cry." He leans forward to brush his lips against mine. "Give me your future, Tess. Leave your past at the door. I need that."

  I push my lips into his again for a deeper kiss. "I can do that. I will do that."

  "That's all I've ever needed," he whispers into my skin. "You're all I've ever needed."

  Chapter 20

  "Fuck." His lips are swollen from when I'd kissed him before he took me to his bed. "Just, fuck."

  I'd fallen to my knees the moment our clothes hit the floor. I'd taken his cock between my lips, leveling my tongue against the lush head before I slipped the entire length into my mouth.

  I'd groaned as I'd felt it pulse beneath me and when he wrapped my fingers through his fingers, I'd pulled back to look up and into his face.

  The mask of pain that was there is gone. It's be
en replaced by raw lust. His lips are parted slightly, his eyes glazed over and as he watches me slowly slide his cock in and out of my mouth, he says my name as a growl from somewhere deep within him.

  "I want to come in your mouth."

  The words only push me more. I slide both my hands around him, wanting him to slow his rhythm. He's eager to find his release and all I want is to savor the taste, the scent and the sounds.

  "Lean your head back," he says through clenched teeth. "I want to see you take it all."

  I tilt my neck back, my hands still clinging to his dense flesh.

  He pulses his hips quickly. It's so unexpected that I gag when the tip of his cock reaches my throat.

  "You can take it, Tess." His words are harsh and lust-filled. "Relax and show me."

  I nod. I want to give this to him. I can sense that he needs to feel as intimately connected to me, as I need to feel the same with him.

  "It's so good." His eyes fall closed under heavy lashes. "Suck it like that. Just like that."

  I up the pace. The sounds coming from my mouth speak of the intense need I have to taste what he's going to offer to me.

  I grab hold of his ass, pushing him into me. I want to take it all.

  I pull back and he groans. His fingers pull on my hair so harshly that I whimper.

  "Don't stop, Tess. Don't."

  I lick the full length, slowly savoring each ridge and swollen vein.

  "I'll never stop," I whisper as I rest my lips against his groin. "I love this. I love it."

  His moans fill the quiet space as I race my tongue over the tip before I slide him back into my mouth. I suck loudly, without abandon until he tenses and every last drop of his desire falls onto my tongue.

  ***

  "Please tell me you liked that as much as I did."

  I turn over to look at him. His hair is a mess, his face covered with my wetness. He'd eaten me to my own release after he'd pulled me to my feet and pushed me onto the bed.

  I'd covered myself with my hands. I hadn't wanted anything in return. I just wanted to rest in his arms but he was insatiable. He'd pulled my legs over his shoulders, scooped my ass into his hands and devoured me until I screamed and came on his face.

  I run the pad of my thumb over his lips. "I love everything we do together."

  "I want to do more of that." He motions towards where his cock is pressed against my hip. "I want to do more of everything with you."

  "Me too."

  "You changed my life." His breath floats over my cheek. "I knew you were special when I first saw you but you've completely changed my life."

  He's done the same for me. It has nothing to do with my finding out about my father's past or the things that happened before I stepped onto that plane in Milan. He's shown me what it really feels like to be wanted by a man.

  "You've changed my life too."

  "I've never been in love before." He scoops my hand into his. "I know you loved Ansel."

  There's no jealousy in his tone. He isn't saying it to pull up something from me that borders on regret. He's simply stating a fact that we both know to be true.

  "That love wasn't like this." I pull his hands to my lips. I hold it there. "It was shallow. It didn't change me."

  "Like this love?" He swallows hard. "Our love?"

  "You make me want to know life's truths. You make me want to fulfill all my dreams. You make me see the best in myself. No one has made me feel those things."

  "No one has ever gone to battle for me." He smiles as he rests his forehead against mine. "No one has ever tried to save me from drowning. I feel like I've been drowning since that day."

  I cup my hands over his cheeks. "You're not drowning anymore. I will never let you drown."

  "I love you." His tears fall roll off his cheeks and onto mine. "I love you so much."

  I nod as I rub the moisture from his face. "I love you, Landon. I love you too."

  Chapter 21

  "How was the flight?"

  "It was fine." Landon shakes the driver's hand. "There was some turbulence but we rode through it."

  I actually rode him through it. When we'd boarded the Foster jet in New York, I knew that by the time we landed in California that Landon would have introduced me to the delights that can be found thirty thousand feet in the air.

  He'd taken me to the back of the plane as soon as we were at cruising altitude. He locked the door of the small office before he slowly undressed me. We'd spent the next two hours, wrapped in each other's arms.

  I feel closer to him now than I have ever before and it has little to do with the fact that I've just experienced some of the most intense physical pleasure of my life.

  Landon is in California, with me, to watch as I take on the task of bringing the Liore pop-up shop to life. He's encouraged me every step of the way.

  More importantly, he's eager to finally meet my father. We're meeting him for dinner after the event tonight. I teasingly asked him on the phone if Gianna would be joining us and he scoffed at the suggestion.

  They're working on rekindling just the friendship part of their relationship, he'd told me. He wants her in his life but only as a friend.

  "The outbound pilot would like a word with you." The driver that Gabriel sent to meet us gestures towards a counter where an older man is standing. "He assured me it wouldn’t take long."

  "I need to go do that." Landon kisses me softly. "It's part of the job when you fly the Foster jet."

  The driver chuckles as he watches Landon walk away. "You can take a seat if you'd like, Ms. Marlow."

  The offer is welcome. I need to push myself into event planner mode before we arrive at the Liore boutique. I've been in constant contact with the people I've hired to help me pull off this event but I'm still fearful that something is going to go wrong.

  I know that's just the expected nerves I'm likely always going to feel when I'm planning something of this magnitude. I have every confidence that the event will go off without a hitch. Once it's over, I'll be back in New York, planning the final details for the Corteck gala.

  I skim my fingers across the screen of my smartphone. I open the app for my messages and read each one that has come in since I turned my phone back on after we landed. It's the usual barrage of messages from Lilly about the things that Haven has done since I spoke to her this morning. There's one from my mother asking if she can visit me the week after next. I stop to type out a quick reply telling her to book her ticket and that I can't wait to see her.

  I scroll farther down and that's when I hear it. It's my name.

  I look up.

  I don't know him yet his face is familiar. He's a little over average height. His brown hair skims the top of the collar of his jacket. His eyes are a gorgeous shade of brown.

  "Tess? Are you Tess Marlow?"

  "Yes," I say as I look past him to where Landon is talking to the other pilot. "Do I know you?"

  "My name is Asher." He reaches out his hand towards me. "Asher Foster."

  "Your Gabriel's brother?"

  He pushes his hands into the front pocket of his jeans. "Gabriel said you were coming to L.A. He told me you doing some work for Liore."

  I rake my eyes over his frame. He's thinner than Gabriel. His shoulders may not be as wide but he's muscular. I can see the definition of his chest through the thin, grey sweater he's wearing.

  "I've been working on an event." I tilt my head to the side to try and glance at Landon, but he's moved from where he was before.

  "I'm heading out of town." He gestures towards the guitar case on the floor next to him. "I'm flying to Orlando."

  I nod. "Have we met before?"

  "No." He shakes his head. "Why do you ask?"

  "I'm not sure how you know me," I try to laugh to lighten what I'm feeling. "I've heard a lot about you from your mother and brother but I don't think I could pick you out in the middle of a crowded airport."

  He throws his head back with a chuckle. "I hear you. You c
an blame my mom for that. She showed me a few pictures of you."

  "Gianna did?"

  His eyes brighten at the mention of his mother's name. "She wanted me to see the face of the girl who helped launch my career. You helped connect me with my new record producer. You're old friends with Ansel Rinaldi, right?"

  "Sure," I spit out without thinking. "I did give your mom Ansel's manager's number."

  "It kicked my career into gear." He pushes the edge of his guitar case with his shoe. "That's why I'm headed to Orlando. I'm going to record a few of my original songs."

  I smile as I see Landon approaching out of the corner of my eye. "I'm really happy for you. That's fantastic news."

  "Landon?" Asher can't contain the surprise in his voice when he turns to the left. "What the fuck man? I haven’t seen you in years."

  "Asher?" Landon pulls him into a warm embrace. "You grew up. Look at you."

  "Gabriel told me you were piloting the plane." Asher rests his hand on Landon's shoulder. "I'm hopping on it now to head to Orlando."

  "Sorry I'm not making that trip." Landon's voice sounds warm." We'll catch up soon. Have you met my girlfriend?"

  "Tess?" Asher's brilliant white teeth come into full view as he smiles widely. "She's your girlfriend?"

  "My one and only." Landon wraps his arm around my waist. "This is my forever, right here. I'm crazy about this woman."

  "I can see why. It was great to see you and even better to meet you, Tess."

  I extend my hand towards his. "It's been a pleasure, Asher. Good luck in Orlando."

  He pulls my hand into his. "I appreciate it, thanks for that."

  My eyes drop from his face to our hands.

  His index finger rests next to my thumb as he shakes my hand.

  I stare down at the mole on my thumb.

  It's the same mole that matches the one on my father's index finger.

  As he pulls his hand away from mine, my gaze follows his fingers and the mole on his index finger that is an exact match to my father's and mine.