At the Billionaire's Pleasure 5 (Anything for Love) (BDSM Billionaire Series) (6 page)

"I don't care. No one comes out here. Why are you hanging around this place? You know I want it destroyed and it's far too dangerous..."

"Carrie, this is my mother, Gertrude or Gertie to her friends." David continued on as though his mother hadn't brushed his initial introduction aside.

She turned narrowed blue eyes in my direction. "It's Mrs Ashcroft to you." She didn't extend her hand in greeting but instead returned her attention to her son. I could feel the hostility that rolled off her in waves.

"Clarissa Lonsdale informed me that you were splashed all over the tabloids with some new piece of trash and a murder plot. I didn't believe her at first but then I saw it for myself. So I rushed home only to find out that you had brought it here. And now I find you out here disobeying a direct order."

David's hand trembled in mine and I squeezed it softly in an attempt to reassure him but it did no good. He was furious. The anger bubbled up under the surface searching for an exit.

"How dare you speak of Carrie in that manner. I always thought you were at least civil and now I see that I was wrong on that count. What was it you were always telling me? That you wanted me to be happy?"

"Of course I want you to be happy, David. Just not with such a frumpy piece of trash. What about Erica?"

"Who is Erica?" I couldn't stop myself from interjecting. I had heard enough to last me a life time. David's mother didn't know me and yet she saw fit to pass judgement on me. I didn't have to take it and I wouldn't.

She turned her cold blue eyes to me. Her lips twisted in a cruel smile as she answered. "Erica, is David's, soon to be fiancé. Tell her, David."

I sucked in an angry breath and waited for David to answer. "That's it. I don't have to stand for this. Erica and I are never going to happen. The sooner you understand that the better. I'm with Carrie." With that he jerked me forward as he began to stride across the lawn.

I looked back over my shoulder as David pulled me after him only to watch his mother's shocked face follow our progress. We made it down onto the gravel and David continued walking as far as the garage. His mother had started to follow us. David released my hand as he entered the garage and a few moments later I heard the sound of  an engine purring to life. As the large electric door opened wide his mother reached the place where I stood.

She never uttered a word to me choosing to wait until her son pulled out of the garage in a sleek black Mercedes. The passenger door popped open as it pulled level with me and I slid into the heated leather seats. His mother leaned in over me, treating me as though I didn't even exist. Her strong floral perfume making my nose itch and the back of my throat burn.

"David, don't be like this. You know I only do what I do for the best."

"Was it best to blame me for Mel's death for all those years? You couldn't blame Aaron because he was the eldest son and father wouldn't have liked it. But I was an easy target wasn't I? Was that for the best too?"

She jerked back out of the car as though David had slapped her and he gunned the engine. I barely had the opportunity to slam the door as we sped away down the drive, wheels spinning and gravel flying.

We travelled in silence for a full half an hour. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say, or even if I was supposed to say anything. What was the etiquette when your boyfriends mother thought you were frumpy trash?

David let out a sigh and reached across the space between us. He squeezed my thigh and shot me a quick sheepish smile. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. She's not normally that acidic. Something has obviously driven her over the edge."

I couldn't resist asking him. "Who's Erica?"

David puffed out his cheeks and shot me another sheepish grin. "She's the daughter of our next door neighbours..."

I looked at him confused. "You have neighbours? I didn't see any houses nearby..."

"Estate. They own the estate beside my parents and when we were younger we dated for about three months but broke it off. Ever since then my mother has decided we will one day marry. She has a real issue with the fact that I haven't gotten back together with her."

"Oh..." My thoughts were in turmoil. If his mother seemed to think there was something between them then perhaps there was? I shook my head and tried to clear the negative thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. It happened every single time. For some reason I didn't think I was good enough for David. It was something I was going to have to get over and fast.

The movement of the car lulled me into a relaxed state and it wasn't long before I felt my eyes grow heavy. All I seemed to do lately was sleep and now was no different. I steeled back against the warm leather and drifted off into a fitful sleep filled with images of a beautiful woman who was trying to steal David from me.

***

"Carrie." The sound of D
avid's voice and his hand on my shoulder as he shook me gently awake roused me from my sleep. It was dark and I squinted to figure out where we were. It quickly dawned on me that we were in the underground parking lot of his apartment. I sat up straighter and moved my neck from side to side.

Although I had slept for what felt like hours I was still tired. He smiled down at me and clicked the buckle on my seat belt.

"You look adorable when you sleep you know." He said as he climbed out of the car and walked around to open my door.

Smiling sleepily I climbed out and stretched. I closed my eyes as another yawn overcame me. I squealed as David's arms wrapped tight around me and he pulled me into an embrace. His lips were soft and enticing on mine. I melted against him my body instantly understanding its place against his. I returned the kiss my need for him flaring up within me as it threatened to consume us both.

He laughed as he pulled away. "Plenty of time for that later. After my little surprise..."

My stomach knotted in excitement. Whatever his surprise was I couldn't wait to find out more. The words tripped from my tongue before I could stop them even though I had promised myself earlier that I wouldn't ask what he meant.

"Please, give me a hint?" I begged. Looking up at him through lowered lashes.

David's chuckle was all male as he let his hands wander down my back to the curve of my ass. Gripping me tightly he pulled me up hard against his body. I whimpered as I felt him press against my stomach. I knew what lay beneath his clothes and the pleasures he could bring. I wanted to feel it, even if it meant him taking me now against the bonnet of his car.

He nibbled along my earlobe weakening my knees. "Did you know, Carrie, that patience is a virtue? I said later and I'm the Master." He let me go suddenly but steadied me with his hand. My knees didn't want to support me and I had to place my hand on the car to hold myself upright. The alarm sounded. It's squeal making me jump and David laugh. He held me tight as he clicked the alarm off and wrapped his arm around my shoulder before walking me up to the lift. The door whooshed open and I was startled to come face to face with a tall man dressed completely in black. It dawned on me immediately that he was security.

"The apartment is clear." He addressed David who merely nodded in response.

David turned to me and kissed me softly. "I have to go finish up some business but I promise I will be back as fast as I can. Mike here will stay with you just in case. But I really won't be that long. You'll barely miss me and I hope you'll enjoy the surprise later?"

I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I wanted David to stay with me. Although the guard standing at my back was obviously well trained. For some reason when I was with David I felt much safer.

"Do you have to? Couldn't it wait?" I tried to keep the petulant whiney tone from my voice but I was sure some of crept in.

"I'm afraid not my sweet. This needs to be done." He handed me a small cell phone. "If you need anything mine is the only number programmed in. Call me and I will come." He smiled at me before kissing me softly once more. "I do love you, Carrie. I've never loved anyone the way I love you."

My heart skipped a beat as he spoke and I leaned up on tip toe to whisper against his ear. "I love you too. Hurry back to me."

He grinned and jogged across the parking lot to the car and climbed back into the car. He squealed out of the parking garage and I watched him go. Turning to Mike I smiled at him.

"Is there a car or will I get a cab?"

He looked startled before he answered. "Mr Ashcroft gave me the impression you were going up to his apartment?"

I shook my head. "No there is one or two things I need to pick up from my own apartment."

He looked sceptical for a moment or two. "Fine I'll get a cab and go myself. I won't be long and David won't even know I was gone."

"No it's fine we have a car." He pulled a radio from his pocket and spoke into it. He then gestured for me to join him in the elevator. "It'll pick us up outside the front door."

I beamed at him. "Thank you." The doors slid shut behind me as I stepped inside the elevator. It moved upward and stopped on the ground floor. I followed Mike out into the foyer and then out through the double doors onto the street. The car stood idling at the curb and I climbed into the back and Mike followed.

The car moved away and wound down through the streets. Realising it was the driver that had taken me home before I smiled and sat back. David would be furious if he found out I had gone to my own apartment but I wanted to pick up my mail and check my messages. My parents were going to be worried so I wanted to figure out what they were planning on saying before I called them again. I also needed some clothes.

David had said he had something special planned and I knew for a fact that I had no clothes at his apartment. Everything was still at his mother's house. And as good as he was I couldn't imagine that he had, had the time to move them back to the city.

The car pulled up at the curb jolting me out of my thoughts. I hopped out of the car without even thinking and skipped up the steps to the front door. Mike started to follow me.

"I'll only be a couple of minutes you wait here." He hesitated and that was all the time I needed to slip inside the door and climb the stairs quickly. Fishing the spare key from its hiding place in the door frame I popped the door open and entered the apartment.

I had only been gone a few days but already it had developed an empty feel. Making my way to the answer machine I pressed the play button. It beeped a few times before starting to play the messages stored. A sound in the hall had me moving back to the front door.

"Mike, I told you I would only be a few minutes." I spoke with an air of frustration. Being followed around was not something I would ever get used to.

I opened the door and froze.

"Hello sweetness, miss me?" Robert's words sent ice skittering down my spine. Images flashed into my mind of his hands around my throat as he tried to choke the life out of me. The way his hand had clamped across my mouth to keep me silent as I had lain helpless in the hospital bed. And what he had promised to do.

I turned with a strangled scream of panic and tried to escape in the apartment but there was nowhere to run I was trapped. I thought of David's face. The sincerity in his voice as he had told me he loved me.

Pain blossomed across the back of my neck. I turned to see Robert lift the butt of the gun once more and screamed as he brought down on the side of my cheek. Pain exploded in my head as I collapsed and the last thing I heard was his manic laughter as the darkness swallowed me up.

***

My head ached and I tried not to vomit with the pain as slowly I opened my eyes. The light seemed far too bright and part of me hoped I was back in the hospital the way I had been when I had woken the first time.

"Wakey-wakey. It's almost show time. I was afraid you were going to sleep straight through and that would be no fun now would it?" The sound of Robert's voice instantly made me realise I wasn't safe. Far from it.

I moaned and tried to sit up but my hands were frozen behind my back. I struggled for a few minutes until I realised that they were tied in place. I struggled some more but it only caused the pain in my head to worsen.

Robert's shoes came into view and he crouched beside me. "Dear me we can't have you on your side like that. You'll miss the look on David's face when he stumbles in and finds me ready to blow your head off."

He tangled his hands into my hair and tugged me upright. I screamed around the gag in my mouth and my stomach rolled painfully. I was sure I was going to be sick. Once upright he grabbed my arm and tugged me to my feet. I went with him but the world spun in dizzying circles and I almost fell. He held me in place and shoved me back against the wall. His body pinning me in place.

His hair was a mess and the look in his eyes was entirely crazed. He had flipped over the edge completely since I had seen him last. He traced the barrel of the gun down along the side of my cheek as he stared into my eyes.

"I thought about trying to figure out what it is about you that David likes so much whilst you were unconscious but I figured you'd be more responsive awake."

Fear trembled inside me and I longed to scream to release some of the terror that was building up within me.