by Hamel, B. B.
He laughs and comes over to me. “I’d offer you a drink, but…”
I grin right back. “You’re learning.”
“Guess so.” He sips his whiskey and cocks his head. “Tell me something. Why are you so scared of all this?” He gestures at the room.
I look around and sigh. “I’m not scared. It’s just… a totally different world.”
“So what?” He cocks his head. “it’s just stuff.”
“Stuff that costs more money than I’ll make in my whole life.”
“Ah,” he says softly and grins at me. “I think that’s not true. I think you could be as rich as I am if you really, really wanted it.”
“I doubt it.”
He puts his arm around my waist and steers me over to the couch. “The thing about being rich is that you have to give up everything else in your life to get there.”
“Is that what you did?”
“Absolutely. You see the way I am.”
I bite my lip as I sit down next to him, leaning my head against his shoulder. He’s right, he works constantly, literally all day long. I even get emails from him late at night sometimes. I bet he never takes a break, always thinking of work even when he’s not officially working.
“It’s obsessive,” I say.
“Exactly. It takes that kind of dedication and most people don’t have it. By the end, you’re just left with…” He trails off and shrugs. “You have to be willing to throw people away. You have to be willing to be ruthless.”
“Are you ruthless?” I look up into his eyes.
He looks sad. “Not anymore,” he says softly. “That’s what I’ve been realizing lately. I’m not ruthless enough anymore.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not,” he says quickly. “It just means that my priorities are shifting.”
“You’re still right though.”
He laughs softly. “That’s true. I just don’t think I’ll ever be richer.”
“You can be richer?”
“Of course. It’s all a game and some people are winning more than others. I just think I’m tired of playing.”
“So what do you want then?”
“I want you,” he says softly, lips against my cheek. I tilt my head up and he kisses me gently. “I want a life, Eden. I don’t want… this.” He gestures at the room. “I think that’s why I brought you here.”
I snort. “You could’ve told me you were done with being a rich asshole back at the office.”
“But would you have believed me?”
I stare into his eyes. I’m not even sure I believe him now, but there’s something about this, about him that screams sincerity. “No,” I say softly. “I don’t think I would have.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” He kisses me again, slower this time, deeper. “But I need you to. It’s holding you back, Eden. You have this idea of me but it’s an old idea, one I’ve given up. I need you to give it up, too.”
We kiss again and this time I can taste the hunger on his lips. I have that same hunger deep in my chest, bubbling up to the surface sending waves of excitement all along my skin.
I pull him closer and kiss him slowly, tasting him deep, letting his words run through my mind. He wants to give something up for me. Not his money and I wouldn’t ask that of him. But more like… the lifestyle he’s been living. The lifestyle of an incredibly rich man.
He wants to give that up and take me instead. He wants a family, stability.
I haven’t believed him, not really, at least until Saturday morning.
I thought this just might be about sex. I mean, we always sleep together when we’re alone. I couldn’t tell if that was because he just can’t keep his hands off of me or if it’s because I’m just some shiny new thing he’ll eventually get bored of.
But Saturday morning showed me a different side of him. It showed me that he can be tender and interested in me just for conversation. He didn’t have to do that but he clearly wanted to. It was a date, just a normal, regular date.
And it felt good. I had a good time just talking to him like that. I thought he was just a horrible hardass and that we’d have nothing in common but I was totally wrong. We’re compatible, more than compatible, it feels good to be with him.
It’s so strange, but god, it feels good. I think I’m finally starting to believe him. I think I’m finally ready to fall.
I push him back and straddle him. He grips my ass and I grind down onto him. I can feel his hard cock through his pants and it sends wild tingles all along my skin. I’m dripping wet already and god, I can’t help myself. I think I’m just as much at fault for how much we have sex. I can barely keep my hands off of him, too.
He unbuttons my blouse and pulls it back, kissing my neck and chest as my hair spills down my back. I grind my hips and run my fingers along his neck before gripping the back of the couch. He groans and spanks my ass, cupping it tight and pushing me down against him. I bite his lip and love his taste as he grunts his pleasure.
“Are you sure you want to give everything up for me?” I whisper in his ear.
“It wouldn’t be losing as far as I’m concerned,” he growls. “Look at you, look at this body. Fuck, girl. I’d be getting the better end of the deal.
He turns me suddenly, pinning me down onto the couch. He unbuttons my slacks and pulls them off my body. I sit up and kiss him, unbuttoning his shirt, hands running along the smooth skin of his chest, fingers pressing against his muscular abs. He growls again and pushes me back down, spreading my legs and kissing my chest, stomach, and inner thigh.
As he pushes my panties aside, I let out a little gasp of pleasure. It runs through me in waves when his tongue finds my clit. He’s incredible, so incredible. I have no clue how he learned this but god, I’m happy he did. His tongue laps me up, licks and sucks me, drives me wild. He pushes the pleasure but not too far. He always backs off just before it gets too much, like he can read me like a book.
He buries two fingers deep inside of my pussy and I gasp. He looks into my eyes and kisses me as he slowly strokes his fingers in and out. “This is the prize,” he whispers. “Right fucking here.”
I push him back and drop onto my knees in front of him. I unbuckle his belt and pull at his pants until they’re down around his ankles, followed by his boxer briefs only seconds later. I take his thick cock in my hands and stroke him up and down, leaning forward to kiss him slowly. He wraps his fingers around my chin and holds me there, looking into my eyes, before I pull away and take his cock between my lips.
I suck him slow at first before pushing as much of his thick cock deep into my mouth. I groan in response to his grunts of pleasure. I suck him faster, stroking him longer and quicker. I’m losing myself in the moment, completely taken by this man, by his body and my need for it. I suck him fast and dirty, groaning the whole time.
He presses me down deep and I gag but I keep going. I suck him and look up into his eyes while I stroke him slowly. He groans and leans down to kiss me again and I stroke him faster and faster.
He growls and pulls me up. I straddle him quickly before pushing back. I feel his cock slide deep between my legs, making my back arch. A low moan escapes my lips.
His hands tangle in my hair as he kisses me. I lower my back and slide down along his shaft until he’s filling me up to my brim. I moan and throw my head back, working my hips in circles. I can feel him buried inside of me, filling my pussy to the brim. It’s driving me absolutely wild. I can barely control myself as I roll my hips in circles along his thick, rock hard cock.
He holds my ass and spanks it hard. I groan and put my hands back behind me, leaning on his knees. I work my hips up and down, riding him now as he stares at my body like a hungry lion. Hell, he’s growling like a lion as his hands roam my skin, teasing my breasts and nipples. I ride him faster, sweat on my skin as I take his huge cock deep inside my tight little pussy. It’s driving me absolutely wild but I can’t slow down, can’t s
top for a second.
He pulls me forward again and licks my nipples as he thrusts up inside of me. He thrusts hard, fucking me, holding me tight. I gasp and dig my fingers into the couch again. He fucks me rough and fast before letting me go. I take over, rolling my hips back and riding him.
I kiss him as I ride him, sweat dripping down onto his skin. He spanks my ass and I can’t help myself. I ride him fast, grinding my hips, rolling my clit against his body as his cock buries itself deeper and deeper inside of me. I moan and whisper his name.
“Come here,” he growls, getting up. He pushes me to the side and turns me around, getting me on my knees on the couch. He slaps my ass and slides his cock deep inside of me from behind so easily that I’m almost surprised, but I shouldn’t be. I’m practically dripping onto the floor, I’m so wet and excited right now.
He fucks me hard from behind. He slaps my ass and pulls my hair, rough and intense. He’s manhandling me, taking my body, using me and fucking me and controlling me. I feel dominated and god, it feels so good. Pleasure rips through my skin when he reaches around to rub my clit, his big cock grinding inside of me.
“I love this little body,” he groans. “I love these hips and this ass.” He spanks me, kisses my back. “Fucking hell, girl, I want to feel you come on my big cock.”
“Yes,” I gasp. “Please, fuck me. Don’t stop.”
He thrusts faster, filling me up, not holding back. I groan and roll my hips and feel him fill me to the brim. He spanks my ass again, rough this time. He’s an animal fucking me from behind, taking me the way he wants and needs. I pant and beg his name and I know I’m so close.
He doesn’t slow down. There’s no mercy in him. He’s not taking it easy. He fucks me faster and rougher and I throw my head back in pure ecstasy. I can’t stop now even if I wanted to.
He spanks me one more time and I feel him pull my hair. “Come on this big cock, girl,” he growls.
And I come for him, I come for him hard. It rips through my body and I’m shivering and twitching and god, it’s heaven. I can’t help myself. I come hard and I’m left gasping and groaning as he keeps fucking me. He’s not stopping, not taking it easy. I look over my shoulder at him, buzzing and dizzy with the orgasm still ringing in my ears.
He’s gorgeous, muscular, intense. He’s sweating and he’s looking at me like he can’t ever look away. I move my hips back, moan for him, beg him to fill me up.
So he does. He comes hard in thick spurts and I feel him fill me to the brim. I groan and take every single drop deep inside my pussy. I know he needs this just as much as I do so I roll my hips and buck back against him, helping his orgasm.
He groans and we finish together. He collapses onto the couch and I curl up against him, ear to his chest.
We don’t talk for a little while. He holds me tight, pressed close to his skin. I feel him playing with my hair absently before he kisses my bare shoulder.
“Hell, girl,” he whispers. “I could do that for the rest of my life.”
He can’t see my face, but a smile bursts across it. God, that’s what I wanted to hear.
Normally the idea of forever would scare me….
But with him?
Forever isn’t long enough.
14
Finn
Two Weeks Later
It’s a smoky little dive bar off Washington Avenue deep in South Philly. I step in through the door, glancing around at the local guys elbow-deep in their tenth light beer before I spot Braxton sitting toward the back facing the door.
He nods at me when I finally make him and gestures me over. I head through the thin crowd and take the chair across from him. “Very mob boss,” I say. “Back to the wall, facing the entrance.”
He grins. “I thought you’d like that.”
“Why did you want to meet here?”
His grin falters. “Your boy Maxwell. He wasn’t easy.”
I hesitate for a second. I know Maxwell is rich and connected, but I didn’t think he’d be trouble. “You didn’t find anything?”
He sighs. “I found something, all right. But your boy was well protected. It wasn’t easy getting close.”
My heart picks up. “What did you find?”
“First, we need to discuss something.” He clears his throat. “I need double.”
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“Look, I know this is going to seem like I’m shaking you down, but I have receipts. I needed to bribe a few people just to get close enough to find this stuff for you.”
I clench my jaw. “Fine. But I want the receipts.”
He nods. “Done.” He pushes a folder across the grimy table. “There you go.”
I open it up and a laugh forces itself from my lips.
The first picture is grainy and black and white, but it’s not hard to make out the people. Pictured clearly front and center is Maxwell himself, with a very pretty young woman sucking his dick.
I laugh again as I run through the pictures. The girl isn’t some normal hooker as far as I can tell. I’d guess a secretary or a personal assistant. A little ironic, considering, but whatever.
“This is great,” I say.
“You wanted a wedge in his marriage, there it is. The girl is his business partner’s daughter.”
I nearly fucking choke. “What?”
“Yeah, I know,” he says, shaking his head. “Fucked up, but there it is. She’s, what, nineteen? Anyway, there you have it. That’s all you need.”
“Holy fuck.” I stare at the pictures again and, sure enough, the girl really is Lindsey Holmes, daughter of Maxwell’s number two. I didn’t recognize her with her tits out and a dick in her face, but yep, that’s her all right.
“Well, shit.” I shake my head. “This is going to be the second-best thing that happened to me today.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Second?”
I grin and stand up, folder tucked under my arm. “Listen, send me an invoice and those receipts.”
“You got it.”
“This is great work.”
He nods at me. “Always a pleasure.”
I nod back, turn, and hurry out of there. My driver’s waiting around the corner, so I hop inside and tell him to hurry. I’m running a little late but I know she won’t mind, not after she hears about these pictures.
I look through them again with a grin on my face. Fucking hell, Maxwell. He’s been in business with Holmes for a while now. Apparently, they’re pretty close, or at least they used to be. After this, I can’t imagine they’re ever going to speak again.
This is going to be fucking huge.
I don’t know if I’ll use it yet or not, but we’ll see. I mean, this is the nuclear option, after all. I may not need it, but I’m damn happy I have it.
The driver takes me up to Rittenhouse and drops me off at a quiet corner. I wave him off and check the box in my pocket before hurrying over to a bench in a more secluded corner of the park.
Eden’s there already, of course. She smiles as I approach.
“You’re late,” she says.
“I know.” I sit down next to her, a little out of breath from hurrying over. “I had to stop and see my private eye.”
“Anything?” she asks, eyebrows raised.
“Oh, yeah.” I grin at her. “I got something good. I’ll show you later, though. I left it in the car.”
“Better be good,” She says with a smile. “Otherwise I waited here all alone for no reason.”
“There’s a good reason, I promise.” The sun’s just starting the set and I suddenly feel nervous. I’ve been planning on doing this today for a week now, but this is the first time I feel nervous.
I clear my throat and take her hand. “Listen, I need you to know something.”
“Why are you looking so serious?”
I glare at her. “Just let me talk, okay?”
“I’m just saying, you look like you’re about to propose or something.”
I don’t laugh. I do
n’t smile. She giggles nervously then the smile fades.
“Uh, are you about to propose?”
I sigh. “I had a speech prepared.”
Her eyes go wide. “Finn. Wait.”
“I was going to tell you how you’ve changed my life,” I say softly, pulling the box from my pocket slowly. “I was going to tell you how before, all I wanted was work and money and status. All I wanted was more bullshit. I filled my life with garbage and I was never, ever satisfied. At least not until you appeared.”
“Finn,” she says, almost panicking.
I get down on one knee in front of her. I show her the ring box.
“I know this is fast,” I say softly. “But you have to understand. I love you, Eden. I’ve loved you since the moment we met. I want to marry you, take care of you and the baby.”
She’s breathing hard and blinking fast. “Finn,” she says.
“This isn’t just because of the baby,” I say quickly. “This is because of you, the way you make me feel. I’ve never been so happy, not ever. Marry me, Eden. Make me whole again.”
She blinks and a tear rolls down her cheek. “Yes,” she says so quietly I almost don’t hear. “Oh my god, yes. I love you too, Finn.”
She leans down and kisses me. I laugh and someone nearby claps. I grin and open the box, sliding the two-million dollar ring onto her finger.
“Holy fuck,” she says, staring at it.
“I know. It’s gaudy.”
“It’s elegant. It’s way too much.” She holds it up into the dying sunlight and it glitters. “It’s beautiful.”
“You deserve it.”
I kiss her slow and deep and I don’t let go for a while.
This is what I’ve always wanted. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
I didn’t expect it to happen like this. I mean, I don’t think anyone could’ve guessed this would happen. But it happened and I wouldn’t take it back for anything in the world. I have my girl, I have my baby… and I don’t need anything else.
15
