Andrew gestures toward the VIP modeling room at the back of the store. The model struts across the plush carpet, and the men trail after her. Andrew makes a big show of ogling her swaying h.i.p.s. The silver handcuff forces Leilani to passively follow behind Andrew.
What a typically male way to settle something, she thinks as she trails behind them. It’ll be interesting to see what happens, but I wish Waylen would do something real to fight for me. I wish I still meant that much to him.
Leonie follows them into the room, and a male manager was summoned to judge the competition. The two men sit down on the sofa, and Leilani sits in the space between. On one side, she can feel the warmth and ease of Andrew’s body, and on the other, she can feel the heat and tension of Waylen’s.
Andrew jerks the handcuffs, forcing her to lean against his side. He places his head close to her face and blows on her ear. He asks, “Are you nervous sitting between us?”
Leilani pulls the handcuffs. She envisions, pulling them hard enough to cut through Andrew’s wrist and sever his hand. She smiles grimly as she imagines the gory image. Andrew leans into the motion, pressing the side of his body tightly against hers. Now we really look like young lovers, she thinks with a frown.
“Since this is a competition, there should be rewards and punishments,” Andrew says.
Waylen smiles mockingly as if he’s been expecting some sort of trick all along.
Andrew smiles, possessively at Leilani, “If I win, you have to kiss me.”
Leilani wants to stand up and walk right out of the room, but Andrew jerks his arm and forces her to stay seated.
“Do you think Waylen will lose?” Andrew asks her in a stage whisper.
Though Leilani refuses to admit it to Andrew, she’s not confident in Waylen’s abilities to resist the seduction. She thinks again about the image of his body entwined with Leonie’s. The sounds of their m.o.a.ns echoed in her head. “It’s none of my business who wins,” Leilani says, pretending to be calm.
“Who says it’s none of your business?” Andrew asks, pausing dramatically. “If I lose, I will give you the right to choose.”
Andrew observes Leilani’s expression, smirking at her. The mole in the corner of his eye moves slightly. Leilani raises her eyebrows impatiently, waiting for him to explain when he sees that she’s not going to ask, Andrew sighs. “You can choose to go with him or with me,” Andrew finally says.
Leilani is baffled. Obviously, I’d prefer to go with Waylen, she thinks. He may not want me anymore, but anything is better than staying with this disgusting man. But there must be some trick. Andrew may be many things, but he’s not a careless gambler. He must be sure he won’t lose. Or worse, he’s sure I’ll choose him no matter what.
“What do you think, Mr. Bamford?” Andrew asks.
Waylen smiles, icily, “What makes you think I’ll take her if she chooses to come with me?”
Leilani bites her lower lip and tries to fight the tears that inadvertently begin to form.
Andrew laughs loudly, “No worries then. This should be fun.” He nods at the male manager, signaling for him to begin the competition.
I can’t believe this designer shop is allowing these men to do whatever they want, Leilani thinks. I know they’re both powerful and influential, but the shop has a classy reputation, and this little competition is definitely the furthest thing from classy.
The model swings her h.i.p.s and starts a chair dance. She’s changed into a new set of lingerie: a lacy black bra, thong underwear, and a matching garter belt. The bra cups her round b.r.e.a.s.ts perfectly, and they heave dramatically as if they might burst free at any moment. The underwear does little to hide her taut rear, and she spreads her long legs, revealing the small triangle of fabric between them.
Leilani looks down with embarrassment as the model gyrates against the chair. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the manager standing on the right. He looks far more nervous than the model. He watches her striptease carefully, and a sheen of sweat breaks out across his forehead. He tugs at his shirt and rips the first button.
Emboldened by the manager’s reaction, the model slowly sashays toward Andrew. She shimmies her h.i.p.s and shakes her b.r.e.a.s.ts. She strokes his face and neck and then reaches through his open neckline to caress his strong chest. Slowly she lowers herself onto him and grinds against his lap. Andrew still smiles but his eyes look bored. His face seems emotionless—he definitely doesn’t look like a man overcome with desire.
Looking discouraged, the model shifts her attention to Waylen. She licks her lips and presses her b.r.e.a.s.ts onto Waylen’s chest, rubbing herself against him. She tosses her hair and blows in his ear before grabbing him by the tie and straddling his lap. She grinds herself against him and arches her back like she’s about to orgasm.
Leonie sits next to Waylen and grips her knees with her hands. Leilani is pleased to see Leonie’s stiff posture and an uncomfortable smile. At least she’s as uncomfortable as I am, Leilani thinks.
Leilani fights the urge to shove the model away from Waylen, but she can’t move. The model grabs Waylen’s hand and places it on her ass, and Leilani gnashes her teeth in frustration. She looks up at Waylen but he seems completely composed. Then the model moves Waylen’s hand to her b.r.e.a.s.t.
Maybe it’s because there are so many people present or maybe he’s determined to win, Leilani thinks. Waylen’s determination is certainly legendary. But perhaps he only seems calm. Maybe that’s not actually the case.
She can’t help sneaking a peek at his trousers. There’s no obvious erection. She raises her eyes and meets Waylen’s sarcastic gaze—he’s clearly caught her looking. She sheepishly looks away.
The model is clearly frustrated by the men’s restraint, but she doesn’t give up. With one hand she reaches to her back and unclasped her bra. She slowly slides the bra away and cups her bare b.r.e.a.s.ts with her hands. The manager turns his whole body around, trying to hide his very obvious erection. Leilani can’t stand it anymore. “That’s enough!” she shouts.
“Jealous?” Andrew asks, placing his large hand over her small one. “Can’t bear to watch another woman seduce me?”
“Unlock the cuffs,” Leilani snaps angrily. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Give me a kiss, and I’ll unlock the handcuffs,” Andrew whispers against her ear.
“Then I won’t go,” Leilani whispers back.
“Right cheek,” Andrew instructs.
Leilani wants to slap him across the face, but she restrains herself and quickly kisses his right cheek. Andrew looks defiantly at Waylen, but Waylen keeps a straight face. Leilani desperately wants to know what he’s thinking.
Andrew finally takes the key out of his pocket and unlocks the handcuffs. As soon as the metal leaves her wrist, Leilani jumps to her feet and runs from the room. As she leaves, she hears the sound of glass shattering.
“Are you all right, Mr. Bamford?” the manager asks affably.
Leilani looks back and sees Waylen grinding the remnants of a delicate champagne glass underfoot. The manager smiles professionally and asks Leonie and the model to leave the room so he can examine the men and determine if the seduction has been successful. Leilani walks away before she can hear anything else.
I don’t even care about the results anymore—I’m sure they won’t matter, she thinks. Andrew has probably found some way to rig things in his favor, and I know I can’t count on Waylen to think up some heroic plan. I have to find my own way out of this hellish place.
She goes to the front desk to pay the bill. After swiping Andrew’s credit card and signing the receipt, she scribbles something on the back of the paper. She wraps the paper around a one hundred dollar bill and slides it to the cashier. Leilani lowers her voice, “Please, get this message to a man named Robert.”
She glances at the door to the shop and sees dozens of bodyguards waiting patiently. Some work for Andrew and others for Waylen. Andrew’s bodyguards follow her to the bathroom and wait outside the door.
Leilani looks around the bathroom, but she knows escape is futile. The store is on the seventh floor of the shopping center, so it’s impossible to climb out of the window. She sits on the toilet seat and listens for footsteps. Maybe if another woman comes in, I can persuade her to change clothes with me, she thinks, She can create a distraction, and I can escape.
Soon, she hears the door open, and footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Leilani stands and quietly opens the stall door to peek at the newcomer.
Before Leilani can get a look, a great hand opens the stall door, and cool air rushes into the confined space. Within seconds Waylen’s distinct smell fills her nose and overwhelms her senses. A wave of relief floods over her, and she realizes just how much she’s missed his smell. Though they’re hiding in a bathroom stall, she feels calmer just being near him.
“Ahh, the bathroom again,” Waylen says dryly. “Miss Peters seems to enjoy meeting people in bathrooms.” He emphasizes her maiden name.
Leilani flinches. He hasn’t called her Miss Peters in a long time, and the name deliberately calls their marriage into question. Before she can object, Waylen takes a step forward and grabs her wrists. He presses her hands overhead and pushes her back against the wall. Then he slammed his body against hers.
Leilani feels a sharp pain as he bites her lip, and she opened her mouth in shock. Waylen takes the chance to give her punitive and retaliatory kisses. It’s as violent as a storm. His domineering lips control hers, and his tongue overwhelms her. His breath sweeps the air out of her mouth.
She feels like she’s running out of oxygen. Her mind buzzes, and she can’t seem to think. The world starts to fall away—all that’s left is Waylen and his body. When Waylen lifts her dress up, Leilani suddenly feels herself sobering. She bites his tongue hard and tastes blood. Waylen m.o.a.ns. “Waylen,” Leilani gasps, trying to push him away.
“Why are you stopping me? The note you passed to Robert was asking me to come to do this in the bathroom, no?” Waylen asks with a sneer. “Having affairs in bathroom stalls seems to be a specialty of yours, Miss Peters.”
“You have to help me, Waylen,” she says, repeating the message she scrawled across the back of the receipt.
“What do you want me to help you with?” he asks. “With my hands? My mouth? Or this?” He presses his body into her and she can feel his d.i.c.k against her hip. It’s hard with an unstoppable need.
“No,” she whispers with disappointment, “That’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean then?” Waylen asks.
She bites her lip. She wants to explain the situation to him and ask him to rescue her from Andrew, but she’s too embarrassed to ask. I know that he’s still hurt by my supposed betrayal in Pleasure City, she thinks. But how can I explain everything now? How can I tell him that I’ve decided to give birth to the baby, even if the pregnancy kills me? How do I make him believe it’s his baby? How can I convince him to stay with me?
She takes a deep breath and swallows her pride, knowing that she may not find another chance. “That wasn’t what I wanted help with,” she says. “I wanted to help to escape. Can you take me away?”
He presses his body into hers more firmly and lifts her chin with a fierce gesture. “Take you away?” Waylen asks as if the very idea is ridiculous to him. “You were just showing off your relationship with Andrew, and now you want me to take you away?”
“I have nothing to do with him,” Leilani whispers. “You misunderstood the situation.”
“Misunderstood what?” Waylen asks bitterly. “Are you going to try to tell me that everything I saw was an illusion? You must think I’m a gullible fool. You lied to me over and over again. Why do you expect me to believe you now?”
“I’m not lying to you,” Leilani says, “I’m telling the truth. Please trust me.”
“You think I’ll trust you again?” he shouts.
The sudden volume and intensity of his voice stun her. She wonders if the store has soundproofing and strains her ears to listen to the guards outside the door. When she looks back at Waylen, he’s staring at her in mute fury, waiting for her to speak.
“Don’t you want to defend yourself?” he asks.
Leilani searches for the words to explain herself, but her mind feels blank. She tries to speak, but her voice doesn’t seem to work.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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