When I questioned him about his love life, he became surprisingly candid. He declared that he loved only one woman in his life, his childhood sweetheart, who left him for a guy that later started to smack her around, other than that he liked to fuck good looking women. His words not mine.
‘You have a woman right now?’ I probe.
‘No one I want to do any more than fuck,’ he offered, ‘why, you want to audition for the position?’
‘No, thank you,’ my insides clench as I move my eyes down to my meal, which I continue to push around my plate. I feel his eyes burning into me, ‘how did you get into your line of business?’ I ask, gently.
His eyes hold me still for a second, ‘something I fell into,’ he announces, vaguely. ‘Not exactly my career of choice, as you put it,’ he gestures to the man standing by the door and the plates are rapidly whipped away. That was the end of that conversation.
‘We’ll take drinks in the lounge,’ he informs the waitress, who merely nods.
We enter the lounge, where a fire is crackling in a huge inglenook fireplace, despite the warm weather. Nerves flutter in my stomach as I wonder whether this is a scene set for seduction?
‘When do you expect payment from me?’ I ask, unable to stand the wait, not knowing when he intends to pounce.
‘Why, excited?’ I hear the humour in his tone. I feel it’s best not to answer, ‘sit,’ he points to the sofa. I sit, and my dress rides up, his glance swiftly drops to the exposed flesh. I am too frightened to tug at my dress, knowing he will become irritated. I eye him through my long lashes, waiting for his next move.
The waitress distracts him as she brings in coffee and a cheeseboard and places in on the wooden coffee table in silence, before swiftly departing the room. His gaze moves back to mine. The way he is standing beside the fire, he looks like the lord of the manor rather than a drugs lord, one hand on the mantel the other in his trouser pocket.
‘Will you do the honours,’ he invites, pointing towards the tray.
I nod and set about preparing the coffee asking whether he wants cream and sugar, but he declines both. I regard his toned frame and know that he obviously works out to keep looking that good at his age.
‘How old are you?’ I blurt out, without thinking.
‘How old do you think I am?’ He looks amused by my interest.
‘Oh no, that wouldn’t be a good move, if I get it wrong there may be consequences,’ I squint my eyes suspiciously.
He grins, ‘let’s make this interesting, you get it wrong, the consequence will be another kiss, you get it right, I release you of your obligation.’
‘My obligation?’ I arch an eyebrow.
‘The kiss in payment for your life,’ he states as if he is talking about something casual rather than me stopping breathing, forever.
I observe him for a moment, if I get this right I won’t have to kiss him if I get it wrong, I have to kiss him twice. How old is he? He allows me the stillness to stroke my eyes over his features assessing. My eyes drop to his hands; they say you can tell a person’s age from their hands. His fingers are soft, long and not too wrinkly, I make a decision, ‘forty-eight,’ I announce, bravely.
He grins, before beckoning me with his finger.
‘Am I right or wrong?’ I ask, my heart beating like crazy inside my chest.
‘Come here and I’ll tell you,’ he instructs dominantly, ‘and don’t make me tell you again,’ he adds.
Fuck! I stand on shaky legs, toss back the last of my champagne, and run my hands down my dress to push it back down over my hips. I step towards him, stopping a foot away.
‘Closer,’ he demands.
‘Sir,’ a deep voice interrupts and I have never been more grateful.
‘Out!’ he growls over to the suit, ‘now!’
I turn to see that the space at the doorway is now empty when I turn back Luke’s eyes are angry. At me?
‘You angry at me?’ I whisper, they immediately soften.
‘No,’ he responds swiftly. ‘Step closer, Sophie,’ his voice is now quietly dominant.
I step up to him, my hands at my sides, tension in my limbs.
‘Right or wrong?’ I whisper up, feeling suddenly brave.
His hand snakes out and circles my waist surprisingly gently, landing on the small of my back. ‘Wrong!’ He smiles, his eyes to my lips. ‘You owe me a forfeit,’ he murmurs. ‘I’ll take it now,’ he decides.
Fuck! I lift up on my tip toes and place my lips gently against his and drop back down.
‘Consider the consequence paid,’ I attempt to step away, but his arm holds me firm.
‘What was that?’ He enquires, lightly.
‘Your kiss,’ I smile, deciding to charm him into letting me get away with that.
‘Fuck no!’ he explodes, ‘you remember my request, Sophie?’
‘This isn’t the kiss in exchange for my life, this is the kiss because I got your age wrong,’ I tease, the alcohol fuelling my courage.
‘Every kiss is to save your life,’ he updates me, seriously. ‘And that wasn’t a kiss worthy of your life,’ he reminds me, sarcastically.
‘You know I’m in love with Nate, right?’ His face darkens, probably not a good time to mention my hot detective boyfriend.
‘You want that good, Sophie?’ He warns.
‘Yeah,’ I zip my attitude up tight.
‘Then I suggest you try real hard to make me believe I’m the only man in the world.’ He is majorly pissed, his tone dark.
I lean my hands flat on his chest, suck in a deep breath and concentrate on how my lips will feel on Nate’s when we, hopefully, reunite. I run my palms up and move one into his thick hair, the other to rest on his broad shoulder. I focus on his eyes and fist his hair hard, urging him down to my awaiting lips. I close my eyes to focus on my imagination. I nibble on his bottom lip before running the tip of my tongue across the seam of his lips. He is a cool character, not a reaction to be had. I plant my lips and stroke my tongue, encouraging him to open up. He finally does, he tastes of champagne. Imagining Nate, I push myself against him, his arm tightens around me as his other leaves the mantelpiece and slides across the top of my backside. Our tongues tangle, teeth nibble as I grind against his evident erection losing myself in the moment. His fingers of one hand fork my hair pulling tight, causing my whole body to cover with goose bumps as he cups the cheek of my backside to urge me closer. I hear myself moan, deep in my throat.
It’s the equivalent to having a bucket of cold water poured over my head.
I jump back with a screech, what the fuck am I doing?
Luke looks as staggered as I by the passion in our kiss.
‘I’m sorry,’ I breathe, my hand touching my swollen lips.
‘Fuck!’ His eyes move over my face, ‘well,’ he smiles a wolfish grin, ‘that just made the next few days incredibly interesting.’
‘No, look I’m sorry, I got carried away,’ I excuse myself.
‘Why are you apologising? You certainly made me feel like the only man in the world,’ this pleases him.
‘I’m jet lagged,’ the guilt sears through my entire being. I love Nate, I was pretending Luke was Nate, but I got a little too involved in my fantasy.
‘Go to bed, Sophie, we’ll pick this up in the morning,’ he turns to depart and within a couple of minutes, smiler is standing, waiting to escort me to my room.
I thought I would toss and turn after what happened with Luke after dinner, but I wash my make-up off, brush my teeth and am asleep within minutes.
********
I am sitting at the same table as last night eating breakfast when smiler enters the room.
‘Mr. Ericson has been called away on business, he asked me to notify you that he will be back for dinner tonight. He says you are welcome to use the TV room or library. After breakfast, I will show you where they are.’
‘Do you know when the money is expected to change hands?’ I probe.
‘No Ma’a
m,’ he shakes his head.
‘But it is expected at some point in the day,’ I ask.
‘You will have to ask Mr. Ericson about that,’ he abruptly turns and leaves the room.
The day drags, I am waiting patiently for Luke to reappear and set me free as promised. When Kane, which turns out to be smilers real name, although I’m not sure whether that’s his Christian or surname, informs me to dress for dinner, I am perplexed. Did my father not come through with the money? Has he let me down again? A darkness cloaks me.
I dress what I deem appropriate for dinner, a blue flirty skirted short dress and heels before meeting in the dining room. Luke isn’t there when I arrive, I stand by the window, which shows me only hills and mountains. In Colorado, there are a lot of hills and mountains, I knew that was why I was privy to them, there would be no way of tracking where we were at a later date.
I turn to a sound of someone entering the dining room, ‘Sophie,’ Luke calls, his alert eyes to my appearance, ‘as stunning as ever,’ when he reaches me, he leans down and kisses my cheek in greeting. ‘Sit!’ he orders.
I sit, biting my tongue from asking him in no uncertain terms, why the fuck I am still here. But, I don’t want to antagonise him.
‘Everything okay?’ I ask, instead.
‘A few hiccups, but nothing for you to worry yourself about,’ the waitress arrives and begins to pour champagne into our glasses.
I wait for the waitress to leave before I enquire, ‘the money?’
‘It seems there’s been a delay on the money,’ his eyes hit mine with a warning not to push the subject.
‘Oh?’ my face must expose my shock, ‘he won’t pay it?’ I gasp, ignoring the forewarning glare. Fuck!
‘Let’s just say there are conditions to him paying it, we are in negotiations,’ he lifts his flute to mine and chinks. ‘Drink!’
I drink, sub-consciously, gulping frantically at that the idea that my father could get me killed with his business dealings. ‘What does he want?’ I manage to ask.
‘Leave it, Sophie,’ Luke growls, ‘I am dealing with it. Meanwhile, I would like to forget my stressful day and enjoy your company, agreed?’ The last word holds what sounds like a threat.
I nod, subserviently.
We chat throughout our meal, but I am distracted by the information that I may not be as safe as I first considered. I had hoped it would be a case of my dad paying my brother’s debt to Luke, and Luke allowing me to go home to Nate, apart from the price of a kiss, which it had to be said wasn’t much of hardship. A kiss was a kiss, no harm done and I would be thinking of Nate throughout every second.
Me being released after the kiss, I now knew was never going to happen.
‘Do you remember what I insisted upon having with you, Sophie,’ Luke’s voice is pissed as it interrupts my deliberation.
I glance up, my eyes wide. What did he insist on having with me? I couldn’t think straight.
‘I don’t like repeating myself,’ he reminds me briskly, I suddenly think of Simon and his punishment for making Luke repeat himself. The trauma must have jolted my brain because it suddenly occurs to me what he is referring to.
‘You want my undivided attention if we are in a room together,’ I recite from memory.
‘Can you give me that?’ he questions, although I know he is demanding it rather than requesting it.
‘Yes, I’m sorry,’ I turn my candid gaze to his, ‘I am incredibly worried about my future if my father refuses to pay the money. Where will that leave me?’ My voice is breathy through fear.
‘I’m not going to hurt you, Sophie,’ he announces, ‘we can work something out.’
‘Okay,’ I feel such relief at his words, I provide him a smile of gratitude, not for a minute contemplating what that something will be.
‘That’s better,’ he rests back against his chair, his eyes running over me hungrily.
That’s when it all clicks into place, he has no intention of ever handing me back to Nate. The price of my life is me, he wants me in payment of my brother’s debt.
As this scenario settles in my brain, I feel compelled to bury all my concerns in the impenetrable emotional vault of my mind. Call it self-preservation.
I drink the majority of the champagne, having acquired a taste for its refreshingly tasty bubbles, it’s numbing effects blurring the seriousness of the situation. I find myself becoming more and more talkative as my anxiety spikes. Luke begins to loosen up as I chat about something and nothing, eager to keep the communication between us. I ask about his family, and he closes down, but he recites a few stories about his college life. Surprisingly, I find out he is a qualified prosecution lawyer and has represented some high-profile clients. He doesn’t inform me of whom, or why, but he shares a few amusing stories about his time in the courtroom.
Like the night before, we travel into the lounge where he sits beside me on the sofa. I prevent myself from stiffening as his leg brushes mine. We share a nightcap of brandy and sit and watch the hypnotic flickering of the flames. As the brandy seeps into my already alcohol-fogged brain, a companionable silence falls over us. Remembering the kiss of the previous night, I blurt out, ‘you never did tell me how old you are,’ I accuse, mildly.
‘You still haven’t guessed,’ he reminds me, softly, his voice hinting at amusement.
‘Oh no, I’m not playing that one again, I will lose,’ I smile.
His eyes go soft, ‘would that be so bad?’
He appraises me with the same intrigue that Nate used to, and in that moment I realise that he is never going to allow me to walk away. My stomach squeezes at this realisation.
I look over at him, ‘Luke, please’ I call, softly. My eyes are pleading him not to do this.
‘Guess!’ he instructs, ignoring my appeal.
I sigh, he isn’t going to let it go, ‘forty-nine,’ I murmur, quietly, mentally crossing my fingers.
He grins that grin that informs me immediately, I lose. Why the hell did I mention it? If I hadn’t had said anything he maybe wouldn’t have remembered. Then a sadistic laugh appears in my mind, of course he would have remembered. He is playing with me like a cat plays with its prey.
‘Okay, how old?’ I roll my eyes in resignation. This can go two ways, I continue to play this game with him, or I roll over and die. I can’t die, Nate promised me forever.
‘Oh no, this is my evening entertainment,’ I hear a chuckle, it sounds surprisingly good, like he doesn’t do it enough.
‘You have a good laugh,’ I tell him, knowing this is the only way.
His eyes move to mine, ‘yeah?’ he flirts, ‘you want to get over here and pay your dues?’
‘Luke!’ I say softly, begging him with my eyes to stop this.
He shakes his head, his gaze sobering, ‘Sophie, please don’t make me regret my decision,’ he warns, his voice arctic.
Alarm hits my gut, ‘okay,’ I place my glass on the side table and shimmy over towards him.
‘On my lap,’ he directs.
I almost complain, but decide I have argued enough with him tonight. I lift myself onto his lap, where his hand instantly moves to cup my hip and he leans in.
‘Pull my hair, like last night,’ he instructs. I sieve my fingers through his hair and fist hard, my eyes hitting his and seeing the desire apparent within their depths. Jesus, how can I have such power over him?
As soon as my lips touch his, he takes over the kiss. It isn’t like last night where I set the pace, his tongue strokes deep, his teeth nibble hard on my bottom lip as he seduces my mouth entirely. ‘what’s my name?’ he growls against my lips.
I am giddy with the force of his desire.
‘What’s my fucking name?’ He roars.
‘Luke, it’s Luke,’ I pant before he crushes his lips back to mine.
He knew last night I was thinking of Nate. He wants to make sure I know who he is. His hand holds my jaw while his mouth brutally assaults mine in a most delicious way. I can’t
believe that I am doing this, allowing him to make me forget my name. His fingers are in the flesh at my thigh stroking tiny circles just below the hemline of my dress sending shots of desire to my sex. The confusion that hits me doesn’t resonate in my brain as I push down into his lap against his hardness. How can I want this?
‘I’ll give you the good,’ he growls, as his hand moves up under my dress to my hip and back in a hypnotic rhythm, but I want more.
‘Luke,’ I pant, for what reason I do not know.
‘Fuck,’ he growls against my lips, ‘going to fuck you hard, Sophie.’
I sit up, without moving my lips from his and straddle his lap, pushing down to soothe the ache in my sex. I know that this is what he wants of me, the only way I get to stay alive. I am going to fuck a monster to keep my heart beating.
‘Fuck,’ he repeats, his fingers moving aside my panties. He strokes along the folds of my swollen lips, pushing two fingers deep inside. ‘Ride them,’ he commands, I comply as he pushes the straps of my dress and bra down to expose my rounded breasts. He sucks hard on my nipple, brutally, the pain feels good.
He releases his cock and impounds me down onto his fucking huge length. I cry out as it fills me completely, my head thrown back in complete ecstasy. I lift off him before slamming back down hard, punishing myself for doing this. I fuck him hard, over and over at a brutal pace, until I come spectacularly around his hard cock.
He stands, still inside me and leans my back over the arm of the sofa, my head low, my hips perched high. He pushes my legs wide slamming into me ferociously, drilling me harder and harder until he comes deep inside me, with a groan.
I am laying watching him, my breathing erratic as I try to come to terms with what I’ve just done. Luke pulls out of me, his eyes regarding me as if I am going to run, but he needn’t have bothered. It’s too late, I’ve given up.
‘You okay?’ He checks, leaning over to a box of tissues on the side table and begins to clean me up.
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