BUY ME (7 page)

W
hile Stella is having
a day with Mandy, Aaron and I have to conduct some business. We are at the point in our casino career where we’ve started to move to being a bit hands off and delegating where we can. Some things still require personal attention, and it’s part of what we love about owning the Cortez.

Some things we don’t love are favors we do for friends. The poker tournament is going strong again in the morning as some of the games have lasted all night. Thank God today is the last day we are hosting, because the media circus surrounding it is a nightmare. Don’t get me wrong, we love publicity, but we get plenty of that without the celebrity drama.

After Aaron and I make the rounds and avoid Natasha as much as possible, we go out front to our waiting driver. We had Mandy set a meeting with Charles, so he’s expecting us at the Snake Eyes soon. On the way over, Aaron is silent as he looks out the window.

“You okay?”

He doesn’t look at me when he responds, just keeps staring out of the window at the passing Vegas strip. “I just can’t stop thinking about her. Every minute we’re away, I’m counting down until we can see her again.”

I smile so big my face hurts. When I don’t say anything, he looks at me and sees my big goofy grin. He rolls his eyes and goes back to looking out the window.

“Try to tell me you don’t feel the same.”

I can’t keep the excitement out of my voice. “Of course I do, I’m just not brooding about it. I’m happy as fuck we’ve got her waiting on us. I hate the time we have to spend away from her too, but doesn’t it feel amazing? Doesn’t it feel like your heart is about to burst any second because it’s so full of love?”

Aaron looks over at me, and his smile slowly grows to mirror my own. “I never thought it would feel this good. Jesus. We’re in love.”

I throw my head back and laugh because it sounds crazy. It is crazy, but that’s life, right? Good things take time, but great things happen all at once.

After a moment of us sitting in silence and smiling like idiots, we pull up to the front of the Snake Eyes.

“Get your game face on, brother. It’s time to deal with Charles.”

Aaron follows me out of the limo, and we walk side by side into the casino. The difference between the Snake Eyes and the Cortez is like night and day. Where we are light and glass, the Snake Eyes is dark and leather. Everything in here looks sultry. It’s as if you took your darkest erotic desire and made it into a place for people to drink and gamble. Charles Townsend is a legacy casino owner, meaning his family has been in the business for decades. From what we know about him, though, he went against his father and built this casino on his own the way he wanted it. It’s hard not to respect a man willing to step away from his rich family to break off and make a name for himself. It’s probably why this casino isn’t connected to the Townsend properties throughout Vegas.

If I wasn’t so annoyed with how Charles handed out loans to Frank in Stella’s name, and then bid on her at the auction, I might not hate him. But as it stands, he’s crossed a line, and the three of us need to have a conversation.

As we walk through the pit, we are immediately greeted by Cupid. He’s the liaison for the Snake Eyes, and basically the know-it-all of Vegas. There isn’t anything that happens on the strip that Cupid doesn’t hear about, and when he steps in front of us with a beaming smile, I just extend my hand and wait for it.

“My, my, my. As I live and breathe.” Cupid is a short, chubby, bald guy, and I don’t know if that’s how he got the name or if he was already named that and is destined to look this way because of it. He reaches out, taking my hand with both of his, and winks at Aaron. “Seeing the Cortez brothers grace us with a visit is something to celebrate. But may I offer congratulations on your other good news?”

I raise my eyebrow, and his smile widens.

“Oh, I assumed the damsel you have locked in your tower was to be the future Mrs. Cortez. Or are my sources failing me?”

I look at Aaron, and he rolls his eyes. People think what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. They’re sadly mistaken. Everybody knows everything. And if you’re out of the loop, you should be worried.

Cupid doesn’t seem bothered when I don’t confirm his suspicions. “No worries. I’ll just wait for my wedding invitation in the mail. This way, gentlemen.” He turns and leads us to the back of the pit and to a set of private elevators. They are covered in black leather, and the red number above the door looks ominous. I never realized it before, but the whole casino has the feeling of hell. I think anyone wanting to come to Vegas to find sin would find it here. And from what I hear, for the right price, the casino offers a list of debauched pursuits to choose from.

Cupid scans his pass and enters the elevator with us. Once inside, the black mirrors enclose us, and we ascend silently to Charles’s office. When the doors open, I expect to see sunlight, but again it’s how one might picture a dungeon. The room is bigger than a conference room, and Charles is at his desk at the far end. The only light comes from glowing black sconces on the wall. The walls look like they have been lined with black crocodile skin, and the carpet is blood red. Aaron and I are dressed in tan suits with light blue shirts, and it feels like we’re angels coming to meet with the devil. So be it.

Charles is sitting at a massive desk made of shiny black wood with a black onyx top, a small laptop and his phone sitting tidily atop it. Nothing else. He leans back in his chair, and Aaron and I approach, taking the two seats in front of him. Charles just looks at both of us, and I turn to Aaron and sigh. I guess we get to start the party since we called this meeting.

“Why were you at the auction?” I don’t want to beat around the bush because we all know the reason we’re here.

“I was there bidding on Stella. I wasn’t the only one there that night. Are you visiting all the other casino owners who offered to pay for her as well?”

I’m annoyed at his tone, but Aaron decides to speak first. “None of the other owners were trying to raise the price.”

Charles leans back in his chair. It’s easy to see he’s getting angry. He’s a big guy, and not just in height. He’s as tall as Aaron and me, at just over six feet, but he’s got width and weight on us. Where we are slim, Charles is bulky. I heard he played rugby in college, and I believe it. His size, however, isn’t intimidating. When it comes to Stella, nothing stands in our way.

I lean forward, and I hear Cupid clear his throat behind us.

“Gentlemen. There seems to be some miscommunication happening here. Why don’t I help clear the air?” We all look at him, and then Charles waves for him to continue. “I believe when you two were here last month you cleared up everything owed in Stella Johnson's name, correct?”

Aaron pulls out the paperwork and lays it on the desk in front of Charles. “That’s correct. We didn’t touch the debt owed in Frank’s name; that’s for him to fix. There’s no business left between this casino and her.”

Cupid looks down at the paperwork, and then makes eye contact with Charles. Something passes between them, and Charles nods his head. “It seems Mr. Townsend isn’t of the same opinion.”

I stand up at his words, and I’m followed by the two other men. Charles slams his fist down on his desk, and Aaron grabs my arm to keep me from going over the top of it.

“You come in to my casino and demand things. You throw your money at people and they just do what you tell them to. Is that how you think you can talk to me?” Charles looks livid and ready to attack both of us. “You two see someone like her in trouble and you pay off the problem, only to enslave her. Is that how you think women are to be treated? I didn’t know she wasn’t aware of the loan when her father took it out. He forged her signature on the paperwork, but I only just found that out. I would never try to hold something over her to keep her for myself like the two of you have done.”

Aaron squeezes my arm tighter, but he’s the one that answers. “You don’t know shit about us or about our situation. And you sure as fuck don’t know anything about Stella.”

“I don’t need to know anything about her. I know what you two are capable of, because I’ve seen you do this before. You take a young innocent girl and make her beholden to you so she’s unable to get out from under your control. You two just walked into that auction and bought what you couldn’t have. I’m tired of sitting by quietly while you both getting everything you want.”

I look to Aaron and then back to Charles. “What fuck are you talking about?” I’m completely lost.

“I want Mandy.”

“What?” Aaron and I say in unison, his demand coming out of left field.

“You’ve just paid ten million dollars for Stella. Don’t tell me you need two of them. I’ve heard the stories about you two, so I know you only want one. Obviously you’re done with Mandy, and I want her.” I can tell by the look on his face he’s not fucking around.

“You think we kept Mandy as a…what? A slave?” I say, still confused as all fuck.

“I don’t give a fuck what you kept her as. All I know is that her time is finished with you two, and I want her.”

“No,” Aaron grits out. She’s like a sister to us, and we wouldn’t hand her over to anyone. She’s not a piece of property.

“You’ll do it or I’ll buy out every debt in Frank Johnson’s name, take that farm and burn it to the ground.” I look at Charles in shock. He meets my eyes. I can tell he's dead fucking serious. “And the tapes of you and Natasha Woods go public.” He lands his killer blow.

My face must turn white, because his face is smug now, some of the anger fading from it. “Don’t worry, nothing happened. But it won’t take much editing to make it look like it did. From what I’ve seen of the video, she drugged you and had a camera guy take you to her room, but I had a man outside the door waiting to bust in as you came out. Despite my reputation, I wouldn’t have allowed that to happen to anyone, even you.”

“But you have the video?”

“I have it for now. As collateral.” He gives us a cocky grin, knowing he has the upper hand.

Suddenly, Cupid comes over and lays a sheet of paper on the desk.

“This contract states that Mr. Townsend would like to hire Mandy on a temporary basis at the Snake Eyes casino, and in turn you would hire me. Think of it as an exchange, but with a dramatic flair.” I’m surprised he doesn't throw glitter in the air as he says it.

“Why would we do this?”

I look at Aaron in shock. “Are you seriously considering this?”

He gives me a look, and I understand. That farm is everything to Stella, the whole reason she was even doing this, and burning it down would be the ultimate slap in the face after her years of dedication to it. Not to mention the media scandal it would cause if that video leaked. She has known enough pain, and the need to keep her from feeling any more of it is like a driving force for us.

Cupid lays three pens on the desk. “The terms are simple. Sadly, there are no sexual servitude clauses. I would’ve loved to have tried on the two of you.” He smiles at his own joke and continues. “One month of service to the casino. Mandy and I will be treated as any employee and made to do only the required tasks. At any time during the month, if either of us feels too much is being demanded of us or we are asked to do something we aren't comfortable with, we can terminate the contract on our own and go back to our previous employer. It’s that easy, and believe me, I know the demands you two make of Mandy, and I wouldn’t have agreed to it without a way to get out.”

I pull my arm out of Aaron's grip and pick up the contract. It’s one page long and easy to read. There are a few rules, but they are all standard and nothing looks out of the ordinary. Still, I don’t get it. “Explain this to me, Charles. Why are you doing this? I don’t understand why you want Mandy.”

“I have my reasons, and ultimately I want to make sure she’s happy where she is.”

Mandy’s been with us since she was nineteen, and though she’s been wonderful, we’ve been selfish. We’ve demanded a lot from her, and she’s sacrificed everything for us and our casino. Maybe Charles is right. Maybe we have enslaved her. It’s clear he means her no harm, maybe he just wants to be near her. I understand the feeling— being willing to do anything to just be near the woman you want. I’m standing here for that reason. Plus I know Mandy can hold her own. I’m not sure he knows what he’s biting off.

I look at Aaron and he nods his head, looking to Charles. “One month, she can leave anytime she wants, and we get Cupid as a replacement?”

“That’s the deal.”

I take the pen and sign the paperwork, hoping Mandy understands. Aaron grabs his pen and looks at Charles one last time. After a moment he must see something and decides to go ahead. Charles signs last and passes the contract to Cupid.

“Now, if you two will excuse me, I have some phone calls to make.”

Charles sits down at his desk, and Aaron and I turn to leave. Just as I do, I realize I’m still holding his pen in my hand and I turn back to drop it on his desk.

It’s then I see a picture of Mandy on his phone. Before I can comment, he hits a button and the image disappears. His eyes meet mine, daring me to say something.

No man would go to these lengths for a woman he doesn’t care about. I know because I’ve gone to these lengths before. It’s then I see what Aaron must have seen. His need for Mandy is raw and real, and if this were a poker game, I’d have his casino.

I just nod my head and go to the elevator, joining Aaron. Cupid stays behind and waves goodbye to us as the black mirrored doors close.

Once we are out of the Snake Eyes and in the back seat of the car, I look at Aaron and smile.

“Why are you smiling now?”

“You know, the answer to that question is another question.”

“Which is?”

“Think Mindy would enter the Mistress Auction?”

W
e spend
the next three hours being pampered. I’ve enjoyed every second of it, except maybe for the bikini wax. Now we’re both sitting in massage chairs waiting for our nails to finish drying.

“God, that massage was to die for,” Mandy moans next to me as if it was still happening.

“It really was. I could get addicted to this,” I say, agreeing with her.

“Better get used to it. The boys spend a lot of time here, so I’m sure you will too. They hardly leave this casino.”

I wonder how close Mandy is to them. Maybe now that she is relaxed and has a few glasses of champagne, I could try to pull some info about them from her. That is what girls do at the spa, right? Gossip?

“Why’s that?” I question and try to sound as casual as I can, like I don’t really care if she answers the question. Just making conversation. It’s only natural, right? It’s the one thing we both have in common.

“They are like me, workaholics, but I think they will start to slow down now.”

I feel butterflies take flight in my stomach. It’s all the little things clicking into place. The comments from both Aaron and Justin and now Mandy. It all seems to point to them wanting to be with me. For something more permanent.

I decide to bite the bullet. Just ask what I want to know.

“Do you know they bought me in the Mistress Auction?”

“Yes, it’s my job to know almost everything they do. It’s what makes me good at my job.” She turns and looks at me. “And I love them, that’s also why I keep a good eye on them.”

My heart freezes at her words, but once again her face is warm, not filled with jealousy. It’s like that every time she looks at me. She likes me. Her love for them has to be affectionate and platonic.

“They want you. I see it in the way they talk about you. You're special to them. I think you’ll make them happy. You already have. Since you walked into their lives they seem to have come alive. The past few years have been dull. Something was missing for them, and I think they’ve found it. More importantly, they think they’ve found it.”

The butterflies take full flight now.

“They knew I’d be there last night at the auction, didn’t they?” I say. It’s not a question, really, because I already know the answer, but she nods, confirming what I thought. There was too much in place.

They must have found out I’d be there somehow. In an odd kind of way it’s sweet. Almost like they came in and swooped me away, and were willing to pay ten million dollars to do so. Just to finally get their date with me.

The nail lady comes back in to help me get my shoes back on. I got a color that matches my dress nicely. I wonder if we have plans tonight or something. My make-up and hair are fully done, and it’d be a shame to waste it.

Mandy’s ringing phone draws my attention back to her. She's signing a slip of paper for a member of the spa staff, and she deftly juggles her phone and the pen.

“Ms. Burch speaking,” she says in a professional tone. It seems like the phone is glued to her hand.

“Hello? Hello?” she repeats before canceling the call, a worried look on her face.

“Everything okay?” I ask, seeing that’s she’s somewhat disconcerted by the call.

“Yeah, someone just keeps calling but they never respond when I answer.” Doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but I can tell this bothers her.

“You sure you're okay?” I try again, not used to seeing the unflappable and unfazeable Mandy discomfited.

“Everything is perfect. I just need to clear out a few things. I'm sure my Inbox is overflowing by now,” she responds, a mask slipping back into place.

“Yeah, I'm sure you have a ton to do. I'll leave you to it. I know my way back to the room.”

“Are you sure? It's a big casino and it’s easy to get lost. I can walk you.”

“No, it's fine. I remember the way,” I reassure her.

“I had a wonderful time today. I hope we can do it again soon.”

Nodding my head, I agree. “I'd really like that.” It was wonderful. I lost touch with so many of my friends when most of them went off to college. I don't have any girlfriends anymore. My closest friend at the moment is Tim, who doesn't really care to even talk. He more grunts his responses. It's sad when a twenty-year-old girl’s closest friend is a forty-five-year-old man.

I leave Mandy standing in the spa, typing away on her Blackberry. I didn’t even know people’s fingers could move that fast. I make my way back to the elevator that goes up to our room. Warmth floods my stomach at the idea of the room being ours.

I feel like my brain is playing tug of war with itself. One part of me is telling me not to get attached, but the other wants to jump in with both feet. I’m truly starting to think this isn’t a game for Aaron and Justin. Maybe they really want more, and I’m sick of not doing what I want to do, so I’m going to give this a try.

If worse comes to worst, I can cry myself to sleep on top of my ten-million-dollar bed every night. Pushing the elevator button, I can’t help but snort at the idea of sleeping on a ten-million-dollar bed.

“What’s so funny, Lucky?” I turn to see Aaron staring down at me. His eyes are filled with hunger. I’m starting to think maybe that’s just how his eyes always look.

I give in to what I want, doing what I told myself I would do. Jump in with both feet. Wrapping my arms around his neck, thankful for the wedges giving me the extra height, I pull him down closer. “Nothing,” I say, pressing my lips to his. Like all things I’ve noticed about Aaron, he doesn't really need an invitation. He jumps right into kissing me back. He doesn't start slow and try to work his way up. No, he pushes his tongue right into my mouth, demanding entry.

This isn't surprising. Even when both Aaron and Justin were trying to get me to go on a date, I could see their differences. While they were a lot alike, there were small things about them that I noticed were different. Justin always tried to charm me into dates, work up to it before he asked. Aaron kind of just demanded.
“We’ll have dinner Friday. I’ll send a car for you at seven sharp.”
An order to which I didn’t respond. I let the car show up at seven and promptly told the driver he wouldn't be taking me anywhere.

I hear the elevator ding behind me, and I pull my mouth from his. “Where’s Justin?” I ask, looking around for him. I wonder if they were both headed up to the room and that's why I ran into them. Still seems a little early for a date, but maybe they have something special planned. I look around to see if he is nearby, and I spot him all the way across the casino.

A blonde woman stands extremely close to him, and I feel my gut clench. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her. Aaron’s eyes follow mine, and I feel him still next to me. I watch as Justin leans into the woman and whispers in her ear.

“Who is she?” I ask, hoping for an answer that will help ease the heavy weight in my stomach.

“No one,” Aaron says, pushing me into the elevator, the door closing behind him. He slides his key in, giving him access to hit the button that goes to our room.

“Where was I?” he says, turning back to me again. “That’s right, kissing my woman.” He’s on me once again, kissing me, demanding entry to my mouth. I moan against his lips.

“Fuck, you taste good, and you smell like roses.” He buries his face in my neck, biting and kissing me there. Who knew you could get turned on by someone kissing your neck.

“The spa, they rubbed me down with all kinds of oils and lotions.”

He bites my neck in response, making me squeak a little.

“Male or female?”

“Male or female?” I repeat, not understanding what he’s asking. It’s hard to think with him doing that to my neck.

“Was it a male or female who rubbed you down?” I hear the jealousy in his voice, and I smile.

“Female.”

“They took our smell off you. We worked hard to put that all over you. I better check to see if it’s really gone,” he says, dropping to his knees in front of me.

‘What are you doing?” I try to halt him from lifting my dress. “There are cameras in here.” I nod towards the black ball in the ceiling of the elevator.

“I’ll have them wiped.” He gives me a cocky grin. “And I won’t let them see anything.”

Before I can respond, his head is under my dress and my leg is over his shoulder. I should stop him, but all rational thought leaves my head when his mouth touches my pussy.

“You went out without panties. You’ll pay for that later.” I barely understand his muffled words from under my skirt. I want to tell him to shut up, that the panties they gave me aren’t even panties, but the only thing that pours from my mouth are moans of pleasure.

Using the flat of his tongue, Aaron licks me back and forth, as far as he can reach, before focusing on my clit. He torments the bundle of nerves, making me cry out for more. I jerk against him, but his hands on my hips hold me in place, his fingers digging into my curves. His lips lock around my clit, sucking it softly into his mouth, sending me over the edge.

The orgasm shoots through me, all the way to my toes. It’s so intense it forces my eyes closed. When I finally open them, I’m no longer in the elevator. I’m lying on the sofa, Aaron looming over me beside it. His lips touch mine, softly this time.

“I’m going to run back downstairs, sweetheart, I’ll be back in a few. Then it's just you, Justin and me for the night.

“Mmky,” is all I can say. His lips touch mine again, but he pulls away before I can try to deepen the kiss. I can tell it takes everything in him to leave me, and the feeling of power I had this morning comes back full force.

I watch him leave, excited for his return with Justin.

I wonder about the blonde woman again. Maybe it was nothing. They could be close friends like they are with Mandy.

Going to the entryway, I grab the phone off the table and call Tim. I should have done this hours ago.

“Hello,” Tim answers on the third ring.

“Hey, it’s Stella,”

“Hey Stella, I was starting to worry.” I feel guilty at his words. I’ve been lying like crazy to him. I made up a story about there being a farmers’ convention out in Los Angeles that I was going to this weekend. I told him I was going with the hope of meeting some investors who might help pull us out of the hole we were in. Tim is still kind of stuck in the old ways and barely uses a computer unless it’s to order something we need, so he didn't really question me much.

“Sorry, I got caught up but I’ve got news. I got an investor, so anything you need for the farm right now you go ahead and get. The money should have been deposited, so just charge whatever to the company card that’s in my desk top drawer.” I tell him this knowing the first five million should have been deposited this morning.

“That’s great.” His tone might seem low and flat to anyone else, but I’ve known Tim since I was little. I can hear the relief in his voice.

“If you need any help tending to the extra work, go ahead and bring some people on. I’m going to be gone for a little longer but everything is fine now.”

“Sounds good. I’ll hire the Wilks boys to come over and help. They are always looking for extra work,” he says, talking about the family that lives down the road from the farm.

“They do pretty good work. And Dad?”

Tim goes silent, and I know he is thinking of a way of telling me something, a way to phrase something without lying, but without telling me the honest truth either. This is something he never does. He’s always honest with me. Guilt weighs a little heavily on me for the lies I’ve been telling him.

“He was home last night. He’s just still sleeping it off.” I glance over at the clock and see it’s already three in the afternoon. Jesus.

“All right.” What else can I really say? “You can reach me at this number if you need me.” We say our goodbyes, and I feel a little bit calmer. Almost like something has been lifted off my shoulders.

I look back at the clock and see that only a minute has passed. I wonder when they will be back. I should have brought some books or my Kindle. I make my way to the kitchen and grab a banana out of the bowl on the counter. I sit down at the breakfast bar and open the paper.

Flipping through the pages, I stop cold on page six.

L
ooks
like the rumors are true! Casino hot-shot Justin Cortez and Reality Star Natasha Woods are hot and heavy.

I
t’s then
I realize who the woman is. She’s a famous reality star who lands on the covers of magazines around Las Vegas all the time. The same woman I saw Justin with downstairs only moments ago.

The picture shows him leaning in close, whispering in her ear, with her pressing her body into his. She’s smiling right at the camera. The article goes on to talk about the event they were at. The one that was hosted at this casino last night. Where they went last night after they left the room.

I can’t bring myself to read it and I drop it back down on the counter. I head back to the living room and plop back down onto the sofa.

The mistress contract said we weren't to ask the clients about where they spent their time; it wasn't our business, but Justin made it seem so different this morning. Or maybe that was their game. They wanted a woman at home but wanted to do whatever they wanted when they were out and about. It wasn't an unheard of arrangement in Vegas.

They are rich men who want to have their cake and eat it too. Or maybe they think since I got both of them, they should get other people too. I drop my head in my hands and force myself not to cry. I feel like I’m drowning in the grief of losing something I never even had.

I should have listened to myself in the beginning. Men like Justin and Aaron are too good to be true. Yeah, they may want me. They may even want to keep me, but I wouldn't be the only one they spent time with and that just isn't something I’m cut out for.

Back to plan A, which would be easier this time. I know the game for sure. Do your thirty days and be done. Put your walls back up, Stella. Guard yourself. Do as they command, and walk away with what you came for.

I hear the elevator ding, and I look up to see Justin and Aaron exit, both with big smiles on their faces. They both stride towards me. Justin reaches me first, pulling me up into his arms. He kisses me, and I willingly open my mouth. It takes everything in me not to kiss him back, but I don't deny him access either. It is, after all, what they paid for.