My cheeks turn red with embarrassment. I hadn’t realized I’d been yelling like a maniac. But I guess that’s what happens when you get smacked in the face with a cliffhanger.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
Joseph quirks an amused eyebrow. “What happened in it that got you so worked up?”
“You don’t want to know,” I growl.
Joseph pouts. “That’s not fair.”
Neither was that ending. I still want to beat that author’s ass like they’re a submissive from Club X. I don’t bother saying it though.
“Life isn’t fair,” I say giving him another kiss on the lips.
Joseph grins at me.
We stare at each other for a moment, and my heart feels full. I can’t believe how lucky that I am to have this man.
“What?” I ask, breaking out of my thoughts to see Joseph gazing at me with a mischievous smile.
“I’ve got something for you.”
My heart stalling in my chest, I watch as he produces a large, black velvet box. For a moment, I think it might be an engagement ring, but the box is far too big.
A faint smile spreads across my face and I shake my head at my eagerness. It’s too soon to be expecting something like that. But I do want it. I want everyone to know that he’s mine and I’m his.
It will happen, I tell myself. Eventually.
I clear my throat, reaching out for it, our fingers brush against one another and I feel that same spark I felt so long ago. Maybe not that long ago, but it feels like it, with everything we’ve been through.
“Open it,” he prods softly, pushing the box into my hands.
I keep the smile on my face although my throat closes, and I do as he says. My heart jumps when I see what’s inside, my knees going weak.
“Joseph,” I gasp, my eyes filling with tears, the air being pulled from my lungs. Oh my god, oh my god, I repeat in my mind over and over.
It’s a collar, a beautiful one, black and silver, encrusted with sparkling diamonds. But it isn’t the first thing that caught my eye.
There’s a ring in there too. I choke on my words for a moment, in shock but mostly just overwhelmed with so much happiness.
“What’s this?” I somehow manage, my voice a breathless whisper, though I know exactly what it is. Staring at the ring, a platinum band with a large, sparkling diamond atop of it, It’s suddenly very hard to breathe.
I imagined it moments before, but this doesn’t seem real.
Joseph sinks to his knee in front of me, his heart in his eyes. My heart skips a beat and my skin pricks as reality sets in. The room spins around me as I stare down at him, and I feel like passing out.
“Lilly Marie Wade, my flower,” he says, his voice aching with emotion, “Will you marry me?”
I stare at him in disbelief, my throat so tight with emotion I’m barely able to fill my lungs. I can’t find the words to answer. I’m stunned.
The silence stretches on for several long moments as I try to get over my shock. My chest heaves as I struggle to draw in breaths, my legs feeling like jell-o. Through it all, Joseph waits patiently, staying on one knee.
Say yes you idiot!
“Yes!” I’m finally able to croak when I find my voice, leaning down to wrap my arms around his neck and bury his face with tearful kisses, my heart pounding like a battering ram. “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll marry you Joseph!”
“Good.” Joseph pulls me down into his arms, delivering a deep solid kiss to my lips. “Because I love you Lilly And I’m never letting you go.”
I smile up at him through my tears, my heart aching from the unbelievable joy that fills my body and the happiness I see reflected in his eyes.
Delivering another kiss to his lips, I breathe out through aching lungs, “I love you too, Joseph.”
Sneak Peek of Given
Highest Bidder (Book 4)
Zander
I hit delete on the message from that prick on my cell phone.
Adam Brooks, that dumb fuck, owes me a lot of money, more money than he should.
He knew how much debt he had and gambled it all away. He thinks I don’t know… I know everything.
This happens from time to time. Everyone owes me and that’s how I like it. It’s only a matter of time before something gets between me and the money they owe me.
But I don’t care; I always come out on top and that’s what matters. Money isn’t power, it’s leverage. Being owed is power. True power. And that’s what I want. And what I have.
But this dumb fuck owes me more than what’s excusable. More than he’s worth. I can’t allow him to get away with it. He may be a high up executive and think he’s untouchable, but the alcoholic, gambling degenerate is going to give me my money one way or the other. And then I’m done with him. I have enough pull to bury him if I want. I tap my fingers on the hard maple desktop, debating. The rapt rapt rapt echoes rhythmically and calms me slightly.
I could destroy him slowly. Cripple him financially and embarrass him in every way possible. But no one would know why and he’s too pathetic. No, I’ll just take my money and be through with him. He’ll hang himself on his own.
What pisses me off most is what he offered to give me instead of the cash.
I stare the computer screen, the dim glow lighting the darkened room. Isaac gave me her information. Talia Raine.
She’s beautiful. Her gorgeous eyes are haunted by something, darkened by what lies behind them.
He offered me a month with her in exchange for hundreds of thousands of debt that he owes me. The only claim he has to her is the collar around her neck. He assured me she’d do everything that I wanted. He’s trained her, he told me.
My dick hardens at the thought of her on her knees, giving herself to me, pleasing me. I’ve been tempted before at the club, though I’m never taken part. At least not in the open like that. These men are foolish to show their cards. Lucian paid the price years ago, although now it’s paid off for him, the burden of his past only goes to show that NDAs are paperwork, they have no loyalty to them, merely sheets of paper, so easily shredded, so quickly forgotten.
Talia’s haunted eyes shine through the screen, staring back at me. I’ve seen her before, I’ve watched the way he drags her through the halls and leads her to the dungeon. She’s submissive in her nature, but I don’t trust her or his offer. I don’t let anyone close for a reason.
It only takes one slip up to have it all crashing to the ground and leaving the empire I’ve built in ruins. I’ve worked hard to be on top but not be seen. Corruption and power go hand in hand. And women make men fall.
She’s going to be going up for auction if I don’t take her. He’ll sell her to pay his debts.
I shouldn’t take her, I shouldn’t even be considering his offer. She would only be used as an extension. I won’t accept money that’s meant to go to her, he has no claim to her. That money doesn’t belong to him.
She’s supposed to be mine though. And whatever money he’s able to get from her from the auction, will go to me because of his control of her. The way he manipulates her.
That means she’ll be in the hands of someone else. I rise from my desk, shutting the laptop and standing alone in the dark office, the only light coming from the city nightlife beyond the large window to my back.
It doesn’t take long to me to see easily. My eyes are used to the darkness.
I shrug the jacket onto my shoulders, buttoning it as I stride to the door.
She’s been given to me, but tomorrow she goes up for auction. I should stay away, I should take the money and let him fall on his own accord, carrying on with my life and ignore the pathetic waste of life.
But those eyes call to me. My contempt for him and what he represents makes a side of me I try to keep suppressed rise to the surface.
And that’s a very dangerous thing.
Continue on for book 4, Given.
Given. Book 4
Prologue
Zander
I’ve never run from anything in my life. And I’m not about to start now.
But I should have run from her. I knew I should have walked away when I first laid eyes on her.
She’s destroyed my control. Ruined my reputation. She’ll be the end of me, I know it.
Her soft moans of pain from across the bedroom call to me. She’s so beautifully broken. She needs me.
I took it too far, and I can’t take it back.
They’ll come for me; I’m certain the cops will be here soon. I’m guilty, and I have no one to blame. The evidence is all right here, and I can’t deny a damn thing.
For the first time in my life, I don’t see a way out.
There’s no one I can turn to. No one who owes me who can make this right.
But I can’t stop wanting her. She’s gotten under my skin. And I won’t stop fighting for her.
Never.
“Zander,” she says and her small voice is choked. Her brow is pinched as her head thrashes from side to side and the doctor works on the deep lashes on her back. Agony rises through my chest; it stiffens my body. My eyes burn and my throat closes as I try to breathe.
She’s stripped to the waist lying face down on the bed, her bottom half barely covered by a thin white sheet to keep the doctor’s prying eyes from seeing even more of her.
I know what he thinks. What they all think since I took her.
I don’t give a fuck. I pay him well to turn a blind eye, and that’s exactly what he’ll do. It’s what they all do. They only want the money, and they’ll do anything for it.
But not her.
My heavy footsteps are softened by the plush rug as I cross the master bedroom and walk to her. She lifts her head as I come closer, but the moment she does, she winces and sucks in a reluctant breath through clenched teeth.
I’m quick to gentle my hand on her shoulder, keeping my contact confined to the small area of soft skin without any wounds. “Don’t move,” I say and my voice is low, admonishing even. I hate myself. I’m so devoid of the ability to comfort that I can’t even speak softly to her when she’s… like this.
“I’m sorry,” Arianna says quietly, her voice muffled from the mattress.
A chill runs over every inch of my skin. She has no reason to apologize to me. She never did anything wrong. Not since the first moment this started.
I swallow thickly, and the lump forming in my throat feels as though it scratches the tender skin on the way down. “It’s alright.” I try to soften my voice and put as much warmth into it as possible. I pet her hair with soothing strokes.
“I never should have left you,” Arianna replies, her words coming out slow and full of genuine remorse.
She shouldn’t have. This wouldn’t have happened if she’d just listened. If she’d trusted me.
But it’s my fault. Not hers.
“It’s going to be alright,” I say softly, crouching down so my eyes are level with hers. It’s a lie. It’s not going to be alright. I’m damn sure of that single truth. Everything is fucked.
But I’ll tell her whatever she needs to hear.
I can’t lose her.
I press my lips to hers, my hand cupping her jaw and my thumb rubbing comforting circles on her soft skin.
“Is it going to be okay?” she whispers against my lips. It’s only when I open my eyes and see hers are still closed with tears running freely down her reddened cheeks that my heart shatters.
I wish I could tell her I’ll take care of everything.
But it’s not okay. And I can’t fix this.
I know I shouldn’t, but lying comes so easily to me. “Everything’s going to be fine,” I tell her. Her long lashes flutter and her gorgeous green eyes open to look back at me. So much raw vulnerability and something else are clearly evident in her gaze. Something that should push me away.
I didn’t even want to take her when she was given to me at first. I should have refused.
Maybe even then I recognized what she would do to me. How she would change who I am, and destroy everything I’ve worked for. When they put me behind bars, they’ll figure out everything. The corruption, the money, all the lies.
Even knowing that, I wouldn’t hesitate to take her if I had the chance to do it all over again. My hand clenches into a fist, firming my resolve. Even if I couldn’t change a damn thing, I’d still accept that sick fuck’s offer.
She was given to me.
Now she’s mine.
Chapter 1
Zander
I clasp my hands behind my back, staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window in my office. It’s on the top floor of Penn Square, one of the three tallest skyscrapers in the city. My fingers run along the cold metal of my Tag Heuer watch as I let my gaze fall to the world beneath me. My shoulders are squared and the rush of the city flows easily through my blood.
This is where I thrive, where I make the deals that run this city.
“Are you listening to me?” my father’s voice spills from the speaker on my desk, and the corners of my lips turn up into a smirk.
“I am.” I answer easily with an air of confidence I learned from him.
“You never should have accepted.” His words are sharp and firm. But he’s right.
A heavy sigh leaves me as my eyes narrow at the park directly beneath the building. Although my blood chills at my father’s words, I ignore him, cracking my knuckles and continuing to watch the specks of people moving about.
I’m the one that kept our family name from falling. We were going bankrupt because of his bad investments and trusting the wrong people. My teeth grind as I clench my jaw. Yes, I fucked up, but not nearly as much as he has. It's been almost ten fucking years of me rising to the top and carrying our legacy with me, creating not just a pristine reputation in the eyes of the community and business elites. I've also worked hard to create one of fear for those who run the underside of this city.
There are many men with power, but they all owe someone… and I happen to be that someone. My father’s voice drones on as I move my gaze toward the streets. My father’s still admonishing me for a single mistake.
A bad investment named Daniel Brooks.
That dumb fuck owes me a lot of money, more money than he should.
He knew how much debt he had, and he still gambled away my money. He thinks I don’t know… I know everything. I was the first to know when the sum left his account and wasn’t directly passed to mine.
This happens from time to time. Everyone owes me, and that’s how I like it. It’s only a matter of time before something gets between me and the money they owe me.
I don’t care; I always come out on top, and that’s what matters. Money isn’t power, it’s leverage. Being owed is power. True power. And that’s what I want. It's what I have. But right now Brooks isn’t an asset, and I have no way of knowing just how he’s going to pay me close to the half a million I’m due. It’s not the largest sum, but it’s a deal that was public. A debt that many are aware of, and therefore, must be paid.
“Did you hear me?” My father’s voice is low as I turn from the city to face my hard maple desk, my eyes focused and narrowed on the black corded phone that came with this office. It’s at odds with the modern touches, but the line is traceable and I’ve been able to use that to my advantage more than a time or two.
“I did,” I answer although I’d rather hang up the phone altogether. I don't wait for him to reply.
“Brooks owes me more than what’s excusable. More than he’s worth.” I take my seat, leaning back and propping up my feet on the long, sleek desk.
“You can’t allow him to get away with it.” My father speaks with authority.
Brooks may be a high-up executive and think he’s untouchable, but the alcoholic, gambling degenerate is going to give me my money one way or the other. And then I’m done with him. I have enough pull to bury him if I want. I tap my fingers on the hard wood top, debating. The rap, rap, rap echoes rhythmically and calms me slightly.
I could destroy him slowly. Cripple him financially and embarrass him in every way possible. But not many would know why, and he’s too pathetic to waste that much time and effort on. No, I’ll just take my money and be through with him. He’ll hang himself on his own.
My eyes lift to the office door as a solid knock rebounds through the large space.
“Come in,” I call out as my back settles against the leather desk chair, but my fingers never stop tapping on the desk as I wait for the door to open.
Charles walks in with a mask of indifference. I’m used to it. When I first met him all those years ago at boarding school, I thought there was something more behind his dark eyes. But now I know the truth; the only emotion I’ve ever seen reflected in his eyes is anger. It's that, or nothing. And I prefer nothing to his temper.
With short pitch-black hair and eyes to match, Charles is just as lethal as he looks. He didn’t grow up with the lifestyle I’m accustomed to, but I made sure to make friends with him. It’s been mutually beneficial.
I nod toward the phone before he has a chance to speak. Sharing a glance, he quietly shuts the door behind him, a soft click the only sound in my office.
“I’m going to have to call you back,” I lean forward, speaking into the phone and preparing to hang up, knowing damn well that I won’t return the phone call. There’s nothing to discuss. He’ll see me at the next social event and until then, the only thing he’ll give me is shit over this debt.
Charles is silent as he takes a seat across from me. Placing an elbow on the arm of the chair, he stares back at me with his finger resting on his bottom lip.
Large black and white photos of the nighttime skyline decorate the wall behind him. The furnishings in my office are entirely black and white, with the walls painted a light grey. To an observer, my office may seem as if it’s a minimalist and masculine design. And that’s true, but more importantly, it suits me. Cold and simple. No room for bullshit.
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