Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins (ebook reader for manga TXT) 📕

said sharply, ‘’cause if she hadn’t, you’d be way outta line.’

‘Sorry,’ Catherine said, getting up quickly. ‘Shall I give Madison her bottle when she wakes, or do you want to?’

‘What I want t’know is where my fuckin’ girlfriend’s gone. The mother of my child,’ he said, full of frustration. ‘Who are these friends she’s out with?’

‘People from the fashion institute.’

‘Girls? Boys? What?’

‘A mixture.’

‘If I ever catch her with another man,’ he said ominously, ‘I’ll kill her.’

‘Don’t say things like that, Michael.’

‘I mean it.’

‘Anyway,’ Catherine said crisply, ‘she’s not with another man, she’s merely having fun.’

‘Fun, huh?’

‘It’s not easy for her, Michael. She has a baby to care for, a house to run, and—’

‘C’mon, Catherine,’ he interrupted. ‘Cut the bull. You do everything round here. Beth gets dressed up and goes off to some fancy school with her fancy fuckin’ friends, an’ now she’s out all night with them.’

‘I’m sorry I told you.’

‘Yeah, well, I needed to know the truth.’

‘How was your father?’

‘The same old loser,’ he said. ‘Look, I’m not sittin’ round here waitin’–I’m goin’ out.’

‘I’m sure Beth will be home soon.’

‘Hey, she wants to do her thing, that’s okay–I’ll do mine.’

He left the house filled with anger, drove round for a while, and eventually went to a neighbourhood bar, where an attractive girl with huge breasts sat down next to him. ‘I’m a lingerie model,’ she informed him with an inviting smile. She had pearly white teeth, curly auburn hair, and a snub nose. ‘How about coming back to my place for a nightcap?’ she suggested. ‘I promise I won’t bite. Not unless you ask me to!’

The invitation was there, staring him in the face.

He simply wasn’t interested. Beth was the only woman he wanted.

After throwing down another couple of Jack Daniel’s, he went home alone.

Beth was still out.

He lay down on the bed, switched on the TV, lit a cigarette and fumed. Eventually he fell into a restless sleep.

In the morning Beth was asleep beside him, her dark hair spread out across the white sheets, one long leg stretched out and exposed.

He was angry and turned on all at the same time. Without saying a word, he got on top of her.

‘Michael,’ she murmured, half opening her eyes, ‘what’re you doing?’

‘Fucking you,’ he said forcefully. ‘Is that okay?’

‘No, it’s not okay,’ she said, beginning to struggle. ‘Get…off…me.’

He was having none of it. Pinning her arms back, he pounded into her until he came.

Afterward, he was regretful. He’d just committed a purely selfish act. It wasn’t her fault he was jealous.

Jesus Christ! She had him out of control.

He glanced over at her. She’d moved away and was lying with her back towards him.

‘We’re announcing our marriage this week,’ he said gruffly. ‘That’s the way it’s gonna be.’

‘I hate you,’ she said, rolling over to face him, big brown eyes flashing undisguised anger.

‘No, you don’t.’

‘Yes, I do. You–you rapist!’

‘Sorry, baby,’ he muttered. ‘Dunno what came over me.’

‘Ha!’

‘Miami stank, an’ when I got back you weren’t home,’ he said, making excuses.

‘I told you I’d be out.’

‘I know that.’

She moved a little closer to him. ‘I suppose seeing your father upset you?’

‘No,’ he lied.

‘Yes, it did.’

‘Okay,’ he admitted. ‘It made me crazy.’

‘I knew it! Told you I should’ve gone with you.’

‘You were right. You’re always right,’ he said, nuzzling close to her. ‘How come for someone so young you’re pretty damn smart?’

‘Just lucky, I guess.’

‘Sorry if I was rough with you. I didn’t mean it. It’s…I dunno…Guess I missed you.’

‘Did you now?’

‘Ain’t that something?’

She sighed and cuddled closer. ‘I like it when you miss me, Michael. It means you care.’

He sat up and reached for a cigarette. ‘I never felt this way about anybody before, Beth. Never. You’re it.’

She flashed him her seductive smile. ‘Good.’

‘You’d better believe it,’ he said. And to make up for before, he began caressing her breasts the way he knew she liked.

‘That’s nice.’ She sighed. ‘Umm…veree nice.’

He slid down the bed, spread her legs, and began tonguing her the way she’d often asked him to, though he’d declined, because going down on a woman didn’t seem a very manly act. And yet…if you loved that woman, and she did the same for you, why not give her pleasure?

Her excitement and her smooth firm thighs turned him on again. He resolved to stop the jealous crap and start treating her better.

A few nights later he drove down to the fashion institute to pick her up. He planned to surprise her, take her to dinner at their favourite restaurant and present her with the ring he’d got her–a five-carat diamond direct from Tiffany’s via a friend of Warner’s in the jewellery business.

Beth emerged shortly after five. His beautiful, soon-to-be child bride.

She was arm-in-arm with a young guy, not much older than her. They were so busy talking and giggling that she didn’t even see him waiting patiently in his car like Dumb Schmuck of the Year.

Beth. His Beth with another man.

A black fury overtook him. He could barely see straight. He wanted to smash the asshole’s brains in.

Instead he did nothing. He watched them walk out of sight, and then he went home.

Catherine had gone to stay with a girlfriend for the weekend, leaving a babysitter in charge of Madison. As soon as Michael arrived home, he paid the girl and told her she could leave.

‘Where’s the babysitter?’ Beth asked when she got home, two hours later, and found Michael sitting in the kitchen bouncing a gurgling Madison on his knee.

‘Sent her away,’ he replied. ‘Figured we didn’t need her.’

‘You know I need help when Catherine’s away,’ Beth complained, shrugging off her short, embroidered jacket.

‘Got a hunch you’ll manage for one night.’

‘Damn, Michael.’ She opened the fridge. ‘I wish you wouldn’t do things like that without checking with me.’

‘Like what?’

‘Sending the babysitter home when I need her.’

‘Why’d you need her, Beth?’ he asked, barely able to contain his anger.

‘’Cause I’m tired,’ she said, pouring herself a glass of milk.

‘Tough day at school?’ he said, scrutinizing her face.

‘As a matter