The Seduction

by Jessie Jones

  Gillian ran her fingers over a small scar that was on John's left shoulder as he spoke. "Is this the wound?" she asked when John finished his story. When he nodded his head, Gillian bent her head down and gently kissed the spot. Her eyes met his as she said, "I wish Hadley was alive so I could thank her for patching you up. I'm assuming this is not the only gunshot wound you have?"

  "No, it's not," John said seriously, wanting her to accept not only him but the lifestyle he led. He refused to lie to her or sugar coat the truth. Watching something flicker in the depths of her emerald eyes, he asked, "Does it bother you that I run the underworld, kitten? As I told you last night, my world is dangerous, but I'm not going to hide that from you. I have killed men, and I will again, but only those who deserve it. It may sound contradictory but there is still honor among thieves in my line of work. Not all of us follow this code, but those who work for me do."

  "I don't like knowing that you have killed people, Bear, but I do believe you when you say that it was necessary," Gillian replied softly, her fingers toying with the hair on his massive, muscular chest. "I just don't want to know about it if you have to do it, okay? I hate knowing that you are in danger, but I feel as though I am beginning to understand you. I want you to promise me, though, that you will always have guards and won't do anything stupid. Remember, you are now a man in a relationship. I care what happens to you, Bear."

  John loosely gripped her neck and brought her centimeters from his face. In a hoarse, smoker's voice he asked, "Are you saying you care about me, kitten? Maybe even love me a little?"

  She wanted to tell John how she really felt, but the anxiety of John rejecting her tightened her throat and made her unable to voice the words. Unable to look at him for fear her eyes would reveal her true feelings, Gillian abruptly jumped off the bed. But before she could leave the room, John grabbed her hand and barked, "Where the fuck do you think you're going?"

  Still avoiding his eyes, the beautiful American quickly replied, "I need to get cleaned up. I have an appointment with Bennet this morning. I didn't realize it was so late."

  "You're not going any fucking where!" John growled as he jumped off the bed and roughly pulled her body against his. He knew she was lying to him and avoiding his question, and that infuriated him. Was Gillian not responding to him because she was too embarrassed to tell him no? He thought he had seen love deep in her clover colored eyes last night, but maybe it had been wishful thinking on his part. He wanted to push Gillian to respond, but if she rejected him, he would be devastated. Deciding not to ruin the mood of the morning, he sighed loudly, "Kitten, I already have plans for us this morning. I wanted you to attend a meeting with me in Paris, and then we'll be flying back to London."

  "John, I haven't packed my things yet! Plus, I already called Bennet. He is meeting me at the hospital in about an hour and a half."

  "The staff began packing your things last night, kitten," John replied calmly as rage filled her eyes and she began to struggle in his arms.

  "Damn it, Bear!" Gillian yelled, trying to push John back, but he only tightened his hold. "You had no right to do that! What if I had said no? I'm not one of your servants you can boss around!"

  "I was not taking no for an answer last night, so your response mattered little, kitten," John admitted smugly, the vein flexing in his neck. Seeing that Gillian was getting ready to explode, he added, "Look, before you begin yelling at me, let me explain. I want you in my life, kitten. How much fucking clearer can I make that? Even if you had said no, I was prepared to carry your lovely ass out of here because I know you want me, too. You say I have issues with control, but you, my beautiful kitten, overthink every damn thing! If you work on your issues, then I will work on mine."

  Gillian listened to John's words and felt her anger leaving. Last night, she had been very angry at the British billionaire, but he was right. If he had thrown her over his shoulder and hauled her ass out of France, she would have let him. John was also right about the overthinking. She had a bad habit of talking herself out of things, even the things she wanted most. She wanted John, and for once, she wasn't going to let her foolish pride get in the way. She also wasn't going to let John dictate her actions.

  "Okay, John, fine. I'll make a conscious effort to work on my issues, but I am not going to your meeting," Gillian replied calmly as he cocked a dark brow at her. "While you are at work, I am going to meet with Bennet at the hospital. I just want to thank him for being so kind to me, even if you had a hand in that. When the meeting is over, I will have a car bring me straight to you. I think that's a fair compromise."

  John cracked his thick neck as he eyed Gillian. He was not used to taking orders from anyone, let alone a woman, and he honestly didn't like it. With a tense, gruffness in his voice, he said between clenched teeth, "Fine, kitten, but you will have guards with you the entire time. As soon as the meeting is over, you will be brought to me."

  A brilliant smile touched Gillian's face before she got up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. As she pulled back, she said, "Thank you, Pooh Bear. I know that was hard for you, but I appreciate the compromise."

  "You fucking owe me," John muttered before he buried his face against her neck as he nuzzled the sensitive skin. "I'll collect my payment tonight."

  "Why wait until tonight to collect, Bear?" Gillian cooed as she turned around in his arms to rub her bottom against his cock. Feeling it begin to harden, she grabbed his large, scarred hands and placed them on her breasts. She giggled when she heard him growl. Reaching behind her, she grabbed the large, swollen organ and began to slowly massage it.

  John closed his eyes a moment as Gillian began massaging his balls. "You're playing with fire, kitten. I don't want to hurt you, dammit."

  "I know exactly what I'm playing with, Mr. Kenric," Gillian purred before she licked John's lower lip seductively and fingered the enormous head of his dick. "Let me take care of you, John. The doctor will make it all feel better. Follow me."

  John's breathing quickened, and his cock pulsed with need as he watched his kitten waltz her voluptuous, naked frame into the bathroom. His woman had an amazing body! Every inch of her body was made for sex. From her narrow waist to her succulent bottom and wide hips, Gillian's body was perfection. A slow, sensual smile touched his lips when he saw her look over her shoulder and motion for him to follow. Like being struck by lightning, John felt an electric current shoot through his body, and he immediately followed her. Following the scent of her perfume, John hungrily licked his lips when he heard the shower turn on.

  Gillian watched with lust and anticipation as her lover stalked toward her like a lion would his prey. They stepped into the shower, and she cried out with a mixture of pain and pleasure as he reached her and pulled her roughly to his chest. He then gripped her throat loosely in one hand as he slammed his lips to hers. The hot water pounded their naked bodies as John's tongue mated with hers. Feeling her arms begin to snake around his neck, he instantly broke the kiss and pushed her gently back to look into eyes the color of the greenest pasture. She bit her bottom lip as she slowly dropped to her knees in front of John. Gillian kept her eyes on his as she wrapped her hand around his thick cock and began rubbing it along her cheeks and lips.

  "Your dick is so delicious and big, Pooh Bear," Gillian said seductively before she licked the precum oozing from the slit. When his hips instinctually bucked, she giggled. John's body was so responsive to her touch.

  "Put it in your mouth, kitten," John said between clenched teeth as his woman drove him crazy.

  "Like this?" Gillian teased before she put only the head into her mouth and began sucking on it. After torturing John like that for a moment, she pulled it from her mouth and began licking the vein that ran along the velvety skin. At his balls, she sucked them into her mouth as she slowly stroked the length of his cock. Gillian giggled when John's head fell back and he let out a loud moan. She then put the head back into her mouth as her hands snaked around his back and she began massag
ing his tight, muscular ass.

  "What the fuck are you doing to me, kitten?" John asked at the sweet torture the American was creating within him. He literally was putty in her hands. Gillian made him feel a wide range of emotions, and no other woman had ever done that. Feeling the need to dominate her, the British billionaire gripped her wet, silky, ebony hair in his hands as he began to move his hips slowly in and out of her mouth. His cock swelled even more as Gillian sucked the length of his massive member into the back of her throat. His abdominal muscles flexed, and precum oozed from the head when she hummed and caused vibrations.

  Gillian's innocent action had John gripping the strands of her hair even tighter as he began to quicken the thrusts in and out of her mouth. She told herself to breathe through her nose and relaxed her sore jaw. His movements were hurting her jaw ever so slightly, but Gillian wanted to take care of her man and please him any way that she could. Her own juices poured from her pussy and mixed with the steamy water that was pounding down on them. Her frantic fingers found her enlarged clit as she searched for her own pleasure. She circled the nub with erratic strokes just as John did the same. With one final push of his hips, John yelled out as the hot, thick, sticky cream shot out from his cock and deep into her throat. Gillian found her own pleasure and moaned in sweet surrender around John's large erection. The grip her lover had on her hair loosened as the stunning American sucked the salty liquid from John's dick. As her Pooh Bear pulled his receding shaft from her mouth, Gillian's eyes met his as she fingered a drop on her chin and hungrily licked it off.

  In one swift motion, John jerked Gillian's enticing body up into his arms as he crushed his mouth to hers in a sloppy, passionate kiss. A growl caught in the back of his throat as he tasted himself on her tongue. He sighed in total fulfillment as his kitten melted into his body and wrapped her arms and legs around his waist. John stood there fully absorbed in Gillian's loving embrace as the water flowed over their naked bodies.

  Breaking the kiss, John felt his woman nuzzle his neck. A smile touched her lips as she softly said, "We probably need to get cleaned up, Bear. We don't want to be late for our meetings. If you wash my back, I'll wash yours."

  "Then pass the soap, kitten." John grinned as she slid off him and reached for the scented bar. This was going to be the best shower of his life!

  Chapter 9

  The British billionaire walked into the boardroom dressed in an impeccable black Italian suit. His chestnut eyes immediately landed on the attractive brunette who sat near the end of the long, rectangular table. A smile touched his handsome face as he walked around her and took his seat at the head of the table. "Good morning, Tania. You look lovely this morning."

  "Why, thank you, John. You look rather handsome yourself," his secretary and personal assistant replied as she looked up from her laptop. Seeing the ridiculous grin on his face, she smiled. "By the look on your face, I'm assuming last night went well?"

  "It did. Kitten will be flying with me back to London right after this meeting," John said as he took a sip of the coffee Tania had prepared for him.

  Tania reached over and touched her employer gently on the arm. When his eyes met hers, the pretty Russian softly said, "I know I haven't met Gillian yet, but I already like her. She clearly makes you happy, and you deserve that."

  John said nothing in response to Tania's comment but leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. She then watched him pick up the file and look through it a moment before he motioned for the doorman to let the rest of the meeting attendees in. A gentle smile touched her face as she watched the man she considered a brother begin talking to business associates. Tania had known John and Patrick for several years and had seen firsthand the good that they did behind the scenes. Yes, they were dangerous men, but they could also be gentle and compassionate. John had personally helped Tania both financially and emotionally when her mother had passed away of cancer five years ago. The man had insisted he pay for the funeral and then gave the Russian a month off with pay. John had not only sent her flowers daily but had called her to see how she was doing. Tania could never repay him for his kindness. She also had meant her comment about liking Gillian. She had already heard how beautiful and intelligent the American was and had seen how upset John had been when she had left. She had seen a vulnerability and sadness in the large Brit that she never wanted to see again. The man had appeared almost lost, and that worried Tania greatly. Now she just hoped this Gillian did not betray her beloved John. Maybe the American could put her magic spell on Patrick too. After all, the Irishman deserved happiness just as much as the Brit.

  "Gentlemen, thank you for joining me here in Paris on such short notice. Let's begin, shall we?" John said, nodding the start of the meeting. After leading the meeting for a moment, the British billionaire sat back and gave each man a chance to speak. As they spoke, John's thoughts drifted to his beautiful kitten. After the two had fooled around in the shower and bathed, they had helped each other dress. Before getting in the car, he had given Gillian a diamond ring that had cost him half a million dollars. She had been in love with the ring and had immediately put it on. John had been unable to keep his hands off her in the car, and the two had shared several kisses and caresses. He had wanted nothing more than to slip inside of his kitten and make slow, sweet love to her, but he couldn't. When he dropped her off at the hospital, Gillian had promised that she would head straight to the airport after the meeting. He not only had a guard with her, but he had guards stationed outside the hospital. John wanted to take no chances with Gillian. After all, if he had his way, the two would have a long life together.

  John's eyes momentarily drifted to the door of the conference room as he heard it open. He then watched Luther walk into the room and look directly at him. A lump formed in John's throat when he saw the look on his most trusted guard's face. He knew instinctually that something was wrong.

  "Tania, please show these gentlemen out for a moment. I need a word with Luther." Without hesitation, the men stood up and followed the petite Russian secretary out of the conference room. When the door closed behind them, John looked at the guard and asked, "What's wrong?"

  "John, we just got word that Pandora is in Paris, and you won't believe who she was spotted with," Luther said as he watched the Brit's eyes blacken. "Your enemy and mine, Galen Stavros."

  "Fuck, kitten!" John yelled in fear as he jumped to his feet and immediately headed toward the door with Luther in tow.

  Across town, Gillian walked out of her meeting with Bennet. As she closed the door to his office, a tall, muscular Italian guard fell in step behind her as she made her way down the hospital corridor. Gillian could not wipe the silly smile from her lovely face. John had been so affectionate this morning, and she found herself eagerly awaiting his return. Glancing down at her hand, the American beauty eyed the ring that John had given her. The ring was six carats, an oval diamond surrounded by another four to five carats of rubies and was the most stunning piece of jewelry she had ever seen. Gillian had rejected the ring at first because she knew it had cost John a small fortune, but her lover had insisted that she wear it. Hugging her hand to her chest a moment, she inhaled and sighed in total happiness. Could the day get any better?

  Deep in her own thoughts, Gillian did not see the woman approaching her quickly. Before she knew what was happening, she ran smack into a solid body. The guard behind Gillian caught her as she stumbled backward. As the guard stood her back up, Gillian lifted her eyes and the breath caught in her throat when she saw Pandora standing before her. Her heart immediately began to race, and she felt heat turning her face red as she watched the Greek beauty burst into tears.

  "What the hell are you doing here?" Gillian heard herself ask angrily as she attempted to put distance between herself and Pandora. However, as she did this, the guard's grip tightened on her arm.

  "It's John!" Pandora cried, the tears streaming down her face. "He's been shot!"

  "Oh my God!" Gillian whispered
as her hand covered her mouth and tears immediately filled her eyes. Her free hand found the guard's arm for support as the overwhelming feeling of nausea and lightheadedness came over her. In a voice barely above a whisper, she asked, "Is he alive? Where is he?"

  "On his way to the hospital. He needs your help. The guards sent me to get you."

  "You were with John when he was shot?" Gillian asked, already aware of the answer. Tears fell down her face as she waited for Pandora's response. If she didn't have ahold of the guard, Gillian knew that she would be lying flat on the floor.

  "Of course, I was. Where else would I be?" Pandora said as her eyes locked with the American's.

  Trying to catch her breath, Gillian pushed aside the hurt and betrayal she was feeling. John needed her help, and even though he had lied to her, she loved him. Gillian would do anything to save the man she loved, even if it meant she couldn't have him. Grabbing Pandora's hand, she said, "Follow me."

  Jerking her hand from the American's grasp, Pandora yelled, "Let go of me! What in the hell are you doing?"

  "This is the best hospital in Paris, so they should be bringing John in through the ER any minute."

  "They aren't bringing John here!" Pandora replied with wide eyes. "His condition is too dire for him to travel this far. I have a car downstairs waiting for us. You need to come with me now!"

  Gillian was jerked behind the Greek model roughly as Pandora grabbed her hand and began dragging her down the hallway. Instead of taking the elevator, Pandora dragged the American through the door to the stairwell. Once inside the stairs, Gillian pulled loose from Pandora's grasp and quickly followed her down the stairs. When they reached the ground level of the stairwell, Pandora motioned for Gillian to follow her down what looked like an underground tunnel.

  Feeling an odd chill race up her spine, Gillian stopped in her tracks. "Why are we going this way?"