The Con Artist: (Formally Published as Playing The Millionaire)

by Lynn, Sandi

  Chapter 19

  Kate

  I looked at the clock on my nightstand. It was eight fifty-nine. It was time to make my grand entrance. I slipped off my robe and walked my naked body down to his bedroom. I had never been in there before and I’d never seen it because he kept the door locked when he was gone.

  When I lightly knocked on the door, he told me to come in. Placing my hand on the handle, I opened it and stood in the doorway with my arm resting on the doorframe and my hip pushed out to the side.

  “Come in,” he spoke as he sat on the edge of the bed in nothing but a pair of pajama bottoms with his bare feet firmly planted on the floor.

  I seductively walked towards him and stared into his hungry eyes. When I reached the bed, he planted his hands firmly on my hips and his tongue stroked my belly. Instantly, the fire down below erupted, sending a tingling sensation through my body that made me tremble. He slid his tongue down to my clit, giving it a few strokes before circling my slick opening. My fingers raked through his hair as I closed my eyes and pleasurable moans escaped my lips. His mouth devoured me while he dipped a finger inside, heightening my ecstasy. My breathing became rapid as well as my heart rate and a rush of intoxicating warmth rushed through me.

  He stood up and slowly circled around me, his lips barely touching my neck, until he was fully behind me. He took my hand and placed it on his hard cock, moving my hand up and down the fabric of his pants. I tilted my head back and his tongue explored my neck.

  “It’s time you got down on your knees and wrapped that beautiful mouth of yours around my hard cock,” he whispered seductively in my ear.

  Turning around, I brushed my lips against his before kneeling in front of him. Grabbing the sides of his waistband, I slid down his pajama bottoms and released his cock, which stood tall and proud. I wanted this to be a moment he’d remember forever, so I started by planting tiny kisses along his abdomen and up and down his sexy V-line before making my way down to his manhood. I circled his shaft lightly with my tongue while he gripped my hair and threw his head back, letting subtle moans escape him. Licking up and down, I stared up at him as our eyes met and I could feel him tremble. My lips wrapped around him as I held the base of his cock with my hand, slowly moving it up and down while I devoured him. His moans heightened as his grip on my head tightened and he thrust his hips back and forth. Bringing my other hand up to his balls, I lightly brushed my fingers across them.

  “Stop. I’m about to come and I don’t want to yet,” he spoke with bated breath.

  He lifted me up and threw me on the bed, bringing his lips down to my breasts and taking my hardened peaks in his mouth. He grabbed my leg and held it up as he thrust inside me, forcing me to gasp for air. It was hard, deep, and full of promises to give me the ultimate orgasm. He pounded in and out of me at a rapid pace as small beads of sweat formed on his skin. While I placed my hands firmly on his chest, he groped my breast with his other hand, giving each one equal attention. Sounds of gratification emerged from both of us as we fucked like a couple of rabbits and I came.

  He pulled out and flipped me on my side so he could enter me from behind. Another deep and hurried thrust jolted me, bringing me to the brink of another orgasm.

  “Yes,” he loudly voiced. “God, you feel so good. Fuck, Kate.” He halted deep inside me.

  When he finished, he pulled out and walked to the bathroom. After he returned, he handed me some tissues.

  “You can clean yourself up and then go back to your room. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Yeah, okay,” I spoke with a hint of disappointment.

  I got up from the bed and headed back to my room, my body still reeling from the effects of him. My mind was in shambles and I couldn’t figure out why. I felt used. Like I was nothing more than a piece of meat to him. I needed to paint, so I slipped on my robe and headed up to the terrace. The night was cool, but I didn’t mind. Before getting started, I walked over to the bar, poured a glass of white wine, and took it over to my easel while I stood and stared at what I had painted earlier in the day. Picking up my brush, I continued my journey.

  * * *

  Gabriel

  “Damn it,” I spoke as I paced around the bedroom.

  Trying to feel nothing for her at all was not easy. Sex was mind blowing, and the way she had those beautiful lips wrapped around my cock, amazing. Shit. It had to be this way. No feelings and no emotions. I needed to remember she stole my thirty-thousand-dollar watch right off my wrist without any guilt and she conned many men. Watching her orgasm was satisfying. The look on her face and the way she lightly bit down on her bottom lip made it hard not to want to give her a hundred more.

  I pulled on my pajama pants and went downstairs to my office to do some work. I wasn’t tired and I needed a drink. After pouring myself a bourbon, I sat down at my computer and looked over some emails. A couple of hours had passed, and I was finally tired, so I headed upstairs. I wondered if she was sleeping, so I went up to the fifth floor to check on her. The door was open, her light was on, but she wasn’t in there, so I went up to the terrace.

  “Can’t sleep?” I asked as I found her standing at her easel.

  “I’m not really tired and I wanted to paint,” she spoke as she stared at the canvas and brushed a few strokes.

  I walked over to her and was amazed at how much she’d added since before dinner.

  “A mermaid?” I asked as I stared at the painting.

  “Yes. Don’t you like mermaids?”

  “I don’t know. I never really thought about them. Is your painting telling a story?”

  “Yeah. It sure is.”

  Her painting intrigued me. A beautiful mermaid with long blonde hair, sitting on a rock and looking out into the sea that was made up of blues and greens. I narrowed my eye as I stared at it, wondering if somehow that was a depiction of Kate. As much as it intrigued me, it also confused me.

  She set her brush in the water and gave me a small smile.

  “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” she softly spoke.

  “Good night, Kate.”

  I headed back to my room and climbed into bed. Grabbing my laptop, I opened it and googled “Mermaids.” The description and symbolism I found validated my thoughts.

  Along with unrivaled beauty, myth depicts mermaids with heart-stoppingly luscious voices. ... They are matrons of enchantment, entreating sailors with beguiling beauty, grace, and mesmerizing melodies. Seductive and charming, all those in contact with mermaids are subject to their persuasion.

  The traits she possessed were the same. As beautiful as her painting was, it was also haunting. It almost felt as if she painted it out of pain. By the end of thirty days, I would know everything about her. I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep, but I had a feeling sleep wasn’t going to be my friend tonight.

  Chapter 20

  Kate

  I gave my body a long stretch as I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Since I was now officially allowed to go out of the house, I would take advantage of it today. I’d be gone the whole day. Doing what? Who the hell knew? I wondered which one of Gabriel’s minions would get the luxury of guarding me. Would it be the cute buff guy with the short blond hair and the green eyes? Or would it be the bald guy that stood six foot four who looked like he hated life? He never cracked a smile and was always so serious.

  Putting on my robe, I headed downstairs and went into the kitchen for some coffee. The closer I got, the more the aroma of something sweet captured my attention.

  “Good morning, Grace.” I smiled. “What is that wonderful smell?”

  “Good morning, Kate. I’m making strawberry-stuffed cream cheese crepes. Would you like some? They’re Gabriel’s favorite.”

  “I would love some. Thank you.”

  I was happy today because I felt as if I had some sort of normalcy back in my life. I could come and go as I pleased and had to have sex with a hot and sexy millionaire. That was as norm
al as life could get for me. I would use my freedom to explore new options and make a plan for when the thirty days were up. I would be kind, sweet, and over pleasing, just like I was with the others. I’d keep my feelings and emotions out of it. I had to. I wasn’t a good person and didn’t deserve to have someone as good as Gabriel. Not that he would want to settle down with someone like me. I had too much baggage, too much dishonesty, and too much of a screwed-up life for the likes of him.

  “Are those strawberry crepes I smell?” Gabriel spoke as he walked into the kitchen.

  “Yes, and they’re ready. So go sit down,” Grace replied.

  “Good morning.” I smiled as I walked up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “Good morning.” He narrowed his eye at me with suspicion.

  I took my coffee to the table and sat down. He followed, taking the seat across from me.

  “You seem to be in a rare mood this morning,” he spoke.

  “Maybe it had something to do with the events that occurred last night.” I smirked.

  Grace looked at me and then over at Gabriel as she set down our crepes in front of us. He didn’t reply to my comment and began eating his breakfast.

  “So, who’s my babysitter today? Blond buff guy or tall bald guy who hates life?”

  “Huh?” Gabriel asked.

  “I need to go out today, so which one of your minions is tagging along?”

  “And where do you need to go?”

  “Out. I need to get out of this house. Walk the streets of Time Square, go to Central Park; hell, I’d even go sit in a café all day just to get out of here for a while.”

  “Edmond will be escorting you.”

  “And,” I leaned over closer to him, “which one is he?”

  “According to you, ‘tall bald guy who hates life.’”

  I rolled my eyes. I had hoped he would say ‘blond buff guy.’ He seemed friendlier than Edmond.

  “I have something for you,” Gabriel spoke as he got up from the table and walked out of the kitchen.

  A few moments later, he returned and set an iPhone down in front of me.

  “I thought you should have this in case I need to get hold of you or you me.”

  “Thank you. But what about the phone I already have?”

  “This one is special. The only number you can dial is mine.” He smirked.

  “Well, aren’t you just a gem, wanting to keep me all to yourself.” I smirked back.

  “I don’t trust you, Kate. You know that. You’re only going to have it until our time is up. After that, you can have your other phone back.”

  “I don’t need it anyway. It was only for Samuel. I always get rid of my phones after my job is done.”

  His eyebrow raised in dismay.

  “I see.”

  “In fact, it’s fine that I can only call you because who else do I have to call?” I looked away from him as I picked up my phone.

  “Your father?”

  I gave him a small smile as I got up from my chair.

  “I would love to call him, but I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s doing time at Rikers Island.” I walked away and up to my room.

  As I was in the closet picking out an outfit to wear, I heard a light knock on the door.

  “Come in.”

  “Your father is in prison?” Gabriel asked.

  “Yes,” I replied as I thumbed through my clothes.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I was too embarrassed.”

  “So what made you tell me now?” He took a couple of steps closer.

  “Why not? I mean, we’re in this so-called thirty-day relationship. You might as well know about my family. Anyway, don’t you have to get to the office?”

  He stood and stared at me for a moment with a perplexed look in his eyes.

  “Yeah, I do. Enjoy your day out. I’ll see you tonight. Maybe we’ll go out.”

  “Really?” I smiled. “Where?”

  “Caleb and his band are playing at the Bowery. I thought maybe we could go watch him.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Okay, I’ll let him know we’ll be there.” He smiled. “And by the way, we’ll talk more about your father later.”

  “Gabriel?”

  “Yes?” He turned and looked at me before walking out the door.

  “I need my purse and my wallet back if I’m going out.”

  “I’ll go get it and leave it by the front door.”

  “Thanks.”

  After slipping on a pair of skinny jeans and an oversized grey sweater, I put on my shoes and walked out the front door. Instantly, Edmond stepped in front of me with a stern look in his eyes and his arms crossed.

  “Relax, big boy. I’m sure Gabriel told you that you’ll be tagging along with me today.” I smiled.

  “He did.”

  “Great. Then why are you standing there like you’re ready to wrestle me to the ground? Let’s go.”

  * * *

  Gabriel

  As I sat behind my desk, I couldn’t help but think about Kate’s father. I knew something was up by the way she was vague about him. Rikers, eh? The apple sure didn’t fall far from the tree, did it? I wondered what she was doing today. I told Edmond to keep a very close eye on her at all times and on his belongings. Picking up my phone, I dialed Caleb.

  “What’s up, Gabriel?” he answered.

  “What time are you playing tonight?”

  “We hit the stage at nine o’clock,” he replied. “Why? Are you thinking about coming?”

  “Yes. I told Kate that we’d come watch you play.”

  “Awesome. Come around eight and we’ll have a couple of drinks first. By the way, I take it she agreed to your plan?”

  “She did because she knew she didn’t have a choice. Which reminds me, I need to go. I have some shopping to do. I’ll see you later, bro.”

  I ended the call, got up from my desk, and told Lu that I’d be back in an hour. Climbing into the limo, I had Carl drive me to Victoria’s Secret where I purchased some lingerie and matching panties.

  “Carl, after you drop me at the office, take this bag back to my house and hand it to Grace. Tell her to put it on Kate’s bed.”

  “Very well, sir.” He nodded.

  “You know what? Just drop me off at the deli down the street from my building. I’m going to grab a sandwich and I’ll walk to the office.”

  After grabbing a sandwich to go, I was walking down the street when I ran into Samuel Coldwater.

  “Gabriel.” He smiled as we both stopped on the sidewalk.

  “Hello, Samuel. On your way to lunch?”

  “I am. Care to join me? I was just heading down to the deli for a quick sandwich. I have back-to-back meetings this afternoon.”

  I held up my bag. “Just came from there, but I’ll join you.”

  I figured this was the perfect chance to find out about how he felt about Kate, or in his case, Amy disappearing. I wanted to know if he was looking for her. I grabbed us a small table while he went and ordered a sandwich.

  “How’s everything going?” I asked him as he took a seat across from me.

  “Business-wise, things are good.”

  I narrowed my eye at him. “Not so much personal-wise? Your gala was a huge success and you have a beautiful girlfriend. Life should be grand, Samuel.” I smirked.

  “I’m not seeing Amy anymore, Gabriel.”

  “What? Why? The two of you seemed so happy.”

  “She left town the day after the gala and returned the ring I had given her.”

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  “How would you?” He gave a small smile.

  “Did she give you a reason as to why she left?”

  “She said she needed to go away to work on some issues she had with herself and she needed to be alone. If only she would have talked to me, I could have helped. I was in love with her,” h
e spoke with a sadness in his voice.

  I felt bad for the man.

  “And you have no clue as to where she went?”

  “No. I had a private investigator try to track her down after I kept calling her cellphone and it went straight to voicemail, but no luck. He’s convinced she wasn’t who she said she was.”

  “Do you believe that?” I asked.

  “I do. The more I thought about it, the more things didn’t add up. I believe this woman was out to con me somehow.”

  “If she was, she wouldn’t have given you back the ring,” I spoke.

  “I suppose that’s true.”

  “Unfortunately, she was just a messed-up woman with a lot of issues. She did you a favor by leaving.”

  “Maybe you’re right, Gabriel. Thank you, my friend. And you’re right, she wouldn’t have returned the ring.”

  “You’re welcome.” I smiled. “I need to get back to the office. It was good seeing you.”

  Chapter 21

  Kate

  I spent half the day in Central Park, walking around and taking in the beauty of the spring scenery. It felt good to get out of that house and it gave me time to think about what I was going to do once my thirty days were up. My lease for the entire year was already paid for and my dad was here, so moving wasn’t an option just yet. Plus, I needed a place for him to come to when I got him out of prison. Samuel Coldwater was going to help with that until Gabriel stepped in and ruined it for me. He was going to be my last con. The con that would help get my father out of prison and home with me where he belonged.

  “Is there anywhere else you want to go before I take you home?” Edmond asked in a serious and monotone voice.

  “Starbucks would be nice.”

  “Fine.”