I hastily made my way toward the stairs, and it was only when I arrived at the second floor where my room was situated that I sighed in relief.
There I stopped at the landing and had a quick peek down the stairs. When I was sure I was alone and Sophie, or anyone else for that matter, hadn't followed me, I smiled, congratulating myself for giving a pretty good one back to that bitch.
Honestly, I wasn't used to standing up for myself where a woman opponent was concerned. I guessed this was because of my aunt, whose cold, domineering, and ruthless behavior had put a mark on me. And if I should meet any woman with similar characteristics, I'd involuntarily become subdued. Sophie definitely had some of my aunt's characteristics. The woman was cold, condescending, domineering, and arrogant. That had been why standing up to her was a tad difficult for me, to say the least.
Now, however, I raised my head high and was determined to do my best to fight back. To stand up for myself. To defeat the demon, so to speak, because really, Sophie was a sort of reflection of my aunt, and my standing up to her was important, specifically for my self-esteem. It was an indication I had changed, that I had grown stronger. That I was no longer a weak girl who could only stand by while being verbally and physically abused.
Very sure I wasn't being followed, I turned on my heel and then puff!
I jolted in surprise as I suddenly found myself being blocked. I stood there, staring at a masculine chest I precipitously found warmer and more enticing than I'd like it to be.
I raised my head and gazed up at the handsome man watching me with amusement.
"James!" I said softly. "You surprised me."
James cocked his head to one side and smiled. "Were you checking to make sure you didn't have a stalker?"
I blushed and glared at him. Really, this man. But of course, he had the bull by the horns right there. And it wasn't just the thought of Sophie following me with the intention to murder me in rage because of our recent argument that got me caught up in apprehension. It was also the constant uneasy feelings I'd started having since our return to LA.
If my memories served me correctly, it had been since that day. More specifically, since I had stopped at the mall for my urgent toilet session soon after James and I had arrived in LA. It had been the feelings I was being followed and watched.
Ever since that day, now and again, I'd have this shiver down my spine, and the hairs along my arms and at the back of my neck would rise. Not to mention there was that sickly, anxious feeling that churned perpetually in the pit of my stomach. It was similar to when I had been living with Uncle Herbert. And once again, this morning when we'd been on our way to Disneyland.
But why were these feelings--fear and anxiety and the panicky, sickly emotions--suddenly emerging within me now? I thought I had buried those hateful feelings, locked away never to be seen again in the light of day when I left the man behind who had molested and hurt me and my brother.
Why?
Dismissing the dreadful thoughts from my mind, I composed myself and gave James my full attention.
Chapter 8
Mia
"No, I wasn't." I folded my arms across my chest and coyly cocked my head to one side. "And what are you doing here? Suddenly appearing at the top of the stairs."
"I've just finished putting Aria to bed," he said.
My expression softened instantly, and a smile appeared across my lips. "She was having so much fun today. I'm glad."
"And you?" James asked. "Did you have fun?"
His query made me blush simply because of the way he'd asked. His tone was deep and dark yet soft and gentle at the same time. This coupled with the question itself made it sound like he really cared about me and my happiness, as if I were truly a part of his family, which tugged deep at my heartstrings. Truth be told, it made me so deliriously happy that my knees became weak in an instant.
I nodded. "Yes, I did... Very much so. Thank you for taking me."
He chuckled with amusement and said, "No problem. It was Aria's idea, but I'll take the credit nonetheless."
He was right that it had been Aria's idea, but he had put in so much effort during our time together at Disneyland. I knew he'd been very busy with work lately, being the CEO of a multibillion-dollar resort, hotel, and casino business. Really, that wasn't something to sneeze at. Not to mention he was also one of the heads of an underground, ruthless business group that ruled some of the major cities and their lifelines around America.
Yes, today had been the first day James managed to tear himself away from his work to spend time with Aria and me. All in all, it had been great fun, and James had been wonderful. Honestly, this was the first time I had ever felt so completely and utterly happy, so at ease. Of course, not to mention that passionate kiss James and I had secretly shared while Sophie and Aria hadn't been looking during the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It had been wonderful, and I'd felt like a teenage girl doing naughty yet thrilling things behind closed doors, which I'd known some of the girls in my class back then had done.
I gazed up at the man who had sweetly stolen my heart. Then because I couldn't help myself, and I wanted to express my gratitude, I stood on tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. It was meant to be an innocent thank-you kiss, but the moment I finished, I knew instantly something more... something hot and sexy and wonderful... was going to come of it.
I felt James's sharp inhale, and I knew I was stirring him up, teasing him and tempting him with a promise of hot seduction.
Then just to goad him even more, I slowly moved my soft, warm lips to his. There I gently kissed him, my warm flesh against his firm lips. Slowly I opened my mouth, and with the tip of my tongue, I gently licked him. I wanted it to be sweet and erotic, like he'd done to me back in Vegas when the action had driven me insane with lust. I was hoping it would do the same to him. So, I ran my tongue across the length of his lips, allowing him to feel and taste me. Then, just when he opened his mouth and was about to devour me, I hastily pulled back, terminating our kiss.
I giggled and said softly, teasingly, "Good night, James."
Before he could react and stop me, I raced past him.
God, these feelings... were just so exhilarating. The thrill was certainly astounding as I rushed away from James and headed toward my own room, the exit, my safe heaven.
My tummy was twisting with excitement at the thought that James would chase me down, and once he caught me, he'd ravish me ruthlessly. Then again, if he merely stood there and watched my running away with amusement, it was still wonderful because I had cunningly left with him a mark that'd surely initiated him to act the next time we met.
I was nearly at my door when I heard footsteps coming after me, chasing me. My heart raced with excitement instantly.
Oh God! I could feel it. Feel James coming closer. The footsteps were getting louder and...
I felt a large, strong hand around my arm, and I jumped at the rough contact. A moment later, I was twisted around and came to face, not so surprisingly, with my master, who had an expression on his face that made my core burned with excitement.
Oh God! My core! It was aching so badly with enthusiasm all of a sudden. Not to mention my breasts were beginning to tingle.
James narrowed his eyes as he lowered his face toward me. "You think you can get away with doing that to me?"
I gave him a cute smile and innocently nodded in the positive. "Yes?" I half asked, half confirmed his blunt statement.
James inhaled deeply as he stared hard at me, his eyes burning hot with Prussian-blue flame. Then he exhaled again, both in frustration and disbelief.
"Fuck, Mia!" he uttered darkly as if he couldn't control himself.
I could tell he was in heat, and he was definitely fully ready to ravish me now, especially after the intended teasing.
"Have you any idea how hard it is for me?"
I placed my hand against his chest and innocently shook my head. "Nope." I lied through my teeth. I secretly smiled inside,
as I knew how frustrated he'd been without being able to make love to me, as he'd confessed to me earlier today.
To think James wanted me that much pleased me to no end. It was a confirmation of sorts for me that I was important to him, that I wasn't just some mistress to him, a thing, a toy to be played with for a short period and then to be thrown away again. That I was a thing of insignificance to him as Sophie had constantly and gleefully told me.
"Well," James said, his voice dark and hoarse. "I'm going to show you just how much I've missed you and how frustrated I am without you."
"What do you mean without me?" I asked teasingly, gazing up at him through my lashes, toying with him just a little bit. "I've been here all along, haven't I? I mean, I saw you every morning during breakfast and then some evenings during dinner when you were able to come home."
James leaned forward and said softly, "You're teasing me, aren't you? Tease me more, and I'll show you how that affects me and where it'll lead us."
He stepped closer, calculatedly making sure I could feel him growing warm and hard as he rubbed himself against me.
I swallowed as my own body began to heat knowingly.
"I'll tease you some more if you're keen," I said cheekily, my eyes bright with expectation.
Gosh, maybe I didn't have to wait until the next day after all until James really made me groan with pleasure and I was exhausted.
Not a moment later, James sealed his lips against mine and kissed me wildly. And he meant what he said by passionately devouring me with such deep hunger that it made my heart quiver with delight.
I groaned in his tight embrace as he ardently explored me, his tongue hot inside my mouth, stroking me and caressing me so seductively that my head spun in an array of loving color.
By the time he had terminated the kiss and pulled back, I was dazed and breathless from the sexy attack. I rested my forehead against his chest to regain some sort of sense, trying to calm my racing heart and get my bearings back.
As I was doing so, James continued to kiss me gently while his hands eagerly caressed my breasts through the satin fabric of my dress.
"Fuck!" he muttered in frustration under his breath. "This blasted thing is in the way."
Without further ado, he ripped the flimsy material from my body.
I gasped and snapped, "James! You're destroying my dress again."
He had the gall to laugh, albeit apologetically.
"And we're still in the hallway," I said reasonably. "What if someone saw us?"
"Ah, that can be dealt with," he said, and without warning, I felt myself being lifted in the air.
I hastily wrapped my arms around his muscular neck and said, "Where are we going?"
"A place where no one can interrupt us," he explained.
A place where no one could interrupt us indeed, and it happened to be his bedroom.
Chapter 9
Mia
Once we were inside, James shut the door with his leg with a decisive click. I found myself trapped between him and the door. Not that I disliked that feeling. In fact, I loved it. Loved that James was intimately close to me while I was leaning against the solidity of the doorframe. Loved that he was kissing me ardently while his hands were frantically ripping my dress to pieces, as if he couldn't wait to touch me and feel my naked skin or taste my bare flesh with his hot tongue and kiss me with his sensual lips.
The thrilling heat and excitement was hard-core and raw within me as I listened to the music of James's eager groaning combined with my dress being torn from my body.
"Oh, James," I groaned in pleasure.
He chuckled at my soft moaning, as if he were pleased. Then he paused and drew back a little. There he gazed down at me, his dark eyes taking in my person, scrutinizing me with so much intensity it made my core burn hot with adoration.
I noted a dark smirk was playing about his lips, and his Prussian-blue eyes were hot with passion.
This particular position we were in reminded me of that day the first time I'd met him, when I'd come up to negotiate about my brother's debt. He had trapped me against the door and made me a ludicrous offer that had turned my world upside down.
The memories of that day only worked to remind me of how much this man had affected me emotionally and physically. Not just when he touched and kissed me but with the way he looked at me too. Those dark, passionate Prussian-blue eyes that made my knees weak with wonder and my core burn and ache for him, as they were doing now.
My whole body quivered in anticipation as he stared down at me, his hot gaze devouring me whole, which made my tummy tremble in longing.
I must have looked like a very wanton wench because my body felt so hot and weak. I knew I would soon collapse and expire from his intense, passionate stare if he didn't carry me to bed.
"Fuck, you're enchanting," he said softly as he leaned his face toward me.
I could feel his warm breath on my skin and smell the red wine he had drunk during dinner. The feeling of his body so close to me, his heat radiating out to me, and his scent, which was so James, made my head spin with delight.
With my heart still racing vigorously, I blushed intensely.
"Err... thanks?" I muttered, my eyes downcast.
I didn't know how else to respond. My brain had already turned into mush.
"What the fuck is this, Mia?" he questioned in amusement. "You've become shy all of a sudden."
That couldn't be helped, could it? We hadn't been intimate for days now. Of course I'd revert back to being nervous and shy, especially now that most of my clothing was gone. What was left were pieces of shredded, flimsy fabric of the expensive dress, which were doing a lousy job at covering my naked skin. But of course, there were my lacy, blue panties, thankfully still fully intact and undamaged.
I licked my lips and said, a sour expression on my face, "Well, considering the state I'm in right now..." I sighed and looked down at myself to indicate my meaning.
James's eyes followed my gaze, and instead of feeling ashamed of his sexy, barbaric conduct and the destructive end result of that performance, he grinned with pleasure.
"What a nice view," he said seductively, his eyes hot on me, feasting on the exotic sight I presented to him.
I wondered if perhaps me in this state of undress turned James on.
Of course, his blunt statement of a nice view should have offended me. On the contrary, it only served to excite me even more. My core burned hot with anticipation as he slowly pulled what was left of the material from my body, especially the area covering my chest.
Once my breasts, now fully aroused and sensitive, were completely revealed for him to enjoy, he leaned forward and eagerly popped one small pink, hard bud into his mouth.
The moment my nipple touched his hot mouth, I groaned in satisfied delight. My body melted against his, and as James sucked and licked and teased the sensitive flesh with his lips, teeth, and tongue, I felt myself collapse against the door, my knees weak.
"Ngh..." I groaned deliciously. "Oh God, James... Yes... Please..."
James finally decided to end his seductive torture of my left nipple and turned his avid attention to my right one. He gave that one the same undivided, loving attention as well--kissing, teasing, licking, and sucking.
"James..." I groaned as I held on to him for dear life.
By the time he'd finished ravishing that little bud, which was now as aroused and hard as the left one, if not more, he drew back and drifted his gaze down to my panties.
I could tell from the look in his dark, passionate eyes what he was going to do next. I didn't have to wait long for the sexy, barbaric act to start.
James gently palmed my pussy, playing with the lacy material lovingly, rubbing it against my sensitive flesh. I couldn't help myself and groaned loudly, my whole body screaming and quivering with pleasure.
I was breathless... so breathless as James toyed with me, expertly teasing me with his fingers. Then before I knew what was happening, he
ripped the fabric of my lacy panties and pulled the material from my body.
The action should have, as before, upset me, but it didn't. Instead, it only worked to heighten my pleasure even more. Watching him roughly tear my panties to pieces made my core burn in ecstasy, aching for him, aching for his cock to ravish me.
"James..." I half groaned, half cried out softly, begging him.
James lifted his head and turned his attention to me. He raised one brow as if questioning what my desire was.
I groaned again. "James..."
He chuckled and asked teasingly yet darkly, "Are you upset I've destroyed your beautiful panties?"
I slowly shook my head, my eyes soft. "No," I said under my breath.
He smiled. "Are you sure you're not upset with me?" he asked again.
I shook my head in the negative. It was then he plunged a finger into my sweet, hot opening, which made me cry out.
"Yes... Oh, James..." I groaned out to him.
James must have been pleased with my response, because he increased the pace, inserting his finger into me deeper. Soon it was two fingers and then combined with a deep, passionate kiss.
The feeling was so good that I involuntarily raised my hip to allow him deeper access. By the time James pulled away from me, it was to lift me in his arms and carry me to his large bed.
There, he laid me on the massive softness of the mattress. It occurred to me that this would be the first time I was actually lying on his bed while he made love to me. The feeling that came to me was one of happiness.
As I lay there, all wanton and completely vulnerable, waiting for him to initiate, I suddenly realized I wanted to be more than just James's mistress. More than just Aria's friend.
As instantly as that feeling came, I wondered deeply what it was I really wanted. What was the stage that was a step up from being a mere mistress? Girlfriend? But was there even a step up from the station of a mistress?
I didn't know, and to be honest, I didn't want to think about that right then. All I wanted was for James to make love to me, to make me feel completely and utterly wonderful.
As if he understood my wish, James came on top of me and kissed me passionately, his tongue wild and playing havoc with mine.