Art of War (A Stern Family Saga Book 3) Read online

  “Fine, but promise me you’ll stay in touch with me. Send me a text every hour, or I will call the police.”

  “I promise. Now, when should I start dressing?”

  “After lunch.”

  “Why so early?”

  “Because I have to sew you into the dress. The dress would look like shit with a zipper.”

  “Okay, fine.”

  We eat lunch, and Kyle asks about when I’m going to the casino. “I think I’m going to start Monday.”

  “Do you have any answers yet?”

  “No, it makes no sense. I can’t find any reason for the money he borrowed.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe there will be answers in Dad’s office that I missed.”

  “I should be well enough to go with you by Monday and help out.”

  “I hope so. Come on, let’s get me started.”

  “All right, you go shower and shave them legs, girl; it’s been a while since you’ve had a wax.”

  I throw a pillow at him and go do exactly what he told me to. I wash my hair and shave my legs. Once I’m out of the shower, Kyle’s waiting for me to help with my makeup and hair.

  “Are you sure you feel good enough to help me?”

  “No, but I’m going to. Your style is a reflection of me, and I’m not sending you out for your first appearance in New Orleans society without my final touches.”

  “Geez, okay.”

  “Now get in this chair.”

  Kyle dries and styles my hair in a beautiful loose updo, and then we start with the makeup. Kyle is a master with a makeup brush. By the time he’s finished, I am flawless.

  I tell him, “I think you missed your calling.”

  “Nah, you’re easy, it’s all your natural beauty. I’m only as good as the face I’m doing.”

  I hug him tight because that’s my boy, full of compliments.

  We proceed to put my dress on, and Kyle starts sewing me into it. It’s gorgeous. We found this material in a little material shop in the city. It’s a shiny golden beaded lace. Kyle has transformed it into a deep V-neck, skin-tight fitting dress. He also applied more hand beading to the lace so it wouldn’t be so see-through. But in some spots you still see a lot of skin, and the back is totally exposed all the way down to the curve of my large ass, and with the V-neck my breasts show a beautiful amount of cleavage. It might be extremely sexy, but it’s also very elegant and it fits like a glove. I thank God Kyle thought to put a slit in it because if not, I wouldn’t be able to walk.

  Kyle finishes me off with my accessories, and most importantly, my mask. He created an extremely delicate mask, made out of the lace we bought. He starched it in something very strong and molded it to my face. It’s so delicate that it looks like it has been painted on my face.

  “It all so beautiful, Kyle. I think this dress and mask are the best things you’ve ever made. Thank you.”

  “I think so, too.”

  I kiss Kyle and send him off to bed. “I’ll stay in touch, but try to get some sleep.”

  “Please be safe, Murphy. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to me.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise.”

  I kiss him one more time and leave him to go to bed. Downstairs, a car is waiting to take me. Tonight is a warm night, so I didn’t bring a coat. I won’t be outside anyway.

  15

  Murphy

  The car service pulls into a long driveway leading to a magnificent plantation-style mansion. It’s impressive, and I’m helped out of the car by a valet. Admiring the scenery for a second, I then enter the house through a wide-open foyer. I hand a masked man my invitation and begin walking to the center of the party.

  I can’t help taking in all of the home for a minute; it’s incredible. A man comes around with a tray of champagne, and I accept one. As I look around the room, I notice all the masked people in their finest and I hear the sounds of a live band. It’s like something out of a movie with all the glamour.

  Making my way around the room, I smile and gesture as people pass me by. I stop for a minute to again appreciate the beauty of it all. So far I am enjoying the night until I feel a presence close behind me. Fear takes hold of me, sending shivers throughout my body. Then I hear a whisper in my ear.

  “Hello, Red.”

  I turn slowly looking up to see piercing blue eyes through a black mask. My fear vanishes, but now the shivers are from the searing heat this man provokes in me. I find my voice and say,

  “Well Hello, stranger.”

  He chuckles. “I guess I am a stranger, but I plan on changing that.”

  While looking into my eyes and without another word, he removes my champagne glass from my hand and hands it over to a blonde woman who just happens to be standing on the side of him. I almost interject, but I want to see what he does next. He smiles down at me, then grabs my hand and walks me to the dance floor. Then in a very domineering way, he glides his arm around my waist and lays his hand flat on my lower back, right below where my spine starts to curve to my ass. For a second, I think of raising his hand because it’s so low that it’s inappropriate, but I decide I like his hand there. He raises my other hand and lays it on his hard chest with his hand still holding mine, then he begins to move. As he glides me around on the dance floor, I am speechless for probably the first time in my life. I’m so blown away by how good it feels to be in his arms. I stare at our hands interlocked on his chest, noticing how large his hand actually is, it swallows my hand whole. My eyes continue trailing up his wide chest taking him all in, this man is so large, I feel so tiny with his arms around me. He’s like a giant; he must be at least six-feet-five, maybe six. I feel safe, like nothing could touch me in his arms. My eyes finally trace his neck up to his strong face, and then I see his cocky smile with dimples in his cheeks. Oh hell, he's smiling like he knows my thoughts.

  “Do you like what you see, Red?”

  Here we go, his cockiness is coming through. I hate cockiness, but for some reason it’s sexy on him. I just can’t stand for him to think he has the upper hand.

  So, I retaliate, “Well, you obviously like my ass because I feel your friend in your pants. And you might want to raise your hand off my ass, before we’re thrown out for indecency.”

  He laughs out loud then bends, whispering in my ear, “I never get kicked out of anywhere, no one dares to touch me.” He straightens then says, “And I think I’ll leave my hand on your ass until you ask me to remove it, but you’re not asking, are you? Now as far as my friend goes, he is so eager to be your friend, too.”

  This man has some nerve. The music changes, and I pull away, but he pulls me back to his chest, looking down at me through his mask. I’m so drawn into his blue eyes and dimples that I am distracted by them until I hear him say, “I’m not through with you.”

  I gasp and say, “You sure are cocky and sure of yourself.”

  “You have no idea, Red.”

  Well, two can play that game. The band switched the music to something a little more sensual, so I take advantage and show him how cocky I can be. I start to take over the lead and start swaying my hips to the beat. I remove my hands from his, then turn, raising my arms above my head swaying my ass into him. I start lowering myself down to the rhythm, on my way back up he takes his hands and runs them down my sides.

  I feel his breath on my neck as he warns, “You’re playing with danger, Red.”

  I smile at that, knowing I got him. He’s putty in my hands. There is nothing more powerful than the feeling of having a large, powerful man under my spell. I continue my plan to seduce him and leave him standing here, begging for more. But that’s not what happens.

  I lose my balance as he quickly turns me back around and says, “I warned you, Red.”

  Without any further notice, he grabs my hand and practically knocks people out of our way as he drags me off the dance fl
oor. I look up apologetically at the people around us and notice a woman staring our way. She’s older, more mature, but probably one of the most beautiful women in the room. Shaking the feeling of her eyes on us, I return to the brute pulling me away.

  “Hey, where are you taking me?”

  He grunts out loud then stops suddenly, he turns and asks, “Are you here with someone? Are you married?”

  “No and no. Why?”

  He doesn’t say anything else as he goes back to aggressively pulling me down a wide hallway. He opens a door and pushes me through. Before I can yell at him, he grabs my face and kisses me hard. I start to melt into his arms; it’s like I forget myself, almost.

  I pull away from him, slapping him hard across his face. Stunning him for only a second, he rubs his face and says,

  “Game on.”

  Shit, what did I do? He grabs my face again but this time he kisses me gently. Once again, my mouth opens for him and he takes over, slipping his tongue into my mouth. Oh my God, it’s the most sensual kiss I think I’ve ever had. Again, I melt, but this time I totally forget myself. As he slides his hands down my body, I forget everything. I forget my father, the casino, I forget Judith and the Sterns. I even forget my name.

  He finishes the kiss and looks deep into my eyes with his devilish smile and softly asks, “What’s your name?”

  I whisper back, “Red.”

  Because right now that’s all I want to be. I don’t want to be Murphy Larussa with all her problems and hang-ups. Normally I would never allow a man to have this much power over me, and I definitely have never had a one-night stand. But for right now, I just simply want to be his Red, and I desperately want him.

  I can tell he is thinking over me telling him my name is Red but he doesn’t push the issue. With me still in his arms, he removes his mask then gives me another cocky smile and says, “Well Red, I’m Zander and I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Waiting for me, what does he mean? Before I can give it another thought, he pulls me back into a deep kiss making me melt further into him. Damn he’s good.

  For a second though, I gain clarity. “I…I never.”

  He stops me from finishing my sentence with another kiss. He trails the kiss to my ear, then I hear him whisper, “Stop, I would never hurt you.”

  Then his eyes travel back to mine. “Do you want me?”

  I look back into his eyes and see something I have never seen in a man, I see sincerity. I don’t answer him; I slowly get on my tiptoes and simply kiss him back. He once again takes control, and for once in my life I gladly give in. I want to release the control I have never given to anyone. I become putty in his hands. He lifts me onto a desk and starts devouring my neck as he removes his jacket and tie. I help him with his buttons on his shirt, but he never removes his mouth from my neck.

  Suddenly, he pulls me off the desk and turns me with my back to his chest.

  “How do I get you out of this dress?”

  I laugh and then think of Kyle cockblocking me.

  “I’m sewn in.”

  He whispers, “Don’t worry Red, that won’t stop me.”

  He starts kissing down the back of my neck, lowering himself all the way down my back. I feel my dress lift up as he glides his hands from my ankles to my waist. Then I hear him growl, probably from the fact that I’m not wearing any underwear. “Yes.” I feel his lips as he starts to kiss my ass cheeks. My hands fly to the desk as he splits my cheeks and licks his way down to my clit.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  I’ve never had a man eat me out from behind before. My legs widen as I throw my head back. He pushes me down against the top of the desk. Shit, this man is devouring me; his tongue masters me like no other, starting off slow, then quickening in force. I feel my body tightening, needing to combust. My legs become shaky, and my body starts to convulse. Right then I explode, and damn if that wasn’t the best orgasm I’ve ever had.

  I feel him rise, and I hear his zipper as he lowers it. I should be scared, being in this situation with a man I don’t know, but I’m not; desire burns through every part of my body. He turns me around and kisses me hard again, and this time I can taste myself on him. It’s something I never would have allowed before, but somehow now it’s natural. I begin to feel his hands wrap around my ass as he lifts me on top of the desk.

  He stops and whispers in my neck, “I’m clean, don’t ask me to put something on. I need to feel you bare.”

  I pull his face up to mine with my hands on both sides, looking him in the eye, studying him while I decide if I can do this, any of this. My mind stops, and I tell him, “I’m on the pill.”

  He grins back, asking, “Are you sure?”

  I nod my head with certainty. I want this. But when I look down to see his dick, my heart stops. Before I can say wait, stop, anything, he grabs a handful of my hair, forcing my head back up to his eyes.

  “Trust me, I’ll be as gentle as I can be.”

  Next thing I know, he thrusts into me – and oh, fuck, I feel so full. Even though I know he’s not all the way in.

  He kisses my mouth as he pushes further into me, and I can’t help thinking how much more can I possibly take of him. He stops kissing me, and with his hand still in my hair, he forces me to look at him and says, “I have you. Try to relax, I won’t hurt you.” Then for emphasis, he adds, “Never.”

  And I’ll be damned, I relax more than I ever have in any man’s arms, enough so that the next time he thrusts, I take all of him. Every delicious inch of him. Which is amazing because this man has not a big dick, but a huge one. He begins kissing me again and again, the whole time never forgetting to actually be present with me as he thrusts into me hard. Some men just take what they want and forget about the woman they’re actually inside of. Not Zander; he’s making damn sure he’s giving me all his attention. His thrusts become more powerful. And I become more brazen, moving my hips to take him even deeper, if that’s possible. His forehead falls onto mine, and in a low growl he says, “Fuck, Red, I don’t know how much more I can take. You feel so good, like nothing I’ve ever felt.”

  Reassured, I take some control back while he’s resting his head on mine. With my legs wrapped around him, I use my strength to fuck him back. I begin to use my inner muscles to squeeze his cock buried deep inside me.

  “No, Red, stop. Jesus, woman, I need a minute.”

  But I refuse to stop. I keep going until I see his eyes turn a deeper blue and he becomes almost feral. Forcefully, he picks me up off the desk and off him. He turns me so fast, my balance is thrown off. He pushes me down on the top of the desk and enters me from behind.

  “Oh God!”

  “No, Red, not God. Zander. When I make you cum again, I want to hear my name, not his or anyone else’s, ever.”

  He thrusts into me harder and harder, but I love it. This man seems to do things to me that no man has ever done. His hands envelop my ass, and he pulls me harder into him. Squeezing my ass cheeks, I hear him say, “You are perfect for me. I love every single part of you.”

  Something in the way he said that does it for me, and I explode harder than before, shouting his name, “Zander!”

  He continues to thrust and grind into me until he finds his release. He, too, shouts my name, but it’s not mine; it’s “Red!”

  He’s still inside me as he takes his time kissing up my back to my shoulders and neck. He whispers, “Perfect.”

  When he finally slides himself out of me, he turns me around, kissing me just as fiercely as before. Then he releases my lips, and I watch as he starts to dress. I just stay where I’m at because I can’t move. My eyes finally take all of him in, up his thick legs to his wide shoulders. He’s like Adonis in all his glory.

  He grins with cockiness back at me, and again the dimples are on full display.

  “Stay right here, I have to tell someone I’m leaving. You’re coming with me. I’m not finished with you yet.”

  Before I can find my voice, he’s out the
door.

  I giggle like a little girl. “Wow!”

  Then I look around the room, and my reality comes back to me like a rush to my system. I jump off the desk and begin to straighten my dress. I can’t leave with him; I have to meet with the Sterns. Then I feel it; shit, he ripped my dress. How the hell am I supposed to meet with them now? They won’t take me seriously after what I just did and having proof with my dress ripped that I just got the fucking of my life. Shit! I can’t do this now. I look around the room and see Zander’s tuxedo jacket, I take it off the chair and wrap it around my body. It’s so large on me, it could be a dress. I have to get out of here. I can’t wait for Zander, I’m so embarrassed. I decide with using Zander’s jacket, I can sneak out of the house and to the car without too much attention. I open the door; seeing that there’s no one around, so I sneak out, closing the door, and head for the foyer. With one glance back, I leave the party with my head down, continuing my walk of shame.

  Zander

  The party is in full swing. I keep looking around the room for anyone I don’t recognize. Murphy Larussa Jr. was sent an invite, and my mom thinks he’ll show. But I haven’t seen anyone that could be him. Then out of nowhere, my eyes catch sight of red hair, then I glance down, noticing the body that follows. It’s the redhead from the hotel, the one I’ve had a hard time getting off my mind. God is blessing me because he just sent the woman of my dreams right to my door. I look up, saying, “Thank you.” Now to make my move, I watch her for a few more minutes as she walks around the room with a glass of champagne.

  Gabriel comes around to me and says, “Who’s that?”

  I play ignorant and say, “Who?”

  Gabriel laughs and says, “Really, Zander, if you stare at her any harder you’re going to tear a hole in that almost non-existent dress.”

  “One can only hope.”

  “So, who is she?”

  I play dumb again. It’s none of his business who she is, especially since I’m not sure myself.