What He Bargains (What He Wants, Book Nineteen)

by Hannah Ford

  Jake was watching her intently with his brown eyes, and he took a long drink before answering. “What happens now is up to me,” he told her. “You work for me.”

  “I work for Club Alpha.”

  He smiled tightly. “I’m the client, Raven. And remember, after the way you spoke to me yesterday, I’m doing you a favor. One call to Max and I could make the rest of your life a living hell.”

  “You’re threatening me now?”

  “I’m just telling it like it is. You need to understand that the game has changed. I say how things go, not you. This isn’t an equal partnership. This is a business arrangement.”

  “I won’t have sex with you,” she challenged, meeting his gaze and not wavering.

  He smirked. “I never said anything about sex. Don’t be so presumptuous.”

  “A paid escort usually has sex, doesn’t she?”

  “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask one of them. All I know is that it’s not what I’m paying you for.”

  Strangely, Raven was disappointed in this revelation. She told herself that she wouldn’t have had sex with him anyway, that it was a good thing. But somewhere inside, she wanted him to try and make her do it, needed to know that he wanted her that way.

  That scared her. It scared her a lot, and now she was confused again. Her feelings were tumultuous, out of control. As usual, Jake’s presence completely unnerved her. “Then what are you paying me for?” she said, finally, after gathering her wits.

  Jake stood up and ran a hand through his hair, not quite able to meet her gaze. “The truth is,” he said, “I’m not sure you can do the job.”

  “I can’t tell you if I can do it unless I know what it is.” She held her glass tightly, waiting.

  He finally looked at her. “Apologize,” he said abruptly.

  “What?”

  “Put your drink down and stand up.”

  “I’m not sure—“

  “Just do it, Raven.”

  So she did. She placed her drink on the ornate coffee table and stood up, the beginnings of perspiration on her forehead as she swallowed drily. “What am I apologizing for?”

  He stared coldly at her. “For wasting my time at the party.”

  “I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

  He stepped closer to her. “For showing up to my concert unannounced.”

  “I’m very sorry for that,” she said, her chest tightening.

  He stepped closer yet again, and now he was very close to her indeed. “For calling me a fraud who takes the easy way out.” His jaw twitched as he said it.

  “I’m sorry, I had no right to say that to you.”

  He glared at her, searching her eyes for more. “I don’t think you’re sorry at all,” he said softly.

  “I’ll be whatever you need me to be,” she whispered. And suddenly her nipples were stiffening and she was getting wet.

  She realized that she meant it, that she wanted it to be true at least as much as he did, maybe more.

  “We’ll see about that,” Jake told her, then turned away and sipped his drink, as if needing more distance.

  “When?” she said.

  He turned and faced her again. “When what?”

  “When will we see about that?” she said, purposely being flirtatious, maybe even taunting him.

  His eyes narrowed. “When I say it’s time.”

  “I’m not scared anymore,” she told him. “I’m ready.”

  “Oh, you’re ready?” he said.

  “Yes.” She stared straight at him. She was sick of the game playing, sick of waiting to find out what he wanted from her. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

  He walked slowly to the bar and put his drink down. “Go to the piano,” he said.

  “Okay, fine.” She walked to the piano, and every step, she was aware that Jake Novak was watching her progress. She turned to glance at him.

  “Don’t look at me,” he commanded.

  Out of the corner of her eye, though, she saw that he’d been rolling up his sleeves even further.

  When she got to the piano, he started walking toward her. She could hear his footsteps and even feel him getting nearer. “I want you to put your elbows on the piano, lean over it,” he told her, his voice changed. It was low, throaty, husky with anger or frustration or…maybe it was simply desire.

  “You want me to—“

  “Lean over the piano, Raven. Do it now.”

  Her breath caught in her chest. This was where the line was drawn. So far, she hadn’t truly crossed that line—she hadn’t done anything sexual in exchange for money. But if she did this, she would be changing everything.

  I’ll be a prostitute.

  Prostitutes have sex for money.

  Then what will I be?

  She didn’t know. But she did know that she wanted to do it. She was excited, that was the fact. And in some strange way she couldn’t put words to, she trusted Jake Novak.

  Besides, the decision had already been made when she came to this suite in her sexy little dress.

  Raven took a slow, deep breath, and then she leaned over the piano, putting her elbows on the shiny black surface.

  “Now stick your ass out for me,” he said, and he was even closer. She instinctually turned her head to look at him, wanting to know where he was and what he intended to do to her.

  “I said don’t look at me. Disobey me one more time and so help me, I will kick you out of here and you’ll never get back in.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said urgently. “It was an accident.”

  “I don’t care. Keep your eyes forward. Stay in position, legs straight, elbows on the piano.”

  She did as she was told. The position put some stress on her legs and arms. She was shaking a little, whether from exertion or fear or excitement. It was everything all at once, she realized.

  “Next time, you’ll do what I say when I say it, no questions. Is that understood?”

  “Yeah.”

  Suddenly, she felt his hand connecting with her buttocks, a stinging slap through the thin material of her cocktail dress.

  She inhaled sharply.

  Jake Novak had just spanked her bottom. She resisted the urge to turn her head and look at him again. He was standing directly behind her now, and she could feel his body heat although he wasn’t quite touching her yet.

  “Do you have a problem with what I just did?” he said, his voice harsh and formal.

  “No,” she whispered.

  “Say it again, louder.”

  “No,” she said, her voice raspy with emotion.

  He slapped her ass again, harder this time. It stung, but it also felt…she couldn’t put a name to it. Her mind was racing. None of this had been expected. This was so strange, so completely sideways from anything she’d ever concocted in her wildest fantasies.

  But then he spanked her ass again and she realized the word was actually simple.

  It felt good.

  It felt amazing.

  The pain was short and sharp, and then it quickly faded to a dull burn that radiated heat throughout her backside. But the way she felt when his hand made contact with her body was nothing short of unbelievable.

  She was getting turned on, and she didn’t know if that’s what he wanted or not. But it was happening nonetheless.

  He slapped her right buttock and then her left.

  She could hear his breathing now, as his left hand gripped her bare shoulder, and then with his right hand he paddled her behind with the same consistent force.

  His slaps were rhythmic, pulsating on her ass, and when his hand cupped her ass sometimes, she could feel his fingers inching closer to her pussy.

  Can he tell how wet I am?

  She didn’t know. All she knew was he was spanking her. Jake Novak with his strong arms and his steely grip was spanking her.

  She was naughty.

  Raven felt naughtier by the second. She moaned, an uncontrollable moan that came from deep in her throat.


  He spanked her butt again, gripping it tightly, and she came unexpectedly, her hips flexing. When she came, her moans grew louder, rippling through the quiet of the penthouse suite.

  “Oh, God,” she whispered, as he let go of her and stepped away.

  “I think that’s enough for tonight,” he said, his voice sounding spent. He walked back to the bar and picked up his drink as Raven stood up straight, pulled down her skirt, tried to find her poise.

  She was afraid to look at him for many different reasons now.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Hungry?”

  “I’ll order room service.” Jake smiled at her, his eyes a little kinder. And then he was on the hotel phone, ordering what sounded like a feast.

  When he got off the phone he looked at her again. “Why don’t you take a bath and I’ll let you know when its ready.”

  She just stared at him.

  “Go on,” he said. “Enjoy the bathtub, it’s worth the price of admission.”

  Raven sighed, told herself not to think too much, not to question. For now, she should just do as he said. And so she walked into the enormous bedroom and then made her way into the master bath, which literally was astounding.

  She thought it looked like something the King and Queen of England would have been at home using.

  As she closed the door to the bathroom and then started the water running in the deep tub that actually more resembled a small pool, Raven had to admit that she could get used to this kind of life.

  * * *

  She soaked in the tub for close to twenty minutes, allowing the hot water to soothe her red buttocks. Looking at herself afterward, in the mirror, she could see the redness, and touching it she found it tender.

  But it also kind of turned her on. It reminded her of him—it made her remember the way he’d taken her, the way his hand had felt slapping against her flesh, and then when he’d cupped her buttocks, how it had triggered a powerful orgasm.

  No man had ever touched her like that.

  Raven got dressed again in her same outfit, wishing she had a change of clothes. When she was ready and presentable, she exited the bathroom and found Jake uncovering multiple large trays of food that room service must have brought while she was soaking.

  “Ready to eat?” he asked, glancing up at her.

  “Sure,” she shrugged.

  Am I still on the clock? Is this all part of it?

  She didn’t know what was happening, it was so completely new and surreal.

  “We’ve got filet mignon, duck confit, ahi tuna, mixed greens, sweet potato risotto, and garlic mashed potatoes. I figure one of these things will be to your liking.”

  “It all looks amazing,” she said, and it did.

  “Come, sit,” he told her, and motioned for her to sit down at what served as the dining room table. She could still look out the large picture window and see the city outside, all lit up.

  Jake Novak was serving her. He asked her what she wanted to try first, and she chose the filet mignon and mixed greens. He put everything on a plate for her, poured her a glass of water from a tall pitcher, and then sat across from her and ate with gusto.

  He seemed relaxed, like a different person. The intensity wasn’t at the forefront anymore, although she sensed it lurking in the background. Still, the impression she got was that he didn’t want to have any heavy conversation over the meal.

  They discussed his upcoming shows at the TD Garden, and he talked a bit about the challenging logistics of putting on such a huge tour with so much money on the line. There was a lot of pressure on him, clearly, and when she asked how he could seem so calm and why there wasn’t constant phone calls pouring in, he admitted that he’d turned his cell phone off just before she arrived.

  She felt special being there with him, just the two of them in this private bubble.

  Jake Novak was charming, easy to talk to, and he seemed like he could be extraordinarily kind and thoughtful when he wanted to be.

  It was only when the meal was over that things suddenly turned strange again.

  “So what now?” she asked him, dabbing at her lips with a napkin.

  Jake cocked his head. “Now, we have dessert if you’d like.”

  She laughed, blushing a little. “I mean, once we’re done here. Once I leave, will you call Max and tell him that we’ve come to an agreement?”

  “Max knows, he’s the one who set this up.” Jake pushed his plate away and shifted in his seat. “I’ve got no reason to contact him.”

  “Oh, okay. I just want to make sure he knows to contact my old boss and landlord and tell them to let me come back,” Raven said.

  Jake cleared his throat and stood up then, producing a hotel room key from his pocket and placing it on the table directly in front of her. “That won’t be necessary,” he said.

  “I don’t get it. What’s this?”

  “It’s the key to my suite,” Jake said simply.

  “But why?”

  “This is where you’ll stay now,” Jake told her. “With me.”

  She felt a strange feeling, like cold water being dumped on her head, like she was going to faint. “Stay here with you?” She shook her head. “Jake, my contract with Club Alpha is for two nights a week and lasts for only a month. That’s a total of eight nights.”

  Now he was staring at her, like a predator who finally has the prey exactly where he wants it. “Your agreement with Club Alpha is between you and them. But you and I have our own agreement, Raven.”

  “I never agreed to live with you.”

  His eyes didn’t waver. “I don’t think you fully understand, Raven. I’ve made my decision. Tonight you interviewed for a position with me, and I’ve decided to hire you on. You don’t get to make the rules here. I make the rules, and I say that you’re with me now.”

  He turned and walked away from her as if the conversation was simply over because he’d said it was over.

  “I’m not a prisoner,” she called out to him.

  “I’ll be the judge of that,” he said. And then he was walking away again, and Raven was left wondering what he meant, and what was to become of her.

  End of Book One

  THE DEBT 2

  Raven had expected Jake Novak to come for her in the night.

  Or was it just that she’d been hoping he’d come for her?

  In the darkness of the luxurious hotel bedroom, Raven had lain in the soft bed and waited. She’d waited for him, even as she told herself that she was afraid of him, afraid of what Jake Novak would want to do to her.

  She could still hear and even feel the slaps against her buttocks, delivered by Jake with just the precise amount of force needed to spark that odd combination of pain and pleasure that Raven hadn’t even known existed.

  She knew now, though. She knew and she couldn’t forget any of it.

  Raven thought about what she would say if he came into her room wearing nothing but his jeans, shirt off, rippling muscles and bare skin glimmering in the light coming in from the doorway.

  Would she pretend not to want him, would she be able to muster enough sarcasm and brittle self-righteousness to keep him at bay?

  Or would her cheap defenses crumble away, no match for the need she had to feel his bare skin against her own—nothing left but to allow him to do with her whatever he wanted, to become his fully and without reservations.

  She couldn’t stop replaying how it had felt when he’d spanked her over the piano, his hand cupping her butt, the sensation of the sudden orgasm that had swept through her, leaving her moaning and breathless.

  She wanted that feeling back again.

  She wanted him again, and she hated that he probably knew it.

  Jake Novak had all the power and she had nothing.

  But then Raven remembered that she was lying in this king-sized bed in the penthouse suite of the Four Seasons for a reason.

  I’m here because he wants me.

  These thought
s and more swirled in her head as she waited for Jake to reappear, to come to her and make his wishes known once more.

  But the night wore on and he never came. Finally, she drifted into a merciful sleep.

  * * *

  Raven awoke to the sound of light knocking on the bedroom door.

  She sat up in bed, confused, trying to remember where she was. Instantly, it all came flooding back to her.

  I’m in Jake Novak’s penthouse suite, she remembered. I’m his now.

  No, Raven. Jake Novak doesn’t own you. Club Alpha doesn’t own you. If you decide to, you can get up and leave and never look back.

  Was that really true, though?

  How far would they go to make her life a living hell if she defied them again? As it was, in a matter of days they’d gotten her fired, kicked out of her basement apartment, and somehow even arranged to have her credit card shut off.

  None of it had been difficult for them at all.

  The knocking was louder now. “Raven, you awake?” Jake called through the door.

  “Yeah,” she said, clearing her throat and pulling the soft comforter up above her breasts. She didn’t have a change of clothes, so she’d slept in her panties and bra. Somehow, having Jake see so much of her skin made her simultaneously nervous, embarrassed and excited.

  As he entered the room, he was rolling a cart that looked like it had been brought up to the suite by room service. Steam was pouring out of the cover.

  “Feeling hungry?” he asked her.

  “Ummm…I don’t know. I just woke up.” She ran a hand across her face, blinking, hoping she didn’t look hideous.

  Jake straightened up and looked at her. He didn’t look hideous. On the contrary, he was just as hot now as ever, maybe even more so. He was wearing shorts and a simple white t-shirt; maybe he’d even slept in that outfit. Whatever the case, the ensemble showed off plenty of his rock hard body, his chiseled arms, thighs that looked as strong as jackhammers.

  She realized that she was staring at him and forced herself to look away. “What time is it?” she yawned, feigning grogginess.

  “It’s late enough,” he replied. “You should get up and eat something.”