Unleash Me, Vol. 1 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (9 page)

“
From
what I saw today?
”
Aura
said.
 
“
Fine
—
initially,
you were nervous.
 
Most are.
 
But then you really got into it.
 
And from that moment on, as far as I
’
m concerned, we have
our choice of shots.
”
 
She came over and hugged me.
 
“
I know it
’
s
not easy at first.
 
But you
’
ll see.
 
There will be more shoots like this in
your career.
 
I think you
’
ll be happy with what
we achieved today, and I hope that we can work together again soon.
”

“
Oh,
we will,
”
Blackwell
said as she removed the diamonds from my lips with some kind of solvent.
 
“
You
’
re
amazing, Aura.
 
So kind.
 
So precise.
 
Such energy.
 
I
’
ve seen the outtakes.
 
I know we have something special here.
 
Thank you for taking so much of your day
with us.
 
I won
’
t soon forget it.
”

“
Please,
it was my pleasure.
 
Lisa, I look
forward to reading your book.
 
Would
you send me a signed copy?
 
I
’
d treasure it if you
would.
”

Was she serious?
 
Those were words I
’
d wanted to hear since
I was a kid.
 
“
Of course I will.
”

“
Perfect.
 
I
’
ll see you soon, I hope.
”

Both of us thanked her again, and
then we stepped out of the building and into the twilight of the night, where a
limousine was waiting for us at the curbside.
 
The driver held the door open for
us.
 
As I sat down next to
Blackwell, she asked me where I
’
d
like to be dropped off.

“
Your
apartment or Tank
’
s?
”

“
I
think you know the answer.
”

“
Yours
it is then.
”

“
Very
funny.
”

“
Now
listen,
”
she
said to me.
 
“
I need you to get some
rest tonight.
 
Tomorrow is your
first editorial meeting with Boss.
 
After the way things went down today, I have a feeling that he
’
s going to carve the
hell out of your book tomorrow, and he won
’
t be kind about it.
”

“
If
the edits are reasonable, I
’
ll
be behind them.
 
I know that book
isn
’
t
perfect.
 
I did my best when I
published it on my own, but if Boss can help me polish it and turn it into a
better book, I
’
m
all for it.
”

“
He
can do that.
 
But I
’
m afraid that your
skin is going to have to be very thick when he launches into all that he feels
is wrong with your book.
 
Especially
after what happened today.
”

“
Look,
I grew a thick hide years ago.
 
When
I was taking creative writing courses at UMaine, my professors and classmates
ripped my work apart weekly.
 
I was
the only one in my classes who wrote commercial fiction.
 
All the other students had big ideas
about writing the next great American novel.
 
Not for me
—
in fact, I don
’
t even have that in
me.
 
But writing about zombies in a
post-apocalyptic world?
 
That
interested me.
 
So did earning a
living from my writing.
 
What my
peers never understood is that writing poetry or serious prose wasn
’
t going to get them
far in life.
 
They wanted critical
success.
 
They wanted to be lauded
and awarded for their brilliance.
 
I
couldn
’
t
care less about that.
 
I just wanted
to write page turners that pleased people.
”

“
And
you
’
ve
succeeded.
”

“
I
have a long way to go in terms of improving my writing skills, but I love what
I do.
 
The masses want entertainment.
 
I like to write entertainment.
 
In college, people thought I was a
sell-out.
 
And whenever I had to
read a chapter aloud to them, they let me have it because I didn
’
t conform to what a
writer was for
them
.
 
What
they didn
’
t
understand was that I was writing what
I
loved to write
—
stories
that thrill, not stories that pandered to get to the heart of the human
experience.
 
They were pretentious
snobs, and I
’
m
fairly certain that
’
s
the kind of person I
’
m
going to face when I meet with Boss.
 
So, as I said before, he doesn
’
t intimidate me for good reason.
 
Now you know why.
”

“
What
concerns me is that you
’
re
not going to be prepared for just how ruthless he
’
ll be.
 
This is
not college
—
it
’
s different.
 
Right now, it
’
s real in ways I
’
m not sure you
’
ve wrapped your head
around.
 
You no longer own the
rights to your work.
 
Today, you
signed away those rights.
 
Wenn now
owns the rights to your next two books and to your recently self-published
title.
 
When it comes to that book,
you won
’
t
have any say if Boss makes you rewrite the entire thing, which he
’
s already
threatened.
 
That
’
s what worries
me.
 
With self-publishing, you haven
’
t had to answer to
anyone but yourself.
 
Now, at least
for these three books, all of that has changed.
 
You
’
re going to be answering to a man who mistreated you the
moment he saw you
—
and
whom you turned into an enemy.
”

“
I
guess I
’
ll
deal with that when it comes,
”
I
said.
 
“
What else can I do?
”

As we cut through traffic, bands of
light slipped across her face, illuminating it for an instant before casting it
back into darkness.
 
This time, when
I saw her expression before the interior of the car went dark, it was
grim.
 

“
Unless
he
’
s
truly abusive, which I know he can be, you can
’
t do anything,
”
she said.
 
“
So.
 
Make sure you tell me if he crosses that
line.
 
Alex will likely reprimand
him for his behavior today.
 
But if
Boss goes there again?
 
Neither Alex
nor I will tolerate it.
 
If he goes
there with you, tell me.
 
And then
Boss will be gone.
”

*
 
*
 
*

Tank
’
s apartment building was on Fifth.
 
It was a Wenn-owned property where
Blackwell also lived, so we took the elevator together after arriving.
 
We parted ways with a kiss on the cheek
when the elevator reached Tank
’
s
floor.

“
I
’
ll talk with you
tomorrow,
”
she
said when I stepped onto Tank
’
s
floor.

“
Thank
you for everything, Barbara.
”

“
Thank
you for being professional.
 
And
good luck tomorrow.
 
Remember
—
come
to me if anything goes wrong.
”
 

I went down the long hallway, took a
left, came upon Tank
’
s
apartment, and knocked on the door.
 
I was still in the shirtless tuxedo Blackwell had chosen for me earlier
in the day, but because it was so cold, I also had on a lovely, mid-length,
black cashmere coat from Tom Ford that she had surprised me with before we went
downtown for the photo shoot.

“
I
can
’
t
have you going belly up on me with pneumonia now, can I?
”
she
had said when she gave me the coat.
 
“
Here.
 
This will keep you warm.
 
It
’
s my personal gift to you.
 
It
’
s also my small way of saying
‘
congratulations
’
on
your success.
”

“
It
’
s lovely!
”
I
said when I put on the coat.

“
It
’
s a bit too large for
you,
”
she
said as she studied me.
 
“
Especially in the
waist and at the chest, where God apparently decided to rob you of
breasts.
 
You
’
re tiny, but I thought
I got it right.
 
But damned if I
didn
’
t.
 
I
’
ll fix it this week.
 
There is no way I
’
m
going to let you wear that for long without it being fitted to you.
”

When Tank
’
s door opened and I
saw my boyfriend in his Levi 501s and flannel shirt, I swept myself into his
arms.
 
He swung the door shut behind
me, and we just stood in the entryway for a moment, holding each other while I
felt the warmth of his body against mine.
 
It was comforting and reassuring.

“
I
missed you today,
”
I
said.

“
Did
you?
”

“
More
than you know.
”

He leaned down and kissed me.
 
“
I also missed you.
”

He helped me out of my coat, stood
back, and gave me a low whistle.
 

“
Jesus,
”
he
said.

I twirled in front of him.
 
“
You like?
”

“
You
look hot.
”

“
This
isn
’
t
me.
 
You know that.
 
This is just what Blackwell and Bernie
turned me into today.
 
Oh, the power
of hair, make-up, and good clothes.
”
 
I
walked over and pressed my hands against his chest.
 
“
Would you like to take my suit off me?
”

“
In
fact, I would.
”

“
Let
me freshen up in the washroom, and maybe I
’
ll let you strip me bare and have your way with me.
”

“
Don
’
t tease me.
”

“
Who
says I am?
”
 
I glanced down at his jeans, which
were bulging exactly where they should be bulging.
 
“
Why would I deny myself of that?
”

“
You
shouldn
’
t.
 
But would you like something to drink
first?
”

“
What
do you think?
”

He grinned at me.
 
“
You
’
re
in a mood.
”

“
I
just want to be with you.
 
Can you
blame a girl?
”

“
Martini?
”
he
said.

“
That
would be lovely.
”

“
Coming
up.
”

I went into his bedroom, which led to
his master bath, where I looked around for some mouthwash.
 
I found some in a cabinet, took a swig,
swished it around in my mouth, and then spit it out.
 
I checked my face and reached into my
clutch to apply a fresh coat of lipstick. Then, I checked my hair and my
make-up, which were fine.
 
Finally,
I adjusted my suit.
 
When I was
finished, I closed my eyes and thought of Tank
’
s arms around me a moment before.
 
There was love in that embrace, warmth
that went beyond warmth, and I was lucky for all of it.
 

Still in my Louboutins, because I
knew they would turn him on, I clicked into Tank
’
s kitchen, where he was waiting for me with a perfectly
chilled martini.
 
He had a fresh,
frosty glass of Guinness in his hand.
 
My boyfriend was not of the martini set
—
he was all man, and I loved him for
it.
 

We moved into his spacious living
room, where a curtain of windows that spanned the entire space overlooked Fifth
Avenue and all the lights that glowed beneath us, ahead of us, and above
us.
 

I
’
d been in his apartment many times over the past two
weeks.
 
The furnishings reflected
who Tank was
—
brown
leather sofa and chairs, an absurdly large flat-screen television affixed to
the wall opposite the sofa, an antique coffee table made of thick mahogany and
glass, and on the walls, a surprising collection of contemporary art that had
nothing to do with the decor.
 
It
was a mix of the masculine and modern, which just made him more of a mystery to
me.

I looked at the tall, curved beer
glass he held in his hand, and took my martini from his other hand.
 
“
That glass of yours is about as long and as thick as you
are,
”
I
said.
 

“
Lisa
…
.
”

“
You
don
’
t
know how badly I
’
ve
wanted you today.
”

“
Don
’
t get me started.
 
It
’
s taking everything I have within me not to take you right
now.
 
Especially looking like that.
”

I could see the desire in his eyes,
and I knew it reflected my own.
 
“
What if I want you to
take me like this?
”

“
I
’
ll be attentive later,
”
he
said in his impossibly deep voice.
 
“
Probably more
attentive than you can handle.
 
But
I want to hear about your day first.
”

I took a breath and acquiesced.
 
I needed to slow down and respect what
he wanted to hear.
 
I actually had a
boyfriend who was interested in hearing about my day
—
how
rare was that in my life?
 
Damned
rare.
 
So, I reined myself in,
checked myself despite the fevered beating of my heart, and pulled myself
together.
 
“
All right,
”
I
said.
 
“
But save your energy,
stud, because in a few minutes?
 
I
want you to make love to me like you never have.
 
After today, I need to sweat.
 
I want you to take me in ways that you
haven
’
t
yet dared.
 
OK?
 
I promise I won
’
t break.
”

“
I
want to take you now.
”

“
Sit
on the sofa with me.
 
I want to
snuggle against you.
 
And if I
happen to rest my hand over your crotch, just ignore it.
 
I
’
ll just be trying to keep my hands warm.
”

We sat on the sofa, I curled into his
arms, and then I began telling him about my day.
 
I put my head on his shoulder and told
him about my altercation with Marco Boss.
 
I told him about signing the contract, how tense the rest of the day had
been because of Boss
’
abusive
behavior, and then how wonderful the photo shoot had gone later that day.
 
He asked me a few questions, and spouted
off about Boss.
 
We talked about his
upcoming trip to Singapore with Alex, and then we talked about his day.
 
When our conversation started to ebb, my
hand moved between his thighs and I started to stroke him.
 
I was through with this day.
 
More than anything, I wanted to be with
him now.

“
Finish
your martini,
”
he
said.

I furrowed my brow at him in mock
surprise.
 
“
Finish it?
 
But I
’
ve barely started it
…
.
”

“
This
ends here.
 
I want you now.
”

“
But
we
’
ve
only been talking for thirty minutes or so.
”

“
We
can discuss the rest of your day in the morning.
 
And mine.
 
Singapore will be here sooner than
either of us wants.
 
I
’
m not waiting any
longer.
”
 

He put his empty glass of Guinness
down on the coffee table in front of us and held out his hand for my drink,
which I finished quickly before he took it from me and placed it next to his
glass.
 

We stood, he reached behind me and
unleashed my hair from its tight confines, and I shook it out until it fell
over my shoulders in soft waves.
 
His hands roamed over my body and sent jolts of anticipation through
me.
 
I leaned up to kiss him, but he
turned away, denying me of that.
 
Instead, he grinned and leaned down to kiss my neck, the tips of my
breasts, and then my sex.

I felt myself grow wet from his
touch.
 
When he stood, I pressed
myself hard against him and felt the full length of him against my thigh.
 
When I whispered in his ear that I loved
him, it inflamed him.
 

He told me that he loved me, and how
grateful he was to be with me, and then suddenly, he was unbuttoning my tuxedo
jacket, underneath which I was naked.
 

When he unfastened the last button
and opened my jacket, his shock was evident as he looked at me with a lust I
’
d never seen in him
before.
 
Roughly
—
more
roughly than usual
—
he
wrapped an arm around my waist, lowered his head to my nipples, sucked on them,
darted his tongue over them, and nearly brought me to orgasm right there.
 
I felt as if my knees would buckle if he
hadn
’
t
been holding me so tightly when his mouth finally met mine.

He probed deeply with his
tongue.
 
He held my face in his
hands, and he poured himself into me to the point that I could feel his soul
pass through mine.
 
I held onto his
strong arms, and tried to wrap my own arms around his ridiculous shoulders, but
it was impossible
—
he
was too broad.
 

As he kissed me, he reached down and
unfastened my pants, which I wriggled out of.
 
His head started to dip down, but I
stopped him and instead quickly unbuttoned his shirt, which I tore off him and
threw on the floor.
 
I admired his
body for a moment, lightly ran my hands over his hairless chest, and then down
the length of his corded abs, which were so thick they seemed unreal.
 
He started to bend down again, but I
stopped him.

“
Your
jeans,
”
I
said.

“
You
want them off me?
”

“
I
do.
”

“
Then
get them off me.
”

I unfastened the five buttons that
contained him, parted his jeans, and was surprised to find that he was naked
beneath them
—
usually,
he wore boxers.
 
But not
tonight.
 
His cock, full and hard,
was too big to stand at full erection.
 
Instead, as I squatted down to face it while I helped him out of his
pants, it hung long and heavy between his legs.
 

I looked at his member and watched it
throb.
 
I wanted to put my mouth on
it, but more than ever, I wanted this moment to build.
 
So I did nothing.
 
Instead, I just stood, and in one
crushing embrace, he pressed against me until his mouth met mine.
 
Without warning, he lifted me in his
arms as if I was weightless and carried me into his bedroom, where he laid me
down on his king-sized bed.

The room was dim, but not dark.
 
I could see him above me.
 
“
Come on,
”
I
said.
 
“
Let me go first.
 
I know how you like it.
”

“
Not
a chance.
”

Quickly, he got on his knees at the
edge of the bed, pulled off my panties, and started to tease me with his
tongue.
 
He brushed it so lightly
over my clit that it was a kind of agony.
 
Unable to bear it much longer, I lifted my feet, pressed my heels
against his buttocks, and pushed him toward me so that his tongue slipped
deeper inside of me.
 

It was almost too much.
 
My eyes rolled toward the ceiling.
 
I felt a warmth envelop me, and then I
closed my eyes tightly as his tongue started to dart in and out of me in a
continuous dance that didn
’
t
stop until I came with a shudder.