Beyond 10 Nights (Forbidden Desires Series) Read online

  Things could change a lot in a week, Janie thought, her friend had already changed significantly in a short space of time. She hoped Alex would show her a week of pleasure, not to mention everything that was possible in the world of BDSM, before Rhett came back and filled her head with more bullshit. “You just do what’s right for you, honey; I’ll support you no matter.”

  They spent the next hour talking, and by the time David returned Leah felt much calmer than she had when she arrived.

  “I’m sure you guys have things planned for today, and I’ve got some things to take care of, so I’ll leave you to it.” She blushed bright red as she thought about what she wanted to take care of, most of which required little to no clothing and a lot of sweaty exertion, not to mention some experimentation.

  “It was good to see you again, Leah,” David said. “If you need me for anything, you know where I am.” He was sure if Leah told Rhett what had happened between her and Alex she would need his help, and plenty of it. He just hoped Alex was prepared to deal with the side of Rhett most people were lucky enough never to discover.

  “Thanks, David; you and Janie enjoy your Sunday.” Crossing to her friend she hugged her tight. “Thanks, Janie, you always know just what to say to get my ass in gear.”

  “Good, now go and have fun, honey.” Janie hugged her friend back and walked her to the door. “Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” They both laughed at that comment before Leah made her way out to her car.

  10

  A DAY IN THE LIFE

  While Leah was gone, Alex cleaned the hotel suite. The maid would do the job later, he knew, but he needed an excuse to work off the nervous energy he was feeling and it seemed the best way to do it.

  The previous night had left him reeling, his experience with Leah had been incredible, but he knew she had to be first in his thoughts. She had left before he could speak to her about what had happened between them and that worried him. While the sex had been amazing, he knew that for a woman, the emotional aspect of such intimacy could mean more than the physical encounter.

  She felt much better after her talk with Janie, but the moment she walked through the door and came face to face with Alex, Leah found all of her awkwardness returning. They hadn’t done anything wrong, she told herself, yet she still couldn’t stop feeling as though she had.

  Desperate to break the silence, which felt painfully uncomfortable, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I don’t regret what happened.” The moment the words were out her hands flew to her mouth and she turned a bright cherry red, she couldn’t believe she’d said that.

  She wanted to talk with him about what had happened between them, they lived and worked together after all, but that wasn’t the way she had planned on starting the conversation.

  Her reaction to what she said made Alex laugh and he hurriedly apologized when he saw her embarrassment deepen. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh; it was just the look on your face.” He managed to control his laughter, but couldn’t keep an amused grin from his face. “I’m pleased to hear that you don’t regret it, Leah, I don’t want you to ever regret doing anything you find enjoyable.” There was a pause, and then he spoke again. “What do you say to getting out of here so we can have some fun?”

  Spending some time together away from the suite would help to ease her embarrassment, and make her comfortable in his presence again, he hoped. It would also ease his desire to take her, though he wasn’t so sure about that. Just then he could imagine taking her every which way possible; on the table, the couch, in the shower, against a wall. Everywhere he looked in the suite he saw somewhere for him to take her delectable body and he knew he had to calm that desire and get himself under control before he did something about his urges.

  He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned him on so much. The desire she aroused him was amazing, and it gave him some clue to Rhett’s desperate need for her.

  With a nod of her head Leah agreed with his suggestion, thinking she'd much rather the two of them stayed alone in the suite. The temptation for her to take him again would be too much to resist and it was only the dull ache between her thighs, a remembrance of how well she had used him the previous night, that stopped her from crossing the suite and taking him again, right there on the floor.

  “Sounds like a plan,” she said heartily, relieved that he seemed to be okay with her after what they had done, and actually liking the idea of spending some time with him. “Any ideas on what we could do?” she asked, forcing from her mind all the ideas she had as she fought the blush that threatened her cheeks.

  They definitely needed to get out of the suite, Alex thought as he noticed the way her eyes were running over his body, a faint look of hunger on her face. “Let me grab my wallet.” He turned away and made for his bedroom before he acted on the look she was giving him. He was back almost immediately, his wallet in his pocket and his keys swinging from his hand, with his free hand he grabbed hers, and led her from the suite.

  “So what sounds exciting to you?” he asked as he pulled his car out of the parking level; it was a struggle for him to keep his eyes on the road ahead as he drove, her legs, in the short shorts she was wearing, kept pulling at his attention and he longed to stroke and kiss them.

  Leah nibbled on her lip and tried to think of something they could do that he might enjoy. “What kind of things do you like to do for fun?” she asked after a short while, when she realized they had never really talked about what he enjoyed doing when he wasn’t working.

  Alex chuckled as his thoughts went down a path he didn’t want to be considering right then. “I love doing many things, Leah, but today is all about you.” He wasn’t avoiding her question, but he wanted her to pick something based on her idea of a good time, doing so would help him to get to know her better, and he very much wanted to do that.

  “Well, Janie took me to Little India once, down on Devon Avenue?” She thought that was the name of the road, it had been a few years since they had gone, even though they lived not far from it, and she wasn’t a hundred percent certain. It hadn’t been Janie’s thing, and she had never really liked going places on her own so despite enjoying their time there she hadn’t returned.

  “We can start there then.” He gave her a quick smile before maneuvering the car in that direction. Before he had been forced to leave Chicago he had had an Indian submissive and he had fond memories of the times they had spent in Little India.

  Leah was smiling like a kid by the time they found a parking space and made it out onto the sidewalk. The place was amazing, she thought, her grin widening as he took her hand in his and they began to walk. It felt like she was out with a boyfriend, a feeling she hadn’t really experienced before, and she found herself truly happy in his presence.

  They walked in and out of shops, going here, there and everywhere, examining things, with Alex insisting on purchasing little things that caught her attention. None of the items were all that expensive, which made it easier for her to accept them, and he didn’t force her into having them; it was clear to her that it made him happy to buy the items she liked though and so she didn’t refuse.

  It came as a surprise when Alex actually took the initiative and led her into a clothing store. The shelves were filled with brightly colored fabrics, many of them jeweled, and Leah found herself reminded of the Disney film Aladdin. As she ran her hands over the beautiful fabrics she found herself wondering if she would look like the Princess Jasmine, or one of the slave girls; the thought made her giggle.

  “Try it on.” Alex encouraged her as her hand settled on one outfit in particular, smiling in pleasure at how relaxed and happy she seemed. The thought of seeing her in the outfit sent a surge through his body which he quickly suppressed.

  She found a size three in the dress and made her way back to the dressing room. “I’ll be out in a minute,” she told him before disappearing from sight. With the door closed she quickly pulled off her shor
ts and tank top and then slid on the skirt and top, smiling at her reflection in the mirror.

  The outfit covered her decently but at the same time it felt sinful. The fabric of the skirt flowed down to her ankles, while the top showed off her flat stomach, stopping just a few inches below her breasts. The bright red color and the sparkling beads interwoven in the fabric shimmered in the light.

  Leaving the changing room she stepped out to where Alex could see her and spun, making the skirt flare up a little, wanting him to have the best view of her possible.

  “You were made to wear a Sharara.” Alex felt his cock twitch at the delectable image she presented. Something about the outfit made him think of strapping her to a cross in a dungeon and having his way with her. Forcing aside his desires he allowed his gaze to run over her body, admiring the way it showed her off while still managing to conceal her more important attributes. “That outfit is coming home with us,” he declared.

  She wasn’t sure how to respond to that comment, though it did make her smile. “I’m going to change back then.” It was turning into an interesting day, she thought, she couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun with a man without it involving sex.

  By the time she walked out of the dressing room he had his libido in check, much to his relief. He wasn’t a young man, and he shouldn’t be thinking with his cock all the time. Taking the outfit from her, he walked over to the counter and placed it in front of the lady. Seeing the bracelets and anklets of golden bells, he had to add them to the outfit for purchase.

  “I like the way these sound.” Alex chuckled at Leah’s grin, wondering if she had any idea what movements produced the best sounds from the jewelry.

  As they left, Leah glanced down at her watch; she was surprised to see that they had already been there for several hours, which explained why her legs were feeling a little tired. “Would you mind if we find a place to sit?” she asked, feeling a begrudging respect when she noticed he was barely winded.

  He’d been enjoying himself so much he hadn’t noticed how long they’d been shopping. “We have been running around for a while now, haven’t we,” he remarked after checking his own watch, “are you hungry? He was a little surprised to find that he had been enjoying himself so much he’d lost track of the time. Shopping wasn’t high on his list of enjoyable activities, but Leah’s pleasure was infectious and he couldn’t help but enjoy himself with her.

  “Famished, I feel as though I could eat the entire block at the moment.” Grinning, she allowed him to take her hand and lead her into a small café.

  Leah couldn’t have named the food the two of them ate, though she wanted to learn what the dishes were called so she could order them again in the future. The food was only half the pleasure for her though, they fed each other like long time lovers, talked about anything and everything that occurred to them, and laughed without concern. When they finally left the restaurant, holding hands, Leah’s heart was lighter than it had been in years.

  “I love seeing you smile,” Alex told her. Lifting her in his arms he spun her around before setting her back on her feet. He hadn’t acted so impulsively ever, he thought with a wry smile, but something about her made him want to be spontaneous. Grabbing her hand he led her back to the car, ignoring the startled look on her face.

  “Do we really have to go home now?” Leah asked when he pulled the car out onto the road, not wanting the day to end. She flushed at how ungrateful that sounded, after he had been so good to her, and nibbled on her lip for a moment before turning to give him a wide grin.

  He was floored by her smile, which lit up her face and made her seem even more beautiful. The smile did something to his heart that made his breath catch in his throat for a moment before he smiled back at her. Hurriedly he returned his attention to the road, before he crashed the car. “We can do whatever you wish,” he told her, meaning it, which surprised him. He was always in control, and until that moment he had never thought that his life could be lived without that control.

  His words pleased her and she lifted a hand to place it on his leg. “Thank you for a wonderful day, Alex.” Without thinking about what she was doing she began caressing his leg, feeling completely comfortable with him.

  He felt like a teen, whose hormones couldn't be controlled, instead of a man in his thirties, as she continued to rub his leg, getting close, but not close enough, to his now throbbing cock. They were getting into dangerous territory, his mind warned him. Letting her control their lovemaking the night before had been more than enjoyable, but there was another side to him that he couldn’t deny. “Would you permit me to share something with you, Leah?” They barely knew each other, in or out of the bedroom, but he didn’t want her to think he could just be a lover; there were darker sides to his desires that he would never be able to live without.

  “Sure.” She was actually happy that he was taking the lead; she had no idea what to suggest they do after the shopping trip.

  He hadn’t planned on taking her with him to the meeting he had arranged for that night, his idea had been to enjoy a nice afternoon and then drop her back at the hotel while he took care of his other business. He also hadn’t planning on enjoying the day with her so much that he allowed the time to get away from him. The idea that a woman could make him forget his earlier commitments was very new to him, but that was exactly what had happened.

  Having received Leah’s agreement Alex continued past the turning for their hotel. “One of the reasons I came back to Chicago was to take over a property for an old friend of mine,” he told her when he finally reached the turning he was after.

  Taking over the advertising firm he had been sacked from as a college graduate had been a great accomplishment, but his other venture was equally as dear to his heart. The business had helped him greatly over the past twenty odd years, and having the opportunity to give back to the community he enjoyed pleased him greatly.

  “You have another business?” Leah was surprised that not once during the previous week had his other business been mentioned, either by Alex or by any of the people at work. The people she had been working with were very open and had told her what they knew of their boss.

  “This business is very private, and I will have to ask that you give your word that you won’t reveal anything that I share with you tonight.” The words came out more harshly than he intended, but it was a private matter for him, and he needed her to understand that what he was about to reveal could never be spoken about, to anyone.

  “It’s not illegal is it?” The way he had suddenly become so demanding sent a chill through her, it reminded her uncomfortably of how Rhett acted when he expected immediate obedience.

  He chuckled at her question. “No, Leah, it’s definitely not illegal, but it is something that I keep separate from my professional life.”

  The amusement in his voice was more reassuring than his words and she nodded. “Okay then, you have my word that I will keep whatever you share with me to myself.” Now he had told her it wasn’t illegal she was more than a little curious as to what could be so secretive that he had to demand silence.

  Silence fell between them as they drove for what seemed like forever; at least that was how it felt to Leah, before they turned down a road that led them into a more rural area. There were no houses to be seen, at least none that were visible to Leah in the darkening sky. She wasn’t afraid, but she did begin to feel a little anxious as they continued on down the seemingly abandoned road.

  “How much longer?” she finally asked, when they had been driving along the road for more than ten minutes without seeing any cars, people, or property.

  He could hear the nervousness in her voice and smiled. “Not much further,” he reassured her. “I will soon own all five hundred acres around here.”

  “I know you were looking to buy some property so you can move out of the hotel, but isn’t this a bit big?”

  The comment made Alex laughed. “This isn’t exactly where I woul
d choose to live, Leah, although I could move in here I suppose.” She looked at him curiously but he chose not to explain his words, deciding it was better for him to show her.

  “Oh my God! It’s beautiful!” Leah gasped as they pulled up in front of an old, and excellently restored, mansion. Exactly how old the mansion was, she didn’t know, but she guessed it was at least two hundred years old. Looking at it in admiration she couldn’t help but wonder why he wouldn’t want to live there, even if it was a distance outside of Chicago.

  “It serves its purpose,” Alex said with a deprecating smile as he slid out of the car and walked round to open her door. He hoped she would remain as impressed when she had been shown around and her tour was over.

  “Do you raise horses here?” She was a little confused, there was a lot of land surrounding them, and it was clearly farmland, but she didn’t have a clue why he would need to keep it secret if he was raising cattle or horses.

  “We do have a stable here,” he said with a chuckle, thinking he would definitely have to show her what type of ‘horses’ he raised before she understood what the property was used for.

  “I love horses, you’ll have to show them to me,” Leah said eagerly, looking around for any sign of the horses. One of the few luxuries her family had been able to afford when she was growing up was the horse rides at a nearby farm.

  “My horses are a little different to those you might be used to,” he told her, resisting the urge to chuckle as he reminded himself that she had no idea what he was referring to.

  As he opened the front door and held it for her to walk inside, Leah’s mouth dropped open in shock. The sight that greeted her eyes was even more startling than what she had witnessed the night Janie took her to Rhett’s dungeon. Stopping in the doorway she found herself unable to do more than stare at the people before her, who were for the most part undressed, and wearing some very strange items.