Bowles, Jan - Claimed for the Master's Pleasure [Guilty Pleasures 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (11 page)

She knew her breathing was fast. She was sexually excited and annoyed with his arrogance in equal measure. “You bastard,” she screamed after him. “I bet there’s no shareholders insisting you do this to me. I could catch my flight and you wouldn’t dare send the cops after me.”

“Then take the chance, Lia. Do it. Get on that plane and fly to your new life in Florida. See how long it lasts before you’re arrested.”

“How long is this so called
proposal
of yours to last?” The angry words spilled from her lips.

“A month, and then you’re free to leave.”

Fuck, this was her life they were talking about. “You’ve changed, Jake, and not for the better. Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can.”

He continued walking away, and she shouted after him. “When you get to the car lot, Mister, I advise you to start the engine and drive away. You’ll be waiting a long time before I come to you, Benetti.”

He turned, and pointed to the large overhead screen. “I think they’ve just called your flight, Lia. It’s decision time.”

Lia watched him walk arrogantly away. His swagger and the way he moved all reminded her of the wonderful night they’d shared. She knew he could deliver her fantasies and far more besides.

What should I do?

Lia held her head in her hands, and then leaned down, resting her elbows on her thighs. She studied her red shoes, tracing the neat leather strap with her gaze, over and over again.
What should I do? Go to my dream job in Florida, or go with Jake?

The loudspeaker system announced her flight once more, making her decision all the more urgent.

The man had some nerve, turning up at the airport with his last-minute proposal. He’d sure put a spanner in the works. Just who the hell did he think he was? Arrogant prick. Well, Lia Constantine didn’t fall at the feet of just any man—not unless she wanted to. Goddamn it, deep inside she wanted to fall at his feet and submit to his will, but his arrogance had seriously pissed her off. He was using his dominance of her to his advantage.

Lia squirmed on her seat feeling sexually charged. Her pussy throbbed with need. In the bedroom he had her eating out of his hand, but elsewhere Jake Benetti left a lot to be desired. He’d threatened her with the cops. Would he seriously stoop so low as to have her arrested? Maybe he would, just to get what he wanted. A smile spread on her lips as she reminded herself that she was the object of his desire. Jake Benetti wanted her. If she went to him it would be nothing to do with the money, but everything to do with the man.

At that moment her flight was called again, making her heart speed up. Heaven help her, it was time to make her decision.

Chapter Fifteen

Jake impatiently drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Half an hour had past since her flight had left. He’d wait another ten minutes, and then call it a day. It appeared Lia wasn’t taking him seriously enough. Or maybe she just didn’t feel the same attraction that he did? Who was he kidding? He’d seen it in her eyes. Their animal magnetism for each other just couldn’t be denied. Whether Lia would act on instinct was another matter entirely. She was a woman, and therefore totally unpredictable. She might decide not to show, just to prove a point.

Knowing she’d been about to board a plane and leave his life forever, he’d had to come up with a plan to keep her. He couldn’t just let her slip through his fingers. Not again, so he’d threatened her with the cops, but that was just words to scare her. Had she seen through his bluff? He knew it would take months to get her arrested. There were long, drawn-out legal procedures he had to follow first. Besides, he’d never go that far. He and the cops were like oil and water. They just didn’t mix. The Vegas police would often turn up at his casino, on the fake pretext of checking everything was legal and aboveboard. He knew they just wanted to waste a couple of hours on the tables. His floor manager, Paulie, would keep them topped up with free liquor and a couple of pretty girls for company, just to keep them sweet. He knew deep down that if she didn’t show, he’d bite the bullet and pay the outstanding amount himself. That way there wouldn’t be any dumbass questions from disgruntled shareholders.

The automatic doors of the departure lounge swished open once more, and a familiar figure emerged. Elegantly attired in a simple red dress, her beautiful blonde hair flowed down her back in a cascade of golden curls. It fluttered provocatively in the gentle warm breeze as she moved. Fuck, she
was
a beautiful woman. In fact Lia Constantine was hard to ignore. He found it incredibly satisfying that many of the men entering the terminal building, did a double take as they walked past her. She rested two suitcases on the ground and then looked around expectantly.

“Well, well, princess,” Jake murmured to himself, feeling a self-satisfied smile curve his lips. “Looks like I made you an offer you simply couldn’t refuse.”

Lia had seriously gotten under his skin. He hoped that one month with her would finally rid him of the incessant ache he felt every time he thought of her. Then he could move on with his life. He guessed he was kidding himself, though. Just the thought of her sent his blood pulsing. It filled his cock, with plenty to spare. He was taking advantage of her vulnerability, but he knew that’s what turned Lia on. A dominant man was exactly what she needed right now, even hungered for. He was the yin to her yang, the dark to her light.

Jake fired the Mustang into life and drove across to where she stood waiting. A look of relief flooded her face as she spotted him. That was a good sign. He could already feel a surge of sexual anticipation working its way to his groin. After parking the car, he slid from the driver’s seat and walked across to her.

“You made the right decision, princess.” He carried her luggage to the car.

“You can take that smug look off your face, Benetti,” she told him as he stowed her luggage in the trunk. “I know there’s an attraction between us. Goddamn it, you know it’s there, too. But I can’t see how spending a month with each other is gonna solve anything.”

“I think differently. We share a connection, Lia, whether you like it or not.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, Benetti. I see you’re without your driver today?” she mocked as he opened the passenger door for her.

“I like to drive myself, Lia. I mainly use a driver when I’m on casino business.”

“Huh, what you really mean is, you drive yourself when you don’t want your employees knowing what you’re up to.”

“You’re very cynical,” he stated, staring into her beautiful green eyes. However, her observations were close to the truth. People talked. The less his staff knew about his private life, the better.

“Cynical? I can’t help being cynical. I guess it’s because of the type of men I’ve been dealing with lately.” With her final poisonous barb she slid into the passenger seat.

Jake closed her door, making sure he didn’t trap her dress, then walked around and sat beside her. Had he expected a rapturous welcome? That wasn’t Lia’s style. He guessed she was her own woman outside the bedroom, but inside the bedroom, well, that was a different story entirely. In the bedroom she was exactly his type of woman, totally submissive and eager to please her Dom. It was as if a switch had been thrown. Between the sheets, Lia was almost too good to be true. So much so, in fact, that he’d wondered if that magical evening they’d shared together had been engineered by her to make him forget about the money. Which begged the question—was she here with him now simply to just pay off the debt? He dismissed that thought. The way Lia had responded when he’d fucked her was genuine. He was sure of that. She’d enjoyed it as much as he had. That was exactly why she was here with him now. She wanted more of the same.

Jake gunned the Mustang into life and began to drive them both from the airport. He couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering to her silky, smooth legs, and the delicate red shoes she wore. Her hands were clasped around her purse and rested on her lap. Each fingernail had been painted a hot, passionate red, exactly matching her dress and shoes. Long, slim arms with a light, feminine dusting of gossamer hair caught the sunlight as they drove through the Vegas suburbs. Lia was perfect in every way. His cock ached for her.

“Shouldn’t we have turned left at the last intersection?” She sounded slightly worried.

“No.”

“But that’s the way to your casino?”

“Yes.”

“Then where are you taking me?”

“My home is in Summerlin.”

Agitated, Lia rifled through her purse. She pulled out her cell phone. “I’m gonna call my friend. Just to let her know where I’m going.”

“You’re perfectly safe with me, princess. You can give her my landline number if you’re worried.”

A faint smile spread on her lips, and she tossed the cell phone back into her purse. “No need, it’s okay. Monica doesn’t need to know all my business. Just like your employees don’t need to know yours.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you’ve just cost me my dream job.”

“You owe me a million bucks, Lia. You can’t just walk away.”

She stared at him a serious look to her face. “I would have paid you back. When the money came through, I was gonna send you a check.”

Jake raised an eyebrow and her lips pouted even more.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

He shrugged and turned the car onto the ridge road. “Lia, you were about to leave the country, without so much as a forwarding address. Your actions speak for themselves.”

“You don’t believe me. I can see it in your eyes. Oh, well, there’s nothing I can do about that. You’ll just have to think badly of me. See if I care. Once my money comes through, I’ll be out of here.”

“Until then, you belong to me.”

“For now, but don’t get used to it.”

Jake felt his lips firming into a hard line. “You protest too much, princess. I know exactly what lights your fire, so don’t kid yourself. The reason you’re here now, instead of flying at thirty thousand feet, is because you want what I’m offering.”

“Jesus, you’ve got a nerve. Your ego is bigger than the whole of Nevada. The reason I’m here is…” Her words drifted away as she pointed up ahead. “Is that your place?”

“Yes.”

“It’s beautiful.”

Jake parked the car outside the opulent entrance, and then turned to Lia. He gently stroked a hand down her cheek, drifting a thumb across her perfect, pouting lips. He positively ached for her. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll show you around, and once you’re settled in, I aim to get reacquainted.” Using his thumb he tilted her head back. Her long brown lashes swept open and her eyes connected with his. He saw her pupils dilate as he covered her mouth with his own. Her sexual moan as he pressed his lips to hers was reward in itself, but feeling her body respond as she clung to his shoulders made any doubts about their compatibility disappear. Lia wanted him.

Chapter Sixteen

Lia had to admire Jake’s home as he showed her around. It was exquisitely furnished, and equally as opulent as his penthouse apartment back at the casino complex. Cool marble floors were ideal for combating the debilitating Nevada heat. Sophisticated artwork decorated the walls. Most of the paintings looked like they’d been commissioned, because every piece fitted perfectly to the surroundings. The furniture had a heavy Baroque style to it. Each large chunky chair, table, or mirror was carved with an elaborate foliage design. These strong, exuberant pieces gave a sophisticated Bohemian opulence to the grandeur of the house. The whole property seemed to complement Jake’s personality—successful, dominant, and dramatic.

The overall area of the house was huge. It occupied five levels as it rose into the hillside. As Jake led the way down a corridor on the top floor, he pointed to one of several impressive oak doors that lined the wide hallway. “This is my bedroom. I’ll leave you here to freshen up, and I’ll be back shortly.”

Jake pushed open the heavy door and she ducked under his arm. An ornate and highly embellished four-poster bed dominated the room, making an impressive statement. Lia had never seen such a large bed before. Her vagina moistened at the mere thought of what Jake might do to her here.