by C. M. Steele
My new cell phone buzzes in my purse, so I pull it out. Kaylee: Your mom’s been calling your cell. She said it’s going to voicemail.
Me: Thanks. I’ll call her back from my new number. I tossed the old phone.
I don’t need to deal with my mother right now. She’s another person with fucking mood swings. After eating, I clean up the kitchen and then take a nap. When I wake up, I give my mother a call. The second she starts her shit, I hang up on her, regretting that I called in the first place.
It's nearly four-thirty when a text comes in from Grant. Doll, I’m on my way home. What do you like on your subs?
A classic meat and cheese. No olives or mayo, please.
See you soon.
I’m anxious for him to come home. It’s silly how much I missed him. It’s only been six hours and we’ve only known each other for a day, half of which we spent apart.
The second he’s through the door, he calls for me. “Doll, where are you?”
“I’m in the kitchen.”
He walks in with the bag smiling and then lifts it toward his face. “Dinner has arrived.”
“Yummy. Do you want something to drink?” This feels so normal, sweet.
“Water would be fine.” I grab us both two bottles of water while he takes out the sandwiches. He’s lost his coat and tie with the first button undone, revealing a hint of his neck. I watch, mesmerized, as he rolls up his sleeves. “So how was your day?”
I dart my eyes up and his eyes are on mine. He smirks, having caught me gawking. Embarrassed, I bring up this morning. “Well, this ogre totally became all growly when I left my ivory tower, and then he accosted me, but since he made me scream in a pleasurable way, I let it go. Then the ogre left without breakfast, but I enjoyed it. While I waited for the ogre to return, I took a nap and then poof the ogre disappeared, and in his place a handsome prince arrived with the way to a woman’s goodies—food.”
He leans over and kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry about this morning. I woke up alone and I…” My phone goes off, interrupting his apology. I press the button sending it to voicemail. “Aren’t you going to answer it.”
“No. It’s my mother,” I sigh.
“Oh. Do you two not get along?” His curiosity piqued after sensing my annoyance.
“I know that makes me a bad daughter, but we don’t all have great parents.”
He lets out his own sigh. “My parents were great, but they died in a car accident with my little brother.”
“I’m sorry.” I slide my hand over his bicep, rubbing it. Our eyes meet and he steals a kiss. It’s soft and gentle, but he pulls away to take a bite of his food. “So this must make me look really terrible.”
After he swallows, “No. Like you said, not all of us have great parents. So what is it?”
“She wants me to come home already. Somehow she found out about my friends and my plan and she was disgusted.”
“Does she know about us?”
“No,” I shout a little vehemently.
“Wow. That’s fine.” He has a strange look on his face, contemplating something, but I’m too uncomfortable to ask.
“Can we just drop it?” I beg.
“Sure.”
“I usually workout before bed, but if you want to do something else we can.”
I knew he had to work out to have that fantastic body. Rock hard from head to toe. My pussy throbs thinking about his body holding me. “I don’t want to stop you from your plans. Is there a workout room?”
“I didn’t show you. I completely forgot.”
“I used to run back home or just walk everywhere, so I could use a treadmill.”
“We’ll go in an hour. I have a call to make.” He stands and tosses his garbage away. Then bends down and takes my lips. “See you in a bit.”
I get up and clean my mess then head into the bedroom to change. Most of my clothes could pass for workout clothes, yoga pants and tank tops are my specialty. I used one of the few dresses I own the day at the clinic. I switch up my clothes, put on a sports bra and scroll through my phone.
Chapter 5
Grant
The second I leave the kitchen, I miss her. I can’t believe how quickly I slipped up. I almost deepened the kiss and carried her out of the room to show her what she’s done to me. I can’t help myself, but I want to spend time with her.
I sit at my desk and get down to business, calling my usual guy when I want someone researched. “Mitch, anything on that fucker yet?”
“We believe we’ve got the guy down that you’re talking about. Henrick Gore. He’s twenty-one and his father owns the local mercantile store in Almont. He’s actually a computer game developer in the making. His new game just hit the market and it’s a top hundred game for Android and IOS systems.”
“Bastard.” So the fucker can afford to give her what she wants as well.
“What else?” I need to know everything I can about him.
“He booked a flight here for a conference in a couple of days.”
“Anything else?” Shit. So he will be around, looking for his fiancé. I didn’t see a ring on her finger, but the message came from her mother. A mother she doesn’t like. Maybe the boyfriend knows about the surrogacy. It would explain why she hasn’t told her mother about it. Shit. I’m losing it. I breathe deeply because I’m not going to let him come between us. The contract’s to keep her here until I can get her to fall in love with me.
“From his social media profile, I’d say he’s not the typical gamer. Unless he bench presses his sofa between loading screens.” He sends me a picture of this asshole on my phone and I snarl. He’s got to be about my size and looks like he spends more hours in the gym than I do.
“Okay. Get me everything you can. Especially where the fucker is staying.”
“Okay. Is there any threat?” There’s concern in his voice, but this guy is my problem.
“Not after I get through with him.”
My office door opens and takes me by surprise. I dart my eyes upward, hoping my woman didn’t hear my conversation. “I’ve got to go.” I hang up and she blushes, looking so damn perfect that I want to jump around to the other side of the desk and take her again.
“I’m sorry. I should have knocked.” Damn, do I look mad? I’m not. Seeing her in those tight pants and tank top makes my cock throb, painfully.
“It’s okay, Doll. What’s going on?” I question, watching her fidget on her feet.
“Well…um. I’m sorry, but I just got my…period.” She blushes.
“Oh. Do you need to go to the store?” Well, that’s a little disappointing, but immediately that makes our time together even longer.
“No, I packed enough for this month. I’m just sorry.” She’s acting like that’s something to be ashamed of.
“What’s there to be sorry about? It’s not like we really planned this. Just let me know when we can start again.” Fucking shit. Is it crazy that I don’t give a shit that she’s bleeding because I still want to be inside her? It’s completely nuts, but she’s done that to me. “Do you still want to work out?”
“If you want. It will make me feel better.”
“Great. I’ll go change right now.” I get up from my chair and thankfully, she’s already turned around and walking out of my office. I adjust my cock and walk to the bedroom.
When I step into the living room, she’s standing there facing away from me with her round ass on display. I’m glad I put on a slightly longer t-shirt. I hope no one’s in there. “Ready?”
She nods and follows me out into the hallway. With my key, I take my personal elevator down two floors. The doors open to the large glass doors that lead to the gym’s reception area. Since it’s late evening, there’s hardly anyone here.
“Hello, Mr. Masterson.”
“Lisa, this is Gwendolyn.”
“Welcome, Gwendolyn. I hope you like it here.” I take her hand and lead her around to give her a tour. As I round out the tour, I lead
her to the treadmills. I want to stay with her, but then I see Sheila or Cheryl. I don’t remember her name, but it never stops her from flirting with me. “Here you go. I’ll be by the weights.”
“Great. Thanks.” I walk away, but I regret it instantly. I can’t see her from where I’m at and any other fucker could be enjoying her body bouncing as she runs. Fuck, I’m pissed. I start pressing without warming up which I know is a bad idea. I’ve already built up a good sweat when I see that crazy broad from another floor coming toward me. I’m usually too civil to tell her to fuck off, but I’m in the middle of set.
“Are you sure you can’t use a spotter?” she asks, standing right behind my head, her legs spread a little too inappropriately near my face. I hear a gasp and then drop the bar into the rack. Sitting up, I see my Doll looking pissed, glaring at me.
I get up, giving no fucks about wiping the rack down, storming toward my Doll. “Our session is over with right now.”
“Why? Are you upset that I ruined such an intimate moment?” she hisses.
“You sound jealous.” She has no reason for it because I’m all hers.
She scoffs like I’m completely off base. “Hardly, but you remember that contract you signed. I don’t want that bitch’s leftovers.”
“I’ve never touched her and I sure as hell didn’t invite her to think she could spot me. She’s always flirting, but I politely tell her I’m not interested. By the way, I know everything it says in that fucking contract. I told him what to put in it.” Running my hands through my hair, I let out a grunt and head into the bathroom. I need a shower. I could kill that Sheila or Cheryl whatever her name is. She’s making it harder for me to win over Gwendolyn.
When I come out of the shower Gwendolyn’s not in our bed. What the fuck? I go looking around to see if she’s watching television or in the kitchen. Nope. I walk to the spare bedroom and look inside. Fucking hell, she’s wrapped up in the covers. That’s not going to work for me.
I turn on the light and walk right up to the bed, bending down, I scoop her up. “What are you doing? Put me down.”
“No. Since when is this the bed you sleep in?” I don’t like the distance she’s creating. It’s killing me, and even though I’m supposed to be keeping this like a business deal, I just can’t.
“Well I have my period. It’s not like you want me sleeping next to you. I’m just the baby machine.”
“I might not be fucking you tonight, but you will be sharing the same bed with me.” I take her into the room and place her on the bed. I want to kiss her petulant attitude away. I’m guessing it’s the hormones and that stupid woman. I know I’d kill a motherfucker if they stood over her like that, wanting to spot her. I’m a jealous prick. It’s a new feeling that I don’t care for.
I shoot off a text to Steven. Have a treadmill delivered to my condo tomorrow.
I turn off my phone because I know he’ll get it done. Climbing into bed next to my Doll who has decided to sleep as far as possible away from me, I smile. That’s fine as long as her ass is in our bed, I can sleep. I turn out the light on the nightstand and roll onto my side, facing her back. She might not want me or my attention, but I’m lost when it comes to her.
It seems like forever before I can finally fall asleep, but when I wake up, I feel so damn refreshed. Smiling, I feel my woman on top of me, cradled on my chest. I run my hand up and down her back under her tiny top. She sighs and snuggles a little more into me. “I need a lifetime of this,” I whisper and drop my head back against the pillow and close my eyes.
The buzzer rings, disrupting my perfect moment with her. Gwendolyn groans as I slide from under her. The buzzer goes off again and I want to kill someone.
I walk into the hallway and press the call button. “What’s going on?”
“Sir, your delivery is here.” I look at the clock on the wall and see it’s almost eight. I’m running late for work, but I wouldn’t trade those stolen moments with her.
“Send them up,” I bark, I rush back into the bedroom and begin to dress for work. Sleeping beauty starts to roll, looking sexy as fuck. I’ve got to remember to keep my hands to myself. My hands itch to touch Gwendolyn, stroke her, pluck her nipples, and to taste that mouth of hers, but as she reminded me for the umpteenth time, we have a contract. I wish I never created it, but then again, she wouldn’t have slept in my arms last night or the night before.
There’s a knock at the front door, so I open it. To my surprise, the two delivery guys look like they’re personal trainers with perfectly coiffed hair. “Where would you like this?” I point to the back bedroom where she tried to sleep last night.
“How long will this take to set up?” I want them in and out before she wakes up. Suddenly, the urge to beat my chest and stand my ground takes over.
“Fifteen to twenty minutes.”
“Good.” I walk away and head into the kitchen to make coffee. I send Steven a message: That was fast. Waiting for them to finish setting it up before I head in.
“Oh, you’re still here.” Doll’s soft voice filters to my ears. I lift my eyes completely shocked to see her in pajamas in the light of day. Tiny shorts that barely cover her ass and very thin tank with no fucking bra. Her nipples are hard and extremely visible through the top.
“Yes. Would you please go into the bedroom and put some fucking clothes on?” I grunt out. I’m both hard and angry at the same time. Not at her of course, but that there’s other men in the house. I’ve become obsessed with her.
“You are being ridiculous. One second you want me in your bed, then next you’re trying to cover me up.”
I move closer to her which makes her take a step back into the hallway between the kitchen and the room they’re in. It bothers me that she does that as if she’s afraid of me. Then I hear a tool fall onto the ground in the hallway. I’m sure they can see her profile from where they’re at. She whips her upper body toward the sound and gasps. Her hands immediately go to cover her breasts.
“If you want to keep your eyes and your jobs, you better get out with your head down.”
“Everything’s set up.” They rush past, keeping their eyes away from my doll.
“Oh,” she mouths as I walk behind the fuckers. As soon as they’re on the elevator, I spin around and go straight to her. Cupping the back of her head, gripping onto her hair, I crush my lips to hers, kissing her fiercely “We have a contract. For the next two years, you belong to me. Which fucking means not showing the world your goodies. You can parade around here half naked all day. Frankly, I’d enjoy that more than you know, but when I ask you to put some clothes on, I expect you to do so.”
“I didn’t realize there were people here. I’m sorry.”
“Just like you didn’t appreciate that whore trying to flirt with me, I didn’t appreciate a couple of guys gawking at these tits that belong to me. That will one day feed our baby.” I grab one gently, giving it a squeeze. She gasps, parting her lips so sweetly that I have to steal another taste. “Just because we have a contract doesn’t mean I’m not hard as fuck thinking about bending you over every damn surface.” I brush my lips against hers. “I’ll be working late tonight. You can order dinner. Whatever you want.”
I was harsher than I meant to be, but seeing people staring at my future wife like I do sent me into a painful territorial rage.
The second I’m at the office, I want to go back home. Still, I try to work so I have more time to be alone with her. Maybe I can convince her to go to California with me. Steven’s following me around as I go over plans for a remodel of my first hotel. It needs a makeover, but a minor one because we want to keep the aesthetics. I’ve run my hand through my hair at least a dozen times thinking about my Doll. I pull up my messages and send one to her.
The treadmill’s for you.
Thanks, Grant.
Twenty minutes pass before a new text comes in. Do I get a signed copy of the contract for my own keeping?
Seething, I type. Soon.
&
nbsp; Every damn conversation is about the contract. Every fucking one. Will Gwendolyn ever see this as more? I have to remember it’s only been two days. She’s going to need more time.
Sitting in my office, I can’t concentrate for shit. I should go home and talk to Gwendolyn to tell her I want more, but what can I say? I’m crazy about you even though we just met. It’s more than having my baby. I want you to give me a houseful of them and watch our grandchildren when we’re old and grey. She’d think I’d really lost it since she doesn’t want me like that.
“Are you feeling alright, boss?” Steven asks. I look up to see him standing at my door with the lunch I ordered. I’m not even hungry. My mind swims with ideas of all the things I could do to my little Doll, but if I stay, I might let it slip that I want more than just a contract. I slipped up this morning. Every time we talk she mentions how temporary our situation is and it sets me off into a jealous, possessive frenzy. I should leave and spend the day with her so she can see the best of me, but she’s not interested in it.
“I definitely need my head checked. I need to get out of here for the day. Still, I’ll be in tomorrow.” My fingers spear through my hair, feeling like I could use a trim. That’s what I can do today. I head straight to my usual place and get it trimmed. When I step inside, I see Preston.
“What is up my friend? You look like shit, and you’re not at work.”
“I need a haircut.” I point to my disheveled hair.
“No. It’s more than that. You’ve been avoiding our calls. Stefano says he hasn’t heard from you since you were at your appointment. Did you go through with the plan?”
“Not exactly. I’ve selected the woman already.” I don’t want to share Gwendolyn with anyone yet.
“Oh, so you haven’t sealed the deal.”
“We’ll talk about it later. I have to get my hair cut and then get back to work.” The girl who cuts my hair prepares the chair. “Just a trim, Mr. Masterson?”
“Yes, please, Jill.” She nods and gets to cutting. I’m a very private person, so I let her tell me about her kids and husband. She owns the place and works a lot to give her kids whatever she can.
