by Alexia Praks
Suddenly, I heard a chuckle and glanced up. I blushed, knowing very well he found my lack of business knowledge amusing.
"Let me explain, Mia," he said, taking a seat beside me, his arm brushing against me.
I straightened at the contact as he leaned closer. I could feel the heat from his body radiating out to me and breathed in his masculine smell. It was pure intoxication--they made my body weak.
"This clause here"--he pointed to the first--"simply states the agreement is between you and me."
I nodded.
"The second is simply that in return for your service, of which the duration is five years, the two million dollars your brother owes me is annulled."
I nodded again in understanding as I glanced down the long contract. "And the rest..."
"Clarifies the relationship between you and me," he stated matter-of-fact.
"I see," I said.
When he saw the sober look on my face, he suggested, "Do you want to read it a bit longer?"
I nodded immediately.
He chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not going to sell you off to the Albanian," he joked.
"Huh?" I couldn't help myself and looked at him in confusion. What did the Albanian have to do with this?
He suddenly looked serious, as if he were troubled with something. "Once you've signed the contract, you're mine, Mia. You'll be safe. No need to worry about your and your brother's safety after that."
I licked my lips. It suddenly struck me he was right. Signing this contract meant James Maxwell would protect me and my brother from those men we'd seen last night. Was that the Albanian he was referring to? I had no idea who they really were, but I knew they were after Andy and me.
"Take your time," he said and then headed out the door.
Alone, I returned my attention to the contract. It took me a few minutes to read through the whole thing one more time. The clauses also stated if I were to end my service as his lover before the five years was up, the two million would no longer be annulled.
"Shit!" The profanity flew from my mouth before I even had time to think. That meant I really had to stick with him the five years, and furthermore, I must respond to his requests whenever he wished.
I rested my head back and stared up at the ceiling, my heart now racing harder than ever. At least he didn't state all the unpleasant stuff I had to do with him during sex. Just whatever he requested.
My eyes widened with horror. No. No. No. He definitely needed to clarify this part. What if he made me do those S&M type things? First off, I'd never even had sex before and didn't even know how to please a man. I could never do S&M.
At lightning speed, I shot up from the sofa and rushed out the door.
"James?" I called out, my voice shaking--just a little.
I found him standing by the window, looking out at the scenery. With paper in hand, I headed to him and stood a few steps away, then held up the paper.
I knew my voice was shaking, but heck, I couldn't help myself. My next five years depended on the words written on these papers. "You didn't clarify the sex part," I said weakly. "I mean... I mean..."
"Yes?" he prompted.
I cleared my voice. "I think I told you this yesterday. I'm a virgin. You know what that means, right?"
"Your point?" he queried.
I took a deep breath. "James, I haven't a clue how to please a man. I mean, yes, I do know how a man and a woman have intercourse. You learn it through friends and classmates and reading and... You get the point?"
Suddenly, he laughed. "Yes, I get the point."
I frowned. I doubted he got my meaning, and it was rather frustrating. "What I'm trying to say is there will be certain things I can't do in the bedroom."
"What are you afraid of, Mia?"
I knew I had to come clean. The first step to a good lover relationship was to be truthful at the beginning, before everything got too deep and complicated. I fisted my hands tight and said, "S&M!"
Silence descended upon us. My heart was still pounding ferociously when he said, "Why not?"
His words shocked me to my core. What? He had to ask me that? Had he no decency? Could he not understand most people had an aversion to S&M?
Suddenly, the sight of a belt and the sound of a leather strap swishing in the air was loud in my ears. The image of me when I was a young teenage girl being whipped into submission by my uncle flared bright within my mind. I paled and my body shook as I stared into space.
A pair of warm hands pulled me close. "Mia," James called softly out to me.
I blinked and turned my gaze to him.
"I won't make you do anything you don't like," he said. "Read the contract. It's there, clause six."
I blinked several times and then turned my gaze to the paper and searched for clause six, as he indicated. It did indeed say I didn't have to do anything in the bedroom unless I felt comfortable doing so.
I raised my face to look at him and queried, just to confirm the statement, "I can refuse?"
"Yes and no. Before we do anything, I will ask for your consent. Of course, you can't refuse the basics."
"Huh?"
He laughed. "You'll understand what I mean soon. Now then, are you ready to sign?"
I stared at the contract long and hard. Then slowly, I nodded.
"Okay, then."
"Oh, wait. What about my brother? When will I see him? He'll be released from this Matt person, won't he?" I still sounded a little unsure, which was stupid, of course, because it clearly stated Andy would be released from his debt.
James watched me for a moment and then said, "You'll see him tomorrow, and as for that last part, it's up to Andy himself... and Matt."
"What? Why is it up to that Matt person? It said in the contract that Andy's debt would be annulled."
"Yes, the debt will be annulled." He confirmed.
"Good," I said, nodding.
"Any more questions?"
I shook my head.
"Okay, then." He turned on his heel and led me back into the office. There he made me sign the contract after him.
I was still concerned about my brother when I felt warm hands on the nape of my neck and the sudden heat of lips against mine.
I had only just signed the contract a mere second ago, and he was already taking action.
Shit! I hope he isn't going to take me right now. Oh God! I wasn't ready yet. I hadn't mentally prepared myself. I was told the first time was truly painful.
Instantly, my body went stiff with fright. I didn't respond to his kiss and stood as solid and cold as a statue.
A moment later, he withdrew. "That was disappointing," he said.
I felt bad instantly. I failed at this seduction game on the first try. "Sorry," I said. "You took me by surprise." I lied. Actually, I was rather relieved he stopped suddenly.
I glanced up at him and saw in his eyes he knew I was lying. I felt sick at this revelation. Was he already regretting signing a contract with me? Me for two million? Yeah, I understood I wasn't worth that much money.
"Never mind." He turned and placed the contract into a nice folder and then slotted it on the shelf next to his other important documents. When he turned, he had a smile on his face that eased my guilt. "Shopping?"
"Excuse me?"
"I can hardly allow my mistress to walk around in ripped jeans and a borrowed shirt, can I?"
At this remark, I glanced down at myself and blushed. "It was your dog's fault. You need to train that little beast properly, Mr. Maxwell."
"I agree," he said, coming around the desk. "Never mind about the stupid dog." With that, he took me by the wrist and led me out the door.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 17
Mia
"Where are we going?" I felt the need to ask again as I stared at his large hand wrapped firmly around mine.
I had no idea why I found this man's hands so fascinating, why I suddenly felt this overwhelming need to be touched and caressed by them. Why my co
re suddenly twisted and burned with desire so deep I felt weak. Only moments before, I was scared and my body became rigid when he kissed me, but now? Because of James's gentle and warm touches? I blamed my body.
"Shopping," he responded.
"Now?" I couldn't help myself.
It wasn't the fact that I didn't like shopping. Heck, I'd like to shop until I dropped. There were heaps of clothing I'd like to try on and buy. But shopping was usually done with girlfriends, which I didn't have, and doing this sort of fun stuff with James just didn't seem right. There was also the fact that I didn't have any money.
I pulled my wrist free from his clutch and stood there in the middle of the living room, watching him. He turned his gaze to me and cocked his head to one side.
"You don't want to go shopping?" he asked.
I licked my lips. "I... not really," I said. "I'd rather stay here and..." I gazed at him through my lashes.
I'll admit I was a timid creature at times. It was my way to get people to understand me, to tell him what I wanted. It was a habit. I guess it was a way of saying, Please be nice to me. It had worked effectively in the past, and I was sure it would work with James now.
At this moment, I wanted to stay here and just relax. I was tired, both mentally and physically, and more importantly, I didn't want to spend more time with him today because...
Heck, I wasn't even sure my mind and body were working right whenever he was around. Yes, I was very tired; that was sure. After all, I'd only arrived in Los Angeles after a six-hour flight across America from New Hampshire. Furthermore, that few hours by bus and the hike up that steep hill to get to Mr. Maxwell's mansion. Not to mention the drama with Mr. Maxwell himself, as well as with that hunk William and his men. All I wanted to do now was lie in that very comfortable king-size bed and sleep the day away and not think about anything--not Andy, not the two million, and definitely not Mr. James Maxwell.
James raised his eyebrows. "You want to stay here?"
I slowly licked my lips again and nodded. "Yes, please."
"What the fuck are you doing to me, woman!" he growled roughly.
I blinked at the horrid statement and widened my eyes in shock. "Excuse me?" I uttered, confused.
Oh no, my coy tactic didn't work with James, and I panicked, searching my brain for another way to appease him. He sounded pissed, and I certainly didn't want that between us, especially now that our weird relationship had just started.
Within a flash, he caught my wrist, pulled me to him, and then scooped me into his powerful arms. Needless to say, I was both bewildered and even more shocked.
"James!" I shrieked. "What are you doing?"
He was heading upstairs now, taking two steps at a time, with me in his arms. "For God's sake, woman, make up your mind. Your idea of consent is bloody confusing."
I blinked again. Consent? What did he mean by that? Suddenly, it dawned on me when I saw him heading toward his bedroom.
I panicked. "James! Please put me down. I think you misunderstood me."
He stepped across the threshold of the great bedroom and banged the door shut with his foot. He gently dropped me onto the king-size bed and then stood back.
He looked frustrated and angry, and I didn't know what to do. Heck, I didn't even know what I'd done to make him so pissed in the first place. All I wanted before we seriously began our relationship was to have a day to rest. Was my method ineffective? It was meant to come across sweet and pleasant when I wanted something.
I stared up at him with large eyes, blushing profusely as I continued to search my brain for words.
"Shit!" he snapped as he raked his fingers through his hair, his eyes dark on me.
"James? What's wrong?" I asked, my heart racing. I hated when men got angry. When men got mad, they did horrendous things. The only male I knew who never did was my brother Andy. He just kept quiet and stayed in his room.
The moment I saw the dangerous look in James Maxwell's eyes, my stomach knotted. Is he like Uncle Herbert? I wondered fearfully. Would he too whip me when he was upset? The thought didn't sit well with me, and I eyed the door in dread, searching for a way of escape.
Suddenly, he swore again. "Fuck!"
I jolted.
James came to kneel on the floor in front of me and began unbuttoning my shirt.
"James?" My voice shook as I watched his hands working on my clothes. He was so close. "James?" I squeaked again.
"Mia, look at me," he demanded.
I hesitantly shifted my gaze to his face. The hot frustration and anger I'd seen earlier were gone. Now there was only the twinkling within the Prussian blue.
"I don't want to see you looking at me like that again," he said coldly.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, confused and distracted at the same time. He was peeling the material of my shirt away from my skin. I panicked even more, and my hands flew there, clutching the material against my chest.
"Just now, the way you looked at me and then at the door. Fuck, Mia. I don't want to see you like that again, understood? It's fucking sick. I'm not going to hurt you."
He must have seen the fear on my face. But how could I stop myself from showing the fright when...
He moved one hand and cupped my face, his fingers entangled within my hair. "I'll make you sure won't ever wear that look again," he said, matter-of-fact.
I blinked. "Are we going to make love now?" I asked. I had no idea how it came to this.
He chuckled. "Do you expect anything else? The way you were looking at me before... We're only going to do the basic today, Mia," he explained. "It will be a bit unpleasant for you since it's your first time."
The way I'd looked at him before? Then it hit me. I was gazing at him through my lashes and had done my best to be pleasant so he'd drop the idea of taking me shopping.
"Oh," I murmured.
"Oh what?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, I mean, I know," I said, referring to the sex part now. "I've heard." I paused and then added, "That is, I thought we'd wait until..."
He laughed. "Mia, do you know how hard it is for me to be around you?"
I stared at him. Obviously, I didn't and told him so with my confused expression. Of course, I was too focused on my own confusion and attraction toward him that I didn't pay any attention to his attraction and frustration toward me.
He looked pissed that I was so naive. He grabbed my wrist, which took me by surprise, and made me touch him there. My fingers pressed against his hot, hard bulge, and my body shook deliciously in reaction. I blushed in embarrassment and tried to move my hand away. He, however, wouldn't let me. He made me spread my palm out, even with me resisting him, and cup him through his jeans. The evidence of him craving me grew more obvious as it got warmer and harder and larger.
"James," I squeaked, my heart racing.
He chuckled, and by the time I managed to escape his hold, I realized he had my borrowed shirt down and I was sitting in front of him, totally naked from the waist up. He was working on my jeans next, and I couldn't do anything except watch him. I felt as if I were in a dream, seeing everything but unable to do anything. My body felt so weak and warm and so obedient. It was submitting to his every command.
James pulled off my jeans and then my panties. I blinked as I suddenly realized I was totally and utterly bare as a newborn baby.
"You have a beautiful body, Mia," he said softly as he gazed at me, taking in every little detail.
My tummy knotted the longer he gawked at me. When he finally lifted his eyes, my heart did a somersault. Oh shit! I wanted to cry out. Those Prussian blues were on fire, and instantly, my core reacted by tightening and twisting.
I didn't reply to his compliment, and I assumed he didn't want any since, as soon as he finished that proclamation, he dipped his head and took my nipple into his hot mouth.
The moment I felt the intense sensation, I sucked in my breath. My body shook as he nibbled and then sucked the sensitive bud. He took his fine time torturing
that one, playing with it with fascination. When he was done, he did the same to the other, sucking, nibbling, and licking the flesh. As he was doing that, his hand moved down and cupped me, his palm spreading wide, his fingers warm and hard against my pussy. He rubbed against me, back and forth, as his mouth continued to suckle my nipple.
I couldn't help myself. My body and voice danced along in tune with his command. I groaned and whimpered. It just happened. I wanted to stay quiet, but I couldn't. I had no control over my own body. It sang out in pleasure as he continued to seductively ravish me. Then his finger went into me, and I cried out, "James! Ahh... I... James... Ngh... Nnghhh..."
His finger thrust in and out, and I became mindless. I clung to him as I cried out more. Then suddenly, he made me lie back, and my body weakly and obediently followed his demand. I knew I must have looked like a little slut waiting to be pleasured. My mind, however, was too far gone from logic to even think that, to know that. From my unrestrained, wonton position, I watched blankly but with fascination as James undid his belt and then his zipper.
When he pulled down his jeans and underpants, the beast sprang out, and I really cried out, my voice weak. It was a long giant of a thing. He was right. My small hand could never wrap around that beast.
I sucked in my breath and felt myself stiffen. That was supposed to go into me. But how would it fit? I hadn't a clue.
When I managed to tear away my gaze and lift my eyes to his face, I noted him smiling. He was so pleased with himself.
"Don't worry, Mia. It'll fit," he said.
Shit! He knew what I was thinking. I was too busy feeling stupid to actually register he was on his knees once again and was pulling me toward him. By the time I realized this, he was lifting my hips, his large hands supporting the small of my back. Then he inserted the beast.
I blinked as I gritted my teeth. He was hot and hard and enormous, and I held my breath as he pushed in a little more and then more. I held on to the bed sheet as if my life depended on it. Suddenly, a hot, intense pain erupted within me, and I gasped.
"Fuck!" he burst out. "Mia. You're so tight."
I bit my lip as he started thrusting faster and harder, and my pain slowly disappeared. I relaxed as I grew used to him inside me. Then I couldn't help myself and lifted my head, simply because I was curious. I swallowed hard when I saw him and me joining. Oh my God! He wasn't even in halfway yet.
"James," I whispered, my voice shaking.
