by Mel Blue
For Holley’s complete backlist, including titles from Calliope Romance/Musa Publishing, Crimson Romance, and Lyrical Press please visit her website at http://www.holleytrent.com.
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BACKLIST TITLES BY HOLLEY TRENT
Sweet and Sensual
My Nora — November 2012, Crimson Romance (print and e-book)
Reinstated Bond — January 2013 (e-book)
Her Resident Jester — February 2013, Calliope Romance by Musa Publishing (e-book)
Sold As Is — February 2013, Crimson Romance (print and e-book)
Saint and Scholar — July 2013, Lyrical Press (e-book)
Accounting for Cole (re-release) — June 2013 (e-book)
Shake Well — August 2013 (e-book)
Polished Slick (re-release) — August 2013 (print and e-book)
Clean Slate — August 2013 (print and e-book)
Teaching the Cowboy — Coming February 2014, Calliope Romance by Musa Publishing (e-book)
Colleen’s Choice — Coming March 2014, Crimson Romance (e-book)
Spicy
Executive Decision — May 2012, Calliope Romance by Musa Publishing (e-book)
Calculated Exposure— September 2013, Lyrical Press (e-book)
Seeing Red— Coming September 2014, Lyrical Press (e-book)
WICKED SURRENDER
A Den of Sin Novella
by Ambrielle Kirk
COPYRIGHT
©Ambrielle Kirk
December 2013
All Rights Reserved.
Wicked Surrender is a work of complete fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictional or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Photography credits © disorderly via depositphoto.com
WARNING: this story contains adult situations including sex and strong language. It is not intended for consumption by minors (age of majority as specified by your territory of residence).
Blurb
To indulge in your most wicked desires…
After kicking her cheating ex-boyfriend to the curb, Kris Delacourt became celibate. Her grudge against the opposite sex has rendered her love life non-existent. The one thing that hasn’t been reduced is her sexual appetite. Kris is tired of spending her nights playing with hard plastic and silicone. She wants a real man. Spending a night at the Den of Sin sounds like the kick start she desperately needs. She doesn’t expect to meet one of the World’s Most Eligible Bachelors there. This isn’t the first time she’s met Travis Brenden, but it seems he doesn’t even remember her.
…would you surrender control?
Travis Brenden is a man who treasures being in control and he relinquishes it for no one. An invite to an exclusive event leads him to cross paths with a woman who seduces him with one innocent glance and erupts a torrid desire deep inside him. He dubs her the Temptress. Within the Den of Sin, he can indulge without the high expectations that come with his social status. Yet, something about this temptress jogs his memory to no end and while he’s with her his control begins to slip.
CHAPTER ONE
Travis Brenden stood out on the balcony gazing up at the constellation of stars. There had to have been at least a billion of them lighting up the midnight sky.
At his condo back in Tampa, Florida, it was likely he would have been doing the same thing—sitting out in his lounge chair enjoying the scenery. Except he’d have his laptop propped open working hastily on blueprints despite the late hour. There was always a project to complete these days.
In New Orleans, the breeze was smooth and flowing against his skin. In Tampa, the air was crisp and humid. This was a nice change, especially since he’d been successful in fighting the urge to work since he’d arrived three days ago.
When Travis was working, he took ownership of his creation. He was in control from beginning to end. For him, each idea started with a clean slate. The blank blueprint served as just a starting point on which his unique creation would evolve. He would design and build until the plans were modeled to his specifications. He would see the project through from proposal to bidding, and then from implementation to completion.
As the founder and owner of Brenden & Riddick, he believed in his business concepts and like everything else in his life, he took ownership of his constructions. Travis was a man who loved to be in control. Of all things.
His attention swayed back to the partiers on the balcony just below him. Everyone had someone. Some significant other or partner. They were dancing and laughing, enjoying the last days of the year before the new one rang in. Partying along the streets of the French Quarter never ended from what he’d observed since arriving.
Some of the couples were holding hands. Kissing. Touching. Feeling. He could see their faces from his position above them. He saw what he hoped to feel on day. Admiration. Innocence. Vulnerability and love.
Travis wasn’t hopeless by any means. He knew those most coveted emotions didn’t come freely. Sometimes they came with consequences, and sometimes they came with a price. The price had always been steep in his case. Because of past bad situations, he now knew how to protect himself from jumping into one of those.
His friends thought he was paranoid, but they misunderstood him. They’d labeled him as someone who would never tie the knot. He was more than willing to pay the price—but for the right woman and at the right time in his life.
He was tempted to join the naughty fun on the balcony, but indulging in one night stands never left him very satisfied for long. But the one night stands did ensure he wouldn’t upset his women in the end. He’d always laid out the terms of the relationship or lack thereof before he partook. That way they didn’t expect anything he hadn’t planned to deliver in the first place. Lately, he’d dated women who had no idea who or what his social status really was. It was easier that way.
New Orleans was full of temptations, but he’d controlled his libido thus far.
Travis lifted his glass from the edge of the railing and downed the rest of his Cognac.
He turned his back on the fun below and entered his suite. He was anxious to get out of the clothes he’d worn to his brother’s wedding reception and into something more comfortable. If he had known he would have second thoughts about partying tonight after his brother’s wedding, he would have taken an earlier flight out of here.
Just as he’d unbuttoned his shirt, there was a sharp knock at the door.
He wasn’t expecting anyone, so he looked out of the peephole to check. A woman stood on the other side of the door with a cart. He opened the door only wide enough to address her. “You must have the wrong room. I didn’t order anything.”
“You didn’t, sir, but your brother did?”
“My brother?” He looked behind the server as she pushed her way into his suite.
“The other Mr. Brenden wanted to see to it that you were well taken care of before your checkout tomorrow afternoon.” She moved judiciously, placing the individual serving trays on the small bar facing the balcony. “He says you enjoyed the crab bisque at the wedding. The cook prepared it especially for you.” As she set each tray down, she called out the names of the dishes in French. Lastly she placed a black card with gold trim next to the dessert plate. “Anything else, sir?”
Travis’s stomach growled as the savory aroma of the food finally settled under his nose. “Thank you.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a sizeable tip which she accepted with the same grace as she’d set the table.
“Enjoy your last night with us.” She bowed slightly as she back out of the room. “Adieu, sir.”
The moment she left, the first thing that he could think of to do was call his brother, Nathan.
He thought better of it, though. His older brother and his beautiful new wife were probably having the time of their lives in Paris. He wouldn’t ruin his brother’s honeymoon.
Nathan and Monique’s wedding had taken place just last night. The ceremony was lavish with only the finest luxuries and décor. The food, music, and Monique’s custom made designer gown had been the talk of that evening.
All throughout the ceremony, Travis had noticed how happy his parents looked and they showed pride in how far Nathan Brenden had come. They were ready for grandchildren—his father had already told him this much. When Nathan told them last year that he’d proposed to his high school sweetheart, Travis was silently relieved…and of course, very happy for his brother.
While his brother was planning the wedding, Travis thought his parents would get off his back about his dating life, but Nathan’s engagement only gave them more hope that both of their son’s would settle down and pursue a “normal relationship”.
Travis chuckled to himself. “Normal. Whatever.”
His parents had scared off the last woman he’d brought home to meet them. Paige was her name. She was beautiful, successful, and had just earned her first degree at the age of thirty. She was fun, easy going, and didn’t talk about his money all the time. She’d had a rough start in life, but Travis had looked beyond that. She liked it rough in bed…and more importantly, she allowed him complete control. To his dismay and maybe his fortune, his parents hired a private investigator and pulled up dirt on Paige. He’d already known about most of her rocky past for the most part. She was an ex-stripper. Adult entertainer. Movie extra. And she even had dreams of being a journalist. What he didn’t know was that she also had a long rap sheet for identity theft and credit card fraud.
So he’d dated a criminal in his past…
Everyone seemed to give just a little bit more of a flying fuck than he did.
Travis caught sight of the gold trimming on a black card nestled neatly between the dessert and salad plate. There was a large crest on the front in the same golden color. He plucked it up and turned it over. The paper was made of vellum, it was smooth and lightweight. Words were written in gold raised letters to match the front.
“Mr. Travis Brenden,” it read. “Your presence is requested at The Beaudelaire, where your most intimate fantasies come to life. This weekend only, we invite you to be our guest at the Den of Sin. Plan to leave your inhibitions at the door.” It was signed by Henri Beaudelaire. In the furthest left corner there was a post script: “P.S., this is your last chance, Brenden. Join us.”
Travis felt his eyebrows drawing together as Henri Beaudelaire’s name began to ring a bell. This wasn’t the first time an invitation like this had been presented to him. Several times before when he’d visited his brother in New Orleans in the past, he got the same invite. The very first time Nathan had told him about the Den of Sin was two years ago when they were both single men.
“You’ve got to go, man,” Nathan had said. “Just this once. Just imagine dozens of women looking for wild pleasure. There are no expectations before or after. No nagging. No attachments. No strings. Just fun. You get what you desire, want, and need. You leave renewed and refreshed, if you know what I mean. It can get addicting, but I guess that’s why they only hold the event several times a year. And I’ve already told you what happened when I went…”
Travis held the invitation up again with a knowing grin on his face. Nathan had to have had something to do with this. Why did his brother think he needed to go to some elitist party to find willing women for one night? He had no problem finding them. All types of women. All shapes, sizes. All nationalities. Rich, powerful women. Penniless women. Cougars. Freaks. Virgins. He’d had his share. He liked to control them, conquer them, and claim them. But above all else he liked to send them on their way satiated beyond all reasonable measures.
His lifestyle and penchant for travel didn’t allow him to settle down. One night, maybe two nights and then he made it a point never to see them again. It was best for him and it was best for the women. He couldn’t be there for them like a normal dutiful husband who worked a routine nine to five, came home, grabbed a beer, expected supper to be served within moments of arrival, and then pretty much stayed put for the night. No, not at all. He was adventurous and took risks, and these traits in him earned him a six figure pay check every month and excuses to travel the world.
After tucking the invite down into his brief case, he returned to the table to enjoy his meal. It sounded like he had a fun-filled New Year’s weekend ahead. He hoped so. After today’s events, he needed time to recoup and then tomorrow he’d allow for indulging. He might as well, because next week he’d be surrounded by blueprints and nagging deadlines once again.
Mr. Beaudelaire didn’t have to worry about him bringing any inhibitions into his establishment. Travis hadn’t gotten where he was today for being shy and submissive.
CHAPTER TWO
The first thing Kristina Delacourt did when she entered the Den of Sin was head to the bar. She still couldn’t believe that she’d taken Kandace, her twin sister, up on the offer. Her heart had been pounding since the moment she stepped out of her car and handed the keys over to the valet parking attendant. Sure, she was into kinky stuff given her infatuation with sex toys and all, but the difference here was that everyone was a stranger. True identities were hardly ever revealed. A handful of the guests even wore masks. For her, anonymity had been a plus. She worked for a well-known law firm in Tampa and made it a point never to mix business and pleasure. She’d heard horror stories from her colleagues about the consequences of this combination.
“I see this is your first time.” the attractive red-headed attendant had asked her upon checking in. “We have a tour for first timers beginning in one hour. If you’re unsure of anything at all, this would be most beneficial to you. And don’t forget about the dinner that will begin late this evening in the grand ballroom.” Her smile had been devilish as she took the rest of Kristina’s bags and handed her a suite number with room keys. “If you plan to sleep much during your time with us…”
With key in hand, the first thing Kristina did was take the elevators to her room to change into something semi-formal. Now that she was settled for the most part, it was time to find out what this Den of Sin was all about.
From the looks of her surroundings and the way the men and women eyed her like a hawk, she felt as though she could be jumped at any moment. This being her very first time, she wanted to scope out the place first. If she knew what her exact plans were for the night that probably would have given her some extra level of comfort. Being spontaneous wasn’t the norm for her, but wasn’t that why she was here? To experience a change from the norm?
Did this feeling of uneasiness consume her because she’d never really approached a stranger for sex before? She wasn’t prim and proper by any means. As always, she kept a professional front during work hours, but her need for passion remained the same. When she pledged to become celibate two years ago warding off all men, she had taken drastic measures to please herself. Her toys and faux penises were made of hard plastic and silicone, but they got the job done fast. Some of the vibrators took her to heights where no man had taken her before.
But her dildos could not replace a real man.
She didn’t require a relationship built on false promises like the one that led her to such drastic measures. Maybe that was her problem two years ago. She had expected too much from her cheating, conniving ex-boyfriend. The outcome of their relationship had caused her to believe that no man was worth a broken heart so she kept her legs closed and her heart locked.
But something was lacking in her life.
Her life was so different and much better than it was two years ago. Her priorities were career oriented. Even if she started dating men now she feared that she would not live up to their expectations either. She wasn’t built to be the obedient housewife who had four or five course meals on the table a
t 6:01 P.M., did loads of laundry every day, folded the towels and sheets in hotel-fashion, and responded to every request homemaker-style.
No, that wasn’t her.
Kristina Delacourt was more the type to call for takeout at 8:02 P.M. because she’d worked overtime at the office, take dirty laundry to the cleaners twice a week, hire a weekly maid service to clean the spots she missed, and respond to all her clients’ needs and wants top performer style.
That was her. She liked to excel. But right now, she liked to excel at work. She had plenty enough time to become dutiful wife later on.
Her decision to come to the Den of Sin was to get a taste of what she’d been missing. She needed a reminder about how good sex could be with a man.
“What can I get for you?” the bartender interrupted her thoughts.
“A shot, please,” she said. “Something strong.”
She wasn’t the only one at the bar scoping out the scene. There was another woman around her age who appeared just as nervous as she was. The lady even seemed a bit bewildered about what she was witnessing. In almost every corner, there was a couple or group of people engaging in public displays of affection. Kissing. Necking. Groping. Because this type of behavior was expected, nothing looked out of place to Kristina. This was a Den of Sin. As a matter of fact, she hadn’t even seen the wickedest acts that happened on the different private levels of the hotel. She had only ventured to the main sections and her suite since arriving.
A shot glass was placed in front of her. “Kamikaze.” The bartender winked at her. “Just the right blend to get your night started. Enjoy.”
Kristina tossed down the intoxicating combination, swallowing a few times until the burn left the back of her throat. Her attention turned to the party scene again and the lavish décor of the ballroom. On this level, she hoped to find someone just like her. Instead of having weeks to reveal her greatest desires to a man, she literally only had hours. In a way, this was good for her. This way she could cut to the chase without all the time consuming nuisances that came with re-entering the dating game.