His Taste (By His Command #7) (billionaire domination / erotic romance) (4 page)

That made me smile.  It would never happen.  Even in death - if it came to it - Jonathan would have more command than anyone else in my life.  The more Jonathan talked about Kellen, the more I realized I’d have to really pretend to be interested in Kellen.  

“
I want you to make this happen,” Jonathan said.  “Turn his brain into the mush it really is.  Crack that shell around him.  He’s used to everyone giving in and giving up.  I was the only person who could control him and he didn’t like it.  I took something from him and he never forgave me or himself.  Remember what I said about apologies?”

I nodded.  I listened and hung onto everything Jonathan Black said.  No matter what.

“
That’s part of Kellen’s problem.  He can’t let go.  He can’t admit a mistake and walk away.”

“
Have you made mistakes, Mr. Black?” I asked.

Jonathan let out a short laugh.  I loved the sound of his voice.  “No, Isabella Grace.  I do not make mistakes.  I make moments.  Good or bad, it doesn’t matter.  Each moment I own and each moment takes me to the next.”

“
I love how that sounds,” I said.

What a way to live.  So open.  So free.  So commanding, even to himself.  I imagined Jonathan had to be as hard on himself as he did to others.  Just like before, when he was deep inside me, the look in his eyes and the way he thrust at me, he looked like he wanted to prove something to himself.

I hoped he did.  I didn’t want to go anywhere but into his arms.

“
With that said, my beautiful Isabella, it’s time.”

“
He’s going to be downstairs?”

“
Of course he is.  Are you questioning me?”

“
No, sir.  Just curious.”

“
Of course you are,” Jonathan said.  “He knows I’m here.  He knows you’re here... you know what he looks like...”

Jonathan’s lip curled.

I pictured Kellen’s perfect clothing, tall statue, and pristine looks.  

“
He expects to see me in turmoil,” Jonathan said, calming himself.  “He expects to find me wallowing to you, Isabella.  He wants to see me in pain, losing power, especially in front of you.  It’ll make him feel good about himself... but there’s no chance of it.  He’ll feel on top of the world when he sees you alone.  And once you start looking around, looking worried, looking alone, he’ll come to you.  He’ll play the card against me.  And you play it right back.”

Jonathan looked miles away.  Miles upon miles away.  He touched his face and took a breath.  His eyes were on fire.  He oozed sexual passion and need... but deep within his eyes I could see pain and revenge.  

Those two things alone didn’t bother me.

Those two things in a person didn’t bother me.

Those two things in Jonathan Black... well, they scared the hell out of me.

-5-

I sat at the bar, feeling uncomfortable.  I hated the dress and hated that Jonathan Black wasn’t sitting next to me.  I felt eyes upon me, non-stop, but not the set I was instructed to care for.  Those who dared to get within speaking distance, I simply turned, showing them my bare back and neck, sending them away.  The first few times it felt weird, but I got used to it.  The attention was exciting... men looking at me, wanting me, and I’d go back upstairs to face the only man who could provide me with real pleasure.

Finally, I saw the doors to the hotel open and in walked Kellen.  Two men appeared from behind him and stepped in, looking around the restaurant.  They were dressed in black, screamed of
yes-men
, and then walked Kellen to his table.  It was the biggest corner table in the restaurant, all for himself.

I could already sense the petty greed pouring from him.  He sat with his arms out, expecting everything.  And that’s what he got.  Personal attention from a waitress and a waiter.  The waiter seemed to take his order while the waitress received not-so-subtle touches.  He was good looking but arrogant.  

When he looked at me, our eyes locked and he smiled.  I turned my head and tended to my drink.  I drank a glass of blood red wine, nothing quite as extravagant as the wine upstairs, which was good because I didn’t want to end up drunk, talking to Kellen.

I felt his eyes burning on my back and neck, like lasers.  It was time to start worrying.  To lure him in.  I looked around the restaurant and then bit my lip.  I repeated the motion and as a man walked by, I touched his shoulder and politely asked the time.  The time meant nothing but when he gave it to me and walked away, the fake smile I donned turned into a concerned frown.

The entire time, Kellen looked at me, everything working like Jonathan said it would.

When his waiter came back, he said something and pointed at me.  I saw him adjust the lapels on his suit jacket and I knew he was going to make his move.  I turned my back to him again and waited.  I hoped he wouldn’t dare touch me because the punishment from Jonathan would be hell.  And I wasn’t exactly sure who the punishment would be directed at.

Kellen appeared next to me and without saying a word, he unbuttoned a button on his jacket and slid it off.  He draped it over the barstool and took a seat next to me.  He faced me.  He was beautiful and cocky.

“
What kind of wine?” he asked.

“
Does it matter?”

Kellen leaned towards me.  I stiffened, praying he wouldn’t touch me.  I looked disgusted which was probably the first real face I made since taking a seat at the bar.

Using the middle finger on his right hand, he touched the rim of my wine glass and followed it in one big circle.  He then showed me his finger, smiled, and licked it.  He used the tip of his tongue quick.  His lips smacked a few times and he nodded.

“
Let me get you a refill,” he said.

I looked at the bartender, a young, pretty woman with her back to us, standing at the far end of the bar flirting with a few men in suits.  I expected Kellen to call for the woman, but I found that expecting anything was foolish.

Kellen stood.  I was in shock as he climbed behind the bar and found the exact wine I had ordered.  I knew nothing about wine other than a few names.  But Kellen managed to nail it.  Just by tasting a little residue on my glass.  He came back over the bar and stood tall, fixing his shirt and tie.

“
There,” he said.  “Now we can relax.”

He left the bottle on the bar and had since attracted the attention of the bartender.  She stood with her hand on her hip, looking pissed.

“
Sweetheart, come here,” Kellen said.

The woman walked to him and he took her hand.

“
You know who I am, right?”

She nodded.

“
Good.  Here, let me take care of this.”  Kellen reached into his pocket and put a wad of cash into her hand.  He folded it up and smiled.  “There you go.”

The bartender looked at the money and appeared shocked.

“
That’s five hundred dollars you gave me,” she said.  “That entire bottle of wine is only a hundred...”

“
Well, then free drinks,” Kellen said.  He smiled again - this time I caught myself smiling; there was something catchy about his smile.  He leaned towards the bartender and he whispered, “Or you could be a little greedy and just keep it for yourself.  That’s what I’d do...”  Kellen looked at me.  “I don’t like to share.”

The bartender left and Kellen slowly took his seat, not letting his eyes leave mine.

“
You must be Kellen,” I said.

“
You must be Isabella Grace,” Kellen said.  He voice was sexy.

I hated him already.  But yet, I was intrigued.

“
You know, it’s kind of silly to sit here like this,” I said.

“
Why?  Afraid your dress is going to go just a few inches higher and make it worth my time to look?”

He was bold.  Confident.

“
You know he’s here, right?”

“
Who?”

“
You know who.”

“
Oh, that’s right.  Jonathan.”

“
Mr. Black,” I corrected.

“
Oh, I’m sorry.  Is that what he forces you to call him?  Keeps you as an object... and object of lust or abuse?”

I took my wine glass and sipped.  I was already done with him.  I could handle Jonathan’s command but I wouldn’t handle nonsense from Kellen.

He put his hand out to touch me and I hurried to move.  

“
What do you want?” I asked.

“
To know why someone so beautiful is sitting alone.”

“
He’s on a phone call, that’s all.”

“
With another bank?” Kellen asked with a big smile.

“
He doesn’t need a bank.”

“
Yes, he does.  But he won’t get one.  He’s all tapped out.  Everyone is sick of his bullshit, Isabella.  Including you.  Isn’t that right?”

“
Do you know what’s right?”

“
I know what I see when I look in your eyes.”

“
And what do you see?” I asked.

Kellen shifted so he could stare at me.  He took his time, on purpose, allowing his eyes to focus and move, focus and move, focus and move. I could easily tell it was some kind of tactic, maybe he used it for sales, maybe he used it for women.  Either way, I could understand how it worked on people, but it did nothing for me.

“
I see beyond the shell he’s given you,” Kellen said.  His hand already started to creep towards me.  I couldn’t believe how alert I was, noticing the smallest movements without moving my eyes.  

What had Jonathan Black done to me?

“
I see beyond the world he wants you to believe in,” Kellen continued.  “Because there’s more to it.  Sure, there’s suffering and tragedy, but did you know there’s beauty?  There’s love?  There’s hope?  

That’s the magical part of life.”

“
Did you memorize that?” I asked.  

“
I only speak what my heart tells me to say,” Kellen offered.  “Sometimes it gets me into trouble but what can I do?”

“
Does your heart understand what you’re doing right now?”

“
Oh, it understands,” Kellen said.  “So do I.”

His hand moved towards me and I jumped back.  My nerves tingled and for a split second, I saw him touching me.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about it but I calmed when I saw his hand go after the wine bottle.  

“
Jumpy?  Must be Jonathan’s demand, huh?”

Kellen drank straight from the wine bottle.  He had the appearance of a powerful man but the demeanor of a wild college guy.  I honestly couldn’t read him for a second.

“
It’s been a long time,” Kellen said.  “That must be one hell of a phone call he’s on.”

“
Maybe he’s making an offer on your bank,” I said and smiled.

Kellen laughed.  He flicked the wine bottle with a fingernail.  “I hope not.  He’d fire me then, wouldn’t he?”

“
I’m sure of it.”

“
He can’t afford me,” Kellen said.  “He can’t afford you either.”

I took offense.  “Do you see a price tag anywhere?”

Kellen leaned towards me but kept a respectful distance.  “I’m not talking about money, Isabella.  It’s not always about money.  That’s where Jonathan and I differ.  He has monetary value on everything.  It’s disgusting.  My value is in heart and soul.”

“
Save the romance,” I said.  

“
It’s not romance, it’s truth.  You’re not wearing a necklace.  Or a bracelet.  Earrings.  Rings.”

“
Don’t like them,” I said.

“
That I doubt.  He hasn’t given you a thing.”

“
So materials are important to you?” I asked.

“
Not the material, but the gesture.”  

Kellen nodded at me.  I let it sink in and my thumbs slowly started to touch my bare fingers.

“
Exactly,” he said.  “It’s about caring beyond the scope of the world.  It’s about creating your own life but respecting the world that exists around us.  I deal with hundreds of people a day.  Each one of those people face challenges and I must step into their world and make a decision.”

“
And what was so wrong with Mr. Black’s world?” I asked.  I wasn’t sure if talking about the deal between Kellen and Jonathan was off limits, but since I was already there, why not ask?

“
I never said there was anything wrong,” Kellen said.  “I just don’t like the man.”

“
So you pick and choose?”

“
We all do.  And right now you’re picking while I’m choosing.”

He drank from the wine bottle again and stood from the barstool.  My feet moved, trying to find the floor.  He wasn’t supposed to leave.  I was supposed to leave first.  I was supposed to leave him with his mouth hanging open, desperate to chase me down.

“
Where are you going?” I asked.

“
What’s wrong?  Going to miss me?”

“
Didn’t realize our time had ended,” I said.

Kellen put the wine bottle down and moved so fast, I couldn’t protect myself this time.  The same finger he used to touch my wineglass now touched my shoulder.  The cardinal rule of our date shattered to pieces.  My body flushed and burned as Kellen’s finger moved along my shoulder.  I watched him do it, keeping all reaction at bay.  I hated myself for what happened but I didn’t stop it for a second.  His finger moved down my arm a few inches and then right back up to my shoulder.  

He took his hand away, reached for his suit jacket, and took the bottle of wine.

“
Cheers to the night ahead,” Kellen said and then he smiled as he walked away.

I sat frozen in silence, stuck between emotions I couldn’t figure out at that moment.  When I finally turned, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Kellen sitting at his table again.  His arms outstretched.  His suit jacket back on.  The only difference from before was the bottle of wine on the table.