Dawned (Circle of the Red Scorpion Book 3) Read online

  “Come, angel.” Broderick took his wife’s hand and led her into the bathroom.

  He turned on the bathroom light and turned her around. He slid the zipper of the dazzling evening gown down and lifted the dress over her head. His gaze slipped over the sheer black lacy bra and matching panties that molded to her sexy round ass. His slacks grew tight. He hadn’t made love to her since the evening she left his office, and he was aching for her. There was no hiding that.

  Reaching behind him, he leaned back into the shower and turned on the water. He started unbuttoning his shirt, but she stopped him.

  “Let me do that.” She skillfully unbuttoned the shirt and pushed it off his shoulders and laid it on top of her evening dress on the counter. Her hands wandered over his muscled chest and his washboard abs on their way down his trousers. She caressed his thick bulge before she unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. She peeled his pants open and jerked until they were on the floor at his feet. He stepped out of them. His boxer brief left nothing to her imagination. She traced the outline of his erection, slowly, seductively, touching him just enough to make him writhe for more.

  “God, angel,” he groaned, on fire for her. He wanted to fuck her hard and fast up against the bathroom wall, but he wanted this night to be special for her. His hands surrounded her wrists and pulled them away. She tried to get free, but he held on to her.

  The bathroom was filling with steam, sweating up the mirror and the air around them. Broderick didn’t care. He spun Elise around until she was facing the large soaking tub and bent her over. Her hands gripped the edge of the tub, her ass high in the air.

  “Don’t move, Angel. If you do, I may be forced to spank you.”

  She laughed and wiggled her ass. “Maybe I’d like that.”

  The smell of her arousal and the magnificent view made his jaguar stir, and Broderick forced the animal to retreat as he caressed the round globes of his wife’s pretty ass. The fingers of his right hand stroked her soft skin as they made their way over her hip and into the front of her panties. His erection pressed against her as his fingers explored her sex.

  Elise sucked in a breath when her husband’s fingers glided over her clit and stroked. She ached with sweet arousal, and she undulated her hips, grinding her ass against his hard cock. He slid the tip of a finger inside her and moaned. His thumb strummed her clit, but his finger went in no more than an inch, keeping his contact shallow. All her attempts to force him to go deeper were thwarted as he held her against him with his other hand, playing and teasing her until she wanted to stomp her feet and scream she needed more.

  Broderick leaned over her and kissed the back of her neck. “So impatient,” he teased. “I’m going to give you everything you want and more.” He slid his finger in all the way and withdrew it to circle the slick rim of her pussy, his thumb rubbing over and around her clit.

  Lightning bolts of erotic sensations shot through Elise, making her legs quiver. He knew just where to touch her to drive her mad, and she loved it. She was teetering so close to the precipice. Just a little more and…

  “No,” she cried out as Broderick withdrew his hand and he had to grab her to keep her from falling. “Don’t stop.”

  He knew she was close and the friction from her grinding against his throbbing hard cock had nearly made him come. He stripped off his boxers and bent to remove her panties. Her bra followed. He used his knees to spread her legs. He entered her slowly, filling her until his balls tapped against her clit as he slowly thrust into her. She convulsed around him. His cock swelled. He reached around her and gripped her breasts, pulling and squeezing her tight nipples.

  “You feel so good, angel. I could stay deep inside you forever,” he whispered as he withdrew and thrust, savoring the feel of her warm velvet channel. He withdrew and thrust again and again, easing into a slow, steady rhythm. He released a breast to run a finger down her spine to the puckered hole below. He rubbed over it as he thrust, teasing the tight ring of muscle. He felt her sex tighten and her breath grow ragged. She was close. So was he.

  Elise cried out as the first wave of her orgasm erupted in a volcanic blast that shot through her sizzling, hot body. Had Broderick not been holding on to her, she would have collapsed, her trembling legs too unsteady to hold her. The pleasure was too great, too intense to keep her on her feet.

  Broderick pumped into Elise, his groin a vortex of hot molten fire so good he thought his body would combust. He gripped her ass and pistoned into her, his pleasure soaring even higher as his balls tightened. His pending release caused him to hold on to her tight, his legs trembling as he continued to thrust until, in a pulsating eruption, he came filling her with his seed.

  When he was finally able to take a deep breath, he leaned against her back, each of them slick with sweat and the steam from the shower. He was too tired to move, too dazed by their passionate lovemaking to conjure a rational thought. But they couldn’t stay the way they were. They had to move or risk falling into the deep bathtub.

  He stood up, taking her with him. “Let’s take a quick shower,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Yes,” she replied too exhausted to say more.

  Afterward, he toweled her off and carried her up the stairs to the four-poster king bed and lay her gently on it. He crawled in behind her and pulled her against him.

  “I love you, angel.”

  “Love you too,” her voice quiet as she hovered close to sleep.

  “Let get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow,” he said as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep, his arms entwined around the woman that he loved.

  Broderick and Elise never made it to Bainbridge Island. Instead, they spent a lazy day in bed, making love and enjoying just being together in a world all their own.

  Chapter 11

  "I'm pregnant," Elise whispered in amazement as she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and placed a hand over her stomach. She was three months along according to her obstetrician. It would be another few weeks before she would feel the baby move. She prayed to the Great Spirit not to abandon her and guide her through a healthy pregnancy.

  She was happy, but there was also fear. Was the baby Broderick’s or Solomon’s? Given the timing, she believed her husband was the father, and she was determined to focus on that. The alternative was something she didn’t want to think about.

  She told Mrs. Sims about the pregnancy and they were planning a special dinner for Broderick. She asked him if he could come home earlier because she had something to tell him. Concerned, he tried to press her to tell him, but she refused to elaborate but told him it was good news. He simmered down and agreed to leave his office early.

  Things between them had been rocky thanks to Solomon's constant interference in their lives. She hated him so much, but inexplicably she couldn't stay away from him. She was drawn to him beyond reason. More amazing, her memories of their time together were often as blurred as an out-of-focus camera lens. It bothered her that she didn't have a full recollection of what transpired between them but maybe she was better off. It lessened the pain of knowing how far she debased herself with Solomon and betrayed the one man who loved her above all else.

  She dreaded breaking the news to Solomon. He would not take it well, but at the moment she didn't care. She hoped her pregnancy would disgust him enough for him to finally let her go.

  ****

  Elise took extra care to dress for dinner. She wore a cap-sleeved emerald green silk cocktail dress with strappy black sandals, cut to mold to her figure. She only wore it to her art exhibitions and her husband had never seen it. She and Broderick never got dressed up for dinner, instead opting to eat in the kitchen with Mr. and Mrs. Sims. She loved those dinners because it reminded her of the family dinners she had with her parents.

  She fidgeted nervously in her chair waiting for her husband to appear. She scanned the dining room table, noting everything was perfect. Thank goodness for Mrs. Sims.
White taper candles flanked the lavender and white rose centerpiece and was the single adornment on the table. She liked things simple, and Mrs. Sims understood that. The dinnerware was arranged simply as well. Broderick’s place setting was at the head with hers to his right. The thought of her sitting at the other end of the long dining table was ridiculous. She did ask Mrs. Sims to use the china her husband bought while on their honeymoon in San Francisco. Each plate depicted a scene from the forest, with deer frolicking in a vibrant green meadow filled with wildflowers. She loved the china and only used it on very special occasions.

  She picked up her glass of water and sipped it thoughtfully. How would Broderick react when she told him he was going to be a father? Would he be happy about it? She hoped so. It was a miracle she was pregnant at all given her inability to conceive- accept the one time and that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage she didn’t want to think about. For so long she thought her mother’s history of heartbreaking miscarriages was repeating itself. Maybe the great spirits were no longer punishing her.

  The thought settled her nerves until she remembered Solomon and her sense of calm turned into a hard knot in her stomach. He was incensed when she called and told him she wouldn’t be coming to him. She suffered through his childish tirade and a string of foul language until his shouting ceased and his voice turned deadly calm.

  “You will come to me tomorrow evening, Elise, and I expect your performance to be exceptional to make up for your neglect.”

  “Yes, Solomon,” was her only response and wondered sickly how he planned to torture her. He never let what he conceived to be a slight against him go without some form of retribution. He did it with his men, and he didn’t treat her any different. She was his possession to use as he wished. What choice did she have but to comply? She would do anything to keep her husband safe.

  “What is all of this?” Broderick asked as he entered the dining room. He smiled and pointed at the china. “It must be a special occasion if we’re using this china.”

  Rescued from her troubling thoughts, she stared at her husband, freshly showered and dressed in a navy-blue suit and white shirt, open at the neck. She grinned. He opted not to wear his signature necktie, a staple in his daily life as the District Attorney. She could not help but admire his devastatingly handsome face and powerful, athletic body. It was something his impeccable suit could not conceal. She never tired of looking at him.

  “It is a special occasion. I have some news to tell you,” she gestured to his chair. “Sit, let’s eat dinner first.”

  “Is everything all right, angel?” Broderick studied his wife’s face as he sat down.

  Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Don’t worry, my love. Everything is fine.”

  Her serene face revealed nothing amiss, and he relaxed. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me your news now before we eat?”

  “No. I’ll tell you while we eat dessert.”

  He groaned. “How do you expect me to eat with your big, fat secret news looming in the air? Not knowing is going to wreak havoc with my digestion.”

  “You deal with surprise discoveries in court every day, Mr. District Attorney. You can handle another half an hour.”

  Broderick picked up his wine glass and took a sip. “Very well, I’ll play along,” he smirked. “But I might need something a little stronger than wine.”

  Elise reached across and placed her hand on his. “Don’t worry; it’s good news. Tell me about your day.”

  Broderick rolled his eyes and sighed. What is my beautiful wife up to? He mused. A special dinner, her favorite china, that sexy silk dress he’d never seen before. She looked so tempting in that emerald green perfection; he didn’t care about dinner and was quickly losing interest in her news. He wanted to take her upstairs and have his way with her. He hadn’t spent much time with her lately. They both were consumed with their work, but it wasn’t a good enough excuse. He should make more time for his wife, but it was Solomon Blackwell who kept him away so much. Solomon Blackwell who fueled an obsession he did not know how to control.

  When Broderick thought the noose was closing around Solomon’s depraved neck, he would miraculously slip out. He had so many influential people on his payroll and protecting his interests; Broderick’s progress was stalled time and time again.

  Every time Solomon avoided prosecution, Broderick was impossible to be around in the office as his staff in the District Attorney’s Office would all attest to and his jaguar was also more difficult to control. He often left the office early and found a place outside of town to release his beast before going home, if he did go home. Sometimes, he just went to the penthouse to sleep. He hated to admit it, but there wasn’t a moment of the night or day when he didn’t think about putting that arrogant bastard away and severing the influence he wielded over the good citizens of Seattle and his wife.

  To make matters worse, Elise had no clue what a bad character Solomon was. Somehow, he had won her over, and she couldn’t see him for what he was. Broderick had to find a way to stop Solomon before he hurt his wife as he and his men had done to scores of others. All one had to do was count the dead bodies and emotionally scarred women left in their wake.

  Broderick downed his wine and poured another glass. He glanced at her. “Do you want some wine?”

  “Not tonight.”

  He frowned and took a long sip. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She smiled. “I’m fine.”

  Elise was starting to get nervous. Her husband was very perceptive. She was relieved when Cecile, one of the maids came in and started clearing the table. Her husband had said little through dinner, and her attempts to draw him into a conversation fell flat. He had something on his mind even though he tried to play along. He was stoically silent as he nursed his wine while the maid was clearing the dinner table.

  “Are you ready for dessert, Mrs. Devereaux?” The maid asked, holding the tray of dirty dishes.

  “Yes, please tell Mrs. Sims it’s time.”

  Broderick looked up from the wine glass in his hand to focus on his wife, suddenly weary of the place his thoughts took him. He’d rather focus on that dress. That enticing sexy dress and the delectable treasures hidden beneath it.

  “Is it finally time to reveal your little secret, angel?” He set his glass down. “If not, I can think of something else much better to pass the time.” He reached out, slid his hand seductively over hers and squeezed gently.

  Elise inhaled slightly as the intensity of his gaze wrapped around her like smoldering blue fire. She swallowed hard and smiled. “It’s time.”

  Broderick sighed and sat back. “Too bad. My idea was much more stimulating.”

  Before Elise could reply, Mrs. Sims entered the room carrying a platter holding a dark chocolate cake.

  Broderick smiled Mrs. Sims, who’d been like a mother to him since he was a little boy. After his mother died from cancer, she took care of him as if he was her own. “Hmmm. Chocolate cake, my favorite. Thank you, Mrs. Sims.”

  “Not exactly,” Mrs. Sims replied with humor. “Your wife asked the cook to bake a special cake for tonight.” She set it down in front of him.

  Broderick glanced at his wife, who was biting her lip and back to the cake. He studied it intently. “It looks the same.” He dipped a finger in the icing and tasted it. “Hmmm. It tastes the same. Why don’t you cut me a slice and let me be the judge?”

  Mrs. Sims chuckled and picked up the cake cutter. She cut a piece and placed it on his dessert plate.

  The cake had two thick layers. One was pink, and the other was powder blue. He frowned. “What kind of cake is this? The cook has never made this cake before.” He looked at his wife.

  Elise took his hand. “It’s a celebration cake made especially for you.” She saw the confusion on his face and laughed. “You are the District Attorney for King County. Solving this mystery should be easy for you. I thought you were much sharper than that.”
/>
  He studied the cake for a minute, and a slow smile spread across his face. “Do you mean…”

  “I’m pregnant, Broderick. We’re going to have a baby.”

  The relief and utter joy of her news nearly knocked the wind out of him. He was going to be a father. He stood up swiftly and pulled her into his arms. He buried his face in her hair. “Angel, that is the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard. After all the times we tried…I never expected this. I can’t tell you how happy you’ve made me.”

  “Let’s go, Cecile,” Mrs. Sims told the maid. “Let’s give them some privacy.” She turned to Elise and Broderick. “Congratulations. My husband and I are so happy for you both. He’s sorry he couldn’t be here for this. He had to go into Seattle. It will be so nice to have a child in the house again. There hasn’t been one running through these halls since you were a little boy.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Sims, and tell Mr. Sims as well.”

  The door closed behind her and Broderick looked down at his wife. “Of all the crazy things that went through my mind, you being pregnant was not one of them.”

  “Are you happy?” Elise asked.

  “Yes, angel. I’m ecstatic. To think in …”

  “Six months.”

  “You’re that far along? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Elise didn’t answer right away, thinking of the baby she miscarried. Her husband didn’t know about that, and she was never going to tell him. He would be furious with her, and he had every right to be. It was simpler to keep it to herself. “I wanted to make sure before I told you. If…something happened, and we… lost the baby....” God, if he only knew the sheer hell, I suffered after I lost our first baby…Well, she couldn’t think about that now. This was a happy moment. No time for tears.

  “God forbid, if that ever happened, I would be there for you. You are my wife, and I love you more than life itself.”