Dirty Money

by Michelle Love

  “Arsen, it’s okay.” She hugged him tight. “They know now, Baby. They know everything now. And they no longer hurt.”

  He pulled back and looked at her, breaking her heart for him as the strong man sat on the floor of his expensive Suburban, wearing an Armani suit that cost more than the rent on her apartment, and cried like a baby.

  “I never even bothered to talk to any of them about why they felt they needed to be submissive. I’m sure each had her reasons, but I never asked. I hardly ever spoke to them. I used them for what I needed, and then left them. The money I gave them, the cars, the apartments I rented them, I thought that would compensate them for what I did.” His body was shaking and Steele pulled him back into her arms.

  “You were a hurt person yourself. How were you to be any better than what you were? Give yourself a break, you lived in hell for quite a few years. No one can judge you, Arsen. Please, don’t judge yourself.” She rocked back and forth with him as he let out what seemed like years of pent up emotion.

  She was mad at herself for breaking him down. Though unintentional, nearly everything she did was making him be a man he wasn’t. Arsen pulled back, and she saw his tears were slowing.

  It hit her she’d never seen him look more beautiful. He was opening up to her. Letting her see what he never even allowed himself to see. The part of him that was human. Weak and sorry and a completely vulnerable human being, just like everyone else.

  “Steele, you’re saving me. I don’t know exactly how, but you are saving me, Baby. I feel more weak when I’m with you, but also more powerful in other ways. You’ve brought something to my life I didn’t even know was missing. God, I love you.” He took her face between his hands and kissed her.

  It was a kiss like he’d never given her before. Not overpowering and not soft, just something which felt as if he was one with her. Like they were equals. And in that moment for one split second she let herself believe she was okay letting him change.

  He laid her back on the floor and pulled his mouth from hers.

  “I want to make love to you. I never want to fuck you again. Please don’t ask me to. I’ve fucked women for too long. Let me make love to you, Steele, please.”

  “I understand now. I didn’t before, but now I do. Arsen, please make love to me, Baby. You’re all I want and need in this world.” She opened her arms, and he began unbuckling the leather straps and pulled them all away.

  ARSEN

  Arsen ran his hands over Steele’s body as she lay on the floor of his Suburban. He’d taken all his clothes off and lay next to her. Thin lines ran over her pristine skin where the leather straps had been.

  Things had to change, she had to see he was a man in transition and be able to be there for him, allowing him to make the changes he needed to. Too much bad had happened in his life and it was time for the good.

  Steele had brought that good into his life. He wasn’t about to let it be him who changed her. She was perfect already. His hand ran over one perfect breast and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  He took it in his mouth and ran his tongue around the nipple then suckled it, moving his hand to play with the other pert breast as he did. Steele made a little moan. Arsen didn’t even have to fight the instinct to smack her ass to let her know she wasn’t allowed to make noise.

  Instead, he found her sounds pleasing and arousing. He kissed up her chest and playfully nipped at her neck then found her lips and took them in a soft kiss.

  The kiss turned hard as Steele pulled at him, making him come closer and closer until his body was over hers and she was arching up for him. Normally he’d make a woman wait until he said it was time, but Steele made him want to give her anything she wanted.

  It was all about her. Arsen knew she was his one weakness, and he was able to accept that fact. He could live with it. He wanted to live with it.

  He moved into her and she sighed as he filled her completely. His heart beat hard in his chest as he felt more than he’d felt the night before. He’d come apart in front of her and she didn’t try to hurt him while he was weak.

  Steele had held him, nurtured, and comforted him. Arsen knew he could trust her, like he’d never trusted anyone else in his entire life. In his arms he held the one woman who could help him be the strong man he wanted to be without being a monster to keep him that way.

  Slow, long strokes he made as she arched up to meet each one. When he pulled his mouth from hers, her eyes opened and she looked at him. Her hands moved over his biceps as she whispered, “I love you so much, Arsen. I love you more than I even knew was possible. Being with you like this is more than Heaven.”

  He couldn’t speak because tears were threatening him yet again. Arsen kissed her cheek softly and rubbed the tip of his nose to hers. Letting her know he felt the same way she did.

  Steele ran her legs around him, running her feet up and down the long length of his legs. He knew she loved the way his muscles rippled with every movement. He moved faster, rippling them more for her.

  It was all he could think about, pleasing her, giving her whatever she wanted. She arched up to him, silently asking him to speed up. He moved faster and thrust harder until her breathing was ragged and a thin sheen of sweat shone on her creamy skin.

  Arsen knew Steele liked a little of his control over her and he leaned to whisper in her ear, “Come.”

  Her body exploded around him, pulsing and squeezing him as she moaned with her release. He came right along with her. They would have some things to work through to get where each needed to be.

  Arsen knew Steele wanted some of how he’d done things and some just weren’t good for her so he’d have to let her know those were his new hard limits. She was becoming more and more precious to him with each passing day. And he meant to treat her like one would any precious object.

  “I love you, Steele. Thank you for being here for me. It’s more than I deserve,” he said then pulled away from her and began dressing. “We should probably get our clothes on. We should be nearing home.”

  Steele picked up her strappy leather outfit and smiled at him.

  “Um, I don’t know how to put this thing back on, Arsen.”

  He smiled and shook his head as he buttoned up his shirt.

  “Just put the coat on. Don’t even try to get back into those boots either.”

  Wrapping the coat around her then tying the belt to keep it closed, she sat on the seat and buckled her seatbelt as the car came to a stop in front of the building Arsen’s penthouse was in. And that’s when he saw her.

  “Oh my God.” Arsen’s tanned face went pale and Steele followed his wide stare.

  “Who is that?” she asked as she looked at the woman who stood at the front of the building at twelve o’clock at night.

  “Mistress Sinclair.” The words barely had left his lips when he realized Steele had rushed past him and gotten out of the car, running at full speed towards the tall, thin, blonde woman.

  It was obvious Steele was in a full rage as she screeched, “You fucking piece of shit, bitch.”

  Mrs. Sinclair had a smug look on her amazingly unwrinkled skin. The woman was a little over fifty and didn’t look it. Arsen winced as Steele, nearly six inches shorter than the woman, jumped up a little and grabbed a handful of her shoulder-length blonde hair.

  In an instant, the two were on the ground and Steele was straddling the woman and beating the crap out of her. Arsen and Paul had gotten out of the car as quickly as they could, but Steele was just too fast for them.

  Arsen called out to her over and over, but Steele was in such a screaming, cursing rage, she heard no one, was his thought on why she continued the assault on the woman who’d made him her submissive.

  He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her away and found Mrs. Sinclair had a good amount of blood on her face from a busted lip and a wad of blonde hair was held tight in Steele’s small fist.

  “Steele, calm down!” He ordered her in a strict tone as she wiggled in his grip
to get back at the woman.

  “Let me go, Arsen! Let me deal with this bitch!” Steele continued to try to get away from him as Paul helped the older woman up.

  Arsen watched as the woman who’d helped make him the hard man he was stood up, her body shaking. She wiped the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand and said, “My God, Arsen! Is this your little Hell cat?”

  Steele wiggled and kicked into the air, screaming, “Shut the fuck up! You cannot talk to him!”

  Arsen kissed the side of her head and had to hold in a laugh.

  “This is my little Hell cat. Didn’t know she was one, but she’s mine. You should leave. She doesn’t seem to like you much.”

  “We need to talk, you and I.” Sinclair looked at him then at Steele. “Preferably alone. I can take one attack but not two in one night. I’m not as tough as I used to be.”

  Steele stopped wiggling and looked at Arsen.

  “Do not be alone with this woman. Arsen, please.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled.

  “You have nothing to worry about, Baby.” He looked back at Sinclair. “I don’t give one shit what you have to say. This woman is my life now. The other three who were a part of the life I had before this little Hell cat came along are gone and you, I want nothing to do with. Thanks for going to the police and telling them I’m threatening you, though. You always have been one magnificent liar.” Waving a hand to dismiss the wretched bitch, Arsen turned to take Steele inside.

  “I know who killed them, Arsen. I thought it was you and I kept digging until I found out who it was. If it was you, I meant to see you go to prison for the murders. Seems it wasn’t though. Seems like once again you are in need of my help, my protection. Are you really going to walk away from that again?”

  Arsen turned and looked at her. The woman who’d nearly broke him.

  Do I need her?

  For Keeps

  By Michelle Love

  STEEL

  Red was all she could see as Arsen held her tight around her waist, holding her off the ground, and said the words she never thought she’d hear come out of his mouth, “Maybe I should hear her out.”

  The tall, thin, blonde woman smiled and looked at Steele.

  “My name is Anne, by the way. And did I hear Arsen call you, Steele?” Her voice was calm and told nothing of the blood which still flowed from her busted lip or the swelling of her right eye.

  Steele looked up at Arsen.

  “I will not let you do this, Arsen. She’s a horrible person and you can’t believe a word she’ll say anyway.”

  Anne Sinclair’s left eyebrow arched in amusement.

  “Do not tell me this poor excuse for a submissive is going to tell you what to do, Master Sloan. Even in those clothes, she’s so obviously vanilla.”

  A growl came from deep in Steele’s chest as she said, “Let me go, Arsen. I can make her stop talking if you just let me go.” She began to wiggle in his tight grip again.

  Arsen narrowed his eyes at his old mistress.

  “She is not a person I want you to speak about any more, Sinclair. Now tell me what you know so we can be done with this.”

  “In private, Arsen. It’s not a quick thing, and I’d like to see to my wounds your hell cat has inflicted on me. If you don’t mind.” Anne moved towards the glass doors to the lobby of the building Arsen’s penthouse was in.

  “Paul, will you see her to your apartment? I don’t want her in my home.” Arsen walked ahead of Anne. Steele was still held under one of his arms as she kicked and squirmed. “I’ll be down to talk to her shortly. I have to deal with a couple of things first.”

  Anne followed behind him.

  “I hope one of those things is teaching that hell cat a thing or two about her position. She is quite the brat. I can give you some pointers on breaking that part of her if you like.”

  Steele screamed, “Shut the fuck up, you fucking bitch!”

  “And the language, Arsen, tsk, tsk…” Anne shook her head and sighed as she walked on the other side of Arsen and Steele glared at her.

  Arsen took Steele to the private elevator up to his penthouse and Paul took Anne to the other set of elevators.

  “Help her see to her wounds, will you, Paul?” Arsen called out over his shoulder as he took Steel into the elevator.

  Paul gave a nod and the elevator doors closed. Arsen finally let Steele go and placed her feet on the floor.

  Her face was as red as a beet and her body was shaking.

  “Arsen, please don’t go talk to her. She really is not a viable person who you can get information from. You know that. She’s already lied on you to the police about you threatening her.”

  Arsen ran his hand through her disheveled hair. The braid had come loose and her hair hung in tendrils around her red face.

  “Steele, you know that I need every clue I can get. I have to at least hear what she has to say then I’ll send her on her way.”

  Steele threw her arms around him.

  “No! Please, don’t! I’m begging you not to go talk to her.”

  He pushed her back, gently.

  “And I’m asking you to trust me, Baby.”

  Steele stood perfectly still as she thought about his constant need for trust. It was one of his biggest issues.

  “Arsen, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I mean, I do trust you. That woman is capable of hurting you. I want you to realize you have deep seeded issues with her. It’s not a smart thing to put your trust in her.”

  “And I’m not. I simply want to hear what she’s found out.” He ran his hands over her back and pulled her to him in a hug.

  “Arsen, I’m afraid for you.” Steele looked up at him. “Something isn’t right. Why would she pop up after all this time? What if she was the one who really killed those women? What if this is some type of set up?”

  “Do you think I’m an ignorant person, Steele?” His dark eyes danced as he looked at her.

  She brushed back a section of his dark hair, letting her fingers relish the silkiness of it.

  “You know I think you’re the smartest person I’ve ever met. But your past with that woman makes her dangerous to you. Call Paul’s phone, talk to her that way.”

  He shook his head.

  “I need to be able to read her body language as she talks or I’ll have no idea if she’s lying or not.”

  They got off the elevator, and he ran his arm around her shoulders.

  “Arsen, let me come with you then.”

  Arsen’s laugh filled the hallway they were walking down as they went towards his bedroom.

  “Steele, you cannot be trusted to keep your cool with her. That’s been proven, Baby.” He kissed the top of her head. “By the way, thank you. I’ve never had anyone be as protective over me as you are. It’s nice and makes me feel like what we have is deeper than either of us even realized.”

  Steele stopped and turned to hug him again.

  “I love you, Arsen. You might be right about me not being able to control myself with her. I really hate her. And I really would not stop until she’s dead. What she did to you was unforgivable.”

  “At least you agree with me.” He opened the door to the bedroom.

  “I want you to take a nice, hot bath. I’m going to bring you a bottle of wine and I want you to relax and let that temper settle down a bit. I’ll go see what she has to say then be right back up here to tuck you into bed.”

  A shiver ran through Steele as she began to realize just how many of his rules she’d just broken.

  “Arsen, please don’t keep me away from you as a punishment for all the rules I’ve broken just now. I have to be able to touch you. To hold you after all that’s happened.”

  A little grin ran over his caramel lips.

  “Steele, there will be no punishments for that. Your anger was justifiable. I would like you to gain control over it, but much like I found myself punching Rowan, I know your anger.” His lips touched hers the
n he pulled back. “Go jump in the tub as I’ve told you to and I’ll be right back.”

  Steele did as he said but everything in her wanted to follow him down to Paul’s apartment and make sure his old mistress didn’t play any mind games with him.

  I hope she doesn’t make him change his mind about me!

  ARSEN

  Arsen’s hand moved up to his twitching eye, and he cursed his weakness. “Damn nerves.”

  He got off his private elevator and went to the other which would take him to Paul’s apartment. He was glad his stomach hadn’t begun to ache. Anne Sinclair was not able to make him feel all the little ticks he’d had when he was under her.

  A quick knock on Paul’s door had Paul answering with a frown. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Anne wasn’t behind him then whispered, “What a complete bitch this woman is, Arsen.”

  Arsen gave him a nod.

  “I’m more than aware of that fact. I’d like you to stay in here with us. I want a witness the whole time we’re together.”

  Paul nodded and followed Arsen to the living area where Anne was seated on a sofa. A bag of frozen peas covered the eye Steele had punched.

  “I see Paul took care of you, Sinclair. Now down to business. What do you have?” Arsen took a seat across from her.

  Her eyes darted back and forth between Arsen who sat and Paul who stood behind him.

  “We should be alone, Arsen.”

  Arsen shook his head.

  “I will not be alone with you. You’ve already lied and told the police you’re afraid of me. I won’t be setting myself up for any further trouble. So spill it, tell me what you found out.”

  “I have a friend in the lab where the autopsies have been done on the three women you’re being accused of killing. Tell me, Arsen, do you have any way of getting a drug called succinylcholine?”

  With a shake of his head, he answered, “Not only do I have no way of getting any drug, legally, I also have no idea what that drug is even used for. Do you?”