"Good morning!" says Georgina with unusual verve. She swings into the conference room in her usual drab fare, hair still damp at the ends. She doesn't look hungover in the least. She doesn't look like last night, she laid herself before me, and let me touch her until she came."How are you, Mr. Platton?"I find myself smiling mildly. "Satisfied," I say, amused at her jolted expression. "And you, Ms. Felton?""Very — well," she stammers, quickly trying to compose herself. She sets up her workspace hastily, twice dropping a pen she has to scramble under the conference room table to recover. "Have all your guests left?""Most are in town. They'll hang around a bit before flying back." I lean my chin on my hand, observing her with interest. My jealous rage at seeing her with Blake last night is almost entirely eclipsed by the memory of what I did to her. Almost."What were you doing last night, by the way? In all of the... fervor, I didn't get to ask. Did you feel like taking a late-night
The days after the party pass without conflict. Slowly, Richard's guests begin to leave the island, after stopping in throughout the week for meals, drinks, tennis, beach visits and sailing excursions. Richard is slick with all of them, a monolith of unshakeable wealth, taste, and power.But he's not without cause.Slowly, he incorporates my advice and direction into his conversation with the rich and famous. He's been keeping a finger on the pulse of the markets, cushioning blows to his own stocks while prowling for new investments. He's born for it, with an arsenal of knowledge that leaves me stunned, and a keen instinct that continues to justify his unimaginable wealth.But understanding that caring for the public will help his image, he's gotten loads of his fancy friends to direct funding to areas in need. I think it's all about the good press — but maybe, just maybe, deep down Richard Platton does care about others. It's far too early to tell, but the benefit of his donations do
"Blake, hm?" I prompt, lounging in the parlor with a glass of whiskey.Georgina, having just crept up from the servant's quarters, freezes dead, like a teenager caught sneaking out the window. She wears a modest, floral dress in blue. Her hair is down and flowing freely, and she looks utterly beguiling in the dark.Caught, she surrenders and pads into the parlor, pouring herself a whiskey and topping mine off before sitting near — but not beside — me on the long white sofa. "It was just a date," she says softly."And how did it go?" I ask, recalling our conversation in the water that day, which was only a few weeks ago, but feels like years. "Did you have the chemistry needed?"Georgina blushes deeply but doesn't avert her eyes. She's getting used to my goading, it would seem. "Honestly? Not really."Why don't I believe her? I sip my drink, looking out the windows at the dark swell of the sea. Lightning illuminates a distant bank of thunderheads, drawing slowly, imperiously, nearer. A
His room seems even bigger than it did that drunken night. I hover in the doorway in my dress and cheap heels, trying not to tremble. He paces out of the bathroom, loosening his tie, casting it onto a chaise longue in the corner."Come," he repeats, gesturing for me to go to him.I know I'm insane. I've lost my mind. Out of control — something I know I have never been.But I go to him.He stands before me, unbuttoning his shirt, expression shadowed and controlled, eyes blazing. "Lie on the bed."My heart lurches. "Mr. Platton — ""The bed."Pulse vibrating in every vein, I do as he says, retreating to the expansive bed, set with beautiful cream-colored linen fabrics, and sit."Good." He slides the collared shirt off, revealing that glowing, impossibly flawless body. I bite my cheek hard, but with nothing else to do or say or look at, I can't help but drink him in. Ripped chest, stacked abs, a prominent V curving... "Go on."I look up at his face, startled, as he approaches me. He take
Georgina Felton is a very bad habit.I've slept with dozens of assistants. They do for a week or two, until their needs eclipse the pleasure of the chase and conquering. Then it's all about what are we, really? And what am I to you? And who is she?Georgina never asks any of these questions.Why?I take her to bed night after night, each one better than the last. She learns very quickly. I knew quickly that she was competent in her work, that in PR and philanthropy, she knew control and every rule. But in sex, she is new and demure. Every climax she has feels like a point won, new territory plundered.But she isn't always shy in the sheets. I see the subtle change in her. Soon enough, she is asking for what she wants — yes, there deeper, harder fuck me right here, Mr. Platton — and better, what I want.But still, never once does she ask what we are, or how I feel about her. Why?And why, when I see her walking or chatting with Blake Tanner of all people, am I filled with inexplicable,
He yanks my bikini bottoms to my thighs, thrusting himself inside of me before I can catch my breath.When he takes me like this, I know it's because he can think of nothing else. He'll go mad with it, his want for me. But it's just who Richard Platton is. A conqueror. A man atop an empire.And yet, and yet — the longer I stay with him, working day in and day out, sleeping in his bed, in his arms, the more I learn there is more to him than meets the eye. Not too deep beneath the surface, there's a man of real passion. A man with a soft and wounded heart, conditioned by a life of materialism and reverence. His beauty and power have placed him too far above the world, but some things bring him down.I bring him down, in a way he can't possibly like. With me, in quiet moments, he's vulnerable.He's a man I know, stupidly, I could fall in love with.This man is easier. The man who commands me, who fucks me dizzy, whose objective is to break me with my own pleasure.This I can handle. This
"It's incredible," she whispers, trailing behind me in the moonlit sand. "Like a fairytale."A small, grudging smile stirs my lips. "Always the romance with you. For someone so stubbornly dug in against love, you certainly have an obsession with it."She blushes deeply, rose coloring her cheeks even in the nighttime darkness. She wears shorts and a hoodie, her long hair loose and flowing. What is she thinking, I wonder? Does she know what's coming? Does she know I have no choice but to send her away? My resentment grows every day. The sex, though I crave it, has slowed.Because it's not enough, and the realization terrifies me. I want more than just her body and her pleasure. I want...Her.She turns her face to the water, the ghost of a smile on her lips. I could see her here forever, the mistress of my island, the benevolent, soft-edged queen of my empire.Marriage. A thought that only recently filled me with disgust and loathing, But looking at her, this strange woman who has adapt
His touch is impossibly tender.He enters me as though I'm made of glass, his rhythm easy and slow and deep. I let him pin my arms above my head, moaning as the cold tide rushes over my ankles and his, his body an inferno against mine, a protective flame in the cool night.His free hand braces against my hip, palm burning against my skin as he does as I asked — as he makes love to me. My cries fill the night, my body lit and electric, every nerve awake and alive like they've never been. He presses his mouth to my neck, his breath burning, his tongue branding.When he finally releases my hands, I slide them into his curls, meeting his dark, moonlit eyes as our pleasure begins to mount in tandem. He deepens his thrusts, every inch of him igniting every inch of me.The words leave my lips as the orgasm catches me like a slow, unstoppable riptide. "I love you,"I gasp, the desperate sound of my voice lost to the velvet roar of the Ocean, to the groan of his pleasure as he comes inside of
The weeks passed, and after confirmation from the doctor, they set to work decorating one of the rooms into a nursery. They went for neutral colors and gave Logan free rein to help them decorate. He had an artistic eye, and Norman loved seeing the boy come out of his shell. During the decorating of the nursery, it sank in that he was going to have a baby.They were going to have a tiny little life in their hands. It wasn't about being a father, or for Sasha a mother, as they already felt that way for Logan. He'd spoken with Sasha about it, and she had the same thoughts and fears as he did.Norman knew he hadn't made a mistake with Sasha. Not only did he love her, but she was a fantastic mom, and she knew exactly what to say and do to help Logan along the way. Therewere moments, late at night, where he'd still have nightmares.She never once shouted at him. Instead, she'd nurture him, and love him.Once the nursery was complete, they went shopping, letting Logan pick some of the stuff
Two weeks after purchasing the house, they had Logan officially adopted. Norman took as much time away from the office as he could. Sasha went to the office between school hours, completing his work for him. He didn't want her to hire anyone else. Another two weeks after they had Logan, their house was available, and they moved in on that weekend. Her parents came to help as much as they could.They looked after Logan while she and Norman organized movers. They had her mother's slow-cooked pulled pork for dinner rather than have takeout.For an entire weekend, they got the house exactly as they wanted, starting with the bedrooms, and bathroom. Time seemed to move quickly but smoothly where life just played out.Logan came out of his shell, and completely animated their lives. She loved him like he was her own son. He talked constantly about what he loved, which bands he enjoyed listening to. It was fun getting to find out what food he liked as well. He didn't like broccoli, which was
Norman watched as Sasha kissed Logan's cheek, wrapping him up in his new jacket. Each time they brought him back to the foster home, the harder it was to leave him behind.There had been a snag with the adoption, but Shannon was dealing with it.There had to be an assessment done on Logan to make sure he wanted to live with them.Their backgrounds had come back fine, and Shannon assured him it was just down to paperwork. One department needing to talk to another, and rather than phone calls, they had to do it in paper. He was used to problems like this.Logan threw his arms around Sasha, holding her close.She was so beautiful, and she took his breath away. They had been together for a little over a month now. A month of being married, and he loved her ever more.Shannon nodded at him, taking hold of Logan's hand as Sasha came back to him."I hate this. I hate leaving him.""We'll have him soon. I've already got my lawyers working on speeding up the process." He handed her some leafle
Sasha watched as Norman spoke with his clients. It had been a week since he'd asked her about Logan. Things were moving slowly with Logan, but Shannon was reassured that they would be able to have him by next week. Until then, they both went and visited, getting Logan used to them.The boys with Logan weren't angry or upset that he was coming home with them. In fact, they were damn happy. She was shocked by the love the boys showed Logan, and she was proud.The workplace gossip had died down now. No one was whispering behind their hands, looking at them, and laughing. It was the laughter she'd hated more than anything. Norman wouldn't let them hide their relationship anymore, and for that she was glad. She'd never enjoyed hiding that part of herself, and it never felt natural for her to."Here you go," Lottie said, interrupting her."So sorry, I was away in a different land there," she said, taking the mail from her."Marriage must really suit you.""Why do you say that?""You're pract
"Norman, this is my mom and dad, Emma and Harold Miller," Sasha said.The two people were a lot older than Norman imagined, but he saw that they were loving, caring people. The kindness in their eyes showed through. While he'd been participating in this yearly event of torture, "taste the food", he'd noticed her parents arrive. The care they gave to each child was something he admired."Hello, it's great to meet you," he said."It's about damn time we met you. Been married for what? A month or so, and we're only getting to meet you now. It's a disgrace.""Dad, stop it," Sasha said, chuckling. "We've been busy, and we both know you'd have needed to calm down before you could even accept him into your life.""Yeah, well, a father is still allowed to be ... annoyed."Norman smiled as he noticed Harold hesitated before saying something, making sure kids didn't hear any cussing words.According to Shannon, the event was a roaring success. Norman would double, maybe even triple, his donatio
That Saturday, Sasha stayed beside Norman, holding onto his arm as they were surrounded by congratulations. She didn't miss the questioning looks that some were throwing their way. There was no mistaking their confused thoughts. They were all wondering why he was with her.Norman, though, he was so different. The kids from over ten different foster homes in the area had turned up at the school for a day of fun. Every year Norman would donate money to the school so that he could host these events. The previous four years she had stayed in the background, playing her part but never really getting too close.This year was different. Norman grabbed her arm, holding up their hands, and announcing to the whole event that they were husband and wife. He didn't address anyone but the kids."Kids, listen up. Something is a little different this year. You see this beautiful lady by my side?""She's your PA," one kid said."Now she's my wife. Sasha accepted my proposal.""Does that mean you're in
Later that night, Norman was waiting for Sasha to finish in the shower. He would join her, but he had plans with her, and he intended to carry them out. After he'd escorted her to the human resources department for the two of them to change their marital status, and also her name, his building was humming with gossip.Martha and Lottie took the time to stop by her desk to ask about the details of what was going on. When she had looked toward him, he'd gone to help her, letting them know that they couldn't stop love.Norman stared at his reflection in one of the mirrors, and then stared down at his wedding band.Love.He'd never felt it before in his life. The people in his world didn't deserve love, and he didn't really believe in it either. At least, he hadn't.No, he didn't love Sasha.Love was just an element of control that people used.He believed in sex.Sasha came out of the bathroom dressed in a towel."Why did you take my nightshirt?""Why would I want you dressed?" He ran hi
"Please tell me he's a meat eater?" her mother, Emma, asked."Yes, Norman likes meat."Sasha sat outside of the office building, eating a sandwich. Norman was on a very important conference call. She made sure he had some lunch and decided to eat hers outside on one of the walls, watching the hustle and bustle of the city life go by."Good, good. I have no problem with people being vegetarian, or whatever they want to call it. Just not for me. A meal is not a meal without some meat.""There are a lot of people who will disagree. I like vegetarian food. You should make the lasagna. Amazing."She heard her mother's scoff. "Can you imagine me feeding Harold a vegetarian lasagna?""Nope. Dad wouldn't talk to you for weeks.""Now that you say that, I may just make it for him."Sasha started laughing. Her mother and father loved each other very much. "How much does he know of... my arrangement?""He knows everything, sweetie. You know I don't keep things like that from your father."Sasha g
One glorious week had passed. Norman stared out of his office window, and couldn't keep the smile from his face. He was married, and slowly, he was moving Sasha into his place. Their wedding hadn't been a big deal.No white dress, no flowers, no guests. Like Sasha wanted, they'd gone down to the courtrooms during a break, and simply gotten married, signed the paperwork, sealed it all up, and he'd placed a ring on her finger. It had to be one of the coldest moments of his life. Then he recalled Sasha's smile, and nothing had been cold about that day. They all had to make sacrifices, and she was giving up her life to be with him.There had been a few minor setbacks. She didn't want anyone to know that he was married in the office, so the ring he wore was around his neck attached to a necklace. Sasha wouldn't wear her ring either, which pissed him the fuck off.She belonged to him. They were in the process of making a baby together, and they were husband and wife. It would only be a matt