SPIRITUAL SEDUCTION by DESIREE DAY

Author:DESIREE DAY
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: GALLERY BOOKS
Published: 2010-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

chapter TWENTY-ONE

Riley and Malik sat on the edge of the indoor pond. Carter frolicked in the water and Brie slept peacefully in her bassinet. “This is so amazing,” Riley gushed as she looked around the room. Instead of the traditional rectangular swimming pool, there were two seven-foot-deep ponds and one wading pool surrounded by palm trees, sand, and fiery-colored flowers. Against one wall was a ten-foot-high waterfall with cascading water. “I can’t believe you did this.”

Malik nibbled on her ear, causing Riley to giggle. “I like the water, but I didn’t want the traditional swimming pool, they are so boring. And since I’m not trying out for the Olympics, I didn’t need anything that big. I just wanted a place where I could come down and unwind when I wanted to.”

“You achieved it. This is so peaceful; I haven’t seen anything like this since—” She abruptly stopped talking.

“Since when?” Instead of responding, Riley glanced across the ponds; she could’ve sworn she had seen a bird flit between the trees. “Since when?” Malik persisted.

“Since Bradley . when he took me to his world, to Lavastar,” she muttered softly.

Malik’s heart hurt for her. “Do you want to talk about it?” He’d always felt he had never gotten the full story on what had happened with Bradley.

Riley shook her head. “There isn’t anything to talk about. He fooled me into thinking that he really loved me and that he had changed. Nothing more, nothing less,” she said nonchalantly, then slid into the wading pool. The warm water massaged her skin. “This is delicious.”

“Mommy! Swim over here. I got to show you something.”

Riley grinned. “Here I come,” she said as she leisurely walked over to her son. “So what do you want to show me?”

Carter looked sheepishly at her. “Nothing, I just wanted you by me.”

“Aw, baby.” She pulled Carter into her arms and hugged him tightly. “You don’t ever have to make something up to get me to see you, all you have to do is to call me and I’ll be right there.” She looked down into his eyes. “Okay?”

“Okay,” Carter muttered, then, “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re never ever bothering me. And I always have time for you. Okay, baby?”

“Okay. When is Daddy coming back?” he squeaked and Malik, who was wading toward them, stopped to hear Riley’s response.

Damn you, Bradley. “He’s not. Remember? I told you that the angels came for him.” God forgive me.

“When will they bring him back? I miss him,” Carter said, and angrily splashed the water.

“They won’t,” Riley said softly. “But Malik is here. Don’t you like Malik?”

Carter nodded his head. “But I still want Daddy,” he insisted.

“You’ll—”

“Hey, catch!” Malik yelled; he had lobbed a huge beach ball at Carter. As soon as it hit the water, Carter happily chased it, his question forgotten.

“Thank goodness for the forgetfulness of children.” She paddled over to the edge of the pond and pushed herself out. She hurried over to a wet bar where there was a bottle of milk waiting to be microwaved for Brie.

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