Allure

Allure

Michelle Betham

A Forbidden novel

(The Forbidden Series Book #1)

Copyright © Michelle Betham 2015

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior permission of the author.

This book has been written to entertain, therefore the story, characters and events are very much a work of the author’s imagination, and are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to any person, places or actual events is purely coincidental.

This story is written from two points of view – that of a British woman, and an American man. Therefore, sometimes, the terms or words they use for certain things may differ.

I’d also like to point out that I’m a British author, and have therefore used British spelling and UK English throughout this book, even though I have tried to make sure, as much as I can, that when telling the story from the American character’s point of view I use terms and words that would be familiar to him.

Also by Michelle Betham

Titles published through HarperImpulse (A division of HarperCollins Publishers)

Striker

Extra Time

Final Score

The First Christmas Without You (A HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance Novella)

Shirley Valentine Goes to Vegas

Self-Published titles

No Matter What

Illusions of Love

See You At The Show

Unbreakable

Revolution – The Lone Riders M/C Series Book #1

Retribution – The Lone Riders M/C Series Book #2

Resurrection – The Lone Riders MC Series Book #3

And the romantic comedies…

Too Much Trouble in
Paradise

Bon Voyage

For those who aren’t afraid to push the envelope…

This book is for you.

Glossary of Terms used in this book

Escort
  
-
  
A woman (or man) who is paid to act as a companion for a client. They may or may not provide sexual services.

In-Call
  
-
  
When the client meets at the escort’s residence.

Out-Call
  
-
  
When the escort meets the client at their own home or hotel room.

Bareback
  
-
  
Sex without a condom.

Cowgirl
  
-
  
A sexual position where the man lies on his back or sits up and the woman straddles him, either facing forwards or back.

Girlfriend Experience
  
-
  
A service offered which includes the escort acting like a girlfriend for the client on evenings out, business dinners, etc. Can include kissing, hugging, talking. May or may not involve sex.

Porn Star Experience
 
-
  
A type of service that offers sex of a slightly more kinky/taboo variety.

Costume Play
  
-
  
Sex involving role-play and dressing up.

On Tour
  
-
  
When an escort bases themselves in a city other than her/his own for a brief period of time, advertising their services a little further afield.
 

A selection of music from The Forbidden Series Playlist

‘Allure’ – Book #1

If
 
-
 
Janet Jackson

Stay With Me Till Dawn
 
-
 
Judie Tzuke

Body On Me
 
-
 
Rita Ora ft. Chris Brown

Justify My Love
 
-
 
Madonna

Try
 
-
 
Pink

I’m Your Baby Tonight
 
-
 
Whitney Houston

Chandelier
 
-
 
Sia

Ain’t It Funny
 
-
 
Jennifer Lopez

Tonight Again
 
-
 
Guy Sebastian

You’re Makin’ Me High
 
-
 
Toni Braxton

Chains
 
-
 
Tina Arena

Love Me Like You Do
 
-
 
Ellie Goulding

Stay
 
-
 
Rihanna, Mikky Ekko

Feel Like Makin’ Love
 
-
 
Bad Company

Don’t Wanna Fall in Love
 
-
 
Jane Child

(Untitled) How Does It Feel
 
-
 
Matt Bomer

Run Away With Me
 
-
 
Carly Rae Jepsen

Let’s Get Serious
 
-
 
Jermaine Jackson

Loved Me Back To Life
 
-
 
Celine Dion

The complete ‘The Forbidden Series Playlist’ can be found on Spotify.

One

Neal Cannon

This part of the
UK
is alien to me. I’ve never been here before, to North East England. I’ve visited
London
, on more than one occasion. I’ve even passed through
Manchester
once, a few years ago. All business-related, of course. None of my visits to
Britain
were ever about pleasure, and this one’s no exception.

Walking over to the window I look out at the view from my hotel suite on the banks of
Newcastle
’s River Tyne. This suite is way too large for what I really need – a living room, bedroom and large bathroom is, perhaps, a touch extravagant, but I like luxury; I’m used to it. And I’m here for a week, so I want somewhere I can feel comfortable.

I take a sip of mini-bar whiskey and continue to look out at the unfamiliar city that’s spread out in front of me. Night’s just beginning to fall but I’m too tired to venture outside. I can’t even summon up the energy to head down to the hotel bar. Whatever’s left here in the room will have to do. It’s been an exhausting day. It was a long flight, and I’m seriously considering an early night.

I down the rest of the whiskey and turn away from the window, heading over to the desk in the corner of the living room. My laptop’s already switched on so I start typing.

I’m in a strange country.

But it’s business as usual.

Kira Blu

I close my eyes as he pounds into me. He’s one of my regulars, and I never mind coming to see him when he’s in town because all he requires me to do is, quite literally, lie back and let him do all the work. Some days that’s all I can be bothered to do, so it’s a bonus when that’s exactly what the client requires.

‘
Jesus
, Kira!’

I feel him come, and that’s my cue to give him the required amount of noise that lets him know I’m enjoying it too, but the truth is I’ve been doing this for so long now I feel numb to it all. I’ve just become a much better actress, but, hey, if it keeps them happy. And I’ve just earned over six hundred pounds for a few hours’ work that’s ended with me lying flat on my back while he sucks on my nipples, licks my pussy and fucks me in the most mundane way possible. But, like I said, he’s one of my regulars. I trust him. I like him. He’s a good man, he’s just not that good at relationships. In fact, I think I’m the closest thing to a relationship he’s got right now.

‘That was
good
!’ he groans, pulling out of me and rolling over onto his back. I sit up and place my hands behind me, pushing my tits out just a little bit, as a bonus, really. He’s still got some time left. If he wants to play a bit more I’ll let him. He’s my last client of the day. I’m feeling generous. After this I’m meeting some of the other girls downstairs in the hotel bar for a few drinks. We like to compare notes, talk about the good guys, and the ones we hope won’t try and book a repeat visit. Although, it’s our choice who we see. We just hate doling out rejection.

‘So, how long are you up here for this time?’ I ask as he turns onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, his other hand reaching out to pull the covers clean away from me.

‘I’m heading back down south tomorrow. Bit of a flying visit this time, I’m afraid.’

I carefully study his face. He isn’t a bad looking man – at forty-five years old with dark grey eyes, short, grey-flecked hair and light stubble covering his chin he could easily give George Clooney a run for his money. Which is fine by me. When the clients are easy on the eye it makes my job a lot more fun. But I know, since his divorce eight years ago, that he’s steered clear of any lasting relationships. I know a lot about this man; I know a lot about most of my regular clients. They don’t just come to me for sex or a no-strings-attached date, a fair few of them see me as someone they can talk to, and I’m fine with that. They’re paying for my time, and they’re free to use that time in whatever way they wish.

I’ve been an escort for over ten years now, and it wasn’t exactly a career choice for me, but sometimes life doesn’t always turn out the way you thought it might. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but there’s a reason why I turned to this life. And it goes deeper than just
me
not being very good at relationships, either. I don’t want to be. That’s my choice. Keeping men at arm’s length is the way I like it. I hold the power in this game, and that’s important to me. When men book me they know exactly what they’re going to get, if they read my profile on the agency website thoroughly. I’m experienced, I’m popular, and I don’t have to do this every day of the week but in a warped kind of way I like it. It’s given me a good life. I’ve earned a lot of money; I have a nice home, lots of friends. And, most importantly, I have no ties, no commitments. The only person I have to keep happy, apart from my clients, is me. And that’s the way I like it.

‘Any idea when you’ll be back in
Newcastle
, Jason?’

Make them think they’re missed. Make them think they’re your favourite client. Tell them what they want to hear. It’s all part of the job.

‘I’ll try and make sure they send me back up here in a couple of weeks. We do a lot of business in the North East, so that shouldn’t be a problem.’

He runs his hand along my thigh, up over my hips and waist until he finds my breasts, and I allow him one more squeeze. But his time’s almost up now.

‘I should be going.’ I carefully remove his hand and stand up, giving him one more chance to check out my naked body as I stretch out, running my fingers through my hair. ‘But it’s been good seeing you again, Jason. As always.’ I flash him my best smile, and he returns it. He looks nice when he smiles. I find it hard to believe he hasn’t got women falling at his feet, this handsome man with the ridiculously well-paid job. So well-paid that he can afford to book me more than once during his regular visits to the North East. But then, I have to remember that he could very well be feeding me a pack of lies. He could be telling me anything, but it doesn’t matter either way. Single, married, whatever – it isn’t my job to counsel them. I just fuck them. They pay me to live out their fantasies, so who am I to question anything they tell me?

‘Make sure you keep some space free for me, OK? A couple of weeks, that’s all, and I’ll be back.’

I give him another smile as I pull my dress back on. I never took the sky-scraper heels off. He likes it that way. A lot of them do. ‘There’ll always be space for you, Jason.’

‘That’s my girl.’ He grins, and I pick up my bag, double checking I put his money in there. ‘You have a good night, do you hear?’

I stop in the doorway of his hotel room and turn to face him. ‘I will. And you take care. OK?’

I genuinely like this man. He’s been coming to me for almost five years now and it’s hard not to build up some kind of relationship – no matter how twisted it might be – with someone you see on a regular basis for that long. But I’m an expert at keeping a professional distance. I have detached down to a fine art. Give them what they want, yeah. But never give them too much.

Closing the door behind me I make my way to the elevator and head down to the bar to meet Sindy, Ruby and Lily, three of the newer, younger girls who’ve recently joined the agency. Sometimes I feel like their mother, but at thirty-six years old I’m almost a decade older than them, so that’s only natural, I suppose. And I feel a certain sense of duty towards the younger girls who come into the business. We work for one of the most prestigious escort agencies in the region, but a lot of the new girls will come to me for advice; they look up to me because I know this shit inside out. It’s my world. God help me.

‘A tall glass of ice cold Cava, please, Frankie.’

Most of the staff know us here. We’re familiar faces to them. They know what we do, and they don’t mind us being here because we’re discreet. We also look good, which never hurts, and we spend money. Quite a bit of money, sometimes, depending on the kind of day we’ve had.

‘Good night?’ Ruby asks, throwing Frankie – the tall, young, tattooed barman – a wink. I think she has a soft-spot for him, and I’m almost sure it’s reciprocated. I’m just not sure how he feels about what she does so whether anything’s going to progress past the winks and the smiles I have no idea.

‘I’ve just left Jason.’ I take a long sip of Cava and they all nod, because they know Jason’s one of those men I genuinely like spending time with. But I’m really tired now. Jason paid for a few hours today, because his visit is such a short one this time around. Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t fuck for the entire five hours I spent with him. That isn’t the way it usually works. Sex happens, sometimes, of course it does. But with men like Jason – and I see a lot of men like Jason – it’s the company they want, too. So we had dinner, we talked; by the time we got back to his room there was only a
 
little over an hour of his time left. But it’s all catching up with me now.

‘This one guy I had today asked me if I swallowed.’

Sindy’s voice brings me back to the here and now and I look at her. ‘Did he read your profile?’ Every one of those men who consider coming to us should read our profiles on the agency website before they even think about booking us. If we don’t list it, we don’t do it. And, to be honest, over the years, as I’ve built up a regular client base and felt less of a need to take every booking that comes my way, my list has diminished somewhat. I don’t need to do all the things I felt I needed to when I first started out in this business.

‘He said he’d read it, but he asked if I’d make an exception.’

‘No exceptions.’ I look at the three younger girls beside me. None of them have been doing this all that long, but they’re clever girls. They’ve all got sensible heads on their shoulders. But I don’t think any of them are seeing this as something they’re going to continue once they’ve finished paying themselves through university. They won’t still be doing this when they’re my age. They won’t want to. It’s
my
choice I’m still here. I’m jaded and bitter and I need to do this. They don’t, I’m almost sure of that. ‘Once you start making exceptions word gets out and they’ll all start asking you to do it for them. Stick to what you’ve put in your profile. Don’t ever veer from that. And remember, if you feel threatened by anything or anyone you call the agency. OK? Or you call me.’

‘He seemed nice, though.’

‘No exceptions, kiddo.’ I drain the last of my Cava and slide down from the bar stool. ‘I’m calling it a night, girls. I guess this lady ain’t as young as she used to be.’

‘Oh, come on, Kira. It’s Friday night. We’re all going clubbing.’

I raise an eyebrow and throw Lily a sideways smile. ‘And you all go enjoy yourselves, but I’m going home now to catch up on some much-needed sleep.’

‘You working tomorrow?’ Ruby asks, holding her cocktail glass out to Frankie for a refill.

‘I’ve not got any appointments booked in as yet, and if I’m honest, I’m kind of hoping for a quiet day. But…’ I shrug, because nobody knows what tomorrow’s going to bring. Not in this business. ‘We’ll see how it goes. I’m keeping my calendar open. You all stay safe now.’

I just want my bed. And something mindless and boring to watch on TV.

This is my life.

This is how it turned out for me.

I want better for them.