by K. Webster
“All of this sounds like torture if we’re being honest.”
“But you love torture,” I argue.
“When I’m the one doing the torturing.” He tosses the coupon book away and grabs onto my neck, pulling me to him. “That was the most ridiculous gift I’ve ever received.”
“You’re welcome,” I say with a grin.
His lips press to mine, and he kisses me like he’s thankful for the most ridiculous gift. Since I was naked and waiting for him, it doesn’t take long for him to shove his boxers down, freeing his thick, eager cock. Greedily, I slide up and down his length, letting him feel how hot he gets me. His tongue spears into my mouth, and his grip on my ass is nearly painful. I arch my back, lining my opening up with the tip of his dick and then flex my hips so that he slides inside my body. With a hard thrust, he bucks into me. His fingers are going to leave bruises as he forcefully guides me to meet his rhythm. I pant heavily against his mouth, trying to keep up with his maddening pace.
“Oh god,” I groan, grinding against him, loving how he hits me in all the right spots. “So good.”
He pinches my nipple and twists it until I whimper. His lips pepper me with hungry, open-mouthed kisses along my jaw. When he gets to my throat, he sucks hard enough to make me gasp. With each powerful thrust up into me, I grow more and more dizzy by the need to come. Raking my nails over his chest, I revel in the sharp hiss that escapes him. He nips at my throat hard enough I cry out.
Mine.
I feel the word whispered over my flesh more than I hear it. It’s enough to send me over the edge. Stars glitter around me as my orgasm tears through me, obliterating my every nerve ending. He comes with a growl that sets my soul on fire. Heat floods into me, claiming me as his, just like he said.
I collapse onto his sweaty chest, breathing heavily. “How much to keep you right here for the night just like this?”
“Everything you earned tonight.”
It’s then, I realize we can do this. Without the money if we have to. I’d have to get a real job and an apartment, but we could still have this. We could keep our games and our fantastic sex and our teasing conversations. He’s protective and caring and in tune with my needs.
I’m not Meredith.
I would take care of his heart, not break it.
He just has to let me inside.
“Deal.” I stroke my finger over his shoulder. “Happy birthday, Win.”
“Indeed it is, Cinderelliott.”
I make him happy.
The billionaire who has everything finds enjoyment in the company of me. Some might say it’s a fairy tale ending, but even I know Winston’s no charming prince.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Winston
Something’s up with my mother.
First, the party she insisted on throwing last night. Then, inviting Meredith, whom she hates with the fire of a thousand suns. Now, a quaint outdoor breakfast with all her children. She may be a master puppeteer, but no one pulls my strings, not even Mother. I want her to cut the shit and reveal whatever it is she’s doing.
And, as soon as my mama’s boy brother extricates himself from Mother’s side, I’ll lay into her and find out.
“That’s why Perry will never get married,” Keaton mutters under his breath. “He’s such a pussy sometimes.”
Perry catches us watching him, and he does a stupid chin lift, never slowing his conversation with Mother.
“Who says Perry even wants to get married?” I throw back at my little brother.
“It would please Mother; therefore, it would please him.” Keaton smirks at me. “Oh, I found out some stuff about the triplets.”
I lean over in my seat, interested in what Keaton’s discovered. “I’m listening.”
“They care about three things.” He glances over at Perry again. “Their mommy, their cars, and lacrosse.”
“Hmm.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Take it all away and watch them cry.”
Keaton chuckles. “Evil bastard.”
“Says my protégé.”
“I’m not your protégé.” He slouches in his chair and starts texting, effectively ending our conversation.
“I like her,” a voice to my left says.
Arching a brow, I smirk at Tinsley. “Get your own assistant.”
“But I like yours.”
A smile tugs at my lips as I ignore the baby of our family. I was a grown-ass man when she was born. Since she’s the precious princess of the Constantine family and I’m tasked with keeping everyone fed, we don’t cross paths much aside from our occasionally required meals with our mother and other functions. I do know that when it’s time for her to date, I won’t have to ward anyone unworthy off because Keaton will handle that just fine. He takes his protective role over her seriously. I envy their closeness.
Since fucking when, Winston?
Since Ash started poking at my frigid heart. The girl has figured out a way to get under my skin. Not many people are able to do what she’s accomplished in just a few short weeks.
She gave me a damn coupon book.
I’m biting back a grin when Mother calls my name.
“Hmm?” I lift my gaze, wiping the smile off my face. “Did I miss something?”
“We were talking about my badass new car,” Perry says, a goofy fucking smile on his face.
Keaton snorts, and Tinsley giggles. From across the table, Vivian smirks and even the perennially coked-out Elaine grins.
Mother is not amused.
“No,” Mother says with a heavy sigh. “We weren’t. I asked Perry why you sold the Baldridge building.”
The table goes silent, each of my siblings curious of my answer. Only Perry knows why. I realize now he must have been trying to distract her from this conversation, because he seems exasperated at having failed.
“Business, Mother. Nothing to worry over.”
“That’s an evasive answer,” she bites out. “Elaborate.”
“I just felt like it,” I growl, pinning her with a glare. “Drop it.”
Her lips press together as anger flashes in her eyes. “I’m not one of your employees or one of your siblings, young man. I am your mother. Do not ever disrespect me like that again.”
“And I would urge you not to disrespect my business decisions, Mother. This company wouldn’t be exploding with growth if it weren’t for the choices I’ve made. Even if you don’t understand them.”
Naturally, my answer isn’t good enough based on her disappointed frown. It’s as though she enjoys trying to make an ass out of me in front of my siblings—to remind everyone she’s the queen of everything and we’re merely her silly children.
I fucking own this city, and it’s high time she realizes it.
“That was the only Constantine-owned building on that block,” she continues as I knew she would. “Imagine my surprise when Anthony divulged to me you sold it to a Morelli.” Anthony, my loose-lipped attorney and old friend of Dad’s, will get his ass chewed out for tattling to my mother.
Elaine nearly knocks over her glass of water. “You sold our building to a Morelli? Which one?”
I briefly study my sister, curious as to why she’s so fucking interested. Usually, she can’t be bothered to look up from her phone.
“It doesn’t matter. And in case you all forgot,” I drawl out, turning my attention back to Mother, “I’m the CEO of Halcyon. That requires certain strategic moves. Have I not proven myself capable of taking care of this family?” She’s seen the financial reports. She already knows the answer.
Mother’s nostrils flare. “It’s a simple question, Son.”
“Mother, enough,” Perry barks out, making everyone go quiet with shock at his outburst. “Winston knows what he’s doing. Just trust him.”
Her hardened exterior seems fractured at having been put in her place by the golden child. She frowns as she turns to Perry. Absently, she picks off a non-existent piece of lint fr
om his wrinkled shirt. My mother is the proverbial ice queen, and like a queen, she chooses her battles wisely.
“You’re right,” she says to him. “Winston knows what he’s doing. I would hope, though, that if he were ever in trouble, he would come to me. I have my ways.”
“Did one of your ways involve inviting my ex-girlfriend?” I ask, coolly. “Imagine my surprise seeing Meredith at my birthday party.”
Mother shakes her head and waves a dismissive hand my way. “Honestly, Son, it was nothing you need to worry about. I’ve taken care of you before regarding that woman, and I’d do it again.”
The conversation shifts back to Perry’s orange abomination of a car. Keaton leans toward me, chuckling. “Five bucks says Mother has a fleet of hitmen at her disposal.”
“Who do you think pays them?” I ask, arching a brow at him.
“Touché.” His eyes meet mine. “Where’s your girlfriend?”
Not my girlfriend. Just mine.
“Naked and worn out in my bed. And she’s not my girlfriend.”
My little brother just laughs. Fucker.
* * *
“Get dressed,” I bark out in greeting as I enter my room at the Constantine compound. “We have errands to run today.”
Ash pauses mid-bite on the piece of buttered toast she’s eating, and her brow arches. Then, she chomps down on the food, messily eating it as she rolls her eyes. After she swallows, she says, “Good morning to you too.”
“You can play games when you can afford it. Right now, you’re back to being the poor, unfortunate maid who needs the rich guy to save her. Get up, get dressed, and let’s go.”
I expect more argument, but all I get is the middle finger before she abandons the breakfast I had sent up by one of the kitchen staff. My gaze travels down the length of her curvaceous body, settling on her ass as it bounces with each step. I’m half hard and aching to fuck the sassy girl, but we have too much to do today. It’ll have to wait. Leaning against the wall, I take to browsing through some pictures on my phone she’d sent me. The filthy ones do the job of making my dick completely hard, but it’s the bratty ones that do something else.
That bitchy smile makes me smile.
“Planning world domination over there?” Ash asks around her toothbrush from the bathroom doorway.
“Just domination over you.”
“Weirdo.” She disappears back into the bathroom. After spitting and the water starts to run again, she says, “We have to check on Shrimp.”
“I’ve taken care of it. Francis says the bird is fine.”
She walks out of the bathroom dressed in holey capris and a white tank that’s transparent, revealing a black bra underneath. It’s borderline trashy but for some reason, I find it really fucking hot.
“This is all I brought with me,” she says, frowning as I drink her in. “We can stop by your place if we need to and I can change.”
“It’ll be fine for the errands we need to run.” I gesture at her messy hair. “Do something about that.”
She narrows her eyes at me but doesn’t snap back. Instead, she pulls a hair tie from her pocket and smooths her hair back into a high ponytail. Her hazel eyes drop to the way my dick strains in my slacks. “Maybe you should do something about that.”
“That’ll get taken care of later,” I assure her. “Let’s go.”
Within ten minutes, we’re walking through the expansive estate to the garage bays. Once inside the garage, I walk over to one of my cars I leave at the compound. My pearl-white Bugatti Chiron. Earlier, I’d retrieved the keys from the safe in my room, so as we approach, I press the button on the fob making the doors lift up.
“Boys and their expensive toys,” she teases, though I can tell she’s impressed.
“You’re one of my toys.” I smirk at her. “Much cheaper than this one.”
It’s a good reminder for the both of us.
Constantines grow tired of their toys rather quickly if I’m being honest.
She’ll learn that soon.
Liar.
“I’ve upped my price, Constantine. Don’t worry. I’m worth it.”
Her dazzling smile has my chest tightening. Ignoring the rush that floods my veins, I climb into the Bugatti. Once we’re settled and buckled in, I fire up the engine. The car vibrates from the power of it. I back out of the garage and then peel out of the driveway, no doubt leaving tire marks that Perry will get blamed for. Ash is quiet, silently taking in all the sights as we make the drive back into the city.
“What kind of cars do the triplets have?” I ask, speeding past a row of slow drivers.
“Matching black Audis. Cute, huh?”
“Adorable.” I glance over at her. “Their mommy bought them?”
“Yep.”
“Aren’t you a part of the family? How come you don’t have a matching Audi in pink?”
“Because I’m not a part of that family,” she huffs. “Plus, I don’t want to owe her anything.”
“But you’ll gladly owe me?”
“It’s different with you. I feel like we’re on equal footing.”
I scoff at this. “I’m a billionaire, Ash. We’re nowhere near equal footing.”
“A billionaire who, for the right price, will happily spend his money on me. The strings attached are the ones on my terms. Ones I agree to. With Manda, it’s the forever kind of strings. I hate owing her.”
“Hmm.”
“As much as you hate to admit, we’re evenly matched, Win.”
As traffic slows to a halt, I take my time perusing her. With the sunlight streaming in and kissing her golden skin, she’s very much a vision. Real. Unlike any other woman I’ve had in my grasp before. Her innocence is charming, but it’s only for my benefit. Beneath that façade is a filthy freak like me. So, maybe we are evenly matched where our sexual proclivities are concerned.
“Where are we going?” she asks when I pull up in front of a building.
“To get you a new phone. Stay here.”
I’d called ahead, so as soon as I walk into the store, the manager meets me with the newest iPhone already set up and ready to go. This one is on my plan. After I program my number into it and text myself, I walk back outside and climb into my vehicle.
“Here,” I state, thrusting the phone at her. “Send me a picture so I know it works.”
The sassy girl makes a stupid duck face and then my phone buzzes in my pocket.
“I’m not paying for that picture,” I say, smirking at her. “Which reminds me. Change your online banking password and set up Apple Pay on this phone.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“I think you meant to say, ‘thank you.’”
She leans over the console, grabs my tie, and pulls me to her. “Thank you.”
I allow the greedy girl to kiss me for free, and then I pull away so we can head to our next destination. While she messes with the new phone, I ponder how I’m going to ruin the triplets’ lives. I’ve already fucked up Harvard for them, but it’s not enough. I hadn’t been joking to Keaton about Mother having hitmen, and I’m seriously considering tapping one. We have a meticulous list of the best killers money can buy. Those three little fuckfaces are polluting the goddamn planet with their toxic presence.
“You’re growling,” Ash says, jerking me from my internal thought. “I have an idea to make you smile, but it’s going to cost you.”
“Maybe I don’t want to smile.”
“Play along, Win, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
I lift a brow. “I’ll bite.”
“Get your coupon book out…”
“For fuck’s sake, Cinderelliott.”
But, because this girl has me all wrapped up in her and tangled in a fucking mess, I tug the coupon book from my shirt pocket and toss it at her.
“Now, try to take the stick out of your ass and enjoy this,” she says, patting me on my thigh. “I’ll make it worth it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Ash
He’s never had candy.
What sort of horrible childhood did he have to endure growing up? I’m still reeling at his confession when we pull up to the shop my dad and I used to go to a lot after Mom died. It makes sense why he was so uninterested about my candy store coupon. I’m giddy at the prospect of getting to show him how much fun a candy store can be.
“I need to earn a few hundred bucks before we go inside,” I tell him. “Tell me how.”
His blue eyes are sharp as he sweeps his gaze over me. “Easy. Take off your bra.”
“This tank is see-through,” I argue.
“It’s not my fault you chose that shirt. Want to make five hundred bucks or not?” He pulls his wallet from his slacks and flips it open, his eyebrow arching in that maddening challenging way that makes my blood boil.
“Fine. Give me all the money in your wallet and I’ll get rid of my panties too.”
His gaze darkens. “Right here? With people walking by?”
“I’ll be quick.”
He chuckles, tugs the money out of his wallet, and tosses all the bills at me. They rain down into my lap, slide between the seat and the console, and onto the floor. Bastard. I take my time gathering them up and counting them. Eighteen hundred dollars. Worth it. I shove the money into my purse and then set to removing my bra. Once it’s gone and shoved into my backpack, I unbutton my capris and slide the zipper down.
“Oh,” I gasp, feigning surprise. “Where did they go? I must have done it already. My bad.”
The shock that registers on his features is brief, but pride washes through me knowing I put it there, no matter how short a time.
“I see how it is,” he growls, his hand smacking mine away. “Let me touch you right here, and I’ll match the cash I just gave you with a deposit to your Apple Pay.”
“Eighteen hundred dollars to finger me?” I let out a breathy laugh. “You twisted my arm. Okay.”
His fingertips tease the skin on my lower belly before he pushes a finger between the lips of my pussy, sliding against my clit and making me jolt. “You’re wet. The idea of walking around a candy store with no panties on makes your pussy wet.”
