Chapter Twelve
THE WARM, DELICATE kiss of morning sunlight on her face gradually drew Tassy out of her sleep, and her soul already started to sing even before she could open her eyes. It was just like Paradise, waking up with her husband's strong arms wrapped tightly around her from behind, and her body pressed against his bare chest.
Even though they had only been married for so short a time, Tassy could no longer imagine living any kind of life without Lucius.
They had flown back to San Antonio from Jackson Hole last night, and when they had arrived at his penthouse apartment downtown, he had told her he had a surprise...which turned out to be the understatement of the year.
'Stunned' would be a better word to describe her emotions at that time, and Tassy could only smile ruefully to herself when she recalled herself simply standing by the doorway in complete shock.
Inside his guest room was her entire life, reassembled with perfect accuracy, albeit in a much more spacious and luxurious setting. Every book and miniature dollhouse she had on display—-it was all there, arranged in the exact way she had arranged them, but on nicer and more expensive-looking shelves. All of her old plates and coffee mugs were also there, only this time they were also housed in nicer-looking kitchen cupboards. It was as if Lucius had simply snapped his fingers (or signed a check with more zeroes than she could ever afford in her lifetime), and voila! He had transformed his guestroom into a perfect replica of Tassy's old apartment, down to the clipped bag of chips she had left on her bedside table...and her sports bra still draped over her comfy old couch.
"I hope you're not thinking about another man while you're smiling like that."
Her eyes flew open at Lucius' jealous tone, and she didn't know whether to laugh or throw her arms around her husband's neck when she saw the grim expression on his gorgeous face.
How could this incredible man be so jealous over her? Love was the only way his possessiveness could make sense, and the thought had her toes curling hard even as her smile turned teasing under his gaze.
"Another man?" she echoed. "I wouldn't know about any other man since you're the only man I see. You, Lucius Young, are my entire world—-" His growl cut her off, and she could only laugh helplessly as he rolled her to her back and loomed over her with a menacing scowl.
"Are you making fun of my jealousy, Mrs. Young?"
"On the contrary—-" Tassy's tone was pious. "I'm only speaking the truth, husband. You're not just my world. You're my entire universe, and I can't even imagine—-" A gasp escaped her as he suddenly sat up, and the next thing she knew, he was already pulling her down on his throbbing length, and all she could do was moan as he impaled her with one thrust.
She forgot anything else she had to say or do. She could barely remember breathing as the sheer thickness of him had her inner walls stretched to the fullest. Her head fell back as he started bouncing her up and down, his fingers gripping her waist tightly, and his rigid member throbbing powerfully as it pounded past her swollen folds.
Their mingled breaths filled the bedroom while the musky scent of their lovemaking tinged the air. Every thrust had them straining closer and closer to the end, but it was the look of yearning and hunger on his wife's face that aroused Lucius to no end.
He had made love to countless women in his entire lifetime, but none of them had ever wanted him the way his Tassina did. And none of them certainly had made Lucius burn the way his wife was doing now, with her soft, dark eyes suddenly locking with his in hazy appeal.
"P-Please..."
Hearing her beg had Lucius growling as he grabbed a fistful of her hair. He yanked her close, his tongue thrusting inside of her mouth at the same time his own length surged into her moist, throbbing heat. That was all it took, with his wife crying out against his lips as his own control snapped. He began hammering into her like a wild beast, but his wife only sobbed for more as she kissed him back and her own hips moved just as wildly to meet every savage thrust.
I love her.
I love him.
I love you.
SAMANTHA WASN'T QUITE sure what to expect as Tassy entered her office to submit her report. She had the shock of her life when Lucius Young's legal team had contacted her last night, and it had taken a while for their words to really sink in.
Your employee, Tassina Bautista, is now married to our client Lucius Young.
Wedding took place during the Valentine's launch.
Confidentiality agreement required from all those present during the ceremony and their respective superiors.
Compensation and incentives for non-disclosure will be provided by Young Enterprises.
Samantha had signed the contract without hesitation, but only because she knew she hadn't really any choice. The Youngs were one of the world's wealthiest families, and they were known more for their cunning than mercy.
She had found it impossible to imagine how someone as sweet and meek as Tassy had ended up with a ruthless billionaire like Lucius Young, but the moment she saw Tassy's glowing face as the younger woman sat down in front of her—-
Oh, thank God.
Samantha knew what a woman in love looked like, and the truth was, Tassy had never looked like this in all the years she had been dating her college-sweetheart-turned-colleague.
Tassy straightened in her seat the moment she heard her department VP clear her throat.
"I'm afraid I've heard troubling news, Tassy..."
Tassy could only think of one thing as soon as she heard the older woman's words. Fontana. She had actually forgotten all about Xylan's new girlfriend, but she was also starting to realize that the things that used to hurt and confuse her...simply didn't matter any longer.
"Is it true—-"
Tassy took a deep breath.
"That you married a tall, dark, and handsome billionaire without inviting me?" Samantha couldn't help laughing as the younger woman's jaw dropped in shock.
"H-How d-did—-"
"Oh, my dear." Samantha looked at Tassy fondly. "You don't know about the NDAs, do you?"
Tassy could only listen in shock and confusion as the older woman told her about all the confidentiality agreements that her billionaire had everyone sign.
"Your husband's main concession to Damian Fox was that your wedding will be part of Foxtown's Valentine campaign. In exchange, he's bought you a week of privacy. Your husband's very protective of you. I'm assuming he wants you to have the chance to gradually adjust to living a life where you're in the spotlight the entire time."
"I had no clue," Tassy whispered.
"As incredible as it is to think...this is a love match between you, isn't it?"
Tassy nodded shyly, and Samantha couldn't remember seeing anything so adorably innocent. Most other women would have a far more mercenary reaction, or even a gloating one at that, when asked if they had married a gorgeous billionaire like Lucius Young.
"You can't imagine how happy this makes me, Tassy. What happened last week was just..."
"It's water under the bridge now," Tassy said with a smile.
"And of course you meant that, too," Samantha said with a sigh.
"Stella also told me about Xylan and Fontana. I'm happy for them as well. I'm just glad it all worked out nicely."
The other woman only nodded, and Tassy wondered why it seemed like there was something else Samantha wanted to say but couldn't.
Tassy was hoping things would be back to normal for the rest of the day, but the opposite proved true. Everyone was still looking at her in pity, but Tassy was stunned to realize it didn't bother her at all.
Love was a worker of miracles indeed, and she suddenly found herself missing her husband quite badly. He did tell her she could be clingy, but what if he didn't really mean it? Tassy gnawed on her lip as she stared at her husband's number on her phone, which Lucius himself had insisted she saved in her contacts under 'Mine'.
To call or not to call?
That is—-eep!
Tassy accidentally dropped her phone when it suddenly buzzed in her hold, and the loud thud had everyone turning her way.
Oops.
She was about to apologize to everyone when the message on her phone caught her eye.
Oh no.
Blaise was from their local police department, and he had attended the same high school as Tassy and Stella. Blaise would only contact her for one reason, and his message confirmed her worst fears.
Can you get Stella to see a doctor?
Her face paled, and Tassy grabbed her things in a hurry, her mind so focused on what she should text Stella that she didn't even notice her ex-boyfriend arriving at the office, having just returned from his client meeting with the owner of one of San Antonio's hottest new restaurants.
Tassy didn't notice the way her coworkers' heads swiveled between her and Xylan like spectators at a tennis match, their expressions a mixture of curiosity, pity, and secondhand embarrassment. As she turned her back on the office and frantically jabbed at the elevator button to head down to the clinic, she also missed how Xylan theatrically lifted his shoulders in an exaggerated shrug, his Rolex glinting under the recessed lighting as he spread his hands in a "what can you do?" gesture.
Tassy hit Send on her message just as she reached the self-service clinic next to the bank of elevators in the lobby. The small medical facility was one of the amenities provided for all building tenants, and Tassy sighed in relief when she saw that the clinic was empty.
If there was something Stella hated more than being fussed at, it was to have other people see—-
"Can we talk?"
The familiar voice had her turning in surprise, and she could only blink at the sight of Xylan standing by the doorway and poised like he was getting ready for a photo shoot for Playgirl.
Xylan stepped forward, and when Tassy stepped back without thinking, a look of sadness crossed her ex-boyfriend's features.
"I'm sorry, Tas. I didn't realize it's gotten this bad."
"What's gotten bad?" she asked blankly.
"You don't have to pretend. We both know there's only one reason you're here. You miss me. You still love me. But since I'm no longer yours, you feel like life isn't worth living anymore, and you need anti-depressants to get you going."
Tassy was at a loss for words. Had Xylan always been like this? How could she never have noticed this side of him before?
"I can help you. I want to help you. But you need to help me in return. We can still be together, but we can't let Fontana know."
Was he really saying what she thought he was saying?
Xylan moved forward. "I've missed you, too, Tas. And maybe, if you give yourself to me this time, maybe I'll break up with her, and we can be together again. But you gotta prove yourself to me first."
Tassy had heard enough...at the same time Xylan seemed to have misinterpreted her silence as assent. He suddenly yanked her close, and he only laughed when she immediately started to struggle.
"You're only making me want you more when you—-"
Tassy finally managed to shove him off. "I want nothing to do with you!"
Xylan shot her a look of impatience. "Stop lying—-" The sound of the glass door swinging open behind them cut him off, and a shudder of relief rocked Tassy's body when she saw who it was.
Oh, thank God!
Stella took one look at her friend's pale face and Xylan's flushed features and immediately went to Tassy's side. "I think it's time for you to go, Xylan."
"Fuck you," Xylan spat. "Who the hell do you think you are? You're only good enough to clean fucking toilets—-"
"Stop it, Xylan!" Tassy forgot her own discomfort at the vitriol of her ex-boyfriend's words and pointed to the door. "Please just go. Or I'll report you to HR for harassment."
"And you think they're going to believe you over me?" Xylan jeered. "The whole company thinks you're a loser, Tas. You should've counted yourself lucky that I was willing to spare you a few minutes of my time."
"The only thing I know is that I'm an idiot," Tassy said shakily, "for not seeing who you really are—-"
"Who I really am," Xylan hissed in interruption, "is someone you don't fucking deserve." He angrily jabbed a finger at her, sneering, "You'll regret this, Tas. You'll realize someday you should've taken me up on my offer. But by then it will be too late. I'll only take you back if you come crawling on your knees and begging to have my cock in your mouth."
Xylan stalked out of the clinic, and both Tassy and Stella involuntarily jerked as he slammed the door shut behind him with enough force to have the walls shaking.
Tassy turned to Stella as soon as she recovered from her shock. "I'm so sorry, Stel." Shame engulfed her as memories of Xylan's cruel words taunted her mind. "I never thought...I never knew he was like that. I felt like I was blind all these years—-" The rest of her words died when Stella tilted her face. The angle had the clinic's bright white lights shine mercilessly down on her skin, which consequently exposed the cut on her cheek that Stella had obviously done her best to hide behind a thick layer of concealer.
Tassy remembered too late why she had asked Stella to meet her at the clinic in the first place, and her heart broke.
"Oh, Stel. It's happening again, isn't it?"
Stella quickly shook her head. "I'm fine—-"
"No, you're not fine." Tassy got her friend to sit down before swiping her ID on the card reader so she could unlock the supplies cabinet and take out one of the first-aid kits.
"Blaise put you up to this, didn't he?" Stella asked while Tassy opened a pack of antiseptic wipes.
"I think what you mean to say is that we're grateful we have someone like Blaise who's looking after you—-"
Stella winced as her friend started cleaning her wound.
"—-when you're obviously unwilling to look after yourself."
Tassy stepped back to observe her handiwork after applying a dab of antibiotic cream on the thin but ugly-looking gash marring her friend's face. It should heal soon, but what about the wounds that no one could see?
"You can't let your mother keep hurting you like this, Stel."
"I know, Tas." A sad smile curved over her friend's lips. "I just keep wishing and hoping she'd change. I guess you're not the only one who's been blind all these years."