EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2019 Serenity Snow
ISBN: 978-0-3695-0080-9
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THE MADAM’S LOVER
Assassin’s Core, 1
Serenity Snow
Copyright © 2019
Chapter One
Tatiana Rayne stirred the straw around in her soda as she stared into the glass. She was a woman with everything going for her. A college degree, a job she enjoyed, and a family that loved her.
Then why was she so miserable right now?
Was it because her parents expected her to marry their best friends’ son?
Maybe it was because she knew he was all set to propose to her sometime soon after a year of dating. He wanted to give her everything, including a life as a housewife, raising babies, a place in black high society, and being at his beck and call.
It could be the fact that her family thought perfection was a straight woman married to an affluent doctor, lawyer, or businessman that had her on edge lately.
Maybe it was just her. She could be stressed with work and the pressure to start having sex with him again. She’d only slept with him a handful of times, and she hadn’t enjoyed it enough to continue it.
Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at it on the round table with its permanent water stains and what looked like spaghetti sauce next to a cigarette burn. She let it go to voicemail and then switched it to vibrate and turned her attention out the square window she sat next to in the café on Golden Street.
Her life seemed to be spiraling out of control, even though she wanted to believe she had it all together.
Her phone vibrated, and she glanced at it. It was her mother again. With a sigh she picked up the gadget. “Hello, Mom.”
“Tatiana, where are you?” Melissa Rayne demanded frantically. “Did you pick up your dress?”
“No, I’ll get it tomorrow,” she replied quietly.
The dress was for the fundraiser for the hospital’s mental health wing, a fundraiser that her mother had chaired. Handpicked by her mother and paid for by her father, the garment was already in her closet.
Her father was one of the Cedars Hospital’s most renowned surgeons, and her mother was one of black high society’s most popular socialites. Charity work was her life.
Melissa was beautiful, popular, and even had a knack for event planning. Everyone said she had it all, and she was looking forward to dragging Tatiana into that world.
“Tatiana, didn’t I tell you not to wait until the last minute?” Melissa demanded. “This charity is important. I want you there and in that dress.”
“I know, Mother,” she said patiently. Her chest squeezed tight, and her stomach roiled with nausea at the very thought of another charity event where she smiled serenely as if she really was the happiest woman in the world.
It wasn’t the charity event though that had her on edge. It was the fact she was expected to show up on Ewan’s arm.
“Where are you? I told you to be here early.”
“I know,” she said. Tonight was a dinner party that Ewan’s mother was throwing, but she was supposed to be at her parents’ so she could ride over with them. Her mother wanted to make sure her dress was right, and she was made up perfectly. Just like a little Barbie.
She didn’t like make-up because it made her look funny, but she did like dressing up and putting on lip gloss and sometimes mascara.
“Then, get your butt over here right now,” Melissa ordered.
“I’m on my way.” She ended the call and stared out into the night. Tatiana had had a long day at work, but she knew no one could care less about that.
Her job was nothing next to Ewan’s. She was just a buyer for a local boutique, and her mother expected her to give up that job once she said “I do”.
Tia loved her job and found solace in it, but that peace was soon to be gone.
****
Carrington Beals looked up from his desk at the murmur of his name. His main investor in his dry-cleaning business had become a partner two years ago. He’d been on the verge of losing everything thanks to a couple of small addictions.
One of them was starting to supersede the other, and it took money, more than he could often afford, despite the growth and success of his business.
“We need to talk,” Charles Rayne said quietly, and the tension in his face was a giveaway.
“What about?” He motioned Charles in and leaned back in his chair as the older man closed the door behind him.
“We’re short,” he said. “We need that money back by tomorrow night.”
“We’ll have it,” Carrington said, his tone irritated. “But I need a loan.”
“I can’t keep covering your personal expenditures, Carrington,” he said on a sigh. “This is becoming too much of a habit. You need help. What is it? Women? Drugs? Gambling or all of the above?”
“Just give me one more loan, and I’ll make sure everything is smoothed out.”
“No. I’ll cover the shortfall, but I’m not giving you anymore money,” Charles told him. “Pull it together, Carrington, or you’re going to get us both in a world of trouble.”
Carrington glared at him. “Fine. You’re right. Just cover the shortfall, and I’ll take care of my own personal needs.”
“We have to be careful,” Charles said. “After last time, we cut it too close. I don’t want to risk my family’s future or yours, so promise me you’ll straighten up.”
“I promise,” he said and dug up a placating smile. “I promise. Starting tomorrow I’ll take care of it.”
“If it’s a woman, dump her, if it’s drugs, check into rehab, and the same for gambling. You can beat whatever it is.”
“I know,” he agreed. “I will.”
Charles nodded and backed to the door. “Handle it before it hurts your family.”
Carrington made a face as Charles turned and left him alone again. The man thought he was so perfect and knew so damned much because he’d been mayor and a state rep.
He thought he was better than him, and so was his son with his seemingly picture-perfect family. The great and renowned surgeon with the perfect little socialite wife. And his perfect son and lovely daughter.
That was a lie. A fly on the wall of Charles’s living room could curl anyone’s hair and have society treating the entire family like pariahs.
Carrington snorted in disgust. He picked up the phone on his desk and punched in a number. He’d deal with Charles’s whining later. Tonight, he had plans.
****
She probably should have stayed with her car, but Tatiana had had the feeling that would be a bad idea. She’d felt as if she was being watched and still did as she walked along the street.
The leaves of the trees off to her right rustled, and she jumped looking over. She thought she saw a faint glow, but the crack of thunder overhead made her tense
Then, the sky opened up and began crying down on her in a furious torrent. A clap of thunder made her gasp. Tatiana winced, wishing she’d just called a cab instead of trying to walk off the funk she was in.
A car passed, and water rose up to drench her side. She squealed as the cool liquid soake
d into her thin dress. Tatiana rubbed her arms, pimpled from the slight chill brought on by being wet through.
Something moved in the woods, and she was certain it had to be a wild dog or two. Inside her, the energy of her power stirred in preparation for defense.
She didn’t want to hurt the animal, but she would do what was necessary to protect herself. She was a blood witch, trained in the tradition of her mother’s family, and allowed energy to build on her fingers.
At the same time, she was certain she’d been so stupid for not staying in the car. She could have created a shield to keep herself safe, but she might still be sitting there waiting for a car to pass.
Who did this?
Not women like her that’s for sure. They didn’t walk anywhere they didn’t have to and definitely not over long distances. The movement stopped just as the sound of a car coming closer grabbed her attention.
Tatiana turned to see a pair of headlights coming around the curve and moved closer to the shoulder of the road, hoping she wouldn’t get splashed again. The dim lights washed over her, and the car slowed as it came alongside her and pulled to a stop.
The window on the passenger side slid gracefully down, but the interior remained dark.
“You need a ride somewhere?”
She peered into the car. The voice was low and warm as it drifted to her, barely cutting through the rain. Tatiana pushed her wet hair back and wiped water out of her eyes for a clearer look. The interior light came on, giving her possible benefactor a face.
The russet skin of her face was unblemished, and her blue eyes were friendly if tired. Her thick ebony hair was cut in a classic boy-cut with the top appearing to be cut a little longer. She had a strong jaw and long lashes to be envied.
Was she an axe murderer?
Probably not. The percentage of women serial killers was proportionately lower than men, but that didn’t make her safe. Still, she didn’t get the feeling she’d have to fight for her life tonight.
“Come on, baby, it’s pouring out here, and this curve’s dangerous in a storm,” the woman said in a whiskey smooth tone.
Tatiana hesitated and then climbed in. Her wet butt slid on the leather seat. “Sorry about the seat.”
“Not a problem,” she drawled nonchalantly. “It’ll dry up nice. Besides, I couldn’t just pass you by, could I?” She pulled back onto the road.
“Thank you,” Tatiana said with a smile. She was thankful considering only two cars had passed her and her phone was dead, which meant she couldn’t even call her mother.
“There’s a club not far, No Dice. Have you ever been there?”
The club was a playground for lesbians looking for anonymity and rough sex. She had been there several times over the last six months. Finding a Domme here hadn’t been too hard since the club offered the service as well as providing subs.
They were discreet, which was what she loved about the place as much as the fact she knew her partners were clean should she decide to have sex.
“You can use a phone and dry off there,” her savior informed her without waiting for her response.
“Great,” she muttered. Calling her mother to pick her up there was going to lead to arguments that went well into the next century.
“What? Afraid your man’s going to freak out?” The woman gave her a mocking laugh.
“No.” Her family would go ballistic and so would Ewan.
“Call your girlfriend, or I’ll drop you someplace,” she said coolly. “You can wait in the vestibule, and I’ll let you use my phone. That way you don’t have to taint yourself.”
“It’s not that,” she murmured as a rambling building came into view, the brick and terra cotta tile beautiful even in the dark.
The driver pulled into the parking lot and found a slot moments later. “Stay put.” She cut the engine and climbed out.
Tatiana heard the trunk slam shut and then her door was pulled open. A wide umbrella provided shelter from the storm. She looked up into azure eyes alight with humor, and her heart skipped a beat.
“Come on.” She held out a hand, and Tatiana took it. The skin was soft though slightly calloused. She allowed the stranger to help her from the car and stumbled, falling right into her savior.
Tatiana grunted and winced as the wet of her soaked into the other woman.
“Didn’t realize you wanted to be in my arms,” she teased lightly.
Tatiana laughed nervously even as her nipples hardened.
The stranger’s lips tilted up. “Let’s get inside and get you a towel.”
Her savior led her to the front door and opened it for her. Tatiana hurried inside followed by the other woman, who quickly let down the umbrella and stowed it in one of three racks lining one side of the entry. A stack of fluffy black towels wasn’t far way, and she took one and immediately wrapped it around herself.
Her dress was already molded to her like a second skin, and her hair was starting to frizz. However, it was still days like this she was glad she didn’t perm anymore. Her hair would be a natural mess.
“Want a drink?” her benefactor asked, her gaze on her.
Tatiana didn’t shy from the heat flaring in her stare even as it sparked a need in her. She wiped water from her face running down from her hair and brought Ewan’s face into her mind. He was gorgeous, the quintessential babe that every woman lusted after.
Half-English, he had his mother’s golden eyes and wavy black hair. He was fine, with muscles in all the right places.
She fantasized just to get aroused enough to fool him into thinking she enjoyed sex with him. He was a straight shooter in bed, clean and quick when she needed it rough and dirty.
Tatiana let out a slow breath, trembling. She could keep doing this until she slipped, and he caught her. On the other hand, she could just learn to be happy with him, right?
Everyone said he’d make her happy, that she should already be happy.
You worked at a marriage, and everything turned out the way it was supposed to, didn’t it? That’s what her mother and his kept telling her.
She just needed therapy, and she’d get past her perverted hungers and twisted life of lies and secrets.
“I—I shouldn’t,” she said, but she wanted to play in this club just one more time before she turned away from who she really was.
The stranger leaned closer to her, and the clean scent of vanilla drifted over Tatiana. Those blue eyes were knowing, but the woman didn’t lift a hand to touch her as she watched her, waiting.
“You’ve been here before,” the stranger said finally.
“Once or twice,” Tatiana admitted.
“What do you like? Smooth or something with rough edges?”
She caught her breath. She liked a woman who knew how to hit just hard enough to make her wetter. She loved a woman who wore a dildo and could fuck her brains out.
“A little of both,” Tatiana heard herself saying even as she pushed that sensible voice of reason to the back of her mind. Just one more time, and she’d tuck this side of her away.
“You want to come up with me?” the stranger asked.
Chapter Two
The woman’s gaze filled with unsuppressed desire, and Tatiana licked her suddenly parched lips. Her blood was hot, making her already hard nipples, hidden by the towel, even harder.
She let her gaze drift down over the taller woman to take in her lean build in worn jeans belted with a black leather belt and paired with a black button-down. There was a masculine edge to her dress that translated to nonchalant feminine confidence, and it turned Tatiana on.
Just one more time, she told herself. And this would be the end.
“I’m Alexi by the way,” she drawled, keeping her voice low. “And I’m disease free, but you know that’s the way it has to be here.”
“Tia.” No one ever called her that, but it was the name she used when she went to gay bars. “And I’m clean, too.”
“Let’s take the elevator up,” Alexi s
uggested and motioned to her left before starting that way.
They passed a room with a closed door and a small lounge with a bar that was nearly empty. Alcohol mingled with chocolate and competed with perfume that was too strong as the vague strands of a slow tune chased them.
“Is there a restaurant in here?” she asked curiously. She’d never come here to eat, just to blow off steam at the end of a long week.
“A small one, but the food is five-star,” Alexi told her. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes, but not for food,” she murmured, giving Alexi a look from beneath her lashes, and a soft chuckle made her even more eager to get out of her dress and get those very capable looking hands on her.
“Eager to work off some stress?” Alexi asked.
“A little bit,” Tatiana admitted.
She hadn’t been with a woman in six weeks. Things at work had been hectic, and Ewan had been making even more demands on her time with both their parents adding to the pressure.
“Me too.” Alexi pulled her off their present course of dark wood and red to a bank of elevators. She pushed a button.
“You like to top?” Tatiana asked, her breath stalling as Alexi looked down at her.
“Only, baby,” she murmured. “So, if you’re thinking of something else, we better get you a phone.”
Tatiana smiled slowly. “I like a Domme who knows her way around a playroom,” she said demurely. “I am curious about one thing.”
The elevator doors swished open, revealing an empty car, and Alexi put a hand on the door. “After you.”
She climbed in and waited until the door had closed before saying, “Does this session involve sex?”
“Definitely, you begging off?”
“Not even,” Tatiana said in a husky tone. She needed it so bad; her body was strung tight as a violin string and aching for a woman’s touch. There was just something about soft hands that got her wet.
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