by Alexia Praks
Andy cupped my face. “Mia, stop it.”
I lifted my gaze. “But I can’t help myself.”
Andy squeezed my shoulders tight. “I know it’s hard. I know you haven’t met many men, so of course you’d fall for him. He has money. He’s good-looking. He’s kind to you. You’ve spent a lot of your time with him.”
I nodded, knowing where his argument was coming from. Yes, it was true I hadn’t met many men. Yes, it was also true James was indeed wealthy, good-looking, and kind to me. And yes, the majority of my time so far was with him. Not to mention the crazy, amazing sex we had.
“It’s only natural a girl would fall for that type of man,” Andy said. “You’re a bit confused at the moment. I know because I was confused as well.”
I frowned. “You were? With Matt?”
He nodded. “It was one hell of a misery for me.” He sighed. “Fact is I’m still unsure where Matt and I are going.”
“So…” I began, feeling a little like he was the wiser one between us in the romance department. “What happened? What did you do?”
“To clear my head?” He chuckled.
I nodded furiously.
“I distanced myself,” he replied. “Actually, more like I ran away. I decided I didn’t want to see his face.”
I nodded in understanding. Perhaps I needed to distance myself from James, too? To clear my head, so to speak?
I glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed it was getter closer to three in the afternoon now.
“I better get going,” I said.
Andy nodded.
“Mia,” he called out as I was about to depart.
“Yes?” I asked at the door.
He paused for a moment, as if he were considering his words carefully. “You’re young. Maybe it’s just infatuation.”
I nodded. “I know,” I said. “Don’t worry. I won’t do anything stupid.”
He smiled. “See you tomorrow, then.”
I waved and then left him.
As I was walking toward the lift, my cell dinged, informing me I had a message. Curious as to who it was, I quickly checked it.
The moment I saw James’s name on the screen, I smiled in delight. I scanned through the message and felt my heart quickened. As per usual, James was straight to the point, and of course, exuded a sense of demand, even in text message form.
We’re going out tonight. Wear something nice. Be ready by seven. See you soon.
James.
After placing my cell phone back into my satchel, I headed into the elevator, all the while wondering where he’d be taking me for dinner this time. I do hope it was a restaurant where they had pasta. Thinking about food made my tummy grumbled, and instantly, I couldn’t wait to have afternoon tea with Savanah.
Chapter 23
James
The moment James Maxwell closed the door of their hotel suite behind him, his eyes shifted over and came to rest on his mistress Mia Donovan. His gaze marveled at the slender form that never ceased to fascinate him. Tonight, she wore a sexy cocktail dress made of silk and lace, which hugged her willowy body seductively, showing off her small waist and slender curves. With her hair fashioned up into a loose bun atop her head, she looked alluring, and James was more drawn to her than usual.
Standing there near the door, his features broodingly dark and an arrogant smirk playing about his lips, he eyed the lacy material of the dress. His mind instantly went into a frenzy of wild imagination about how he’d rip that beautifully offensive thing from his mistress’s body. Fuck! He had been imagining that since he had laid eyes on her earlier this evening when he had come to pick her up for dinner.
He had told her via text messages to wear something nice, and indeed, this was fucking nice. Enticing, in fact.
Mia turned to look at him then, as if she could sense him watching her. She gave him a tentative smile, a sort of invitation that James didn’t miss.
Sparks coursed aggressively throughout his body, and James had to tell himself to calm down. He had to tell his cock to calm down and not spring into arousal at the slightest hint of a smile from that innocent beauty.
He’d have her soon enough. There was no rush.
He relaxed his body as he stood there staring at her, the woman who, unbeknownst to him, had meekly waltzed into his life and tenderly changed him, capturing and imprisoning his heart within her hands.
Mia licked her lips and said, “Thanks for the other day by the way.”
She paused, and James waited for her to go further, because he knew there was more.
“I didn’t know what came over me. I won’t do it again… Crying in front of you I mean.”
Bright red creeped across her cheeks as she cast her eyes from his intense stare.
James cocked his head to one side at her statement. He knew she was talking about the other day when they had been on the rooftop of the hospital after she had witness what he assumed was Matt’s love confession to Andy. Instantly, the images of that morning flashed in his mind, and he felt something akin to longing and love flourishing within his heart.
Fuck! What the hell is that?
Once again, it came. The dainty aroma of her frangipani scent. The feathery brushes of her hair against his chin as she rested her head against his chest while she was sobbing. The enticing softness of her body intimately pressed to him as he embraced her. She had felt right in his arms, as if she belonged there.
The embrace had felt so fucking natural, in fact, that it scared the living daylights out of him. But of course, James was a man who was used to being in control. He was a man on top of his world; thus, he was able to constraint his emotions successfully and pretend this lovey-dovey stuff didn’t affect him… couldn’t affect him.
He wasn’t the type of man who allowed his emotions to rule his head. After what he’d gone through… After what Whitney had done to him… Twisting his unconditional love to suit her selfishness. He would never allow his emotions to rule his mind and cloud his judgement ever again.
Fact was James only reserved that type of unconditional love for his daughter Aria. And of course, the unconditional loyalty and affection toward his immediate family, especially his brothers.
As for Mia Donovan? Yes. He definitely had great affection for her. He doted on her. But love?
He immediately dismissed the thought from his mind and came to sit on the couch. He made himself comfortable and crossed one leg over the other as he leaned back against the leather. Sitting there in that dominating position in his three-piece suit, he was powerful, highly dangerous, and fucking sexy.
“Strip for me, Mia,” he demanded, his tone deep and hard with an intense erotic edge.
The moment he made the command, Mia swallowed nervously. She tentatively licked her lips again and asked, her voice soft and barely above a whisper, “Are we doing it?”
“Yes,” came his blunt reply. “Are you not up to it tonight?”
She quickly shook her head. “That’s not it,” she said. “But you could have told me it’s more of a routine of sorts, this sex thing between us. It’s like almost every night, isn’t it? Is it even normal to have so much sex?”
That made him smile with amusement. “It’s normal where I’m concerned.”
She twisted her lips at his statement. “Then I don’t think you’re normal, James.”
He laughed, which made her scowl at him. Fuck, he thought, she’s cute when she frowns.
James said, once he had managed to calm his laughter, “I don’t want to be a normal man where you’re concerned, Mia. Don’t you think I’m special to you?”
She thought about his query for a moment, and then, as if she reached some sort of conclusion, she slowly nodded. “I definitely think you’re special, James. Fact is you’re so different from anyone I’ve ever met. I mean, not that I’ve met many people. I mean, my world is so small and also completely different from yours, so…”
James wondered how much longer she was going to cont
inue rambling on about how different their worlds were in order to stall for time. Since he had first started making love to her, she had always been like this. Reluctant. Resistant. Scared. Of course, that was only at first. Once they got going, however, that was a different story.
Once they got going, she became this wild, sexy Mia he fucking loved. Not that her fear and her resistance had ever stopped him from wanting her. He’d never been the sort of man who’d stop pursuing what he desired—most of all not where Mia Donovan was concerned.
“Come here, Mia,” he instructed softly. There was a note of impatience in his voice she didn’t miss. “If you don’t take that dress off yourself, I’ll do it.”
Mia glanced down at herself and then eyed him with suspicion. “No thank you,” she said. “You’ll destroy this lovely dress. I won’t allow it.”
He chuckled. “If you like it that much, I won’t ruin it,” he said. “I promise.”
She pulled a face, as if she didn’t believe his words. “For sure?” she asked.
He nodded. “For sure. Now come here,” he commanded again.
Tentatively, she stepped toward him. Once in front of him, she stopped and stood right between his knees. James uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. He rested his face between her breasts and inhaled her scent. Instantly, his cock stirred to life and hardened accordingly, stretching against the constraints of his pants.
“You smell wonderful,” he said. “You’re ready for me. Your body begs for a fucking.”
Mia rested her hands on his powerful shoulders, and James could tell she was shaking from his suggestive, erotic words. It pleased him his blunt, harsh sexual talk turned her on, and he smiled in satisfaction.
“I’m so not ready for you, Mr. Maxwell,” she stated haughtily, her head held high, her eyes on him. “You overestimate yourself, you arrogant man.”
He gazed up at her, his eyes intense and dark. She never ceased to interest him, this young woman who knew so little about his dark and dangerous world. Her words always stirred him, be it with amusement or surprise or even something deeper that twisted and played with his emotions.
He slammed the last thoughts from going any further and retorted playfully, “Shall we see how right I am?” He roved his eyes down her body lustfully to the V between her legs, where he knew her exotic smell of honey and cream originated.
This made her blush profusely, and Mia said quickly, “What are you doing?”
James chuckled. “Searching for the evidence,” he said as his hand impishly and gently caressed her thighs.
Mia groaned in response. She managed to control herself from losing to him so soon, however, and snapped, “James! No!”
Ignoring her protest, he lifted her skirt to her waist. Before him, he gazed at the beautiful sight—long limbs and sexy, lacy panties.
Mia shoved at his shoulders to get his attention. When he still ignored her, she slapped his hand to let go of her skirt. This only made him laugh darkly; hence, he pulled her against him, causing her to land on his lap.
James caught her against him, and he palmed her, pressing his warm hand against her soft, sensitive flesh. Slowly, he smiled with satisfaction.
“There, all wet,” he said in triumph, his breath hot on her skin.
Mia made a move to escape, but James wouldn’t let her. He wrapped his arm around her waist, imprisoning her. Then he started stroking her, which made her groan.
“Ahh…” she cried out softly. “James, please…”
He raised his head as his stroking became faster and harder, torturing her into a frenzy of heat, his fingers against her lacy panties that were now soaking wet. As she continued to cry out in pleasured agony, he slipped his fingers across the string of her panties and pulled the obstructive material down her thighs. Then he wildly and aggressively ravished her, inserting his finger into her and torturing her—rolling, pressuring, and pinching her sensitive flesh.
“Mmm…” he moaned. “You really are a naughty girl, Mia. Your pussy is so fucking wet, and it’s sucking in my finger. You’re so eager.” He teased darkly. “And you said you’re not ready for me? You need to be punished.”
Mia bit her lip at his dark, seductive words. She clutched onto him for dear life as her body shuddered vigorously under his erogenous torture. “James… You’re so mean. What did I do…?”
He increased his torment of her by thrusting his finger deeper, feeling the thickness and heat of her juices.
Mia cried out, her breathing sharp and short, her chest heaving. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were dazed and shimmering with the intense sexual arousal.
“Ahh… Ja-James…” she managed between short breaths. “What… what did I do to anger you?”
The moment she asked, realization hit him straight in the gut. What could have caused his emotions to be this volatile tonight? Had her actions in the previous twenty-four hours struck something deep in his core in some way?
Fuck! Hell if he knew. All he knew was he wanted to sexually punish Mia Donovan. All he knew was he wanted to control her and her body, molesting her and fucking her. He wanted to savor the enjoyment of watching her lewd body obey his every command, to taste the power of making her come while his rock-hard cock was deep inside her, brutally ravishing her as she cried out his name, asking for more… begging for more.
Mia clutched him for dear life, her body shuddering and squirming in delirium while her face buried against his shoulder, as he began to stir his finger furiously inside her. She cried out in pleasured agony. “Hmm… Ahh…”
Fuck. James loved it. He loved seeing her this way. Weak. Under his influence. Sexually aroused.
“That’s my girl,” he said as he thrust his finger harder and faster, going deeper.
“Mmm…” she groaned. “Hmm…”
When he finally pulled his hand away from her, terminating his bellicose foreplay, she was dazed and fully ready for him. She was weak, wet, and her core burned feverishly for him to ravish her in every way he desired.
James kissed her forehead as Mia gazed at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright.
“You’re so mean today, James,” she said softly.
“Seeing you so responsive brings out the aggressiveness in me,” he said tenderly as he unzipped her dress in the back. He pulled the material down her shoulders to her waist, exposing her naked body to the cool night air.
James’s eyes immediately flew to Mia’s fully aroused breasts. He licked his lips at the thought of torturing those rosy pink buds, now beautifully flourished and hard like newly polished marbles, ready for play.
His hand eagerly cupped one and began to manipulate the sensitive flesh, squeezing the breast hard in his hand, torturing it until it became almost unbearably painful for Mia.
“James…” Mia groaned. “Please… it’s sore.”
James flicked his eyes to his mistress. Noting she meant what she said, he eased his harsh treatment, though it didn’t dampen his desire.
“I’ll make you feel better,” he said.
Mia watched him, wondering what he could possibly do to ease the pain he so brutally enjoyed giving.
James leaned forward, stuck his tongue out, and then licked her nipple. Mia gasped in surprise and then groaned as the heat and wetness of his tongue touched her sensitive bud, soothing the intense agony. Then he popped her nipple into his mouth and began to slowly and seductively pleasure it—rolling, kissing, and sucking.
Mia clutched to him as sensational pleasure coursed through her body, which made her head spin with wonderful delight. Once he was done with one, he switched his attention to the other and began to give it the same wanton treatment.
Mia groaned and cried out, clutching his head in her arms and burying his face against her breasts, encouraging him to continue.
When finally James moved his head back, she wanted nothing more than to be filled with his cock deep inside her.
James understood and chuckled with amusement. He move his he
ad and took her lips in a scorching kiss, his tongue wild and passionate in her mouth, exploring and tasting her, teasing and stroking until she was breathless and mindless.
When he terminated their uninhibited kiss, Mia was dazed and her whole being shaky from the not-so-new experience.
James marveled at the sight. He caressed her cheek; his chest filled to the brim with both pride and affection. Fuck, he couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and kissed her lips once again. This time, though, gently and softly, careful not to hurt her already sore lips.
Mia calmed and breathed evenly again, sighing in wonder as James trailed kisses down her throat. Then he moved back up to her ear and whispered hotly, “My treat. You take control this time around.” He smiled darkly. “But after that, it’s my turn.”
Mia swallowed and mindlessly nodded as if she had been enchanted by his dark charm. Her body once again was shaking like a leaf in a storm at the prospect of riding him, of being in the dominant position, the one to take control. Truth be told, she was both scared and fascinated, and she licked her lips in anticipation.
James guided her into position on his lap. Then he unzipped his pants and out sprang his aroused cock, prominent and ready for action.
Mia stared at it for a bit too long, and James couldn’t control himself. He took initiative by lifting her and guiding her down on him, allowing his cock to burrow itself deep into her hot, wet pussy, filling her completely.
His body tensed the moment he was enveloped within her heat, and a satisfying groan escaped his lips.
Mia groaned, too, in delightful pleasure. Then she began to move, tentatively at first and then more confident, faster.
“James?” she whispered. “Am I doing it right?” she asked, her voice shaky and weak.
His hand firm about her small waist and his eyes on her face, he said, “You’re doing fine, sweetheart. Keep moving.”
Mia nodded in understanding and kept her body moving in a smooth pace. In response, the thrilling sensations of sex coursed throughout her whole being, making her feel so wonderful she was mindless.
