The Perfect Gift

The text messages go on and on until I’m sick to my stomach. And not out of guilt toward my family. No, I’m ill because I agreed to this scheme. I let my sisters convince me I’m a bad person. That I am truly at fault for something out of my control. I came here and I…

I deceived the man I love.

The man who loves me.

Although, can he really love me if he doesn’t know I’m a liar? The kind of person who would agree to getting pregnant on purpose? Lincoln trusted me with his secrets, he let me heal him and that trust would be fractured if he knew I’d come here to con him.

There’s only one thing to do. I have to tell my sisters the scheme is off.

Only then will I be able to return to Lincoln with a pure heart and conscience.

Only then will I deserve this love he’s bestowed on me.

The restaurant is only a quick jog once I get down to the beach. If I hurry, I can be back before Lincoln even knows I’m gone. With a weight pressing down on my chest, I dress in the thin, blue shift dress and panties I packed. Then I slip to the balcony and climb down soundlessly to the beach below, turning and casting a longing glance back at the house.

I’ll return soon, my love.

Little do I know what awaits me…

6

Lincoln

After sending a quick message to my assistant back in New York, telling him to cancel everything on my schedule, I strip off my shorts on the way up to the bedroom. My cock is full and dripping, bobbing against my stomach as I walk. I’m so eager to claim Nova, I don’t think I’m going to last ten seconds inside of her before I flood that little womb. I can already feel her thighs hugging my hips, can already feel the taste of her screams on my tongue.

I haven’t even kissed her mouth yet.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I’ve been celibate for so long, I’ve forgotten the order to things. To intimacy. Christ, I never knew in the first place, did I? No. And I’m damned glad for it. I’ll never touch another woman as long as I live. Can’t even fucking imagine it. There’s her and only her. Forever.

“Nova,” I rasp, rounding the corner into the bedroom. Ready to pounce.

She’s not in bed, which awakens some hunting instinct inside me. She wants me to track her down and drag her to bed? I’m more than happy to oblige. Noticing the open bathroom door, I head in that direction, but something on the bed grabs my attention before I get too far.

A cell phone.

I didn’t even realize Nova had one. My wild island girl seems more interested in climbing trees than keeping up with social media. I know I shouldn’t look at the contents of her phone, but there’s a need inside me to know every detail of her life. I want to look at every picture in her camera roll, memorize every contact and program my number as all five of her favorites. I’m the only person she needs to call from here on out, because I will take care of every little wish that enters her head.

Unable to resist, I pick up the phone, finding the screen lit up with a series of text messages. They’re from two different numbers, Raquel and Constance. Are those her sisters?

Scanning the messages, a pit opens in my stomach.

Am I reading these right?

Don’t come back until you’re knocked up.

Remember Mom and Dad. Remember what you did. You owe us.

We need that money. You’re going to get it for us or else.

Come back here with nothing to show for it and we’ll make sure you really fall off the cliff this time.

What the fuck?

Are Nova’s sisters forcing her to get pregnant with my child so she can blackmail me? So she can muscle money out of me?

My lips peel back from my teeth. God help me, I’ve never hated a woman, but I hate Nova’s sisters for what they’ve put her through. What they are still putting her through. My poor angel is probably tortured over this. Why didn’t she just tell me? I would have put a stop to her worrying—

For the first time, I notice the balcony door is open and alarm swamps my gut.

“Nova!”

I stomp out onto the balcony, the cell phone smashed to pieces in my fist.

She left me. She’s gone. She’s gone.

How is this happening? I only found her.

Calm down. Reason this out. Wasn’t it only half an hour ago she smiled up at me with love in her eyes? I won’t question that love. I’ve never felt anything so deep or authentic in my life. So where could she have gone?