by Lisabet Sarai, Amy Armstrong, Sam Crescent, Cheryl Dragon, Tanith Davenport
Shaundra came down the aisle like a runway model, towering heels and short skirt with a cascading train, but the look she gave Andrew as she reached the altar was pure adoration, and Jade smiled to see them.
Piper insisted on walking alongside Jade, a vision of ivory and pearl next to Jade’s teal green. She was the picture of cool control, but as she held Jade’s arm a tremor communicated between them—Jade squeezed her hand in sympathy.
Even with all three together, the nerves were there, but there was no need.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the officiant announced warmly, and Jade inwardly cheered as all three couples kissed. After a few moments she diplomatically turned her head away, looking back at the sole guest at the back of the room.
Will.
He smiled, looked her up and down, then gave an approving nod and a wink. Jade bit back a laugh. Glad he likes this outfit, anyway.
The one thing she had held firm on was that Will should not see her dress before the day. Will had graciously bowed to this request, possibly because Jade had worded it politely and addressed him as ‘sir’, but more likely because she had been on her knees at the time.
The dress was one-shouldered, close-fitting ivory silk, worn with a diamond-threaded mantilla veil and gold heels. If Will liked her bridesmaid’s dress, he was bound to love her wedding gown—but that could wait until the big day.
The thought made her stomach catch. So little time to get used to it. So little time before she would be calling herself Jade Vandenmeer.
And yet she knew, instinctively, that she had made the right choice.
* * * *
Jade closed her eyes for a moment as the elevator doors opened, breathing in the familiar, welcome scent that always greeted her on the top floor of the Bellagio.
They had arrived back yesterday after three weeks in New York City. Despite the glinting jewel on her finger, Jade had found herself floundering in first-date nerves. What had happened in Vegas could have stayed in Vegas, but back in New York things were suddenly very real—and just a little unnerving. She had pulled Will aside immediately after they got off the plane and insisted on dating him properly for the few weeks they had.
I refuse to be carried away by wedding planning and amazing sex. I need to know you outside of that—I need to know I’m right about you.
And Will had agreed.
Their first official date had been at the Sanctuary. Jade had raised an eyebrow at this, but Will had explained his reasoning—security. Having a recognisable face, the last thing he wanted on a date—especially a first date—was to have a camera or microphone shoved into it. The Sanctuary was a safe haven in more ways than one.
It also served very good food. Over a bottle of champagne and a bowl of squid ink pasta, Jade had admired the surroundings and bantered back and forth with Will about anything and everything.
Will was—entertaining. Fun. Intense. He was passionate about his work, yet never took business calls at dinner. His eyes would light up whenever she hit on a topic he was interested in, and their conversation would flash and glow for hours, hopping from one point to another, never getting dull.
He had been fascinated to hear about her own career.
“So what do you do for a living? I don’t think you ever said.”
“I’m an EFL teacher. I spent a year teaching in Japan.”
“Wow. That’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.”
“Seriously? You’ve never been to Japan?” Somehow Jade had assumed that every rich businessman would have been there.
“Nope. One of many places, actually. We’ll have to go sometime.”
He had even suggested it for their honeymoon, but Jade had managed to strike a compromise. They had booked one week in Tokyo and one on a beach in Thailand.
After three packed weeks of private restaurants, wedding planning and nights spent in Will’s apartment—which Jade had been unsurprised to discover was a penthouse at the top of an extremely expensive skyscraper—they were back in Las Vegas for their wedding. The previous night Will had arranged a helicopter flight out to the Grand Canyon for a candlelit dinner, something Jade had known was possible—Leonie had found it in one of her Vegas wedding brochures—but had never expected to experience.
“This is the most amazing place I have ever seen.”
Will had smiled lazily from the other side of the table, a forkful of shrimp risotto halfway to his mouth. “There are so many places I want to show you.”
And there were so many things, and places, Jade wanted to be shown.
Now Will stepped behind Jade and unfastened her emerald necklace, dropping it into his pocket. Jade said nothing, recognising what this meant.
The collar.
It was in its box on her bedside table. As they entered the room, Will closed and locked the door while Jade retrieved the sparkling band of leather, sweeping her hair aside to bare her throat for him.
“Good,” was Will’s only comment. His breath tickled the nape of her neck as the collar brushed her skin, and Jade shivered as he unzipped her dress and unfastened her bra. “Strip for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
She slid the dress over her arms, letting it drop to the floor along with her bra. As she untied the sides of her panties, Will moved to stand in front of her, holding out his hand, which was filled with gold chain.
“Step out of those and stand still.” He flashed her a wicked smile. “I’m going to decorate you.”
The gold glinted in the light. Will lifted a section of chain with small jewels dangling from the links and fastened one end to her nipple with a clamp, making Jade gasp. She forced herself to remain still as Will attached the other end, catching his eye as he looked up to see her reaction.
“It gets even better. Part your legs for me.”
A second section of chain hung from the centre of the first, also ending in a clamp. Jade bit her lip as she realised where this would go, even as she obeyed his command.
“Do you need to stop?” His fingers were already spreading her lips.
“No—oh!”
Will had attached the third clamp to her clit while she was distracted. Before Jade could catch her breath, he caught hold of her hips and turned her to face one of the chairs, which had been moved to present its back to her.
“Bend over the chair.”
Jade gripped the seat, arching her back to present her ass to him. The movement tugged on the clamps and she moaned, her knees weakening.
His hand caressed her rump for a moment, then disappeared. “Count for me.”
At the first blow, all three clamps jolted and Jade cried out. She forced the number out through clenched teeth, resting her forehead on the seat back.
“Good.”
“Two!” Another jolt, and Jade bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood. At this rate, she wouldn’t last until the end of the spanking.
Which, of course, might be what he wanted.
At the sixth blow, she heard a shuffling behind her and prepared herself for Will’s entry. Seconds later his cock slid inside her to the hilt. Jade groaned at the scratch of his hair against her tender skin.
“Come when you’re ready,” he growled, his mouth close to her ear. “I want you to lose control.”
He thrust inside her again, hard, and Jade gasped as the clamps tugged on her clit. Could she even come with it attached? But Will was ahead of her, and as she clung to the chair, moaning as every movement rocked her body, she felt his hand snake around her hip and unclip the lower clamp, leaving the others in place. Instantly Jade cried out as the orgasm rippled outwards from her clit, sending her into convulsions.
“Oh God!”
Another, harder, thrust and Will’s arms tightened around her as he groaned, shuddering against her.
It was all Jade could do to reach the bed, where she collapsed beside him, dropping the nipple clamps on the bedside table.
She would definitely be asking to wear them agai
n.
* * * *
There was a knock at the bedroom door.
“Mr Vandenmeer, sir?”
“What is it?” Will stirred, his voice drowsy.
“Just thought you’d want to know there’s been a suspicious call to reception, sir. They think it was a reporter. We’re stepping up security in case they try to get in the room, sir.”
Will raised himself up on his elbows. “Good work, Matt.”
“Thanks, sir.” There was the sound of footsteps walking away.
“Reporters.” Jade’s stomach sank. She could already see the headlines, and none of them were flattering.
“Relax.” Will reached across and squeezed her hand. “They’re not getting in here.”
“They know you’re at the Bellagio. It doesn’t take much to guess you’re in the Penthouse Suite.”
“Unless they scale the wall, they’re not getting past Bryn and Matt. Anyway, don’t worry. We’re not that interesting. Vandenmeer Hotels might be well known, but I’m not Brad Pitt.”
Jade opened her mouth to say “Shame,” then decided against it. However, Will noticed and grabbed her round the waist.
“You were going to say ‘pity’, weren’t you?”
“Me? Never.”
“Do I have to remind you who you belong to, Miss Bleecker?” Will rolled himself on top of her, pinning her arms above her head.
“I think, Mr Vandenmeer,” Jade retorted, “that I have that down already.”
“Oh yes? Shall I discipline you, then?”
His cock hardened against her thigh, and her answer was swallowed up in a moan. Will looked down at her, his eyes momentarily intense before they softened.
“You sure you’re ready for all this, Jade?”
Am I?
She already knew. It made no sense, and yet it made all the sense in the world. Jade smiled up at him.
“I was born ready.”
“Good,” Will told her, and entered her in one thrust.
About the Author
Tanith Davenport has been writing for ten years and first got into erotic romance through the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writer’s Scheme. Besides writing, her first loves are rock music and travel. She lives in Yorkshire with her long-suffering husband and cat.
Email: [email protected]
Tanith loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Tanith Davenport
The Hand He Dealt
Haunted By You: I Heard Your Voice
WORKING FOR HIM
Willa Edwards
Dedication
For my mother, without whom this book would never have been written. Thank you for all you do for me. Your support means more to me than I can ever express.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Montblanc: Montblanc International GmbH
Chapter One
“Merlot, please,” Serena ordered from the bartender, handing him the single paper ticket parcelled out so no one got drunk on the company dime. From the animated conversations around her, a few had already done so at their own expense at the hotel bar.
The Vertical Aeronautics annual all-people meeting had got off to the same start as last year, reminding Serena why she’d chosen to become an engineer. She’d much rather spend the day with gears and equations than people. Plus it was the closest she could get to flying, due to her horrible vision and flat feet.
Subtly, she looked down at her watch, trying to gauge how much longer she had to stand around the banquet hall and make nice with the other employees. The day had already been a long one, and the night continued to drone on. All she wanted to do was get out of this uncomfortable suit and too-tight shoes and relax for what remained of the evening.
“Ms Carter, how are you doing tonight?”
Serena turned and smiled at the man who’d slid up to the bar beside her, even though her cheeks were already tired from so many forced smiles today. “I’m doing well, Larry, how are you?”
He nodded. “Good, good.” He smiled at the bartender and ordered a whisky sour. “Though my department didn’t perform quite as well as yours did last year.”
Serena nodded. “Thank you. We were very lucky.”
Luck had nothing to do with it. It was damn hard work to keep her staff motivated, most of them still begrudging that she’d got the promotion to vice president over many of the more senior team members. But she’d learned long ago that modesty worked better at these work functions than the truth.
“I hope we’re so lucky next year.”
Serena smiled and took another sip of her drink. Sure he did. But that would require him to get off his ass and spend less time between his secretary’s legs. “I hope so, too.”
“How are you liking the conference this year?” Larry continued talking, and Serena fought back a groan at being forced to continue with such pleasantries. How does he not get the hint? “The food’s not as good as last year, but I’m enjoying the location. Vegas is a fun time.”
She smiled, wondering exactly what kind of good time he was having in Vegas. “It’s nice to travel somewhere warmer this time of year, but Vegas isn’t my kind of town. Too much activity, too many lights.” Too many co-workers.
“You just haven’t seen the city yet. Let me show you around, give you a tour of the casinos.” Larry moved a fraction closer to her along the bar, and against her will the corners of her mouth drooped into a frown. “Play a few games of craps, and you’ll be singing a different tune in no time.”
“I’m not much of a gambler.” Serena tried her best to ease back without showing it. Maybe the stink of liquor on his breath will help with his perceptions.
“We’ll play slots then. That’s not really gambling.” As he spoke, Larry’s eyes drifted down to her chest. He was far from the first to sneak such a peek today. Even beneath her conservative blouse and knee-length skirt, she still received quite a bit of attention from her male colleagues. Maybe because they came into contact with so few other women in the rest of their lives.
“Good to see someone’s enjoying the bar.”
Serena looked over to her side, where the dark husky voice had emanated from. Richard Barrett stood beside her with his own pleasant forced smile. He looked every bit the powerful playboy billionaire in his perfectly tailored black suit. He’d left the top two buttons of his shirt undone, allowing his collar to gape a bit and display a hard chest and thick dark hair. Serena’s mouth watered at the small peek.
The kid behind the bar didn’t need to know he was the CEO to realise this man was powerful—everything about him portrayed it. His hard, muscular body, his stance, the look in his eye. The bartender didn’t even ask him for one of the stupid drink tickets, he just filled the glass quickly and handed it over.
“Mr Barrett.” Larry immediately snapped to attention, standing a bit straighter and shifting his eyes away from her breasts.
“Mr Thompson.” He nodded to the man. “Ms Carter.” He nodded towards her, a slight curve in his lips as he said her name. He stared back at them with those piercing dark eyes that could make even the most seasoned businessman sign over his company, home and wife if Richard Barrett asked for it.
“Are you enjoying the meeting?”
“Very much, sir,” she responded, a little too quickly.
“Yes, the location is great,” Larry continued, filling in the awkward gap. “I was just telling Ms Carter, since we’re in Vegas, she should at least play a few slots and have a little bit of fun.”
Mr Barrett shifted his gaze to her, and her heart picked up speed. There was something about this man, something about the power and the determination in his eyes, that always called to a very deep part of her, a part she kept hidden from t
he rest of the world. The submissive part of her.
Pinned beneath his laser stare, unable to hide any of herself from him, Serena shifted uncomfortably. Her stomach fluttered and she pressed her thighs together in the hopes of keeping the throb between her legs at bay. The hum had her panties wet and the impulse to press her face into his chest and breathe in his musky male smell sounding like a great idea, even in front of the entire company.
“What do you think, Ms Carter? Are you inclined to play the slots?”
She looked up at him, blinking through her lashes. “No, Mr Barrett. That’s not the kind of play I enjoy.”
His eyes darkened a bit at the breathy quality of her voice, exactly the reaction she’d been aiming for. His hand slid along the bar next to her, his fingers bumped against hers. Just the briefest touch, but it still set her heart bounding. She knew all too well what amazing things he could do with those big hands. How rough and how gentle he could be, all at the same time.
His fingers moved back, leaving behind a plastic key card. His room key. She reached out, quickly enveloping the flat plastic beneath her shaky fingers before Larry or the bartender could notice the discarded key. Her entire body heated with the touch of the card. It had been another long year, a year of waiting, of dreaming, and now he was here. She’d once again be in his bed, beneath those firm hands.
She cast her eyes up to meet his. His dark gaze focused on her, pinning her beneath his stare. She gripped the bar for support. Her ears buzzed and her stomach knotted. She could drown in those eyes, be taken over, conquered by him, and never complain for a second.
The corner of his mouth turned up, a motion so small anyone not focused on him would never have seen it. He knew what hold he had over her. And he liked it.
