A Lover's Touch

By Olivia Barrington-Leigh

"Malachi’s breath stopped in his chest and if anything at all had been on the way down his throat he would have choked on it. He was standing next to Manny and was telling him about a great club he wanted to take him to when she stepped in the front entrance. Standing in the foyer, next to her father, was Julia Winston."

Everyone knows Julia is up to no good and she doesn't disappoint. Her actions are not only dangerous, but life threatening.
Meanwhile Christian is torn between risking everything by asking Elaina to marry him. He wants more. But to what cost? He could lose her or worst her and Malachi.

Betrayal almost cost them everything and a new friendship saves them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olivia Barrington-Leigh
• Release date: Feb 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301391790

Olivia Barrington-Leigh

Wife, mother, sister, lover...and one day, a damn fine storyteller.

Book preview

A Lover’s Touch

Lovers Series

Book Two

Olivia Barrington-Leigh

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013

*****

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

*****

Forward

The man in the faded green, late model sedan watched the woman carry the baby to a luxury SUV. She was already pregnant again even though the one she strapped in still used a rear facing car seat. She kissed the baby he knew was a girl from all the pink, before getting in the car herself. He started his own car and pulled out behind her as soon as she reached the stop sign at the end of the street.

Manny had been in town a week. He’d watched her comings and goings. He knew that she shared the house with two men, a house keeper and her husband who on occasion drove the three around town. He had been shocked when he found out that the three of them lived as a family. One woman to two men. He found it hard to believe the two willing to play nice, especially since they were both so independently wealthy. Powerful men seemed less likely to share, or at least that’s what Manny would have thought. Money is often times accompanied by arrogance. But he’d watched the three and damned if it didn’t seem that each man was more than willing to divide their time around the woman.

She was hot he had to give her that. The long, wavy, dark hair and perfect little body left a man’s dick hard. Hell, he thought he’d share if it meant he could get a piece of that ass. He shifted in his seat and rubbed the beginnings of a troublesome erection as he signaled to turn into the mall.

Manny found a parking space not far from her and followed her to the escalator and then to one of the few high end stores in the small mall. Ordinarily she went to work with her men, but today he’d watched them leave without her. As he declined a sample of the latest smell good for men he walked past the woman as she stopped to admire a pair of shoes, and set up shop at the watch counter as she was approached by a sales person. She declined the offer for help and went on to the baby department.

Her next stop was to a doctor’s office that could have been for her or the baby she carried and finally she went to her office. She visited with her men and came out about an hour later. He followed her back to the house but drove past as she pulled into the driveway and went to the hotel he’d been staying in for the last week.

Throwing the keys and the keycard on the dresser he sat down at the small round table in the corner. The top was littered with newspaper clippings and photographs. The story was old. Felix De La Cruz, local big-shot contractor missing. Before his disappearance he had been tried and convicted of the brutal assault and rape of Elaina Porter-Dubois, partner of Malachi Porter and Christian Dubois.

Manny picked up a second newspaper article. It was printed shortly after the birth of the woman’s daughter. The announcement named Malachi Porter as the father. A month after her birth the man had opened a new playground and youth center named after his daughter. Elizabeth Katherine Porter-Dubois Center for Excellence, arrogance at its fullest is what Manny thought as he put the newspaper down. At last his hands found the envelope that held the letters his brother had sent him.

His brother had been hired for a job. Felix De La Cruz was Jiovanni Hernandez and back in Mexico Jiovanni was not to be fucked with. Even as a young kid he had been ruthless. When he came to the states it turned out he was heartless as well. Manny could care less about the man Jiovanni had murdered in order to take a new identity; it was the helpless children that didn’t sit well with him. Those little girls didn’t deserve to die. While the rest of this small city wondered what happened to Felix or Jiovanni or whatever in the hell they called him, Manny hoped that he was dead. He deserved no less for spilling a child’s blood.

Sliding one of the letters free of the envelope and reading it for the thousandth time, Manny saw red. His little brother had been in over his head. He’d told him so when Jose called and told him who he was working for. Manny had insisted that Jose live with him when he’d called and told him what he suspected Felix was going to do to the woman when he got his hands on her. He’d begged him when he heard about the little torture shack that Jose picked the lock on. There were some things money should not buy. Then Jose disappeared.

Funny how his last job had brought the two together after so many years apart, not so funny that his brother was missing and likely dead. When Manny’s repeated attempts to get in touch with his brother failed he went on the hunt to track him down. By the time he’d arrived at the last place he knew his brother to be, De La Cruz had made an attempt on the woman’s life and no one had seen him since. He’d discovered that two unidentified men had perished in a fire on property that De La Cruz owned. Manny had the location of the place Jose had stayed and made a visit. The burnt remains of the wood cabin and the gutted left over’s of the concrete structure gave little clues of what had happened. He hadn’t really thought they would after so much time. Manny searched the area thoroughly for graves first shallow ones and then deeper ones. Nothing. And then he’d seen one John Chambers. Just one photo, not even fully in the frame, but he knew then who had killed his brother.

Manuel Santoya was no different from John Chambers. The two killed for a living and John Chambers had killed Manny’s boss a few years back. At the time he didn’t know the man’s name but he would never forget his face. Manny had been tracking him as he stalked his boss. He never expected the man to use poison and never figuring out how he slipped it to the boss. After asking around it didn’t take long for Manny to piece together that John was clearly some sort of protection brought in. He’d left shortly after everything went down which only cemented the idea in Manny’s head. Folks said he seemed like an old friend but Manny knew he was hired help regardless of how they treated him. A hired gun that had killed his brother and Manny meant to have revenge. Chambers had left and that was fine with him. He had three aces in the hole to get his ass back. Manny had plans on killing John Chambers and all he had to do was to get his hands on one of the three to lure him in.

CHAPTER ONE

Strong hands ran across my swollen belly before sliding between my legs. I was slick from arousal and I rolled my hips into the talented fingers of my sun before he took my breath away when his mouth covered my sex. His tongue held stiff, flicked the sensitive bud and then flattened, licked me repeatedly. I moaned and I grabbed his head to pry him away from the spot alight with such insane pleasure. He refused to move and as he continued his assault on my clit I felt a finger invade the tight confines of my rear. My God, what this man did to me. I was helpless against the cry that escaped my lips. The feeling was too great a thing for something as small as a moan. I tried to close my legs and a hand grabbed my leg behind the knee and pulled, opening me wider for Malachi’s invading mouth.

I love you Elaina. Christian whispered in my ear. That traitorous bastard. I opened my eyes a second before he lowered his head and kissed me. I released Malachi’s head and ran my hands through Christian’s hair instead.

My legs were spread wide, Christian holding one by the knee and Malachi’s free hand on the thigh of the other. I only kissed Christian for so long before I arched my back and started panting from the orgasm that was building. Christian kissed a path down my neck and licked one of my nipples before taking it in his mouth. With my head thrown back and pressed hard into the pillow beneath me I gritted my teeth against the scream fighting just as hard as my release and I shook beneath my two lovers as my climax took control of me.

Beautiful girl I could eat your sweet pussy all day. Malachi was ruthless in loving me and he did not give me a second of reprieve. With my body still shaking he entered me in one quick thrust, stretching me, filling me completely. His hips worked fast as he drove the full length of his cock inside me. Christian fingered my clit in tight circles and I felt the wave of a second orgasm.

My two loves are skilled. They know my body better than I know it myself. There was not an inch of it that had not been touched by their hands or covered by their mouths. I came a second time as Malachi found his own release, my sex gripping him, milking him, as his dick jumped inside me. He bent down and kissed me. The kiss was rough, commanding, it owned my mouth as he pushed his tongue pass my lips before biting and then licking them.

Christian’s touch came whisper soft in the wake of Malachi’s rough one. He was my moon; gentle and patient. His soft hands on my thighs did not force, but coax. As Christian eased the thick length of his erection inside me until seated he looked at me with eyes full of love and adoration.

I love you, I told him and exhaled at the first slow roll of his hips. Oh God, I moaned around Malachi’s mouth. It was wrong to call on the Lord, but I couldn’t help myself. I needed his mercy for what’s being done to me. Christian having let me catch my breath, thumb circled my clit in the same speed as his dick’s slow entrance and tortuously slow withdrawal. The softness of Christian was countered by Malachi’s hard licks and suckling of my nipple as he pinched and rolled the other between his fingers.

Christian grabbed both my hips and somewhere in the fog of pleasure that stole my words and stopped and restarted my breath I knew he was about to come. The thought of me bringing him that pleasure triggered my own orgasm and like always, it was followed by tears.

You’re so beautiful, Christian whispered in my ear before he moved his lips to kiss the tear running down my face. I love you so much. His hand made slow circles around my swollen belly. It was his child I carried now.

The sound of a whimper on the baby monitor next to our bed had Malachi pulling free of me. He was out of the bed lightening quick, at the first sounds of his daughter waking in the other room.

She’s not awake, I said in a low voice to the naked man as he reached for the door. He was in love. His daughter was his world.

Sure she is, he said and I rolled my eyes because there’s no stopping him and why should I? Every daughter should be so loved.

I turned to Christian and kissed him. The kiss matched the man: slow, sensual, gentle and full of a love that spoke of devotion and revel. I love you Christian.

The words never seem to be enough. They’re not strong enough, not powerful enough, to accurately describe how I felt about him. The tears were the only thing that came close. I gave them to him as testament of my love when we were joined in the most intimate and primal way possible.

He kissed the corner of a still dampened eye before laying his head down next to mine. How is she today? He looked at my stomach and smiled. I loved the way that he stared at my belly.

You’re going to be very disappointed if it’s a boy, I said my hand joining his on my stomach.

Christian had been calling our child a girl since I pulled out the pregnancy test. It was tricky but the doctor was certain that it was the only shot we had at making sure my next conception was Christian’s without medical help.

Mainly it consisted of me only having sex with Christian when I was ovulating. I insisted that we increase the time as much as Malachi would allow. Brittney joined us many times in bed in the time it took me to conceive. I’d begun to have a soft spot for the dark haired tiny woman.

Well, we’ll find out by the end of the week, he said and kissed me once more before getting out of bed.

I yawned as Malachi came back in the room carrying Elizabeth. He climbed into bed and propped his back against the headboard. She was sound asleep. The child could sleep through battle. Malachi positioned her in his lap, pulled the gown up over her chubby legs so that he could kiss her feet. I smiled at them and rubbed Malachi’s arm lazily. It was time to get up and all was well in the Porter-Dubois household.

Christian went around the bed and kissed Elizabeth on her head before heading off for the bathroom. And I dragged my body from the bed to follow. We were all going to the office today.

Beauty, Sam called out as I entered the kitchen with Elizabeth in my arms.

His nickname had gone over so well that Malachi started calling her it as well. I handed over the baby that bound our unconventional family. She was loved by her fathers and Claire and Sam were her grandparents. The couple had become adoptive parents to the three adults in the house even before her birth.

Claire is everything a go for the fundraiser this weekend? I asked.

Christian father had been a politician. His mother renowned in town for the fundraisers and party she’d had in the old plantation house. We’d decided to hold a fundraiser for a local man that was running for governor and were gearing up for a night of excess I have never known; a dinner for twenty five people and a ball afterwards. It was the first party the house had seen since Christian’s parents’ death and it was the talk of the town. I didn’t know if it was the thought of the grand estate holding one of its legendary balls or if people wanted to get a closer look at the three of us and how we’ve made a life for ourselves.

Yes, I emailed you the final task list, she said.

Claire had been leery of learning to use the computer and tablet I’d purchased but she was a pro. I knew she would be. I needed her help. Juggling the schedule of two men that were on the top of everyone’s list was a full time job. Oh don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t complaining. My life with them was a modern day fairy-tale. The only thing missing was a damn crown.

You know how much I love you in all white, Malachi said as he swatted my backside on the way to the fridge. It was bitter cold outside and I was wearing a pair of thick wool leggings and a cashmere cowl neck sweater dress. I’d pulled my hair up in a high ponytail and besides my rings I was wearing the diamond studs Malachi bought me last year.

I do believe you’d love her in anything, Sam said in between the coo’s he was offering Elizabeth.

Or nothing, Christian added from behind his newspaper. Christian statement made me blush in the presence of Claire. Silly I know, but there are things you just have a hard time getting use to in front of older people.

Especially nothing, Malachi whispered in my ear as he passed behind me on his way to pile his plate with a stack of pancakes.

The boys for the valet parking will be here at four thirty on Saturday and the landscaper will be here Friday at two, Sam said passing Elizabeth off to Christian. I didn’t have much luck with Sam in my attempts to bring him up to date on modern technology. I didn’t hold it against him. Sam was old school through and through.

Mama I’m off to the nursery, he said to Claire and gave her a quick kiss. It was obvious the older couple were in love when we hired them, but since their time with us I think Christian and Malachi had rubbed off on the older man. When they first moved in they were quite the professionals, now Sam public shows of affections were endearing and made my heart happy for the couple who had been married for nearly thirty years. And I loved how he called her mama.

Sam was going down to the local plant nursery to pick out new winter greenery for the yard and to drop off some containers that would hold arrangements for the party on Saturday. Friday the official countdown started with the arrival of cleaning crews, decorators and florist joining the landscaping people.

*****

It’s lovely, the seamstress said admiring the dress I’d picked out for Saturday.

The dress was gunmetal grey chiffon and elegant in its simplicity. No adornments at all busied the soft folds and drapes of the deep V front, sleeveless, empire waist gown. It was soft and girly and complimented my growing baby bump perfectly. It would have been considered plain but I had a lot of jewelry to dress it up.

I’d slipped away for lunch to pick up the gown leaving Christian and Malachi working at the office since we had an appointment later that day to find out the sex of the baby. Even with it being Christian biological child Malachi never missed an appointment. Christian had been right last year, there was no yours or mine, Christian loved Elizabeth like his own daughter and Malachi would love our new addition the same.

What jewelry will you wear? Linda asked as I slipped behind the screen to change back into my work clothes.

I haven’t decided. I guess I was waiting for the dress so I could try on a couple of pieces, I said handing the dress to a waiting Linda. I was thinking of either the single row diamond necklace or the statement piece that has the emerald cut, round and pear shaped diamonds. I stepped from behind the screen and picked up my purse from the small cluttered desk in the changing area.

You know what I say: Go big or go home, Linda said laughing, I put your gloves in the bag with your dress.

Thanks Linda, I don’t know what I’d do without your sharp fashion eye, I said taking the garment bag from her. At one of the many fittings Linda suggested I wear opera length gloves with the gown. I had been hesitant but once I tried on a pair when the dress arrived I agreed. She’d ordered me a pair of dove grey ones. My shoes were silver ballerina flats. I was a heel woman but there was no way I could stand up all night in them now. I would have tried anyway, but my shoes would be completely hidden by the floor length gown.

I stopped at our dive and picked up lunch for everyone on my way back to the office. I even bought Christian assistant something. I’d been trying to get the woman to warm up to me. She couldn’t stand me. In the beginning she thought me a tramp and she openly showed her disproval of our union. Since our relationship had become permanent she treated me better but only in that, because your husband signs my paycheck, kind of way.

Of course, in the beginning I could give two shits what the woman thought of me. When I met Christian and Malachi I was a business woman trying to make a place for myself in a man’s world. Now, I’m a wife and mother and life was so much easier with my two loves by my side. The things that were once so important to me were long forgotten, replaced with what really mattered in life: family, friends and the love of two phenomenal men. I’d even invited Susan to the party Saturday night. Tickets for the dinner were two thousand dollars and a thousand for the ball. It was the place to be if you were on the hunt for a rich and single man and I was convinced that once Susan got laid or found love she would warm up a little.

I got out the car balancing a cup holder full of drinks and a big bag of food and watched as Susan pretended not to see me as I struggled to open the door. She looked up just as I got the damn door opened, holding it with my foot as I maneuvered through the opening. She stood up but didn’t come to help me as I finally made it into the office.

Oh I didn’t see you, she said sweetly with a fake smile. God, how I missed Jamie.

No worries, I said putting the load on her desk. I brought you something too. Christian told me you liked gumbo, I said with an equally fake smile, because try as I might, the bitch attitude was really starting to work my nerves. I left her lunch on her desk and took the rest of the food to Malachi’s office. He was sitting at his desk typing. He’d removed his tie and the top button of his shirt was undone.

You made it until one today, I teased as I put the food on the conference table. Malachi never made it a full day in a tie. Christian still made fun of him working after a lifetime of partying around the world, but Malachi was dedicated and great at his job. He came around the desk and kissed me on the neck before he took a seat and I went to get Christian.

Christian’s door was open and when I entered the room he stood up and met me half way, taking me in his arms and kissing me softly on the corner of my mouth. Have I told you how much I love you today? he said. He lowered his head and started kissing my neck.

I love waking up in the morning with the smell of you on my pillow. I love the taste of your skin and how you smell after we’ve made love, he whispered against my neck. My heart was pounding a mile a minute and I was breathing harder as his hand moved to my stomach.

I love you are giving me new life and bring me such happiness. Christian kissed me passionately. He soothed that part of me that needed to be coddled, that part that needed assurances and security. He was the anchor that held me steady against Malachi’s stormy seas.

******

A girl, the good doctor said.

Yesss Malachi clapped his hands together once. Good job man. He gave Christian a high-five. I smiled over my shoulder at the two idiots before turning back to our doctor. She was printing out the customary array of ultrasound pictures.

Proud papa gets his first. She even remembered to write Tallulah on it instead of the regular It’s a girl.

Congratulations Christian, she said smiling at us all. You two will be officially outnumbered when Lu gets here. The no-nonsense doctor had already given our unborn babe a nick name and I liked it. I couldn’t wait to hold Lu in my arms. If I was glowing, Christian was blinding. He had been right and the excitement and happiness radiated from him.

Thanks Dr. Bryon, Christian said shaking the woman’s hand. We’ll see you at the party right?

Oh I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I haven’t seen that old dog Harold Winston in ages.

Well he’ll definitely be there, I said getting down from the table. Malachi helped. He’s a hoot alright.

Harold Winston, retired senator, was one of Christian’s father’s closest friends and was the life of every get-together we attended. He was