On a warm summer night, tucked in the seedy corner club-packed backstreet of 4th avenue, pop music blasted from within through the half-open doors and broken windows. Clubbers danced toward the bar, where a lone bartender served drinks and left a glass or two of cheap whiskey or bottles of beer. Red and blue florescent lights dimly illuminated the worn-out tables and chairs on which patrons sat, some clubbers swayed drunkenly to the music while others sat in groups tossing back their drinks.
Among these, on a stool in front of the bar counter was a blond girl with her head bent over her bottle of untouched beer. She was a lone clubber. She shouldn’t be here, she knew that yet what choice did she have?
Her boyfriend – if she could even call him that anymore – had broken things off that earlier that day. Why?
Well because tomorrow she would be sold off to her father’s choice of a husband for her. It was all part of the job. As long as it benefits the “family” she had to do it. She had to marry her suitor. It could be an old man, a madman, or a 6-year-old boy, as long as father had the necessary connection to become fully legitimate, marriage to her suitor was necessary.
Slender fingers curved around the cold beer bottle and remained there. So lost in her thought was the blond girl that she didn’t notice she had company. Someone slid onto the squeaky stool beside her. It wasn’t until his rich perfume wafted into her nose that she lifted her head. But she didn’t look at him, she kept her eyes lowered. She wanted to be alone right now.
“Lonely?” came a rich baritone from beside her. “Let me guess, boyfriend walked out on you or you caught him cheating?”
Against her wish to not talk to anyone she lifted her eyes to his face. She paused.
He was beautiful. His gray eyes were dark in the full lights but she could see the twinkle in them, the danger and mystery in those eyes framed by long lashes drew her to them. His 5 o’clock stubble outlined a strong square jaw and high cheekbones and his lips were plump. She knew she was staring but she couldn’t help it when his gaze held hers boldly.
The man smiled slightly. He was aware of his raw rugged handsomeness. His gaze fell from her face to the beer she was clutching. He raised one thick dark brow.
The blond girl looked away. Her heart was racing and this was the first time it ever raced for a man, one she barely even knew for that matter.
“You know if you’re planning on getting drunk you need something stronger.” His dark eyes lifted to her face again. “Although you don’t look legal for whiskey.”
At this, she scoffed. “I am 18.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Fair enough.” Raising a hand he drew the attention of the overworked bartender who came running toward him and gave him his order. A moment later the bartender was back with an expensive-looking dark bottle and two glasses. While the man poured out the whiskey the blond girl watched him. She noticed the expensive diamond tie tack and the equally costly watch around his wrist. If this was a “work night” and this man was a “target” she would have relieved him of his expensive possessions and left the club before he blinked. She was that good at her “job” which was why she wondered why he wanted to marry her off.
“Here.” The man slid the drink toward her. She reached out impulsively, drawn by the raw magnetic pull of his strong voice, and took the glass from him. Their fingers brushed as she took the glass from him and raw need tingled from her fingers to her belly, twirling at the bottom of her belly. The man felt it too, he felt the attraction and for a moment he simply stared, enthralled by this blonde’s beauty.
He had seen her almost as soon as she arrived, and had watched her walk fluidly, almost unnoticed, to the stool on which she now sat. Innocent blue eyes trapped in a sinfully beautiful face drew him to her. He had waited an hour before making his move. Now he wasn’t so sure if that was the right move. She was just 18.
Yet she had deeply, worldly blue eyes and the full figure of a trained escort.
She took the glass of whiskey from him and boldly took a gulp only to sputter and cough violently. He was up on his feet before he knew it, offering a napkin which he grabbed from the counter. She was coughing in between choked-out laughter. He found himself smiling and leaning close until he could see the light of awareness in her eyes at their proximity. Neither of them pulled back. Her laughter died in her throat and in its place was a look of innocent curiosity. He heard her draw in a breath a moment before she leaned forward and took his lips with hers. The suddenness of it caused his eyes to widen.
The blond girl didn’t know why she kissed this man, but kissing him while slightly dazed by the alcohol stinging her nostrils seemed like the cure for her pathetic state right now. And when his strong arms closed around her, slightly lifting her off the stool, to kiss her back, she let him. He tasted of whiskey and male. Pure, smooth, and masculine. He moaned into her mouth and urged her lips apart to deepen the kiss. She clutched his shoulder tightly, fearing she would tip backward and fall. This was new to her. Sure she had been kissed before but this was…what this man was doing with his tongue and lips was magical. His tongue delved into her mouth, tangling with hers, filling her with more and more of him. When he pulled back slightly she followed his mouth and stopped just shy of kissing him again.
His thumb came to her mouth and began a slow caress of her lips. She parted her lips again, feeling bold by his boldness.
“Which is it?”
Instinctively she knew he was referring to the question he first asked her. She should lie to him, tell him she was taken to save herself from getting consumed by his heat but she wanted to know more, wanted to dove more into the sinful pleasures he offered.
“Neither,” she whispered. Her voice was husky. Somewhere at the back of her mind, she realized with disappointment that it was the same voice she used on her “targets”. But this was not one of her targets, this was a stranger, a dangerous stranger. She was intrigued.
The man wet his lips. “I have reservations in…”
“Let’s go.”
They wasted no time getting into his car parked in the littered car park behind the club. The blond girl sat in front with the man, excitement and adrenaline running through her veins. She could feel the excitement thrumming the air between them. The man sat stiffly in the driver’s seat, guiding the car on the road, deftly avoiding drunken people making out on the side of the road. He did nothing to hide the bulge in his trousers.
The girl took a deep breath. Tonight…she was acting on impulse.
They got to the hotel and stumbled into the room. The man turned to turn the lights on and the girl hooked her fingers beneath her shirt and pulled it over her head. She heard his sharp intake of breath when he saw her bare breasts fall free. She was well aware of how endowed she was. It was why daddy sent her on formal missions because rich old money tycoons could never look away from her breasts. But this man, the look in his eyes was more than pure lust and she shivered under his dark gaze.
He closed the distance between them, hooked his index beneath her chin, and lifted her face until she was looking into his eyes. She wrapped her arms around him, caressing the hard back beneath his black shirt.
“You are young,” he said. More like a warning to himself than to her.
The girl wondered how old he was. It was hard to tell when he looked so good. His olive skin gleamed under the light so did his raven-black hair. Never had she seen anyone so handsome. This handsome stranger was now bending toward her breast, drawing one nipple into his mouth. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp as shivers raced through her body. His wet tongue dabbed over her sensitive nipple causing her to rise on her toes. Strong, lean fingers opened the button of her jeans and slipped in to caress her soft wet heat. She clenched her thighs together in an attempt to stop the tremors rippling through her but the man parted her thighs, grabbed her hips, and tugged until she was straddling his waist and throwing her arms around his neck. His mouth never left her breast and he devoured her mercilessly until she began to squirm for release.
She felt her back pressed up against the wall.
“This is wrong,” the man murmured against her breast, his lips skimmed the curve of her neck and captured her mouth again.
“It feels right,” she said. How naïve.
In an instant, her jeans were rushed off and pulled around her ankles. The man pulled back long enough to release his thick veined cock before lifting her again to slide into her hot, wet pussy. He suddenly halted when his cock head came in contact with something he hadn’t expected to find.
“You’re a virgin.”
He started to slide out before the damage was done but she wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, twisting her hips to pull him in. His breath was strained, he was trying hard to keep from thrusting in.
“Please don’t stop,” she begged. “Don’t,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Darling, you shouldn’t give away something so precious…not to a man like me.”
“I don’t care, I want this,” she cried. “I want you.”
He stared at her, looking into her beautiful blue eyes, those eyes begged him, seduced him. Her gaze dropped to his mouth and she shyly licked her lips before pleading again.
“Please?”
The innocence and softness of her voice led him on. As he thrust in he felt her stiffen as her maidenhead gave way.
“It’s okay,” he whispered against her temple, holding himself still so that she could enjoy the moment as much as he was. “Relax, sweetie.”
And she did. She relaxed and twisted her hips, moaning when that drew him deeper into her.
The man groaned. Using the wall to support her weight he pulled back and thrust even deeper, she rewarded him with another drawn-out moan, urging him to thrust again and again and again, matching his thrust with her hips.
He couldn’t hold back anymore. He captured her lips with his, pumping his hips between her legs, feeling her tightness release and close around him rhythmically.
“You are amazing, so amazing, darling. Fuck me, sweetie, yes that’s it…find your pleasure.”
She tore her mouth away from his when the pressure in her clit became too much to bear. As her pussy tightened preparing for release she cried out, fingers pulling his hair as her toes curled and her insides shook deliciously.
“Oh God,” she moaned. “I love you. I love you.”
The man paused but in the next moment, he was pumping harder into her until he found his release moaning and jerking inside her.
That man was Noel Greer and the girl was Penelope Quinn.
Penelope grabbed her purse off the dresser. Meeting with a client in an hour. She was the boss, she called called the meeting as CEO and owner of Exquisite, her modeling and advertising agency company and she had one rule. Punctuality. Her business was her baby and she would not let anything destroy it or take it away from her. She wasn’t called Ice Queen for nothing. As she prepared for another day of success the door downstairs opened and Nancy, her maid who works five days of the week, climbed up the stairs to her room with the subtlety of an elephant in a circus. She opened the door and paused at the doorway eyes widening. Even after working for Penelope c for years, she still could not get used to the woman’s punctuality. She was a perfectionist in every way. “Good morning, Miss Quinn.” Penelope merely nodded never looking away from her reflection in the mirror. A light touch of concealer hid the circles around her eyes. She had stayed awake the night before working on new des
Noel Greer… it brought back memories. 10 years ago, she had woken up beside him in the hotel. He was asleep and with his eyes closed, dark lashes fell over beautiful olive skin stretched over defined cheekbones. His full lips were relaxed and full and Penny yearned to reach over and kiss him. His strong, lean muscled body was stretched out on the bed, reminding her of a powerful panther leisurely sunbathing under the dim lights of the room, the red bedsheets heightened the lure of his tanned skin. She bit her lip shyly allowing her gaze trail down his hard shoulders to the solid wall of the chest that had crushed her breasts while he thrust inside her several times that night. She blushed and her gaze trailed lower to the washboard abs and even lower to the thick cock that drew her gaze magnetically. Even flaccid, it was huge. A blush crept up her neck and she looked away. She remembered thinking with excitement and guilt, Father would be appalled to know I was naked in bed with a co
The 20-floor building of steel, glass and concrete loomed ahead surrounded by equally large office complexes. In front of the building, written in cut-out 3d glass prints were the name: Greer Global Enterprise. He owned the biggest steel company in the city possibly the entire state. The Interior was every bit as imposing as the outside. The word in the street was Greer expected total commitment, hard work and loyalty from his employees and judging by the serious faces of workers behind glass cubicles and hardwood desks, that much was true. Rumors were that Noel spent his days and nights behind the closed doors of his office plotting the downfall of many rivals. And when he wasn’t doing that he was charming women, finding new wives, divorcing them and dating models. That much I can believe, Penny thought to herself. The elevator stopped at the 10th floor. A blonde lady in a pantsuit and white silk blouse stepped out from behind the desk in the waiting room in front of Noel’s offic
Her blood ran cold. Her legs wouldn’t take another step but she found the strength to slowly turn around mid-step to see that Noel was no longer leaning against the desk. He had moved a few feet towards her and was watching her reaction to his words with heat and pride burning in his eyes. The office suddenly felt small. The desk, chairs, and beeping computers displaying stocks and trade information suddenly cramped the space. Her throat was tight as she regarded the man she once fooled herself she loved. “What did you just say?” she asked slowly. “You heard me,” was his firm reply. Tears stung her eyes as she opened her mouth to defend her father, a man who had once gladly offered to sell her off to Noel Greer because he wanted to be recognized. Noel Greer was a new name at the time, a rising star to look out for and Hubert Nowak had seized the opportunity to ensnare him into marriage with her. “My father is an artist. He made his living replicating famous paintings, everyone know
Penelope held her breath until she walked into her car. Once she was behind the wheel, she clutched it in her hand so tight that her claws were white and forced herself to calm down. How had she forgotten about the wives he had after their disastrous wedding day? She had seen them all in celebrity lifestyle shows and magazines. His wife. The second. The third. Then there were the girlfriends. And every time she convinced herself she didn’t love him anymore. She would attend events on the arms of wealthy men, models and actors. And she would look across to see Noel with a new woman on his arm, force herself to smile and try to forget about him. And it seemed to her that he appeared in every event she was. It hurt that while she was still pining after him he didn’t care. Now he waltz into her life and demand her back?Why had she signed the papers anyway?She would have to find a lawyer who would help her dissolve the marriage. Once again they would be married for only a few hours. May
Evangeline led them through the many galleries, showing them the usual stuff, saving the best for the last. They had a good share of some of Monet’s works and Van Gogh’s self-portrait. She showed them some of the bronze and brass works. The group was impatient she knew they wouldn’t try to hurry her along to the Camelornian collection. They had to pretend to have superficial knowledge of art and ancient culture nodded and followed her. The most impatient of the group though was the pregnant woman. It frustrated Evangeline because she would have preferred if the handsome stranger was beside her instead of the woman. The blow of her fan lifted strands of Evangeline’s hair into her face. “And here we have Van Gogh’s Starry night…” “Lady we are not here to see the Starry night, we want to see the Camelornian diamonds, the pregnant woman suddenly blurted. Suddenly the other tourists with pinched faces broke into agreement with her. “And we will get to that ma’am,” Evangeline forced her
Penny’s heart almost stopped beating. Warning alarms set off in her head.Noel had promised to call. Having unceremoniously signed new wedding papers, missing his calls wasn’t going to earn her any brownie points.She snatched her bag from Albert. “And you just decided to tell me?!” she shrieked aghast that he hadn’t said anything about it before now.Albert was stiff and though his face gave nothing away his eyes were cold. “Why is he calling you?”“None of your business.”“He gave you up on the altar years ago and called you names you don’t deserve, why should he be calling you? I thought you were done with him?”“Since when did you become my father, Albert? I do not answer to you so remember your place. You work for my father and I am his daughter.”“And if you must come back to the family you can drag the past here with you.”“You dragged me here, Albert. You brought me here so deal with whatever I bring!”Albert looked like he wanted to say something. Penny suspected he had a lot
But Albert had barely even left the room when Hubert turned on his daughter with spiteful eyes.“But look at you,” his voice was hard with accusation. “You don’t look like you are suffering like the family you left behind. How long did you have to open your legs and to how many men?!” Penny’s spine went straight. “Everything I have I worked hard with my sweat and blood despite the hardship, despite everything. If you are bitter about my success then maybe you shouldn’t have sent for me!” She took pleasure in the widening of his eyes. Biting back a small smile she continued in the same stern voice. “I am not the little girl I was when I left, dad. Now, will you tell me what you want from me? I have a company to grow.”It took him a while to get over her words. It was nice to see Hubert Nowak speechless for a change. But she couldn’t take full satisfaction though, not when his eyes were so hollow. He sat back in his chair and looked at her mother before reaching a hand out to take hers
“Henry Maxime?” Penny nodded her head at Jay. It was almost midnight when she called him to tell him she would be coming back to work the next day. She hadn’t known it was that late but Jay had promised to arrive early the next day, regardless. He was concerned about her health and hoped that she would be well quick enough to fully return to the office. The phone lines were blowing up, he told her. There were campaigns all lined up and people ready to partner with them. Penny knew stalling her business was dangerous but right now all she really cared about was getting to the bottom of her problems. What good was her business if someone said a word to expose her past bringing her into the terrible limelight? She had to gain the upper hand. And fast. “What do you know about him?” “Never even heard that name before.” She eyed him suspiciously. “You want me to believe you have never heard of the underground dealer who sells expensive jewelry? Where do we get our jewelry, James?” “Pen
“There is paradise?”When Chantelle’s response to her morose question was to frown, narrowing her eyes Penny forced a smile and rolled over to the other side to hide her face. But Chantelle wasn’t having any of that. She sat on the bed and leaned over her body to look into her face.“You are not exactly a sunny sky on a normal day but you are a lot more melancholic than normal.”“Thanks?”Chantelle snorted. “You are deflecting. What happened?”“I don’t know what you are talking about.”“Penny you are not my boss anymore. You came to my house asking us to be friends and friends share problems in case you did not know that. I have seen you at your best and your worst,” Chantelle offered a smile. “Mostly your worst but…this side of you is new and weird.”Penny turned on her back and said nothing.“First you said you were going to see your parents who were sick and the next thing I know I was reading about your marriage that you said nothing about. I know you have always been a private pe
“Penny?” The voice came from far off. She squinted her eyes open and shut them almost immediately when the light in the room caused pain to shoot through her head. She wasn’t alone in the room. A small groan escaped her lips. “Take it easy.” A large, warm hand came to rest on her head. What was he doing here? “How do you feel?” She felt like hell but talking felt like too much effort so she just shook her head slowly from left to right. “You should go back to sleep.” She didn’t want to go back to sleep feeling so unguarded. She forced her eyes open and looked into his face. His brows were knit together in a frown and his mouth was set in a grim hard line. “W-What are you doing here?” “I was worried about you,” Noel responded. He climbed into the bed to sit beside her. Penny tried to pull herself up on her elbow but ended up flopping on the bed again so he leaned forward and assisted her, pushing pillows behind her neck to support her head. “I called, but you weren't picking up.”
The fingerprint.Her head ached as the thought of what that single fingerprint could do to her made her flight miserable. She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t eat a single bite. Her belly clenched as nausea from her recklessness overwhelmed her. What else did they have that could bring her doom?That’s right! She thought as her heart fell to the pit of her belly. They had found the ring in the hotel she spent with Noel. All they needed was a time frame to put her in Foreda at the time of the theft and her world would come crashing down on her head. No two fingerprints were the same. She was destined to be doomed. All her efforts in the last 10 years would amount to nothing. She was her father’s daughter. She had two choices. Become a fugitive like him or surrender herself to the police. None of them appealed to her but if things got worse, she would give up her freedom and live her life in prison forever if that was where she would find her peace.When the plane landed at midnight she hai
What am I doing? She wondered to herself. It was past midnight when she arrived in Foreda. So far there was no reason to panic. She wasn’t being followed and she hoped it would remain that way until she left Foreda back to Port.Foreda was just as busy a place as Port was so finding a taxi was not difficult.“Your destination ma’am?”“I need a hotel for the night. Do you know any cheap ones around?”“Sure, ma’am.” The driver was polite and quiet throughout the ride. He dropped her off at a small hotel. A teenager was smoking a cigarette behind the desk.“What do you want?”“Do you have a room for the night?”“Just you?”“Yes.”As the girl checked the key panel she made a passing glance at Penny’s way and narrowed her eyes.“You look familiar.”Penny offered her a thin smile. “I get that a lot.”“I don’t doubt that. You’ve got a pretty face on you. A quick warning though our hotel policy does not permit sex trade so if that’s what you’re here ya gonna have to find a new place.”Penny h
Stefan was in his motel room in Port when he read the story in the papers. It was strange. Why would the thief return the ring? It was a statement and he had to know what it meant. His Chief was breathing down his neck about coming back to Laod. There was a lot of work to do.He read through the report in his hand again. The local airport was hiding something and someone powerful was behind it. He had to find out who it was. Like the Foreda police, he too had come to the same conclusion; the cases were similar. It was a long shot but his instincts told him so. He would go to Foreda, find out what he could, and head back to Laod to continue his investigation. Johann, his junior officer was finally making himself useful. He had interviewed one witness from the coffee shop who identified an accent from the blonde man. That was not much but it was enough to narrow things down.He would compare notes when he returned. He couldn’t wait to return. He hated Port. It was a busy place of power-
Her heart leaped in her chest. Penny did not want to think about what that meant. While they waited for Benedict to make his way from the reception to her office, Jay stood up and placed both hands on the glass table as he stared down at Penelope with worry.“You are still going ahead with the divorce then?”“I wouldn’t hire Benedict if I wasn’t.”“It is going to be messy.”Penelope gave him a droll stare. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do, Jay.” A small smile lifted her lips. “Don’t forget I am still the Dragon Lady and the Ice Queen with the frozen pussy in this business.”He smiled and pushed off the table. “I was beginning to worry about that.”Just then there was a knock on her door. Her heart leaped excitedly in her chest. “Come in.”Benedict pushed the door open and peeped in. “I am not interrupting anything am I?”She was breathless when she responded. “The receptionist would not let you through if you were. Come in, Benedict. Jay?”“I’ll take my leave. By the way, I hav
She woke up the next morning to the sound of the waves crashing against the ship. When her eyes fluttered open she found Noel laying on his side watching her with a look she never saw before in his eyes. His dark eyes were settled on her lips and when he saw she was awake he leaned down to kiss her soundly on her lips. Her hand came up as she buried her fingers in his hair to hold him closer.He moved back a little and wrinkled his nose. “Morning breath is not my favorite thing.”“And I’m guessing watching people sleep like a very normal person is your favorite thing to do?”He tapped her nose with his index finger. “It’s a habit we have in common.”She blushed as she recalled what he was referring to. After their first night together she had allowed herself to observe his body unaware that he knew what she was doing. Apparently, he had been doing the same.Although, when she looked down she couldn’t help laughing when she saw that she was still dressed although her gown was bunched a
They were in each other's arms kissing desperately as though scared the moment would end with their demons and mistrust for each other rising to the surface to separate them. Tongue, lips, and hands connected bringing them even closer until their pent-up desire flamed hot enough to sing them both to ashes. Noel released her for only a second to search her face. There was no resistance, none that could have separated him from her that night. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply again, sweeping his tongue against hers to taste the sweet champagne in her mouth. It made him heady and dizzy with desire for her. His hands swept the curve of her spine, down to her ass where he gripped her and pulled her close so she feel his desire for her."Do we have a room?" Penny asked against his lips. Her hand cupped his chin and her long fingers were lost in his hair. "I booked two - one for you and the other for me...""Take me to yours," she whispered and kissed him once. Then aga