by Alice Ward
“Goodbye.”
“I didn’t think you’d mind so much,” I said, my eyes aiming at my feet.
“I wouldn’t have let you go,” he said, pulling me gently by the arm toward him.
I didn’t fight it. My body fell limp into his as his embrace tightened around me. My heart was racing, blood pumping fast through my veins at the thrill of his touch. His baby blue eyes stared into mine, piercing through me like daggers as his lips parted and moved closer.
My eyes closed as our mouths met. The touch of his lips tingled against mine, sending bolts of electricity through my system. His tongue teased me, slowly tracing the corners of my mouth, then sliding under my top lip. My hands gripped into his flesh as I tiptoed to kiss him back.
His strong hands consumed my ass cheeks, lifting me from the floor toward him. His erection pushed into me, threatening me with the sweet ecstasy I thought I’d never experience again. I wanted him so badly. I needed him.
“My parents,” I whispered, motioning to the open bedroom door.
His smile was wickedly sexy as he loosened his embrace and moved in its direction. He shut it, turning the lock, and then looked back at me with only desire and intent. “Your parents took off for a while.” He smirked. “Dinner, I believe.”
I didn’t know how he knew that, and at the moment, I didn’t care. I felt empty, alone, and cold without him pressed against me.
I quivered with anticipation and excitement as he moved toward me once again. He moved the suitcase from the bed to the floor, then grabbed me by the small of my waist. My feet lifted off the floor, and suddenly, I was flat on my back on the rickety bed. “We may break it,” I laughed.
“Then I’ll buy you a new one,” he said, apparently not interested in any excuses.
His mouth touched mine, our tongues sliding together as my body squirmed beneath him. My hands caressed his smooth back, his tight ass, and the ripples in his arms. I couldn’t get enough of him.
My shirt pushed up around my shoulders as Todd’s mouth claimed my exposed breasts. Oh God, I missed his touch. Soft grazes of his teeth against my hardened nipple sent chills down my spine and moans rushing from my throat. A soft hum escaped his lips as they traveled lower on my body, resting briefly on my belly button while his hands worked my jeans open and down my legs.
I relaxed, lifting my ass to allow him easy removal of the denim blocking my pleasure. As the jeans and panties fell to the floor, I opened my legs, inviting his mouth to tease me any way he wished.
My toes curled as his tongue focused on only my inner thighs. His breath was warm and sensual as he passed over my clit, his tongue torturous as it barely teased my swollen flesh.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I was tight, aching, and needing to come. I gripped his shoulders, pulling him up my body. His mouth traveled slowly, the same way it had on the way down. Soft kisses on my belly button, then swallowing as much of my right breast as possible before teasing my nipple with the gentle teeth strokes that drove me wild.
He worked at his pants as I heard his cleats hit the floor. Soon, his warm, hard cock was pressed between my legs, resting at my opening while his eyes tore into me with passion. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
Tears welled in my eyes without my consent. “I’ve missed you too,” I admitted.
In one hard stroke, he was inside me, and I gasped as my body fought to accept him. In and out, he moved, his cock pulsating with each thrust. I arched and wrapped my legs around him, lifting my hips to change the angle, crying out when he found that special spot. My nails dug into his back as he pounded into me harder, allowing my orgasm to take full flight.
I opened my eyes and watched him watch me as our bodies connected over and over. My body tightened, on the edge of pleasure when he came, taking me with him. He covered my mouth with his hand to muffle my scream.
“I love you, Kat,” he whispered, looking amused.
“Ri youv voo woo,” I mumbled from beneath his hand.
He lifted his hand from my mouth, his eyes intense as they locked onto mine. “Let’s try that again.
I licked my lips, and tried to show him with my eyes everything that was inside my heart. “I love you too,” I repeated.
As Todd’s mouth lowered to mine, my chest swelled. I’d never felt anything close to the way I felt right then. A tear escaped, then another, then more. He kissed them away. “Don’t cry,” he whispered.
“I’m just so happy,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
He held me tightly in his arms, rolling and pulling me onto his chest. I could feel his heart pounding hard as my body melted into his.
I hated to move, to get up from that tiny bed where Todd’s arms kept me safe. “Your parents should be back soon,” he said.
“How did you find me?”
He stroked my hair and told me everything. It had been him I’d seen at the New York apartment. He’d only missed me by a few minutes. Since my flight had been booked, he was forced to take the next one.
“I got here as quickly as I could.”
After a long kiss, he rolled out of bed, urging me to get dressed. Once he was, he reached deep into his pocket and pulled something out, hiding it in his closed fist. I watched as his fingers opened, revealing my sweet sixteen ring. Tears rolled from my face at the sight of my favorite piece of jewelry.
“Where did you get that?” I gasped.
“There were only two places nearby that would buy something that high-end. I figured they’d pawned it to get cash. And I figured you’d like to have it back,” he said with a smile.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him wildly all over his neck and cheeks.
“Oh and Lana is fired,” he said.
My mouth fell open at his statement. Holy shit, the witch is dead?
We sat on the bed and he told me all that had happened in Florida. I couldn’t believe how the guys had rallied against her for me, or how Rhett stood up to her in my defense. I could believe the rest. How she’d outed my dad after learning about Rhett’s help.
“You have your job back,” he said with a smile.
I was still cringing about going back there. “You don’t think that’d be weird?” I asked.
He chuckled as he shook his head. “It’d be weird if you didn’t.”
“I mean, you’re dad’s gonna be the specialty coach. It just seems to me that you should be the one out there taking those pictures.”
“What about us?” I asked.
“Rhett loves it. As long as it doesn’t interfere with either of our jobs, we can do whatever we want.”
Wow, this was so much to take in. I did love my job and knowing everyone had fought for me killed that feeling of embarrassment and shame.
“There’re no secrets now. Right?” he asked, his left eyebrow raised high on his forehead.
I laughed and felt my cheeks heat. “None.”
“I could really use you there for opening day. We’re playing the Mets, and you know how bad I want to beat them.”
I searched his eyes, trying to read his emotions. “Still salty about the trade?”
“Hell no. If they hadn’t traded me, I’d never have met you.”
His smile was electric, his eyes hypnotizing.
“Yes. I’ll do it.”
“You can stay with me if you want,” he offered, sounding hesitant as he threaded his fingers through mine.
I looked into his beautiful eyes. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Then you can stay in my mom’s house. She’s doing great where she’s at, and neither my sister nor I want to sell the place. You’d be helping us out by staying there and keeping it occupied.”
Emotion pricked the back of my eyes. Even after all I’d put him through, he was still taking care of me.
“Only if I can pay rent,” I bargained, not wanting to take advantage of his generosity. There was no way I’d ever let Todd think I wanted anything other than his heart. This was
n’t about money, it never had been.
“Of course. Anything you want. I just want you close. If this is what I think it is, if it’s what I think it will be, we can’t ignore it,” he said, pulling me back into his arms.
I sighed and held him close. This was exactly where I wanted to be, in Todd’s arms. I knew taking this leap wasn’t a risk, not at all. I had Todd Morris, the best catcher in the league to catch me as I jumped right into his arms.
THE END
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A SNEAK PEEK
LORDS OF THE CITY
THE COMPLETE SERIES
LURED - THE PREQUEL
CHAPTER ONE
Niall
“Please,” she moaned into the crimson sheets.
Please what? I thought of asking, but that question was too expected, too overused. Instead, I said nothing, allowing her to writhe and wiggle beneath my grip. Allowing her to wonder whether she pleased or disappointed me.
With her wrists locked together above her head, she couldn’t have broken away if she tried. Not that she would likely try. She was honored, after all. Lucky to have been chosen by me.
I moved the tips of my fingers away from her pulsing clit and slipped one, then two in between her glistening folds. She groaned as a third finger slipped inside, filling her completely.
“No more talking,” I commanded. “Not a word. Not even please.” I reached over towards the bedside table, meaning to grab the handcuffs there. First, I would fasten her bound hands to the bed’s headboard, nice and tight, giving her no room to move freely. Then I would make her wait, prolonging the anticipation. I’d watch her quiver while she wondered just what I would do to her, if my next touch would be gentle or rough.
I took her nipple between my teeth — rough it is — and bit down, relishing her cries, the moans, the arching of her body silently asking me to do it again. And I would, of course, appreciating the contrast of my marks against the paleness of her flesh.
When I was ready, I would feed her my cock, watching it disappear between her perfectly formed lips. Listen to her gag as I hit the back of her throat and…
“That’s entirely up to Mr. Lambert,” a gravelly male voice said.
I jerked in my seat, the faceless woman disappearing from underneath me like a mirage... which she was.
The analogy was spot on. There I was, dying of thirst — or boredom, they’re interchangeable — in the middle of the desert — or skyscraper boardroom — and the man across from me had the audacity to mention my name yet again.
The meeting should have been over half an hour ago. That mahogany and black leather furnished room should have been empty, shut down for the weekend. I should have been out the door, in a car, on my way to...
Where?
The club, I supposed. It would likely be full of typical money hungry women eager to spread their legs for a little attention. Not exactly what I wanted, but at least the place would provide an opportunity to blow off some steam.
“Mr. Lambert? Sir?”
There it was again. My name. At least the lawyer had been thoughtful enough to throw the “sir” in there.
I sucked in a sharp breath and sat up straighter, letting my heavy exhale show the table of over half a dozen men just how disappointed I was with them.
“I say,” I slowly said, steepling my fingers together, “that we’ve accomplished everything we need to. The patent is in order. Multiple governments around the globe are clamoring to be the first to purchase my wondrous device, blah, blah, blah. We’re done here.”
Greg Daniels, my square-jawed advisor, and unofficial bodyguard twitched a bit in his seat. Having been at Lambert Technologies since the day it opened, he knew me better than anyone in the room. Not that that was saying much. If anyone in the world claimed they truly knew me, they were flat out lying. The ex-Navy Seal turned computer wizard just knew when my lid was about to blow. Maybe his days in the military lent to his ability to read people well. Or perhaps it was his soaring IQ or the delicious paycheck he received each month. I didn’t really care. He knew his shit. He helped me make decisions, and he carried, but without the conspicuous air of a hired guard.
Greg loudly clapped his hands together. “Then let’s stop talking, shall we, and start celebrating. Gentlemen, a reservation is held for us at Kristopher’s, and we have two cars waiting downstairs to take us there.”
He glanced at me, looking for my approval. Inwardly, I cursed. I’d forgotten all about the reservation. With thoughts of writhing women and my favorite club Secret Door on my mind, I’d completely blanked on the celebration plans already put in place.
I pursed my lips, not caring whether or not anyone took my irritation as a personal insult. Perhaps if they did, then they would learn a lesson about speeding things up in future meetings. The bomb seeking and dismantling robot my company had been developing for years was one of the most incredible inventions in recent years. That was beyond a doubt, and soon the whole world would be privy to what we in that board room were. But that didn’t mean the whole meeting needed to be a masturbatory affair. Unlike some of the portly fellows in those plush seats, I had more than enough women clamoring to take care of my pleasure for me.
With a sharp nod, I stood. The others followed, one of the assistants scurrying forward to open the glass door for me.
My entire body jumped with electricity, the desire for flesh locked inside of me. Soon, I reminded myself, soon. First, I had to go through the evening’s motions, finish the show. After that, I would get everything I craved.
Because I always did.
CHAPTER TWO
Emma
I picked up the pace, my black work shoes pounding the pavement. Had I polished them since the last shift? I couldn’t remember. After getting off the night before, I’d fallen asleep on the couch with my chemistry book in front of me. The test was in two days.
Shit. The test is in two days.
I had way more studying to do. But when, exactly? When would I fit it in?
I paused at the corner, waiting with a gaggle of people for the light to turn. My fingers burrowed into my black pants’ pocket and found the hair tie there.
“Yes,” I hissed, making a woman nearby glance suspiciously at me.
I smiled at her. Don’t worry, I’m not a crazy person.
Pulling the hair tie out, I pulled my long waves up and into a high ponytail before tucking the ends into a bun. It was a shoddy hair job, but hopefully, it would pass. If not, my manager would sure as heck let me know the second I walked through the doors of the restaurant.
The light turned, and I booked it across the street. Late. I was going to be late. It was the last thing I could afford — literally. Rent was due next week. If I ended up getting fired, there would be no time to find another job and make the few hundred bucks I was short.
Relax, Emma. It will be okay.
I hoisted my backpack up higher onto my shoulder. It was full of books from the day’s classes and the clothes I’d changed out of in a bathroom in the Humanities building.
The facade of Kristopher’s appeared ahead, all the way at the other end of the block. A sleek black car pulled up to the curb in front of it, but I didn’t take the time to bother seeing who would get out. Kristopher’s was one of the most popular five-star restaurants in Chicago. It was a cesspool for the rich and famous. The only reason I’d stayed there this past year was because the tips couldn’t be beat. The majority of the clientele’s attitudes on the other hand? Those could definitely be improved upon. Seriously, you’d think some people’s mothers, also known as nannies in this crowd, hadn’t even bothered to teach manners.
Mothers!
Crap, my mom’s birthday was next week. Dad was throwing her a little bash in the backyard. I hadn’t given any thought to what I would get her. Assuming I could even get my butt to the suburbs for the party.
I chewed on my bottom lip and jumped over a crack in the sidewalk. My car’s battery had died the week before. The mechanic I’d talked to on the phone had suggested it was the alternator. My savvy roommate had helped me replace the battery, but I hadn’t gotten into the shop yet to get the alternator checked. Would the car be able to make a trip out of the city? Could I afford a present?
I took in a deep breath. One thing at a time. Everything would turn out all right in the end.
Hitting the tiny alley next to the restaurant, I hooked a left and headed for the staff entrance. The heavy door scraped the threshold as I stepped inside and into the kitchen. The long lines of gleaming metal tables bounced with their usual energy, the staff chopping and sautéing with verve. I hugged the wall, taking the route to the staff break room. There I dumped my bag in my assigned cubby and whirled around to join the rest of the front of house.
Chris, the night manager, hovered near the server station. His pale eyebrows shot up the second he saw me. I opened my mouth to apologize but thought better of it. The noise of the dining room creeping around the corner told me the night was already in full swing. Perhaps Chris had been too occupied to notice I was late.
“Hi,” I breathlessly said, skidding to a stop next to the drink station.
Chris’ eyes ran over my hair. I cringed, waiting for him to tell me to go and fix my bun.
“You’re just in time,” he said instead. “You just got your first table.”
I smiled wide. “Great.”
“Daniel is getting their drinks now.”
I nodded. Each front of house team consisted of a waiter, a back waiter, a sommelier, and a busser. The setup was vastly different from any other restaurant I’d worked in before, but Kristopher’s was a far cry from the breakfast diner I’d started at in high school. I’d been lucky to get a job at a fine dining establishment at all. The tips more than paid my bills. They were paying my way through nursing school.
