Dangerous Kiss

by Michelle Love

  “Benoit?”

  His dark brown eyes were serious as he gazed at her. “Well, you have to go, obviously.”

  Shiloh swallowed the lump in her throat. “You think so?”

  Benoit reached for her hand. “Shiloh, it’s an amazing opportunity; you’d be a fool to turn it down. This could make your reputation internationally.”

  Shiloh nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Do not cry in front of him. Do not. And for the love of God, woman, grow up. “It is,” she said softly. “Probably the best opportunity of my career.” She realized she was parroting him, but her throat felt choked and she looked away from his gaze.

  “Shiloh,” he said softly. “I’m assuming it’s not forever.”

  “It’s open-ended.”

  “But you’re not tied into a specific time length? You can go or stay as long as you want?”

  She nodded and he got up, moving his chair next to hers. “Sweetheart … I won’t be the man who stops you from reaching your potential. I will not be that. Eventually it will lead to you resenting me. So, I’m saying, you need to do this and you have my full support.”

  But what about us? She desperately wanted to ask him the question but something in his expression was stopping her. Suddenly she felt the fifteen year age difference between them. This man would not be tied down; that much was obvious. If anybody defined eternal bachelor, it was Benoit Vaux.

  Only an incredibly stupid woman would fall in love with such a man, Shiloh thought now sadly. Only a very, very silly woman.

  She suddenly couldn’t wait to get away from him. “I’m so tired tonight, Benoit ...” She softened her words with a smile. “Do you mind taking me back to my apartment?”

  Benoit’s face registered surprise for a beat, then he nodded. “Of course.”

  Alone, Shiloh sat on her favorite armchair, Beau asleep on her lap, her fingers stroking his silky ears. She looked out onto the Paris street, streetlamps reflected in the rain-slicked streets, and sighed. Come on now, she told herself. You were never the type to postpone your life for love. And to do it for a man like Benoit? She had to admit that it stung that he hadn’t asked her to stay, nor made any reference to his waiting for her to return. That wasn’t the way the world worked, she knew. Only in fairy tales did the white knight keep himself chaste for the princess.

  No. Africa it was, and she would focus on that and the tremendous opportunity it was for her. She would book an appointment tomorrow to deal with the other problem. Her fling with Benoit was just that, a fling.

  She just didn’t think she would ever forget him.

  Maceo looked at Ori, his green eyes serious. “Are you sure about this?”

  They had come to New York and, for the last week, had been watching Tyson Janek on the campaign trail rebuilding his sullied reputation, glad-handing the public, kissing babies and holding press conferences.

  His most important speech was today, at New York’s City Hall. A speech about domestic abuse, Ori had told Maceo incredulously, and that disbelief had fueled her determination. Alex had helped them shape their own speech, one which Ori would deliver to Tyson’s face, in front of his public, the press, and his political colleagues. His career would be in tatters, and Ori could not wait. She smiled at Maceo now.

  “One hundred percent.”

  They were riding in the car with Alex, making their way through the New York traffic. Ori was wearing an elegant but classy navy dress, a string of pearls at her throat. Again, Alex had advised her on looking the part, and Ori was grateful to Maceo’s friend.

  “They will try and paint you as a nut-job,” he had said, the previous evening when they were finalizing her plan, “A hysteric. A bitter attention seeker. Forgive me, Ori. I’m giving you both the worst-case scenario here.”

  “That’s not the worst-case scenario,” Maceo had argued, his handsome face lined with concern. “The worst case, my darling, is Tyson coming after you, hurting you. Killing you.”

  Alex shook his head. “Will not happen, Maceo, we have the security team in place.”

  Maceo did not look happy but Ori put her arms around her lover and kissed him. “I’ll be fine. Once the police and the press have all the information and evidence we have, he won’t be able to touch me.”

  “He may think he will have nothing left to lose,” Maceo said, not convinced, but Ori would not be talked down.

  “It’s time,” she said firmly, “For AJ. For myself.”

  So now, as they edged closer to City Hall, Ori was nervous, but ready. At the reception area, she could see the press and Tyson’s security team gathering. Alex had contacts, however, and they were soon being ushered backstage and into a small dressing room where they would stay until Janek was already speaking.

  “I must warn you,” the aide said in a low voice, “that Congressman Janek is in the next room, so keep your voices low.”

  Ori thanked the man. He smiled at her. “Really, it’s my pleasure. About time someone brought that asshole down.” He left them alone, promising to come back when the time was right.

  Maceo had his arm locked around Oro’s waist. “So proud of you right now,” he murmured, his mouth next to her ear. She turned to meet his gaze and a rush of love swept through her. She could not imagine her life without this glorious man; it barely seemed possible that there was a time when she hadn’t known him. Alex hovered slightly awkwardly on the opposite side of the room.

  The aide returned, nodding at them. “It’s time.” As they walked to the press room, the aide ran through what Tyson was talking about. “I’ve primed a journalist to ask a leading question, something to throw him off so that you can start to speak. Mr. Bartoli and Mr. Milland’s men will hold back Janek’s security if it’s required, but my guess is that he won’t want to make extra drama.”

  Ori nodded, her heart hammering in her chest. Alex waited outside of the room. As they reached the back of the room, Maceo stayed back so Tyson wouldn’t see him over the crowd. Ori, as petite as she was, easily slid behind a tall press man. The aide nodded to her when she heard a female journalist ask a question.

  “Congressman Janek, why the timing of this bill? Isn’t it just a sop to the women who abandoned you in droves during your recent scandal?”

  “Not at all,” Tyson said smoothly. “Domestic abuse and women’s rights have long been at the top of my agenda.”

  “Really? I had heard different,” the journalist said, her voice hard. Ori drew in a deep breath. Tyson chuckled patronizingly.

  “And what had you heard, my dear?”

  Ori stepped out from behind the other journalist and started to walk towards Tyson. “She’s heard about the many, many times you raped me, Janek, your own stepdaughter, the first time when I was 13 years old.” She spoke in a clear voice which, to her amazement, didn’t shake.

  A gasp went up in the room and Tyson Janek went white when he saw her. Ori walked steadily to the podium and took the mic from Tyson. “For those of you who don’t know, my name is Orianthi Roy and, until my mother’s death, this man was my stepfather. Over the years, until I finally broke free, he subjected me to rape, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. He has, on many occasions, threatened to kill me. I imagine he’s thinking about doing that to me right now, aren’t you, Tyson?”

  Tyson’s mouth was flapping open and shut, his shock almost rendering him numb. Out of the corner of Ori’s eye, she could see his security men edging forward but Maceo and Alex were stepping into the room and their security teams were at the ready.

  The journalists in the room were silent. Ori dragged a shaky breath into her lungs. “But, believe it or not, that’s not the worst thing this man has done. Not by a long shot. Many of you might know that he had a son, Adam James. AJ ...” She turned her dark eyes onto Tyson’s pale face and saw murder in his eyes. Murder and desperation.

  “AJ was my brother,” Ori said, her voice cracking. “My brother—and your son. And you raped him. Continuously. Brutally. From the time he was
five years old until the day he committed himself to the mental health facility.”

  The room exploded, journalists jumping up and screaming questions. Tyson’s security team rushed the stage and Maceo and Alex’s men tackled them as Maceo darted to get to Ori. Tyson lunged for her, tackling her to the floor before anyone could stop him. His lips at her ear, he growled, “You’re dead, Ori. I swear to God, I will kill you for this.”

  Maceo hauled him from Ori, who scrambled away from her stepfather. Maceo punched Tyson hard, the older man dropping like a stone, and it took both Ori and Alex to pull Maceo from him.

  “Let’s go,” Alex said urgently and in moments they were back into his town car, racing away from the scene. Alex switched the radio on and they heard the news breaking. Ori, breathless and shaken, looked at Maceo. “Phase One complete,” she said. Maceo half smiled.

  “The journalist is meeting us back at the hotel.”

  “She did a good job,” Ori said gratefully and looked at Alex. “You chose well.”

  Alex smiled at her. “Thanks. Well, we’re in it now, so let’s hope it pays off.”

  Tyson Janek kicked his way back into his hotel room cursing and yelling, his aides and security team cowering under his rage. “Find what hotel she’s in, now! I want a way to get to Ori without her bodyguards being there. That bitch isn’t going to draw another breath when I’m done with her.”

  The aides exchanged glances. “Congressman, if anything were to happen to Ms. Roy now, you would be the first suspect.”

  Tyson tried to rein in his temper. He knew they were right but, God, on that podium, if he’d had his knife, he would have stabbed Ori to death right there, in front of the world’s media. Fucking, fucking bitch. He never honestly thought she would have the guts to do what she did today. Fuck. This was it; even if he denied the claims, he was never coming back from this. It was over.

  His suspicions were confirmed a few minutes later when the chairman of his party called. It was a brief, tense conversation, but it was made very clear to Tyson that he no longer had the support of the party. His resignation would be expected the next morning. Tyson didn’t even challenge it.

  Fuck this. If he was going to hell, then he would take Ori with him. If the police were going to investigate and charge him, then he might as well go down for her murder as well.

  He dismissed everybody except his most trusted bodyguard. When they were alone, he eyed the man. He’d hired him because of the cold lack of empathy he had seen in him, and now he was grateful for it. ’She has to die.”

  The bodyguard nodded. “Do you want me to do it, boss? I’m happy to.”

  That was the other thing he liked; the man simply enjoyed killing as much as Tyson, but he shook his head. “No, I want to do it. I just need you to bring her to me. Unmarked car. We’ll take her out of the city and I’ll do it there and leave her body in the car.”

  “She’s pretty well-protected.”

  “I know.” Tyson sighed. “But there’s always an opportunity at some point. Make it happen.”

  Ori was exhausted. After talking with the journalist, telling her and AJ’s entire story, it had felt like a huge weight lifting and now she just wanted to sleep. She lay next to Maceo as he stroked her skin with his hand. There was concern in his eyes and now she wanted it in the open.

  “He will try and kill me now,” she said softly, “before I can say anything more, before I give evidence to the police.”

  “Which is why we need to get out of the country.”

  Ori shook her head. “No. I need to speak to the police first.”

  Maceo gave a sharp sigh of frustration and sat up. “I swear, sometimes you have a death wish.”

  “I don’t, Maceo, I swear. But we came here to do this; let’s finish it.”

  Maceo’s back was tense and she pressed her lips against his shoulder blade. “Baby, we’re nearly home and free. Don’t be angry with me.”

  He looked around at her, his large green eyes full of love. “I’m not angry, mio caro.”

  Ori smiled. “Good.” She pushed him back onto the bed, unzipping his pants and sliding them down his legs before straddling him. Maceo looked up at her naked body appreciatively as her hands stroked the length of his cock.

  “Have I told you just how beautiful you are, today?”

  Ori grinned. “Cheeseball.”

  Maceo laughed, then shuddered as she cupped his balls in her hands. “The things you do to me, mio caro….”

  She guided him inside her and rode him, gently at first, then, as their hands joined, she moved faster, taking his cock deep inside of her velvety warmth, moaning softly as he filled her.

  Maceo’s hands drifted down her body, his fingers tracing a line down her belly, circling her navel and into her sex, finding her clit and kneading the tiny bud. His other hand stroked her full breasts, enjoying the slight bounce of them as she moved on top of him. She turned him on so much that as they approached orgasm, he suddenly flipped her onto her back and drove himself into her harder and deeper until they were both crying each other’s name and his cock was pumping thick white semen deep inside her. Ori, feeling mischievous, didn’t let him rest, ordering him to fuck her in the shower, on the floor, then against the wall. Maceo willingly went along with her, grinning and laughing at her almost feral appetite for him.

  They fell asleep just before dawn. A couple of hours later, Alex knocked at their door. “You’ll want to turn the television on.”

  Huddled on the couch, Ori and Maceo stared at the large flat screen television as Tyson Janek, his face pale and drawn, spoke to a much tighter group of journalists than yesterday.

  “Obviously, these allegations are a disgusting slur on my character and I can assure you that I will prove my innocence in all matters. My stepdaughter has long been bitter towards me since her mother cut her out of her will; this was after discovering that the young and sexually precocious Orianthi had made many sexual advances to me. I knew that, one day, our relaxed method of parenting would return to haunt me, and so it seems that day has come. If you’re listening, Ori, please, darling, get the help we all so desperately want you to have. AJ wanted you to have that help too, and your reluctance to do so, well, let’s just say, there were reasons why he decided to end his life the way he did.”

  Ori drew in a sharp breath and Maceo cursed loudly. “Figlio di puttana!’

  Alex shut off the television and held up his hands. “It’s hard to hear that, but here’s the thing. The press isn’t buying his story, Ori. The New York Times has basically been gathering information about Janek’s proclivities for years, and they hit him with it in this morning’s edition.”

  He handed her the paper. Ori read the headline: Janek’s Closet Empties Out – Congressman denies rape and abuse, but staffers say it went on for years.” She felt a lump in her throat and looked at Maceo and Alex.

  “His staffers are telling the truth?”

  “More than one,” Alex said gently. Ori wiped a tear away.

  “He really is going down, huh?”

  “The FBI are investigating, Ori. I’ve already had a call about you being interviewed.”

  Ori sighed, leaning against Maceo, who put his arms around her and looked up at his friend in gratitude. “Thank you, my friend, for everything. We could not have done this without you.”

  Alex smiled. “My pleasure. Look, we need to talk security later, but for now, I’ll give you two some space.”

  When they were alone, Ori looked at Maceo with shining eyes. “It’s over, isn’t it?”

  Maceo nodded, smiling. “It looks like it, bella.”

  “Thank God.”

  Benoit had insisted on driving Shiloh to the airport himself. Shiloh had been quiet all day, and now he looked over at her. “Are you excited?”

  “I am,” she said softly. “I’m just not a fan of traveling. Besides, I worry about Beau in the cargo hold.”

  “I would offer my private jet, but I know you don’t ap
prove.”

  She gave him a half smile. “I’m not going to lie; I would be torn about my principles and having Beau in the cabin with me.”

  “You will email me? We can Skype often too, and I can keep you up to date on my projects, if that would be of interest?”

  “Of course.” She looked away and out of the window, and Benoit nodded to himself. He would not make this separation harder by telling her just how desperately he would miss her. He was already grieving for the loss, but he was damned if he’d show it. This was the best opportunity Shiloh had been offered; Benoit Vaux knew how rare these things were. Over the past two weeks, Shiloh had seemed to have drifted away from him emotionally and physically, and he knew she was absorbed in her work. That was good. That was how he had become a self-made billionaire. Work was the key.

  At the gate, he kissed Shiloh’s soft pink mouth and felt the silky strands of her light blonde hair drift through his fingers. “Shiloh Holt,” he said. “You are a magical woman. You will go on and change the world, I have no doubt about that. I am lucky to call you a friend.”

  There was a little flinch, he noticed, but she smiled at him. “And the same to you, Benoit. Thank you for changing my mind about your kind. Look, I have to go, but I will email you.”

  “As soon as you’re settled,” he said, and kissed her again. He leaned his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “C'est avec vous que j'ai commencé à dire oui au monde.”

  It is with you that I started to say yes to the world. “Paul Eluard,” Shiloh breathed, touched beyond comprehension, “I know that saying. It’s beautiful.”

  Benoit nodded and opened his eyes. “And very appropriate.”

  Shiloh stared at him, and he thought he saw a flash of tears there, but she smiled brightly at him. “I must go.”

  “Goodbye, Shiloh. We will see each other again.”

  She nodded but said nothing, as if not trusting herself to speak. She walked through the gate, only looking back once more to see him waving.