“I know all that,” Ibby’s hands were already trying to undo my bustier, again. Seriously, the man was insatiable.
Then again, with his body at my constant disposal, so was I. Not that I had much to compare Ibby to, but this man created a constant craving. A daily addiction of all things, him.
“I’ve got to go!”
“I’m the one who has to get to the airport.” Ibby’s presence had been demanded in Adelaide to check on his clubs.
“I’m the one who needs to get to The Club and earn a dollar,” I teased.
“Or, you could stay.”
Ibby’s lack of patience drew rewards, flinging my bustier across the bathroom floor. Releasing my breasts to the airconditioned room. Yes, it was the breeze which hardened my nipples. It wasn’t the thought of what this man could do.
Proving I had a few ideas of my own, I dropped to my knees.
“Ohhh,” Ibby started groaning before I’d even undone his black trousers. His cock already long and thick and hard, I knew what he expected.
“Not this time, lover,” I teased, watching the darkness of his eyes swirl with desire, flatten with momentary confusion before deciding to trust me again.
Ibrahim Mercia, out of control. Who’d have thought it possible?
Using my own spit as lube, I caressed his cock before kneeling up to rub it between my breasts. My hard nipples ached for undenied pleasure while I pressed my boobs close. Kissing the tip of his cock each time it emerged from its journey. Squeezing my boobs tighter and tighter to build the friction.
“Fuck, babe, what!” His cries echoed off the marble bathroom walls.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken control. Yes, sometimes I set the pace or had ideas.
But this was the first time, I’d initiated, I’d decided, I’d taken control.
To no obvious complaints!
Each time he tried to pull away, my gentle kisses turned into licks until he wanted more.
Bending over to swallow him, suck until he hit the back of my throat and I almost choked. I took he had until he stopped resisting, only to move him back between my breasts again.
My generous lover kept trying to pull me up, to fondle or stroke me. To give me all the pleasure I wanted to give him. No. My pulsing clit reminded me I didn’t need further satisfying before heading off to work.
This was for Ibby.
“I’m—” he shouted, pulling away before spraying his cum over my chest.
“Katie, oh, Katie.”
This time I didn’t protest when he pulled me to my feet and to his chest. I didn’t stop him from getting a warm, wet, washcloth to thoroughly clean each breast and wipe a splash from my black boots.
I reapplied my makeup and hair while he took his time refastening my bustier.
This time, his dark swirls told me all I needed to hear. We’d never said I love you. Sometimes, I wish he would. I didn’t want to be the first, and what if I used the word and it scared him off.
But today, I didn’t need him to say it. Right now, if he made me feel cherished, valued, respected and loved; I didn’t need to hear it.
“Katie, I’m so glad you’re back. Can you—”
“Table six don’t want to be near the kitchen, can you—”
“The bachelor boys are still waiting on their female companions, can you call—”
“We need another three bottles of Verve upstairs to Private Room 4.”
After the recent police raids, I’d expected The Club to be quiet. Peaceful. Allow me to ease back into the rhythm and maybe catch up with the gossip and my friends.
Instead, karma was having a good laugh at my expense. From the moment I arrived at work, Janet had me looking after two bachelor parties and one group of interstate tourists who had high expectations for their night of fun.
Yes, the police raids had taken a toll on our regular customers, but none of the bookings had been cancelled. Ibby had warned me that some of the staff had been let go until business improved but I’d forgotten the exhaustion of constantly smiling. Not to mention running up and down stairs in four-inch heels.
Thanks to Janet, I spun from table to table, escorting groups upstairs and occasionally losing my personal bodyguards in the process.
No man could keep up with me, I giggled. Wondering whether Ibby would accept the challenge!
“Miss Katie, it is so good to see you!”
Garrison.
The pumping music drowned out the shattering of glass as my tray of drinks landed on the polished concrete floor.
Garrison.
Ibby promised me Garrison and his crew had been banned. No one would have let them in—
I racked my brain to think who could have been so cruel, or stupid? Everyone knew about Garrison. Everyone—except the new girl on the desk who obviously didn’t check all ID’s for the newly arrived group booking. The same group of tourists blocking Steve from getting to my side.
“Mr. Garrison, how lovely to see you again.” I swallowed the bile, feeling the black hood pressed tightly around my face. Engulfed by fear.
No. It wasn’t real.
I was safe.
Ibby had promised, I was safe.
“I seem to be clumsy tonight. Will you please excuse me while I get this cleaned up.”
“Nonsense, one of the other girls can do that. I’ll help you refresh the drinks.” Garrison spoke with the air of a man in control of The Club. The confidence of a man who would be obeyed, no matter the situation.
I worked here, he didn’t.
Ibby half owned this place, Garrison didn’t.
Yet it was Garrison not allowing me a chance to think or respond. Grabbing my elbow to steer me away from the tables and towards the main bar.
“Two bottles of Verve and half a dozen of the Croatian beers, please.” He could sound so charming and for once, he wasn’t undressing me with his eyes. “For my new friends who allowed me to join their group,” he explained.
“My pleasure.” Hoping someone was replacing the drinks I’d spilt, I tried to not create more damage as my sweaty fingers struggled with clean champagne flutes and beers. One of the barmen took pity on me and opened the Verve.
“I have to say, I was surprised to see you here, I mean after your ordeal.” Again, Garrison was full of charm. Nothing in his demeanor could be described as threatening.
Yet, in my imagination, the hood had been joined by a noose tightening around my neck.
“As you can see, I come with my own personal security escort,” I laughed, grateful that Steve and Grizz had pushed their way through the crowd and were now only metres away. “The boss has taken extreme measures after my abduction.”
“I heard about that, shocking.” Garrison tittered, shaking his head. “You were unharmed?”
“The men who held me were very descriptive in what they were going to do, except apparently they had to refrain until their boss had gotten to me first.” I held my nerve but watched for any sign of acknowledgement. Thinking Garrison had been behind my attack wasn’t the same as accusing the man outright.
“No man should treat a woman as property, would you agree?” Garrison spoke quickly, a hand on my arm preventing me from carrying his drinks to the table.
“I agree, if you’ll excuse me.”
“I would like you to read something.”
“Sorry, but I don’t have time.” My smile frozen in place, I looked towards Steve for help. Please?
“Miss Katie, you need to see what your boss was willing to do to you.”
“To me? What do you mean?” Damn it, Steve was blocked again. Perhaps, if I let Garrison say his piece, he’d leave me alone, at least for the night? Hiding my frustrated sigh, I placed the tray of drinks back on the counter.
“Here.”
Garrison opened my palms, placing his phone and scrolling to where he wanted me to look. Message after message from Ibby. Hundreds of them. If Ibby thought Garrison was behind my attack, why was he still in busi
ness with the man?
Then Garrison stopped scrolling.
“Here we go. I suggest you read.”
“Why?”
“It will become self-explanatory.”
Garrison: I think its time I got to know my new girls better.
Ibby: They aren’t your girls.
Garrison: You agreed.
Ibby: I agreed to Jack shit. They only come into play if I miss a payment deadline.
Garrison: You miss a payment and I get the two girls. Chelle and Katie.
Ibby: I haven’t missed a payment. The girls are still off limits.
Garrison: You offered them up like cattle to the highest bidder.
Ibby: Bullshit. You demanded I put their employment contracts up as security.
Garrison: You agreed.
Ibby: I didn’t have a choice.
Garrison: You always have a choice. You chose to put the girls into play.
Ibby: Like I said. I haven’t missed a payment. They’re not your girls.
Garrison: Yet.
Garrison: Gottcha.
My knees wanted to buckle, a new rope was tightening around my chest. Veins were about to explode in my head.
Too much.
It had to be a mistake.
“What does this mean?” Not that I expected Garrison to explain, but either Ibby would still be on his flight or incommunicado sorting out issues with his Adelaide clubs. It would be hours before we could talk.
What could he say that hadn’t been explained in the texts?
No.
He wouldn’t.
“Your boss and I have a business arrangement. He needed money and I needed additional security.”
“Why are the two of you talking about Chelle and me?”
“Your boss put the two of you up as additional security. He misses a payment, and you both belong to me.”
No.
He did.
The imaginary rope around my chest dropped to around my ankles. I couldn’t move, even if I wanted to run. Words became stuck in my throat.
Garrison excused himself to join the table of his new friends, leaving me to digest the texts. Fighting to find another explanation. Struggling to find a way to believe Garrison had lied. The texts were a lie.
I’d never understood how Chelle had gotten caught up in the whole Garrison mess. I needed protection after the abduction, but I’d never understood why Chelle needed to go into hiding, too.
Now it all made sense.
Ibby never cared about me as a woman.
Only as additional security for some deal.
A deal more important than the truth?
The whole business of calling in favors to rescue me from the abduction, had only ever been correcting a business deal going wrong.
Four hours of my shift to go, and then what?
Three hours and still no idea. I still had a key to my apartment in my bag, but all my clothes were at Ibby’s. No longer our home, but Ibby’s.
Two hours and I’d almost decided to go back to Ibby’s, sleep, and not make another mistake by rushing things.
Trusting Ibby had been a mistake.
Loving Ibby had been a mistake.
I needed to be smart.
I finished my shift on autopilot. Smiling and flirting. Reassuring nervous newbies they wouldn’t be judged for embracing their desires. Introducing a new couple to one of the playrooms where their excitement made working here worthwhile.
Helping other couples explore their sensuality and watch relationships deepen with the honesty of fulfilled desire.
For others, not for me.
The only reason I’d stayed at The Club instead of taking other job offers, was for the chance that Ibrahim would stop his womanizing ways and finally notice me.
Over.
We were over.
I’d get sleep, and reach out to other clubs tomorrow. I could have a new job before Ibby returned and without me having an employment contract with The Club, he could find a new way to put up with security.
Fuck him.
I did, I had.
I still wanted to. Perhaps there was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
You’re nothing. Your father was right. You’re used goods and worth nothing more than a business transaction. At least Ibby got a good price, with your body on the side.
How was it, years later I could still imagine my father’s shameful tone?
His words in my head.
“Miss Katie?” The Club had started thinning with guests when Garrison found me restocking the bar. His paternal tone all sweetness and light.
“Mr. Garrison, can I get you anything before you leave?” Manners and experience kept me from throwing the nearest drink in his face. Ibby hadn’t been the only person willing to treat me like cattle. This asshole had made his pitch, arranged for my kidnapping, and had tormented me for weeks. All because I’d refused to let him or his goons treat my ass or pussy as their God-given right.
Anger swirled with betrayal. I needed to keep a grip on my emotions and be smart. Forget how Ibby’s arms and lips made me feel safe and loved. He was protecting his business interest. Even Steve’s presence now felt more like being trapped than protected.
“Miss Katie,” Garrison soothed, “I’m sorry if my news upset you. I want to assure you that if your boss fails to make the payment, I will see to it that you are not harmed.”
“Why would I think you’d harm me?” I held my smile, tone light. Refusing to allow this man to see how much he absolutely scared the shit out of me. “I’m not for sale. Mr. Mercia had no authority to offer me up as a trade. Therefore, I fail to see how I could be put up as security in your business deal.”
Brave words. Stupid, but brave words.
If Garrison felt insulted, he hid it behind his trademark charm.
“The arrangement is for your employment contract. Ibrahim will transfer your employment contract to me. Of course, I understand if you then resign. But I hope that you and Chelle would at least hear me out and give me a chance to show you both in how many ways you could find working for me a rewarding experience.”
“I’m not a piece of meat! You can’t just trade me as if I’m stocks or bonds. I have rights. I’m not just a piece of meat.” All pretense at bravery disappeared as I yelled to his calm.
“I would never treat you like that.” Garrison’s gentle hand seared an imprint into my arm. How could a man appear so charming, solicitous, but inspire such terror? “Miss Katie, I want you to get to know me. Learn that I can be a very good person.”
“No.”
He continued as if not hearing me. Of course, he hadn’t. Owners don’t listen to cattle. “Katie, I am not averse to starting our arrangement earlier. How about you join me in a private room and I’ll show you—” Garrison leaned in to plant a kiss to my cheek, but before his lips could land, the missing Steve turned up sans his hero costume and shoved Garrison out of the way.
“Come on.” Steve almost dragged me through The Club and waited for me to get changed. “I’ve called you a cab, it’s meeting you out the back.”
But Garrison was waiting for us at the staff door.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Garrison jeered. “If you resign from here, all your problems will be over. Think again. The moment your boss is late on a payment, you are mine—and I always collect what’s mine.”
Ibby
Leaving Katie asleep in our bed to go and check on my Sydney clubs was hard enough. Nothing calmed me better than watching he rise and fall of her chest, her lips and eyelids twitching as she dreamed.
Her first night back at work, and I had fully intended on hosting a party from my private viewing room. Able to watch over her, make sure she felt safe and loved while she dipped her toe back into life. Leaving her to fly halfway across the country to Adelaide hadn’t been planned, until late afternoon. Leaving her after a mind-blowing day of fucking had been almost impossible.
But what the hell was I supposed
to do? The Redbacks had decided to set up a blockade outside my club. Party-goers didn’t need any persuasion to take their business and money elsewhere.
Luther had sent a dozen of his Kingsmen across to sort things out. I still didn’t know whether Karnal had set up a trap for Luther, or just wanted to piss me off for choosing sides. It didn’t matter. Not when I’d gotten a heads up from the local police station that whatever was brewing, was going down tonight.
“Sorry Ibby, but the media are all over it. Nothing the public like more than seeing a biker club war in action,” my contact warned.
“Then do your fucking job and stop it!” I’d yelled, shoving fresh clothes into an overnight bag. “You wear the fucking badge, use it.”
“I would, you know I would but I’m getting pressure to let this one play out.”
“Where from?” Garrison, I didn’t need to ask the question when I knew the answer.
“Above. Mate, we’ve been screwed over in the last few state budgets. We need more money and the only way the suits see that happening is if the public feel unsafe. A couple of MC gang fights, a couple of innocents get hurt and suddenly our police budget gets a nice little bump.”
“Fuck, are you kidding me?” At least I could prove capable of holding a conversation and booking a flight at the same time. “You’re gonna let people get hurt just to prove a point?”
“Mate, I’m on your side. Talk to Luther, get him to back off. Then get your ass over here and sort things out with Karnal.”
Before I’d broken the news to Katie, both Adelaide clubs were only going to open if I gave the all clear. I sent unanswered texts to Karnal and Luther, giving them my flight details.
Ready to leave for the airport, Katie’s literally grabbed me by the cock and gave me yet another reason not to go.
“I can come with you.” Katie offered. As much as I wanted her by my side, protecting her came first. Right now, she was safer at work in Sydney with Steve and Grizz watching guard than in Adelaide with me. I had no fucking idea what I was about to walk into.
Hard Bargain: a Billionaire Suspense Romance (City Sinners Book 3) Page 18