She sits back in her seat and I see her thoughts battling for attention in her mind. I wait for it all to sink in and once again wish that things were different. It just seems wrong asking her to put herself through this just to give Ryder his revenge. But then again, she is a Reaper. It’s what they do best, what do I know of the life she’s led to this point?
The rest of the journey is spent in silence. She doesn’t appear to want to chat which suits me fine. Usually my companions bore me with their idle chatter. They think I’m interested in their life story when all I really want is to eat, fuck and then sleep. Anything outside of that is an irritation that has to be endured to get what I want.
However, for the first time it’s me who craves knowledge. I want to hear her life story. I want to know the woman behind the bewitching eyes and cool exterior.
For the first time, I am interested.
5
Katherine
Sitting close to Sam is unnerving me in a way that has surprised me. He’s as cold as fuck but the interest in his eyes betrays his body language.
Like all men he’s just playing a game and I’m so over playing them. I’ll give you he’s attractive. Almost too attractive and it would be no hardship feeling his attentions. The trouble is, I’m not that whore anymore. Desperate to feel a kind of love and attention from an attractive man because I thought that was what love was. Well, why would they want to love an easy target? Where’s the fun in that? No, I’m done with playing those games. Now I have bigger things to worry about.
When Sam told me this guy was into sadism, I almost cut and run. I’ve had my fair share of heartless bastards who have roughed me up a bit. I wouldn’t have been prepared to let another one open that dark box in my soul. When the Reapers found me, I was chained to a bed like a common dog. The man with the key used to beat the shit out of me before he fucked me. He was a sadist much like they want me to be now. I’m not sure I can do this. What if it unlocks the broken memory inside me and causes me to flip out? This is serious and I’ve got to think it through first.
Before I can though, we pull up outside an impressive house. The house is lit up like Disneyland and I note the wealth dripping from every brick. Sam looks steadily at me and says softly. “Are you ok with this?”
I smile shakily. “It’s fine. Let’s just get it over with.”
Baxter opens the door and smiles as I take his helping hand. I wink at him and watch as he stifles a smile before Sam exits and nods. “I’ll call you when we’re ready.”
Baxter nods and then Sam reaches out and takes my hand. “Are you ready for this?”
I smile with a confidence I’m not feeling and try to ignore the shiver that runs through me that his touch creates. Then we head inside.
So, this is how the elite party. Soft music plays all around and waiters mill around holding silver platters filled with drinks and canapés. I look around with interest and see smart gentlemen talking in groups. Glamorous women are everywhere and I don’t miss the predatory look that everyone shares. They are all searching for the next best thing. The one who will elevate them higher up the social ladder and take them to where they need to go. There is no chance conversation, and every move is calculated for maximum effect.
Sam grips my hand a little tighter and I feel grateful for the security he gives me. Almost as soon as we enter the room, a woman comes over and looks at him with hunger and dismisses me out of hand.
“Sam, how wonderful to see you. You’re looking gorgeous as always.”
She lays her hand on his arm in ownership and bats her eyelashes at him. He just nods. “Patricia. You’re looking lovely as always. Please allow me to introduce Katherine Rogers. My date for tonight.”
She runs her eyes over me and smiles briefly. “I’m pleased to meet you, Katherine.”
Then she turns back to her prize.
“Anyway, you still owe me that lunch, darling. How about you make good on your promise, shall we say tomorrow?”
I can tell he’s feeling uncomfortable and laugh inside. I’m almost enjoying watching this predatory woman and feel a little devilish as I pull him against me and say mischievously, “I think lunch will have to wait. We have plans that don’t include anyone other than getting naked with each other. You may want to look for another toy to play with, honey because by the time I’ve finished with this one he’ll be fit for nothing.”
The look she sends me wants to make me laugh out loud. Sam laughs softly and runs his hand around my waist and says huskily, “She’s right, Patricia. The only plans I have tomorrow involves this woman beside me and eating lunch is the furthest thing from my mind. Thanks for the offer though. Now, if you’ll excuse us we have to mingle.”
I laugh inside as he pulls me sharply away and whispers, “You’re a wicked woman, Katherine Rogers.”
I nod. “You’d better believe it, honey. Anyway, you can thank me later. That woman was a first-class bitch, and I just saved your life.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Agreed, but I don’t need anyone to save me. I’m perfectly capable of beating them off all by myself.”
I shrug. “Whatever. Anyway, where’s my man?”
He points to a man standing by the window talking to a group of men. He whispers, “The man in the white jacket is Preston Musgrave. His wife is over there talking to that actor Bobby Richie, so you have an opportunity because she’s unlikely to let that poor bastard go anytime soon.”
Looking over, I see a beautiful woman who’s trying too hard. Bobby looks bored as fuck and is only making polite conversation. I shake my head. These women will never learn.
I turn my attention to her husband and see the arrogance of a man who has what he wants by the bucket load. He charms and beguiles the men that surround him like male whores, all desperate for a little of his success to rub onto them and collect any favors that he may graciously bestow on them.
We head over and I put my game face on. Preston Musgrave watches us approach and I see the interest spark in his eyes. I adopt a confident manner and walk toward them suggestively. He openly stares and I hold his gaze. Sam reaches out to shake his hand. “Preston, it’s good to see you.”
Preston returns the greeting and his eyes swivel to mine. “You’re a lucky man, Sam, who is this gorgeous woman on your arm tonight?”
Sam pulls me forward. “Meet Katherine Rogers.”
He takes my hand and I feel him run his thumb over it in a move that expresses his interest. I regard him with cold eyes and squeeze his hand so hard he winces.
“Mr. Musgrave, you have a lovely home.”
He smiles. “Thank you. Now tell me, Katherine, what is it you do with your time?”
I bite my lip and watch his eyes darken as I say huskily, “I’m a personal trainer. It’s how I met Sam here. He likes my vigorous workouts to bring him into shape.”
He almost pants out loud and I notice that Sam engages the other men in the group in conversation leaving me on the edge with Preston. He moves closer and says huskily, “Then I may be interested, Katherine. I’ve been meaning to get in shape for a while now and may be able to put some business your way.”
I stare at him for a second and then nod coolly. “Yes, I think you may benefit from my personal attention. However, you must know that I’m a hard taskmaster and don’t go easy on my clients. My workout is a little extreme and not many men are up to it.”
He smiles. “Oh, I’m up to it, my dear. You can count on that. I don’t mind how hard you push me, the harder the better. Let’s just say my pain threshold is quite admirable.”
He hands me a card. “This is my personal cell number. Call me tomorrow and we can set something up. You will find me an eager student.”
As I take the card his fingers brush against mine. He says huskily, “I will look forward to hearing from you.”
Luckily, we are interrupted by a man obviously intent on kissing his ass, so I take my chance and move away. Sam joins me almost immediately. “You
ok?”
I nod and show him the card in my hand. “That was the easy part. I’m sure the next part is gonna be way harder.”
Sam looks worried. “Like I said, you don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”
I smile. “It’s fine. This one will be a piece of cake.”
We don’t hang around long. The mission’s accomplished so Sam calls for Baxter and we make our excuses.
On the ride back, I’m conscious something has shifted since we made the journey here. Sam is quiet and brooding about something and I’m thinking hard about the job in hand.
By the time we return to the apartment my mind’s buzzing with what the job will involve. One thing's for sure, I’m not going to let my past interfere with my future.
6
Sam
Tonight was harder than I thought. For some reason I thought it would be easy to help Katherine with the mission she has. That was before I met her. She has a hard edge; I saw that almost immediately. Then again, that doesn’t surprise me given that she’s lived with the Reapers for so long.
They train everyone to stand on their own two feet and look after themselves. However, Katherine has something in her eyes that betrays her training. When I told her of Preston’s preferences she looked afraid and vulnerable and it was the second she let her guard down that something shifted within me. It brought out the protector in me and pushing my desire to one side; I want to help her deal with the obvious difficult road ahead. I enjoyed her company and felt proud to have her by my side. I saw the envious looks of the other men and the jealous ones of the women. When she warned Patricia away it felt good, like it was meant to be. I tried not to think about the picture she painted of us getting naked but I’m a man after all and since then have thought of nothing else.
We draw up outside the apartment and walk to the elevator in silence. I need to distance myself from my feelings because they won’t help Katherine at all. She seems subdued and my heart goes out to her. The men she’s after are cold and ruthless. It will be a difficult task for her and I’m not sure if she knows just what she’s taking on.
As soon as we reach the apartment, she looks over and raises her eyes. “So, what now?”
I look at her with surprise. “What do you mean?”
She laughs softly. “Tomorrow. What happens if he calls? Do I just agree to meet him and see how it goes or do you have some kind of master plan you want me to execute?”
I nod towards the kitchen.
“Let’s grab a coffee and I’ll fill you in.”
We head towards the kitchen and I try to ignore the desire that rages through me whenever she smirks my way. I’m like a kid looking for a first date with this woman. Normally I’m the one forcing an interest in my companions. With her, I’m looking for any shred of interest or signal that she feels the same, but so far nothing. She is polite and good company, but that’s all.
The feeling of rejection is making me want her even more. Maybe I should step up my game and find out what makes her tick?
I set about fixing us a coffee and she looks at me thoughtfully. “So, how long have you lived here?”
I shrug. “One year, maybe two. I’m not sure, really.”
She shakes her head. “I bet you show more interest when it concerns your business. I expect that gets your attention. Don’t you get lonely rattling around in here being waited in by two people who you hardly say two words to.”
Setting the coffee in front of her, I roll my eyes.
“My apartment is a base and nothing else. I have no interest in the workings of it or anything else here for that matter. I work all the time because nothing interests me outside of it.”
She laughs softly. “You’re a strange man, Sam. You have so much, yet you’re poor where it counts.”
I smirk. “Says you. What about you, Katherine, what makes you tick? From what I know of you, you’ve lived a hard life being used by men. The one man you say you loved sent you away when he married another. Now you have to carry out his grand master plan as a reward. I would say the poorer one emotionally between us is you.”
I know I’ve gone too far when her eyes flash angrily and she stands up, pushing the coffee away.
“You may be right, Mr. Carrington. Yes, I’m a whore and for your information I’m a good one. It’s all I’ve ever known so doing this will be a piece of cake. But for the record, I loved Ryder and probably still do. The last three years spent with the Reapers made me into something more than a man’s toy to be played with when it suits him. Don’t think for one moment that it doesn’t hurt inside when I think of him with another. This will be my final mission because my whoring days are almost over. I deserve more than being somebody’s plaything. I deserve someone who loves me, Katherine Rogers, as the woman I am and not because of a sexual need. At least I recognize that I need love, Mr. Carrington because you are the saddest man I know if you think this life you lead is normal. You’re a robot and a machine with clinical feelings and a clinical life and I see a sad, unfilled future for you as you sit in judgment of the rest of us. Don’t worry about the briefing, I’ll figure it out as I go. I’ll try to wrap this up quickly so I can get the hell on with the rest of my life. Good night.”
She turns to leave and something sparks within me. In two steps I cross the floor towards her and roughly pull her around to face me. I fist her hair in my hands and pull her tightly against me and lower my lips to hers. I punish those lips for daring to say the words I never like to hear. I bite that smart mouth and wrap my tongue around her vicious one. She moans against my mouth and presses her body into mine and gives me back as good as I give her. It becomes a battle of control. She will not submit to me but matches my every move. I push her against the counter and kick her legs apart. I press my body into hers and the fire rages through my soul. She gasps and I feel her arch towards me as she grabs the back of my head and kisses me long and hard.
I reach for the zipper on her dress and pull it sharply down. As it falls to the floor, I gasp at the sight of that beautiful body straining against the silken material that covers it. She pushes the shirt from my shoulders and runs her fingernails over my body. Then she rains kisses down my chest and takes a nipple and sucks it hard. I groan with longing and pick her up and set her back on the counter. Then I remove my trousers and see the longing in her eyes. She wraps her legs around my waist and pulls me close.
Then we both pull back at the same time and stare into each other’s eyes. I see the vulnerable girl with so much love to give the right man. I see the pain, anguish and hurt that she’s endured, mixed with the fear of rejection. She looks at me with the eyes of a lost soul, floundering around for something she’s never had before and my heart breaks. Reaching up, I trace the beautiful contours of the broken woman in my arms and kiss her eyes and then her nose softly. Then I pull her gently against me and whisper, “You deserve so much more than me, Katherine. You need your happy ever after, not another jerk using you in a moment of passion. I can’t be that guy with you, Katherine. I want to be better than that.”
She leans forward until our faces are close together without touching. She leans her forehead to mine and says with a quiver in her voice. “Thank you.”
Then she kisses my lips and slowly slides off the counter and grabs her dress. I watch as she walks away without a backward glance and as the door closes, it shatters my heart.
I head across to the drinks cupboard and grab the bottle of whiskey. Fuck, this is gonna be a long night.
7
Katherine
I fold myself in the sheets and draw my knees to my chest. I’m still shaking inside. What just happened? I wanted Sam so badly that all reasoning went out of the window. He looked at me differently to the rest. There was a need and passion but something else. Something raw and vulnerable the same as I feel inside. He looked as lost as me and when he stopped, something shifted inside me. His words crept into my heart and set up residence. His look seared into my
mind and left a permanent tattoo. Sam in those few minutes did the unthinkable. He looked at me like a man wants a woman forever. Not the here and now, not in the carnal sense, he wanted me—Katherine Rogers, not Kitty the whore. This has changed everything.
I try not to think about Ryder but it’s inevitable. When I’m at my lowest point he invades my mind. He never loved me like I did him. I was just someone to take away the pain of a hard life. He used me to drive away the images of the job he does and then walked away back to his life with his daughter without a backward glance.
I tried to get him to love me, to see me as something more than the whore before him. I wanted to care for him and make him my world. It was one-sided, though, and I never got back what I gave him in buckets.
Tonight, I saw that look I’ve craved from Ryder. Sam looked at me with passion and desire but something else. He understood, and he wanted to give me more—a part of him that I’ve searched for so long. He set me free to become my own person again.
As I lie cocooned in my memories of past and present I don’t see Ryder anymore. I see Sam. This has just made my job a lot harder.
Somehow, I got to sleep and when I wake the next morning it all comes flooding back. Today I have a job to do and must push any feelings I’ve developed for Sam aside.
I dress quickly and head to the kitchen. Susan is frying eggs and I see Sam looking at me from the table. He nods coolly and my heart triple somersaults as I see the evidence of a hard night spent. He is unshaven and his eyes tired and weary. His hair is ruffled and I long to run my fingers through it. I want to sit on his lap and feel his arms wrap around me as he kisses me sweetly and tells me everything will be alright. Instead, I just nod and turn to Susan.
“Hey, Susan. Those eggs smell good. You’re a good chef.”
Twisted_A Billionaire Romance Page 3