Title: Owned (A Decadence after Dark Novel)
Author: M. Never
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance
Release Date: October 3, 2014
Cover: Cover Me, Darling
Synopsis:
"I
like you collared, baby. I like you naked, I like you mine.”
Ellie Stevens has lusted over Kayne Roberts since
he first walked into the import/export company she works for a little over a
year ago. As Expo’s most important client, Ellie has always kept a safe
distance from the man with the majestic blue eyes - until temptation
finally gets the better of her. In a brass move, Ellie invites Kayne to one of
Expo's infamous company parties her flamboyant boss is notorious for throwing.
Unbeknownst to Ellie, the god in the Armani suit isn’t just the suave
entrepreneur he portrays himself to be. Underneath the professional
exterior is a man with a secret life, dark desires, and nefarious contacts.
In a hidden corner of a trendy New York City lounge,
the spark kindling between the two of them ignites. Unable to resist the sinful
attraction, Ellie agrees to leave with Kayne, believing she is finally bedding
the man of her dreams. Little does she know when she walks out the door, she’s
about to be Owned.
Owned is a dark erotic romance. Please pay close
attention to the use of the words dark, erotic, and romance. It has intense
sexual situations, a Master/slave relationship, mild abuse, and some violence.
Reader discretion is advised.
Prologue
Kayne
I like you collared, baby. I like you
naked. I like you mine.
Ellie
I hurry out of the subway.
Of all days for me to be late. I choose
this one.
My phone rings, and I know exactly who
it is. My boss, Mark. My anal retentive, no nonsense, perfectionist boss who I
adore.
He drives me nuts, but he is the most
supportive man I have ever met, so I'm giving him a pass this morning. I know
why he's wound tight. His biggest client is coming in for a meeting and
everything needs to be just right. Which is part of the reason I'm late in the
first place. I couldn't decide what to wear! Every time Kayne Roberts walks
into the building my pulse races, my heart rate spikes, and my knees go weak.
He's a walking god in an Armani suit. My mouth goes dry just thinking about
him.
"Hello?" I answer as I turn
the corner, picking up the pace.
"Where are you?" Mark snaps.
"I’ll be in the office on five
minutes."
"Three minutes. Roberts will be
here any second. The conference room needs to be prepped and coffee needs to be
made."
I sigh. "I prepped last night, and
the coffee is on a timer." Okay, so maybe I knew I was going to be late.
"You're magic glitter in high
heels," he says then hangs up. Did I mention Mark is flaming gay? Makes
him that much more fun to work for.
There's a pedestrian traffic jam right
outside my building entrance. Of course. I push through the mass, making my way
to the double doors I have in sight. I emerge from the throng, but not before
my heel gets caught in a crack in the sidewalk, and I fly face first onto my
hands and knees. Shit. Everyone saw that. I allow myself to feel humiliated for
just a second, then proceed to pick myself up.
"Okay down there?" A thick,
masculine voice vibrates through my limbs. I look up to find Kayne Roberts
himself hold his hand out to help me. I’m stuck. Kneeling at his feet as my
brain forgets how to command my body.
He frowns. "Ellie, are you hurt
badly? Do you need me to carry you inside?"
Carry me? Yes please!
"No." I finally find my wits.
"I’m okay."
Kayne plucks me up, and I’m caught
staring into his beautiful crystal blue eyes. Well one beautiful crystal blue
eye. His right has a large patch of brown that looks like a lightning bolt is
striking his pupil.
It makes them more of a spectacle to
stare at.
He smiles down at me, then drops his
gaze a little lower smirking wickedly. I look down immediately to find the top
button of my shirt popped open, and my cleavage fully exposed.
I want to crawl into a hole and die of
embarrassment, mortification, and shame.
"Nice," Kayne quips.
I grab my shirt and yank it closed.
"Thank you." It's the only
thing I can think to say and makes my embarrassment burn brighter, right on the
apples of my cheeks. I right myself as Kayne opens the door for me, and we walk
to the elevator together. Him haughty, me abashed.
As we ride to the tenth floor in
silence, I pull my black pencil skirt up and check my knees. Kayne watches with
entertained eyes as I expose more leg. I feel claustrophobic under his gaze.
One of them is scraped and stings slightly. But I don't notice the pain. All I
can think about is that old expression you should be careful what you wish for.
Because ever since he strolled into this company, I have lusted after him.
Wishing that just once he would notice me. Well today he did. And all I want to
do is die.
Mark is waiting by the elevators when
we arrive. I swear if he could stick his whole head up Kayne's ass instead of
just his nose he would. I guess I can't blame him. Kayne is his number one
client. Expo is an import/export company and Mark’s baby. He hired me straight
out of high school and I have worked my way from novice secretary to
irreplaceable personal assistant during that four year time. My family couldn't
afford to send me to college, and I didn't want to rack up one hundred thousand
dollars’ worth of debt by going to the top ten school of my dreams. So I
decided to forgo college until I could save up enough to attend. Mark has been
overly generous with my paychecks and bonuses ever since he found out I had
half a brain. Coming from the poor family I did, I learned quickly I am the
master of my own destiny. If I want something out of life, the only person who
can afford it to me, is me. My upbringing wasn't all bad though. Contrary to
the bottom line of their bank account, my family had a wealth of love to give.
Mark is wearing his power suit. A dark
grey jacket and matching pants with a bright purple shirt and printed tie.
Despite the way Mark dresses, he is brilliant, and I have learned an abundance
since he took me under his wing.
"Kanye." He and Mark shake
after we walk out of the elevator.
"Mark."
"Everything is set up. Ellie,
please escort Mr. Roberts to the conference room. And tend to whatever he
needs."
I suddenly flush. Whatever he needs? My
mind races with erotic images. I'd tend to anything he needs.
"Yes, Mark," I answer
dutifully.
Kayne gazes down at me with vigilant
eyes. His glare heats my skin. It's as hot as the sun.
I walk Kayne to the conference room
with him trailing slightly behind me, and if I didn't know any better, I'd
swear he's stealing glimpses of my ass. It turns me on and makes me
uncomfortable all at the same time. I guess that's what I get for wearing the
tightest pencil skirt I own.
"Do you need to clean your
knee?" Kayne asks.
"It will be fine. I'll tend to it
after you’re settled."
He nods.
Kayne relaxes himself in one of the
large leather office chairs adjacent to where Mark usually sits.
"Coffee?" I ask.
"Yes, please." He smoothes
his ties. "Milk-"
"No sugar," I finish his
sentence.
"You remembered." He smiles
brightly, and I almost dissolve.
"It's my job not to forget."
Jesus is that even my voice? It sounds husky. Thick with desire. Can I be any more desperate?
"Rare quality. Attentiveness,"
he muses.
"I guess." I shrug back
pedaling toward the door. "I'll be right back."
I flee the room, seriously needing to
pull my shit together.
By the time I return with Kayne's
coffee, tea for Mark, and the spread of baked goods he likes to put out, the
meeting is already under way. I hand Kayne his coffee first. He winks at me,
and our fingers brush during the exchange. The contact feels like an electrical
current.
I shakily place Mark’s tea in front of
him as he reads through the agenda, then set the silver platter of muffins,
scones, and miniature cupcakes in the middle of the table. After that, I leave
the room, stealing a glance at Kayne right before I exit.
I clean my knee, then spend the rest of
the morning spying into the conference room swooning over the very desirable
and even more unattainable Mr. Roberts.
"I see your boyfriend's
back." Susie, one of Mark's logisticians bumps my hip.
"I don't know what you're talking
about," I say with huge smile. Everyone in the office knows how bad I have
it for Kayne.
"Yeah right." She laughs with
her throaty voice. "You're standing there with your tongue unraveled."
"Am I that obvious?" I
scrunch my face.
"You're like a white dot on a wall
of red."
"Is the red because I heat up
every time in see him?" I ask chewing my lip and twirling the end of my
light brown hair compulsively.
"Not just you, honey. The
building."
"I'm a desperate loser." I
drop my face into my hands.
"Don't beat yourself up about it.
That man is walking sex with a side of pheromones. No one blames you." She
stirs her coffee with the thin orange plastic stick.
"He'll never notice me," I
sigh as I eye him through the glass. He's engrossed in whatever Mark's talking
about. I'm engrossed by his body, and his face, his hands, and his hair.
I finally look back at Susie. She's
smiling, chewing on her coffee stirrer. "You want him to notice you? Give
him something to look at. You'll never know if he's interested if you don't put
yourself out there."
"He's Mark's most important
client. I wouldn't want to mess anything up for him by mixing business with
pleasure."
Susie shrugs. "A risk comes with
every reward."
She throws her stirrer in the trash.
"See if he's going to the party tonight. If not, invite him," she
advises before she saunters away.
Ask him out?
I glance up to find the meeting coming
to an end. Everyone is slowly but surely clearing out of the conference room.
Except Kayne. He's still sitting, jotting notes.
"Ellie. Can you clean up in there?
I'm heading to lunch," Mark calls.
"Yes, Mark." I once again
dutifully respond, and Kayne looks up.
His stare makes my cheeks heat. Get a
grip!
I head into the conference room,
stealing my nerves.
"How was the meeting?" I ask
Kayne sweetly as I begin to collect the information folders left behind.
"Excellent. Mark is a genius at
logistics. He found an alternate flight route out of Mexico that will save a
few hundred thousand over the next year. I'm pleased."
Kayne utilizes Expo to import limes and
his own personal brand of tequila out of Mexico. He's making a fortune right
now on that little green fruit. Because of weather conditions and poor crops
the price per bushel of limes has quadrupled. Mark sees dollar signs every time
we have margaritas after work.
"That's good." I smile.
"No lunch for you?" I ask casually.
"I have another meeting in an
hour. I'll be having lunch then. Mark said I could utilize the conference room
to do some work to kill time."
"I see," I say as I pick up
the last folder.
"What about you?" He tracks
my movements with his majestic blue eyes. They remind me of a wild jungle cats.
"My lunch is sitting right in
front of you. I'll be dining on miniature cupcakes."
"Healthy," he mocks.
"I know, but they're little.
So...Iess calories?" I shrug playfully.
"I guess that's one way to spin
it." He smiles, pulling the silver tray towards him. "Which flavor is
your favorite?" Kayne looks up at me like I'm a confection sweet enough to
eat. I swallow hard.
"It's a toss-up between the red
velvet and lemon drop."
"Well I'm a red velvet man
myself." He picks up the lone red velvet cupcake on the plate. "Would
you mind sharing your lunch with me, Ellie?”
"Of course not. It's only polite
to share." I fiddle with the collar of my dress shirt.
Kayne pulls the wrapper off the dyed
cake, then splits it in two. "Sit."
I take a seat next to him, still
clutching the file folders in my hands.
He offers me one half of the cupcake,
and I take it with trembling fingers.
"Do I make you nervous,
Ellie?" he asks as he lightly licks the cream cheese frosting.
"No." I try to play it cool.
"Just too much coffee."
"I see." He stares at me
intensely as he laps the top of the cupcake clean. I think I just came watching
his tongue work the icing. "Aren't you going to eat?" he asks
enticingly right before he stuffs the naked cupcake into his mouth. I just sit
there frozen, trying not to squish the dessert still in my hand.
This man can write a handbook on
seduction. Chapter one: Cupcakes.
Kayne looks at me expectantly. Without
even thinking, I shove my half into my mouth. Not seductively at all. I'd be
the first one to buy that handbook. Kayne smirks, his eyes alight. Then he
brushes a crumb off my bottom lip. I nearly pass out.
"Did you decide what school you're
going to attend in the fall?" he asks as he lounges back in his chair. I
can't believe it. We had that conversation over three months ago, the last time
he was here.
"You remembered?"
"I'm in the business of not
forgetting." He skims his tie between his thumb and index finger. Lucky
tie.
I can't stop the smile from spreading
across my face.
"It's between the University of
Miami, NC State or Hawaii."
"Inclined to warm weather."
I pout my lip. "I've never been
away from the East coast. I wanted a change. I plan to visit Europe next
summer."
"Ambitious."
His responses are so simple, so
controlled, yet so inveigling it feels like I'm falling into a trance.
"I want more than a two bedroom
apartment shared by four people," I divulge meekly.
"I admire your aspirations. Do you
know what you’re going to study?"
"Logistics."
"Thinking about starting your own
import/export? I'd hire you." His gaze his heavy, probing almost. Is it
suddenly hot in here?
"Well thank you for the vote of
confidence. But I'm not sure what I want to do yet. I just know it's an open
field. And it's something I've come to learn."
"Do what you know?"
"Something like that."
Kayne nods, glancing at his watch.
"Crap, Ellie I have to go."
"I understand." We both stand
up, our chests landing an inch apart. I stop breathing.
Kayne stares down at me with those
mesmerizing eyes. "Thank you for sharing your lunch with me."
"Anytime," I breathe.
Inhaling the scent of his expensive cologne. The smell is heady.
"Kayne?"
"Mmmm hmmm, Ellie?" He leans
a little closer.
"Are you going to Mark's party
tonight?" I ask a little lightheaded from his scent and his proximity.
A smile plays on his lips. "I was
invited."
"And are you going?"
"Will you be there?" he
counters.
"It depends."
"On what?"
"If I'll be spending the evening
alone or not." I stare straight up at him, trying not to waver.
"Are you asking me out,
Ellie?"
Am I?
"Maybe." I bite my lip.
"Then maybe I'll be there."
Did he just accept?
With that, Kayne picks up his phone
from the table and drops it into his pocket. I just watch him like a dumbstruck
fool.
"Until tonight," he says,
then steps away from me and starts for the door. "Oh, and Ellie." He
stops next to me so we are shoulder to shoulder. "The next time you want
to get my attention. Bend over. Your tits are nice, but I'm more of an ass
man."
He then leaves.
With me nailed to the floor.
Kayne
I should have said no.
I should've just blown Ellie off then
apologized for it the next time I saw her. Blaming it on a business issue that
needed my immediate attention. But I didn't. Because right now I'm standing at
the bar in the middle of a trendy downtown restaurant waiting for Ellie the way
a dog would wait for a bone.
I'll give it to Mark. He knows where to
throw a party. You had to walk through a pawn shop to get into the place. The
first floor is a lounge. The second is where dinner is served. The diners can
look down over the railing at the patrons mingling on the white leather couches
shrouded in florescent light. Like a legal peep show.
Only in fucking Manhattan.
I've already said hello to Mark and
some other employees of his. I was introduced to some of his other clients as
well. Very kissy kissy, shaky shaky business shit. It goes with the territory.
Now I'm sucking down bourbon like a drain in a distillery, regretting that I'm
here. I regret even more I told Ellie she has nice tits. Good going. Then, just
to add fuel to the fire, I told her I was an ass man. If she only knew how true
that was. It's exactly why I shouldn't be here. Ellie is too sweet. Too
playful. I would never want to take those traits away from her. She reminds me
of a frisky kitten tangled in a strand of yarn. She has no idea how tangled
she'll be if she gets involved with me.
I slug some more bourbon. If she's not
here by the time I finish this drink, I'm out. I suck down the last drops of
alcohol in the glass and get ready to jet.
That's when I spot her. I stop dead in
my tracks as she walks toward me. She's wearing a scrap of material I think
she's trying to pass off as a dress. It's all skin tight, long sleeved and
super short.
"Hi," she greets me with a
bright smile. "Are you leaving?"
I jingle the keys in my hand. I should
say yes. I should bolt out of this room and never look back. But instead I say,
"I was beginning to think you stood me up."
"Never. I'm a woman. We're always
fashionably late." She bats her eyelashes flirtatiously.
Not if you were my woman.
"Buy you a drink?" I ask as I
greedily ingest every sexy inch of her in that skin tight dress.
"Yes please, a vodka and tonic
with a lemon."
"Lemon?" I curl my lip.
"Yes." She giggles.
"Most people drink it with a
lime."
Ellie shrugs. "I'm not most
people."
You certainly are not.
I order our drinks just Mark appears
from the masses. "There she is. My magic glitter in high heels." He
holds out his arms like she’s a Broadway diva who just game the performance of
her life.
He’s definitely a little trashed. It's
only when Ellie turns to kiss Mark hello I notice the back of her dress; a huge
oval cut out is exposing her bare skin. Holy shit. It's provocative as hell. I
nearly choke.
"So glad you could make it
Kayne." He shakes my hand and tells me again—for the third time.
"Take care of my little Ellie here. She's leaving is soon, and I won't be
able to find my ass without her."
"Aww," Ellie coos. "That
is the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
"Hold onto your knickers kid. If
you’re even wearing any under that dress. It barely covers your bottom," he
muses.
And I love it.
Mark pauses, looking between us with
his bloodshot eyes. "What was I saying?"
"Goodbye," I chime in.
He lifts his glass to cheers us and
goes on his merry way. I shake my head as he gets lost in the crowd. He is a
character. Brilliant, but still a character.
"When do you start school?" I
ask Ellie as the bartender serves us our drinks.
"September. I finally made my
decision."
"And where are you going?"
"Hawaii. I mailed the deposit
check on my way here." She’s practically glowing.
"Definitely the school I would
have picked," I say excited for her, yet at the same time I suddenly feel
sad. I shake the odd sentiment off. Maybe the bourbon is going to my head. I
raise my glass, "To rainbows, surfing, and getting lei'd."
Ellie laughs freely. Clinking my glass.
"To getting lei'd." Our eyes linger long after we take a sip of our
drinks. I feel the heated stare radiate through the whole room.
"Do you want to sit?" I
finally ask her.
"Sure." She bites on her
little red straw enticingly. Don't look at me like that Ellie. I want to
tell her. I want to warn her. It will only get you into trouble. Who am I
kidding? Just by me being here, she's in trouble.
It's putting us both in trouble.
"I like your dress." I lean
into her, glancing down at her barely covered ass. She smells sweet. Like
cotton candy. "Did you wear it to get someone's attention?"
"Yes."
"Who's?
"Yours." She looks straight
into my eyes.
"You've got it," I murmur in
her ear. "Undividedly."
Aww, shit. If I'm going to hell I might
as well have some fun getting there. Presently in the form of a playful little
kitten named Ellie. I take her hand and lead her to the darkest, most hidden
corner of the room. We sit on one of the white leather couches, and she
snuggles into me as the catchy tune of Sing
by Ed Sheeran resonates around us. It's the perfect match for the trendy
atmosphere and flirtatious vibe.
Trouble. So much trouble.
Ellie and I talk about this and that.
Nothing of utter importance. I forgot the last time I had a mundane
conversation. She tells me how much she hates spiders because one crawled into
her shirt when she was child and scared her half to death. I tell her how I
hate cinnamon but can chew an entire pack of Big Red gum.
By our second drink my hand is on her
knee. By the third it's on her thigh and we're both having trouble denying the
inhibited attraction kindling between us.
"Kayne?" Ellie sighs as I
stroke her with my thumb right under the hem of her scarcely there dress.
I lean into her, my face an inch away
from hers. "Ellie. Do you really want this with me?" I give her one
chance for an out. If she consents, I'm taking her back to my penthouse and
fucking her till morning.
"Yes." Her voice doesn't
waver. Then she spreads her legs a little wider and allows my hand to move further
up her thigh, a whisper away from the sweet spot I have been fantasizing about
for over a year.
"There's something you should know
about me." I brush my lips against hers.
"What's that?" She returns
the affection by sliding her tongue into my mouth. Little lioness.
I like to dominate. I want submission.
I'll tie you up like a pretzel and have my way with you until you beg me to
stop.
"Kayne?" She breathes my name,
and I nearly combust.
"Ellie, I-"
"Amigo?" I'm interrupted by a
thick Spanish accent that wasn't due in until tomorrow. I glare up at the man
standing in front of us. Ellie shifts uncomfortably away from me. I could
decapitate Javier. The homegrown Mexican scumbag—and my house guest for the
next I don't know how long—has just ruined a defining moment. I stand menacingly
and shake his hand.
"I wasn't expecting you until
tomorrow," I say as politely as possible.
"I caught an early flight."
He slaps my shoulder. "Too excited to see you."
Ellie watches our exchange. I can't
tell if she notices anything is off or not.
"Ellie?" I hold out my hand
for her to stand up. "Would you mind getting some water?" I pull out
a fifty. She nods with a small smile, acknowledging both of us. She takes the money
then slips silently away.
When Ellie is out of earshot I snap at
Javier. "What the fuck are you doing showing your face here?"
"Your driver said you were out for
the evening. Sounded like fun." He smiles at me with that goofy, wicked
grin I want to wipe right off his face.
"I don't think it's wise to be
seen in public together." I speak through clenched teeth.
Javier shrugs. "It's dark in
here."
I huff.
"The girl, is she one of
yours?" He ogles in the direction of the bar, where Ellie is standing with
her back to us, ass on display.
"Not exactly."
"Available then?" He raises
his eyebrows.
"For what?" I sneer.
"Something to occupy my time with
while I'm here. She looks like fun." His eyes sparkle with something
sinister, something that spurs a disturbing memory to flash before me
It feels like someone just tied a noose
around my neck.
"I have plenty of girls to keep
your time occupied," I inform him directly.
"Yes, but I want that girl. In my room. Tied to my bed,
tonight."
Why?
So you can rape her repeatedly and beat her within an inch of her life? Like
hell.
"I'm afraid that can't happen,"
I respond coolly, while my blood simmers in my veins.
"And why is that?"
I make a drastic decision.
"Because I've already claimed her.
She's mine."
I just fucking hung
myself.
*Note- unedited and subject to change.
© 2014 Author M. Never
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