Even Mandy felt the insane urge to go and do exactly what he said too, but forced herself to remain where she was after one step. She was determined to prove she was strong and stubborn-as-hell.
He turned his intense gaze back to her with a smirk when he saw the step she had taken. "The book, Mandy?"
Temper already riled up, Mandy decided she didn't like the commanding tone of voice he was using on her and snidely replied. "You actually expect all women to do exactly as you command, don't you? Well, you can drop that damn tone with me, sir."
"Yes, I do expect it. I'm still waiting for the book Mandy and I'm impatiently waiting for your answer, still." The gorgeous stranger gave her the same tone he had used on the obnoxious customer.
"Stay here please. I believe I have one in mint condition. I will go and get it for you....master!" She growled at him through clenched teeth, her narrowed eyes ablaze with hellfire as she stared at him a few moments longer than necessary. No man is ever going to get away with using such a tone on me ever again, not without one hell of a fight! Mandy stomped off toward her office. "Master asshole, that is!" She grumbled to herself along the way.
Right behind her, she heard, "I will enjoy breaking your walls down, with extreme pleasure."
Mandy refused to give him the satisfaction of turning around, sure it was all in her mind anyway. That is, until she felt the heat of his intense gaze, the odd sensation warmed the skin on her back and bum right through her clothes. It further caused an unwanted shiver of desire to course through her body. She momentarily stumbled before regaining her balance again and praying the handsome stranger had not seen the incident.
In her office, Mandy bent over and retrieved the book from the floor safe. She had purchased it on a whim a few months before at an estate sale. "Go figure! Not only do I have to deal with a crowd of people, I have to get the biggest asshole on earth, used to commanding others and getting his way!" She angrily mumbled to herself, urging the anger to overcome the unwanted and unneeded desire.
"I will take that as a compliment, coming from a sexy-as-hell uptight woman in desperate need of letting her hair down and pulling her vanilla panties out of the wad she bunched them in. Especially, since I can smell and nearly taste the heavenly scent of her desire while I deeply appreciate the view of her sweet ass in those slacks." The stranger growled seductively from his position right behind her, where his muscular body now nestled up against the backside of her own. He heard Mandy's sharp intake of breath and felt her body unconsciously leaning backward into his.
With the sound of that sexy-as-sin voice in her ear, Mandy shivered hard again and momentarily lost control of her self-righteous anger. She fell forward away from him onto her hands and knees, unable to handle his body pressed against hers a second longer. She was unaware that she had moved into a cowering squat while she was trapped half in and half out of a flashback and whispered,
"Please stop, sir. I'm so sorry I took so long. I promise I will be right out." She whispered, her tone laced with fear. Then moments later, she shook herself clear of the flashback and allowed her anger at herself to surge forth when she realized she had just let this stranger see her in her most vulnerable state. No one was allowed to see her in such a state! Mandy slowly straightened up and raised her head while she was still turned away from him. She took a deep shaky breath and turned to face him with her usual stern look and stoic mask of civility.
"Here is your book, sir." She handed it out to him and pulled her hand away the moment his thumb caressed hers. She raised her arm toward the doorway. "After you, mister....?"
Mandy watched the stranger's intense blue eyes stare at her with concern and heat before he growled, "Jett Damian," then turned and walked out of her office and straight to the pay counter to wait. His cologne, Drakar Noir, permeated the air around her in his absence. She walked to the doorway and stopped. She closed her eyes and inhaled the heavenly scent, which set her body aflame all over again. She quickly shut down the fantasy that began to emerge in her mind as fast as it started.
When Mandy slowly opened her eyes again, she happened to glance up in the direction at the checkout counter, feeling the need to get back out there and do her job and at the same time, compelled to go to him. Her eyes meet Jett Damian's. He was staring at her with an inferno of heat in his eyes if that was possible and his lips turned up into a sexy smirk that turned her legs to rubber and her brain to mush. She lightly smacked her own cheek to break the spell Mr. Damian was putting over her.
Mandy rushed out of the office, shutting the door behind her and fast-walked to the pay counter. She cursed herself for not being able to control her badly shaking hands. Determined to regain her composure and dignity, Mandy gave Jett an overly bright smile, stared him bravely in the eyes and said, "I'm so sorry sir, were you waiting long?"
"Not at all, Mandy." Jett smiled and allowed her to keep her dignity while she rang up the cost of his book. When she told him the amount, he paid in cash, looked around then handed her four business cards which were really VIP passes to his club. In a seductive tone of voice, only loud enough for her to hear he said, "When you are ready to let your hair down or if you need––anything at all, use those passes to see me at my club. I will look forward to seeing you there." And I deeply want to see that sensual tigress you keep locked up tighter than a bank vault, set free.
"Humph! Don't get your boxers in a bunch waiting for something that will never happen." Mandy retorted back, clearly antagonized.
"Never say never, my little tigress and by the way, I am not wearing any underwear, sexy." Jett smirked then walked toward the exit having had the last word.
Mandy watched Jett stop and speak to a man in a chauffer's outfit who waited next to the exit. They both turned and stared at her before they finally walked out the door. Mandy let out the breath, unaware she had been holding it in.
"Holy shit, that was intense!" Mandy whispered under her breath and imagined Mr. Damian's look of shock if she ever went to his club. It brought a smile to her face.
"Who was that yummy piece of man-meat?" Nicole asked as she magically appeared at Mandy's side making her jump. Together, they watched Mr. Damian's mouth watering firm bum walk away and get into the awaiting limo just outside of the glass exit door.
Nicole had come back from her break just in time to stand beside Emmitt as they watched the highly charged interplay between Mr. Hot-as-Hell and their best friend.
In the years they knew her, never had they seen her lose her cool or become flustered around a man. Not She was a cool cookie around all men, until now. It was no secret they were both overprotective of Mandy but as they discussed, maybe Mr. Hot Stuff getting under her skin is exactly what Mandy needs to jolt her out of her self-imposed extreme isolation. Nicole glances over at Emmitt across the space and shares a secret smile with him.
Mandy on the other hand, was fuming at herself for acting so juvenile and was pissed at Mr. High and Mighty Jett Damien for his over-the-top arrogance and conceitedness. He's been gone for five minutes and it is his fault she had yet to force her eyes from the exit, hoping for one last glimpse of him. Only with Nicole's exclamation of excitement, did she accomplish it.
"What are you going on about now?" Mandy growled at Nicole, still shaken up. In a matter of minutes a complete stranger, a man, had turned her safe and routine world on its head.
"Holy Shit! Sweetie, do you have any idea who that hottie was?!" Nicole's voice barely contained her exuberance as she bounced up and down in place. Mandy handed her best friend one of the business cards Jett Damian had given her. Nicole took one look at it, squealed and waved the card around.
Mandy had to grab and hold onto Nicole's flailing arm to keep from getting punched in the head. "He was a mysterious, intense, not to mention arrogant, conceited, egotistical pain in my ass! That is exactly who he was!" Mandy glared at the exit.
"O....kay. If you say so, sweetie. But if you are ready to stop whining like a little bitch, I'll tell yo
u who he really is." Nicole smiled to soften the blow of her words.
"Alright, fine. Who is he then, all knowing one?" Mandy asked with extreme sarcasm lacing her voice.
"He is Jett Damian, multi-billionaire and owner of the Satan's Ink Tattoo Parlor chain, owner of the hottest, membership-only night club in the city, The Devil's Playground and he owns around sixty more clubs and businesses all around the United States. The Devil's Playground is the place where fantasies become reality!" Nicole exclaimed. "I've been trying to gain entrance to that place for months now, as have Emmitt and his boy-toy, Hunter! Mandy, we have to all go there together, pretty please! It's just the place for you to find a night of total anonymity and if he likes you, you will gain access to all the VIP areas where they give you a half mask to wear and remain anonymous. It's just the thing you need to help you move on with your life! And who knows, maybe you'll have a little fun with the owner himself! Nicole exclaimed again, her eyes begging Mandy to give it some serious thought.
"I promise to think about it. I can't give you more than that. And don't even think of pushing me on this, I'm warning you. Personally, I could care less if I never see that conceited ass, ever again!" Mandy growled and snatched the card back out of Nicole's hand, and placed it back into her vest pocket along with the others. She turned and stomped off to Emmitt's counter where she ordered two extra-large chocolate drizzled mocha in the store's cups, paid for them. With her head held high, back stiff as a brick wall and drinks in hand, she went into her office and kicked the door, slamming it shut behind her.
Nicole and Emmitt were left standing in shock. Emmitt shook it off first and came over to stand next to Nicole.
"Oh girl! That hot-as-sin stranger really got under our Mandy's skin and damn, he got his hooks in her deep. She just doesn't realize it yet. Ordering two extra-large mochas and in Styrofoam cups to boot, was proof enough for me!" Emmitt's eyes were as wide as saucers and his lips turned up in a wicked grin.
"You got that right, sweetie! Miss cool, calm, collect and driven to a fault, just got her world turned on its head. I've never seen Mandy this out of sorts before. I wish I could have been a mouse in the corner when they were in her office. She did not throw him out and she throws everyone out, even us. Something happened in there between the two of them that shook her right up. She had it handled before that." Nicole mused, her voice laced with worry. Maybe we should not push her into something she clearly is not ready for.
Emmitt picked up on Nicole's worry right away. "Girlfriend, she needed her life shaken up a bit but just the same, we shouldn't push her either. We will allow her come to us and tell us if and when she is ready to be around a large crowd of people. Then we will support her, help her to stay relaxed and feel safe, not leave her for a hot guy." Emmitt expressed his thoughts. He would not push Mandy into anything she wasn't ready for, no matter how much he wanted to go to that club.
"Back to work I go, girl." Emmitt walked away. He and Nicole both heard the rumors of The Devil's Playground Club from others in the underground and wondered if they were true. Another level of complexity was added, concerning Mandy going there, with her being as innocent as she was. They would have to watch her closely and keep her safe, Hunter would have their asses if they didn't. He and Mandy were very close. Although, by the way Jett's intense stare followed her every move while he was here, he had a feeling Mr. Damian wasn't going to allow anyone to harm or even get near Mandy.
Jett rode along in the limo. "John, I need you to keep a close eye on Mandy. I want to know everything about her that you can dig up in a background check and from other sources as well. I will have Xavier take over driving for a short while in the meantime. That beautiful woman holds too many secrets close to her heart and they cause her a great deal of pain that hurts to see in such beautiful eyes. I fear they may be dangerous to her and her health. I find myself, strangely wanting"
"Of course, sir. I'll get right on that. But be careful with that one, I suspect she bites and claws."
"I'm positive she does John and I'm quite looking forward to it." Jett smirked then laughed along with his driver.
"Where to, sir?"
"To the club." Jett had some things to prepare in anticipation of Mandy's visit and he didn't doubt for one moment that she would come to see him, one way or the other. He was a patient man and he knew in his gut, she was more than worth the wait.
Two
"FOCUS MANDY! Your level of discipline and drive are all over the place today!" Master Yang yelled at the top of his lungs. Mandy was the best and most driven student he'd taught to date minus one other and was the fiercest female fighter he'd ever had. He hit her over the back three times with a cane for her insolence.
That cane had corrected her focus and been her savior more times than she cared to count. It did so once again as her mind sharpened and focused on the workout at hand. Everything else faded away into background noise. The next cane strike she caught in midair and growled like a lioness, "Enough Master Yang!"
"Welcome back, little predator. Shall we finally begin our training in earnest now?"
"Yes, Master Yang!" Mandy yelled and for the next four hours straight she worked on pre-emptive counter attacks and strikes to the eyes, throat, face, solar plexus, groin, ribs, knee, foot, instep and fingers for maximum effectiveness in neutralizing her opponent as quickly as possible while searching for possible escape routes. Her master worked her doubly hard for her insolence at the beginning of their workout. The sweat was pouring off of her by the end of their workout. She bowed to her master at the conclusion of the session.
"Do not allow your mind to travel elsewhere while in my dojo, student Mandy. Is that perfectly understood?" Her master scolded one last time.
"It will never happen again, Master Yang. I can assure you of that."
"Good. We still have at least four more workouts until you graduate, a master of Krav Maga yourself, if you keep going at the same pace. Stay driven and focused my student and you will become a master in short order."
Mandy bowed again then left the mats to go and shower. When she was done, she left and drove home to her condo. Grateful for her exhausted state, she changed and crawled straight into bed falling fast asleep, ready to do it all over again the next day. She said a silent prayer as she drifted off to sleep, asking for just one peaceful and dreamless night of sleep.
Instead of her wish being answered, she had erotic and kinky dreams with Jett Damian as the man player in all of them. Jett Damian and his too perfect face with its one day old sexy stubble and that heavenly, athletic and very muscular build of his that filled out his clothes quite nicely. Her mind filled in the blanks for the areas of his body that had been covered when she saw him at the bookstore.
She awoke for a brief moment covered in sweat, her body humming with need and desire. She wondered if Jett's body was as beautiful and as sculpted as it was in her fantasies or if it was perhaps, even better.
Falling back to sleep, Jett once again consumed her dreams in various ways. He devoured her in her bed, driving her to the brink of ecstasy, only to stop and leave her begging for more. In another, he was the root of all evil come to destroy her safe, routine and very controlled life.
When Mandy awoke the next morning, she felt as if Jett really had been in her bedroom. Her fantasies had been incredibly realistic and vivid. She could swear, she really had multiple orgasms the night before. She never felt as relaxed as she did that morning. "I don't even know him and already he is haunting my mind, body and even my fantasies." She grumbled angrily under her breath while taking a shower. Why was this one man consuming her thoughts? She tried to force all thoughts of Jett Damian right out of her head. Shit! She had enough problems of her own without adding one too-hot-to-handle man and a ton of sexual frustration into the mix! Not to mention, she refused to allow anything to mess up her Krav Maga training! She'd worked too damn hard for the last four years to reach master status to have one let Jett Damian ruin it for her.
<
br /> "Dammit! Stay out of my head, you arrogant, conceited asshole!" She yelled in a growl while she finished putting on her running clothes and shoes. She stomped her way into the hallway, ready to leave and go for her run and find some peace of mind when she smacked right into Nicole.
"More bad dreams about David, sweetie?" Nicole asked, worried her best friend was going to crack if she did not find a way to let everything go and move on with her life. She bottled way too much up inside. What Mandy really needs is someone brave enough to crack through her impenetrable outer shell open, before she explodes her in a way she can't return from.
"Not this time! That––damn Jett Damian put a curse on me! Forced me to fantasize about him all night long with no real sleep! I swear if I see him again, I will break the cardinal rule and use my Krav Maga training to kick his ass all the way to hell and back!" Mandy yelled and stomped right out of the front door ran down the fire escape stairs leaving Nicole with her mouth hanging open.
"Well, I'll be damned! He did a whole lot more than get under her skin. Perhaps he is the perfect one for her after all. I know one thing for sure, I would pay handsomely to watch her beat his fine ass!" Nicole said aloud to herself and laughed at the image that came to mind. She went back to her bedroom to get ready for another day of work.
Mandy and pushed herself as hard as she could on her run, as if she could outrun her thoughts of the mysterious and handsome Jett Damian. But no matter how hard she pushed her body physically, she couldn't seem to outrun her mind or the fantasies starring Jett. Things had just gotten a great deal more complicated without her permission. She really did not need this crap, mind-blowing fantasies or not. She was going to steer clear of Jett Damian and that was that. She decided she would send his cards back. Yes, that would get the message of complete disinterest across quite well.
His Every Fantasy Page 2
