by Cynthia Dane
“Of course.” Ethan would have no idea how to approach Eva on such a personal matter. She was probably the one woman in the social world who could make these billionaire men shake their heads if not grab and protect their crotches. Not that Ethan would be scared of her. More like have no idea how to get across that she was not to speak to the receptionist ever again. You know, the first person you have to talk to when you come into the office. Jasmine didn’t think it had ever gotten that bad between Nadia and Eva, though. That implied one was harassing the other. As far as Jasmine knew, Nadia was merely freaked out by the mutual attraction she couldn’t handle. That and persistent Warren personalities.
“Enough about that. How is my flower after her big trip?”
Jasmine sank into his lap, arms wrapping around him as she smiled big enough to make him smile back at her. “I’m exhausted, but I had a lot of fun. Wasn’t it nice of Adrienne to help me out like that?”
“Indeed it was. I’m glad you were able to find a dress. Not that I’ll be able to see it until the wedding, I’m sure.”
“I’m not a superstitious woman, but I feel like I would be fucking with too many forces by letting that happen. Although a part of me thinks you should see it so you don’t have a heart attack at the wedding. Because of how gorgeous I am, of course.”
Ethan squeezed her hip. “Indeed you are. I am always captivated by your insatiable beauty. If I could, I’d eat it up.”
“According to you it was my beauty that made you want to fuck me sideways.”
“I still remember that day. Was coming off a pretty rough dry spell.”
“I knew you had an exceptionally good orgasm the first time we did it.”
‘I knew you did as well.”
Jasmine laughed, happy that she could think upon such memories with the fondness she had. “Kinda hard not to come like the world is ending when a man like you is making love to me. Even back then, when I knew what kind of relationship I was signing up for, I thought… well, if I’m gonna be paid to have sex for six months, it better be with a rich stud like you. Who knew it would lead to this?”
“I hope that’s your speech at our wedding.”
“It should be. Knowing me, I’ll be a blubbering mess because I love you so much.”
“Is there such a thing?” Ethan held her closer. “Because I don’t want to believe it.”
“You’re too much.”
Jasmine was ready to hop off his lap and get back to unpacking and relaxing her first night back home, but Ethan was not ready to let her go yet. “Now hang on,” he said, tone changing. “There’s something we should talk about first.”
What’s this now? Jasmine had no idea what to expect. “Hopefully it’s something good.”
Ethan was not immediately forward with his point. “How long do we have until the wedding? Seven weeks?”
“Thereabouts.”
“That’s not a lot of time between then and now. If I’m not working, we’re going to be doing that whole bachelor and bachelorette party thing.”
“Yeah, about that… who is throwing yours, exactly?”
“I heard it was customary for the best man to do it. Or in this case, the best woman.”
Adrienne is gonna throw his party? Oh, dear. “Who is throwing mine?”
“I can only guess. Anyway,” Ethan continued, “my point is that there isn’t a lot of time for us to do something special before then.”
“Like what kind of special?” Jasmine was entering tentative territory here. Special could mean anything from a night at their favorite restaurant to getting spanked at home. Those things didn’t always mix. It greatly depended not just on Jasmine’s disposition, but what Ethan felt like doing. What’s his cock saying today? Jasmine shifted in her fiancé’s lap but didn’t feel anything in particular. If he was thinking naughty things, it wasn’t doing anything to him downstairs. “Like sending me to be pampered before proposing to me special?” She smiled. “Or making me serve you all day special?”
His eyebrows went up. “Why not both?”
“I can’t tell if I like the way you think or not.” Because I haven’t heard the details yet. Jasmine always needed the details before making a final decision. Not that Ethan was ever forthcoming with pesky things like details…
Ethan rubbed the bottom of her back, his eyes taking in her whole form as she sat in his lap. “Remember how I said there were things I wanted to do last time that we didn’t have time for? I think we should make up that difference.”
“Well, then…”
He pushed her against the desk. Damn, it was pretty hot. Completely dominant on his part, as well. I never realize how much I miss this until I go without for a while. “A while” meaning over a week in this case. Or was it two weeks now? The days were going by so quickly that Jasmine could barely keep up. Pretty soon they would be married. That was a scary thought. Thrilling, but scary, as most big life changes tended to be.
“We should do Part 2 this Saturday. I don’t have to work, but there is a dinner with some associates in the early evening. Then we could go to the club. That’s all I’ll say for now.”
“Dinner and the club? Let me guess. I’ll be wearing my collar all day that day.”
“Only if you’ll agree to it.”
“Hmm.” Jasmine bit her bottom lip with a grin that said yes. “Who said we should wait until then? Last I checked, there was plenty to get us started in our bedroom.”
Ethan unexpectedly frowned. “Did that lock get fixed?”
Jasmine scoffed. “Yes! No worries about my parents wandering in and seeing you stick your cock in me. Without protection, no less.”
“I have not been able to look your father in the eye since then. As for your mother… no. No, I am not going there.”
“Would you stop thinking about my parents?”
He pushed her against the desk again. “Part of the reason I want to completely own this firm and adorable ass of yours is because a man needs to reclaim how in control he is around here.” I like that tone to his voice. Whenever Ethan decided he needed to reassert how alpha male he was, Jasmine won. Reassert all over my body, buddy. “Now, go meet me in the bedroom and be prepared to take whatever I give you.”
Jasmine slipped off his lap, hand lingering on his hard chest. “Should I put my collar on… sir?”
“Indeed you should. Make sure that door is locked, too. Bad enough they walked in on us having vanilla sex…”
Why did he have to say that? Now Jasmine was shuddering from disgust. Just the thought of my parents walking in on me being collared and spanked… yuck! Jasmine would never be able to live through that kind of horror, and Ethan wouldn’t be able to live through her father’s totally non-hippie wrath.
Jasmine stood up, letting his hand brush against her ass before she turned and went for his office door. She glanced over her shoulder, sending him a smoldering look. “I’ll see you soon, Mr. Cole.”
He smiled. “Why don’t you get started without me? I want you nice and ready for what I do to you the moment I walk into the room.”
Jasmine’s lips smashed together in anticipation. “Will do, sir.”
They were both happy to report that the lock worked fine that night. Not that anyone tried to walk in, but damn hell, it worked.
Chapter 6
The week sped by in a flurry of wedding planning and business. When Ethan wasn’t in his office, he was going over wedding items with Jasmine. Until then, he had little to do with the wedding planning, outside of giving his opinion or confirming things with either Jasmine or Jenny. Now, however, it was coming down to crunch time, and he needed to confirm his final list of bridegroom members and what they would be wearing. Oh, and other things too.
Everything was ready now that Jasmine had her bridal party and a wedding gown. Appointments had already been scheduled for Raul and his styling assistant to come to the house on the morning of the wedding. Contractors were in the backyard going over how to arrange thin
gs for the ceremony without upsetting the flowers. The reception would be held in a luxurious community center right there in the Hills that often hosted balls, galas, and private parties for the rich in the area. Jenny handled the details. Ethan was paying her thousands right out of his pocket, and both he and Jasmine were grateful to have her expertise.
Flowers for the reception were reserved. Photographers brought their portfolios, and the couple had spoken to their media photographer of choice who would cover the wedding. There were only a few details left that Jasmine wasn’t sure about, such as whether or not Ethan’s father would come, but he was still mum on the issue. He probably doesn’t even know yet.
Aside from that, most of the guest list was finalized – with a few RSVPs still holding out – and came in at a healthy 500 guests. Outside of small family and friends, those coming were almost all high society and anyone Ethan had done serious business with since founding his business. So, almost everyone. There were guests coming in from not just across the country, but from Europe, Australia, East Asia, and even the Middle East. When Jasmine got a surprise RSVP from a Saudi prince, she nearly lost it. I had no idea who most of these people were when I sent out the invitations. They were names on a list compiled by Amber and edited by Monica. Jasmine didn’t start looking them up until she received RSVPs in waves.
Even the honeymoon was arranged. They received final confirmation for their reservations in Europe, although Jasmine was more inclined to fantasize about Hawaii. She finally went to her open-ended appointment at The Crimson Dove and was fitted for new beach and lounge wear that could be used on the beaches of Hawaii or Italy.
By Thursday, she was excited, but still exhausted. Friday would be her only day of rest before Ethan wanted to resume their kinky games on Saturday.
“If you had fun last time,” Monica said, after they discussed it at her house on Thursday afternoon, “then I’m sure you’ll have a good time tomorrow too.” Monica happily sighed, stirring cream into her tea. “I’m rather jealous. I would love to do some role-playing, but there hasn’t been much of a mood for that lately.” She pointed to her stomach. “This girl is determined to make sure I’m queasy half my days. You caught me on a good day.”
Jasmine could barely believe her eyes. Had a woman not having twins ever been so huge? Monica swore that her baby was average sized, according to the doctor, but she was… huge. It was absurd! How did she walk? Barely. How did she sleep comfortably? She didn’t. Monica wasn’t due for another two months and yet she looked like she was about to give birth to the first place watermelon at the state fair.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I tell myself it’ll be worth it. That’s what I tell myself, at least.”
“What else do you tell yourself?”
Monica took her time pouring Jasmine some more tea in the garden. “That I’m going to be a great mother while being the wife of a busy billionaire and running a halfway to illegal business peddling flesh.”
“Good goals. You put me to shame.”
“You’re doing fine. I hear you’re Kathryn’s number one helper on her new project?”
“Yeah. Go figure. I’m a bit behind right now, though. People aren’t returning my calls, and Kathryn has been hard to get a hold of anyway.” She was still in Vegas and ignoring Jasmine. Probably on vacation with the boyfriend. Can’t blame her for ignoring my existence. Kathryn was the type of woman to block out the whole world around her if it meant taking a break with the boytoy. Er, boyfriend. “Anyway, that’s one reason Ethan wanted to do a role-play again. It would be our last chance before the wedding and all the craziness that comes with that.”
“I hear you.” Monica was already halfway through a stack of crackers. “Granted, Henry and I were playing games all the way up until the wedding, but we’re like that 24/7 anyway. You and Ethan are different. You have to plan it.”
“Makes it a bit anticipatory, doesn’t it?”
Monica smiled. “I bet. Ethan plays good Dom games when he puts his mind and cock to it.” Her smile disappeared. “I mean…”
“No. It’s fine.” Surprisingly, it really was fine. Jasmine was getting used to being surrounded by Ethan’s ex-girlfriends wherever she turned. If it wouldn’t be so weird, I wouldn’t mind hearing a story or two. Although Jasmine had a feeling Ethan wasn’t hardcore enough for Monica’s constant appetites. Her husband Henry always came off as the perfect gentleman, but even Jasmine sensed the alpha undercurrent in the room when that man was around. He was a very different kind of masculine from Ethan, that was for sure. If I were like Monica, I’d be melting around him too. Jasmine was not like Monica, however. She preferred to keep the kink to specific, sparsely spaced times. With a lot of warning. “I always get nervous, though. Last time he had me without underwear at a dinner with the Blakes.”
Monica’s eyes widened. “No.”
“Yup. Richard Blake got a great eyeful of my ass, and I was the perfect wife in front of Francesca Blake.”
“Is that why her tune has changed about you?”
“What tune?” Jasmine’s ears perked up. “What’s this?”
“I was at the country club several days ago. She was telling some of her friends that she thought you might be a good match for Ethan after all. I thought I had wax buildup in my ears.”
“How about that?”
“Indeed. How about that.” Monica laughed. “Well, if you want my advice, of course it would be to go with the flow and enjoy yourself. Trust Ethan to not ask you to do anything totally out of this world. He has good judgment, even if he’s not the most social creature.”
“I always try to do that, but then I get hung up on the worst things. Like whether or not he is respecting me. I can’t help it. Sometimes he asks me to do things that make me feel....”
“Let me guess: then when you start getting into it, you can’t care about that anymore.” Monica turned her head. “I know how you feel. There’s a delicate balancing act between the private and the public. What you do in public reflects upon you and what your morals are. But if you feel natural doing it, who gives a shit? I do many things that people would say are hardly feminist. I don’t think about it like that. I’m enjoying my life with my husband and we aren’t hurting anybody. If anything, our relationship – and love – is stronger because we express these things to one another. It’s not for everybody, though. A lifestyle wasn’t for Ethan, which is why it didn’t work out between us. You’re different, though. You’re on the same wavelength as him, I think. That’s why you should take the role-plays as an opportunity to express anything you’re feeling in that vein. You don’t get many chances. If you spend your whole day not only distrusting your Dom, but feeling uneasy about your desires, then what good does that do? All that does is breed resentment. As long as you know your limits and your safe words, it’s good.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Jasmine sighed. “It’s hard for me to let go, though. Even when I do let go, it’s not all the way. I’m still pretending in my head.”
“Well, you ended up in the world of kink because that’s what Ethan asked of you. It’s not like you woke up one day with the realization that you wanted to seek out it. You know, like me.”
“That’s true. I only went along with it in the beginning because Ethan paid me to. I was really defensive about it back then, and I think some of that defensiveness has carried on to now. Deep down I’m kinda scared that he’ll think less of me if I don’t act a little insubordinate.”
“Think less of you? If anything, he’s probably internally begging for you to give up more of yourself in those fleeting moments. I think you might be surprised at how much you really do trust him if you, well, trust him.”
“He did say something along those lines when he instigated this whole thing.”
“Of course he would.” Monica rolled her eyes. “Well, my advice is to go along with it. Give it a try, Jasmine. Ethan wouldn’t steer you wrong. Now, show me a picture of this dress
you got in Italy!”
They gabbed for the good part of an hour about the wedding, Monica offering her tips as she always did and Jasmine going on about the details she ate and drank like sustenance now. The biggest shock wasn’t that Adrienne treated Jasmine to a bridal dress, but that certain people had RSVP’d to Ethan and Jasmine’s wedding.
“Really? The Saudi prince? What? That reclusive billionaire from the west? You really got him to come to your wedding? You sure you didn’t read that wrong? We couldn’t even get him to our wedding!”
Jasmine shrugged. Should I know who that is? Crap. “Apparently Ethan has done enough business with him to make it happen?”
‘You aren’t just having the wedding of the summer, Jasmine.” Monica was still in awe as she sat back in her seat. “You’re having the wedding of the year.”
“I don’t know about that…”
“I’m not kidding. Anyone who is anyone around the world is coming to your wedding. Either it’s the most opportune time for them to come, or…”
“Or what?”
“Or Ethan is a bigger deal than even I took him for.”
“Surely you jest!”
“Only half jesting here.”
Jasmine departed Monica’s wing of the Warren Estate without an escort – someone was relegated to only a maximum amount of steps a day. Instead, Jasmine saw herself out, which meant there was nobody there to intercept the other mistress of the household.
“You!” Eva was in Jasmine’s face, smelling of overpowering perfume and gleaming in hair product and shiny clothes. The woman did not understand the meaning of the word sensible. “You are the greatest person in the world, you know that, right?”
“What?” Jasmine was too startled to move. She felt like a gazelle in the presence of a lioness. Hopefully a lazy one.
Eva was quick to clap Jasmine on the shoulder. “You’re an all right gal, even if you have that unfortunate stripper name.”
