Whore

by Hughes, Michelle

  “Maybe we could go somewhere to negotiate this contract where the rest of the world isn’t looking on?” He was staring at me like he didn’t know what I was capable of and he was right to worry.

  I was formulating this plan in my mind as we stood there. The thoughts were so devious that I worried he’d really turned me into something I never wanted to be. Hurt, depression, and anger don’t make good bed partners and I was dealing with all of those. Walking to the back of his limo I opened the door and slid in.

  He seemed almost hesitant as he slipped in beside me, shutting the door. I had no pity for him. Taylor had none for me when he came up with this plot to ruin my life. I kept telling myself that if his mother hadn’t walked into his bedroom that he would have used me and turned me out with nothing. I might have beat him to the punch, but now the tables were turned.

  “So how important is this client to you?” I needed to know how much I could get away with because I planned on taking him for everything I could. My mother would be proud of the game I was playing.

  “Currently it’s losing more money than it’s worth, but I know with the right management and promotion it could be a very valuable asset to my portfolio.” He spouted off the words with this dazed look in his eyes that seemed to be asking why I would care.

  “How valuable, give me an estimated profit margin.” I didn’t really know crap about property but I did understand tips. Making minimum wage, tips were the only thing that decided if I was eating peanut butter sandwiches that week or could buy decent groceries.

  His look grew even more confused, as if he couldn’t see why I needed that knowledge. “My accountant believes we can easily turn a million dollar profit per year after the initial investment and renovations are paid off.”

  “So why do you think I could help you land this deal, Mr. Ross?” I wasn’t sure if I was helping or hurting myself here, because it made no sense to me that a businessman could be persuaded to make a decision because some woman distracted him from his bottom line.

  “Mr. Zell loves a pretty face. It’s been rumored he wants out of the property and you’d be extra incentive to make him see things my way.”

  Just when I thought I couldn’t be insulted anymore. “So basically you just want me to turn on the charm while you sweep him off his feet?” That was what Taylor was good at obviously. He’d had no problem making me forget reason.

  “Yes. Sweet talk him a little and smile. Nothing too difficult.”

  That’s all it had taken for me to fall into his bed. Except instead of smiles it was the promise of fulfillment and there was little talk in the nights we’d shared. “Fine. Ten percent of what you expect to earn the first year and then we go our separate ways.” Was that too much? Maybe I was overstretching? Screw that. If I had to spend another weekend with him it was the least he could do. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford it.

  “So you’re telling me for a hundred thousand dollars you’ll agree to woo this client?” He looked at me incredulously and then those eyes filled with some strange heat that I couldn’t decipher.

  “Yes and its non-negotiable.” A hundred thousand dollars! Holy hell I’d never seen that much money in my life. There was no way he was going to agree to that. On the positive side at least I’d finally be free of him.

  “I’ll agree to your terms but I have conditions of my own.”

  He what? I expected him to tell me I was insane and drive away. Shit. Shit. Shit. What did I do now? “I’m listening.” No the hell I was not, he wasn’t supposed to agree to this!

  “Until our agreement is over you’ll move back into the apartment I gave you, use the clothes I bought, and be at my beck and call for whatever needs I have.”

  That stupid ass smirk was back on his face and I wanted to smack it off. He’d turned the tables on me again and I knew that a sane person would tell him to stick the deal up his ass. I wasn’t sure how much sanity I had left at the moment because I nodded.

  “I’ll wait while you pack your bags.” His eyes motioned toward the door and in a daze I slid out of the car and walked back inside.

  What had I just agreed to? He was winning. Not only had he proved that I was the whore he truly thought me to be when we first met, I was handing him all the fuel he needed to make sure I continued being exactly what he wanted. How could I do this? I knew what he meant by needs.

  I should just call this entire thing off. I walked into my room and threw what few things I’d taken out into the suitcase. Why wasn’t I back downstairs telling him I wouldn’t be a whore for him or anyone else? Lifting the heavy burden I made it back to the elevator and soon I was on my way to the bottom floor.

  This was the craziest thing I’d ever done and I couldn’t seem to stop myself. Maybe there was a piece of my mother deep inside me, I pondered. I felt number than I had when I’d arrived at the hotel last night. His driver took my bag and I slid into the backseat, still arguing with myself over how stupid an idea this was.

  Taylor didn’t speak to me as we drove and I’m not sure I would have responded if he had. Gripping my hands tightly together in my lap I was disgusted by what I was willing to do. Even knowing I was painting myself to be the whore he expected, it didn’t stop me from following him upstairs to the apartment when we arrived.

  He left me standing inside, my suitcase by my feet, and I looked around at my surroundings feeling like the lowest form of human on the planet. The trappings were beautiful but the price they extracted would change who I was as a person forever. Maybe it was inevitable that this was who I became. I’d been groomed since birth to accept this reality.

  I could go to college and have that life that I longed for without worrying about bills for a while. It sounded really good in my mind so why was my heart protesting so loudly? Women sold themselves into marriages all the time. But this wouldn’t be a marriage it would be nothing but sex and with a little business thrown in. Okay but the sex would be great?

  Walking over to the couch I sat down trying not to hyperventilate. This was morally wrong. I knew it and yet still, here I was. It felt like I had a little angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other as I mentally argued about the right and wrongs of the situation.

  What were my options really? Go back to work at the coffee shop and live at the little roach motel? It was the right thing to do. At least that way when I finally managed to save enough money to finish school I could say I earned it honestly. All I had to do was spend the rest of the week and weekend with Taylor and all my worries were over though?

  Just the thought of the passion he made me feel made my core throb. It would be one hell of a great week too. Didn’t I deserve more than just memories when this ended? My head was starting to pound as the pros and cons of my decision overwhelmed me. I didn’t know the right thing to do. Either way I ended up losing something. I was already here but whether or not I was staying was still undetermined. Walking over to the phone I picked it up to call Ashley.

  She was still at work and I didn’t want to get her in trouble with the boss so I asked her to stop by when her shift was over. After hanging up the phone I lost myself in the world of television. The thoughts were still pounding through my head but the added diversion from the shows and raiding my still fully stocked refrigerator helped pass the time.

  Somehow I managed to fall asleep even with my head pounding with unanswered questions. I dreamed that I was resting upon a huge featherbed, dressed in the skimpiest red nighty. Taylor was holding out wads of cash and the look on my face was teasing as I held out my hand to accept it.

  The sound of an insistent doorbell ringing pulled me out of the nightmare and I sat up groggily, trying to get remember where I was. Stumbling to the front door, I opened it for an impatient Ashley.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on?” She walked into the room, hands on her hips as she gave me a look that said spill it.

  “Sorry I really didn’t sleep well last night.” Walking over to the coffee table, I p
icked up a half-melted carton of ice-cream taking it back to the freezer.

  “Okay. That’s it. You’re eating double fudge brownie!” Ashley knew me well. When I was upset I could tear up some ice cream, and I normally was concerned about my weight so I saved it for those horrible points in my life.

  “I screwed my boss.” I couldn’t stop myself. I let the words fly right out of my mouth and grabbed the carton of ice-cream back out of the freezer. “Not only did I do that but demanded a hundred grand to do it again for a weekend before I walked away.” Snatching a spoon out of the drawer I dug in and started cramming large mouthfuls in.

  “Holy shit!” Ashley grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and started eating with me. We somehow managed to move over to the island bar and sat down on the barstools. “Was it at least good sex?” She dipped in for another spoonful and stared at me with a shocked expression on her face.

  “Compared to what?” Devouring another glob of the sweet stuff I spoke with my mouth full. “I enjoyed it.” My face heated instantly and the coolness of the treat didn’t help at all.

  “Duh! That’s right you’re a virgin.” She smacked herself in the forehead. “Or I guess were. Holy shit, you screwed Taylor Ross!”

  Rolling my eyes I felt she wasn’t really getting the enormity of the situation I faced. “What do I do here Ashely?” I explained the entire weekend we’d spent together and what I’d discovered from his mother. By the time the story was finished we’d also eaten the entire carton.

  “Screw him. I say take the asshole for the money and go out there and live your life. It’s not like you haven’t already done him and why shouldn’t he pay you off for being such a stupid ass prick in the first place? I mean if you hated fucking him, I could see turning it down. You obviously didn’t though.”

  “Wouldn’t that just be proving his point though?” The truth was the thought of sleeping with Taylor again didn’t exactly revolt me. Even knowing what he thought of me didn’t stop me from remembering just how much pleasure he’d given.

  “Do you really give a shit what he thinks about you? I mean he’s already decided and at least this way you can finish school and make something out of your life without struggling all the damn time.”

  She was right. It didn’t really matter what Taylor thought. The only person that had to live with this decision was me. I’d never see him again after the weekend and if the sex was anything like it had been before, this was a win-win situation. “You’re right.”

  There was still a little piece of my mind screaming at me that it was wrong to take money for sex. I fought back that little voice with thinking that it was better to take money for sex than living in damn poverty for the next four years to save up for a dream.

  “Of course, I’m right! If it weren’t for Jimmy I’d do him. Hell it’s not like the man isn’t walking sex appeal and according to you he’s got some serious kinky action going on in the bedroom that I wouldn’t mind exploring.”

  The thought of Ashley sleeping with Taylor made me unexpectedly jealous and I fought to keep that to myself. “Will you help me scout out a new place to live this week? I want to make sure I have everything in order when the weekend is over.” No regrets. I would do this and make things better for myself.

  “Yep. I’ll get Jimmy’s mom to help out. She’s just gotten her real estate license and should be able to find something reasonable. You won’t be able to buy a house and do school with that money, so rental?”

  A hundred thousand dollars seemed like a fortune to me, but I knew she was right. “Yeah. Something modest and not too far from campus. I don’t start back at the coffee house until Monday so if we can find something decent everything else I can work out.”

  I was really going to do this. I guess I should have felt bad about my decision but with Ashley’s support I just didn’t. I’d been a good girl all my life and what had it gotten me? Almost kicked out into the street, struggling to make ends meet, and still waiting to build the life I wanted for myself. This time I was going to do something for me and if there were repercussions? I’d deal with them when the time came.

  chapter Thirteen

  His Whore

  I didn’t hear from Taylor for two days. Since I wasn’t going to call him, I could only assume that he was giving me space until this weekend. I played over my decision during those days and still came to the same conclusion. Right, wrong or indifferent I was going through with this.

  I’d just finished tidying up the kitchen when the phone rang. Taylor’s secretary was on the other line and informed me that he needed me at the office at noon. I thanked her and was somewhat perturbed that he didn’t call me himself. It was already ten and I didn’t have time to stew in that thought for long. If I was showing up at the office I wanted to look like a professional so I took a shower and dressed with care.

  As screwed up as it was I was filled with nervous anticipation walking into the building. Maybe I truly was a whore because I wasn’t worried about seeing him again, only about what he’d want to do to me. His secretary told me he was waiting when I arrived at her desk and I timidly knocked on the door then tensed when his deep voice encouraged me to walk in.

  “Lock the door behind you Miss Burns.” He covered the phone receiver with his hand to give the curt message then returned to his conversation.

  I did as he asked and stood by the door not sure if I wanted to run back out it. His dark blue gaze roamed over me as he continued to speak and I lowered my eyes not wanting him to know how intimidated I felt. Maybe intimidated wasn’t the right word? I felt undone?

  He replaced the phone and hit the intercom button. “Hold all my calls until I say otherwise.” His abrupt command forced my attention back to him. With a single finger he motioned me over and I hesitated only briefly before walking to the side of his desk.

  “Slip off your underwear Miss Burns.”

  My mouth opened at his words and I stood there like a statue in shock. His eyebrow lifted and I noticed the impatient look on his face. Without thought I dropped my purse on the floor and with shaking hands I lifted my skirt and did as he requested. I wasn’t even sure why I was doing this.

  “Now the skirt.” His mouth lifted in the familiar smirk and instead of telling him to go screw himself, I did exactly what he wanted.

  Standing there in my dress shirt, thigh high stockings and heels, I felt so exposed that it made me shiver. He patted the top of his desk and I knew without words what he wanted. This was crazy! Instead of putting my clothes back on like a sane person would, I lifted myself up on the desk with shaking legs as he rolled his chair back to give me room. I teetered on the edge, my legs crossed primly.

  “I’m going to make a phone call and you’re going to be very quiet while I handle my business.” He stood, lifted me by the waist and centered my ass further back. His large hands parted my thighs widely, then he sat down in his chair, rolling it close then placed both of my feet on either side of the arm rests. Picking up the phone again, his hand caressed my thigh moving closer and closer to my sex.

  Feeling extremely vulnerable I lowered my head. Unfortunately that gave me a birds’ eye view of my exposed body. His long fingers inched toward my sex and he began talking to whomever he called. There was something so forbidden about being so exposed while knowing he was talking to a client. His thumb flipped over my clit and I had to grip the desk with both hands to stop from crying out.

  “I believe the merger would be in both our best interests and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in my offer.” His thumb rubbed in small circles over the tiny nub of flesh and I bit my lip hard as pleasure flooded my core.

  “I understand your concerns, but I think once we talk in-depth,” a single digit slid inside, “I’m certain you’ll agree what I’m offering is very reasonable.”

  Without warning his finger began to slowly inch in and out, leaving me breathless at the sensation. “I know your resources are stretched thin, this is an opportunity to recou
p your losses before they bankrupt you.” Adding another finger, he curled them hitting just the right spot.

  He slowly fingered me and I wanted to beg him for release, keeping silent while he pushed me toward the edge was almost agony. “Well you can ride this out until you’re left with nothing, or let me step in and make a profit.”

  My body came undone and I lifted a hand to my mouth to stop any sound from escaping. I couldn’t believe how easy he’d controlled my body and was still gasping as he ended his conversation.

  His fingers slid from my clenching core and moved to his mouth. Suckling deeply he finally looked up into my eyes. Pushing the chair back my legs dangled weakly in the air. I watched, almost hypnotized as he stood, undid his belt then slid his underwear and pants down to his ankles.

  “I want that sweet mouth, Miss Burns.”

  I managed to slid off the cool desk and found my knees in front of him. Taking his straining cock into my hand I didn’t waste time. Stretching my mouth over his large head I took him in deeply. I felt his hand grasp my neck and gasped as he pushed my head forward. I was taking more of him than I thought I could and nearly gagged.

  “That won’t do at all.” He stepped back, dislodging himself from my mouth then reached down a hand. I took it and was lifted to my feet. That was the last coherent thought I had as he maneuvered my body around and draped me over his desk.

  Spreading me with his hands I felt his cock against my core and then he pushed forward and I was lost. He filled me so completely that I could barely breathe. Each long, deep thrust had me holding on to the desk for support. His thumb slid into my mouth and I suckled, the taste of me still on his fingers as he mercilessly rode my body.

  I bit down hard on that digit as I came, and it seemed to unleash something in him because he savagely pounded into my aching flesh until I doubted I’d be able to stand when he finished. Pulling his finger away, I cried out and he wasted no time putting his hand over my mouth.