Spiked Roses: The Complete Top Shelf Series

by Alta Hensley

  “Will you tell me why you wanted the money so badly?”

  “For a friend,” I finally confessed. “My friend Virgie is an elderly lady I used to work for in Muckaluk. She became a really good friend, and pretty much the only friend I’ve ever had. The State placed her in a nursing home unless she got 24hr care from a registered nurse. Her insurance wouldn’t pay for it. So, with Marco’s money, I thought I could help her. It’s why I went to the tasting to begin with. That house you kidnapped me from was hers. It’s all she has, and it means the world to her. I feel she has the right to live the rest of her life out in her home and not a facility.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this?” he asked, the sadness even deeper in his eyes.

  “Would it have mattered?”

  “Yes! I’m not a fucking monster. I know you think I am, but I’m not. If you had told me why, and if you’d actually made the situation hit me in the fucking face with reality, I would have realized why you did what you did. Hell, I would have given you the goddamn money just so I didn’t have to deal with the mess. I thought you were just being a fucking stubborn ass with a stupid point to prove. I thought it was a battle of wills, and I was determined to win because I’m the idiot who feels he always has to win.”

  “Maybe I should have,” I said, taking another sip of the whiskey. Damn, this shit was good. A girl could get used to this… if I ever had $300 to simply drink away… which was never.

  “I’m sorry, Anita. I really am. I should have stopped being a bastard for one minute, and stopped feeling like I had to win, and truly read you. Asked you. Talked to you. All I did was fuck you, treat you like shit, and act like an ass. I’m sorry.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t mind the fucking.”

  What did I just say?

  It must have been the whiskey. Yes, the whiskey was to blame for that last comment. Always blame the booze for revealing your deepest and darkest secret.

  He chuckled as he sipped his own drink. “I didn’t mind the fucking either.”

  “So what now?” I asked. “I quit Spiked Roses, but Harley said that I am under contract with you.”

  He crossed his leg casually as I had seen him do so many times before when conducting business deals in the club as I served cigars. “We have a couple options. But I am going to allow you to decide what you want.”

  “What options?”

  “Well, we made things more complicated when you and I had sex. There is a rule among the members of Spiked Roses that if you have sex with any of the women—or want to—then both parties have to sign a contract. In that contract it will state the terms, but basically you will be mine.”

  “Yours?” I asked, not being able to fight back my fascination with the thought.

  He nodded. “We can both break the contract at any time. If you break it, you walk away and nothing happens other than you go about living your life. If I break it, I have to pay you a year’s salary of what you would have made at Spiked Roses.”

  “Why would members sign a contract like this?”

  “It protects the club and members from future litigation if the relationship goes sour.”

  “And what is this contract going to say?”

  “Well, I’m not going to pee on you, if that’s your concern,” he said with a boyish smile. “But it will be a contract saying that we are going to be in a sexual relationship. We can negotiate it however we feel fit. Set our own terms.”

  “And what about the 100k I got from Marco? Do I get to keep that?”

  He nodded as he sipped from his whiskey. “It’s yours. I paid that plus ten percent to Marco in exchange for you being handed over to me tonight.”

  “You paid that?” I was shocked. I knew Kenneth was rich, but I didn’t take him for a man who simply threw his money around without serious consideration. “Why? Why would you do that for me?”

  “Call it penance if you want. I should have stood up for you and protected you. I should have been the man you needed and deserved. I know I’m an asshole, but I really didn’t think I was a monster until today.” He sighed. “So the money is yours to help your friend. And if it’s not enough to help her, or you need some assistance with the State, I will help. If it means making this fucked up situation even a little right, I will do it.”

  “I appreciate that. For Virgie’s sake. Thank you. I’ve never dealt with the State before, and all that paperwork stuff does intimidate me. I’m sure Virgie will appreciate your help as well. She truly is the kindest woman I have ever met.”

  “Then consider it done. I’ll handle all of that and act as your and Virgie’s legal council. This is one area I can fix with my eyes closed. We’ll get her out of that facility and into her home immediately.” The sadness in Kenneth’s eyes seemed to lessen a bit with seeing a way he could now help me.

  Feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I asked, “So about this contract?” I took a sip of my whiskey. “What terms do you want?”

  “Well, it will start off as the standard contract I wrote for our members. It will state that we are both freely and consensually agreeing to engage in sexual relations until either party cancels. Like a marriage of sorts. I, as the member, will take care of your financial needs and you will—”

  “Take care of your sexual needs,” I interrupted.

  “Only if you want to sign the contract. I won’t force you. My offer to help you and Virgie has nothing to do with this contract.”

  “Go on,” I said with a smile. “What other terms are in this contract?”

  God help me, but I liked what I was hearing. I didn’t want to run for the doors, if anything I wanted to run right into Kenneth’s arms. The way he looked at me. The way he made me feel safe and protected by offering to make everything with Virgie right. The way that Kenneth simply sat there and looked at me, had me hooked.

  “I’d want you to move in with me. You would be mine, and I would want to keep you close.”

  “Would I be able to get my job back at Spiked Roses?”

  He shook his head. “No. Not while under the contract.”

  “So I’d be a kept woman. Is that what you are saying?” I giggled at the thought.

  “Yes.” Apparently, it didn’t seem out of the ordinary for Kenneth.

  “And the sex? What sexual acts will be in the contract? What will you spell out?”

  “I won’t spell out a thing. There will be one sentence only.”

  I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head, taking another sip of my drink. “And that sentence would be what?”

  “Whatever the fuck I want.”

  “Whatever the fuck I want? No details?” For some reason, my stomach flipped at the thought of everything Kenneth would want, and my body instantly craved exactly that.

  “No details. You will have to just trust that whatever the fuck I want will be exactly what you need and could ever desire.”

  Damn I wanted to fuck him. How could it be that easy? All he had to do was show even an ounce of that whiskey drinking bastard and I wanted to fuck him. I wanted him to fuck me.

  “Do you want this contract, Kenneth? Is it because you feel guilty?”

  “I want the contract. Not out of guilt, but because I want you.”

  His words were so powerful.

  So direct.

  Firm.

  He just said he wanted me.

  Me.

  “What terms do you want?” he asked. “We can add whatever the fuck you want as well in the document.” He smiled and I all but melted. He was so handsome I could just die. The power this man had over me.

  “I don’t know,” I said softly. “Can I think about it?” My head was swimming in a sea of confusion and lust. I was exhausted, and I was horny. I couldn’t make a life altering decision right now, especially not with how Kenneth was making me feel. I needed some time to gather my senses.

  He nodded and stood. “Yes, of course. I’ll have my driver take you home so you can get some
sleep. You’ve been through a lot. Come by here tomorrow, and we’ll start work on getting Virgie home and also finalize the contract negotiations.” He reached for my hand and assisted me out of my chair.

  I looked up into his eyes, then his lips that I desperately wanted to nibble, then back at his eyes. “Thank you, Kenneth. Thank you for everything.”

  “I don’t deserve your thanks. Not yet. But I promise you that if you do sign the contract, and you do become mine, I will work damn hard to earn your thanks.” He leaned down and softly kissed me on the lips. When he pulled away, he added. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, and the first day for us.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Anita

  Dear Virgie,

  Well, I did it. I’m about to bust you free from your cell. No more nursing home for you, missy. Maybe someday I will sit down and tell you the long story of how I got the money and assistance to make that happen, but for now, the important thing is you will be free to return home soon. In fact, I am overnighting this letter to you, because it is the LAST letter you will get from me in that damn facility.

  And before you try to refuse my money and help, I want you to know that I had to do this. I had to save you… or at least that is what I thought I was doing going into this. The truth of the matter is I needed to save myself. I needed to break free from the gray haze that I lived in, and believe me when I tell you that I did. I really, really did.

  I found the color I was in need of. I found the bite from the elusive rattlesnake that I had craved my entire life. I finally found what I needed.

  A lot is about to change for me in the next few months. I have no idea what is in store, but I’m excited to see. I told Marie St. Claire that I will be moving out, and said goodbye to Marlowe, Ivy and the other girls I became friends with since being in New Orleans. I still plan on staying in touch, but a new chapter is about to start for me. I will no longer be working at Spiked Roses, and am moving into a new place that I have yet to see. I’ve decided that I want to go down the path which has Kenneth Saxon standing at the end. I have no idea how bumpy or smooth this path will be, but I want to go down it regardless.

  I want you to meet this man, Virgie. I’m not sure you will like him. Hell, you may even hate him. He can be a real bastard sometimes. A bastard who likes his whiskey. But I think you will also grow to see what I have. There is something so much more beneath his surface. I just need to keep kicking at the sagebrush until I see for myself what that is.

  Until I see you soon…

  Love,

  ~Anita

  P.S. I’ve decided you can have all the popcorn and Coke you want.

  Kenneth

  “So you read over the contract, and you agree with everything?” I asked her.

  I wanted to make damn sure she knew what she was getting herself into. I wasn’t taking this contract lightly. When I signed on the dotted line, I expected it followed through to the tiniest detail.

  Anita nodded. “Yes, I read it.” She looked at me with squinted eyes. “But did you read the contract and agree with everything?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I typed it up myself this morning.”

  “Even the part that states both parties will honor each other, respect each other, forsake all others, and love each other?”

  “Yes,” I stated firmly. “Do you have a problem with that line item?” I enjoyed speaking in my lawyer voice. I could see it was throwing her off a bit. And even though I had decided this morning that I wanted Anita Kyle in more ways than just a contracted deal for a short time, I still enjoyed the cat and mouse game. It was in my nature. I couldn’t help but toy with her a bit before I took my prey.

  “Um, no problem.” She swallowed hard. “It just sounds like a marriage agreement more than a sex contract is all.”

  “Is that going to be a problem? Is there something you would like to negotiate?”

  “No, I just… well, I do have a question.” She looked down at the contract and read, “A nonprofit will be set up and funded by Mr. Saxon for Ms. Kyle to oversee. The purpose of the nonprofit will be to assist the elderly who are in need of housing, medical or other necessary needs.” Anita looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “Are you serious?”

  I nodded and walked around my desk to take Anita into my arms. I kissed her gently on the forehead, and said, “I like my kept women to have something to keep themselves busy. And since you won’t be working at Spiked Roses, I thought this would be something you’d like to do. To add color to your life as you said you wanted.”

  She buried her face into my shoulder without warning, which was an act I had never allowed a woman to do before. I didn’t nurture women… but right now, as I rubbed Anita’s back and held her in my arms, I realized my old rules were struck from the record. I was rewriting my own contract.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Anita mumbled against me. “I’ve never had someone do something so kind and so generous.”

  “So are you prepared to sign the contract?”

  Anita didn’t answer me.

  I needed an answer.

  I wanted her to say yes more than anything I have ever wanted before.

  I would not fail at my mission. Not today.

  Failure was not an option.

  Pulling away, leaning my head down, my lips lightly touched hers. Breaking our embrace, my face mere inches from hers, our foreheads rested against each other, my stare joined with hers. I watched as the tears continued to fall down her cheeks, and my heart, once made of hard steel, crumbled.

  Tenderly, I licked the salty tears away from her cheek, enjoying the taste of her skin beneath.

  “I want you to sign the contract,” I all but growled. “I want to make you mine. I want to live the rest of my life giving you pleasure, protecting you, and loving you.”

  Anita bit her lip. “Kenneth…” she struggled through her tears.

  “Tell me you feel the same. Say the words.”

  “You are asking for a lot here.”

  “I’m asking for you.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not sure we can do what this contract calls for. It’s calling for commitment. Dedication. Love. You aren’t asking for sex in this contract like I expected. You are asking for everything else.”

  I kissed her lightly again, my lips savoring the taste of hers. “Tell me, we can keep love in the contract,” I nearly begged her. “Tell me you could see that happening. Tell me.” Vulnerability didn’t come lightly, but I wasn’t going to contain it any longer. Not if I had a chance of getting what I needed. Getting her.

  “I could love you.” The words were barely more than a whisper, but she still surrendered to my request.

  Holding her stare, I studied Anita, searching for any sign of a lie. “Tell me again. Say it again.”

  Anita shook her head. “Don’t do this, Kenneth. Please. Those aren’t easy words to say or words I take lightly.”

  I kissed her again, demanding her submission. Demanding she open her heart to me. I was all in, and I needed to know she was as well.

  Anita tried to withstand my affections, her hands on my shoulders trying to push me away from her. I didn’t weaken, and soon Anita was returning my kiss with an unleashed passion. A passion that I recognized, that I had longed for, and that I never wanted to lose again.

  “But I hate you, remember?” she said with a soft smile. I was breaking through her wall. “How can I love someone I hate?” Her smile grew. “I hate you.”

  “I know you do. But I love the hate.” I pulled away to look her squarely in the eyes. “And I fucking love you.”

  Leaning into her, my lips lightly caressing her own, I tasted her sweetness. Pulling away briefly, I studied her, marveling at her beauty… that was until she slapped me clean across the face—playfully this time—and went to wiggle from my arms with a giggle.

  I reached out to her, my hand holding hers, stopping her retreat. Pulling her back to me, I embraced her passionately, my lips consuming he
rs, begging for more than just a simple taste of her on my lips.

  “Naughty little girl,” I chastised as I swatted her bottom hard.

  Not waiting, not asking, not taking another second, I stripped her bare. She didn’t resist in any way, but instead followed suit until we were both completely naked in my office, desperate for more.

  My unquenchable desire for her as willing opponent rather than my captive, had me lowering us down to the lush carpet of my office and kneeling into her, my lips lightly kissing her stomach, my tongue tasting her creamy skin just above the patch of soft dark curls at the apex of her thighs. I was hypnotized by the mere presence of this woman. Her flesh against mine, burning for whatever pleasure I wanted to give her again.

  My caressing lips lowering, my hands shifted to cup Anita’s curvaceous bottom, lifting her upwards to me. I wanted to taste this woman again, had wanted to taste her over and over from the moment I had first indulged in her sweet taste, and I knew nothing would stop me now from what I desired most.

  Lowering my mouth to meet her raised hips, I carefully ran my tongue through her soft curls, wet from her arousal. The taste of her delicious pussy igniting my raging desires to a new level. I wanted to take her hungrily again as my balls filled up with deep seated need again.

  Hearing her impassioned gasp as I lapped at her, I feared I wouldn’t be able to hold onto my control long enough to give Anita all that I wanted to deliver. The mere thought of her experiencing pleasure and allowing me to drink from her filled me with rapture and desires that were already bordering on the loss of sanity.

  Tasting her sweet pussy, erotically coating my tongue, I knew I wanted more than just this. I wanted to taste all of her. My tongue still caressing her swollen clit, I carefully slid a single finger into her tight bottom hole. Instantly, I felt a shudder go through her, and she tried to pull away, but my hand still cupping her rear wouldn’t let her.