The Innocent (2 page)

“You know him better than that, Laura. He won’t just wave me goodbye and let me be on my way.”

“I can have the bastard thrown in jail.  Just say the word and…”

“Stop it… both of you.”  Serena grabbed her bag where it’d fallen beside the desk, and turned to the door.  “I know Price better than anyone.  I’ve had to deal with him long enough to know how to handle him, so, please, let me handle him my way.”

*****

As she got into the red Porsche, she let out a tight scream of frustration. Price had offered her the car as a way to appease her when she’d announced her break up from Sebastian.  It was typical of Price – mending heartache with a trinket or toy.

For all its beauty, speed and technical gizmos, the car only served to remind her of what she’d given up.  She slammed her palms against the steering wheel.  “Damn it, Price,” she muttered.

She started the car and took to the road.  The Porsche handled great as Serena roared down the streets that led to Price’s place.  As she approached his street, her phone rang.  Without bothering to look at the screen, she knew it was Price and chose to ignore the incessant ringing.

After ringing a dozen times the phone fell silent only to be replaced by the click of the communication system in the car.  “Hello, my dear Serena,” Price chimed.  “Are you playing games with me?”

“Hi, Price,” Serena muttered.

“Why didn’t you pick up?”

“I think you know why.”

“Are you upset with me, my love?” He used a velvety and patronizing tone that drove Serena crazy.

“You know I don’t want Laura involved in this.”

“Ah, honey, you know our deal.  You agreed to come back to me. That means you yield to my every wish, and I wish to know where you are at all times.  Laura is just keeping an eye on you.”

“Keep her out of this, Price. And, while we’re at it, keep Sebastian out of it, too.”

“I can’t do that, sweetie.  Sebastian and Laura are an important part of your life, which means they’re important to me. It’s important they understand the way things are between us. That way there’s no confusion.  You're mine, Serena, in every sense of the word.  The sooner they understand that, the better.”

“Price, I…”

“It’s Master to you.” He was suddenly cold and authoritative.

“Price, stop…”

“Master!” he growled.  “Must I brand it into your skin?”

Serena swallowed the ball of frustration and grimaced.

“I’m waiting for you,” he said.  “Where are you?”

“Around the corner.”

“Hurry.  I have a massive hard-on, Serena. Brought on by your disobedience. You have been a very naughty sub. I’m sure we will both enjoy the punishment I have for you. Think of my hard dick in you, Serena, fucking you without compromise. Imagine yourself wet and ready for me, Serena. I’m hungry for you. Now hurry!”

Chapter 2

Despite her anger, Price’s hungry command worked its way through her thighs as Serena entered the lavish building he owned.  He had her trained so well, she involuntarily felt her lower body clenched with anticipation for his entranced into her. She became wet instantly, thinking of his hands on her hips, driving him into her. Years of conditioning and training her turned her into the ideal sub, the ideal lover for men. Price was her Master, and she will do his bidding.

As she rode the elevator up to the penthouse, she sought excuses that would keep her out of his arms.  Her body might be willing to give in, but for the moment she was too upset to allow it.

As she entered the glass and chrome palace he’d built atop his impressive building, she passed a large man standing stock still by the door.

“Who’s the goon at the door?” she said as she tossed her keys into the Italian blown-glass bowl set on the glass tabletop.

“Your new best friend, Mikey.”

“You're kidding, right?”

“He’ll follow you everywhere you go.”

“A bodyguard, Price?  Really?  Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I thought you’d be happy.”

“Why would I be happy to have a bodyguard follow me everywhere?  I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“Men like me keep their valuables in a safe, have sophisticated security systems in their cars and homes, and hire a bodyguard to protect their loved one.  You should feel honored I love you enough to have someone look after you twenty-four hours a day.  He’ll keep undesirables away. I cherish your body, Serena, and want to ensure no nasty hands get close enough to ever touch it.”

“You’ve gone too far, Price.  I won’t allow you to alienate me from my friends.  I’m not going to go to classes with that goon on my back.  Call him off now, or I’ll call it off between us.”

Price chuckled, but shifted nervously from one foot to the other.  “You wouldn’t do that.”

“You leave me no choice.”  She gently guided him into the living room and sat on the leather couch as she cast a quick glance at Mikey who remained by the door, motionless and ready.

“I want to protect what’s mine,” Price said.

“I’m suffocating, Price. You're closing the walls in on me and it’s too much.”

He sat back and rolled his tongue thoughtfully around his mouth. “Fine,” he finally said with brooding finality. “I’ll keep Mikey as my own personal bodyguard.” Reaching out to Serena, he grabbed her elbow and pulled her to him. “See how flexible and agreeable I can be?”

He kissed her, his lips savage and unrelenting as they pressed into hers.  At first, she tried to push away from him, but when his tongue swept in to touch hers, she instantly felt the surge of arousal jolt down to her thighs.  His kiss dominated her, controlled her and weakened all resolve.  Her hunger for him grew fierce and urgent.

“Send your goon away,” she commanded.

He glared at her.

“Master,” she added.

His chuckle was a blend of aroused grunt and satisfied groan. With a quick snap of his fingers and a wave of his hand he gave the command, and Mikey walked out and left them alone. “Get off me,” he ordered Serena.

She stood and looked down at him.

“I love it when you dress like that, so chaste and uppity.  Unbutton your shirt.”

She slowly unfastened three buttons.  As she did so, Price removed his pants and boxers.

“More,” he commanded as he took his hard-on into his hand.

She unbuttoned the shirt until she reached the waist of her skirt.  The black lace bra peaked through the opening.

“Open your shirt a little more… slow.”

Fluttering her fingernails along the swell of her breasts, she parted her shirt, exposing more of the black bra that barely concealed her breasts.

“Jack up your skirt.”  While his eyes were transfixed on her breasts, his hand worked slowly and methodically over his hard-on.

Serena pulled her skirt up and Price groaned.  “I was wondering if you’d worn the garters.”

“I know how you love them, Master.”

“Yes,” he groaned as his eyes narrowed in anticipation of seeing more.  “Go on.  What other surprises do you have for me?”

A few inches higher and she exposed her black panties.  With his free hand, Price reached under her panties and stroked her, his finger delving far inside her.  She let out a groan, and as her legs weakened she tried to sit on the couch.

“Stand.”

“Master,” she murmured in a lustful hush.  “You know how weak I get when…”

Letting go of his erection, he reached around to grasp her buttocks and leaned in to bring his face to her crotch.  His tongue slipped beneath her panties and she let out a loud gasp of pure pleasure.

“Master,” she said breathlessly. Her body throbbed in anticipation of the oncoming orgasm.  “Oh, Master, I can’t stand…”

He held her tight and continued to plunder the sensitive folds of skin with his tongue.  His fingers dug into the two mounds of flesh as he groaned his pleasure and hunger.

“Master!” she cried out as her orgasm threatened to explode.

With one quick move, he grabbed her by the waist and flung her onto the sofa.  Looking down at her, his eyes were dark with lust while his lips remained parted in hunger.  He tore off his shirt and ran his hands over his strong, smooth chest.

He was magnificent, so perfect in every inch of his body.

“Do you want me, Serena?”

“Yes, Master.”

He took a step back.  “Do you really want me?”

“I need you, Master.”

“Sometimes I feel you don’t appreciate me.”

“I want you now, Master.” She brought her hand into her panties, but Price lunged forward, grabbed her wrists and pulled them out.

“Come,” he ordered.  He pulled her to her feet, dragged her into the bedroom and tied her wrists to the bedposts.

“Don’t, Master.  I promise I’ll be good.”

He ignored her plea and straddled her, thrusting his erection into the moistened folds, and filling her just as her orgasm erupted.  She let out a wanton cry as her body shook with unbearable pleasure.  Pounding into her, Price filled the room with wild grunts of savage satisfaction until his own orgasm spilled into her.

Sweaty and breathless, he released the ties at her wrist and gently kissed the abused skin.  “Come into my arms, my beauty,” he cooed as he settled into the bed and pulled her into the crook of his arm.  “Who can please you as I do?”

“Only you, Master.”

He chuckled softly.  “Yes.  Only I know how to truly satisfy the animal urges you so often have.  Only I know the real Serena inside.”  He poked his finger between her breasts. “You are my one and only true love.  You belong to me, and I to you.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I don’t know how you came to think that Sorensen could possibly please you, satisfy you the way that I do.  He has no idea who you are, what you need and what you desire. I can accept that you needed a diversion, a distraction as our relationship took on a deeper meaning and left you fearful and confused.  I admit I was a little surprised, too, to realize just how much I loved you.  But, know this, Serena.”  He put his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to him.  “What we have is strong and indestructible.  I allowed you this one slip, this one indiscretion, but I will not tolerate another.”

Chapter 3

Sebastian stormed past his father’s secretary.  “No need to tell him I’m here, Mrs. Goldwater,” he called over his shoulder as he pushed opened the door to his father’s office.

“Sebastian.” Kaiser Sorensen shot a brief and irritated glance at his son before returning his attention to the documents on his desk.  “What brings you here?”

Standing in front of his father’s desk, Sebastian waited for him to look up before answering.  After a lengthy moment of silence, Kaiser let out an exaggeratedly loud sigh, and set the documents aside as he looked pointedly at his son.

“Price Turnsby,” Sebastian said.

“Ah, yes.  Isn’t he a fine young man?”

“Actually, I’ve come to believe he may be the one who broke into my apartment.”

Kaiser chuckled.  “I think the creativity that makes you such a successful musician is also responsible for a very vivid imagination.  Why on earth would a man like Price go into your apartment, Sebastian?”

“Price knows Serena.”

“Ah yes.  That’s the girl you brought to the banquet, right?”

“Yes.”

“My dear boy, you can’t keep a pretty girl like that from socializing with a man as impressive and worldly as Price.  I mean, from a woman’s perspective the man has it all; youth, great looks and more money than he knows what to do with.”

“Father, I care for Serena very much and I don’t think Price is good for her.”

Kaiser leaned back and clasped his fingers together over his lean belly.  “Please, Bash.  How many girls have you
cared about
over the years?”

“This is different.”

“It always is.”

Exasperated, Sebastian took a deep breath and set his fingers atop the desk.  “Price wants Serena.”

“Then let him have her.”

“No.  I’m falling deeply in love with her, whereas he just wants to use her…”

“Tell me, Bash, where is this Serena right now?”

Blood rushed to his face as he ground his teeth tightly together.

Kaiser raised his eyebrow.  “Yes, just as I thought.  She’s with him, is she not?”

“You don’t understand.  He’s controlling…”

“If this girl is with Price Turnsby of her own volition, there’s nothing you can do… except find yourself a more suitable companion to care so much about.”

“Stop talking about her like she is some tart.”

“Are you saying she’s different?”

“She is different.”

Kaiser stood and looked his son in the eye.  “I’ve heard about the type of women who often accompany Price. Rumor has it he likes them spicy, bold and loud… and willing.  If Price is interested in Selena, perhaps you're better off without her.”

“It’s Serena, Father.”

Kaiser waved the correction away and sat down.  “Serena, Selena; either way, she seems a little sub-standard if you ask me. She’s only good for a plaything. Once you’ve had her, then move on. Willow is more fitting for a man of your position.”

“As it so happens, I’m not asking you.  What I am asking you is that you consider the fact that Price broke into my apartment.”

“Price Turnsby has better things to do than go through the apartment of a musician.  He’s a self-made billionaire, for crying out loud.  What could he possibly have to gain by going through your apartment?”

Sebastian heard the condescension his father insisted on always putting on the word musician.  No matter how many times they’d discussed it, his father refused to see him as a world class composer.

“Do you think a man like Price would risk being arrested for something so stupid?  Would risk his reputation?”

“Love can make men do crazy things.”

“Crazy.  I take it you're referring to Price and not your own questionable actions.”

Sebastian glared at his father.  “I do wish you could take me seriously, Father, if only this one time.  Not only do I strongly believe Price broke into my apartment, but I think he may be behind the food poisoning.”