Pawn: Volume One
Page 9
Fisting my hand, I inhale and exhale until I can hear. And think. And breathe.
Slowly, Jana’s voice comes back in. “Anyway, I know it’s a long shot, but if you have any nights free, I’d love to have you back around. You caught on quick, and like I told you before, the tips really are amazing,” Jana rambles on. “Did my number show up on your ID?”
Numbly, I check it. “Yeah, it’s here.”
“Awesome, just let me know,” she says, her voice still chipper because she isn’t the one who just found out she’s been screwed over. “Have a merry Christmas, Eleanor!”
Fingers trembling, I return my phone to my bag just as AJ pulls onto the curb of a Fifth Avenue building that puts Graham’s D.C. digs to shame. I barely even notice my surroundings as the doorman takes me and my luggage to the fifteenth floor.
Once I’m alone, I walk slowly through the spacious condo, which is dark except for the city lights blazing through the windows, toward the hallway. Standing in the middle of the archway, I almost want to turn and leave, but then I shake my head, strands of my black hair flying around my face.
I will not run away from this, so I walk to the door.
Twisting the knob, I step into the room, expecting to be alone, but I gasp when strong hands close around my wrists. I’m in his arms before I can say a word, and Graham crushes his mouth against mine. This is our first real kiss—and if I have it my way, it’ll be our last—and I moan as his hot tongue spreads my lips apart, hungrily tasting me. His hands bury in my hair, tugging the black strands back to give him better access to my mouth, and I feel his hands between my legs, on my ass, on my breasts.
There’s so much fire—anger and desire and pain—and my head reels violently.
Senator Sexy-Ass had betrayed me.
This son of a bitch had betrayed me.
Pulling away from him, I press my back against the wall. Heat pricks the back of my eyelids, but I squeeze my eyes to hold back any tears. When I finally open them, I see his dark brown eyes staring down at me, narrowed like I’m the one who’s done something wrong.
“You’re fully dressed, Ms. Courtney. Why the fuck are you still dressed?”
He is too. He’s beautiful in a partially unbuttoned dress shirt that exposes the bronze muscular lines of his chest and business pants, but that’s the last thing on my mind. Because he might have screwed me over. And that makes Graham something else.
Depraved.
“Did you tell my boss at 202 that I was taking another job?” I ask in a low voice, and I watch the surprise register in those dark irises, the muscles in his face tighten and his broad shoulders go rigid. He says nothing, and during his silence—his awful, damning silence—I finally start to register details about the room. Cold shades of black and white. An assortment of items I’m afraid to see up close sit on the grey upholstered bench at the end of the bed. Knowing Graham’s filthy mouth, it’s probably an impressive offering to the kinky arts: whips, chains, and lube. To my surprise, the centerpiece of the room is not the giant bed, but the massive mirror against the wall directly across from it.
So I can watch him fuck me over.
When he remains stoic, my voice is louder when I say, “Did you tell him that just to get me fired?”
He finally lifts his shoulder in a careless shrug, and I suck in a shattered breath. What had I agreed to do? No, what had I agreed to do it with? Who the fuck is Graham Delaney?
“Why would you do that to me?” I demand brokenly.
“I’ve already told you, Elle, I want to possess you.” A smile—shaky at first and then so bold it blinds me—splinters his beautiful bronze face. I press my hand against my chest because I swear my heart can’t take the explosion taking place within me. “And as of this morning, I do.”
To be continued...
King or Pawn? What will Senator Delaney’s next move be? Find out on the day of L-O-Fucking-V-E.
PAWN: VOLUME TWO is coming 2/14/15 to all major ebook retailers.
Acknowledgments
From start to finish, writing Pawn has been an amazing journey, and there are so many people I’m thankful for. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Christine at Shh Mom’s Reading for taking a chance on me and for all your valuable insight. You have my heart, and I am eternally grateful for all you’ve done for me and this book.
Thank you to Letitia at RBA Designs for bringing Graham and Elle to life in the beautiful covers she designed. She captured D.C. and my characters just like I imagined. And she didn’t threaten to strangle me when I messaged her twenty times a day. You are a patient, patient woman!
Thanks to Tanya at The Word Maid for the editing. She’s probably seen the name Graham Delaney so many times she knows the good senator’s next move better than he does, but she’s great and I’ve learned a lot from her.
Thank you to Nina at The Literary Gossip for her awesome feedback and pushing me to finish those sentences I left hanging. Graham, Elle and I appreciate it so much!
Thank you so much to the INCREDIBLE authors who have shared my Pawn posts, giving me advice, and accepted me into the “Indie” fold. You are my heroes.
Thank you to all my new blogger friends who’ve pimped Pawn and volunteered to read my story—and to the bloggers I’ll meet in the future. Thank you for helping authors follow their dreams.
And a MASSIVE thanks to everyone reading Pawn. I’m so grateful to you for giving Graham and Elle a chance. I hope you adored them as much as I loved writing their story.
Volume 2 ... here we come! ;)
About the Author
Smut addict and hopeless romantic, sometimes at the same time. I have an odd fascination with reality TV, vintage clothing, and Marvel movies. Books are my passion. I'm the author of the upcoming PAWN and INTERTWINED serials.
Let's get to know each other and talk books. Find me on Facebook or email me at mayastjamesauthor@gmail.com.