Paradise: The Masters of The Order Novel Two (23 page)

There it was: a destiny foretold and realized in that breathtaking feminine gaze. He wanted to lean in and kiss her. Hell, he wanted to roll on top of her and make love to her right on the floor of Nicolai’s gallery, but this wasn’t the time and he didn’t have to hear his compassionate angel’s next words to know it.

“Is Jerard’s addiction the reason he said your dream is dead?”

“Partially. We’ve been drifting apart for a long time, but it’s more than that. Everything feels different since I met you. I’m not sure what I want anymore, but I know one thing for sure. The idea of sharing your love with another man, well, I can’t. I want your heart, Isabella, all of it. All to myself.”

“I don’t want to live a ménage either, Jacques,” she said, her relief palpable. Then a little gleam flashed in her eyes. “Although, it might be fun to try it for a while.”

“The idea of a ménage appeals to you?” Just asking the question turned him on. He didn’t want to share her love, but that sinful body, fuck yeah. “Speak slowly, small words so I can understand. All the blood has left my brain and gone south.”

She ran her hands over his chest, playing with his simmering arousal, and gave him a deceptively shy nod. “Only if you want that too, Jacques.”

Did Isabella have any idea what the adventurousness combined with her sweetly submissive vibe did to him? How it made him want to tear down those black cargo pants, sink into her feminine paradise and not come out for a year?

He slipped a more suggestive tone into his voice. “Oh, I want, Isabella. Let’s work on building your trust in me again and then I’ll show you exactly what I want.”

His coquette responded with a noncommittal shrug of her beautiful shoulders. “Well, I suppose that now you’ve invited me into the Order and trusted me with your life, I’ll have to stick around. I only have one more question.”

“Mmm?”

“Can I still get Sabin to kick your ass?”

He grabbed her and squeezed with all his might. “Dang straight, darlin’,” he drawled in her ear.

“Jacques, I can’t breathe.”

He loosened his arms, then laid his lips on hers and sucked the air right back out of her lungs.

17

The Real Deal

Life changes with the wind.

Three weeks. Three glorious weeks since Jacques answered her call and life had completely changed.

Jerard checked himself into one of the best drug addiction clinics in Europe for a three month bout of therapy.
Gracias a Dios
.

Craig got a job in Nicolai Stavros’s gallery and with Nicolai’s help, hosted his very first opening.
Très bien fait
.

A ridiculously handsome British aristocrat attended, went over the moon for Craig’s art and then for him. Absolutely smashing.

Teo’s tour schedule managed to distract him from beating the crap out of Jacques and her boys had reached a détente of sorts.
¡Qué milagro!

Sabin was in Paris bubbling with excitement over some business venture in the United States that occupied Jacques’s days and most of his nights. Yee haw.

Sir James decided that her plans for the Meszaros Foundation merited another donation and went about hitting up his blue-blooded friends for more money. Brilliant.

She quit her job at the Institut to help Jacques spend all that cash. Cha-ching.

Oh, and the best of all? She moved in with Jacques and they made up over flan.

Naked, of course.

*****

“Alright, ladies.
¡Basta!
Monsieur
Meszaros has other matters to attend to. Now shoo.”

Jacques looked across his desk as his new Executive Director of Charitable Giving literally escorted his two shocked assistants to the door. “Did you just ‘shoo’ my assistants, Isabella?”

“I did and don’t be mad, Jacques. I can’t stand them always pawing at you like you’re some…” she waved her pretty hands in the air as if she’d touched something foul, “…piece of meat.”

“They’re just doing their jobs.”

Well, sort of. His assistants did spend far too much time chasing him around and the control freak in him had allowed everyone involved to slip into a less than optimal pattern, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Isabella. It was more fun to stoke her fiery nature.

“What is their job description? Nag Jacques until he bleeds. They’re vampires. That’s what they are.”

When he didn’t reply, Isabella’s ankle turned in and her eyes hit the floor. Fiery, but so exquisitely submissive.

“I love the way you take care of me, Isabella. Never doubt that.”

She smiled at him and her whole body lit with happiness. When Isabella did anything, her whole body got into the act and he adored that about her. Adored his Spanish angel. He still couldn’t believe that Jacques Meszaros, the king of no second chances, was given a second chance by this amazing creature.

But just because he was grateful did not mean he didn’t enjoy toying with her. He prowled from behind his desk in full predator mode and she instinctively backed up. When her bottom bumped the edge of the conference table, he grinned.

“Other matters, Isabella. What other matters?” he asked, the tone of his voice telling her that business was the farthest thing from his mind.

No mistaking the invitation in her eyes as she feigned shyness. “Jacques, we’re at work.”

“I own the company. I can do anything I damn well please.” He lifted the tie at the front of her wrap dress. “Should I?” he asked, his hand poised to pull the knot free.

Her chin shot high as if she was offended. “I’m afraid this is not part of my job description,
Monsieur
Meszaros.”

What?
They only addressed each other formally in front of other employees.
Oh. My sexy Isabella is into a little role play
. He’d never indulged at the office, but with her, he was more than game.

He dropped his voice to the one he used to intimidate his new employees. “Like I said,
Mademoiselle
Rey. I own the company. Do you think it’s a wise career choice to deny me something I want?” He raised a disapproving eyebrow.

She tugged the knot free herself, trying to hide the smile and failing miserably. The soft fabric fell open as he laid her back across the conference table. One of the best things about Isabella? Dressing her, or undressing her as the case may be. That ideal figure took lingerie to a whole new level. He would never tire of looking at her. The lush curves. The soft valleys. The creamy skin. His eyes ran over the full breasts pushing against the blue satin of her bra, along the deep curve of her waist to the matching garter belt that clipped to the top of her thigh high stockings. No panties, of course.

He was a kinky guy. He liked slutty. So sue him.

“What if someone comes in,
Monsieur
Meszaros? The door isn’t locked.” She was giggling when she said it and he knew a little forbidden danger was turning her on.

“If they do,
Mademoiselle
Rey, they’re in for a treat. Speaking of treats…” He eyed the lovely puff of red that never ceased to lure him into paradise.

Without warning, Isabella rolled to her side, off the table and out of his reach. She raised a hand to hold him at bay. “Things come too easily for you,
Monsieur
Meszaros. You said it yourself. Success requires hard work.” Playful challenge lit her eyes.

“Is that so,
Mademoiselle
Rey? And what kind of work did you have in mind?”

She cast her eyes to him, then away as if he was dense. He suspected she’d stolen that haughty maneuver from him. “If you want to kiss me,
Monsieur
Meszaros, you’re going to have to earn it.” She pulled out a chair so it fell between them and stepped back.

“Oh, I plan to do more than kiss you,
Mademoiselle
Rey.”

He stepped forward and she scooted to the other side of the table, moving a bit more quickly this time. A momentary doubt seized him at the sight of Isabella running away. He’d almost lost her once and the memory dredged an insecurity he’d never known he was capable of possessing. He looked across the table. Isabella was smiling, flushed and excited. Her dress still hung open, displaying the sinful body beneath for his eyes. No, she wasn’t running, or if she was, she was running backwards hoping to be caught.

And who am I to deny her?

As he moved to the end of the table, she inched away. “You know what they say,
Monsieur
Meszaros, about the best-laid plans.”

“Mmm, I do. Plans change and my plan for you is getting more wicked by the second. You might not want to do this for much longer,
Mademoiselle
Rey.” He moved slowly to his right; she, to hers. “The more you resist…”

“The more turned on you seem to get.” She eyed the bulge in his trousers. “Is that your cell phone or are you happy to see me?”

Happy, happy, happy
. Every drop of his blood had taken a nose dive into his cock.

His reaction to Isabella’s sexy game was shocking. Try hell-has-just-frozen-over shocking. For a man who was accustomed to dictating everything, being toyed with shouldn’t be arousing, but it was. He bit his bottom lip.
Holy shit
. It really was.

“Just keep raising that bar,
Mademoiselle
Rey. This type of insubordination merits punishment.”

“You can only punish me,
Monsieur
Meszaros, if you can catch me.”

“I never fail,
Mademoiselle
Rey. I will catch you and when I do…” He lunged for her and she slipped around to the corner.
She's fast. Even in stilettos
.

“Never underestimate your opponent,
Monsieur
Meszaros,” she said with a cocky grin.

“We can do this all day, but I warn you,
Mademoiselle
Rey. My imagination is starting to run wild.”

The silent gasp that parted those plump lips was priceless.

“Last chance,
Mademoiselle
Rey.”

She took a step back. Before she could take another, he pounced. Grabbing her around the waist, he swung her around in a circle and pulled her down into his lap. “I win.”

She squirmed against the tight arms locked around her torso, wiggling her backside right over his raging erection. It reminded him how much he wanted to smack that sexy ass red, but the little voice in his head told him not to dictate. This was her game. She would show him where she wanted it to go.

And wasn’t that the shocker of all shockers right there. When they reunited, he’d resolved to tread lightly and avoid anything too rough until he was sure. No guessing necessary with his adventurous coquette. She just kept pointing in the direction she wanted them to go and when they got there, gave herself over to however he wanted to play it. Absolute perfection.

“Tell me,
Mademoiselle
Rey, what shall we do about your bad behavior? I’m sure you have something in mind.”

“I do,
Monsieur
Meszaros.” The words released on heavy breath. Whatever she was imagining was seriously arousing her.

“Enlighten me.” He sucked her earlobe between his lips.

She shuddered at the nip and said, “Spank me,
Monsieur
Meszaros. I want you to spank me, please.”

Sweet paradise
. The provocative invitation almost sent him screaming into release. He twisted her shoulders to let her watch the threatening smile spread slowly across his face and savored the instantaneous fear that spread across hers.

“With pleasure,
Mademoiselle
Rey. Lay across my lap. Arms straight out over the sofa.”

As she laid her body over him, he arranged her hips closer to his, shifting her weight and positioning her precisely for his hand. Lifting her skirt, he ran that hand over her backside.

“You have the sexiest ass,
Mademoiselle
Rey, and it will be even sexier after I’ve relieved the twitching palm you’ve given me.”

He traced his fingers back and forth along the curve where her cheeks met her thighs, relishing the sweeping softness as much as the feel of her stomach muscles clenching in anticipation against his leg.

“After I spank you, you’re going to get onto your knees. Impress me with your knowledge,
Mademoiselle
Rey. What are you going to do for me on your knees?”

Isabella squeezed her thighs together with a subtle roll of her hip. Dirty talk aroused her, but she still struggled to initiate. Luckily for her, he didn’t.

“Tell me you want my cock in your mouth,
Mademoiselle
Rey.”

“Please,
Monsieur
Meszaros, after you spank me, may I have your cock in my mouth?”

She answered too slowly so he added a bit more encouragement. Two fingers slid along her crack and pressed hard into her vagina. Without removing them, he leaned down, very near to her ear.

“That wasn’t good enough,
Mademoiselle
Rey. Try again. Convince me that you want it and be specific.”

He put more pressure to her sex and a lovely rush of words sprang from her lips. “Oh,
Monsieur
Meszaros, oh. I, I…want to feel you…on my tongue.” Her voice got stronger, more demanding, “I want to suck every inch of you into my mouth, swallow your pleasure, hear you scream. Please, please let me have your cock.”

Now that's a serious turn on
.

Yeah, he was a pervert. What of it?

“Success requires hard work,
Mademoiselle
Rey. You’ll have to earn it.” His palm hit her ass, just a little warm up, and she yelped. “Quiet,
Mademoiselle
Rey, or someone will hear you and open that door.”

He felt her body tense at the thought and began to rub his hand over the pink skin. As soon as he felt her relax, he smacked her again.

Harder.

*****

“You’ve done it now,
Mademoiselle
Rey,” the Angel Isabella mocked. “The Executive Director of Charitable Giving makes it into the executive suite and reduces herself to a desk toy.”

“An irresistible desk toy that the boss will never tire of playing with, you prude,” the Devil Isabella shot back. “Didn’t you see that erection or are you blind?” Now shut up and enjoy the game.”

Jacques scraped his fingernails over the globes of her ass, heightening the sensitivity of the skin and giving her a moment to regroup. He was being patient and gentle, easing her into the experience. She didn’t want patient or gentle. She’d waited years to live this fantasy and wanted him to fling her forcefully over the edge into the place she couldn’t reach on her own, That euphoric place where she found satisfaction. The place where only Jacques could take her.

“If there’s something you want,
Mademoiselle
Rey, ask for it.”

“Please don’t stop,
Monsieur
Meszaros. Please, take me there. I want more. I need it.
Ahh
, harder.”