One Night Bride Page 18

  “It’s okay.” Her hand reassured me. “I love feeling your phantom cock there. A little ache is a good thing, especially because I’m going to miss you.” She kissed my cheek. “We’ve spent almost every waking moment together; I don’t know what I’m going to do without you to tease, have sex with, and tell all my troubles to.”

  I stopped her. “I’m going to miss you terribly, Arcadia.” I was serious.

  “It’s only two days.” She was being serious too. “So much drama.”

  “Well, officially I’ve spent more time with you than any other woman to date. Even Lauren and I only saw each other on weekends and occasional holidays.

  “I promise I’ll be here when you get back.” Her soft lips found mine, and I opened my mouth to accept her warm tongue.

  My cock was already wanting her again. I resisted the urge to push her off, so I could tame the flame smoldering inside of me. I loved her, and I wanted her to know. We kissed for a long time; I wasn’t exactly sure how long, but when the car beeped at us, I knew it was time to go. I reluctantly said goodbye and got in the car. As soon as the car pulled away, my heart fell to my knees.

  It was strange being back in my loft apartment in San Francisco. It felt big, opulent, and empty. Costa Rica was hot and buggy. The jungle was a din of chaotic natural noises and sounds; howler monkeys, cicadas, tropical birds, conversely my loft felt quiet and sterile. I missed the jungle and the sea and Arcadia’s smile, her beautiful laugh, and every inch of her perfect body.

  I arrived, after taking the red-eye, with just enough time to shower and get dressed for Damon’s wedding. My assistant had my tux cleaned and pressed, and everything was laid out and ready for me to wear. I dreamed of having Arcadia on my arm and thought how she’d outshine the bride in anything she put on. I’d make sure she was dressed to impress, but she would have hated it. Not the dress, especially if I’d designed it, but being paraded around. She wasn’t a model, even though she looked like one. She was a smart, wonderful, woman, I was quickly falling in love with.

  “I’m glad you made it, Xavier. I know how much of a sacrifice you’ve made to be here,” Damon commented just before the wedding began.

  “I promised I wouldn’t miss your big day, and since I’m starting to understand the power of love, I know it’s not something to take lightly. If you’re happy in love, then I’m here for it.” It was one of the most genuine moments Damon and I have had.

  The wedding was beautiful, and the reception seemed like fun for Damon and his new wife. They both glowed with happiness. I tried to share their joy, but I kept thinking of Arcadia and just wanted to get back to her. I couldn’t call her for fear of being discovered. I’d promised not to get hold of her unless it was an absolute emergency. I had to trust that Claudia and the guards were keeping her protected, but it was like swallowing razor blades letting her go even for a few days. I laughed at myself and how possessive I’d become.

  Damon’s wedding marked just one week I’d known Arcadia, and yet it had felt like forever. I stayed at the wedding long enough to be polite. Damon and the others were beginning to get drunk and rowdy, so I ducked away giving my congratulations and offering my wedding gift. I had outfitted the entire wedding party, which was much appreciated by all; however, I left Damon a little gift, which was a specialty line of menswear I’d created in his name. I made a few specialty items in Crystal’s name as well. Damon was well impressed.

  I went to the office after the wedding. It was empty but for a few designers who always worked around the clock. For them, there was no such thing as a weekend. I used to admire them but began to pity their lives. After being in the sun and basking in the creativity Costa Rica was inspiring in me, I understood the monochrome walls and minimalist luxury of our offices left little to the creative imagination. It was a wonder anyone could create in this space. As soon as this ordeal was over, I was going to make each one of my employees go to Claudia’s retreat to work for a week. A week had converted me; it would be good for all of them.

  I felt myself wanting to branch out and try something new; it made me feel energized even considering it. I greeted the few people who were in the office and thanked them for their condolences regarding my “aunt.” I mentioned I’d be away for a while to help her family and people looked at me like I was Jesus walking on water. My next order of business was to hire a private detective to follow Arcadia’s father and hopefully get him arrested for trying to traffic his daughter. I was planning on returning to Costa Rica that evening via the private jet service, and I was dreading another lonely flight. The one to San Francisco did nothing but drum up memories of lovemaking on the bed and her shock and awe, having never experienced anything so luxurious.

  I didn’t want people knowing I was looking for a private detective; even my assistant didn’t know. I was able to find one easily based on a few online reviews and recommendations of people I’d heard of through a friend who was getting a divorce and wanted all the dirt on his ex-wife, so he could use the information in court. I gave the man his upfront money and would be communicating with him under my assumed name when I returned to Costa Rica. Just before I was to get on the plane, he called me and said his initial search had turned up some interesting things he was hoping to investigate further. He wanted me warned: Arcadia’s father had not come home from Las Vegas. He was heading out there in the morning, but he presumed her father was no longer there.

  Arcadia wasn’t listed as a missing person, and his interview with the people who worked at the shop proved that her father had covered his tracks there. She would be happy to know that all of her friends thought she stayed with her father longer, and they were planning on taking an impromptu vacation together. While they thought it was weird, no one questioned it. I figured her father would have had to have a story regardless as he was planning on having her disappear with the

  investor. At least she didn’t have to worry about causing them undue stress; however, the fact that her father hadn’t returned home was worrisome. They must have been looking for us. Arcadia was so smart to stay hidden as she was.

  It was a good thing I came home in case there was any question about my involvement with her. It might be questioned because I had come back to San Francisco without her.

  Just as I was leaving, I checked in with Lizanne, my assistant. “Can I have a word?” I asked, wanting to make sure our conversation was kept quiet.

  “Sure.” She got up from her chair and followed me into my office, where I closed and locked the door. “Is everything okay?” Her face was panicked and worried.

  “It is. I just wanted to check in with you before I leave. I’m not telling the staff this, but I’ll be in Costa Rica for a while doing research on a new line. Eventually, I’ll bring some of the designers out there, and I’ll have you come out too. If anyone asks about me, I’m still with my aunt. I don’t want people getting wind of my whereabouts. This line is going to be huge, and I don’t want any of its inspiration leaked, okay? Can I trust you to keep my secret?” I knew she was trustworthy, but a little intimidation never hurt.

  “Yes, Mr. Dean. I won’t tell anyone where you are unless you want me to.” She flashed her pretty smile, and I saw the look of disappointment in her eyes. “We’re going to miss you.” She seemed sad. “Also, this came for you.” She handed me an envelope.

  Inside was my official marriage certificate. It had been opened, and I assumed she saw it. She had my permission to open my mail as most of it was stuff she needed to deal with, but not this.

  “I didn’t know you were getting married,” she almost whispered, her heart so heavy she was near tears. Seeing her face, I realized she must have been in love with me. Poor kid, if she only knew how hard that love was to wrangle. Even the most perfect woman in the world hadn’t totally secured it.

  “It’s complicated.” I flashed her a kind smile. “I’ll keep in touch,” I said taking the envelope with me as I turned back to her. “Thanks for everything. I appreciate
all your hard work.” I saw her face fall a little farther, but she managed a smile.

  “It’s my pleasure, Mr. Dean.” And with that, I shut the door and left for the airport, knowing she’d eventually get over her crush.

  Chapter 24

  Arcadia

  Xavier had been back from the wedding for one day. I never knew I’d miss someone so much, but I missed him more than I thought I would when he was gone. We made love the minute his car pulled into the drive after he lugged his huge bag into the bungalow.

  “You’re such a girl with your big ol’ bag for just the weekend,” I teased him as he walked through the door.

  “Such a girl, huh?” He grabbed me with his strong, muscular body and pinned me to the bed as he pressed his cock between my legs. “I think Big Little Mr. Dean would highly disagree.”

  He slid his hands up my dress, spread my legs, and didn’t even bother to remove the thong I was wearing. He slid the small strip of fabric aside, unzipped his pants, pulled out his massive cock and coated my pussy with the pre-cum oozing out of it. I felt the rush of wetness meet his intrusion, and I bucked my hips up to meet his.

  “Ah, did Big Little Mr. Dean get his feelings hurt?” I played. “Well, Little Mrs. Dean will give him a kiss to feel better.” I slid my pussy up to meet his cock trying to impale myself from underneath, but it was a bit of an effort. I always needed Xavier’s body weight to press himself inside of me because of our sizes being so different. That first moment of intrusion was always an exquisite mix of razor-sharp pain and lances of pleasure. As soon as he passed my labia and slid deeper in, he always felt like heaven.

  “I brought you some samples. I’ve been playing with new ideas and had my designers sew a couple of things I sketched out. Big Little Mr. Dean will love seeing you in them,” he said as he slid into me; I could barely breathe. “That’s why my bag is so big.”

  “Menswear?” I asked, my body arching to accommodate him.

  He pulled out and dove back in slowly, saying, “You’ve inspired me to branch out a bit; it’s a casual line,” he slid back in, “for snarky women.” He punctuated this with a hard thrust that had me scream out in ecstasy. “Who pretend to be flirtatious teases,” he said and pulled out slowly, “but are really strong-willed, independent women, who drive you insane.” He slid in again and rolled me on top, then put his hands on my hips to stabilize me. “You’re in your favorite spot, Mrs. Dean. Maybe you’ll want to thank me.” His face was so smug and happy.

  I leaned forward and kissed his nipples, leaving his throbbing cock lodged tightly in me.

  “This is my favorite spot.” I kissed his mouth as I started to ride him hard, causing his eyes to glaze over in ecstasy. “I have a surprise for you too.” I started to pant as I rode him as hard as I could.

  “What’s that?” His breath was shortening as his hands on my hips helped the effort.

  I slowed down and tightened my pussy around him, causing him to groan as I slid up and down with exquisite slowness. “I went to a local clinic Aunt Claudia recommended.” I sped up again, rocking and thrusting my hips into his groin.

  “Fuck, Arcadia!” Xavier was almost lost to his passions. “I gotta get a condom,” he rasped with pleasure.

  “Not this time.” I pressed my body weight into him and held his cock hostage. “I’m on the pill.” I smiled wide. “Finish inside of me,” I begged as I pulsed on him.

  He sat up and scooped me into his arms and kissed me over and over. “I love you,” he growled as his passions took control and he flipped me onto my knees, my ass in the air. His hands held my hips in place, and he rocketed into me from behind. I felt every ripple and ridge of his veiny cock graze the insides of my pussy, slicing over my g-stop back and forth, winding the tightness in my core till it was an unbearable tug taking my heart and mind with it into his body as it ricocheted against the walls of my vagina.

  I couldn’t hold back anymore, and I screamed hard as I orgasmed, forgetting the windows were mostly just screens, and we were at a peaceful yoga retreat. I’m pretty sure everyone within a mile heard the wails of my release. I came and came, bucking and splintering under him. It wasn’t long before he was grunting and crying out, filling me with his hot seed as it shot hard into me. He never did anything in a small way as buckets of his cum filled me. I laughed as he pulled out and it spilled onto the bed.

  “Holy crap,” I exclaimed, pressing my finger to my dripping hole. “You don’t do anything small do you?”

  I loved the feel of his cum inside of me, loved the way the warm stickiness oozed down my leg. Now I felt claimed as if I were truly his. His chest heaved up and down as he calmed his sex-ravaged body. I dipped my finger into my pussy again, getting more of his semen out, then I took my finger and painted my name on his chest with it. He stopped my hand when I was done and sucked the remnants off.

  “Thank you for taking the pill for me; I appreciate it. I know it’s not necessarily fun to be on something daily.” I loved how empathetic he was, even being a control freak.

  “Condoms aren’t so fun either, but now we don’t have to worry about babies.” I didn’t really want to say that. I did want babies, especially with him, but it would have been a scary thing to say at this point in our relationship.

  “For now,” he said and slapped my ass. “And I’m renting us a house. No more screaming out in a jungle full of vacationers like that, love, unless it’s our jungle.” He kissed my lips and forehead. “Let’s get a shower.”

  “Can’t we discuss the house thing?” I stopped him before we got in the shower.

  “We can.” He turned around and regarded me cautiously.

  “We’ve only known each other just a little more than a week. I’ve loved every minute of it. Xavier, you’re the best man I’ve ever known.”

  “But you don’t want to live in a house with me because …” he interrupted, trying to temper his budding anger.

  “You want me to be honest with you, right?” I was softening this blow.

  “Of course,” he took my hand for emphasis as we stood naked in the bathroom together.

  “I want a house with you; I want a life with you, and I want babies with you. I want it all, Xavier, and yet it’s too soon to ask for those things and too soon to want them. I need you to want them too. And before you say anything,” I held my hand to his lips, “I know you don’t want those things right now, and that’s perfectly fine and perfectly you. We can stay here. Claudia told me we can have two cabins for as long as we need them, one for you to use as an office, and one for us. I think that will work for now, until well …” It was hard to say the rest.

  “I get it,” his face showed his disappointment, but he understood.

  He stroked his hand along my cheek and jaw, “You’re a remarkable woman, Arcadia. I hope you truly know that.”

  We showered, and I tried on the clothes he brought. They were gorgeous and perfectly tailored to my body. The colors were bright and playful, but the structure was stylish and unique.

  “I love them all so much,” I swooned as I paraded around in my gorgeous new outfit.

  “You look better than I even thought you would.” He was glowing with pride. “Let me take you and Claudia out to dinner tonight, so I can show you off,” he suggested because he knew I hated being the center of attention.

  “I’ll let you take us to dinner if you promise to let me teach you to surf.” I knew it was a stretch, but I so wanted him to feel the freedom of the waves. While he was in San Fran I surfed every day and reconnected fully to the Arcadia inside of me, the one who surfed and studied the sea.

  We enjoyed our lavish dinner. He had a car pick us up and drive us for an hour to a very fancy restaurant. Our food was amazing, and Claudia reveled in being treated like royalty. I think it made Xavier feel good to treat her. He hadn’t spent much of his money while staying with her, and while I know he insisted on giving her money, I wasn’t sure how much it was. She seemed happy, nonetheless, and I was th
rilled to have the two people I cared most about together enjoying this insane adventure with me.

  I preferred to see it as an adventure rather than adversity, and it truly started to feel just like that, a wonderful quest for happiness. I got Xavier on a surfboard, and he was horrible at it, dangerous in fact as he face-planted so many times he got a skin rash on his cheek. I appreciated him being such a good sport about it, but we decided to leave the boarding to me. Instead, we took up snorkeling together; it was an activity he seemed much more able to manage. We saw sharks, turtles, and a few dolphins came up to us while we were out of the boat. Every day there were bright fish and exotic animals for us to enjoy. Often, we swam with dolphins, and Xavier became as avid a fan as me. He loved the sea but hated surfing.

  It was the same when Claudia tried to teach him yoga. For as strong and sexy as he was, he was a mess on a yoga mat. His body bent in all the wrong directions; he’d get horny in the hot room with all the hot bodies, and his cock would skyrocket to the ceiling. It just wasn’t for him, but we found a local gym in town, and he was much happier there. The gym was mostly free weights and workout machines under a canopy in the open air, but it worked for him.

  The rainy season came, and we spent a lot of time tucked away in our bungalow thundering as much inside as the rain did outside. Making love was as natural to us as walking. We never tired of each other’s bodies and the love we shared with one another when we had sex. My favorite was late at night or early dawn when we wanted to watch the stars or see the sunrise. He’d start with his fingers lovingly preparing my body for him, and then he’d slip in quietly from behind and make love to me as we watched the nature around us. Over the months we spent at Aunt Claudia’s, our sex changed from ravenous fucking to soft, gentle love. We fucked still, he loved it, and nothing made me cum harder, but I preferred when we worshiped, not just our bodies, but our relationship.