Head pounding and eyes blurry, only one thing came to mind. 'Must get Advil…'
As Darien's arm leaned over to search for relief in his night-table drawer, his arm brushed over something soft and silky.
'What the…?' His mind whispered as soon as he popped a few miracle pills into his dry mouth.
'What the hell was I drinking last night?' He blinked a few times and the startling image that began to weave around him nearly took his breath away.
Rene slept on her stomach, facing him. Somehow one silky thigh had wedged its way between his legs, his very naked legs. Her mussed hair making her glow radiantly almost making him want to shade his eyes. Settling back into the sheets, he took several deep gulps of air.
Scenes from last night replayed themselves in his head, and he carefully weighed his options. As much as he enjoyed the feel of her trapped between him, there was something that was off about last night…
'Something wasn't right, his mind shouted, but his body was too caught in the sexual frustration to notice.'
But now with a clearer mind, he went over the sequence of events that led him to his current predicament. With the sharp precision that came naturally to him, he disengaged himself from the tangle of limbs and stalked to his desk.
"Son of a gun," he muttered as he picked up the bourbon. It had been a birthday gift from Jay, and he hadn't the opportunity to drink it until last night. Jay's penchant for the strongest liquor was often the dinner table topic among the boys, and up until last night Darien didn't have a need for a hard drink. Cursing to himself, he picked up his cell phone and speed dialed Jay in Chicago.
A tired-sounding woman answered testily, "Yes?"
"Raye, would you mind putting Jay on the phone?"
"Geez dumbass, do you have any idea what time it is?" She sounded a bit more awake and extremely pissed. 'Good, I want the bastard to suffer,' Darien thought smugly,
A loud cry of protest and pain howled on the line. 'Raye did always possess a creative talent in waking people up,' Darien smirked as he remembered the time Raye nearly poked Jay through with a spoon when they overslept for work.
"Man, what could you possibly want with me at 4 in the morning?" Jay's voice filtered through the phone. Darien could hear harsh whispers in the back from a tired and grouchy Raye.
"What the hell was in that bourbon you gave me?" Darien said harshly, momentarily forgetting that he was still in the same room as Rene.
"Bourbon? What bourbon… Holy shit! Raye, you got to hear this. Dipshit here finally drank that bourbon!" Darien could only listen futilely as laughter erupted from the other side of the line.
"Let me talk to him…" Raye must have pried the phone from her laughing husband because her artificially sweet voice came over the line.
"Now Darien, don't get mad. We knew you like it really hard, so it seemed the perfect gift! Besides, don't you remember that arousing conversation after dinner that day at our house?"
Darien frowned as he tried to think back to that night at Jay and Raye Dwight's place over seven months ago…
Blast to the past
The boys were anteing up for another round of hold 'em as Raye and Malcolm's new item, Mina Corbin, sat chatting in front of the TV. Darien looked contentedly at his circle of friends who have grown from boyhood to adulthood together. If it wasn't for their unconditional support during the aftermath of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, Darien wouldn't be as happy as he now. These were the men who understood him like a part of themselves.
'O shit,' he thought as Malcolm gave that little half smirk of his. Darien didn't even know why they even bothered playing poker when they could all read each other like an open book.
"All right, screw this," Kevin groaned as he folded.
"With all the beer you've drank tonight, you're probably handicapped," Malcolm smirked as his glaring friend. Giggles erupted from the ladies, and Kevin's flush went up another notch.
"Pshhh, I ain't a grasshopper like ya'll little boys. I know how to handle myself just like I know how to handle my liquor," Kevin rebuffed, slightly miffed by the obvious barb right in front of the girls.
"So is it true? Do guys find it hard to perform after getting piss drunk?" Mina asked joining Malcolm at the table.
"This calls for a little experiment, me thinks," Zach pondered as he scratched his chin.
The men all groaned in unison.
"He's thinking again. Quick, somebody pour the man some more drink!" Jay cried in mock alarm.
"Personally, Mina, I've never experienced problems 'performing' under the influence. If you would like a personal consultation, I'd be happy to oblige," Darien said as he winked at the blushing blonde. Malcolm looked practically livid as he immediately wrapped a possessive arm around her waist.
"Darien, although you may still perform well now, if you don't stop making eyes at my girl, you might find yourself lacking some of the necessary equipment," Malcolm retorted testily.
The guys laughed easily at the furiously red Mina and a protective Malcolm. It was obvious that Malcolm had strong feelings for the curvaceous blonde.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have an insurance built into the drink?" Raye winked suggestively.
Eyebrows rose at her, including Jay's. She shrugged indifferently as if brushing mental lint off before continuing.
"Besides, what if it not only guaranteed against system malfunctions, but also greases the machine up a bit. Like an aphrodisiac," she sipped at her Coke innocently.
"You're brilliant, Raye!" Zach burst into applause. "That's some food for thought. There's a great potential in this!"
"Zach's right. Heck, if it really works, and I'd have to see it for myself, I'm sure I can finance the endeavor," Darien chuckled at the almost giddy excitement on Zach's face.
"Someday Darien, I'll take you up on that…" Raye replied thoughtfully as she walked to her husband.
"Meanwhile, we need to get Zach a girlfriend. He's probably going to wet himself with the excitement!" Jay teased as he caught the glint in his wife's eyes.
"Genius is never appreciated…" Zach muttered as the group returned to the cards.
Back to the present
"Oh shit!" Darien muttered, "So he actually did it!"
"Did you have any doubt? When has Zach ever not finished a project, and how come it took you so long to test-drive it? It's been ready for months," Raye reprimanded.
"All right, I surrender. I was just pissed that the bourbon made me do something pretty rash last night…"
"You dirty ho! You got with one of those country bumpkins, didn't you?" Jay accused from the background.
"No, I did not," Darien replied as he looked at the sleeping Rene on his bed, "I got with someone very different all together. Although I can't say that I'm not pleased with the result, it's going to make things a bit complicated."
"Did you get with your step-mother?!" Jay shouted into the earpiece.
"WHAT?!" Darien roared along with Raye.
"Who the hell are you?" He demanded as he listened to Raye yell various other names to him.
"I mean… isn't that like a kinky Oedipal complex or something?" Jay's voice faltered as Raye was no doubt clobbering him with something.
Suddenly aware that he likely just woke up the house, Darien pushed a hand through his hair and calmed down some. 'Surely he was making a sick joke…Who are you to talk? You're with your step-sister for crying out loud!'
"Okay, I've had enough. Have a nice day, Raye."
"Darien, take it easy. Just call if you need us," Raye said.
"Preferably during normal business hours, if you don't mind," Jay added faintly.
"Thanks, I will, RAYE," Darien pointed ignored Jay.
"I swear, you boys are just babies sometimes! Bye, Darien!"
Smiling faintly, Darien looked back at Rene. He was happy with the result. He had a gorgeous, and naked, girl on his bed, and she was the key to his ultimate revenge. Yet even as he watched her, he wondered how long she could withstand his offense before surrendering to his terms. The estate was his and the stocks should be his, hell even the brooms in the closet are his. And then there was the infamous B and that certainly belonged to him and to the person of his choosing, not of his father's choice. If she didn't have to look so delicate and fragile in her sleep, he would have no regrets in the plans that were already forming in his mind.
Shaking slightly, he found himself reaching out to caress her cheek. When he realized his actions, he pulled his hand away and grabbed a towel. It wouldn't do to get too attached to her. She was a temporary fling and a ladder to carry him to his destination. End of discussion.
Stalking into the shower, he blasted the water on his suddenly heated body. For a moment between the droplets striking his body, he was afraid of her and of the power she had possessed over him in such short period of time. When he knew that she wouldn't be able to resist him as long as he was touching her with his eyes or his hands, he didn't expect the effect to be reversible. Then the moment was lost, and his heart-rate returned to normal. He had the upper-hand after all. She knew practically nothing about seduction and manipulation while he could write the book on it after being with so many of those types of women.
'I will win,' he thought even as he returned to his room to find the bed empty and her scent lingering in the air.
"Matthew, what a surprise! Amy said you weren't well for the reading of the will. Are you feeling better?" Ilene asked nervously.
Perched on the edge of the settee in the drawing room, she sensed something was off about Matthew Brady's presence on the estate.
Although twins, the carriage and characteristics of the two brothers varied greatly. George held himself confidently and comfortably while Matthew's shoulders were slightly bowed and reserved.
"I'm well now. Amy has been up here, has she not?" Matthew sounded quite like George, but the difference in character showed even in intonation of speech.
"She is still in town, I believe. Her medical career is blossoming wonderfully," Ilene replied politely even as she wanted to order him to leave. 'What impossible thoughts I've been having lately…'
"She is a bright girl. Her mother was very brilliant as well."
They sat in uncomfortable silence.
"I don't have the will documents. Mr. Simms is handling all of that," Ilene said as he continued watching her.
"That's not the reason I'm here."
No excuse. No explanation. Warning bells were ringing in her head. She wanted to run away, but she felt so tired. Too tired to care anymore. Was this what they meant about wives passing away soon after their beloved? She wanted rest and peace. She nodded to herself. She would've been ready for anything else than what he said next to her.
"I came because I'm asking you to marry me." His voice sounded hollow.
Ilene wanted to scream. A rising trill of panic raced through her system.
"Why on earth would you want to marry me?"
"You need protection. If you do not marry me, then I cannot protect you."
"Protection from what? This isn't the dark ages," she protested shrilly.
"The same person who killed George will come for you and for Rene."
"George? Killed? You must be mad! The autopsy, the police said a massive heart attack. I don't know what you're trying to pull here, but I'm not going along with it!" She had risen to her unsteady feet moving slowly to the door.
"Darien will kill you. I am the only one who can protect one you care for most."
His voice was low and laced with threats, making her shiver.
His hand was now on her shoulder, preventing her from leaving the room. She could shout for Jen, Lita, anyone, and yet she stood still letting the warmth seep through her blouse. She shivered again under the firm hold he had on her.
"Why would Darien do such a thing to his own father? And how would you know about this without telling the police?" She tried to keep her voice from quivering.
"After Darien's involvement with the firm, they've been involved in a number of mafia-related activities. Although his troubles with George stemmed from your marriage, he knew that eventually they would clash on the future of the company. I didn't go to the police since they have double agents everywhere. They covered up George's real death, didn't they?" The hand slightly caressed her shoulder, and it brought her out of her reverie. Snatching her shoulder away from him, she glared at him.
"Why should I believe what you say? You were always jealous of George," she felt a momentary victory when she saw the tick in his jaw deepen. She had hit a nerve.
"Your daughter's life depends on it. Darien will probably seduce her like the snake he is and then crush her heart. His final act of revenge will be her death. If I understand him correctly, you'll be there watching her. After all, it was you who married his precious father." A small grin tugged at his mouth and Ilene wanted to slap him for this display of cruelty.
'What should I believe? Could it be true? Does Darien hate us that much?'
"You still haven't told me how you came to be privy to all this information," she countered with a calm she didn't feel.
"He wanted me to help… I know you've never liked me much compared to George, but this is the only thing I've thought up to help you."
"I need to think about this," she turned to leave when he caught her right hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"Time is a luxury you cannot afford, Ilene."
"You are a pathetic excuse for a human being. As if I would ever marry you! I said this wasn't the dark ages, and you can get the hell off the property." Slamming the door behind her she ran to her room and let the grief, confusion, and fear wash over her. She had no more tears. She needed to protect herself and Rene. Now Ilene just needed to find out exactly who was after them.
Rene dressed slowly after enduring a long hot shower. She woke up in an unfamiliar bed with an unfamiliar man experiencing unfamiliar feelings. She had heard Darien's conversation on the phone. It made her blush in slight indignation when he alluded to her as an outcome of his rash actions. She wondered at the bourbon that he had mentioned. Was that what caused him to almost attack her last night? And what was she thinking going along with him, with this whole scheme? She wasn't looking for a fling and especially not one with her step-brother.
'I decided to go along with it because I want to get to know him better, and not in that gushy sense. I need to familiarize myself with him so that I can use his vulnerabilities against him should he try and oust mama or me. Yeah, that's why I went along with it…' Her brain improvised, feeling pleased with itself at the excellent psychological analysis it procured.
'Pshhh, yeah, right brainiac! A guy like Darien touching you like you are the only woman on Earth, offering you things… I mean, even an ice princess wouldn't be able to resist. Plus, he wanted you!' That blood pumping organ sighed dreamily.
So he was pleased with the decision made on a whim, but why had he come so close to touching her in a tender way this morning and then practically running out of the room? The man was an enigma, a mystery, and he just had to be so freaking hot!
Groaning, she slapped herself mentally. 'Hey, remember the arrangement? We're only supposed to be together at night, and during the day we still hate each other!' Her brain shouted.
'Oh, yeah? Well, why don't you explain why you can't hate him especially since every time you look at him, you see the different side he showed you under the willow,' her heart retorted.
'He was probably stringing you along for the hell of it. He doesn't care about you, and he made that perfectly clear last night. And just because the man's hot as hell doesn't mean he's not a world-class jerk and man-whore!' The brain replied.
'Ugh! Why don't you go release some serotonin and just be happy? Aren't you tired of being a prude? Don't you want some excitement? Just because you like Darien's body and the way he really looks at you, doesn't mean you have to like him. Keep them separate like he said. Just grow up and take this like a woman, and it's not like you'll ever get the chance to do this ever again. Now go away because I'm too busy lusting after Adonis to pay any more attention to you!' The heart shouted angrily.
'HEY! HELLO?! Stop having an internal battle and FEED ME!' Rene's stomach lurched, and practically pulled her to the kitchen.
"Hey Lita!" Rene exclaimed as she burst into the kitchen, happy to be talking to another real person.
"Mornin' Rene. What's crackin?" Lita mock curtsied as she worked on her latest culinary masterpiece.
"Not much. Just looking to stuff my face, you know, the usual," Rene replied cheekily as she sniffed around Lita's work.
"It ain't ready yet. Don't chya dare spoil my dinner truffles! Rene! I mean' what I said! Hey, gimme that spatula! Don't you dare dip that in the soup! I don't believe my eyes! Lord have mercy on yo' soul 'cuz I am SO gonna tear you a new one!" Lita began to full out chase Rene around the large kitchen even as Rene licked the chocolate fondue from the spatula and sticking her tongue out at a fuming Lita.
"Aw, Lita. You're no fun. I'm not asking for much. Just lots of food…" Rene salivated and sighed at the sight of a jar of Nutella and bread. "Oh SNAP! You bought Nutella, and you didn't even tell me? Guess I'll have to dock your vacation days so you can bake me lots of pie to make up for lost eating time…" Rene giggled evilly.
"Rene! Just you wait for your dinner t'night. Wait til you find the surprises I've cooked up for you!" Lita replied loftily as the door opened to reveal a tired-looking Jen.
Forgetting about taunting Lita, Rene dropped the spatula into the sink and immediately approached Jen.
"What's the matter, Jen? Are you all right?" Rene asked softly of the woman who had taken a seat at the informal table and buried her face in her hands.
"Rene, I've been tending your mother. Matthew stopped by earlier to see Ilene, and whatever he said to her really upset her. I came down to get her some chamomile tea…She has that far-off look in her eyes," Jen finished with a sigh.
"Where is she? I'll go see to her. Please go rest Jen," Rene nodded to Lita who was already putting a teapot on a tray for her.
"She's in the master suite sitting at the bay window. I fear for her health, Rene."
"I fear as well." Rene met Jen's sincere eyes for a moment only to be interrupted by the siren of the teapot.
Like a warning bell or the beating of war drums, something within Rene told her that a bigger scheme than she could imagine was unfolding around her. Like a miniscule fish, she would be swept along the current of uncontrollable fate. Taking the tea tray, she made the way to Ilene's room.