by A. J. Norris
The brakes squealed as the limo parked in the circular driveway of the Venetian’s valet port. This couldn’t be the last time Tessa sat in the back of a stretch limo and plotted with this sexy man. She wouldn’t let it be. There were a few wild cards she could lay down with Piper, though she’d rather convince her sister and not blackmail the woman.
Tessa placed her hand on Blake’s thigh, almost by instinct. She would’ve pulled away, except he withered under her light grip. So, she squeezed a bit tighter. “I’ll text you tonight with a definitive answer.”
As she reached for the door’s handle, Blake grabbed her by the wrist. It looked like he wanted to say something important to her, but instead, he drew her arm to his chest. He slid his palm along her cheek, pulled her close, and kissed her.
The stakes seemed higher for Tessa when Blake’s lips teased her mouth. She yearned to bask in the warmth his body provided, just as badly as she craved the destruction of everything his family held dear.
It wasn’t easy but Tessa pried herself from Blake’s soft kiss, his gently probing tongue, grabbed her purse, and climbed from the limo.
Heels clanked against pavement as Tessa hurried across the parking lot of the Venetian. She used her spare key to unlock the BMW she shared with her sister. After slipping into the passenger seat, she dropped the key into her purse then pulled out a switchblade and her cell phone. She snapped a picture of herself getting ready to hotwire the car, and texted it to her sister. A chuckle skirted past her lips as she tucked the switchblade back into her purse and waited.
It took less than five minutes for Piper to storm across the parking lot. Her sister’s golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, yet it couldn’t outshine the giant scowl on the woman’s lips. Tessa glanced at her phone. She paused the stopwatch on its screen as Piper climbed behind the steering wheel and slammed the car door shut.
“Four minutes and thirty-eight seconds,” Tessa said with a grin. “That’s good time, but not quick enough. I’d be halfway home by now.”
“What the hell, Tessa? I was winning big at the craps table.”
“Chump change.”
Piper grumbled as she turned to glare at Tessa. “I don’t want to hear another word about getting in bed with the Pierce family.”
That was too bad for Piper because Tessa had two words to say about the Pierce family that would change her sister’s tune.
“No prenup.”
The crease on Piper’s forehead, which only appeared when she was angry, smoothed out and intrigue filled her sister’s eyes. “Yeah right.”
Tessa just stared at Piper. She’d never been more serious, and not about the prenup. She wanted this job, wanted the legitimacy restored to her family name, wanted…Blake.
Piper’s glare softened. “Your hair’s messy, and your lipstick is smeared.”
There was no need for Tessa to look in a mirror. Her appearance had to be a wreck with the way Blake had fisted her hair when he drove into her, how hungry he’d been for her kiss.
“You just had sex with him, again,” Piper said, crossing her arms. “I went back and took a peek at last night’s video feed from his office.”
Tessa shrugged. There was no defense she could lay down. She had succumbed to desire, though it wasn’t exactly her fault. Blake had some type of intoxicating allure around him, which blinded her inhibitions and scourged her judgment.
“That’s not like you,” Piper said in a very momish tone. “You must really like this guy.”
It shocked Tessa how much she liked him. She’d always thought love was make-believe, a ploy used to sell movie tickets, but now she didn’t know. Blake’s sinister side confused everything. She didn’t know if it was the man or the darkness of the job she was falling for. Piper wouldn’t understand. To her sister, emotions were considered a sign of weakness. Not to Tessa. The raw feelings that plagued her would give her the strength she needed to pull off this con.
Tessa held a firm stare. She rarely took a stand against her big sister, so this had to display her seriousness. “I like his plan.”
“I like the hustle!” Piper sat tall in the cramped car, hardened her stare on Tessa. “And I like Vegas. I want to stay, open a cat house.”
“Really?” Tessa couldn’t help but snicker. Not once had her sister mentioned an interest in becoming a madam at a whore house.
“Sex sells. It’s a multibillion-dollar industry.”
“That’s not what you want, Piper.”
“You have no idea what I want, Tessa.”
The spite that made Piper’s voice tremble and the hardness in her stare was just a brave front. Tessa knew exactly what her sister wanted. Piper was afraid to be left all alone in a cold, cruel world. Just like Tessa, just like everybody who stumbled around on this green earth.
Tessa took Piper’s hand, even though her sister tried to pull away. “I do know what you want. You want to feel important, be a part of something special. This is our chance. We can be a part of the biggest hustle in America, stealing America. Every day will be high-stakes cons, life or death, money, and power.”
A heavy cloud of doubt veiled Piper’s eyes. Tessa couldn’t tell what her sister was thinking, didn’t know if she’d hooked Piper or not, but one thing was certain. Whatever path Piper chose, Tessa would follow it.
The scent of sweat and money filled Tessa’s lungs as she walked into the Pink Kitty. Groups of men, and a few women, crowded the main bar. They fed fives and ones to the dancers who shook their goods while waiting for one of the many packed tables to open up. The club was rocking for a weekday. Although, this club was always rocking. Blake brought in specialty dancers, had theme nights, even started a rewards club for frequent customers. The man knew how to tempt. It was the reason Tessa squeezed her way through this club at midnight on a Tuesday.
“Lola!” the woman behind the bar called out as Tessa walked by. “You’re working tonight, right?”
“Not exactly,” Tessa said, practically yelling to be heard over the thump of speakers.
She turned from the bar, stared across the room. Beyond a sea of businessmen getting lap dances from scantily clad women, she eyed the stairs to the office. It had been nearly ten hours since she’d last seen Blake. She had an answer to his proposal. She and Piper decided what to do a while ago before they made a killing at the craps table, but she couldn’t text Blake. Her decision would likely change his…everything.
Tessa slinked through the lounge like a ghost. The sounds of laughter, beats of music, and throaty moans of the strip club drowned under the thump of her heart as she climbed the stairs to Blake’s office.
The door was wide open, and he sat in his cushy leather chair. His back was to Tessa, his stare locked on the one-way mirror that displayed an overhead view of lust and money.
“You didn’t text,” he said without moving a muscle.
“I wanted to give you my answer in person.”
Blake turned in his chair to face Tessa, who lingered in the doorway of the office. His dark eyes lit up when he looked at her, and a flutter of soft prickles erupted in her chest. A promise of trouble hid behind Blake’s stare. That look drew Tessa to the man like a magnet, but she refused to let its influence distract her.
“You’re hard to read,” he said, leaning forward in his chair. “Harder than most.”
Tessa walked into the office, closing the door behind her. Blake’s muscles grew tighter with every step she took toward him, and his spine locked stiff when she stood in front of him.
“I accept your offer.” A giddy sensation struck Tessa. She just agreed to become somebody’s wife, and it made her want to giggle. She loathed the feeling the instant it crept up on her, which made it easier to suppress.
A bright smile swept Blake’s face, but only for a moment before a frenzy moved in to take its place.
“Here.” He pulled a ring box from the inside pocket of his blazer. Tessa thought he might drop to one knee, but he simply flipped open the tiny box,
plucked a huge diamond ring from its felt, and slid it on her finger.
Blake hurried around his desk in a fluster. He grabbed a file from his top drawer, then another from the safe before he stood in front of Tessa. “We’ll have to dye your hair back to blonde. It’s more wholesome.” His eyes narrowed as he scanned her tight blue jeans and black tank top. “I’ll see if I can get my stylist over here tonight, get you looking more like a socialite.”
Two thick files landed in Tessa’s hands, rocking her in place. “Your past,” he said, returning to his desk. “The top file is everything I had on you. I suggest you burn it, as it’s the only copy. The bottom file is the past I’ve prepared for you, to share publically. Read it over and let me know if there’s anything you want changed.”
This wasn’t the grand romantic gesture Tessa had expected, but Blake really wasn’t like every other man. She’d spent a few hours researching his disorder, Asperger’s syndrome. His mind wouldn’t allow him to show happiness through hugs and kisses. He probably wouldn’t be able to admit to his emotions out loud either, if he even recognized what his feelings were. She could never relate to him, but she understood. The way he hustled around his desk to fumble with papers, how his fingers trembled when he texted, told her how incredibly overjoyed he was.
Tessa slammed the files on Blake’s desk. His shoulders flinched from the thud, which circled the quiet office. He lifted his stare from the cell phone in his hand and looked at her.
“I’m moving too fast,” he said with a light cringe. “Please don’t misunderstand—”
“I get it.” Tessa rounded the desk. “I get you.” She slid her hand beneath his blazer to run her fingers along the ridges of his chest. “We can turn me into politics Barbie tomorrow. Tonight…” his body seemed to melt against her own as she brought her lips close to his mouth. “…we should celebrate the beginning of this legendary union.”
Blake wrapped his arms around Tessa, clutched her so tight it knocked the air from her lungs. “Absolutely,” he said with a lusty grin. He leaned her back, practically whisked her off her feet in his strong arms, and laid his lips atop her own.
Tessa’s entire body hummed with the hard strokes of Blake’s kiss. She’d be afraid to lose herself to the passion that ignited between them, except she had Piper. Her sister would keep her focused, remind her what she really thrived for.
She tilted her head back, allowing Blake’s tongue access to her neck. Although her body crumbled in his hold, her mind stayed sharp. Soft lips skated along the exposed parts of her cleavage, and her stare drifted to the one-way mirror. The neon lights cast a purple glow over the near-naked women, who shook their hips around the club that would soon be half of her estate. Poor Blake. He was so trusting, so fixated on his scheme he couldn’t see that screwing him—in every way—was going to be her biggest job ever. She wanted Blake so badly, as a trophy on her mantel.
A light giggle slipped from her lips. The hard body that glided against her chest and the deceitful thoughts in her mind caused tingles to spread beneath her skin. She popped open the buttons on Blake’s crisp shirt, slowly, while staring into his ominous eyes. It was a shame she had to destroy him. Blake was the near perfect man to match her depravity, but he’d been born a Pierce so she had no choice but to crush him.
About the Author
Jamie Zakian lives in South Jersey with a rowdy bunch of dudes, also known as family. A YA/NA writer, her head is often in the clouds while her ears are covered in headphones. On the rare occasions when not writing, she enjoys blazing new trails on her 4wd quad or honing her archery skills. She’s a card carrying member of the Word Nerd Association, which means she’s probably stalking every Twitter writing competition and offering query critiques so keep an eye out.
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/demoness333
Website:
http://www.jamiezakian.com/
Bonus!
The bad has never felt so good, and the good has never been this tempting...
Get instant access and satisfy your next Craving now!
BONUS A FREE “CRAVE” ANTHOLOGY
CRAVING MAYHEM!
PLUS…Don’t forget…
Join Our FB Community!
Don't forget to join our FB Community: Our Craving Community is a place where you will have the chance to get to know the authors. Not to mention it’s just plain fun!
*Join in on "craving" discussions.
*Enter giveaways.
*Learn secrets about your favorite characters with story discussions, and more!
If you wish to join in the fun you can do so by clicking here: CRAVING FB COMMUNITY
BEFORE YOU GO…
DON’T MISS OUT!
Would you like to be a part of our FREEBIE FRIDAY LIST and get 5 FREE E-books sent to your inbox each week? Every week we send out different e-books including ALL different genres such as Romance, Suspense, Thriller, Westerns, Paranormal, New Adult, and much more! If you’d like to join over 9,500+ subscribers and growing click below to be a part of FREEBIE FRIDAY…
Join FREEBIE FRIDAY!
Acknowledgements
Limitless Publishing would like to thank all the authors who shared their stories with us to make the Craving Bad Anthology.
We are very proud of the wonderful team we are able to work with every day.
#TeamLimitless
About the Publisher
Limitless Publishing started in 2012 and has sky rocketed to one of the most highly talked about publishing companies around.
If you have enjoyed this anthology and would like to see more from our wonderful team of authors, please visit our website, or would like to submit submissions of your own and join our team of authors:
Limitless Publishing
http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/
Submissions Department
[email protected]
