My heart thuds in my chest so hard that I’m sure he can hear it.
“Can you please say something, Leigha?” He asks.
His voice is still rough and sexy.
Despite Evan, despite the emptiness and the fact that I know what I’m about to say next is wrong, I say it anyway.
“I’m here now, here’s your chance,” the words come out a whisper.
* * *
Merc studies me hard. His brown eyes focused on mine to figure out if I’m serious or not.
We both know how much is at stake here, and neither one of us wants to hurt anyone else.
But we’re both hurting, and we have an answer.
“Fuck it,” Merc growls ruthlessly.
Merc’s hot lips hungrily smash against mine, and I open my mouth to his rough kiss, our tongues melting against each other before Merc bites my lower lip hard.
His roughness is welcome as our lips smash together again, my face in his hands as he kisses me thoroughly, erasing every thought of how wrong this is from my mind.
I have to suck in every shaky breath, come up for air between waves of passionate kisses that heat my lower half until I’m desperate.
Still kissing roughly, I undo Merc’s belt, reach into his pants and grab hold of his throbbing erection.
Merc’s teeth sink into my shoulder, and I moan, rubbing his cock as the world suddenly spins dizzily around me.
Our lips meet again, and the whirling doesn’t stop.
I wrap one arm around Merc’s neck and pull him closer, absorbing his kiss, and falling into it helplessly.
Merc shrugs off his jacket, pulling my dress over my head, and picks me up, off the couch, forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist without ever once breaking our kiss.
The man is sheer power and effortlessly carries me off, stopping to press me against the doorway and sink his teeth into my neck with a growl.
“Merc!” I gasp breathlessly. I manage to remove his tie as I pull his shirt over his head. I sink my teeth into his shoulder, his erection pressing hard against the thin fabric of my thong.
“Oh my god!” I gasp, as he bites me again.
“Are we doing this?” Merc asks.
“Yes,” I gasp.
My bare ass cheeks are in his large, strong hands as he holds me up, still smashed against the doorway to his bedroom, his voice rough and filled with intense lust.
His bared chest and the look his eyes make me even wetter, and my juices are flowing down the inside of my thighs. I am slick with the anticipation of taking him inside me. Then, we are kissing madly again as he transports me to the bed, throwing me against it roughly, before covering my body with his. He kisses me, biting and sucking on my skin; it feels like he’s making every inch of my body his with sheer animal rawness, but I don’t care. I bite him back, sinking my teeth into his neck as he rips my thong right off.
“I’ll buy you a new one,” he mutters, his voice deep with a lusty haze.
“I don’t care!” I reply.
And I don’t because those expert hands have moved between my legs, one finger sliding against my rock-hard clit. At the same time, Merc unhooks my bra, his mouth closing over my nipple just as I feel his fingers sliding in all the wetness.
“Merc!” I gasp.
He nips at my nipple, his fingers moving inside me and driving me crazy. His thumb is on my clit, now, his fingers working in and out of my drenched pussy, and all I can do is gasp with every ragged breath, trying to steady myself, but having no luck. I spread my legs wider for him, my hips moving against his hand, and it’s pure bliss. I firmly grip his thick shaft, and Merc groans so loudly I’m sure the neighbors must hear us.
“Fuck!” he growls in that wolfish voice, his eyes pinned to mine. We stare each other down as he moves his cock nearer to me. He fucks me harder with his fingers, and my grasp on his cock tightens until the spasm of my orgasm takes hold of me, and I’m gasping and moaning in Merc’s arms.
I quiver with delight, the delicious waves of euphoria crashing within me, but I want more. I want all of Merc.
Taking a moment, he moves back from my heaving body. He leers at me, liking what he sees. He grabs a condom from the nightstand, as I push his pants down with my legs until he shrugs them off. Splayed out on his bed, waiting for Merc to come to me, I watch his eyes. That intense brown gaze is focused on me like he’s hunting me, as he rolls the condom on his thick cock.
Merc doesn’t waste time, he turns me around, forcing me to hold onto the polished wood bed frame before he smacks my ass, hard. I gasp in delight. On my knees, bent over in front of him, I’m at his mercy.
“Merc, please!” I beg.
“Say my name again!” he orders. His rough whisper is in my ear.
“Merc,” I say it, with a tone of disgust.
“Again,” he commands. Then, he smacks my ass harder.
“Merc!” I scream, my voice is ragged with a pure desire for him.
“Yes?” he asks, that wolfish tone teasing my ear.
I can feel the head of his cock at my entrance, just enough pressure to let me know he is in command. I squirm, trying to move onto it, whining for it to be in me. He grins slightly, denying me what I want.
“Show me how much you need it. Show me that you want it in you!” he demands.
Immediately, I sink down around his thick shaft, taking all of him at once. I’m left gasping and panting as Merc takes hold of my hips, his cock flexing inside me.
“Is that it?” he teases.
I turn around, dizzy with desire as I look at all of him: his chest; that crooked grin with a delicious hint of evil. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“Is that all you got?” I mock, as he falls onto his back.
I ride on top of him, his cock slick and firm inside my hot pussy. I am delirious with pleasure. Merc’s grip tightens on my hips, his cock sliding out of me slowly, making me moan his name, before I get the first rough thrust, that shakes my entire body. I grip the headboard as I ride him, and he gives me what I’m craving.
Him.
His cock. I want him to fuck the feeling right out of me. He grabs my ass and waist and flips me onto all fours. Thrusting deep, Merc’s thick shaft fills me over, and over again, his penis hitting my cervix, as he fucks me into submission. I feel nothing but blinding lust as we use each other. Merc’s hands grip my hips so hard; I know they are sure to leave bruises, but I don’t care because another orgasm has taken hold.
“Oh! Oh! Fuck!” I scream, as my muscles clench on his cock.
I shake and writhe as he continues to fuck me hard. My tits bounce, my hair is wildly whirling around my head, and my eyes roll back so only the whites can be seen, as I come for him.
“I wanna hear my name this time!” Merc growls.
“Merc!” I scream.
It hits me that he’s going to make me orgasm yet again, and I can’t stop it. I feel his hands tighten.
“Merc, I’m cumming!” I whine.
“That’s it, cum on my cock Leigha!” Merc encourages.
His voice is what tips me over the edge until I’m a quivering mess; every part of my body spasming from the intensity of what he’s done with me. I am simply a vessel for his lust, a thing to be used, as he comes, filling the condom with so much semen, it bursts. I collapse on the bed, out of breath.
“You better not be done with me,” I tease.
I am only half kidding.
“No, I’m not, I want to see your face when I make you cum this time,” Merc growls.
“Then, you better make it good!” I snap back.
Every shred of me is exhausted, but we are both intent on fucking the feelings from each other.
* * *
Suddenly, I wake up in Merc’s bed and instantly feel panic, my heart in overdrive as I try to recall exactly where I am and how I got here.
* * *
Vodka.
That’s how I got here.
Merc is fast asleep fully
clothed, curled around a pillow.
When I realize that my fuckfest with Merc was only a dream, I thank god that nothing happened last night. I count my lucky stars that Merc is a gentleman, and he knows when I’ve had too much. I look around wildly for my phone to check the time, but when I find it under my sweater, it’s dead. In search of the time, I stumble around Merc’s apartment in my tank top and jeans, freezing, looking for a clock. When I realize I can’t find one, I sit down on the couch.
I’m still drunk. I haven’t drunk this much since I was in college, and even then, I don’t ever recall getting so obliterated I blacked out. The last thing I remember is taking a shot.
I’m never drinking again, I silently promise.
This will be a lesson to me, not to drown my sorrows in alcohol.
But what time is it? I obsess over the time and move around all the shit in Merc’s apartment until I locate his phone. It’s 7:12 am.
“You okay?” Merc asks groggily, standing in the doorway to the bedroom. I’m bent down over his phone, perched on my toes, and I fall back onto the floor into a sitting position. All I can think about is what a mess I’ve made of my life. I groan, holding my aching head.
“You okay?” Merc’s genuine concern is heartwarming. But it’s not enough to make me feel better in the least bit.
“What’s up?” He asks.
“I feel like nothing,” I tell him.
“Well, ‘nothing,’ let’s get you dressed and get some food in you. I’ve got to go to work,” Merc tells me.
I nod.
* * *
“Okay, this is the only key to my apartment, Leigha, so don’t lose it. Don’t crash my car,” Merc instructs. I sit in the driver’s side of his Lotus Elise outside his work building. Or a work building. I don’t know where he’s going, just that I am dropping him off.
“Okay,” I nod.
“Here, take my card in case you need anything. We can go get your stuff tonight if you want to,” he says.
“I don’t want to get anything,” I say.
Merc presses his lips together.
“Then, buy some clothes, charge your phone, at least let them know you’re okay,” he insists.
“I’m sure Evan’s got the papers by now,” I tell Merc.
Merc takes a deep breath.
“Are you sure about this?” he asks for the millionth time.
“No, but it’s too late now,” I say.
“It’s never too late, kiddo,” he grins. “Call me if you need me,” he says. Merc kisses me on the forehead through the open window as the wind whistles around us, and I nod.
“I’ll see you tonight, I guess,” I say.
“See you tonight,” Merc says.
I start the car, and it roars to life. I’ve driven standard shifts my whole life because my father never liked to use a car service. In New York a car service was necessary. In London, I’m free to drive however I like. I try to imagine the look of concern on Merc’s face if he found out how much I would be pushing the car’s limits. It purrs like a brand-new kitten as I shoot forward, off, towards nowhere.
For a little bit, I drive around London, getting the hang of how Merc’s Lotus handles; how sensitive and responsive the controls are. He’s right, I think. I need to get some clothes, some stuff to shower, some other sundries. And his fridge is empty.
So, the first place I hit is the grocery store. I buy food to cook, some healthy snacks, shampoo, and other mundane necessities. I walk by the liquor displays, frowning, and remembering last night. I shrug and put vodka bottles in the cart. Stupid, I guess, but I will be more careful this time, I tell myself.
Right…
I drop everything off at Merc’s, filling the fridge. Next, I clean his apartment, neatening things up as I plug my phone in to charge. I don’t want to be disturbed just yet, so I set it to silent.
I use Merc’s landline to call my dad.
“Leigha, how are you?” he asks.
My dad’s voice is strained.
“I’m alright, daddy, how are you?” I return the greeting.
“You’re not alright, I can tell by your tone. What’s wrong?” he asks.
My father always gets right to the point.
I take a breath, and everything spills out immediately. I tell my dad all about Vic, about Evan’s son, and begin to cry over the guilt of his divorce from my mother, and then finally, tell him I went to my lawyer. He listens to my sobbing and my explanation.
“I’ll support you Leigha, whatever you chose to do. Do you need me to come to London? I can come to London if you want? I’ve got some work there in a few weeks,” he says, soothingly.
Alexander Bergmann sounds like himself again. His brush with disaster had him more reserved and cautious than he’d been since he found out my mother cheated on him. But, tenacity and a bit of good luck have brought Alexander Technical Institute back from the brink. ATI is officially back up and running. He seems happy about it. My father is careful this time. He refuses to go public, won’t allow me to get involved, and is staying far away from military contracts.
“Daddy, I’m fine, but it would be nice to see you,” I admit.
“Leigha, I miss you, too,” he laments.
“Tell you what. I’ll come to London a week early. Do you have somewhere you can stay? Do you need a new place? You’ve got your black card. Buy anything you want; I doubt it will be necessary, but use it if you must. I can have my real estate agent find you a great place if you’d like,” he says, going into control freak mode.
I roll my eyes. You’d think I was still a child, the way he speaks to me at times.
“I’m staying with a friend,” I lie.
My dad never really was a big fan of Merc’s. Come to think of it, he hated both Merc and Evan. Since he also doesn’t quite know Merc is alive, that would be a long conversation.
“Just let me know whatever you need, I’ll call Brighton and tell him to get you everything you want in the divorce. He’s a shark! He’ll whittle that Stone kid down to a toothpick,” my dad says.
“Daddy, that’s not necessary,” I say, my voice strained.
“It’s vital!” he counters.
“Don’t be afraid, Leigha. Don’t be afraid, and do not back down from anyone! You’re stronger than you think! You’re smart, and you can do anything you put your mind to. Evan Stone is not going to break you! Let him have a family with this Vicky girl. You’ll still be amazing without him,” my dad says.
It’s nice to know my father is supportive of my decisions, no matter what. When we finally hang up, I notice my phone vibrating. I ignore it and leave. My dad is right about one thing - I do have my black card attached to his account. I have just enough time to go to my usual salon and beg them to squeeze me in. Then, I spend too much time at Harvey Nichol’s and wonder if my dad is going to have a heart attack when he sees the bill. I’ve bought most of a brand-new wardrobe. Taking some clothes into a changing room, I decide to make dinner to the best of my ability, as a ‘thank you’ to Merc. I try a few things, sizing things up in the mirror. When I am done, I’ve changed into a stretch-silk satin mini dress, in a light blue. It’s got long sleeves and wraps around my curvy figure nicely.
I take one last look in the mirror, as I pull on a white cashmere coat.
In platformed heels and a dress, I look like the businesswoman I used to be, just a bit sexier.
It makes me feel like maybe leaving Evan isn’t the end of the world. Well, it is, but I feel somewhat better.
I ask the clerk to deliver everything to Merc’s address since, for the time being, I’ve got nowhere else to stay.
Then, I leave the store.
* * *
Just as I’m getting into Merc’s car, I hear my name being called.
I know who it is, closing my eyes, and will Ava to go away.
“Leigha! Evan’s been going crazy trying to reach you!” Ava blurts out.
She runs to me and wraps me up in a hug, various ba
gs bouncing around in her hands.
“He’s worried sick!” she nearly screams.
“So was I!” Ava admonishes.
“I’m fine. I assume Evan told you?” I say, uncomfortably, as I play with the gold clutch in my hands.
“Told me what?” Ava is mystified. Then, her face drops, as she figures out the game.
“He is not leaving you!” Ava screams.
“No, no, no!” I stop her.
She looks puzzled.
“Then, what is it, dear?” she asks.
I feel guilty, as I glance around to buy a moment.
“I asked him for an annulment, so he can… he can have a family with Vic. I can’t be the one to-” I start to explain.
“What?” Ava gasps and half a scream comes out as she muffles the sound with her clenched fists.
“No! Leigha, no!” she cries.
I shake my head, sadly.
“You have to see him!” Ava demands.
“You can’t do this! I’ve never seen my brother happier-” Ava begins.
“Stop,” I say, my voice chilly.
“What?” Ava asks, stricken that I’m so cold with her.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I am. It’s just that I can’t. I can’t tear his family with Vic apart. It doesn’t sit right with me. This is my decision, and I’m sticking to it,” I tell her.
Ava looks sullen, but she nods.
“At least see him? Ok? Promise me?” she pleads.
“I promise,” I tell her with a groan.
She smiles awkwardly, giving me another shopping-bag hug, and then rushes off.
I sigh. I guess I owe Evan at least this much.
Fuck.
I get into the Lotus and start it. The powerful motor revs and I squeal off in a haze of rubber smoke to our house.
No time like the present.
* * *
When I open the front door, the cat automatically comes running for me.
“Hi, baby!” I say to Bond.
FRACTURE: Hearts of Stone Book Six Page 3
