Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

J asmine

There wasn’t a girl alive who didn’t believe in heroes and fairytales.

At least until their dreams and hopes were crushed.

What little girl hadn’t been devastated by a boy who’d acted as if she didn’t exist or worse, making fun of her just because he was with his friends? What woman hadn’t tried dating, finding frogs not princes? And why were there so many entitled people in the world?

Maybe that’s why I’d taken very little of what had occurred with Braxton too seriously. I knew the bubble would eventually be burst, the glass house shattered.

But I’d finally allowed myself to relax just as he had, laughing at silly things, enjoying the warmth and sun. The food I’d prepared for the picnic had been incredible, perfect for the day. It was funny to me how frolicking in the water could stir up a huge appetite. We’d pigged out on fruits and cheeses, seafood salad and deviled eggs.

We’d played in the water before taking a little nap under the shade of the palm trees.

And we’d made love.

I’d consider it one of the best days of my life.

I hadn’t thought anything could top the incredible afternoon but the shopping trip I’d insisted on was almost a perfect match and we’d just started.

“Mr. Royal. What can I do for you?” the salesclerk asked.

We were still in our beach attire, likely smelling to high heaven from sunscreen and saltwater. She’d even given me that look of disdain, acting as if I wasn’t good enough to be in the posh store. My guess was my experience would suck if he wasn’t standing right there with me.

The sexy man had tousled hair and a mild sunburn, but it didn’t matter one bit when you were the owner.

“Yes, you can, Margaret. Do you see this beautiful woman over here?” He turned his head in my direction.

Her look of disdain was cut off short. “Yes, sir.”

“Well, I want her to enjoy a fabulous shopping experience on my tab. We’re going to be spending an obscene amount of money.”

His eyes were twinkling while hers were open wide, her brow furrowed. It was almost impossible to keep a straight face.

“Obscene?” she repeated.

“Filthy obscene. I think we understand each other. Don’t we?” As with everything about the man, his authoritativeness and power weren’t lost on anyone.

“Absolutely, sir. We have some gorgeous clothes that I think will make you smile.” She kept her attention toward him and he didn’t seem amused.

“It doesn’t matter what I like, Margaret. It’s what this very special and beautiful lady finds attractive.”

Margaret felt appropriately chastised, immediately turning in my direction. “Absolutely. Let’s get started.”

That began the fabulous and unexpected shopping trip, a dream for so many. Yes, my father had earned enough money I’d been able to purchase some nice clothes as a teenager, but this was entirely different.

Before she led me away, I blew a kiss toward Braxton. I’d seen a completely different side of him, more of a happy go lucky man.

The very one I was already hopelessly in love with.

Braxton

I couldn’t remember the last truly memorable day I’d had.

Sure, there’d been good ones—from graduations and holiday events, to the opening of the two resorts. But I couldn’t tell you much about those days.

Somehow, I had a feeling this one I’d remember for a long time to come.

The atmosphere was festive, the guests unusually flamboyant including with their dress for the evening. Yes, we preferred suits and ties, and lovely dresses for women at a minimum, but we’d learned over the years to relax the code every once in a while.

That allowed for what could only be described as costumes to be worn.

What should I care?

They were spending copious amounts of money to enjoy themselves. The Royal boys had developed a true fantasy island twice. However, my lovely companion had chosen to wear one of the spectacular dresses she’d selected, the deep purple bringing out the color of her eyes.

I’d never seen her so relaxed or happy, which in turn had made me that way. We’d had an intimate dinner of filet and lobster tail. Now we were inside one of the casinos where she was chomping at the bit to gamble.

I pulled her around to face me, giving her one of my stern looks. “You do realize if I agree to this that you cannot cheat. If I find out you are, I can’t tell you how harsh the punishment is going to be.”

“You do know that bad behavior is difficult to put a stop to. Right?” She adjusted my bowtie, giving me a mischievous look.

“Think of it this way. I’m here if for no other reason than to keep you in line. And I am damn good at it, if I say so myself.”

“That’s funny. I thought you were here to be my personal plaything. You know, a sexual god?”

“Well, there’s that.” I laughed as the waiter brought us our drinks. “But I’m serious. I know you too well. If I find out you conned anyone tonight, there will be hell to pay.”

“Party pooper.”

She took a sip of her drink, but I sensed she was eager to use the chips I’d gotten for her.

That’s the moment I noticed Jack out of the corner of my eye. He was standing in the doorway, obviously looking for me.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s play a little blackjack.”

“Why don’t you get started and I’ll be right there.” I was aware she’d also noticed Jack, a slight frown appearing on her face, but she nodded.

“Don’t take too long.”

“I don’t plan on it.” The night was also intended for us. I waited until she’d settled herself around the table before walking toward him. The last thing I wanted was for her to overhear what was being said.

Jack would always have a difficult time blending in given his six-foot six-inch muscular body, the ink covering both arms he refused to hide, and the fact he refused to pay an actual tailor so his suits would fit him correctly. He also had a surly look, which is what he’d told me was the fault of being in the Marines. In his hand was a glorified iPad, although I knew it was a special device created for the most elite Marines, the thin yet powerful system able to bypass various security systems without being detected.

They’d been mere prototypes eventually abandoned, which was one reason he’d been allowed to get his hands on one.

However, he was worth his weight in information and security.

We stood in prime position, so I could keep Jasmine in my sights as well as the other guests on the casino room floor.

“You found something,” I told him after a full minute of silence.

“I’m certain you remember what I said to you. I haven’t heard about anyone of power who doesn’t have a closet full of secrets. Justin Sinclair is no different, although unlike some,” he purposely lifted his eyebrows as he studied me, “who were born with silver spoons in their mouths, he came from a meager background, his father and grandfather both cattle farmers. They’d fought with the government over various regulations that had nearly destroyed them not once but twice. That’s why Justin went to law school and began early on to run for politics.”

“Now that the glow and show highlights are finished, I need the dirt.”

“Can’t you just let shit go?” he asked gruffly.

“A buddy of Justin’s came into his daughter’s room and almost raped her. He would have if a guest hadn’t stumbled onto the wrong floor.”

He eyed me, having obviously learned every detail about the bullshit he’d been able to find. “That wasn’t his fault.”

“No, but he way he treated her afterwards was. You are right in that we all have good and bad traits.”

“Yeah, you do.” Jack grinned at me. “I know you care about the girl and there is no doubt from what I found her life was in lockdown mode for a long time, but Justin had good reason. They were almost killed not once but twice.”

“Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“God, you’re a hard ass.” He shifted around to face me. “When he was a young man, he came close to facing a manslaughter charge because of an incident that occurred with his sister. His father had to pull in a huge favor from one of the few politicians whose background was in law enforcement and from what I could tell, it cost the family a lot of money, which forced the ranch into foreclosure.”

“Boring.”

“Yeah, but used more than once by his opponents. If you want something juicy, then be careful how you think about using it. There was an incident with a young girl. She was seventeen and supposedly he didn’t know it. There was a huge party, all his buddies there, and one thing led to another.”

“How old was he?”

“Well, the interesting thing was that he had buddies able to help sweep it under the rug, the girl’s mother happy to accept a hefty payment in exchange for signing a non-disclosure agreement.”

I mulled over what he’d just told me. If I had a quarter for every politician who’d been caught with an underage girl, I’d be even richer. It wasn’t enough to matter to anyone, or at least it shouldn’t. “What about the guy in Jasmine’s room? Was he ever identified?”

He seemed almost uncomfortable. “That took some digging. The answer is not officially. However, there were some rumors it was a buddy of yours.”

I could tell by the grin on his face he was kidding. “Who?”

“Jameson Bishop.”

Well, fuck. I was taken completely aback. “How the fuck did they know each other?”

“You’d be surprised about that group of friends. I gathered everything I have and sent it to you. It’s not a smoking gun but it’s volatile.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I take it Jasmine doesn’t know.”

“Remains to be seen. As with any other political arena, rumors might fly but when you have a powerful group of friends behind you, shit gets shoved under the carpet.”

One reason I loathed politics so much. “The twisted game of evil men.”

“You should know.”

“Very funny.”

“There’s one more player you should know about.”

I could tell whoever it was should trouble me. “And?”

“Santini Demage.”

“Well, fuck,” I finally said out loud. Honestly, the news didn’t surprise me, nor did it feel that disturbing. My father had groomed a mafia man or two in his lifetime. However, it would seem all the parties were coming together in a way that I doubted any of them liked. Or they were simply looking the devil in the eyes. I really didn’t give a shit either way.

As long as Jasmine was left to enjoy her life the way she wanted without interference.

“Yeah, some crazy stuff in this world,” Jack said.

“I appreciate you finding what you have.”

“You know Santini is dangerous.”

“And I’m not?” I asked, growling from seeing Jasmine’s provocative wave before obviously winning another hand. What the hell was I going to do with the woman and her… cheating ways?

“You know what I mean, Brax. There’s word on the street that Jasmine is considered a valuable commodity. With those photographs surfacing of the two of you together, innocent or not, there is no doubt you have a target on your back.”

“Such is life. I need to get back to her.”

“Maggie. It also took some digging, but it appears she’s the daughter of a rival. She was hiding her identity but that might be why she was fired.”

Things were starting to make sense. “Excellent. Now, I need to go.” I doubted Jasmine knew the girl’s true identity.

“Wait. I need to show you something. I don’t know what it means but it’s worth you looking at.” He pulled up his device, getting to a secure network. Within seconds, he’d found a DC news broadcast.

As I listened to the reporter, images floated back and forth from one important street and neighborhood to another. The reason for the heavy police presence was unanswered, although it would appear reporters had been trying. “What the hell?”

“Like I said, I don’t know but I have an itchy feeling there’s something going on that has more to do with politics than typical crime. I have feelers out but even I’ve hit a dead end.”

Something stuck in my craw, a feeling that I knew wouldn’t go away. “Just keep me informed.”

“You’ll be the first to know. Enjoy your evening with that beautiful woman. And, by the way, the suntan looks damn good on you, buddy.”

All I could do was laugh.

Jasmine

Maybe I just enjoyed living by the seat of my pants, risking it all for that taste of danger that had always excited me. That’s why I continued to push buttons, including with Braxton.

If he’d known I’d conned a couple of the hapless older men, he hadn’t said a peep. I guess a part of me had simply wanted to defy him to see what he would do. Now we were back in the villa doing one of my favorite things, gazing at the ocean.

He was in the process of removing his tuxedo jacket and tie, tossing them aside without his eyes ever leaving me.

“What?” I finally asked.

“You were breathtaking tonight, the belle of the ball.”

“I don’t know about that. There are some beautiful women eager to surrender to ugly old men.”

“Hey,” he taunted, slowly removing his black onyx and diamond cufflinks. Every time he was dressed up, I sensed multiple thousands of dollars. “Careful what you say, my little koala. A lot of those men are my age.”

“As I said. Old.”

He shook his head, appreciating the banter as much as I had up to this point.

Being given the privilege of seeing him in a cheap pair of swim trunks had been a sheer joy, a favorite memory. But you could take the man out of money; you couldn’t take the money out of a man.

At least he was the sexiest eye candy around. I realized I was dragging the tip of my tongue back and forth across my bottom lip in appreciation. He certainly noticed as he started unbuttoning his shirt.

“You are one bad girl, but I do adore that about you. Why don’t you slip into the shower?”

“Am I a dirty girl too?”

He took several deep breaths. “Let’s just say the ocean was invigorating and it’s hard to ignore the passionate effects.”

“Does that mean you’ll join me?”

“Perhaps.”

I kicked off my heels and headed for the bathroom, stopping just outside the door to peel off the strapless dress I’d selected to wear. As I left it on the floor, I noticed he was shaking his head as if he had something up his sleeve.

Why did that excite me so much?

The bathroom was huge, more so than I would ever have believed. It was insanely gorgeous, the shower built for two. Or four.

After starting the water, I placed one foot on the edge of the sink, slowly rolling the dark thigh high down my leg. I hadn’t worn them in ages, but it had felt right with the dress. As I did so, I studied my reflection. The warm glow of the sun floating across my skin had added a shimmer. My eyes were brighter than usual, the amazing day exactly what I’d needed.

However, I had a bad sense something was about to go down. It was simply a feeling in my gut, a haunting premonition that I hadn’t been able to shove aside. With steam already rising from the shower, I rolled my hands down my chest, pinching my nipples as I adored him doing. His heated reflection caught my attention. Just the way his eyes were hooded was a telltale sign of the fiery hunger still building between us.

I didn’t say a word before entering the shower, immediately standing under one of the two showerheads. With the shower door glass slightly frosted, it was impossible to know exactly what he was doing.

As I raked my hands through my hair, I listened for any sounds. He was being far too quiet, which unnerved me. At least I could tell he was getting rid of the rest of his unwanted clothes. The thought always made my mouth water. I had my eyes closed, enjoying the soothing sensations of the water when I felt a cool breeze.

Around him, all I seemed to be able to do was smile.

His breathing was already ragged, the powerful man exuding more sensuality in his pinky than most men had in their entire bodies. Even the way he brushed the rough pads of his fingertips down my back created the kind of tingling that few women ever experienced. For a ruthless man, his gentleness continued to surprise me.

But I sensed something was troubling him. I’d learned enough about him to know that he was tense.

“What is it?” I asked, as if expecting he’d tell me his business. The resort was full of rich, powerful people, some of them likely criminals. That was the way of the world now. Wasn’t it? If you wanted to get ahead, you stepped on someone. How could I criticize him after learning early on my father wasn’t on the up and up?

It didn’t matter. I wasn’t marrying the man. I was enjoying a good time before real life came back into play. I couldn’t stay in paradise forever.

I was mildly stunned when he wrapped his hand around every stand of my wet hair, yanking on my head.

“It would seem according to one of my dealers that you couldn’t help yourself. You just had to run a con or two.”

“Oops.” I don’t know why I’d believed I could get away with it. The man noticed everything. Or he had hired flunkies telling him every detail of what was happening.

“Oops. Mmm… Were you aware one of the men you conned was a multiple Oscar-winning director of some of the most notable films of our time?”

“Oops again,” I whispered, noticing his hold was tightening.

“Uh-huh. I’ve sent him an invitation to the island several times over the years. This was the first time be brought his fiancée with him and was considering a membership. Oh, and the girl he was with is likely to be the next ‘it’ girl. Now I am likely going to need to tell him that he isn’t such a horrible gambler after all. I should require you to do that as a part of your penance.”

Every time he used words like discipline and punishment, I shuddered all the way to my core.

“I thought it was his daughter.” I sensed he was amused but still a tiny bit angry with me.

He chuckled in that same seductive, dangerous way I’d heard so often. “Nice try, koala bear. I think it’s about time we formally dealt with all your infractions now that you seem to be completely on the mend.”

“But I was in a horrific accident just a few hours ago.” I even coughed for effect.

“My little drama queen.”

When he pulled a wooden bath brush from the specially designed area meant for all things shower related, I sucked in my breath. Of course he was having the time of his life, twirling it in front of me.

“Not just for hot showers any longer.”

“That’s not fair.”

“How many times do I need to remind you of the same thing? Life isn’t always fair, but we do often receive consequences based on our bad decisions.”

He wasn’t in the mood to hesitate, his wrist audibly cracking as he brought the thick wooden head against my backside. Not once. Not twice but four times.

I was stunned by the heightened pain, the shock keeping me mute but my eyes filled with tears instantly. When I finally said a single word in a tiny voice, he had the nerve to chuckle all over again. “Ouch.”

“Spankings are meant to hurt or they wouldn’t do any good. And… The effects of water exacerbates a spanking by about five fold.”

“You bastard. You set me up with the shower.”

“Guilty as charged. Now, be a good little girl and accept your harsh punishment.”

It wasn’t a choice, the man bringing the brush down several times in rapid succession. He was having a damn good time making me feel like a disobedient child, continually swirling the implement of doom before starting another volley all over again.

I was forced to plant my hands on the granite wall to keep myself from sliding down to the shower basin. Plus, the force he used was driving me forward.

The agony continued, the crazy ragged sound of my breathing just about the only sound I could make. He was elongating the event, ensuring I would have a difficult time sitting for God knew how long. But even as tears slipped from my lashes, the crazy woman inside of me watching as they slipped into the drain, the deep throbbing in my pussy continued.

Lordy. Lordy. The steam was sweltering but it was the spanking that was pushing me over the edge. I had no idea how long the harsh round of punishment lasted but my bottom was as overheated as my libido.

He finished the painful round with four brutal strikes that had me clawing the tiles. I pressed my face against the cool surface material, doing my best to regroup and catch my breath. I knew he had yet to satisfy his needs. That was proven when he drove his cock deep into my pussy.

As much as I adored the feel of his cock, the way my body responded when he held me, this time his whispered words meant more than any of it.

“You’re not going anywhere, little koala. I meant what I said. You now belong to me.”