††  Ellis  ††

You cannot go back to the States with a murder conviction.

You cannot go back to the States with a murder conviction.

You cannot go back to the States with a murder conviction.

I had to keep repeating that mantra or else I would head upstairs and wrap my hands around his throat. 

It was eleven thirty am. and I was buried deep under another pile of files in this stuffy small room sweating my bollocks off. The sweet smell of Sasha's pussy from this morning was already lost under the funky smell of this room.

Fucking asshole.

The asshole was none other than James Charles. Zack's right-hand man.

Ugh. I was really starting to dislike the motherfucker.

He had it in for me right from the start. Hated me on sight. And this was how he tortured me. Scanning hundreds, thousands of files and uploading them into their new software, to create a digital filing system.

And yeah, I could see the benefits of the business of going digital. It made sense. But fuck me I was so bored my brain was petitioning for a job as a paperweight.

Huffing. I grabbed another file just as the door opened and my head shot up.

"Hey, USA," said a familiar voice and a welcome smile.

I flicked my chin up. "Hey, Canada." It was Ivy. Risk's Domme in training. The woman was a walking wet dream. No wonder she had guys willing to get on their knees... and stay there. And from what I'd heard in passing conversations she took no prisoners.

Truthfully, she scared me a little. Not that I'd ever say it out loud.

"Here, I thought you might want this. James told me he had you down here again."

She had in one hand two mugs of coffee. "You're fucking a Goddess, Canada." I could kiss her. "Y'know the offer to ride my cock is still there,"  I teased.

She laughed. "I've already told you. You first." She extended her hand out. "And you might be interested to know I just got this new hot red dildo." Lowering her voice with a hum. "It's as thick as your forearm."

Fuck me. I gulped, and my already sore ass clenched.

Her grin was almost evil and I happily let her change the subject. "I hardly know my own name before at least three coffees. And with you stuck here, I figured you'd need this to prevent those brain cells from staging a mass exodus." She grinned.

"You can say that again," I replied with a smirk, abandoning the file and diving straight for the drink as if it was a lifeline to the outside world.

"What have you done to piss James off anyway?" She perched her ass on the desk and brought her mug up her lips and blew over the top.

My eye roll was Oscar-worthy. "Oh, you know, the usual. I just make sure to breathe too loudly, blink too frequently, and exist in his general vicinity. Works like a charm every time. He practically wants to nominate me for Employee of the Month."

She chuckled softly. "Are we speaking about the same James? He's a little ol' softy and I've never seen or heard him utter a mean word to anyone."

Were we talking about the same guy? Shrugging. "I guess that makes me special."

"Well, maybe you should try buttering him up a bit. You know, compliment his tie. Tell him he has a nice ass or something." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Get on his good side."

He had a good side? Hid it fucking well—that's for sure. "Oh, sure. And while I'm at it, I'll sprinkle some fairy dust and summon a leprechaun to dance on his desk. Because that's about as likely as finding his 'good side'."

Yeah, my sarcasm was in fine form this morning.

"Just a suggestion, USA."

I sighed. "I know. I'm not pissed at you. I'm just fucking bored out my mind." I took a sip and nearly burnt my tongue, which only amused Ivy more.

"Hey, perhaps I could coax him into letting you work under me for a few days?" She purred with a playful glint in her eye. "Think you could handle working under me?"

I liked Ivy and I was sure working under her would be a hell-of-a lot more fun—it couldn't' be any worse! But let's get real here. It wasn't happening. "You've got a better chance of finding a unicorn with a gold-plated saddle."

Ivy shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, I'll ask anyway. Who knows, maybe luck will decide to smile down on you." She gracefully slid off the desk, a stray curl falling across her face. "And try not to take it personally. He's got a lot on his plate."

"If he's got a lot on his plate, maybe he should try not being a prick all the time," I muttered under my breath, unable to suppress my frustration.

"Keep smiling, USA." She finger waved and then reached for the door handle.

I settled back in my chair, as Ivy left and as the door clicked shut my phone chimed. Sasha's message popped up: I'm cooking tonight. What do you want to eat?

A smile spread across my face. I'd eaten her  for breakfast. Spread her out on the table and dived in. Breakfast of champions. I hadn't let her come though. I'd save that for later. I grinned mischievously and typed back. Nothing could beat breakfast, but I'm game for anything meaty ;)

Her response was fast:  Ain't that the truth! ;)

Another message popped up and this one read:  And don't be late! 

Late? She didn't have to worry about that, I wasn't working for a second longer than needed.

~ ~

As I trudged up the stairs, my mind wandered to the painfully slow pace of the day. If time had gone any slower, it'd be in reverse. I swore I could have easily grown a beard waiting for the day to be over.

I was gonna have a serious word with Zack when he got back from Paris. I couldn't take this shit for much longer.

Outside of James's office, I prepared myself for the inevitable bosshole attitude. Knocking once, I went in and squared my shoulders and announced, "I'm finished. It's done."

James, sitting behind his well-ordered desk with a smug grin, replied in his usual sarcastic tone, "Oh, I'll be sure to check on your work. Wouldn't want any surprises, now would we?"

You cannot go back to the States with a murder conviction.  I reminded myself.

But, what the hell was his problem? I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to lash out. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the cheeky bastard dared to roll his eyes at me.

"What? Were you expecting a gold star? A pat on the head?" he sneered.

That was the last straw. I couldn't hold back any longer. "What the fuck is your problem, huh?" My voice cracked with frustration, the anger boiling just beneath the surface.

James reclined in his chair, a facade of innocence masking the venom in his words. "Your attitude, that's my problem," he accused, his gaze piercing. "I know exactly who you are, Ellis Jenson."

"What!?" My incredulous response slipped out before I could stop it. "What does that mean?"

He merely cocked an eyebrow, like I should understand whatever fucked up shit was going through his head.

Not getting any response. I squared my jaw, meeting his glare with one of my own. "How about you clue me in because you've been acting like a bitch, almost as if I replaced your coffee with decaf since day one!"

He sat up ramrod straight in his chair, his indignation practically seeping from his pores. "How dare you speak to me like that! I'm your boss, and you need to show some respect!"

"Respect is earned, asshole," I shot back, refusing to back down.

"You think being one of Zack's... boys," he spat out the word with disdain, "entitles you to special treatment, huh?"

"What the hell?" I blurted out, unable to contain my disbelief. "Look, I don't know what you've been drinking, but I'm nobody's boy!"

What was with all this shit about Zack's boys? How many did he have?

And why the fuck did it bother me so much?

I mean, we'd had sex once. No big deal.

Once and done, right?

But then it hit me like a bolt of lightning, and a smirk danced across my lips. "Are you jealous? Is that what this is?" I leaned in closer, my palms pressing flat against his desk. "You want him, don't you? That's what this is all about."

I straightened up, letting my words hang in the air. "Hate to break it to you, but if you've been working with him all this time and he hasn't taken the bait, then it's pretty damn clear he's not interested."

Now I was being a bitch and I loathed sinking to his level, but he had crossed a line with me.

With a sneer curling his lips, James levelled his hard gaze at me. "You're nothing but a shiny toy to him, Ellis." His words dripped with malice, each syllable laced with intent to wound.

And he didn't stop there. Oh no, his tirade continued, an endless stream of venomous words pouring out. I stood there, waiting for him to run out of steam, but he seemed determined to keep going.

It would have been almost comical if he wasn't sitting there, spewing lies and insults about me.

"You think you're the first, huh?" He scoffed. "I've watched Zack with plenty of boys—just like you. Cocky. Arrogant. A tight ass. Bright-eyed and bloody eager. You're all the same! But they all end up the same way—chewed up and spit out. Useless and discarded." With each word, he hoped to inflict maximum damage.

My face flushed with anger, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to show any sign of weakness. Yet, I couldn't deny the sting of his words sliced through me like barbed wire.

"Go fuck yourself, James!" The retort shot out of me before I could stop it, fuelled by a surge of frustration.  "And here's a piece of advice for free. Man up and tell him how you feel or get over yourself."

A knot of unease coiled in the pit of my stomach, tightening with each passing moment. Despite my attempts to shake it off, his words clung to me like a foul smell, tainting the air around us.

Were they true?

I pushed the thought away, unwilling to entertain the possibility. I wasn't one of his boys anyway. None of this applied to me.

But damn it, I couldn't ignore the way his words dug into my psyche, festering like a poison. "Are you even listening?" His voice pierced the air, cutting through the thickening tension.

"No," I snapped, my patience worn thin. I turned on my heel, about to leave.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!"

Slowly turning. "Why the hell not?" I shot back, my tone fused with defiance. "If you've got a problem, take it up with Zack. I'm done being your fucking lackey and I'm not your verbal punching bag either, you arrogant prick."

Without bothering to wait for his response, I shot him a final glare and stormed out of the room, determined to put some distance between us before I said or did something I might regret later.

As I made my way back to the apartment, my heart pounded with a mix of anger and frustration. At least Sasha would be waiting up there, a welcome distraction of the good kind and the highlight of my shitty day.

Upon shutting the door to the apartment, I barely had a chance to say a word before Sasha launched herself at me, her smooth, long legs wrapping around my waist as my hands instinctively cupped her ass.

I was rock hard in seconds as she clawed at my shirt.

"Someone miss me?" Tipping my head back a little as she attacked my throat with her mouth sucking and nipping my skin.

"Hmhmm!" she breathed. "I've been here all alone! Of course, I've missed you!"

She lifted her head and planted her lips on mine.

God did I need this. Wanted her.  She was like a shot of scotch—the good shit.

Sasha pulled back and the black eyeliner on her alluring blue eyes messed with my head. Along with the glossy shine on her pouty lips, making them look bigger than they were. She smelled like cotton candy. Her hair was in a ponytail, and I couldn't help but envision gripping onto it while she sucked my cock.

Yeah, we would get to that.

I kissed her again because there was no resisting the gravitational pull she had on me.

I was at her mercy, asking, "Have you been a good girl?"

"Mhmmm."

In between heated kisses and me walking us into the front room. "That's not an answer, Duchess."

"Enough talk." Her face lit up my insides. "Show me how much you missed me."

Seeing happiness and amusement inch into her gorgeous face was quickly becoming my favourite image.

Sasha leaned forward and sucked my bottom lip into her mouth. 

I groaned. "And how do you want me to do that, Duchess?"

"Well, you could carry me into the bedroom, strip me bare and then spank me silly." I wasn't shocked by her suggestion but I eased back and cocked a brow, waiting. "Oops, Sir." She added, grinning. 

I liked hearing her call me sir. And lowering my tone, like Zack did, I asked again. "Then answer me. Have you been a good girl?"

She wriggled in my arms, eyeing me innocently. "Uhmm. Define good."

Smartass.

Right after I forced my mouth off her pussy this morning when she was right on the edge, I told her she wasn't allowed to touch herself. I thought she was gonna skin me alive with the glare she'd thrown at me, but Zack had said for me to pay attention to her eyes when I gave her a command.

And yep, they'd lit up like a firecracker. She might be a brat, but she wanted me to take control.

And me, well I was more than willing to take it. Which meant there would be no orgasms for my little slut, not unless I thought she had earned it. "Did you touch my pussy today?"

Her cheeks went pink and her lips curved up. "I may have touched myself, Sir."

I clucked my tongue. "Is that so?"

Breathing out heavily, I set her on her own feet with my poker face in place. "Did I not warn you what would happen if you didn't follow the rules, hmm?"

"Yes, Sir."

God, I loved this. And I wanted to whip those sexy little denim shorts from her body and put her over my lap... but that would be playing into her hands.  And Zack had also warned me about her trying to top from the bottom.

And she may have me wrapped around her tiny finger, but she didn't need to know that. So I would play this game at my own pace.

That, and I liked the idea of Sasha begging for my cock.

Trying the best I could to hide my excitement, although there was no hiding my hard cock. The eager little bastard was practically waving at her. "First, I'm gonna shower and you're gonna have a drink ready for me when I get out."

Her shoulders dipped a fraction, but she recovered and nodded before spinning around and heading off with my eyes glued to her ass as it swayed temptingly.

I had to bite back my groan, but I moved quick sharp, showering in a new record time. I didn't even bother to let the water heat before I dived on in. Patting myself dry, I wrapped the towel around my waist and headed back into my bedroom.

Sasha was there, waiting with a grin and drink in hand.

That's my girl. 

~ ~ ~

AN:  I've more or less written up the next part as I'm trying to catch up with myself.  I will edit and throw up either later today or tomorrow.  I'm also posting my Next Welcome to Eden Book.  A MM Novella from my After Dark Collection.  It's been expanded, so feel free to enjoy it whilst you're all waiting.