Brazen: The Billionaire Bordello Boys Book One Read online

  How was a girl to say no to that? Despite the throbbing between my thighs, I took his lead. He was back to a perfect gentleman. My heart was already falling for this romantic tender side of him. It was my body that wanted to peel back those cool layers and release the beast beneath.

  God, I hoped this wasn’t a multi-course dinner.

  4

  CHAPTER FOUR

  GABRIEL

  I tried to calm my breathing as I walked Maisie to the elevator. I couldn’t believe how close I was to losing control. One look in those green eyes, filled with desire and the smell of her arousal was enough to drive even a strong man to his knees. And oh, how I longed to be on my knees before her.

  Maisie had been an obvious beauty when I first set eyes on her. I knew it from the start. But there was something absolutely magnificent about a woman that knows her worth. A radiance from within. My Maisie shone like the most brilliant of diamonds. Gorgeous from top to bottom, beautiful inside and out. I knew I would forever be grateful and proud to have her on my arm.

  I punched in the code and she gave me a questioning look. She accepted my wink as answer and never said a word. The elevator reached its final destination and opened to the roof.

  I heard Maisie’s intake of breath and I knew I had made the right choice.

  We stepped into the beauty of the city at night. The heat that radiated between the bodies below and the cacophony noise from the horns and sirens could not reach us here. Surrounded by a swirl of color and light, a pinball game before us in every shade imaginable.

  “Oh, my goodness. I’ve never seen anything like this. I mean, I’ve looked out at the city before, but never this high, never like this…it’s, it’s incredible, Gabriel!”

  Her pleasure only increased mine. The view was without doubt one of the most breathtaking in the city. But it did not compare to the beauty standing before it, the reflection of the lights across her face.

  This was the place where my brothers and I had made our pact. Our first years here had been hard, but we had vowed that we would stop at nothing to wrest our fortune from this city. We had succeeded, and now the city was ours. There were other places that we had brought within our private empire, but it was this city, the first one, that would always hold our hearts. To share this with Maisie felt like I had finally completed what I set out to do. That I could finally stop searching for what I hadn’t even realized was missing.

  “Amazing.”

  If she had turned at that moment, she would have seen that it was not the city I was mesmerized by, it was her.

  The dinner had been quietly delivered and the table set to perfection. The evening was perfect, even the weather had cooperated. I had discovered over the years that money could buy a lot of things, but Mother Nature’s goodwill was not one of them.

  As we ate, we shared stories. Each detail she shared burned into my mind. It already seemed I had missed too much of Maisie’s life already. She had lost her parents three years ago, and while she had friends, like her roommate Brenna, it was her dog Mugg that filled her lonely hours. Her heartbreak at his loss, wrenched my heart. She was such a sweet and trusting soul, it was sacrilege to have broken such a spirit. I was grateful that after such an experience she still trusted me enough to not only safely escort her to work but join me for dinner as well. I knew I would spend the rest of my days being worthy of that faith.

  “What about you?” Maisie’s fingers caressed mine. “I could swear I hear an accent at times. Ever so slightly, but still something. Have you always lived here?”

  For a brief moment, I wasn’t sure what to say. My past was most unusual, and I have never shared my story with a woman before. But Maisie wasn’t any woman. Maisie was mine, and she needed to know who I was.

  “I grew up in Paris.”

  “Wow, that must have been exciting. It must be such a beautiful city.”

  “Exciting, yes. Beautiful, at times. My childhood was much different than others.” I took a deep breath and plunged into my story.

  “I was born in Parisian bordello.” Her eyes widened, but I continued. “Yes, such places still exist. It was not a seedy brothel. It was actually quite elegant. But a bordello, none the less. I grew up there with three other boys. They are like brothers to me. If there was a closer word, I would use it. It has always been us against the world. They are my partners in business now.”

  Her eyes glistened and I was afraid my words had brought sadness to our evening.

  “I’m so sorry you went through that. It must have been very difficult.”

  “There were some unpleasant days, but although many will never understand, it was a home full of love. Our mothers were the best of friends, together they picked out our names, together they raised us. Taught us the value of a woman, taught us the importance of pleasure, and taught us there was no greater gift than pleasuring the one you love.”

  Maisie licked her lips before she spoke, its effect on me was immediate.

  “Then I think perhaps, you may be far luckier than most could ever dream.”

  There must have been a small part of me that was worried she would not accept my upbringing, because her words immediately relieved a weight from my heart. She understood. My life may not have been easy at times, but it had led me here. My brothers would always have my back, and now, having found Maisie, I finally felt complete.

  If this is where my past had brought me, there is not one moment I would regret.

  Dinner was soon over, and Maisie teased me about the simple chocolate cake I had Chef make for us. It was my absolute favourite dessert and I could see that it pleased her too. Watching each little piece as it entered her mouth, was making it hard for me to concentrate. I had gone from being jealous of a towel to jealous of her fork. As the tines slipped past her lush bottom lip, I nearly choked on the piece in my mouth. She was, absolutely, delectable. For once, I longed to taste something more than the sweet pleasure of chocolate in my mouth.

  I would have been happy to have this night last forever, to keep Maisie at my side and never let her go. But we had been so wrapped up in each other that time had escaped us, and the hour was growing late. I knew that Maisie had to work again in the morning and as much as I would have loved to have whisked her away and feel every inch of that curvy, thick body of hers, I would be doing her no favors. There would come a time when Maisie could choose to work or not. As my woman, she would never need to work another day, unless she wanted to. But she would damn sure never want for anything. She would come to understand that the world was now hers. The same way it belonged to my brothers and I. Working to make ends meet was a thing of the past. Her life now, would be one of endless choice.

  Sitting in the car on the drive home, I had never felt more at peace. It was crazy to think this could have happened so quickly, but I didn’t care. Maisie was the one, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure she was mine forever.

  The car stopped outside her apartment building. It bothered me that she would be sleeping here. It wasn’t horrible, and truthfully, I had slept in far worse places in my past; but the idea of Maisie in anything but the finest of homes, hit me right in the heart. I wanted to prevent her from leaving my car. Tell her that her place was with me, that she would never stay in anything less than the best again.

  I wanted to, but I knew that if I did, I would scare her half to death with the intensity of what I felt. I needed to give her time. If I wasn’t bringing her home with me, then I was going to have full security on her place from now on. I didn’t want that jerk coming back and taking anymore from my Maisie. From this point on, she would always be safe.

  I walked her to her door and stopped. Maisie’s cheeks pinked as she turned the key.

  “It’s not much. Not what you’re used to anyway.”

  I wanted to reassure her that nothing about her, could make her any less than perfect in my eyes.

  “It’s a palace compared to a few places of the places I’ve stayed in my life.”<
br />
  “This from a man who probably does live in a palace.”

  “Every palace needs a queen.”

  She giggled at my words, and I smiled. The sound was music to my ears. She had been so sad this morning. I could only hope that her day was ending on a far better note.

  “Did you want to come in?”

  I was lucky that her eyes were cast downward when she asked. I doubt I could have hidden the desire that rose at her words. Did I want to come in? God, that was all I wanted. I wanted to pick her up in my arms and shut us into her tiny apartment and close out the world for the night. I wanted to taste and touch every succulent inch of this woman standing before me. I wanted that damn dress on the floor and my hands on the skin it hid. I wanted to take her right now, and if I didn’t leave soon, that was exactly what I was going to do. My nostrils flared at the scent of her want rising toward me. I grabbed the side of the door to prevent myself from grabbing a handful of her hair and forcing her head back so I could expose that soft neck and bury my face in its warmth.

  I needed to go.

  “I think that it would be better if I didn’t.” My voice came out as a rasp.

  “Oh,” she replied softly.

  God she was so beautiful. “I want—”

  “Yes?”

  He invitation was evident, but I wasn’t willing to allow her regrets.

  “I want to see you tomorrow. Can I pick you up from work again?”

  I could see the initial disappointment, then pleasure on her face. That was good, as there was no way I was taking no for an answer.

  “That would be lovely, Gabriel. Thank you.”

  Again, my name on her lips was like an aphrodisiac. I could feel my body react to her.

  “You’re lovely.” I kissed her gently on the forehead, using every ounce of restraint I had.

  “Goodnight, Maisie.”

  “Goodnight, Gabriel.”

  5

  CHAPTER FIVE

  MAISIE

  I felt like I was floating on air. Last night had been the best night of my life. It almost made the pain of the last week disappear. The only thing that could make life any better right now is if I had Mugg back. With both Gabriel and my sweet pup at my side life would be perfect.

  Anna saw me as I walked, or rather skipped towards the nurse’s station. She was standing there rubbing her hands together.

  “Spill it!”

  “What?” I asked. There was no way I could keep a straight face.

  “I know that look. I dream of having that look. Tell. Me. Everything.”

  She looked so eager to hear it all, but suddenly I wasn’t sure I wanted to share it. There was something magical about it only being between Gabriel and I. I didn’t want to break the spell. For the first time, I didn’t know what to say to my friend.

  “What? Nothing? Nothing at all. Come on, Maisie, give me something,” she pleaded.

  A few other nurses had started to gather around. I was feeling uncomfortable with all the attention, but I knew if I wanted to get out of this, I would need to give them something.

  “He’s amazing.” Simple, straightforward, hopefully enough.

  Rachel rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that part we know. He’s rich, he’s hot. We want details.”

  I wanted to scream to the world that Gabriel’s touch was like fire. That his fingers had burned a path deep inside of me, to my very soul. That each moment I was here was a moment that I wasn’t in his arms. That already, in such a short time, I felt empty without him. I wanted to say that Gabriel St. Laurent was addicting, and he was a drug that I wasn’t willing to share.

  “That’s all I’m saying.”

  They weren’t getting another word. I wasn’t going to ruin something so special with talk around the water cooler. I doubt I could explain it anyway. I barely understood it. So, for a little while longer, I was going to keep Gabriel all to myself.

  I walked away to a chorus of ‘boos’, but I was still smiling. What I had found with Gabriel was perfect and only for us. In time I might share. For now, I was counting down the hours until he picked me up again, and I would be back in his arms.

  It was a busy morning, then afternoon, they usually all were, and it was only when my stomach started to protest that I realized I had taken a break yet. I was almost to the station when I heard my name. I paused at the corner.

  “How can she think he’s for real? I don’t want to be mean, but seriously. Look at him then look at her. Tell me that adds up? I guess some people never learn. You’d think after that last guy she’d wise up. That one even took her dog!”

  My stomach churned as I listened to the murmurs of agreement. I could taste the bile as it rose to the back of my throat. I had completely lost my appetite. I wanted to confront them, tell them how wrong they were. Tell them Gabriel wasn’t some jerk and that I wasn’t a fool. That they couldn’t possibly understand what Gabriel and I were feeling. I wanted to, but my feet wouldn’t move.

  “He’s probably made some bet with one of his rich friends. There is no way he is for real. He’s way out of her league.” I could recognize Rachel’s voice. She was never one to keep her opinions about other people’s lives to herself.

  Again, there was a chorus of agreement. It was crushing to hear.

  “I mean I feel bad for her and everything. She’s sweet, but way too gullible. This guy will be the one who destroys her heart for good. In fact—”

  I didn’t stick around to hear more. I could barely feel my legs as I backed away. I wanted to crumple into a ball and disappear. I managed to make it to the bathroom before the tears hit. The metal was cold against my back as I slid down to the floor.

  I wished I could be angry at them for their cruel words, yet somewhere deep inside, I knew what they were saying was true.

  My whole life I had spent dreaming of true love. The kind my parents had shared. Finding that one person who completed me. Looking into his eyes, I thought that person was Gabriel. But I had made so many mistakes in search of that dream. I didn’t want to make another. How much did I need to lose before I realized that such a love wasn’t real? Even if it was, it was so rare, that it would never be for a girl like me.

  They were right. I had been a fool, and I had to stop this cycle of madness. I needed to let Gabriel know that I wouldn’t be available tonight, or ever. I was done. Done making the same mistake over and over.

  I pulled out my phone. My fingers hesitated. I worried that if I heard his warm seductive voice, I wouldn’t have the strength to follow through. My heart would override my head. The safest thing to do was to text him. Tacky, but simple. Thank him for a lovely time and then let him know I was unavailable. Forever.

  Before my foolish heart could change my mind, I typed out the words and pressed send, then I powered down my phone. I didn’t need to read his response. Not yet. Who knows if he would even bother? Most likely he would move on without a word and I didn’t want to confirm that yet, either.

  I knew Rachel and the others were right. He was out of my league. Way out of my league. But they were wrong about one thing. Gabriel wasn’t cruel. He just wasn’t playing for keeps. He didn’t have to help me with the cab guy, but he did. No matter what they said, I knew that Gabriel was at the very least a gentleman. He just wasn’t for me.

  Men like Gabriel knew a million women and knew exactly what to say and when to say it. It came naturally to him. Any more time with him and I would be lost forever. Even our short hours together may have done irreparable damage to my heart. I needed to grow up.

  I picked myself off the bathroom floor and stepped toward the mirror. I stood straight and wiped the traitorous tear that escaped from my eye. I was going to be fine. No one would be able to see the heartbreak on my face. Fake it till you make it. I was going to smile if it killed me.

  GABRIEL

  Raphael and I had been discussing the details of a deal in the back of the car when I felt my phone. I had only glanced at the name when he began to laugh
.

  “I can tell by the look on your face, who that is from.”

  I lifted my brow in response.

  “Please. If that isn’t your Maisie, you can kick me to the curb, right here.”

  I looked out the window to the neighbourhood we were leaving. It was rough, reminding me of the streets we would run through as children. Raphael was definitely overdressed for the occasion.

  “I’m tempted to. If only to see you walk even a few miles in those shoes.” I scoffed down at his feet.

  “The finest of leather, comfortable for any occasion,” he replied with a smile.

  It took more than a few well-placed barbs to ruffle his feathers. That didn’t stop Michael, Uriel and I from trying. Years at the card tables had crafted Raphael’s calm demeanour. Yet, we all knew that eventually something or more likely someone would come along and best that cool exterior.

  Rafe made a weak attempt to grab the phone from my hand, but he wasn’t quick enough. If Michael had been in the car, he would have taken it by brute force. Each one of my brothers had their own ‘gifts.’ Restraint wasn’t Michael’s. Rafe on the other hand had infinite patience.

  I gave him a quick wink. “Of course, it’s her. God, just seeing her name on my phone brings me joy. Have I lost my mind?”

  Rafe was immediately serious in response to my question. “Not at all. We know this. There will be one for each of us. You have found yours. The only crazy thing would be to let her go.”

  I simply nodded and opened Maisie’s message.

  My hands went cold and then my heart.

  I couldn’t understand what I was reading. It made no sense. Rafe looked at me, concerned. I ignored him and immediately called Maisie, but the call went directly to voicemail. I hung up. What I needed to ask, to say, couldn’t be left as a message.