Ashley
There was no way I could go through that again. I should have left last night. If I could have walked, I probably would have. I don’t have a tolerance for pain, never have, maybe that’s why it hurt so bad. Finishing my shower, I grabbed a towel off the rack and thankfully Sebastian wasn’t in the room. I walked back to my room, correction the one he was allowing me to use.
I had only one thought on my mind, getting far away from Sebastian Church. I pulled out a dress from my suitcase and my underclothes, dressing quickly. Deshawn could use someone else to pay off his debt, I’d done more than I should have already. The thought of his betrayal ripped a hole in my heart, and I had nothing left. It didn’t matter. I’d learned to live once before and I’d figure out how to do it again. This city, and the people in it could kiss my white ass. New York was everything the people back home made it out to be!
Packing my suitcase up, I lifted it and walked out of the room, ready to go back where I belonged. Raising my chin, I kept going down the ruby carpeted staircase that looked like something out of Gone with the Wind. There was no gentleman waiting to sweep me off my feet at the bottom of it, though. I stopped when I heard raised voices.
“He’s going to continue robbing you blind, until you put his ass behind bars, Sebastian. What were you thinking letting him trade off some girl for a debt?” The woman’s voice was shrewd and I shivered. Just her tone reminded me so much of Church’s attitude that I wanted to avoid meeting her.
“Are you upset that he didn’t offer her to you instead?” Sebastian’s chuckle and choice of words made me want to slap the crap out of him again. “I’ve got things under control.”
“I’ve stood by your side for a long time, and I’m not abandoning you now. Seriously, though, some virgin ass is worth letting him steal from you?” I was leaving, if Deshawn was who they were talking about, which my instincts told me they were, I wasn’t his bargaining chip any longer.
“He won’t be using me again.” Deshawn or Church for that matter. Walking in on them, my eyes moved to the redhead who looked polished and poised, both things I knew I’d never be.
“She’s little more than a child.” The woman looked me over a little too carefully and I took a step back. She seemed to find that amusing as she smirked.
“Trisha DuPoint, Ashley Mulder.” Sebastian glanced to the suitcase I was holding. “Going somewhere, sweetheart?’
“Away from you and this insanity.” I dared him to try and stop me. I’d had enough of him and this place to last a lifetime. They could have their big apple. Giving him my harshest look I hoped it melted him where he stood.
“Isn’t she adorable?” Trisha was a bitch, and I could see why Sebastian seemed friendly toward her. “You won’t be going anywhere until we find out what your role is in this embezzlement.” Her lips lifted in a small cold smile, and there was the same darkness in her gaze that I’d seen in his before.
“My involvement is being sold as some personal whore by my best friend without telling me what the hell he’d done. I’m done with all this crap. Ya’ll can all go have an orgy together for all I care.” I’d worked hard not to give into the southern dialogue my state was known for, but it slipped out when I was angry.
“Only if you join in. Trisha’s right, though. For all we know, you’ve been planning this with him from the beginning.” The smirk on his face made me so angry I walked over and slapped him as hard as my hand would let me.
“I’m done with this. Asshole.” I didn’t like cursing. My granny had taught me that only people with limited education had to result to nasty words like that.
“If you put your hands on him again, you’ll deal with me, little girl.” Trisha stepped between us and she looked even more menacing than Sebastian. “You can either help us figure out what his next move is, or rot in jail. I personally don’t care which you choose.”
“The way I see it, you probably both deserve what you got.” I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to let this woman bully me. I wanted to put this nightmare behind me and work on rebuilding my life. “You do what you need to do, I’m going home.”
“I didn’t think you were the type of woman to bail on a friend.” Sebastian was a vision standing there in a suit and I hated that I was aware of him as a man after what he’d done.
“A friend doesn’t turn you over to some jerk to pay off his debts.” I was still heartbroken over that ,but I refused to show any more emotion to this man who only cared about his needs.
“If you’re determined to return home, I’ll take you. I have a plane standing by.” He turned from me and gave his attention to Trisha. “Hold things down while I’m gone.” The look that passed between them seemed to speak some secret message but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to get out of this place.
“Fine. I didn’t want to pay for a plane ticket, anyway.” Mainly because the only thing I had now was my granny’s house and a few hundred dollars in the bank. I was going to have to sell her home to live.
“Keep me updated.” She gave Sebastian a mocking grin before addressing me. “And you. Remember, he’s my best friend if you screw with him, you’ll deal with me. Have a nice flight.” I couldn’t even think of a comeback as she walked away in her designer heels not once looking back.
“Shall we?” He motioned toward the door, and since leaving was my number one priority I walked toward it and took a deep breath when I was outside. “Did you think I was going to keep you locked away?” He chuckled deeply while walking to his limousine, and I didn’t want to admit I had worried he wouldn’t let me go. “That’s not my style.” The amusement on his face humiliated me.
It was a stupid thought. The man was walking sex on a stick and I doubted I compared to the women who he was normally with. Not that I cared. He opened the back door for me and I slid into the warm leather seats. Of course, his ride was perfect as the rest of him. I’d never met a more cocky, condescending man in my life.
He instructed his driver to take us to the airport, and I looked out the window ignoring him the best I could. “Alabama. Is there anything to do there besides watch football?” Why was he talking to me? We had nothing to say to each other. My southern hospitality wouldn’t let me ignore him.
“How did you know that’s where I’m from?’ Turning to face him was a mistake, because the man dripped sex appeal. My mouth grew dry staring into those dark blue eyes.
“I never leave things to chance, Miss Mulder. Besides the fact that you filled out an application, my investigator did a thorough background check. I must say I’m surprised that someone like you would allow herself to be pawned off.” The fact that his beautiful face wore a smirk made me want to claw his eyes out, considering he was the one that used me.
“It must suck to be worried that every person you meet is out to get you.” Raising an eyebrow and giving him back a little taste of his medicine, I grinned with a false sweetness that would have made any Southern Belle proud.
“No more than it does to have your best friend hand your body over to pay off a debt.” His smirk deepened and I wanted to hit him again. He was the first man in my life that made me want to commit violence against him.
“I plan on forgetting that, and you, the minute my feet step on home ground again.” Like most young women my age, I’d been trying to get out of my town from the time I was old enough to realize there was a bigger world out there. Now I swore to never leave that security again.
“So, you’re going to live there, meet some man and give him a dozen babies? I don’t see you being happy in that lifestyle.” The thought of laying with any man again didn’t cross my mind.
“I think I’ll become a cat lady. Animals are much nicer than humans.” The truth is I did want a houseful of kids, but I wasn’t planning on suffering through that torment again. “Sex isn’t worth it.”
He tossed his head back and chuckled loudly. “What we did wasn’t sex, Ashley, it was barely even fucking.” My mouth flew open and I gasped at his crude response. Did he have no filter?
“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like that talk?” Sebastian was the rudest man I’d ever met, I would be happy to never see him again.
“Admit the truth, it wasn’t all bad. You were purring when my tongue slid into your tight pussy. Given a little practice, I’d have you clawing my back in pleasure when I pound into you.” The jerk was laughing at me again. Of course, he thought he could make me enjoy that painful act, the man had no shame.
“I’m not admitting anything. You hurt me, and any person with the sense God gave them, knows better than to play with fire a second time.” Insufferable, rude, arrogant beast. Did he have no remorse?
I screamed when he flipped me over on my back, pulled up my dress, and lowered his head to my crotch, licking me right through my panties. “Get off me, you big oaf!” It didn’t help that my words ended on a moan because even with that thin material between us his tongue felt sinfully good.
Instead of complying, he moved my panties over to the side and licked me bare, and my hips lifted to meet that hot wetness. Instead of smacking him in the head with my fists, I grabbed his hair and held him against me as he plunged in and out of my greedy sex, making me whimper in need.
As I was right on the edge of falling apart, he lifted his mouth and replaced them with his fingers and entered me slowly with two of them. I was still a little sore but the friction felt deliciously good, and I gyrated my hips to meet the almost gentle push and pull.
“Tell me you hate this and I’ll stop.” His mouth moved up to my ear and whispered the words as he slowly fingered me.
“Sebastian.” I was so close and he stilled those long fingers inside, pressing deep. My natural response was to ride them and I tried, but he’d pinned my body in the confined space, making me immobile.
“Say the words, Ashley. I can make you come or stop. Your choice.” He widened his fingers inside and I bit my lip hard, not wanting to ask for what we both wanted. The contracting of my muscles was trying desperately to pull him in deeper and it was sheer hell holding back when I knew what he could give me.
“Please.” I hated that weakness, almost as much as I hated him.
“Please what?” He kissed me, making me taste my flavor on him and like a woman possessed I no longer cared if he won this round. He pulled back meeting my eyes, still embedded deep in my sex.
“Touch me,” I whispered the words, broken, and aching but I needed to feel that unbelievable pleasure I knew he could make me feel.
“All you had to do was ask.” He curled his fingers inside me and I came hard over his hand. Whatever bundle of nerves my body possessed there was all it took to send me over the edge of paradise, screaming his name.
The car came to a stop, and he quickly slid free, adjusting my clothes as he helped me sit up. I sat there in stunned silence, not knowing how I was supposed to feel after what he did. To say I didn’t enjoy it would be a lie, but it was wrong for him to take over my body that way. Wasn’t it? I was trembling at the aftermath of the release he’d given me and so confused that I couldn’t speak.
“Don’t overthink things. Your body was meant to be pleasured.” Opening the door, he slid out and then extended that same hand he’d just used to bring my body to life.
The wetness on those fingers spoke volumes about how easily he could manipulate me to his will. I don’t know why I took it and let him lead me outside. I can only say that my mind hadn’t come to terms with the need he brought to life in me. Standing out on the tarmac with him we walked over to his private jet. I grew more shocked by the moment. I pulled back on his hand, marveling at the beautiful craft.
“You wanted to go home, right?” That familiar smirk made me follow him up the stairs and into a cabin so luxurious it took my breath away. This was nothing like the coach seat I’d flown in to get here.
There was a full bar, leather couch with several matching chairs, and looked more like a mini-apartment than a plane. “How rich are you?” The question spilled from my mouth before I could think about how rude it was.
“Money is immaterial.” He smiled at my fascination but then a cold distance entered his gaze. “Take a seat, and let me speak with the pilot.” The teasing Sebastian was gone and rudeness replaced that demeanor.
For a girl from small-town Alabama this was like walking in a fairytale. His mansion had been impressive enough, but this? It was almost like Cinderella meeting the prince, except he was a jerk and I wasn’t sure I liked him very much. Reminding myself of that, I quickly took sat down on the couch.
He came back in a few minutes later and I knew this was where we said goodbye. When he sat in the chair beside me, I could only stare at him wordlessly for a few minutes. “Buckle your seatbelt, wouldn’t want you getting jarred around on takeoff.” The smirk was back and I simply stared until I felt the movement of the plane.
“You’re coming with me?” Rhetorical question since we were obviously taking off and he was sitting right there.
“It gives us a few hours to talk.” I gripped the armrests of the chair as we lifted into the sky, and my stomach dropped out. I hated this part of flying and closed my eyes tight. “Relax, Ashley. It’s safer than driving in a car.” I wasn’t sure I believed him, but as the plane leveled out, I released my breath.
“What could we possibly have to talk about?” I’d made it clear I wasn’t being played again. Sebastian and I were incompatible and we didn’t mix. I had to be careful with him because as much as I hated him, my body craved what he could do to it. Outside of the actual act. Even now, I was thinking about him touching me again.
“I want you to help me stop Deshawn.” I opened my mouth to argue, and he held a hand up to stop me. “From the small amount of time I’ve spent with you, I know you’re a compassionate woman. I’m offering you the chance to set things right and keep him out of jail.”
“Let me get this straight. You know he’s guilty but you want me to prove it, and then you’re going to let him go? Forgive me, if that doesn’t mesh with the person I think you are.” I had no illusions that Sebastian Church could be a very cruel man, he’d shown me that first hand.
“You’d be right that I’m not forgiving, but I want you, and I need to put a stop to what he’s doing. The way I see it, I win both ways if you help.” The way his eyes roamed over my body, I knew that he wasn’t lying about wanting me. The reason for that I’d never understand.
“I don’t think you’re hard-up for that.” I wasn’t saying sex because I didn’t feel comfortable with talking about it. “What is it you really want from me?”
“Again, you’re right. I could pick up the phone and fuck anyone I know at will. You’re a challenge to me, and I find myself wanting to fuck you every way possible. I’m not a man who likes being denied.” He really was a jerk. I’d turned him down and hurt his enormous ego. I laughed without humor, shaking my head.
“Do you really think I’d let you hurt me that way again?” I cared about Deshawn, even after he betrayed me, but being at Sebastian’s mercy that way? No, thank you.
“You have my word that I will never be that careless again. I can make you crave my cock, Ashley. Give me that chance, and if I don’t? I’ll drop the charges on your friend and fire him instead of putting him in jail.”
“He shouldn’t get away with what he’s done, but I don’t want him in jail, either.” Didn’t that make me a sucker? I tried to be a good woman. It hadn’t really turned out well for me.
“Then you decide what his punishment will be.” The fact that he was willing to negotiate terms was shocking. He obviously had some huge control issue if a woman turning him down made him willing to do whatever it took to prove his worth. It was almost sad. Almost because I knew Sebastian would end up hurting me, even if it wasn’t physically. I wasn’t sure how to give myself to a man and not feel something for him eventually.
“If you hurt me again, I’ll never forgive you.” Why was I giving into this insanity? Hadn’t I suffered enough already? I knew why. Because as much as it broke my heart to be betrayed by Deshawn, I couldn’t do the same to him. That’s not who I was.
“If I do I’ll let you tie me up and beat me until I can’t stand up again.” He grinned, and that look on his gorgeous face was so sexy my knees went weak.
“I’m not into pain.” Lifting my chin, I glared, wanting him to understand that more than anything.
“No pain, Ashley. Only pleasure.” He winked. I was lost and probably should have my head examined for the words that came next.
“Then, I agree.” I wanted this man, even though the thought of him entering me again made me nervous. I wasn’t a stupid woman. I knew the first time was supposed to be a little painful, just not to the point where I could barely stand up.
“Let’s negotiate then.” He undid his seatbelt and walked over to the bar and poured two glasses of scotch. I couldn’t help but admire his long legs and very fine ass, because I was a woman, after all, and he had the perfect body.
Sitting down with me, he offered one, and I took it, wondering what else we had to talk about. “I thought we just did?” I took a sip of the strong liquor and grimaced. I wasn’t a big drinker, but I enjoyed the heat it sent into my stomach.
“We’ve talked about getting your friend free from jail, not how our arrangement will go.” He took a small gulp, those intense eyes boring into mine. “I still want you to let me fuck you whenever and however I want. No questions asked. In return, I’ll keep my agreement that you’ll get the money that Deshawn stole from me.”
“God! Can you use another word, please? Make love, do it, have relations.” I didn’t really like talking about it at all, but the callousness of the other word, even if that was what we were talking about, made me sick.
“I’ve told you before that I don’t want religion brought into this, unless you’re talking about kneeling for my pleasure, leave that word out of your vocabulary.” His eyes took on a dark depth and I had to wonder what he had against God. “As for fucking? That’s what this is. You’re not in love with me, are you?” That devilish smirk appeared and he raised a brow.
“Gross. The idea of being in love with you literally makes me sick to my stomach.” The man was using me for his benefit, love had nothing to do with it.
“Good. That wouldn’t be beneficial to you. I don’t do love. What I will do is give you more pleasure than you’ve ever imagined.” His ego really was astounding.
“Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems there. I can barely stand to be around you. As for the pleasure, you’ll forgive me if call bull malarkey on that.” He was beautiful, and the foreplay was great. I’d find a way to suffer through the other.
He grinned and let my rude comment slide. “While we’re together, I’ll clothe you and take care of all your financial and physical needs. The money will be deposited in your bank after our arrangement ends. In return, you make up with Deshawn and get me all the information I need to see how far his betrayal goes.” He took another sip of his scotch, and leaned back, casually.
“You want me to pretend I’ve forgiven him?” How could I ever look him in the face again after what he’d done to me?
“I know it won’t be easy, so I’ll double your payout. Four hundred thousand, and you do whatever it takes to make him believe all is well between the two of you.” He was studying my face. I wanted to look away because it was too intense. I didn’t.
“What aren’t you telling me?” It made no sense that he was depending on a virtual stranger to dig for information about something he had to have the resources to do on his own. Something wasn’t adding up.
“Perceptive, Miss Mulder. I don’t think Deshawn is working alone. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a smart man, but the hacking going on in my company goes further than his skills would allow. I need an inside ticket. Someone who he trusts never to betray him. So, how good of an actress are you?”
“That’s why you’re willing to keep him out of jail, isn’t it? He’s not the real person you’re after?” All of this made sense now, and I wondered what Deshawn had gotten himself involved with. Maybe there was a reason he’d been forced to use me to get to Sebastian. It was the only thing that made sense.
“Not only beautiful, but intelligent.” The compliment shouldn’t have made me feel good, but it did. People rarely equated me with being smart. Maybe it was my blonde hair or boobs, who knew? “I also have a private investigator working this, but he can’t get close enough.”
“Fine. I don’t like the idea of you treating me like some kept woman, but I’ll find out what’s going on.” Normally, it would have offended me to go behind someone’s back and betray them, but I’d been used. A little payback seemed fair, and maybe in the process I could figure out what had happened to my best friend to make him turn on me that way.
“Then we’re in agreement. All we need to do is seal it.” The look in his eyes grew dark and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what he meant by that. “Slide off your panties.”
“What?” My heart raced at his words wondering if he was going to touch me again.
“Don’t make me take my words back, Ashley. You’re a smart woman. You know what I said.” That smirk again! Of course, I understood.
“You won’t hurt me?” I was going to do what he asked, which made me the worst kind of fool.
“No pain.” Those penetrating blue eyes met mine and lowered down my body and I swear I felt the heat building between my legs from just a look.
I stood up, hands running up my dress to slide my panties down my legs, and not once did we break eye contact. I was breathless, one because I knew I shouldn’t believe a word he said, and two, because I wanted him to taste me again. When I stepped out of them, he wrapped his large hands around my waist, pulling me down on the couch and pushing me back to lay down. I gasped as he spread one of my legs over the top of that soft leather couch.
“I’m going to taste you, and then you’re going to fuck me.” Without giving me a chance to respond, his head fell between my legs, fingers splaying open my sex as his tongue lapped at that sensitive flesh without hesitation.
All I could do was feel and arch my hips up to meet the delicious friction his mouth gave me. “Please, Sebastian.” It was crazy to want him this way when I knew what a cold, calculating bastard he was. Right on the edge, he stopped and I cried out.
Standing up, he quickly pulled off his shoes, pants and underwear, then grabbed a condom out of his discarded pants before sitting down. I sat up quickly thinking he was a cocky jerk for carrying it around. “You promised.” He ripped the foil packet open with his teeth and sheathed his massive erection in record time.
“Climb on, Ashley. I’m not breaking my promise. You’ll control this.” He pulled me on top of him, my legs spreading on either side. Grabbing my neck with one hand, he forced my lips to meet his, and I struggled for a moment until I realized I didn’t want to fight him. He tasted like sin wrapped in chocolate and I kissed him back, losing myself.
“Take my cock in your hand and fuck me.” Pulling me back by my hair, surprisingly gentle, he met my eyes and they dared me to accept the challenge.
“I can’t.” His free hand moved to mine, and guided it toward his huge length. I remembered how much he’d stretched me the first time and didn’t have the guts to impale myself.
“You’re not a coward, Ashley.” His hand wrapped around mine guiding my fingers up and down his long length. “Do it. That sweet little pussy is aching to be filled up.” He used the hand covering mine to rub himself against my soaking wet folds, and I moaned at the pleasure. “It’s all yours. Take it. Show me how much you can handle.”
His dirty words along with the friction, tempted me more than anything on earth. Sanity went out the window as I pressed his large mushroom-shaped head against my entry. Sebastian was huge. There was no way I was going to be able to do this. I met his eyes as I took the first inch of him in, waiting for the pain again, but feeling nothing except a strong stretching sensation. I gasped.
“That’s it. You’re not a sweet little innocent anymore. Show me?” His hands gripped my ass. Maybe it was the taunt in his gaze, or the way my sex drenched as I pushed down taking more of him, but I wanted this. My libido took over common sense and I pressed down hard, my body widening to accept inch after long, delicious inch. “Almost there.” His jaw clenched and I didn’t know why he was suddenly angry.
“Don’t be mad at me.” I was having a hard time breathing as he filled me at what felt like beyond capacity and I still hadn’t taken all of him. I didn’t want to feel pain again, not when this felt so incredibly good.
“The last thing I’m feeling is anger, Ashley. You feel so good on my cock I’m fighting myself not to flip you over and fuck you.” His chuckle was forced and I didn’t understand him at all. I liked the vibrations it sent through my body as he laughed.
Without any thought other than mastering this task, I came down hard impaling myself fully on him. “Oh, my God.” It felt good, really good. He filled me so well it was hard to lift, my body didn’t want to let him go. Carefully I raised slightly only to come down and the sensation was paradise.
“You can worship my cock. God has nothing to do with is.” He pushed me down hard against him, holding me in position.