Siren's Final Engagement

By Cheryl L. Hyde

Siren has a secret—a deeply buried secret—that is demanding to be set free. As a once precocious and out-going child, Siren became more and more of an introvert as she grew up. Now at 24, she goes to classes, works, and basically has no social life. None that is until she meets Beau. The spark ignites feelings and desires she never realized she possessed.

 

The deeper she falls for Beau, the more her secret tears at her, insisting to be set free. Siren is plagued with nightmares that grow in intensity and frequency. The only time the nightmares are not present is when she is with Beau.

 

What is trying to get free?

What secret did she bury so deeply?

What will happen if this secret is revealed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Whisper Publications
• Release date: Aug 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781950598168

Cheryl L. Hyde

I make my home in the beautiful state of Colorado backed up against the Rocky Mountains. I live with my husband Anthony, and my rescue Blue Front Amazon parrot, Riley. I enjoy traveling, writing, painting, fitness, nature, visiting with friends, curling up with a good book, and the awesomeness of every day.Each new day is a blessing to be treasured!One of the greatest joys of writing is losing myself in the story—I may begin the story, but soon it is writing itself—sometimes taking me on a totally different journey than originally imagined. I find myself on a magical ride to new places, or reliving and reinventing places I've visited.I hope you enjoy my stories and please feel free to connect with me. I love to hear from my readers and fans. I feel very lucky to have connected with and made so many friends in this very special world we live.Through social media, especially my Twitter Tribe and Writers Community, I am blessed with a multitude of caring and wonderful friends who support me in so many ways—you are awesome!It is with heartfelt gratitude that I thank my readers and fans around the world. I feel extremely honored to be a part of your reading list.Visit me on Twitter at: @Cheryl_L_Hyde

Book preview

Copyright 2021 Cheryl L. Hyde

ISBN: 978-1-950598-16-8 eBook

ISBN: 978-1-950598-15-1 paperback 5x8 format

Whisper Publications UNITED STATES

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Cover design by Cheryl L. Hyde

Cover Photo by Armando Castillejos on Unsplash

eBook formatting by Cheryl L. Hyde

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This writing contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties.

License Notes

This novel is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted material, as this violates author’s rights. If you would like to share the eBook version with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, settings, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, names, business establishments, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Connect with Cheryl L. Hyde

Visit me on Twitter.com: @Cheryl_L_Hyde

Chapter 01 Bridal Shower

SIREN blushes as she opens the bridal shower gift from her best friend since preschool, Maggie. She looks at the small elegant black box and lifts her eyebrow. Finish opening it, Maggie encourages. Siren opens the box and peeks inside. She reaches in tentatively and removes the hot pink object, turning it this way and that way, trying to figure out exactly what it is and how to use this sex toy. There is no long shaft so she figures it doesn’t go inside. It looks sort of like an elegant, tiny slipper.

Maybe it’s a whistle, she ponders.

I give up Mags, Siren shrugs, shaking her head. It’s pretty, but I have no idea what it is. I doubt it’s some kind of weird paper weight. Does it go on a nipple? She points at the opening and turns the pretty cherry pink little slipper thing around and around. She is clueless.

Maggie chuckles. It is for times that that hunky man you are marrying is away from home. It concentrates its pleasure right on your pleasure button. This, she points to the little opening in the device, "sits right on your ahhh place and works its magic."

Ahhh. Siren grins.

The other ladies gather close, curious to see what Siren is holding. Turn it on, one demands.

I don’t know how, Siren admits.

Here, Maggie shows how it works. Now, place your finger over the opening.

Siren does and her bright emerald eyes grow bigger. Wow! That’s different. Oh, wow! she sputters.

Now imagine your finger is your clitoris. And, by the way, this is the lowest setting.

A shiver travels Siren’s spine as she imagines this little sonic vibrating object doing its magic between her legs. Maggie presses the button, changing the vibrations and Siren admits to herself that this could be fun.

All the shower-goers take turns trying the toy on their little finger. Okay, where do I get one? Amber asks, as feminine giggles travel the room.

I’ll give you the website, Maggie assures.

Siren resumes opening one sexy gift after another. This rather naughty bridal shower is all about sexy and she is definitely feeling the heated effects. Maybe I’ll have to try Maggie’s gift after everyone leaves since I won’t be seeing Beau for a few more nights.

It’s eleven pm and everyone is gone except Maggie. She and Siren enjoy another glass of Pinot Noir while they chat about their lives. I honestly never believed I’d get to throw a bridal shower for you, Maggie admits.

Siren grins. I guess I finally met the perfect man, she hums.

You two are definitely perfect together. He is so head over heels in love with you.

Siren smiles, And I with him. He is everything I could ever want in a man. Well, other than the fact he travels so much with his business, but hopefully after we have a couple of kids that will change.

I can hardly wait until you’re a mom. You’ll make a great one. You are so giving, so loving. And Beau has the patience of a saint. He will make a fabulous daddy. You two will make beautiful babies. And, with your degree in psychology, your kids won’t stand a chance of pulling one over on you, Maggie chuckles.

I’m sure they’ll invent ways but it will be fun. Maybe I’ll write a best-selling book about being a psychologist and raising little hellions. Make millions of dollars.

The two friends clink crystal glasses in a celebratory toast. Are you sure you don’t want to stay the night?

Maggie shakes her head. I better be getting home or Lucas will be sending out a search party. I promised him I’d be home before midnight. She stands and hugs her best friend. Have yourself a sexy, good time tonight, she taunts, looking at all the fun, feminine items laying about the living room.

Siren lifts an eyebrow in speculation. This was so fun. Thank you, she says, sincerely returning the hug.

Her phone rings and she grabs it, thinking it’s probably Maggie. What’d you forget? she answers.

Gabriella? Is that you? You sound different.

The sexy, low, husky voice caresses her ear as it floats warmly through her body. Oh how she loves the sound of his voice and the way he says her name. Beau, she purrs, drawing out his name. How’d you know I was missing you? What time is it there?

Hi, he whispers sexily. Did I wake you? It’s seven in the morning here.

You didn’t wake me. Mags just left.

How was the shower?

Total fun. I have some naughty friends. I got lots of sexy things to wear for you. she hums. All except for one or two sexy toys, she decides to keep as her secret only.

Beau chuckles softly. I can’t wait to see you in them then get you out of each and every one as quickly as is humanly possible.

Siren trembles in anticipation. When are you coming back? She stretches her arm in front of her, admiring the beautiful emerald and diamond ring Beau put on her finger just a few short weeks ago.

That’s why I’m calling. I’ve got some good news. I’ll be home tonight. I wrapped everything up last evening and rebooked my flight to one that leaves here in about ninety minutes. I’ll gain a day on my way home.

Siren squeals in delight. That is great! Did everything go well?

It went better than I hoped. They placed double the expected order. They love the new boat design.

Oh, Baby, I am so happy for you.

Okay, I better run. I gotta finish packing then get to the airport. I can’t wait to see you.

Me neither. Sleep on the flight so I can have my way with you when you get home.

Makes me wish I had supersonic wings. I love you.

Love you, too.

Chapter 02 Musings

SIREN tosses her phone down, lazily picks up her wine glass, and refills it. Relaxing on the couch she slowly sips the wine, enjoying the slight buzz of her body and brain, while marveling at the direction her life is heading. She was born Gabriella Lisette Barren and grew up in a home full of love. Right after giving birth, her mother, Diana, nicknamed her baby Siren because of her bright red hair. Diana said it reminded her of an emergency vehicle with lights flashing. Thankfully, in Siren’s honest opinion, the brilliant red color mellowed into a rich, lush copper with so many hues it’s impossible to define.

She takes another sip of the mellow red wine and recalls the most awful school year she ever had—first grade. Her teacher was a male—Mr. Parrish—with hair all over his face making it difficult to see his mouth. He had deep set, beady, little eyes and looked like a scary monster to Siren. The first day of classes, in front of everyone, he asked her what kind of a name Siren was and she replied with her trademark smile that it was the name her mommy called her. The teacher looked at her for several seconds, leaned against his desk, and crossed hairy arms over his chest, before declaring that Siren was not an appropriate name for a little girl. In his class she would answer to her given name of Gabriella.

Siren tried to explain that her teacher last year, as well as everybody, called her Siren. Mr. Parrish told her that he was her teacher now and that Siren was no name for a first grader. Siren’s trademark smile fell away and her eyes filled with tears, much to her embarrassment.

All the kids laughed and Siren just knew they were laughing at her. From that day forward she sat silently in class, never offering an answer unless called upon.

That afternoon, she asked her mother why the teacher had scruffy hair all over his face and chin. Her mother explained it was called a beard and that some men grew their whiskers long for a number of different reasons. Siren said the beard scared her and her mother tried to assure her the beard could not hurt her in any way.

Siren thought the scratchy beard made the teacher look mean, or maybe it was his actions and tone of voice that had her believing he was mean. She was near to paralyzingly frightened of her teacher because of his beard and gruffness. When he approached her or walked by her, she would go statue still and hold her breath, but at six years old she didn’t understand why. All she knew was that she wanted to be invisible.

Now, as an adult she knows that having an irrational fear of beards is called pogonophobia. Unfortunately having a name for her fear has not lessened it.

First grade was the beginning of what she often refers to as her shy or quiet years. Before that day, Siren was a friendly, open, precocious child who’d never met a stranger. With her bright green eyes full of light and imagination, and a perpetual smile on her face, she’d offer her personal opinion, whether asked for or not, on almost any subject. She was active, outgoing, and eager to learn all she could about everything this fascinating world offered, often to the embarrassment and chagrin of her parents and older brother.

All throughout her college years, Siren remained shy and quiet, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She sat quietly in most classes, hoping to be ignored, and didn’t ask questions, determined not to draw the attention of her teachers, professors, or classmates. She didn’t bother to join in extracurricular sports or activities, make new friends, or go to classmate parties. She was an outcast with her studies consuming her time.

She recently completed a masters of science degree in psychology, in part, to try to figure herself out and in part to help other people not react how she tends to in not-so-great situations. She wants to help others not to be outcasts. She also wants to figure out why, to this day, she is irrationally frightened of males with bushy beards. She doesn’t even want to be in the same room with them and tamps down her first instinct, which is to run away. She immediately changes seats if a bearded male sits beside her. She knows her reactions are over-the-top, but she can’t seem to control her illogical fear.

Ultimately, she hopes to continue her education and earn her doctorate degree, but feels she needs to work in the field for a while first. Currently she has no definitive job prospects lined up, although she does have a couple of upcoming interviews. She has no idea what she’ll do after her internship, other than marry Beaumont.

She has become the classic introvert throughout the passing years. How she ever met Beau and was brave enough to give him a chance, she still can’t explain. But, she is very happy she did. He is the love of her life. He is smart, handsome—maybe a little too much so—sexy, and incredibly rich, not that money is a reason to get married. But having more money than one knows what to do with sure makes for some fun times and she and Beau Whitstone certainly know how to have fun.

Whitstone Waves and Sails is Beaumont Eugene Whitstone’s sailboat design and engineering company that not even Beau thought would be this successful. He had a childhood dream and he followed that dream to fruition. Now, less than five years after he initiated the business, he is traveling the world, selling his boats—yachts—and sails to everyone—well, everyone with a boatload of money to spend, that is.

His biggest clients include billionaires trying to outdo each other with the biggest and the best yachts money can buy, as well as professional sailboat racers. His boats are designed and engineered to be incredibly fast, super sleek, amazingly beautiful, and they are all of that and so much more. His name alone carries an air of honor and mystic and has the very rich clamoring for one of the six sport yachts produced by Whitstone Waves and Sails each year. Additionally, the company produces no more than twenty racing or pleasure sailboats yearly.

When Beau began racing small sailboats as a young boy, he was always trying to improve their performance. He won many awards and races through the years and is now one of the most capable captains on the west coast. He no longer races his boats, but he does enjoy taking them out on the ocean and skimming the waves at high rates of speed, often to Siren’s dismay.

His love of the sport of sailing blossomed into a multi-billion dollar a year business. It didn’t hurt his start any that his grandfather, whose name he carries, provided him with a hefty multi-million dollar trust fund when he completed his master’s degree and turned twenty-four. Being rich hasn’t tainted Beau as he remains very down-to-earth, even though he spends considerably more time flying around the world or sailing than he does with his feet firmly placed on terra firma.

Siren can’t even imagine growing up the way Beau did with servants, a huge mansion, vacation houses, boats, expensive cars, and the requisite family plane. There was never a shortage of money in the Whitstone household.

Her family was considered lower-middle class, barely making ends meet with both parents working two jobs and cutting costs wherever they could. They had one car and her parents shared it, with her mom often taking her dad to work so she could have the car to run errands.

She remembers her parents going without things so she and her two siblings could have new clothes and shoes for school or special holidays. Growing up, Siren didn’t realize how tight money was. Her parents never complained or for that matter even talked about money, or lack there of.

Siren was always a good student and paid her way through college with various academic scholarships and student employment. When she left dorm life she was hit in the face with the realities of living in the real world. Everything costs money! All of a sudden she had to pay rent, food, and other living expenses from her meager paycheck as a student employee. After sharing a house with four girls for three months, she decided she’d rather live alone in a teeny, tiny apartment. Three years ago she moved into the one she still lives in and made it her own.

Her mind flits from one subject to another as she sips her wine. Her mind floats, returning to Beau and she is still amazed that she can be herself with him and enjoy their relationship. Beau is her other half. He completes her. She has never felt so at ease, so free, so natural, with a man. Of course, she has only had one other semi-serious relationship and that one ended badly.

Her mind circles back to first grade and she can’t help but wonder why the school system let someone like Mr. Parrish teach young children. He didn’t seem to like his students and made their learning tedious not fun. He never encouraged their creative side or praised a child for getting a correct answer. He seemed so self-absorbed Siren realizes.

Why do I keep circling back to the most awful year of my life? First grade was when I started having those debilitating nightmares. I’m glad they have gone away. Maybe Parrish did something to trigger them. No, I’m not going there.

Siren forces her mind to move away from the bizarre thoughts. She hates it when she dwells on darkness.

Another thought flits into her mind of a scared, lonely little girl. A young girl, older than her years balancing on the precipice of adolescence. An adolescence she doesn’t want to imagine. A child in so many ways, but a stranger even to herself. A girl without many close friends and no one to turn to for answers or help. A girl on the verge of womanhood wanting to return to a simpler, safer time when her mother’s hand wrapped around hers was all she needed to feel loved—to be safe.

Pre-adolescence was a tumultuous time when so many things were changing so fast, yet the one thing that she really wanted to change, remained a constant fear. It was a time when she really didn’t want to be in the world she was trapped in. Her world was not right or safe. She no longer felt protected. Bizarre thoughts filled her head day and night as she searched for a way out of her living hell.

Siren blinks her eyes and gives her head a determined shake. How the hell did I get there? she wonders.

Must be too much wine, she ponders aloud. Maybe I’ll get up and put some gifts away—at least take them upstairs and off the couch.

She settles deeper into the softness, takes another sip of wine, and closes her eyes, deciding tidying up can wait a few more minutes. She channels her mind to remember a happier time when she first met Beaumont during her shift at the restaurant.

Chapter 03 Perfect Evening

Eights months ago

BAYLEE’S Bar and Burgers is your typical bar and burger saloon and this night it’s hopping. Siren and the other waitress are sharing stations, trying to keep up with the customers. The grill is about ready to close then all they will have to deal with are the drink orders.

Siren ambles over to the corner table.May I take your order? she asks pleasantly if not exactly friendly, not really looking at her customer.

The man quietly studies her for several seconds until she finally lifts her eyes, meeting his. His smile is warm and friendly and she can’t help but give him a real smile, one that reaches her eyes. It’s busy in here tonight.

You’ll get no argument from me, she agrees. I’m on hour eleven of a double shift. I think I need a drink.

He looks at her black t-shirt, short skirt, and three inch heels. You’ve been in heels the whole time?

Taken aback by his question, Siren stares into his light blue eyes then nods. We’re required to wear heels, short skirts, and these too tight tees, she explains. So what’ll you have? she asks, shifting her feet from side to side, wanting to put some distance between her and this beautiful man. Even though she works in a bar, she distances herself from the patrons and is extremely shy and awkward around people. At least until this hunk of a male shows up in her station and disrupts her control.

She feels a pull unlike any she has ever felt before. It almost feels like he is touching her body, holding her in place, but there is no physical contact between them. His eyes are compelling and she has this urge to pull out the empty chair at his table, sit, and simply stare into them.

He grins, a disarmingly sexy and slightly crooked grin that takes nothing away from his good looks. His white, teeth and luscious, kissable mouth hold her attention. She has never seen a more beautiful or intriguing man. He senses she wants to take his order and quickly leave, but he wants to spend more time with her.

What time do you get off?

Huh? she asks, flustered by his question. She shakes her head and furrows her brow trying to refocus her brain.

I asked what time you get off work, he repeats, looking into quizzical, slightly unfocused emerald eyes.

In a little over three hours if I’m lucky. Not to be rude or anything, but if you want something to eat, I need to get your order in because we close the grill at eight.

Okay, he grins. I’ll have a Baylee’s Burger with extra cheese, barbecue sauce, and grilled onions, large fries, and a Baylee’s Original Beer. Baylee’s is known for their excellent craft beers, as well as their signature burgers.

Great! I’ll be right back with your beer, she scurries away to place his order.

Beaumont watches her go with a bemused look on his handsome face. He didn’t mean to fluster her with his question. I’ll apologize when she brings me my beer.

Setting his beer on the table, Siren prepares to wait on another customer. His hand snakes out and his fingers gently wrap around her wrist. She startles and jerks her hand back knocking over his beer. He shoves his chair back, athletically leaping to his feet to prevent the beer from ending up in his lap.

I am so sorry. Let me get that, she begins wiping the beer from the table with the towel she always carries draped over her arm. She is so tired and flustered, she can’t stop tears from spilling onto her cheeks. Angrily, she swipes at them with the back of her hand.

Hey. It’s no big deal. It’s totally my fault. I apologize. I shouldn’t have grabbed your wrist like that.

She stops wiping the beer and looks into his sincere eyes. He reaches his hand out and wipes a tear from her porcelain skin. She has the most striking face he has ever seen. As his finger grazes her cheek, her head jerks back and she sucks in a breath.

I’ll get you another beer, Siren mumbles quickly and practically runs to the bar. She returns quickly with his drink, carefully setting it in the middle of the table.

I was going to ask if you’d like to get a drink with me after your shift, he asks. I’m Beaumont. Beau, he adds by way of introduction.

Oh. Umm. Well, it’s been a long day. Unknowingly, she rubs her wrist where his fingers touched her.

Is your wrist okay?

Huh? she asks then realizes she is rubbing it, drops her hand. Yeah, it’s fine. She feels like a total idiot. She swears an electric current traveled up her arm when he touched her. Her cheek still tingles from his fingertip.

So would you like to accompany me for a drink? You did say you could use one.

Siren summons all her courage. She nods. Yes, I’d like to have a drink with you. I’m Siren, she introduces.

I know, he says, looking at her name tag. She blushes and drops her eyes. I’ll pick you up here at eleven and we’ll go somewhere else if that’s okay with you.

Sounds perfect. Thank you. Oh, your food order’s up. I’ll be right back,