by Ruby Madden
He heard James’ reassuring voice inside his head. “That’s what the plan B morning after pill is for.”
Laughter exploded into the room.
Suddenly Blaze began to panic for a different reason. The voice he had just heard wasn’t inside his head at all.
He opened his eyes. It was James standing in the room right next to him, and he had already started speaking again amidst his laughter.
“Why are you worried about birth control? You and the future Mrs. Sparks will probably want to start making your first baby right away.”
“Ah-Ouch!” Blaze felt a stabbing pain deep inside of his balls as he stopped jerking off and quickly shoved his erection back inside his shorts.
“Grr,” he growled at James. “Why’d you have to do that to me?”
“First things first,” James said without skipping a beat.
“Let’s discuss logistics and then I’ll start tutoring you on how to be the dangerous bad boy of Bernadette’s wildest fantasies.
I already sent a message to our executive secretary, and she’s drafting an email to send to Bernadette inviting her to the Children’s Hospital charity gala tonight.
Bernadette’s going to be your date. She’ll need a dress and accessories that are gala appropriate. We want to thrill and impress her, so we’re going to buy them for her.
I’ve already called Rose’s plus size dress shop, and Rose sent me an email with forty gowns they have in stock that she believes meet your high standards, can be quickly altered and would work for the gala tonight.
Here, take a look at them. Rose says that she’ll have time for Bernadette to try on a maximum of ten dresses. So, choose ten dresses you would like to see on Bernadette and that would be good for promotional photos. Bernadette’s going to pick the final gown herself, so you’ll be semi-surprised when you see her tonight.
I told Rose that the sky’s the limit on the cost for the gown and that we’ll provide our own Sparks Luxury brand undergarments and accessories. I know that you usually like to keep within budget, but we want to impress Bernadette, not seem like cheapskates.”
Blaze scanned Rose’s email and rapidly picked out his preferred gowns. “We’ll take the black and bronze, the pink and gold, the fuchsia tulle…”
James briskly interrupted Blaze’s flow “Don’t tell me your choices brother, email them to our secretary and to Rose’s dress shop. You’re the famous photographer. You know what looks good on camera, not me. You do what you do best…and I’ll do what I do best.”
Blaze made all of the phone calls and sent every email necessary to enact James’ plan. After several hours of being coached on how to be a bad boy – including an awkward phone call where he initially placed Bernadette on mute and then accidentally hung up on her – he finally felt prepared to seduce her in true lothario style.
Chapter 5
Bernadette
Bernadette traced her fingers over the diamond face of her brand new wrist watch.
Her new copper timepiece was the most elegant watch she’d ever worn. It had been presented to her in a turquoise box with a bright copper bow when she’d arrived at Rose’s dress shop for her first dress fitting this morning.
She now recognized her new luxurious timepiece to be the delicate and feminine match to the watch that Blaze Sparks was currently wearing on his thick masculine wrist.
She knew that both watches were from Blaze’s latest line of luxury timepieces. Hers had the famous Sparks Luxury logo on its back.
Both she and Blaze were walking advertisements, and she knew it.
This evening at the charity gala was a work function, not a date. She had no doubt that most of the night would be spent taking promotional pictures and networking.
Still, she wanted to thank Blaze for giving her such an exquisitely beautiful timepiece. She also wanted to thank him for her new copper and turquoise peacock inspired ball gown, tear drop diamond earrings, and crystal coated high heels.
Only she hadn’t had the chance. She’d been sitting next to him in the back of his private car for the last 25 minutes, but he hadn’t said a single word to her, and she hadn’t dared to interrupt his phone call by speaking to him.
The only time Blaze had even acknowledged her presence was when she had first entered the car.
It happened after his driver had opened the car door to let her inside. Blaze briefly shifted his focus from his phone call to her, smiled at her and patted the car seat next to him, silently instructing her to step in and sit down beside him.
He never even stopped his conversation. He kept barking loudly into his phone, pounding out the particulars of some hotly contested business deal.
Bernadette wished that Blaze would put down his phone, at least long enough to say 'Hello Bernadette, you look lovely tonight.'
Instead of growing upset or angry, she comforted herself with the thought that his inattention was not a personal slight or a reflection on her appearance, but that it was to be expected. He was a busy, high-powered billionaire businessman, and this was a working date, not a real one.
She had never admitted it to herself before, but some part of her had always thought of her secret crush Blaze Sparks as a carefree playboy who lived off of his daddy’s billions and spent his days in the pursuit of art, beauty and fun.
Tonight was a confirmation that her mental image of him had been wrong. He was no carefree playboy; he was a businessman with an empire to run.
She felt her breath quicken as her internal discomfort grew. She had no idea what to expect from businessman Blaze Sparks. And with her big promotion to Fashion Editor on the line, the multiplying unknowns concerning his character worried her.
Bernadette consciously took a slow deep breath and gazed out of the car window to help calm her nerves.
As she watched the outside world flash by, she listed in her mind everything that she actually knew about the man. Billionaire, businessman, artist, swimming star, heartthrob, philanthropist. Nice guy? Bad boy?
She racked her mind, trying her best to determine what kind of a man he was. But, she still didn't know enough about the man currently ignoring her to make up her mind about who he really was. The enigma of Blaze Sparks worried her. She didn't know how she should proceed in interacting with him for the rest of the evening.
At that instant, Bernadette felt a throbbing soreness in the inner crease of her arm, just above her forearm.
It was where the phlebotomist had pricked her several times while trying to draw her blood this morning at Rose’s dress shop. She hadn’t anticipated having her blood drawn. If she had, she would have consumed plenty of water beforehand to plump up her veins and make her blood easier to collect.
When she’d asked the phlebotomist what the blood draw was for, he told her that it was to check for STDs and to rule out the possibility of an inheritable genetic disorder in case she should become pregnant with Mr. Spark’s child.
Her eyes had grown big when she'd heard him say the words “pregnant with Mr. Spark’s child.”
Of course, as a teenager she had fantasized about having Blaze Sparks’ baby, but more recently as a successful fashion reporter and responsible adult, the thought had never crossed her mind.
Pregnancy issue aside, Bernadette didn’t feel comfortable giving strangers access to her genetic information, so she asked the phlebotomist what would happen if she refused the tests. He responded by handing her a sealed envelope, saying “I was told to give you this if you refused the blood draw.”
A shiver danced up her throbbing arm as she recalled the shock that shook her body when she opened the envelope and pulled out what appeared to be a form letter.
The letter read:
DO NOT BE ALARMED.
This is a standard request for STD and genetic testing.
Blaze Sparks wishes to have sexual relations with you without the use of a condom.
He understands that this may result in pre
gnancy.
He wishes to know in advance if there is any possibility of inheritable genetic disorders should you and he choose to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse and potentially produce a baby.
If you refuse to submit to all requested tests you will not be allowed to enter Blaze Sparks’ home.
If you refuse to submit to all requested tests Blaze Sparks will have no sexual contact with you of any sort.
Sincerely,
Sparks Luxury Brands
Attached to the letter was a copy of Blaze’s negative STD results with today’s date on them.
Bernadette recalled how she had sat motionless and slack jawed after reading the letter. He has sex with so many women that he has a form letter, she thought as her face had burned uncomfortably hot.
Her cheeks had blazed red hot as she’d decided what action to take next. I won’t submit to this, she’d thought defiantly as she'd considered her next move. But, I have no choice, she'd said to herself in the next moment feeling slightly defeated.
Her thoughts had become increasingly disjointed as her mind had started to panic.
I have to enter his home because his photography studio’s in his home and I need to see his studio to write my article and I need to write a great article if I’m going to win the promotion to Fashion Editor.
Her brain had finally melted down in a combination of frustration and anger and had turned to complete goo. Her thoughts had run together in her mind and dripped over one another like thick, sticky sludge.
What’s the deal with him assuming that I’m willing to have sex with him without a condom anyway? Of course, I do want to have sex with him without a condom. I have for years. And I also want him to be the first man I feel inside of me flesh to flesh without a rubber between us.
I want him to be my first…but not if he’s a total douchebag manwhore.
Am I, a successful modern woman actually going to submit to this powerful billionaire’s unreasonable demand for a blood draw and urine test? And then let him take me bareback?
Sure, his STD tests are negative, and he’s the guy I’ve been crushing on for the last eight years...so everything’s good there. But, what about the coercive aspect of this? What if I end up getting pregnant with his baby? What if he’s a total sex god and I fall in love with him… for real? What happens then?
Suddenly, a calm voice inside her head had said,
Stop making yourself crazy and just make a choice. You don’t have to submit to Blaze’s tests if you don’t want to.
You’re an incredible writer, and you can write an award winning article without ever seeing the inside of his studio. But, if you want to have the sex with him that you’ve fantasized about, then you’re going to have to play by his rules and submit to the tests.
Be ready, because there’s probably a whole lot more that you’re going to have to submit to before you get everything you want from him. Remember, you’re dealing with a billionaire and they live life by a different set of rules.
Bernadette had taken a deep breath and smiled her strong, confident smile as she signed the release with the phlebotomist to have her blood drawn and urine tested and the results delivered to Blaze’s doctor for review.
It took four sticks for the phlebotomist to collect her blood and by the end of her ordeal, her inner arm had turned red and purple from the abuse.
But she’d felt proud that she had made her difficult choice, and she was looking forward to getting her interview and winning the job as Fashion Editor for BBW Runway magazine. She was also excited to be wearing her new ball gown and about to enjoy an evening of promotional photos, networking and maybe a little dinner and dancing with her long-time crush Blaze Sparks.
The limousine gently rolled to a stop.
Bernadette’s mind shot back to the present as the car pulled up to the entrance of the Children’s Hospital charity ball.
She forced herself to cast her fears aside and play the part of the professional reporter. She chose to push away her discomfort with the way her billionaire escort had been ignoring her, after only hours earlier asking her to sign a contact agreeing to bareback sex.
Bernadette ground her crystal heels into the limousine floor and set her jaw. She was determined to do her best to get the interview of a lifetime from the douchey billionaire sitting next to her. She took a deep breath, prepared to compete hard for her dream job at BBW Runway magazine. And as the limo driver opened her door and she set her two crystal covered heels to the asphalt, she inhaled a rush of air, grateful to be wearing such an exquisitely beautiful designer ball gown with long jeweled sleeves that covered the unsightly purple bruises on her arm.
Chapter 6
Blaze
Blaze smiled boldly into the flashing camera lights as he escorted Bernadette through the maze of media photography stations at the entrance to the Children’s Hospital charity gala.
Bernadette tilted her head up, gazing into his blue eyes. Her own stunning green eyes flashing and flickering with amber sparks as the camera lights reflected off her face.
Blaze marveled at how expertly and charmingly she posed for the camera. He would love for her to be his model; to manipulate the angle of her chin and the curve of her shoulder, exposing her loveliness with his camera lens.
Bernadette was now smiling tenderly at him as she hugged him with both arms, showing affection for the cameras. She worked the cameras with such expertise that Blaze could almost believe that she was actually in love with him. She had undeniable red carpet swagger.
She was advertising herself and him. Blaze knew that he was lucky to have such a promotional powerhouse on his arm. With her on his arm – and writing his interview for BBW Runway magazine – he might actually get enough buzz around his photographer of the year nomination to finally win the big prize this year.
As Blaze thought about how much Bernadette’s red carpet prowess was helping him, a guilty fire stoked inside his gut. She’d been nothing but professional and kind to him and he’d been playing a juvenile pretend-to-be-a-bad-boy game with her ever since he spoke with her for the first time this morning.
His cheeks reddened in front of the camera as he thought about the torture and angst he must have put Bernadette through when he refused to speak to her during their long car ride over to the gala.
His older brother James usually gave good advice on dating women and keeping them interested. After all, he was an expert at romance. He’d been dating the same lady for the last four years, and she seemed to be head over heels in love with him. But Blaze decided that James’ theory on the seduction of reporters needed some revision.
Bernadette had agreed to accompany him tonight expecting to receive her magazine interview and to be romanced by a handsome photographer.
Fuck this bad boy game. Beautiful Bernadette deserves better than this, he reprimanded himself.
Instead of pretending to be a bad boy, Blaze decided to give in to his romantic aspirations and give Bernadette a passionate evening to remember.
Click – Click – Ka-Boom! Blinded by the volley of flashing lights, he fixed his eyes straight ahead and focused his attention on the softness of Bernadette’s skin. His hand touched hers gently as they stood side to side displaying their luxury wrist watches for the cameras at the second to last media photography station.
He made his big move at the final photography station. Expertly, he wrapped his left arm firmly around Bernadette’s waist and pulled her figure close to his own. Her eyes widened in what appeared to be shock as he took control of her body and held her as close to him as humanly possible without actually lifting her up into his arms.
Her cheeks blushed pink as he turned to face her and asked, “May I kiss you?”
She parted her lips and uttered “uh, ye-” as he bent down and placed his mouth over hers before she had the chance to answer fully.
His firm lips slid softly against hers as they kissed. His tongue tasted her
raspberry lip gloss as their mouths parted and he whispered “mmm…” into her mouth. Her lips blushed rose red.
Camera lights flashed blindingly as Blaze released his arm from around Bernadette’s waist and took her hand in his. They stepped up the final stairway into the ornately decorated gala building together.
**Bernadette**
Bernadette’s hand trembled inside Blaze’s firm grasp as he held onto her, walking her past the stage and onto the crowded dance floor. He wrapped his arm around her waist once more and pulled her close to him as the music switched from quick and upbeat to slow and sensual.
She could feel his warm breath on her ear as he bent down and whispered “I’m pleased we’re able to spend this evening together. You’re everything I desire in a woman Bernadette. You’re beautiful, intelligent, fashionable and ambitious.” She felt him breathe in her perfume as he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her neck.
She was confused by his behavior. He had completely ignored her on the long car ride over to the gala. He had chosen to spend the entire time discussing business on his cell phone and declined to speak even one word to her. But now that they were here, taking photographs and talking and dancing, he couldn’t keep his hands or his mouth off her.
For her, this evening was supposed to be primarily about interviewing him so that she could write a fantastic article and win the Fashion Editor position at BBW Runway magazine.
Anything else that might happen was just supposed to be part of an evening of light fun, a sexy, memorable night with the famous billionaire, photographer and swimming star.
The handsome man now holding her in his strong arms had a dangerous charisma that was overtaking her. She knew that she needed to escape his grasp before he spun her around on the dance floor and made love to her deep and dirty, right where they stood and for everyone to see. She worried that he might love her and leave her without giving her what she really needed – her interview.