CHAPTER 16.

WELL THAT WAS pleasant.

It reminded me of the time I'd been plucked out of boarding school at age twelve one late summer afternoon and taken on a trip to South Africa by my parents. The visit became tainted when I strayed too far from the jeep and had the unsettling experience of being charged by a rhino. The animal's shortsightedness had saved the day.

With a forced grin and a wave goodbye, I watched my parents drive away in their chauffeured Bentley Continental. Mom seemed happy enough, and I'd managed to reassure Dad I'd give his offer serious consideration.

Stalling had become its own art form.

I locked the door and turned to rest my back against it, gathering what was left of my will to live.

A new vision promised to haunt my days. That architectural design was a threat in waiting. The building destined to tower above L.A.'s skyline would serve as a symbol of my Dad's disapproval.

I went in search of Mia.

Perhaps it was time to throw myself onto my sword and resign to the inevitable challenge of joining the family business. Resisting this centrifugal force pulling me apart felt futile and was doing crazy things to my head. My subconscious evoked the kind of nightmares that promised not to end unless I faced my fate. Every night, the same dream. Me, messing up one way or another, followed by an obvious wish fulfillment of needing to escape.

The level of interpretation that would make Freud proud: I'd lost a childhood to Cole Tea and was damned if I'd give that company my adult years as well.

I didn't want to think about that slow death now.

I needed her.

Needed to bask in her presence and breathe in her aura.

I knew my girl well.

Predictably, Mia was naked and swimming laps in the pool, cutting through the water with a determined pace. I glanced at the garden to make sure my parents hadn't left something behind and wouldn't return for it and catch my stunning Bohemian naked and strikingly rebellious.

Mia's love of water held an easy interpretation. This represented freedom to her, the ability to defy gravity and lose herself. If I ever saw a string of daisies in her hair, I wouldn't be surprised. There had to be hippy blood running through her veins.

I stood at the edge of the pool and called down to her. "They call it PTSD."

Mia swam toward me and peered up. "They just want the best for you."

"And what are you really thinking?" I said, amused.

"They don't like me, do they?"

Clenching my fists, I tried to suppress this building rage that my parents had hurt Mia. "They're old fashioned," I snapped. "Amongst other things."

"They don't approve of me," she said. "Do you think it was my tattoo?"

I knelt and reached out to run my fingers through her hair. "It's because you're wild, and beautiful, and untamable, and all that's wrong with this world is reflected in your profoundness."

Her eyes widened in wonder.

I rose to my feet and slipped off my tie, quickly unbuttoning my shirt. Undressed now, I dived in, swallowed up by the silence of the depth, swimming the full length until I reached her. Rising out of the water, I rested my back against the edge of the pool.

Mia tread water before me. "I'm sorry I let you down."

"How?"

"Maybe it was the croissants?"

I laughed. "Mia, you could have arranged a garden party and invited the Queen, and my mom would have found fault with it."

"What was it like growing up with that kind of scrutiny?"

"A perfect childhood," I said wryly. "Think Beatrix Potter on acid and you have a glimpse into the Cole nursery."

"You had a nanny?"

I bit my lip.

"Was she cruel to you?" she said softly.

"No, Bethany was a godsend. That was the problem. When my Mom realized how Henry and I had bonded with our nanny, Mom fired her."

"What happened?"

"We learned not to like our nanny's too much." He arched a brow. "Or at least not to show we did."

Her brow furrowed and I knew she was trying to connect that experience with how I was now.

"I wish I could have been there to save you," she said.

My heart flinched and I swallowed this wave of emotion as I reached out to her. "Boarding school saw to it no weakness was left in us."

Mia swam the short space and pressed her cheek against my chest. "Cameron."

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into me, closing my eyes and slipping into the sacredness of her. "Had I not tasted the bitterness of hell then how else could I truly appreciate what it is to spend time with you?"

She let out a deep sigh. "Not sure I can make up for all that."

"Trust me, you do."

I dipped my head and kissed her shoulder.

"I'm going to heal you," she whispered.

"You did, the moment you became mine." I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her firmly, passionately, tangling with her tongue for dominance and she let me in, let me lead her in our kiss.

Mia broke away and I held back on a moan of wanting her to remain in my arms.

She disappeared beneath the water, her mouth enveloping my cock, causing my body to jolt. A rush of excitement blazed through me. With her cheeks sucked in, she increased the pressure, sending a jolt of pleasure that stole my breath and had me gripping the edge, white knuckled.

Staring down at the blur of golden locks and bobbing head, the sensation taking me dangerously close, my concern for her was overshadowed by my dick's exultation of its nearing bliss. She used one hand to cup and massage my balls, while the other worked ingeniously with her mouth, up and down along the ridges of my erection.

A groan tore from me.

Her tongue now fully engaged in this symphony of talent. She wasn't the only one holding her breath. I couldn't breathe, couldn't talk, couldn't let go, my fingernails dug into stone, biceps twitching. This sensation of floating increased my arousal to fever pitch.

She was going to drown on my cock.

"Mia," I cried out.

Despite this primal defiance wanting her to see it through, I grabbed her arms and pulled her up and out of the water, both of us splashing, reaching out for balance.

Mia sucked in air, panting. A flash of mischief in her eyes was followed by laughter.

Her amusement was short lived. My need snatched all logic. Too engulfed in passion, I dragged her toward me and spun her round so her back lay against my front. I positioned my cock and thrust deep inside her, burying so far she cried out until I soothed her by playing with her sex in one hand and tweaking her nipples with the other. Her head lolled, her thighs shook, and her gasps revealed she'd surrendered completely.

"Mine," I whispered huskily.

"Yes."

Running my fingertip over her, flicking her clit just how she liked it, slow and firm, I mastered that small nub until it throbbed beneath my touch.

I remained still, waiting for her muscles to relax around my shaft. Her tautness gripped me, milking in time with the rhythm of my fingers.

The irony was not lost that my fear of my parents returning to see Mia sans clothes was now replaced by adanger be damned.'

I was too far gone to care.

We ended up making love in the Jacuzzi.

And the shower.

And then back in the bed.

I'd soon be booking myself into sex rehab if this obsession continued. Our healthy sex life was morphing into a Shakespearean comedy. As though her sex exuded an elixir to life, and I needed it to survive. My carnal appetite was reaching new heights and I'd already earned myself the title of Lord of Chrysalis.

Just in case Mia needed time to decompress too, I gave her space to get dressed, again, for the day.

I headed down to the foyer and waited for her, taking the opportunity to call Shay back.

"Hey boss, what's up?" he said cheerily.

"Saw you have an update?"

"It's not good. We managed to get the number plate on the Kia-"

"The issue?"

"Came up stolen."

"And the face recognition match?"

"Baseball cap and glasses hid his face."

I caressed my brow. "So that's it?"

"Well, we're watching Mia, so if this guy reappears, we'll have him."

"Thanks, Shay. I appreciate the work you did on this."

"Anytime. Any plans for today?"

"My parents just visited. Now I'm off for some R & R with Mia."

"Will you please let us follow?'

"No, we'll be fine." I watched Mia heading down the staircase. She'd found the white summer dress and sunhat I'd laid out for her. She twirled on the stairs to show off her wide brimmed hat.

"Shay, take the day off," I said. "That's an order."

"Sure," he said. "You too."

"I intend to." I shoved my phone in my pocket. "Come here." I reached out for Mia's hand and pulled her into the alcove of the front door.

Reaching for the tube of sunblock resting on the hall table, I squirted some into my palm.

"Ms. Lauren," I said.

Mia assumed her pose: head down, eyes averted, and her hands held behind her back.

Taking my time, I applied cream to her face and she closed her eyes. That cute smile of happiness warmed my heart. I massaged the cream over her shoulders and upper back, and not wanting to stop there I eased off the straps of her dress and caressed sunblock over her breasts, rubbing it in and paying special attention to her nipples.

She swooned, jaw slackening, her body trembling.

I flicked up her straps. "Good girl. Now you're ready."

"Getting sunburned in winter," she said. "Only in Cali!"

"Couldn't live anywhere else."

"Maybe your dad knows that. Maybe that's why he's putting that building here."

"Let's not talk about it."

She wrapped her fingers around my hand and followed me out.

After assisting her inside the BMW, I climbed in and drove us out of the driveway and headed east.