Free of the punishing waves, I collapse on the beach in front of me. I hear a woman sobbing and screeching Henry’s name. Sitting up, I look around to see if he is alright. “Henry…?” I start. Then I see a woman with long blond hair clenching him to her while sobbing. She berates him and thanks God that he is okay all at the same time. Another younger woman is standing off to the side, and she is also sobbing. The man, who has his hand on the back of Henry’s head, regards me steadily with deep-set brown eyes. “I don’t know who you are, but thank you for saving my son.”

  “I’m Elaine Hart. I’m staying at Rex’s house,” I think to add.

  “Well, Elaine Hart, I am forever in your debt. I am Karl Rothschild and this is my wife Deanne and my son Henry.”

  His expression of gratitude makes me shift uncomfortably. “I’m just glad that Henry is alright.”

  “As are we.” Karl Rothschild is attractive and appears to be in his early forties. His speech is strangely formal. I don’t detect a strong accent, but he doesn’t sound American, and I wonder if he is British. After everyone has calmed down, Karl asks, “Can you tell me what happened?”

  “Yes, of course. I was walking along the beach when I saw Henry walking out on the posts. I didn’t see anyone else around, and he looked so precarious standing out there. I decided the best thing to do would be to get as close to him as possible in case he fell in.”

  “Which I did,” Henry interrupts me. “Lainey saved me. I was scared.” Henry’s voice trembles. I wonder if he is going to start crying again, but he just sniffles a little and tucks his face against his mother’s side.

  “Melody saw you from the house,” says Karl, gesturing to the other woman, who is still standing off to the side. “Melody is Henry’s nanny, and she was looking for him when she caught sight of both of you down here. She alerted us, but we couldn’t get down here fast enough to be of much help.”

  Karl insists that I go back to the house with them and get checked out by a doctor. I keep insisting that I am fine, but he won’t hear of it. The house looks huge from the outside, and I am a little overwhelmed by the grandeur of the interior. We pass through room after room, each more beautifully decorated than the last. We end up in a room that I take for a study, since a large desk is the focal point. There is also room for two large stuffed floral couches and a matching ottoman. We all sit down, and I tell them a bit about my background as we all wait for the doctor.

  When the doctor arrives, I insist that he take a look at Henry first. While they are gone, Karl questions me about my job. He has heard of Houghton Mills since it is such a large firm, but I can’t tell him much since I haven’t been there for long. Karl leaves me alone with the doctor. I figure it is one of the perks of the ultra-rich to have a doctor on call on the weekends. The doctor listens to my heart and takes my blood pressure. In the end he seems satisfied that I am not suffering any ill effects from my exhausting swim.

  After the doctor leaves, the Rothschilds invite me to join them for lunch. After finding out that I don’t already have plans, Henry pleads for me to stay. Deanna insists that it is the least that they can do to thank me. When I point out that I am only wearing a cover-up over a swimsuit, they override my concerns. The whole family is incredibly charming, and after the drama of the morning, they all seem lighthearted. The food is simple but delicious: Crab cakes served with a light salad. The salad dressing is light and tangy, and the crab cakes are the best I have ever eaten. I assume they have a four-star chef back in the kitchen preparing their meals. Deanna and Karl turn down dessert, but I can’t resist joining Henry for strawberry shortcake. The strawberries and whipped cream dazzle my taste buds.

  I start my walk back to Rex’s house with the Rothschilds’ heartfelt thanks ringing in my ears and Karl’s card tucked in my bag. He made me promise that I will call him if I ever need anything. I have no intention of ever taking him up on his offer, since I would have done the same thing for any child, wealthy or not.

  When I get back the house, James is not there. I take a shower to wash off the salt water and put on a light green bikini before moving out onto the deck to wait for James. I notice that I missed a text from him saying that he was running late but hoped to be back soon. He must have sent it while I was in the shower.

  CHAPTER 16

  I fall asleep, and the next thing I am aware of is a feather light touch on my knee. I keep my eyes closed as the touch moves further up my leg. Letting my legs fall open, I open my eyes to see James sitting in the lounge chair next to me, his thick lashes hiding his blue eyes from my view. My bikini bottom loosens as he pulls the tie at the side that is holding it together, and then I am bare to him. He runs his finger gently back and forth along my slit. I cannot stop myself from arching my hips up, desperate for more. Slipping a finger inside me, James groans, “You’re already wet for me.” I moan as he thrusts another finger inside me and circles my clit with his thumb. “All I could think about all day was coming back to this.” I can’t hold back my orgasm as his fingers work their magic. Floating on a wave of bliss, I glance up to see James regarding me with a satisfied smile on his lips. He has changed from his tennis whites into another pair of board shorts, and I can see his straining erection.

  I twinkle up at him. “Would you like to go for a swim?”

  “Baby, I would love to go for a swim.”

  “Are you sure? Because these waters can be turbulent.”

  The roguish look in his eyes makes my breath hitch. “I love turbulence.”

  “I was hoping you would say that.”

  James had picked up some steaks for the grill on his way back from his client meeting. I am actually quite impressed that he had gotten salad ingredients as well. I make the salad while James grills the steaks. We decide to eat on the deck to enjoy the sunset. Once the food is ready, James pours us each a glass of wine from the bottle he had opened to breathe earlier. I ask about his client meeting. He doesn’t go into much detail, just saying that it went as well as he had expected. A slight ocean breeze makes the candles on the table flicker. Sitting back in my chair with my glass of wine, I regard James. Unlike other men I have known, he doesn’t seem to want to talk about himself much. On the train ride, he hadn’t even told me he was a lawyer. At the time I was glad, but now it makes me curious. It feels like James is holding a part of himself aloof from me. I don’t understand him, and it makes me feel a bit anxious because I know I am falling for him. The only things I know about him, besides the fact that he fucks like a god, is that he is a lawyer, drives a fancy Audi, and lives in a swanky apartment in Tribeca. Oh, and that he has a friend Rex with an incredible house in the Hamptons.

  Speaking of holding back, I still haven’t told James about the incident this morning. I can’t think of an easy way to broach the subject. I try out a few openers in my head. “Oh, by the way, I almost drowned this morning,” or “I saved a little boy’s life today, and his parents swore their undying gratitude to me.”

  James breaks the silence that has fallen over us with the opening that I need. “How was your morning? Did you make it down to the beach?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I met the family that lives there.” James seems surprised by this revelation.

  “Actually, um,” I start, but I stop, feeling a blush wash over my cheeks. Why do I feel so awkward? I try again. “I actually had a bit of an adventure this morning. The Rothschilds’ little boy got himself into a dangerous spot out in the water, and I helped him swim back to shore.” James raises his eyebrows at this explanation.

  “What kind of dangerous spot?”

  “Well, there are these posts that stick out of the water. I think they must have been part of a dock or pier at one time. Anyway, Henry – that’s the little boy,” I look at James to be sure he is following. “Henry walked out on these posts, and when I saw him, I knew he would be in real trouble if he fell in, so I swam out to help him.”

  “Are you telling me you rescued a little boy from drowning?”

  The shock in James’s voice makes me hesitate. “Well… yes?” There I go again with the statement that comes out like a question.

  James blinks at me incredulously. “Well, that wasn’t exactly what I expected to hear about your day.”

  I give a slight shrug and say, “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

  “So you met the Rothschilds? Karl Rothschild is notoriously reclusive.”

  “Huh. They actually seemed really nice. Karl’s manners were a bit formal, but other than that pretty ordinary. They actually invited me to lunch after the doctor checked us out.”

  “A doctor examined you? I thought you said no one was hurt?”

  “No, no. Henry and I were both fine. Really,” I reassure him. “It was just a precaution that Karl insisted on.”

  “I see.” James takes my hand and kisses my palm before pulling me up and onto his lap. “Well, I’m glad that you are okay,” he says, nuzzling my neck. “How about a swim?”

  “That sounds nice. Just let me go put on my suit.”

  James gives me a lascivious smile. “I was thinking without suits would be more fun.”

  The thought of skinny-dipping in the pool with James is an instant turn-on. He must see the acquiescence on my face, because he proceeds to pull off my clothes until I am lying naked before him. Setting me up in front of him, James removes his own clothes while I watch greedily. As I look on, he walks over to the water’s edge and dives into the pool. He stands up in the pool, whipping his head back as little droplets of water spray out behind him. “It feels great. Come on in.”

  I can’t resist his dimpled smile and walk to the edge of the pool. James watches as I walk slowly down the shallow stairs into the water. I don’t know if it is the chill of the water or his gaze that makes my nipples tighten into peaks. It doesn’t take long to adjust to the water temperature. I float on my back, luxuriating in the feel of the water against my skin with nothing between me and the water. We swim a little, play a little, and fool around a little. When James’s kisses and touch become more intense, he pulls back. “You wouldn’t happen to have some gummy bears tucked away somewhere, would you?”

  I look up at him in confusion until I remember the incident from the train in which I accidentally offered him a condom instead of gummy bears. I laugh and shake my head no.

  “In that case,” he lifts me up so that I am sitting on the edge of the pool before hoisting himself up with his strong arms. Grabbing a towel, he first dries off me and then himself before pulling me toward the bedroom.

  When we reach the bedroom, he finds a condom on the bedside table. I smile at him mischievously. “No pool sex tonight?”

  He just grunts as he rolls the condom down his hard cock. “Lay back on the bed.”

  The firm command in his voice causes shivers of anticipation to run up and down my spine. I do as he says and wait. James looks down at me with burning eyes and whispers, “I want you to fight me.”

  Shock courses through me. My stomach drops, and I realize that I am excited by his request. Before I can overthink it, I swing my legs to the floor. James is on me before I have taken two steps. Lifting me up, he throws me back on the bed. “Oh no, you don’t!”

  I kick and push as he attempts to straddle me. My fists connect with his chest, but I feel no give. I am met with an immovable wall of muscle. He manages to get hold of my flailing arms and pin them above my head. I bring up my knees and kick out at him, but he manages to dodge my kicks by moving up and in closer to my body. Holding my arms with one hand, he pushes me hard on my hip and rolls me over onto my stomach, where I am completely vulnerable. I lie there panting from my exertions and hear James breathing hard behind me, from wrestling me down or excitement – I don’t know which.

  “Do you want me to fuck your tight little pussy?” Running his hand over my back and buttocks, he gives my behind a hard smack with his hand. The sting makes me jerk and cry out. “Do. You. Want. Me. To. Fuck. Your. Tight. Little. Pussy?”

  “Yes, fuck my pussy,” I gasp out.

  “Turn over.”

  I roll over and my breath catches at the fiery desire on James’s face. “Touch your breasts.” I reach up and pinch my nipples between my thumbs and forefingers. “Good girl.” After pushing my knees up with his hands, James then bends his head down between them. I groan loudly as his tongue massages my clit, and I try arching my back off of the bed. Pressing down on my knees, James holds me in place. I am getting closer and closer to orgasm when James rises up and reaches for a condom. Without losing much time,he pushes his hard cock into me. His thrusts are hard and quick. I twist my head back and forth on the pillow yearning for the pinnacle of pleasure that remains just out of reach.. “That’s it baby, come on,” I hear James growl out as if from a distance. Supporting his weight on one arm, he raises up to look down at our bodies as his cock thrusts in and out at a measured pace. “You are so hot. Your pussy is so tight.”

  With one arm he reaches out to the bedside drawer and takes out a vibrator. Turning it on, he runs it over and around my nipples and down my stomach until it is resting on my clit. The sensation of the vibrator against my clit and his hard cock thrusting in and out of me send me racing into another climax. I look up to see piercing blue eyes staring down at me. James moves his hips in a circular motion and thrusts a few more times before taking his cock out and rolling me over onto my stomach. His arm pulls me from under my stomach so that my ass is pointed in the air, and James thrusts into me again from behind. He is pounding into me so hard the bed bangs against the wall. “Fuck… I’m going to come.” With that utterance, James groans and rockets into me, which sends me over the edge. We are both breathing hard, and our skin is damp with sweat. James disposes of the condom and pulls the covers up and over us, for which I am thankful since I am feeling too weak to move even an inch. James spoons me from behind as I drift off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 17

  Gasping, I sit up and look around the dark room. Panic sends icy tentacles of fear surging through me. Out of the darkness I hear, “What is it, Lainey?”

  James. The fog slowly lifts from my mind. James runs his hand gently up and down my back. “Did you have a nightmare?”

  With horror I realize that I am in the grip of one of the night terrors that I haven’t experienced in years. “I am so sorry I woke you.” My voice sounds weak and raspy.

  “Well, I have to admit, the piercing shriek you let out did get my blood flowing. It must have been quite the nightmare. Do you remember what it was about?”

  “No.” My response comes out a little too abruptly. I do remember my nightmare in every detail because I lived it, but the last thing I want to do is talk about it. I close my eyes and rest my head on my knees, which I have pulled up to my chest. Concentrating on breathing in and out, I try to regain my composure. The fright I experienced in the ocean today with Henry must have dredged up the old fears that I thought I had vanquished years ago. A sense of dread overcomes me as I contemplate the return of my recurring nightmare. I have to hold it together. My mind creeps towards that night seven years ago, but I refuse to let it go there. Desperately I try to focus on something else, anything else, but my mind is a blank. James is still making circular motions on my back, but I don’t want to be touched.

  I shrug off his hand and force myself to get out of the bed. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  “What? Now? It’s three o’clock in the morning.”

  I feel exposed standing there nude, so I make my way toward the bathroom. “It might help me go back to sleep,” I throw back over my shoulder.

  Having made my escape, I step into the shower and turn the water on as hot as I can bear it. Tears mix with the spray of the water as I stand there. Although I try to hold back my sobs, I finally give in and cry in earnest. I feel a touch on my shoulder and look up to see James standing there. He pulls me into his arms. His comforting hold makes me cry even harder, and I don’t care anymore. He has already seen the worst. When my sobs subside, James turns off the water and dries us off. Wrapping me in a towel, he carries me into the bedroom and sits down on the edge of the bed, cradling me in his lap. “Are you going to tell me what this is all about?”

  I am silent for a long while, but James just sits and waits patiently. I give a long shuddering sigh. “Something happened when I was in high school. Let’s just say someone I was close to died. I don’t want to… I can’t... talk about it… but I think the scare with Henry this afternoon must have triggered memories.”

  “Ah, baby. I am so sorry.” James pulls me closer and kisses my temple.

  “You must think I am a total basket case, but I haven’t had these nightmares for years. Not since before law school,” I assure him.

  “It’s okay Lainey. What you went through today – yesterday – was pretty traumatic. Your mind is just dealing with the stress in its own way.”

  I sigh. “I guess. It’s just the shock of having that nightmare again after so long… Well, it was upsetting.”

  “Are you feeling better now?”

  “Yea, I think I could go back to sleep.” I snuggle down against James, and I hear his chest rumble with a chuckle.

  “Let’s get rid of these wet towels then and get back under the covers. We still have a couple of hours before morning.”

  I get up and pull on a t-shirt and panties before settling back in beside James in the bed. He smooths the hair away from my cheek before dusting it with light kisses. We turn to our sides as one so that James is spooning me from behind. That is the last thing I remember before opening my eyes to bright sunlight.

 

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