by C. J. Thomas
He rolled off of me and left me sweaty in his sheets.
We both stared up at the ceiling, working to catch our breath.
“Nash.” He turned his head to look at me. “Kendra has a plan to break my contract with the Madam.”
He turned his head back and stared up at the ceiling.
“I want you to listen to what her idea is.” His skin glimmered with sweat. He was immaculate. “See what you think.”
He didn’t respond. Not even a head nod. And when he closed his eyes, I knew something was up. Something he wasn’t telling me. I just didn’t know what it could be now.
103
Nash
I WAS DETERMINED to fuck her into submission.
If that was what it took to make her understand, then I’d do it.
I dipped my head beneath the showerhead one last time before turning the water off. Showers after a night of sex were almost as great as the sex itself.
Refreshed and clean. The way I liked it.
Pulling a towel off the hook, I wrapped it around my waist and scuffled my hair in the mirror. I didn’t know whether I was open to listening to what Kendra had in mind. I didn’t know her well at all, and I still considered her a wild card.
That was plenty of cause for concern.
Stress I didn’t want.
I stroked the stubble growing on my face and decided to keep the shadow. At least for the day.
With all that had happened since I began my involvement with Alex, I wasn’t up to taking another big risk on someone I wasn’t familiar with. I was sure Kendra was a smart woman, someone Alex knew she could trust, but I wanted to be the one to properly close out Alex’s contract with the Madam.
The Madam needed to understand that this was finished.
Alex was through.
She no longer belonged to her.
Alex was mine.
I finished drying and rolled on some deodorant.
Then there was Ted.
No matter how many times I fucked Alex, I couldn’t forget how Ted had me by the balls.
Maybe that was it.
Part of the reason I couldn’t get enough of Alex.
There was more to it than just making sure she understood that what we had was real, that I was there for her no matter what. It was that I was trying to ease my mind and forget how I gave Ted a free pass to Europe to escape justice for Maria’s death.
That fucking asshole. I hadn’t seen it coming.
I shifted around and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The color had flushed from my face and I looked noticeably paler than only a second before Ted came back to haunt my thoughts.
My watch rested peacefully on my marble bathroom counter and I took it between my hands to check the time.
There was no doubt in my mind that Ted took the ticket and was close to landing in Europe, away from it all.
If what Julia Mabel knew was true—and it just so happened to, in fact, be accurate—there was no way convincing the detectives put on the case that I didn’t just help a guilty friend escape and flee the country.
Alex stepped into the bathroom and disrobed.
I gave her a kiss on the forehead and slapped her ass.
She yelped and flashed me the sexiest grin known to man before stepping into the shower and turning the water on.
“Don’t take long, we have a busy day ahead of us,” I yelled over the steam as I headed back into the bedroom to get dressed.
With only my pants on, my doorbell rang. I moved through the house and to the front door, managing to slip a shirt over my head before swinging it open.
Sylvia Neil’s dark, narrowed eyes, bore a hole straight through me as she let herself inside.
“C’mon in,” I muttered under my breath.
She moved through the house confidently, as if she’d been here before.
And come to think of it, she had.
I just didn’t want to remember that she had.
That was a mistake on so many fronts. From thinking she’d be up for a one-night stand, to bringing her back to my place instead of getting a hotel room. Now she knew where I lived.
“It’s a shame what happened to Maria.” Her voice was casual and her tone unharmed. “She seemed sweet.” She spun around to look at me, letting her hair fan out over her shoulders.
I slipped my arms through the collared shirt and began buttoning it up when she floated over to me and caught my hand inside hers. My brow arched as her tongue slid over her lips, moistening them.
“She never was cut out for your dominance.” Her lids hooded over as she peered up at me. “But, you know,” she paused to drop her gaze to my mouth, “I can take a hit.” She cupped my balls.
My spine straightened as if someone tugged on a string attached to the crown of my head. I pulled her hand away, knowing Alex would be getting out of the shower any minute now.
“Oh, sorry.” She released her hold on my boys and walked in the direction of my bedroom. “Is one of your girlfriends here with you now?” She batted her eyelids.
I assumed she’d heard the shower turn off. I knew I did.
She walked back to her purse and I finished buttoning my shirt. “The detectives would love to see these photos.” She pulled out a stack of photos clipped together.
I refused to believe she had more—especially now that Maria was dead—than what she presented to me the other day. But Sylvia was a conniving little cunt who could never get past the fact that I no longer wanted her in my bed. So I wouldn’t put it past her to keep trying until I had no choice but to cave.
Which I wouldn’t.
Ever.
“That’s it? That’s what this is about?” My pulse hammered in my neck.
She bit her bottom lip and tried to get cute with me. “Tell me I wasn’t a good fuck.”
I knew it. She couldn’t let it go.
“Change your mind,” she flapped the photos at me, “and maybe I will, too.”
There was nothing more frustrating than being threatened with blackmail by an amateur sex addict.
She brushed past me, making sure her peaked nipples grazed my bicep, and said, “But you have to decide soon, because my pussy is getting antsy.”
As soon as the front door closed, I dropped my head to my chest and sighed.
Then I heard Alex.
I spun my head in her direction, and by the look on her face, I knew she heard everything.
104
Alex
I HAD NOTHING TO SAY.
I’d seen enough.
I stepped back into the bedroom and finished getting ready.
He didn’t mean any harm. This wasn’t his fault. He would have told me if he’d invited her to his house. No, without seeing how she got inside, I knew that she managed that all on her own. Sylvia had her own motives. That much was made clear to me early on.
I stopped in front of the mirror and pulled my hair back into a tight ponytail.
Nash had warned me about the media having secrets on him. Revelations that might get released to the public in an effort to bring him down. I didn’t know the reason behind any of it, just that Nash was a public figure whose reputation could be squashed.
I moved to the bed and sat on the edge. It dipped at my weight as I bent over to lotion my legs.
Other than the possibility of secrets being brought to light, he didn’t share the specifics.
I shifted my weight and winced at the reminder of his punishment from last night.
I wasn’t in a position to ask for details. Not anymore. And nor did I want to.
But after seeing Sylvia try to blackmail my man into sleeping with her, I silently wished her harm. There was no way I was going to let Nash go now. Not after all we’d been through.
I stood and moved back to the mirror, applying the day’s lipstick.
The further our relationship progressed, the more I laid awake at night with jealous pangs twisting my insides. I knew there were legions of women out there
who wanted to have their chance with this incredible man who, for some inexplicable reason, had chosen to be with me.
Sylvia was just the first in a long line, I was sure. She wanted him for herself, and now it was up to me to do whatever it took to make sure it never happened.
I squirted some lotion into the palm of my hand and worked the moisture into my arms and hands. My wrists were bruised from where Nash bound me, and it was a clear reminder of who I needed to listen to.
And besides, I had other fish to fry.
Getting out of my contract with the Madam was priority number one.
Nash walked into the room and sauntered over to me, taking my shoulders into his hands. He massaged my knotted muscles and kissed the crown of my head.
“Before we go, aren’t you in the least bit interested in hearing Kendra’s plan?”
“No.” He pressed the pads of his thumbs harder between my shoulder blades. “We better get going. We don’t want to make her wait.”
I closed my eyes, wishing that we could just stay here and not visit the Madam. When Nash released his grip, I followed him through the mansion and out into the garage where he opened the door to his convertible.
We drove mostly in silence as I prepared myself with what I wanted to say.
My eyes fell to the mirror outside my door.
I swore I was imagining it—I had to be—but when it followed us around the next turn, I knew that we were being tailed. The same car I’d seen before.
It had to be the cops, and there was no way I could warn Nash. There was too much on the line already. I was afraid of what he might do.
By the time we arrived at the Madam’s building, the car was gone, and I didn’t think too much of it after that. “Give me five minutes?” I asked.
Nash’s grip tightened on the wheel and his nostrils flared. He reluctantly agreed.
Leaving Nash to wait it out in the car, I made my way through the front doors and up the stairs to where the Madam was waiting. “My darling, Alex.” She wrapped her slim arms around me and kissed both my cheeks. “How was your date?” She met my gaze. “Never mind, don’t answer that. I already know.”
By her attitude I assumed Adrian reported back good news.
“He had a lovely time. Thoroughly enjoyed your company.” She took me by the hand and led me to the back office. “Everything went perfect. You were wonderful.” She let go and I watched her move across the room. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Very much so.” My voice was as light as a feather.
“Good.” She turned her back and unfolded a new dress. “I’ve lined you up with him again.”
A heavy sigh escaped from my chest and the Madam quickly turned. “Please, sit. Let’s talk.”
I walked to the chair she pointed to.
She angled her head to the side as she watched me walk.
My heart hammered in my chest and the temperature in the room rose another degree.
“Alex, hun, did you get fucked?”
“Excuse me?” My heart leaped out of my throat.
She moved swiftly over to me and picked up my wrist. The bruises from Nash were clear as day. Anyone other than the Madam may have not noticed, but she was a woman who most definitely would. “Did Adrian do this to you?” Her gaze was intense.
I fought to control my nerves. It was useless. They were already off the Richter scale.
“You don’t hide your guilt well.” She dropped my wrist and settled her tailbone on the edge of her desk as she crossed her arms over her chest. “He didn’t pay me for it, and if you did spread your legs for him, I’d be the first to know.”
My eyes cast down to my lap.
“Go ahead, kiss and tell,” she insisted. “That’s the business we’re in.”
A man cleared his throat behind me.
I turned to look.
It was Nash.
“Ah, I see,” the Madam said, lifting her eyes up to Nash. “It was you who fucked her.”
105
Nash
“THAT’S RIGHT.” I dropped my soft gaze to Alex. “Those marks are from me.”
The corners of Alex’s mouth curled, but only slightly. The Madam was someone who could strip the spirit from the room when she wanted to. It was her place and she dictated the mood.
I didn’t know too much about her, but that much I did know. I could feel it now. It was dark and cold.
“That’s why she’s waddling around.” I tossed a brown paper bag full of cash at the Madam’s chest.
She caught it and asked, “What’s this?”
“For your troubles.” I bent over and threaded my fingers through Alex’s hand and pulled her to her feet. She tightened her hold and I knew that she was relieved to have me save her from what was gearing up to be one hell of an inquisition. “Consider her mine.”
“Oh no,” the Madam snapped.
“Oh yes.” I pointed to the bag of money. “I just purchased her.” I tugged on Alex’s arm and together we headed for the door.
“Not so fast!”
Both Alex and I stopped dead in our tracks. The Madam’s tone meant business.
“You’re Wes’s friend, aren’t you?”
My eyes narrowed as I slowly turned to face her.
She had a pompous look on her face and I hated how she felt like she could dictate the situation. Especially after the amount of money that now sat on her desk.
“I’m lots of people’s friend.” I stepped toward her. “Now, I suggest you take the money I just gave you and consider Alex’s contract finished.”
She tipped her head back and cackled. “If only it was that easy.”
“It is that easy.”
“You’re right,” she stood and stared at me with protruding eyes, “and that’s the problem.”
I waited for an explanation. People like her always had to have the last word.
“Money is too easy for men like you,” she hissed. “Men who have more money than any one person needs.”
Alex threaded her loose hand beneath my arm and clung on for dear life.
“Okay, then what’s it going to take?”
The Madam’s eyes drifted over to Alex and I felt her flinch against me. There was an idea brewing and I was afraid to hear what it was.
“You want to purchase her contract?”
The question was directed at me but she was still staring at Alex. “I do.”
“If you want out of your contract, dear, then you’ll have to also find me a replacement. And soon.” Her flat lips spread into a wide grin.
Alex collapsed her weight against me as I led her out of the building. I should have known the Madam would need more than just money to let her new prized escort go so easily.
106
Alex
I WHEEZED with each step I took.
My body trembled and I thought my knees would give out any second.
A replacement? Who would want to take my contract over?
I dug my heels in and stopped, breaking away from Nash’s controlling grip, just before we reached his convertible. His brows drew together and he gave me a look that said we didn’t have time for this.
“I told you to give me five minutes.”
He leaned in and closed the gap between us. “I gave you four.”
“This is all your fault. If you weren’t such a control freak—”
“Then what?” he growled.
“Then the Madam would have listened to what I had to say.” I fought to keep my voice firm, giving the impression that I was stronger than I knew I was at the moment. “But you stepped in.” My tone faded into the abyss.
His eyes danced across my face as he tugged on my arm and dragged me closer to his car.
“One more minute, that’s all I needed. But you couldn’t even grant me that. Now I’m stuck in this contract, no matter how much money you just gave her.”
“Half a million.” He didn’t even bat an eye.
And that shut me up.
&
nbsp; Once again, Nash proved my worth. I’d never be able to repay him.
Never.
“The Madam will punish me if I breach it again,” I reminded him.
He stopped, turned around, and clamped my face with a vice-like grip. “You’re a Submissive to me. Not the Madam. You do what I say. Not the other way around.”
My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to break out any second.
Nash grabbed my ass with his free hand and squeezed the tender flesh from where he laid down smack after smack last night.
Pain shot up my spine and eventually morphed into a deep sense of pleasure.
He knew exactly what he was doing. Knew that it would hurt, grabbing me there. And I knew that I was his Sub. He’d worked to remind me of that for the last however many hours.
“Do you need to be reminded again?” He pushed me up against the hood of his car and reached between my legs.
Blood drained from my head and rushed between my thighs. He had my sex quivering with desperate need. I was both pissed and turned on in equal measure.
I shook my head once.
Even in public, I knew that I was to obey his every move. I owed him my life, and until he decided that I fully understood, he could do whatever the hell he wanted.
He moved the lace away from my slick mound and dipped the tip of his finger inside me. “Or is your bare pussy not raw enough yet?” He worked another finger inside and pushed them both another knuckle deeper. “No, I can feel you’re still aching with desire.” He thrusted his fingers inside me, and my head flung back, gasping for air as he did.
He dropped his head closer to my neck and I could feel his hot breath tickling my flesh.
My eyes were barely open, but the way he was looking at me, I knew that he knew exactly what my answer would be. He didn’t give a shit about the contract, or that the Madam insisted the only way out was to find a replacement.
“You going to fuck me here?” I gritted my teeth, embarrassed by how turned on I was. “That’s what you want, don’t you?”