by Lyn, K.
Leah could feel her cheeks growing hot and she looked down.
“Don’t be modest, honey. Craig will be the head of the department when Dr. Michaels retires, and he will do well with a wife like you.”
“Oh, we haven’t talked about marriage.”
“You will.”
She was so sure of herself that Leah smiled nervously. She and Craig said their goodbyes and returned home.
Craig smiled at Leah, as if he were keeping a secret from her. “They loved you, Leah. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.”
Leah slipped off her shoes and sat down at the foot of the bed. “What you see is what you get,” she said with a giggle.
“I want to move out of this house, Leah, with you. We don’t belong here. It’s not who we are.”
Leah nodded.
“There’s a home for sale not far from Dr. Michaels’ home. Will you see it with me?”
“I’d love to.”
***
The house was beautiful, with lots of natural light, and a spectacular view of the lake from which Lakeview took its name. It had large rooms and an open floor plan that Leah loved. There was only one requirement in a house for Craig. The house had to have Leah in it.
“Shouldn’t you sell your existing home first?” Leah asked quietly as they left the house.
“There is no mortgage, and once it sells, half of the equity will go to my ex, so other than keeping the place up and the lights on, there’s no need for me to be a part of it.”
Leah understood Craig’s reasons for not wanting to remain in a home he had shared with his ex, but she was very conservative in financial matters, and taking out a mortgage made her a little uneasy.
“Let me do this for us, Leah.”
“We’ll do it, doctor, together.” He smiled at Leah’s independence. She was unlike the women before her. Leah asked nothing of him, nor did she make demands upon his time.
***
On moving day, Leah was out of town at a publisher’s conference, and Craig arranged a very special homecoming. She opened the door to a kneeling Craig. He seemed timid as he held out his shaking hand and opened a small black case.
“Will you marry me, Leah?”
Leah had not expected this quite so soon, though she felt it was coming, and she knew what her answer would be. “Yes,” she said with certainty.
Craig slid the sapphire and diamond ring onto her finger and lifted her into his arms. “I missed you so much,” he said as he lifted her off the floor.
“I was only gone one day.”
“But I slept alone last night and got ready for work this morning…alone, and I never want to do that again.”
Leah kissed him as he held her. “I didn’t like it either,” she admitted.
He took her to the bedroom that had been decorated to reflect Leah’s ‘raised in the Heartland’ tastes. A quilt with her favorite pattern, the double wedding ring, was laid upon the bed, and Leah was the first to spread out on the soft fabric.
“Who did this?”
“Mrs. Michaels. As much as I would love to take credit, I can’t.”
Leah motioned for him to come to her. Pulling him down, she said “thank you” and welcomed his lips upon hers.
She pressed a hand to his chest, encouraging him to lie on his back. She undressed him slowly and laid kisses upon his heated body. As she moved downward, he gasped when she took the head of his erect penis between her lips. “Leah,” he moaned. She laid her tongue flat against the shaft and slid it upward and around as the doctor grasped the bed sheets. She parted his legs and lay between them, kissing and licking as her lover experienced his very first time in the arena of oral sex. He didn’t have to admit it. Leah knew. When he was nearly too close to stop, he lifted her into his arms and urged her to take him inside of her. Leah fucked him as he moaned again. She felt his semen enter her as she climaxed against him. They lay together afterward, the beating of their hearts the only sound they heard.
***
Dr. Craig Holcomb married his third wife two weeks later at a small ceremony. Neither of them desired a big wedding. They had done that. What they wanted was to move forward, together, and not look back, but Leah knew it was impossible not to look back. Her past had made her what she was today. That was true for everyone. She also knew that no matter how hard Craig tried to leave his past, it would always remain as a reminder of his former self and would occasionally creep into his present. He would probably always doubt deserving to be loved. That had been instilled in him at a time when he was most vulnerable. His ex had tried to keep him from seeing his two children, which was something Leah hoped to change. Her own father had died when she was young and not a day went by that she didn’t think of him at least once. She could never recover the lost years between Craig and his children, but they vowed to move forward, not backward. Leah also made a vow to herself. She wouldn’t push Craig into doing something before he was ready, or something he didn’t want to do. It wasn’t her place to fix him. Her place was to stand beside him and support him. That was what she believed and how she conducted herself in personal and business relationships. Perhaps it was because she was raised in the Heartland or perhaps it was because she had chosen long ago that it was not her place to judge. That was for others to decide.
***
Two years after the newlyweds had settled into their house on the lake, Craig assumed the position of head of the department upon Dr. Michaels’ retirement. As he accepted the ‘reins’ of leading his colleagues, his eyes were fixed upon Leah’s bright blue eyes. Two years ago his life had been crumbling, but because of Leah he realized that he was worthy of true love and he was now ready to receive it.
Kara’s Claim:
When Kara’s roommate introduces her to a wealthy and charming older man at the infamous Whitson Club, she has no idea that charm and polite words mean little in his world. When she learns his true motive for desiring her, it appears to be too late to correct her unfortunate mistake of becoming part of his far reaching empire, with his informants willing to do anything for him.
***
They met at a club, but it wasn’t the usual type of club frequented by the university students. Kara’s housemate, Denise, had guaranteed that she would meet a man who could show her the best that life had to offer, take her to the most expensive restaurants in the world, and show her the lifestyle of the rich, if not the famous. When Kara opened the door to the Whitson Club, she was met immediately by a man in an Armani suit and led to the bar where Denise was waiting.
“What do you think?”
Kara looked around the room, her senses assaulted by the overwhelming aroma of colognes, cigars, and liquor. “They’re older than my father,” she whispered.
“What did you expect?”
Kara shrugged. She didn’t know what she had expected, but she knew she couldn’t go through with it.
“Just meet him. I told him all about you, how pretty you are, and how much the money would help you next year in medical school.”
“Why did you that? I can take care of myself.”
Kara stormed off, but she didn’t get very far before a man grabbed her by the arm. “Kara, your friend was only trying to help. I’m Grant. You’re prettier than Denise said you were.” He lifted her hand in the manner of a prince and pressed his lips to her flesh in a gentle kiss. “Please, allow me the pleasure of buying you a drink, just one drink, and then I will ask nothing further of you.”
Kara’s resolve weakened. Grant was a charmer, even if he was old enough to be her father. “Sure, okay.”
He escorted her back to the bar and ordered champagne for the two of them. He took an unexpected interest in her educational goals, commenting more than once on the rising cost of tuition. “How do you plan to pay for medical school?”
“I work part-time, but I’ll have to get student loans.” The champagne made her chattier than usual and she told him that her
parents couldn’t help with expenses. They were trying to make ends meet as it was.
Grant nodded and touched her hand and arm at precise intervals to make her feel at ease. During a brief lull in the conversation, Kara had a moment of lucidity and excused herself for the ladies room. From there, she left the luxurious club and headed back to campus.
Grant’s bodyguard turned to Grant. “Sorry, boss.”
Grant only smirked. “She’ll be with me soon.”
The following day, Kara returned from class to find Denise lounging on her bed painting her fingernails.
“Okay, how do you do it?”
“What’s that, sweetie?”
“How do you give yourself to that old man you’re seeing?”
“John is very wealthy and being seen with me makes him feel young again. But, truthfully, it’s because of this.” She waved a check for $5,000 and then kissed it. “That’s for…sex?”
“This is for being his arm candy for a month, to be at his beckon and call, and yes…for sex. It’s usually only five or six nights a month, and look what else!” She flashed a diamond tennis bracelet. “It’s the real deal…not cubic zirconium.” Kara ran her fingers along the diamond studded gold band and watched as each jewel sparkled in the light. “Let me give him your number, and if you don’t like it, tell him goodbye. Move on.”
Kara sighed. She really could use the money.
“Believe me, in the dark everything feels the same. Imagine he’s one of the hot jocks on campus. That should get your juices flowing.”
“Okay,” Kara said softly before she changed her mind.
The following afternoon Grant called. He sounded younger on the phone and his offer to dine at the Hollander House was too good to pass up. The Hollander House was well known for catering to the movers and shakers of the world, the rich and famous, and Kara wanted to be a part of that world more than she realized. A tiny black cocktail dress arrived at the house within the hour and Kara slipped her feet into the Gucci sandals that had arrived along with it.
“How did he know my size, Denise?”
“Don’t look at me. But surely you must know that he was sizing you up the minute he saw you. You’re not the first female he has dressed, no offense.”
“None taken.” She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail, applied her makeup and dabbed a little of Denise’s expensive perfume on each wrist, and waited for the car to pick her up.
Grant opened the door of the long black limousine and popped the cork on a bottle of champagne. “To a night of firsts,” he toasted, and Kara nervously took the glass from him.
The man was a perfect gentleman, impressing Kara when he ordered in a language unfamiliar to her. “It’s Dutch,” he said. He looked around at the men in the restaurant. They envied him. He could tell. He had someone young and fresh with him, and everyone wanted to be him. There wasn’t a man in the room who wouldn’t give his left nut to be with Kara, and she was his. With a young woman in his life, he felt more powerful than his wealth made him feel.
After dinner, Grant took Kara to his mansion in the hills far removed from the city. When he opened the door to the grand estate, Kara felt the door to her world open as well. It was glamorous, like the movies, and she would gladly be this old man’s mistress if it meant living in such a place. With a hand on her right arm, Grant kissed her neck and cheek, knowing she would turn her head to offer her lips. She closed her eyes and realized that even in the light Denise had been right. She imagined Grant’s lips to be those of the college football quarterback and they no longer felt like the lips of an old man. He didn’t take her to bed that night. He stepped back and started the negotiations.
“Kara, did you have a nice time tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like me?”
Kara nodded. When Grant handed her a check for $3,000, she looked at him questioningly. “What’s this for?”
“This is for your time. A check will be made out to you in the same amount every month if you are willing to escort me to various social engagements, and of course, spend an occasional night in my bed.”
Kara’s heart felt like it was in her throat as she voiced her consent. Her money worries were gone. If all went well, she could pay off her student loans and have a nice chunk of change saved when she began her career as a surgeon. She gingerly touched the paper note and took it from him.
“I will be in touch,” he said and sent her off with his driver.
Kara sat in the back of the limo staring at the numbers written on the check. She was excited and frightened at the same time.
Imagining a world of travel in her future, Kara wasn’t prepared to receive a call from Grant at eight the following morning. “This weekend, Saturday night? Okay.” She hung up the phone and looked over at her roommate. “I hope this is worth it.”
“It is,” Denise assured her. “Grant Latham is mega wealthy. He can buy anything you want.”
Kara forced her tired body to move. She was a full-time college student by day and had to keep up her grades.
Two days later she was once again on her way to Grant’s estate, driven by the man’s somewhat overly attentive driver. He kept looking at her through the rearview mirror as if he were trying to figure out why she would want to be seen with a man like Grant Latham. Kara was beautiful and smart. She didn’t need a man to take care of her.
Grant met her with a smile and a gift that could not be mistaken for anything but jewelry.
“What is it?”
“Open it, my dear.”
Kara gasped when she saw the strand of pearls and diamonds. “Are they real?”
Grant laughed at the naïvete of young Kara. “I will never settle for anything but the real thing.”
The conviction in his voice was on the edge of sinister, and Kara flinched a little at the touch of his finger making its way down her arm. He hooked the pearls at the back of her neck and led her up the stairs to his bedroom. Behind the closed doors, he lay on the bed and ordered Kara to undress. “Slowly,” he said.
Kara slid the zipper down in the black dress she wore and unclasped the lace bra. “Make them hard,” Grant commanded. Kara ran her fingers across her nipples, pinching them and coaxing them to do what had been ordered. “Look at me.” Kara looked into the dark brooding eyes of her master as she kept her nipples hard. Yes, this man was indeed her master whether she wanted to admit it or not. He was her puppet master and when he pulled her strings, she danced for him. She began to slide her panties down her legs, but he stopped her. “Not yet. Come here.” Kara knew how to be sexy. She crept onto the bed like a cat stalking its prey. As she neared the man who had paid for her, she stopped and waited for him to direct her. He unzipped his pants and pulled out his flaccid penis. “Suck it, baby. Make it hard.” Kara tried not to show her distaste for the act of falatio, but she hated giving blowjobs. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine something else as she felt the soft dick enter her warm mouth. It seemed that she could feel every wrinkle with her tongue as she tried to coax the old man’s erection to life. It seemed to take forever, but she finally achieved the goal the old man expected.
“I’ve still got it,” he bragged. “Now, undress me.” He placed his hands behind his head and waited for Kara to do her job. “Come here,” he whispered. Kara felt the old man’s hands on her butt as he slid a finger inside the crotch of her panties. Again, she pretended it was the quarterback of the college football team. She felt the head of Grant’s cock at her entrance and the push of her hips down to take him inside of her and she went into actress mode. “Act like it’s the best cock you’ve ever had.” The words of her roommate echoed inside her head. She moaned and gasped like a pro, throwing her head back, and the old man believed every breathy sigh. It took him a long time, but finally Kara felt the stream of semen enter her. She exhaled loudly, as if she was climaxing, but it meant nothing more than relief.
Grant went flaccid within seconds and Kara lay down beside hi
m. “My dear, you are too good to this old man. What can I do to repay you?”
Kara was confused. Was this another of his games?
“Come with me to my island?”
“You have an island?”
“Yes, it’s very exclusive. We can spend the entire weekend. Perhaps your roommate and her gentleman friend will join us.”
Kara raised her eyebrows. “My roommate?”
“Yes. She does what you do, no?”
Kara couldn’t argue the truth. But she didn’t need to pretend. They knew what they were doing, all parties involved.
***
Denise was thrilled to be invited to Grant’s private island, but Kara had expected nothing less from her oversexed roommate.
“He’s bringing a friend, if you know what I mean.”
Denise smiled at Kara. “Yes, I know what you mean and I can’t wait. My guy is out of town this week, no doubt with his wife.”
Grant’s driver drove the girls to the airport where Kara asked, “Where’s Grant?”
“He’s waiting for you on the island. Hurry now. He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Kara and Denise hurried aboard Grant’s jet and took a seat in the lap of luxury. “Sweet, Kara. You definitely caught a big fish when you hooked up with Grant.”
Kara shrugged her shoulders and looked around. She slid her hand along the leather seat and buckled her seatbelt. She wondered why she heard the voice of Grant’s driver on the loudspeaker.
“He’s flying this thing?”
“Guess so.” Kara had no idea Grant’s driver was also a pilot, but there was a lot she didn’t know.
The plane ride seemed to last forever and Kara and Denise fell asleep somewhere over the Atlantic, not waking until they felt the bumpy landing on less than ideal terrain.
“Kara, where are we?” Denise stretched and yawned.
Kara looked out the window and saw what appeared to be a jungle. “I don’t know…the tropics?”
The airplane came to a stop with a jolt and the pilot entered the room where Denise and Kara were waiting. “Welcome home, ladies.”
Denise hopped out of her seat, eager to begin the adventure, but Kara noticed the somewhat sadistic, or was it hesitant, smile that formed on the pilot’s face. “Home?”