For some reason, sitting out by the pool had lost its excitement for me. Probably because I had done it almost every day for the last few weeks, but that was only part of the issue.

I realized that I felt exposed sitting outside. I knew there was someone coming after us, someone that wanted to see Carter destroyed and was using me to do it. I felt naked and exposed sitting out in the open next to the pool, like someone was watching me.

Which was why I went into hiding. Not hiding, exactly, but I wasn’t going to sit out in the open anymore. It was a shame, since the weather was gorgeous, but at least the mansion had a lot to do.

I spent the morning exploring. I visited the Turkish bath again, just for a few minutes, and then went on to the bowling alley, the movie theater room, and the kitchens. The staff ignored me, for the most part, and my bodyguard followed me around, but it was nice. Sitting outside with nothing to do felt lonely sometimes, even though the mansion was filled with people.

Eventually I found myself drawn to Carter’s music room. As I approached the door, I looked back at Secret Service Steve, as I had started calling him.

“Stay out here, okay?” I said to him.

He nodded once. Good old Steve.

I went into the music room and shut the door behind me. Looking around, I had a strange feeling inside of me, like I was trespassing or something.

This was Carter’s most personal room. I could see it in everything. He had little notes and papers and books lying around, some of them still unfinished with bookmarks on the inside. It looked like it had been straightened by up a maid, but Carter’s personality was still there.

I began to skim through his record collection again, marveling at the sheer size of it. I wondered how much it all weighed, but got distracted by the music to really do the math. I ended up putting on a Smiths compilation album called Louder than Bombs. I was surprised to see that he had a pretty good Smiths collection, and never would have guessed that he was a fan.

As the jingly-jangly pop music floated through the air, I decided to grab a little glass of wine. I filled it less than half and sat down on the couch, relaxing, letting the music drift around me.

I understood what he saw in that room. It was relaxing to be surrounded by so much music, and although putting on records was a lot harder than just streaming stuff, there was a level of active choice that came along with it. I had to actually touch the records, look through them, and eventually choose one. I couldn’t just put on a single song, I had to be ready to experience the whole record, or at least one side of it.

I grew up in the age of CDs, so I was used to skipping between songs, but I liked being forced into hearing the whole record. You got a better sense of what it was supposed to be as a cohesive whole. It was interesting how the format of the media affected the way we experienced it. Records couldn’t be skipped around, and so we have to sit down and hear the whole thing, while CDs could be skipped and repeated so easily. They were seamless, whereas the seams were very visible with records.

I realized that I was daydreaming when I heard a knock at the door. I nearly spilled my wine, surprised by the sudden intrusion of sound. I put the glass down on the side table and stood.

“Yes?” I called out.

I expected Secret Service Steve, but instead Carter came in.

“Carter,” I said. “Hey.”

“I was looking for you. I figured you’d be out by the pool.”

“I came in here instead. You don’t need to knock on your own door, you know.”

He shrugged. “Just because I own it, doesn’t mean I can just barge in whenever.”

“Shouldn’t you be at work anyway?”

“I should,” he confirmed. He turned and shut the door behind him, turning the top lock.

“Trying to make sure I can’t get out?” I jokingly said.

His look told me everything I needed to know. I felt my breath catch in my throat as he came toward me.

“I had to come see you,” he said.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Nothing really. I made a decision.”

He stopped inches in front of me and was practically radiating heat. He looked incredible in his suit, like he always did, but for some reason I really noticed him. I saw the way he was immaculately dressed, not a stitch out of place. His eyes were intense and penetrating, his body large and muscular. He easily dwarfed me, making me feel so small. I marveled that such a smart man had such an enormous, muscular body.

“What decision?”

He took my waist, pulling me against him. “About the future.”

“You’re being vague.”

“Good,” he said softly. “I didn’t come here to talk about that.”

“What did you come here for?”

“You know what.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine as excitement pulsed up my core. I knew exactly what he wanted. I knew the moment he walked into the room. I could see it in his eyes.

He kissed me then, deep and hard. I felt the wet pooling between my legs as I fell into his embrace, kissing him back. It felt like years since the last time I felt his touch, although I knew it hadn’t been very long. It was like the pool-house, that rushed and intense moment, but this was different. We weren’t rushed, although there was an edge to Carter’s passion.

He steered me toward the record wall and pushed me up against the counter. I slipped up, sitting on it, my back against the shelving holding the records. He peeled my shirt off, tossing it aside, and kissed my neck.

“Fuck, Emily,” he whispered. “I’ve been thinking about this all day. I’ve been fucking hard for you.”

“You know I can’t get you off my mind.”

“I know.” He kissed me hard again, unbuttoning my jeans. He pulled them off, sliding them under my ass, leaving them wrapped around my ankles as his fingers slowly found my wet pussy.

I moaned into his kiss as he slipped two fingers deep inside of me. He slowly pulled them back and began to work my clit, my body pressed against the records, my ass sitting on the shelf in front of them. He took my wrists with his free hand and pinned them up above my head as he bit my lower lip.

“Perfect,” he said, pressing his fingers inside of me. “You know that? You’re fucking perfect. I’m hard every single time I think of this tight, wet pussy. I know you’re dripping every time I’m near, you just can’t help it.”

“Shit, Carter,” I moaned as he worked my pussy. I remembered the taste of his cum in my mouth and wanted more.

“I’m going to take you the way I’ve been wanting to. No distractions. Every inch of you is going to be mine.”

“Every inch.”

“Every fucking inch.”

He pulled me off the shelf and practically tore off my bra and panties, leaving me completely naked and exposed in front of him.

He stepped back to look at me, a small smile on his face. I felt so naked in front of his gaze, but that only made me more excited. He was penetrating me with his stare, pure, unrestrained passion clear in his eyes.

He slipped off his tie and his jacket, tossing them aside. “Lean back against that shelf,” he said. I listened. “Spread your legs.” I did as he asked. “Now, put your right middle finger into your mouth, yeah, just like that. Good. Slowly press it between your legs, starting at your clit, before you push it deep inside of yourself.”

I obeyed him, sucking on my finger before slowly pressing it inside of me. I moaned, loving the feeling of him watching me touching myself. He pulled off his shirt and I stared at his muscular body as I pressed another finger inside of myself.

He finished undressing as I touched myself, never taking his eyes off my body. Finally, he stood before me, big, thick, hard cock in his hand, slowly stroking it.

I stepped toward him, but he pushed me back. I slammed against the shelf as he dropped to his knees and shoved his face between my legs. He began to suck and lick my pussy fast, one hand on his cock stroking himself, the other supporting my ass.

“Oh fuck, Carter,” I moaned, lacing my fingers through his hair. He licked and sucked me like a starving man, eating my every juice, lapping me up. Pleasure rocked through me, overwhelming me completely. I’d needed this, needed his mouth against my pussy, his eyes worshipping my body. I could tell how badly he wanted me every time he looked at me, but that sensation was magnified by a million when I took off my clothes. It was an incredible feeling to know that a man like him couldn’t hold himself back when he saw my breasts, my hips, my skin.

He stood up suddenly, pressing me back up and onto the shelf. He spread my legs wide and I felt his cock press against my pussy. He took my neck, looking me in the eyes. “You want this?” he asked.

“Yes,” I moaned.

He pressed himself roughly deep inside of me. I tipped my head back, his hand loosely wrapped around my neck, as he filled my pussy. Pain and pleasure mixed in an incredible, intoxicating feeling. I loved how he could destroy me, break me so easily, and his hand around my throat only heightened that excitement and danger.

He began to thrust inside of me, shaking the whole wall, but he didn’t seem to care. I wrapped my legs around him and held onto the edge, his one hand on my throat and the other on my ass.

“Take this fucking cock,” he grunted as he thrust deep inside of me. “You’re the tight dirty slut that I’m going to throw away everything for. I’d give up anything for another taste of this tight cunt.”

I bit down onto his shoulder and he grunted, fucking me harder. He released my throat and took my hair, pulling my head back as he pressed deeper. His tongue found my nipples, teasing me with his teeth and lips.

I writhed and moaned under him, but he pressed me back again, making the whole wall shake. A couple of records fell from their slots, scattering onto the ground. He reacted by pulling me roughly off the shelf, turning me, and bending me over, pressing my face into the record sleeves.

He slapped my ass and pressed his cock deep inside of me. “Oh fuck,” I moaned.

He began to fuck me from behind slamming me against the wall. He slapped my ass again, harder, and I knew that was going to leave a red handprint. I moaned, totally enraptured by the way he was taking me, throwing me around, using me. I loved it and couldn’t get enough.

He pounded into me, the slapping of skin filling the room. He slapped my ass hard then grabbed my hair, shoving me up against the wall. More records fell from their spots, clattering to the floor.

“You’re going to clean that up when we’re through,” he said. “You make me do this, you filthy girl. I can’t control myself around this pussy. You’re too fucking perfect, too fucking tight. Your ass looks incredible with my handprint on it.”

“You asshole,” I moaned, pushing back against him, loving it, rolling my hips against him.

“That’s right,” he grunted. “I knew you wanted more, you dirty girl.” He shoved me hard and I pushed back, slamming my hips against him, taking his cock deep inside of me. More records fell. He pressed my face down against the shelf, knocking over a lamp and a clock. I moaned as he pulled me back up, turning me around.

He took my hips and dragged me to the couch. He sat down and pressed me down on top of him, straddling his hips. I slowly lowered down onto his shaft, sliding all along him while he held my hair.

“Ride that cock, girl,” he said. We were both sweating already from the strain and intensity, but I did as he commanded. I rode up and down, sliding along his shaft as he teased my nipples and slapped my ass. I rolled my hips, moving faster and faster, taking him deeper and deeper.

“Come on, girl,” he grunted. “You can do better than that. Ride that fucking cock.” He slapped my ass, hard, and I moaned. I rode faster, twisting my hips, sliding along him.

“Pathetic,” he said. “Let me fucking show you how it’s done.”

He grabbed my hips and pulled me off, throwing me down onto the couch. He spread my legs wide and pressed himself deep inside of me. I tipped my head back, moaning, as he pinned me down and fucked me hard.

I stared at his incredible muscular body, pleasure jolting through me, and I knew I was close. He began to work my clit with his thumb and I knew that was going to be the end of me. I was hovering on the brink and the way he touched me was about to push me over.

“You want to come, don’t you?” he asked. “I can hear it in your moans. Ask me first. Beg me.”

“Please, daddy,” I moaned. “Let me come.”

“You dirty slut,” he grunted. “Beg me.”

“I want to come on your big cock. Please, let me. I need it so badly. I’ve been thinking about it all day long, touching myself. That’s why I’m always wet.”

“Fuck,” he groaned. “Come for me. Now. Come for me.”

His thrusts got deeper, more insistent, and I let myself tip over the edge.

My whole body tensed as the orgasm washed over me violently. He fucked me deep, insistent, unrelenting like an animal. I came hard as his cock filled me, my whole body a mess of pleasure and incredible intensities all climaxing on him.

I lost myself in that moment, and everything was clear for me. I didn’t care about anything else but Carter and his thick cock deep between my legs. Nothing else was important to me as I came as he worked me, pushed me, made me feel things I never dreamed of.

“Good girl,” he said as the orgasm slowly ended.

“That was . . . “

He grinned. “I know. But you’re not done yet.”

I blinked at him. “What?”

He moved back and grabbed my hips, spinning me around again and putting me on all fours. “I told you I wanted to taste every inch of you,” he said.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m going to fuck your ass and come inside of it.”

“Carter,” I said.

“You’re mine. You know that?”

“Yes,” I said softly.

“Give me what’s mine.”

“Okay. Fuck me.”

I watched as he spit into his hand and wiped it all over his cock then pressed himself against me. Slowly he pushed deep into my ass, filling me.

I moaned into a pillow, shocked. I’d never had a man fuck me that way before, and at first it hurt. But once he was deep inside and began to slowly slide in and out, that pain mixed with pleasure in the greatest way imaginable.

“Shit,” I groaned. “I didn’t know I’d like this.”

“I did,” he said softly. “You’re a dirty fucking girl. You need to have every single hole fucked and filled with my cum.”

“I do,” I moaned. I couldn’t believe what I’d admit to, but I needed it. I was dripping wet and filled with pleasure as he fucked my ass.

“God damn, you’re so tight,” he groaned. “I can’t decide what’s better. This virgin ass or your incredible cunt. Fuck girl, I’m close.”

“Come inside of me,” I begged him. “Do it. Come inside of me.”

He leaned over me, grabbing my hair and tipping my head back. “You’ll always be mine."

“Yes,” I moaned.

I felt him come then, deep inside of me. It was a strange sensation, but felt pretty damn good as he groaned and tensed, filling me with his cock.

Slowly we finished and collapsed onto the couch together. We were both drenched in sweat and panting from the workout we just went through. That was the most intense and incredible sex of my life, something way beyond what I’d ever experienced before.

I felt like I’d given myself to him completely and truly. It wasn’t just that he fucked me in ways I’d never had before, but that I was willing to do whatever he wanted. It all felt good, and he was teaching me about myself, making me open up in ways I never expected.

“God damn, you’re amazing,” he said after a time.

“You’re okay yourself.”

He grinned and kissed me. “I’ve never been like this before.”

“Like what?”

“You know.”

“No, I don’t.”

“In love.”

“You . . . “ I trailed off, surprised.

“I love you, Emily. I think you already knew that.”

I felt tears spring to my eyes and felt like a total idiot. I couldn’t believe I was actually about to cry just because he told me that he loved me.

I kissed him instead of letting the tears fall. We kissed like that for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s bodies, enjoying the silence and the emotions.

“I love you too,” I said finally, once I got a hold of myself.

“I’m not going to let you go,” he said simply.

“Why would you have to?”

“I met with Bruce today.”

I blinked, surprise. “What happened?”

“He gave me an ultimatum, like we thought he would. He wants me to step down from the company and leave the country or else he’ll destroy it all and release everything he has.”

“Wouldn’t that hurt him?”

“He doesn’t seem to care about that. Thinks he can still make a profit from some insider trading scheme.” He shook his head, his face lined with concern. “He’s insane, Emily. Or at least he’s much more reckless than I ever dreamed.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have a plan. It’s a long shot and won’t be comfortable. But I need you to know that no matter what happens, I want you with me.”

“I’m with you,” I said softly.

“Things could get bad for a while.”

“Are you going to give in to them?”

He paused then shook his head. “Not exactly.”

“Carter.”

“Just trust me. I need to speak with your mother and explain things to her.”

“She trusts you, you know. She always speaks very highly of you.”

He grinned. “She warned me to stay away from you.”

“I bet she did. She said the same thing to me about you.”

“I’m sure.”

“We didn’t listen.”

“No. Looks like we didn’t.”

“This is crazy. How can we have a relationship?”

“I’ll divorce your mother.”

“Even still. It’ll be a scandal.”

“It won’t matter.”

“We’ll be all over the news.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m worried, Carter.”

“I’ll protect you. I promise. I’ll shield you from it all.”

“How?”

“I’m a very resourceful man, Emily.” He kissed me softly with a smile.

I sighed. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“I’m sure you don’t. But what choice do you have? You’re head over heels for me.”

“I didn’t say that,” I said. “Just a general love. You know, a normal one.”

“Oh right, sure. I think you’re over the moon with love for me.”

“No, more like over a bridge. At best. Maybe a small mountain.”

He laughed and kissed me. “I’m crazy about you and I won’t let anything happen to you. Get it?”

“Got it.”

He kissed me again then slowly stood up. I groaned, frowning. “Just stay here,” I said. “For a little longer.”

“I can’t,” he said, smiling. “I need to find your mom and talk to her about this.”

“She’s still at the office.”

“Well, I’ll call her and get her to come home. This will be over soon enough and your mom can find a man that deserves her.”

I blinked and stared at him for a second then laughed. “Are you serious?”

“What?”

“My mom’s gay. You know that, right?”

“Wait . . . what?”

“Yeah, Carter. She’s gay.”

He stared at me then laughed. “You’re kidding? I had no clue.”

“You two never talked about it?”

“Never. I just never thought to ask, and she never brought anyone around . . . “He shrugged. “I guess it explains a lot.”

“Like what?”

“Like how she’s not deeply attracted to me.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Get out of here, idiot.”

“Gay. Huh.” He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re all full of surprises.”

I laughed as he got dressed. He smiled and kissed me again before heading out, shutting the door behind him.

I got dressed slowly, lazily. I put on another Bowie record, this time dropping the needle right on the song Heroes. I listen to it as I put on my clothes then sat at the bar while the track finished.

I didn’t know what Carter was going to do, but I had to trust him. I had no other choice, really, but I truly did believe he would do what he thought was best. Maybe he’d step down, but I doubted that was all he’d do.

I loved him, and he loved me. That revelation was still fresh in my mind, and I felt like I was reeling from it. The feeling inside of me had happened so fast, came out of nowhere and turned into something unstoppable. At first I thought it was just lust, but I knew what it really was as time went by.

It was love, pure and simple. I hated being away from him and only felt truly good when he was around. Maybe it happened quickly, but it was based on something deep, something more than just lust.

Maybe that was the attraction at first, the forbidden aspect of our relationship. But quickly things changed and although we still both clearly loved that very forbidden and taboo dark aspect of what we had, that wasn’t everything anymore. I loved the person he showed me slowly as he opened up over the days.

The intense crisis surrounding us made that unfolding much more intense and fast. What might have taken months under normal circumstances took only weeks in our situation. There was still a lot of growing and bonding to do, but I knew that I couldn’t do it with anyone but him. Carter was the man for me, and there was no questioning that.

Sure, he was my fake stepfather, but that didn’t matter. It was almost over. I believed him when he said that he was going to finish it. Good or bad, victory or defeat, I was with Carter. I didn’t love him for his money and his connections. I loved him because he was brilliant and powerful despite all of that stuff.

He was his own man and he was going to be my man.

I stood, stretched, and climbed off the stool. When the song finished, I turned off the turntable, put away the record, and straightened up the room. I smiled to myself the whole time.

I loved him and he loved me. Now he just needed to finish it once and for all.