Mastering Her Heart Read online

  “This is bigger than your ego, Willow. There is a lot at stake.”

  “Isn’t there always?” I mumble, trying to fight the sickness and anger bubbling up inside me.

  “And...” Her voice hardens and I turn to ice. She’s always got an ace in the hole. “This whole tawdry business with your stepfather? That would be so unfortunate. If it all came out, I mean. Pike’s merger is at a critical point. He doesn’t need bad PR right now, does he?”

  Right then my phone dings through the Skype app. It’s Pike calling.

  “Mom. This has been lovely, as always. I’m hanging up now.”

  “Oh no you don’t, young lady. You want to see your grandmother? You want a place to live? That little black Amex in your wallet that pays all your bills? That’s not an entitlement, my dear. So you listen to me...”

  I let Pike’s call go to voicemail as I lean over and curl my torso over my legs, holding the phone to my ear as my mother’s voice hits me in all the tender places.

  “Anyway, there’s no need for any of this to turn nasty. I love you, darling, you know that. You will just write up a formal letter, recanting all those ridiculous accusations regarding that night with Derrick Marcus. You will meet at the offices of Stern & Bergman in the morning, 10 AM. Derrick and his father will be there, you will apologize to them, you will give them your letter and everyone will get what they want. My firm wins. Pike wins. Marcus and Derrick win. You learn a valuable lesson. This is how life in our world works, my dear girl. I’ve coddled you too long. Yes, time you grew up.”

  Voices in the background on the other end of the phone are talking to her as the cab pulls off in front of Pike’s building.

  I can’t help but ask, “Why does he even care mother? It’s been so many years. Who even cares anymore? It’s not like anyone did anything about it anyway.” My voice raises, higher with each word.

  Who cares? I do. I care.

  And if I can let it go, then surely they can let me do so. The desperate anger I felt back then is coming back with every instant. My own mother sided with my attacker back then and she’s doing so again now. In a even worse way now.

  “It does matter to him, Willow. If you were wrongly accused of something, you would want your name cleared as well. It may not have gone to the police, but it still embarrassed Derrick and his family. It’s time to set things right. Time to grow up, stop being a petulant child, stop spreading nasty rumors like some spoiled little girl. This is about business now. Grown up business. Do you understand?”

  I sigh. “Yes.”

  “So you will write the letter. You will go to the meeting.”

  “I said yes.”

  “Good, because——”

  I end the call. I can’t listen to another word from her.

  Pike and my mother were already divorced when what happened with Derrick happened. I don’t want him to ever know. Last night, when we were together, I didn’t think for a second about it. What happened between me and Pike was my first time. I will always consider it that way. Derrick will not take that away from us. I won’t let him. He’s already taken so much.

  The cab pulls to a stop in front of Pike’s building, just as my phone buzzes again in my hand. I rummage in my bag for the $20 to hand the cab driver and stare at the screen of my phone.

  Pike: HEY. Where are you? You don’t just leave like that princess.

  Even in the short time we’ve been together, I feel the impact of that single word.

  I thank the cab driver, smiling a smile I don’t feel, and pull the handle on the door. The deluge from the sky is picking up as I step out into the street, drenching me in the short space before I get to the protective canopy where the doorman is running to me with an umbrella.

  As soon as I’m under some cover I text Pike back.

  Me: Sorry. I had to take care of Lucielle.

  It’s 2:40 am and I’m beyond exhausted.

  Pike: When I call you need to answer. When you don’t answer, I will come and find you.

  Me: Okay

  The doorman opens the door and I step into the warmth of the lobby. My hair is dripping into my face. My pink T-shirt is plastered against my body and my canvas slip-ons squish water between my toes with every step toward the elevator. I’m covered in goosebumps. A shiver running up and down my back and tightening my muscles into knots.

  Pike: Okay? That’s your answer?

  I heave out a sigh and let the back of my wet head rest against the elevator wall. A chill starts in the middle of my back, spinning outward until it shakes me from top to bottom. My phone buzzes with another text.

  Pike: I’m glad you are getting on the elevator right now.

  My eyes snap open and I take a quick last glance around the lobby to see if Pike is watching me.

  Me: How do you know that?

  Pike: Taking care of you means many things, Caramia. You will learn all of them. I’m waiting by the elevator upstairs. We will talk about you leaving without saying goodbye as well. There will be new rules for you princess. Rules that when broken will earn you punishments.

  His commanding voice rings in my ears even with the simple text message. I feel his presence around me. My belly tightens and...

  My pussy is drenched.

  Dripping.

  C H A P T E R T E N

  PIKE

  I swallow hard and lick my teeth as I wait for the elevator to reach the fifty-first floor, to reach my apartment, delivering the world’s most precious cargo to me.

  I woke an hour ago to a ringing phone. Not my personal cell. That one is reserved for very few.

  No, it was my work cell. The one that is used only for business and only when there’s an emergency so urgent it can’t be left to anyone else. My life has been my work. The closest I’ve come to anything resembling a personal life would be my time at the club, and even that is at best an arm’s length venture.

  I count very few of my many acquaintances as friends.

  Not a single one as family.

  I lost my parents when I was a teenager. They moved here from Hungary when they were newly married, and I was their only child. They were good parents. Hard working. Kept to themselves. Loved one another in their own obligatory way.

  My father died in a construction accident on the job. Two months later, my mother was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer which had already metastasized. When they died within a few months of each other I was left to make my own way. And I did. I did it well. But family was never in the equation after that. My life has been work. Until Willow.

  The pain I felt when I left Willow is something I said I could never endure again.

  Love is the greatest risk of all. I never dreamed of anyone but her and now that she’s finally back in my life, finally making me whole again, the wound is being torn asunder. One phone call, unanswered, and I can barely breathe. I would give anything—not just my life, but everything I’ve ever owned or accomplished in my life—to be sure she doesn’t get hurt.

  I do my best to put the call that woke me out of my mind. To promise myself I will find a solution other than the one that will destroy me to save her.

  I’m fighting off the anger I’ve managed to soften in the last twenty minutes. First it was the business call.

  Then in the next minute, I realized Willow wasn’t in the apartment.

  After I finished the unpleasantness on the call, I dialed her and she didn’t answer.

  It took me only a more few minutes to log on to the tracking app I’d installed on her cell phone earlier in our evening. She was in the shower, singing Sweet Home Alabama, and I didn’t even try to fight it, the need to be sure, from this moment forward, I would know where she was. If she was safe. How to find her.

  I didn’t expect to have to use the service so quickly, but it only instilled in me even further the validity of my actions. I will keep her safe, no matter what. Stalking isn’t a bad word when it comes to what I need to do for Willow.

  The elevator
door slides open and I see her, hair dripping with rainwater, the death stare she perfected between the ages of twelve and thirteen. It takes a huge force of will not to chuckle at the sight.

  “You have a tracker on my phone, don’t you?” She cocks one eyebrow and blows upward, attempting to detach a wet string of hair from the front of her left eye.

  She holds her iPhone out in front of her like a shield and blinks as water drops catch on her eyelashes.

  Her T-shirt clings to her body, showing the taut peak of each nipple through the thin cotton bra. I see the indent of her belly button as her skirt hangs a few inches lower than usual with the weight of water, stretched out from the soaking rain that is still hammering against the windows of the apartment.

  The wind is whistling, sneaking in through any tiny crack it can find as she steps onto the cream color carpet.

  “Yes. I told you I’m not losing you again.” I reach out to clench her elbow, bringing her into my chest in a hug so tight I feel the pulse of her heart beat against my body.

  “I had to go to deliver the whatevers for godammed Lucielle.” Her muffled voice is hot yet playful and that little girl comes out as she stomps forward. She’s clearly frustrated and I find it amusing.

  “I have to fly back to LA in a few hours. Something’s come up.”

  “What?” Her head tips back and her greenish-grey eyes darken. That little girl clings to me as Willow’s arms clutch around my back. “Is something wrong? I don’t want you to go.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle, princess. Don’t worry. Daddy will be back in a couple days.”

  “Days?” She pouts. It seems like it’s been an age since I first saw her again at the club, but it’s only been a couple days.

  Time doesn’t exist in a linear fashion when it comes to us. So long we were apart, yet we’ve packed so much into the short time we’ve had that being away from her for even a few hours stings like it will be an eternity.

  “I’ll call you every chance I get. You keep that phone with you, every second, and you stay here. I have the staff coming to cook for you and make sure you have everything you need.”

  “What do you mean? The staff?”

  “You’re staying here, Princess. Daddy can’t stand to think of you sleeping anywhere else but in my bed from now on. Your meals will be prepared as well. Whatever you request, as long as it is a healthy meal, will be yours. It’s not about weight, don’t mis-understand, it’s about keeping you healthy. I’ve already told them pizza and soda are allowed only once until I get back. And chocolate chip cookies...two a day.”

  I raise my eyebrows as I look down into the face that has graced my every dream for as long as I can remember.

  Her eyelids droop.

  “Come. You need more sleep.”

  “What about you? You’re all dressed.”

  “I was on my way out to find you. But I’ll let you take all my clothes off again, angel. I plan on spending some quality time inside that sweet cunt of yours before I fly off. Daddy won’t leave you needy, I promise.”

  I peel her wet clothes off right there and guide her to the living room. The apartment is warm tones of beige and brown. The lights of the city twinkling in the wall of windows behind the sofa.

  I center her on the thick soft rug in front of the windows.

  “Take my cock out.” I demand. I’ve dreamed of her mouth on me for so long, it’s time.

  She doesn’t hesitate. Her hands move with haste as her eyes stare up and into mine, wide and wanting.

  The eagerness she shows has my ready to nut before she gets my solid erection out of my pants.

  She doesn’t ask for instruction. Doesn’t show a flicker of doubt as her tongue comes out the lick around the head, lapping at the pre-cum already dripping out.

  “Mmmmm.” She moans as my flavor spreads over her tongue. “I like it Daddy.” She whimpers then opens wide and takes me wet and deep in one long slow suck. Her tongue moving and dancing on the underside of my cock in time with the sucking motion of her mouth.

  “Oh Jesus.” I throw my head back and bring my hands to the top of her head. I don’t need to thrust, she’s taking more of me than I could have dreamt. I feel her tonsils at the sides of the head of my dick and her throat opens taking even more.

  One of her tiny hands grabs the base of my penis and starts to squeeze and pump. Her eyes look upward as I find the strength to look down. Seeing the joy in her face with my dick in her mouth is more than I can take.

  I lose it there like a twelve year old opening his first Hustler.

  “Fuck, yes.” I groan as my cum fills her mouth and she swallows like my perfect, greedy little princess. “Swallow it all for Daddy, baby. Such a good fucking girl.”

  I cum for so long the room starts to spin and my breathing is ragged.

  My cock doesn’t lose one bit of hardness as I pull her up and take her in a deep kiss.

  After a long kiss, I push her back slightly, her nipples hard and I need inside her now.

  In a flash of hands we both know what we need. In a few seconds we’ve managed to strip me as well and I settled sitting on the sofa pulling her down to sit on top of me. My cock already fighting his way to get inside that sweet tight cunt.

  “Slide down on Daddy’s cock, angel. Show Daddy how badly you want me. Make me cum again with your tight, wet little pussy.”

  She does more than that, my minx leans forward and presses her glorious tits to either side of my face as her body sucks me inside its wet warmth. My girth still feels like it’s tearing at her, but she’s so wet I slide inside in one movement nearly making my heart stop.

  It’s not long until we are both moaning and cumming. My seed inside her once again with her rocking and bowing herself into me. It’s so beautiful I freeze the moment in my mind. Savoring her and wishing I could make this moment last forever.

  My baby. My princess. My Caramia taking me joyfully, willingly inside her with an orgasm blushing her cheeks and my cum dripping from her cunt. Life can’t get any better than this.

  Watching her sleep, the juxtaposition of her huge heart and the world of win-at-all-costs that swirls around her tear at me. How her mother raised such a pure soul, I’ll never know.

  My phone buzzes and I know who it is before I look.

  Margaret: When does your flight to LA land?

  My anger bubbles up. These people live in a world most would cut off body parts to experience, and yet they always want more. More money. More power. More of whatever it is that gives them their next thrill.

  But above all, they want to win.

  No matter who loses.

  Pike: Doesn’t matter to you. I’ll take care of the business, you will get what you need. You just keep our agreement.

  My stomach sinks. When you deal with the devil there are no winners.

  I listen to the slow, even breathing of the one person that makes this life worth living. Knowing that if I don’t walk this minefield just right, everything we’ve started here will be gone.

  Again.

  Ripped from me like it’s my own beating heart.

  Margaret: Meet with my client. Convince your last few hold-out board members to agree to the terms of the merger as discussed. Willow stays safe. But you will break it off with her, Pike. That is non-negotiable. For God’s sake, if word ever got out about you being involved with my daughter, it will blow this deal for me. Blow any chance for Managing Partner. And for you, too. And that is not going to happen. Don’t force my hand, Pike. If I go down, you go down farther. I’ll not lose one minute of sleep over you two. Leave her alone, Pike, or the world will get a whole different view of who Pike Richards is. A man with a taste for the young woman he called his daughter. A man who took liberties with a young woman before the age of consent. The puritans of America don’t care about the truth, your reputation and your company will go down in flames. Don’t push me.

  It’s a lie, of course. I never touched Willow until we met at the club.
/>   Margaret knows it as well, but none of that matters. It’s all about perception and Margaret is a master at twisting and packaging information to her liking. Her firm represents two of the largest media conglomerates in the world. If she wants something spun and plastered all over every tawdry news channel and internet media rag in existence, she can do it. And I will not put Willow through that. The thought that her own mother would throw her to the wolves to get what she wants turns my stomach, but I have no doubt that she would. She wouldn’t even hesitate.

  I turn my phone face down and slide it across the dresser. I adjust the knot of my tie until it grabs around my neck.

  Walking over, I set a kiss on her sex-messy hair.

  “See you soon, Princess.” I whisper, stroking the wild tendrils that lay on the pillow.

  I’ll die before I allow her to be dragged through the mud in public. As long as Willow is kept out of it, I’ll sacrifice myself a million times over. If I have to convince the last hold outs with less than accurate data, I’ll do what I need to do. Accept the consequences as they fall.

  I settle my fingertips on my temples and squeeze hard, trying to settle my head as the elevator door closes. As I travel down from the penthouse it goes over again in my mind. I have to find a way out. But if I don’t, I’ll have to set her free.

  Again.

  No matter how much of my soul it costs me.

  My throat tightens and a weight sits on my chest. How can I keep her safe and keep her in my life? A sob threatens me as the elevator lowers me to the lobby. My car is waiting out front and my mind quiets.

  I think of her, sleeping in my bed, as my driver opens the car door and I slide inside. How she looked there. Like she belonged.

  And she does. She belongs with me.

  C H A P T E R E L E V E N

  WILLOW

  I heard him leave but I couldn’t bear to open my eyes to say goodbye. I almost broke when he kissed me and called me his princess, almost cried out as he left the bedroom thinking I was sound asleep.