The Sweetest Love (Love Conquers All Book 5) Read online

  “I’m just anxious to get this over with,” she confessed.

  He didn’t like the creases that had formed between her eyes from frowning with worry. The overwhelming need to protect her from anyone that would cause her harm weighed heavy on him. She had no control over being put into this twisted situation. And he wasn’t about to sit by and allow anyone to mistreat or hurt her over a situation she hadn’t created.

  She had refused his offer to go with her to meet her father. But it wouldn’t hurt to again offer his support. “Would you like for me to go with you?”

  Stopping in front of her studio apartment, she pulled out her keys before turning to him. Her heart did a double beat when she looked up into sincere eyes full of tenderness and concern. They had agreed to take things slow and enjoy getting to know each other this time around as adults. But the way he was looking at her had her feeling things she shouldn’t feel at this stage. And it wasn’t lost on her that he had suggested again to be by her side.

  “I think I’ll be alright,” she told him as she turned the key to let them in.

  He didn’t wait for her to bathe the room in light. Pulling her into his embrace, he held her tight. Nuzzling her ear, he whispered, “You sure?”

  “Yes,” she breathed out, loving the feel of being in his arms.

  Moving to her lips, he placed butterfly kisses on and around her mouth. “You know I’ll be there for you?”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered against his firm mouth, “I know.”

  Slipping her tongue into his mouth, she explored every nook and cranny. He tasted so good. This was the sweetest kiss ever. Delving in deeper she just had to show him how much she appreciated his desire to protect her.

  Adam’s large hands slid down her back cupping her firm, luscious bottom. Pulling her closer to rest against his huge erection, he deepened the kiss. He knew he was in trouble when Roxy let out a faint whimper and pressed herself closer to his hard body.

  Roxy’s head was spinning, making her delirious. Adam’s hands ought to be outlawed. Somehow he had eased her blouse out of her skirt and unbuttoned the delicate fabric. They were moving too fast, but she couldn’t stop him. She didn’t want to stop him. His touch felt too good. Expertly, he had the front clasp of her bra open, freeing her perky breasts.

  She groaned in disappointment when he ended the kiss. This disappointment was short lived.

  The moonlight filtering through the window gave him enough illumination to take in the softness of her exposed flesh. “You’re so beautiful. I just have to touch you.”

  He didn’t ask for permission nor did he need it. Goose bumps danced along her sensitive flesh as he began lightly stroking her breasts. The hidden treasure nestled between her labia began to throb as he paid attention to her puckered nipples.

  His eyes had longingly gazed upon her partially naked beauty. He’d caressed her smooth velvet, cinnamon skin. Now he wanted to taste her. Drawing a chocolate tip into his mouth Adam suckled, savoring the taste and texture of her skin.

  Roxy’s eyes closed and her head lolled back. It was a good thing Adam was strong. His thick arm corded with muscles securely tightened around her waist as all the strength left her legs from her knees buckling.

  Sweeping her up in his arms, he navigated in the dark the short distance to the sofa. His mouth never left its task of pleasuring her as he sat with her on his lap.

  “Adam,” she moaned when his suckling became tender nibbles, taking the throbbing between her legs to a full-blown, rippling pulsation. She let out a whimper of protest when he released her nipple. She rewarded him with a breathy sigh of satisfaction when he treated the other breast to the same sensual torture.

  The bulge in his pants was like a rock against her bottom. Wiggling her lush derriere, her eyes went wide when his member throbbed in response. Roxy gasped in delicious surprise when his teeth clamped down on her nipple.

  “Be still,” he growled. Adam knew he was only going but so far with Roxy tonight. He wasn’t going to rush her into something she wasn’t ready for. But if she kept wiggling in his lap, it would be hard not to give her what she was obviously asking for.

  “Sorry, I can’t help it.” Roxy murmured, desperately trying not to move. Didn’t he know his masculine body was stirring things in her that she had never felt for any man? Granted, she wasn’t a virgin, but she didn’t have a ton of experience, either. These stirrings were something excitingly new.

  The tiny tingles in the pit of her belly, the goose bumps all over her flesh, the throbbing, tender aching of her nipples, and pulsing between her legs were assaulting her all at once. Now the only thing she needed was to feel him deep inside of her.

  The few times she engaged in the act of sex, it was more so out of curiosity. Never before had her two previous partners pushed her to the point of wanton passion. Never had they pushed her to the point where she would be reduced to begging for it.

  “Adam, please make love to me.”

  Oh man. Why did she have to go and ask him to do something like that? His body was willing, but his mind told him he couldn’t. Sure, he’d had a meaningless fling or two, where he and the other woman mutually used each other’s bodies for carnal pleasure. But Roxy wasn’t that type of woman.

  What is he doing? Roxy thought as he gently lifted her off his lap. “What’s wrong?” Self-consciously she pulled her blouse close to cover her exposed breasts.

  Rubbing his hands over his close cropped head, he blew out a ragged breath. This couldn’t happen, not like this. “Roxy, nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to rush into a sexual relationship with you.”

  Moving over, Roxy put some distance between them. She was glad the room was dark. Her face felt feverish and red from embarrassment. She had come on to him and he was turning her down – flat out rejecting her.

  When she didn’t say anything, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  Roxy nodded her head, although she wanted to scream she wasn’t okay. Here he had her body all worked up, hot and bothered. What was she supposed to do now with all this sexual frustration? What was she supposed to do with all this built up tension that needed releasing?

  “You don’t seem okay,” he challenged quietly.

  “I’m just a little embarrassed,” she admitted in a tiny whisper. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one telling him she didn’t want to rush into having sex, and not the other way around?

  Adam slid closer to Roxy, closing the small gap she’d placed between them. Taking her hand, he kissed it before he intertwined their fingers. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

  “You probably think I’m a ho or something,” she blurted out.

  Frowning he denied her claim. “That’s not true. I just think we both got a little carried away.” Lifting her chin, he tenderly kissed her soft lips. “Believe me; I want to make love to you. But we agreed to take things slow. Roxy, I really want to get to know you before we go there.”

  Roxy nodded her head in understanding. “I know we did. And I want to get to know you, too.” Smiling she said, “I guess we did get a little carried away.”

  “And I apologize for that. I should have kept my mouth and hands to myself.”

  Oh no you shouldn’t have! Although he was leaving her all hot and bothered, she thoroughly enjoyed his touch.

  Turning to face him, she playfully poked him in his chest. “Yes, you should have kept your body parts to yourself. I don’t need you corrupting me,” she teased.

  “Corrupting you! Yeah right!” Roxy was aghast as he taunted, “Ooh Adam baby, make love to me.”

  Picking up a throw pillow she began swinging. “I did not!” she screeched so loud her neighbors probably heard her through the thin walls.

  Adam’s deep baritone laughter bubbled from deep in his chest as he blocked each soft blow. “You did, too.”

  Whack!… “Take it!”… Whack!… “Back!”… Whack!… “Adam!”… Whack! She demanded, laughing in between whacks to his head.
r />   Wrestling the pillow from her, he pinned her to the sofa. Leaning forward, he tenderly kissed her lips. “I’m sorry. I take it back,” he whispered against her moist lips.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him. “Good. Now get out before you make me corrupt you again.”

  Chapter 19

  “Would you stop looking at the door like that every two seconds,” Karen admonished, shifting on the bench. The hard cushion on the bench did nothing to help her get comfortable.

  Starr flashed her sister a nervous smile. She and Karen had been flabbergasted when their mother told them they had a younger sister. Immediately they wanted to reach out to her.

  “I just hope she shows up.”

  Shifting again Karen assured her, “She’s coming. Maybe she got held up in traffic or something.”

  Starr lifted a comical brow at her sister. She sure was restless. “What’s the matter with you? You got ants in your pants?”

  Laughing, Karen plucked the paper wrapping from the straw she’d balled up across the booth at Starr. “Shut up. Your nephew is over here acting up.”

  Starr hadn’t been quick enough at ducking. The tiny ball of paper bounced off her nose and onto the table. “Nobody told your little nasty, fast tail to go get pregnant again,” she joked.

  Karen Peretti was six months pregnant with her fourth child. Her first two children were by her deceased husband. Alicia was twelve and Kyle ten. Thirteen month old Noah was the love child of Karen and her second husband, Dominic (Dom) Peretti, Jr.

  Karen’s sassy comeback was halted by the look on Starr’s face. She’d look as if she’d seen a ghost.

  Turning to investigate what had stopped their playful bantering in its tracks she had to do a double take. “Oh my God,” she murmured in disbelief.

  Roxy’s belly was a tangled ball of nerves. She’d declined the waitress’s offer to take her to the table where the Peretti party was seated. Her legs were literally trembling as they took her to the back of the diner. All day she’d been anticipating this meeting; had called Adam and her mom a hundred times expressing her anxiety. Part of her was eager to get this meeting over with, while the other part of her was excited and prayed she and her sisters would at least want to get to know each other.

  At the last minute, she called Adam to drive her to the diner. Before getting out of the vehicle, he kissed her and assured her he’d be waiting right there for her, if she needed him.

  The diner wasn’t filled to capacity, which made it easy for her to locate their booth. The moment she saw the two women talking and laughing, she felt something stirring in her spirit.

  Easing closer to the booth, her heart raced like a runaway train. The woman facing her looked strangely familiar. Where do I know her from? she thought as her steps slowed. Startling awareness dawned on her. Oh no. This can’t be. She knew where she’d seen that face.

  Before Roxy could recover the woman with her back to her turned around. The second their eyes connected she felt the air in her lungs seize up in her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She blinked several times to keep the tears burning the back of her eyes from falling.

  All her life she’d been told she looked like her mother. And she did. So how was it possible that she was looking at a mirror image of herself? Was this one of those strange phenomena where a person became a chameleon and took on the physical appearance of another?

  Karen and Starr slid out of the booth at the same time as Roxy made her final approach to the booth.

  “Hi Roxy. We’re your sisters.” Karen reached out and took her trembling hand. “I’m Karen.”

  Starr reached out and took Roxy’s other trembling hand. “And I’m Starr.”

  So full of emotion, Roxy was choked up. All her life she’d only had her mother as family. No father. No grandparents. No aunts. No uncles. No cousins. And now she had two sisters. And the only thing she could feel radiating from them was lots of love. Even though they’d just met less than a minute ago, she knew without a shadow of doubt that they loved her. And she loved them in return.

  “Oh honey, don’t cry,” Karen soothed as she took Roxy in her arms, hugging her the best that she could with her pregnant belly in the way.

  Roxy’s body shook as she let herself go and really cry. Starr had stepped behind her and hugged her, too. The feeling of love she immediately sensed was cocooning itself snuggly around her heart and soul. I have sisters.

  They stood there in their sisterly embrace for what seemed like forever, not caring about the curious stares of the other diners. Karen was the first to break the embrace. “I need to sit down. This baby is moving like crazy.”

  Starr and Roxy laughed.

  “Can I?” Roxy timidly asked.

  Karen smiled at her sister, her mini-me. “Sure.”

  Gingerly Roxy placed her hand on Karen’s belly. She had never felt a baby moving while in the uterus. “Wow,” she whispered in awe at the tiny fluttering beneath her hand.

  Taking their seats in the booth, Roxy sat next to Starr. Turning to her she said, “I know you.”

  She giggled when Starr and Karen both raised a suspicious brow. Shaking her head she clarified, “I’m sorry. I guess I should have said I know who you are. You’re my boss’s wife. I’m an accountant at Dawson Investments. I saw your picture in his office.”

  “Shut up!” Starr and Karen both shouted in disbelief.

  “This is so crazy,” Karen commented. “First we find out that we have a baby sister.” Winking at Starr she teased, “You’re not the baby anymore.”

  Starr playfully nudged Roxy. “Thanks a lot kiddo.”

  Roxy laughed, shrugging her shoulders. “Sorry, big sis.”

  Beaming, Starr admitted, “I like the sound of that. You know I get to boss you around. How old are you?”

  “Twenty-six. I’ll be twenty-seven on December 24.”

  “Mmm-hmm, get ready baby sis. I got twenty-six years to make up for.”

  Karen rolled her eyes. “As I was saying…”

  Starr leaned over and whispered loud enough for Karen to hear. “You gotta watch her. Everybody thinks I’m the bossy one, but it’s really her. But don’t worry; we can take her down when she gets out of hand.”

  Roxy laughed, already enjoying the sisterly taunting.

  “Anyway, like I was saying,” Karen interrupted. “First we find out we have a sister. Then we find out that sister works for other sister’s husband. And baby sister got a nerve to come strutting up in here looking like me!”

  Starr and Roxy laughed at Karen’s exaggerated scowl.

  “I know! I almost had a heart attack when you turned around. Everybody always comment on how much I look like my mom, but I look like you, too.” Looking at Starr she said, “And we have the same eyes.”

  Starr smiled at her new baby sister. They did have the same eyes. For years she hated her eyes because they reminded her so much of her father’s. She would never admit this to anyone, but she was glad that she had most of her mother’s features. Growing up she felt terrible for Karen. Her sister would always express she wished she looked more like their mother. Starr would often comfort her with reminding her that they both had their mother’s adorable dimples when they smiled.

  “Yep, we do have the same eyes.”

  The trio stopped talking long enough to give the waitress their dinner orders. After the waitress left, Karen turned the conversation to serious talk.

  “I really wish we would have found out about you much sooner.”

  “Me too,” Roxy quietly admitted. “It was really hard growing up with just me and my mom.”

  Tilting her head to the side, Starr studied her. “You don’t have any other family?”

  Shaking her head in the negative, Roxy disclosed, “My grandmother left my mom with my grandfather when she was a little girl. She hasn’t seen her since. And when my mom got pregnant with me, my grandfather beat her and put her out. The last time she saw him was at his funeral.”


  Karen and Starr both sat seething when she told them how her step-grandmother pretty much only used Reba as a live-in maid and did nothing to come to Reba’s defense as her father battered her.

  It was Karen who wanted to know, “And you never met our father before.”

  “No. I wrote him a letter once, when I was about eight years old. But he never responded. I used to think it was my fault he didn’t want to see me.”

  “Good old Harold. At least he’s consistent with something. ” Starr sarcastically drawled.

  Reaching across the table, Karen took her youngest sister’s hand. “Honey, he had Starr and me feeling the same way growing up. It was nothing for him to not come home for days, weeks or months at a time.”

  Roxy’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “Gone weeks or months at a time?” Nelson West was the closest thing to a father figure she had known. She couldn’t imagine him just up and disappearing like that.

  Karen lifted her glass and took a sip of water before setting it back down. “Girl, we’d be here all month if we told you half the crap that man pulled while we were growing up.”

  All of Roxy’s fears were put to rest as she and her sisters got acquainted over dinner. They didn’t dwell too much on their father. As far as they were concerned all of his past shenanigans of dodging his responsibilities of being a father were a moot point.

  “Starr and I have let all of the bitterness go where our father is concerned.” Shrugging a slim shoulder, Karen further pointed out, “We refuse to give him that kind of power over us.”

  Both Karen and Starr supported her in her decision to meet their father. “I just want to look him in his face… just once.” She smiled when they also offered to be there with her when she did finally meet him.

  As if sensing his presence Roxy looked up to see Adam sauntering toward her. She was so nervous, she hadn’t paid attention to how good he looked with his fresh haircut, white t-shirt and tan cargo pants.