Pandora's Pleasure: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

by Vanessa Fewings

  “He had an interesting way of relaxing on Fridays.”

  Pure disgust showed on my face; she laughed at my reaction.

  “Thank you for being here, Damien. It means everything to me that you wanted to say goodbye.”

  “Look, Pandora, if you want to leave Washington, I won’t stop you. But I love you. “I’ve never met anyone who’s as annoying as you—”

  “Thank you, I think.”

  “No, listen. You’re my first love, Bardot. I’ve never come close to feeling this way about anyone else.” I pressed a hand to my chest to show my sincerity. “I love the fact that you’ve surprised everyone, that you showed the world how incredible you are, and proved you’re a remarkable woman.” I paused to take a breath. “Marry me, Pandora. Have my babies. Hell, let’s do it all…let’s aim to live in the White House one day, with you as my First Lady.”

  “That’s a lot to take in,” she whispered.

  “I get that. Only with you I feel anything is possible. I know that all this time you’ve been imagining your life without me.”

  “Maybe at the beginning. When you were a prime asshole.”

  “I can accept that.”

  I tried to read her expression, afraid that maybe I had come on too strong, been too high-handed and heavy when she was clearly vulnerable. What kind of man insisted his own happiness was more important than someone else’s?

  Maybe letting go and giving her the freedom she had asked for was how I could prove my love.

  I stepped back. “I’m going to get off the plane, give you the space you need to decide. After all you’ve done for me and my family, you’ve more than earned your ‘get out of jail free card’ from me.”

  “Damien.”

  “No, listen. Don’t give me an answer now. Just join me back on the runway if you still want me. I’ll wait. If your plane taxis off into the blue horizon, I’ll take the hint. Because if you are happier without me that’s what I want for you. I’ll always love you and I need you to know that.”

  Turning to go, I breathed through my sudden panic that this was goodbye. Would I be strong enough to see this through?

  Could I be that man?

  On the way here, the plan to set her free had felt doable. But now, with her so close, my heart was shattering with the thought that I could be minutes away from losing her.

  Placing Pandora’s happiness above mine, I headed back down the aisle toward the exit, fearing what kind of man I’d be without her.

  I wondered how Damien must be feeling.

  With so much happening, it was enough to have his world spinning out of control.

  Today, his family would gather with their friends and strategists and the campaign staff to find out if Senator Gregor Godman was to be the next President of the United States.

  Gregor might be a bastard at times, but he had the courage to lead a country into a better future. And with Damien there to remind him of important social issues that were close to his heart, much good could be accomplished by this administration.

  I hoped Damien would one day find a way to forgive his family for forcing us together, and then ripping us apart. Forgiveness was a slippery friend. One minute I felt like I’d evolved enough to move on, and then other times I remembered the misjustice and it wrenched my gut.

  Time would heal the chasm of hurt. I held on to that thought, at least.

  Now when I looked in the mirror, I saw myself differently. Not the young woman who’d once been jostled and nudged toward a certain man who would determine her future, but a woman I respected…the new me.

  My father’s scandal wasn’t that much of a surprise, really. He’d had an affair decades ago. Maybe one day I’d talk to my mother about it. According to the notes in Galante’s file, she knew. He’d hoped to use it against my dad to leverage him out of politics. All that devastating evidence was wiped from the BODI. Galante had underestimated the Bardots.

  I finished applying my bright red lipstick and pushed up from the seat at the vanity table, turning to look at my reflection in the long mirror. The gold blouse and pencil skirt were chic enough for this evening’s event. I was ready to face the world as a confident woman who knew what she wanted and knew how to get it.

  Making my way downstairs to the sitting room, I came to the conclusion that I could live here permanently. I loved this house. Leaving it would be hard, but the security wasn’t as effective as it could be. Drones could fly over the wall. I remembered the day Damien had told me that, my first time here.

  I adored him in every way possible.

  And there he was, standing before a mirror and working on his tie, weaving it into a neat Windsor knot.

  Watching Damien from across the room, I now saw this once complicated man so differently. He was a man of integrity, willing to fight for all that was good, including us.

  He hadn’t noticed me yet. I cherished these stolen moments.

  I saw his mouth forming the words of his speech as he practiced, clearly hoping he would have reason to deliver it tonight to the public if the election went their way.

  I admired the handsome lines of his face, the dark suit that clung to his tall, toned body. The way his brow furrowed as his thought processes played out on his gorgeous features.

  When I’d boarded my family’s jet, I’d never expected to see Damien again. We’d both had our chance of escaping our arrangement.

  I’d peered up at this man and realized how much I’d fallen for him. It had happened so quickly. I’d hardly recognized the fake fiancé I’d once hated. He’d become the man I now loved with all my heart.

  Finally, Damien saw me standing in the doorway. “You look beautiful.”

  “You scrub up nicely yourself.” I smirked.

  His mouth curled at the edges. “I’m always up for a good scrubbing.”

  “Is something happening tonight? Remind me.”

  “Can’t believe it. Years in the making.”

  “You’re so calm.”

  “We did everything we could.” He brightened. “We had you, our secret weapon.”

  “You know, you’re his secret weapon in all this, Damien. The loyal son, willing to give everything up for your dad.”

  “I have my limits.” He looked over at me. “Some things are too precious to lose.”

  I smiled. “They really are.”

  He sighed. “Ready to join the family?”

  We strolled down the hallway and paused by the front door, as though rallying our courage to leave the house and go watch history unfold.

  He glanced at his phone. “We’ll soon hear about votes coming in from Florida.”

  “Exciting. How’s everyone holding up?”

  “As well as can be expected, considering the pressure.”

  “How about you?” I fiddled with his already neat tie. “You’re the only one I care about.”

  “I’m glad you’re with me.”

  “Now that you’ve tasted the edge of power, Damien Godman, are you craving it for yourself?”

  “I fit the profile. Grumpy bastard with an egocentric personality.”

  “Yes, but with the right woman by your side to remind you of what’s important.”

  He gave me a knowing look. “What’s so important?”

  “This—” Reaching behind my skirt, I unfastened the catch.

  It fell to the floor, pooling around my feet, showing off my lacy thong and black stockings. I unbuttoned my blouse flirtatiously.

  Before us was the door that would lead out to the waiting car. Behind us, the red door that led to his room of pleasure waited.

  His jaw went slack as he took in my half-dressed state. “Well, you’ve got my vote.”

  “Want to lead the way?”

  He moved toward me swiftly and shoved me back against the wall, cornering me there. “What you’re inferring is that you want to make us late, Ms. Bardot. That you’re willing to seduce me so that I forget how important today is.”

  “Well, yes. That’
s exactly what I’m doing.”

  He stepped back abruptly. “I will have to fuck you hard for this.”

  “As a punishment?”

  “I will be showing you what happens to very bad girls who blow off elections.”

  “These things always take time. We have hours to go before the final decision.”

  “Indeed.” He threaded his fingers through mine and pulled me along the hallway toward the red door. Together we descended the steps into his dungeon.

  He paused in the center of the room, looking thoughtful. “I know I promised to never talk of it, but…”

  “Go on.”

  “Maybe we should clear something up?”

  Easing my blouse open, I said. “I’m listening.”

  “We should talk about the elephant in the room.”

  My gaze moved to his groin.

  “Not that.” He rolled his eyes.

  “What then?”

  “Pandora’s fucking box?” He pressed his point with his hands sweeping through the air. “Pandora’s Box!”

  “I had thought about that, yes.”

  “What are you going to do with all that power?”

  “Harness it.” I paused, thinking. “I may delete it all. Haven’t decided.”

  “Think of the careers you’ll save. Your father is going to be the Foreign Secretary for the U.S.”

  “Your reputation was also my priority.” I flashed him a cheeky look. “And your father’s, too, I suppose.”

  “You’re my everything. You know that, right?”

  “Show me what I mean to you,” I purred the words as I peeled off my blouse.

  Damien was on me fast, nudging me backward toward the bed and shoving me onto it. Leaning low, he tugged at my panties, ripping them off and burying his head into my sex, causing me to moan as his mouth possessed a sacred part of me.

  “You taste amazing,” he said gruffly, moving up my body and lifting my arms so that he’d pinned me against the bed. “Pandora Godman…it’s got quite a ring to it.”

  “Tell me you’ll love me forever, Damien.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut for a beat. “I have a confession.”

  “Am I going to like it?”

  “I married you the day I met you. You were distracted with the hem of your dress, and that glass of champagne you spilt on me, and the canapés you couldn’t seem to get enough of—”

  “Hey!”

  “Then I brought in the marching band and we had a ceremony right there at your debutante ball, ten seconds after we met. You don’t remember?”

  “I thought you hated me back then.”

  “I knew then that if I gave my heart to you, I’d never get it back. It scared me.”

  “What changed?”

  “You stole my heart anyway, Pandora. Like a burst of light that chased away my shadows. You broke down my defenses and proved love always wins.”

  He let my wrists go.

  Leaning up, I pressed my mouth to his and kissed him leisurely, feeling his lips soften against mine. I cupped his face with affection. “Let’s promise to always be there for each other. No matter what life throws at us.”

  “Think of what you and I can achieve together as equals, as husband and wife. Best friends. Lovers. Soul mates. Give me the chance to prove it to you. To stand between you and the world and stop it from ever hurting you again—or at least try. I want to marry you.”

  “You’ve already asked me, remember?” I whispered.

  “That was the old Pandora. I’m talking to Pandora 2. 0. The woman who altered the course of history.”

  “It’s still a yes.” I brushed my fingertips through his hair. “Let’s make this world a better place.”

  “You already have,” he whispered, as his lips crushed mine.

  And sometimes, I mused, being a little late is still fashionably early.

  Especially when making history.

  MAXIMUM DARE

  PERVADE LONDON and PERVADE MONTEGO BAY

  &

  PERFUME GIRL

  &

  THE ENTHRALL SESSIONS:

  ENTHRALL, ENTHRALL HER, ENTHRALL HIM, CAMERON’S CONTROL, CAMERON’S CONTRACT, RICHARD’S REIGN, ENTHRALL SECRETS, and ENTHRALL CLIMAX

  &

  THE ICON TRILOGY from Harlequin:

  THE CHASE, THE GAME, and THE PRIZE

  vanessafewings.com

  USA Today Bestselling Author Vanessa Fewings writes both contemporary romance and dark erotic suspense novels. She can be found on her Facebook Fan Page and in The Romance Lounge, Instagram, Twitter and Goodreads.

  She enjoys connecting with fans all around the world.