RomantiCreations

Under the Purple Moon

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Under the Purple Moon is my 6th novel and first with a thriller undertone. If you like what you see here, click the book cover to order, and also share with friends!

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Chapter 1

The steady flow of water landed against Tess’ back like little pellets of rain—warm, soft rain. Tess Simóne stood in the shower with her eyes closed and her mind open, thinking of the man in her life— Grant Sterling. He remained loyal, predictable, insatiable, and very, very mysterious. She’d never thought someone so unfathomable existed, until Grant. She wondered about him constantly. As a matter of fact, she rarely thought of much else in the past three years, besides her work.

Tess loved the way the water massaged her skin, right through to her muscles. Her showers, and in particular, her evening showers, became a ritual to her. It was the time of the day that she usually blocked out the noises, distractions, uninvited thoughts, the world, and even her work. Those things were often replaced with her ignited passions, fueled by her hypnotic desires. Grant had a lot of influence on her cravings for him, in hopes to become the only man for her—forever.
The water pulsated on her as she stood with her palms pressed firmly against the shower glass. She closed her eyes and, as predicted, she felt Grant standing behind her, reaching his strong hands around her sides and feeling her skin with a light touch of the tips of his fingers. She anticipated the moment and relaxed her body, allowing him to move in closer with his body, until she felt him press up to her—skin on skin. She liked the way it felt when he followed the contour of her body with his hands, stimulating her from her neck down to her thighs, traveling back up. He then leaned his face in toward the back of her neck and ever so lightly...

“Oh!” Tess froze in place. “Who could be calling me now? Shoot! ”
She turned off the water and grabbed her heated bath towel. She swung opened the shower door and stepped out, almost missing the bath mat—landing mostly on the shiny marble floor—thinking how smart her decision to invest in the radiant flooring. She hated cold floors.
“Hello,” her voice sounded slightly irritated.
“Tess! You got a minute? I’m sorry for calling so early in the morning, but I remembered you saying you were leaving town this morning. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, actually, I’m trying to get out of the house. I was in the shower and I need to catch a plane soon. What’s going on?” She glanced back at the shower, thinking she could picture Grant through the dense steam that filled the room. She refocused back on the phone call from her close friend, Lisa James.
“I need a favor. I’m really sorry to bother you. How long will you be gone?”
“A couple of days. Why? What is it? Can we talk about it when I get back? I really need to get going.”
“Well, I kinda need a favor right now.”
“Lisa, are you going to make me guess?”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’s just that...Okay, I’m just going to come out and ask. Can I stay at your place for a while? Kent and I...”
“What? You and he what? What happened?”
“It’s a long story. We can talk about it later. Can I stay at your place?”
“Of course! I’m sorry. Yes, I’ll leave the key outside under the azalea pot. There’s little food in the fridge, so you might want to pick something up at the grocery store. The guestroom is all set up. Are you going to be okay? Is it bad?”
“Yeah, it’s bad. I hate to impose on you like this, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Hey, Lisa, I’ll call you on my way to the airport. I don’t mean to cut this short, but I’m running late—you know how traffic can be. We’ll talk, I promise. And, don’t worry, it’s not an imposition at all!”
“Oh, thanks so much—you’re a gem! Later.”

Tess did not expect to get that kind of news from Lisa. She thought Lisa’s relationship with her boyfriend, Gregory Kent—whom Lisa affectionately calls Kent—had a lot of promise for a more committed future together. She felt badly for Lisa, under the circumstances. She wondered what Gregory was thinking and why he changed his mind about marrying Lisa. Then she thought of Grant and their so-called arrangement. She wondered if she was content with what she had. Is that all she’s going to have for God knows how long? She’d been too busy with work to think about being accessible to other possibilities. Had she become complacent with her arrangement? For the most part, it worked for her and she didn’t have to think about all the effort that went into a conventional relationship. But was she, herself, truly happy?

Right now, she wanted to get back into the shower and resume the moment, but she looked at the clock, then saw the sun rising, and knew that time had slipped by. She needed to get herself in gear. She feared missing her plane if she didn’t leave within the next thirty minutes. She knows so well how unpredictable the California traffic can be and she’s a stickler for punctuality. Instead, she got dressed, packed her car, and headed straight for the San Francisco International Airport.

As Tess drove south on Highway 101 through Marin County toward the Golden Gate Bridge, she pulled out her phone to call Lisa. The long drive to the airport would give Tess plenty of time to talk to Lisa and find out what happened. But, just as she took her phone out, it rang. Sasha, her editor, called her first. She knew that call would take more than a few moments to discuss her latest book project. She would call Lisa later.

♥♥♥

When Lisa arrived at Tess’ charming countryside villa in scenic Napa Valley perched atop of a hill, she sat in her car for a few moments thinking about the last twelve hours of her life. She and Gregory had been together for five years and she thought they were very compatible. They never had any major disagreements or irreconcilable differences, which led her to believe that they had a sound and desirable relationship. She expected that the next logical step would be marriage. She couldn’t understand his unpredictable change of heart.

Five more minutes had passed before Lisa got out of her car and walked around to the loggia. She found the spare key, then sat in the rattan rocker and just gazed out over the vast beauty of the region below. The hills were brown and green, the valley lush with grapevines, and the sun cast bright rays throughout the mid-morning sky. Lisa savored each visit at Tess’ house because of her appreciation for the beauty of the Northern California countryside. When Lisa and Tess would take walks together through those quaint neighboring towns, the peacefulness and serenity of the appellation region became apparent to her. She understands Tess’ reasons for living so far from the city. It also gives Lisa a feeling of protection—from what; she wasn’t quite sure—or maybe just everything. She envied Tess, being surrounded by so much auspicious nature. To Tess, the Napa Valley has always been her sanctuary—complete with awe-inspiring vistas and majestic beauty. This is where she finds her inspiration to write. As a renowned romance writer, Tess Simóne has created some of her best work right from her own backyard. She’s never short on scenery, having Mount St. Helena as her backdrop at the north end of the valley.

♥♥♥

Tess continued to drive through the city on Nineteenth Avenue to catch the 280 freeway while talking through the corrections and rewrites with her editor regarding her current manuscript. Before she realized it, the San Bruno exit—for the airport long term parking—was just ahead. They ended their conversation as she approached the parking lot. While Tess waited for the shuttle service to transport her to the airport terminal, she quickly placed a call to Lisa’s cell phone. She had hoped to hear some of the details about her breakup.
“Hello,” answered Lisa.
“Lisa, I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier, my editor called and we got tied up. Are you at the house?”
“I’m here. I haven’t gone in yet; I’m just sitting out back.”
“Did you find the key okay?”
“Sure did. It’s just so beautiful out here. I got caught up taking in the fresh air and the sights, and the silence! Hey, thanks again for coming to my rescue.”
“Oh, no problem. So, what happened? Why did you leave Gregory?”
“We had a stupid fight, except it wasn’t so stupid. He just told me last night that he didn’t want to marry me; that’s all. We were up all night discussing it—or rather fighting about it. I mostly cried. I’m still in shock.”
“Are you kidding me? Why doesn’t he want to get married? I thought that’s what you guys were planning to do?”
“Me, too! I thought that’s where we were heading, but apparently he has other plans. I can’t believe we’ve been together for five years and he’s just now telling me he doesn’t want to get married.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I haven’t gotten that far yet. But I had to leave. I couldn’t stay there under the circumstances of how he feels about our future—we have no future. It’s so hard to digest, you know. I thought we were in love.”
“Well, he does love you, doesn’t he?”
“I dunno. Last night he said he does, but...”
“But what?” Tess could detect Lisa getting emotional.
“But, it’s not enough. He said he doesn’t think he loves me enough to get married.” Lisa’s tears fell.
“Oh, Lisa, I’m terribly sorry. He’s not being fair or making any sense. Oh, shoot, the shuttle’s here. I gotta run, but listen, I’ll call you later, okay? Get something to eat, take a walk, or have a glass of wine. There’s plenty in the cellar—help yourself. I’ll be back on Wednesday. And, if you need anything, just call me. Are you going to be alright?”
“I will, and thanks a million. I owe you.”
“You owe me nothing. Just relax and make yourself at home. What’s mine is yours.”
“You’re the best. Have a safe trip.” They ended the call.
Lisa picked up her bags and went inside. It was her day off from work, so she looked forward to relaxing, spending some time figuring out what she wanted to do next, and dealing with her erratic emotions.

Tess thought about her conversation with Lisa while working her way through security and the boarding process, until she finally sat securely in her seat on the plane. Then, like clockwork, her thoughts traveled back to Grant. She knew she could use the much-needed interlude from their nightly escapades, while she spends time conducting her business in New York. Early on in their relationship, she used to wish Grant could be with her when she traveled, but instead, he confined himself to visits exclusively at her home—yet frequently. He initially visited her as often as she desired him, but anymore he shows up pretty regularly—nightly, that is. They enjoyed each other’s company throughout the years and had become somewhat of an extension of each other, but Tess was beginning to desire more for herself and out of life. Grant had always been a convenient substitute for love. After Vincent, she didn’t aspire to falling in love again, but it has been three years and sometimes she perceives an enormous void in her life. That void, being love.

♥♥♥

Grant introduced himself to Tess shortly after she settled into her home in Napa. The instant he laid eyes upon her, he knew immediately that he yearned for her in his life—intimately. He knew she could give him a purpose to his existence and satisfy his soul’s unfulfilled cravings left dormant for so many years since his loyal wife, of twenty-five years, had passed on. Sonja had been Grant’s soul mate and perfect lover during their union as husband and wife. They had been a vibrant couple and were explicitly sexually active—matching perfectly their insatiable appetites for one another. He missed her tremendously and had been spending years looking for someone to replace her, in that way. When he found Tess, he found his wife’s equivalent. Although, Tess, at age thirty-eight, was a much younger woman than Sonja was at the time of her death—by twenty-five years—she had the same warm heart and an uninhibited nature.

Grant observed Tess’ carefree and open-minded nature. He acted upon his attraction to her immediately; plus, she was accessible to him. From that point on, he vowed to cater to her needs—her special needs— throughout the years, as he had once done for his wife. Initially, Tess only hesitantly accepted Grant’s erotic pleasures, but eventually got used to the nightly invitations. However, she remained oblivious to the fact that Grant had plans for her to become his pseudo wife and do whatever he could to persuade her prerogative to desire another man. She, on the other hand, thought they would just have an arrangement—albeit, abnormal—based on convenience.

Before Grant came into Tess’ life, she hadn’t known any man as attentive as he, to know exactly what she desired. Her busy schedule hardly permitted her a traditional dating relationship or even marriage, although she attempted both. She regretted that, until Grant surfaced. He preyed on her nightly until he took her mind off of those yearnings for other men. And he succeeded. Initially, she became so consumed with work and Grant, that her determination to find the right man and settle down became less important with each passing day. Before long, Tess grew quite comfortable, receptive, and content with that part of her personal life—with Grant as her monogamous lover. Her writing inevitably required a significant amount of concentration, but outside of that, she had the emotional support and stability she needed without having to compromise the unusual demands of her career. Grant fit her somewhat secluded lifestyle. Although he knew he couldn’t give her the kind of traditional love she’d come to expect, he did, however, remind her of what he could give her—night after night. She made her peace with that.

♥♥♥

When Tess arrived in New York City, she met up with some business acquaintances—one in particular, Jackson Geary, an author, publisher, and a close, personal friend. She and Jackson always met up when Tess’ business took her to New York. He had been instrumental to her career, especially at the onset, but mostly, they enjoyed each other’s company on a personal level. He harbored a long-time attraction for her, since the day he met her. She became fond of him and also found him attractive in many ways, but she had no plans of maintaining a long-distance relationship with anyone. They often shared some harmless flirtation, but that was usually the extent of it—from her perspective.

That night, Jackson met Tess at her hotel where they visited, alone, over cocktails. Toward the end of their visit, they’d finished off several rounds of martinis. He assisted her to her room, typical Jackson fashion, and said goodnight at the door with an intimate, yet innocent kiss—at least in Tess’ mind. They often joked about having an affair, which Jackson only hoped she would consider it, but Tess worried that she’d fall in love with him and she didn’t want to leave California. Jackson had a lot of ties to New York and it was the most logical place for him to work as a publisher and run his own publishing company. But that didn’t stop them from sharing affectionate moments or displaying flirtatious gestures every once in a while. But this time, it went a little further. Feeling a little too intoxicated from the drinks, Tess invited him in.

♥♥♥

Lisa had spent her day outside walking around Tess’ property and thinking about her fight with her boyfriend. She spent the entire afternoon being preoccupied with the events of last night—replaying the whole conversation in her head, as well as analyzing his decision to not marry her. She dissected his every word and his behavior over the last week, month, to six months. She tortured herself trying to figure out if she had done something to turn him off—to discourage him from marriage. During her walk, she had a hard time warding off the occasional tears that welled up from her broken heart.

Lisa James, a nurse at Marin General Hospital, met, now, thirty- seven year-old Doctor Gregory Kent, an Endocrinologist, also working at Marin General, five years ago while on duty at the hospital. She’d always thought that dating a doctor would have its challenges, however, never did she think this would be one of them. It was love at first sight for her, so potentially losing him like this has only created additional anxiety. They became serious almost immediately upon dating, which makes her more confused as to why the sudden change in his attitude. Lisa’s thirty- fifth birthday was approaching and she felt her time was beginning to run out to start a family. With the demise of her relationship looming over her head, she only saddened more, thinking about getting back into the dating scene. Right now in her heart, she only wanted Gregory. She still loved him deeply and didn’t want to think about replacing him, or him replacing her.
By sunset, Lisa had reminisced the last year of her relationship, while consuming an entire bottle of Tess’ Cabernet. She had cried for hours, drank for hours, and stared off into the western sky for hours, until darkness. She finally went back into the house to go to bed. She had exhausted herself with self-pity and desolation; OD’d on self-analysis, and was on the verge of self-destruct.

♥♥♥

Jackson and Tess’ goodnight kiss continued even after they entered the hotel suite. It wasn’t that Tess was starved for affection or sexual attention, she certainly wasn’t, as long as Grant was around, however, there were things she couldn’t get from her romance with Grant. Most of the time she paid little attention to those areas, but being in the company of a man for whom she has an insatiable attraction, the focus on her unfulfilled need for love is prevalent. But she never wanted to start something she couldn’t finish.
“Jackson, I’m sorry; I got carried away,” Tess apologized, while backing away from Jackson’s embrace.
“That’s a good thing, don’t you think?”
“Don’t start. You know we shouldn’t do this.”
“You may know that Tess, but I don’t. What’s the big deal anyway? We are both adults and no one’s going to get hurt. I’m crazy about you. I’m not seeing anyone and you’re not seeing anyone.”
“That doesn’t mean it can’t get complicated. We live thousands of miles away from each other.”
“So what? Why can’t we just live in the moment? Like right now... we’re here, we’re into each other, and no one stands to get hurt.”
Tess thought of Grant and knew she had to watch herself. She has never told anyone about Grant and she wanted to keep it that way. Right now she was regretting her actions with Jackson because she got a bad feeling that she better back off.
“I will get hurt. I don’t mean to ruin the moment—I don’t, but I don’t want to rush into anything I’ll regret.”
“I don’t get it; we’ve known each other for several years. You haven’t dated since Vincent. Are you still grieving?”
“I’m just not ready,” she whispered, then turned away.
It wasn’t that she still grieved over Vincent’s death as much as she didn’t want to upset Grant. Jackson went to her.
“I’m sorry if I pushed. I should have been more sensitive and less horny. I want you to know that I’ll be here when you’re ready.” Jackson had much sincerity in his voice. He kissed her again and said good night at the door. They both became aroused from the energy created between them. Tess closed the door after he left and retreated to the bathroom to take a long shower.

♥♥♥

Lisa turned out the house lights and retreated to the guestroom with another glass of wine. She stepped out of her clothes down to her bare skin and went into Tess’ bathroom to take a long, hot shower. She didn’t think Tess would mind her using her shower instead. It was more elaborate than the one in the guest bath. She wanted to feel the jets on her body because she felt tense and stressed. The wine relaxed her mind—as a matter of fact, she had become quite drunk from the wine—but she wanted the shower to relax her body. She pushed “play” on the stereo and cranked up the volume on the Italian classical music. The one song that played when she turned it on, was Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana Mascagni—the familiar song from the Godfather movie, part three. Tess loved the romantic melody and played it often when she showered or bathed.

Lisa set the water temperature as hot as she could stand it and just stood in the shower while the steam quickly fogged up the room; first the shower door, then the large vanity mirror. Soon the entire room filled with steam. She listened to the water rush through the pipes and out through the fixtures protruding from the marble wall, feeling the sting of each water pellet pound against her body. It felt good to her—like an intense massage. She concentrated only on the sound of the water and the music as it drowned out the racket in her head. She just stood under the water with her eyes closed and her palms pressed against the glass as she cried. She cried for nearly fifteen minutes while the water continued to wash her sorrows down the drain.

Without warning, she felt something touch her. She figured the positions of the jets were playing tricks on her. It felt like a large pair of man’s hands had slid around from behind her body and touched her breasts. She froze in place, then smiled, thinking about Gregory. She missed his hands on her. She thought she could actually feel him fondling her—reaching around, caressing her stomach, then rubbing her down to her thighs and back up, repeatedly. She continued to concentrate on how he used to make love to her. It felt so real to her—so real that her breathing became shallow and her heart began to beat faster. As the music got louder, she could actually feel him entering her, but she kept her eyes closed; she wanted to hang on to the amazing feeling of euphoria. Her imagination grew wilder with excitement. She didn’t realize it, but she pressed her fingers harder against the glass, as if she was trying to grip it. Then suddenly her hands began to tremble; then her legs began to shake. She gasped and panted, harder and harder, faster and faster. The tempo of the concerto increased, keeping time with the rhythm of her heartbeats. It no longer felt like a dream. It seemed too real. She opened her eyes and wanted to turn around, but she couldn’t move her body. At the same time, the pressure mounted inside and her breathing intensified, as her breasts and stomach were pressed against the glass. She began to fear the moment—feeling captive, yet turned on at the same time. She struggled to get free. She looked left, then right, up and down, but couldn’t see anything through the thick blanket of fog all around her. She panicked, but that only heightened her euphoria. Without warning, her body stiffened and she moaned heavily through a very intense and prolonged climax, precisely the moment the music reached a crescendo, almost drowning out the sound of the water. The excitement from the force took hold of her like nothing she’d experienced before. She couldn’t stop it either as the water continued to pour down on top of her head, blinding her eyes.

Then ever so slowly, the erotic mood began to subside. She felt a strange release from her body. Her hands became unglued from the glass, her knees buckled and her body relaxed. She felt around for the nozzle and shut off the water then looked around, wondering if someone could see her. She could still see nothing but the steam. The shower door opened with ease and as she stepped out she grabbed for her towel. Feeling weak and dazed, she continued to look around trying to figure out what had just happened to her. Was it real? Did she imagine it? Of course, she did, she thought. It must have been the wine. She drank quite a bit and she knew she was probably somewhat drunk. She didn’t bother to dry off, but just wrapped the towel around her, turned off the music and then the light. She managed to stagger back to her room in the dark, following the dim light coming from the guestroom. When she reached her bedroom she plopped on top of the bed and blacked out.

Chapter 2

Tess called Lisa several times the next day from her hotel room to check up on her. They talked only for brief periods of time because Tess had a full schedule that kept her on the go most of the time in New York and well into the late evening hours. When she would return to her hotel room, she usually just took a quick shower and crashed. She missed her own personal shower at home. The showers in the hotels didn’t come close to what she had at home. And speaking of showers, Lisa never mentioned the episode that took place her first night in Tess’ house. She dismissed it as a drunken state of mind and was too embarrassed to bring it up.

On the third day of her trip, Tess informed Lisa that she would be returning home that evening. Both were happy to know the trip was ending. Lisa looked forward to seeing her friend, especially in light of her desperate situation. She needed to talk to Tess. Tess, however, couldn’t wait to get back home to relax and to get back into her routine. Being in New York and so close to Jackson confused her and made her wonder if she’s doing the right thing, by refusing his love.

♥♥♥

“Welcome home!” greeted Lisa, as they hugged out of genuineness and habit when Tess walked through the back door.
“Yes, I’m back—finally! Boy, was that a whirlwind of a trip! They packed in so much information in two days. Great networking opportunity, though. But I’ll tell you all about that later. How are you doing? What’s going on?”
“I’m fine; coping. You know. It helps being out here, though. It’s so quiet and peaceful. I love it.”
“It is. I keep telling you to come out here and get a place. You won’t regret it.”
“Are you kidding? I can’t afford to live out here. Only the rich live out here.”
“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You can do it. It’s great for the soul, too! ”
“Yeah, I won’t argue with you there,” she suddenly thought of her first night in the house. She smiled still feeling the excitement that paralyzed her that night.
“What’s the smile about?” asked Tess looking at Lisa curiously.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Well, then tell me what’s going on. Have you talked to Gregory?”
“Uh, no. I haven’t. I thought of calling him a couple of times, but I fought against the urge and decided to take a few days to just back off and deal with everything.”
“How long are you planning to stay here? Of course, you’re welcomed to stay as long as you need to...”
“I dunno. I hope I’m not putting you out, but I was hoping you would let me stay until I can find my own place. Maybe a month at the most...”
“Sure, that’s fine,” Tess thought about Grant. She wanted to help her friend, but she had gotten used to her privacy and especially her private moments with Grant.
“Are you sure, Tess?”
“Yes, positive. Don’t worry about a thing. I have at least two more trips coming up this month anyway. It’ll work out just fine. Like I said, what’s mine is yours. How about we get something to eat. I’m starved and exhausted. I want to turn in early tonight if you don’t mind.”
“No, that’s fine. I’m actually going to meet Michelle in Santa Rosa later this evening. We’re going to catch a movie. Wanna join us?”
“Oh, no, but thanks. I’m pooped. That flight was too long and I’m looking forward to jumping in the shower and into my own bed. As much as I travel, I sure hate being away from home,” she replied, followed by a yawn.

Tess never told Lisa about her “relationship” with Grant. When it happened, she thought the affair would be brief or something casual from time to time. She never anticipated it becoming a regular occurrence, therefore, never bothered to discuss it with anyone. She felt almost sure no one would understand their arrangement—let alone—approve of it. Since meeting Grant, she decided she would keep him all to herself, for as long as he would be there for her. For her, it added a sense of mystery, or even suspense, to her life. She could easily hide the fact that she’s even in a relationship because of her relentless hours spent writing and traveling. And she lived so far from most of her friends and acquaintances. After a while, everyone stopped inquiring of her love life, although it seems ironic to everyone that she’s not involved romantically since she’s this big-time romance author.

Tess prepared a quick meal and Lisa left to meet Michelle. She was actually relieved to have the peace and quiet tonight instead of spending hours talking about man troubles. She needed some time for herself right now. She cleaned up the kitchen, then headed to her room.
The first thing on Tess’ list: a long, hot shower. She lit a few candles, turned on the music and ran a hot shower. She thought of taking a relaxing bath, but she loved the feeling of continuous water rushing down on her hair and over her entire body. After sitting in an airplane all day, she wanted the massage of the jets to soothe her muscles. She turned the lights out, leaving only the glow from the candles, and got into the shower. Instantly the bathroom had been transformed into a romantic scene from right out of one of her novels, complete with the soft sounds of the water and music combined with the scents of the fragrant bath gel lathered all over her body. She closed her eyes and just stood under the rain faucet as she placed her hands firmly against the glass and sighed. She felt welcomed home.

It wasn’t long before Grant’s strong hands reached around her body and began to massage her breasts. They traveled down her stomach, to her thighs and back up again—over and over. She smiled at the pleasurable sensation. After her temptation with Jackson, Tess had been feeling erotically charged—blaming Grant for spoiling her and keeping her regularly satisfied.
“Welcome home, Tess,” he whispered in her ear.
“It’s good being back,” she replied, never turning around.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” He entered her from behind and made love to her to perfection. She moaned as he grabbed her waist and thrust himself against her repeatedly until she could no longer withhold her urges to release the feelings that built up since being with Jackson. Within twenty minutes, she was panting until she slumped to her knees on the floor of the shower.
Later that night, Tess slept peacefully in her warm, cozy bed.
She slept so soundly that she never even heard Lisa come home at one o’clock in the morning.
“Oh, you woke me,” said Tess after feeling a slight touch against her neck.
“You looked so beautiful—the moonlight shining on your face,” he whispered in the darkness.
It was mid-September, so Tess often slept with her window open to let in the nighttime breeze. There was a full moon that night.
“You spoil me, you know that?”
“You deserve it. But I don’t like it when you’re with another man.”
“Grant, nothing happened,” she immediately tried to explain, as she turned over on her back. He got her attention.
“Your eyes are like the stars...” Just then, she felt his hands between her legs, traveling up her thighs.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head back burying it deeper in her pillow. With her arms pressed flat on her pillow next to her head, and her hands balled into a fist, she arched her back and began to moan uncontrollably. She continued to squirm and moan, kicking the sheets away.

Grant made fierce love to her for several exhausting hours. She writhed, she cried, she moaned, she breathlessly panted, and panted, and panted. She was actually on the verge of passing out. She eventually pleaded for Grant to stop, but he wouldn’t. He wanted to make sure she would forget about needing another man. Finally, she lay spent as the early morning sun rose brightly over the valley.

Tess had a full schedule of writing, trying desperately to meet her publisher’s deadline, but she didn’t wake up at her customary time: six- thirty. Instead, she slept until nine o’clock. When she did emerge, she felt panicked and unorganized, not to mention spent and weak from her intense night of ecstasy. She reflected on how Grant acted out in a possessive way with her. He usually didn’t come on that strongly. It got her attention. ‘Was he acting out because of my kiss with Jackson? Did he really know about it or did he assume?’ She shook off the questions.
“Well, good morning,” said Lisa with a smile on her face. “You slept in.”
“Yes, so irresponsible of me. I have a million things to do today. I must be jet lagged.”
“Or that,” teased Lisa.
“What do you mean?” replied Tess with a puzzled look on her face.
“You know...who was it?”
“Who was what? What are you talking about?” Lisa had overheard Tess’ all-night escapade and now felt embarrassed bringing it to her attention. Tess obviously was trying to hide the fact that she had made love half the night in her room with a man. And from what Lisa could tell, they were pretty uninhibited and thorough.
“Oh, nothing. I made breakfast. I figured you would be a little tired this morning—you know, from the trip.” Lisa winked.
Lisa wondered if the man was still in the house. She made a large breakfast in case he was. She was also eager to meet Tess’ skillful lover. She was just elated that Tess was involved with someone. After last night, she sensed that Tess thought very highly of him; she rarely heard her friend speak of anyone close, and especially, personal, since her last boyfriend, Vincent. And, that has been a long time.
“You made all that? Who are you expecting?” Tess looked curiously at the large breakfast spread.
“Well, I...uh, wasn’t sure if we were having company.”
“Like who?”
“Uh...just anybody.”
“Well, it’s just you and me here at the moment and I’m not expecting anyone else,” said Tess looking confused, and cracking a half smile, while reaching for the coffee and a plate. She could no longer ignore her hunger pangs. And, she couldn’t figure out Lisa’s intentions.
“Well, I’m heading out to work now. After my shift, I’m going to look at a couple of homes for rent, so I’ll probably be late getting in. Then I’m supposed to meet my sister in Healdsburg, so don’t wait up for me. You’ll have the whole house to yourself today.” Lisa winked again at Tess.
“Okay, but I’ll be working, working, working. I’ve got a major deadline that I’m going to miss if I don’t get my ass in gear. Have a good day!”
“You, too! And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Lisa laughed. She felt certain that the man might still be in the house. She didn’t hear anyone walk past her door to leave. Tess continued to look strangely at her. She didn’t know what she was talking about, or what all the winking meant. At least Lisa’s mood appeared positive, which could be a good sign, she thought. She sat down and ate her breakfast thinking about her project.

Tess authored suspense and romance novels for a living. She’d been writing for nearly ten years now and had become very successful at it. Her success, due to her reputation as a renowned novelist, has afforded her to live just about anywhere she pleases. When she visited the wine country about three years ago on a research project, she instantly fell in love with the region, the people, the vineyards, the beauty, and the overwhelming amount of romance that exuded from being in such a wonderful place. It didn’t take much for her to decide to move to California, and particularly, Napa. She wanted to experience this type of romantic feeling every day. If she couldn’t find the right man for her, she decided that Napa would be her romantic partner and she’ll let it seduce her.

At thirty-eight, Tess felt more alive since living in Napa than she did when she was younger and living anywhere else. As a bounced- around orphan, who was eventually adopted at age six, her unpredictable transient childhood life couldn’t compare to her privileged and stable life today. But living in Napa just did something to her to wake up her soul. In addition, she loves wine and has become more educated about wines since being surrounded by people, friends and celebrities in the industry. She especially loved living so close to the ocean—another romantic spot. Many days she would pack up her laptop and drive out to the coast to write. She craved being near the water and the sand. Around every corner in this part of the world, she found inspiration for her next bestseller. She thought she had it all, until Grant Sterling came into her life. That day would change her life forever.

Tess cleared the breakfast table and headed to the bathroom to get cleaned up. The weather forecast called for sunny and hot and that meant perfect for the coast, so she decided to pack a lunch and head to the beach today. The beaches at Jenner, a small coastal town near Bodega Bay on Highway 1, became her favorite location to write. She could always find a secluded spot out there to write and it’s a perfect place for watching the most amazing sunsets.

By eleven, Tess set out on her way to Bodega Bay in her Saab 9-3 convertible with her shades on and the top down. She packed her laptop, a blanket, and a bag full of fruit, corned beef sandwiches, and a bottle each of Pinot Noir and water. She knew it was a good day for writing under the sun.

Chapter 3

Tess reached Bodega Bay before noon and drove north a short distance to the town of Jenner, where she decided to park at Goat Rock Beach, one of the many northern coastal scenic beaches in the area. She grabbed her blanket, the food bag and her laptop and proceeded to take to the beach. Once she found a secluded spot along the foot of the cliff, she set up camp.

For the first fifteen minutes, she did nothing but stare out at the ocean to pay respect to its extraordinary beauty and access. This is where she felt most spiritual and free—free from the craziness of the world and sometimes her mind. She loved to meditate out at the coast and just reflect on, and give thanks for, her many blessings. She’d come a long way from the child who had been abandoned as a baby, to having such great parents who adopted her and showed her so much love and support. If it weren’t for them and their belief in her ability to become whatever she set her mind to do, she felt certain that her life would be much different today. She owed them a lot.

As a little girl of mixed heritages—her biological father, Black; her biological mother, White—she’d often felt a little uncertain about herself and how she fit in. Making friends wasn’t always easy or pleasant for her. Some of the White kids were cruel and focused on the fact that her skin was just a shade darker than theirs, and her White adopted parents for that matter. She reflected back on how many times she was asked about her parents being White, because she didn’t look like them. The same questions came from her Black friends. Tess often found no middle ground unless she stumbled upon someone just like her. As she got older, some of the outward prejudices subsided. And, once boys took an interest in her, they didn’t care about any of that. They just saw her outer beauty and wanted to score with her. Tess smiled, as she remembered the trail of suitors in high school, of various races, vying for her attention.

After that long journey down memory lane, Tess felt her creative juices flowing, so she jumped right into her writing, while enjoying a glass of Pinot. She preferred a particular wine for different occasions. Pinot was her favorite wine while writing under the sun on the beach. Listening to the ocean waves in the background set the tone to create especially stimulating love stories. Today quickly turned into an exceptional writing day, as well.
Tess got so caught up in her creative moment that several hours had passed before she realized the time. She stretched her legs and decided to take a break for lunch. But first, she wanted to just lay back and relish in her surroundings. It’s not every day that she gets to visit the coast and spend the day doing nothing other than her writing. She felt she needed this special treat after her hectic New York trip.

She finished her lunch, then promptly checked her voicemail. She had several messages that weren’t urgent, so she decided to wait until later before returning them. She lay back on her blanket, closed her eyes, listened to the sea gulls, and began to think about her story—especially about her characters. She found that one character in particular gives her the most trouble when writing about him. He has a dark side, that even she finds disturbing. She hopes to redeem him in the end, but in order for the story to conclude the way she feels strongly that it should, she’s unable to concede to her desires. She lay pondering over her character’s sinister traits, while listening to the waves crashing in the background, until she dozed off.

Tess’ relaxing nap ended abruptly when she heard some voices approaching. The beach had been basically quiet due to the time of day, until now. She looked through her shades in the direction of the voices and felt relieved to see a young couple taking a romantic stroll together and being playful. She wanted to take a walk herself and hike up and down the cliffs, but she had her laptop with her and didn’t dare leave it unattended. Maybe later, she thought. She could lock everything in the car and take to the sand on foot. She continued to watch the couple, as they walked down the beach in the distance, until they were out of sight. She smiled seeing how in love they appeared. That scene reminded her of when she fell in love with Jerry. That was one of her many mistake relationships. Although she shared a lot of great times with Jerry, so did a number of other women. ‘Why is it always that way?’ she wondered, ‘Why can’t two people be in the moment with each other and only each other? If independence is so important, then why hook up and pretend to the other person that you’re faithful to only them?’ The whole “have your cake and eat it too” business infuriates Tess, however, she had to admit it does give her plenty of controversy for her books. She sometimes feels that she’s capitalizing on the very thing she finds deplorable. But as a novelist, she can justify the difference between real life and fiction.
Tess’ mind traveled so far into her thoughts that she didn’t hear a young man approach her from her blind side.
“Beautiful out here, isn’t it?” remarked the attractive stranger.
“Huh? Oh! You scared me!” Tess grabbed her chest, feeling her heart beating rapidly.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. You looked so deep in thought. I hope I didn’t disturb some profound moment you were having,” he replied.
“No-no, I was just thinking about something.”
He looked through his shades, down to her perfectly sculptured legs stretched out on the blanket. He liked what he saw. She was beginning to wonder what he wanted. She didn’t want any intrusions today—she had so much to do. And she wasn’t particularly interested in chatting with any stranger on the secluded side of the beach. She instinctively looked around to see if anyone else was around in case she needed assistance.
‘He doesn’t look harmful or suspicious, but you never know,’ she thought to herself. ‘He is very cute, though.’
“I see you got your laptop out here. Are you a writer or something? ”
‘Why is this guy asking about my laptop? Why doesn’t he just leave me alone?’
“Uh, well, yes, I am, actually. I have a deadline, so I should really get back to work.” ‘Maybe that’ll get rid of him. What’s he, like twenty-five, twenty-six? And where the hell did he come from?’
“Really, a real writer? I mean, do you have books published and all that?”
“Uh...yeah.”
“Have I heard of you? What do you write?”
“Well, I don’t know...probably not.” She assessed his age and figured he wasn’t the type to read romance novels.
“You never know. I read a lot.”
“Romance. I write romance novels.”
“Well, it’s not like I wouldn’t know you if you’re popular. You’re not going to tell me your name?”
‘How do I get out of this? I don’t want this kid knowing my name or anything about me. I just want him to go!’ “You know, it’s getting late. I better be going.”
“I’ve intruded. I’m very sorry. I was just out hiking and saw you. I just wanted to say hello since I was passing by. I meant no harm.”
“No, it’s just that I...well, I have a lot of work to do, that’s all. I hadn’t realized the time.” She stood up to gather her things.
“Nolan.”
“Huh?”
“My name is Nolan Reynolds.” Nolan found Tess very pretty and intriguing. But he could also take a hint. He knew she wanted privacy.
“Okay, Nolan. I really need to go.”
“Sure. I’m sorry to have bothered you. Hey, good luck on those romance novels.” Nolan turned and walked away from Tess.

He walked about ten feet when he glanced back at her, feeling some sort of weird instant attraction to her. He regretted that the conversation didn’t go better. She watched him—feeling relieved that he left. She watched him walk away, and thought that maybe he wasn’t a threat to her after all. ‘He was just being nice, but then so are serial killers in the beginning. I should know, I write about them in my books.’

She put the last of her things in the bag. She really wanted to stay out at the coast longer, but her confrontation with Nolan distracted her and she felt like getting back home. She picked up everything and headed back toward the parking lot. It was only three o’clock and she was sure she had several more hours of creativity left in her for the afternoon. ‘Oh well, I’ll make it up tonight. I’ll write when I get back. I need to stop at the store on my way home. I wonder how Lisa’s doing?’
Tess reached her car and noticed the lot was filling up now. She put her hand on her car door to open it, when she heard someone yelling.
“Ms. Author! Ms. Author!” She turned around to see Nolan running toward her.
‘Oh, shit! What now?’ She looked at him with a puzzled look on her face.
“Wait up! I think you left this behind!”
Tess stopped as Nolan approached her with an out reached hand. He held up her electronic hand-held organizer.
“Oh, shit! When did I drop that?”
“I went back to apologize to you again and that’s when I saw it lying in the sand.”
“Oh, God, you have no idea! My life is in there!” She took it from him.
“Well, then I’m glad I found it. I’d hate to see you lose your life. You’re too beautiful to go out like that.”
“Thank you...uh, Nolan. Thank you so much! I really appreciate you returning it to me. Thank you!” She felt humble and ashamed for thinking the things she did about him. “I’m sorry I was so cold to you, but...”
“You don’t have to explain. I understand.”
“No, I didn’t mean to come across that way. I just don’t like disturbances when I’m working.”
“I understand. Well, I better let you get going.”
“Okay.” Nolan took off toward his car, which was also parked in the lot. He decided to leave the beach, too. “Nolan, wait!” He turned around. “It’s Tess. My name is Tess. It’s nice meeting you,” she said with her hand extended. Nolan returned to where Tess stood and shook her hand.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Tess. A definite pleasure.”
“I’m really sorry about all that back there.”
“It’s okay, really. I know you want to go, so I better not hold you up."
‘He did save my ass by finding my organizer. He looks harmless. Am I crazy?’ "You know, it’s still early and I have some food left. Would you care to join me? It’s such a gorgeous day. I’d hate to waste it.”
“Are you sure? I mean, you said you’re busy.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. For a little while anyway. Whaddaya say?”
“I say, sure! Want to go back down to the beach?”
“Okay. Let me get my jacket first. The wind will be kicking up pretty soon.” Tess locked up her laptop and grabbed a light jacket and blanket from the trunk.
They returned to the beach and sat down on the blanket. Tess gave Nolan one of her sandwiches and some chips. She uncorked the unfinished bottle of wine.
“You really don’t have to give me your food.”
“No, it’s okay, I’m still full and I want you to have it.”
“Thanks. So, Tess, what are your books about?” Tess relaxed and explained some of her stories to Nolan. She also talked about her different types of romantic characters and her published projects. She loved talking about her work, so before she knew it, she had two more glasses of wine and had chatted on for an hour. Nolan finished off the sandwich and had indulged in the wine as well. He lay on his side stretched out on the blanket, propped up on his elbow, listening intently. He could stare at her for hours. He found Tess warm, intelligent, and funny, but most of all, strikingly attractive. They both laughed at her book signing fiascoes earlier on in her career. He watched her expressions as she talked and found himself staring at her face, but especially her eyes. Her eyes seemed to dance when she laughed. Not only did he find her pleasing to the eye, but also talented, as she talked about her career and her accomplishments. He definitely wanted to know more about her.
“I’m sorry. I rambled on and on and you let me.”
“Please, continue. I’m enjoying listening to you. You’re so fascinating and what you have to say is so interesting. I didn’t know how involved the writing process could be. I could listen to you for hours!”
“Well, you kinda did already. I hope my readers feel the same way when they come out to hear me do a reading.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “What? It’s six o’clock. Ooh...I need to go.”
“Ah, c’mon, it’s still nice out here and we’re having such a good time.”
“No, I need to go...to visit the facilities.”
“Oh. It’s right up there. Here, I’ll walk you up.” They gathered the food and the blanket and headed back up to the parking lot. When Tess emerged from the outdoors facilities, Nolan stood waiting for her at the edge of the parking lot. He just stared off into the ocean.
“Hey, thanks,” said Tess.
“For what?” “For saving my ass—my organizer. And for being a nice person.
You’re very kind.”
“Well, I’d like to think I’m just an upstanding citizen who got lucky today and met a real life author—an interesting one, at that.”
“It was fun today. I enjoyed your company as well. Do you come up here a lot or are you just visiting the area?”
“I’m actually house-sitting here in Jenner,” explained Nolan.
“Really? How nice.”
“Oh, it’s awesome! I have access to all this,” he pointed out toward the ocean, “and it’s perfect for hiking, camping, or just about anything. Do you live around here?”
“I live in Napa.”
“That’s a fairly good distance in, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but I really love it out here. This is one of my favorite spotson earth and between my home and out here, I have my best moments of inspiration. Many-a-books have been written from that very spot out there.”
“That’s amazing!”
“Yes, it is,” Tess was referring to the scenic venues that are available to her.
“Hey, since I helped you kill off that bottle of wine of yours, how about we go over to The Tides and I can buy you a bottle of wine? I’d like to do that for you.”
“Oh no, that’s not necessary.”
“I know it’s not necessary; I want to. I can’t remember the last time I spent time with anyone so fascinating. And, I’m being selfish—I don’t want you to go just yet.”
“That’s sweet.” Tess looked at her watch again, then hesitated. “Well, I guess I have some time. Okay, but how about we just share some wine and maybe some crab legs?” ‘Did I really agree to this?’ she asked herself.
“Sounds perfect. You can follow me over. I know you don’t want to get in a car with a stranger.” Nolan smiled.

She got into her car, and he got into his fairly new silver metallic Corvette Z06. She noticed the very flashy, yet attractive car and wondered what he did for a living. From the little conversation they had, to her, he didn’t seem to have an arrogant or overly confident personality, which is often associated with someone owning such a macho, high performance vehicle.

They met down the road at The Tides Inn and ordered a bottle of wine and some seafood, as they sat across from each other, while chatting effortlessly about anything that came to mind. Tess surprised herself by opening up to a stranger so easily, but something about Nolan put her mind at ease and she didn’t feel that he would be a threat to her in any way. She eventually divulged her age to him when it came up, in relationship to the number of years she’s been a writer, and he admitted being twenty-nine. ‘He’s nine years younger than I am. What am I doing?’ she thought.
“Geez, is it really that late?” Tess looked out at the horizon and could see the sun setting in the west.
“It looks like another great sunset tonight. Hey, lets go out there and watch the sunset!” suggested Nolan.
“I love the sunsets out here. I can’t believe I’m even still out here at this late hour, I should be getting back.”
“You’re not going to pass up a great sunset, are you? It’s only moments away. And, we’re already here. What’s a few more minutes, Tess?” He looked at her with the most incredible intense blue eyes she’d ever seen.
“Well...”
“You said so yourself, this is your favorite spot.”
“Okay—why not? But, do you mind if we go to Portuguese Beach this time? It’s one of my favorite spots for sunsets, also.” Tess suddenly felt enthused about getting a front-row view of a gorgeous West Coast sunset. It’s true, she couldn’t resist the opportunity, especially on a clear night like tonight.
“Lead the way!”

They left the restaurant and ended up at Portuguese Beach within minutes. They grabbed the blanket and hiked down to the beach. Nolan held onto Tess’ hand as they hiked down the narrow path. She liked the fact that he had a gentleman side. They found the perfect spot and just sat in the sand and gazed out at the rapidly sinking sun in the western horizon. The hues of the clouds around the sun were spectacular: orange, pink, and purple. The wind kicked up and the nighttime air began mixing with the fog rolling in over the hills and soon the air chilled around them. Tess put on her jacket, which didn’t keep out most of the cold air, so Nolan sat behind her with his arms around her shoulders to keep her warm. She felt a chill down her spine, so she didn’t resist his gesture. Plus, his arms felt nice around her like that. She felt amazingly warm on the inside.

When the sun had nearly set, the darkness fell upon the skies almost immediately. They stood up and faced one another; Nolan stared intently into Tess’ eyes without uttering a word. She noticed and stared back. She had butterflies in her stomach, and expected to feel a little nervous inside, as if anticipating a first kiss.

‘It must be the wine,’ she thought, trying to shake off the awkwardness.
“Today was nice,” he spoke softly. “Very nice,” she replied, never taking her eyes off of him. He rubbed her arms and she began to tremble. It was a combination of the cool breeze and Nolan’s touch. “You’re so beautiful, Ms. Author. I’d like to...” Without finishing his sentence, he leaned in and kissed her very softly on her lips. Although not completely sure of her reason, she let him kiss her and then she spontaneously returned the kiss. They stood in the darkness— their lips pressed hard against each other’s—with just the enormous moon rising in the eastern sky and only the sounds of the ocean waves in the distance. Tess peered over Nolan’s right shoulder and stared at the moon.
“The moon...look! It looks purple. I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she remarked, pointing toward the sky.
“I ordered that especially for you because you’re one of a kind, just like that moon.” He kissed her again; this time with more passion. They both trembled.
They could tell the tide was coming in, but they paid little attention to it—they just continued to kiss each other—feeling more intense. Tess felt taken aback by Nolan’s kiss, his hands, his body, which moved in closer to hers ever so slightly, and she instantly lost herself in the moment, as if she craved him like a deprived animal. He continued to stroke her body with his hands, rendering them both noticeably aroused by their affections.

Chapter 4

Tess drove back to Napa with a Cheshire grin on her face and an apparent indication of lust between her legs. She could think only of Nolan, and their moon, all the way home, which drove her crazy. She should be thinking about her novel. Just then her phone rang.
“Hello,” she answered with the hint of a song in her voice.
“Hello, Ms. Author.”
“Haven’t you had enough of me already?”
“Are you kidding? Never. I just wanted to say good-night and to make sure you got home safely.”
“I’m almost there, thanks. I had a wonderful time with you today—I mean that.”
“I had a perfect day with you and I hope we can do it again soon,”
replied Nolan, still feeling the lustfulness of their passionate moment. He was bound and determined to see her again.
“I’d like that, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea,” she confessed as she approached her street. She just got a jolt of her own reality.
“Why not? I thought we had a certain vibe going on between us.”
“It’s complicated, but...”
“No buts, just do it! I could tell you want to.”
“Nolan, you’re sweet, buuuut, my life is really complicated and crazy.”
“I like a little crazy. What are you saying? We just had the most incredible, spontaneous, moment out there. Spontaneous is good!”
“I know, but, that’s not me. I don’t know what I was doing out there. Everything’s happening so fast and...”
Nolan sensed her trepidation from her tone. “Tess, let’s not do this. Think about the kiss and call me if you’d like to see me again. I definitely want to see you again. We’ll leave it at that. Sweet dreams.”
“Good night,” she whispered.

Tess parked her car and went into the dark house. Lisa hadn’t gotten home yet. She put her things away and headed for the shower.
She prepared for her ritual nightly shower, but as she dropped her robe and stepped in, her mind changed channels to Nolan. She tried very hard to erase those thoughts and clear her head. She stood under the water and waited. She waited for twenty minutes, still nothing. She finished up, got out and went to bed. She had mixed feelings as she lay on her side facing the window and stared out at the moon thinking about her kiss with the young stranger on the beach. The night seemed so peaceful. She drifted off to sleep without realizing she had her extraordinary kiss with Nolan still on her mind and on her lips.

Lisa made it back home around midnight and retreated to bed after an exhausting day, which began with her shift at the hospital. She assumed Tess was sleeping so she tried hard not to disturb her. She got into bed and immediately thought about Gregory. They still hadn’t talked since the night she left and she didn’t see him at the hospital, which wasn’t unusual. They worked on different floors and rarely saw one another at work, unless it was deliberate. She thought about calling him, but fought with her conscience and decided against it. She couldn’t sleep after an hour, so she went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. She still couldn’t sleep, so she had another glass and turned the radio on low. She just lay in her bed thinking until her emotions got the best of her. She turned over on her stomach and buried her face in the pillow and began to cry uncontrollably. She missed Gregory. She cried until she fell asleep.
Lisa continued to fall deeper into sleep when she felt something happening to her. The man began to kiss her neck, then her back, as his hands traveled all over her naked body. She tried to move, but she couldn’t. She felt paralyzed as the hands continued to rub her skin, leaving her feeling immensely aroused and vulnerable. She began to moan in her head, as she felt something slide between her legs and enter her in a smooth motion. Her moans got louder and deeper. She felt an intense wave of euphoria suffocating her and she wanted it to go on forever. Nothing or no one had ever made that happen for her. She had no concept of what was real and what wasn’t, nor did she have any concept of time. The moment continued for hours—until the sun came up.

Tess had been awakened by the suspicious sounds coming from Lisa’s room in the middle of the night. She lay awake crying as she continued to listen, until the sounds stopped—at dawn. Her tears began to burn her pillow. Tess dragged herself out of bed around six-thirty to get a jump on her day. She had to make up for the lost hours she spent at the beach with Nolan. Nolan... Thoughts of him entered her mind like a raging stampede. But then she switched gears to Grant. Grant betrayed her. She knew it was Grant in Lisa’s room with her last night. He retaliated because of Nolan—she was sure of it. She didn’t want to upset Grant, but she knew she had. She suddenly felt jealous of Lisa’s evening with him. She became very familiar with his style of lovemaking and it made her crazy hearing him with another woman, and worse, her friend. She knew she couldn’t see Nolan again if she wanted to keep Grant from doing something irrational and vengeful. She was also thinking that maybe it’s time to give up Grant, but she knew Grant wouldn’t allow it— she tried it before—so that’s that. However, she couldn’t stop thinking about Nolan’s hands on her and the way he kissed her.
She headed downstairs for a cup of coffee when she was cut-off by Lisa coming out of her room.
“Oh, Tess, good morning! Isn’t it a beautiful day? Now, I know why you love living out here so much. These mornings are so invigorating!”
“Good morning, Lisa. I take it you slept well.”
“Amazing! Weird, though because I feel like I haven’t slept a wink, but at the same time, I feel so energized!”
“Have you talked with Gregory at all yet?”
“No, I haven’t.” Lisa’s mood suddenly changed. Tess deliberately brought up Gregory to try and dial down Lisa’s enthusiasm. She couldn’t bear to witness her good mood knowing who was responsible for it.
“Are you guys through? There’s no chance for reconciliation? Shouldn’t you at least talk through your issues? Maybe they can be resolved by working with a therapist or someone like that.” Tess could barely look Lisa in the eye.
“I doubt it. He made his point crystal clear. He doesn’t want to marry me—end of story. What’s the point of staying together? Don’t get me wrong, I cried half the night because I miss him and want him so badly. I swear I could feel him with me sometimes.”
Tess looked away. “Tess, are you okay? You seem kinda down. Is it me being here?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired. I had a full day yesterday. I’m going to go on down and make some coffee. Do you want some?”
“Sure, I need to get going. I’m working early today.”
“Oh, I almost forgot, I have a conference coming up. I’m scheduled to leave on Sunday.” Tess wasn’t looking forward to leaving so soon; she especially didn’t want to leave Lisa alone—with Grant.
“Cool. Where to?”
“Texas—Fort Worth, I think. I’ll be back on Tuesday.” She headed down the stairs thinking about the trip—wondering if she should cancel.
Lisa had finished her morning preparations and left the house around seven-thirty. Tess sat silently at the kitchen table gazing out at the gardens. Another sunny day had been forecasted and she thought of her little adventure out at the beach. She enjoyed her time out there yesterday. She thought of Nolan, but shook it off and got up to get herself in motion. She needed to remain focused today.

♥♥♥

Saturday night, Lisa agreed to work a double shift and Tess spent her evening packing for her trip to Texas. She continued to mope around the house feeling lonely. She thought of Nolan, but put any notion of calling him out of her head. Once she finished packing, she took a bath and went to bed. She lay awake thinking about her novel—she hadn’t made much progress since the day she met Nolan. Just then her phone rang.
“Hello,” her voice came across as barely a whisper. “Did I wake you, beautiful?”
“Who’s this?”
“Oh, so you forgot me already? I’m crushed,” said Nolan.
“No-no, I just didn’t catch your voice at first.” She sat alert. She actually got goose bumps when she heard his voice.
“Tess, I’ve been thinking about you—haven’t thought of much else since that day. I really want to see you again.”
“Nolan, I don’t think I can.”
“Why not? You said yourself that you’re not involved with anyone.” ‘Damn! Why did I say that? I wasn’t thinking. I am involved with someone. But I like Nolan. He could be what I’ve been looking for. What am I going to do? Why did this happen?’
“I know. It’s just that I travel so much. As a matter of fact, I’m leaving in the morning out of town.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m not asking for anything serious right now; I just want to see you. When are you coming back out to the beach again? I can meet you there.”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to say; I’ve got so much going on.”
“Okay, then I can come out to you.”
“No! You can’t!” Tess became nervous and desperate. She could not have Nolan coming to her house.
“Tess, what are you doing? What is it? If you don’t like me just say so and I won’t call you again, but I really don’t think that’s it. What happened to us out at that beach the other night was really amazing, not to mention special. It was more than just a kiss. I know you felt it, too.”
‘Yes, I felt it! And that’s what’s got me all screwed up! Stop it! Why are you doing this to me? I don’t want to hurt you, too.’ She thought of Vincent.
She tried to disguise her emotions, but her tears won out. She fell in love with Vincent. They had gotten very close in a relatively short period of time. It’s apparent that she still misses him. And now she didn’t want anything to happen to Nolan.
“I do like you, but not like that. I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you since that day. You wouldn’t have kissed me that way if... Look, I’ll be leaving Jenner next week— Tuesday. If you change your mind, lemme know. We can meet at Portuguese Beach, Goat Rock, The Tides, or anywhere; just say you’ll meet me. Tess, don’t toss me aside just like that. Just get to know me. Give us a chance to know one another first.”
“I can’t. Good night.” Tess ended the call and left Nolan dumfounded. She lay back on her pillow and stared through the darkness. She cried harder. She wanted nothing more than to see him again, but she feared Grant’s reaction if he found out.

Several hours had passed and she was still crying.
“I can give you much more, you know that. You’re mine and I’ll take care of you.”
She gasped! “Grant?”
“Don’t talk, just let me take care of you. Forget about him. Don’t make me jealous again!” he ordered. She thought of Lisa.
“But can we talk about it? I wasn’t trying to make you jealous. It’s just that he likes me and...”
“No one can give you what I can, Tess! I thought you understood that. Haven’t I been here for you and taken care of you?”
“Yes, but what about the other night?”
“Don’t ever question my motives! Things are the way they are because they have to be—for your own good. She doesn’t mean anything to me and I will ignore her when I know you have gotten yourself under control. I love you, Tess. As long as I love you, you will belong to me and do the right thing. Just don’t make me do something you’ll regret. My loving wife made a mistake once. She was so beautiful and men fell in love with her, too. I miss her sensuality. But now I have you. Just trust me. Your eyes are like the stars...”

Grant’s voice trailed off into thin air just as Tess felt his hands on her body. She cringed from his touch after hearing his words—more like threats. A huge lump developed in her throat and she held her breath. Without delaying another minute, he took hold of her and made love to her for the remainder of the night. She didn’t resist.

Grant’s jealousy and rage were evident in his performance, which alarmed her, but she remained quiet and would stay that way until he finished. She cried softly and he continued to covet her through his grunts and moans. He wanted to remind her of what she had with him. As much as she feared him at that moment, she was also taken to greater heights that no other before him had taken her. She could never deny the intense euphoria she experienced with him. After several hours, he left her alone and spent.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. It won’t happen again,” she said catching her breath. Her legs trembled beneath the sheets. Her body never knew such pleasure before Grant, but the trade-off often left her heart in shambles and her mind a mess. For the first time during her relationship with Grant, she began to fear him. She suddenly felt she was trapped in a sleepless dream.

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