"It's a yes or no question, and you are a little girl. What do you weigh? Ninety-five pounds?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You're a total cutie pie and I'm crazy about you, but if you don't answer the question, I'll leave you naked, tie you to this bed and walk away."
"You wouldn't."
"You're probably right, not this time, but back to my question. You're obviously too embarrassed to admit it or you would have just said no. Look at that blush crossing your face. Is it just a fantasy, or have you had your butt reddened in the past?"
"My college boyfriend," she admitted, lowering her eyes. "And, Tony, that was the favor I was going to ask."
"You were going to ask me to spank you?"
"Uh-huh. Crazy idea, but yeah."
"Don't move."
Climbing off her, he quickly stripped, then stretching out next to her, he pressed his lips on hers in a long, slow, passionate kiss.
"I'm going to devour you," he murmured, softly pressing his mouth against her neck. "I'm going to lick you and kiss you, and make you beg for my cock. Then I'll flip you over, smack your gorgeous ass, and fuck your brains out."
His promise sent a flood between her legs, and as he moved down to her nipples and slowly drew them into his mouth, she let out a long, low, moan. He lingered, taking his time as he tongued and lapped, all the while running his fingertips along the inside of her thighs. Occasionally he brushed his hand against her pussy, and if she tried to chase the attention, he lightly nipped her cherry tips.
"Please touch me," she finally begged. "I can't stand it."
Raising his head, he smiled at her as he pushed his finger into her sex and searched out her clit. She moaned and wriggled as he tormented her, and though he was aching to slide into her hot, wet depths, he resisted, determined to wait until she was beside herself with need. Only then did he roll her over, grip her hips, pull them up, and land several hard swats. She yelped and squealed, and as much as he wanted to continue to spank her, his hungry cock was desperate. Leaning past her, he retrieved a condom from his bedside table, tore open the package, quickly sheathed himself, then placing himself at her entrance he plunged forward.
She let out a wail of joy, then dropped to her elbows and wiggled her ass. He knew what she wanted, and immediately rained a series of stinging smacks to her upturned cheeks. Her cries egged him on, and he began alternating his slaps with his thrusts, accelerating both, sending them careening into their rapturous, explosive orgasms. His loud guttural groans almost drowned out her cries, and when the spasms waned and he slipped out, his heart was thumping against his chest like a bass drum. Collapsing beside her he sucked in the air, then wrapped her in his arms. The seconds ticked by, silent and still, both breathless and slightly stunned by the ferocity of their lovemaking. Finally opening her eyes, Colleen raised her head and gazed up at him.
"You weren't kidding."
"About?
"Devouring me, and all that other stuff you said."
"You asked me to ravage you," he murmured, shifting so he could stare down at her. "You'll learn I'm a man of my word."
"I already knew that."
"Your hair. It looks great."
"It does? It must be a total mess."
"It is," he said with a devilish grin. "That's why it looks great. The J.F. Look."
"The what?"
"The just fucked look. It's the best."
"It sounds like you've seen it a thousand times before."
"I've never seen it look as good on anyone as it looks on you."
"Good answer."
"So, Miss O'Connell, brilliant and beautiful cosmetics genius, how do you feel?"
"Amazing. Absolutely, positively, amazing. What about you, Mr. McIntyre, boss of all he surveys?"
"The same, but you can add content to that list. Content and oddly tired."
"Why oddly?"
"I don't get tired, not really, but I am."
"It's because that situation resolved itself. Those scammers. It's over. You can relax."
"You're right. That's exactly what it is. Business stress doesn't bother me, but these last few days have been so confounding. Now I know why. The bastards drugged me."
"Is there any reason you can't take a nap?"
"None," he said, surrendering to a yawn. "I never take naps. They're against my principles, but…is that rain?"
"I think it is. What a wonderful sound. Can we get under the covers and snuggle?"
"That really is indulgent. Let me just run to the bathroom. I'll be right back."
As he slipped from the bed, her eyes moved around the room. The forest green walls were complimented by cream molding, cream love seats with green cushions sat near the fireplace, and a combination of line drawings and paintings graced the walls. It was warm, elegant and comfortable, and it felt like him. Pushing back the covers, she slid between the sheets. They were surprisingly soft, and she'd just settled in when he reappeared and climbed in next to her.
"I love this room," she said, nestling against him. "I'm so happy to be here with you."
"I love having you here, and I mean that."
"Tony, thank you for taking a leap of faith. I know it wasn't easy."
"You know what's funny about that? Now that I've jumped off the cliff, I realize it was far more difficult standing at the edge. I don't know why I was so worried. If something's right, it's right, and this feels about as right as it gets."
"Heavenly and right. Suddenly I'm tired too."
"As you drift off, think about cooking me up a steaming bowl of pasta. I have sauce from an Italian deli in Little Italy to die for."
"Okay, boss."
"Well said. Keep it up."
"In your dreams."
"You can't fool me. It's in your dreams too," he retorted, reaching down and fondling her hot bottom. "Now hush. I can barely keep my eyes open."
As she closed her eyes and surrendered to a yawn, a soft smile crossed her lips.
She'd always been handy with a wrench.
CHAPTER TEN
Later that evening, as Colleen and Tony enjoyed a late dinner of Bucatini and a velvety smooth bottle of Cabernet, Frank ambled into The Caramel Apple. Dressed casually, but wearing a gold Rolex, he perched on a barstool looking appropriately miserable.
"What can I get you?" Scott asked. "You look like you could use a shot of something."
"Yeah, but I'm a beer drinker. Give me a glass, a bottle, and an opener. I like the ritual. It's quiet in here tonight."
"It's late and it's Sunday."
"Marry me or I walk," Frank declared. "I walked. Why do women want to get married?"
"You'll have to ask one of them," Scott replied, placing the beer, glass and opener on the counter. "In fact, you can if you want."
"How's that?" Frank asked, studying the glass to make sure it was completely dry.
"Jennifer. She's amazing. She has the gift. Just go through that door."
"Two questions." Frank said, opening the beer and pouring it into his glass. "What gift, and how much is this amazing Jennifer going to cost me?"
"Nothing. If you like her you can leave her a tip. That's it, and it's the gift of insight. People call it being psychic, but she doesn't like the term. She'll blow you away."
"Yeah?" Frank said, raising his eyebrows, then lowering his voice, he added, "But will she blow me?"
"I don't know. You'll have to ask her."
"Where is she?"
"Like I said, through that door. You should give it a shot."
"You're right. Getting the scoop from the mare's mouth can't hurt."
Throughout the short conversation, Frank had kept a close eye on Scott's hands. The bartender had pretended to wipe down a perfectly clean counter, but at one point he'd lifted the glass of beer with one hand, to slide his cloth underneath it with the other. It had been an exceptionally smooth move, but Frank had noticed the telltale angle and curl of Scott's fingers above the beer. T
he bartender had been concealing a tiny vial or a pill. Sliding off the stool, Frank started to walk away, and just as he knew he would, Scott called after him to take his drink.
"You might need it," Scott joked. "She really is incredible."
Picking up the glass, Frank shot Scott a grin, then headed towards the door. He was going to give the girl a scare, and he wanted to get a good look at her so he could describe her and her boyfriend to the authorities. As he approached he spied a sign pointing to the men's room. Casually ambling down the short corridor, he walked in and poured half the beer down the sink. After running the faucet, he strolled out and entered Jennifer's dimly lit room.
She was a knockout, but that didn't surprise him, and sitting down he played along, pretending to listen with rapt attention. But he was studying her. She was as smooth as her boyfriend, and Frank couldn't help but think what a great poker player she'd make. When she'd finished with the cards, he rose from the table and walked around to her chair.
"You're fucking gorgeous. Are you attached?"
"No, but—"
Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and yanked her to her feet.
"Let's you and I get together," he grunted, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her roughly against him. "Come back to my place. It's big and my bed is real comfy."
"I can't tonight, but tomorrow I can," she said hastily. "I'd like that a lot."
"Damn, I don't think I can wait," he continued, moving his lips to her neck. "What about here? Bend over the table. I'll fuck you into next week."
"I can't. We're about to close and there's no lock on the door. Anyone could walk in. Maybe when I finish up I could come to your place. What's your address?"
"Uh-huh," he muttered, then plonking her back into her seat, he glowered down at her. "Why didn't you scream for your boyfriend?"
"My boyfriend? I don't understand."
"A guy comes in here, manhandles you, and you ask for his address? Why don't you tell me what's really going on?"
"Nothing," she said nervously, her forehead crinkling. "Are you a cop?"
"No, but I have friends who are. Jennifer, or whatever your name is, I know the scam you and that dirtbag behind the bar have been running, but you're not what I expected. You seem like a genuinely nice girl. Do you know you're playing a dangerous game? Is this really how you want to live your life?"
"What's it to you?"
Her voice was trembly, and her eyes kept darting towards the door.
"If you're scared of that joker," Frank said, lowering his voice, "if you're only doing this because he's making you, get out, or you'll end up in jail, the hospital, or six feet under."
"You don't understand," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "I can't do that. He'd find me and—"
"And what?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't want to wake up in the city morgue with a tag on my toe."
"What are you saying?" Frank asked, sensing her fear was extreme and one-hundred percent genuine. "Just how scared are you?"
"Of trying to leave him? Terrified. Of him standing against that door and listening? About the same. You need to leave."
"Do you want out?"
"It's not that simple," she said, her voice cracking. "I don't know who you are or why you're here, but I can't handle this. Wait. Did he send you in here? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"No, no. Hey, take a breath," he said, softening his voice. "I have a problem with men exploiting women. I work with the Angels of the Night."
"Never heard of them."
"We help women in trouble. Young and old. When I heard about you I thought I'd check what's going on here, and I'm glad I did. Jennifer, your life can be what you want it to be, but there's only one person who can make that happen, and that's you. I'm sorry I was rough. I wanted to scare you into seeing sense. You're not just in danger from that jerk behind the bar, you're making yourself vulnerable to strangers. I could have been a crazy person."
"You're right. It's happened before, but it's been a while. You seem like a really nice guy and I wish I could take your advice. I hate scamming people, but Scott's with me all the time. He never lets me out of his sight."
"Here's thirty-dollars," Frank said, opening his wallet. "Tell him I gave you ten and hide the twenty. Start stashing money so if you need to run you'll have something in your pocket."
"He'll go totally crazy if he finds it."
"Then hide it well, and if that's true, you absolutely have to get away from him. This is my card. If you find the courage to take the leap, call me."
"I, uh…"
"You're a beautiful, talented young woman. You can do anything you want. You don't have to be here. Take back control of your life."
Picking up his glass, he pecked her on the cheek, then left the room.
"How was it?" Scott asked as Frank plonked the half-empty beer on the bar.
"She's fuckin' gorgeous. I was so busy looking at her tits I have no idea what she said to me, but I tipped her a ten. I think I'll come back later this week, but right now I need to get home. And that beer tasted weird. It's making me sick."
"Do you want me to call you a cab?"
"Nope."
"Are you sure? It's no trouble."
"No. I need my car."
"If you can wait about thirty minutes I could drive you and have Jennifer follow us. I'm worried about you getting behind the wheel."
"I don't have thirty minutes, but thanks anyway."
Pretending to be unsteady on his feet Frank made his way out the door, then trotted quickly down the stairs. The girl was no criminal. She was a victim.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After dinner, Tony had taken Colleen into his den. It was his inner sanctum and he'd wanted to show her his treasures. They'd sat on the couch drinking cognac as he'd told her about his meteoric rise in business, sharing his failures as well as his successes.
"I love this room," she murmured, putting down her glass and curling into his lap. "It's like your bedroom. It feels like you."
"I replicate it whenever I move."
"Do you do that a lot?"
"When opportunity knocks."
"I wish you weren't going away."
"Me too, but I won't be gone long, and I'll be able to think about you puttering around the house. That plumbing thing couldn't have happened at a better time. I know it's a hassle for you, but I'm glad it did."
"Tony, there's something I need to tell you," she said softly, shifting to stare up at his handsome face. "I have a terrible confession to make."
"Terrible?"
"Yes. Terrible. You'll hate me."
"I doubt that, but go on."
"I really like you. I have for weeks. But you know that."
"Uh-huh."
"The thing is—"
"Sorry, that's my phone. It must be important for someone to be calling me this late. Hold that thought."
As she crawled off his lap, he reached into his pocket and glanced at the screen. Seeing Frank's name he immediately took the call.
"Hey? What's up?"
"I just met your friendly bartender and his girlfriend."
"You're kidding? How did that happen?"
"I wanted to see them in action for myself."
"What did you think?"
"That girl is in over her head. She's terrified. He's a bastard."
"I didn't get that."
"That's why you have me."
"This is true."
"I gave her some advice and my card. If she wants help she can reach out. To be honest, Tony, I liked her. She's not a bad person. She does what she does because she's terrified and she thinks she's trapped."
"Are you going to report them to you friend? What's his name again?"
"Harry Gilford. He's in vice, not really his area, but he could pass it along. Maybe if they're picked up it'll scare her into turning on him. What time are you leaving for Houston?"
"Later than I'd planned. Something's come up," he s
aid, grinning at Colleen. "I'm going to change my plans."
"Keep me posted. Bye."
"Bye, Frank, and thanks."
"Something's come up?" Colleen twinkled at him. "What might that be?"
"I rarely put pleasure before business, but I want to wake up and enjoy you, not leap out of bed and race to the airfield."
"I feel honored."
"You should. Now tell me your terrible confession."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I've lost my nerve."
"What's the worst that can happen?"
"You won't want to see me anymore, and you'll think I'm a devious brat."
"I already think you're a brat," he said with a chuckle, "and I know you have a devious streak, but you have a conscience too. That makes it okay. "
"You're going to hate me."
"Stop saying that! I'm not going to hate you. I might toast your gorgeous ass, but I promise I won't hate you."
"Oh, my gosh," she muttered, his threat sending her butterflies exploding into life.
"Come on, out with it."
Mortified by what she was about to tell him, she buried her head in his chest.
"I can't look at you. It seemed like such a good idea, and it was, but now I think it's the worst idea I've ever had."
"Do you want me to help you?"
"I don't know how you can."
"Let's start with this premise. I'm the Chief Executive Officer of a billion-dollar corporation I built from scratch. I've had beefy guys with broken noses try to muscle me, and sharks have tried to eat me."
"What are you getting at?" she asked, raising her eyes.
"If you start with that premise, do you really think I can't see through a simple manipulation like, my plumbing went out and I have to stay at a hotel? There was only one miscalculation. You didn't check to make sure I'd be in town. You know I travel."
"Shit."
"What did I tell you when you first came on board?"
"I'm so embarrassed right now I can't even think."
"I said, it's time for you to learn from a master."
"I totally remember that."
"And you said?"
"That's something I've always wanted to do."
"You've just had your first lesson. Never underestimate your opponent. You got what you wanted, but only because I wanted it too. There's only one question remaining."
BOSS_His Wealth. His Power. His Demands. Page 8