Leverage: Pt 1 (3 page)

Even though the walls were cathedral-like, the air in the room seemed in short supply. Richard had dropped her off with her luggage at Boston’s home — was home the right word for the massive structure? — and quickly deposited her into Boston’s bedroom suite, which, honestly, looked like a small apartment, complete with a kitchenette.

“
Boston wants you to wait for him here. Do not wander. The house is very large and you’re likely to get lost. Stay put. You can watch television or read. There is a full library attached to the bedroom, through that door.”

At the mention of the library, Julianna recalled Boston’s admission that the last time he’d been in there, he’d been having sex, not reading and she tried to push the image away.
“Thanks,” she murmured, caught by the insane desire to beg Richard to stay and keep her company even though the older man was hardly the companionable type. She watched Richard leave and then once she was closed into the room, she suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to run back from where she came.
Screw this
. But then Tom came to mind, lying helpless in that stupid, awful bed, wasting away from depression as much as his injury and she knew she would do whatever it took to get Tom the help he needed.

Well, one thing was for certain,
Boston Kincaid believed in surrounding himself with the finer things in life. She wasn’t well-versed in priceless art but she was going to wager a guess that the stuff on the walls weren’t Wal-Mart specials. Not exactly her cup of tea, though. As beautiful as everything was, there was an impersonal nature to it all. Honestly, not a single personal photograph? Her small apartment was crammed with candid pictures and fun mementos of good times with friends. It struck her as very sad until she realized what was happening and she rebelled. No, she refused to feel bad for the “poor rich boy.” He was the enemy.

The enemy who was about to take her virginity, a small voice reminded her and she shivered.

He wasn’t ugly, not that she was particularly swayed by looks, but he definitely had genetics on his side. She wandered to the bathroom and her eyes widened at the opulence. Egad. Surely that wasn’t gold on the toilet? She hoped not. There was something wrong with a gold-plated toilet. Did he wipe his butt with dollar bills, too? She made a small sound of disgust and left the bathroom, knowing for certain she hoped a different bathroom was designated for her — one with a normal porcelain commode — but she had a sinking feeling that Boston was going to want her in this room with him. Like playing a really messed up game of house.

The spa experience, at the very least, had been nice, up until it came time to wax her pubic area. Holy hell, now she knew why she’d never done that before. Talk about pain. But now, as instructed, she had a nearly bald pubic area, except for the “landing strip” as
Boston had called it. Even though she’d never done the deed, she wasn’t exactly naïve about sex. She’d fooled around with boyfriends but she’d wanted to save that one part of herself for the man she married. Right about now she was feeling pretty stupid for that decision because she’d basically sold her virginity to a man she was fairly certain she despised. Julianna covered her face with her hands and fought the sudden wash of tears that sprang to her eyes for her situation.
Okay, get a grip. Let’s get down to brass tacks
…even though she was losing something precious, she was gaining something, too. As much as she hated to give Boston credit for anything, he did have a point. How many women gave away their virginity for so much less?

True. So, looking at the situation logically, she could assume that a man like
Boston Kincaid likely bores easily so after he’s taken what he wants, after a week or so he’ll probably turn her loose and she’ll walk away one million dollars richer and Tom will be in New Zealand, getting the care he needs.

It’s
all good. Yeah. So, why did she want to throw up?

She’d just gone to the bed to sit and calm down when the door opened and
Boston walked in. She must’ve paled for Boston smirked and said, “Now, is that any way to greet the man who just made the impossible possible in your world?”

And then she knew she couldn’t go through with this. No fucking way.

Boston hadn’t expected the leap in his heartbeat the minute he opened the door and saw Julianna sitting on his bed, looking to his eyes like a beautiful present waiting for him to open, but there was no denying that she caused his heart to race. He was nearly consumed with the need to touch every inch of her skin and to possess everything she had to offer. Then he realized she was not wearing the lingerie he purchased for her. “Are you forgetting something?” he asked, his gaze flicking to the white box on the bed. “I would like to see you in my gift.”

Julianna
stood and in spite of the fire in her eyes, he caught the subtle tremble in her body as she declared, “I’ve made a mistake. I can’t go through with this. I’m sorry but I’m not cut out for this kind of thing. I know there are women out there who would jump at an opportunity to be your
beck-and-call girl
but I’m not that girl. I was wrong to accept and I know I signed a bunch of paperwork but…I just can’t.” Boston chuckled as he removed his jacket and tossed it to the French, ornate armchair that he personally despised, and began unbuttoning his shirt cuffs. When he didn’t immediately answer, she took a step away from him and said, “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me? I can’t do this. I’m sorry. Find someone else. Obviously, I will return the money. I’ll find a way to help Tom on my own.”

At that he arched his brow and stripped his shirt from his body. “Really? How industr
ious of you. Have you a spare $300,000 lying around that I’m unaware?”

“Of course not,” she said, scowling. “You know that.”

“Yes, I do know that. I also know that you’re late on your payment to Serene Hills, the managed care facility where your brother was moldering away in his hospital bed. How many late payments do they allow before they toss your brother on his broken ass?”

She blinked back tears, hatred in her expressive eyes. “You’re a bastard. You already know the answers to the questions you’re asking.”

“Yes, I do. The answer is three. And you’re on No. 3. What’s the plan after they toss him out? Your apartment isn’t suitable for Tom’s wheelchair and your bedroom is much too small for the specialized hospital bed he needs. What’s your grand plan?”

“I don’t know!” she cried, tears appearing. “But I’ll figure something out. I just can’t do what you’re asking me to do.”

He tsked as if he felt true empathy for her situation but in truth, he was in ruthless mode and he’d do just about anything to keep her to her word. He unbuttoned his trousers and let them fall, kicking them free. He took a seat on the bed and began to remove his socks. It did not escape his notice that her gaze had strayed to the bulge in his boxer briefs. He had nothing to hide and was pleased to note the sudden flush in her cheeks as she skewed her gaze sharply. “My sweet Julianna…stop fighting the inevitable. Your heart is your biggest strength and likely, your biggest handicap. You will do whatever it takes to help heal your brother because you love him so much. You’re a good little sister and you should be proud of your character. Is that what you need to hear so you can go forward without guilt?”

“It’s not guilt I feel,” she retorted, wiping at her eyes. “It’s shame.”

“Shame? For what?” he asked, settling onto the bed, enjoying watching her even as she struggled. Everything about her intrigued him. “Women have been bartering the pussy for centuries. It’s really nothing new or worth getting worked up over.”

“Yes. Men have been coercing and manipulating women for a very long time but it doesn’t make it right.”

“That’s a matter of opinion I suppose. Seems right to me.” He shrugged with a negligent smile. “Now, enough with this nonsense and put on the lingerie.”

“Does anyone ever tell you no?”

“Not successfully.”

She exhaled a short breath of exasperation but he could tell she was wavering. He was an expert in reading people —
 a decided benefit in his position — and knew she was on the edge of capitulating. The key to any successful negotiation was to know the opponent’s weakness. Julianna’s weakness was embarrassingly easy to discern. “It’s a pity you’re reneging on the deal. At this moment, Tom is being readied for transport to the airport. His suite, compared to the one he’s currently staying in, looks as luxe as the Taj mahal. But I suppose I can cancel the order. However, I thought I should mention that I spoke with a doctor at Stanford about your brother’s injury and he said there’s a window of opportunity that quickly closes for treatment. And Tom’s window is rapidly closing.”

“Tom’s doctor never told us that,” she said, chin lifted. “You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie? It makes no difference to me if your brother never walks again. Besides, why would your doctor dangle hope in front of you when he knows you’ll never have access to the kind of treatment your brother would need? Seems unnecessarily cruel, if you ask me.” He shifted and pulled his underwear off, tossing them to the floor, smiling when she gasped at seeing him completely nude with a rock-hard erection eagerly springing into view. He palmed his cock and grinned. “Are we finished with the moral dilemma? If so, I’m ready to get this party started.”

A long moment stretched between them but
Boston’s confidence never wavered. He knew she’d cave. She was too tender-hearted for her own good. He tried not to crow with triumph when Julianna dragged her feet to the edge of the bed and grabbed the box. “There’s a girl…” he murmured, pleased.

“I hate you,” she hissed, clutching the box to her chest. “For the rest of my days, I will hate you until I die for making me do this.”

“Duly noted.” His smile faded and his tone hardened. “Now hurry up so I can fuck you.”

At that she quickly ran to the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

Boston ignored the sting of her words and focused on his victory. It didn’t matter how she felt about him as long as he could feel her body beneath his. That’s all that mattered, he reminded himself. That’s. All. That. Mattered.

#

Julianna’s heart nearly burst through her chest it was hammering so hard. How could one man be so insufferably cruel and yet devastatingly attractive at the same time? Even if Boston hadn’t been obscenely wealthy, getting what he wanted would’ve been his gift — and that included any woman. Her cheeks heated to the point of pain as she lifted the black corset from the box. How appropriate…black as sin. The moment she stepped into that cursed thing, she was agreeing to be Boston’s sex slave for lack of a better way of putting it. There was no prettying up what was going on between them. But it was for a good cause, right? Maybe if she held onto that one simple truth it would shield her from the shameful agony staring her in the face. Julianna squeezed her eyes shut and blew a short breath to force herself to focus.
Put
it on. Just do it
. Unless she was prepared to grab her things and walk out, she had no choice. And he knew it. For that matter, he knew she wouldn’t renege on the deal because there was more at stake than just her pride. Damn him for being a smug bastard. She slipped the corset on and adjusted it properly. Staring into the mirror she couldn’t believe how sexual she appeared. Her hair, loose and free, fell in loose, soft golden waves down her back, and the pupils of her brown eyes seemed impossibly large. The bustier pushed her breasts up until they were practically overfilling the demi cups and she was dangerously close to having a wardrobe malfunction with a nip slip. She supposed that was the point — easy access. This is a biological process, she told herself sternly when her cheeks bloomed with pink. Not a big deal. But as she glanced nervously at the door, knowing that a naked billionaire was no doubt stroking his cock while he waited, her knees shook.

“Should I come join you?” he asked from behind the door and she started.

“I-I’m coming,” she answered, licking her lips and fervently praying for divine intervention. An earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado…hell, even a
shark-nado
would be welcome at this point. But as the seconds ticked by with nothing happening, a tiny desperate sigh escaped her lips and she knew it was time to either get her butt out there and do the deed or put her clothes back on and get the hell out of there.

And there really wasn’t a choice anyway.

Tom deserved the best care there was. If it weren’t for her, he never would’ve been on that mountain and he never would’ve broken his back. She could do this for her brother.

Julianna
emerged from the bathroom and Boston’s gaze glazed over. Although he tried to hide it, he looked ready to devour her. When an answering thrill raced down her spine at the hunger she saw, she pushed it down, refusing to accept that Boston created a dark spiraling need inside her that defied all reason. “Come here,” he instructed in a husky tone that made her shiver. She walked toward him, her breathing shallow and fast. Julianna stopped at the side of the bed and avoided his groin area, not wanting to admit that the sight of his hardened erection, straining and beaded with moisture at the tip, intrigued her in a way that made a mockery of her protests. What did it say about her that she was aroused? He sensed her struggle and his expression softened. “My sweet Julianna, let me teach you how beautiful sex can be,” he said, pulling her to the bed gently. He pressed her onto her back, against the sensual silk of the pillows and loomed above her. His cock nudged her pubic area, as if seeking her damp heat, and she bit her lip as tingles of anticipation threatened to obliterate her hatred for him. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, allowing his gaze to travel her body, returning to rest on the bountiful globes barely contained in the corset. “Your skin is unlike any I’ve ever touched.” Julianna clenched her fists to prevent herself from reaching out to touch him, to explore his body as he was doing to her. He stopped and cocked his head, realizing she was stiff as a plank and rested his head on his hand, his ardor cooling. “Are you determined to hate my touch?” he asked.

Her eyes popped open. “Nowhere in the contract does it say I have to enjoy myself. Frankly, I’m surprised it matters to you.”

“It matters.”

Boston’s expression gave her the chills. Had she offended him?
“Why?”

“Because it does,” he snapped, moving away from her to stalk to the small mini-bar tucked away in a corner near the kitchenette. His ass, two perfectly muscular halves of man-flesh made
Julianna twist with something she didn’t want to feel. Her insides felt slippery and aching while her female parts tingled with need. Julianna bit down on her tongue to remain silent. He hadn’t paid for her acting skills and she wasn’t about to start moaning and thrashing about for his benefit. What if it wasn’t an act, a sly voice asked and she stubbornly pushed it away, not willing to even entertain the idea of enjoying sex with the ruthless man. Boston poured himself something — whiskey or scotch, she wasn’t sure — into a short glass and drank it quickly as if needing its liquid strength or patience and said, “I don’t know why I’m so taken with you. By all accounts my all-encompassing desire for you defies logical thinking.” At that she frowned because if she wasn’t mistaken, he’d just insulted her but before she could voice her opinion, he’d finished his second drink and had continued talking. “Honestly, you’re not even my type.”

“You have a type?” she couldn’t help but ask, curious in spite of her adamant decision to keep things at surface level between them. “Let me guess…high society girls with tall, thin figures who eat a leaf of lettuce at lunch and claim they’re full?”

At that a dark smile spread across his mouth. “Yes, actually.”

“What do you like about that?” she asked, suddenly very conscious of the way her tummy pooched a little and how her thighs were plump. Hell, everything about her was plump.
Julianna shifted against the threat of inadequacy that bobbed to the surface and wondered if there would ever come a day when she didn’t wish she were taller or thinner. Arrgh! She wanted to love the way she felt in her skin but it was so hard when women were bombarded with impossible body images splashed on every media outlet. “Well, maybe you should’ve picked one of your stick girls to play around with,” she said, realizing too late that she sounded like a jealous, insecure girl, so she tacked on, “I mean, if that’s what your thing is, you know? Seems to me you ought to go after it.”

“Oh, I am going after what I want,” he assured her with another smile that made her skin feel too tight on her bones. He pushed away from the bar and returned to th
e bed. She should’ve scooted to the other side but she was locked in place by forces that seemed to take control of her legs. Boston cupped her jaw and stared into her eyes. She could drown in that gaze if she weren’t careful. How many hearts had he taken captive with his good looks and endless wealth? Would she become just another notch on his Italian leather belt? “You take my breath away…no woman has ever done what you do to me. The first time I saw you, I was mesmerized. I was determined to have you. I would allow nothing to stand in my way.”

“Not even my willingness?” she murmured, shivering against his touch.

“Not even that.” He dipped down to take her mouth, plundering it with such sweet brutality that she couldn’t catch her breath. He tasted of alcohol and a darkness that threatened to swallow her whole if she wasn’t careful. Within moments, he was pressing her into the mattress with his body and she clung to him as he plundered her mouth as surely as he planned to penetrate her virgin body. And it was wildly intoxicating. His tongue dipped and swept through her mouth, while his hand traveled down the hard wire of the corset to palm her woman’s mound. She gasped and groaned as he increased the pressure, creating a delicious, almost painful, pleasure that caused her hips to rise to meet his hand, desperately seeking more of the same. He tore the tiny panties from her body and within seconds his questing finger slipped between her dewed lips, penetrating that crazy heat and stoking it to an even bigger flame. Boston stroked her insides, thrumming a secret spot against her vaginal wall that popped a groan from her mouth. Suddenly, he pushed hard and she cried out from the pinch of pain but he soothed her instantly, gentling his touch until she forgot about the pain. “So tight, my sweet Julianna…I’ll try not to hurt you,” he said in a low, husky tone that danced down her spine. The timbre of his voice wreaked havoc on her nerves and obliterated her last defense. She’d never felt overtly sexy but the way he touched her awakened a part of her that she’d squelched a long time ago. The binding of the corset rubbed against her sensitized nipples, igniting a deeper fire inside her and she gasped with the power of her arousal but the shame of selling herself ran deeper than her pleasure and she pushed at his shoulders in a desperate bid to calm her raging hormones so she could think again. But he was wise to what she was trying to do and he wasn’t going to let her. “Why do you fight something so good?” he asked, shocking her when he withdrew the finger embedded deeply inside her and sucked the juices free. “Ahhh, God girl, you’re sweeter than candy.”