The Mask

by Alice Ward

  The crowd screamed, fans threw flowers, and the cameras panned around the festival showing people in tears. I’d done it, showed them the things hiding in the noise, and in doing so reflected some of the beauty and the tragedy in our lives.

  Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, Roman joined me on stage with a microphone. “I have one question for you, Adara Wilde.”

  I turned to the crowd and spoke into my mic. “What does he have up his sleeve?”

  The crowd collectively gasped, and when I turned back to Roman, he was on one knee, holding a small ring box in his hand.

  “Will you marry me?” he asked as he opened the box to reveal a diamond ring so big that the lights reflecting off it nearly blinded me.

  I was happy I had a headset, because I would have dropped the microphone. I walked to the man who was willing to carry me whenever I needed him to and didn’t hesitate. “Yes, a thousand yeses.”

  The crowd cheered as he put the ring on my finger and it sparkled in the stage lights. I grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the lips as the crowd screamed louder.

  Coachella was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, and thanks to my song, “See,” turning into a number one hit, the story was now out there, the truth. It didn’t take long for people to discover that Jack was a part owner in Jewel. That was scandal enough, but then the media broke the truth and revealed most of these women were being kept as sex slaves who were unable to leave the property and forced to cater to their client’s sexual whims. A sting operation closed the place down.

  During the sting, authorities discovered that Jack was laundering money from business deals that exploited workers, used a child labor force, and had ties to corrupt government. Jewel was the least of his worries, and frankly, I could see why he spent so much time there — he could easily hide in the fantasy.

  Life was busy, but Roman and I always made private time for us. On top of managing a career and planning the wedding of the century, I also started the “See” foundation to help women recover from abuse. In fact, I bought Jewel when it went on the market and paid the women who had worked at the brothel to help reinvent that space that we now called Revive. Roman’s sister joined the board of Revive and became an integral part of their operation.

  Roman helped with the marketing and ensuring that people knew what it was and why it was there. There was a counseling center with an arts gallery attached, which provided studio space for singers, dancers, artists, writers, and anyone else who wanted to work through their abuse story with artistic expression.

  There was a thrift store and fashion design studio, housing for those who needed a safe place to stay. A restaurant and theater, a playground, a swimming pool, and a trampoline park. There was also a community space where people were welcome to hang out and a small garden where food was grown for the restaurant.

  Everyone was there to heal, recover, and have fun, thus taking the shame out of surviving their ordeals. Janis was one of the managers and many of the women she’d worked with started to heal and start their lives over again.

  Brandy struggled, but she finally left Harmon and was a resident at the housing center and working to get her life back on track.

  As for my new family, Roman’s sister and Pete just announced they were going to have a baby. They were now the most sickeningly happy people in the world, but I loved them.

  When Pete announced they would be moving into the lake house for the duration, I thought Roman’s head was going to explode.

  Then I saw the spark of excitement in his eyes. And that got me to thinking about being the kind of man I now knew he was. The kind who loved his family, wanted kids, and hoped to fill the halls of a very lonely mansion.

  That night as he was getting ready for bed, I posed provocatively on top of the soft duvet. “Do you want babies, Roman?” I asked playfully, running my foot across his thigh when he stepped closer. “We could have little rockstar slash dot com babies. Or at least practice.”

  I squealed as he dropped down on the bed next to me and rolled me underneath him, kissing me hard on the mouth.

  When he came up for air, he laughed. “I’ve heard that takes lots and lots of practice.” Then he pulled my shirt over my head, unhooked my bra, and kissed the sensitive flesh of my neck.

  Pulling back, our eyes met, and he looked at me with loving desire. “As long as they end up as cool as you are, I’m game for spending all night making babies.”

  So we practiced. And practiced.

  And a year later, the pregnancy stick turned pink.

  As we celebrated our love and the new life we would be bringing into the world, we became man and wife, with only our close family beside us.

  I’d thrown away my mask, thanks to Roman.

  But every now and then, when I was feeling frisky, I thought I might ask him to put his on.

  THE END

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  A Bonus Novel

  THE PLAYBOY

  Alice Ward

  CHAPTER ONE

  Zane

  Ping.

  The quarter hit the table top with perfect precision before splashing into the lukewarm beer. “Drink up, Bethany.” I’d made yet another perfect bounce in the age-old game of quarters. No, I wasn’t in college, and yeah, the game was juvenile as hell, but when my party guests wanted to play, who was I to fuck up their fun?

  Three beauties sat around the little table in my overwater bungalow, my current home away from home. The Coco Bodu Hithi Resort on the Maldives Island of North Malé Atoll was far away from Scranton, Pennsylvania, which was perfect since I hated to spend time anywhere near my controlling parents and their high expectations.

  I should have been on top of the world here, surrounded by three women who couldn’t take their eyes away from me. All I felt was bored. Tired. Of what exactly, I wasn’t sure.

  Bethany hiccupped then wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Can’t you pick on one of the other girls, Zane? I’m about to drown over here.”

  Drunken giggles burst out of the other two young ladies who’d followed me out of the island bar. Candy and Satin — names that couldn’t be real — were hanging out together, Bethany had been drinking at the bar alone. I was the glue that brought us all together, and when they suggested we move the party back to my place, it had seemed like a good idea at the time.

  It didn’t seem like a good idea anymore.

  It was a quarter to three in the afternoon. Not your typical happy hour, but when in paradise, happy hour lasted twenty-four seven.

  “Aw, come on, Bethany,” Candy purred, leaning forward so that her breasts nearly burst out of her tiny top. “I thought you said you could out drink any man. Three shots of b
eer shouldn’t kill ya.”

  “It shouldn’t, but it seems to be.” Bethany hiccupped and giggled, the sound already getting on my nerves.

  She was the one I’d been most attracted to. The one I thought would end up in my bed. She seemed different than the others, maybe someone I could spend some time with. Talk to. Enjoy between the sheets and out of them.

  She belched, and the three girls burst into another annoying set of giggles. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in irritation. She wasn’t different at all. Which wouldn’t have been a problem a year ago. Or even six months ago. Her type was exactly the type I liked back then. Boobs and brainless. I didn’t even know when my type had changed.

  The least drunk of the three slid closer to me, placing the quarter in my hand as she rubbed her bountiful breasts against my arm. Satin’s red hair hung in loose waves to the middle of her back. Light green eyes peered back at me. “Me, Zane? You want me to drink it?”

  I made a show at looking at my Rolex Submariner. “Actually, I think I should be getting you ladies home.”

  She laughed, which wasn’t the response I’d been expecting, and picked up the small crystal glass. Raising it to her lips, she acted as if it was kerosene. Her nose wrinkled when she took a sniff.

  “Today, Satin,” Candy said, leaning forward until one breast nearly popped out and onto the table. A year ago, I’d already have a pink nipple in my mouth. Now…

  I shook my head. What the fuck was wrong with me?

  Closing her eyes, Satin gulped it down, then made a face so awful I felt my sense of humor return for a moment. “Yuck! It’s hot and tastes the way a skunk smells.”

  Bethany climbed off her chair, wobbling a bit. “I think I need to take a dip in the ocean. My head is beginning to swim.”

  Island life meant you lived in bathing suits, so we all had them on. Under their sundresses, the girls wore itsy bitsy bikinis, leaving very little to the imagination.

  I loved island life. Usually.

  “This is not a good idea with so much alcohol in your system,” I said as I followed the girls to the deck that dropped off into miles of ocean. Shit. I sounded like a grandma. Maybe I needed to take a few shots myself.

  “Join us,” Bethany pleaded, pulling the nearly see through sundress over her head, revealing her lush body. My cock didn’t even twitch.

  “It’s time for you all to leave. I’ll make sure you get back safely and—”

  Splash. Candy belly flopped into the water.

  Shit.

  Once I was sure she wasn’t dead or on her way there, I sank down on the chaise lounge. “I guess I’ll just play lifeguard instead.”

  I slipped my ever-present shades off the top of my head to shield my eyes from the sun. Being so near the equator meant the bright sun was practically in your face.

  “You girls did remember to put on some sunscreen, right?”

  Holy fuck. I really was a grandma. Maybe I should fuck all three of them to make sure I still owned some balls.

  Bethany batted her lashes at me as she trailed a hand down her tight stomach. “Mine may have worn off.”

  Satin grinned too, picking up an ever-present bottle on the table. “Thanks, Zane. I’ve been able to stay burn-free for a week.”

  Candy managed to climb the ladder, and in the space of a few moments, the three of them were lathering themselves up with the lotion, and my cock actually jumped in my shorts.

  Good boy. Maybe I wasn’t a thousand years old after all.

  Bethany batted her lashes again. “Want us to do your back?”

  Before I could even reply, the gaggle of giggling women headed my way. Surrendering to what should have been an incredible experience, I turned over and three sets of hands ran all over my back and down my legs. A free massage, courtesy of the sun and its dangerous rays.

  Someone’s hand moved closer and closer to my cock. It, in return, was enjoying the physical stimulation with growing enthusiasm. Maybe bringing the girls back to my place wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Maybe a good afternoon romp was exactly what I needed.

  “Want us to do your front too?” When I looked, it was Candy’s hand close to the prize.

  “Sure.” I rolled over and relaxed as the three of them ran their lotion covered hands all over my chest and shoulders.

  Satin’s hands moved over my pecs as she made a little mewling noise. “Zane, my goodness, you’re rock-hard.”

  Candy’s hands were all over my right bicep. “I bet you could pick all three of us up with no problem at all.”

  Bethany’s fingers roamed over my stomach. “It’s like a perfect ladder down here. How do you keep in this kind of shape?”

  My cock was quickly losing interest. So was I. Maybe if I could convince the women not to talk, we’d have a better time.

  Bethany leaned down to my ear. “Maybe later we can help you wash it off?”

  Satin’s hand moved up under my trunks. “Yeah. We’ll wash your back if you wash ours.”

  Her words were soft, seductive, stirring my interest again, then bam… the giggles all started, breaking the spell, and spurring a renewed sense of irritation.

  When I said nothing, the girls looked at each other, shrugged, then turned to jump into the water. They all shouted invitations to join them in the gentle waves.

  When a bikini top flew through the air and landed on the deck, I groaned. Really, what was wrong with me? Three gorgeous women were practically begging to be in my bed, and all I wanted to do was take a fucking nap.

  I needed to snap out of whatever funk I was in.

  I was about to shuck my board shorts and just join them in spite of myself when the sliding glass door of the bungalow next door opened, drawing my attention. Keeping one eye on the girls to make sure they didn’t drown, I glanced over just in time to see a woman step out.

  No. Not just a woman. The woman of all women.

  Her shoulder-length blonde hair caught the sun, golden strands gleaming as she pulled a pair of dark sunglasses off and looked out at the water. I sat up to get a better look.

  “Hi.”

  She didn’t seem to hear me as she turned to peer in the other direction. She was clearly fresh off the plane, still wearing black slacks and a plain white button down that went along with sensible heels. She gave off a professional vibe. If anyone was in desperate need of a vacation, it was her.

  I could make sure she got one.

  She turned slowly, breathing deeply as she took in the magnificent landscape all around us. When she turned just enough that I could see her face, it was like a punch in the gut. Her cheekbones were high, her face beautiful over a slender but strong looking body. But it was more than her obvious beauty that caught my attention. There was something else that seemed to pull me in her direction.

  Our eyes met and some unnamed energy weaved itself around my spinal cord and into every cell of my body. Did she feel it too? The current that ran between us.

  I lifted a hand in greeting and was going to say hello when a fucking bikini top hit me in the side of the head. The woman lifted an eyebrow before purposefully glancing at the three girls in the water. She smirked, then turned and went back inside.

  Dammit.

  I tossed the bit of wet material to the deck, disgusted with myself and everyone else. I’d lost that round of great first impressions.

  The sound of the girls brought my attention back to them. “Zane, you coming in or what?”

  “Nah, I’m gonna sit this one out.” I walked inside to grab a cold beer from the fridge and went back out, taking a seat on the dock.

  I glanced back at my neighboring bungalow, wishing the door would open again. The smirk she sent me only heightened my attraction to her. I wanted to prove to her I wasn’t the dick I currently appeared to be.

  And why did I care so damn much?

  The girls came back up on the deck, water dripping off their now shiny bodies. In front of me stood one brunette, a redhead, and a platinum blonde.
All curved in the right places, all willing participants in whatever I wanted.

  But they weren’t what I wanted. I needed something else.

  Bethany rung her hair out, splashing ocean water around her bare feet and across her pink tipped toenails. “Wanna go inside and play some more, Zane?”

  Did I?

  In the space of a few minutes, my mood had deflated as surely as my cock. I wasn’t in the mood, it seemed. “I’m good. You all sober enough now to see yourselves home?”

  The three exchanged worried glances. Maybe they’d conjured up a game plan while they were in the water, and it looked like I was screwing up their plans for some fun.

  I couldn’t muster the energy to care. I wanted them gone. I wasn’t interested in their games.

  Something — someone — else had garnered my attention. Maybe I should make a little visit to my new neighbor. It was the civilized thing to do after all.

  I could introduce myself, learn a little more about her. See if the connection I felt with her stuck. Maybe she’d accept an invitation to dinner. She seemed to be alone. Surely, she’d want some company.

  I got up, and the girls all sighed with relief. But instead of ushering them inside, I picked up their discarded clothes. “Come on, I’ll see you all out.”

  “Huh?” Bethany’s forehead creased as she shook her head. “We’re leaving?”

  “Yeah, it’s been fun, but I think I need a nap before this evening’s activities.” I gathered them all as one might gather a gaggle of geese, herding them with my arms wide, gently ushering them through the house and to the front door.

  Satin pulled her shades down, giving me a slow wink. “I could use a… nap.”

  I wasn’t even tempted. “A real one. I’ll catch you girls later. I’m not leaving the island anytime soon.”

  At the door, they all seemed at a loss as they pulled on their clothes. Candy leaned in close to whisper in my ear, “You sure about this?” Her fingertips flowed lightly over my abs. “We’re ready to make your dreams come true. All three of us.”

  My cock will never forgive me.

  It would have to get over it because my mind was somewhere else. I was aware that I had not one bird in the hand but three of them, and I was tossing them away for the one in the bush next door.