by Jade Kuzma
“I-I can’t,” I whispered.
“Why not? Because you’re engaged?”
“That’s right. What happened the other night—”
“Do you regret it?”
I clenched my jaw. Just a second of hesitation was enough for him to know my answer but he kept pushing me.
“Do you regret having my cock inside of you? Do you regret feeling my cum filling you up?”
“Roman,” I whispered. “Stop… They’re in the ballroom right there.”
“Do you regret the way I kissed you?”
I closed my eyes and tried to push away all of the memories he was bringing back. I could feel everything he was saying like it was happening all over again.
I swallowed and shook my head to regain my composure.
“No,” I said as I stared back at him.
“Then why—”
“Because you know this would never work. I have to do this. For my father. For the memory of my mother who did everything she could to give me the life I had. Don’t make this harder than it has to be for me, Roman.”
He kept staring at me. Those blue eyes of his were burning a hole through me. A part of me just wanted him to bend me over the balcony and take me right there even though I knew how wrong it was.
But even a man as fierce as Roman had some restraint.
“Ah! There you are!”
Arthur’s familiar voice broke the tension between Roman and me. I turned and smiled politely as my fiancé approached.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said.
“Sorry,” I sighed. “I just needed a bit of fresh air.”
“Of course. It gets a little stuffy in there.”
Arthur looked out onto the town.
“The view is lovely out here, isn’t it?” he said.
“Yes. I was just telling Roman how nice it is. He probably appreciates it a little more because he’s lived here for most of his life.”
“What do you think, Rock? Is this the best view in all of Ivory?”
Roman kept staring at me as he responded to Arthur.
“From where I’m standing, it’s a great view,” Roman said. “Maybe the best view in the entire world.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Arthur said. “But I can see where you’re coming from…”
He eyeballed Roman for a moment.
“Since I have you here, I want to thank you again for what you’ve done. There’s no telling what would’ve happened if you weren’t there for Mia last night.”
“I was just doing my job. That’s why you paid me.”
“Money well spent. You won’t have to worry about us much longer. Mia and I will be out of your hair soon enough. Speaking of which, the night is getting long. Mia, I’d like to ask you for a dance.”
“Oh, I’m not much of a dancer,” I said.
“Neither am I. It’s just a formality for everybody else. To let everybody know that they’re doing business with a man who’s well-adjusted, so to speak.”
“Of course.”
“If you’ll excuse us, Rock.”
Arthur headed back into the ballroom. Before I followed after him, I looked at Roman. I wanted to tell him something but there was no answer to what I felt for him. Maybe it was just a desire. Maybe my feelings were something more. I couldn’t let him complicate things any more than they were.
He seemed to be out of answers the same as me. He just gave me the subtlest little smirk before turning back and enjoying the view.
As I headed toward the ballroom, I ran into Sebastian.
“Have you seen—”
He spotted Roman looking out into the distance.
“I’ve been looking for that motherfucker all night.”
Sebastian joined his friend. I watched them speak to one another. I was too far to hear what it was about. It didn’t matter though.
I only had one more night left in Ivory. My situation with Roman was going to resolve itself one way or another. I just didn’t know how. I could only hope that the answer would come to me tomorrow night.
Chapter 14
MIA
Night four…
With the deal brokered, there wasn’t much work left for Arthur to deal with. He spent most of the day in his hotel room on his phone, putting the finishing touches on the arrangements he’d made with the shadiest people in Ivory. I stayed in the hotel the entire day with him. I would’ve left if I hadn’t had so much on my mind.
I didn’t want to think about what would happen. I didn’t want to be forced to make another decision even though I knew what the right one was. When I left Ivory behind, I had to leave Roman, too.
It was a long day and I didn’t get much accomplished. The hours went by until Arthur finally decided it was time to get some fresh air. We headed to a restaurant in Ivory and had a table all to ourselves.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “This is a big deal. A lot of people get a bit finicky when it comes to the details. They want to make sure they’re getting exactly what was negotiated.”
“It’s all right,” I said. “I know how it is. My father’s brokered many deals. You can never work too hard when there’s so much money on the line.”
“I’m glad you understand. I’m sure your father will as well. Even though he has nothing to do with this, he’ll be glad to know that you’re marrying a man who’s going to accumulate enough wealth to take good care of you. And I will take good care of you, Mia.”
He reached forward across the table and put his hand on top of mine. I’d never felt so uncomfortable. Roman wasn’t there. Sebastian wasn’t either. It was just me and him and his personal security making sure that nobody bothered us. The atmosphere in the dimly-lit restaurant would’ve been romantic if it wasn’t for the man sitting across from me.
“Did you ever notice how barren the land is around Ivory?” he said.
“The thought crossed my mind.”
“On the way here, there’s nothing but empty land. Valleys and canyons and mountains and desert. A small town in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t think it was possible but after spending a few days here, I see that Ivory isn’t a mirage. It’s an untapped oasis. And you’re marrying a man that’ll reap all of the benefits of it.”
Arthur stared at me, his eyes narrowed. He looked more serious than he usually was. Considering who he was, a criminal who brokered shady deals, I shouldn’t have been surprised. His expensive suit and formal demeanor always had everybody fooled.
“The police in this town don’t want anything to do with the criminals here,” he said. “Federal agents have had their fill with trying to deal with the drugs moving through this town. I want you to know that nothing will go wrong and business will boom. With the deal I’ve made, there’ll be so much drugs moving through Ivory that everybody’s pockets will be fat.”
I sighed a deep breath through my nose and nodded.
“My father will be glad,” I said.
“This isn’t just for me. It’s for you and your father. Carlo Palazzo is a powerful man in his own right even though he’s getting older. I’ve had some success in my time but this deal will be the assurance he needs to know that you’re marrying a man who’s capable of taking care of you. And you will be at the center of it all.”
Everything was coming along. Arthur was making his riches with the drug deal he made in Ivory. My father was prepared to pass his inheritance to me when the time came. All of the wealth and power would be consolidated to me.
Exactly as planned…
Despite all that, I couldn’t deny the empty feeling in my heart. My thoughts started to wander even though Arthur insisted on talking to me.
“I want to apologize to you,” he said.
“Apologize?” I said. “For what?”
“I apologize for not spending more time with you. It was your father’s wish that we get to know each other a little better on this trip to Ivory. It’s a shame we never did get to speak too much.”
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“It’s all right,” I said with a laugh. “There’s still plenty of time to catch up.”
“I was hoping you’d say that. I was thinking tonight we could get to know each other a little better. Perhaps consummate our relationship before we consummate our marriage.”
His hand still on top of mine, Arthur squeezed it gently. He stared at me, his jaw clenched. I knew he was serious.
I gently tugged my hand free from his.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “I just…”
I looked down, trying to figure a way out of this.
It was stupid of me to try and find a solution now. I agreed to the engagement to Arthur. Now I was faced with the fact that he’d probably want to sleep with me.
Stupid…
“What is it?” he asked.
“It’s nothing,” I repeated. “I just don’t know if it would be a good time to spoil our wedding night by doing something too soon.”
“Ah, yes… You want to remain pure.”
Arthur leaned back in his seat and sighed. A soft smile on his lips, he nodded to me.
“I can respect that, Miss Palazzo.”
“Thanks…”
My phone suddenly vibrated in my purse. I pulled it out and saw the text message. It was from Roman.
“Where are you?”
“Your phone,” Arthur said. “The screen looks a little cracked.”
“What?” I said. “Oh… I… I dropped it the other night.”
“Was it when you were abducted?”
“…Yes.”
I looked back down at the phone and started typing a message back to Roman.
“I’m having dinner. With Arthur.”
“Come see me”
“I can’t.”
“Who is it?” Arthur asked.
“What?” I said, my eyes wide.
“You’re talking to someone. I know it’s none of my business. I’m only curious.”
“Oh, it’s all right. It’s just… a friend… From school.”
“Ah, I see…”
The waiter arrived with our food and placed our plates in front of us. Arthur began calmly eating his food when my phone vibrated again.
“I remember what it was like being in school,” he started. “All of the new people I met. All of the things I learned. It was a lot of fun. I never imagined it would shape me into the person I am today.”
“I need to see you”
Just reading Roman’s texts was enough to twist my stomach into knots.
“I can’t. You know I can’t.”
“I’m sure you’ve met a lot of fine people at the university,” Arthur said. “Have you made a lot of friends?”
“A lot of good friends,” I replied. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
“They say you make the friends you’re going to have for the rest of your life in college.”
Arthur took another forkful of food into his mouth when my phone vibrated again.
“Look what you’ve done”
I stared at the message and saw a photo he sent me. Roman exposed his stomach, his hard abs on display. But even that wasn’t enough to distract me from the cock that was swollen in his palm.
Just the thought of what I could do to it and what it could to do me made me bite my bottom lip.
“Roman… I can’t leave…”
“Mia.”
“Yes?” I said, raising my head up.
“Your food is getting cold.”
He gave me a polite smirk. I swallowed and nodded to him.
“Oh… Right…”
I stuffed my phone back into my purse and picked up my knife and fork. I had barely taken a single bite when my phone vibrated again. Arthur stared at me without saying anything. I thought twice about it before eventually digging for my phone again.
“You know, some would say it’s impolite to use your phone at the dinner table,” Arthur said.
“I know. It’s just… My friend is having some problems and I have to respond to her.”
“Problems?”
“Yes, she’s…”
“What color panties are you wearing?”
Roman’s text forced me to swallow again.
“…She’s going out tonight. She wants to get some attention and she wants some advice on what to wear.”
I pounded on the keys and sent Roman my response.
“I’m not wearing any.”
“Understandable,” Arthur said. “When you’re young, you have to take full advantage of your assets. There’s no shame in hiding your good looks.”
“Prove it”
I looked up at Arthur and his attention was taken by the steak he was cutting. I bit my bottom lip as I looked around to make sure that nobody else was paying attention.
What the hell am I doing?
I couldn’t believe that I was even considering it. But I could never think straight when it came to Roman.
I kept my eyes down and spread my legs ever so slightly. I put one hand on my skirt and raised it just enough to reveal myself. Thankfully, there was a tablecloth that blocked the rest of the view from any prying eyes. I lowered the phone down and faced the camera between my legs. I took a few photos, hoping that it would be enough to satisfy Roman’s curiosity.
“Back when I was in college…”
Arthur stopped when he saw me suddenly raise the phone back up. He stared at me, his mouth half-open.
“What were you doing?” he said.
“Oh, I was just… Checking my phone. I think I must’ve messed something up inside when I dropped it the other night.”
“Hmm… I’ll get you a new one when we’re back in the city.”
“Thanks. I…”
My phone vibrated with another message.
“You’re already wet. Don’t you want to feel my cock satisfy that wet pussy of yours?”
“…I don’t think I need a new phone,” I said. “I think this one will be okay.”
“Right…”
Arthur turned his attention back to his food. Before he could take another bite, his own phone started to ring in his pocket. He sighed a deep breath and pulled it out.
“And here I am telling someone else about being rude…” he said.
He put his phone up to his ear. I couldn’t tell what the person on the other line was saying but Arthur was listening intently.
My phone vibrated with another message.
“Come see me tonight. So I can fuck you.”
“Okay,” Arthur said. “I’ll be there shortly.”
He hung the phone up and put it back in his pocket.
“Sorry,” he continued. “I’m afraid I’ll have to cut our dinner a bit short.”
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing serious. One of our partners is having cold feet about the deal. It’ll be a short negotiation. I should probably contact Cain now to be there to take care of this…”
Arthur stood up from his seat and reached into his jacket.
“Here,” he said as he took out a small wad of bills. “Seeing as how this is our last night in Ivory, I still owe your bodyguard his final payment. Why don’t you ask him to watch over you tonight and you can pay him?”
Arthur placed the money down.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back at the hotel,” he said. “Don’t stay up for me. Again, I’m sorry for leaving you unexpectedly, Mia.”
“That’s all right,” I said. “Business is business.”
Arthur gave me a polite smile then bowed his head before leaving. I stared at the money on the table and the twisting in my stomach began to feel even warmer.
“Mia?”
I couldn’t fight the grin that came to my face. I’d never typed a response so fast.
“Come fuck me.”
Chapter 15
MIA
Not wearing any panties tonight probably wasn’t the best idea I’d ever had. Then again, I never imagined
that Roman would be sending me enough messages to get me so worked up that staining my skirt was a possibility.
Everything seemed to be working itself out though. Arthur was off conducting business. I had an excuse to see Roman. I couldn’t get to him fast enough.
He gave me the address to the hotel he was staying at. More messages flooded my phone. I had the grin of a giddy schoolgirl as I typed back my responses with twitchy thumbs.
“I’m gonna fuck the shit out of you”
“Oh yeah? How are you gonna do it?”
“First I’m gonna shove my cock down your throat”
“Mmm…”
“Then I’m gonna bend you over”
“Keep going…”
“I’m gonna explode”
“I like that sound of that”
“Every drop”
“I’ll take all of it…”
I shifted in my seat. I wanted to reach down and put a finger to my clit. I kept an eye on the driver, making sure that he couldn’t see the growing anticipation that was taking control of my body.
When we got to the hotel, I instructed the driver to tell Arthur that I was fine for the night. I had the personal security he’d hired for me and that he should text me if anything was wrong. The driver didn’t seem to notice anything strange was going on with my behavior. I had a free path to the biker I knew was waiting for me.
I got to the entrance of his room. Before I could reach up and knock, the door clicked open. Roman stood there at the entrance in all of his glory.
God…
He’d fucked me before but I never saw all of him as I did now. Tan skin from head to toe. Covered in ink in all of the right places. Broad shoulders and a stomach that was as hard as diamonds. Then there was the rock-hard cock that he was pumping slowly in his fist. It was hard to tell which part of him I liked most. Maybe it was the intensity in his blue eyes that I loved most.
He didn’t care that anybody walking in the hotel hallway could’ve walked by and saw him stroking himself. He only had eyes for me. And I only had eyes for him.
“Your payment,” I said as I held up the money Arthur had given me. “For your services tonight.”
“You say that as if I’m some escort.”
“Maybe you are. Maybe you are my boy toy that I can do whatever I want to—Ahh!”