Anderson calmed himself before leaving the shower room. Avery was sleeping with her back turned to him when he got back to the bedroom. His shirt was very big on her and even with the sleeves rolled up, she looked very funny. For her petite frame and his tall athletic figure, it was a great contrast. Also, there was a five-year age gap between them. Anderson lay beside her, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and sniffing the scent of her shampoo with his head buried in the back of her neck. She carried a sweet strawberry fragrant. Avery automatically stiffened with his hands around her waist and he knew that she was still awake. To tease her, he moved his hands to her legs, brushing them slowly to her thighs. When it reached her knee, she caught it and said shyly,“I’m sorry Trent, I have cramps.” Anderson’s hand froze underneath hers and she was filled with remorse. How could she allow Trent’s name to slip from her mouth like that? “I’m sorry…. Ander.”“Ander? At first, it
Avery was wise enough to realize that the more she tried to defend her lies, the more entangled she became. There was no way around it this time. “Am sorry. Am just not ready for sex so I lied.” Her voice was low and her head lowered but Anderson heard her. In a way, he was grateful that she confessed but also, he was being at odds. His hands loosened around her waist but he didn’t remove it.“Not ready or keeping yourself for Trent?” He asked her seriously and directly. With her body pressed against his, she felt awkward and uncomfortable, though his hold wasn’t tight. It was scary how the man easily saw through her like a transparent glass. She was determined to not lie to him anymore. She would just be found out anyway.“You already know the answer.” She answered in a low tone. Anderson was prepared, or so he thought but his heart was strangely aching. He couldn’t say that he loved her yet but why did it hurt so much when she told him the truth? The difference between like and lov
Riley Diaz was the last person Avery wanted to see on her honeymoon though she didn't want it. At first, she was happy that the resort wasn’t exclusive to them but not anymore. Riley was the most popular girl in her college and had the guys drooling over her all the time. She was so hot that she could turn a gay guy straight but Riley hated Avery for reasons unknown to anyone and never escaped any opportunity to humiliate her. In college, Avery was safe for as long as Joyce was there but now, she was all alone and refused to speak or lift her head, as Riley drew closer and stood close to her, while looking down at her head that was bowed.“I never saw a statue that looked like a dumb human being and what are you doing here anyway?” Riley asked in a mocking tone while her face contoured into a frown. “Let me guess, you got a summer job as a cleaner or perhaps, waiter or dishwasher to help out your irresponsible parents,” Riley nodded her head in pride. Those suggestions felt like the
“So what was that all about?” Anderson asked when the doors of the elevator closed. He sensed the tension between Avery and that woman and wanted to know the cause. Avery couldn’t tell him that Riley was one of the people who took delight in bullying her in school and she had known best to not lie to him so she kept mute.“It’s fine. Don’t tell me but you know that I’d still find out right?”“Right.” Avery agreed. He could find out by himself but she wasn’t going to be the one to tell him. Anderson found her response strange and wished she could just tell him to save him from investigating. “I thought that after using me out there, you could at least explain matters to me,” Anderson said in a slightly disappointed tone. Avery wanted to gag. How could he pin it all on her as if he didn’t enjoy it too? Lifting his head slightly and noticing that he was indeed disappointed, she turned remorseful.“I’m sorry.”He chuckled. He was just teasing her but she took it seriously. “You don’t hav
Anderson said that he had a surprise for his wife and it was beyond her imagination. He was bent on wiping from her mind, anything that reminded her of Trent. “I thought they were just windows,” Avery said in astonishment, upon realizing that the room was far bigger than she thought and things weren’t as they seemed.“That is what I wanted you to think so it worked,” Anderson said softly and beckoned the four people dressed in a suit, a little away from the candle-lit dinner. Red lights brightened above the table full of dishes with decorated candles positioned at strategic places as soon as the as the four people, two women, and two men began to play the violin. The effect was amazing, Avery looked on dreamily till she heard the familiar deep voice which now broadened her smile. “Shall we?”Anderson asked Avery and she realized he was asking her to dance with him. How could she refuse when he had put in so much to make her happy? When their hands joined and their bodies collided gent
Avery’s drowsy eyes opened to the mesmerizing sight of the horizon. She blinked and the sleep disappeared from her eyes, as they witnessed the beautiful blend of colors in the sky, knitted together by the rising of the sun.Her eyes widened even more, as she felt the sky close to her. She refused to blink, afraid of missing out on something very important. During the golden hour was when she realized that a strong masculine arm was wrapped around her and she was wearing clothes she didn’t remember putting on by herself.Also, she was seated at the beach and there were few people around too. “It’s beautiful right?”Anderson asked and gave her a glass of champagne. She took it and sipped without her eyes leaving the site ahead of her. Wait, was it a picnic or what? They were seated on a soft fabric with a giant bottle of champagne with two serving glasses.“It’s enchanting. I’ve never seen it this close,” she said, and Anderson smiled. If she didn’t like it, then all his efforts were in
The waitress was confused. “Sir, is there a problem?” She asked politely but the coldness in Anderson’s tone and the fury in his eyes was enough to shut her up. Even Avery was scared when she looked at how frightened the waitress was before hastening away.“Honey, what is the problem?” She placed her hand on his and asked. Anderson turned to her, and his gaze softened. “Don’t worry. I will take care of it.”Avery was not convinced. “You can still tell me,” she persisted.Anderson didn’t know how to explain without ruining the surprise but seeing her disturbed look was making it worse, so he decided to explain. He was still upset but his voice and gaze were soft when he spoke to her. “I just don’t like it when my plans are ruined.”Was that even an explanation? Avery didn’t understand what he meant. “Honey, I still don’t…”“Please excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room,” Riley said, stood up, and left without waiting for anyone to stop her. She had seen the chef coming and quickly l
When Anderson left the table, he entered the elevator and went down. Just as it slid open, Riley was standing there. His anger rose instantly but he held it in. He was there for a purpose and he wasn't going to allow his anger to ruin it.“Thanks for coming over. Can we talk somewhere private?” Riley smiled and asked.Anderson was annoyed and his voice was cold. “Why would I want to be anywhere private with you?” He glared at her and asked. His look was one of uncertainty.Riley seemed to be disappointed. At the table, she thought that Anderson was pretending to not notice her, or was he playing hard to get? She was amazed when he walked into the open. He couldn’t take chances with a woman like her.“You don’t have to pretend anymore. She’s not here,” Riley walked over to him and said.Anderson’s eyes squinted. After forcing Avery to marry him, why would he have eyes for another woman? Even if Riley was Miss Universe, she had no value in Anderson’s eyes. “I’m here because of one thing.