Sophie smiled pleasantly and said, "Yes, sweetheart. Now come along. We don't want to be late, do we?"
Aria nodded and obediently got down from the bed.
As she was walking toward the door, Sophie said, "And remember what I told you before? You shouldn't be sleeping with, err... Mia. She doesn't like that, you know. Besides, you don't know her very well, and..."
Aria appeared concerned about Sophie's advice, and I immediately felt the need to ease her apprehension about our sleeping arrangement.
I said, "You can come and sleep with me in my bed anytime you want, Aria." I smiled at the little girl in encouragement. "After all, we have fun doing our slumber parties, right?"
Aria smiled brightly at my inciting words and nodded. "Yes. I like sleeping with Mia. It's all right, isn't it, Daddy?" She turned to her father for approval.
James came forward and picked up his daughter in his arms. "Of course, sweetheart," he said. In which case, Aria did a big yay and kissed her dad on the cheek.
I felt relief that James was on my side, supporting me and not the beautiful Sophie. I had no idea why I felt this sleeping arrangement was important, but I really did.
When James was putting his daughter back down onto the floor, I didn't miss him giving Sophie a sharp stare, as if in warning.
Sophie seemed intimidated by James and bowed her head in submission. She hastily grabbed for Aria's hand and said, "Let's go get ready."
Aria nodded and then was led out the door. Both Alfie and Sammy chose that moment to jump down from the bed and follow Aria. I watched them go until they turned the corner and disappeared from my sight.
Now alone in bed and with James still standing there at the doorway, watching me, I suddenly felt more than a little flustered. Gosh, this involuntary abstinence between us really played havoc with my nerves. I had been so used to having him close to me when we'd been in Vegas, what with him making love to me and kissing me almost every time we were together. Now that we were in LA with so many people residing under the same roof and especially having Aria around, however, that had changed. The fact that we'd never had sex or had a proper kiss since we'd returned had transformed me back into an innocent, shy girl around him, just like the first time I'd met him not that long ago.
I hugged the duvet against my chest as I watched him walk toward me. I marveled at the easy grace of his stroll, at the slight swing of his hips and the movement of his powerful shoulders. He was an amazing specimen, the type that made women drool the instant they saw him.
I was mesmerized by him as he came and stood at the side of the bed. My body suddenly trembled in longing for his touches as I gazed up at him, almost pleadingly.
"It's been a while since we were alone," he said softly.
I couldn't have agreed more. The majority of the time during these past few weeks, he'd be working either in his home office here in the mansion or at his main office at the hotel in Beverly Hills. I hadn't seen much of him, except maybe a peek or two in the morning during breakfast.
"That's because you're busy," I retorted, blaming him for our lack of an intimate relationship.
He seemed amused by my accusation and said, "So it is." He leaned closer so his face was merely an inch from mine.
My heart raced as we were nose to nose and lips to lips. I could feel his warm breath on my skin as I offered my face to him for a kiss. Even just a little peck would have satisfied me.
He granted my wish and gently planted his lips against mine. His kiss was soft and slow, and I felt myself swooning with love. When he urged my lips to part for him, I eagerly obliged.
God, he felt so good. I wanted more... more of James Maxwell... more of his touches and more of his kisses. I felt as if I were in heaven.
Then James slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I groaned in ecstasy.
Oh, yes! This was what I had been missing all week. This deliciousness. His sweet, hot kiss. His heat against me. His hard, muscular body embracing me.
My mind went numb, and my body melted into his. Then he was about to go all out and kiss me passionately as he had before--that deep, wild kiss that usually drove me to the brink of insanity.
But Aria's voice came singing our way. "Daddy! Daddy! You have to come and help pick my dress. Please! Daddy!"
I froze in fright as if I'd just been caught red-handed. Then before the little girl could see us in such an adult and uncalled-for position, I hastily pulled myself away from James, abruptly terminating our kiss. Before the door burst wide open, I even managed to shift as far away from James as possible, sitting haphazardly on the edge of the bed on the other side.
James frowned darkly at the interruption--I believe toward the fact that I had abruptly pulled away from him. Well, it couldn't be helped, could it? I didn't want Aria to see her dad kissing me like that. I didn't want to ruin her innocence. After all, Aria merely assumed I was staying with them in the guise I was her friend and certainly not the fact that I was James's mistress, which was a subject not suitable for her young age. Furthermore, she wouldn't understand how that unconventional relationship worked anyway.
Aria came rushing over to James and started pulling at his hand to get his attention. "Come on, Daddy," she begged. "Help me pick a dress to wear."
James softened his expression and nodded. "Of course, sweetheart." Then he allowed Aria to lead him out the door.
I watched father and daughter walking away, my heart still racing. It was then James turned his head and gave me that sensual, possessive look I had seen many times before. He wanted me, and come hell or high water, he was going to have me.
The dark glint in his eyes and the sinister smile on his lips made my tummy quiver with anticipation. The expression told me he'd ravish me soon, that he'd make me cry and beg until my secret place was filled with his manhood, until he was sated and I was exhausted.
My whole body trembled in eagerness at the prospect. I sat there, feeling my body awaken as if from a long, deep slumber as I stared into space. The thought that soon James would kiss me ardently all over and drive me insane with his lovemaking made my head spin.
Breathe, Mia, breathe, I told myself.
Once I did manage to calm down, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom next door. There, I stared at myself in the mirror and noted my face was flushed red and my eyes were bright. I looked like a young woman who couldn't wait to be ravished by her hot boyfriend, couldn't wait to be ruthlessly and mindlessly fucked.
I took a few more deep breaths and then turned my attention to cleaning up for the day.
Twenty minutes later, I was done and staring at myself in the mirror. With my long hair still wet and my face made up neutrally, I thought I looked quite fetching. Today, instead of wearing one of the many expensive dresses James had bought for me, I opted for a pair of jeans and a checkered shirt. I thought I looked casual and rather chic, which I liked. Furthermore, our destination was Disneyland, and there'd be rides. I mean crazy, high-speed rides, and I was sure a dress wouldn't be suitable for such a thing. Unless one chose not to enjoy oneself at all.
After cleaning the bathroom and then making my bed, I headed out the door, humming to myself. I was in a better mood this morning than most since I had been staying here under James's roof. It was probably because for the first time in days, James had kissed me and given me the silent promise of his intended seduction.
Chapter 3
James
James watched his daughter with amusement as she happily skipped along the corridor, humming to herself. He glanced over his shoulder toward Mia's bedroom and glimpsed his mistress getting out of bed.
The sight of her slender body in sleeping shorts and a tank top burned in his mind, reminding him just how much he missed embracing her, kissing her, and making love to her.
Fuck! But that kiss just now was fucking sweet. He thought he'd lose his mind if they were to continue. If Aria hadn't turned up and interrupted them, he was sure he'd probably throw Mia on her back
and fuck her then and there. It would have been one of the few good things that happened to him during these past few days.
First there was his work at the Maxwell Group, which was driving him more than a little insane at the moment, simply because he'd been away for a bit too long. But he could very easily handle that. Hard work was nothing to him since dealing with business was in his blood. The thing that had been giving him a lot of headaches lately had been his family.
Eric was getting out of hand where their father's new twenty-five-year-old bride, Alice Ota, was concerned. Obviously, he hadn't been satisfied with just going to Japan to take a sneak peek at the young woman and telling her, "Hell No," to becoming their new stepmother. Of course, he hadn't been able to find Alice, let alone tell her to fuck off, being the hotheaded Eric he was.
Still, their youngest was right that the woman was barely a year older than Eric himself and the age difference between her and their notorious father Liam Maxwell was just too much for anyone to fathom.
It would only be a few more months before Alice, who was currently residing in Japan, arrived. If Scott had his information right, which was 99 percent of the time, then Alice was all American, having been born in this country nearly twenty-six years ago to a pair of American Caucasian parents. He remembered Scott said Alice's mother had divorced her biological father when she was three years old and migrated to Japan due to her job. Although James suspected it probably had something to do with more than just the woman's job.
There in Japan, Scott had continued the tale while they'd been drinking last night during one of their weekly catch-up sessions. The woman met with Mr. Ota, and as one might say, the rest was history.
Scott continued that Alice also happened to have a younger half-sibling named Yuki Ota, who was half-Japanese and half-American, and this sibling would be migrating to America as well, along with Alice.
Fuck! No matter how one looked at this, as Eric had stated, it sounded like a fucking mail-order bride situation. This one was also attached with a sibling in the contract.
Like Scott had said while Eric was half-drunk, "There's nothing we can do about it. We just have to go with the flow like always."
Go with the flow, James thought as Aria led him around the corner. He and his brothers had always done that where their notorious father Liam Maxwell was concerned, such as with his early retirement as CEO from their multibillion-dollar hotel, resort, and casino chain operation as well as his leading role as the big boss in the underground market of Las Vegas, both of which were now James's. Everyone knew when Liam made a decision, he wasn't going to change it. That was why it was best to go with the flow where Liam was concerned, whether it is in regard to business or personal matters. Eric should know that better than anyone else and not get involved. James himself wasn't stupid and neither was Scott. The more they thought about the whole situation, the fishier it smelled.
The suspicion was rooted in Scott, who had revealed it was tough shit trying to dig up any dirt about Alice Ota. Fuck, it had taken him months and a whole lot of expensive resources just to find out what her name was. It was as if someone powerful were covering her background and tracks. Why? What the fuck for? She was just a normal citizen, wasn't she?
The second thing that raised a very suspicious red flag was their father had regularly disappeared off to Japan like it was his fucking second home. In the past, it had been once every year. Recently, that routine had changed to something like once every other month. Not to mention the trips lasted longer every time. Since James himself had returned to LA two weeks ago, their father had hastily left for Japan again. This time he had gruffly informed them he'd be returning with Alice, which would be in a month's time.
On the surface, this all seemed to make sense. He was visiting his beloved future bride and would be helping her prepare for the move. But why the hell take a bunch of highly trained, ruthless bodyguards? Furthermore, when he had returned to America, it was without them. That was fucking fishy.
Fuck! James wouldn't be surprised if this whole new bride thing turned out to be something entirely different. The best they could do now was to wait and see when their father returned. Hopefully, Eric would stay put and behave himself for the duration of the forthcoming month.
Thinking about his family's situation hurt his brain like a bitch. Because he knew shit was going to hit the fan when their father returned with Alice and her younger sibling Yuki, who they'd presumed to be a teenaged boy, he tried not to get too involved. He had his own shit to worry about. More specifically, shit in regard to Herbert Weston, Mia's bastard of an uncle.
Herbert had somehow disappeared from his radar, even with his men working on the case, tracking the blasted man's every move. The last time Cole, one of his best men, reported Hebert's whereabouts, he'd been in LA. And fuck, James could hardly believe this, but the man had been sighted at the same shopping mall where he and Mia had made a pit stop two weeks ago after they had landed in LA. The thought that the disgusting man might have seen Mia that day made him feel sick to his stomach.
James was a very protective man when it came to something he considered his, especially when that was a woman he had strong feelings for. As a precaution, he had increased security around the house and even gone as far as enlisting a bodyguard to watch over Mia whenever she happened to step outside the house, which, thank God, hadn't been that often.
He hated it. He hated the fact he didn't know what that fuckhead of a bastard Herbert Weston was up to. Whether he had in fact seen Mia that day, and if he had, then had he been stalking her all this time? If that were true, it should have been easy for his men to spot the man, but so far, they'd seen no one suspicious.
He switched his thoughts to the woman who had always been foremost on his mind. Thinking about her made him smile. Fuck, thinking about her made his cock hard. This James decided to blame on their abstinence, not the fact that he was having fucking deep feelings for her and he was obsessed with her.
For these past few weeks, he'd been going with the flow where she was concerned. In fact, he'd barely had the opportunity to kiss her, and it was driving him insane.
He knew their timing was all wrong, and Mia had her apprehension where Aria's innocence was concerned. Not to mention their relationship, which was unconventional at best. But hell, that didn't mean he had to go without tasting her.
Fuck! But he missed kissing her and fucking her until she was breathless and he was completely mindless.
James licked his lips, inadvertently tasting his mistress's sweetness. Instantly his blood ran hot with lust. Fuck, oh fuck! Tonight. He'd take her tonight, because he knew he couldn't hold on much longer without tasting every inch of her and driving his hardened cock into the deepest part of her.
Chapter 4
James
Once he was in Aria's bedroom, James concentrated on helping his daughter choose her wardrobe for the day, not that he was any good at it. He didn't quite understand little girls' tastes, not like he understood women's fashion. He personally appreciated a woman's body, Mia's especially. And buying garments to fit that beautiful figure was a pleasure. His mistress might not know it, but she suited most clothing he bought for her. Seeing her wearing what he'd chosen made his heart glow with delight. Not that he had any qualms about ripping the expensive material to pieces simply to get his hands on her naked body either. It was thrilling and so fucking satisfying as he worked his way through what was keeping him away from what he desired most--the smooth, sensuality of her skin.
He had just finished going through the wardrobe with his daughter when Sophie appeared, having finished drawing a bath for Aria. James noticed her shy smile, which was directed at him, and her nervous movements as she came over and ushered Aria away into the bathroom. He didn't miss the fact that the woman was giving him sidelong looks either.
James wasn't stupid. Sophie was personally interested in him. Sure, he'd always appreciated her breathtakingly beautiful face and gorgeous figure,
but there was nothing in the woman that sparked his interest. There were no raw thrills that coursed hot in his veins. Not like when he looked at Mia.
Mia, James thought with a dark smile, made the blood in his veins erupt in excitement and stirred his cock into life. She was deeply sincere, fucking innocent, and beautifully refreshing. She had depth. She had substance. She was what he wanted in a woman.
Sophie? When did he start to realize she was just... superficial? There was nothing sincere about her, as if there were no depth or substance to her, as if she were merely a one-dimensional person.
When did he start to suspect she wasn't all perfect? That she might have an underlying agenda?
Fuck! He was a notorious businessman, and sizing up his competitors' true intentions had always been his instinct. But with Sophie, how the hell did he miss the fact that she had more than just looking after Aria in mind?
Thinking back, it had been the day he and Mia had returned to LA that started it off. It was when Mia had unthinkingly told him Aria had lost her cell phone only to find it again in his bedroom. Flicking through his mind, the timing was right, which was why he hadn't been able to get through to Aria and only to encounter Sophie receiving the call.
What was her purpose? Fuck! But surely the woman was dangerously playing with fire.
His mind flashed back to that day he had confronted her about the incident. Of course she had denied any responsibility for the unusual incident and, in fact, had firmly told him in an arrogant manner that he was jumping to conclusions and it was probably another staff member who had done it.
When he'd challenged her about the timing, which fit perfectly, she became flustered and nervous. It had been then he'd placed a warning on her. He doubted she was pleased with the fact that if she were to again overstep her boundaries where Aria was concerned, he had no choice but to let her go.
In the end, the woman sincerely apologized if she had caused any trouble and would ensure nothing of the sort would ever happen again. Though she stuck with her innocence where intercepting Aria's cell phone was concerned.