HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD. This woman is a machine.
London takes on all four men like a champ. I’m helpless to peel my attention away from the bewitching woman who has me under her spell. I watch as her cheeks redden and her eyes glaze over when she comes. I’m envious of the men who get to feel her pleasure, who get to come in her pussy and in her ass and down her throat. I had to restrain myself from joining in. I haven’t wanted a woman this much in a long fucking time.
I wait for the furious four to finish and dress. An audience is nothing unusual in this house, so my presence doesn’t affect them the least bit. Trent is the last one to leave the room. The satisfaction on his face is all I need to see. He’s a hard man to please, and London did her job and did it well.
“That’s a superstar slut you have there.” He slaps me on the back as he walks by. I cringe at the use of the word slut.
Even though in reality that’s what my girls are, I don’t ever refer to them like that. They’re so much more than just faceless women who spread their legs. Once the coast is clear, I approach London. She’s lying on her side, still on the table. I probably shouldn’t think it, but she looks sexy as sin all worn out with her clothes disheveled.
She lifts her eyes to mine, and I run the pad of my thumb across her warm cheek. “Ready to call it a night?”
She nods.
I figured.
“Okay, my flightless little bird, up we go.” I scoop her into my arms. She struggles at first but ultimately gives in and lets me carry her. I know she’s wiped. Hell, I only watched and I’m wiped.
I climb the stairs with her head on my chest. I refrain from whispering dirty, sweet nothings into her ear, exposing myself and my selfish desires.
Once in her room, I head straight for the bathroom.
Setting her on her feet, I run the water to fill the tub.
London passes me a strange look as I add some bubble bath. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m running you a bath.”
“Why?” Her eyebrows crease as I untie the ribbon around her neck.
“Because”—I peel the teddy from her body—“you’ve had a rough first day. You could use a little TLC.”
“Do all new girls get the royal treatment?”
“Not just new girls. All my girls,” I admit as I slowly slide the sheer material down her legs. As she steps out, I inhale a heady whiff of sex. I stop myself from burying my head between her legs, even though it’s where I want to spend the rest of my life. I mean, the night. I stand quickly, shaking off the crazy thought. “Tomorrow is Sunday fun day.”
“Do I even want to know what that is?”
I smirk. “Of course. It’s your day off.”
“Day off?” she repeats, puzzled.
“Mmm hmm. You can do whatever you want. Read, sleep, watch TV. No one will bother you. My only request is you visit the mobile spa while it’s here. Get pampered to keep up appearances. A little waxing, a massage, and a manicure, at the very least.” I slide my attention down her naked silhouette. The waxing she might be able to forgo. She doesn’t have a stitch of hair anywhere on her body. Her skin is as soft and bare as a baby’s bottom. “Some of the girls go all out and spend the whole day beautifying themselves.” I gently clutch her chin. “But you have natural beauty. So I wouldn’t overdo it.”
London hesitates to move, meeting my substantial gaze with one of her own. Was that last comment too forward? It doesn’t matter if it was. It’s the truth, and I wanted her to know. I want her to feel her self-worth. In this business, that’s an easy thing to lose, but I try my damnedest to keep all the girls’ self-esteem high.
I release her chin, reluctantly. “Check the water.” I gesture with my head.
Frozen in place, London glances down at the filling tub. “You don’t have to stay. I can take care of myself.”
“I have no doubt about that, but I’m not going anywhere. I said you needed a little TLC, and I’m dispensing it. Now get in the tub.” I give her no choice.
Her eyebrows knit together in a worrisome way. “What are you going to do?”
“Not drown you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Her facial expression turns to stone. I think I just hit a nerve. It causes my curiosity to pique. There are definitely more layers to this woman than I originally perceived.
“I won’t force you.” I lightly place my hands on her bare hipbones. London inspects me as if trying to read every single line on my face. There’s no fallacy. What I say, I mean. But it’s clear it’s going to take time and trust before she fully believes in me. And I have a feeling London needs both those things to feel completely at ease.
She glances at the water one last time before she resigns. Helping her step into the deep whirlpool tub, I watch as she slowly submerges herself in the steaming bath. She stifles a sigh as the warmth washes over her muscles.
“It’s okay to enjoy it. That’s the point.” I sit on the edge of the tub and touch her shoulders. She jumps unexpectedly. Whoa.
“Relax.” I use my most soothing voice. “Trust me. I know we just met, and a lot has happened, but you need to trust me.” I massage her tense shoulders, discovering knots the size of boulders.
“Today was nothing,” she mutters like a zombie. “I’ve been through worse.”
“Want to elaborate on that?” I concentrate on a knot under her shoulder blade, and she expels a pained moan. It shouldn’t be, but the sound is so fucking arousing. I could massage her all damn night just so I could listen to it over and over again.
“No,” she states bluntly.
Not ready for a heart to heart. Message received. It may take a little while, but I’ll wear her down eventually. I always do. She’s not the first woman with issues to walk into this house.
She may be the most beautiful, though.
Once the water level covers her chest, I rinse my sudsy hands and turn off the faucet.
Leaving London to soak in the moisturizing lemongrass bubble bath, I grab what I need. Two towels from the linen closet, a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, and a rinsing cup.
She finally looks relaxed with her head resting on the curve of the white tub, eyes closed, breathing steady. I leave her be for a few minutes, secretly watching the rise and fall of her chest. She really is something else. An ethereal entity walking among un-extraordinary mortals.
I wait as long as possible before the craving to touch her becomes too much. Even something as simple as washing her hair, my fingertips itch to feel her. Sitting back on the edge of the tub, the lip substantial enough to balance on, I touch London’s shoulder. “Sit up and tip your head back,” I direct her. With a cautious glance at me, she shifts upright and dangles her long red hair directly in front of me. She takes direction like a pro. Like a tried-and-true submissive.
Earlier, I received a taste of what she has to offer, and I haven’t stopped fantasizing about her since. I can’t remember the last time a woman took me by surprise. But London rolled in like a thunderstorm, breathtaking and majestic, lightning striking me with every move.
From the first moment it was clear—she’s a force of nature you run toward, not away from.
I squirt some shampoo into my hand, then lather her long red hair with the aromatic soap. Taking my time, I circle the pads of my fingers from her hairline, over her scalp, and down her thick mane. She sits perfectly still, not a sound slipping from her lips. She’s such a peculiar creature, full of zest one moment and distant the next.
London inhales and exhales deeply as I thoroughly attend to her. Using the slickness of the soap, I slide my palms over every inch of her head, neck, shoulders, and back.
“You’re an extremely beautiful woman.” It’s not a come-on. It’s an observation. An appreciation. I love beautiful things, whether they are objects or people. And London Erickson is the upper echelon of beauty. Her eyes fly open at my compliment, an enigmatic expression marring her ethereal face.
Our gazes lock as I rinse the soap from her hair. It’s a fierce test of wills. An in-depth exploration of authenticity. Eyes are the window to the soul, and my sincerity is there for everyone to see. Give trust to gain trust. It’s as simple as that.
I have nothing to hide. Well, nothing to hide when it comes to genuinely caring. I want London to see that. Feel that. I’m as real as I can be. There’s nothing to fear. I run my fingers gently through her hair as the suds wash away.
“I’ve heard that my entire life.”
“What? That you’re beautiful? It’s the truth.”
She finally drops her eyes. Her mood drowning in the hot water. I continue with the conditioner. Using the creamy consistency to detangle her knots, I comb through the entangled tresses, hoping to assuage her grief on some unconscious level.
Silently and soothingly, I rinse the conditioner from her hair. Wrapping the long locks around my wrist, I wring out the moisture, resisting the urge to yank. Sooner rather than later, I’m going to have her bound, in my bed, shouting my name.
Perks of being the boss.
I get who I want, when I want, however I want.
London drops her head with her hair still wound around my wrist. The look in her eyes is haunted, but her face is pure perfection.
“I was tied to a bed once,” she unexpectedly shares. “I don’t know for how long. Could have been hours. Could have been days. I was blindfolded so I never saw who they were. But there were a lot of them. They were all different. Smelled different, felt different, sounded different.” Her face is impassive. “All just coming and going.” She smirks darkly at the bleak, offhanded double-entendre. “Tonight was nothing.” The depth of oblivion in her gaze is actually frightening.
I release her hair, impulsively running my thumb lightly down her cheek. My heart beats faster from the simple touch and the non-effect it has on her.
I could say a million shallow things, but I refrain. I’m sure even attempting would insult her intelligence.
“You always have a choice here,” I reassure her. I know that’s probably hard for her to believe. It’s probably hard for anyone to believe. That a person in their shoes, who sells themselves for sex under the roof of an employer, ever has a choice. But my girls do.
I know what you’re thinking—“employer” is a code word for pimp. And I guess on many levels that’s true. My business makes its profit from sex. It’s the ugly truth. But at least I can sleep with a clear conscience knowing I choose who walks through the door. I choose the clientele my women hand themselves over to, and I allow them to decide. I give them power and I empower them.
I’ll empower London, too. If she’ll let me. I can’t change her past, but I can definitely influence her future. Her sharing that little tidbit gives me hope. Proves my methods work. Keeps guiding me in the right direction.
“Let’s get you dried off.” I deliver a warm smile.
She nods silently in agreement.
Once I have London wrapped head-to-toe in Egyptian cotton, I pull out a nightshirt for her to wear. The armoire in her room is chock full of clothes. I keep the girls’ rooms stocked with sweatpants and T-shirts and shorts if for nothing more than normalcy. And that time of the month. For the most part, they prance around in designer jeans, tight tops, and expensive shoes.
Leaving little for her to do, I dry her body with rapt attention, leaving no drop behind, using the opportunity to examine every curve and slope and delectable pathway.
Once she’s dressed in the soft gray T-shirt, I lead her to the vanity and have her sit in front of the mirror. “Last bit.” I wink as I pull a hair dryer from the drawer. The look on her face is priceless. It’s one I’ve received many times from many women. The what is this man doing? I’m used to it by now. It’s all part of my master plan.
I flick the on switch and proceed to eliminate the wetness from her hair, sending her red strands flying all over the place in a playful way. This she seems to like, pulling her leg up in a relaxed position and throwing her head back into the stream of hot air.
It’s over all too quickly, and before I know it, I’m urging her to bed. But as I tuck her in, there’s no indication of exhaustion on her part. In fact, her eyes are wide and alert as if it was midday.
“Not tired?”
London looks up at me with big, bright, captivating eyes. The moonlight peeking through the window highlights her incomparable features.
“It takes me a little while to wind down.”
“Would you like me to stay until you do?”
There goes that inscrutable look. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“You sure? I’ll only offer once.”
A deliberative pause.
“I’m good. I think I’ve monopolized enough of your time.”
“Nonsense. It’s what I’m here for.”
I reluctantly stand up. Her eyebrows pull together as I drop a kiss on her forehead. I wonder if she notices how I let my lips linger a beat too long.
“This has been a very strange first day,” she muses as I straighten to my full height.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Take advantage of your downtime tomorrow. I have a feeling, after your performance tonight, you’re going to become a very sought-after girl.”
If I know Trent, word of Mansion’s new it girl is going to spread like wildfire.
“I can handle it,” she assures me.
“Something tells me that’s more than true.” And I can’t wait to watch. “Sleep,” I instruct.
London is going to need all the rest she can get.