The Heiress (Book 2 of the Forbidden Series)

17

The flight was luxurious, they had taken the Thompson’s private jet, the whole way down Alexander could think of nothing but the fact that Layla’s family owned their jet. He was not sure why he was so surprised by it, but still, the fact reinforced in his mind how far out of his league she truly was. He could not even afford to repair his motorcycle, and she owned a jet.

When they reached the hotel, he was amazed by the instant and exclusive catering by the hotel staff to their party. Alexander was unaccustomed to the attention that his travel companions soaked up. They settled in their first-class luxury rooms and then changed into their bathing suits. The group was on the beach four hours after they touched down. They rented a motorboat and a set of skis. Alexander had never been waterskiing in his life; truth be told he had never been outside of New York state. He watched from the boat as one went after the next making the sport seem easy enough and exhilarating.

Layla’s security detail drove the boat while Kevin and Mitch assisted Layla out of the water and into the boat. Alexander wrapped a towel around her shoulders closing his arms around her to warm her from the cold water. “You looked great out there.”

“It was a blast; oh, you should so try it.” She smiled.

“Yes, Alexander, why don’t you leap over the edge there and give it a go.” Jeff snickered, putting his competition on the spot. Lounging arrogantly against the side of the boat, his feet propped on the seat across from him. Alexander was the only one yet to get into the water. He would suspect that Alexander had never been on skis before.

“Oh yes Alex you have got to try it, it’s wonderful.” Jill persisted.

“Come on Alex we will help you in.” Mitch smiled offering his hand in assistance.

“It’s easy hold on. When you get the hang of the basics, we will teach you some tricks.” Kevin said holding on to the equipment for him.

Alexander disliked at the idea. He was not too keen on getting on those skis. He did not have a clue what he was doing, and the last thing he wanted was to look idiotic in front of Layla. “Ooo, I think the bad boy is frightened of a little H2O. What’s wrong Alexander, you going to melt if you get wet?” Jeff mocked, his friends chuckling at his humour. “Let’s see how damn cocky he will be underwater.” Jeff snickered to himself.

Alexander swung his legs over the edge of the stern; his heart lumped in his throat while Kevin secured the skis to his feet. Kevin handed him the handle with a smile. “Remember just hold on.”

Jeff moved to the bow. He had noticed on the flight down that he and Gregory shared a mutual dislike for Alexander. He settled into the seat beside the bodyguard and gave a slight nod, both men thinking the same thing. Gregory hit the throttle, and the boat shot forward. The sudden jolt knocked Alexander into the water. His one hand closing tight around the handle tethered to the stern. The force wrenched on his arm straining his shoulder and elbow. Hitting the water at an erroneous angle, Alexander could not get into the proper position to get onto his feet. The boat dragged him through the water. The waves battered against Alexander’s body. His limbs sore, Alexander struggled to get up. Choking on the salty water, he fought for breath.

Mitch and Kevin leaned over the edge grabbing at the rope trying to get a hold and drag Alexander from the water. The force of the water tugged too hard on the tether they could not get a decent grip on it. Kim and Jill were yelling at the guys to try harder, screaming at the driver to stop the boat. Gregory and Jeff sat back in their seats laughing at the scene. Jeff found pleasure in watching Alexander struggle to stay afloat. Layla tugged at the rope and yelled into the wind for the boat to stop. When they did nothing to slow or stop Layla moved to the bow in a fury. “Stop the boat! Stop it now!” She snarled. Jeff placed his hand over the throttle preventing Gregory from following orders, a sadistic smirk on his face. “This isn’t funny Jeff. Stop the damn boat!”

“I can’t get him out; we’re going too fast,” Kevin shouted.

Mitch placed his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice in the hopes that Alexander could hear him over the engine and water. “Alex… let… go! Let… go!”

“Jeff stop the bloody boat.” Kevin snapped coming over and ripping Jeff’s hand from the throttle.

Alexander let go of the handle. His battered body skipped and rolled across the water’s surface to a painful stop. He struggled to tread water, a difficult task with water skis on. The boat went a yard before stopping. He watched from the water as the boat turned around and slowly moved toward him. Rage boiling in his brain, Alexander could think of nothing but getting back on the boat, he would throw Gregory overboard.

The boat pulled alongside him. Reaching his tired arms upward, Kevin and Mitch helped Alexander from the water. Kevin removed the skis and Alexander fell back against the seat coughing up water, filling his lungs with air again. Jeff and Gregory chuckled among themselves entertaining themselves at Alexander’s expense. “I’m sorry, were you not ready?” Jeff mocked. His arrogance ate at Alexander’s patience.

Alexander hauled himself to his feet his body weighed down and waterlogged. He pushed his slopping wet hair from his eyes and glared at Jeff sitting smugly at the bow. “That is enough of this s**t, if you have a problem with me why don’t you grow a pair and just come out and say so. Do I somehow offend you?”

Jeff lunged upward challenging Alexander. “As a matter of fact, you do. I have a problem with cocky little social climbers. What the hell are you even doing here? You don’t belong with us. You don’t belong with her. Layla is too damn good for the likes of you; you aren't anything but a damn gigolo. You have had your sack time now crawl back under whatever rock you came from.” He growled shoving Alexander hard. The swaying of the boat caused Alexander to stumble.

“Jeff, that is enough why are you like this?” Layla snarled every word clipped. “Back off.”

“Sit down.” Jeff snapped his temper getting the better of him. Pushing Layla into her seat Jeff towered over her. “Ease off princess we all know you are slumming it, but for Christ sakes, you are about to go public, what are you still doing with this loser? Image is everything Doll. You stick with this scum and the only place you are going to find yourself is in the rag mags, forget the top ten. You are better than this.” He snarled pointing at Alexander.

Layla shot to her feet, not one for being pushed around. She shoved Jeff in return. “Go to hell Jeff. My s*x life is none of your concern. I’ll bed anyone I damn well, please. If you don’t like it go home.”

“You can do better than this piece of trash,” Jeff argued watching Alexander regain his balance.

“He has got the point Miss,” Gregory interjected.

“My father pays you for your protection, not your opinion. Stay out of this.” She snapped putting him back in his place. “I can do better, is that it, and what is your idea of better? You?”

“Yeah, why the hell not? I am a million times better than this deadbeat.”

“That ship has sailed Jeff; it was a brief… very brief… fling.” She grined vindictively, her hands planted on her hips. “Besides, he is better in bed.”

Alexander couldn’t help but laugh. Jeff’s unprovoked hostility was territorial. He had been the only other guy she had been with and was not taking kindly to being replaced by a man he felt was inferior to himself.

“Bitch.” Jeff backhanded Layla, knocking her into her seat. Her head bounced off the edge of the starboard. Immediately Gregory rose to his feet. His hand flew out and shoved Jeff away from his charge. “That is enough. I like you son but make no mistake you touch her again, and I’ll make you regret it.” Gregory warned Jeff sternly, kneeling beside Layla to be sure she had not been hurt too badly.

“I won't wait until next time.” Alexander barked attacking Jeff. The two men struggled to get the upper hand. Blow by blow; the others moved dodging the brawl. Gregory held Layla back keeping her out of hitting range while the two rivals went at it. The boat rocked as they stumbled and fell against the sides. Jeff had Alexander by the throat, pinned against the side, but Alexander had an advantage… he grew up in the hood.

Alexander punched Jeff hard in the ribs, his hands pushed Jeff upward, and the two toppled over into the water. The splashes spilled over into the boat wetting Layla’s feet. Fending off Gregory, she rushed to the opposite side watching the two wrestle their heads bobbing in and out of the water as they thrashed.

“Stop it! Stop it both of you, or I’ll never speak to either of you again.” She hollered banging her fists down on the sides. Her threat brought the brawl to an end. Alexander swam toward the side and heaved himself up with assistance from Kevin. Mitch helped Jeff into the boat after Alexander and offered the two towels. The hateful stares passing between them created an uncomfortable silence. Layla turned her back to both and took the seat at the bow beside Gregory. “Gregory, take us back to the shore. I suddenly have a headache.” She crossed her arms over her chest and put her feet up on the dash then slumped down in her seat.

Alexander smiled despite himself; she was cute when she pouted. The ride back was quiet and brief. The boat docked and Layla was the first one off stomping her way to the beach with Gregory behind her. Kevin tied up the boat and glared at Jeff.

“Man, what the hell was that about? We have been here six hours, and you have managed to piss off Layla. She is going to be moody all bloody week now.”

Kim and Jill climbed from the boat and adjusted their swimwear once on the dock. Kim fixed Jeff with a hard glare, spiteful of his unusual behaviour. They had all known each other all their lives, and none of them had ever seen Jeff behave so boorishly. “Where do you get off hitting her you jerk? Grow up Jeff; you had better apologize and stop being a prima donna.” The girls ran off after Layla to try and calm her down. A few hours in the sun and a martini or two would help.

“You better pray she doesn’t tell her father.” Kevin snapped.

Alexander strolled along the boardwalk with Mitch after the boat was tied off. His adrenaline still pumping, his body still sore. He hated Jeff, he was sure of it. The man just rubbed him the wrong way from the get-go. What concerned Alexander though at that moment was Layla. She was mad at him too for participating in the fight. He wondered how mad she was and what he would have to do to get out of the doghouse. He was not going to waste his only week away with Layla arguing and sleeping on the hotel couch, but he would not apologize either for defending her.

He was going to need a gesture. Alexander stopped suddenly, staring at a small child running along the beach with a ring of flowers in her hair. A satisfied smile curved his mouth.

He had an idea, but he was going to need help.

“Mitch, could you do me a favour?” Alexander asked slyly.

“Depends on what it is you want.” He answered lifting one dark brow in query.

“I need your influence.”

***

Jeff strolled to the beachside bar where the girls had spent the last two hours. Still sipping on their second drink and laughing. They were in a much better mood now, and Jeff felt it was a perfect time to make his move. A single long-stemmed rose in his hand Jeff approached Layla from behind and held the rose in front of her.

She grinned and accepted, smelling the fragrant petals. “I’m sorry Layla, I behaved like a jerk. I won’t let it happen again. Friends?”

Layla eyed him, scrutinizing him. She had known Jeff all her life, he could be a little intense sometimes, but it had been the first time she had ever known him to become violent with her. She supposed she did provoke him. “Ok, it’s your first offence in twenty years I’ll let you off with a warning.” She teased. “But you have got to try and get along with Alexander. He is very important to me. I don’t want you to wreck this for me.”

Layla could see the tension in Jeff’s face as he tried to restrain his distaste. “I’ll be a saint from here on out. I promise.” He vowed to hug her tight, or at least while she was around he would; but when her back was turned Alexander was fair game. Jeff would have him out of her life and forgotten by the end of the summer.

“Where are Mitch and Kevin?”

Jeff shrugged; come to think of it he had not seen hide nor hair of either of them since the docks.

***

Night fell, and Layla was getting worried she had not seen Alexander in hours and she was beginning to think she had been too hard on him for fighting. After all, Jeff had started it and Alexander was only trying to stick up for her. He was angry and avoiding her she was sure of it. She had this way of always alienating him. Here he was in a place he had never been with people he barely knew, and she gave him the silent treatment. Now he was god knows where and only the good Lord knew when and if he was coming back. Jeff lounged on the beach with the girls all afternoon assuring her that Alexander was merely having a tantrum and if given time and space would get over it and find her later.

Secretly he had hoped her ignoring Alexander would have driven a wedge between them. They returned to their rooms early in the evening to dress and then took supper in the hotel restaurant.

The meal was lovely; roast chicken, herb potatoes, peppered corn on the cob and salad, long island ice tea and a rich cheesecake for dessert. Layla’s appetite had failed her. Her thoughts on Alexander and how much she wished she could find him and apologize. She poked at her food spreading her potatoes around and taking the odd bite here and there from the salad and cheesecake.

They had been dining for an hour, and most of her plate had gone untouched. She dismissed her loss of appetite as the fault of those afternoon martinis when Jill asked if she did not like her meal. Mitch and Kevin arrived at dinner late. Dressed in tailored slacks and dress shirts, they took their seats with wide grins begging their forgiveness for arriving in the middle of the meal. Layla looked frantically to see if Alexander was arriving with them, but he had not. “Do you two know where Alex is?”

“Mitch, have you seen Alex?” Kevin asked mockingly.

“Alex? Alex? Tall good-looking, athletic guy, right?” Mitch asked thoughtfully.

“Yeah.” Kevin nodded.

“Dark, brooding, Mediterranean man?” Mitch clarified.

“That would be the one.” Kevin chuckled.

“You mean the man all the ladies here are wanting to get with and I’d kill to be?” Mitch steeple his fingers thoughtfully with a smug grin.

“Yeah, Alex, you saw him?”

“No, can’t say I have.” He leaned back in his seat. His gaze drifted behind Layla prompting her to turn around. Layla saw a small fair-haired child with a shy smile standing behind her. A pretty thin little thing with blonde ringlets and tiny flowers woven into her curls. In her hands, she held a small blue velvet box. The child held out the box to Layla with a giggle. Once Layla took the box from her hands the child nodded her head in friendly goodbye and scampered off, her pale locks bouncing on her shoulders.

Layla turned back to the table curious. The smiles on Kevin and Mitch’s faces told her they knew more than they were letting on. She opened the box slowly and found a single piece of paper folded once horizontally. She removed the paper and read the handwritten message it contained.

Princess, your fairytale waits. The desk will direct you. ~ Alex

Layla rose from her seat tossing her napkin on her untouched plate. “Excuse me. Something came up. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” Layla turned and quickly walked from the dining room.

Mitch chuckled. “We will be lucky to see them before the flight home.”

Kim leaned over the table curiously. “What’s going on?”

“Let’s say when that boy apologizes he makes it count; she won’t let him out of bed for days. Damn, I wish I was that smooth.” Kevin chuckled.

Jeff suppressed a growl as he watched Layla walk away.

***

The desk clerk led Layla and Gregory to the hot tubs. The room was marked with a sign saying do not disturb. The windows in the hall were draped in dark blue satin privacy curtains preventing anyone from seeing inside. The door only accessible by a key that only the desk clerk and Alexander now had. The elderly clerk slid his key in the lock and held open the door for Layla. Gregory took a seat outside the door, and Layla stepped inside. Her mouth agape.

The room was breathtaking. Lavish white rose arrangements and white candles decorated the room. A small intimate table was set up by the only uncovered window on the far end of the room a huge window overlooking the starry sky and calm ocean. A white lace tablecloth adorned the small table. A delectable meal prepared and arranged atop it. A sterling silver wine chillier stood near the table with a wrapped bottle chilling inside.

The center of the room had a large six-person hot tub. Folded white towels and bathrobes placed neatly on the edges. The only colour in the room was the beautiful red rose petals floating on top of the hot water. The combination of heat and flowers filled the room with an intoxicating fragrance. She closed her eyes and breathed in the wonderful scent. Opening her eyes, she saw the most beautiful aspect of the room.

Alexander dressed in a fine white suit. His dark hair combed back with the odd unruly hair falling into his bedroom eyes. He was dressed up as a charming, dashing dream but retained his rakish appeal that had attracted her to begin with. Layla could not stop from beaming as he walked toward her. In his hand, he held a dainty silver tiara sparkling with diamonds. Standing directly in front of her Alexander carefully positioned the tiara on the crown of her head, arranging her silky tresses. The clerk bowed out of the room closing the door behind him.

They were alone, completely and utterly alone with her prince charming. Alexander took Layla’s hand in his and brought her fingers to his lips, kissing her hand lightly. “You look stunning as always.” He spoke softly, his voice sensual and charismatic she felt flutters in her belly. “I had the hotel chef prepare a meal for us. I hope you like shellfish.” Alexander led Layla to the table and pulled her seat out for her.

Layla sat down sliding her hands under her to straighten her skirt. Alexander slid her closer to the table and strolled around to the other chair. Layla took in the beautiful meal. Fresh Maine lobster tail, wild rice and sweet peas. Chocolate covered strawberries and light, fluffy angel food cake with a creamy whip topping. Alexander removed a sealed bottle of Dom Pérignon. Popping the top, he slowly poured two tall crystal glasses. The sweet bouquet filled her nostrils as she watched the bubbles fizz to the surface.

Alexander passed the glass across the table, their fingers brushing as she took it sending shudders through Layla’s body. It was all so incredible, so romantic, like something out of a paperback novel. She wondered how he had pulled this off but did not dare ask; she did not want to spoil the effect. He had gone to so much time and trouble to create this evening for her. “Everything is perfect.” She praised him.

“It doesn’t begin to compare to you.” Alexander reached across the table his fingers stroking the back of her hand. “I wanted to make up for this morning. It was ignorant of me.”

“I shouldn’t have gotten so mad; you were only trying to protect me.”

“Am I forgiven?”

“Yes.”

***

They enjoyed their meal. The lobster melted on her tongue it was almost orgasmic. It pleased Alexander to see Layla take pleasure in the food. The candlelight caressing her supple complexion. She was so beautiful, so mesmerizing he wondered what he would do without her. How would he go on when she grew tired of him? The voices of her father, Gregory, and Jeff constantly replaying in his mind. It was imposable to quiet them, the constant reminder to him that his time was limited with this earthbound angel. Melancholy crept up on him, and Alexander forced a content look. The pain inside eating at him. He wished he could make her love him, wished he could become the man she would want forever. Wished he could change the stars themselves.

After the meal Alexander watched Layla bring a strawberry to her lips, touching the chocolate tip to her tongue. Her lips closed around the plump berry as she sucked the sweet juice bursting after she took that first bite. Alexander’s body responded to the sensual imagery. Watching her eat that tempting dessert was the most erotic experience of his life. Her fingers lightly pinched the stem of another and dipped the tip into the creamy whipped topping of her cake. Layla lapped the cream off the end, and he sucked in a breath as he imagined that lush tongue lapped at him.

***

Layla savoured the taste of the berry in her mouth. Everything tasted sensational. It was easily the best meal of her life. She observed Alexander’s intent attention to her. His eyes concentrated on her mouth. His arousal apparent in his face. She placed the berry on the plate and licked the last of the cream from her lips. She felt herself wanting him. His desire radiating into her.

Layla rose to her feet. Her fingers unbuttoned her blouse. She walked toward the hot tub sliding her blouse down her shoulders and dropping it to the floor. Her skirt joined it shortly, and as she mounted the steps, she stripped the last articles of clothing leaving a trail up the steps to the water. Sinking into the perfumed water, she immersed herself completely relishing the warmth. Coming up for air, she ran her hands over her hair feeling the dainty tiara under the pads of her fingers. The silky rose petals glided over her skin.

Opening her eyes, she watched Alexander disrobe as he took slow steps up the stairs. Nude when he reached the top step she smiled, Layla’s gaze molesting him from afar. She held her arms out to him, and in seconds Alexander’s lips captured hers. His arms closed around Layla backing her against the wall of the hot tub. His fingers stroked the silken curls between her thighs, dipping into her. Thrusting in and out until she begged him to take her.

Alexander gripped her hips and lifted Layla into his lap. Entering her then was incredible neither could contain themselves. Layla shuddered with the small explosions of pleasure; he filled her so completely she felt she’d die. Alexander groaned pushing into her. Holding completely still sheathed, he fended off his climax. She rocked against him. The combination of heat and friction sent Layla to the moon.

Layla came with a fierceness she never had experienced, a blinding pleasure that consumed them both. He spilled into her giving her his essence and feeling closer to her at that moment then he had to anyone in his life.

Alexander looked wearily into Layla’s eyes, her sweet smile, and he knew…

He was hopelessly in love with a woman he could never keep.