Tortured
For three days she’d avoided me, and I wasn’t sure why I even cared. I knew I’d crossed a line watching her fuck herself, but she’d started it.
Shit.
What was I saying? I’d started this the moment I’d seen her sinful body in the club. I wanted her. I knew who she was. I just wasn’t expecting her to look—like that.
I knew when I offered her that job that it was for selfish reasons.
It was clear that she wanted me but she’d blocked every advance I’d made towards her; she’d crossed the line when she’d walked into my room, but it was a line I needed her to cross.
I couldn’t erase her sinful body from my mind; every fucking curve was embedded into my brain.
With Kate gone, I’d finally get the chance to be alone with her, except she’d avoided me. What I didn’t understand was why?
I’d left early this morning and just like the last three days she’d watched from the window, she didn’t know that I saw her do this daily ritual, she wouldn’t leave that room until I’d left, it was driving me crazy knowing she was only across the hall and yet she had hidden herself away from me.
I’d never wanted a woman as badly as I wanted her.
Maybe it was because I knew I shouldn’t want her, but oh-damn! I wanted her.
She sent electric currents rushing through my body. Even when I was near her, my body came alive.
I knew it was wrong, but it felt so fucking right.
“There you are.” The train wreck rushes into my office.
“Maria, what do you want?”
“You silly.”
“I’ve told you before, we had fun and now—.”
“You’re having fun with someone else.” She pouts.
“No.” She stalks towards me, and I’m quickly regretting telling her no after all. It had nothing to do with her, but she seemed slightly unhinged right now.
Her hands come across my chest quickly. Moving her arms away from my body while walking her back towards the door, she stops. “Come on, don’t you remember how fun it was between us.”
“Yes, and like all things, Maria, the fun stops.”
“But I don’t want it to stop.”
“I told you before we started it wasn’t—.” Her lips come across my neck, and as sweet as her touch is once again, I move her away from my body. “A long-term thing, it was fun.”
“You seriously can’t tell me that is all it was.”
“That’s all it was.”
“But—.”
“Now, if you don’t mind, Maria, some of us have work to do.” Opening the door wider just in case she didn’t get the hint.
“But I love you.” She wails.
“Goodbye, Maria.” Gently coaxing her out of the room, she stares at me with longing, closing the door, so she can’t barge in here for a second time. I’m impressed by how creative she’s become with her stalking lately, despite getting past security.
I’d had many Marias.
I swore after the disaster my marriage turned into that I’d never have a relationship with a woman again, and I hadn’t. It was just easier to trial them.
I knew it sounded bad, but I wasn’t looking for anything long term. I loved women; I respected women; I just didn’t want one to be the centre of my universe again.
I didn’t want the heartbreak or the headache that came with having a woman.
I was always clear about my intentions, and they’d agree, but then they’d become clingy, and unfortunately that would be the end of our respective fun.
Women always wanted more than I was willing to give, and it was hard to find a woman that didn’t fall in love with the size of my bank account.
Maria was just a reminder of how fucked up my life had become.
So why was I trying to tempt Brooklyn—because I’d never met a woman yet that drove me crazy the way she had.
I hadn’t had her—yet, but I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone, although I wasn’t sure she’d want what I would offer her. I couldn’t offer her what she’d probably be looking for.
Once again, the image of her pops into my mind.
I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to get any work done with her body running through my mind.
The way she had moaned my name at her release had my cock throbbing.
Damn her!
Why couldn’t she just be like all the other women in my life and show me how badly she needed me but I knew that was part of the attraction because she didn’t need me but I knew she wanted me, probably not to the extent that I wanted her because every dark little thought I’d had she’d played a starring role.
Brooklyn was off limits.
I wasn’t stupid. I knew I shouldn’t be playing this game, but I couldn’t help myself.
I wanted to hear her moaning my name while I was inside of her; fuck; she tasted delicious.
Another thing I shouldn’t have done, I shouldn’t have tasted her.
Oh God, I could still remember how sweet she tasted, if only she knew the control it had taken not to dive inside her delicious pussy with my mouth and devour her right then and there.
Fuck. I was getting hard just thinking about how delicious her pussy would feel wrapped around my cock. The sliver of excitement crept up my spine; every thought I had made me throb with feverish need. God, no woman had ever made me feel—this way.
I need to concentrate on my job, but as I stare at the screen, the words jumble in an incoherent mess. Blinking my eyes ten to the dozen, I can feel a pain shoot across my brow, and teasing my head with my fingertips, I groan out loud.
Why couldn’t I concentrate? Work was my life, and yet, this was the last place I wanted to be. I wanted to be back at the home where the temptation was. I wanted to bend and break every fucking rule and give in to the desire that was currently driving me insane.
“Are you busy?” James pops his head into my office with a bright smile and his deep-set brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Always,” I smirk, secretly happy for disrupting my chaotic thoughts.
“So, you wouldn’t be happy if I stole you away to visit Club Z?”
“Now, why would you want to drag me there at this hour?”
“The client wants to discuss a new property development, and that’s where they wanted to meet.”
“The client wants to meet there?” I raise an eyebrow with a smirk, not entirely believing that they would choose this meeting ground.
“They were rather insistent.”
Insistent on meeting at Club Z?
That made little sense. It wasn’t unusual for the client to choose the meeting place.
In fact, I preferred they chose where they were most comfortable.
It was hardly ever held in my office, and I liked it that way, but there was something about this that didn’t sound right.
I wasn’t sure what it was; something just seemed—off.
I knew the moment he had popped his curly sandy locks around my doorframe with his deep-set brown eyes sparkling with mischief that something was off. He never got excited about client meetings. In fact, he detested them, always said what a chore they were, but look at the little bird singing now.
I met James a few years ago. The poor kid was down on his luck.
His little heart had been broken. Shit, we had all been there, scolded by a woman who had ripped open your wall cavity, grasped your heart and stomped all over it until there was nothing left but a dark gaping hole. Yes, I knew the feeling very well.
So, I took him under my wing and gave him a job and a sense of purpose.
Well, at least I liked to think I had given him a sense of purpose.
People assume that the things that are bad for you destroy you, but they are wrong.
Oh boy, are they wrong? Those things are Child’s play compared to the one thing that everyone searches for.
Love. The thing most would kill for, but the one thing that will ultimately destroy you. Mind, body and soul. If I could eradicate one thing from the earth, it wouldn’t be war, famine or even anger. No. It would be that sneaky little bastard we call love.
How many souls had suffered at the hands of love?
They tell you that love is the greatest adventure you’ll ever take.
That’s if it doesn’t kill you first. I wasn’t always so cynical, but I had been dealt my fair share of heartbreak, and if I had been honest, it wasn’t worth it.
The sliver of ecstasy you feel is just a blip in the universe compared to the pain that feels like you’re on the verge of death.
Yes, love had blindsided me, but it wouldn’t happen again, at least not in this lifetime.
Against my better judgment, I walk through the doors of CLUB Z.
It is quiet, but I’m not fooled by the calm serenity that it appears to shroud you in.
The low lights create a serene ambiance, and little golden tables are spread across the dark wood flooring.
Two bars are on either side of the room that you would have to fight to gain entry to when it was lively.
The sweet scent of a summer day wafts around my body as the scent pours from the leather-clad barmaids who greet me with a smile.
The winding staircase takes you to the second floor, and as I look around for the mysterious client, I see he hasn’t chosen this serene floor to conduct business, but why would he?
This is just the meeting ground where newcomers stay to feel comfortable before they dare walk the stairs to delicious, desperate doom.
“Where is he?” I grit out.
James sheepishly looks back at me, and I know that look only too well. That is the look of a devious little fucker. “Top floor.” He whispers.
“Why would he?” I shake my head. “Never mind, let’s get this over with.” I was already regretting agreeing to this meeting. It has given me nothing but suspicion since he mentioned it, and I’m not even sure why. Something about it just—irked me.
Five floors.
Five flights of steps in utter silence.
Not knowing what greets me on the other side and with my secretive assistant giving nothing away, he said nothing the whole way up the fucking maze to doom. Shit. I knew something was off. In all the time I had known him, you couldn’t get him to shut up, and now—now he’d taken a vow of silence.