For the first time, I feel comfortable wearing an American style party dress as I get out of the rented limo with Rick. “Why are we taking a limo again?” I ask, amused as I put my hand through the crook of his elbow. “We’re staying in this same hotel.”

“It’s all about appearances tonight,” Rick murmurs as a few journalists take photos. While this is a public event, there’s hardly the amount of paparazzi that some of the larger events would attract. Most of the people here tonight are technology and business leaders, which aren’t considered big celebrities by the American public. Still, anything that gets a politician will have a few journalists involved.

“Speaking of appearances, you look very handsome tonight,” I reply, smiling. Yesterday was our first day in California, and after flying in on Rick’s plane, we immediately went to the theme park and I had a great time. For the whole time since our ‘date day,’ I’ve felt better about being with Rick. Yes, he still works long hours, yes I spend most of my time with Freida who’s worked hard with me on everything I need to know, but we’ve still spent more time together.

“And you’re stunning,” Rick says, smiling. “Remember though, tonight’s got another meaning.”

“Yes, I know,” I acknowledge, smiling as Rick stops, the two of us posing as a journalist calls out Rick’s name and we get our photo taken. “Politics.”

“Politics,” Rick agrees. I’m still not clear as to what he and Freida mean by it, but I’m applying Chinese rules to this. Business and politics are so intertwined that to call them separate is foolish. So Rick’s here for business reasons, somehow.

At the door, Rick gives his engraved invitation to the hostess who smiles and welcomes us both. The event’s being held in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel, and the photographers don’t stop inside, either.

The evening starts with a welcome speech by someone who I think is supposed to be the chairman of the group throwing the event tonight. Later on there’ll be an award presented, but for now it’s just supposed to be a party with drinks and dancing. “Rick-”

“Rick!” a loud voice calls from across the room, and we turn to look as a large man with even an even bigger presence crosses the room. “By God man, it’s good to see you!”

“Paul, it’s been a long time since I’ve been out to the Left Coast,” Rick says, making the other man laugh. “May I introduce my wife, Su Lin?”

Paul, who up close has the aura of being an ‘operator’ as I think of them, turns and offers his hand. “Well, I can see why you’ve been too busy to come out to California. Paul Robertson. Pleasure.”

We shake hands, and while his smile is warm, that warmth doesn’t go all the way up to his eyes. Before I can even reply Paul lays a hand on Rick’s shoulder. “Rick, the Senator was interested in talking if you had the chance….”

“Of course. Su Lin, if you’ll excuse me for just a moment,” Rick says, the two of them heading off. I feel lost, suddenly nervous as I look around the big room. Everyone here looks comfortable, at home in their five thousand dollar dresses and tuxedos, chatting and giving me evaluating looks.

I don’t know what to do, and can feel the urge to fidget when there’s a warm, deep voice behind me. “I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Half the people here will be drunk by the time they give the Senator her award.”

I turn to see a man who’s nearly as handsome as Rick, his broad shoulders and blue eyes making him look like he should be a movie star. “Hello. It’s not that I’m nervous….”

“But this is the first time you’ve been at one of these society shindigs,” the man says, chuckling. “I’m Drew Washington, by the way.”

“Su Lin Kelley,” I reply, offering my hand. We shake and he surprises me by lifting my knuckles to his lips and brushing them with a feather light kiss. The unexpected chivalry of the gesture makes me blush, which Drew notices. “How did you know I’m new here?”

“Because I’ve been to far too many of these types of things to count,” Drew says with a laugh. “Trust me, I’d have noticed a woman as beautiful as you here. Did you say Kelley, by the way? As in Rick Kelley?”

“Yes, he’s my husband,” I answer. Drew chuckles and lays a hand on my elbow, guiding me towards the drink table. “Do you and Rick know each other?”

“Oh, Rick and I go waaaaay back,” Drew says, smirking. “We’ve been friendly rivals for at least a decade now. So, Ravishing Rick got married, huh? No wonder he’s been sort of a ghost at these things for the past few months.”

Drew gets me a champagne, the two of us chatting about many different subjects. He attracts the attention of many of the pretty women in the room, who seem drawn to come over and try and flirt with him, but each time he’s polite but dismissive as he keeps his attention on me. It’s flattering, and when the music starts Drew grins. “Would you care to dance?”

“I don’t know….” I start, but Drew chuckles reassuringly.

“Come on, it’s just a dance. Besides, that’s what this event’s for. Rick can come get you any time he wants.”

I think about it, and Drew’s right. This is supposed to be a society event, and me playing wallflower not only is boring, but would make me stand out even more. I nod, and take his hand as he leads me out to the dance floor. The live band is playing something I don’t really know, it sounds like American pop music but there’s no singer, just a band that I would more closely think of as a big band or jazz band. Still, when Drew offers his arms I find myself swept away, a relieved smile coming to my face as we dance along to the music.

I don’t know how much time passes, just that the evening’s a lot more fun. I look around for Rick at times, but I don’t even see him in the room, which just fuels my anger and lets me dance with Drew more. When the music slows for a slow dance, Drew pulls me closer, his hand settling dangerously close to the curve of my hip.

“You know, you are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen at one of these things,” Drew murmurs in my ear, pressing his body up against me. “This might be a little forward, but perhaps we should continue this upstairs?”

“What?” I ask, shocked and pushing back. “Excuse me Drew, but-”

“But you’re a mail order bride who knows nothing about the dickhead you’re married to,” Drew continues. “A dickhead who left you alone all night to go play political bullshit games while he should be paying attention to you. Now come on, let’s get out of here, he won’t even notice.”

Drew grabs my hand and, despite how much I resist, pulls me from the dance floor. I want to fight him, but I’m not sure if I should. Would it create a bad image for Rick if I make a scene?

My paralysis continues all the way until we’re out into a back hallway of the hotel. We’re alone, and I twist my wrist away, pulling back. “Drew, no! I don’t want to-”

“I get it,” Drew says, pushing me up against the wall and pressing his body against me. “You’re the kinky type that likes to do it in public. Or the cocktease, maybe? Either way, I’m down with that. You’ll get what you deserve.”

Drew crushes his lips against mine, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the wall. I try and scream, but his mouth and tongue seal it all inside. I can feel Drew getting hard in his trousers, and I try and lift my leg to knee him in the balls, but he’s got his legs positioned just right that-

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, I hear Rick. “Get the fuck off of her!”

Drew stops kissing me long enough to turn his head to look at Rick, grinning. “So, Kelley. Wondered how long it would take for your little mail order slut to be mine. Didn’t think you’d pay attention.”

“I said… get off her!” Rick bellows. Drew goes to kiss me again, but this time I’m prepared, catching him in the lip with a headbutt that sends him staggering back. Drew recovers, backhanding me and making my head spin. Before I can do anything though Rick’s grabbed Drew and thrown him against the wall. Drew tries to punch, but Rick blocks and throws him again, this time Drew’s head hitting a mirror before his body smashes through a table. Drew sags to the ground, and Rick grabs me by the arm, leading me away.

“What the hell were you doing with him?” Rick fumes as he pulls me towards the elevator. “Drew fucking Washington?”

“What do you mean?” I ask. Rick says nothing, the door to the elevator opening. We step inside and I see hotel staff just starting to come around the corner when the doors close and Rick turns, his eyes blazing in fury.

“What do I mean? Drew Washington! How the fuck could you have spent all that time with Drew Washington?!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I yell back at him. “I didn’t know he was a fucking pervy asshole! I just knew my fucking husband went and abandoned me five minutes after we get to the party, and I don’t see you at all the whole fucking time!”

Rick steps back, his fists clenched, his breath whistling in and out of his nostrils. “I was doing what had to be done! I told you today was about politics!”

“And I did nothing to stop you!” I yell back. “You abandoned me to go play your games, and all I knew at the time was that Drew was nice enough to talk to me and asked me to dance! I didn’t know he wanted to fuck me!”

“So you didn’t go out…” Rick says, his eyes going wide as he pushes me against the wall of the elevator and kisses me. I should headbutt him, considering this is what Drew just did, but Rick’s different, and my body responds to his rough touch as his lips find my neck and he starts licking, sucking on my skin.

“I should punish you,” Rick growls, staring into my eyes. “I should make you scream for what you want and then deny you.”

“You could… but you want it too,” I growl back, grabbing his shirt and yanking. “You want me.”

“Bitch,” Rick hisses, but I can hear it in his voice, he knows I’m right. He wants me, but even as he does he’s pissed, so his kiss is combative, the two of us dueling, sparring almost as the elevator makes its way to the top floor. His lips almost bruise mine as he kisses me, his hands rough on my breasts through my dress as I grind my body against him, daring him to give me everything he has.

In a wushu bout, the winner isn’t always the strongest, or the fastest, but rather the one who most uses their skills while negating the skills of their opponent. I use that idea now, cupping Rick’s cock through his pants while panting in his ear. “You know you want me on my knees, my husband,” I purr as he kisses down my throat, distracting me. “You want to watch as I look up at you with my big green eyes and plump lips, wrapping them around that thick cock and sucking it into my mouth. You want to grab my hair and force me-”

Rick growls, picking me up as the elevator dings and carrying me in his arms through the penthouse to the sofa, almost throwing against the leather cushions. He yanks his tuxedo jacket and the rest of his shirt off, buttons popping before he undoes his pants, dropping them to the ground, his cock surging hard and already mostly out of his underwear. “On your knees, you ungrateful wench.”

I do as he says, sliding my arms through the straps on my dress and exposing my breasts before I do, letting him see the perky light brown nipples as I reach out, cupping his balls and licking my lips. I open up, trying to tease him and take control of the blowjob but he’s not messing around any more. Instead his thick head invades my mouth even before I have a chance to even run my tongue over the velvety soft flared head, and he grins, grabbing the back of my head. “You said I wanted it… and you’re right. Now take it, and take your punishment.”

Rick fucks my mouth, half gagging me, but even in his punishment he rides that edge, never hurting me but making me totally aware that I cannot resist him, that there’s nothing I could do to stop this even if I wanted to. Instead he thoroughly fucks me, sliding his cock deeper and deeper into my mouth until I feel him brushing against the back of my throat. I try, driven by the competitive spirit flowing between us and open up more, taking him all the way inside until my nose presses against the crinkly hairs at the base of his cock.

I swallow, massaging his cock and his eyes widen slightly, I doubt many women could do what I just did. That’s right, Rick. I’m the best woman you’re ever going to have, and more than a match for you.

Rick seems to read my mind and pulls out, sweet air flooding my lungs as his cock is pulled out and I gasp. Rick pulls me to my feet in his powerful arms, kissing me deeply and lifting my leg, my dress now nothing more than a band of fabric between my breasts and waist. Yanking my panties to the side he turns, pulling me down onto the sofa and spearing me with his cock.

I groan, knowing that while I might be on top I can barely move the feeling is so overwhelming, and Rick takes advantage, grabbing my ass and kneading it, jackhammering his cock upward in savage, almost brutal strokes that have me grabbing the edge of the couch behind his head. My breasts drag over his lips and Rick licks, sucking and biting on my nipples, pain and pleasure combining to overwhelm me.

“You… you win,” I gasp, but Rick doesn’t stop, pumping his cock faster and harder as he squeezes my ass. Tears roll down my cheeks as he goes harder, ignoring my pleading voice to slow down, that I can’t take it any more even as my pussy squeezes him, that I will try to be good even as he punishes me harder and harder.

My first orgasm rips through me like a subway train rocketing out of a tunnel, buffeting me and making me throw my head from side to side, my hair whipping as I try with all my might to gain some measure of control. But Rick doesn’t care, his cock continuing to pound and punish me, driving into me his lesson, that I belong to Rick Kelley and nobody else.

My head throbs with my pulse as Rick turns me over, pinning me to the cushions and kissing my lips. I know I’m about to pass out, the feelings are overwhelming and I can’t breathe, my lungs paralyzed as Rick doesn’t let my orgasm stop. Instead his cock adds to it, each powerful stroke building another layer for me to plummet through. I can’t stand it, gasping weakly as I try to hold on.

“I’m sorry,” I whimper, the darkness overwhelming me. It seems to be enough, and as I feel myself slipping away I also feel Rick thrust into me one more time, and the intense pleasure that comes with him cumming deep inside my body. It pushes me over the edge, and I descend into that place the French call la petit mort, the little death.