by Roxy Sloane
“Sure,” Carter sneers, clearly not believing me. “That’s why he cut off his devoted children and left his fortune to you, a young, nubile assistant he’s barely known a few months.”
“It’s not like that--” I try to interrupt, but Carter doesn’t stop.
“I don’t know what you did to get in that old man’s good graces.” His eyes slip down over my body, making my skin crawl. “I can only imagine you have a few tricks up your sleeve. It’s a shame you didn’t bring some of the same diligence to work,” he adds with a leer.
I shudder. God, he’s a pig.
“It won’t affect my job.” I try to change the subject. “I still have work to do on your cases, and they tell me it might take months, or even years to settle. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Are you serious?” Carter stares at me, then bursts out laughing. “You really think you’ve still got a job? Honey, you’re done here. Finished. Fucking a client to steal his money is a deal breaker with the partners.”
I don’t believe it. “But I didn’t sleep with him! I didn’t do anything wrong, I swear.”
“Tell that to the security guys clearing out your desk as we speak.” Carter is clearly relishing this. “You’re fired.”
“No,” I whisper, reeling.
“The Ashcroft kids will get the will thrown out of court, but you, you’ll never work in this town again. And don’t even think about law school,” Carter smirks. “I can make a call to any dean in the country, and have you blacklisted for life.”
“Please...” Tears sting the corners of my eyes, but I try my best not to cry. “You can’t do this. You don’t have proof, anything but Brent’s complaint!”
“Not just Brent,” Carter replies. “We’re reviewing all the clients you worked with. And if we find even a hint of improper behavior, you won’t just be blacklisted, we’ll sue you for breach of contract and Hudgens, Cartwright and Abrams. We’ll take everything you have, and then some.”
I freeze.
Vaughn.
He came to the firm as a client -- and wound up pinning me to the library stacks with his face between my thighs. If they find out what happened, it could ruin me.
“Anything you want to say?” Carter demands. I silently shake my head.
“Good. Now get the fuck out!”
I stumble from the office, my mind racing. Losing my job here is suddenly the least terrifying thing that’s happened today. I can see security heading my way to escort me from the building, so I grab my phone and dial.
“Vaughn? I need to see you. Now.”
7
VAUGHN
I meet her at a park downtown. She’s pacing when I arrive, nervous as hell with her hair scraped back and another of her prim work outfits hiding that luscious body.
Still, the first thing I think of is those juicy lips wrapped around my cock.
“Public places, huh?” I tease her, looking around at the scene. Nannies pushing strollers, some college kids hanging out on the steps. I grin. “I didn’t know you were so kinky, but sure, we can give it a try.”
I pull her into my arms, but Keely pushes me away.
“Did you talk to Carter?” she demands.
“Who?”
“My boss at the firm.” She looks around anxiously. “Did you tell him about... About us?”
I shake my head, confused as fuck. “What the hell does that jackass have to do with anything?”
Keely exhales, clearly relieved. “They fired me. Said I’d been having an inappropriate relationship with a client. That they were investigating to see who else I’d been seeing.”
“You fucked another guy from work?” I grip her arm, suddenly mad as hell.
“No!” Keely’s eyes are wide, upset. “It’s all a lie. But if they find out about you, they say they’ll sue me. I could lose my future, everything.”
I don’t know what the hell she’s talking about, but I can tell, she’s in desperate need of a release. The girl is wound so tight, she’s about to implode.
“Relax,” I order her, holding her tight against me until I can feel her calm down. “I haven’t said a thing. I’m your dirty little secret, remember?”
I trace my hand down the front of her body. I pluck her nipples, and I’m rewarded with a yelp of pleasure. Her eyes dilate, but Keely tries to pull back.
“What are you doing?” she gasps. “There are people here.”
I reach for her again, but Keely pushes me away. “I’ve been thinking about it,” she starts, sounding determined. “And if this thing is going to keep happening, we need to set some ground rules.”
“Aren’t you forgetting?” I say, hard. “You don’t make the rules. I do. And rule number one is, I fuck you when I want, where I want, and all you get to do is beg for more. Unless you want to be punished again.”
“I can’t,” Keely says, but she bites her lip, a tell-tale sign she’s turned on.
“Are you sure?” I slide my hand down her back and over her delicious ass. She shivers against me. “You remember how good it felt the last time. How you begged me to spank you harder, like the naughty girl you are.”
Quickly, before she can react, I spank her once, hard.
Keely gasps, looking around in panic.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” I laugh. “Nobody’s watching. And even if they did, they’d just know you’ve been a bad, bad girl.”
“Please.” Keely grits her jaw. “Can you quit that for one moment?”
“Getting your panties in a twist?” I tease.
“My panties are just fine.” Keely takes a deep breath. “Look, I want to see you. I want... to keep doing this. But I don’t know anything about you.”
“So what do you propose?” I scowl. “Twenty fucking questions? Believe me baby, we’ve got better things to do than talk.”
“No,” Keely shuts me down. “I’ve decided, before anything else happens, we have to go on a date.”
What the fuck?
“A date?” I repeat, frowning. “Like dinner and a fucking movie?”
“Just dinner would be fine. One hour where you sit and talk to me like a real human, instead of trying to rip my clothes off.” Keely gives me a faint smile. “That wouldn’t be so bad. Would it?”
I pause. I don’t do dating. As far as I’m concerned, all that bullshit is for pussies who can’t get a woman into bed the easy way. Sitting around, talking all night. It’s a waste of fucking time when I could be balls-deep in pussy instead, her breasts bouncing with every jackhammer thrust.
Fucking is simple. Talk is dangerous. Especially when you’ve got secrets like mine.
“Please, Vaughn. This is the only way.”
Keely looks like she means business this time. We’ve been fucking around for long enough. I can see the determination in her eye though, and I can’t risk her running again.
“Sure thing, sweetheart.” I shrug, like it’s no big deal. “Dinner. Tonight. Your rules.”
She relaxes into a smile so bright that some poor skateboarding schmuck falls off his board looking. “Thank you!” she bobs up on her tiptoes and kisses me on the cheek. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”
What’s fun will be fingerbanging her under the table while she tries not to scream the whole damn restaurant down.
My cock twitches at the thought. Suddenly, dinner doesn’t seem like such a chore. Keely wants to get to know me, but I’ve got a different plan in mind. I’m going to make that girl come her brains out -- in front of everyone, right there for them all to see. She’ll be begging me to fuck her hard and dirty before I’m done with her.
And I’ll savor every fucking minute of it.
8
KEELY
The prospect of a date with Vaughn is enough to distract me from the fact my career might be over before it’s even begun. When he comes to pick me up at my place later in the evening, my stomach is tied up in knots.
As I watch him climb out his silver sports car and confidently climb my st
eps, a rebellious part of me wonders why I’m insisting on this charade of dinner. We both know, I won’t resist him anymore. All it would take is a couple of filthy words, murmured low in my ear, and I’d be on my knees for him, sucking him deep, reveling in the freedom of surrender.
And that’s just for starters...
I push the tantalizing images away as the doorbell sounds. I take a deep breath, and answer.
Holy crap.
“Cat got your tongue?” Vaughn looks amused. And sexy as hell. Fuck, he’s wearing a crisp white shirt, open at the collar to show his golden tan. Navy pants, and dress shoes, he’s made an effort.
“I’m fine.” I finally recover the power of speech. “Come on in, I just have to get my purse.”
Vaughn steps inside, and looks around.
It’s weird to imagine the place through his eyes. I’ve done what I can with thrift store finds and cheap decorations, but I’m painfully self-conscious about the gaping chasm between this humble apartment and Vaughn’s incredible hilltop home.
He doesn’t say a word, so I find my purse and take a final look in the bedroom mirror. Without work to keep me occupied, I had all day to obsess about this date. I even went window shopping in some of the stores downtown, but I couldn’t bring myself to splurge on a new outfit just yet. I can’t believe the Ashcroft money is real, and until the estate gives me access to his accounts, I’m not spending a penny more than I normally would.
Especially since I’m fired from work, and I may never find another job. But I decided, I’m not going to think about this tonight, I need to distract myself from the enormity of what is going on and just try to live a little. So, I focused on the things I can control right now: picking out one of my favorite dresses, a simple sheath in navy blue silk, and styling my hair to flow in messy waves. Remembering Vaughn’s instructions to me last time, I even wore garters and stockings, a secret whisper of lace against my thighs that puts a swing in my step as I head back out into the living room.
“All set,” I tell him.
Vaughn gives me a smoldering look. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?” he asks, his voice shivering through me, low and rasping. “We could stay here instead. See how long that headboard of yours lasts once you’re tied down, and I’m fucking your sweet pussy with my tongue.”
My heart stops. “Vaughn,” I whisper, heat flooding between my thighs.
“Or we can go back to mine.” He comes closer, taking hold of my jaw. “I’ve got a gift for you, a special surprise.”
I start to protest, but he pushes his thumb into my mouth. His skin slides rough against my tongue. I have to hold back a moan.
“You like it when I fill you up, don’t you?” he murmurs, watching me. “Your wet little mouth. Your tight dripping cunt...” A wicked smile spreads across his mouth. He slides his thumb deeper, forcing me to suck as he leans to whisper in my ear.
“Has your ass been lonely without me?”
Oh. My. God.
I wrench away, blushing. “Dinner,” I insist. My head spins. “You promised.”
Vaughn smiles, standing aside to let me pass. “Very well. But don’t think for a moment I’m letting you off easy. You’re my dessert, Keely, and I’m going to eat you for days.”
* * *
We drive across the city, the streets disappearing smoothly under the wheels of his sleek car. I slide lower in the leather seat, noting the luxurious interior and way the car glides through traffic.
“This is an amazing car,” I tell him. “I’ve never been in anything like it before.”
Vaughn smiles. He’s casual in the driver’s seat, looking like he’s in some commercial. “I grew up dreaming about owning one, I had a model, a toy thing. First big paycheck I got, I went straight down the dealership and took it for a spin.”
“That wasn’t hard now, was it?” I say with a smile. “I asked you a question, you shared something about yourself.”
“Believe me, baby. I’m plenty hard.” Vaughn grabs my hand and moves it to his crotch so I can feel the outline of his cock pressing through his pants.
He’s so big, I can’t believe it.
Big, and hard and hot.
I inhale in a rush, remembering it all. The thick spear of muscle, rearing up in front of me. How good he felt in my hands.
How good he tasted.
Vaughn guides my hand, massaging him through the fabric. I know he expects me to pull away, scolding again, but I feel a surge of rebellion.
I close my hand around him and stroke.
Vaughn makes a strangled noise.
I bite back a smile, and explore some more. Light, teasing strokes along the length of him, swirling my fingertips over the outline of his shaft.
“Damn, baby...” Vaughn growls. “Harder. Fuck.”
I increase the pressure, finding a rhythm, then pull back again. I scratch my nails lightly down the inside of his thigh, and Vaughn slams on the brakes.
I lurch forwards in my seat with a cry.
Red light.
Vaughn turns to look at me, heavy-lidded with lust. “What the fuck are you playing at? You’re going to get us both killed.”
“Me? Nothing,” I recover and give him a teasing smile. “I’m just giving you incentive. Behave this evening, and maybe it’ll be worth your while.”
Vaughn’s eyes narrow. His smile turns steely as the lights change and he puts the car in drive. “You should be careful what you wish for, baby. You don’t want me to behave.”
“Maybe I do,” I reply.
“I don’t think so. Because if I was behaving, I wouldn’t tell you that I’m going to fuck you over the hood of this car.”
My thighs clench.
Vaughn smirks. “See? You like me bad. Because if you couldn’t blame me for corrupting you, you might have to face the truth.”
“And what truth is that?” I retort.
He pulls over suddenly, yanking my hand from his crotch and pulling me in so I’m staring straight in his eyes.
“You’re filthy,” he whispers softly.
I flush.
“You want it hard, you want it deep, and you want to beg for mercy.” Vaughn’s eyes never leave mine. They see through me, to all the dark fantasies I’ve been hiding inside.
“You forget, I’ve seen you on your hands and knees, my handprint branding you, my cum dripping off your lips. This good girl bullshit is just an act. Inside that innocent shell, there’s a wild beast just waiting to be let free.”
“You’ve never met a man up to the challenge,” Vaughn continues. “Well, I’m not like the others. I’m going to push every boundary that you’ve got until you’re screaming for mercy. I’m going to tame you, baby. I’m going to break you apart.”
He looks past me, his intense stare breaking into a smile. “But first, I’m going to buy you dinner.”
My head is still reeling when my door suddenly opens. It’s the valet, reaching to help me out of the car.
We’re here.
Be careful what you wish for.
I stumble to my feet, inhaling a lungful of cool night air. Vaughn casually climbs out and tosses him the keys, striding for the front entrance.
I don’t know how he can be so cool and collected. My body is aching. My legs feel weak. I’m still caught up in the wicked promise of his words -- and the fierce determination in his stare.
He’s not fucking around. He means every single word.
“Shall we?” Vaughn holds out his arm, a smug look on his face like he knows exactly how flustered I’m feeling. I refuse to give him the satisfaction, so I force myself together and reach to tuck my hand in the crook of his elbow, following him inside -- trying my hardest not to trip on my heels.
The restaurant is beautiful, a classy French place I’ve read about before. Apparently, it takes weeks to get a reservation here, and I can see why. There’s a pretty courtyard filled with candlelit tables, and everyone here looks like they just stepped out the pages of a fashion mag
azine. I even spot a Hollywood star in the corner, with a girl half his age.
“Table for two,” Vaughn informs the hostess, who practically drools all over him.
“Right this way,” she breathes, sliding her hand along his arm as she guides him ahead of her.
I feel like yanking her away. I’m standing right here!
She leads us to a table on the edge of the courtyard, set with white linens and antique-looking silverware. “If there’s anything you need, you just let me know,” the hostess adds, making sure to lean over to give us an eyeful of her cleavage. “Anything at all.”
Vaughn ignores her, pulling out a chair for me. I sit down, aware of the looks coming in our direction. Every woman in the place is checking him out -- and sending me a glare of jealousy.
I sit up straighter, and flash one of the blonde bitches a bright smile.
That’s right, ladies. He’s with me.
“We’ll take a bottle of the Cristal,” Vaughn instructs the sommelier. I catch a glimpse of the wine list and try not to pass out. That’s a five hundred dollar bottle of champagne!
The server brings the bottle, and pops the cork for us. Vaughn dismisses him with a look, and pours my glass full of the sparkling amber liquid.
“We should toast,” I say, feeling out of my depth. Everything here is so perfect and romantic.
Vaughn raises his glass, his smile almost mocking me. “To a perfect date. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“No.” I frown. “I want to get to know you. You realize getting any kind of personal information out of you is like pulling teeth. Don’t you ever let anyone in?”
Vaughn’s smile drops. “Not as a rule, no.”
I take a sip of champagne and press him more. “Friends? Exes? Family? Come on, there must be someone who knows your deep, dark secrets.”
“My friends know better than to dig around in my life.” Vaughn shrugs. “And I don’t have relationships. I prefer to keep things simple.”
“It sounds lonely to me,” I remark. Vaughn just gives a steely look.
“I get along fine on my own.”
He’s a fortress. A sexy, controlled fortress. And dammit, I need to know more.