Club Prive Complete Series Box Set: Alpha Billionaire Romance by Parker, M. S. (8)

French Connection Vol. 3

By M.S. Parker

 

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 Belmonte Publishing LLC

Published by Belmonte Publishing LLC.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

Carrie

I was going to throw up.

My stomach lurched and I turned to run. If I was going to be any more humiliated than I already was, I wanted to be as far away from the public as I could get before it happened.

Gavin had kissed Alizee.

Part of me said it had to be a mistake, like what had happened with Felice and Marguerite. I'd jumped to conclusions then and had been wrong. I shouldn't do the same thing here.

There was only one problem with that line of thinking. Gavin hadn't lied to me before. Not a direct lie. Sure, he'd hidden where he was going during the party, but that had been because he'd been trying to surprise me with a gift. This morning, he'd said he had a meeting with Vincent. And then I'd caught him on a yacht with Alizee. Kissing her. It was possible, I supposed, that Vincent was there too and hadn't told Gavin that Alizee would be there. I shook my head; it felt too much like I was trying to convince myself. I'd never understood people who couldn't see what was going on right under their noses, but now I got it. Sometimes, it was too painful to face the truth.

I'd known Gavin had been out of my league from the moment I'd first seen him in that bar. I'd known what people said about relationships based on intense emotional experiences, but I'd always hoped he and I would be the exception to the rule.

All of this flashed through my head in a matter of seconds, processing even as I turned to run. I made it half a dozen steps when I felt a hand close around my arm.

“Carrie, what’s wrong?”

Pierre. I'd completely forgotten about the handsome reporter who'd been the one to bring me here. The one who'd convinced me that Alizee was up to no good. Not that I hadn't already been suspicious. I turned toward him, struggling to regain my composure.

“The man on the yacht,” I forced myself to say the words. “That's my boyfriend.”

Pierre's eyes widened and he glanced back toward the boat. It was too far away for us to see what was happening now and I was grateful for that. If Gavin had lied about who he was going to see, it meant everything else came into question. And having seen the way Alizee had been with him before they'd kissed, it didn't take much imagination to figure out what he was most likely doing right now.

“I am truly sorry about that, Carrie,” Pierre said sincerely. “But you cannot let him know that you saw this.”

“Excuse me?” Now that the initial shock was wearing off, anger was overcoming the nausea. That was a good thing. It meant I didn't want to throw up anymore. I wanted to hit something. Or someone. Preferably two.

“Your boyfriend cannot know we were here.”

“Oh, I fully intend to let him know I was here,” I snapped. I pushed back a few curls that had escaped my ponytail. “And I'm going to tell him what a bitch Alizee is and how I hope the two of them are very happy together.”

I was aware that I was probably overreacting, but I didn't care. I was getting sick of this shit. I was tired of constantly having women throwing themselves at Gavin, at watching him flirt and joke. I hated that he brushed it off as work stuff, saying he had to charm people, but that I should know he didn't want anyone but me. I wondered how I was supposed to know that. I wasn't a fucking psychic. I couldn't read his mind. And right now, that sounded like a line of shit a man fed to a naïve girlfriend or wife while he was out fucking anything that moved.

“You cannot tell him,” Pierre repeated firmly. “If Alizee discovers we are investigating her, she will leave and all will be lost. She will change her operations and we will never be able to help those she is hurting.”

I took a step back so that he wasn't touching me anymore. I was too pissed for any sort of physical contact, no matter how platonic.

“Gavin won't tell her. Not if he thinks she's involved in trafficking,” I said. No matter how angry I was with him, I couldn't believe he'd risk people's lives.

The look Pierre gave me said he didn't agree. “Even if he does not say anything, she will be able to tell something is wrong. Whatever you say to him will change things between them.”

“Fine,” I snapped. “I'll just make up another excuse as to why I was there.”

“And he will accuse you of following him. Spying.”

“But I wasn't!” I immediately countered.

“And that is exactly the problem,” he said. “Your boyfriend will say these things and you will defend yourself. The only way to do that will be to tell him the truth. And we cannot allow that to happen.”

“I can't pretend like I didn't see that,” I said. The sick feeling was back and I hugged my arms across my middle. Despite the warmth of the sun, I was cold.

“You must,” Pierre insisted.

“How am I supposed to go back to our hotel room and pretend I didn't just see him kissing another woman when he told me he was at a business meeting?” I asked. “I can't just smile and pretend that everything's okay. If he touches me, all I'll be thinking about is her, wondering if he touched her the same way...”

Pierre grabbed my upper arms and I gasped in surprise. His fingers dug into my flesh and his eyes were flashing. “You must not speak of this to anyone! You cannot ruin what I have worked for!”

I pulled out of his grasp and put my hands on his chest, giving him a hard enough shove that he knew I meant business. I watched him regain control, but there was no apology on his face.

“Carrie, you must consider the big picture.” Pierre's voice was tense. “We cannot allow emotions to sway our judgment.”

I scowled at him. That was easy for him to say. It wasn't his boyfriend making out with some former model. “I'll take that into consideration.”

“You must–”

“Back off, Pierre!” I snapped. “Don't tell me what I 'must' do. I'm not a cop or a reporter. I don't live or work here and I sure as hell don't work for you.” I was so done with this. “I'm going to catch a cab and go back to my hotel. Give me a call if you have anything else on Alizee and still want my help, but I'm not making any promises.”

I walked away before he could respond. I had a feeling I'd just gotten a glimpse of the real Pierre rather than the one with the charming smile. I could handle myself, so I wasn't worried, but I was definitely going to be more careful if I was out with him in the future.

I pushed that thought aside as I gave the cabbie the hotel name. I would deal with Pierre later. Right now, I had to figure out what I was going to do about Gavin and Alizee. I closed my eyes and fought back the tears that wanted to escape. I wasn't going to cry, and definitely not here in the cab.

What I wanted, more than anything else, was to open my eyes and be in bed, basking in the afterglow of an amazing night. I wanted Gavin to be honest with me, even if it meant telling me he was meeting with Alizee. I wanted him to tell me he was only meeting with her because Vincent wanted it, but that he hadn't wanted to be anywhere but in bed with me. I wanted to know for sure that what I'd seen had been Alizee making a play for Gavin seconds before he pushed her away.

But I knew I couldn't have any of that, and I probably couldn't even get an explanation either. As much as I hated to admit it, I believed Pierre had a point. I was just torn between doing what my heart wanted and what my head knew was right.

 

Chapter 2

Gavin

I put my hands on Alizee's shoulders and held her in place as I took a step back, breaking the kiss that never should've happened. I was stupid for not expecting her to act despite my evident disinterested. She'd said it herself. She was the kind of woman who knew what she wanted and went for it. I just happened to be in her line of fire.

It had been an aggressive kiss, the kind that would've had me hard in seconds if it had been Carrie pressed against me. With Alizee, my only thought was how to make this as polite but clear as possible.

Dammit. I was tired of the misunderstandings with the women in this country. A little bit of flirting was one thing. I mean, I made a living off sexual chemistry, but these women were taking things way too far. It was exhausting to constantly be on guard, wondering who was going to come on to me next. I nearly smiled, realizing how egotistical that sounded, but this wasn't the time for self-reflection. I had one of those women to deal with right now.

“Alizee, I can't do this.” I paused, then amended my statement. “I won't do this.” I didn't want her thinking it was only a matter of ethics. She had to know I was making a choice here… and the choice wasn't her.

Her dark eyes flashed with anger, but not before I saw the surprise cross them. She'd honestly thought I'd go through with it even though I was with Carrie. I wondered if it was arrogance on her part or if she thought all men cared about was sex, no matter where they stuck their dick. I really hoped it wasn't because she thought I, personally, was like that. I was starting to wonder if I gave off some sort of vibe that told women it was okay to seduce me even though it was clear I was taken.

Was I? The thought hit me suddenly. Was that the problem? Didn't I make it clear that I was off the market?

“You really love her,” Alizee nearly sneered the statement, her face twisting into something unattractive. “Your Carrie.”

“Yes,” I said. I wasn't going to make any apologies for it. If anything, it was Carrie I owed an apology to, for not making sure people knew that there was no room for negotiation in our relationship. “I love her and I'm not going to do anything to hurt her.”

“She would never have to know.” Alizee gave me a seductive smile.

I shook my head. “I'm not going to betray her.”

Alizee's mouth flattened and she took a step back. Even while being rejected, she was the picture of calm and collected. “It will cost you your deal.”

“So be it.” The words were easier to say than I thought they would be.

She laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “You will lose everything.”

“If I have her, it'll be worth it. The idea of having everything, but losing her...” My heart twisted at the thought of a life without her. “She's all I need.”

“How noble.” Alizee rolled her eyes. “You are a fool.”

“Maybe,” I agreed. “But it doesn't change anything. Call Vincent and tell him you're killing the idea. Or I'll make the call if you want me to.”

“I am not calling Vincent,” she said. “Because I am not going to stop the project.”

“You're not?” I refused to let myself hope. Alizee didn't strike me as the forgiving type. There was a catch here. I was sure of it.

“Of course not,” she said scornfully. “Why would I do that? A sex club in Cannes will be quite beneficial for my own businesses. I fully intend to continue my support.”

“Oh, well, all right then.” I was pleasantly surprised. That had gone better than I could have expected.

“You, however.” Her eyes narrowed and she gave me a look that was anything but friendly. “If you are not going to fuck me, you can get the hell off of my yacht.”

I stared at her. I'd expected an ultimatum, where I would have to allow Vincent to buy out my part of the club. I hadn't expected her to kick me off the boat. I looked around. We were a good ways from the harbor.

“Go.” She pointed.

“You want me to swim?”

Alizee reached behind her and unzipped her dress, letting it fall off her shoulders to reveal that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. “Swim or fuck. Your choice.”

I took off my shoes, tied the laces to my belt and walked to the edge. Part of me wanted to look back at Alizee to see if she was going to relent, but judging by the sounds I was hearing behind me, she'd decided that if I wasn't going to get her off, she'd take care of it herself. I really didn't want to see that, so I bit the bullet and jumped.

The water was colder than it looked and my clothes weighed me down, but I didn't let any of that distract me. I began to swim, taking strong, even strokes that moved me steadily to the shore. I tried not to focus on the way my arms ached or how uncomfortable I was. Instead, I thought about what I was swimming toward.

I had a feeling it'd take me a while to find a cab that would take me back, wet as I'd be, but once I got back to the hotel, my plans were very simple. I was going to wrap my arms around Carrie and kiss her until I forgot what it had felt like to have Alizee's mouth on mine. Then, I was going to bend Carrie over the couch so I could see how red her ass was from last night and I was going to fuck her until she screamed. Once she did that, I'd take her to our bedroom and make her come until she passed out.

That should help me forget that this awful day had ever happened.

I kept those thoughts in my head as I swam and they helped warm me. There was only one downside. When I climbed out of the water, after thinking of all the ways I wanted to ravish my hot girlfriend, I had a massive erection despite the cold water. That, plus the way my pants were clinging to me now made for an embarrassing walk to catch a cab.

As I walked, I made a decision. I was going to call Vincent and tell him he could deal with Alizee from here on out. For the rest of the trip, I didn't want to be anywhere near her. Well, I'd make the call after fucking Carrie senseless. That was my top priority.

 

Chapter 3

Carrie

I'd been pacing ever since I'd gotten back from the docks, unable to sit down or even stop. I couldn't get the image out of my head, no matter how hard I tried. And, believe me, I tried.

Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Alizee and Gavin locked in an embrace. Then I'd opened my eyes and all I could see was the same thing. I tried focusing on the problem at hand, how I would be able to see Gavin and pretend everything was normal. The thought of seeing him and not saying anything tied a knot in my throat. Was I a good enough actress to pull it off?

I heard the sound of a key card in the lock and knew my time was up. Whatever came next, there wouldn't be any going back. Either I'd lie to him or I'd go off and have to deal with the fallout.

When the door opened, I turned and, for a few blissful moments, forgot about what had happened earlier. Gavin was dripping on the carpet. Every inch of him was wet. His clothes clung to him, showing off every dip and curve of his body. His hair was a mess, plastered to his face in some places and lank in others. He was a mess.

But his eyes were heated and I recognized the way he was walking toward me, the purpose in his step.

I froze, torn between several choices. I could forget everything I'd seen, remind myself of everything Gavin and I had been through and trust him to tell me what I needed to know. I could accept his kiss and let things progress to where I knew we both wanted it to go. No matter how pissed I was, my body always responded to him.

I could stay silent, but hold on to my anger, pushing him away without reason or excuse. I would see questions and pain in his eyes, and ignore them. I'd wait until after Pierre's story was done or after we were back in the US to confront him.

Or, I could forget about all the consequences and have it out with him right here. Demand to know why he lied and what he'd been doing with Alizee. See if he lied again. I could tell him everything, how he'd been blinded by a pretty face.

Before I could decide, Gavin's hands were cupping my face and the shock of cold from his skin went through me. Then his lips came down on mine. I shivered at the chill in them and then again because of the heat that followed. His tongue pushed past my lips, twisting around my tongue and drawing it into his mouth. I moaned as he sucked on my tongue, sending a bolt of desire straight through me.

Had he done that to Alizee?

The thought was like a bucket of ice water, far colder than Gavin's skin.

The hands that had been clutching at his wet shirt now pushed him away. His mouth tore away from mine and I saw the surprise in his eyes as he took a step back. I shoved him harder, putting some force into it this time.

“What the hell, Carrie?” He stared at me.

The anger his kiss had chased away came back with a vengeance. I wanted to scream at him, tell him I didn't want him kissing me after he'd just been doing the same to Alizee. I wanted to yell at him for lying to me, accuse him of sneaking around behind my back.

Then I heard Pierre's voice in the back of my head, warning me what would happen if I told. I thought about all the people who would suffer if we were right about Alizee. If she was able to hide her operation because I couldn't put others above my personal life, I'd never forgive myself.

I went with the first excuse I could think of. “I feel like shit,” I snapped. “It hurts to sit or lay down because you spanked me yesterday.”

Gavin flinched, his eyes filling with hurt. It cut my heart, but I couldn't take it back, not without spilling everything. Besides, the anger inside me needed to go somewhere.

“My nipples hurt and I have a fucking hickey on my neck like I'm some high school slut whose boyfriend couldn't control himself.” I put my hand over the mark I hadn't bothered to use concealer on.

Even as I said it, I hated myself for lying. I loved that he'd claimed me, that he said I was his. True, my ass did sting and my nipples were chafing against my bra, but the sensations turned me on more than they hurt. They were reminders of last night and how Gavin had let himself go.

“Carrie?”

The expression on his face was one of shock and pain. The way he said my name almost made me break, but then I remembered what it had felt like when I'd seen him kissing Alizee.

“I just need some space.” I turned away before he could see the tears threatening to spill over. I was halfway to the room when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned, finally thinking to ask, “Why are you so wet?” But before I could ask the question, my phone rang.

I grabbed it out of my pocket, desperate for a distraction. I didn't even care if it was a sales call. I'd talk to anyone at the moment if it meant a few more minutes of not having to look at Gavin.

“Hello?” I answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Carrie?”

I instantly recognized Pierre's voice and a flare of annoyance went through me. Was he calling to check up on me?

“What?” I was definitely not in the mood to deal with him acting like I was some kid who needed to be handled.

“Did you tell him?”

“No. Now, what do you want?” As much as I hated to admit it, at least being pissed at him was a diversion, helping keep my mind off of the fact that I could feel Gavin's eyes on me.

“I have a file you need to see.” Pierre didn't seem too concerned with my attitude. “Do you want to meet tomorrow?”

I saw my out and took it. “Now's better.”

“Really?” Pierre sounded surprised, with a hint of amusement. “I had the impression you were quite cross with me.”

“That's one way to put it,” I said dryly. “But if it's that important to you, I'll come now.”

“Shall we meet at your hotel?”

“No,” I said. “The Jean Luc Pele La Table.” I named one of the smaller restaurants I'd seen in Cannes.

“I will be there shortly.”

I hung up the phone, took a shaky breath and turned to face Gavin again. One glance at his face, however, told me I wouldn’t be able to look at him. He was pale and his hands were clenched into fists.

“I have to go.”

“It's him, isn't it? That journalist.” Gavin's voice was hard. “You're going to see him again?”

My lips flattened. Funny… him acting like it was a big deal that I wanted to go meet Pierre when he'd been lip-locking with Alizee not more than an hour ago.

“Is that what this is about?” he asked as I started toward the door. I found the jealousy in his voice ironic. “You don’t want me to touch you because...” There was a pause, and then he continued. “Have you been... spending time with him?”

“While you were out with Vincent earlier?” I stressed the name as I opened the door. “There's an idea. Why don't you give your buddy a call? Maybe you can have another 'business meeting.'”

I slammed the door behind me as I stalked out into the hallway. I didn't run, but I hurried, afraid of what would happen if Gavin came after me. I wasn't sure I could handle going through that a second time. But I apparently shouldn't have worried. He didn't come after me. He let me go.

 

Chapter 4

Carrie

I walked to the restaurant, using the time to regain my composure. The day was just as bright and sunny as it had been earlier, but I wasn't in the mood to appreciate any of it. In fact, at the moment, I was thinking about how spring in the city might actually reflect my current mood better. I didn't like being angry and hurt while the sun was shining down from a bright blue sky. It made me feel petty.

Was I being petty?

I had to consider the question as I made my way down the street. Hadn't Gavin proven himself to me more than once? Shouldn't I give him the benefit of the doubt? When he'd shown up at the hotel, soaked to the skin, shouldn't that have been a clue that something was wrong? Why hadn't I asked him what had happened instead of lashing out at him?

Because, I realized, even after all of this, I was still insecure.

As I neared the restaurant, I pulled my curls up behind my head and twisted them into a knot that would keep them out of my face. I stopped, closed my eyes and took a slow, deep breath. Whatever Pierre wanted to show me had to be important for him to have asked to meet twice in the same day, especially since he didn't want Gavin getting suspicious about what we were doing. As much as this was tearing me up, what Pierre and I were doing was bigger than the relationship between Gavin and me.

I didn't see Pierre at any of the outside tables, so I walked into Jean Luc Pele La Table and looked around. He wasn't there yet, but I wasn't going to stand around looking like the tourist I was. I walked over to the display case and looked at my choices. The young man at the counter spoke better English than some Americans so I placed my order, then took my food outside and found an out of the way place to sit.

I spotted Pierre before he saw me. His expression was serious and I didn't see even a hint of that charming smile until his eyes met mine. Even then, it was a shadow of what it was the first time I'd seen it. That alone told me he had something important.

He didn't bother going into the restaurant itself, but rather came straight to me. As he approached, I saw that he was holding a manila envelope. My curiosity piqued, I leaned forward, my partially eaten sandwich forgotten. All of this shit with Gavin would be worth it if we could get something real against Alizee. If Pierre and I could find enough for him to write an article and me to present the evidence to the local authorities, Alizee would be exposed and Gavin would see her for who she was. Who knew how many hundreds, if not thousands, of people we'd save from horrible fates. The time and effort it would take to patch things up with Gavin wouldn't seem so awful if I helped accomplish all of that.

“Thank you for coming so quickly,” Pierre said as he slid into the seat next to me. His knee brushed against mine.

“You said you had something important to show me?” I started to scoot my chair to the side to put more distance between the two of us, then stopped. He wasn't flirting, so there was no need to establish boundaries. He was just sitting close so he could show me what he had without risking anyone else seeing.

“I have a... contact in the police,” Pierre began. “When I first began investigating Alizee, I asked for him to pass along any information he saw about Alizee or any of the property she owns.” He opened the envelope and pulled out two light tan folders. He handed them both to me without a word.

I hesitated, then took them. I was pretty sure I didn't want to see what was inside, but I opened the top one anyway.

And immediately regretted it.

I forced myself not to push it away. Doing the kind of work I'd done for the past year, I'd seen some pretty gruesome things, but it never got any easier. I had more than one person tell me that when it started getting easy, that's when it was time to get out. If this was the indication, then I was still good because the crime scene photo I was looking at made me regret having eaten.

“North Star,” Pierre said. “Or, that is the name she used at work. There is no record of a real identity.”

“Stripper?” I forced the word past the bile threatening to rise.

“At one of Alizee's clubs,” he confirmed. “And rumor says she was paid for more than taking off her clothes.”

“So she was a prostitute.” I made it a statement. I flipped through the pictures, each one showing another brutal angle to the crime.

He nodded. “Three prior arrests for solicitation.” He gestured toward the paper I was currently on. Her mug shot showed a once-pretty blonde who'd definitely lived a hard life. She looked decades older than her twenty-three years.

“The last page is the...” He frowned as he searched for the word. “Death report?”

“Autopsy report?” I asked as I turned to that page. He nodded, but I didn't need the confirmation. While it was written in French, I'd seen enough of these to recognize the similarities. I glanced at it and then looked to Pierre for translation.

“She was strangled,” he said. “But the other injuries happened when she was alive.”

I inhaled a slow, shaky breath. Whoever had done this had enjoyed it. I closed the first file and opened the second. Even though I was prepared this time, it didn't make things easier. Especially since half of the girl's face was missing. I managed to keep myself from being sick, but it was a close call.

“Daria Petrova. Sixteen-year-old runaway from Russia.” Pierre said, leaning close enough that his arm brushed against mine. “Shot in the back of the head.”

“Also a prostitute?” I asked the question even though I was pretty certain of the answer.

“Yes,” he said. “Found beaten, raped and shot two days after North was found.”

“Did she also work in one of Alizee's clubs?” I breathed a sigh of relief as I closed the file, even though I knew I'd never truly get those images out of my head.

“There is no record of her,” he said.

“Which doesn't mean she wasn't working the same place North was,” I reasoned.

Pierre nodded. “Both girls were last seen at the club where North worked and were found in the same alley.”

“You think Alizee had something to do with this,” I said, another statement, no question.

“I do,” he admitted. “I believe North did, said or saw something she wasn’t supposed to and Alizee killed her for it.” He took both of the files and slid them back into the envelope. “I believe Daria saw the murder and was executed.”

“Did you tell your police contact that?” I asked.

He frowned. “I did, but there is no evidence to support my claim. My contact will not present this theory without more than my word.”

“What's the theory they're working with now?”

“They were prostitutes. Their lives were full of danger,” he said. “It is to be expected that they would have a violent and young death.”

“So they're not even going to look for the killer or killers?” I knew similar atrocities happened back home, a person's status prompting the intensity in which an investigation was done. It didn't make it any less wrong.

“They will look,” he said. “But only if they have the time.”

“And you're sure Alizee did this?”

“I’m certain she gave the orders,” he said. “And I wish to see her in jail for it. Someone must speak for these girls.”

I nodded in understanding. I had the same passion for my work. So many of these girls – and boys – were tossed aside like garbage, treated as if they didn't matter. They needed an advocate, someone to step up and say it wasn't okay to treat a human being this way. I felt a surge of warm admiration for Pierre and what he was trying to do.

“This is why I was so adamant that you not speak to Gavin about being at the docks,” Pierre said.

My heart twisted as the pain returned. “I didn't say anything.”

“If Alizee knows we suspect her of wrongdoing, she will go to any lengths to ensure she cannot be connected to these deaths, to cover her tracks. I need hard evidence that will force the authorities to pursue her as a suspect.”

I put aside my own feelings for the greater good. “How can I help?”

He smiled at me. “I was hoping you would offer. I need you to spy on Alizee.”

“Spy on her?” I echoed. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“Go to the meetings with your boyfriend. Try to get close with her, encourage her to confide in you.”

“You think she's going to confess to me just because I make nice?” My nails bit into my palm and I had to force my hand to relax.

“No,” he said. “That would be foolish. I believe she will provide you with information that may lead us to clues that will provide the evidence we need. It may be a confirmation of places she has gone, of people she knows.”

I didn't say anything and he let the silence stand. I could tell he knew how difficult this decision was for me to make, especially after what I'd seen, but it wasn't just that. This whole thing brought back memories of Howard and everything I'd gone through a year ago. I didn't regret the decisions I made then, not for a moment, but it wasn't something I wanted to go through again. Now, I found myself in a similar situation, though I doubted I'd be in as much danger. Alizee might be a murderous bitch, but I’d already survived a lecherous sexual sadist. More importantly, I was an American citizen in a tourist city. If I went missing or turned up dead, Cannes would get negative press as well as international pressure to find the person responsible.

Small comfort since it'd still mean I was dead.

But that wasn't the point. I had to decide if I was willing to put my relationship with Gavin, as well as both of our lives, on the line to stop Alizee.

“Please,” Pierre said softly. “Help me.”

I reached out and put my hand over his. “All right,” I said. I gave him a grim smile. “I'll help you.”

He gave me that dazzling smile that made his dimples appear. “Then let us put that bitch behind bars.”

I nodded as I chuckled. It was dark business we were doing, but at least we were doing something.

 

Chapter 5

Gavin

Carrie pushing me away when I kissed her had been a surprise, but I'd thought, for a moment, it was because I was wet and cold. Then I saw her face and it wasn't the swim that was making me cold. When she started in about the pain she was in because of the sex we'd had last night, it was like a punch in the gut. And then she'd taken a call from Pierre, that journalist she'd been spending time with while I was at business meetings. I wasn't sure which was stronger, the jealousy that surged through me at how easily she spoke to him after what she'd just said to me, or the pain her words had brought.

When she said she was meeting him, I couldn't stop myself from wondering if he was the reason Carrie was pulling away from me. Was it possible I freaked her out so badly last night that she'd turned to Pierre?

I was barely able to keep my voice steady when I asked the question. Then she said I should have another “business meeting” and stormed out. I stared at the door as it slammed shut. What had she meant by that? Was she angry I had another meeting with Vincent? I don’t understand why she didn’t tell me not to go this morning. I would've been happy to stay. There had to be something she wasn't telling me.

And I needed to know what it was so I could fix it.

That broke my paralysis and I went after her. The elevator doors were already closed by the time I stepped into the hallway, and I knew I'd be too late to catch her if I waited for it to come back up. I headed for the stairs.

I wasn't quite running, but I wasn't walking either. I had to catch her, tell her that whatever I had done, I'd make it right. If she wanted me to break my contract with Vincent, I'd do it. I'd give up the club here and back home if she didn't want me involved with any of it. I'd find another job. Anything to fix this.

I caught a glimpse of Carrie's hair shining in the sun as she pushed open the lobby doors and I hurried after her. I considered calling out to her, but didn't want to have this discussion in public. I heard her say the name of the restaurant where they were going to meet, so I wasn't worried about losing her. I knew she was meeting Pierre. I didn't know the guy, but I didn't like him.

I frowned as I walked, closing the distance. Somehow, I didn't think going off on Pierre would put me into Carrie's better graces. She seemed to like him. I just didn't know how much. I needed to know. I needed to know if what had happened between Carrie and me was because of Pierre. And this was the perfect time and place to find out.

I slowed down until my pace matched hers. I could still see her, but I wasn't getting any closer now. It wasn't about catching up to her now, not yet. I had a different plan. I'd wait until I had a better idea of what I was dealing with.

Carrie went inside and I situated myself so I could see the patio without obstruction. If they ate inside, I wouldn't be able to see anything, but I was counting on Carrie wanting to be in the sunshine. A few minutes later, she came out and found a table.

A voice in my head said I was being unreasonable, that I should just walk over and talk to her. That was the smart thing to do. The right thing. We needed to talk about what had happened.

I tossed the voice away as I noticed a handsome man walking toward Carrie, carrying an envelope in his hand. I watched as they talked, their bodies only inches away from each other. He kept leaning closer to her, their arms brushing. She didn't make an attempt to pull away and I felt sick. She'd pushed me away and now she was letting this man touch her. When she smiled at him and put her hand over his, I turned away.

I couldn't watch. Part of me wanted to leave. Go back to the hotel and face Carrie when she returned.

Movement caught the corner of my eye and I looked up in reflex. Pierre was walking by, carrying the envelope and looking like he'd just achieved some sort of major accomplishment. Anger burned the pain and made it more manageable.

I needed to talk to him. Find out what the hell he was doing with the woman I loved. I stood, ready to follow and confront. I'd taken only a couple steps when my phone rang. I cursed, wanting to ignore it, but it was my business ringtone. It was probably Vincent, since Alizee wasn't likely to speak to me again anytime soon. I could only hope. After what had happened with her, I needed to talk to Vincent and see if things were still on track.

I swore again and pulled out my phone. I was starting to regret having purchased a waterproof one. If my phone had been destroyed when Alizee made me swim to shore, it would've been a good excuse to not take the call. Since I didn't have that excuse, and I was too tired to lie, I answered.

“Yes?” It took all of my self-control not to snap at him.

“What the hell happened this morning, Gavin?” Vincent sounded mildly amused. “Alizee called me, said you weren't anything like she expected.”

I scowled. “Did she tell you to kill the deal?”

“No.” Now he sounded curious. “Why would she have done that?”

I didn't answer. This wasn't something I wanted to talk about over the phone.

“Meet me at La Femme en Bleu,” he said, sensing my hesitation.

“A strip club at two in the afternoon?” I asked. I wasn't sure why that surprised me.

“It's never too early to watch beautiful women dance,” he countered.

I sighed. “I'm on my way.” When I hung up, I looked down the street, but Pierre was gone.

Dammit!

Now I had only two choices. Go talk to Carrie or meet with Vincent. Either way, I was going to have to talk about things I wanted to avoid. Maybe if I talked to Vincent and got that all taken care of, I'd be able to tell Carrie that work wouldn't interfere with us again.

I sighed and hailed a cab. Putting it off wasn't going to make this any easier. During the ride, I thought about how I would explain things to Vincent. Should I try to cushion it? Make it sound like Alizee hadn't been out of line? Leave out what she'd said after I'd turned her down? Or did I lay it all out for him, tell him everything exactly how it went down? No emotion, no inflection. Just the facts.

I still hadn't made up my mind which tact I would take when the cab pulled in front of the club. It was one more thing I didn't know how to handle, which only served to piss me off further. I walked into the club, barely glancing at the scantily-clad women walking by with trays of drinks, and only then because I was trying not to run into them. The doorman pointed me toward a corner booth and that's where I went now, fully expecting to see Vincent with a couple girls hanging all over him. Instead, he was sitting by himself, looking less than interested in the pair of girls on stage who were writhing all over each other. That was a little strange, but not enough to squash the anger I felt about everything that had happened today.

I sat down on the edge of the booth seat.

“So, Gavin, what happened?” Vincent turned toward me, his eyes narrowed. “You don't look very happy.” His gaze went from top to bottom. “Or very dry.”

“I'm not,” I said. “Either one, actually.”

He leaned his arms on the table. “What's going on?”

“Alizee came on to me,” I said and ran my hand through my still-wet hair. “Fuck that. She full-on propositioned me and then kissed me. Threatened to kill the deal if I didn't fuck her.” It all came out a bit harsher than I'd originally intended, but I didn't apologize.

“And?” he asked, his tone mild.

“And nothing,” I snapped. “I’m not going to betray Carrie like that.” I tried not to think about how Carrie might be betraying me.

“Even if it cost you the deal? The club here?” he asked.

I gave him a hard look. “Even if it cost me everything.”

“Good.” He beamed at me.

I stared at him. What the hell was that about? Why did he look so fucking happy? The anger I'd kept in check threatened to crack the surface.

“I'm glad you didn't give in to her,” he said. “If you had, the deal would've been off and I would've been looking for a new partner.”

Now I was really confused. What the fuck was going on? Vincent gave me a smile and I slammed my hand down on the table.

Before I could say anything though, Vincent spoke, “Do you know how I got my start?”

“I don't care,” I said through gritted teeth. “Alizee threatened me, kissed me, then made me swim to shore when I turned her down. I've had a shitty day so far and I want to know why the hell you think this is funny.”

“I'll get there, I promise.” Vincent's expression sobered. “Trust me, Gavin. You're going to want to hear this.”

I wasn't sure I agreed with him, but calmed down enough to nod for him to go on.

“I came from Corsica,” he began. “I was poor, but I worked hard. I am a self-made businessman, a success story, though not our island's biggest one. That,” he said, “is Alizee.”

I remembered how they'd talked in a language I hadn't recognized. “You knew her?”

“In a way,” he admitted. “Everyone on Corsica knows Alizee because she is a member of the biggest crime family on the island. Me, she did not recognize, but that was not a surprise.”

“So you're, what, working with her because of some weird childhood jealousy thing?”

His face hardened and I instantly knew there was something more here, something much stronger than anything I held against Alizee.

“Self-made business man.” There was bitterness in his voice. “Married my childhood sweetheart. Had a beautiful little girl who I gave everything she wanted. Had the perfect life.”

I had a bad feeling I wasn't going to like what came next. As soon as he spoke, I found out I was right.

“Three years ago, when she was sixteen, my daughter became angry because I wouldn’t let her go out with an older boy she liked. She ran away to Cannes with him, and it turned out he was a recruiter for one of Alizee's clubs.” He looked down at the table, and then back up at me. “It took me a year but I finally tracked her here. I was too late. What I found was that she had been turned out, forced into prostitution and several months before I arrived in Cannes, her body was found in an alley. The police ruled it a suicide.”

Damn. I didn't know what to say. I knew if my daughter had disappeared, been hurt, been murdered... I shook away the thought, unable to imagine it. Skylar was my world, the only person I cared about more than Carrie.

“I know Alizee was responsible for her death. Even if not directly, then indirectly. The police did not care, no matter how much pressure I put on them.” Vincent's normally jovial voice was laced with anger and pain worse than anything I'd ever felt. “I have been trying to gather evidence, proof of what she’s done.”

“I'm truly sorry for your loss,” I said. “But I don't understand what that has to do with Alizee hitting on me or why you're working with her.”

“Because you turned her down, I know I can trust you,” he said. “And I needed a partner I could trust to take Alizee down. You are that partner.”

What he'd been telling me finally sunk in. Alizee wasn't just a flirt or a blackmailer. She was dangerous. A trafficker. Possibly a murderer. A murderer who was pissed at me.

Carrie.

Shit.

Alizee could go after Carrie because of what I'd done.

I pulled out my phone and hit her contact number.

Voicemail.

I left a message and then dialed again.

Dammit Carrie. My heart pounded. Pick up.

 

Chapter 6

Carrie

I was standing on the balcony, looking out at the ocean and trying to figure out how to handle this thing with Gavin when he called the first time. I let it go to voicemail. I didn't want to have this conversation over the phone. Hell, I didn't want to have it at all, but it needed to be done. The phone dinged to say he'd left a message and I sighed. It was probably just a 'call me, we need to talk' or 'where are you' message. I should've been the one asked where he was. I'd reluctantly come back to the room after Pierre left the restaurant, knowing I couldn't leave things with Gavin the way they'd been, but he'd been gone. No note, no indication of where he'd gone or when he'd be back. Of course, my thoughts had automatically gone a negative route.

My phone rang again. Gavin's ringtone. I frowned. He must've called back right after leaving the voicemail. That didn't seem like the kind of thing he'd do unless something was wrong. I wasn't quite sure I was ready to talk to him, but I did go to my voicemail.

“Babe, please call me.”

I could hear the worry in Gavin's voice and immediately tensed.

“I'm with Vincent right now at La Femme en Bleu and I need you to call me. Please, Carrie.”

I frowned at the phone. I was pretty sure the place Gavin mentioned was a strip club, but the fact that he'd told me his location spoke volumes. I wasn't stupid enough to think Gavin never took a business meeting at a strip club, but he also didn't generally offer the information.

I sent a quick text saying I was coming to him and waited for his response. If he said just to call him, I'd know it wasn't as urgent as he'd made it sound. Instead, I got a message that simply said, “Hurry.”

It didn't matter how angry I'd been or where things had been left between us. I went. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him.

The cab driver didn't even blink when I gave him the name of the club and I tried desperate to keep my mind off of all the possibilities that swirled in my head. By the time we reached the club, my nerves were frayed and I barely even glanced at the bills I gave to the driver.

The man at the door opened it for me and gave a polite nod as I walked by. The place was half-full of people I assumed were mostly tourists and half-naked waitresses who were barely wearing more than the women on stage. I found it strange that a country with topless beaches still had strip clubs that thrived. I supposed it was the difference between women just walking around and seeing them dance and grind.

I caught movement toward the back and looked up. Gavin was coming toward me, an expression of pure relief on his face. I started his way, now even more worried about what was going on. It couldn't have been just because I'd gone to see Pierre. That would've been a bit of an overreaction.

He pulled me into his arms without saying a word and, for a moment, I relaxed into his embrace. I let myself pretend everything was okay and then pulled back. Gavin didn't let me go far though. He slid his arm around my shoulders and led me back to the booth next to where Vincent was standing.

“Carrie.” Vincent nodded.

“Vincent.”

He glanced at Gavin and a silent message seemed to pass between the two of them. “I think I will leave you two alone to talk. You can speak freely here.”

“Thanks, Vincent,” Gavin said. He waited until Vincent started toward the front of the club before motioning for me to sit.

Now that it was just the two of us in a secluded booth I assumed was meant for private dances, all of the day's previous emotions came flooding back. I stayed on the opposite side of the table, my hands clenched on my lap, and waited for him to explain himself.

He raked his hand through his hair and I saw that it was still damp. “I'm not sure where to start.”

I tried not to scowl as I leaned in so that I was sitting closer to him. The music was too loud for us to have an entire conversation sitting across from each other without leaning in. Probably why Vincent had said we were free to talk here.

“Just say it, Gavin,” I said.

A flash of something crossed his face and then vanished. I recognized that look, the guarded expression, and I hated it.

“There are some things about Vincent and Alizee that you need to know.”

I wasn't going to sit here and let him treat me like I was too stupid or naïve to know what was going on. “I know.”

His eyes widened. “What do you mean you know? How?”

“I was there.”

Now he looked confused. “I just found out what was going on not more than twenty minutes ago. I don't understand.”

“Do I need to spell it out for you?” I snapped. “I was at the docks this morning and saw you on your little 'business trip.' You know, the one supposedly with Vincent. The one with your lips wrapped around Alizee on her yacht. Yeah. That one.”

All the color drained from Gavin's face and I saw him putting pieces together.

“You – you were there?”

“Yes, Gavin, I was there. And I got quite the eyeful.” I crossed my arms, digging my nails into my upper arms to keep myself from crying. I needed to channel my anger, not my hurt.

“Carrie, babe, that's not... I mean, it isn't...” He slammed his hand down on the table. “Dammit!” His eyes flashed. “Why didn't you just say something?”

“What was I supposed to say?” I avoided the question. “You lied to me about where you were going and who you were going to be with. Unless, of course, you didn't know you'd be hanging out on Alizee's yacht with her.” I raised an eyebrow as he flushed. “That's what I thought.”

He started to reach across the table as if he expected me to hold his hands, then he stopped and pulled back. “It's not what you think.”

“Really? Because I think you didn't want me to know you were meeting her and not Vincent. And I think that's because...” I let my voice trail off as tears started to form in my eyes. I wasn't going to cry, not here. “It doesn't matter the reason. You lied and you kissed her.”

“You must've missed the finale then,” he snapped. “Where she made me swim back to shore because I refused to fuck her, even though she threatened to kill the deal.”

My eyes went wide. That certainly explained why he'd been soaked when he'd gotten back to the hotel.

“And you're one to talk.” He leaned toward me, his eyes flashing now. “I saw you with Pierre.”

I frowned. “That's not the same thing. I told you I was going to meet him. And I sure as hell didn't kiss him!”

“You two looked awfully cozy.”

“You followed me?” What was happening to us?

“And how did you see me with Alizee if you hadn't been following me?”

“I apparently had a reason to,” I countered. “You lied about where you were going.”

“Yes,” he admitted. “I wasn't entirely honest about where I was going because I didn't want you to worry. I got the impression you didn't like Alizee very much.”

I gave a snort of laughter. “How very observant of you. That's an understatement.”

“I shouldn't have lied,” he said. “Okay? It was a mistake. I should've just been honest and even invited you to come along.” He started to say something else and then stopped.

“Spill it,” I said. “We might as well get everything out in the open.”

“Is what you saw... is that why you said those things earlier?”

There was a cautious hope in his eyes that reminded me of the pain I'd seen on his face back at the hotel.

“Because if what happened last night freaked you out or scared you,” he continued. “And that's why you went to Pierre, we don't have to do any of that–”

“Wait,” I cut him off. “You think I'm cheating on you with Pierre because of what we did last night?” The expression on his face said it all. “I'm not interested in Pierre. Not that way.” I sighed and slid over so that we were side-by-side. “I'm sorry I made you feel like I didn't love every moment of last night. I loved you sharing that part of yourself with me.” I reached up and brushed his hair back, letting my fingers linger on his cheek.

“Why did you say it then? Payback for what you thought was going on between Alizee and me?” He caught my hand in his and pressed his lips against the tips of my fingers.

I sighed and said a silent apology to Pierre. “It's complicated because I wasn't at the docks alone.”

Gavin's eyes narrowed. “You were there with the journalist.”

I nodded. “He's investigating Alizee and that's what we were doing when I saw you. Pierre said I couldn't talk to you about it because if Alizee knew he was looking into her, she'd bolt.”

“And he wouldn't be able to expose her illegal activities,” Gavin finished my thought.

I looked up at him, surprised.

“You know how I said I had to tell you some things about Vincent and Alizee?” he asked. “Well, that's part of it.”

I leaned my head against his shoulder, the flood of relief going through me leaving me trembling. He put his arms around me and pulled me close. “I'm so sorry,” I repeated. “I should've trusted you, and not just about the meeting, but also that you'd believe me when I said she was up to no good.”

He kissed the top of my head. “And I'm sorry I lied to you about where I was going this morning and for following you to meet Pierre. I should've trusted you, too. Hearing you say those things about me spanking you...” His voice trailed off for a moment before he continued, “That's what I've been scared of, Carrie. This past year, a part of me has always been waiting for this. For you to realize you could do so much better than me. I thought that showing you what I really wanted was the last straw.”

I laughed and felt him stiffen. I tilted my head back so I could look at him. “And here I've been worrying that you wanted Alizee because I didn't respond the way you wanted me to, that you'd finally realized you were way out of my league.”

He looked startled for a moment and then cupped the side of my face. “Carrie, I don't want anyone except you.” He ran his thumb along my bottom lip. “I don't know what I did to deserve you.”

I slid my hand behind his neck and pulled his head down until his mouth met mine. I kept the kiss brief and chaste, aware that we were in public, but even that small contact was enough to send heat blazing through me. I closed my eyes, love for Gavin washing over me, chasing away all the negative.

“There are still things I need to tell you,” he said, his voice low. “But I'm thinking they can wait a bit longer.” He released me and stood, holding out his hand to me. “We come first.”

I nodded and slid my hand into his. We would stop Alizee, and Vincent if he was involved. We would help Pierre write his story or whatever else we needed to do. But after. Saving the world could wait a little longer.

 

Chapter 7

Carrie

We took a cab back to the hotel, keeping our hands linked the entire way. In the backseat, I snuggled under his arm, my fingers tracing patterns across his flat stomach. Absently, I wondered what it must've been like to watch him walk out of the ocean, his clothes clinging to every dip and curve of his body.

My stomach tightened with desire.

He kissed the top of my head, then moved down to my temple. The brush of his lips against skin made me shiver.

“I love you,” he breathed. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”

I looked up at him. “About as much as I love you.”

His mouth lightly touched mine. “There are so many things I'm looking forward to doing to you.”

His eyes shone with desire, twisting things deep inside me. “And I can't wait to let you do them.”

Impossibly, his eyes darkened even more. “Fuck, Carrie. I'm not going to be able to walk into that hotel without embarrassing myself.”

I gave him a wicked grin and slid my hand down to the growing bulge at the front of his pants. He stifled a moan as I cupped his cock. “You've got nothing to be embarrassed about.”

He lowered his head so that his mouth was against my ear. “Keep that up and I'm not going to care that we're in the back of a cab. I'm going to fuck you right here.”

I took a shuddering breath at the image his words created. It wasn't something I'd actually want him to do, but I couldn't deny the thought wasn't arousing. I was really glad they hadn't chosen somewhere further from the hotel. A longer ride, and I wasn't entirely certain I wouldn't have told him to go for it anyway.

When the cab pulled up to the curb, Gavin shoved a wad of bills at the driver and practically dragged me out of the car. We went straight for the elevators, ignoring the surprised looks we received. I wasn't sure if it was because we were rushing or that Gavin looked a bit bedraggled now that his clothes had dried. It also might've been that his pants weren't doing anything to disguise his partial erection.

All I could think about, though, was getting that delicious piece of flesh out of his pants and into mine. Figuratively, of course. Literally, I wanted him in my mouth, and then between my legs. Pants would just get in the way.

The moment we stepped into the elevator, my control cracked. Gavin's thumb rubbed against the side of my hand, each pass making me think of how it felt when he did the same motion over my clit.

Fuck it.

I turned toward Gavin, pulling my hand from his and pushing him against the side wall. He looked down at me with a startled expression that quickly vanished when I reached over and pushed the stop button. I dropped to my knees even as he said my name. I smiled up at him and reached for his belt. He caught his breath, his hand brushing over my curls before settling on my head. I opened his pants and reached into his underwear, wrapping my fingers around him. His lips parted as I pulled his cock out, stroking it as it hardened.

“What do you want, Gavin?” I asked, my mouth close to his cock, but not touching it. It twitched as I breathed on his skin. I glanced up at him. “Tell me what you want.”

“You,” he said gruffly.

I smiled as I lightly ran my fingers over his cock. “Are you going to take what you want?”

“Are you teasing me?” His fingers dug into my hair. There was an edge to his voice that sent a thrill through me.

“And if I am?” I asked coyly.

He took a shaky breath, but his voice was steady when he spoke. “Open your mouth.”

I did as I was told, butterflies fluttering in my stomach as Gavin drew my head toward him. His cock slid across my tongue and the taste of salt – skin and water – burst through my mouth. I wrapped my lips around him, letting him control how deep he went. It was the ultimate act of trust. Him trusting me not to use my teeth or panic. Me trusting him not to give more than I could take.

I put my hands on hips for balance, but didn't try to take control. He thrust slowly at first, his gaze on me as he gauged my reaction. When he saw whatever it was that he was looking for, his hand tightened and he began to move faster. His cock slid into the back of my mouth and I focused on relaxing my throat, giving Gavin whatever access he wanted.

Some women might feel that being on their knees, allowing a man to fuck their mouth, was humiliating. I found it heady, powerful. The way I felt his cock swelling in my mouth. The moans coming from his mouth. How his fingers dug into my scalp.

He pushed deep, forcing his entire length into my mouth. He held me there and I fought the urge to pull back. I took slow breaths through my nose and worked on not gagging. Just when I thought it'd be too much, he released me and took a step back.

I coughed, but made sure I gave Gavin a watery smile. I wanted him to know I thoroughly enjoyed the start of what I hoped would be something even more fun.

He reached down and pulled me to my feet, his eyes blazing. He crushed me against him, his lips coming down on mine with bruising force. His tongue forced open my mouth, plundering every inch while his hands slid under my shirt, caressing bare skin.

I moaned, but took a step back. I wanted him so badly, but not here. An elevator quickie sounded exciting, but wasn't what I wanted right now. I reached behind me and hit the button to get us going again, then gestured toward Gavin's exposed cock.

“As much as I'm sure there are a lot of women – and men – who'd appreciate the view.” I took a step toward him. “That's mine.”

He grinned at me as he tucked himself into his pants and pulled his jacket around to hide his erection. He was just in time too. One floor up, the elevator stopped and a pair of gray-haired women climbed on. They glanced at me, then at Gavin, before turning back to me. The taller of the two winked, but the other was bolder.

“If I'd had him in here, I would've kept the elevator stopped for a lot longer.”

A burst of laughter bubbled out of me and, after a moment, Gavin and the old women both joined in. We laughed until we reached our floor and then said good-bye to the two strangers. The good humor lasted until we entered the hotel room and then it shifted.

Gavin's arms wrapped around my waist and he lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around him and latched my mouth to his neck. He moaned as I lightly bit down before pressing my lips against his ear. “My turn to leave a mark.” His hands flexed against me and I sucked his skin into my mouth again.

As he lowered me to the bed, I felt a stab of satisfaction when I saw the dark mark on his neck. Then his hands were on my clothes, pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it aside. He made a sound of pure desire and then went to work on my jeans. While he was busy with those, I got rid of the bra and then tugged at Gavin's shirt.

It didn't take us long to finish shedding our clothes and then he was stretching out on top of me, skin sliding against skin. His hands slid up my sides and then around to cup my breasts. He squeezed and I moaned. As my head fell back, his mouth made its way down my jaw and then to my neck.

My nipples throbbed as his fingers rolled and pulled at them. Jolts of pain shot through me, going straight to my pussy. It was sharper than it had been last night, intensified by my already-sore body. My back arched, silently begging for more. I moaned.

“Are you okay?” Gavin's voice was soft as his hands stilled. “Are you too sore for this?”

“No,” I said. I shook my head. “It feels amazing. Please don't stop.”

“I love you,” he said as his mouth came down on mine.

His teeth closed on my bottom lip, worrying at it until I cried out, and then he soothed it with his tongue. His fingers slid between my legs and I opened wider, granting him access to my already soaking core. I dug my nails into his shoulders as his fingers slid inside me. When he curled them, pressing against my g-spot, I cried out, a shock of pleasure rocking through me.

“Come for me, baby,” he growled the command against my neck. “Come for me.”

His lips moved down further and latched around my nipple. As he sucked the hardened flesh into his mouth, his fingers rubbed against that spot inside me until I was panting, begging for release. The moment his teeth grazed the tip, I did as I was told.

“Yes!” I cried out as I writhed against him, my hips pushing down until the heel of his hand rubbed against my clit and I screamed his name.

“That's my girl.” Gavin's fingers slipped out of me and I felt something thicker, harder, pushing against my pussy.

My eyes rolled back into my head as he surged forward, filling me. His pace was fast, almost brutal. Every thrust went deep, and still, I rose to meet him. I wanted more, all of him. Our bodies came together over and over again, two entities working toward becoming one.

I felt it coming, the pressure inside me building, and I knew Gavin felt it too. His voice was rough in my ear, endearments mixed with curses. Sounds of pleasure fell from both our lips and I urged him onward.

Then, an explosion, an inferno. Fire blazed over my skin, through my body. Electricity across my nerves.

I clung to Gavin as we came together. He emptied himself inside me as my pussy contracted around him, squeezing every last drop of pleasure for us both. Only after we were both spent did we collapse back onto the bed, limbs still entwined.

He pressed his lips against my sweaty temple. “I love you.”

I gave a happy sigh. “Me too.”

For a moment, everything was perfect.

We had twenty minutes. Twenty blissful minutes where Gavin and I basked in the afterglow of amazing sex. The air conditioning dried the sweat on our bodies and we listened to the sound of each other's breathing slowing, our heartbeats returning to normal.

And then his phone rang.

I sighed and looked over at him.

“Remember when I said there were things I needed to tell you?” Gavin said as he rolled over and reached for his pants. “I'm guessing the call is related. Once I'm off, we'll need to talk.”

He picked up his phone. “Vincent.” There was a long pause where I assumed Vincent was giving one of his lengthy monologues. “All right,” he said. “We'll be there.” When he hung up, he looked over at me. “You're really not going to like this.”

I sat up, but didn't cover myself. I didn't feel as if I needed any protection. Whatever had been coming between us was gone now, and I had a good feeling it wasn't coming back. I might not like what he was going to say, but we were in it together.

“First, I have to fill you in on everything Vincent told me before you got to the club.”

“The strip club?”

His head jerked up, but he relaxed as soon as he saw my grin. I'd seen him there. He hadn't looked at any of the half-naked or fully-naked women the entire time we'd been there.

“Yes.” He smiled back as he sat down next to me.

I sighed. “Before you start, we should probably get dressed.” He gave me a questioning look. “Or at least covered, because I won't be able to concentrate if you're naked.”

He laughed, pulled the blanket over his lap and then started to tell me everything Vincent had told him. I had to admit, I hadn't seen any of that coming. I'd been sure Vincent was in on it too. The story would be easy enough to check. Gavin might've trusted his business partner, but I was still cynical, no matter how sad the story. A call back home would get things rolling, until then, I'd trust Gavin's judgment.

“All right,” I said when he got to the end. “What am I not going to like?”

“Alizee is having a party tonight and wants us there.”

He was wrong. I didn't just dislike the idea. I loathed it. Abhorred. Despised. But I'd do what needed to be done.

“Okay,” I said. “I'm in.” Gavin looked at me, surprised. “But you're going to owe me.” I slid my hand under the blanket and wrapped my fingers around his cock.

“Oh, I’ll enjoy paying you back.” Gavin smiled as he pulled me on top of him. “With interest.”

I laughed. We had some time before the party and I intended to take advantage of every minute of it.

 

Chapter 8

Carrie

By the time we had to get up and get ready, we were both limp, boneless, and wishing we had nowhere to go. I could've laid in Gavin's arms for hours and been content. Based on the reluctance on his face, I felt safe assuming he was thinking along the same lines. We'd had sex twice more and I lost count the number of times I'd climaxed. We were in sync again and not just physically. There was an emotional and mental connection that had been hit or miss for months. It had been there each time we came together today and I felt more at ease than I had in a long time.

Still, we had work to do.

“Are we going to the yacht?” I couldn't resist asking the question as I rolled out of his embrace. He glared at me and I laughed. After a moment, he joined in.

“No, smart-ass,” he retorted. “She has a place here. One of the rich neighborhoods. Her house is huge, so she's hosting the party there.”

“And you'd know this how?” I asked as I headed for the bathroom.

“Oh, didn't I tell you? Vincent and I stopped by a couple times for the nightly orgy.”

I threw a dirty look over my shoulder and stuck out my tongue for good measure before I disappeared into the bathroom. It was nice to be able to joke with him about this kind of thing instead of getting upset about it.

“Vincent's been there,” Gavin called after me. “He filled me in on a lot of what Alizee owns. What she's bought with her earnings from exploiting people.”

I could feel him getting back into the right frame of mind and I followed his example. Now that we were good, we needed to focus on helping Vincent and Pierre take down Alizee. I turned on the shower and waited a moment for the hot water to warm up. I'd wait until I was out of the shower to go over plans with Gavin. Between what Vincent had said and the pictures Pierre had shown me, we knew Alizee was dangerous. The fact that she'd come this far meant she was also very smart. The only way this was going to work would be if we had a plan in place. We needed to know what we were going to do as well as the where and when. And we needed to make sure we were prepared for any contingencies. Nothing could catch us off guard.

***

When Gavin called Alizee's house large, it had been an understatement. At least comparatively. Her place was at least three times the size of the average homes I'd seen during my short stay. The gate across the driveway and the massive amount of security rivaled some of the pictures I'd seen from Krissy in LA.

We didn't have any problem getting in, but I still felt a bit out of place as Gavin and I walked toward the front door. The people walking around us weren't rich celebrities and businessmen like the ones we usually spent time with back home. No, these were old money. Old money that made prominent New York families look like second-class citizens. These were the kinds of people who could claim royal blood somewhere in their genealogy. Here, it wasn't money that mattered as much as it was the titles and the bloodlines.

Alizee was at the door, greeting guests as they came in and I felt Gavin stiffen next to me. Vincent wasn't anywhere to be seen, so we either had to act normal and go in on our own, or wait for Vincent and risk Alizee getting suspicious that something was going on.

“It's okay for things to be awkward,” I whispered so that only Gavin could hear me. “She doesn't know what you have or haven’t told me about your swim earlier today. For all she knows, you're acting uncomfortable because of that.”

“Good point,” Gavin said and relaxed a little. “Let's make sure she thinks that's what's going on.”

I nodded. I didn't need him to tell me what he was thinking because I was thinking it too. I waited until Alizee looked right at us and then leaned into Gavin and slid my arm around his waist in a possessive gesture any woman would recognize instantly. I gave her a haughty smirk and then fixed a coldly polite smile on my face.

Gavin kept his arm around my shoulders as we approached, a stiff smile on his face.

“Alizee,” he said politely.

“Gavin.”

Her voice was warm as she looked at him and it was all I could do not to slap her into next week. Then she looked at me and a different kind of heat came into her eyes. She didn’t bother to disguise her contempt of me anymore. At least not to me. I had no doubt the righteous mask would slip back on the second someone else approached.

“How nice of you both to come.” She gestured for us to enter the house. “Please, make yourselves at home.”

We stepped past and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a fine line to walk, trying to convince her my dislike of her stemmed only from her obsession with Gavin and not because I knew about her disgusting side business. Or rather, the business that supported everything else she did. Sometimes the best disguise was distraction and misdirection.

Gavin and I went inside and began to mingle. Or, rather, Gavin mingled while I smiled and nodded, only understanding a word here and there half the time. Some of the people, when they discovered we were American, switched to English, but most didn't. I liked to think it was because they weren't comfortable conversing in another language and not because they thought they were too good to do it. I knew a lot of Europeans thought Americans were snobs because they thought everyone should speak English, but that wasn't the case with me. French just hadn't been the language I'd chosen to study in college. In New York, it was more beneficial to know Spanish than French.

After the first couple of introductions and subsequent conversations, I decided that if I wasn't able to be a part of talking to these people, the least I could do is observe my surroundings. We might be working with Vincent, but I was still loyal to what Pierre wanted too. There was no reason both couldn't be accomplished. Besides, if I could discover something that could help us, so much the better.

There were two floors, though it was clear that the upstairs were off limits. The burly men standing at the base of the staircase didn't look like the kind of people it'd be easy to slip one over on. Across the massive room I assumed was a parlor or entertaining room of some kind, were a pair of double doors. I couldn't see details, but the glimpse of shimmering blue told me a pool was out there. Judging by how far we'd driven and the direction we were facing, it was a safe bet that at least the second story had a beautiful ocean view.

The interior was full of expensive looking art work and sculptures I was pretty sure were worth ten times more than what Gavin and I had in our apartment back home. With each one, I wondered how many people she'd had to sell or how many tricks she'd had to force girls to turn just to get another painting for her fucking wall.

After my second glass of champagne, I excused myself to the restroom. I considered trying to sneak past the guards at the stairs or try to convince them to let me go upstairs, but I decided against it. It wasn't like Alizee would be keeping a couple of Russian prostitutes under the bed or in the linen closet. Knowing her expensive tastes was enough for me to make a mental note to tell Pierre to look into Alizee's finances.

I squeezed Gavin's arm and he gave me a warm smile before I walked away in search of a bathroom. I found it easily enough and shook my head at the opulence while I did my business. Once I was finished, I started back for the main room. Maybe Vincent would be here by now and he could let us know what we needed to do to get this ball rolling. I didn't want to pretend to be glad to be here any longer than necessary.

I'd barely made it two steps down the hallway when Alizee appeared, flanked by two men even bigger than the ones who'd been guarding the stairs. I stopped where I was, my instincts telling me something bad was about to go down.

One of the men tried to grab my purse and it fell to the floor. Along with it a bracelet I’d never seen before.

“I invite you into my house and you steal from me?” Alizee made a tsking sound as she picked up the bracelet. “That is not a nice thing to do.”

“I didn't steal anything, Alizee.” I kept my voice calm and even, as if I thought this was only a matter of mistaken identity or a misunderstanding. Inwardly, I was trying not to panic. Images of the two girls Pierre had shown me flashed through my mind.

“Really?” she asked. She held up the bracelet that sparkled in the hall light.

It was a diamond bracelet, and knowing what I did about her, I didn't doubt for a moment that it was real.

“How come this was in your purse,” she continued. “My security will testify to that.”

“I didn't take that, and you know it.” My hands clenched into.

She shook her head, a wicked smile spreading across her face. “I think we need to put you somewhere while we wait for the police to come.” She looked up at the darker of the two men and rattled something off in French before adding, for my benefit, “She will not cause you any trouble.”

Like hell I wouldn't. I was already trying to figure out the best way kick while wearing a dress.

“If she does, I might be forced to think Gavin had something to do with this as well.”

I scowled at her. “No one will believe you. It's your word against ours.”

“You are correct that it will be your word against mine, but many will believe me. After all, you Americans are always coming in and taking what is not yours.” She handed the diamond bracelet to the guard on her left. “Perhaps it is time someone did the same to you.”

“I'm not the type of person you can make disappear,” I said as the men took a step toward me. I chose my words carefully. “Gavin won't leave here without me and Vincent knows we're both here. People back in New York know we're here.”

She shrugged. “Perhaps you will see the error of your ways and confess, though that would make it likely no one would believe you about any future accusations.” She took a step toward me, a predatory gleam in her eyes.

“I wouldn't hold my breath,” I said, standing firm.

“I would consider it, if I were you,” she countered. “Because accidents do happen. And not just accidents. I’m sure there are many women who would kill their lover if they found him cheating. And some who would then turn their weapon on themselves.” Her eyes narrowed. “I will give you time to think as I would prefer not to ruin my lovely party by calling the authorities about a murder suicide committed by an American woman who caught her lover with me.”

I had to hand it to her. As far as blackmail went, that was a good threat, and I had no doubt she'd follow through with it.

She gestured toward me as she spoke. “My men will escort you to a room where you can think about my offer.”

“And what are you going to do?” I didn't really want to know the answer.

“I am going to speak to Gavin in private.” She smiled at me. “I hope when we meet again later, we will both be satisfied with the conclusions that have been reached.”

I hadn't thought I could hate someone as much as I hated Gavin's previous partner, Howard, but Alizee had managed to top him. I didn't resist as the guards approached me. No good would come from trying to fight them off. I had to be smart about this if I wanted to get Gavin and me out of here in one piece. I just hoped I was smart enough to outwit the bitch.

 

Chapter 9

Gavin

I tried to be subtle about looking around for Carrie, but I wasn't sure I fooled the old couple I was talking to. They were nice enough, but I was starting to get a bit worried. Carrie said she was going to the restroom, but unless there was a crazy long line, she'd been gone for too long. I caught a pause in the conversation and excused myself.

I headed toward the bathroom, but didn't get far before I saw Alizee walking my way. Her expression was serious and I felt a surge of concern for Carrie. Had something happened to her?

“Gavin, please come with me.” Alizee gave me a sweet smile that didn't go to her eyes.

“Have you seen Carrie?” I didn't expect her to answer honestly, but I had to try, even if just to see what she said.

“I need to speak with you about your girlfriend.”

That didn't sound good, which meant I wasn't sure what was going on. As much as I hated it, I knew I needed to hear what she had to say.

“Lead the way.”

She walked away from the main room, taking a turn down an empty hallway. Halfway down the hall, she opened a door and went inside. She didn't say anything or even motioned for me to follow, but I did anyway. I hated knowing she expected it of me, but this wasn't really the time or place to be taking a stand, not when Carrie could be in trouble.

We were standing in a library. A fireplace on one wall, but it wasn't lit. All around it and lining the other walls were bookshelves filled with volume after volume of classics, most of which I assumed were first editions. This was the kind of library rich people had to show off how wealthy they were, not to store books for the pleasure of reading. These books probably never left the shelves.

“Where's Carrie?” I asked, sick of Alizee's games.

“I’m afraid your little lover is in some trouble,” Alizee said. Her smile was more pleased than seductive, but I could see lust in it. “Seems she was caught trying to steal a diamond bracelet of mine. Naughty girl.”

I glared at her. “What the hell have you done?”

“Nothing.”

Such a worldly woman should not be able to speak in such an innocent tone.

“Alizee, if this is about what happened between us...”

“This is about just that,” she said. She walked around me and closed the door. “Because I always get what I want, and you did not cooperate.”

“So because I didn't fuck you, you're going to accuse my girlfriend of stealing a bracelet?” I stared at her. “Are you really that petty?”

“Petty?” She laughed as she moved closer, putting less than an inch between us. “I prefer to think of myself as creatively motivated.”

“You know what, Alizee, I'm going to call your bluff,” I said, exasperated. I'd had enough. “Whatever lies and threats you've told Carrie aren't going to work. She didn't take anything of yours.”

“And she will be free to share that with the authorities,” Alizee said. “Though I would not consider that a wise decision. After all, I do have a reputation in Cannes, and the police may be more likely to believe me over a stranger who is suffering from financial problems.”

“We'll see about that,” I said. “Especially since I don't think you're going to call the police anyway.”

“And what would make you say that?” She ran her fingers down my arm and I was grateful I was wearing long sleeves. I didn't like her touching me, but I couldn't push her away, not when we were still doing this little dance.

“Because I don't think you'd want the cops snooping around here.” I stayed cautious, but I saw an opportunity I wasn't going to pass up.

Her hands moved to my chest and pushed my suit jacket off my shoulders. “Is that so? Do you believe I do not have those in the department who will vouch for my honesty and integrity?”

“Oh, I think you do,” I said, resisting the urge to push her hands away. There was something I needed more than I wanted her off of me. “But I also think you're involved in some things that even your buddies at the police station can't sweep under the rug.”

Her face tightened. “You’ve been a busy boy.”

I took the opportunity to take a step back and put more distance between the two of us. “I have,” I admitted. “And I know more than you think.”

“Such as?”

I knew I had to be careful here. “I know that your clubs have a bit of a reputation among customers who are looking for... companionship.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “You are accusing me of supporting prostitution?”

I just raised an eyebrow and waited for her to say more on her own.

She sighed. “No, that’s not it. Prostitution is not something one would care so much about.”

“You're right,” I admitted. “Not if it was working women doing it on their own.”

“You own – I am sorry, owned – a sex club. This is part of the business,” she said.

“It does tend to be,” I said.

“And, of course,” she continued. “Supply must always meet the demand. When it does not, we must be willing to go to lengths to provide for our client's needs.”

“And what lengths are those?” I wondered if I could actually get her to say it.

She ran her index finger across her bottom lip in a gesture I assumed was supposed to be seductive. “I only choose those whom no one will miss. Ones who would have ended up working the streets anyway. And if you wish, I will share with you.”

I felt sick, but didn't let it show. She'd confessed and now I had to wait for an opportunity to get out of here and find Vincent.

“Now that we have that out of the way,” she said. “Shall we get back to discussing the terms of me not having Carrie arrested for theft?” She took a step into my personal space again, the intent in her eyes clear.

 

 

Chapter 10

Carrie

A deep primal part of me wanted to go completely drama queen and start pounding on the door, screaming for someone to let me out. I almost laughed at myself for it, but the situation was too serious to find much humor in it. Instead, when the two men with no necks and even less of a sense of humor than I had at the moment closed the door, I stood in the center of the room and took a slow, deep breath. I closed my eyes and repeated it, trying to calm myself. This was far from the worst situation I'd ever been in, and I'd always made it out okay.

I opened my eyes. I needed to keep my head. I looked around. They'd put me in what looked like a spare room, just like Alizee had told them to. Compared to the rest of the house, it was plain, but still nicer than most places.

That didn't matter though. I wasn't here to admire Alizee's interior decorating. I needed to find something that would help me get out of here. I glanced at the window. If I'd been here by myself, it would've been simple. Unlock the window and climb out. Awkward in my tight, fancy dress, but definitely doable since I was still on the ground floor. The problem was, I wasn't here by myself.

I couldn't run, not with Gavin still here. I would've called him, but I hadn't my phone. It was still in my purse, somewhere on the floor in the main hall unless one of the guards had picked it up.

I frowned. Well, the easy way wasn't going to work for me. I supposed that meant I was looking for the hard way.

And I had a bad feeling that way was going to involve a weapon of some kind. I began to look for something I could use. The problem was, I didn't need the weapon against Alizee. I could take her, I was sure. The two massive guys outside the door, however...

I'd need something big.

There was plenty of furniture in the room, but it was the heavy, antique kind of wood I wasn’t strong enough to break. Great for a spare room. Sucked for needing a weapon.

I started toward one of the other two doors in the room. One would be a closet, the other a bathroom. I doubted I'd find anything there, but I had to at least look. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing.

I'd only made it a few feet when I heard noise from outside. Not party noise. Other noise. Bad, fighting kind of noise.

I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but I hoped a fight meant Gavin had figured out what happened and was coming for me. I just couldn't figure out a way he could take down both of those guys on his own. I loved the guy and he was tough, but those two were dangerous.

I tensed as the door opened, not knowing who I was going to see. The person walking in was just about the last person I expected to see.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Pierre flashed a dimple.

“Pierre, oh my God. How did you find me? What are you doing here?” Relief flooded through me as I looked into his friendly face.

He grinned again. “What is the phrase?” he asked. “Rescuing a damsel in distress?”

I was still in shock and searched my brain for a decent response. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Pierre was here! How?

“How did you know I was here?” I finally found my voice enough to ask.

“I have my ways.” He turned toward the door and looked both ways. “What reason did she give for locking you in here?”

“She claimed I stole from her,” I said and started toward the door. “I need to find Gavin. She could be hurting him.”

He held up his hand and I froze, suddenly frightened as to who may be coming from the hallway. He placed a finger against his lips to hush me. I didn’t dare breathing, just listened intently.

Finally, after endless minutes, he whispered, “Can you prove you are innocent?”

“She said I took a bracelet of her. My prints won't be on it,” I whispered back, wondering if was safe to try again. Now that I felt a spark of hope, I feel desperate to get to Gavin.

Pierre opened the door again to peek out, and I began to say we should climb out the windows when I saw them, the two security guards slumped on the ground.

For a moment, I didn't think anything of it, I’d seen unconscious bodies before. It made perfect sense that Pierre would have needed to overtake them to get to me. Then, I realized there was blood, a lot of it and realized Pierre had killed the men, not only knocked them unconscious as I’d first supposed.

Slowly, my brain began to process everything happening around me and I gasped, it all beginning to make horrific sense.

I looked at the guard’s again.

The wide eyes.

A gaping wound across their throats.

I looked at Pierre, trying to understand. The gooseflesh that crept up my skin was evidence I already knew.

He sighed and eased the door closed again, trapping me with him in the spare room. “I wish you had not seen them, that you would have trusted me to lead you out of here without witnessing things you shouldn’t.”

“It was self-defense, right?” My lawyer's brain scrambled for an explanation that would get me out of here in one piece. “You saw that they were holding me against my will. You tried to talk them into releasing me and they attacked. You had no choice.”

He gave me an appraising look. “You truly are a skilled lawyer.”

“Thank you.” I slowly backed away. The window was definitely looking like my best bet right now. I had to get away from Pierre before I could worry about where Gavin was.

“And I like you, Carrie,” he continued.

This was not going a good way.

“But you are an honest person. You will have to tell what you saw, and I cannot allow that. My employers cannot allow that.”

“Your employers?” I asked. I wasn't stupid. The moment I'd seen the bodies I knew Pierre wasn't a journalist, but I asked for confirmation anyway. Part of me wanted to know so, if I got out of here, I'd have information. Most of it, however, was because I needed to keep him talking.

“Let us say that my... family is not fond of hers. In Corsica, we are what you would call rivals.” Pierre reached down and pulled a knife from his boot. It still had blood on it.

A thought hit me. “Those pictures you showed me, the files... were they real?”

“Yes,” he said. “I needed for you to believe me so that you would testify to the authorities about the things Alizee had done. Your word would have weight.”

“So she killed those girls?” Even as I said it, I knew what the answer would be.

“Unfortunately,” Pierre said. “Alizee is not so sloppy. She does not leave evidence. I was forced to create my own.”

I felt sick. I'd trusted this man, believed that our goals were the same. I couldn't afford to think about that now though. I had to keep him talking.

“If you're from some rival family, why didn't you just kill her? You obviously don't have a problem killing people, and getting to Alizee isn't too difficult.”

“You are much smarter than I thought,” Pierre said. There was admiration in his voice, as if he hadn't expected me to come up with such a good question. “If I killed her, my family would be the first suspect. It could cause war between our families and that would result in death. If she is arrested or discredited, we cannot be blamed.”

“And everyone else is just collateral damage?” My heel hit the wall and I knew I was there. The window was to my left, a desk to my right. If I was going to do this, I needed to do it fast.

“I truly am sorry,” Pierre said. “This is just business.”

And then he lunged.

 

Chapter 11

Carrie

Just as Pierre started to make his move and my brain began to work on some sort of gibberish I suppose had something to do with fight or flight, the door opened.

Vincent let out what I assumed was a string of curse words in his native tongue and Pierre turned.

Maybe it was a reaction to what Howard had done, maybe it was instinct. Most likely, it was my self-defense classes kicking it. Whatever triggered it, I reacted.

My hand closed around something solid and heavy and I swung it at Pierre's head.

I had one of those moments where things seemed to go into slow motion.

I watched Pierre start to turn his head as the statue arced toward him. There was a moment of surprise in his eyes, followed by the realization that, no matter how fast he moved, he couldn’t get away. The head of the statue slammed into the side of his face with a hollow-sounding thunk and the momentum spun him around. His eyes rolled back in his head and his body dropped. Blood sprayed from his mouth and I was pretty sure there were a couple pieces of teeth in it too.

As he collapsed to the ground, sound and speed came back into the world. My mouth hung open in shock and I could hear my blood rushing in my ears. Sure, I'd had a face-off with Howard that had been violent and physical, but I'd at least known Howard had been a sleaze before he tried to rape and sell me. I'd thought Pierre had been my friend. The swiftness he’d gone from being savior to killer took my breath and was more than a little shock to my system.

“Carrie?” Vincent said my name, his tone cautious.

I turned toward him and he took a step back, his eyes flicking down. I followed his gaze and saw him staring at the statue still clutched in my hand. One side of it was smeared with blood.

“Fuck!” I dropped the statue. I looked at Vincent and I could feel the horror on my face.

“Gavin told you I am on your side?” Vincent's voice was cautious.

I nodded. “I'm sorry about your daughter,” I said automatically.

“Thank you,” Vincent said hurriedly. He glanced behind him into the hallway and then down at the two men on the floor. He frowned. “I don't understand. Why would the man Alizee sent to kill you also kill her security guards?”

“He didn't work for Alizee,” I said. “He said he was from a rival family in Corsica.”

Vincent's eyebrows shot up and he came closer, this time looking at Pierre rather than me. “He said that?”

“He was supposed to discredit Alizee or something...” My short-circuiting brain finally remembered how to work enough to communicate what I should've been doing instead of standing here talking to Vincent. “Shit! Gavin!”

“Where is he?” Vincent asked.

“I don't know,” I said. “But wherever he is, he's with Alizee and that can't be good, especially if she's telling him she's going to have me arrested.”

Vincent looked confused, but I didn't want to waste more time by trying to explain, especially not when I'd already let myself waste time freaking out.

“Find something to tie him up with.” I gestured toward Pierre. “And call the cops. We might not have enough to take down Alizee right now, but Pierre's killed four people I know of and tried to kill me.”

“And you are going to...?”

“Find Gavin,” I said as I leaned down toward Pierre. I'd spotted something useful. “And if Alizee has done anything at all to him, I'm going to kick her scrawny ass back to Corsica.”

 

Chapter 12

Gavin

I was pretty sure there were a lot of men who would've loved to have a woman as beautiful as Alizee try to seduce them, and more than a few who wouldn't mind if she was a complete psychopath, but I wasn't one of them. And I probably wouldn't have been one of them even if she hadn't been threatening to arrest my girlfriend.

“It’s very simple,” she said as she pressed her body against mine. “You give me what I want and things in France do not become complicated for you and your lover.” Her hands were at my waist, tugging my shirt from my pants.

My hands curled into fists. I didn't know how to get her away from me without having to physically manhandle her, and I knew that wasn't a good idea. She was already accusing Carrie of a crime she hadn't committed. If did anything she didn't like, I had no doubt the next set of false charges would be against me. Vincent might be able to help, but it might cost him everything.

“I promise,” she continued as her fingers skimmed over a strip of bare skin at my waist, “you will enjoy it.” She smiled at me. “So much so that you may ask for more.”

I put my hands on her shoulders as one of her hands dropped to the front of my pants, cupping my still soft cock. Her mouth twisted into a scowl when she realized I wasn't enjoying her ministrations. I seized the opportunity to move her away enough that I could step out from between her and the wall, putting distance between us even though she was still between me and the door.

“It's not going to happen, Alizee,” I said firmly. “I am not going to have sex with you. Carrie is innocent and I'll make sure everyone knows it. I don't care how many officials you buy off, you're not going to pin some theft on my girlfriend just because I can’t get hard enough to fuck you.”

“I believe I will,” she said. “I may even find more items she stole to ensure she enjoys the hospitality of a French jail for a while.”

I bit back the insult on the tip of my tongue and focused on trying to find a way to get out of here and look for Carrie. I had no doubt Alizee had security guards all over and they could easily take me down. Even if it was just me, I wasn't sure I could get out. But it wasn't just me. Carrie was here somewhere and I knew Alizee would call the cops on Carrie if I ran.

“Alizee, think about this.” I decided to try to reason with her. “If I don't want to have sex with you, it's going to be difficult for me to... perform. It won't be satisfying for either of us.”

She laughed. “Come now, Gavin, do not play coy with me.” She took a step toward me, making sure she was still positioned between me and the exit. “I am quite a skilled lover. I have no doubt I can... persuade you to be an active participant.”

Apparently I was being too subtle. I glanced down at my jacket. There was one thing I could say that would definitely get my point across. I hadn't wanted to put it quite this bluntly, but she wasn't really leaving me any choice. “You know that blackmailing someone into sex is rape, right? And what you just said, you're taking about non-consensual sex, Alizee. That's illegal. So how about you just take a step back, let me and Carrie leave, and we can pretend like none of this happened.”

“Rape?” She raised an eyebrow. “Americans have funny notions about sex. A woman cannot rape a man who is able to perform.”

I made a disgusted sound. “Unfortunately, there are Americans who would agree with you about that.” I started to edge toward my jacket. “But I don't think I'll have a problem proving it.”

“I do not understand.” She scowled at me. “This is not a betrayal of your precious lover.” The words dripped with scorn. “You would do this to protect her. Is that not a, as you Americans would say, a free pass? You are being given the chance to fuck me without repercussion from Carrie. She cannot claim you cheated and there would be no guilt as your reasons would be noble.”

“You don't get it,” I said. “I don't want a ‘free pass,’ Carrie is the only woman I want.”

I was within arm's reach of my jacket. I didn't want to grab it now, not when I still didn't have a clear line to the door. I could knock Alizee down if I had to, but if she had some of those massive men within shouting distance, I wouldn't get very far. I would need a better head-start.

“Very well,” Alizee said.

She reached toward the fireplace and picked up the poker. From the look of it, it was iron and while the point wasn't knife sharp, I had no doubt it could be used to kill. She pointed it at me.

“If that is your final word, then you will wait here while I have my men bring Carrie to us.”

Her obvious threat told me she wasn't bringing Carrie here so she could let us both go together. Well, that and the fact that I'd see how vindictive she could be.

“I am going to hurt her while you watch. And then I will have my guards hurt her.”

Alizee and Howard would've been a match made in heaven, I thought. I remembered what it had been like to see Carrie tied up and know that Howard wanted to rape her. I'd never forgotten the expression of fear and pain on her face. I couldn't put her through that again. No matter what it meant for me.

My shoulders slumped and I gave a weary sigh. I didn't have a choice. Well, I did, but it was a shit choice. I could keep telling Alizee no and then watch her torture Carrie because I didn't want to do something I found distasteful. Or I could do what needed to be done and protect the woman I loved. Sleeping with Alizee would hurt Carrie, I knew, but I trusted she would understand why I did it.

I had to make a decision and it came down to which was the lesser of two evils, which would hurt Carrie less. When I thought about it that way, it wasn't difficult to know which was best. Knowing it and having the guts to follow through with it were two totally different things, however.

“Okay,” I said. I kept my voice flat, not wanting Alizee to know how much this was costing me. “I'll do it.” The words were sour in my mouth. “I'll fuck you.”

 

Chapter 13

Carrie

It wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be to find where Alizee was stashing Gavin. I couldn't really take super-sleuth credit though. I just spotted the security guard standing in front of a hallway that didn't have any people in it. If he'd only been looking out toward the party like he was trying to keep people from going down the hallway, I wouldn't have thought anything of it, but the way he kept glancing behind him told me there was someone back there.

I kept near the wall as I made my way along the edge of the crowd toward the guard. As I grew closer, I could see him shift his weight from one foot to the other as if he was nervous. A thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead.

He turned as I approached. He rattled something off in French and held up a hand so there was no mistaking his meaning.

“Look.” I pitched my voice low so no one else could hear me. “I’ve been watching you for a while. You're so hot. Have you ever had sex with an American woman? ”

“American?” His English was heavy accented, but understandable. “You think you are better than a French woman?” He laughed.

I grabbed his crotch and leaned in closely to whisper in his ear, “If you’ve never tried, how would you know? Are you willing to take the chance you'll miss out on something amazing? I’ll blow you mind, among other things.”

He didn’t reply, but I could feel him getting harder. That was answer enough.

“I tell you what. Meet me in that room and I’ll show you what a real woman can do to a hot, strong stud like you.” I nodded in the direction of one of the rooms behind him.

He waited for a moment, then nodded and turned aside to let me pass.

“Give me five minutes to get ready, hun.” I winked as I walked into the hallway. I could feel his eyes on me.

Inside, I thought I'd have to try every room in the hall, but I quickly noticed that only one of the first four doors were closed. I doubted Alizee would've stationed the guard so far up in the hall if she was down at the other end. She and Gavin had to be behind the closed door.

A locked door, I was sure. I glanced toward the guard, but he'd vanished. Probably just to the bathroom to prepare himself for what he thought was going to be the time of his life. I looked at the door again. I'd seen enough brothel raids to know I could either try to slam into it with my shoulder or I could try to kick it in. I slipped off my high heels as I weighed my choices.

I wasn't tiny, but I was far from a large, muscular person. I wasn't sure my shoulder would have enough force behind it to break the lock. I'd had a cop once explain the best spot to kick on a door to get the right angle to break the lock. I knew I could put a lot of force behind it and that I could hit the right spot. The problem was my dress. It was far too tight for me to get my leg up where it needed to be.

Dammit! I grabbed the slit in the side and pulled. After a moment, the seams gave and, with a tearing sound, the slit ran all the way to my waist. I was flashing my panties every time I moved, but that wasn't my concern at the moment. I had only one chance to get this right. If I didn't break the door down in a single kick, Alizee would know I was out here and that would be bad.

I closed my eyes and took a slow breath to steady myself. “Here goes nothing,” I muttered.

The jolt that went up my leg as my foot connected was painful, but it barely registered. I was too focused on the now open door. I raised the gun I'd stolen from Pierre and entered quickly, sweeping from side to side like I'd seen the cops do when they went after a trafficking ring.

Alizee stood frozen, her hands inside Gavin's open shirt while his hands gripped the edge of the table behind him, as if her touch was painful.

“Get the hell away from him!” I ordered.

Gavin was staring at me, but I didn't look at him. I kept my eyes on Alizee. She glared at me, but slowly backed away.

“First you steal from me and now you threaten me with a gun?” Alizee eyes were flashing. “You are putting yourself into worse trouble.”

“Shut up,” I snapped. “We both know I didn't steal anything, which means you detaining me was kidnapping.”

“But you are carrying a firearm,” Alizee countered.

“I took it off of the man who killed the guards you had outside my door.” I sidled around, never taking my gun off her. “Seems you have enemies in Corsica who're willing to kill to see you discredited.”

Shock rippled across her face and, then, was gone. She hadn't known and it had thrown her off balance. That was good. I wanted her off her game.

“I know about the human trafficking,” I said. Vincent might not like it, but it was time to put all the cards on the table. At least, our cards, I wouldn't share his secrets. Once Alizee was in custody, if Vincent wanted to accuse Alizee of killing his daughter, that was his business.

“You know nothing,” Alize said scornfully.

“I know you use your clubs as fronts where your clients, if they have the money, can buy sex or even a person. I know you take frequent trips on your yacht and that you have the resources and connections to make sure it's not thoroughly inspected.” I was just a few feet from Gavin now.

“You can prove none of this,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “My government will not take kindly to Americans accusing a citizen of such things.”

“But we're not your only accusers,” I said. “Even so, you held both of us against our will and, the way it looked when I came in, were about to engage in sexual assault.”

She gave me a smile meant to provoke. “He was enjoying it. In fact, he agreed to fuck me. You interrupted.”

“Carrie, I–” Gavin started.

“I know,” I interrupted. “Either she's lying or she threatened to kill me unless you had sex with her. I know you'd never cheat on me.” I wasn't saying it for Alizee's benefit or because this wasn't the time for this kind of discussion. I said it because it was true. I trusted that Gavin wouldn’t willingly allow Alizee to touch him.

“Foolish,” Alizee hissed. “If you had given me what I wanted, you would have your club, money, a place in Cannes. To succeed in this business, you must be willing to do whatever it takes.”

“No,” I disagreed. “There are lines, and you crossed them. All of them. And, right now, a friend is calling the cops. You're finished, Alizee.”

She stared at me for a second, her face frozen. Then she let out an inarticulate cry of rage and grabbed something from where it had been leaning against a wall. I had a split second to register that it was a fireplace poker, and then she was running toward Gavin, her arm up and ready to strike.

“Stop!” I shouted, even though I knew it would do no good. I had to give her the chance. When she didn't take it, I pulled the trigger.

The bullet slammed into her shoulder, spinning her around. She cried out in pain, dropped the poker and then fell to the floor. I hurried over and kicked the poker away. Gavin loosened his tie, pulled it off and tied Alizee's hands together. She let out a stream of curses in several languages, but we ignored her. Gavin fastened the end of the tie to the table leg and then went in search of something to use for her legs. I kept the gun trained on her, looking up only when I heard someone at the door. It was the guard I'd talked to. He looked down at Alizee then back up at me as I now pointed the gun at him. He slowly raised his hands over his head.

Gavin returned, grabbed the guard and tied them both securely with what looked like a curtain tie. Once that was done, he looked at me. The adrenalin rush was making my hands shake.

He gently took the gun out of my hands. He stashed it in his belt and then wrapped his arms around me. I pressed my face against his bare chest, breathing in the scent of him.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Before I could respond, his mouth covered mine. Oblivious to the guard, Alizee or the sirens in the distance, he kissed me slowly, thoroughly. His tongue explored every inch of my mouth as if trying to memorize it. I responded with equal enthusiasm, wanting nothing more than to forget what had happened and lose myself in the man I loved. I'd come too close to losing him too many times. Never again, I promised myself. Never again.

 

Chapter 14

Carrie

We were still kissing when the cops showed up, but both of us refused to be embarrassed about it. It was Vincent who’d alerted them and I knew he had explained things when I saw the understanding look on one of the officer's faces.

As much as I wanted to just leave everything for them to sort out while Gavin and I went back to our hotel, more explanations had to be given. I found a cop who spoke English and quickly gave my statement, as well as directions to the spare room where Pierre was still being guarded by Vincent.

While I was talking to one cop, Gavin was talking to another, explaining in French what happened on his end. A paramedic and a cop were crouched on either side of Alizee and she was rattling away in French, her eyes throwing daggers at Gavin and I the entire time. I hated not knowing what she was saying. I promised myself that if we really did end up with a club in Cannes, I'd learn French.

By the time Gavin and I were both cleared by the paramedics, Vincent had arrived. He walked past Alizee, not even looking at her as he approached Gavin and me. He embraced Gavin first and then me. Unlike before, I accepted the hug without reservation.

“I wanted to see you both before you returned to your hotel,” he said. “I had to thank you for what you did. Thanks to you, my daughter will have her justice. I may not be able to see Alizee convicted of killing my girl, but she will at least have to stand trial for her crimes.”

“I'm pretty sure she's going to spend the rest of her life in prison,” Gavin said. “Even if it's not for what she did to your daughter. She confessed that she was engaged in human trafficking and prostitution. She also attempted to set up Carrie for theft, tried to blackmail me into having sex with her and that she didn't care if I consented or not.”

“So you will testify?” Vincent said.

“I'm guessing we're not going to have to.” Gavin patted the pocket of his jacket and looked quite pleased with himself. “I recorded all of it.”

“Thank you,” Vincent said again. His eyes were shining and I knew he was trying not to cry. “Go back to your hotel now. I will speak with you tomorrow about our plans for the club as well as a gift of gratitude for what you did.”

“We don't need anything,” I protested.

Vincent held up a hand. “But you will receive it nonetheless. Go, sleep. Rest. We will talk again later.”

I looked at Gavin and he nodded. He said something to one of the cops. I assumed he was asking if we were free to go because when the officer nodded, Gavin reached over and took my hand, leading me out of the library and back through the house where the party-goers had become gawkers. It wasn't until then that I remembered the side of my dress was ripped nearly to my waist.

“Um, jacket?”

Gavin glanced down at me, puzzled until he saw the full length of leg and partial panties I was exposing. His eyes darkened and he immediately handed over the jacket. As I tied it around my waist, he spoke quietly, “Since it's already torn, does that mean I can rip it off of you?”

A shiver of pleasure went through me. Everything we'd been through had my body flooded with chemicals and I needed a release. That sounded like an amazing way to start.

“Yes please,” I responded.

Gavin growled in the back of his throat and put his hand on the small of my back, guiding me the rest of the way out of the house. “We need to get back in our room before I decide it's a good idea to get things going in the cab.”

I was pretty sure he was only half serious, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I flagged down a cab and we promised the driver a big tip if he made short work of the trip. We got there in record time and Gavin gave the driver enough to make the man smile. We barely acknowledged it as we hurried into the hotel, ignoring the looks people threw my way, and took the agonizingly slow elevator ride to our room. I was sure I would explode before we got there, but I somehow managed to hold it together until we got through the door.

Gavin kicked the door closed even as he pulled his jacket off me and then it became a race to see who could get the other's clothes off the quickest. He won, of course, because he did as he promised. With a loud ripping sound, my dress became little more than a rag and was unceremoniously dropped to the floor, joining our shoes and his shirt. Even as we pulled off the rest of the clothes separating us, Gavin wrapped his arm around my waist and lowered me to the floor. We were still just a few feet inside the room, but it seemed like the best place at the moment. I didn't want to wait even the few seconds it took to get to the couch.

“Have I told you how much I love you?” Gavin murmured as he pushed my hair back from my face.

I nodded and pulled him down on top of me. “Now show me.”

His hand twisted in my curls and he pulled my head to the side. I ran my hands up his sides as he began to kiss down my neck. Wet, open kisses that quickly became teeth worrying at skin, nips that sent little pinpricks dancing over my skin. I moaned as his mouth moved lower to lavish attention first on one breast and then on the other.

I slid my hand between us, my fingers teasing the tip of his cock, mimicking the wonderful things his tongue was doing to my nipples. When his teeth scraped over the sensitive flesh, I ran my nails lightly over the head of his cock.

“Fuck,” he groaned. His eyes were almost black when he looked at me. “You keep touching me like that and this is going to be over too fast.”

He pushed himself up and moved his cock out of my reach. Before I could complain, he spread my legs and settled between them. I cried out his name as he ran his tongue between my folds, teasing and dancing across my flesh. When he took my clit into his mouth, I moaned, then swore as he slid a finger inside.

“Yes!” My back arched as he curled his finger inside me. He lightly touched my clit with his teeth and I yelped. It hadn't hurt, but it had definitely been unexpected. Then he did it again, a little harder, and fireworks exploded inside me.

Even as I was coming, he slid a second finger into my pussy, coaxing me higher, holding me there until it was almost too much. Then he stood and picked me up. I felt cool wood under my ass as he set me on the table, but then he was pushing inside me and that was all I could feel.

My head fell forward against his shoulder as my entire body shuddered. Despite his earlier haste, he moved slowly, sliding into me an inch at a time.

“I love watching your face when I enter you.” His voice was low, husky. “Fast or slow, it doesn't matter. If I could, I'd record your expression just so I could watch it over and over.”

A thrill went through me and I shivered. “Yes,” I moaned.

“And it's not just now,” Gavin said. “I love the look on your face when you come. When I pinch your nipples.” He nipped at my earlobe. “When I spank you. You are so fucking hot, do you know that?”

He held me tight as he came to rest fully sheathed inside me. I wrapped my legs around his waist, crossing my ankles just beneath his ass. The front of our bodies were pressed together, no space between us. Neither of us spoke as we held each other, joined as intimately as two people could be.

“Never again,” he said softly. “I'm never going to do anything that puts you in danger.”

I looked at him and brushed my lips across his. “I don't care about that. As long as we're together. All I want is you.”

“You've got me,” he said with a smile. He rested his forehead against mine and began to move.

His thrusts were hard and deep, drawing a cry from me with each one. I moved with him, meeting him with enough force to make him swear. My arms were wrapped around his neck, giving me the leverage I needed and I tugged on his hair, pulling his head back so that I could look him in the eyes.

“I want everything you have to give me.” My voice was breathless and I could feel the pressure inside me growing. “I want you to show me every part of your world. Pain and pleasure. Dominance and submission. I want to be your everything.”

“You are.” His fingers dug into my hips.

“Promise me,” I said. “Promise me you won't back down again. That you won't shy away from what you want.”

“I promise.” His eyes were clear and I could see the weight that had lifted from him. “And I promise to take you places you've never been.”

He moved one hand between us and rubbed his thumb across my clit, pressing hard. My body stiffened as I came and still he kept the steady pressure, sending wave after wave of nearly painful pleasure crashing over me. A cross between a whimper and a moan came out of me and the sound seemed to undo him. He crushed me against his chest and came, his hips jerking as he emptied himself inside me.

We stayed there for several minutes as our bodies cooled and our breathing slowed. I caught my breath when he finally pulled out of me, my pussy throbbing at the sudden loss. Before I could climb down, he picked me up again. “I fully intend to make love to you all night,” he said as he nuzzled the space below my ear. “But first, I want to try out that huge tub.”

I laughed and leaned my head on his shoulder. I meant what I'd said. I didn't care where he took me; only that we were together. I had to admit though, a hot bath together did sound like exactly what we needed after everything we'd been through.

“Can we have bubbles?” I asked as he carried me to the bathroom.

“Bubbles?” He raised an eyebrow. “I'm a man. I don't do bubble baths.”

I ran my teeth over his nipple. “I promise I'll make it worth your while.”

He made a sound low in his throat. “Fuck. Just nothing floral, okay?”

I grinned. He was going to smell like roses by the time we were done. And if that meant he had to punish me again, well – my pussy throbbed in anticipation – so be it.

 

Chapter 15

Gavin

When Vincent said he wanted to give us something as a thank you for what we'd done, I thought he'd do something like buy us dinner out or something like that. I didn't expect our trip home from Cannes to be in Vincent's private jet, and I certainly didn't expect a detour to Paris.

He had a limo waiting for us and it took us straight to the Four Seasons where we were informed that we had an “All About the Chocolate” spa treatment scheduled later that afternoon. I wasn't entirely sure what that was, but I felt pretty confident that Carrie would like it. After all, it was chocolate.

The best part though was, as unexpected as the surprise was, Vincent had perfect timing. The last couple days we'd been in Cannes, Carrie and I had done some sight-seeing as well as meeting with Vincent to continue planning our joint project. But in the back of my head, I'd had something else brewing. I just hadn't known when the best time was to do it. I'd known from the moment I'd seen her that I'd wanted her. It hadn't taken me much longer to realize I wouldn't ever want anyone else. This trip had done a lot of things, not the least of which was make me admit that it was time for a change.

When Vincent told us about his gift to us, I'd taken it as a sign. Before we got out of the limo at the hotel, I asked the driver if he'd wait and take us somewhere. In flawless English, he told me he’d been hired to take us wherever we wished to go over the duration of our trip. When I mentioned a place I'd seen my last time here, he'd immediately nodded and said he'd wait while we got settled in.

Now, as we rode, Carrie stared out the window, exclaiming over all the sights. We'd be going to the Eiffel Tower tonight for dinner thanks to reservations Vincent had made, and we'd have plenty of time to see the other landmarks tomorrow, but this afternoon, there was a place I wanted to show her first. I'd purposefully been cryptic when I said we were going to go somewhere, but I didn't think she suspected anything more than another site seeing tour.

I'd been to Paris a couple times over the years, but had rarely taken the time to look around. One of the places I had been, however, was the Square Jehan Rictus. And that was where we went now. I held out my hand and helped Carrie from the back. She gave me a puzzled look as I led her up the sidewalk, but didn't say anything. She simply threaded her fingers between mine and let me lead her.

“A few years ago, I was up late and couldn't sleep. Jet lag or something. So I went out for a walk.” I stopped in front of a large black tile wall and gestured toward it. Carrie turned, her eyes widening. “I ended up here.”

“This is beautiful,” she breathed as she took a step closer.

On the black tile was written, in various languages and myriad scripts, dozens of different versions of “I love you.” It was called the “I Love You Wall.” I meant to do some research on it, find out how it came to be, but I kept forgetting. I made a mental note to try to remember this time.

“I must've stared at this wall for a good twenty minutes,” I continued with my story. “I've been to some of the biggest museums and art galleries in the world, seen the most famous paintings and sculptures done by the masters, but something about this spoke to me.” I squeezed Carrie's hand and she turned to look at me. “When Camille died, I never thought I'd find love again and seeing this wall just made that all the more real. Then I met you.”

She smiled and I knew she thought she knew what was coming next. A declaration of love. A kiss.

But she was wrong.

“I could tell you how I feel about you in every language I know, every language that's written here.” I gestured toward the wall. “But it'd never be enough. I could make love to you every minute of every hour of every day, but it'd never be enough to show you how I feel.”

I saw her catch her breath and knew it was time.

I dropped down onto one knee, even as I reached into my pocket with my free hand and pulled out the small box I'd purchased just before we'd left. The same woman who designed Carrie's necklace had made the ring too. I opened the box and watched Carrie's jaw drop.

“All I can do is promise to love you and to spend every waking moment of the rest of my life trying to prove to you just how much you mean to me.” My voice caught in my throat. I thought this would be easy, that since I knew Carrie loved me, it was just a matter of making it official. Only now did it occur to me that I wasn't sure what I would do if she said no. There was no way to know unless I asked. “Will you marry me?”

For one heart-stopping moment, I thought she was going to turn me down, but then I saw that she was just trying to control her emotions. Finally, she nodded, her eyes shining with tears.

“Yes!” She bent down and pressed her lips to mine. “Yes, Gavin.”

I slid the ring onto her finger and stood, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her to me. I took her mouth, this time kissing with more enthusiasm. Our tongues twisted around each other and I felt my body start to respond. It wasn't until I heard applause that I remembered we were in public.

I pulled back and caught a glimpse of Carrie's flushed face before I turned to see an audience of a half dozen people grinning at us and clapping. I smiled back and wrapped my arm around Carrie's waist.

“Can we go back now?” she said softly.

I looked down at her, concerned that something was wrong. Then I saw the lust in her eyes.

“We have a couple hours before that spa treatment and I think we should celebrate.” She gave me a slow smile. “And I have something I want to give you too.”

My cock stirred and I nodded, not trusting myself to give a publicly appropriate response. I followed her back toward the limo, my eyes constantly drawn down to our linked hands and the ring that was now sparkling on Carrie's finger. I never wanted to see it off. My stomach clenched at the thought of seeing it when we made love. Maybe we wouldn't do much sight-seeing during our time here. I'd be okay with that.

 

Epilogue

Carrie

Officially, we'd been engaged for two months and all of the people important to us knew, but tonight was the night we were making the public announcement. It was also the night we were re-opening Club Privé.

And not as a dance club.

The day Gavin had asked me to marry him, I told him I wanted to give him something too. I'd been considering it for days and figured Vincent's surprise trip would be the best time to share. He'd been shocked, but it hadn't taken much to convince him I was serious.

When we'd gotten back to the states, we'd worked together on a truly joint venture. A sex club for consenting adults only, with no professionals allowed. All entertainment was carefully screened and we had set up an agreement with the local authorities to ensure there would be nothing illegal going on. Before we even opened our doors, we made sure we had a reputation for everything being above board. We knew that it might cost us some business, but that was a price we were willing to pay.

Tonight, it looked like that was going to pay off.

I'd purposefully chosen a tiny, dark blue dress with spaghetti straps, a v-neck and a short hemline to wear tonight and the moment I saw Gavin's eyes light up, I knew he remembered I'd been wearing something similar the first time I'd gone to his club. The first night we'd slept together. It wasn't the same dress since that one had been borrowed from my best friend, but it was close enough.

Speaking of Krissy...

I turned as I heard her call my name over the pulse-pounding music. I threw my arms around her. I was happy she was doing so well in LA, but I missed her so much. Standing slightly behind her and looking much more relaxed than I'd seen him before was Krissy's boyfriend DeVon. He was hot – not as hot as Gavin, in my opinion – and there were more than a few heads turning to check him out. Or they might've been looking at Krissy since she was wearing a tight, barely-there dress that almost made me look like a nun.

Behind her came our other two friends, Dena and Leslie, each dressed in different, but equally sexy dresses. Dena's was a shimmery silver that made her pale gray eyes shine and made her, with her pixie cut and petite body, look like some sort of fantastical creature. Leslie, however, was in a bright emerald green that complimented her thick red curls and showed off every inch of her curves.

Krissy and DeVon weren't the only ones getting admiring looks from our customers.

After about an hour or so, Gavin went on stage and thanked everyone for coming. He set out the official rules without sounding legalistic and then introduced me as his business partner and his fiancée. Once the cheers died down, he told everyone to have fun and led me off the stage.

My friends, after telling us both how well we'd done, went off to the dance floor. Gavin looked down at me and I knew he was wondering if I wanted to dance. I shook my head and glanced toward the door at the back of the club. His eyes darkened and he pulled me through the crowd after him as he headed for the door.

The sound died down as we left the main floor and neither of us broke it. I wondered if, like me, Gavin was remembering the first time we'd walked down the hallway toward that door. This time, however, I was going into that room knowing exactly what was there and that I was going in with the man I loved and would be spending the rest of my life with.

Over the past two months, Gavin had been teaching me about the things he enjoyed and we'd established a not-quite Dom / Sub relationship. I wasn't sure how we differed from other couples, but I didn't care. It worked for us and that's what was important. Tonight, however, would be the first time we'd use this room for what it was designed for.

As soon as the door closed behind us, shutting out the last of the sound from downstairs, it was like nothing existed except Gavin and me. I looked at him and waited for his instruction.

“Take off your dress.” His voice had taken on that authoritative note that meant good things were in store for me.

I kept my eyes locked with his as I slowly lowered the zipper and shimmied out of the tight garment. Gavin's eyes widened, then narrowed as he saw my little contribution to making tonight exciting.

Once I stepped out of the dress, the only thing I still wore were a pair of six-inch stilettos. My nipples started to harden at the chill in the room, but my pussy had been wet from the moment I'd stepped outside without my panties.

Gavin walked toward me, the expression on his face making me even wetter. “You were out there with nothing on under your dress?”

I gave him a coy smile. “I thought you liked it when I didn't wear panties.”

“Bend over the bed.” He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing every inch of golden skin and hard muscles. “You need to be punished.”

“Yes, Sir.” I walked to the bed, putting a little extra swing in my step. I felt his eyes on me as I went and knew I'd pay for the teasing. My pussy throbbed at the thought.

I put my hands on the bed and my ass in the air. A moment later, I heard Gavin walking toward me. I tensed in anticipation, waiting to feel his hand on my skin, but it didn't come. Instead, I heard a drawer open and looked over.

“Face forward,” he snapped. There was no anger in his voice and I obeyed immediately.

A moment later, I felt the brush of soft leather and knew what he'd gotten. More than once, he'd said he wanted to use a flogger on me. It looked like tonight was going to be the night.

“Let yourself feel,” he said as he ran the strips down my spine.

I nodded, letting him know I was ready.

I heard the crack a split second before I felt the leather snap against my flesh. I gasped. This was nothing like it had been with his hand. That had been solid, a spreading of warmth across my skin. This was sharper, more intense. It wasn't more painful, just different. Smaller points of pressure. He flicked his wrist again and I cried out. My head felt forward, my hair falling in curtains around my face. I squeezed my eyes closed.

“When we go back out,” Gavin said. “I want to know that you're going to feel every moment of this. Your dress rubbing against your ass, chafing the sensitive skin.”

I shivered, then yelped as the flogger struck me again.

“The next time you decide to forgo panties without my permission, I won't just use this on your ass,” he continued, his voice low. “I'll make you stand like this, legs apart, and spread your cheeks. Or maybe I'll have you lay down on the bed and stretch your legs as wide as you can. I'll flog your pussy until your clit is swollen and you're begging me to stop, then soothe it with my mouth until you're pleading for more.”

I whimpered. I was torn, unsure if I was turned on by what he was saying or dreading it. I was leaning toward the first one. Every single thing Gavin had introduced me to, I'd enjoyed, no matter how kinky or strange it had seemed at first. I trusted him.

Two quick snaps made my body jerk and then Gavin's hands were on me, sliding over my burning ass and up my sides. He cupped my breasts, squeezing them tightly until I cried out. His fingers started to work on my nipples, pulling and tugging on them until my arms were shaking as pleasure and pain mingled until I couldn't tell where one stopped and the other began.

“I'm going to fuck you.” Gavin's mouth was right at my ear. “And you're going to keep pinching and twisting your nipples until I come. When you put that dress back on, your ass isn't the only thing I want throbbing.”

“Fuck,” I whispered.

“You're not allowed to touch your clit,” he continued. “I'm not going to touch it either.” He nipped the side of my neck. “And I'm not going to come until you do.”

I swore again.

He pulled me upright, resting my back against his bare chest. At some point, he'd removed his pants and I felt his cock hard and heavy against my hip.

“Put your hands on your breasts.” Gavin's hands dropped and mine took their place.

My nipples were already getting sore, but I did as he told me to and began to pinch and twist the sensitive flesh. My fingers tightened involuntarily as he buried himself inside me with one quick thrust. I wailed, grateful the walls were soundproof. Pain shot through me, down from my nipples and up from where he was stretching me without any preparation. Tears filled my eyes as I danced that line between straight pain and that edge that my body craved. Over these past few weeks, Gavin tapped into an even deeper, primal part of me than I realized existed. Now, he was pushing me further than before.

His hands settled on my hips as he began to thrust into me, each stroke pushing me onto my toes, driving me further and further up that line.

“Keep working those pretty little nipples.” Gavin panted.

My head fell against his shoulder, my eyes closed. My muscles were shaking, trembling, as the sensations threatened to overwhelm me.

“Open your eyes,” Gavin commanded.

I did and realized for the first time that he'd positioned us in front of a mirror. I couldn't believe what I saw. The erotic image of watching Gavin's body move into mine sliding in and out between my legs. The way my pussy opened around him, welcoming him as if he were a part of me. My skin flushed and glistening with sweat. My fingers on my swollen nipples. Gavin's eyes, nearly black. The muscles on his neck and arms stood out as he pounded into me.

“Come for me.” Gavin sucked on my neck, then bit down.

I tried to scream his name as I came, but nothing came out. My hands dropped, my entire body going limp. My legs buckled, but Gavin continued to thrust into me, his arms wrapping around my waist, holding me upright. Once, twice, and then on the third stroke, he growled my name, his arms tightening around me until I could barely breath. He dropped to his knees, driving his cock so deep inside me I saw stars.

He pressed his face against the side of my neck, his breath caressing my skin. “I love you, Carrie.”

“I love you, too.” I shifted until I was curled on his lap, my head resting on his shoulder. I looked at my hand, the jewels on my engagement ring sparkling. “And I'm looking forward to a lifetime of this.”

He chuckled. “Me too.” He kissed my temple. “But how about we shower first?”

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “But maybe we can play with a couple other toys first?”

He growled, low in his throat and I felt his cock stir inside me. “I would like that very much.”

The End

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