Nobela ni M. Francis Hastings

“It’s the truth. Maybe if your testimony is still enough to keep Masterson in prison, I won’t have to use Will or McKenzie. They can go have their fairytale wedding and happy life together without ever being touched by any of this,” she said.“What the fuck are you even talking about?!” Caleb snappe

JaceyCaleb and I sat in the back of another nondescript black sedan. It reminded me of the old days, and not in a good way.“I’m so glad we found you,” Attorney General Joy Packard said, looking back at us from the front seat. “If we hadn’t, William Masterson Sr. would have been released from priso

“So, you would fuck me if I got Will out as well?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.I stared at him. “Ex-Excuse me?”“You would, wouldn’t you? You’d spread those creamy farm girl thighs for me and take it like a whore,” he said.“That’s… definitely not on the negotiating table,” I responde

McKenzie“Will!” I shook his shoulder while both our teas soaked into the bed, completely unnoticed. “Will! Will, wake up!”He didn’t stir.Panicking, I put my ear to his chest. There was still a steady, strong heartbeat there. I could have died from relief.“He’s fine,” a familiar voice said from t

“I guess so.” But she didn’t sound angry about it, which was good.Then she winced and rubbed her stomach again.I sat up, deciding to go summon Marvin. “I’ll be right back, honeybee. I’m just going to see what’s going on with the tea.”“Okay,” she agreed, which was a testament to how awful she felt

“I have to,” she said.“Why?” I asked, frowning.“Champagne. Wedding.” She started digging her fingernails into her palm.I knew what the problem was. I scooped her up again and got her to the bathroom just in time for her to heave the non-existent contents of her empty stomach into the toilet. I ge

*Sandra*“How are you doing, little flower?” Blake asked, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around me as I leaned against the yacht rail.Tearing my eyes away from the dolphins who’d come to play by the yacht, I looked back at Blake. It still surprised me how freely he’d touch me after we had sex. Also, the pet names. Was that how sex worked? You let a man shove his dick inside you, and then suddenly, you’re in some strange land of couple-hood?But then, we were engaged, and I had the ring to prove it. “Just watching the dolphins.”Blake smiled and kissed my nose. “I suppose you haven’t spent a lot of time just watching dolphins.”“In Chicago? No, not really,” I laughed.“It’s good to hear you laugh.” Blake looked around then smoothed one hand up my sundress to caress my breast through the fabric.“Blake!” I hissed, even as delicious tingles began to spread all over my body.“Hush. No one’s watching.” He kissed my neck and pushed himself flush against me so I could feel his ha

*Sandra*“Open your legs a little more,” Blake whispered, nuzzling my ear as he rubbed me intimately. “I need to get my fingers in.”I swallowed and parted my thighs more for Blake. He gently pushed two fingers into my unused body and moved them as I expected he’d be moving his cock in me shortly. In and out. In and out. Still thumbing my clit.I made a sound in my throat I didn’t recognize. The fingers were a little uncomfortable, but also felt really, really good.“Shh, sweet girl. I’ve got you,” Blake said. Then he kissed me.And I came.Blake saw me through that first orgasm, kissing me languidly while working my nethers until he’d wrung out the last possible shudder.“Fuck,” Blake groaned as he pulled his wet fingers out of me.Then while I stared, dumbfounded, he put them in his mouth.“Mmm, you taste good,” Blake grinned at me.“You… you just…” I gaped.“Gave you a mindblowing orgasm? Yes I did,” Blake said smugly. “And I’m going to give you more before tonight is over.”I pant

*Blake*I choked on my wine. “Pardon?! A billion dollars?!”“You could keep your voice down. It’s rude to discuss money in public,” Sandra said, sipping her water and setting the glass back down next to her untouched wine.“I can’t believe... There’s no way–” I stuttered.“Do you need to call your mother?” Sandra asked calmly.I pressed my lips into a thin line. “You’ll find there are some things I can do without my mother.”“All evidence points to the contrary,” Sandra muttered.In my mind, I tried calling her a bitch, but she wasn’t. She was betrayed, and desperate, and… something else.It was the “something else” that kept my temper in check. “If Mother promised you a billion dollars of her own money just to marry me…”“She didn’t say where the money was coming from,” Sandra said. “Just that she would give it to the foundation.”“The Adriana Kingsley Foundation,” I assumed.“Yes,” Sandra replied.I snorted. “I don’t know what Mother’s game is, but fine. I’ll play. So, I suppose a m

*Sandra*Mirabel was a popular luncheon destination for the New York elite, allowing its patrons to sit inside or al fresco. Since I was dying, I liked to spend as many days in the sun as I could. So I waited outside at a table under a sun umbrella for Dahlia Harrington to arrive.I was compulsively early, so I’d been there half an hour before our twelve-thirty lunch appointment. Which was probably why Dahlia looked so surprised to see me when she showed up fifteen minutes early herself.“You’re a force to be reckoned with, Sandra Kingsley,” Dahlia chuckled as she sat down beside me.“The early bird catches the worm and all that,” I replied tiredly. “As we both know, I don’t have much time. But I like you, so I’ve decided to hear you out.”Dahlia reached across the table and laid her hand over mine. “I don’t just want you to marry my son so that we can take care of your company for you,” she said, not beating around the bush. “I also want you to marry him because I think it will be go

*Sandra*“Mr. Harrington will see you now.” Ashley, the assistant who had deflected me so skillfully these last few weeks, gave me a tight smile. She wasn’t any happier to see me than I was to see her.“Thank you,” I replied with a polite smile of my own. I’d often thought of strangling this woman with her hair extensions, but she wasn’t that kind of assistant at all. Her hair was clipped short to her head in a kind of 1920s bob. She was possibly in her forties, and she had on a white blouse and black pencil skirt, much like mine.This time, I’d only been kept waiting ten minutes.I smoothed my hands over my own lilac blouse and stepped through the frosted glass doors into Blake’s office.Blake was on the phone and held up one finger to stop me from saying anything. He gestured for me to sit instead and turned around to face the window.“Yes. All the shares that are being sold. I mean it. I know it’s tanking, but it won’t be for long,” Blake was saying to whoever was on the other end

*Sandra*I’d expected many different reactions to my proposal. Anger, insult, incredulity. But I hadn’t expected laughter.Blake Harrington of Harrington Corporation let out a long, loud laugh.“You… you can’t be serious,” he gasped between bouts.I knew I wasn’t much to look at, but his reaction was insulting. “I’m dead serious,” I replied flatly, a bit proud of my private joke. I was dead. And I was serious.“Oh… oh wow. Oh, I needed this tonight. Thank you,” Blake laughed, putting a hand on my shoulder.Right over my port scar.I flinched, since it was still raw.Blake frowned and took his hand away. He searched my eyes. “You are actually serious.”“Yes. I believe a marriage of six months will be sufficient for a transfer of assets without government interference,” I said primly.“Just six months.” Blake’s lips twitched. He was trying not to laugh again.At least he hadn’t walked off and was taking me somewhat seriously now. “Yes, just six months.”“And after six months, you what,