“I…I…” She glanced at Turner who glowered at Diego. She was sure he knew exactly what it meant for her to go back with her ex-husband but as always she didn’t seem to have a choice.
“It’s better than jail,” said Diego.
Hopelessness and dread settled in her stomach. He’d keep her on a tight leash. He’d lock the doors and keep her from calling her family back in Mexico. And not for one minute did she think he had any kind of exciting business proposition to share with her. The only thing he would share was her body…with everyone. “I… I guess I’m going into business,” Val squeaked.
“The hell you will,” Turner shouted as if he heard her very thoughts. “Listen…officers… I’ve got money and I’ll pay whatever it is you need to get her off the hook.”
Mr. Goldstein tapped a finger on his chin. “It’s not just the money, young man.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well, she could get another work visa. But of course she has to have a job.”
“A job,”
“Yes, and whose going to hire someone like her? Especially on short notice. Her visa expires in three days.”
“Well…”
“What? You? Are you willing to hire someone who clearly can’t be trusted, who has a record as long as the Dead Sea Scrolls, a woman whose married to another man and let’s not forget she is capable of assault.”
Turner didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“My cook. I’m hiring her as my cook.”
“Ha!” burst out Diego. “She can’t even boil water.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” asked Mr. Goldstein. “ How do I know you’re not just going to set her free the minute I turn my back?”
Turner reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a plane ticket. He handed it to Mr. Goldstein.
“What’s this?”
“Her ticket back to my home state of New York. We leave tomorrow.”
Mr. Goldstein took out his spectacles and perused the document. “Hmm, looks official. How did you…”
“I have my ways.”
“Then I guess you have yourself a cook.”
Chapter 13
“Aw this is great, Val. Sugar and coffee all in one creamy treat. What else can a man want out of life?”
Val was so eager to make it up to Turner, that when she learned he had a sweet tooth, she made him her famous coffee crème brȗlée for him.
“I’m glad you like it.” She served him another scoop. “Here… Have more.”
“Not sure if I have any more room. After those puffy things…what do you call them?”
“Palmiers. They’re puff pastry actually.”
“Yeah, those. Dang, those things melted on my tongue! I think that’s the second best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
“Only second?”
Turner laughed and gave her bottom a squeeze.
“So does this mean I’m forgiven?”
Confusion etched his brow. “Forgiven?”
“For stealing from you. Geese, Turner, I ripped off your damn credit card…plus a thousand big ones.”
Turner waved a hand in the air. “Sweetheart, money isn’t one of the things I worry about in life, believe me.”
Val frowned. “Wish I could say the same.”
“No. Val, I’m not mad and there’s nothing to be forgiven for.”
Val let out a heated breath. “And you still want me to work for you?”
“Of course. You’d be saving my life. “
“How do you figure…?”
“I haven’t stopped worrying about my brother in six goddammed months. I need some peace. Someone I can trust to watch over Sam is worth any price. I’m a very rich guy, you know.”
She tried not to think about the money nor the fact that if things worked out between her and Turner she could be a very rich woman some day. “And you….trust me?” she asked. Why?”
Turner shrugged. “What have I got to lose? Like I said, money isn’t something I ever worry about.”
“Well since that is settled, can we go and get my clothes now?”
“Sure but I want to show you something first.”
“What’s that?”
“Vegas, baby.”
“Turner I’ve seen Las Vegas. I’ve lived her six months. Remember?”
“Not like this, you haven’t.”
***
Val was wearing a blind fold, feeling as giddy as a kitten even though the scent of warm air, car fumes, cigarette butts and…was that…chlorine she smelled was all around her. She couldn’t wait to see what Vegas looked like after dark. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Turner said. “Step down, there’s a curb. That’s right. Don’t worry, I’m right here.” She’d never trusted a man before but she trusted Turner explicitly. “I’m so excited. Are we almost there?”
“Almost.”
The air was hot and moist. Every time Val turned her head just so, she caught a whiff of Turner’s heat—his masculinity and strength simply oozing from his body until it practically slipped inside her dress caressing her like fingers. And he always looked good too. Right out of the shower, dressed to the hilt, or even covered in wood shavings. So much hotness on one man just had to be a sin. How did she ever get so lucky?
They paused in their stride and he pulled her against him. “We have to wait on the light,” he said and then a few minutes later. “Okay, we can go. Watch your step, sweetheart.”
Val giggled and so did he. “I know. Poor choice of words huh?”
“I know what you meant.”
She inhaled his scent. “Mmmm, you smell so good. Where are we anyway?” The sound of traffic, horns blazing, and the shadow of flashing lights almost invaded blindfold.
“Fifth and Elm I think. This way.” Both hands on her hips he urged her forward.
“Maybe we can use this blindfold for later.”
Soft tender lips nibbled at her neck. “Sure, baby. Later.” He pinched her bottom sending her into explosive giggles until a cabbie blaring his horn jarred her out of tranquility.
Turner laughed. “It’s okay. He’s way up the road. Nothing to worry about.”
“If you say so. My eyes are starting to itch. Can I take this off yet?”
“Just a few more feet.”
Val heard her heels clicking on the footpath. “I know where we are. We’re across the street from the Bellagio.”
Turner brought Val up against his body. “Open your eyes, sweetheart,” he breathed in to her ear. For a moment she didn’t move. It felt heavenly with his face up to her neck.
Turner removed the mask. He smiled and then turned her attention to the hotel across the street. She’d never seen anything so spectacular in her life. Not only did the thirty-six story hotel boast billions of colored lights, they glittered against a midnight sky. A small cement pool of azure blue water separated the pool from the street at the base of the hotel. Sharp fountains shooting colored water created a border of brilliance against the sky. It sparkled. It sizzled. And it was absolutely breathtaking.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Turner asked.
Val had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. It was just like Christmas lights. All twinkly and sharp, made more brilliant by the darkness of the night. She stared at the hotel, captivated.
“This is why I haven’t brought you back for your clothes until now.”
She turned to look at him with tears in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought you just wanted to keep me…”
“What? Keep you naked?”
“Well… yeah. Isn’t that what all men want?”
“ No. I wanted to show you this but for the last three nights, we got so…busy, we kinda fell asleep before…well… you know. Not that I minded your birthday suit or anything like that.”
Val laughed. She sunk into Turner’s arms. “I’ve nev
er seen this before you know.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, you told me since you worked nights you either spent your time working or sleeping. In both cases you never went outdoors.”
Val laughed. “You remembered that?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
Val shrugged. “Most of the time when I tell a man something he doesn’t.”
“Well those guys are assholes, Val.”
“I guess.”
He kissed her on the head.
“So this is why they say, it’s the city that never sleeps,” Val said. “Funny, for the last six months it felt like all I did was sleep.”
He pulled her in tighter. “I admire that about you.”
Val giggled. “What? The sleeping?”.
“No. That you want a better life for your family and you send money home. Not too many people do that in this country.”
Val shrugged. “They’d do the same for me if they could. My brothers are pretty special.”
“You’re…pretty special.”
Val didn’t know what to say so she focused on something else. Like what she wanted to do to him once they got back to the hotel. She wanted to blindfold him like she had done her and kiss him all over starting at his toes and going all the way to his…Turner’s groin moved against her hips, his erection apparent. He’d felt her need too. He cleared his throat, moving away just a little and turning her to face him.
“You’re a good woman, Val,” he said in that rich whiskey voice of his. “You put other’s needs above your own. I know you’ve not had a great time of it and I know you’ve had to be nice to a lot of…men. You’ve sacrificed yourself. I get that about you.”
“Well, you’re the first man that ever has. And for the record, you’re the only man who would have done what you did for me back there. In fact, most men probably would have…”
“Sent you to the hospital?”
“No. The morgue.”
“Jesus, Val!”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then I’m glad it was me that you ripped off then.”
Val’s heart swelled.
“I’m not a hero though. Far from it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m ashamed to say this but…all my life I’ve just taken. I’ve never given.”
“And with the women you date?”
“Asshole through and through.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Turner chuckled. “Hard, yeah. Always hard when I’m around you, Val.” He leaned down and nibbled on her neck sending the most delicious shivers up and down her back. “But seriously. I’m a very selfish man. I think every woman I’ve ever dated would agree with me on that one.”
“You weren’t selfish with me.” The heat of his eyes bore into her soul, flashing with unquenched desire. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
They were standing by a short stone wall with no one around them. Val could almost feel the concrete below her knees, feel herself releasing him from his trousers with nothing but the stars and shadows to witness her taking him in her mouth. She’d always loved having sex outdoors. She felt free somehow even though she was anything but free. In the past, she’d not cared for the man. He was simply a means to whatever she needed. A plane ticket. A meal she had no money for. Sex outdoors made it—easier. She’d focus on the stars or the moon or sometimes a building just so she didn’t have to see his face. It made her forget how hopeless she felt.
But Turner wasn’t like other men. She actually wanted to see him. Yearned to capture the hunger in his eyes. Turner had class. He was a good man with a good soul, no matter how much he denied it.
“Let’s go to the hotel and get my clothes,” Val said feeling a little breathless. “I think it’s time for bed.”
A slow smile curled her toes. “Playtime?” he said. Nibbling at her ear, it turning her insides into putty. He gave her a playful lick. “You’ve had a long day. Of course you’re tired.”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not tired at all.”
***
No sooner were they inside the door and Turner was scraping the top of Val’s dress off her shoulders, mouth plastered to one nipple while his hand slid up along her back. She jumped up with both legs, wrapping them around his torso. She let her tongue slide along his neck. He tasted salty and kind of sweet with just hint of male sweat. He moaned as she lifted her head, his kiss devouring her so thoroughly she barely could get a word out. “Get the…the…” Another kiss and the words floundered in her mouth, unspoken. She giggled. He hoisted her up further around his hips, fumbling with his belt buckle with one hand and holding her with the other. He grunted and the laughed. They made it to the bedroom, hopping along the way.
Turner pushed her up against the wall. Something teetered on its axis, knocking over a lamp. A loud crash. “Whoops.” And then a giggle.
“The light. The light,” Val yelled in between hot kisses that sizzled along her lips.
“Right. Yeah.” He hoisted her up again and then half hopped half jogged over to the light switch on the wall.
He turned on the light.
“Ta Da!” His smile was even more infectious than his touch and Val found her skin crawling with raw emotional longing. She caught the view of the two of them in the mirror. Distorted with shadows because the light didn’t hit that end of the room; it was like being inside a funhouse. Arching slightly, Val dropped one arm down Sam’s chest. She wanted to get to his waistband but couldn’t quite reach.
Shadows danced around the room. “Now, this is what I call a light show,” Turner said taking one nipple inside his mouth. The dress was tight and only one side had any give where the zipper held it closed. Attempting to pull it off the other shoulder, a loud rip sang out. “Whoops again. Sorry. Guess I’ll have to buy you another dress.”
They fell on the bed with a loud “Oomph!” accompanied by uncontrollable giggling.
“I’ve had enough wear out of it. I’m more of a jeans gal anyway.”
“Well no jeans tonight, sweetheart.”
“Oh goody. Can you get my stockings off?”
“Sure thing.” Using his bare teeth, he gripped the stockings on her thighs and tugged hard. It was harder than he imagined so he pulled them down instead. Val giggled. “Just rip them off, caveman. I’ve had enough wear out of those too.”
So he did.
After undressing her the rest of the way, he wriggled out of his own clothes, anxious for more than just a skin to skin contact. He needed to be inside her pronto. He felt if he didn’t fuck her hard and fast his dick would explode. And not in a good way. His cock swelled twice its size and three times as hard as he’d ever been. So big, he felt—it actually ached when he touched the poor bugger. “Val,” he said in a husky voice. “I need you so bad it hurts. I can’t take my time about it. Is that all right?”
“What? No foreplay?”
“I can’t… I’m so fucking hot for you, Val. Do you mind if I just…take care of …?” He stared down at his erection while trying to finagle his pants blow his knees. She gave his cock a quick suck. He moaned and his breathing became labored.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” Val said.
“What?” he asked kicking off the last of his pant legs.
“A man is asking if he can have his pleasure before mine. This is a first for me.”
“Awe, those guys were assholes. You deserve to be worshipped and I promise to do that to you but if I don’t fuck you now, I think my dick may fall off.”
“How Sexy.” She loved hearing how desperate he was for her. There wasn’t anything sexier than a man turned into a Neanderthal. She opened her legs bending them at the knees. His cock was right there at the opening, waiting. “It’s all right, caveman. Fuck me. I’m yours.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Your ass. I’ve been staring at it all day. I need to see that s
weet ass of yours. Now!”
Val let out a squeal when sharp as a flash and without fair warning, his large muscular arms flipped her body over on the bed. Startled, she lost her breath a little.
“I’m a little eager I guess.”
“I just wasn’t…expecting…I’m fine. Just fine.”
“Up, up, up,” he instructed.
She rose on hands and knees and then leaned forward on her arms. “Like this?” Peering out of the corner of her eyes, she wriggled her ass at him. He slapped it in response. “Hey!”
He gave her a crooked grin, the kind that had playboy written all over it.“Such a lovely view, sweetheart.” Kneeling, he nudged her legs further open. He gripped each of her cheeks before pushing himself inside. “Oh god!” Moving with frantic rhythm, he groaned with each thrust. “You’re so wet for me, Val. So fucking wet.” He lifted and then pulled back, adding more force as he drove back into the hilt. Thick fingers made dimples in her hips as he pummeled forward, his voice horse with delicious pleasure inducing thrusts.
Val gripped the pillow—his cock buried inside her core, each slam a heated tumbling assault. She bit down on her lip. Impatient and growling, he practically pushed her into the headboard. Thump…and thump…and thump, thump, thump. The bed hit the wall creating a crescendo of erotic noises. It vibrated the bed.
Her nipples bounced, skimming the sheets—it made her body yearn for more stimulation as he heaved himself forward again…and again…and again. She’d never felt such an assault, yet it felt wonderful and intense. Then he reached underneath, fondling her clit and then her breasts. She moaned with the sensation.
Hot sparks and heated thrusts blew her wide open. She couldn’t come this way. Not at all. And she needed him to orgasm. Fast. “Harder, Turner. Do it harder. Faster.”He did as he was told throttling forward in a whirl of exhalations and violent attacks until a climax stole his breath. “Ahh!” Pulling his shivering dick out of her body, he uttered a loud groan and covered her sweet ass in steamy thick seed. Breathless, he shuddered, shook himself one last time and said, “Mmm. You felt so good, sweetheart.”
“On your back,” Val demanded. “My turn.”
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