The Power Trip

the best she’d ever experienced. Plus he knew what to do with it — a true bonus after a series of famous men who considered erectile dysfunction totally normal.

Aleksandr pushed her to the ground and dropped his pants. He never wore underwear, something they had in common.

The cold tile against her skin made her shiver even more as she spread her long legs for her lover. Glancing up, she noticed the red light on the security camera and wondered if they were being watched or filmed.

It didn’t matter. Aleksandr controlled everything; he would never allow anyone to use her or anything bad to happen.

His solid body crushed her beneath him as he entered her. He was a big man, big and powerful. She took a deep breath, inhaling his overpowering masculine scent.

‘Oh… my… God…’ she murmured. ‘You feel so amazing, so damn hard…’

‘Only for you, my little Kotik. Only for you.’

‘Yes,’ she sighed, shifting her body to accommodate him. ‘You know, Aleksandr, you’re the only man who has ever truly satisfied me.’

He was heavy on top of her. She didn’t care, the sex was that exciting. She got off on the way he thrust himself inside her as if he was determined to own her.

Nobody had ever owned Bianca. She was a free spirit. Yet with Aleksandr she had no desire to be free. She yearned for him to possess her in every way, and possess her he did with his strong arms, full body weight and hard penis.

At the beginning of their relationship she’d tried to assert herself in the bedroom. Aleksandr was having none of it. He expected total control. Sex would take place his way or not at all.

Bianca was cool with that. She was so used to calling the shots with men, it made a refreshing change to allow someone else to be in charge.

Groaning with pleasure, she flexed her thigh muscles, causing Aleksandr to grunt his appreciation.

He made her feel like a little girl, a naughty little girl. It turned her on in a big way.

Chapter Eight

Sometimes Taye Sherwin’s mind wandered, especially when Ashley was in one of her haughty moods — a personality trait that seemed to emerge every time they had dinner with Jeromy Milton-Gold. It pained Taye to watch his wife try so hard to act as if she’d been born in Mayfair as opposed to the modest seaside city of Brighton. Ashley tried desperately to shrug off her roots, even though everyone knew she was not to the manor born. On the other hand, Taye was proud of where he came from: the Elephant and Castle. He’d done well for himself, and was happy to tell anyone and everyone about his not-so-fancy beginnings.

Taye had no clue where Jeromy Milton-Gold had originally sprung from, but he was well aware that the man was not averse to dropping names and carrying on as if he was the King of the Castle. Or Queen. Yeah, Taye thought with a wicked grin. Shouldn’t that be Queen?

‘What are you smirking at?’ Ashley asked, catching him mid-smirk.

‘Just thinkin’ about a joke one of the lads came up with today,’ Taye said, quick as a flash.

‘Do share,’ Jeromy said, tapping the side of his wine glass with long elegant fingers.

‘You wouldn’t find it funny,’ Taye retorted, wishing they could get the hell out of the pretentious restaurant and head for home where he planned on showing his wife the coveted invitation before banging her brains out. Man, he was feeling so-o-o-o randy.

‘I can’t stand jokes,’ Ashley said with a slight sniff of distaste. ‘They’re always so sexist and never funny.’

‘I must say I’m forced to agree with you,’ Jeromy drawled. ‘Un-amusing, and yet some people feel as if they’re obliged to laugh.’

‘I think people only tell jokes when they run out of conversation,’ Ashley snapped, shooting Taye a mean look. ‘It’s as if they have nothing else to say.’

‘That’ll never happen to you, toots,’ Taye retorted. ‘You’re a world-class gossip.’ He nudged Jeromy. ‘Never off the phone, this one. Always got a girl chat-chat goin’ on.’

Jeromy curled his lip, a habit he’d developed when he wasn’t quite sure what to say.

Ashley glared at her husband.

‘Luca and I are going on a simply marvellous trip,’ Jeromy said at last, filling the sudden silence.

‘That’s nice,’ Ashley said, taking out her compact and applying more lipstick. ‘Where to?’

‘Somewhere hot and exotic, I suspect,’ Jeromy said with an airy wave of his hand. ‘We’ve been invited by Aleksandr Kasianenko on the maiden voyage of his new yacht.’

Ashley’s eyes widened. ‘How fabulous,’ she sighed. ‘Lucky you.’

Taye was speechless. Dammit, Jeromy was messing with his surprise. What was he supposed to do now? Blurt out that they were invited too, and risk a tongue-lashing from Ashley, who’d be livid that he hadn’t told her.

‘I can certainly use the break,’ Jeromy said with a patronizing smile. ‘I’m expecting that you’ll keep an eye on things in the London showroom, won’t you, dear?’

Ashley bobbed her head and turned to her husband. ‘You know Aleksandr whatever his name is, don’t you?’

Taye nodded. ‘Yeah, we met a couple of times. He’s a big football fan. There’s a rumour goin’ around that he’s thinkin’ of buyin’ one of the clubs.’

‘Bianca is a dear friend of Luca’s,’ Jeromy allowed, once more sipping his wine. ‘They met years ago at a fashion show in Milan. Luca was singing for a paltry million euro, and Bianca was busy strutting her stuff. They have a history.’

‘Nice,’ Ashley said wistfully. ‘I bet it’ll be a fab trip.’

‘Yes,’ Jeromy agreed. ‘I am sure it will be.’

* * *

The couple left the restaurant and drove home in silence — an uncomfortable silence, finally broken by Taye who couldn’t stand it when Ashley slipped into one of her moods.

‘What’s up, toots?’ he said, one hand on the steering wheel, the other patting her on the knee. ‘You’ve gone all broody on me.’

‘Why do you always try to put me down in front of Jeromy?’ she complained, her cheeks flaming. ‘I’m in business with the man, and you do your best to make me look like a fool.’

‘What’re you talkin’ about?’

‘You know full well.’ And then, attempting to imitate him, she added in a mock-up of his voice — ‘“This one’s always on the phone gossiping”.’

‘I’m not makin’ it up,’ Taye said, withdrawing his hand from her knee. ‘You are always on the blower, carrying on to your mates about this an’ that.’

‘I am so not,’ she said in an uptight voice. ‘I do not gossip. And even if I did — that’s no reason for you to announce it to the world.’

‘C’mon, toots,’ he pleaded. ‘Let’s not make this into a fight.’

‘No. You come on, Taye,’ she said crossly. ‘I hate it when you disrespect me. It’s not right.’

‘I’m sorry, sunshine,’ Taye said, anxious to placate her. ‘Look — I’ve got a big surprise waitin’ for you when we get home.’

‘I’m not interested in surprises,’ she said, staring out of the window.

‘You will be in this one,’ Taye assured her.

‘You’re so annoying,’ she said irritably. ‘Why do you always have to try and change the subject?’

‘’Cause I love you, toots, you know that. An’ I can’t stand seein’ you upset.’