Back in the days before I turned twelve, my life was beautiful. We weren’t well-off. In fact, my parents always worried about money, about how we were going to pay off that next bill, how we’d have enough to put food on the table. But it was a worry we shared, a combined effort to make ends meet, and we were happy.
My parents had been childhood sweethearts and were married straight after they’d graduated college. They had loved each other dearly, and they had cherished me and my brother Andy with all their hearts.
Yes, my life had been beautiful back then, before that fateful summer day when a truck drove into our car on Interstate 93 as we made our way back to Mystic Spring, when both my parents’ lives were abruptly snatched from this world.
I felt tears sting my eyes as I stared up at the ceiling, watching the shadows of the room playing about. My chest tightened with sorrow at the thought of my parents, at the thought of how unfair the world was.
“Mommy?” I remembered my eleven-year-old self asking my mother one spring day as we were sitting under the cherry tree at the back of our old home, having a picnic. “Will I get myself a nice husband who loves me like Daddy loves Mommy?”
She chuckled away merrily, as if she hadn’t a care in the world. She was beautiful, both inside and out, and I so wanted to be like her.
She patted my dark head, very much like hers, and then stroked my pale cheek, also very much like hers, and said, “Of course you will, my love. When you meet him, you’ll know. He will love and cherish you until the day you’re both gone from this earth.”
I had smiled with delight at the prospect, my eyes bright with anticipation.
“What’s it like? Being loved?” I asked. I couldn’t help myself, being so curious and all. I wanted to know all there was to know about love.
She chuckled again, perhaps amused at my enthusiasm, as she looked up to watch her beloved husband playing baseball with her young son Andy. Her eyes were bright, just like mine, when she said, “It’s a beautiful feeling, Mia. It’s like the sun is always shining even when it rains.” Then she turned to me, and I saw in her eyes what she meant. “You’ll know the feeling when you meet him. It’s the most glorious feeling you could ever imagine.”
I had smiled then. I couldn’t wait until that time came for me when I’d meet someone who’d make me as happy as Dad had made Mom.
Dad and Andy returned from their game, and Dad went straight to his wife. He caught her slender form into his arms and kissed her passionately. I giggled with delight, and Andy rolled his eyes as if to say, There they go again.
“Get a room, you two,” he muttered.
As I watched them kiss, I wondered what it must have felt like. Was it really like the sun was always shining? Was it really that feeling of gloriousness all the time even if life dealt you a big blow?
I shut my eyes for a moment and then took a deep breath. Then I turned my head to the right and gazed at the man beside me, at the billionaire with whom I’d signed a contract.
James Christopher Maxwell was my lover, my master.
I observed him long and hard, remembering our kisses and sex. I wouldn’t describe our arrangement as anything sunny or glorious. Rather, what I’d gone through with him thus far was a mixture of rain and a lot of storms and lightning.
Yes, there was definitely a lot of the lightning bits for sure. Perhaps, I wondered, the sunny and glorious feelings only happened when there was love involved?
I doubted those wonderful feelings would ever happen between James and me. In five years’ time, it’d be over between us. In five years’ time, he’d forget all about me and carry on living his very successful life. I, on the other hand, would return to Mystic Spring, and who knew what’d happen after that?
I sighed and turned on my side, away from the handsome man comfortable in his sleep. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t bother to go back to his own room after he’d had his way with me, ravishing me to his heart’s content.
I was very unaccustomed to sharing a bed with anyone. It was quite hard to keep to one side and not roll into the middle where I’d bump into him, that solid rock of a warm body that only made me want to snuggle against and hug him.
I sighed again and then shut my eyes, forcing myself to go back to sleep. Instantly, I felt a large strong hand wrap around my arm, followed by a forceful tug. I was involuntarily rolled over and landed on top of the billionaire. My face rested against the nape of his neck while my naked body was intimately wrapped over him. He was totally naked as well, and I could feel his whole length against me.
I blinked, wondering if the man was still asleep. Perhaps he happened to pull me, thinking I was a pillow? I wouldn’t be surprised since I was quite small compared to this man who was over six feet tall. I doubt I weighed much in his arms.
I moved slowly, so as not to wake him, and glanced up to get a peek at him. My soul nearly jumped out of my skin the moment I saw him watching me.
“Why do you keep moving away from me?” he asked.
I licked my lips. There was no point in lying. “I’m not used to sharing a bed,” I replied low, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
He tightened his grasp on me, his palm branding my skin at the small of my back. “That’s too bad. Get used to it, sweetheart,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Huh?” I watched as he closed his eyes once again, indicating I should do the same and just sleep.
Good Lord, how could I possibly sleep in this odd position? I’d be suffocated, for God’s sake. He was squeezing me against him with his ironlike grip. At least I wasn’t under him; otherwise, I wouldn’t think I’d survive the night.
Tired as I was, I followed his instruction and shut my eyes. Then I drifted off into a slumber in the billionaire’s arms.
In the depth of my sleep, I dreamed of myself floating in a ray of sunshine. It was warm and lovely, and it reminded me of my late mother’s words of love and kisses. Petals of cherry blossom rained all around me, and a field of wildflowers stretched beyond the endless horizon before me. It was a beautiful place, and I was in paradise. I felt so relaxed and so wonderful. I wanted to be here like this forever. Nothing to worry about. No one to bother me.
Then it came. A jolt of electricity coursed through my being. I gasped at the same time a lightning strike split the bright-blue sky. My body buzzed with thrilling heat, and then I groaned and gasped as another lightning strike hit. This time it was stronger, and I wanted to scream with both delight and fright.
In the distance, I saw a storm coming toward me fast, spreading far and wide. Suddenly, it enveloped me in its embrace, hugging me tight within its darkness. Then came another lightning strike.
I screamed, my voice echoing within the captivating capsule of my dream. Suddenly, I came fully awake. I blinked as my body shook in ardor. My heart raced and my inside burned with need. I felt a hot, wet tongue licking my nipple, a mouth hungrily sucking my breast.
I bit my lip, trying not to groan out in beautiful agony as my body was lovingly tortured. I glanced down and saw James before me, busy devouring my body with hunger.
“James,” I whispered.
He lifted his head then, his eyes on me.
MiaThe moment I saw those burning Prussian-blue eyes and his dark face, I wanted to weep with both delight and trepidation. I knew the moment I saw the look on his face that he was going to ravish me again. But so early in the morning? When we’d just done so last night?I couldn’t help myself and voiced my confusion. “James? Are we doing this again?”He chuckled. “You’re finally awake,” he replied, ignoring my question. “I was beginning to wonder.” He returned his attention to my breast.I couldn’t have that. “James?”He continued to ignore me and guided my leg up. He met my thigh with a kiss of his eager lips and then another and another and then some licks of his tongue.His tongue was hot and wet, and I groaned in response as he moved ever closer to the forbidden area.“Oh, James,” I whispered. “It’s early in the morning.”He finally turned his attention to me with an amused look. He moved up so that we were face-to-face. Then his lips found mine, and he kissed me, plunging his to
MiaAs I went down the stairs, I smelled coffee and bacon. James must have been cooking breakfast again.I found him in the kitchen transferring crispy bacon from a frying pan onto plates.“Good morning, sunshine,” he said, eyeing me with interest as I descended the last few steps.The word sunshine tugged something deep within my heart, and I felt weak in the knees.“Morning,” I replied as I hopped onto a barstool.He poured me a cup of coffee.“Thanks,” I said.“You’re welcome,” he stated, smiling.He appeared to be in a fine mood after what happened in the bedroom only twenty minutes ago. I eyed him with interest, too, as I raised the hot cup of coffee to my lips. I noted his dark hair was wet and that he had on a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt. Despite the fact he wasn’t in a suit, he still looked handsome as hell.After the thorough examination of his person, I decided he must have had a cold shower to cool himself down as I’d suggested. Oddly enough, I felt a little disappoi
MiaI arrived on the landing and then rushed toward my bedroom door. I didn’t make it in time though. James caught me by the arm and spun me around. In one smooth motion, he scooped me up in his arms and headed straight to his own room.“James?” I queried, my heart pounding. “I thought you’d calm down. You promised to take me to see my brother.”He ignored the subject of my brother and said, “The only way to calm me down is you.”“Aren’t there other ways?” I asked naïvely.He looked at me then, and a slow, sly smile appeared on his face. “I’ll show you how one day, and you can assist me.”I regretted asking that question instantly. The look on his face made me utter, “No. No, that’s fine. No need to show me.”“Oh, but I insist,” he said. “Now let’s find out what that scent is.”He deposited me on the length of his bed as I said, “You can find that out yourself. It’s in the bathroom on a shelf.” I pointed toward the door of my own room, hoping like hell he’d take the bait.He didn’t. “
JamesMia Donovan, the naive girl from the small town of Mystic Spring, with a contagious smile and sexy body, was a hot mess. Her long dark hair rested luxuriously over his naked skin, draping over him like a seductive lover. Her face was snuggled at the nape of his neck while her naked body lolled on top of him with a sort of careless abandon any man would find alluring.She was still breathing heavily, exhausted from their unexpected morning sex. Well, unexpected on her part. For James, however, he’d known since he’d made the offer for a contract that morning sex with her was part of the deal. Honest to God, what man wouldn’t want to make love to such a beautiful, luscious body? The body that had innocently, seductively enticed him since the first time he’d met her? The body that obeyed his every command?Sex with Mia Donovan was definitely amazing, and James hadn’t had that in a long time. Not, in fact, since his first time with his ex-wife Whitney when he had been twenty-one, aft
MiaI didn’t think I’d ever get to see Andy today, and I decided that billionaire James Maxwell was a shameless liar. I shouldn’t have believed his word even though he’d promised he’d take me to my brother. I should have asked for a signed contract for a specific date and time for the requested meeting. It should have been written in the clauses of our contract. But I was stupid and had never thought about that. I was too naive and trustful.Oh God! My mind was going numb again.“James,” I groaned. “James.” I had to stop him before I was too far gone, before I lost myself to him again. Thus, I pushed him away from me, my puny palms against his massive broad chest. When he finally responded and eased his weight from me, I slipped off the bed, intending to run to my own room.I only managed one step before he swiftly caught my wrist. I jumped the moment I felt his hot hand on my skin, because I knew I wasn’t getting away.When I turned my gaze to him, there was no pleasant grin on his f
MiaWhen next I woke up, my body was so heavy I didn’t even have the energy to raise my head. I gazed up at the ceiling in confusion, my mind numbed.Where am I? I asked myself.I noted the sun was just setting on the west side of the room. The orangey glow gave out a most beautiful picture of the city.I groaned and wondered why I felt so tired. Then everything came back. The hard sex I’d had with James today.Wait. Was it still today? I bit my lip, and my mind quickly flicked to my brother. I was supposed to see him today. Had we missed the appointment?I turned over, and that was when I realized I was naked and my long hair was damp. I made myself sit up, my body protesting wholeheartedly, screaming in pain.“Hey,” came the masculine voice at the door.I widened my eyes at the handsome man standing there. James had a smirk about his face that made my belly tingle.“Hi,” I managed. I felt my mouth was as dry as dust, and I was thirsty as hell.“Hungry?”I nodded and added, “And very
MiaA private jet? What were we doing here at a private airport, heading toward a private jet? I couldn’t help myself as I stared at James, my eyes large in confusion.“James?” I asked, clutching my backpack in front of me tightly. “What are we doing here?” I flicked my eyes back to the sleek plane before us, all set to take in passengers. I noted a steward in his mid-forties, dressed immaculately in a gray uniform, walking briskly toward us.“To see your brother,” James replied, turning off the car engine.“Huh?” I couldn’t help myself. I was more than a little lost and confused. “Hold up. Why are we in an airport to see my brother?” I knew I sounded stupid.He chuckled. “Or don’t you want to see your brother at all?”I scowled. “Of course I do,” I snapped. “But it would help if you could at least explain why we’re at an airport?”“Ah, Mia.” He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Your reactions always please me.”I didn’t like the sound of that and wondered if he was teas
JamesIt had been fifteen minutes since the plane was airborne, and the moment they were allowed to take off their seat belts, Mia took off in the direction of the sofa. Now James watched her as she sat there crossed-legged and enjoyed another set of treats. This was mostly sweets with an assortment of cupcakes and cake slices.It was odd that since he’d met her, his mostly sober world seemed to have change a little, especially when she was around. It was odd, too, that he enjoyed watching her, and even now was no different. Though he’d admit she seemed oblivious to his attraction toward her.“Do you want some?” she asked from the distance, a piece of chocolate cake in her hand.He chuckled. “No, thanks.” Then his phone rang.Mia returned her attention to her cake while he reluctantly paid attention to his phone.“Hey, what’s up?”“So you’re going to Las Vegas?” Scott asked in greeting.James wondered how Scott had found out. After all, he hadn’t told anyone about the plan. It was onl