“What if I could?” Leo angled his head to one side, “Could do what?” “What if I could do it? What if I had the guts?” Her eyes never left his. She wanted to look away, but she also wanted to look tough. She had a bad record in that area already and she knew that averting her eyes wouldn't do her any favors, so she kept her gaze locked with his. Leo knew what he was about to do was crazy, but he was intrigued by this woman. He was honest enough with himself to admit it. She was nothing like the women who usually met. And maybe that was the reason why her offer to work for him intrigued him. He was curious. What would she do for him? How far would she go? It was a terrible thought, but he wasn't a good person, was he?
View More“So what do you think?” Susan Jordan — more commonly known to her family and friends as Suzy — asked her mother as she whirled around the living room with a huge smile on her face.
Her daughter was excited, Elizabeth Jordan could tell, so how was she going to say anything negative? Besides, even if she wanted to, she couldn't think of anything wrong with the place her daughter had chosen. The apartment was perfect. Not too expensive so she wouldn’t have issues renewing the rent. It wasn't a very large apartment, but it was spacious enough to meet her needs and it was only one hour away from the family house. She knew that Susan had always wanted to move into the more developed and exciting part of the town, and now the time had finally come. Susan was staring at her mother now, but her smile had turned into a frown. “What's wrong with it?” she asked, clearly confused by her mother's silence, “I thought you'd like it,” “I do.” Elizabeth replied quickly, moving towards her daughter and taking her hand in hers, “I promise I do. I just got lost in thought for a moment. Do you have any idea how much I'm going to miss you? First your brother, and now you… I'm happy, but I'm allowed to miss you, okay?” Relief flashed in Susan's eyes and her smile was back again, “I'll miss you too, Mom, but I'm going to be twenty seven this year, I think it's time for me to move out. You and I know that I should have done this years ago,” Susan didn't have to explain this to her mother, but they both knew that the only reason why Susan had moved back into the house after college was because she didn't want her mother to be alone after her father had died in a horrible car accident. Knowing how deeply her parents loved each other, she'd been worried for her mother, and so she stayed. But now, five years later, she was finally taking that big step. It was happening much later than it had compared with her peers, but Susan didn't mind, and she didn't regret her decision to stay with her mother. “Besides,” Susan added, and winked at her mother, “I don't think you'll miss me that much. You have Mr Williams to keep you company now,” She grinned as her mother looked away shyly. Her mother had met Luke Williams four months ago and they'd begun dating two months later. Luke Williams was a nice elderly man in his early sixties who smiled a lot and insisted she called him Luke whenever she spoke to him. It was weird seeing her mother with someone who wasn't her father at first, but she'd gotten used to it as soon as she got to know Luke better. Her mother was happy, and that was what mattered the most. “It's okay for you to date, Mom,” she continued as she saw her mother's expression, “Dad has been gone for five years now, and I think he'd want you to live your life and be happy. I am very happy for you too but I think that's also another reason why I need to move out.” “I don't think your brother feels the same way,” her mother said, “He doesn't seem to like Luke very much,” “He's Sam,” Susan replied, “You know how he is so I'm not surprised. He is always upset about something, but he will get over it. Now, it's getting late so why don't you start heading home… I can handle the rest of these boxes myself,” After her mother left Susan sat in her new living room and stared at the remaining boxes scattered all over the floor. She was practically starting a new life, and she was looking forward to it. It was scary and exciting at the same time, but this was how it was supposed to be, right? What could possibly go wrong? __________ Susan Jordan worked as a Real Estate agent, not necessarily because it was her dream job or because she loved it, but because it paid her bills. Most people believed that what a person did for a living had to be something they loved, but Susan wasn't one of those people. She didn't hate her job, but she didn't like to kid herself either. The only reason why she had this job was because she was an adult. Adults had bills to pay, and now that she was finally living alone, it meant that she would have more bills to settle. If she had the time to have a second job, she'd have gone for it, but she worked almost every day of the week, and between working at the office and showing houses to clients, she didn't have the time. The weekends and off days were reserved for herself, and she spent it running errands, reading and going to the gym. This evening, she was on her way home from work, but she was heading to her brother's house first. Samuel Jordan, her brother was three years older than Susan, and after the death of their father, he'd stepped up as the man of the house. Samuel knew it was his responsibility to look after his mother and sister, and he did that to the best of his ability. But months ago, Susan began to suspect that something was up with her brother. He barely came to visit anymore, and most of the time they could only reach him on the phone. Even now, a week had passed since she moved into her new apartment, and Samuel still hadn't come to visit. All he'd sent her was a text, and it was unlike him. As she drove now to the two bedroom apartment he occupied, she knew he wouldn't like that she come unannounced, but she didn't care. She'd not seen her brother in weeks, and their mother was starting to get worried too. His car was parked in the driveway when she arrived, but there was another black car there that she didn't recognise, and Susan could tell by looking at it that it was expensive. Wondering whose company her brother was currently entertaining, she got out and headed for the front door. The door opened as she lifted her hand to knock, and Susan found herself staring into the eyes of a man she'd never seen before. He was huge, had his hair tied at the back of his head in a man bun, and looked like he spent a lot of time at the gym. His outfit made him look even more intimidating. He wore black pants and a black leather jacket, and he was staring at her like she'd interrupted a very important —or secret meeting. Susan returned his gaze and swallowed hard, and she knew just by looking at this man that he was trouble. He wasn't someone she wanted to be around, and she didn't want him around her brother either, but he was right here in Samuel's house, and she had to know that her brother was alright.Slowly he rose to his feet. “What a charming idea,” he breathed, his dark brows drawing together as he studied her hectically flushed face and air of decided purpose. Then he stole a fleeting glance down at the narrow gold watch on his wrist. He dealt her a distinctly tense smile. “Unfortunately, I'm afraid you've chosen-----”“I just couldn't wait until you got home,” Susan broke in feverishly, his glance at his watch not having been lost on her and serving merely to stoke her tension to new heights. His black lashes dipped lower over his intent, dark eyes, clear bemusement etched into his rigidity. “Wait for what?” he asked with a dismal lack of comprehension.Susan abandoned the idea of a slow, seductive wriggle and pitched off her coat to grab his attention. “I couldn't wait for you,” she said huskily, and embarked on the buttons of her black, narrowly cut coat-dress.Leo's gaze had whipped over to the coat now lying in a heap and back to her fast. He seemed welded to the floor
Shaken by the storm she had ignited, the roughness of his strained intonation, she stared at him, devoured by pain.“Why?” Leo repeated fiercely.Because I love you...she wanted to say. “And you're all over Sophie at every hour of the day. She coughs and you can't get there quick enough!” Leo slung from between gritted teeth. “In spite of the fact that we have a nanny with several willing supporters, you install a baby alarm and you get out of my bed to go to her! I'm not even half as important to you. Is that how it's supposed to be?”Very much taken aback, Susan surveyed him with shocked eyes. Evidently the baby alarm in their bedroom was viewed as some kind of ultimate insult. Did he think she was smothering Sophie? Was that what he was saying? That she was threatening to turn into one of those ghastly suffocating mothers one read about?“'I'm sorry if you think I'm taking my responsibilities too seriously.”“If you're that obsessed with babies, why should we wait to extend the fa
Leo needed sex the way she needed air to breathe, and those needs needed to be met in the marital bed. She was just a body, and if anything had been required to prove that point his silence did so. In this new brave relationship they were trying, lies were no longer permissible, so Leo was not about to tell her how ravishingly irresistible she was. She was fanciable enough to arouse him but that was the height of her pulling power and, with a male as physical as Leo, maybe it didn't even take that much... maybe he just fantasised about somebody else. A choked sob escaped her. He thrust her away from him with positive violence. Her eyes flew open as he threw back the sheet and sprang out of bed.“Leo ... you misunderstood!”He spun back, dealing her an incredulous glance.“I was thinking about something else... It wasn't —I mean…” she stumbled in desperation. The tip of her tongue stole out and darted along her taut lower lip. “I want you,” she whispered finally. Dark eyes held her
Susan woke up in the middle of the night to take a shower and check on Sophie, after which she went back to bed. When she awakened, little men were morris-dancing inside her thumping head.Thankfully she'd not taken enough alcohol to give her a major hangover, she registered miserably, but she was still a little tired. She slid out of bed and weaved a far from straight passage to the bathroom. A shower would make her feel better. She was emerging from the bathroom, swathed in a towel, white as a ghost and suffering from a raging thirst, when she noticed Leo .“Oh, no,” she mumbled. “Not now.”Leo filled the doorway. She refused to look at him and concentrated on his feet.“Shouldn't you be out working or something?”she whispered.“It's Saturday.”“I thought you went every day.”He certainly hadn't spent any days at home. Her clouded gaze worked up his legs. He was wearing black jeans that hugged his long, lean thighs and narrow hips, and an Aran sweater which accentuated his dark skin
Leo didn't even try to deny it, “Maybe a little bit,” he replied and shrugged, “Besides, you're at the club. When was the last time you let yourself go,” He was right. It had been a while. After a few seconds, she nodded and Leo didn't hesitate to place the order. The drinks kept coming and as the night went on, the atmosphere lightened. They talked about small, inconsequential things—the music, the crowd, even a particularly flamboyant dancer on the floor below. Susan could slowly feel herself letting go and soon she was laughing heartily at almost everything Leo said. He was clearly enjoying her laughter, because he continued to whisper things in her eyes. Things that sometimes made her laugh and sometimes sent arousal coursing through her veins. It was amazing, and for a brief moment, it almost felt normal, like they weren’t two people locked in a complicated and often contentious marriage. When their glasses were empty again, Leo leaned closer, his eyes intent on hers.“Dance wi
Susan blinked. So he was serious? Was their marriage even worth celebrating? Out loud, she asked, “Go out? Where?”“Anywhere you want. Just to have some fun.”She narrowed her eyes at him, searching his face for hidden motives. “I’m not really in the mood, Leo.”He shrugged, unfazed. “Then let me change that. How about somewhere familiar? My club, The Summit?”Susan paused. The Summit wasn’t exactly her idea of a relaxing evening, but it was better than sitting in awkward silence at the dining table or a long, restless night alone in her room.After a moment, she sighed. “Fine. I’ll go.”Leo’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, and he straightened. “Good. Wear the necklace.”Susan hesitated, her hand instinctively brushing against her collarbone. “Why does it matter so much to you?”“It’ll look good on you,” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.Her eyes locked with his for a moment, a silent battle of wills passing between them. Finally, she nodded, her voice soft b
Susan cringed. Leo had strolled out of his bedroom, positively re-energised by the completeness of her surrender. And she had smiled dizzily back at him with what lingering energy remained to her, possessed of an utterly appalling belief that Leo was so incredibly wonderful that she was blessed above all other living women. Passion killed her intelligence. In bed, she didn't think with Leo, she merely functioned like some sort of passion toy, programmed solely to give and receive pleasure. And she didn't think she could blame her response on anything else anymore. It was that simple. She was still madly in love with Leo, falling like a brick from the top of a high building, her feelings rushing faster and faster as she headed for sure and certain devastation when she hit the ground. Now she knew why it hurt when Leo accused her of being a liar. She knew why she hadn't had the strength to fight him off. On a deep atavistic level she wanted Leo any way she could get him.Why? How coul
“Here I am,” he said with such staggering self-assurance, as if she could not fail to be grateful to win such a prize. “After all, you fought back like an Amazon warrior,” Leo told her thickly, his dark head lowering inch by inch. “You ignored me, you ignored it all and the more you ignored what I was doing, the more I seethed... I discovered that the one thing I cannot stand is to be ignored.”She didn't know what he was talking about. He appeared to be suggesting that her avoidance of him had been part of some sly, manipulative female plot to attract him and his unquenchable ego took to that idea like a duck to water. On the brink of acidly disabusing him of that notion, her parted lips met on a shocking collision course with his.Leo groaned against her mouth and possessed it again with renewed vigour and a force of hunger that ran a scorching blaze of heat right down to her toes and back up again. She fought the effect, concentrating her mind on the picture of herself pregnant and
Susan reddened but pressed on, her sole ambition to show him that they need not participate in sexual intimacy simply to produce another child. She marvelled that Leo appeared so ignorant of such processes. Then all of a sudden she registered that it was not ignorance that had silenced Leo but a kind of unholy and incredulous fascination backed by rather daunting signs of gathering rage. A dark tide of blood had flushed his features, a tiny muscle tugging relentlessly at the corner of his eloquent mouth.“You have to be out of your mind to suggest such a thing to me!” he told her rawly.“Leo... if we could for once move away from this macho conditioning of yours and talk about this sensibly, you might see that it is actually a very sane solution to the problem.”Leo strode forward and pulled her up out of her seat with two powerful hands. “There's no problem. My children are not going to be conceived in a test tube and that has nothing to do with my "macho conditioning",” he spelt out
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