by Alexia Praks
Upon opening the bathroom door here at the hotel suite and the instant he’d seen Mia in the bath, her face pale as if she were having a nightmare, his stomach lurched with dread. She was going through it again, her unpleasant past, her demons.
Fuck, how he wanted her to confide in him, to share her past with him. He knew, however, he couldn’t force her into that, not until she was ready.
Mia’s voice drew his attention back to the present. She said, “I’m sorry, too. I’m… I’m sorry I called you all those mean things. I mean… you know… that you’re a control freak… that you’re…”
He chuckled, amused at her assumption of his character. “I am?” he asked.
She blushed and stammered, “Well, yes, of course. The way you made me say and do things… and stuff…” She licked her lips, her eyes downcast. “But… but it’s quite nice being controlled by you, too, you know.”
James felt his breath catch at the back of his throat. What was this feeling? It was warm and cozy, like Mia herself had captured his heart and caressed it lovingly within her hand.
“Really?” he asked, keeping his voice cool. “Then show me how much you like it. Show me how much you like being controlled by me.”
She hastily added, “But I like defying you, too, if you must know.” She giggled. “It was fun.” She admitted.
He chuckled lowly. “You have a stubborn side, and I like that,” he said, moving his hand to cup her breast. Then he proceeded to fondled them as he kissed her neck.
She gasped and shuddered deliciously at his touch. “James?” she asked softly. “Are we going to do it again?”
“Hmm,” he replied. “You’ve already seen how hard I am.” He rubbed his erect cock against her to remind her how hard he was for her, how ready he was to fuck her.
She squirmed at the contact and said accusingly, “But I wasn’t even in the room with you before you came out.”
He chuckled. “You turned me on when we had our little fight back there.”
“Really?” she asked naively. Then she muttered to herself, “I turned you on when I defied you.” She laughed softly. “Just like that other time.”
“Like what other time?” he asked. Then he remembered the first day she’d come up to his house to negotiate her brother’s debt. He chuckled at the reminder.
He squeezed her breasts hard in his palms, and Mia gasped out in delight. “Oh…”
“You like that, eh?” He teased. He squeezed the flesh again, harder this time, and Mia cried out softly.
“Agh…”
James wasn’t able to hold on any longer. He roughly pulled her sleepshirt off her body, which was followed by her tank top. Her shorts and panties came after that.
Naked, the woman was simply divine to behold, and James found he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Standing there before him, Mia groaned softly. “James? Please stop looking at me like that.”
James cleared his throat, shifting his eyes from her aroused breasts to her lovely face. “Why the fuck not?”
Mia licked her lips, feeling her core twisting and burning and her whole body shuddering under his intense stare. “It looks like you want to eat me or something.”
A glint appeared in his blue eyes. “That’s exactly want I want to do, Mia. Eat you up. Taste every inch of you.”
She swallowed at his erotic declaration. “I’m not food, you know.”
James licked his lips. “No, you’re not. You’re my dessert.” With that, he caught her wrist roughly and pulled her to him.
Mia stumbled and landed against him. With her in his arms, James pulled her down with him onto the sofa. There, he turned her over so she lay beneath him. Then he leaned forward, opened his mouth, and devoured her breast.
Mia gasped the instant she felt his hot mouth on her. “Agh…” She groaned as he licked her. She bit her lip when he moved his attention to her other breast.
“Dessert… is still food… which… which I’m not,” she said brokenly, squirming beneath him.
James wasn’t in the mood to argue. He lifted his head and shut her up by kissing her passionately. He urged her lips to part for him, which she eagerly obliged. Then he plunged his tongue in and started to wildly explore her.
“Mmm…” she groaned as his tongue stroked hers.
When finally he terminated their kiss, Mia was dazed and breathless.
“James…” she called out softly.
“What is it, sweetheart?” he asked, his eyes intense on her.
She licked her lips. “You’re… you’re hotter than usual,” she said, glancing at the erect beast snuggled between her legs, against her pussy.
James chuckled in amusement. He hadn’t even put it in her yet, and she’d already noticed his cock was more aroused than usual.
“Hmm…” He rubbed it against her.
Mia groaned and her body squirmed.
“How does that feel?” he asked teasingly. “Good, huh?”
Mia gritted her teeth as she nodded to tell him it was wonderful.
Fuck! James couldn’t control himself. She was too cute for words, and he plunged his cock into her, driving the beast into the deepest part of her.
Mia groaned, and her whole body shook at the contact. When he started pounding into her, she clung onto him for dear life.
Chapter 33
Mia
When I woke the next morning, it was to James kissing my cheek. His warm breath seductively caressed my skin as I stirred and fluttered my eyes open.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he whispered.
I reluctantly groaned and asked softly, “James?”
“Hmm?” He kissed me again, his lips warm.
“What time is it?” Then, because I couldn’t help myself, I yawned.
“Seven,” he said.
I rubbed my eyes and then turned to look at him fully. He was leaning over me, his face close to mine. I moved about in my spot and tried to make myself sit up. James wouldn’t let me, however, and I found myself lying there below him in such a vulnerable position. His beautiful Prussian-blue eyes were so intense that I became nervous all of a sudden. I glanced away, casting my eyes downward to avoid his passionate stare.
That was when I noticed he was fully and immaculately dressed in his powerful suit, per usual. Gosh, the man still looked as darkly gorgeous as ever, even this early in the morning. Whereas, I, on the other hand, must have looked like shit.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Are you leaving for work now?” as my eyes drifted back up to his handsome face.
He nodded. “I’ll be back at eleven to pick you up.”
I cocked my head to one side as I started twirling my long hair about my fingers and thumb. As far as I knew, I didn’t need to go anywhere today, so why was James picking me up?
“What for?” I couldn’t help asking.
“We’re going to buy you some suitcases.”
“Why?” I asked, wondering what they were for.
“You think you can put all your new clothes into that backpack of yours?” he asked teasingly.
I blinked. Then I blushed. Of course. How silly of me. James had bought so many new clothes for me here in Vegas, and they’d need suitcases to be packed into for traveling. After all, we were returning to L.A. tomorrow.
I nodded. “I forgot,” I said.
He gave me another kiss on the forehead as I held my breath, pleased at receiving such tender affection so early in the morning. I was smiling when he finally moved back and headed to the door.
“I ordered breakfast for you,” he said, nodding to the silver platter and lid sitting on the side of the bed.
I gazed at it, smiling. Breakfast in bed. Nice.
He must have figured out my thoughts and chuckled. I blushed in response.
“I am starving,” I said, my head held high.
“That spaghetti Bolognese didn’t fill you up last night?” he asked teasingly.
His question got me curious. �
�How did you know I had spaghetti Bolognese?”
“The smell,” he said.
Of course. The aroma of the Bolognese sauce must have been so strong it still lingered by the time James returned last night.
I wondered if he didn’t like it that I used the kitchenette. More so, stinking up the place with Italian food.
“Sorry,” I said, my voice low. “I didn’t want to go out to eat. Also, I wanted to cook.” I wanted to add that I loved cooking and it would please me very much if he were to eat my food. But of course, I knew otherwise. What billionaire ate at home? Didn’t they always go out to eat at some five-stars restaurant where food was made by top chefs?
James retraced his steps to the bed and then leaned over me again. With his face close to mine, he licked my lips, which made me jump. I swallowed hard at the erotic contact. What was this all of a sudden? Gosh, my whole body was flaring with heat at the unexpected touch from James.
“Next time, cook for me,” he said. “I want to taste your food. It smelled wonderful.”
My breath got lodged in the back of my throat as my heart skipped a beat. A sort of glow radiated within me. I was at a loss for words, and James knew it. He knew he had me right where he wanted me. At least I thought so anyway. But I didn’t care. I wanted to cook for him, and I wanted him to like my food.
James kissed me again on the lips and then moved back. “See you soon,” he said. Afterward, he really did leave the bedroom.
“Okay,” I replied loudly so he could hear me. A moment later, I heard the door clicking shut.
I sighed and giggled to myself. Gosh, I couldn’t wait until the day came when I was really going to cook for James. The very thought excited me. And that kiss just now. It was just like Dad used to kiss Mom. The love and devotion they had for each other…
I paused right there. Wait. I shook my head. This feeling… It was probably only on my side. For James, that morning kiss must have meant nothing much to him.
I sighed and threw myself back onto the mattress, telling myself not to overthink things. At least, I thought I’d had a very good sleep last night, which I hadn’t in ages.
Last night after James had his way with me, I’d fallen asleep like a dead log. My usual nightmare hadn’t interrupted my serene snooze time either, and I was pleased. Of course, having such a manly, warm body beside me helped, too. Especially when I was being cuddled in such a warm embrace.
I stayed in bed for another half hour before I finally decided to get up and get myself ready for the day. After I had a shower and dressed myself in a cute dress, I enjoyed the breakfast James had ordered for me. Then I decided to organize my many clothes in the walk-in closet. By the time James returned to retrieve me at eleven, I had everything sorted out, ready to be put into suitcases.
Standing there at the door of the closet, James chuckled as he watched me.
I glanced at him over my shoulder, still on my knees and busy folding dresses. “Hello. What’s so funny?”
He came to stand beside me and tousled my hair fondly. “I guess you’ll need a maid to help with your wardrobe soon.”
I blushed at his remark. Gosh! Me having a maid?
I shook my head adamantly. “No thank you. I can manage,” I said, folding out a blue dress neatly and then putting it into the dress section.
James leaned over and gave me a kiss. I sighed and smiled pleasantly as his warm lips met mine. When he moved back, he took my hand and guided me up with him.
“Come on,” he said, leading me out the door.
James and I spent an hour walking the mall and shopping for suitcases. I wasn’t particular about luggage and, in fact, thought any old one would do. James, however, insisted I get a matching set. Thus, I found myself getting one of those very fancy, expensive Louis Vuitton traveling collections. By the time we were done shopping, I felt awfully guilty for spending James’s money yet again.
We were in one of the restaurants, having lunch, when I couldn’t help myself and said, “James, I know I’m… um…”
Gosh, how did I even go about this? Telling him I didn’t want to be so indebted to him even though I was supposed to be his mistress.
James cocked his head to one side. “What’s the matter?”
I licked my lips and then cleared my throat. I stared down at my food as I said, “You’re spending too much on me.”
“Oh? You don’t like that?”
I shook my head. “Well, it’s not that… I just don’t want to be indebted to you. That’s all.” I glanced at him and noted his dark frown. My heart constricted in dread. “What I mean is”—I continued hurriedly—“I know we have a contract and I’m your mistress and everything… but is it normal for you to spend so much money on me?”
James folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair, his eyes still intense on me. “It’s normal for me where you’re concerned.”
What the heck did he mean by that?
“Do you do this to your other mistresses, too?”
That got the fire in his eyes going, and I knew the moment I’d finished the rhetorical question, I was stepping on dangerous ground.
James leaned forward over the table, his face close to me, our noses nearly touching. “You’re my first and only mistress, Mia.” Then he kissed me hard, right there in a crowded restaurant.
I blushed intensely, and when he moved back, I noticed people were staring at us. There was even a group of teenage girls giggling as they watched us from a distance.
“James, you mustn’t kiss me in public. People can see.”
“And?”
I frowned. “What do you mean and?” I asked, mortified. “They’ll assume we’re a couple.” Which, I wanted to add, we were not. Not a real, loving couple like boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife anyway. We were just master and mistress, held together by a contract because of a damn two million-dollar debt. Gosh, the thought made me feel more than a little mortified.
“I personally don’t care what people think, Mia. I’m the type of person who does what he wants.”
Yes, of course I knew that. I couldn’t imagine a billionaire like James, or any wealthy man for that matter, would care one way or another what others thought of him. To do so would surely be a barrier to their tremendous success. After all, one couldn’t possibly make the whole world approve of oneself.
He whispered softly to me, his warm breath fanning my skin seductively. “And if I want to kiss the woman I adore in public, no one is going to stop me.” He grinned and his eyes sparked.
My stomach tingled deliciously in reaction to his handsome smile, and my whole body shuddered in delight. So he adores me? His blunt declaration made me deliriously happy, and I blushed intensely.
I licked my lips and said, “I see,” because really, I didn’t know what else to say.
James must have felt pretty smug, because he had a satisfied smile on his face as he sat there watching me as I played with my food.
Some twenty minutes later, we were done with lunch. When we headed out of the restaurant, James held my hand. I noticed the group of girls watching us and giggling again. One even gave me a thumbs-up.
I gave her a shy smile in return. They must have thought I’d caught myself some very big fish indeed. If only they knew the real truth of the relationship between us.
Once we got back to the hotel, James returned to work while I continued with my packing. Standing there in the walk-in closet and looking around at the array of clothing James had bought for me, I sighed, disheartened. It was only now I realized I had so many clothes. And how was I supposed to fit all those into just three suitcases? I supposed the only way to solve that problem was to either leave some of the dresses behind or ask James to buy me another carrier.
Of course, I didn’t want to do either of those things. It was nice enough of him to buy me brand new clothes and, of course, the suitcases. And since he was still very busy with work, I didn’t want to bother him with my dilemma.
It was some hour and a half later, after arranging and then rearranging, when I smiled in relief, congratulating myself. “Thank God,” I said, nodding. Somehow, I had managed to fit most of the stuff in, including three pairs of shoes.
I was just heading back out into the bedroom to retrieve some other items to be packed away when I remembered I hadn’t yet told Savanah about my upcoming departure to L.A.
I rushed around the bed and grabbed my cell phone. A few seconds later, I was listening to the sound of the phone ringing.
“Hello?” Savanah’s voice came through.
I smiled. “Hey, Savanah, it’s me.”
I heard a chuckle. “Mia, hey. What’s up?”
“Err… Actually, Savanah, I forgot to tell you… Well, I’ve only found out myself yesterday evening…” I paused. “Savanah, I’m leaving Vegas tomorrow.”
“What? So soon?” She sounded upset.
“I’m so sorry. James has to return to L.A. and his daughter…”
“I know,” she said. “I understand… I mean, he’s based there, isn’t he?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Well, can you come over to have dinner with me tonight?” she asked.
I nodded, knowing James was probably going to be busy again tonight. That meant I would be having dinner by myself. After all, Andy had told me Matt was taking him out to a fancy place tonight, so he wouldn’t be able to entertain me.
“Yes. I’m sure I can come. Where do you want to have dinner?” I asked.