His Bahamas Affair: The Albury Affairs Book 2

By Christina OW

Loraine Larson has a secret that nobody knows thanks to her father’s money and high powered friends. She’s spent years trying to forget the hell she went through in Paris. She can’t sleep without seeing that monster’s face, but she discovers a shield for that in the arms of her bestfriend’s brother, Reno Albury.

And now that the stalker is back, she wants to stay with Reno even more because he makes her feel safe. Reno wants to keep her close for his own selfish reasons, his motherless son being one of them. But can he handle the dangerous stalker after Loraine?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christina OW
• Release date: Jun 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310885655

Christina OW

I love reading novels that take me on a ride of wild emotions. Books have always been an escape for me, for a few hours i love to live the lives of characters i grow to cherish and admire. I've always had an active imagination and because of it I've lived inmy head more than i have been in the outside world. I've always imagined scene-rials and wondered how it would turn out in the end, and what kind of emotions it would invoke. I began writing down the many stories in my head in 2010 and it's been a wonderful journey ever since.I have a Diploma in Law and a BA in International Studies and Communications and Media Studies.Writing was never a career path for me it was just a release as fashion design is my true passion, and now writing has become a vital part of me and my family as my twin sister (M.O. Kenyan) is also a writer.I hope to always continue with my love of writing no matter what the future holds for me.

Book preview

HIS BAHAMAS AFFAIR

She wants to stay in his arms because he makes her feel safe. He wants to keep her there for his own selfish reasons. But has Reno bitten off more than he can chew?

ALBURY AFFAIRS SERIES

BOOK #2

Romantic Suspense

Erotic Romance

Christina OW

His Bahamas Affair

Copyright Christina OW February 2016

Published by Christina OW

Cover Art by RiyasReds

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

RENO

Albury Trio 2

Christina OW

Copyright © 2016

Chapter One

Loraine frantically looked around the dimly lit room as she tugged at her hands, tied above her head on the bed post.

Where am I? What the hell’s going on? How did I get here?

Loraine wiggled her legs and was relieved that they weren’t bound. That was an advantage to her—she didn’t know how she was going to get out yet, but it was a good thing to have her legs free. She just had to believe that she was going to get out. She needed to stay positive if she had any luck of making it out of here alive.

She struggled to control her labored breathing, pushing the fear at bay. She needed to be calm if she was going to think of a way out of here. First things first, she needed to see if anything around her was familiar and figure out what the hell happened before she landed in this predicament. She looked around and took account of what she knew so far.

I’m tied to the bed but my legs are free. I’m in a hotel room… She sucked in a breath, startled when she recognized the room. I’m in my hotel room!

Her laptop sat on the desk, her screen saver—pictures of her happy and smiling at different parts of the world flushed one by one. She could see her Linea red luggage in the open closet next to the bathroom. And even though her room wasn’t how she left it in the morning—with a little disorder because it was easier for her to find things that way—she recognized her things even her favorite teddy bear, one she’d had from the cradle, which she left on her pillows that now sat on her desk chair facing her. The way his black button eyes stared at her made her skin crawl! There was no way she was touching it ever again!

She was being held hostage, in her own room! She fought to swallow a sob as she batted back tears.

I can’t panic. She took in a deep breath. Don’t panic, just stay calm and figure a way out.

The last thing she remembered was walking down the hallway, and then there was a burst of light in her eyes, accompanied by excruciating pain in the back of her head before everything went black.

Then I woke up here with nothing but my underwear on. God he stripped me. And she could just imagine how excited taking her clothes off had made him.

She sobbed again, but this time she let her tears fall free. Yes, her legs were free, yes she had her bra and panties on. But what’s to say whomever was holding her here had not violated her already?

No! Don’t think like that! Maybe he hasn’t already…maybe he’s just waiting for me to wake up before he…

Why else was she tied to the bed? And she didn’t feel sore in the apex of her thighs, so she still had time to hope for a way out, as little as it might be before the sadist came back.

The semester in Paris was supposed to be fun, not this nightmare. She thought she was running away from her problems on the home front. Who knew she was running toward something even worse? She snorted at the irony.

She looked down at her partially nude body again and cursed herself. She shouldn’t have bought the sexy lace underwear that was now her only remaining clothing. It would only tempt him further to defile her. She bought the expensive things because she wanted her parents to see the bill and get pissed off—it was the only time they acknowledged that they had a daughter. Now her juvenile victory had come round to bite her in the ass.

Loraine admitted that she was no saint—head strong, defiant, and stubborn and an everyday pain in the ass were all her middle names. But she wasn’t a bad person. She didn’t deserve this!

Why did he pick her to torment? What did she do and out of millions of people in Paris, why did she catch the psycho’s attention? Belonging to one of the rich families in New York, she always knew she was at risk of getting kidnapped to be ransomed off, but this…no. She never knew this could happen.

There were no tutorials on what to do if she were taken by a sexual psycho because no one anticipated it!

Things like this don’t happen to people like me!

She turned her head to the side, pressing her mouth to her shoulder to muffle the sounds of her crying.

"Loraine, mon coeur, my heart…"

Loraine jumped at the sing song French accent that came from behind the bathroom door.

Unable to keep the panic at bay, she cried out as she struggled with her restraints, chaffing her wrists with the silk ties.

What the hell do you want? she yelled at the dark figure that now stood at the foot of the bed, staring down at her.

Just his gaze made her feel exposed and dirty. She turned her head away as she continued to struggle when he pulled his shirt over his head and reached down to undo his pants. She felt the bed dip at the foot and she cried out tagging harder.

"There is nowhere to go, my sweet Loraine. Vous êtes tous les miens."

No! Let me go. I don’t belong to you! Please! I’ll pay you whatever you want, she begged, her sobs now coming heavily.

The stranger shushed her with a soothing tone as he climbed over her. Loraine screamed again, using her legs to try and kick him off her. He fell hard on her, knocking the wind out of her and trapping her under him.

Get off me! Please get off me!

The stranger grabbed her chin and turned her face toward him. She shut her eyes tight, sucking her lips into her mouth. She wasn’t going to look at him and he was not going to kiss her!

"Loraine, open your beautiful eyes mon bonbon. Come on mon amour, let me taste your sweet lips."

She shook her head, struggling to pull her chin out of his grip.

Loraine, wake up.

Loraine paused, shocked by the sudden change of his voice. She knew that voice.

Loraine!

She slowly opened her eyes and her heart jumped when her eyes stared right into his evil grey ones.

What do you want? she cried.

"Joli, those sweet red lips." Then his lips came down on hers.

No!

Loraine vaulted up on her bed breathing heavily, rubbing her wrists. She quickly came awake looking around the sun lit room and inspecting her surroundings to make sure she wasn’t back in that horrid place again.

Loraine, are you okay?

What? She blinked repeatedly then settled her gaze on Riana, who stood at her bedroom door.

Riana’s thin dark brows knitted together as she stared at her. Are you alright? I’ve been calling you, trying to wake you for the past five minutes.

Loraine pulled her lips in a tight smile, drawing slow deep breathes through her nose. Was she alright? Hell no, but she wasn’t going to tell Riana that. The woman had gone through enough nightmares for Loraine to add her own onto her pile.

She nodded, pushing her hair out of her face. Fine, she answered breathlessly. Why?

Riana’s head reared back. She looked at Loraine with the ‘you’re kidding me’ look and Loraine knew she was forgetting something important.

Riana gave her a sarcastic smile and Loraine was sure whatever it was she was forgetting was about to get her a boot in the ass.

She shrugged. Oh nothing at all. It’s just that my wedding starts in two hours and my maid of honor is still in bed!

Oh shit! Loraine exclaimed jumping out of bed. I’m so sorry. Bad hangover. I’ll be showered in five and ready for the glam squad.

Fine, just hurry. Guliana doesn’t like to be kept waiting, she pulled the door shut as she left, leaving Loraine alone with the remnants of her nightmare.

She looked at the bathroom door with apprehension, instinctively wrapping her hand around her right wrist, expecting him to walk through it, her heart racing in her chest.

This is ridiculous! He’s in Paris and you are in Rome with a security detail that rivals the President of the United States. Get a grip! she chastised herself, stomping into the bathroom, turning the shower on and quickly getting her toiletry in order.

Today is a great day…it has to be. And for more than one reason.

After all the hell they’d been through, Riana and Allan deserved to have their happily ever after.

Two months ago, they both believed the other died when a psycho blew up Allan’s yacht. For two and a half years they believed they’d lost their soul mates and it was complete torture for the rest of them to watch the hell Allan and Riana went through. Riana had it easier or harder, whichever way one decided to look at it, because she had been pregnant with Allan’s child. A rumbustious little girl named Aurora, who’d just celebrated her second birthday on Allan’s new yacht that he named Mia Anima Gemella, meaning my soul mate, with his love for Riana in mind.

Loraine was one of the many who believed the notion of ‘true love’ was for those who lived with their heads in the clouds. But seeing her best friend suffer without the love of her life, and her happiness after they were reunited, it was hard to not believe in true love. But one thing she was sure of, only those who deserved it were blessed with it.

Did she deserve it? Maybe, maybe not… but considering how her life had turned out so far, she was more likely to attract another stalker than a soul mate, one who would truly love her for herself. To be loved like that, by anyone would be… too good to be true and very unlikely to happen to her. Hell, she didn’t get that kind of love from her own parents and grandparents so, yeah very unlikely.

Cwazi Wowi, Jiana is waiting for you! her goddaughter yelled, banging her fists on the bathroom door.

Loraine turned off the shower and stepped out. She was a little annoyed Aurora still called her ‘Cwazi Wowi’ but soon she’d have her retribution. The man responsible for that name was giving the bride away and she had a few choice words for him.

Most of the wedding party and guests had arrived a week after the bride and groom because Riana wanted to spend Aurora’s birthday alone, just the three of them. Loraine understood her. Allan had missed Aurora’s first birthday and so many other momentous things. He felt cheated and guilty and Riana thought having some time alone on that special day was what he needed. And she was right.

The man hadn’t stopped smiling since she saw him at the hotel lobby when she arrived. Not even the fact that they were staying in the Rome branch of the hotel that had ruined his life seemed to bother him. It was funny considering he owned it. She remembered he had grumbled for a month when Riana insisted they come back here—something about fighting their demons.

Loraine understood his apprehension. She’d done the same thing when she went back to Paris for culinary school. She even stayed in the same hotel and in the same room, determined to fight her demons. She’d stayed away from Paris for years, even after the danger was long gone, just to avoid those demons. Facing them had been a good idea when she got her acceptance letter from Le Cordon Blue culinary school, but now it was proving to be the biggest mistake of her life.

Thirty months in Paris, in the same hotel, in the same room and she’d survived without missing a wink of sleep. But when she came back to the States, she began to relive that horrible day every single night and she didn’t understand why. And it wasn’t making things easier now that she lived alone.

Maybe I just need a vacation, she mumbled to herself as she combed through her wet hair, Yeah. A month in peace and tranquility, that’s what I need.

Aurora ran back into Loraine’s room like the little whirlwind she was and grabbed the bottom of Loraine’s robe, separating the front.

She quickly grabbed the two sides together. Watch it you little hellion or you’ll be seeing more than you’re ready for!

Aurora kept her hold on the robe, as she pulled Loraine toward the door. Yody says hawy up!

Loraine gently pulled her robe free of Aurora’s grip. Alright I’m coming.

Now!

Now! Geez Louis! she yelled back picking Aurora up by the waist and hanging her upside down on her shoulder as she made her way out of the room.

Aurora giggled, chanting, Pin, pin!

No spinning unless you want to clean up the breakfast she just had, Riana warned.

Loraine quickly put Aurora down. Yeah, that’s not going to happen.

"Infine, finally, Guliana exclaimed pulling Loraine forward and pushing her down into the chair in front of the mirror. Quick, fix her hair and makeup. There is not time, hurry, fretta!"

She barked at the two ladies who stood behind her and they jumped into action like soldiers at a drill. Guliana had been Riana’s stylist in Venice almost three years ago. She was the one who put Riana in a golden dress for dinner that apparently had all the men’s jaws dragging the ground and women glaring daggers the entire night, or so Riana says. Her best friend didn’t exactly do over the top sexy so Loraine had a hard time believing her but the disappearance of that dress did convince her some. She’d only seen that dress once when she was helping Riana arrange her closet and Allan was the chief suspect for its vanishing into thin air. Loraine never took him as a magician but he was the jealous type. So it was probably cut up into little pieces then burned or buried.

"Do something about the bags under her eyes. They are not very attractive, molto brutto."

Loraine turned to face her but her head was quickly turned back around. Hey, I don’t know what that means but I have a perfectly good excuse for them!

Loraine saw Melody, Allan’s younger sister, chuckle through the mirror, seated on the couch with Aurora on her lap. Yeah, it’s called drinking and jetlag. Who gets drunk right after getting off a seven hour flight?

Someone who wants to have a dreamless night, Loraine thought to herself.

We were celebrating the last days of Riana’s freedom.

Melody snorted. The way you were drinking, I thought we were sending you off to prison the very next day.

Loraine stuck her tongue out at her and Melody returned the gesture in kind. A few seconds later, Aurora did the same thing making them laugh. Loraine had always had to watch herself, especially her language, around the impressionable little girl. She had a habit of repeating what she heard, especially if the word was difficult to pronounce. She would repeat it and repeat it until she got it right.

Anyone notice the guest of honor didn’t touch her drink? Amy commented conspiratorially.

The brunette bombshell Amy first name Cindi, was Matthew’s wife. Apparently, she went by her middle name because of all the stupid Cinderella jokes her first name brought on. Of course, it didn’t help that her life story closely resembled the Disney princess by marriage. Matthew the hottest man Loraine had ever set her eyes on, and, to her chagrin, happily married, and was Allan’s best friend. He was the one who forcefully brought Allan back to the States from his self-imposed exile after Riana’s supposed death. They made quite a couple, like a married Adonis and Artemis and yet quite humble—something very rarely seen in gorgeous and wealthy people. And their son Mark… wow! The kid was only three and he was already a stunner.

But Loraine didn’t see any hope in his dating future. Aurora had already laid claim to him. There was no place he was that Aurora wasn’t and she made sure he followed her around wherever she went. And he would, with a resigned look on his face like he had an invisible leash around his neck. Loraine couldn’t wait to see how that would turn out once they were old enough to understand romance.

Melody gasped. You don’t think… Loraine!

Loraine shook her head still before the hairdresser forced it. I don’t know a thing, she lied, maybe it was just nerves, and she did want to have a fresh face when she woke up.

Unlike some people, Guliana mumbled under her breath.

Loraine narrowed her eyes at her and she looked back with a wide eyed innocent look. Yeah right! Aren’t you supposed to be pulling dresses or something?

She shrugged and walked away with a hoity toss of her head.

Nervous? I don’t think so. Did you see how she was this morning? She was walking around like it was any other day. Amy shook her head. I was a nervous wreck the morning of my wedding.

Nervous enough to run? Loraine joked.

She’d always wondered what went through the minds of the brides who waited until they were a few feet away from the altar before they turned around and made a mad dash for the exit. Like, at that particular moment, when her groom was looking at her with so much love, waiting for her with anxious expectation to make her his wife, she has an epiphany and realizes the mistake she was about to make. Why couldn’t she realize that a week before or an hour before and save the groom the embarrassment of being jilted at the altar?

Amy chuckled, shaking her head. By the time I got to Matthew at the altar, I was in the middle of a panic attack.

Loraine laughed. Oh, he must have been impressed with that!

Oh, I remember that. Allan was asking around for a paper bag for you to breathe into! Melody chimed in with a giggle.

I thought Matthew would be angry. But he just looked at me, took my face in his big hands and planted one on me. For the few seconds he was kissing me, I completely forgot what I was nervous about, she giggled. Heck! I even forgot where I was, she said with a sigh.

Loraine caught the sweet loving look on Amy’s face as she traveled down memory lane and she felt her heart twinge with jealousy. She wished she had a reason for that look too.

"Where is the bride?" Melody asked.

Right here. Riana stepped into view and Loraine had to stand up and turn around to get a better look.

Oh my God, Loraine whispered in awe as she looked at her friend. Riana looked mesmerizing in her princess ball gown dress.

The bodice was studded with small crystals in an intricate pattern. The white satin of the skirt of the dress flowed out around her and when she turned full circle, it resembled a ringing bell. She had a small tiara seated perfectly in her hair that it looked more like a hair band. Riana hadn’t liked it much but Aurora had insisted on her getting a matching one to her own little tiara and Riana folded. But the little hellion was right—it looked wonderful with her hair style. Her white veil reached her waist, covering the back of her hair and her exposed back. Her makeup was light and natural, accentuating her facial features and not acting like a mask like it does on most brides.

You look beautiful, Melody sniffed.

No! No cry. No time to redo makeup. Time for dressing. Guliana shoved a Champaign dress at Loraine with a sarcastic smile. I pulled your dress. Hurry, you are the only one still in your robe and the bride is the only one allowed to be fashionably late. Then she walked away taking Aurora’s hand and leading her to the room to dress her.

The room erupted in laughter except for Loraine.

Riana stepped before a full length mirror to admire herself. Don’t go toe to toe with Guliana, Loraine. You won’t win.

Loraine snickered with a roll of her eyes before she stomped into her room and banged the door behind her to mute the laughter. Damn Italian stylist!

Chapter Two

Reno walked up the aisle toward the groom and the best man. Most men would be nervous about signing away their freedom but Allan looked completely relaxed. In fact, he looked like the ceremony of thirty of their friends, family, and Allan’s business associates was nothing but a formal party. He had no fears of the bride bolting or the nervousness that came with signing away a man’s bachelorhood for the responsibilities of a family. He looked quite ready to get the entire thing over with, without the least bit hurry to say the ‘I dos’ so that he could start breathing again.

Reno remembered feeling that same way on his wedding day. It had been a small affair with a pastor and two of his resort managers standing in as witnesses. Neither of them had family in New Providence nor could he afford the plane ticket out for Riana. He’d felt like his life was about to take the next step to a wonderful journey. Like finally things were starting to go right in his life.

How wrong he’d been. The only thing that step had brought was misery. Georgia had been the worst mistake of his life and four years after she abandoned him, she was still the worst mistake.