by Anne Marck
Her smile is as empty as her eyes.
Annoyed and excited, I press my fingers against her pulse. “Let’s get this over with,” I say cruelly. I have to catch my breath, affected by the damn sensation of her hot pulse accelerating below my fingers.
The prostitute keeps messing with me. And that ends tonight.
“Take your time, sir.” Her sweetly injected phrase makes me angrier.
“I will,” I growl humorlessly. “I value my money.”
That was a poor fucking choice of words. I sound like a pervert. It’s just the fact that Jasmine took the situation between us to another level. I wish I had been subtle, done this right, but how?
She’s a professional, and I should never forget that.
Pulling her with me, I take her directly to my room.
When I open the door, before she can even think, I have her against the wall. Her warm, soft body seems to fit mine perfectly.
With anger ripping me apart, I take her face in my hands and stare at her lips. They look so soft, so beautiful that my mouth dries, wanting to feel them, taste them, devour them.
Slowly, memorizing every moment, I stare into her cold eyes as I approach her lips.
What the heck!
As I’m an inch or so away from touching her, the damn woman turns her face sharply.
“No kissing,” her isolated tone dictates. “I don’t kiss on the mouth.”
I barely believe my ears. Fucking hell! I feel like shaking her shoulders until she changes her mind.
I narrow my eyes, looking for hesitation, for some sign that this is a joke. There’s nothing. The cold woman does not give in and remains emotionless.
I take a deep breath. She wants to tease me. She wants to see if I’ll give up. I can’t.
“Any more rules?” I ask angrily.
“Condoms,” she returns apathetically, holding my gaze.
I give a loud, mocking laugh. “That, I definitely approve of. I want to end this night as clean as I began,” I sneer.
My words affect her. She can’t mask her response in time.
I close my eyes for a moment, not liking the way this is going. This undeclared war bullshit has to stop.
I open my eyes and face her with sincerity. “Listen, Jasmine, I understand your rules, and I respect you. Can we please stop this façade and just enjoy the moment?”
A flash of something like pain pierces her eyes but is soon taken over by impassive darkness. “Yes, sir.” The emphasis on the word sir destroys any hope that her “prostitute demeanor” will change.
To hell with that!
Determined to knock down her barriers, I nibble on the feverish skin of her neck. I smell her freshness and lick her tense jaw while I fasten her hips against mine. Her surprise at my erection is expressed by a soft, little noise vibrating in her throat.
Tonight, you will be mine, completely mine, spoiled vixen. Get that in your head and surrender.
Luna
My body feels different. A little sore, but indescribably full as I stretch lazily in bed.
I open my eyes and am surprised to find Dominic staring at me.
“Good morning,” I say, my voice hoarse with sleep as I smile fully.
“Good morning, baby. How do you feel?” He sounds concerned.
I blink a few times, adjusting my vision. “So good that I can hardly explain it.” Without losing my smile, I run my hand over his skin, smoothing the wrinkle on his forehead. “It was perfect, Dominic.” My cheeks flush at the memory.
Holding my hand against his face, Dominic plants a kiss on my palm. “I should have asked you yesterday …” His tone confuses me. “You have some marks … I haven’t seen them there before. Did someone hurt you?” He raises his head.
Lying on his bare chest, I look him in the face. “Dirty wasn’t very happy with me.” I bite my lip. “But it’s not a big deal. The important thing is I’m here with you now,” I tell him frankly.
Even with my careful tone, he tenses beneath me. His jaw muscles pulsate, giving him a dangerous appearance.
“Everything happening between us is so perfect that nothing can override it, Dominic. It’s over, and I just want to think about the now.” I kiss the center of his chest. It feels so good that I do it again, and again, and again …
“Asshole. If he wasn’t dead, I’d kill him with my bare hands,” he seethes angrily, making me want to take away his worries.
I kiss his chest, exploring every bit of it, until I feel him relax. Then I slow down, caressing his flat abs. The warm, firm skin shivers.
“You’re so handsome,” I say in a low voice, my mouth glued to his navel.
I don’t want to think about anything that happened. I just want to give this man all my passion.
I pull the elastic from his boxers, and then I stare into darkened eyes filled with the same need.
“I want you so badly it hurts.”
“Luna …” The strangled whisper makes me want to laugh in triumph.
“You gave me everything, Dominic. And I’ll give you everything, too.” I slip my hand into his boxers and caress his cock.
Need clenches my womb, longing for him. Hungrily, I pull him out then have to catch my breath. I am not accustomed to its size. I have never seen anyone else’s in person before, but I know Dominic is exceptionally well endowed.
I lick my lips in anticipation then suck it into my mouth as he taught me, rewarded with a fierce moan from his chest.
Damien
Not knowing whether I was taken to paradise or dragged into the depths of Hell, I sit on the edge of the bed and watch the damned sleeping vixen. Mentally exhausted, my head hangs between my hands. I’m irritated, nervous … lost, to be more exact. The night turned out differently from how I wanted.
The sex was unbelievable. We took ourselves to madness, without reservations, without limits, hungrily, as if nothing was ever enough. I received the total surrender of her body, but never her mind. I gave everything of myself and tried to take all of hers.
The problem was that damn woman put up an impenetrable emotional barrier and took her word not to kiss on the mouth to the extreme. Nothing I did seemed to shake her or break her focus. The bitch fucked me, used me, and didn’t give an ounce of emotion in return.
And near daybreak, I forced her to sleep in bed with me, reminding her that my money had bought the whole night. I hated myself for doing that, yet I couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving. I can’t now, either. I’m not ready for that.
Jasmine doesn’t feel the same. For her, it was all a business transaction.
Dammit! I shouldn’t even give a thought to the situation. I’m so pissed, so angry I can hardly believe it.
Having anger as a counselor, I stand up silently and go into the office. I open the safe, take what I need, and then sit down at the table naked. I get a white sheet and a pen, and I give her what she wants.
In silence, I take a quick shower then leave the dark room, placing a stack of ten one-hundred-dollar bills and a note on the table beside her.
I hope this covers the night.
By the way, your pimp is dead.
You are free.
Dominic
I waited for Luna to make her breakfast then asked her to sit in the living room with me. I’ve thought a lot about the best way to take action from here. Vincent is a clever fellow, and the information from Gabrielle and Katarina about the cops gave me a new perspective of everything. I want Luna to get her justice, but above all, get it safely.
“I want to show you something,” I say quietly then turn to pick up the object.
Her blue eyes grow large when she sees what I have in my hands. “Dominic …” The faint murmur is soon muffled as she brings a hand to her mouth.
“We have what you wanted, Luna, and that’s what I’d like to talk about.” I sit down beside her and give her the camera.
She holds the electronic in her trembling hands. “You got it …” Her admiration mingl
es with another kind of emotion.
I keep silent, watching her look at the camera as if she doesn’t know what to do.
With a deep breath, she presses the side button that gives life to the device.
I clamp my jaw, witnessing the painful emotions on her small face, and choose not to interfere. Luna needs her moment. It’s part of the process.
At her side, I watch the recording of the partially built Taj Mahal with no sound in the background until the politician enters the scene.
I swallow the lump in my throat as Vincent Wine receives the information that the deed was done and asks what will happen if she decides to use the handbrake.
Luna pales, though she doesn’t cry. My girl is strong.
“What do you think I should do now?” She lifts her face, meeting mine.
I feel my chest swell with pride. Luna is including me. She wants my opinion. I can finally breathe in relief, free from all the fear that she might do something reckless again.
I rub my fingers against her cheek dotted with beautiful freckles. “I have a plan, but we won’t act alone. I called Julia, the lawyer who helps some people at the center. She’s on her way.”
“That’s good,” she whispers thoughtfully.
“Vincent is too powerful, and I have a feeling if we don’t do this the right way, he’ll find a way to get away with it.”
Surprising me, she climbs onto my lap and wraps her arms around my neck, snuggling against my shoulder. “I want him to pay, Dominic, but I want it to end soon so we can move on.”
I close my eyes and suck in a breath, needing to control the wave of satisfaction that burns me.
Luna
The doorbell rings, forcing me to get off Dominic’s lap. I take a deep breath, feeling good. It’s time to make Vincent pay.
As Dominic gets up and opens the door, I sit up, a little anxious, until I hear a familiar voice.
“Luna!” Gabi comes in first, kissing Dominic’s cheek before striding across the room.
I rise in time to be crushed in her arms.
“Thank God you’re all right.” Her relieved sigh makes my eyes water. I never thought a stranger could care.
“I’m sorry I put you in that situation,” I say into her platinum hair, returning her embrace.
“You weren’t to blame for anything. It’s all over. You’re safe, and that’s what matters.”
I walk away from her, wiping away a treacherous tear.
“You remember Julia, don’t you?” she asks, pointing to the pretty girl looking at us with a warm smile.
“Yes, yes.” I wipe my hands down the sides of my pants.
The delicate woman embraces me. They must have something about hugs.
“I’m so glad you’re safe, Luna. The girls told me what happened.”
“Thanks for coming,” I say timidly.
Dominic clears his throat. “Sit down, please.”
The girls do, and Gabi holds my hand comfortingly.
Pulling a chair in front of us, Dominic sits down and leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs, holding my camcorder. “This is what I told you about, Julia.” He plays the video for her.
The woman watches everything. I note her disgust when the guy makes a joke about my mother going over the cliff if she uses the handbrake.
When Julia finishes watching, she looks directly at me. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. That man is despicable.” Her eyes drift to the camera, and she presses her lips together. “To think my father supports this guy’s campaign,” she mutters more to herself.
I remain silent, waiting.
“We’re going to make him pay.” I feel the conviction of Dominic’s words. “Let’s put Vincent Wine and his accomplices in jail.”
I agree.
“By the way, have you seen the news about his brother?” Gabi asks.
I look at Dominic, who keeps his face unreadable and doesn’t return my gaze.
“What happened?” I ask.
“He suffered a serious car accident … collided with a pole and died in the fire this morning.” His voice is empty of emotion.
Gabi is aware of what Frank did; I told her myself. I just don’t know if she knows he was involved in my Raidapping.
It doesn’t bother me that the foreigners who were with Dominic killed Frank. I should be saddened by his death, but if they hadn’t made it in time, it would have been my body on the news.
“It’s done. He deserved it,” she says.
I bite my lip and say nothing.
“What do you think we should do?” Dominic turns to Julia.
The woman takes a professional stance. “The first step is to create guarantees.”
I narrow my eyes, a little lost.
She sees our blank faces and continues, “The girls told me about how those policemen reacted. Vincent Wine is a very powerful man with far reach in the city. We’ll surround you on all sides for our own security.”
“And how will we do that?” I wonder.
“Well, we’ll have to play a little dirty here …” Her gaze goes to Dominic, asking for approval, and he nods. “If we take this tape directly to the police, we risk it getting lost before we even act. So we will use the best means to expose a politician: the press.”
“If this goes to the papers before he’s arrested, he can run away,” I say in alarm.
Julia nods softly. “Understand my plan: I’m going to call a prosecutor, my friend, explain the delicacy of the situation, and ask her to be ready to go to the police. The idea is to issue a temporary arrest warrant, alleging risk of escape. No matter how much the delegate tries to buy time, she will be there to address the situation and get the judge on duty to sign the warrant.”
“And where does the press come in?” Gabi asks.
“Simple. We don’t know how far Wine’s influence goes. The judge may well be on his payroll. Believe me, this happens.” Her voice drops a note. “I’ll send the material first to a young investigative journalist who has done amazing work with this type of subject and ask them to post on their blog once the request is at the judge’s table.”
“I understand,” Dominic says. “The blog will leave any judge unable to refuse.”
“Exactly!” Julia confirms. “The moment we have the warrant, I will spread the news to all the tabloids.” I see the excitement shining in her eyes.
Dominic
A soft knock on the front door catches our attention. Julia and Gabrielle stop talking, and Luna just looks at me expectantly, as if wondering if I’m expecting anyone. Strange that they didn’t use the bell, whoever it was.
I stand up, wishing I had my gun. Checking the eyehole, I see Jasmine’s pale figure and immediately open the door, seeing her red-rimmed eyes and runny nose.
Fucking Damien. I’ll kill the asshole!
“Come in, Jasmine,” I say softly.
Upon hearing the girl’s name, Luna stands up.
“Jas!” Her excited voice dies when she sees Jasmine’s face.
Taking her hand, she brings Jasmine inside. “I’m glad you came.” Luna squeezes the woman in her arms then looks back at her face. “What happened?”
“Nothing, Luna. I came to see if you’re all right.”
Luna pulls Jasmine to Gabrielle and Julia. “This is my friend, Jasmine,” she introduces her. “And these are Gabrielle and Julia, two friends who are helping me a lot.”
Jasmine smiles lifelessly. I realize she’s barely holding herself together, and everyone can see it.
“Do you mind if I talk to her for a second in the bedroom?” Luna asks.
“Of course. Take your time. I’ll enjoy talking to Dominic about some things at the community center,” Julia responds in her gentle way.
Gabi smiles warmly.
I watch Luna and Jasmine both disappear into the hall as I sit down again in front of the women.
“Do you think there’s any chance of Wine escaping this?” I ask the lawyer.
Jul
ia bites her lip, looking pensive. “It has crossed my mind. I think we need more evidence to support the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Get a warrant for the remains of the vehicle, and then focus on the brakes. There will be no chance of him getting away then.”
“Fucker. And to think I thought about voting for him.” Gabrielle snorts.
• • •
It’s after six o’clock in the afternoon when we arrive at the political event. Two police vehicles are already in front of the building.
We get out of the car and I take Luna’s hand as we accompany Gabrielle, Julia, and the prosecutor inside the building full of supporters, voters, and journalists.
I smile at thinking of the show that will ruin Wine’s career forever. And he deserves every second of it.
Luna’s hand is cold.
I stop abruptly and turn toward her. “Are you all right?” I lift her face.
Her wide eyes and pale skin are response enough.
“Anxious,” she whispers, meeting my gaze.
“Everything’s going to be all right, baby.” I use my confident tone, conveying the message that I’ll always be here for her. Unable to help myself, I then kiss her hard, bringing her lean body to mine. “I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
She pulls her head away, and I watch her beautiful face soften.
So beautiful. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.
“I love you, too, Dominic. With everything in me.” Her sweet words rumble in my chest.
“Come on, lovebirds; it’s time for revenge,” Gabrielle cuts in, reveling in the situation.
• • •
“Yes, my friends, I have received a heavy blow from fate. As you know, the people I loved most were torn from me in a very devastating way. My sweet wife, Alma, and the daughter of my heart, Luna, lost their lives in that fateful accident, and I … I wish I were in their place.” The man stops talking for a moment, holding the bridge of his nose as if he were about to cry. “And today, my brother died, too.” Pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket, he wipes his eyes, which don’t appear to have any tears in them.
