Vex's Temptation

by Elizabeth Knox

  Pulling Ainslee to the back hall where it’s quieter, I smirk at seeing Halton already at the door to the stairs. Link’s already reporting the blonde bitch is pissed and trying to get down the hall. “You really know how to make a boring night interesting,” he chuckles.

  “Fuck you,” I snap.

  “Thanks for the offer, boss, but I know I’m not your type. Cedric said to tell you to have fun. We’ll keep the door guarded.” He smirks.

  I narrow my eyes on him.

  “Wait . . . you’re the boss here?” Ainslee asks.

  “Yep,” I say, pulling her through the doorway as the door closes, I can hear the screeching bitch from down the hall.

  “Finley, let go of my wrist,” Ainslee demands.

  “I will when we get upstairs to my office,” I say, putting my hand on the doorknob and twisting it open.

  Soon as the door closes, I release Ainslee’s wrist as I said I would, but I only do it as I spin around to capture her mouth with mine.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ainslee/Vex

  Finley releases my wrist and within a millisecond she’s grabbed both sides of my face with her hands and is crushing her lips down onto mine. A chill rolls down my spine and I take in a sharp breath through my nose. Her kiss is forceful, demanding, yet somewhat pleading. I start to kiss her back, to take note at the way her lips feel velvety, just like they did all those years ago. Memories of that night start flooding through my mind, the bliss, the euphoria, and most of all—the pleasure. I almost forget how she’s been treating me these last few days. Putting my hands against her chest, I push her away from me, breaking our kiss and breathe deeply. My chest rises and falls, practically heaving.

  I search her eyes for some sort of answer, some sort of reason for acting like this and kissing me . . . but her eyes won’t tell me shit. “Why the fuck are you acting like this?!” I yell at her, trying to ease the confusion and outrage in my mind.

  This woman ran off at the sight of me, has been avoiding me for days and treated me like shit. She texted me a bullshit apology, and just ripped me away from my date only to manhandle me like this isn’t a big deal? I don’t think so.

  Finley scoffs as I take a couple steps backward. With every step I take backward, she makes two more toward me until her chest is pressed up against mine. “Isn’t it obvious, Ains’?” she calls me the nickname she gave me that night. “I realized what I’ve been fuckin’ missing, and I’m tired of missing you.”

  Finley doesn’t give me a moment to speak, crushing her lips back on mine I melt into her. I kiss her with a feverish haze, needing nothing more than those words. Fuck, the night I saw her I thought she might consider falling back into where we left things, but I had no idea if she was single, or what her personal circumstances were. Now we’re here and while it was a rough way to get here, I’ll deal with that later.

  My stomach coils at the same time butterflies start to soar. Crazy how I’m having two completely different reactions to Finley’s admission. Part of me wants to put up all my walls and tell her to suck it, while the other part of me wants to give in.

  Fuck it.

  Fuck this.

  Maybe one more time and I’ll get her out of my system.

  I grab her by the back of the neck and tug her to me, deepening our kiss however I can. There’s nothing sensual about this. It’s fast, hungry, harsh, and steamy. Finley’s hand gets wrapped up at the base of my neck and she pulls my hair, forcing my head back in the process. I claw at her shirt, helping her pull it up and over her head. She releases my hair for a split second but bites down on my neck, hard. My core fills with heat at everything she’s doing.

  Her hands drift down over my torso, almost sending shockwaves through my whole body. She hooks her thumbs under my dress and pulls the bottom half up, revealing my leopard print thong. Finley inhales deeply. “Fuck, I forgot how good you smell, like peaches and cream.”

  Finley yanks my thong down, spreads my lips with her fingers, and covers my clit with her lips. She sucks it into her mouth and a vicious rush of pleasure courses through my body. I’m nowhere near release, but considering how talented she was years ago, it’s only a matter of time. Finley sticks two fingers inside me, pumping in and out, grinding them against my G-spot before she fits a third inside.

  I loop my hands in her hair, moaning out in pleasure. My center is flooding with heat and she increases her speed, then stops sucking on my clit. She flicks her tongue back and forth quickly edging me on even further.

  “Fuck, Finley,” I groan, shoving my hips against her mouth even further. She giggles against my pussy, the vibration surprisingly giving me even more pleasure. Wetness pools at my center and I feel my body giving in, ready to let it go. I haven’t had an orgasm in ages unless it was one I gave myself, or one of the few times where I hooked up with Devi’ up in New York.

  Finley tilts her hand and goes at my pussy like a jackhammer, and I can’t fight the need to hold back. My release floods through me, coating her mouth. She slurps at my lips, licking up every bit of what I just gave her, then rises and presses her lips back down on mine. She wastes no time in sticking her tongue in my mouth, giving me a taste of what I gave her. She takes her lips from mine and stares into my eyes. “I’ve missed the way you taste, Ainslee.”

  Still with fingers inside me, she continues to pump them and grazes my clit with her thumb. I shiver at the slightest touch, knowing I’m overly sensitized right now, but am fully prepared to keep being a sexual deviant with her. I won’t say I’m not confused at how the last ten minutes have gone . . . but I’m a slut when I want to be.

  She takes her fingers from me and sticks her fingers in her mouth, lapping her tongue around each finger, making sure to emphasize the popping sound as she licks every finger clean. She then bends down and pulls my thong up for me, even helps me shimmy my dress down a bit.

  Finley grabs me by the throat and plants another kiss on my lips. “I can only imagine how conflicted you are right now but let me make things simpler. I was being a cunt to you because I’d been butthurt about the way you left. This is what I wanted after that night. You were the best bitch I’ve ever had in my bed. Don’t you see that? You were . . . a rare delicacy, and I’m not done with you Ainslee. I won’t be done with you for a long ass fuckin’ time. Now, go take a breather and I’ll see you back at the Fort tonight.”

  I nod.“O-okay,” I murmur, walking out the door we came, I rush down the stairwell and so many emotions come rushing in.

  Kayla’s eyes widen and then narrow before I even hit the bottom step and she’s already raising her voice, “What the fuck just happened?! Did you just fuck her?!”

  “I—,” I can’t lie to her. She deserves better than that. “It’s complicated, Kayla, I’m sorry but I need time to think about things and get—”

  Before I even realized what’s happened, a burning sensation floods over my cheek. It burns so bad, but I try to take it with grace and process what Kayla just did. “You brought me here to make your fucking ex jealous, didn’t you!?” Kayla moves from a scream to a blood curdling roar.

  “I didn’t know she was even here!” I try to tell her, but Kayla shakes her head in complete disbelief.

  “Yeah, right,” she grumbles, glaring at me with all her might. Fuck, I need a drink, and I need one now.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Finley

  “You brought me here to make your fucking ex jealous, didn’t you!?” the raging bitch slaps Ainslee in the face and then screams at her.

  Halton and his brother start to intervene but they see me coming down the stairs. My anger evident on my face. You don’t fuck with me and you sure as hell don’t touch what I consider as mine.

  “I didn’t know she was even here!” Ainslee says in defense. She’s telling the truth, unless Mara-Lee or Cedric told her I’m the owner of the club then she wouldn’t have known. And I know for a fact those two don’t say anything about my business to anyone who isn’t
directly involved.

  The girl mutters something too low for me to hear, turns and storms off just as I get to the bottom of the stairs. Wrapping my arm around Ainslee’s waist, I look to my men.

  “I want you to go after her and make sure she knows she’s no longer allowed in this establishment,” I demand, pissed at the moment. I’ll deal with the fact they didn’t force her to leave earlier. Halton is the head of security working directly under Cedric and he knows I don’t put up with drama.

  “I’ll go, boss,” Colton says, turning on his heel and stalks off after the woman.

  “Sorry, Fin’. Didn’t want to put hands on a woman if I didn’t have to. Was trying to get her to leave without making a scene. Plus, you know I wasn’t about to take her out the emergency exit just in case.” He shrugs, glancing at Ainslee then back again.

  “Appreciate it,” I say in dismissal and turn my attention to Ainslee. She’s staring at me like I have three heads. I grab her hand, tugging her back to the stairwell. “Come on, I’ll get you a drink in my office.”

  Ainslee shakes her head and attempts to pull herself from me. “No, Fin’. I need time alone. I’m going to the bar while I get an Uber to come pick me up. I’ll see you back at the Fort. We’ll talk when you get home.”

  Yeah that’s not gonna happen. I’m not about to have her take an Uber or be alone right now. Not when she’s confused. Hell, I’d be if the roles were reversed. If she wants time, I’ll give her some, but she can take that time in my office while I get a few things done at my desk.

  “You’re not taking an Uber home. You need a drink and to be left alone to think? Fine. You can do it sitting on the couch upstairs. If you decide you want to talk to me then great. But with the way you look right now in that hot as fuck dress and knowing what’s underneath, there is no way in hell I’m letting you out there alone for God knows what to happen. Shit, you don’t even have a weapon on you,” I say, releasing her hand and giving her a push up the long flight of stairs.

  “How do you know I don’t have anything on me?” Ainslee snaps.

  “Babe, seriously?” I giggle.

  Fuck. I don’t know what it is about Ainslee that makes me feel lighter. Confusing as hell but shit if it doesn’t feel good to laugh.

  Ainslee remains quiet as we get to the top of the stairs and enter my office.

  “What do you want to drink?” I ask, closing the door and stepping over to the little mini bar. “I have a variety of a selection up here to fit my mood but if you want something else, I’ll call down and get one of the bartenders to make you something.”

  “Tequila, vodka, it doesn’t matter. As long as it’s alcoholic I’ll take it, and by the way,” Ainslee pauses for a moment and unzips the top to her clutch, pulling out a hunting knife, “I always carry a weapon with me. In case you didn’t know they’re made in various shapes and sizes these days. I have little knives like this with a big blade, and big knives that could cut through a torso. I’m not one anyone should be fucking with, regardless, so don’t try to act like you’re going to be my fearless protector. I can handle my own you know.”

  “Good to know.” I grin. “And for the record. I’ll let it slide because you’re with me, but weapons are forbidden in by the customers including knives. I don’t know who allowed you in with it, but don’t have it again on the floor. You bring it, you’ll lock it up in here or in one of the other offices.”

  I’m sure she’s figured it out by now I run shit here, but Ainslee needs to know I have rules to follow here for everyone’s safety.

  Ainslee sucks in a deep breath from where she’s sitting on the couch, fiddling with the knife that’s now in her hands. “I don’t go anywhere without a weapon, Finley, not even here. I won’t have myself being exposed . . . and I won’t be put in a position where I can only defend myself with my hands. I don’t expect you to understand it, but I do expect you to respect it. A lot of shit has happened to us both over the last five years, so if I need to not come here, that’s what I’ll do.”

  Pouring the vodka into a tumbler, I slowly move toward where Ainslee’s sitting on the couch and hand it to her. “What about a compromise? I’ll allow it only if while you’re here you inform those who need to know what you’re carrying at the time and not bring a gun in this establishment.”

  I’m not about to have anyone possibly getting ahold of a gun and starting shit on the first floor. I have too much at stake with my business on the second floor to deal with more headaches.

  “I didn’t bring a gun because I know better, and by the way, I hid the knife in my boots. Your guys checked my bag, but obviously they need a lesson on where women can conceal shit. So, don’t take it out on them. I’ve been doing this for a long time so I’m a bit experienced.”

  “Good to know, I’ll speak with Halton,” I murmur, rounding my desk. I lean over and press a few keys in order to see who was manning the door and checking bags when she came in. I inwardly groan and want to strangle Cedric for putting Nick at the door. He’s new to the team and though he’s good, he’s still got a lot to learn. I pull my phone out and shoot a quick text to Halton telling him to switch out Nick with Link.

  “Don’t berate them on my account, seriously, Fin’. If . . . if it weren’t for some of the shit that’s happened to me over the last few years, I wouldn’t have even felt the need to sneak it in.” Ainslee gnaws on her bottom lip, takes a sip from the tumbler I handed her, and looks down at the ground. I figure I need to stay quiet for a few moments and I’m glad I do because she starts speaking again. “I haven’t told anyone this, but, my . . . my parents hired this guy when I came back from the States. They introduced him to me as a family friend, but in all reality, he was hired to ‘change’ me, to shift my sexual preferences. I spent a year in Scotland, a year that I’ll never forget being chained up like an animal, strapped down like a psychotic woman, and used in ways women are in the sex trade. After I got out . . . I ran straight to them and said how I was going to file a police report, how I needed them to help me, but they didn’t even . . . they didn’t even bat an eye. It was my mother who told me what they did, and she told me I couldn’t go to the police . . . so I got on the first plane and went to New York.”

  I stare at Ainslee for a moment allowing her words to sink in about what happened to her after she left. Shit, she went through hell and here I treated her like . . . hell I don’t even know what. What she went through reminds me of so much that’s gone down over the past few years. Clearing my throat, I decide to explain a bit about what’s happened.

  “The morning I woke up and you were gone, I was upset and throughout the day I couldn’t get over it. Sometime during the day, I somehow stumbled on my boss trying to rape Mara-Lee. I’m not going to go into detail, that’s her shit, but I killed the fucker. From that day on, I decided I wasn’t going to leave women to deal with scum like him. So, I took money my mom left me and opened this place,” I mutter, spreading my arms indicating Night’s Bliss.

  Ainslee nods. “I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to her. It—” Ainslee shuts her eyes and clenches her fist in her lap, “It’s not something that’s easy to go through, but I don’t want to lie to you, Finley. We have a lot of blood in the water between us and we’re going to need to talk shit through, but before any of that happens, I needed you to know more about what’s shaped me into the person I am over the last few years. I’m . . . I’m really cold at times, and I’m going to apologize for it now . . . but, I’ve had so much taken from me. I’m not using it as an excuse, but more as a basis for you to understand. I found the club right after my son died. He was almost two and came down with a virus kids commonly get, which turned into pneumonia, and . . . as much as the doctors tried, they couldn’t save him. And before you ask, yes, his father was the man who tortured me.”

  Oh shit. Not only has Ainslee been tortured, abused and left to feel humiliated for being who she is. She lost a kid she . . . I’m sure from the way she looks right now lov
ed with every grain of her being, like my mom did with me.

  “I’m sorry you went through hell the way you did,” I murmur, stepping around the desk, I squat down in front of her. “Did I ever tell you about my parents?” I ask.

  Ainslee cracks a laugh. “No, that night we weren’t exactly trying to get each other’s life story.”

  “Well, let’s just say growing up wasn’t a picnic in the park in my household. See my father or as around here we call him ‘Sperm Donor from Hell’, he forced my mom to marry him because she resembled my cousin Lex’s mother. Raped her nearly every night. After I was born it continued, however, one of my first memories is of watching him do that to her. I asked my mom about it and she realized she had to run, get away from the man. She did just that and he found her. Made a deal with her. He allowed her to stay at the beach with me as long as once a month she came home to him. I don’t know the details of what happened during those times, but I can only imagine since he made deals with my cousin, Lex, and his girl, Mackenzie. Neither of them knew and he forced them both to do horrible things. It’s why he’s now dead and I’ve taken over his business.”

  “Jesus, we must be two of the most fucked up people on the pl—” The door to my office flies open and in comes Colton with a concerned expression crossing his face. Something is wrong. No, something is very wrong.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ainslee/Vex

  “Boss, we got a fuckin’ problem. I’m so sorry for barging in here, but someone just tried to take that blonde chick from off the street. We stood at the door to make sure she went on her way. Not even two minutes later screams started comin’ from down the street, so we ran and, shit, she’s bloody as fuck. I ain’t ever seen a woman beat like that before.” The man shakes his head, appearing to be genuinely shaken by what he saw.

  “Where is she now, Colton?” With a snap of her fingers, she’s gone into complete business owner mode. It’s crazy how she takes charge of the situation no matter what’s going on. Even I’d be freaking out for a few seconds while I tried to process what just happened, but not Finley. She’s the type of woman you want around during an emergency. Shit, she reminds me of Olivia Pope from Scandal, handling shit.