I studied that photo for the longest time, sitting behind the desk in my hotel room. It was right there, for all the world to see. I kept running my finger over her image until the ramifications hit home. “Oh…shit.” I got dressed, threw my stuff in my luggage and called my pilot. We were going home a few days early.
I read the caption that came with the photo and my heart sank. I’d left her to face this alone. The heading alone was enough to make shit hard for her, but the byline wasn’t much better. The implications were hard to miss, unless you were thick as a brick.
I tried calling her before the plane took off, but there was no answer. It was already late in the afternoon by the time we landed and there was another message waiting for me. I recognized the name of the place and the address but had no idea why I was being asked to come there. Then I remembered who it was I thought was sending me these messages and knew it must have something to do with Emily. I tried calling her with no success, but decided to play along.
I barely had enough time to get home and clean up before heading back out again. I had no idea what I was walking into. The place was an upscale nightclub slash restaurant where what I would consider the younger crowd tend to gravitate. Lately though in the last few years at least, it had been drawing a more mid-stream clientele. Old men trying to recapture their youth, and cougars on the prowl I guess. So what was I doing here again?
I felt almost silly as I sat in the car on the way there. The night was coming on as the sun faded into the western sky and outside the streets were no longer bustling with worker bees, but the jet setters and those looking to unwind. I appeared more relaxed than I actually felt, as I leaned back into the corner of my seat with a finger playing across my lip contemplatively.
There was a feeling in my gut that hadn’t been there since my third or fourth takeover. Back when this was all new and the excitement was almost as high as the wealth I was about to achieve. I’d grown accustomed and the thing I loved had become nothing more than a job that I could by then almost do by rote. There hasn’t been much in my life that gave me this feeling of impending joy.
Is that why I’d left? Was it fear? I do remember there was always a bit of fear mixed with the elation back then, but somehow nothing ever felt like this. Still, no one looking would ever guess at what was going on inside me. I had no worries that I was walking into a trap. Once I’d figured out that it was her friend, Simone, whose name I’d finally remembered, I started seeing her text as some sort of puzzle.
Having met her and being subjected to her brand of protective friendship where Emily’s concerned, and since I hadn’t felt anything but genuine interest on behalf of her friend the one time we met, I saw no need for apprehension. Of course I could be totally wrong and this could be someone else altogether, but still I wasn’t too worried about it. If I don’t like what’s on offer I’ll just turn around and leave. No harm done.
I kept myself occupied with pedantic bullshit so that I didn’t have to face the one thing that plagued me, not yet at least. I’d come as far as accepting that I knew even before I left here where this was all leading. It wasn’t the marriage thing that sent me into flight mode; it was her, Emily. I didn’t have to go to fucking Arizona to figure my shit out.
Shit, before I met her I was all over that damn company, it was to be another feather in my cap. Now it didn’t mean shit. For me that was very telling. That I was willing to give up a lucrative investment because it would mean being away from her, was all the proof I needed that she’d caught me. And all it had taken was one evening, when others had spent months without even an ounce of success.
There was obviously something going on here tonight, since there was already a line forming outside on a weeknight. Not that that’s necessarily unusual for this town, but it was noticeable. I left the car and followed the instructions I’d been sent which precluded me having to stand in line.
Inside the place was already packed and the noise level was at maximum. There was a stage highlighted where something was about to go down. I told the hostess exactly what I was told to say and was led to a table front and center. Now I was beginning to get, not nervous, but a little skeptical. I really didn’t know what this was about after all, only my suspicion that it had something to do with Emily.
I’d spent way too much time looking at the photo from the newspaper. Had gone so far as to hunt down the original article. I’d already got one photographer fired, but he was just an asshole. This guy didn’t write this drivel, he just happened to be in the perfect place to take what I have to admit is a very telling picture. No one seeing it could have any doubt as to what was going on there.
I’m not exactly thrilled that the rest of the world had a front row seat to my personal inner feelings, but then again only I knew what I was thinking just then.
17
Jason
The lights in the rest of the room were dimmed as the stage’s came up. I was relaxed back in my seat with the glass of cognac that had been brought over as soon as I sat down. I had no real interest in the drink, or the people around me, some of whom were giving me furtive looks and whispering behind their hands.
I’d already fielded more than a few interested looks from members of the opposite sex, but my only interest was in seeing whatever it was this Simone person wanted me to. How had she penned it? Oh yes, ‘it will be well worth your while’.
If she wasn’t who she is, I would’ve already been at Emily’s place by now. I missed her so fucking much. And strangely that longing only grew more now that I was back home, just a few miles away. I strummed my fingers against the tabletop as I waited for the show to begin, only now wondering what this whole thing could possibly have to do with Emily.
When the first young lady came out on the stage and that familiar ebony beauty took to the microphone, I was still in the dark. It was only when the auction started that I got an inking of what laid ahead. I tensed in my seat and was no longer in my lounging disinterested position.
I sat up, my eyes trained on the stage all the while telling myself no fucking way. She was the third one on the stage. The red designer dress that hugged her curves and showed way too much leg with the slit that went almost to her crotch, and the cleavage that was on display, had the men in the room in a fucking frenzy.
I don’t recall what the first two went for, but I was sure she’d already bypassed their buying price by a mile. My future wife was on a fucking stage being sold like…. I’ll have to deal with that Freudian slip later, right now my only interest was in getting her the fuck out of there.
“Ten thousand going once, twice…” Wait, what? I was almost out of my seat my eyes searching out the asshole who’d just bid ten grand on my woman. I’ll break his fucking neck. “Twenty thousand.” A hush fell over the room and all eyes turned in my direction. That’s when I realized I was on my feet.
Unlike the other participants I didn’t let my prey retreat behind the curtain, but made my way to the stage, my eyes fixed on hers. There was surprise written all over her face which was soon replaced by fear when she got a good look at my face. The room had erupted in wild applause and not a few suggestions as to what I should do with my purchase. Cameras flashed as I reached her and took her hand in mine, all but pulling her off the stage.
I acknowledged Simone with a nod of my head and from her pleased grin knew she’d gotten exactly what she’d been after. That fact was confirmed when she reached beneath the podium and retrieved Emily’s evening bag. Well played. I’ll deal with her later too, right now I had to get this one home and give her a few lessons in how Jason Storm’s woman was supposed to comport herself in public.
She followed me easily enough until we got off the stage and then as if coming to her senses tried tugging away from my hold. “If you don’t want me to embarrass you you’ll stop.” I didn’t stop moving as I offered that warning, but kept going until we were out the door. Another fucking headline I’m sure.
I shooed the driver a
way and put her in the car myself before going around to the other side. She was busy trying to close the gap in her slit. “Now you want to cover up?” She wasn’t looking so confident now and as mad as I was at her for putting herself on display I needed to kiss her more. I dragged her across the seat and into my arms. My mouth came down to cover hers before whatever words she might’ve uttered could form on her lips.
If she’d resisted me I think I would’ve lost it, my blood was that hot. She’d just paraded herself in front of a room full of men for fuck sake. But she didn’t resist, but instead melted into me, helping to calm the heated anger that beat in my chest. My arms softened around her as I drew her in as close as humanly possible.
“I missed you.” Those words fell from my lips as soon as I came up for air. I obviously hadn’t meant to share that with her, but it was already done. I looked down at her flushed face and the glazed look in her eyes, the look very much like the one that had been captured in the infamous newspaper article. “You have a lot of explaining to do young lady.” The words weren’t harsh but they still evoked a reaction.
“Oh really? And to whom do I owe this explanation?” It seems she’d got her bearings back, but if she knew what was good for her she wouldn’t fuck with me on this. My veneer of civility was very close to slipping. “What the hell do you mean flaunting your ass on stage like that? Save it, we’ll talk when we get inside.”
She’d only just noticed our destination and before she could object I was ravaging her mouth once again while the driver came around to open the door. As soon as we exited the car I took her hand and led her into the building and towards the end of the lobby where the private elevator waited to take us to my penthouse apartment overlooking the city and beyond.
We were barely through the door before I had her pressed up against it, my hands caging her in on either side. “Now, do you want to tell me what the hell you thought you were doing?” She swallowed hard which betrayed her uneasiness and she should feel uneasy. I was this close to breaking her damn neck.
“I wasn’t aware that I had to answer to you Mr. Storm.” I should’ve known she wouldn’t back down. Lack of money cannot so easily erode breeding. And there was no forgetting that she was once the daughter of a very powerful man, no matter his end.
“We have an agreement…”
“Had.”
“Excuse me?”
“We had an agreement Mr. Storm which you broke.”
“I did no such thing.” What the hell was she talking about?
“Well it seemed that way to me. I haven’t heard from you in almost a week and the last thing you said to me was that you wouldn’t be needing my services. You better than anyone else know how strapped I am for cash.”
“If you tell me you paraded yourself on that stage tonight like a common… if you were that strapped for cash why didn’t you ask me? What happened to the cards I had sent to you?”
“I wasn’t aware that they were still for my use since you weren’t here. What’s the problem, afraid someone else was going to buy your little plaything?”
“What the hell are you talking about? Who said you were my plaything?”
“Well, isn’t that what you hired me for? To be something you can trot out whenever it pleases you?”
Was she fucking serious? She thought I had to pay a woman to go out with me? “I hate this fucking dress. Where did you get it?” A change of subject was needed before I really did wrap my hands around her delicate neck. I had the feeling she was playing me, but even knowing the truth of that I couldn’t help being drawn in.
“There’s nothing wrong with this dress, it’s a designer’s collection.”
“It makes you look like a fucking tart. Maybe I should’ve spelt it out when we were making our little agreement, but no woman of mine acts this way in public and she certainly does not dress like this. One good wind and your cunt would be at the door. Are you even wearing underwear under there?” I couldn’t make out a panty line and it was obvious she was braless. The more I looked at her get-up the more pissed I became.
“Are you insane? Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“I’m talking to you obviously. Was this some game you and your friend cooked up to get my attention? To see how I’d react?” Her raised brow wasn’t exactly a denial but neither was it an acquiescence.
“No Mr. Storm, it is as I said. You left here knowing that my financial situation wasn’t at its best. We had an arrangement which you walked away from without any explanation and when this opportunity arose for me to make some money as well as supporting a great cause, I jumped at the idea.”
“Stop saying I walked away. I had business to attend to. What did you expect? That I would call you every night like a love sick puppy? How old are you?” Oh she was fuming now.
“Fuck off.” Say what now?
“What did you say?”
“You heard me. Just because my situation in life has changed doesn’t mean that I’m going to take shit from you or anyone else.”
“Is that a fact?” Now my hand did find its way around her throat and I barely restrained myself from throttling the little brat.
“Go ahead, I dare you.”
“Oh you do-do you? If this is a battle of wills you’re about to lose.”
“What are you doing? Let go, stop.”
18
Emily
He didn’t stop. Instead he dragged me away from the door my hand firmly gripped in his down the hallway and into what I saw was his bedroom. I didn’t have time to take in the décor if I were so inclined, because the Neanderthal flung me around in front of him and the next thing I knew, there was a sound of ripping material in the room.
“What the…” I looked down in disbelief as the beautiful gown was torn down the middle. He didn’t stop there, but continued pulling at it until I was standing there in the thong that barely covered anything. His face got even angrier when he saw that that was all I wore beneath the gown.
“Is this how you were planning to go out with someone else tonight?”
“No, I promise.” I tried backing away but he caught me and drew me back to him.
“What were you supposed to do, how was the night supposed to end?”
“It was an auction for…for charity. Dinner and dancing at a later date.” I was trembling now in the face of his dark anger. Maybe Simone had gone too far? And where was she when I was about to be killed?
“You were planning for someone else to see you like this? Why else would you wear it?” Why else indeed. I’m going to skin Simone when I see her. If I live to get out of this room. He didn’t give me a chance to answer, but instead moved me back towards his big sprawling bed that took up almost one complete wall of the room.
“Well, since I’ve already bought and paid for you… twice, let’s see just what it is that I paid for shall we?” If my mouth dropped any farther my lips would drag the floor. “Storm….”
“Shut up, just shut the hell up.” My legs trembled but I was no longer sure if it was from fear or excitement. In all fairness this was just the sort of reaction Simone had predicted. Only she told me he wouldn’t be here for at least another day, after the article came out. Maybe then he would’ve had some time to calm the hell down.
I didn’t utter a sound as he laid me back across the bed and stood back to remove his clothes. Was this really happening to me again? Why is it that whenever I get within spitting distance of this man I always end up in the most compromising positions? There was still time, I could still demand he let me go and I was sure he would let me. At least I was almost certain.
But in the time that he’d been away and with Simone nattering away in my ear, I’d come to realize and accept that I felt more than a slight attraction to him. I should’ve known when I let him do all those things to me on the dance floor and again in the restaurant that I was more than a little in love with him.
But what must he think? This was only our second date, and this on
e couldn’t really be construed as that. This was so confusing. I knew what I was prepared to do if things had played out the way Simone had promised. I would’ve had time to get used to the idea of going the distance. But would one more day have made so much difference?
I don’t know, I can’t think and there was no time left. My time had ran out. He was naked now, standing between my thighs as I laid back, propped up on my arms unable to resist having a look at him. Oh shit… Should I tell him now that I’m a virgin, and that we might as well call the whole thing off? I’m not learned in sex, but I’ve known since pre-K about fitting shapes into the correct spaces and that thing was never going to fit inside me.
He must’ve seen my hesitation and fear, the fiend, because he took his cock in hand and stroked while planting his knee on the bed between my thighs. I held up a hand as if to ward him off but it was no use. He bit my finger and sucked it into his mouth while something wet and warm dragged across the flesh of my thigh. “You can stop pretending now. I know I might be a little more built than the boys you’re accustomed to playing with, but there’s no need to be afraid of this, it’ll fit.”
I should’ve smacked him there and then, but I had the bright idea that I couldn’t wait to see his face when he realized the truth, that I hadn’t been ‘playing’ with anyone. The pig! I was still going to give him a dressing down but just as I opened my mouth to put him in his place he sucked one of my nipples between his teeth and bit down hard enough that I could feel, but not enough to hurt.
I lost my train of thought when his tongue came into play and that thick length of flesh between his thighs rubbed back and forth along my clit down to the opening of my sex. By the time he was done paying homage to both breasts I was ready to beg him to ease the ache between my thighs.
Loving The Enemy Page 10
