Pleasure Extraordinaire 2 (PURSUIT) (5 page)

“Shhh. You’re not allowed to call him by his name in public.” Chloe glances around
for onlookers, but no one seems to care, even Zane’s date who’s sitting only a foot
away from us. She’s too occupied with Zane’s whereabouts to notice anything.

“Yes.” How dare I call his Majesty by his name? In fact, I should call him my king,
because that’s exactly what he does; rule my life. But I shouldn’t complain. Zane
and Chloe have it worse than I. At least, I don’t have to work for him or live in
his house under his rules. As long as I keep the role of the happy son who’s proud
of his father on occasions like today’s event, I’m off his hook. “Have you already
set a wedding date?” I ask, in an attempt to distract myself from the disturbing thoughts
of what Zane must be talking about with Lindsay.

“We’re thinking of marrying next month in Las Vegas.”

Dream on. Like Michael is ever going to allow that. Any wedding with less than a-million-dollar
expenditure is a shame for him. “Have you talked to Dad about your plans?”

“No, not yet. He’ll probably say no.”

“Not probably, definitely is the word you’re looking for.”

“You’re right. But it’s okay. Dylan doesn’t mind waiting. Do you, baby?”

Dylan, for the first time, grabs Chloe’s hand and lifts it up to kiss it. “I can wait
for you for an eternity.”

I glance at the table where Michael is sitting with his business partners to see if
he’s noticed Dylan’s kiss on Chloe’s hand. Michael is a jealous prick, even toward
his own daughter, and will easily show his real face if he sees any man showing physical
affection to her. His mind has gotten more twisted over the years. I hope he’ll die
soon and finally leave us all alone. “Well, good luck with telling Mic—Dad, your wedding
plans. Let me know if you need any help.”

Chloe and Dylan stand and move to the dance floor, holding each other as if they’re
brother and sister, with no passion or desire readable in their behavior. They’re
well-versed in their behavior. Rightly so, because more than a few times Michael interfered
with Chloe’s classmates at college for showing interest in her. With interference,
I mean the parents’ of the boys losing their jobs, houses, and money, or something
just as severe.

Michael doesn’t tolerate any misconduct. That’s rule number one. The rule number two
is he never forgives.

I turn my gaze to Zane’s date and lift my glass to her, smiling to lift her spirits
a bit. I don’t know why I bother, though. She shouldn’t let the illusion of Zane falling
in love with her get into her head, because that’s never going to happen. Men like
Zane don’t fall for girls who give in too soon. Zane loves mystery and more than that,
he goes after what he can’t get.

Such as Lindsay.

Although he had her once, she still manages to keep the upper hand. She’s playing
the game just like a man. Have sex and never call back or expect anything further
than that. Now that’s a fresh breath of air, even intimidating. And, I’m almost sure
Zane is wondering if he did something wrong to elicit that kind of reaction from her.
Maybe the sex was mediocre, wasn’t hard enough, or too hard, or he didn’t work enough
to make her reach orgasm, or came too early or too late. All those doubts and more
must be eating at him for not being able to turn Lindsay into one of those girls who
revere the ground he walks on.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Zane’s date finally opens her mouth to speak, and she
has actually a nice, sexy voice. “I’m wasting him.”

I shrug. Sometimes it’s better not to talk. Especially when conveying hurtful thoughts.

“I wish I could convince my heart to stop beating for him. Every time I take the plunge
and decide to move on, he shows up with the most exquisite gift, telling me I’m the
woman he wants for the rest of his life and then just like that he wins me back again.”

So she’s aware she’s being manipulated, yet can’t put an end to it. “I’ll share a
secret with you, and hopefully you’ll keep it between us.”

She nods eagerly, perhaps expecting me to reveal the key to Zane’s heart or something
as valuable to gain his love. But that’s not going to happen. “You’re not the only
woman he’s using. He has two assistants whose only job is to deal with the women in
his life. It’s not only three or five women I’m talking about. He has hundreds of
women whom he’s keeping on the side. If I were you, I’d run from him. He’ll come after
you, but not because he loves you or cares about you, but because he doesn’t want
to lose his toy. I’m sorry to be so blatant, but I believe you deserve the truth.”

Her gaze drops down to the champagne glass in her hand, and I see a drop of tear rolling
down on the side of her nose. “Thank you for your honesty,” she says, pulling the
sapphire ring from her middle finger, and placing it on the table before vanishing
into the crowd of people.

Zane will be pissed off when he realizes he’s lost one of his admirers, and I’d pay
money to see his face then. I risk a glance toward Lindsay’s table and see her in
a deep conversation with Zane. Why doesn’t she tell him to fuck off? Does she care
about him? Zane is one step ahead because of his impatience and disobedience. As his
brother, Lindsay won’t give me a second chance. That’s far from a fair game.

Chloe and Dylan return to the table and Michael joins us while the deserts are served.
He talks shamelessly and loudly about married life and secrets behind a happy marriage,
as if he hadn’t pushed my mother to kill herself.

Soon our table is surrounded by people who want a glimpse into Michael’s world as
a husband. Despite the heavy knot in my stomach, I stay and listen to his bullshit.
Mom received nothing but suffering for loving the wrong man, and Michael’s late-bloomed
homosexuality was only a part of her life-long depression and grief. He wouldn’t let
her go even though he took a male lover. She lived a torturous life filled with physical
and emotional abuse. Only we, her children, knew death gave her the freedom and peace
she could never have with Michael.

Even so, I can’t control my egoist side and wish she was alive, supporting us through
the hardness of life that came with being Michael’s children. Michael should have
been the one to die in place of Mom. This engagement party would be so much different
with her.

I keep up my fake interest, while Michael’s preaching takes a new turn toward business
and politics and steal glimpses, every now and then, at Lindsay. Zane has occupied
her time for longer than normal, and I wonder why Michael doesn’t intervene. When
I see Lindsay laughing at something Zane says, I can’t hold it together. I apologize
politely, and after Michael’s brief nod as his permission for me to leave, I head
to the restroom.

I shouldn’t care so much about a woman, much less someone under Michael’s contract,
but I do, and so help me if I let her go without a fight. I keep myself busy checking
my emails on my phone while waiting at the end of the hall where the restrooms are
located. Lindsay hasn’t used the restrooms yet. Which means she’ll have to come here
soon.

After half an hour of losing time with reading unnecessary emails, I smile at the
correctness of my prediction and nod at Lindsay as she enters the restroom. I’m glad
Zane doesn’t accompany her. He has never been a gentleman.

When she leaves the restroom, I gesture to her with my chin toward an empty room across
from the restrooms, and grin when I realize she’s put on makeup. Her lips are a glowing
crimson, her cheeks a tantalizing hue of pink. Her hair is brushed into thicker volume,
wilder waves. And all I can think about is smearing that lipstick around her lips
with a hard kiss, deepening the pink of her cheeks, messing up her hair as I take
her ruthlessly over the sofa before the windows.

This might be the only chance I get to convince her to give me a shot at pleasuring
her, and I won’t screw it up by talking bad about Zane. “I have a secret to share
with you.”

She lifts her eyebrow with curiosity and takes a step toward me. An aura of lust fills
the air as I recognize the craving of intimacy in her expression. I let my eyes sweep
over her body, slowly and deliberately to give her a glimpse of the lustful thoughts
running rampant in my mind. Her chest grows wide with a deep breath of air and she
stops short in the middle of the room, leaving a safe distance between us. “It won’t
be a secret if you share it.”

Her words pull out an unexpected grin out of me. “You’re right, but I’ll do it anyway.”

“Okay, I’m all ears.”

And I’m all cock when I’m around you. “The reason you won’t consider me as a lover
at PE is because I’m Zane’s brother and you had sex with him. Am I right?”

She doesn’t blink an eye or move an inch when she says, “yes.”

“What if I tell you Zane and I aren’t biological brothers? Would you reconsider your
decision?”

The frowning conquers her face again, this time deeper and harder. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m adopted. My biological mother and father are different from Zane’s. I
have no genetic connection to Zane. I’m no different than any other man to Zane in
terms of heredity.”

She takes a moment to analyze my confession. Perhaps she still won’t back down from
her decision because Zane and I are raised as brothers, shared the same household,
and grew up under the same rules. “Is that true?”

“Absolutely. Around the time I was conceived, a journalist managed to find out the
truth about Michael’s sexual tendencies. To prove him wrong and repair his public
image, Michael decided to buy me from my birth mother and showed me as his and Mom’s
third biological child. Mom played along, even had pictures taken of her fresh out
of the hospital after her phony birth. Everybody believed the happy and loving family
Michael had and still has, and the journalist who originally discovered the truth
about my father’s homosexuality was arrested and put in jail for spreading false rumors
about him.”

“That’s... That’s...” She covers her mouth, looking disgusted as if she’ll puke. “That’s
repugnant. So much dishonesty and fraud. Is there anyone who’s not involved in lies
in your family?” She spins around on her heel and storms toward the door.

I run to block her way before she can open the door. “I am. I don’t deceive people.
I do only what I have to not to get on Michael’s wrong side, but that’s minimal.”

She yanks my hand away with such force I tremble, and moves away toward the window,
holding the place that I held on to her arm. “Why is everyone talking as if Michael
is the devil on earth?”

“I hope you won’t have to experience that side of him, but he’d beat the devil himself
in evilness. But that’s not the point. The point is, you and I have an unfinished
business, and there’s nothing immoral that stands in our way to complete what we’ve
started.”

“There’s nothing immoral for paying money to have sex?”

“Not when the man is willing and would do it without getting paid. All my men are
well off and would do it without money. Money is just icing on the cake, but the cake
is the real incentive in my business, not the icing.”

“The age-old discussion again. Okay, okay, I understand your perspective and well,
you might be right. But, I’m not sure if I’ll choose you as the extra escort you offered
me.” She stares down at her nails then looks up at me. Frown and worry lines cross
her forehead. “Zane and you might not have a biological bond, but you’re still brothers
in heart.”

“Believe me, that can’t be farther from the truth. He and I despise each other like
deadly enemies. Actually, I’m pretty sure he’s coming after you because he’s aware
of my special interest in you.”

Her features soften with an unexpected grin of her beautiful lips, and she averts
her gaze in embarrassment.

“What is it?” I ask, curious about what might change her angry attitude.

“I didn’t know about your special interest in me.”

Oh, that. “Even a blind person could see it, how can’t you?”

“Is that why you chose yourself to apply the coconut oil to me?”

“I’m only a man. I lose my limits when it comes to taking advantage of a situation
to devour a sexy girl.”

“You gave me four on the beauty scale, remember? Now you’re talking about my irresistible
sexiness.”

“Well, I admit I was a bit harsh in my judgment of your looks.”

She grazes her lower lip with her teeth and cocks her head to the side, her eyes traveling
up and down my body. “So you’re saying you don’t think I’m a four?”

I shake my head no.

“Then which number would you give me?”

“Numbers don’t matter in your case because there’s no number that can objectively
rate my desire for you. The quickening of my blood every time you shoot me a seductive
glance, when you bite your lips, run your fingers over your neck as if you want to
be kissed there, and when you can’t even hide your own arousal. You’re sex on legs,
Lindsay, but also a fool for not being aware of your effect on men. I had to give
a four for your looks to prevent my men going vandal to get you.”

“Now you’re exaggerating,” she says, but the full-tooth smile revitalizing her face
tells a completely different story.

I move closer to her and trail the tip of my index finger down her bare arm, feeling
the goose bumps along the way, watching her lose control. “You can’t even imagine
the things I want to do to you.”

“Enough.” She breathes in and out through her mouth. Her body shivers visibly under
my touch.

“Enough or I won’t be able to control myself and let you take me here?”

She gasps and then presses her lips tightly together, perhaps to stifle a moan. I
wish she moaned and let her words of her lust for me come out of her mouth. But instead
she says, “enough, or I will slap you to end this little seduction game of yours.
You blame Zane for going after me as a reason to make you upset, but I think you’re
guilty of the same crime. Would you still have cared about me if Zane hadn’t been
in the picture? No, don’t answer that.” She lifts her hand and holds it before my
face. “I know the answer. You pulled your coconut-oil trick on me, knowing it was
Zane who was waiting for me, and now you have the nerve to blame Zane for your own
mistake,” she says and paces out, banging the door closed behind her.