by Vivien Vale
The man chuckles and says, "Finally, some top of the line service here."
Robert obviously thinks that Leo’s here to be at his beck and call, but I know he's here for another reason. Leo is checking in on me. At least that's the way it seems. Why else would he be lurking where he doesn't belong? Leo’s also giving Robert a death glare. I almost feel bad for the old guy, even though less than a minute ago I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more than to get away from him.
Leo’s just taken the number one spot on that list, though. I’m a strong, independent woman and I can take care of myself, as evidenced by the last ten years. I didn't need him then and I don't need him now. Frustrated, I turn to him...and on him, no longer wanting him as my savior from an evening with my ancient date.
"You know, Mr. Asher, is it? We’re doing just fine here," I say as I cozy up to old Robert. "We're on a date in case you haven't noticed, and I think a little privacy is in order."
Robert is clearly appreciative of my advances, squeezing my thigh under the counter. I want to smack him and pull away, instead I plaster on a big fake smile for Leo’s benefit.
Leo narrows his eyes at me like he’s trying to get a read on the situation. I just lift my eyebrow expectantly, wanting him to make the next move. The last thing I need is him thinking I can't handle myself.
Leo shrugs and takes his leave, and I do my best to ignore the pang in my chest as he flippantly discards the situation and moves to something I suppose he feels is more deserving of his attention. Robert suggests we make our way over to the poker tables, and I gladly follow, happy that it won't just be me and him. Maybe he’ll keep his hands to himself.
We place our bets and Robert wins pretty big. As the night wears on however, he becomes more and more aggressive with me. The alcohol he keeps imbibing emboldens him to put his hands all over me.
Pretty soon his hand is on my ass and he delivers a vague threat that he expects me to go home with him. He’s joking, right? Being the token dirty old man? But no. It quickly becomes apparent that he’s dead serious. “I paid for you, girl,” he snarls. “And I plan on getting my money’s worth.”
This makes me really nervous and I know that whatever happens, I cannot leave with this man. Though he's old and kind of weak, he still seems dangerous. Something about him gives off a menacing vibe and I’m not just disgusted by him now.
Now, I’m afraid.
I can feel Leo's eyes watching me from across the room. I’ve felt them all night, just like last night, he hasn't let me out of his sight since I spoke with him at the bar. I want to ask for Leo’s help, but doing so would mean admitting defeat to the man that jaded me.
I catch his gaze, and in that split second, we’re connected, both aware of the painful past that's transpired between us. Something else is there too...the electric chemistry between us that seems insulated from our frustrations we’re both battling.
I don't know what Leo’s thinking and at this point what I am, but in seconds I see Leo making his way over to me. I pretend not to notice, unsure of how I feel about this development.
"Everything going okay?" he asks smoothly.
Robert is beyond drunk by this point, and he slurs something incoherent at Leo that neither of us understand. I'm okay with this because the drunker Robert is, the easier I'll be to ditch him without notice.
Leo whispers in my ear, "Come with me. Let me take you out of here."
"No, thank you," I say defiantly. "I’m working."
He glares at me and speaks through gritted teeth. "I can see that, but I can also see you're getting yourself into trouble."
"I'm fine," I tell him haughtily.
I grab Robert's arm, even though doing so makes my skin crawl. "Aren't we fine, Robert?"
Robert has all the ammunition he needs in this touch to put his hands where they don't belong. He strokes my hair and my face, his hands clumsy and bumbling in his drunkenness.
I cringe despite my best efforts to keep control of this situation. The conflicting disgust with Robert and my will to keep Leo from rescuing me, like I can’t handle myself, is escalating this situation out of my control.
"Oh yes," Robert says. "This sexy little thing and I are going to make a night of it."
My eyes dart toward Leo’s involuntarily, wide and anxious. Leo's eyes turn to black fire. His skin flushes red and his tone is heated as he grinds out,
"Sienna, the gig is up. You’re not going anywhere with this creep." He grabs my arm aggressively but I pull out of his grasp.
"Leave me alone, Leo. I have nothing to say to you."
Though the feeling of his hands on my skin makes my heart pump wildly, I know that any desire I allow myself to feel for Leo is far more dangerous than old Robert here. Robert could take my body, but Leo could break my heart.
The damage dealt when I let Leo take my virginity left me with painful scars. The trust that I offered him was the first step in the pain, because then Leo never came back, despite his promises. He went to college and we never spoke again.
It took me years to get over him because he wasn’t just my lover, he was my friend first. I never expected him to be such a heartless ass to me. I never expected to be just some girl to him. But he threw me out like yesterday's garbage and that hurt more than anything I’d experienced before or since.
The lies mark themselves over every inch of trust I ever granted Leo, so no matter how much I want to be as far away from Robert, I don’t know how much I’m stepping out of one frying pan and into a fire that could tear me apart. Even though Leo is radiating raw, powerful sex appeal with the way he's exerting his authority right now, I know that I can’t allow it to affect me. Leo’s untrustworthy and I can never let myself forget that.
Lust clouds my thoughts and my heart aches at what hurt me, so it’s no wonder I suck in a breath and wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into right now. Leo stalks off but I notice he doesn't go far. I lay it on thick with Robert and am sure to feed him more and more drinks while keeping myself sober. It's my only recourse to get out of this mess.
Unless, of course, I want to ask Leo for help, which I will never do unless it’s a last resort. I have more dignity than that. I’m owning more than my financial future with this job; I’m taking care of myself.
Running to Leo is me saying it is okay to discard me and then be my saving grace. I’m more than that. I see Leo over Robert's shoulder, still staring daggers at me. The air in the room is thick, electrifying, and I feel my body throbbing and pulsing just by being near him. No matter what my head thinks, my body is on pure instinctual lust and our attraction is raw.
"So," I say to Robert, "how about we call it a night? I've had a really great time with you," I lie. Swallowing, I hope that I’m pulling off a relaxed response.
"No, honey, you're coming with me. I've paid for the night and I intend to get my money's worth."
His hands make their way to my waist, and I push him off. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of in trouble here. I mean, I could probably take the old man if it came down to it, but I don’t want to cause a scene, and I definitely don’t want to get fired.
I glance at Leo but see that he's no longer there.
Fuck.
What do I do now?
I stand up and try to walk away, but Robert tugs at my arm. "No, you're not going anywhere."
"Like hell I'm not!" I jerk my hand away.
The poker dealer looks at us awkwardly, and so does the other couple at our table. They have no idea I'm an escort and they likely think I'm a gold digger dating this older man. No one comes to my aid.
I try to walk away, and Robert gets up to follow me. Then just as I'm starting to feel a wave of panic, a pair of strong arms come around me from behind. I immediately feel safe in the familiar grasp.
"She's coming with me, sir. I suggest you take a cab or a limo or whatever else brought you here and leave."
Leo’s voice is
harder than I’ve ever heard it, almost unrecognizable. The professionalism in his words and the power in his voice undoes the conflict I have. I want out of this situation, and this is the way…and I want Leo to be the way right now.
"You think you can stop me? I've paid for this whore and I intend to get my due."
“What did you just say?” Leo’s face is flaming red now.
I’ve never seen him so angry. It almost frightens me, but at the same time the danger in him is directed at protecting me and it makes me feel safer, not scared.
Leo picks the old man up by his collar and personally pushes him through the high limit room and out the door. He tells the security guard to escort him the rest of the way out and never let him on the premises again.
"I'll get you for this," Robert yells to Leo's back. "I’ll turn you in for being complicit in the prostitution ring being run out of this casino."
I gasp at his accusation but Leo doesn't even flinch. He doesn't seem to care at all about the man's threats. Instead, he scoops me up in his arms and holds me tight. I allow myself to be held and I feel grateful, at least for the moment, because I don’t think I let myself feel how scary the situation had become until Leo removed me from it...
"Let’s go,” he says roughly.
"Where are we going?" I ask, still shaken up…but now there’s a different anticipation hanging over my head.
“Upstairs. I’m taking you to my penthouse.”
Leo
I stride through the casino with my hand clamped around Sienna’s arm, pulling her into my private elevator and away from the hands of that bastard. What was she even thinking going out with a guy like that? Can't she tell bad news when she sees it? I am absolutely disgusted by that mockery of date I saw down there. If Sienna thinks this is the only way to make money then she needs to be taught a lesson.
Someone has to show her how to protect herself. Or at least step in and do her bidding for her. Having her here with me goes against everything decision I tried to make with the best intentions. I vowed not to get wrapped up in her.
Fuck. She smells so delicious. I want to bury my face in her hair while I bury my cock deep inside her pussy. I clench my jaw, trying to erase the images that won’t fucking stop coming.
She looks even more stunning than she did last night. Her body is tanned and tight like it is calling out for my touch. I want every perfect inch of her to beneath me. I want to push her up against this elevator wall taker her, claim her, just like I claimed her once before.
She's still the best I've ever had. I'll never forget that night and I don't want to. Right now I just want to retake what my body is fucking screaming is mine.
"What were you thinking?" I ask her with barely suppressed rage, lust coiling to the surface. She looks at me like I have some nerve.
"Who are you to question my motives? You're not even in my life anymore. You don’t control me."
It's not what she says but the way she says it. So defiant. Her tone has a biting quality that simultaneously turns me on, makes me want to control her but that also stabs me right through the heart.
I left her, it's true, but I don’t think she has a clue about the real reason why. That’s no excuse. My cock wants to make it all better. My mind doesn’t want to reason with what’s right.
I look away, not wanting my face to reveal my warring thoughts and the untamed hunger she draws from me. "It seems like I'm the only one here for you now. How did you expect to fend that guy off? Were you just going to leave with him?"
"Of course not!" She sounds indignant but from what I saw, she was in way over her head.
"I don't know how you could put yourself in that position. I mean, that lecherous old man was pushing the limits. Do you let every guy handle you like that these days as long as there’s something in it for you?"
She looks enraged. And then her hand flies up out of nowhere and she slaps me in the face. I stare at her in disbelief and put my hand to the burning skin. Something about it turns me on, makes me crazy. I've never had a woman stand up to me like that.
It makes me want to turn her over my knee and punish her in my own way. I want to prove my dominance over her feisty little attitude, and I decide right then that I won't stop until she knows just how powerful I am.
"Aren't you a fiery little thing?" I say through gritted teeth. She stares up at me unapologetically.
I did deserve it. I basically called her a whore, even though I know in my heart she's the farthest thing from it.
Still, I don't understand how she could sell herself like this for money.
I know she's just beginning to work as an escort and that she has no intention of sleeping with the men she dates for pay, but she doesn't know the business like I do.
Doesn’t know the men like I do. They're always going to try something. They’ll always try to take things too far, and she needs a personal bodyguard to handle that safely. She's like this innocent princess in a world of sharks. And this is especially true in Vegas.
"You deserved it," she says boldly, though her hands are shaking.
"I know." My confession seems to appease her, and I hope we can let it go because my cock is straining hard against my pants and it's hard to contain.
She’s just upped the ante by standing up for herself like that. Now I want her even more, and I always, always get what I want.
I know I shouldn’t be thinking like this. I told myself she was off limits. Fuck, her goddamn brother showed up begging me to make her mine, and I told him no. But it’s getting harder to resist her with every second that passes.
Fucking finally, we reach the penthouse. I want to spread her over the dining room table and shove my cock into her over and over again to show her who’s really in charge, but I play it cool. If I’m going to have her, I’ll seduce her first and then make her beg for it.
I casually walk up to the expensive backlit glass bar. "Want a drink?"
"Yes, please. Jameson."
She takes the liberty of inspecting my apartment, or rather, my deluxe penthouse bachelor pad. It's pure luxury and all male; there’s a not a hint of a feminine touch anywhere. It's all leather, chrome and wood.
Everything is perfect, situated to a tee, and that's how I like it. I need to have control over every facet of my life, starting with where I lay my head at night and where I bring my women.
Those women never stay long, but I love seeing their shocked faces when they realize I live in a mansion on top of the most exciting city in the world. I literally have it all at my feet. Sienna sees this and tries to hide her reaction. I know she's as impressed as all the others have been even though she’s no stranger to luxury.
"Like what you see?" I meet her at the window and hand her a glass of the
whiskey over ice.
"It's fine. I mean, I've seen better."
She's such a fucking liar. I want to laugh. Although her brother is a politician with access to the world's most powerful leaders and her father’s company was worth a fortune before they lost everything.
There's no telling what she's seen. I just know how much I want to show her. Fuck, she permeates my every thoughts in that maddening way where I can’t control myself.
She’s a danger to me as much as I’m a danger to her. I take a long, hard drink of the amber liquid and zero in on her, prepared for round two of battle.
"So, why are you escorting anyway? You know I think it's a bad idea. “She gazes at me with those golden eyes that haunt me.
"It's a good thing I don't really care what you think. I can do what I want, and I want to be an escort. End of story. I don't have to explain why."
I meet her defiant expression with my hardened gaze. Fine. If she wants to play that way, I can play. I pick up my phone and send a quick text and then I shoot her a smug smile. Get ready for the fireworks.
"What did you just do?" She just can't help but ask.
"Oh, that?" I say nonc
halantly. "I texted your boss. I now own you as my
personal escort for the next thirty days."
"You what?"
She's angry now, like I've hit a nerve. Her expression twists into a combination of fury and incredulity. My lips curve up into a taunting smile, and I say, "You heard me."
It’s almost certainly a bad idea. I refused Jax’s request, I denied myself twice already…yet here I am making sure she’s mine for the next thirty days.
I’m out of my fucking mind, I know. But I refuse to let her be subjected to the perversions of the men who’d buy her. I tell myself I’m protecting her. And while I’m at it, I might as well enjoy it.
"You wouldn't dare."
"I dare. It’s done"
She pulls her hand up to slap my other cheek, but this time I've seen her coming a mile away. I catch her wrist and twist it so that she's curled into my chest, unable to escape.
"You're mine now. If you insist on being owned, I’m going to be the fucking one to own you."
"Let me go!" She says the words, but I can tell by her breathing, her flushed skin, her voice…she doesn’t want to be released.
My arms behind her back and wedge her between me and the window overlooking the vast heights of the city. My hips are pinned against her. She can't escape even if she wanted to. But I know she doesn’t want to.
She’s mine right now and she’s craving it like I do. I have her right where I want her, though I didn't fully realize it until now. I've missed her sexy body and that feisty spirit. Now I look forward to owning her body, mind, and soul for the next thirty days. As for Sienna? Her eyes tell me she's just begging for it.
"You know, you might like being owned," I whisper. The heat between us is so intimate and yet so fucking primal. Sienna always delivers up something unexpected, and I can’t wait to find out what that is tonight, and every night that I want her thereafter.
This is going to be fucking good. So fucking good.
