Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Diana gives me a grin. “Isn’t it around your break time?”
Two
Liam
I almost didn’t come here tonight. Though I always come here wearing a mask, I’m not into the whole juvenile “fancy dress” bullshit, but when I remembered I had a mime costume in the back of my work closet from the last time I did this under duress, I decided I’d do it. I work too damn hard, and the only reprieve I get is when I’m working out or at Club Verge.
Club Verge is exactly thirty-two minutes from my Manhattan office. When I relocated here from my Boston office, I was pleased to find out an old friend of mine opened this place. Tobias and I were both members of a Club in Boston a full decade ago, and though we parted ways, we were good friends back then. He took me in, gave me a private room since he knows me, and I like how he runs this place. Tobias and his small, dedicated staff have protected my identity. They keep this place tight, running heavy security and vetting every single member who comes in here. I like it here. When I step through that black door, I’m no longer Liam Alexander, Wall Street executive and C.E.O. of Alexander Enterprises.
I’m simply master.
There are many beautiful, fetching women here who easily succumb to my mastery over them. Few who are looking for a full-time relationship, and that suits me well. I like to leave my identity at the door and assume the role of anonymous master when I’m here. No one knows my net worth. No one disgusts me with their cloying attention. No one panders to me, hoping for some sort of payout.
But then I saw her… the beautiful brat from the bookstore. I don’t know what came over me, as I wasn’t planning on picking anyone up tonight. But when I saw the way she leaned against the bar with her hands wrapped around her waist, a classic sign of vulnerability and fear… when I saw the way she looked at me with wide eyes, her mouth parted… I had to have her.
She doesn’t know who I am.
And I plan on keeping it that way.
At first, I feared she wouldn’t come, and stood in the shadow of the doorway to watch. When her friend whispered in her ear, she nodded. Diana, her boss, gave a nod. And now she’s coming my way.
I have no idea what I’m going to do with her when I see her. This isn’t like me. I like things orderly and planned. Routinized. I’m hardly spontaneous. But this girl… this girl with her fiery red hair and cliché temper to match, she does something to me.
I provoked her in the bookstore earlier. I have little patience for poor service, but something told me she had good reason. I wasn’t really annoyed at her. I wanted to see how she’d behave if I toyed with her. Would she crumple and cow to me like every other woman I see?
Or would she fight me?
Yeah. I know I’m a bastard.
When I saw her pale, freckled skin heat with anger, the pink tone made me want to draw my tongue along that fragile, gorgeous collarbone of hers. When her eyes flashed at me, I imagined capturing her slim wrists in my hands, pinning them against that counter, and slamming my palm against her full ass until those beautiful eyes brimmed with tears.
I like to cause pain… of a certain type.
I like to make them cry then kiss it better.
I’ve seen her at the bar, but she didn’t really catch my attention before now. She’s always so busy, so distracted. Travis knows me, so he’s the one I order drinks from. And until today, I figured she was just some kid looking to make an extra buck.
I didn’t know her eyes were a delicate robin’s egg blue, wide and rimmed in impossibly long lashes.
I didn’t know her skin was as pale as fine porcelain, dotted with fetching freckles. I want to count every one of them, especially the ones hidden from me.
I didn’t know her flaming red hair begged to be wrapped around my fingers. I want to tug her head back until that gorgeous mouth of hers falls open and capture her full lips between my teeth.
I want to defile her. Overpower her. Dominate her.
But first, I need to seduce her.
Before she even steps foot in the dungeon, I know I’m making a mistake. I want to become a long-term member here, so I have be careful. Taking advantage of one of Verge’s employees is a dumbass move, and not one that I should make.
I can have a little fun, though.
Will it be so easy? To beckon to her? And have her submit to me?
I wait by the doorway to see if she’ll come, and when I see her coming my way, I can’t help but smile. Her head is tipped to the side, as if she’s curious. Without a word, I extend my hand. I fully intend on making the most of being a mime for the night.