Secret, Lies & Family Ties

By Sylvia Hubbard

Ezekiel Chambers knew he would never find a woman that would allow him to marry and though he longed for a happy family life, since his business life was so successful, his father was never going to give one inch to grant him that opportunity.

Reluctantly, he is convinced to go to his high school reunion, but upon meeting the mysterious woman, Ezekiel forgets what he wants and focuses on what he desires.

Too bad he won't be able to keep her.

When Grae is given the opportunity to sleep with the man of her dreams without him knowing her identity, this shy reclusive young woman steps outside of her shell and transforms herself into the woman of his dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvia Hubbard
• Release date: Nov 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310048678

Sylvia Hubbard

Detroit native, Sylvia Hubbard, a single mother of three, has worked tirelessly to promote and encourage emerging writers in Michigan. She independently published her first romance novel in 2000 and has continued to write in that genre, sometimes venturing into other sub-genres. Always urban and contemporary styled, her writing is enjoyed all over the world. She has published 8 paperbacks and over 30 e-books.The same year she published, Ms Hubbard also created Motown Writers Network to fill the lack of education and networking for Michigan authors online and offline. By 2004, she was frustrated that all the literary conferences had moved too far away from the city and co-created The Essence of Motown Literary Jam Conference held only in the City of Detroit annually.In addition to romance writing, Hubbard has been featured at various conferences and workshops all over the United States and Canada, where she has taught authors how to sell their books on the Internet. She also published Internet Marketing for Writers & Businesses as a resource for those unable to attend her workshops. In the upcoming year, she will be featured in several anthologies and plans to publish additional e-books.

Book preview

Chapter One

Why had she come to this stupid reunion? What had she been trying to prove? That nerds are well off?

‘Oh wow, Grae, that was smart!’

Removing the three-inch heels and rubbing the bottoms of her feet, she called the airport to see if she could leave early. Damn! No flights out of Chicago tonight. A snowstorm had hit earlier that day and no one was going anywhere.

‘Face it, Grae, you’ll never be anything but a nerd,’ Sheila Vance had sneered during dinner.

Sheila Vance had been the most popular girl at GreenLow’s Academy, a private school three hours outside of Chicago, and now they were meeting for their first reunion ten years after graduation. The school was undergoing a large renovation over the winter holiday and most of the events were scheduled inside the hotel, which was good except for tomorrow. In the morning, everyone was scheduled to go to the school for award ceremonies, and tomorrow night everyone would attend the Ball and Basket auction that was raising money for the school’s academic programs.

Grae had gone to high school sixty pounds overweight, on a scholarship with a lawyer for a guardian, who swore she would be the smartest black woman on the face of the earth. With no time to be a teenager because of all the college academic programs she had been involved in per her guardian, she had not participated in anything GreenLow offered in terms of fun i.e. homecoming dances, prom, picnics and so forth.

So she missed being adventurous and daring. Even now that her weight had diminished and she was a very beautiful African American woman, Grae still couldn’t find time to address her personal life. She created a very sought after Internet and Marketing Solution Company in Detroit, plus consulted on many business projects for many large companies.

Sheila Vance had married a millionaire, who went bankrupt in the Enron scandal and was now trying to pretend they still had money, while going deeper and deeper in debt.

But very few classmates present cared about this, because Sheila still acted like the life of the party at the reunion, which she had orchestrated. Grae was disgusted by their shallowness and just wanted to get the hell out of dodge as soon as possible, but with the airport closing because of a snow storm, Grae knew she wouldn’t be getting anywhere anytime soon.

There was a knock on her hotel room door, but Grae didn’t say anything.

I know you’re in there, Grae, Lizzie Danner, Grae’s dorm roommate at GreenLow said through the hotel’s door. Lizzie worked for Microsoft in their new product line division.

Grae and Lizzie had often kept in touch over the years, not because they had a lot in common with their field of study, but because they had really enjoyed being friends. Lizzie’s family was filthy rich and white, but this didn’t matter because Grae felt Lizzie spoke like a black woman and was often mistaken for one when she was initially heard over the phone.

Lately, Lizzie was pestering Grae about her grade school crush on the untouchable Ezekiel Zeke Chambers. It was Lizzie who had convinced Grae to come to the reunion when Grae really had no intentions of going.

Lizzie knocked again, harder. If I break a nail knocking at this darn door you’re in a lot of trouble, Missy. Don’t you think you’re hiding in your room for the rest of the night, Grae!

Grae grabbed the reunion itinerary and slid it under the door at Lizzie’s feet. According to the schedule there’s nothing left to do after dinner.

The paper was pushed back. Open the door Grae. I’m not talking through it.

Reluctantly, Grae opened the door, deliberately narrowing her exotic, almond-shaped, hazel gray eyes at Lizzie to show her irritation. Before you even suggest or ask, the answer is no, I’m not going.

You bitch! Lizzie said, pushing past her with her arms full of things. You have to come! There’s an after party in the penthouse like no other and I haven’t partied like that since high school.

I haven’t partied at all, Lizzie.

That’s because you were too fat, but now you look like Vanessa Williams’ little sister. You have got to show that body off, girl. Lizzie pulled out a low cut black dress. When I get done they won’t recognize you.

No! Grae said. Get out.

Lizzie looked at the yellow pages opened to the airport section. You weren’t thinking of leaving, were you, Grae?

Sitting on the bed, Grae said miserably, I don’t want to face Sheila Vance another day. It’s too exhausting trying to say I’m better than you without actually saying it.

But you are, Grae. She’s been jealous of your brain forever and now she’s jealous because you’re smart and beautiful. Don’t let her tear you down.

She’ll be there, won’t she? Grae didn’t want to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

Yes, most likely, but you’ll have this dress on and I’ll guarantee that no man will be able to stop looking at you. Come on, Grae. This is where you can let you hair down. Lizzie reached over and pulled the pins out of Grae’s French Roll. The mid-back length, super thick hair cascaded down in a flurry of natural curls that Grae worked hard daily to straighten by hand.

Plus, Lizzie said, leaning down to Grae’s ear. I heard Zeke might make an appearance. I hear he’s got his own plane or helicopter and he’ll be arriving tonight for tomorrow’s festivities.

Grae blushed, her hazel eyes dancing to their pure gray hue. Oh yeah, right, Lizze. She bit her lip nervously. The schedule said he wouldn’t be arriving until tomorrow and that’s just for the banquet. Most likely he’ll just hang around his old buddies who paid no attention to me other than to invite me to that horrible B.U.F.A.M. club. She winced at the insult she felt every year she had received an invite.

The Black Unattractive Female and Men Club had been clearly designed to be an indecent mock fraternity or clique that took advantage of girls, who felt they would never get the chance of being with a cute guy. It pretended to offer unattractive or unpopular females a chance to lose their virginity to a popular or handsome guy at the school. During the time Grae had been at Greenlow’s, Leon Woodward was the president of B.U.F.A.M. and Leon had been Ezekiel’s best friend during high school.

I heard evil ass Leon saying tonight at the buffet line that B.U.F.A.M. was sending out invitations for women to meet them at their hotel rooms for old times. And can you believe some of those nasty ass women are going to it?

Well I won’t be going to that part of the reunion, Grae said disgustedly.

Leon was gawking at you from behind, so I know he doesn’t think you’re even apart of that stupid boy’s club anymore. Lizzie brushed out Grae’s hair and started to style it whether Grae liked it or not, leaving curly tendrils down the front to give Grae an exotic appearance. I heard that back in the day, Zeke had a private thing for black women, and he used to make them do some weird ass shit, but none of them would ever tell what he did to them.

Grae pretended like it didn’t matter. Probably something weird and degrading no doubt.

Nah, Lizzie said dreamily. I’m not for white men, but he looks sweet and tender.

Now you’re going to tell me you can tell a man’s lovemaking style by the way he looks, Liz?

Lizzie chuckled. Nope, you can tell by the way he takes care of his feet. Any man with good feet knows how to take care of all the details on a woman.

Grae laughed raucously. You’re still loony Lizzie.

Frowning, Lizzie asked, What did B.U.F.A.M. stand for anyway? I forgot.

Embarrassed, Grae answered, Black Unattractive Females and Men.

Lizzie covered her mouth to hide the giggle.

After so many years, it did sound childish and hilarious. Soon they both were screaming with laughter over that idiot club of guys who thought they could treat women like nothing. I hated every one of those boys! Grae said.

Except Zeke, Lizzie pointed out.

That was before I knew he was a part of that stupid club. She wouldn’t admit to anyone that she had fallen in love with Zeke on the first day of school, when she had not been watching where she was going and bumped into the most gorgeous white boy she had ever seen. He looked like he had just been working out, wearing a wife beater and low hanging pants that showed the cut on his waist.

He was about to reach down to help her up until Leon Woodward stepped in front of Zeke. Leon was tall and skinny, with skin so dark he looked purple, and he had a chipped tooth. He was a boy that lived to make other peoples lives miserable. Damn, Zeke, he cackled, jabbing Ezekiel in the ribs playfully. I thought her fat ass was gonna just bounce back up.

Grae got up on her own and walked away not looking back. Later on she learned she’d lost her favorite earring with the pink heart and a real diamond hanging at the end. It had belonged to her mother and Grae cried all night after realizing she had lost it.

When she had returned to school the next day, her eyes were still red and Sheila Vance had the opportunity to call her a pig-faced zombie in front of everyone. They all laughed at Grae and that had been her name for the next few months until Lizzie threatened to punch anyone in the mouth if she heard someone else call Grae that.

Once I knew he was part of that stupid club, I couldn’t stand to look at him. Who’d want a guy who only slept with ugly black girls?

I wouldn’t mind being ugly to get a chance to sleep with Ezekiel Chambers. I heard he almost made People’s most eligible bachelors last year.

Grae snorted to show Lizzie was not helping her point.

Oh, come on, Grae. Ezekiel was a nice ass looking boy in high school, and I bet he’s got mad skills. I heard the only reason he was a part of Leon’s stupid club was because his daddy wouldn’t approve of him dating a black girl and that was the only way Zeke could get black ass.

And that justifies encouraging that ridiculous club?

Okay, no, it doesn’t but didn’t you ever think about trying it out just for once?

Lying, Grae said, No, Lizzie. That was a degrading club for girls who wanted to sleep with cute guys and not feel shameful about losing their virginity. I would never lower myself to that behavior just to sleep with Zeke. I may have been fat and blotchy, but I was not an ugly black girl. I didn’t care for the club and I didn’t care about him. So it really doesn’t matter if he’ll be there or not.

You’re still going, Lizzie said, opening up her makeup case.

Feeling her stomach lurch, her eyes well up with tears, and her lips go dry, Grae was scared and nervous, all at the same time. I’ve never been to a party, Lizzie.

Well tonight is the night that you’re going to forget that you were ever fat, ever ugly, ever poor, and never cared about, Grae. Tonight you’re going to be carefree, beautiful, and wanted. She applied makeup to Grae’s face.

When Lizzie was done, she packed up her make up case. I’m going to change into my dress, and I expect you to show your face in thirty minutes, or I’ll have them drag you out of this room.

Grae resigned slumping her shoulders, and her friend asked, What floor will the party be on?

The Penthouse.

Lizzie started out of the door after handing Grae some open toe shoes to go with the dress.

Aren’t those a little skimpy for wintertime? Grae questioned.

We’re in a hotel, crazy. You’re just going up the elevator. You can’t catch cold.

Grae took the shoes and sighed knowing she didn’t have any good stockings to go with this dress, and would have to paint her toenails.

Lizzie popped her head back in the door before it closed. Grae?

Yes Lizzie? Grae asked, digging through her own case for some nail polish, and being disappointed that all she found was a bright red polish that she really hadn’t planned to wear anyway. Yet, as she had packed two days ago, she had been having uncontrollable girlish fantasies of meeting Ezekiel, having some unbelievable romantic moment, and then having him whisk her off in his private helicopter on the roof of the hotel to a hot island he owned. He’d make love to her on his beach and all over his private villa. ‘Fantasy, Grae! You don’t deal in fantasies,’ she scolded herself.

Her friend broke her daydreaming by asking quietly, Why didn’t you ever really pursue him?

Him who? Grae played dumb on purpose.

Ezekiel Chambers, Lizzie said exasperated. Was it becaue he was white? And your guardian didn’t want you to date white men?

Grae pursed her lips together wondering how Lizzie had figured that out, when Grae had never said anything, except when her guardian insisted on sending her to Howard University.

Naw, Grae lied. I knew there was no way my fat ass was going to get Ezekiel Chambers. She laughed it off and Lizzie laughed with her.

When Lizzie was gone, Grae picked up the dress and gasped. The neckline was lower than she thought and although the hemline on the matching skirt came to the middle of her knees, there was a split up both sides of the skirt.

She couldn’t believe that Lizzie wanted her to wear something like this, but since there was nothing in Grae’s closet, except business suits, she had little choice. The dress fit her size twelve shape like a glove, and when she walked she swore the slit opened up to show her black laced thong.

There was no where to put her key except the lace black bra, so she slipped it in there and left, noting the time was an hour into the after party.

In order to get to the penthouse, she was instructed by the bellman that she had to go around the hallway and take the second set of private elevators. There was an elevator attendant for the private penthouse elevators. Are you here for the party or the guest suites?

Party, she said.

He pointed to the first set of elevators. That’s reserved for Penthouse one.

Thank you. She said and started for them, but then he called her, Ma’am! He looked nervous about it and flustered his words as he said, Umm, I meant the second set of elevators are for you.

Grae frowned. You mean for the party right?

Y-Yeah! Those over there. He pointed hard at the other elevators, which happened to open up, so she walked over to them and got in.

Thank you, Grae said to the attendant, but just as the doors were closing she saw Leon walking up to the relieved attendant and passing him some money. Misgivings started to build inside her when she saw people dressed for a party getting on the other elevator.

The ride to the top of the hotel seemed too long, and there was a funny queasy feeling of nervousness stirring in the pit of her stomach. When she stepped off the elevator, the lights were low in the hallway, nor could she hear any party music. Turning to step back on the elevator, abruptly the doors closed and there were no buttons on the wall to get the elevator back up there. Cursing, she faced the door and pressed the doorbell. She’d just have the person in there call the elevator back up.

No one answered the door, so she knocked on the door hoping they weren’t asleep, and hoping they didn’t curse her out for bothering them. These rich assholes could be mean fucks sometimes. She should know, she dealt with them all the time with her company.

Just as she knocked for the third time the door opened automatically, and she was looking at a candle lit room. The floor looked like a wet, black pool, but in truth it was expensive onyx marble.

Hello? she called out.

There was no sound at first, but then she heard some one walking around in another room where there was candlelight streaming, just off the main room.

Can you call back up the elevator? Grae asked.

Suddenly a large white man appeared at the doorway of the well-lit room. He only wore a towel around his thick waist. It looked as if he had just stepped out the shower.

Chapter Two

Now Grae was about five foot eight. A rather tall size for a woman, and it was always hard to find guys that she didn’t equal or tower over. On top of that, instead of just getting to be a slim five foot eight, she was thick in all the right places, so no skinny man would do it for her. The three-inch heels added on a lot of her, and she was not an easy woman to match up with a man.

Yet, this golden live statue of David all buffed up like he had just won Mr. Universe, was over six and a half feet, brawny with golden hair across his chest that led down to his belly and into the towel. Looking back up at his face, she gasped realizing exactly who this man was. True, he was gorgeous, but he was also Ezekiel Chambers. She couldn’t forget those sensual green eyes, or the strong arrogant chin, and the broad shoulders.

She found herself licking her lips, and unable to keep her eyes straight. I-I was… She had to take a breath because suddenly she couldn’t breath. T-The party.

I’m not going to the party as you can see. Get the jar off the table beside you, and get in here.

Grae could feel his visual gaze licking over her body in a sensual caress.

He stepped away from the doorway and walked away. The light that had been on in that room was now flicked off.

She looked for the table, which was by her hand, and grabbed a jar. Looking at the thick golden liquid inside she realized it was honey. Why would he need honey?

Maybe he wasn’t going to the party because he wasn’t feeling well? But shouldn’t she be heading to the kitchen to make him some lemon honey tea?

I’m waiting, he growled impatiently from the other room.

Going to the doorway, she clutched the honey to her chest. A low fireplace only lit this room, and it was extremely warm. The windows were opened, and she could see Chicago’s Downtown – a beautiful urban display set against the bed… the bed!

But he wasn’t there. She found him sitting in a corner by the fireplace in a chair.

Aren’t you going to take off your clothes? he asked.

I’m not supposed to do that, she said obviously.

He chuckled sensuously. You’re not going to have sex. Is that what you thought? I’m not like the others. Trust me.

"Others? What the hell was he talking about?" Curiosity was killing her.

Take the clothes off, he ordered. The words were said real slowly and very pronounced.

It was like his voice had put her in a trance, and to not obey seemed suddenly ridiculous. How many nights had she imagined this? Was she dreaming now? If so, she didn’t want to wake up. She found her hand moving down and unzipping the skirt from behind. It shimmered down her thighs to her ankles. ‘What the hell are you doing?’ her mind screamed. She ignored her brain and took off her top so she was only standing in her black lace bra and thong.

He gasped and she thought something was wrong. You’re beautiful, he whispered. Did you put the honey on your body somewhere already? he asked.

On? she asked confused.

Yes, he answered pronouncing the last sound overly long. Would you like me to close my eyes while you put some on? Surprise me and I’ll join you on the bed.

Bed?

The large comfortable rectangular object in the center of the room.

Grae realized he was being sarcastic.

You have fifteen seconds, he ordered, closing his green eyes.

Now? Grae asked.

Now.

She opened the honey. Her fingers were trembling as she dipped her finger in the sticky thick sweetness and applied it to her arm. Setting the jar on the table next to the bed, she laid down on the bed careful not to get the honey on the sheets.

‘What the hell are you doing?!’ her brain screamed again.

‘Would you shut the fuck up! This is Ezekiel Chambers and he’s looking at me! At me!’

He stood and the towel dropped off his waist. It was her turn to gasp. Thick and pronounced – not his speech; His full-hardened shaft! He moved over to the bed and stared down at her. He reached over and touched her collar lightly with just the tip of his fingertips.

She bit her lip to stifle the whimper. Okay, maybe she should have listened to her brain, but damn if curiosity wasn’t making her lay her ass right there and watch his every move despite the dimness in the room.

His weight made the bed lean down as he sat next to her, his flank brushing against her hand.

Ezekiel Chambers was sitting naked beside her. NAKED!

And try as she might her eyes were like a magnet drawn to stare at the beautiful erect shaft that seemed to beckon her to taste it. Grae suddenly realized that he moved his hands until they were on each side of her head and he was partially leaning over her.

Damn! he hissed as he leaned over her. You’re beautiful. Where did Leon find you?

Grae’s eyes widened. ‘Leon set this up!?’ She didn’t answer because she wasn’t supposed to be here.

So where did you hide my honey? he asked amused and leaned further to plant kisses on her neck. Grae’s body and breath froze as his warm lips trailed down from below her ear. Her nose inhaled his arousing masculine scent along with Armani cologne. Damn him! He smelled so damn good.

Her body felt like an invisible grip had been placed upon it and no muscle obeyed her mind as it screamed for her to get the hell up off of the bed. Usually Grae could just obey, but this was Ezekiel Chambers. Someone else had inhabited Grae’s body and was not listening to her conscious mind. It was as if the fact that this was Zeke made all the sense in the world, but it didn’t. He was just a man, just like any other man that Grae had refused to allow to touch her body, and yet…

Not a muscle moved as his tongue flicked out and trailed along her ear.

M-Maybe I changed my mind, she whispered, tears welling in her eyes at how good it felt. Grae had gotten herself in deep shit and she didn’t know how to think her way out of this trouble. Her curiosity was going to be her downfall and there would be no way to explain. "How are you going to show your face tomorrow once everyone knows?"

His mouth suckled hard on her neck and Grae moaned another protest, but it was incoherent to even her ears. It was a moan, mixed with a purr. He tasted every inch of her skin voraciously as if she had drenched her whole body in honey.

His face moved down to her chest and Grae couldn’t move at all as his mouth licked, suckled and titillated her skin. It’s innocent, the evil voice said. He said no sex. He’s not like the others.

‘Crazy, get your ass up!’ her conscious mind yelled.

That invisible grip was still there. She felt like she was outside of her own body watching, but also feeling what was going on. Grae couldn’t stop watching his pink mouth and tongue take its time licking over her shoulder and then going down her chest until he raised a hand and pulled away her bra to reveal the dark nipple. It was like her whole body received a bolt of electricity and his mouth felt like fire and ice at the same time against the sensitive skin of her nipple.

My arm she cried, raising up and pushing him off of her. The honey is on my arm!

Her key card fell out on her lap and he placed it on the side table next to the jar of honey. His hand reached up and playfully pulled a tendril of hair. Frowning, he said, That’s not fair to tell, my Queen.

Her name was not Queen! And there was no one in the graduating class by that name. Raising her arm, she held it out to him. You were very cold and the way you were going, it was going to take hours.

That was the point.

Why did she feel doubly wet between her legs at that statement? Sitting up straight and clearing her throat trying to concentrate on what her subconscious was saying, she said, I should go. This was a very bad mistake.

Not yet, he said in a very hypnotic voice.

Zeke, this is crazy. I’ve never –

He placed a finger over her lips and then gently picked up her arm that had the honey on it. She couldn’t speak or halfway breathe again as his thick tongue licked the honey off in long strokes. Once her arm was cleaned, he turned those passion filled green eyes on her again and smiled the most gorgeous smile.

Not yet, he said again.

Why? she asked breathlessly.

That smiled widened as he reached over and picked up the jar of honey. My turn.

Chapter Three

Close your eyes, he ordered in that firm, pronounced, hypnotic voice.

I really should go, she lightly insisted, yet her body did not move.

He placed his hand over her eyes for a moment and then moved them away. With him facing her, she couldn’t use the light from the fireplace to see where he had hidden the honey.

Really, I should-

You can’t go or you’ll forfeit.

Curious, she asked, And what happens if I forfeit?

A wicked smile curled his lips and one brow rose in a very devilish glare as he leaned back slightly to