Seven
P IPPI'S FIRST KISS was when she was fifteen. His name was Luke, and he had been a year older. He had been one of the most handsome boys in school, and she had felt like the luckiest girl alive when he asked her out.
They had seen each other almost every day that summer, and one night, she had snuck out of the house to meet with him. That was when they kissed, a clumsy but fervent meeting of lips under the moonlight that made their young bodies tremble against each other.
It was also her last kiss because the very next day, news had broken out about Luke and his family having left town, supposedly because of debts that Luke Sr. had been unable to pay.
Almost a decade had passed since then, but there were still nights when Pippi tossed and turned, thinking about that one kiss. There were times when she wondered, what if he hadn't left? What if she had tried looking for him? What if? There were times when she asked herself if perhaps she was still in love with Luke, just because she couldn't make herself forget his kiss.
Now, however, she knew.
Now, with Acheron's cool, firm lips expertly parting her own lips, it was just impossible for her not to know.
She remembered Luke's kiss because it was the only kiss she knew. But now, after this, that kiss would be nothing. Because, simply put, Acheron's kiss was everything and more that a woman could have ever dreamed of.
The thought of resisting didn't even enter her mind. There was no chance to. The moment his mouth took hers, the intoxicating taste of his lips incinerated every sensible thought in her mind. All that was left then was the purest of sensations, a helpless, heartless plea for the kiss to never, ever end.
Her toes curled inside her shoes as his lips teased and nibbled, every brush of his mouth wreaking havoc on her senses. And when his tongue finally delved in, and he was sucking her tongue the way he had sucked her finger, there was just nothing - oh God, there was nothing left of her that was not his.
She unthinkingly raised her arms, intending to hold on to Acheron as his kiss deepened. But the moment her fingers uncurled, her phone fell from her grip, and the loud, heavy thud it created as the phone hit the floor was akin to an inner fire alarm sounding off inside her head.
Acheron didn't make any move to stop Pippi from moving when she suddenly pushed away from him, the stricken look on her face explaining everything to him. It was too fast, too soon. He got it. Of course he got it, but goddammit. That kiss was fucking hot - hotter than anything he could remember tasting - and he wanted more.
I don't know what came over me. She almost blurted the words out but caught herself in time. That was a lie, and she hated lying. She knew exactly what came over her. It was called lust, and she had let it rule her head.
"Pippi..." It was the first time for him to say her name, and she almost closed her eyes in despair. This was no good. Just no good. And yet - why did it feel so wonderful to hear him say her name?
He studied her with a brooding frown, his body still rigid with the desire he was struggling to keep in check. She stood before him, pale and trembling, rosy-cheeked and silken limbed, and the way her breathless panting softly mirrored his own harsh breathing made Acheron clench his fists.
He wanted her so fucking bad, and it didn't make any sense at all. She was nothing special. Nothing. And yet...
"I want you."
The abruptly spoken words made Pippi feel faint. She couldn't - she...just...she couldn't have heard him right. Could she?
"Did you hear what I said?" Acheron grated out. "I want you, Ms. Jones."
Oh Lord.
She had heard him right.
Pippi's shoulders lifted in a hapless shrug. "W-What do you want me to say?"
"That you want me, too."
She bit her lip. It was true, of course, but...
Acheron wasn't at all surprised at the way she shook her head. He had not only expected it, but in some perverse way, her refusal also pleased him. The more she challenged him, the more he desired her, and just imagining the many expressions she would show once he had her in his bed was enough to have him fully aroused.
Ah, for that day to come...
In the back of his mind, his conscience made a last-ditch attempt to sway him from the path he was about to take, but this time he was deaf to its concerns.
He wanted her, and he would have her.
Pippi tried not to feel nervous at the intense way in which Acheron Simonides was suddenly gazing at her. "W-What is it?"
Tread carefully, Simonides. With this girl, his money meant nothing. Worse, he had a feeling his wealth actually put him at a disadvantage, and any attempt to lure her to his bed with jewels and furs would only backfire.
The best way to solve this was to think of it as he would with a strategic takeover. Smaller companies never wanted to be absorbed by big, bad conglomerates. That was just the way the world worked. But if the latter offered the former a face-saving compromise...
Something that would allow her to surrender to him without taking any of those risks she had once spoken of...
"Two months," he murmured.
"Excuse me?" Pippi felt like she was hearing things, but when he repeated his words, she realized she had heard him right. Brows furrowing, she cocked her head absently to the side, asking blankly, "What about two months?"
"I'll be the perfect boyfriend for two months," Acheron drawled, "in exchange for the right to have you in my bed."
Her jaw fell so hard a part of her was just waiting to hear it crash to the floor. "Excuse me?"
"You can give me a list if you wish, have all of it in writing in order to make things legal. I will be whoever and whatever you want me to be, Ms. Jones. You only have to say the word, and I will make it happen."
Shock gave way to horror. Did he really think...
"I'll also have a contract drawn as a guarantee that your job will not be affected in any way, regardless of what takes place during and after those two months."
This was insane. And what would be more insane was if she allowed herself to hear another word about it. Taking an uneven step back, she shook her head at him, stammering, "I'm s-sorry, it's just—-"
"No one has to know either." It was the ace Acheron had up his sleeve, and as soon as he had dealt it, the gamble immediately paid off. The words rendered Pippi motionless, and seeing this, he didn't hesitate to press his advantage. "You can choose who to tell or not to tell about us." His voice was soft and beguiling, Acheron taking every care not to make her feel pressured. "It will be entirely your call." His gaze captured hers as he made his move and gradually closed the distance between them.
Pippi was trembling and dazed, unable to tear her eyes from the carnal temptation that made up every beautiful inch of Acheron Simonides' lean, hard build. His words swirled around her, painting the most sinful of promises that her aching body yearned to be tainted with.
It was almost as if Acheron Simonides had intimate knowledge of her every fear, and he not only knew how to vanquish them, he was even offering Pippi freedom from it on a silver platter.
He wanted her , he had said, and he wished her to say she wanted him back .
It was the one thing she would never have even considered doing. To be involved with someone like him was the definition of insanity, a disaster simply waiting to happen, a risk that was so foolish she'd have to be an idiot to even consider it.
And yet...
"You won't have to worry about people gossiping about us or treating you differently - whether for better or worse - just because you're involved with me."
It was like hearing the devil whisper her most forbidden fantasies to her ear, and yet - she just couldn't stop listening, couldn't stop imagining how darkly wondrous it could be.
A secret, thrilling affair with one of the sexiest men in the world, and she'd never have to worry about being a target of gossip and online bullying?
"People who don't have to know...won't know. But people who you trust and care about...you won't have to lie to them either."
Pippi found herself shaking her head in a literal attempt to shake off his hold on her, but it was impossible. It was almost as if he had put a curse on her, and she found his every word alluring!
"You can tell your family you're in a relationship with me, and it would be the truth. They'd have no reason to worry about you. That's important to you, isn't it?"
It was, dammit. She would never want to give her family any reason to worry. Never. But how was it that he knew of this, too? It left her feeling torn between glaring at him and bursting into tears, and before she knew it, the words had already flown out of her mouth. "You're like the devil in disguise." She meant it as a joke, but somehow the words ended up sounding half accusing.
Even so, this only made him laugh, and the sound itself was devilish as well, with the way it made her breasts swell and her thighs tremble.
Bloody, bloody, bloody -
"I'm glad to hear you're finding it hard to resist me," Acheron purred.
Hell!
Pippi choked back a slightly hysterical laugh. God help her, but the man's gall was unbelievable. Squaring her shoulders, she told herself that all this crazy talk had gone on long enough, and it was time for her to come back to reality. Taking a deep breath, she said carefully, "Mr. Simonides—-"
"Acheron," he corrected her.
"Mr. Simonides," she said stubbornly.
"Acheron." His voice was very gentle. "Or..." His gaze slowly moved down to settle on her lips, the action silently spelling out his threat to kiss her if she persisted against his wishes.
She was frowning unhappily at him now, but Acheron only found this promising. Compared to the women whose obsession with his money made them sickeningly sycophantic, Pippi's inability to pretend was a refreshing and welcome change. He only hoped two months wouldn't prove long enough to have her turn out the same as the rest.
"I just don't understand," she said stiltedly. "I didn't plan...I really don't want to ask this, but... why me?"
"I don't know," he said simply. It was the truth, and he had only spoken it because she had been similarly truthful with him. "All I know is that we want each other—-" His dark gaze warned her from making any unnecessary protests that he would have no trouble disproving. "And I'm willing to pay any price for the right to fuck you."
Pippi couldn't help but wince. Did he really have to be so graphic? She should feel insulted, and yet her stupid body actually felt the opposite, with the way her nipples tightened with arousal.
Lifting her chin, she said haltingly, "There's no price—-"
"I'm afraid there always is," he interrupted.
She stiffened. "Are you saying you can buy me?"
He met her offended gaze unflinchingly. "I'm saying I know what you need. A risk-free situation, in which you'll be able to keep your ideals intact, your conscience clean, and your life uncomplicated...all the while indulging your wildest, most unspeakable fantasies—-"
Acheron Simonides slowly looked down at her, his midnight-black eyes turning into a reflection of the darkest piece of her soul, and her body responded to it shamelessly and instantly. Her breasts swelling and curving, her nipples tightening, and moisture - so, so much moisture building between her thighs as visions flashed in her mind, exquisitely lurid premonitions of how the two months could turn out to be—-
Acheron undressing her...
Acheron lowering his body on top of her...
Acheron entering her...
Acheron, Acheron, Acheron...
"Everything you'd ever want a man to do to you, I'd do it a thousand times better. You just have to become mine."