After hours of driving, Susan’s eyes were growing heavy, and her head occasionally leaned against the seat as the warmth from the coffee began to wear off. Leo noticed, his voice softer as he said, “Close your eyes if you want. We’ll be there soon.”Susan hesitated but eventually let herself relax, lulled by the steady rhythm of the car, Leo’s presence beside her, and the distant lights that grew brighter as they neared their destination.When she woke, the sun was beginning to rise, casting a pale orange glow across the Atlantic City skyline. The glittering lights of the casinos and high-rise hotels lit up the early morning sky, and Leo’s steady voice brought her fully back to reality. “We’re here,” he said, a hint of amusement in his tone as he glanced at her sleepy expression.Susan sat up, rubbing her eyes. The vibrant city stretched before them, promising all the glitz and glamour she’d heard about. She felt a surge of excitement mixed with trepidation as Leo navigated the car in
Leo guided her over to the bed, and together they sank into its softness, their arms tangled as he leaned in to kiss her again. Leo fought to understand what the hell was going on with him when it came to this woman, but he couldn’t pull himself away and he didn't want to. Their lips made a soft smooching sound in the room. Their tongues met and dueled. He noticed she was more confident and much more passionate, willing to meet him halfway and demand her due. “You're wearing way too many clothes. Maybe I need to get you out of them.” He said. Her smile lit up the entire room. Then her eyes glinted and her smile turned mischievous. She put her hands to his shoulders and pushed until he reclined on the bed. “Yes I agree, but so are you. Granted you have more experience with these matters than I do, but maybe I should be in charge this time. You never know what I'm capable of when I put my mind to it.”He lifted an eyebrow but his eyes gleamed devilishly. “That’s an arrogant statem
She gripped his shoulders and began lifting herself out of his hands, pushing downward, harder and faster until she rode him as surely as he would a steed. Unable to keep the position any longer, he lay back, hitting the mattress as she came down over him. He helped her, but she was a wild thing in his arms, her hips undulating as she took him over and over. Leo had never been so aroused by a woman. He’d never thought a woman so beautiful or giving. He’d never wanted a woman as he wanted her. His release boiled in his loins, rising like a tumultuous storm. Building, burning. Oh God, he wouldn’t last. He slid his hand between their bodies, finding her slick heat. He stroked her pleasure spot and shuddered in ecstasy when she tightened spasmodically around him. “I can’t last,” he cried hoarsely. “Then let go,” she said. She leaned down and cupped his face in her hands. “I’ll be here to catch you.” Her sweetness flooded his soul. With a strangled gasp, he let go and arched up
“I want to take you like this, Suzy. Like a stallion covering a mare. Would you like that?” She closed her eyes and let her chin fall to her chest as she sucked in deep, steadying breaths through her nose. “Yes,” she whispered. Her knees trembled and threatened to buckle underneath her. She braced her palms against the bed in an effort to keep from falling. She felt extremely vulnerable in this position. She had no defense. He could take her as he liked, do anything he wanted, and there was nothing she could do. Again his hand smoothed over her backside, caressing and rubbing until she sighed with pleasure. Then his other hand grasped her hip and he held her in place. She heard him move away and he returned seconds later. She heard a rip, and knew he'd gotten a condom. He slipped it on, and then the tip of his cock bumped against her entrance, moved away, and then back again before he finally plunged forward, burying himself in her damp heat. Susan threw back her head and
"Why don't you try your luck at the slots?" Before she could probe further, Leo gestured toward a row of glittering slot machines. Reluctantly, she agreed, slipping onto one of the leather stools. She felt his hand on her shoulder, reassuring, grounding. “I’ll be back in a moment,” he whispered, his voice low and close, sending a shiver down her spine. Then, without another word, he slipped away, blending into the crowd as if he were a part of it. Slightly unnerved, Susan turned her attention to the machine in front of her, trying to get lost in the rhythm of the game. But her eyes drifted, scanning the room, observing everything and everyone. That’s when she noticed Connor at the blackjack table, his back turned to her as he exchanged a quick nod with someone across the way. Her brow furrowed. What is going on here? She watched, fascinated, as Connor placed an exaggeratedly large bet, flashing a quick signal with his hand as he did. Across the room, Asher mirrored the gesture. Su
Leo's expression softened, though his gaze was still steely and unreadable. “I brought you here because you wanted to understand my world. You are a part of it now. Well, this is it,” he said evenly. “No filters, no pretense.” She crossed her arms, forcing herself to meet his eyes, though anger and betrayal simmered inside her. “I never wanted to be a part of it, remember? I had no choice in the beginning. And what if something went wrong in there, Leo? Did that ever occur to you?” He looked at her for a long moment, his eyes dark and intent. “Susan, I would never let anything happen to you,” he said quietly. “But I think you’re missing something here.” “Am I?” she shot back, refusing to relent. He stepped closer, his hand lifting to touch her cheek, but she turned her head sharply away. His hand fell to his side, and for a second, a flicker of something — perhaps regret, perhaps frustration — passed over his face. “You don’t understand yet, but you’re starting to see things clear
Susan’s jaw tightened as she looked at him. “Well, I'm sorry too,” she muttered, her tone clipped. “I’m sorry I let things get this far.” She brushed past him, pulling her suitcase out from the closet and haphazardly tossing clothes into it. Leo watched her, his anger flaring as he took in her rushed, almost defiant movements. “What are you doing?” he demanded, fists clenched as he watched her shove clothes into her bag without a second glance. “Going home,” Susan replied, her tone dripping with false sweetness. A fresh wave of anger washed over him, both at her defiance and his own reaction to it. He shouldn’t care, he reminded himself. If she wanted to leave then so be it. He didn’t chase after anyone—especially not a woman who was so quick to throw in the towel. He could get another woman to take her place for the weekend if he wanted. But he didn't want another woman. He wanted Susan, and the thought of her leaving, of her walking away, was more than he could stomach. He let o
Susan stayed silent, letting his words sink in, feeling the pain in his voice as he spoke. She could picture it: a young Leo, tougher than most, hardened by necessity and circumstance. “Over time,” he continued, his tone darkening, “I got deeper into it. I met people who showed me how things worked… who taught me how power worked. And once I got a taste of that, there was no going back. It was like finally being handed a weapon after years of fighting empty-handed. I didn’t have to beg or struggle for scraps. I could control things. And in my world, that control—that power—it’s everything.” His voice softened as he glanced down at her. “I know what you think of this life. It’s dangerous, it’s cruel. And it changes you. There are things I’ve done, Susan, that…” His voice trailed off, the words left unspoken. She looked up, meeting his gaze, searching his eyes for something—regret, vulnerability, anything that made him more than just the cold exterior he showed the world. She reached
Slowly he rose to his feet. “What a charming idea,” he breathed, his dark brows drawing together as he studied her hectically flushed face and air of decided purpose. Then he stole a fleeting glance down at the narrow gold watch on his wrist. He dealt her a distinctly tense smile. “Unfortunately, I'm afraid you've chosen-----”“I just couldn't wait until you got home,” Susan broke in feverishly, his glance at his watch not having been lost on her and serving merely to stoke her tension to new heights. His black lashes dipped lower over his intent, dark eyes, clear bemusement etched into his rigidity. “Wait for what?” he asked with a dismal lack of comprehension.Susan abandoned the idea of a slow, seductive wriggle and pitched off her coat to grab his attention. “I couldn't wait for you,” she said huskily, and embarked on the buttons of her black, narrowly cut coat-dress.Leo's gaze had whipped over to the coat now lying in a heap and back to her fast. He seemed welded to the floor
Shaken by the storm she had ignited, the roughness of his strained intonation, she stared at him, devoured by pain.“Why?” Leo repeated fiercely.Because I love you...she wanted to say. “And you're all over Sophie at every hour of the day. She coughs and you can't get there quick enough!” Leo slung from between gritted teeth. “In spite of the fact that we have a nanny with several willing supporters, you install a baby alarm and you get out of my bed to go to her! I'm not even half as important to you. Is that how it's supposed to be?”Very much taken aback, Susan surveyed him with shocked eyes. Evidently the baby alarm in their bedroom was viewed as some kind of ultimate insult. Did he think she was smothering Sophie? Was that what he was saying? That she was threatening to turn into one of those ghastly suffocating mothers one read about?“'I'm sorry if you think I'm taking my responsibilities too seriously.”“If you're that obsessed with babies, why should we wait to extend the fa
Leo needed sex the way she needed air to breathe, and those needs needed to be met in the marital bed. She was just a body, and if anything had been required to prove that point his silence did so. In this new brave relationship they were trying, lies were no longer permissible, so Leo was not about to tell her how ravishingly irresistible she was. She was fanciable enough to arouse him but that was the height of her pulling power and, with a male as physical as Leo, maybe it didn't even take that much... maybe he just fantasised about somebody else. A choked sob escaped her. He thrust her away from him with positive violence. Her eyes flew open as he threw back the sheet and sprang out of bed.“Leo ... you misunderstood!”He spun back, dealing her an incredulous glance.“I was thinking about something else... It wasn't —I mean…” she stumbled in desperation. The tip of her tongue stole out and darted along her taut lower lip. “I want you,” she whispered finally. Dark eyes held her
Susan woke up in the middle of the night to take a shower and check on Sophie, after which she went back to bed. When she awakened, little men were morris-dancing inside her thumping head.Thankfully she'd not taken enough alcohol to give her a major hangover, she registered miserably, but she was still a little tired. She slid out of bed and weaved a far from straight passage to the bathroom. A shower would make her feel better. She was emerging from the bathroom, swathed in a towel, white as a ghost and suffering from a raging thirst, when she noticed Leo .“Oh, no,” she mumbled. “Not now.”Leo filled the doorway. She refused to look at him and concentrated on his feet.“Shouldn't you be out working or something?”she whispered.“It's Saturday.”“I thought you went every day.”He certainly hadn't spent any days at home. Her clouded gaze worked up his legs. He was wearing black jeans that hugged his long, lean thighs and narrow hips, and an Aran sweater which accentuated his dark skin
Leo didn't even try to deny it, “Maybe a little bit,” he replied and shrugged, “Besides, you're at the club. When was the last time you let yourself go,” He was right. It had been a while. After a few seconds, she nodded and Leo didn't hesitate to place the order. The drinks kept coming and as the night went on, the atmosphere lightened. They talked about small, inconsequential things—the music, the crowd, even a particularly flamboyant dancer on the floor below. Susan could slowly feel herself letting go and soon she was laughing heartily at almost everything Leo said. He was clearly enjoying her laughter, because he continued to whisper things in her eyes. Things that sometimes made her laugh and sometimes sent arousal coursing through her veins. It was amazing, and for a brief moment, it almost felt normal, like they weren’t two people locked in a complicated and often contentious marriage. When their glasses were empty again, Leo leaned closer, his eyes intent on hers.“Dance wi
Susan blinked. So he was serious? Was their marriage even worth celebrating? Out loud, she asked, “Go out? Where?”“Anywhere you want. Just to have some fun.”She narrowed her eyes at him, searching his face for hidden motives. “I’m not really in the mood, Leo.”He shrugged, unfazed. “Then let me change that. How about somewhere familiar? My club, The Summit?”Susan paused. The Summit wasn’t exactly her idea of a relaxing evening, but it was better than sitting in awkward silence at the dining table or a long, restless night alone in her room.After a moment, she sighed. “Fine. I’ll go.”Leo’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, and he straightened. “Good. Wear the necklace.”Susan hesitated, her hand instinctively brushing against her collarbone. “Why does it matter so much to you?”“It’ll look good on you,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.Her eyes locked with his for a moment, a silent battle of wills passing between them. Finally, she nodded, her voice soft b
Susan cringed. Leo had strolled out of his bedroom, positively re-energised by the completeness of her surrender. And she had smiled dizzily back at him with what lingering energy remained to her, possessed of an utterly appalling belief that Leo was so incredibly wonderful that she was blessed above all other living women. Passion killed her intelligence. In bed, she didn't think with Leo, she merely functioned like some sort of passion toy, programmed solely to give and receive pleasure. And she didn't think she could blame her response on anything else anymore. It was that simple. She was still madly in love with Leo, falling like a brick from the top of a high building, her feelings rushing faster and faster as she headed for sure and certain devastation when she hit the ground. Now she knew why it hurt when Leo accused her of being a liar. She knew why she hadn't had the strength to fight him off. On a deep atavistic level she wanted Leo any way she could get him.Why? How coul
“Here I am,” he said with such staggering self-assurance, as if she could not fail to be grateful to win such a prize. “After all, you fought back like an Amazon warrior,” Leo told her thickly, his dark head lowering inch by inch. “You ignored me, you ignored it all and the more you ignored what I was doing, the more I seethed... I discovered that the one thing I cannot stand is to be ignored.”She didn't know what he was talking about. He appeared to be suggesting that her avoidance of him had been part of some sly, manipulative female plot to attract him and his unquenchable ego took to that idea like a duck to water. On the brink of acidly disabusing him of that notion, her parted lips met on a shocking collision course with his.Leo groaned against her mouth and possessed it again with renewed vigour and a force of hunger that ran a scorching blaze of heat right down to her toes and back up again. She fought the effect, concentrating her mind on the picture of herself pregnant and
Susan reddened but pressed on, her sole ambition to show him that they need not participate in sexual intimacy simply to produce another child. She marvelled that Leo appeared so ignorant of such processes. Then all of a sudden she registered that it was not ignorance that had silenced Leo but a kind of unholy and incredulous fascination backed by rather daunting signs of gathering rage. A dark tide of blood had flushed his features, a tiny muscle tugging relentlessly at the corner of his eloquent mouth.“You have to be out of your mind to suggest such a thing to me!” he told her rawly.“Leo... if we could for once move away from this macho conditioning of yours and talk about this sensibly, you might see that it is actually a very sane solution to the problem.”Leo strode forward and pulled her up out of her seat with two powerful hands. “There's no problem. My children are not going to be conceived in a test tube and that has nothing to do with my "macho conditioning",” he spelt out