by Aja Cole
“Pretty good. I just got back from vacation. My father had someone else take the reigns for a bit while I was away.” I unwrap the piece of mango gum carefully, wanting to keep the paper intact.
“Oh really? Seemed business as usual when I dropped by a few times to chat with our esteemed new mayor.” He sits back, flagging down one of the waitresses that are milling around in the morning rush. “Can I get a chocolate chip scone, please? Thanks.” She hurries away.
“You didn’t even notice I was missing?” I scoff, popping the piece into my mouth. “My feelings are hurt.”
“Hey, you’re a busy woman. I figured you were off handling one of the many things you juggle.”
“Nope, I wasn’t around at all, phone off and everything.” I pause, pushing my cup aside and leaning against the table. “Which is why my ship wasn’t being run properly.”
He furrows a brow, smiling a bit. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that if I were here, you wouldn’t have gotten away with your little blackmail bullshit for even half a second.” I tap the table, lacing my fingers together.
He cocks his head, his voice tight. “I haven’t seen you in awhile, and the first thing you do is accuse me of blackmail?”
“Actually, the first thing I did was give you a hug.” I chew and pull my bag to me, plucking a few papers from the top. I grab a pen from the zippered side and circle a few things before I turn the sheets to him.
“This.” I tap a line with my pen, “Is the shell account you used to hide,” I tap my pen on another line, “This account.”
I switch sheets and pull out a highlighter, “And this is the main account you intended on using to hide,” I highlight a line, “This overseas bank account.”
“How did you get these? This is private information.” He snatches the sheets, his voice low and angry.
“Yes, they’re private if you’re not me.” I pull out two more sheets, one with a large photo on it. “This is your meeting with your scapegoat, the person who originally went to my father and received the first payment. All $10,000 of which, I expect to be returned in full.”
“None of these proves that I was behind any of this. And what reasoning would I have?” He grits.
“Oh my gosh, you are so right. As for motive, I don’t know and I simply don’t care.” My phone buzzes on the table and I answer it, putting up a finger. “Yes? Oh? Wow, I can’t believe that! Of course. I’ll wait to hear back from you.”
“Who was that?” He asks quietly, shoulders tense in his Brooks Brothers suit.
“It looks as if the NYPD received information about a blackmail attempt on the mayor, and very quietly and quickly obtained a search warrant for all of your residences.” I gasp in mock surprise. “How crazy is that? How much do you want to bet that one of your safes has exactly what they need? Willing to bet, let’s say, $10,000? I’m sure they’ll pass along your confession when they receive it.”
He’s practically shaking, he’s so angry. But we’re in public, and the last thing Charles would ever do is make a scene. I knew we were similar in the regard, so I made sure I caught him early and off-guard.
“What do I need to do?” He exhales, face almost set in stone.
“First, sign this full gag order, and this NDA.” I slide the sheets toward him that I’d gotten with the help of a helpful judge that’s a family friend, and he signs without even reading.
What a bad habit that is.
“What now? How do I avoid prison?”
“Oh…you don’t.” I stand, tucking everything neatly back into my bag and grabbing my gum wrapper with my to-go cup.
“What do you mean?” He hisses. “I signed your shit. Show some good faith.”
“I showed good faith the minute I sat down with you instead of slamming your face into that glass for thinking you could mess with my family. I really don’t know why people keep making that mistake.” I shrug, stepping to the side as the waitress sets down his chocolate scone. “Enjoy that scone, Charlie, because you’re finished here.” I turn on my heel, prepared to leave but I remember something.
“I hope you have the cash to pay for that scone because your accounts are frozen. Some pesky little cyber bug.” I turn away, but laugh, feigning like I remember something else. “And your passport has been flagged.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Good luck, Charlie.”
With that, I leave the shop and walk out to the street, pulling out another piece of gum because the flavor’s gone from mine.
This? This is what I do best.
“Marissa?” I hold my phone, following the sidewalk crowd to the subway entrance. “Do you have time to catch up today?”
I walk into the Journelle store on E 17th and spot Marissa near a side display. She turns as I walk up, pleasure lighting her face and I bend to hug her.
“Hello, darling.” She beams, squeezing me tight.
“You look well, Mar. Thicker, too.” I wink and she strikes a few poses where her butt is sticking out, and tips her head back making her jet black hair fall down her back.
“It’s like everyone in California has these amazing bodies, and you know how terrified I am about going under the knife, so now I’m one of those do you even lift? people.” She holds out a deep green balconette bra. “Didn’t wanna buy it, so I built it. Representing for my Latina hotties.”
“Well, you’re slaying. Are you shopping for something specific?” I finger the lace on the edge of a corset, running my fingers over the boning. “Someone specific?”
“Ha.” She scoffs, waving a hand. “This is all for me. I don’t want a man within ten feet of me after that cabrón.”
“Men do suck sometimes. I’m sorry it went to shit, but I’m glad you’re back here now.”
“Me too. So many people I missed. Congratulations on a successful run, by the way.” She says, checking the tag on a thong.
“Hey, I just guided things a little bit here and there. My dad did the real work, being genuine.”
“Yeah, okay. You and I both know how much behind the scenes work goes into this life and these politics.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I notice a gorgeous pale blue semi-sheer set with gold embroidering on another display and can’t stop myself from heading towards it.
I check the tag and my eyes widen, and I pull out my phone. “Holy shit.”
“What?” Marissa comes up next to me. “Oh, that’s beautiful. You have to try it on.”
“I am. After I call my sister and yell at her for not telling me she’d expanded into other stores!”
“Dios, that’s Michaela’s brand?”
The phone rings and Mickey answers quickly, “This is your favorite hooker, what’s up?”
“You hussy. When were you going to share about Bold & Co. being in Journelle?”
“Ohhhh.” I can hear her smiling. “Well to be fair, I thought I’d have a chance to tell you at dinner tomorrow. How was I supposed to know you’d be shopping before then?”
“You should’ve told me the minute the deal was inked. Lord, this is phenomenal.” I finger the soft tulle.
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” She pauses. “Surprise!”
“I’m not even mad because this set I’m looking at is beautiful and I’m going to try it on. They better not be out of my size, Mickey.”
“I’ll gift it to you if they don’t.” She promises, and I grin, motioning to a sales assistant.
“Deal. Love you, congrats.”
“Thanks, sis, love you too.” We click off and I turn to the assistant. “Do you have this set in a medium thong and a 34C bra?”
“I’m sure we do. I’ll start a room for you and put it there. Are there any other sets you want to try?”
I look around a bit and point out a few more. Marissa picks out a few too and she hooks an arm in mine as we head to the dressing rooms.
“So, is there someone who’ll be seeing this other than you?”
“As a matter of fact, t
here is…” I pat her arm. “Try on first, gossip second.”
“Deal.” We separate, and as I’m unzipping my dress and looking at the reflection of the sets in the mirror, an idea comes to mind.
I pull up my contacts, and shoot off a quick email then set my phone down again.
Time to try on these gorgeous pieces.
26
Dane
My entire spirit feels deflated.
It was the final deciding game in the first round, and we lost it. By one point, one hat-trick.
We didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in 5 years, and I feel so damn defeated and exhausted.
It’s an exhaustion that’s been building, and I feel it more and more after each game, even when we do well.
The game just doesn’t give me the same rush anymore. Doesn’t fill me the same way.
When I think about what I look forward to when I wake up in the morning…I think about my friends. I think about Addi.
I think about Keyra.
This game takes a toll on your time. Your body. Your future. There are guys in the league every day who play one game that changes their lives forever, and no one can predict when or what or how.
I’ve found myself wanting to take that chance less and less since I found out about Addison, and I don’t really know what to do about it.
I unlock my door, dropping my bag carelessly to the floor.
It’s just me. No exciting little girl running to latch onto my leg.
She and Natalie went back to Minnesota since I was going to be away for a few days.
That’s why I still when I hear a noise from the back.
I’m too tired for this shit.
“Hello?” I yell, tense, but my shoulders slump again when Keyra pops her head out from behind a wall. “I forgot you still have your key.”
“I needed the container I gave you for those cookies, then I just fell asleep. I’ve been so tired lately. I hope that’s okay.” She says, doubt creeping into her voice.
“Yeah.” I nod. “Doesn’t bother me.” I shrug my jacket off, throwing it over the back of the couch. “I’m gonna grab a shower.”
“Okay.” She nods, pulling the oversized throw tighter around her and walking ahead of me to my room. She crawls in the middle of the bed, and Nova hops up using her little staircase, curling right next to Keyra’s stomach.
I make it to the bathroom door before I stop and turn back around. I might feel like shit, but that’s no excuse not to at least greet her.
“Hey.” She turns from petting Nova as I get closer to the bed. I brace one knee on it, caging her between my arms. “I’m happy to see you, just tired.” I drop a kiss on her lips.
“I know.” She strokes a finger over my jaw. “I know the game didn’t go as expected, it won’t hurt my feelings to give you a little space. I can even leave if you want to be alone.”
I drop my forehead to hers, exhaling heavily. “You’re so sweet.”
“I don’t know if you’ve ever called me that before.” She teases.
“Don’t leave.” I kiss her again, briefly, an idea coming to mind. “Matter of fact, you’re tired. I’m tired. Maybe a hot bath is what we both need.”
“Ooh, with bubbles?” She asks.
“As many as you want,” I say. “Within reason.”
“Say no more.” I move back as she sits up. Nova barks and Keyra smiles at her, moving to pet her again. “Your Daddy’s gonna let me give him a bubble beard. Isn’t he just so manly?” She coos.
“I didn’t agree to that.” I frown, and she sets Nova on the floor before heading to the bathroom ahead of me and turning on the water.
“And I didn’t ask.” She yells back. I look up at the ceiling and sigh.
I should probably get used to it.
“So…my dad has been letting me handle some non-fluff work stuff that I wrapped up this week.” My tub is deep and sunken, and Keyra and I lean against opposite ends, but our legs are tangled together.
“Oh?” I lean my head against the cushion and close my eyes.“Was it good being back in the fray?”
“Yeah. I discovered Charlie was blackmailing my dad to pay him not to reveal that my Dad isn’t my grandfather’s biological son. I would’ve advised just letting it fly as long as we released it, but since my grandfather is dead and there was already the affair stuff, my Dad has a real thing about keeping the legacy that’s left blemish free.” The words fly out of her mouth so fast that I just gape.
“You say things like this as if they’re just normal occurrences in peoples lives, and I feel like I’ve stepped into a soap opera since I met your family.”
“I guess there has been a lot going on in the past year, huh? I promise things were pretty tame before this.” She pushes bubbles around, blowing some towards me. “After my sister being sold of course. That was crazy. Oh and some woman claimed my dad had gotten her pregnant, and a man claimed Sina sexually harassed him for his sperm. Smooth sailing aside from those things.”
I blink.
“And you took care of all of that. And regular, day-to-day campaign stuff.”
She slides down into the water some until I can only see the tops of her breasts. “Yep.”
“So who makes your life easier?” I ask quietly.
Her nose wrinkles and she meets my eyes, sincerity in hers. “Me? I don’t know. I don’t think about it much. I just…do my job.”
“But you do a lot more than just your job. You’re…this loving, capable, protective dragon that holds not only an administration together, but a family.”
I see her throat move as she swallows, lowering her eyes. I move in the water closer to her, pulling her to me so we meet in the middle.
“All these damn bubbles,” I grumble, swatting them out of my way. I trail my hands up and down her sides under the hot water. “What I’m trying to say is, you’re the most formidable woman I’ve ever met and I want to support you in every way I can.”
“You do. Even when we were just friends, you listened and stroked my ego and were just all around surprisingly way more understanding than I ever thought you’d be.” She whispers.
“Well you’re my woman now and I just need to make sure you know that if it’s bothering you, it’s bothering me and we’re in this together.”
“So if I said I wanted you to get rid of Nova, that’d be okay with you?”
I jerk back, horrified, and she bursts out laughing. Until I splash her with water and she sits there sputtering like a drowned rat, making me burst out laughing.
“That’s what you get for m—.” A wave of water drenches me and I swipe my hand over my face quickly, shaking my head. “That ass is mine.”
She tries to stand, but I’ve had years of reflex drills and I yank her towards me. Her body slides against mine and I wrap her tightly in my arms, trapping her arms between us.
“Where are you gonna go now, huh?”
She pouts, her eyelashes clumped together by the water and droplets clinging to her lips and face.
“I have a sudden urge to roleplay a demanding king and a reluctant, but curious handmaiden.” She murmurs, and I cackle out of pure surprise.
“You’re five different people, I swear.”
“That means the I just wanted something different excuse is out if you ever cheat on me.”
“There’s an excuse that’s in?”
“No, but that one will definitely guarantee you losing both of your balls instead of just one.” Her voice is cool and serious, and I grimace.
“Noted.”
“Sire, could you release me now?” She softens her voice to a near purr and I’m immediately hard as a rock.
The woman is full of surprises.
“I’m not done with you just yet, wench.” I go for the most dulcet, commanding tone I can and I figure it works when she rises against me some.
“What are you going to do to me, Sire?” She settles herself more firmly in my lap as I let her arms go and twist a
hand into her hair.
I have a flashback to that first night we were together in this exact position and I bring my lips down hard on hers, hungry now. There’s a slightly fruity taste and I delve my tongue into her mouth teasingly, moving my hands to pinch her nipples and she pulls away on a gasp.
“Wow…that, do that again.” Instead of pinching them again, I lean down and lick one, taking it between my teeth and biting down as she whimpers. “Yes.”
I stand and help her rise with me, snatching towels from the rack. I step on the tiles and dry off the quickest I ever have, dropping my towel to the floor at the same time as she does.
“Bend over the bed. Now.”
27
Keyra
Throaty and authoritative Dane is my very own personal kryptonite, I’m learning.
What red, blue, purple-blooded woman wouldn’t drop her drawers with this man demanding something?
None of them.
Luckily for me, I already don’t have any on.
I walk to the bed much more slowly than I really want to and lean my elbows down.
“My hair’s gonna look a mess in the morning because you wet it,” I inform him casually, even though I’m bent over at his mercy.
He comes closer, smoothing his hot hands up the sides of my thighs and hips, over my ass.
“Did you let anyone else touch you? While you were away?”
“Define to—.” I end with a gasp because he just slapped my ass! “Excus—.”
SMACK.
“You know how long I’ve wanted to feel this ass under my palm, maid?”
Damn, he’s serious about this.
I feel him lean over me and press his slightly damp chest against my back, his cock nestling against my ass and I arch back, seeking his warmth.
“Do we need a safe word or something?” He gruffs, stroking his hands up my sides.
“Mmm maybe, since I’ve discovered your like of spanking.”
“Is that okay? It’s hot, watching your ass wiggle, but if you don’t like it…” He trails off and I reach a hand back and put it on his cheek. So considerate.