by Mika Lane
I figured I’d probably run into Varden—or was it G?—at some point. It was just as well, I needed to level with him, take some responsibility for all that went down. But at the moment I was here to work. If M were on to me as Varden had said, it might be my last time in attendance. But for tonight, the plan was to branch out and talk to some different people to see if I could learn anything new. And from the looks of it, it didn’t seem it would take long. A man and woman were eying me from the other side of the bar. I nodded back, and they approached.
But before they could reach me, there was a hand on me shoulder.
M.
Big surprise.
“Hi!” I said like I was greeting a long lost friend.
Smiling and elegant beyond description, she placed a hand on my elbow. “So good to see you, my dear. Would you come to my office for a sec to chat?”
“Well, um…” I bobbed my head toward the approaching couple.
But she only tightened her grip. “We won’t be long. I’m sure your new friends won’t mind.” She attempted to steer me in the direction of her office.
I took a look back, and the couple waved to me. I wanted to tell them I’d be right back. Just in case I wasn’t. But I didn’t get the chance.
We wove through the crowd, dodging everyone who knew M and who wanted to chat. She apologized to them all, saying she had a pressing matter to take care of. The entire time, she never loosened her grip on my elbow.
I steeled myself for a confrontation, thinking through what I might say. Really, there were only two ways to go: deny everything, or admit I was from the paper. Each had its pros and cons.
M ushered me into the office, closing the door behind us. The lock clicked quietly and my awareness jumped into overdrive. I stayed right next to the door, casually leaning against it.
“Please take a seat, B.”
I don’t think so.
“Thanks M, but I’ll stand. I want to get back to my new friends.”
She stood close to me. Too close. Somehow, her face remained beautiful while her eyes were dark and hard. “I know you’re up to something. I’m not sure what. But I know your type,” she spat.
I forced a laugh. “That’s ridiculous. My type. What are you talking about?”
“I want to know what you’re doing here. What are you after?”
I kept smiling. “I’m here for the same reason everyone else here is.”
I could smell the hatred coming off her. “You don’t know me very well, B. But ask anyone. They will tell you I don’t suffer fools. And I don’t let anyone mess with my club.”
“I’m not messing with your club. I don’t know what you are talking about.” Why hadn’t I brought that tiny recorder Ed had offered me?
She moved even closer. Her expensive perfume was exquisite and belied her menacing demeanor. Her fists were balled by her sides.
My heart pounded. It had been a mistake to come here. Especially since I’d told no one where I was. Maybe Varden was right…being on M’s “watch list” could be dangerous.
Before I could think of what to say, there was a loud banging at the door.
M called out, “I’m in a meeting. A private meeting.”
The banging continued.
“I said I’m in a meeting.”
“M, open the goddamn door right now,” a familiar voice called through the door. “I know you have B in there with you.”
Holy shit, it was Varden. I braced myself against the wall and pushed M as hard as I could. She toppled backward and fell on her ass, her expression one of pure rage.
I turned to flip the lock on the door, and as soon as I did, Varden came flying in. He wasn’t wearing his mask. And he was fucking beautiful.
Chapter 36
Varden
I don’t know what I expected to see when I burst into M’s office, but it sure as hell wasn’t her sprawled on the floor in her expensive silk dress.
I grabbed Saffi’s hand and looked her up and down. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. I’m fine.”
“You,” I said, pointing a finger at M as she reached for a chair to pull herself to her feet, “had better back off.”
Standing, she smiled sweetly, smoothing out her dress. “What are you talking about? I just invited my friend up here for a little playtime. And she assaulted me.”
“Cut the shit.” I looked at Saffi and took her hand. “C’mon.”
“Wait just a minute,” M called after us. “While I don’t appreciate being pushed to the ground, to show there are no hard feelings, why don’t you take the special room on the third floor? Have it all to yourselves. My treat.”
“Thanks, M. Fuck off.”
I led Saffi through the crowded club up to the mezzanine and to a secluded corner. The funny thing was that without my mask, no one recognized me. Not a single person said hello.
The irony.
“Jesus. That was close,” I said, sinking into a sofa and pulling Saffi down next to me.
“Varden, I just want to tell you—”
But I cut her off.
“Shhh. No need to say anything.” She laid her head back and took a deep breath, grasping my hands in her trembling ones.
“Do you really think she was going to do something?” Her face searched mine, which was not surprising. She’d only seen it a couple times.
“I don’t know. But I didn’t want to find out.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“No, I am.”
“Seriously. Thank you, Varden.”
“For what?”
“You warned me about her. And then you saved me from her. Thank you.”
Her hand was small but strong. I loved her tenacity.
“How did you know I was here?” she asked me.
“It wasn’t easy. Did you block me from your phone?”
“Yeah, I did.” She shook her head in embarrassment.
“That’s what I thought. And I was desperate to get in touch, so I called your dad.”
She bolted upright. “You what?”
“I called him on the pretense of asking for your number. He gave it to me and also mentioned you’d gone out for the evening all dressed up. It wasn’t hard to figure out that you’d come here. I asked for M when I arrived, and they told me she was in her office, not to be disturbed.” I shook my head. “Disturbed my ass. She’s disturbed.”
“Wow,” Saffi said quietly. “Just wow. I can’t believe the efforts you’ve made for me, especially after I was such a bitch to you at the Four Seasons.”
“I can hardly blame you.”
“I also cannot believe you knew me all along, and on top of that, are my father’s client.” She slapped my thigh. It was the least I deserved.
“I know, I know. I’d planned on eventually telling you. I just hadn’t figured out when. At first it was a little game, and then…”
She looked at me. “And then what?”
I watched the crowd filing by. “I don’t know. I found myself thinking of you. You know, I wasn’t lying when I told you how beautiful you are. But I also respect how driven you are. I see some of myself in you.”
She gave me a sexy smile. “I think that’s not the only area where we are compatible.”
Booyah.
She leaned to press her lips against mine, parting them to steal a small taste. I followed her lead until I could wait no longer, and then drew her to me with a hand on the back of her head. My lips ground against hers until we could barely breathe. I wanted to inhale her, all of her, so I’d never forget what she smelled and tasted like.
A couple interrupted, addressing Saffi. “Hey, we’re wondering if you’d like to get a drink with us,” the man said.
“Thanks. But I’m gonna hang out with my friend here tonight,” she answered.
They smiled and moved on. Thatta girl.
“Their loss, my gain, B. Also known as Saffi.”
“I’m right where I want to be. Speaking of which…” She
hiked her skirt up to her thighs and straddled my lap and ran light kisses from my temple to my jaw and back to my lips. In the confines of his trousers, my cock ached. Nothing new about that.
I wanted to take her right there. But not yet.
Sneaking a hand under the hem of her blouse, my fingers wandered over her heated flesh until I found her perfect tits. With a circular motion, I rubbed her hard points with my open palms. My fingers gradually closed over them, and her soft sighs whispered against my mouth.
“Stand up, baby,” I said in her ear. She backed off my lap.
I rose, too, and took her face in my hands. “You know what I want to do to you, right?”
She bit the corner of her lip. “I have no idea,” she said in a coy voice.
Goddamn, she was sweet.
“Well darlin’, I think I might just need to fuck you.” She shuddered and leaned next to my ear.
“You want some pussy, mister?”
Jesus Christ.
I spun her to face the sofa and hiked up her pencil skirt until her thigh-high stockings and tiny lace thong were in full view of anyone walking by. What a vision, with those fuck me shoes and creamy round ass.
Pushing her to kneel on the sofa, I pressed her head to rest against its back. Bent at an almost-ninety degree angle, her exposed behind caught the attention of several passersby. She shimmied her ass just enough to draw approving murmurs from the growing audience.
I crouched behind her and ran my tongue along the narrow strip of fabric covering her pussy and asshole. She wiggled and then whined when I backed off, leaving her wanting.
When she was still, I went in for more. Again, her she wiggled her ass with a demanding groan. I stood and bent close to her ear. “You like my tongue in your crack, baby? Nod if you do.”
Her head bobbed wildly, spilling her long hair onto the sofa back.
With a tight fist, I grabbed her thong panty and yanked it. The tension split the fabric at the seams, and I tossed it to the floor. Now she was totally uncovered, her glistening, bare pussy and tight, pink asshole.
I got back to work, my tongue sliding from the top of her crack to her opening, where I buried my tongue deep in her wet folds. She writhed as her juices spilled onto my face, and they tasted damn good.
We were finally where I wanted us to be and my aim was to drive her crazy. I spread her wetness with my tongue, getting her ready for my hard cock.
Unable to wait any longer, I pulled my erection out of my pants and began stroking it. I drove one finger, and then two inside her, leaving her bucking like a wild woman. Her pussy clenched around my fingers, and she screamed my name as her first orgasm washed over her. It wasn’t going to be her last.
I left my crouch to line my cock up with her, grabbing a condom from my pocket. She clearly liked being watched and pretty soon, she was going to like being fucked.
I reached around for her hard clit, and leaned toward her ear again. “You ready for me to fuck you, beautiful?”
All she could manage was a nod and some sort of squeak.
“All right,” I whispered. “Baby’s gonna get some cock.”
I dragged my cock up and down her to get it wet, and bounced the crown over her pussy until she wiggled in agony. But instead of giving it to her, I had another idea.
I took my thumb and dipped it deep into her creamy opening. When it was good and wet, I ran it up to her asshole, pressing gently against the tight opening. She jumped and then pushed back on my finger for more.
At the same time, I positioned my cock at her soaked pussy and pushed an inch or two into her tight heat, waiting for her to accommodate more of me. I reveled in the little tremors pulsing around my dick—she squeezed so tightly, I nearly blew my load.
With my cock in her pussy and thumb invading her ass, she arched to take me more deeply. Over the din of the club, her moans reverberated.
The more excited she got, the harder she pushed back against me. I finally dove deep inside her pussy, pistoning in and out while she cried for more. Her entire body began to shudder, and I fucked her harder, wanting to feel her come again. Her pussy clenched in spasms, and I joined her, burying my cock balls-deep and thrusting the full length of my thumb in her ass.
Her reaction, mixed with the joy on the faces of the onlookers, was intoxicating. I continued to pump, spurting into her wet heat, until my shaking legs forced me to stop. I eased out and collapsed, grabbing her around the waist and dragging her on top of me on the sofa.
The audience wandered away while we held each other and caught our breaths. M leaned against the wall, watching us. When I caught her eye, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd.
Bye, bitch.
Chapter 37
Saffi
Holy shit.
I’d never come like that before, and even though I was safe in Varden’s arms, my trembling continued.
Safe. That’s what it was. I don’t know I’d ever felt so safe.
“Oh my god,” I mumbled.
“Jesus. You’re not kidding. That was freaking hot.”
“Varden?”
“Yes, baby?”
“What are we gonna tell my dad? You asked him for my number, so he obviously knows something’s up.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to talk to him alone.”
“Well, I don’t usually let other people do my speaking for me. But in this case, I guess it might be okay. Would you be nervous?”
“Not sure I’d say nervous. I mean, I’ve done a lot of business with your dad. I know he thinks well of me. But he knows I haven’t had the best reputation with the ladies. He might not want me coming anywhere near you.”
He had a point.
I squeezed his hand. “I think if we’re honest, he’ll be okay. He knows I’m not an idiot.”
He looked at me. “Come home with me tonight. I’ll drive you back to your dad’s in the morning.”
My heart leapt.
“Let’s go.”
We headed toward the door of the club, earning a few admiring nods on the way. And yet, without his mask, no one knew who Varden was.
Once in his amazing penthouse apartment, he hollered for his brother. “Beau! I got a friend with me.”
A man emerged from the back who, with his dark eyes and chiseled face, could have been his twin. But Varden was a smidge taller and definitely more buff. I extended my hand.
“So you’re the one?” Beau’s smile rivaled his brother’s. Good lord. I couldn’t believe there were two of them.
I looked at Varden. “You talked about me?”
“I might have.” He turned to Beau. “Thanks for outing me, bro.”
“Oh shit, didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” Beau said, laughing. “I think I’ll excuse myself now.” He disappeared back into his room.
Damn. Those Gallagher men were gorgeous.
“Wow,” Saffi said. “Your brother could give you a run for your money.”
Varden grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. “You’re right. He’s a great guy. Had some challenges, but he’s making it work. I help him all I can.”
“He’s lucky to have you.”
Varden nodded. Were his eyes watery? “I’m the lucky one. In more ways than one.”
Next morning, Varden found me wearing the fluffy white bathrobe I’d helped myself to. I was watching the San Francisco sunrise. He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms tight.
“This view is insane,” I said.
He turned me to face him and stepped back to look me up and down. “I have to say, that robe has never looked better.”
“Oh, you say that to all the girls.”
“Actually…I’ve never had a girl spend the night here before. You’re the first to wrap that robe around your hot, little body.” And right there, in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, he started to unwrap me, his hands inching toward my breasts.
“Wait! Your brother.”
“Oh shit. Almost f
orgot about little Beau.” He took my hand and led me back to the bedroom.
Once inside, he yanked the robe from me, dropping it to the floor. Under his Egyptian cotton pajama bottoms, his now-erect cock screamed for attention. He hooked his thumbs in the drawstring waistband, pushing them to his ankles. His bouncing hard on was engulfed by his huge hand, stroking it from base to bulging head.
It was the first time I’d seen him fully naked, and he was glorious. Whenever we’d played at the club, we’d always been partially clothed.
This had definitely been worth waiting for.
His broad shoulders and upper arms bulged with the curve of muscle, and the inside of one forearm was tattooed with some sort of clock. His nipples were erect and brown, surrounded by a perfect splay of chest hair. It vee’d into a long, thin line past his belly button to where his hand rested on his cock.
Without the robe, I, too, was completely exposed and thanks to his admiring gaze, I’d never felt as beautiful.
“Kneel.” He motioned toward the long, upholstered bench in front of another expansive window.
I padded over and settled on my knees. “Like this?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He walked up behind me, directing me to bend all the way down until my cheek rested on the cushion. He hoisted my hips as high as they would go and spread my knees. From my position, I watched him step back and look at me on full display. I felt his gaze wander from my ass past my pussy, to the top of my slit where my clit was peeking out.
“Fuck, yeah,” he growled.
“Someone might see us,” I said, peeking out the window.
“I thought you’d like that.”
He was right.
My hand wandered back between my legs and one finger landed on the erect bud of my clit. Varden groaned.
“What a sight,” he murmured, reaching into his dresser.
He stretched a condom over his length and ran his tongue from my ass all the way through my lips and back up. “Damn, you taste good,” he told me, leaving me shivering beneath him.
“You like licking my pussy and ass? Maybe you can lick it again? Please?” I begged.
He straddled the bench just behind me so my ass was perfectly in line with his face. He licked a finger and circled it around my tight opening. As he loosened me, I moaned and pushed back on his finger.
