ScandalandSin Read online

  “You hardly need keys, Ms. May. Despite my having the doors and windows boarded up several times, the local hoodlums continue to break into the house. God knows what they do in there.”

  “I told Alaina I won’t go into a locked house, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Olinghouse looked at Rye. Alaina saw a hint of softening in her eyes. The older woman obviously liked Rye, even though she wouldn’t show it to him.

  She pressed a button on the table next to her chair. The maid arrived in less than twenty seconds. “Susan, please get the keys to Stevens House for Ms. May and Mr. Coleman.”

  Surprise flashed in Susan’s eyes, but she quickly controlled it. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Two minutes later, Alaina’s heart pounded as she clutched the keys in her hand. This was what she’d wanted for two years. Her dream was about to come true.

  “You may bring the keys back to me tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Olinghouse.” Alaina stood when Rye did. “I appreciate this so much.”

  “I’m only agreeing for you to look at the house, Ms. May. I haven’t agreed to sell it.”

  “I understand.”

  Rye clasped Alaina’s elbow and urged her toward the door. “Thank you again for seeing us, Mrs. Olinghouse.”

  She inclined her head. “Mr. Coleman.”

  Alaina waited until she and Rye had stepped outside before she released a loud squeal. “Ohmigod, I’m so excited!”

  “Don’t get too excited yet. She didn’t agree to sell the house.”

  She waved a hand in the air while descending the steps. “Details, details. That house is mine. I know it.”

  *

  Bella pushed aside the curtain enough to see the two young people climb into Rye’s pickup. She sighed. The Coleman triplets favored Raymond so much, it hurt her heart to look at one of them.

  “Raymond,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

  She quickly blinked away those tears. Crying solved nothing. She’d had no choice all those years ago. She’d done what she had to do.

  She’d kept the truth locked inside her for almost seventy-five years. Perhaps it was time for the truth to be revealed. That young woman who wanted to buy her house could uncover the secret she’d kept hidden for so long.

  Then, perhaps Raymond would rest in peace.

  Chapter Three

  April 7, 1937

  I tried to talk to Laura today and tell her what I overheard the Sullivan sisters say. She told me I shouldn’t listen to those two women. They’d lived their entire lives interfering in other people’s business and were happiest when they could spread gossip.

  When I told her I believe he was the one who’d fathered Charlotte’s baby, she became angry. She told me I shouldn’t talk that way about such a fine man. He was an outstanding member of their town and always did whatever he could to help people. She’d never believe he could ever intentionally hurt anyone, especially a woman.

  I reminded her about the gossip that had gone around last year, when Maria Campos suddenly left town. Her parents said she’d gone to live with her aunt and uncle in Virginia to finish school. The Sullivans said that Maria was pregnant and left Lanville so she wouldn’t disgrace her family. I’d seen him talking to Maria several times in the store. They always stood in a corner in the back and he would touch her shoulder, her arm, her hair. She didn’t move away from him, but she never smiled. I don’t think she liked him touching her.

  Laura ordered me to stop talking about him that way, that I was beginning to gossip as badly as the Sullivan sisters.

  I have to come up with something to prove to Laura that I’m right about him.

  *

  Rye shook his head and chuckled. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything as entertaining as Alaina flitting from room to room while she oohed and aahed. The inside of Stevens House was a total disaster, yet that didn’t seem to matter to her. She only saw the beauty.

  He saw the beauty in her. The way she tilted her head to the left when she studied something. The way she bit her bottom lip and drew her eyebrows together when she was thinking. The way her eyes sparkled like a kid’s on Christmas morning when she entered a new room in the house.

  Her eyes also flashed with desire when she gazed at him. He’d caught her looking at his fly several times. She’d always quickly glance away, but not before he could see her brown eyes flare with heat.

  She obviously wanted him as much as he wanted her. Rye was trying to be a gentleman, trying to be professional. The longer he was with Alaina, the more difficult it became to ignore the sparks between them.

  “Ohmigod, Rye, look at this fireplace.”

  Rye followed her voice to the library. The rock fireplace still stood, although several of the rocks were missing and others had crumbled. Even with the physical evidence of age, he could see the beauty of the craftsmanship.

  It was the same everywhere he looked in the old house. Time and destructive people had almost destroyed it, but he could tell skilled people built the house.

  Alaina turned in a circle, her eyes wide, her mouth open. “This is more amazing than I imagined. It’ll be sooo beautiful when everything is finished.”

  “You realize the repairs will take months.” He noted the water-stained ceiling, proof that the roof leaked. “More like several months.”

  “I don’t care. However long it takes, however much it costs, it’ll be worth it.”

  Repairs this extensive would be very expensive. He wondered how she planned to pay for them. “You have a banker in your back pocket?”

  “Something like that.” She faced him again. “I want to see the kitchen.”

  “It’s this way.”

  He headed toward the kitchen, Alaina by his side. “You seem to know a lot about this house,” she said. “Why is that?”

  “Remember what you said earlier about teenagers breaking in here to drink or smoke pot or have sex?”

  “Yes.”

  “I was one of those teenagers.”

  “Oh really?” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “Which did you do—drink, smoke pot, or have sex?”

  “All of the above.”

  “You wild thing.”

  Rye shrugged. “I did it on a dare. I wouldn’t have come in this house otherwise.”

  “Why not?”

  “Long story.” One he had no intention of sharing with a woman he barely knew.

  “Now I’m intrigued.”

  They reached the kitchen, with its missing cabinets, rotted woodwork, and gaping holes where appliances once stood. Assessing the damage gave Rye the excuse not to comment to Alaina’s last statement. Rye decided out of the rooms they’d seen so far, this one would need the most work. There were holes in the floor big enough to hold a full-grown man. “Damn. It looks like a tornado struck in here.” He looked at Alaina. She turned in a slow circle again as she took in all the damage. “Are you sure you want to mess with this?”

  He expected to see defeat in her eyes when she faced him again. Instead, excitement made her eyes glow. “I absolutely want to mess with this. It’ll be stunning when all the work is done.”

  “You have more faith than I do.”

  “I trust my contractor.”

  Her words surprised him. “Alaina, you don’t know me.”

  “You’ll soon learn I’m very meticulous and careful. I don’t do anything without thoroughly researching it. I checked out your company, Rye. I told you when we met that Coleman Construction has an outstanding reputation. I wouldn’t have hired you otherwise.” The excitement in her eyes faded and she bit her bottom lip again. “You haven’t changed your mind about doing this, have you?”

  “No. If you still want to fix up this house, I’ll do it. That is, if Bella agrees to sell it.”

  “Why wouldn’t she? The house certainly isn’t any good to her this way. If she’d wanted to fix it up, she would’ve done it by now.”

  “She’s a bitter old woman, Alaina. She might hold onto this ho
use simply because you want it.”

  “That wouldn’t be very smart, business wise.”

  “She doesn’t need the money.”

  Her shoulders slumped. He saw defeat in her eyes this time, but it lasted only a moment. She lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders. “Then I’ll have to convince her to sell it to me even though she doesn’t need the money. Piece of cake.”

  Rye chuckled. If anyone could convince Bella Olinghouse to do something she didn’t want to do, he believed Alaina could. “Do you want to see the upstairs?”

  Alaina grinned. “Absolutely.”

  “There are stairs through that door.”

  She scurried from the kitchen with Rye right behind her. “Be careful,” he called out when she started up the steps. “Those stairs probably aren’t sturdy.”

  He heard the loud crack when she touched the fourth tread. She grabbed for the railing, which broke as soon as she grasped it. She squealed and fell backward…right into Rye’s arms.

  One arm wrapped across her abdomen, one across her breasts. Rye automatically clutched her to keep her from falling. Her plump breast overflowed his hand.

  Rye’s cock responded to the feel of Alaina’s nipple in his palm. He closed his eyes as he imagined unhooking her bra and letting her breasts fall into his hands. They’d be warm and soft, except for her nipples. The pink tips would grow firm when he caressed them with his thumbs, then his tongue.

  Rye gently lifted her down from the steps and helped her stand on the solid floor, her back to his chest. She didn’t move, she didn’t try to pull away from him. The fact that she was his customer and he didn’t mix business with pleasure meant he shouldn’t take this any further. He should release her right now and continue the tour of the house.

  Instead, he tightened his arms around her and gently squeezed her breast.

  She whimpered.

  That sound traveled straight to his cock. He had a full erection in only seconds. He pressed his fly against her ass so she could feel how strongly she affected him.

  She dropped her head to his shoulder and closed her eyes. Rye ran his tongue around the rim of her ear. He breathed directly into her ear, and saw her throat work when she swallowed.

  “Do you want me to stop?” he asked, his voice low.

  She shook her head.

  He nipped her earlobe and worked it between his teeth. She whimpered again. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Touch me,” she whispered.

  Cradling both breasts in his palms, Rye lifted and pressed them together as he thumbed the hardening nipples through her shirt and bra. He heard Alaina’s breath catch. “Like this?”

  “Yesssss.”

  She arched her back and pushed her breasts harder into his palms, her ass against his groin. Rye kneaded her breasts while brushing his shaft back and forth across her buttocks. He plucked at her nipples, rolled them between his thumbs and forefingers.

  Her breathing became heavier, deeper. Rye continued to caress her breasts with one hand while he slowly slid the other down her stomach. He stopped at the waistband of her jeans, unsure how far she wanted him to go.

  She answered his unasked question by pushing his hand between her thighs. “Here. Touch me here.”

  The heat of her pussy through her jeans made Rye groan. He rubbed his fingers along the seam, using a firmer pressure on her clit. Alaina dug her fingernails into his thighs and spread her legs wider apart.

  “That feels so good.”

  It certainly did, but it wasn’t enough. He needed to touch her without anything between his fingers and her silky flesh.

  Unfastening her jeans, he tugged them and her panties past her hips. He slid his hand between her thighs again, and groaned once more at the feel of her creamy folds.

  “Damn, you’re wet.”

  He circled her clit with the tip of his finger. Alaina moaned and gripped his thighs tighter. “Mmm, yes.”

  Rye gathered her cream on his fingertips and spread it over her clit. He circled it again, then rubbed back and forth. She began to move her hips in time to his caresses.

  “That’s the way.” He nipped her earlobe again, nibbled on the side of her neck. “Take what you need.”

  “I-I can’t.”

  Her words made him hesitate a moment before he continued the intimate caress. “I want to feel you come.”

  “Rye, I…” Her voice trailed off.

  “You what?” He pushed two fingers into her channel and pressed upward. She gasped. He could feel the strain in her legs as she tried to widen her stance. Rye wished he’d taken the time to completely remove her jeans and panties before he touched her. He couldn’t stop now, not when she was so aroused.

  She didn’t answer him. He moved his fingers over the sensitive spot inside her, pressing, caressing. Little sounds of pleasure came from her throat. “Do you need more, Alaina? Do you need my tongue?”

  “Oh God!”

  The walls of her pussy contracted around his fingers. Her head fell forward and she trembled in his arms.

  Rye waited until her body stilled before he pulled his fingers from her body. She lifted her head in time to see him lick her cream from them.

  “I knew you’d be delicious.”

  Fire flashed in her eyes again. “You are a very sexy man, Rye Coleman.”

  She turned, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  That full lower lip had tempted him ever since she’d walked into his office. He tugged it between his teeth, soothed the bite with his tongue. He tickled each corner of her mouth with the tip of his tongue before he thrust it into her mouth. She pulled it even farther into her mouth and sucked on it.

  He had to get inside her.

  With his lips still pressed to hers, Rye grasped Alaina’s ass and lifted her feet from the floor. He took the few steps necessary until her back touched the wall. One more deep kiss and he dropped to his knees in front of her. Her shoes landed on the dusty floor. Jeans, panties, and socks soon added to the pile.

  Rye pulled his wallet from his back pocket as he stood again. Alaina watched him, her eyelids heavy, her chest rising and falling from her rapid breathing. Her gaze dropped to his hands when he unfastened his jeans and pulled his hard rod from his briefs.

  He sheathed his cock with a condom. Slipping his arms beneath her thighs, he lifted her and thrust inside.

  Tight.

  Hot.

  Wet.

  Rye buried his face against her neck. He wanted to pump. His hormones screamed at him to pump. But first, he simply absorbed the feel of Alaina in his arms.

  He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. Despite her recent orgasm, he could see the desire in the brown depths. He thrust once and was rewarded with her breathless moan.

  “More,” she whispered.

  Rye kissed her as he thrust again. She clutched handfuls of his hair. He gave her complete control over their kisses—tilting his head when her hands guided it, parting his lips when she drove her tongue into his mouth. She fucked his mouth with her tongue the way he fucked her pussy with his cock.

  “You’re an incredible kisser,” Alaina said before kissing him again. She tightened her hold in his hair. If Rye hadn’t been so turned on, he might have winced in pain. “I could kiss you all night.”

  So could Rye. He couldn’t get enough of her mouth. Or her pussy. He lifted her higher against the wall and pumped faster. Fucking her once wouldn’t be nearly enough.

  Alaina’s breath hitched. “God!”

  Rye winced in sympathy when Alaina threw back her head and hit the wall. She didn’t seem to notice any pain as her second orgasm hit her. Her channel milked his cock, even harder than it had milked his fingers.

  She pushed his hair back and blew into his ear before whispering, “I want to feel you come.”

  The sharp bite on his neck pushed him over the edge. Rye thrust inside Alaina as far as he could and groaned through his climax.

  Several moments
passed before Alaina spoke. “You don’t know me, do you?” she asked softly.

  Rye somehow found the strength to lift his head and look into her eyes. They still showed the lingering effects of her orgasm, yet he could also see trepidation. “We met before today?”

  Alaina nodded. “My last name used to be Pearson.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m Alesia’s sister.”

  Chapter Four

  April 8, 1937

  He was in the store again today. I had to wait on him since my father was busy with another customer. He stared at my breasts the entire time. I was so uncomfortable, I wanted to crawl beneath the counter and hide until he left. He clutched my hand when I handed him his bag and smiled at me. His smile makes me think of a snake.

  Perhaps if I can switch his interest to me, he’ll leave Laura alone. The idea turns my stomach, but I’ll do what I must to protect my sister.

  *

  Rye didn’t move. He didn’t breathe. He didn’t blink. His body completely shut down at Alaina’s words. He swallowed hard, hoping that would make his tongue work. Alaina was the sister of the woman who had humiliated him in front of the whole town? “What?” he asked weakly.

  She bit that luscious bottom lip. The action sent a surge of fresh desire to his cock. He could take her again if he had another condom. Luckily for him, he didn’t. This wasn’t the time to think with his dick.

  He lowered her legs until she stood on the floor, then slipped his rod from her channel. A trickle of her cream traveled down her thigh. Rye turned his back on her before he did something stupid, like drop to his knees and lick it from her skin.

  “Tell me again what you just said.”

  “I’m Alesia’s sister.”

  Rye tied the condom into a knot and crammed it in his pocket. He tucked his cock back into his briefs and fastened his jeans before he faced Alaina again. He turned in time to see her button her jeans. “I don’t remember you.”

  “I’m not surprised. I’m three years younger than you. We didn’t have any of the same classes in school. I moved away with my mom when I was thirteen after my parents divorced. Alesia stayed here with my father.”

  Rye remembered the scandal of Alesia’s father fucking any woman in Lanville who would drop her panties. Word traveled fast in a small town. His eldest daughter had followed in his footsteps. Apparently, so had his youngest.