Well, mostly as a team. Jett and I argued some over leaving the kids with our parents now and then. I was against it. I already felt guilty about Jasmine and Jake and how we had never gotten to develop that special bond with them that we’d had with Josh. I wasn’t about to start shipping them all off to the grandparents.
So I was stuck. I didn’t want to work because that would take away from the kids. I didn’t want to go out alone with Jett because that would also take away from the kids. So life revolved around home and my family.
Only Jett pointed out the day of Jake’s third birthday that life wasn’t revolving around the family, to which I wholeheartedly disagreed. He pointed out that my life was only revolving around the kids. Our marriage was left out of that. He was left out of that. And he took responsibility for his part in that too.
As the husband, it was up to him to monitor the mommy situation at all times and direct me accordingly. He’d let the sex go. He’d let the affection go. He’d let it all go because it was easier to be lenient than it was to take the hard road and make me be his wife too—not just the kid’s mother.
And he was right. I could see that.
I loved my husband. I didn’t want him to feel left out of anything. But what was I supposed to do about it?
I also loved my kids, and I wanted them to know that without any doubts at all. I wanted them to know they were my world.
Jett pointed out that I was his world as much as the kids were. And he was supposed to have the top spot in my world, just as I was supposed to have the top spot in his. We’d both fallen away from our core beliefs, and he took the responsibility upon himself to fix it for us all.
I was thankful for that, because even though he’d pointed out things that I agreed with, I was still one hell of a busy mom.
Things still had to be monitored—pee, naps, meals. But things were added as they got older. Josh had to be monitored on what he was looking at on his little laptop that he was only supposed to be playing learning games on.
All too often we’d find him playing violent games that were far above his age level. He’d tell us he was training for when he would become a marine and that we shouldn’t stop him. He needed to get used to seeing blood, guts, and assorted body parts. It would be his job someday.
Who were we to get in the way of the next great American War Hero?
Jasmine had to be monitored about the crayons. Our little girl was a budding artist, and when she ran out of paper, the walls became her canvas. Oh, how proud she was of her grand murals. That made it hard as hell to discipline her about coloring on the walls.
Jasmine would enter the room and take a bow. “Please, family, join me in the hallway where I shall show you my latest creation.”
Jett and I would sigh as we looked at each other. Neither of us had a clue how to discourage her from drawing on the walls while encouraging her on her art.
She was fantastic, after all. No one could make little squiggly marks like our precious daughter. In the end, we repainted often and blamed the maintenance man when she found her masterpieces had vanished into thin air. And we got her an easel to help combat her addiction.
Then there was Jake. Boy, that kid was into everything. I’d lose him so often after he began to crawl that we had to sew jingle bells into his clothes so we could track him down.
We were certain that he’d become the world champion at hide-and-go-seek.
With all the kids and all that went with them, my time was used up. Thinking about anything other than what they were up to and if their bodies were in proper working order was more than I could do.
Sex with my husband didn’t even enter my mind. There just wasn’t time for that. And he wasn’t as busy as I was, so he ended up missing sex more than I did.
When Jett came to me, making me take the time to talk to him while our parents looked after the kids after the festivities of Jake’s birthday, I was grateful.
He could’ve skirted around behind my back to get what he needed. Instead, he took the mother bear I was head-on. He let me know he was taking his wife back. However it had to happen, he wanted me back and he’d get me back.
I could still be a great mother, but he wanted me back. So he devised a plan where we’d spend a week in Oregon with other couples who liked to live the way we did. We’d explore our sexuality once more and learn some tricks of the trade from the other couples.
That might sound like a lot of fun to some. A BDSM retreat, if you will.
To me, it sounded merely okay. And the thought of leaving my kids for an entire week was like sliding bamboo shoots underneath my fingernails. I fought him as hard and long as I could about going.
I kept telling him to start out with one overnighter, then we’d go to two and move on from there. Jett wasn’t hearing it. He said I needed a clean break so I could come home and know, without a doubt, that I was his wife first and their mother second.
He and I were the heads of the household and our needs had to be met too. Without a strong union at the top, our troops would descend into chaos. And we had three teens to think about in our future. We needed to build the pyramid of power now.
No more waiting.
But it wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t happy about going back to do what the others thought would be best for me.
Jett
The light was still on in our cabin. I had a feeling our friends wouldn’t give up and leave. The women of our small group had come up with the idea when they’d seen how introverted Asia had become.
Though none of them had known her prior, they listened when I described the pre-children Asia. All of them had kids, so they understood.
I didn’t see a thing wrong with what they’d come up with. When Asia had taken off out the door, it had taken me by surprise.
She and I had participated in several things with the other couples. We’d watched some scenes and some impact training that she was really excited about trying. We’d even taken part in a power building session, where all the couples had sex in the same room at the same time. She’d taken part in that without running away.
So why would she run from something like this?
As I approached the front door, I gave her ass a smack and placed her back on her feet. I was sure to keep her between me and the door so she couldn’t get away from me.
I took her by the chin to make her look at me. “Asia, I want you to go in there and have a good time. I don’t want any more of this shy crap. We fucked in front of these people, for the love of Pete. How could this be embarrassing to you when that wasn’t?”
“I wasn’t alone.” She jutted out her jaw and crossed her arms.
“What?” I was confused.
“They want me to get in front of everyone, all alone. I don’t want to do it. Isn’t that enough for you? I don’t want to do it all alone.” She blinked rapidly as if she was about to cry.
I pulled her into my arms and rocked her. “Baby, my God, what’s happened to you?” I kissed the top of her head and looked down at her. “You’re going to laugh at yourself later when you look back at this.”
“Do you really think so?” She shook her head. “I’m scared to death, Jett. I am.”
“Baby, get in there. Take the card they give you. Act out the word and let everyone laugh with you. They’re not going to laugh at you. You’ll be having fun in no time. Being invisible isn’t nearly as great as you’re thinking it is. Hiding behind me or the kids is a thing of the past for you. It’s time to step up and be the best you that you can be. Starting with an innocent game of charades.”
I kissed her, then, and held her tight, knowing she’d get through that week and be one step closer to being back to the strong Asia she’d been before she was called Mom.
The door opened and she was greeted with hugs from her new friends. Then we went inside to play the game that would help bring my wife back to me.
The sex all week long had helped with that too. In the end, we got each other back and our
marriage remained rock solid. Our kids had ups and downs that we all got through as a family—a family with a mother and a father who loved each other so much, they’d do anything to keep their love strong.
And we all lived and loved happily ever after.
The End.
The Billionaire Bad Boy Club
A Billionaire Romance
Nicholai Grimm is the 28-year-old billionaire CEO of Grimm Defense & Technology.
Natasha Greenwell is the 23-year-old college student majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
One fateful night out with her roommate to a supposed fundraiser has Natasha in Nicholai’s sights.
Nicholai isn’t a man who takes no for an answer but that’s a word Natasha uses often.
In the dark world of BDSM, Nicholai tries to steer the beautiful woman into an agreement with him.
Natasha is anything but controllable. Her father, an FBI agent, taught her how to handle herself from a young age. And it is her father who has his sights on Nicholai. His plan is to uncover the shady weapons dealings he believes the company is making.
Sparks fly when both of their fathers intervene in their personal affairs. Can the couple overcome such huge adversity? Or will Nicholai’s ways be more than Natasha can handle, ending them for good? Perhaps Christmas will have a miracle in store for them…
The Brand: Part One
NATASHA
The curtain blew into the room through the screenless, third-floor window. The cool night breeze filled our little dorm suite with sweet fresh air on that Friday night. I sat on her bed, keeping my roommate, Dani, company as she curled her hair at her extravagant makeup table.
Daniella Day was a tall girl with long, dark hair and eyes. A real exotic beauty with slender curves that made men weak at the knees and do things they wouldn’t normally do. That evening she was babbling on and on about a party while I was studying for my midterms. With a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Publications, I didn’t have one easy class. I really needed to get some studying accomplished.
I was trying to tune her out, as she’d insisted on having someone around her while she got ready, in order to give her any constructive criticism necessary for her to get as close to perfect as possible, but she wasn’t taking the hint. She’d been droning on and on about the rich men who’d be at the party she was going to. Her scene was not mine, even though we were pretty good friends.
“Tasha, it’s a fundraiser for God’s sake! And I promised I’d bring another girl this time. I know this isn’t your kind of thing. But you know you need money and you’ll make money doing this. The other girl I had lined up forgot to let me in on some pertinent information about herself that excluded her from going. But I know you have everything up to date and you take care of yourself in the birth control department. Since I took you with me to our last clinic visit, I know you’re STD free so you’re a natural for this.” She plopped down on her bed, wearing a thin, pink, silk robe. I had no idea what type of skimpy get up it was covering but I knew it’d be more than a little risqué. When she donned the little robe, it meant she was headed to an exclusive place, a members’ only type of club. I’d never been to one of those places with her, despite invitations to join her almost every time she went to one of the functions. And the fact you needed to be on birth control and STD free was a definite red flag for me.
“Listen, Dani, I told you I have a paper to do. I swear I would consider it if I didn’t have midterms,” I said, looking over my reading glasses at her pouting face.
“Please, Tasha! I swear I’ll do anything to repay you for this favor.” She gave me a sly grin.
I had nothing I needed her to do for me. But I did need money. My parents had strict rules about taking care of one’s self. I was a bit short that month. The bills were coming due and I was on the verge of begging my mother for the extra money I’d need to make ends meet. That would cost me plenty. A lecture from her, then my father and I’d have to be their slave, essentially, for at least two weekends. But still, the party wasn’t gelling with me. “I don’t care, Dani.”
Thinking she was done, I returned my focus back to my laptop. Then I felt a ton of weight on me as Dani had jumped on top of me, knocking me to the side of the tiny twin bed. “I promise you’ll only be there for an hour, two at the most!” The onslaught of tickle torture began, making me giggle even though I did not find it funny in the least.
When her assault ended, I gave her a look as she had her arms wrapped around me and her leg over mine. After being pestered and wanting her to shut up, as well as needing money, I gave into her and decided to go with her to the party. There was a tiny part of me that wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I knew it had to be on the darker side of life. I had no idea how dark it was, though. I had no idea the depth of darkness it would bring out in me either.
She said it would only be two hours at the most, which would give me time to do more studying. I didn’t know what type of fundraiser it was but she gave me a red silk corset with lace inlays and a masquerade mask covered in black velvet. Tossing a pair of fishnet pantyhose and some black high heels on the bed, she meant for me to get dressed for the evening, igniting my curiosity and a spark of danger inside of me.
Instead of asking questions I’d get answers to that I’m sure would’ve made me change my mind, I just went along with it, for her, and the money, of course. Plus, my damn curiosity!
“Okay, so there are some rules,” she said as she tied up the corset in the back of the sexy, yet slutty outfit she’d made me wear.
“Rules, for what?” I asked with confusion. I wasn’t a freak by any means. The get up was one thing, I was prepared to be the men’s eye candy but nothing more than that! What else could there be?
“This is a BBC fundraiser. The reason we wear the masks is so no one knows the identity of anyone there. The men wear them too. Except, you have to tell them your real name, if they ask for it. And if they ask you to remove your mask, you need to do it. As a matter of fact, you should do just about anything you’re told to. Within reason, of course. It’s all up to you how much of yourself you give,” she said, which didn’t make any sense to me.
“Wait, so you mean to tell me I have to tell some man, that I don’t know, my name? But I can’t even see his face or know his name?” I turned around to look at her with a raised brow. “And just what does BBC stand for, anyway?”
“Billionaire Bad Boy Club.” She pushed me back around so she could finish tying me up. “It’s nothing really bad, Tasha. These men are well to do business men. Some of them have wives and families to protect, even their careers. So just go with it and play by the rules. Don’t ask any man who shows interest in you what his name is or what he does to make his money. Don’t ask anything except maybe what he likes to drink so you can fetch him a drink. You’re to play the part of a sexy, doting, submissive woman. Kind of like a waitress, only you get to touch the handsome devils, if they let you, of course. Never touch anyone unless they tell you to.”
“What kind of fundraiser is this?” I asked as she began to apply makeup in a generous fashion to my face.
She ignored my question. “They pay handsomely for us to entertain them. The less you know, the better.”
I nodded my head in utter confusion. In hindsight, I should’ve opted out of that so called fundraiser. Instead, I felt a sense of obligation to help her out as her friend and an obligation to myself to get the money I needed to pay the bills without getting into debt with my parents. And even an obligation to my curiosity. A thing I’d done little to appease in my life.
After she curled my hair and piled it on top of my head using hairpins with tiny diamond-like beads all over them, making me look pretty great, she pulled out black cloaks for us to wear to cover our sexy outfits. Then we left our dorm and went to a long black car that was waiting for us in the college dorm’s parking lot.
The driver was a tall man, wearing a chauffeur’s uniform. His face was long and pa
le. My instincts told me to go back inside and forget the thing she wanted me to do. But the money made me push that down and I got into the car.
Dani opened the mini fridge inside of the limo and handed me two, short, crystal glasses then took out some kind of amber liquor and filled them to the top. “This will ease your nerves. The men do not like the women to be nervous. They prefer them supple and yielding.”
As she sat back on the long, black leather seat next to me, she took one of the glasses from me and held it up. I clinked mine to hers and we both took long sips. The drink burned all the way down my throat and into my stomach. “You make it sound as if we’re to be some kind of hookers,” I said.
Her laughter peeled through the air and her dark eyes danced. I saw her turn into a woman I didn’t even know. “Hookers? No, nothing that trashy. Just be nice, fun, sexy and let them do to you what they want to. They pay nicely. A pat on the ass can earn you a hundred-dollar-chip in your bra. That kind of thing. It’s nothing terrible.”
It might sound easy the way she said it but my morals were beginning to come to the surface at a rapid pace. Then her hand was pushing the glass to my mouth. I took the drink to dampen those pesky morals of mine and finally, it seemed I wasn’t so worried about what some man or men might do to me. I hardly felt a thing, anyway!
We finally arrived at a huge building in the middle of nowhere that looked abandoned, yet the parking area was full of expensive looking cars. I instantly felt nervous. All the alcohol seemed to have burned off with the nervousness. I was shaking like a leaf.
“We’re here. Please remember what I said.” Dani looked over at me with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. It did nothing to comfort me. And I contemplated asking the driver to take me back home. As Dani tugged my hand, pulling me out of the car with her, I found that was not an option as the driver sped away.
Dirty News (Dirty Network Book 1) Page 47
