Tragically Flawed Read online

  The look on Marsha Sue’s face was priceless. After choking for several seconds, she said, “Well, Shan, I think we can come to some kind of agreement here.”

  “There is no agreement, Marsha Sue. It’s my way or the highway. The choice is yours. Now what will it be?”

  “Well, of course you know I still want to be Shandon Homes’ only interior designer so I’ll take it. I hope you’ll find you’re not making a mistake.”

  “I do too, Marsha Sue. One more issue over Riviera and you’re out. Are we clear?”

  Marsha Sue scowled, but nodded her agreement. She’d find a way to get Riviera out. She didn’t know how, but she would come up with something. She hadn’t worked this hard and come this far to get ousted by that little tramp.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The Kitchen Sink And Then Some

  Riviera called Shan to give him a heads-up that she was almost there. When she walked into the house, the aroma of something tasty hit her nose.

  “Yum, what do you have brewing over there?” she asked, entering his kitchen. Riviera eyed everything curiously as she checked out his professional-style kitchen. “It looks like you are a trained chef.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t let appearances fool you. I do have a few tricks up my sleeve, but I’m no chef by any means. Cooking can be fun, though.”

  “Your kitchen has all the latest and greatest. It must be fun to work in here.”

  “You know, it is, but I don’t do it very often. I’m usually working late and grabbing something on the way home.”

  “So what magic are you concocting?”

  “Just a couple of sauces for the shrimp tacos.”

  Riviera’s stomach grumbled in response and Shan laughed. “Sounds like someone’s hungry.”

  She laughed too. “Yeah, I’m starved. I haven’t eaten all day.”

  “What? You shouldn’t go all day without eating, Riviera. That’s not good,” he said.

  “I know, but I sort of forgot. I got busy in the auction house and I kind of had other things on my mind.”

  Shan looked up at her and was pleased to see her face flush with a rosy glow. He dropped what he was doing and reached for her. “I had my mind on other things today too,” he said, his voice husky.

  “Kiss me, Shan,” she said.

  Not wanting to pass up such a demand, he wrapped her in his arms and touched his lips to hers. Riviera’s potent response shocked him. He’d expected a soft kiss in return, but her heated reaction sent him walking her back against the closest wall, and then lifting her as their hips crashed into each other’s, leaving them both moaning.

  Riviera’s legs hugged Shan’s hips; her arms encircled his neck. “I want you, Shan. I don’t think I can wait. I’ve thought about nothing else all day long.”

  “But I thought you were hungry,” he teased.

  Her blood raged in her veins, spurred on by the sound of his sexed-up voice. His scent was like flames licking her skin and she responded instantly.

  “I am. For you. Inside of me. Right now.” She shocked herself with her boldness, but at that moment she didn’t give a damn.

  “Demanding much?”

  “Only with you,” she answered between kisses.

  He spun around, unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, and slipped them off her right before he set her on the counter. She reached between them and did the same to him, tugging him out of his pants.

  “Christ, Riviera, you’re so fucking wet and ready for me,” he said as he touched her.

  She moaned, “I think I’ve been ready for you all day!”

  He entered her, all at once, fast and hard, as she stiffened in response.

  “Does this hurt? Do you want me to stop?” he asked promptly.

  Her breath whooshed out of her, and she didn’t answer him at first. Then she said, between short quick pants, “No. Just give me a second.”

  “Riviera, tell me the truth.” He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look him in the eye. “Baby, I don’t ever want to cause you pain. You understand me?”

  “It’s not pain, Shan. I’m just a little tender from yesterday. I’ll be fine in a second.”

  He stayed deep within her, not moving, until she said, “You just gonna stand there all day like that, cowboy, or are you gonna move a bit?”

  “No, ma’am. Lean back on your elbows and unlock your ankles. And Riviera?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yeah, very sure. I need you.”

  “Then, don’t take your eyes off this,” he said, as he touched the place where they were locked together.

  “Okay,” she murmured.

  Shan took her ankles and put them on his shoulders, stretching her legs high. Then he bent her knees and spread them wide and began to sink himself in her, over and over. Riviera was shocked at how sensual it was watching him pump in and out of her.

  “You look so beautiful like this. How does it feel?”

  Her hands were clamped around the edges of the counter as she held herself in place while he continued to plunge deep inside of her.

  “Ahh … ahh-mazing. You feel so damn good, Shan,” she cried out.

  Shan loved it that Riviera wasn’t a quiet lover. He loved that she expressed herself and let him know what pleased her.

  “Riviera, will you touch yourself for me?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  “Yeah, I would love to see you do that while I’m deep inside of you.”

  She moved her hand down to start rubbing and pressing on herself, and Shan knew he wouldn’t last long watching her do that.

  “Riviera, you need to come for me because watching you do that to yourself is too fucking hot.” He slid his hand under her ass, lifting her higher and she felt him nudge her inside as deep as she’d ever felt him before.

  “Yeah? You like this?”

  “Oh yeah. Ahh, you’re so damn tight like this.”

  He stretched her legs straight up as he grabbed her thighs and rocked into her again, holding himself tightly against her.

  “Ahh, yeah, right there. That’s sooo good.”

  Seconds later, she called out his name as her orgasm slammed into her, and his followed shortly thereafter.

  But he wasn’t finished. Next, he bent over her and lifted her shirt, exposing her breasts. Riviera was treated to an intense sucking session of her nipples. He rolled them around on his tongue, drawing on them hard, teasing them with his teeth. She was digging her fingers into his arms, begging him to take her again before she went insane.

  Pulling out of her, Shan dropped his head down and started licking her sex, tonguing her and sucking her until she was squirming and begging him for more. He slid his fingers in her and started a rhythm that sent her soaring into the land of orgasms again, head spinning and mind whirling.

  “Christ, Riviera, I love watching you shatter. You destroy me.”

  “I think you’re trying to kill me,” she said, breathless. “Did you steal my bones? I think you stole all my bones ’cuz my whole body feels like Jell-O.”

  Shan gave a little laugh. “I’m only living up to my promise.” Shan bent over her stomach to kiss her, but a succession of crisscrossing scars distracted him. Not wanting to call attention to it, he continued to kiss her slowly, inching his lips across her belly, taking note of all the marks as he went. They were scattered everywhere. Shan had an overwhelming urge to kiss each one away. So that’s what he did. He spent time sweeping his mouth and tongue over every single scar he could see.

  “You’ll spend years doing that if you’re doing what I think you’re doing,” Riviera said.

  “You don’t like this?” Shan asked, lifting his head.

  “I didn’t say that. I’m just covered in them. There are way too many to worry about.”

  “Not true. I worry about every single one. Do you want to know why?”

  The heat in his voice was like warm honey, dripping all over her body and see
ping into every inch of her. “Why?” her voice trembled.

  “Because every one of them put you in hell and I want to take you away from there forever. You belong in heaven, Riviera, and I’m going to do my damnedest to put you there as often as I can.” There was one person more surprised than Riviera by Shan’s confession, and that was Shan himself. His heart bled for her pain, and throughout all his heartaches over the last few years, he’d never known this type of sentiment.

  “Kiss me.”

  Shan's icy-blue eyes imprisoned hers as they kissed. Their eyes told each other things that their mouths didn’t or wouldn’t. Shan put his hands on her thighs and spread her legs so he could move in closer to her. He wrapped his hands in her hair and kissed first her upper lip, then her lower one, taking his time tasting every part of it. Riviera softly sighed, their eyes linked. She was dizzy with awareness as Shan continued to caress her mouth and lips. Tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth, she moaned and broke off the kiss.

  “Trade places with me.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “You sure about this, because we may never eat dinner at this rate.”

  “Who needs food?”

  “You do, by your own admission.”

  “Shan, trade places with me. Then we can eat.”

  He lifted her off the counter and took a seat up there instead. She looked at him and then told him to remove his shirt. He did as she asked, and she ran her hands up and down his torso. Taking her hand, she ran it down his neck, across his pecs, veering to the right to tease a puckered nipple. He dropped his head back and groaned. Riviera moved closer so she could put her mouth where her fingers had been. Sucking gently at first, she slowly increased the pressure until he groaned again. Not wanting to deprive his other nipple, she repeated the same actions on the other one.

  “Damn, Riviera. Your mouth is amazing.”

  Riviera suddenly stopped and dropped her mouth to where she really wanted it to be. Lifting his velvety tip, she took her tongue and swirled it around and around, and then plunged his length into her mouth, taking as much of him as she could. Shan gently held her head, his fingers woven into her hair. Riviera moved him in and out of her mouth, sucking him hard, stopping to lick him from base to tip, repeating the sucking motion.

  “Baby, you have no idea how good that feels.”

  She licked and sucked, placing her hand beneath him as she massaged him.

  Now it was Shan’s turn to grasp the edge of the counter. “Riviera, you have to stop ’cuz I’m gonna come any second if you keep that up.”

  She looked up at him and said, “I want you to,” and resumed her magic on him. It was only moments before she felt his warm, creamy fluid flooding her mouth and heard Shan groaning.

  When his orgasm finished, he slid off the counter and wrapped her in his arms, kissing her mouth and tasting himself on her tongue.

  “God, Riviera, you’re unbelievable. Why don’t you ever stop? Not that I’m complaining.”

  “I don’t want to. I like to please you.”

  “Well, that’s an understatement.” He brushed her hair back from her face and neck and placed a kiss there. “You don’t have to do that, you know.”

  “But I want to. I love doing it. It’s sweet to have you in my mouth.”

  “Ah damn, Riviera.” His lips crushed hers for a moment, but he backed up and told her, “You’re so damn sexy.” Their lips found each other again and finally Shan said, “We’d better eat, or we never will.”

  “I guess you’re right,” she laughed. They both watched each other and smiled as they dressed.

  “I think I’d prefer you naked all night, Riviera.”

  “I know I’d prefer you that way.”

  Shan cocked his head and simply stared at her.

  “What?”

  “I think you’re getting comfortable with me.”

  She giggled. It quickly turned into a hug-your-belly laugh.

  “You find that funny?”

  “Yes,” she squeaked.

  “Why?”

  She couldn’t speak at first because she was laughing so hard. Finally when her howls had subsided, she said, “I would hope I’m getting comfortable with you. We’ve had sex a few times, been naked together, and I’ve had your … um, you know, in my mouth.”

  “Say it, Riviera,” Shan teased.

  “Say what?”

  “Dick. Just say it for me.”

  Riviera’s face went into nuclear meltdown.

  “Shan! I … er …,” she sputtered.

  “Come on, honey. Like you said, you’ve had me in your mouth. And more than once. Just say the word dick for me. It’s so adorable when you do. Please,” he begged.

  “Dick,” she blurted out. “Dick, dick, dick! There! Do you feel better?”

  “I most certainly do,” he laughed. “But I’ll feel even better if you say cock.”

  Riviera gasped and Shan howled. “Come on. Do it for me. You know you want to.”

  Riviera pursed her lips, trying to hold back a laugh. She finally squeaked out, “Cock.”

  Shan smiled. “Now I know you’re totally comfortable with me and you don’t have to walk on eggshells when you talk about my dick or my cock.”

  Riviera walked up to Shan and put her arms around his neck. “I don’t feel the least bit awkward around you now and I find it odd that I ever did,” she said, kissing him.

  “Hmm, I’m happy you feel that way, Ms. Benson.”

  “Same here, Mr. Shandon.”

  “So, shall I finish cooking dinner?” he mumbled as he leaned his forehead against hers.

  “I think that would probably be a great idea. If you don’t, I might end up playing with your dick again.”

  Shan busted out laughing. He moved around the kitchen and pulled items out of the refrigerator and cabinets. The shrimp was cleaned and ready to cook, so all he needed to do was pan sauté it. The handmade corn tortillas and other fixings were already prepared and waiting, so he asked Riviera to pull them out of the refrigerator while he cooked the shrimp. The sauces were finished and soon they were seated at the counter.

  “These are excellent!” Riviera exclaimed.

  “Glad you approve.”

  “I mean, they’re really great.”

  “Thanks. They’re pretty simple too.”

  She wolfed down two, and then sat back and rubbed her tummy.

  “Can I get you another beer?” he asked.

  “Nuh-uh, I’m good for now. I feel like I swallowed a whole watermelon,” she declared as she continued to massage her belly.

  Shan laughed and he watched her. “These things have a tendency to go down real easy. You up for dessert?”

  She gave him a sly smile. “Yeah, but not the food kind.”

  His eyes widened a bit. “Insatiable. That’s what you are.”

  “It’s not my fault.”

  “Oh? And whose fault is it?”

  “Yours and very possibly your dick’s.”

  He laughed while he reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. “I’ll gladly take that blame any day, babe.”

  “Since you did the cooking, let me clean up.”

  “You sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay. I’m going to turn on some music. I meant to earlier but I got a bit distracted,” he said, giving her butt a slap as she stood. She smacked his in return as he left the room. As she stacked and scraped dishes, music floated through the ceiling speakers.

  When Shan returned to the kitchen, she said, “I love Mumford and Sons.” One of their songs was playing.

  “Same here. I saw them at Red Rocks. They were unreal.”

  “Oh, I’m jealous. I bet they were awesome.”

  The song ended and an old Rolling Stones song came on.

  “Ah, The Stones. You have eclectic taste, I see.”

  Shan said, “I like everything. Old rock, alt rock, rap, classical. If it’s music, I pretty much like it.”

  “I gue
ss I’m the same, with a few exceptions.”

  “Oh? What are they?”

  Riviera didn’t want to get into this conversation, so she brushed it off. “Just a little bit of this and that.”

  They were putting dishes into the dishwasher when Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here came on.

  Shan looked up. “Ah, Pink Floyd. One of my all-time favorites.”

  Riviera was holding a glass in her hand and as he watched her, her body first stiffened, then her face turned ashen as the glass slipped through her fingers. The shadow of fear she kept carefully hidden in her eyes sprang out and as it did, she began to tremble.

  “Riviera, are you okay?” Shan asked.

  Riviera would’ve answered him, if she could have. But she didn’t because she never heard him. The words “Pink Floyd” had thrown her back into a horrible memory, one she so valiantly tried to keep concealed in the deep recesses of her mind. Unfortunately, it stormed to the surface and brutally shoved everything else out of the way like a cruel bully, with no regard for anything. And then after it had brazenly exposed itself, it sucked her straight into its vortex of hell.

  She was trapped in a life of misery. Every night when she went to sleep, she begged God to come and take her away in the night. She didn’t want to live anymore. She abhorred her life, hated herself, and despised her parents for what they made her do. There was no one she could turn to, no one she trusted enough to pour her heart out and tell her sordid story. The truth of it was they all knew anyway. They knew what was happening in this horrible place and yet they did nothing.

  Floyd … that vile, nasty man. And her parents … they were worse than he was. They forced her to go to him every day. The first time it happened, she was only twelve. She had kitchen duty and was supposed to help Floyd clean up. They lived in a commune, which was really only a big house that Floyd owned. He let her parents live there for free. But it wasn’t free for Riviera. The price she paid had been steep. She’d come back to their rooms crying after that first time and told her mom that Floyd had hurt her. She’d told her mom what he’d done and how she was bleeding. But her mom called her a liar and said that Floyd would never do anything like that. Her mom turned her back on her own daughter. She was the one who had made the deal with Floyd … traded Riviera for free room and board … and drugs.