“How can you know that?” I asked, chewing on my bottom lip, considering what to say to convince him. “I may surprise you.” My voice sounded husky even to my ears. I liked where this was going. My body liked where this was going. He would be the perfect fuck partner. No strings attached.
He looked away, as if he didn’t want to admit, or worse yet, commit to his real preferences.
“I’m a grown woman with needs, Adam, not the usual college-aged party girl. I seldom go out, I keep to myself, I study hard and I work hard. I think I deserve a little fun in my life. And right now, that fun includes you.” Could I be any plainer in my intentions?
“I’m a man with very specific needs. I work hard and I play harder.” Though he spoke softly, his voice stampeded through my brain.
“Just say it. I want to know it all,” I pressed.
“Dragonstone has a dungeon where I enjoy playing with a willing partner.”
“Are we talking Fifty Shades dangerous?” I asked, needing to know.
“You’ve read the books?” he inquired, his eyebrows rising.
“No, but I know the gist of it. Are you into full submissive and whipping?” My heart sank. A deal breaker for me.
“Not to that extent. I just enjoy more of the pleasurable aspects.” He stood up awkwardly, adjusting himself.
“We’re both consenting adults above the age of majority, Adam. It’s no crime to be attracted to each other. This has nothing to do with our deal. I want to make that perfectly clear. This is just two people wanting to enjoy each other outside work time.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking bringing you here.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. Was I jeopardizing my job by being too forward? I reined in my lascivious thoughts.
“I’m happy to be here.” I pressed my hand against the outline of the check in my pocket. Maybe he thought I was being bought? But I’d had no sense of that. It was me initiating pleasures of the flesh outside working hours.
“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“This has nothing to do with our business arrangement. If I want to fuck you, I will.” I was being vulgar, but I wanted to have this man. I didn’t need anything more than a week of fun. I had a life of commitment to go back to.
“You say that now, but what happens when our time is over? You might find it difficult to let go. Young women often do.”
This was too much. I had been as upfront as a woman could be and still he didn’t seem to get it. I am not your usual kind of female. I don’t believe in happy-ever-after.
“I have no intention of stalking you, Adam Drake! I have a life I want very much to go back to. This is just a little detour in the road. I will not be bothering you again once our contract is completed.”
“You’re taking this the wrong way—”
“No, you are. I just want to make love with you and that’s it. We’ve both young, virile adults. What’s the harm in that?” I tugged on a lock of my hair with exasperation. “I work three part-time jobs as it is, for heaven’s sake! And I have to keep my GPA up to be accepted into the medical faculty. This one-week relationship fits my criteria exactly. Ever think of that?”
He looked at me as if weighing my words.
“No strings attached?”
“No strings attached.”
He gave me an even more piercing look and I could see him assessing this new information. I steeled myself for his next words, but we might as well get it all out on the table now. We only had a week.
“What if I want more than vanilla sex? Can you handle that?” His eyes bore into mine before he added in a reassuring tone, “Nothing that would harm you in any way, of course. Just pushing the limits of pleasure.”
I could see he was a man who liked to be in charge but I sensed he wasn’t the type to ever hurt a woman. He would know when to pull back and, more importantly, I wouldn’t be afraid to tell him.
“I can handle way more than you think I can. And vanilla sounds boring. I’m more a Neapolitan kind of girl anyway.” My heartbeat increased tenfold with my brave words and as I waited for his, with him staring hard at me.
“You’re on and don’t say I didn’t warn you, Sunday Rose Stark. This is going to be some week. Prepare yourself.”
His wicked grin sent my thoughts reeling as my more practical side tried to intervene. Are you crazy?
“I’m a demanding lover. A possessive lover. Can you handle that? I warn you I’ll test your limits this week. Ask you to do things you’ve never even imagined. But I want to stress this up front. You can say no to anything at any time. Simply say ‘stop’ and I will.”
“Perfect.” If this was to be my one and only week to push the limits sexually, then I was going to push them all the way, or at least as far as I could manage. Something to tell my girlfriends one day.
“Good. We can start tonight if you like. I’d suggest a nap this afternoon.” Another wicked grin flashed.
“Fine.”
I got up. He took my hand and pulled me close to his hard body and I felt the steely strength of him from top to bottom. My heart lurched and I swallowed hard, my breath hitching in my chest. I tingled all over.
“Last chance to back out.”
“Never.” I challenged him right back. I pushed my mama’s warning away, wanting to break free.
His eyes smoldered. He leaned down and sealed the deal with a kiss.
“I’ll want to choose your clothes for this evening. I’ll be back at six thirty to help you prepare,” he informed me as we walked back through the greenhouse to the front hall, his hand on the small of my back searing my skin with its outpouring of heat.
“Have a good day, dear!” I quipped at the front entrance as I reached up and kissed him good-bye on the cheek.
He gave a short laugh and cupped my face with a gentle yet firm hand. He ran a finger over my bottom lip and the laughter stilled in my chest. He leaned his head down and took possession of my lips, thrilling my body and making me wish it was after the party already. And then he was gone.
Time to cue the dragon lady.
She was easy to find because as soon as the front door closed on Adam, she immediately appeared. Spooky. It was a castle after all. Good thing we weren’t based in England or I might have thought her a specter.
“Okay. Time to get to work, Sunday. I have lots of other things that need my attention today as well and I don’t have patience for having to repeat myself. Will that be a problem?”
Not with my photographic memory, silly. I didn’t say it aloud to my credit. “No, just go at your own pace. I’m sure I’ll be able to keep up,” I said.
“Fine.”
Her mouth hardened into an unattractive line and I sighed inwardly. The fun had just died out of the morning.
“Have you met Allison Weller? Adam’s usual hostess?” she asked as she arranged the folders in front of us. We sat across from each other at a desk in Adam’s study.
“No.” Why would I have? She was a former girlfriend.
“That’s right. You and Adam just met. Allison and I had been working together for months now, preparing for this moment. She’s so good at this. I couldn’t have done it without her.” She sighed. “I hope she’s able to make it to the main events this week. I mean, after putting in all that effort it seems only fair. I think I’ll ask Adam about it. They are such a perfect couple.”
I had nothing to say to that. I refused to let her know how much her words troubled me.
She opened the first folder, her lips pursed. “Okay, let’s get at it.” It was obvious that she thought it was so foolish of Adam to have broken up with Allison. That I was a poor substitute. Maybe she would give him a soft place to land when I was finished my work at Dragonstone? The thought did not cheer me like it should have.
Two tedious hours later and we were finished. Jessica had finally quit testing me for perfect recall on the dossiers of the planned guests for the evening and hit the road. I was taking
a break, drinking cocoa with Mrs. Macintosh in the spacious kitchen, planted on a stool overlooking the central island, and feeling better with each hot sip of gooey chocolaty mini-marshmallow goodness. They had been freshly delivered this morning, according to the housekeeper.
I was busy collecting intel on the staff. Adam employed four staff at home and all seemed to be very loyal to him, according to his biggest fan. Mrs. Macintosh’s only concern was the dungeon. She saw no need for it and if it must exist, why was she not allowed to clean it? I sympathized, but I understood. Adam had secrets he wanted kept from his loyal staff. A thrill ran down my spine. His money might buy him freedom, but it would not give him license to do anything he wanted without consent. He had too much to lose. Right?
I tut-tutted along with her and looked ahead to that night. Not the part of the night that was the dinner and guest-greeting entertainment, but the event scheduled for after. The one that was billed solely for Adam and me. My body sparked to life. I squeezed my thighs together to try to stop the sensations. He was masterful and I found his über-maleness sexy beyond belief. Good grief. My hormones were running amok. My ice-queen rep was going to be shattered forever.
“Where did the two of you meet, dear?”
I brought myself sharply back to the present.
“Ah, I sent in my résumé and filled out an application. I can’t believe I got this great opportunity. And it’s good pay for a week’s work. Sure beats waitressing at the Steak House and Barney’s, not to mention creating designs for websites for small businesses online, though that has flexible hours—generally the middle of the night. I survived on little or no sleep for days on end. I’m on reading week from university so the timing is superb to be here with all of you.”
I quickly remembered and parroted the explicit instructions from the dragon lady. It was as good a cover as any with most of it being true. She had been disgusted at my being “discovered” at a hockey game, but I shrugged it off with ease, though I had to admit the cover story was nicer to share with Martha. I wanted the older woman to think well of me. And it’s not like there isn’t precedent. Pamela Anderson was discovered in Vancouver, Canada, the same way. Where exactly did Adam and Allison meet? The unwelcome thought pushed some of the contentment from my mind. And, worse, what if she showed up tonight?
“That’s nice, dear. Mr. Drake is a good man. He’s done a lot of good for a lot of people. He runs a green company looking to reduce their ecological footprint while keeping it an ethical company where actions matter as much as words. But I guess you know that all ready.” She smiled kindly while she inventoried the cupboards against a checklist she had on a clipboard lying on top of the spotless counter. I admit it felt good to hear these words repeated about Adam.
“Yes, well, I think I’ll go take a nap. It’s going to be a late night.”
Adam had texted me to remind me to expect him at six thirty sharp. I looked forward to it with mounting pleasure, pun intended.
In my room I lay down on the impressive but comfy bed. I was secluded from the world with the draperies drawn. I took up an e-reader I had found resting on the nightstand. I knew the attractively leather-bound device had not been in evidence the night before. I found it already downloaded with hundreds of novels when I opened its black leather covering. But first I was calling Julie to reassure her I was alive and well. Little did she know how alive and well. I set the device aside and made the call.
“Hey, Julie, how’s it going? I’m being a good girl and checking in. I’ll call again.” As I left my voice message I felt a delicious sense that my “good girl” status was about to change a whole lot. Perfect. One week of fun before resuming my studies for the next number of years was a smart bargain.
I opened the e-reader and scanned the list of thumbnail cover images and their titles. I realized they were of the same genre—erotica. BDSM. Someone liked their reading red-hot. The covers alone with their half-naked men and women sent a wave of heat through my body. I clicked on the first book and read the short summary. So, Sarah Anne Jameson needed money, did she? Well, that would happen if her sweet idiot of a baby brother thought he could steal from a biker gang. But, oh my, spending a month in the hunk’s bed to repay the debt sounded like no punishment at all to me. And, he liked to tie up his women for no-holds-barred BDSM. Whoa.
No holds barred. Was that what Adam meant? Was this the message I was supposed to take from it? He’d left a message for me in a very creative way. I clicked on the book cover to increase its size and check out the image of the hot couple it featured. The woman was dressed, or maybe undressed was more accurate, in red lace panties, matching see-through bra and garter belt with white lace stockings and sky-high stiletto heels in black patent leather. I could see only one shoe as the model had her foot raised up behind her perfect ass. Very hot. The man was in unbuttoned jeans and no shirt, his stomach muscles ripped and flexing as he held the woman tightly against his side. He looked as if he wanted to devour her, his glance smoldering, and she looked ready to swoon with anticipation. Did the outfit exist? I had an inkling it did.
I hurried about the room, pulling drawers open until I found it—bits of sheer red chiffon and white lace. My outfit tonight for when all the guests had departed.
My excitement grew as I lay back down on the bed, supported by a nest of pillows, determined to read the book cover to cover. I was instantly riveted by the story, a woman whose only choice if she were to save her brother from the bad-ass bikers he owned money was to surrender to every sexual whim of the bad boy who wanted her. And he wanted her every which way but loose. Oh boy. My breath came quicker as the sex scenes became more and more explicit. Was this what Adam wanted? A partner that let him do everything to her without any protest on her part? In fact, getting wet with just a kiss. Well, that had already happened—strike that part.
But letting him do whatever he wanted, from tying me up to making sure all his possible sexual fantasies came true, I was less certain I could handle, being a novice in the sex department. Something I didn’t want to admit to, of course. I’d always pretended to know things ‘til I had a chance to investigate. One of my failings. And one, strangely enough, that came with being intelligent and human. But I always made up for the deficit ASAP. Hence the reading.
A knock on my bedroom door startled me from the sexual exploits racing through my mind. Oh my, but my body had woken up in the past twenty-four hours.
“Sunday, I have a lunch tray prepared for you.” Martha’s voice rang out in the hallway. I answered the door, hoping I wasn’t flushed.
“Thanks. I seem to have lost track of time this morning.” My nostrils filled with the tantalizing fragrance of hot food and my mouth watered with anticipation. My appetites were alive and well. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs came to mind from psychology class. I was obviously stuck on the bottom rung of requiring my physical needs met more than anything else at the moment. Perhaps I had spent too much of my time in intellectual pursuits and my body was rebounding with a vengeance.
“I’ll leave you to it then. Just ring when you’re done.”
“Ring?”
“The buzzer is here, dear. See?” She pointed it out where it was discreetly positioned beside the doorway.
“I can bring the tray back to the kitchen. I’m not that spoiled.” I chuckled as I took the tray from the woman.
“You are a sweet dear. Enjoy your lunch, Sunday Rose.”
“Thanks, Martha, I appreciate it.”
I took the tray over to the window seat and sat down to enjoy my food along with the view of the estate. Uncovering my plate, I discovered a hot chicken César salad, expertly prepared.
I made short work of the salad, walked the tray back to the kitchen, and then hurried back to my room, intending to dive right back into the book.
My phone buzzed, announcing an incoming text.
How are u? I’m good. Julie had added a smiley face for fun.
Me too. U remember to eat, okay! I te
xted back.
Duh! Just had lunch with M.
Nice!
Madison was one of Julie’s friends and I knew she would look out for her. Make sure she ate properly so I could relax on that score.
I went right back to the book. I was getting hotter and hotter as the scenes delved deeper into the dark underworld of sexual pursuit. My body began throbbing as tensions built up and I squeezed my thighs tightly together in an effort to relieve the intense ache. Almost with a mind of its own, my hand dipped down to press against my pussy. I felt my heat searing through my jeans and I knew what I wanted. Something I seldom allowed myself.
I undid the top button of my jeans and pulled down the zipper, slid the pants down and kicked them off my legs. Dressed in only my white lace panties and blouse, I slipped my fingers inside the stretchy elastic and began touching my hot, silky flesh. Adam’s firm fingers stroked my delicate folds and touched my quivering clit, my body exposed to his view.
His mouth descended. His breath hot on my wet pussy. He hovered inches above and I knew he was looking at my arousal. My heart pounded. Moisture anointed my fingers.
He gently pulled my swollen lips apart. He licked my cunt with his talented tongue, sweeping from top to bottom. I pushed a finger into the hot, tight channel, and then another as he thrust his tongue inside, making me soaking wet.
He was already naked and changed position to push between my wide-spread thighs. He entered me, stretched me open with his huge cock, my juices soaking him with desire. I began to finger-fuck myself more vigorously while I rubbed my clit with my thumb. As my body came to climax, I moaned and arched off the bed, riding the sweet waves of release.
I collapsed, my body satiated and boneless.
Reading erotica really was an experience to be relished. Who knew? I’d never had the luxury before. I glanced at the bedside clock and realized the afternoon had vanished. Adam would be back soon. Time for a shower and some grooming before going to work, if I could rightly call it work. The hardest thing I would mostly likely be doing was smiling for hours on end. No problem. I’d had plenty of practice at family events.
The Power of Sunday Rose Page 4