For His Pleasure

by Suzanne Rock

  She nodded. “I think we do. And call me Ari.”

  “Ari.” His voice was filled with awe and caused something to flutter in her lower abdomen.

  “Here we are.” Stefan hurried over with the cameraman and a large cardboard check. “Sorry about the wait.”

  “No trouble.” Ari cleared her throat and stepped away from Jason. The distance allowed her to get her bearings. What was she doing, flirting with the enemy?

  “Now, if you’d stand here, Ms. Perconti,” the cameraman said.

  Ari moved into position and made a show of taking the oversized check from Stefan and Jason. Then they repositioned themselves as Ari and Stefan handed an equally obnoxious large check to Jason.

  “I told you that I didn’t want the money,” Jason said to Stefan.

  “You have to take it,” Ari said. “It’s part of the deal. The winner gets ten percent.”

  “But I don’t need it.”

  “It’s not about needing it. It’s about sportsmanship and fun.”

  “Interesting,” he murmured as he dragged his gaze over her curvy frame. “What if there was another way to achieve your goal, one where you got to keep your money?”

  “Another way?” Ari wrinkled her brow in confusion.

  “Yes.”

  Intrigued, Ari lowered her check. “I’m listening.”

  “Instead of taking the money, I take you.” When she frowned, he hurried to continue. “Just out to dinner. One boring dinner, that’s all I ask.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “So let me get this straight. I get to keep the money if I go out to some fancy restaurant with you?”

  “Not a fancy restaurant. Somewhere more … amusing.” He grinned, showing off his dimple once more. “Consider it an extra donation from a benefactor.” He inched closer. “Someone who admires your passion for helping kids.”

  Ari glanced at Stefan, unsure. “It’s a lot of money you’re giving up.” And she knew that Leo would frown upon her taking it from Jason. This was a dangerous game they were playing, one where she could end up in a lot of trouble with her family. “Leo would kill me for being indebted to you.”

  “Just some beer and wings, and your brother will never know.” Jason closed the distance between them and flashed her that gorgeous, conspiratorial smile. “It will be our little secret.”

  “Beer and wings, huh?” The prospect of going to a restaurant with Jason was exciting. She never got to just hang out informally. Everything was orchestrated to show off her family’s cultured lifestyle and elegance. Beer and wings sounded … divine.

  Ari nibbled her lower lip. Jason may be manipulative, but she was a Perconti. If Leo could hold his own with Jason, it stood to reason that she could, too. Besides, it was only dinner. How much trouble could she possibly get into in a couple of hours?

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do it.”

  “Perfect. It’s a date.”

  “Can we take the picture now?” Stefan asked.

  “Of course.” As Jason moved beside Ari and slid his arm around her waist, warm tingles raced over her skin. She did her best to listen to the instructions and smile for the camera, but it was difficult. Jason’s body heat surrounded her, making her feel safe and protected. It took most of her willpower to resist curling up next to him and burying her face in that strong, protective chest, especially when his fingers were inching down from her waist, skimming against her hip and upper thigh.

  When the session was done, Stefan helped the cameraman pack up his things. Ari started to move away from Jason, but he gripped her hip tighter, holding her in place. Before she could protest, he leaned close, so close that his lips were inches away from her ear.

  “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at eight. Be sure to wear something comfortable.” He dragged his hungry gaze down her body. “If you’re good, I might even give you a ride in the McLaren.”

  The McLaren. Ari took a step back and watched Jason get into his car, wondering just what she had gotten herself into.

  Chapter 2

  Present Day

  Ari fidgeted with her wedding veil as the large cement pillars of Stone Suites came into view. The hotel was both familiar and strange. For weeks she had spent almost every day in the modern, art deco hotel. Then she’d had to leave for a fund-raising event in London. That event had led to work in France, Germany, and Austria. Raising funds for her charity had kept her busy for four months, which meant she hadn’t been with him in four long months. Just the thought of seeing Jason again was enough to make her shake with need.

  Sure, she and Jason had texted and e-mailed almost every day, but a few dirty texts weren’t the same as the real thing. She had meant to visit him when she had arrived in Boston a few weeks ago, but with all of the hoopla going on with her wedding over at the Palazzo, she couldn’t get away. But all of that was behind her now. Sort of.

  Ari sighed and toyed with her diamond necklace as she took in the passing buildings in Boston’s busy financial district. She and Jason had agreed long ago that their relationship was a secret “friends with benefits” arrangement. While they had fun together, they both knew that it could be only that—fun. He was her family’s competition and nothing would change that. They had agreed to keep their sexual interludes on the down low and to not discuss business or their personal lives. When they were together, they lived in the moment. Past and present didn’t exist. Many times Ari felt as if she was living two lives, one she showed the world, her family, and the media, the other with Jason. One was filled with obligation and restraint, the other freedom.

  Jason, in turn, had kept his word. He never spoke of their sexual escapades to Leo or the press, and even dismissed her attempts to explain herself after Leo announced her engagement to Landon Blake. Jason didn’t want to hear about how Leo and Landon had made a business deal that involved her hand, or her reasons for agreeing to it. According to him, what happened outside of the bedroom didn’t matter. He could care less about how Landon was using her to improve his image and how she was using him for money. As long as he could keep on seeing her, the name-only union meant nothing to him.

  Ari hoped that Jason still had that same laid-back attitude after she told him what had happened during the ceremony. She needed a place to lay low for a while until everything blew over.

  Ari wasn’t proud of her actions. Leaving her stuffy aviation tycoon fiancé at the altar was an impulsive move, but one that felt right. While Ari felt a little guilty over her actions, she didn’t dwell on it. Landon knew that this marriage was a sham and had even planned on spending their wedding night at a seedy club downtown. It wasn’t as if she was breaking his heart. She was doing both of them a favor by ending this farce.

  No, Landon didn’t care for her, and Ari no longer wanted to be tied down in a name-only marriage. She was so tired of being manipulated by Leo. He was older but not wiser, at least when it came to her life. His actions were starting to affect the rest of her brothers’ attitudes toward her. Dante and Marco were already a tad too overprotective. It would only be a matter of time before her younger brother, Gio, started ordering her around as well.

  It was time to start making decisions for herself. In order to do that, she needed a place to lay low while Leo cooled his temper enough for her to reason with him. Leo had done a great job of keeping her and the rest of her siblings together after their father’s death. He’d been there for her when she got into a bit of trouble in high school and again when her charity fell apart, but she wasn’t a child anymore. He needed to learn to let go.

  She needed to figure out a way to prove to Leo and the rest of her family that she didn’t need to be coddled. She was a grown woman, an independent thinker, and she could think of no better way to liberate herself from her family than by staying with their fiercest rival. Half the time Jason and Leo weren’t on speaking terms and the other half they were arguing. No one would think to look for her at either Jason’s apartment or Stone Suites. And Jason, well, Jason was more than jus
t discreet. He was entertaining, amazing, and could always be counted on for some mind-blowing sex.

  Sex. It had been ages since she had done anything more than masturbate. She was more than ready for whatever the gorgeous adrenaline junkie had in store.

  Excitement rippled through her as she pulled her sunglasses out of her purse and put them on. Jason was sin in a suit. He fucked like an animal and she couldn’t get enough of him. Even now, as she directed the cab to the back of the hotel and waited for it to pull over, her skin tingled with anticipation.

  “Excuse me, ma’am.”

  Ari glanced up at the wiggling fingers of the cab driver and realized that he wanted to be paid. “How much?”

  “Thirty-three, seventy-two.”

  “What? We couldn’t have gone more than a mile. That’s robbery.” She glanced at his name tag on the dashboard. “Do you make a habit of robbing your customers, Omar?”

  “Hey, lady. You were the one who wanted to make a stop at Quincy Market. Time costs money.”

  Ari blew a long curl from her face and dug into her small white clutch. The cab ride was going to cost half the money Leo’s girlfriend, Karin, had given her. How was she supposed to survive for the next week or two on so little?

  “Here.” She stuffed the bills in the driver’s chubby fingers and stepped out onto the sidewalk, purposefully leaving her cell phone behind so her brothers couldn’t track her. She wasn’t in a position to argue. She was a runaway bride with nothing but the clothes on her back and a few twenties in her purse. It wasn’t like she had a lot of options. At least the cab driver was good enough to park on one of the side streets behind the building, away from most of the pedestrians. Wearing a wedding dress on a busy public sidewalk was sure to attract attention.

  “Oh.” Ari stumbled as her heel stuck into a crack on the sidewalk. She tumbled forward and felt a pull on her bridal train. “Damn.” The door had closed with a piece of her dress stuck in it. She reached for the door handle just as the cab started pulling away from the curb.

  “Wait! My dress!” Ari dropped her purse and yelled obscenities at the driver, but he didn’t listen. The cab picked up speed, and Ari felt the firm tug on her rear. Her veil fell and covered most of her face as she pulled at the tulle on her gown. A loud tearing noise ripped through the air. Within seconds her ass hit the pavement and pain vibrated up her spine.

  Shit. Ari rubbed her tailbone and watched the cab pull away with a big chunk of bridal train in the door. That Vera Wang gown had been gorgeous.

  Ari eased back onto her feet and picked up the back part of her dress to inspect the damage. The train was ruined, tearing about midway up her thigh in a jagged rip. At least there was enough material to cover her backside. The front remained long, so perhaps if she just stuck close to a wall, no one would notice.

  She dropped the torn tulle and rubbed her tailbone as she glanced around her. A couple of people were staring, but thankfully no one seemed to recognize her. Yet.

  “What are you all looking at? Go on, get out of here.” She made a shooing motion with her hands as a businessman looked down his nose at her.

  When he didn’t move, she stuck her tongue out at him. The man huffed and hurried off, clearly annoyed that she had caught him staring. Good riddance.

  As the pain in her tailbone receded, Ari pulled out the prepaid phone she’d purchased in Quincy Market and began to text. Had to change phones. Coming in thru the garage. She had sent Jason a message before getting into the cab, but didn’t tell him the whole story. Boy, was he going to be in for a big surprise.

  His response was immediate. The laundry room is on the left. I’ll meet you there.

  She placed her phone in her clutch as she made her way through the underground valet garage and approached the metal door. She passed Jason’s large collection of sports cars and remembered how he had promised her that someday they were going to have sex in each and every one. He had made good on his promise. In a few short months they had gotten naked in all of his cars save the electric blue McLaren 650S—his favorite. Something she hoped to rectify soon. There was something exhilarating about going down on him while parked at some remote location, knowing that at any moment he’d take charge and have his way with her on the hood. She missed him and she wanted him.

  As she approached the large metal door of the employee entrance, she pulled out a tissue from her clutch and used it to grab the dirty, germ-infested handle. After a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching, she stepped inside.

  Placing her sunglasses in her purse, she walked over the tiles, looking for a door marked LAUNDRY ROOM. Cool, air-conditioned air blew across the back of her legs, making her shiver. Really, what had she been thinking, agreeing to this wedding sham? The union was supposed to get the Perconti family out of debt. Landon’s funds would give her enough money to keep her charity afloat and she’d give him enough stability to quiet the rumors that had surfaced about his kinky lifestyle. It had sounded like a win-win situation, but as the months started ticking down to her wedding, she realized that something was missing. She wanted a real relationship, one with love, respect, and fun.

  Ari heard the whirring of the washing machines before seeing the sign for the laundry room. Relief washed through her as she placed her tissue on the handle, opened the door, and stepped inside.

  Industrial-sized washing machines and dryers were lined up against the walls, their humming and sloshing creating a background clamor that was a sharp contrast to the quiet hall. After a quick glance around, Ari realized that she was alone.

  Now what? She nibbled her lower lip and wondered if Jason had heard about the wedding fiasco yet. There had been at least two dozen reporters at the Palazzo, waiting for a wedding that would never happen. Ari wouldn’t be surprised if her hasty retreat blanketed both tabloid and mainstream news channels an hour or so from now.

  Ari jumped as the door opened behind her. “Who’s there?”

  Jason’s handsome face came into view, and she felt a familiar heat rise. There was nothing sexier than a man in a business suit, and Jason’s tailor-made attire was no exception. The navy brought out the blue in his eyes, making them more sapphire than topaz. His lean, muscular frame looked positively lickable, and she couldn’t wait to run her fingers through his thick, latte-colored locks. He had that seductive smile ready, complete with that dimple she loved, but when he rested his gaze on her it faltered.

  “Ari,” he said as he closed the door behind him. “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Tell me.” He started to close the distance between them, then hesitated and looked at her ripped dress. “Did Landon do this to you?” Fury laced his even tone.

  “No, of course not. Just hold me, Jason.”

  “Of course, princess.” He held his arms out. “Come here.”

  In two steps she was next to him with her arms wrapped around his neck. “I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am to see you.” Days of pent-up frustration rose up in her chest and threatened to spill out as tears.

  * * *

  Jason tried to gather his wits as he slid his arms around her trim waist. “I’m glad you’re here too, Ari.” And he was, although he’d never admit it to anyone but her.

  “I had to see you,” she mumbled into his chest.

  He understood her feelings. It had been a long time since he’d held her. He didn’t realize how much he had missed it until this moment. “Whatevah’s wrong, I can fix it.” He grimaced at his Boston accent, an accent he had worked hard to hide along with his past. Unfortunately, the slipups had been happening more and more around her lately. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice.

  “You can’t fix this.”

  “Try me.”

  “This is my problem, not yours.” She leaned back from his embrace and shook her head. “Remember our promise. No talk of business. Our lives outside of each other don’t exist when we’re together.”

  “I—of co
urse, dahlin’.” They had agreed to use their time together as an escape from their everyday lives. Up until today, Jason had honored that, biding his time until he found the right moment to use their relationship to gain an advantage over her brother, but seeing her so upset and worried gave him pause.

  Something was wrong, deeply wrong, judging by her disheveled look and the way she was shaking. All thoughts of exploiting her disappeared and he just wanted to hold her and fix whatever it was that was making her so upset.

  “Kiss me, Jason,” she whispered. “I just need to be with you.” She undid the buttons of his suit coat, popping them off one by one.

  He knew she was distracting him from questioning her, and for once, he didn’t mind being manipulated. It had been so long since they had been together, and he had been working too many long hours trying to put her upcoming wedding from his mind.

  He kissed her hard, enjoying how her sweet taste burst on his tongue. No woman had ever tasted quite as good as Ari. No one felt as good, either. He slid his fingers down her back, sides, and hips as the air heated around them.

  Ari threw herself into the kiss, meeting his tongue with enthusiasm. It wasn’t long before he forgot why she had come to him, or why she wanted him to kiss her. All he could think about was burying himself deep inside her body and losing himself in her softness.

  He bent his head, tasting the delicate skin of her neck and shoulder. As her familiar scent enveloped him, a sense of urgency began to take hold.

  “I need to feel you inside of me,” she whispered as she ran her fingers over his biceps. “Please.”

  Jason groaned as he slid his fingers down over her ass and pulled her close, letting her feel every inch of his rock-hard erection. She responded by widening her stance, inviting him closer.

  “Hang on,” he whispered into her ear.

  As he lifted her from the ground, Ari tightened her arms and legs around his body, enveloping him in her warmth. He placed her on the nearest washing machine and devoured her mouth, desperate to feel her flesh against his.