by Mia Ford
“I don’t know where that thing has been and I do hope the term no love without the glove comes to mind. You do drive a hard bargain, Rick, but I think tonight is not your lucky night. It’s only a matter of time. It’s possible your patience will be rewarded 10 times over. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m very good at draining a guy of his bodily fluids. I am very thorough and those that have been fortunate to be with me understand rising from the ashes takes on a whole new meaning.” I let him ponder those comments and left there pretty damn sure that I wasn’t going to get the phone call. I was about to find out how wrong I was.
Chapter three
The silk sheets conformed to my body, as I wrapped myself in the cocoon of luxury. I had collapsed coming home after a rigorous exercise in the cage. Taking the big man down took more out of me than I was willing to concede to. He might have been clumsy, but I had to take my time which had lapsed into a 2-hour escapade. I gave them their money’s worth and then some.
I got out of bed to see there was a message on the phone. It seemed unusual and it wasn’t like anybody knew I was staying here. I found myself curious enough to pick up the receiver and dial in for the message.
“I’m sorry to bother you like this and I’m sure that you feel this is an invasion of your privacy, but this is of the utmost importance. Rick gave me your number. I found it was out of order. I had one of my men tailing you, but I think you know that. I’m going to be downstairs at the bar at precisely 11 am. I have a proposition which I’m sure you’ll find interesting enough to hear me out. My name is Knight Williams. You don’t need my permission to do your due diligence on me. I hope you will consider meeting me face to face. I don’t do business any other way.” The line went dead and he had me at a loss for words. I had no idea what kind of business he would have with me.
I went into my daily regiment of pushups and pull-ups on the door frame. I was putting my body to the test. I found my limit and went right past it. The pain in my side diminished. Most would have stopped precisely at that point. I gave myself license to reach deep to find the necessary strength.
I had every reason to believe that somebody was out to get me. I never could walk into a room without looking at all the exits. I was always going to have to have the upper hand. My strategy to get out was right there in reach.
I was naked, building up a good sweat and watching the results ripple with every muscle on my body. I was not content unless I was keeping my figure. I wanted to make myself the fierce warrior I believed myself to be. I loved the pain and I fed on it like my own personal drug.
I called down for room service, ordering freshly squeezed orange juice, a two egg white omelet and a steak with all the fixings. I pretty much had 10 minutes before the telltale knock on my door would announce my breakfast.
I finished my workout, jumped into the shower and let the hot water soothe away the pain of those bruises on my forearms. They were an ugly black and blue color.
I didn’t have much to my name, but last night, I had stopped to do some window shopping with my windfall. I paid back the loan shark, only to learn that I had bypassed the time limit which meant I still owed another $20,000. It was a never ending cycle and the only way to break it was to make sure not to be late with a payment.
I stuck my head underneath the hot water and immediately flashed back to a time in Afghanistan during a storm. We couldn’t see a damn thing in front of us and I had elected myself to give these kids something to fight for. I found myself outnumbered, but I waged my own personal war until I came out soaking in their blood.
They rallied around me and I became their leader. I didn’t want the responsibility, but our leader lost his head literally and figuratively. His mind snapped and he ran headlong into a chopper blade which didn’t exactly boost morale in a war-torn country looking for its independence.
I could feel the hunger for something more than my fingers as I touched myself inappropriately. My legs buckled, but I was able to stay standing by grabbing onto the top of the shower. I was in desperate need of someone to relieve me of my sexual need. I could’ve taken Rick for a ride, but to give in was going to take a whole lot more than seeing his package.
I stepped from the shower, feeling like a new woman, knowing that the warrior underneath was still there. It didn’t matter how I dressed her up and she was always ready to lay down the law. That girl was someone that didn’t take prisoners in the bedroom or outside of it. She was always in control and those guys learned how to behave like I was teaching old dog new tricks.
I heard someone knocking on my door and I didn’t even think about getting dressed. It would be the highlight of his day to see me completely unencumbered by clothing. My bald mound would most likely be a focal point. My breasts were a D cup in magnificence and the nipples were dollar sized originals without the necessary need for augmentation.
“It’s about time and I’m famished.” I opened the door and standing there was this man with salt and pepper hair with a goatee and the look of somebody that was drowning in money. He wasn’t looking in a southerly direction. He kept eye contact with me which was impressive considering the lovely dish served right in front of him. He got some brownie points for not treating me like a piece of meat. “If you’re expecting me to cover up, then you’re going to be waiting a long time. If I don’t miss my guess, I believe that you might be Knight Williams.” He was dressed to impress with a finely tailored dark suit of an undertaker. It was made just for him.
“I apologize for barging in, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I took the liberty of catching the bellboy before he reached your door. In the very least, I have made it unnecessary for you to tip him, although I think seeing you like this would’ve been reward enough.” He was waiting for an invitation and I reluctantly moved out of the way. He pushed the cart into the center of the room and then grabbed two chairs. He placed them on either side.
“I’m not sure what I should feel about being ambushed in my own room. I would tell you to go to hell, but you have me as a captive audience of one. Your message was cryptic and I’m sure that it was by design. You want me to be curious enough to hear what you need to say.” He did look good enough to eat and my appetite for a sparring match under the sheets was getting stronger by the second.
“It looks like you have enough here to feed an army. Where do you put it in that tiny compact frame? A body like that takes discipline and I saw for myself how you handle yourself. You have a real fire inside you. I would like to fan it into a deeper lasting flame. I have been under attack and things have escalated to where I need somebody in my corner I can trust. I will pay you handsomely for your time. You will be my personal bodyguard by pretending to be my girlfriend.” It wasn’t the first time somebody had approached me about security work, but this was somewhat different.
He scribbled a number on a napkin and folded it nicely before thrusting it in my direction. I peeled back the paper to see more zeros than I had seen in my lifetime. He was willing to pay me a seven figure salary which was most likely a pittance to someone like him.
“You have mistaken me for someone who cares about money. I may look destitute, but I always land on my feet.” I didn’t mean to be defensive, but I had learned to depend on nobody for anything. I made my own way. I might have done things reprehensible for the almighty dollar, but those are things that I was going to have to live with.
“I don’t usually conduct business with someone without clothing. If it would make you feel better, I could get naked and that way we will be on a level playing field.” I didn’t stop him as he took off his jacket and began to unbuttoned his shirt before wagging his finger in the air. “It’s not going to be that easy to get me naked and at your mercy. I’m going to need a lot more than words to convince me.” It felt like he was teasing me and I really did think for a moment that he was going to show me what he was made of.
“I will need to know all the information before deciding one way or the other.” There was su
ddenly a briefcase on the table. It was silver and gleaming under the light. He opened it using a personal code.
“I’m way ahead of you. This is everything my security force has found. It’s not much, but it is something to go one. Whoever is coming after me is very careful to take baby steps. I’ve had threatening letters in the past, but usually, it’s from a disgruntled employee or a past lover. This is different and it’s like I have wronged someone. They want their pound of flesh and I fear that a more direct approach is coming soon. I need somebody with your skill set to eliminate the threat.” The file was thick and I would need time to peruse the contents.
I sat purposely spreading my legs and giving him something to think about. The lips of my sex were swollen and looked ready for an invading force of manly proportion. I was going to give the bellboy a thrill and there was no telling how far I was going to go. With the way that I was feeling, it wouldn’t have been out of the realm of possibility to leave him with lipstick marks all over his body.
“I get this feeling that money has always been the answer for you. You have this air about you. It makes me believe a silver spoon in your mouth is not uncommon. Your money is not going to save you this time. From your point of view, I’m sure you think otherwise, but money only takes you so far. There’s always somebody with more and no doubt you have come to these conclusions on your own.” I was going to lay a bombshell in his lap, but he was not naïve enough not to think of this possibility himself.
“We are on the same wavelength. I have somebody inside the hen house and it’s time to fight fire with fire. I’ve done my research on you and most of your story revolves around being in the Marines. I can only imagine what kind of hardships you had to deal with. You seem to have weathered the storm.” He wasn’t looking at me in the way most men would. How he could prevent himself from not looking at me with a salacious stare was beyond me.
“I’m going to ask you something up front and I hope you don’t feel that I’m getting too personal. Do you even like girls? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging and everybody has the right to play on whatever side of the fence they want.” I was backpedaling fast. He burst into hysterics with a belly laugh that had me sitting back concerned.
“Just because I don’t stare at you doesn’t mean that I haven’t noticed. I’m just a little more subtle than someone looking at a car accident on the side of the road. I’m not immune to how you look and I would be a damn fool if I said that the idea of sleeping with you doesn’t appeal to me.” It was a relief to know that I was still woman enough to bring the boys to the yard.
“I thought I was losing it and would have to go under the knife at the ripe age of 35. I do my best to do things the natural way which is always the hard way. I will gladly take your assignment, but I have one condition.” He looked confused and the money that he was giving me was supposed to be the incentive.
“Be careful about asking for too much and I find greed an ugly quality in a woman.” He had obviously had women that were only after his pocketbook.
“If I am going to play the part of your girlfriend, then you need to show me some affection. Obviously, you’re going to do that in public, but I want more. I have this itch I can’t scratch. You are the perfect tool and don’t think that I haven’t noticed the added bonus.” He had to be a good 8 inches and more than a mouthful.
“Let me get this straight. I give you the money to protect me and you are suggesting that we sleep together. I’m not sure if I’m dreaming, but I think it would be a good idea for me to pinch myself to find out.” I had caught him off guard and seeing his face flush was a good indication that he wasn’t going to say no.
“I have needs and you have what I need to satiate the hunger. There’s no reason why we can’t mix business with pleasure. It’s strictly a matter of convenience. There are no emotional entanglements and it will give us the building blocks of our relationship. I don’t see there’s anything to think about. We both get what we want with the added incentive of physical activity in the bedroom.” My proposal had a lot more to offer than just protecting his body. He was a specimen of man. I was inclined to uncover what he was hiding from me.
“I wasn’t expecting this, but how can I refuse the temptation of being with you. I like the idea of having no expectations. You can start tomorrow night by meeting me at a fundraiser. I want things to seem like a natural progression. I don’t want there to be any doubt amongst those of my inner circle. They need to believe the chemistry, but I don’t think that we’re going to have any difficulty with that.” He got up and this time he did make the once over which had me happy to make his acquaintance.
Chapter four
I arrived fashionably late, wearing a red dress that left very little for men to imagine. It had this very intricate slit up the side giving way to a naked expanse of thigh. I was wearing my sexuality like one of these high profile socialites. The plunging neckline had every tongue falling on the floor. I walked by them with a sense of authority. I made the room my own, keeping my eyes peeled for the subject which turned out to be my employer.
I found him talking about politics with those smoking cigars. I jumped right into the conversation, touching his arm every so often which invited an examination of the goods.
“You make some valid points. I find myself interested in learning more. Perhaps, you would be interested in joining me for a nightcap out on the veranda.” I moved one lone manicured red painted fingernail down his cheek. I could tell out of my peripheral vision that every guy standing within proximity was jealous.
“I’m afraid I can’t afford you. I can, but I’m really not interested in paying for play.” He was making it appear that I was hired for the high-class festivities in the role of the woman of the night. It was good way to throw off any suspicion that we were working together in a common goal to protect his life.
“I’m not going to dignify your comment with a response. I work hard for my money and I don’t need men to shower me with gifts. If you don’t want to spend time with me, then I’m sure that others will be able to fill your shoes quite nicely. You should never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes it’s necessary to see what’s underneath and read the story before you make snap judgments. I’m not looking for a handout and I have a donation for the cause.” He had given me a blank check and I had made it out for $10,000 which I presented to the chair of the fundraiser.
I stormed off, showing my distaste and not giving him the satisfaction of looking back to see his reaction. There was an iced chill in the air and I was able to make myself look like the woman scorned. He would feel compelled to make amends.
I continued to make my rounds, talking about various subjects without missing a beat. I’d always been a sponge and learning was the cornerstone of my education. I surprised some with my intellect and how easily I kept up with current events.
I had them eating out of the palm of my hand without them even realizing it. I could snap their neck without blinking an eye. They had no idea what kind of danger they were in, but that was only if I were to let loose the killing instinct. I had no interest in using violence and picking up a gun had no appeal. I’d seen too many in my scope to ever feel it were necessary to end somebody’s life with the pull of a trigger. I came to learn the hard way that facing my enemy face to face gave me a sense of satisfaction.
“Excuse me, but I think that we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. I know I assumed something that wasn’t true, but you have to admit you don’t exactly fit in with this high brow crowd.” He was standing behind me with this hot breath on my neck. I could feel a tingle of excitement run down my spine. “Let me make it up to you with dinner. There is a quaint little place down the block. We can escape this boredom for something a lot more pleasurable. Give me the courtesy of letting me chow down on humble pie.” He was working hard, but he wasn’t going overboard which was the key to letting things progress naturally.
“I don’t see any reason why I should give you the
time of day after what you said to me. If you thought for a moment taking me out to dinner was going to save you the embarrassment then you’re sadly mistaken.” I wasn’t going to play it easy when it was so much more fun to play hard to get.
“I just want to make it up to you. Name your stakes and money is not an object.” He was going back to old habits which I was going to have to break him of if this was ever going to work.
“You’re the type of man that throws money at your problems. I’m not so easily impressed by what you have in your account. I’m going for a walk in the garden. You can join me if you want, but I’m not going to twist your arm.” I walked away from him leaving him to follow me like a lovelorn puppy dog.
I went into the elevator and he was right there beside me with his hands by his side like he didn’t know what to do with them. “That was pretty crafty, Payton. We really do play off of each other. I have to wonder what you’re going to do for an encore.” I looked up at the camera and knew our interaction was being witnessed by those in the control booth.
“I wanted you to work for it instead of thinking you were god’s gift to women.” I kept my voice low purposely preventing anybody from overhearing. “We’re wasting the perfect opportunity and I’m not going to allow it to happen.” I took his hand and made him watch as I sucked each finger with my tongue swirling around every digit.
“I shouldn’t have…assumed anything and that was my mistake to make.” I felt alive like somebody had turned a switch and gave me the license to act out inappropriately. “If I haven’t mentioned it already, then let me rectify the miscarriage of justice. The dress you are wearing is absolutely to die for. It’s just enough and not enough at the same time.” I took the hand with his finger soaking in my spit and I moved it up underneath my dress to the surprised expression on his face.