Coerced (Billionaire romance)(19)

“Darling, you look ahhmazing. Dressing to impress, I see. Well, it works! I’m suitably impressed!”

Elizabeth managed a small, shy smile but inside she was marveling at how a change in wardrobe could change one’s opinion of them.

True, she was wearing designer clothes tailor-made for her and doubly-true that she’d been given a crash course on tasteful, flattering make-up application but had she truly changed that much?

Was Polk’s surprise, part of his act? Elizabeth had no way of knowing.

“Thank you, Mr. Polk. I appreciate this opportunity to really show you my art.”

“Yes, yes, of course!” Polk hurried them into his office and he fluttered into his seat while she took the seat across the desk and opened her portfolio.

On a crazy whim, she included the rough sketches she’d been creating while working out her angst and hurt about Sutton.

Polk actually took the time to regard her artwork, pausing here and there, exclaiming with complimentary comments now and then, but when he got to her sketches, he paused and his practiced flattery stalled so much that she was tempted to snatch them away with an immediate apology.

“Dangerous, passionate,” he murmured, flipping through the book with excitement. He looked up, his eyes ablaze. “You my dear, have an exquisite talent. How did I miss this before? Were these sketches in your book the last time we met?”

“No,” she admitted, a little embarrassed by how sexual they were. She must’ve lost her mind thinking to include them today. “It’s a new project I’m working on.”

“When will they be complete?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she answered, shocked at his true interest. “I don’t even know what to call it. It was just something that sprung from my brain one night.”

“Those are the best kind,” Polk proclaimed, carefully closing her portfolio. “Darling, I must have these. We will do a gallery showing and it will change the face of art as we know it.”

That seemed a little extreme but she’d be lying if she weren’t giddy at his enthusiasm.

But then reality set in and she realized she didn’t have all the time in the world to just paint.

“I don’t know when I’ll have them finished,” she admitted, her happiness dimming. “I couldn’t even give you an estimate. I…have a day job that takes up a lot of my time.”

Being Sutton’s beck-and-call-girl was a full-time gig.

Polk narrowed his gaze. “Darling, we all make sacrifices for our art. You will deliver these exquisite masterpieces within the month and we will have the gallery showing the month after. It’s all set. It’s happening. Now it’s up to you.”

This was her shot.

Sutton had been a no-show for days. What was she supposed to do, sit around twiddling her thumbs waiting for him to finally show his face?

Screw Sutton.

Why was she going out of her way to consider his convenience when he couldn’t even deign to send a text message?

Talk about a serious dick move.

Elizabeth smiled at Polk and collected her portfolio.

“You will have your art pieces. You can count on me.”

“Excellent,” Polk said, beaming. “I believe this is the start to a fruitful relationship for us both. Now, go. Work that beautiful mind and create something dangerous, something wonderful.”

Emboldened, Elizabeth planned to do exactly that.

And Sutton?

Well, Sutton could just deal with it.

***

Sutton was antsy, ready to get this meeting over with so he could go to the apartment and see Elizabeth.

It’d been too many days and he was seriously jonesing for a fix. He wasn’t in the frame of mind to question his motivation either.

He just wanted to feel her in his arms and bury his face between those soft pillowy breasts so he could get a decent night’s sleep.

For all the money in the world, not even the best mattress could compare to the comfort of sleeping beside Elizabeth.

Yeah, more fuel to the argument that there was more involved than just his cock when it came to his feelings toward her.

He walked into Malvagio, assailed by the usual scents and sounds, sex, drugs and throbbing music meant to encourage nakedness, and Sapphire, that sweet little nympho with the powerful suction greeted him with a kiss and a grope.

“Nice to see you, Mr. Buchanan. The usual?” She asked with a bright smile.

The woman had a fabulous body and it was on glorious display tonight.

Her tits were decorated with glittery body paint tonight and he thought it was a nice touch, only his thoughts did stray to Elizabeth as he wondered what his beautiful woman would look like painted like that.

Get back on point, he thought to himself as he nodded to Sapphire. “I’m expecting an important guest. She’ll be coming under the alias Sweetpea. When she arrives, please show her to my booth.”

“Yes, sir.” Sapphire spun around, giving an unobstructed view of the tight cheekini panties barely covering her pert ass.

Sapphire returned a moment later with a gin and tonic on the rocks and he plucked the lime wedge to suck on while he waited.

Maybe if he kept his mouth occupied it would keep him from saying or doing anything that he’d regret later.

Soon enough Honey arrived, wearing a decadent, nearly see-through dress that clung to her subtle curves but made good use of every inch.

It was a powerful play on the senses and he applauded her ability to get a rise out of him nearly instantly.

He rose and accepted air-kisses as was the thing to do in these situations and when Honey practically sat on his lap in the booth, he simply smiled as if he were happy to have her ride his cock if she liked.

The games we play...he sighed privately.

“You must be Sutton Buchanan, one of the east coast boys,” Honey said with a smile that’d probably seduced many men. “One thing I will say for the Buchanan line...it’s filled with fuckable men...and women. Your sister is quite a thing. I wouldn’t mind getting a taste of that sweetness. Tell me, is Whitney entertaining women this year?”

He laughed. “As far as I know, Whitney is firmly a fan of sausage and rarely tacos. Though, there was that brief stint in college but then, who doesn’t experiment in college, right?”

“Pity.” Honey pouted. “The things I’ve heard...I find her intriguing. I can only imagine what exciting secrets hide behind those Buchanan eyes.”

“Yes, well, you’ll have to pry them out of my sister because she doesn’t exactly share with family.”

Honey flashed that brief, seductive smile and then pulled her vape pen, lighting it and filling the air with the faint scent of cinnamon.

“Genius invention, don’t you think?” she asked, referencing her pen. “They say it’ll kill you faster than cigarettes but at least it doesn’t affect the people around you. Fine by me. Die young and leave behind a good looking corpse, am I right?”

He indulged her with a light chuckle, ready to get the meeting over.

Each moment spent away from Elizabeth felt an eternity at this point.

“Would you like a tour?”

Honey’s eyes lit up. “I thought you’d never ask. Absolutely.”

Sutton offered his arm and Honey took it.

He gave her a VIP tour of every room, even the rooms that were occupied — treating her to a bird’s eye view of some of the naughtier aspects of Malvagio — and by the time they returned to the booth, Honey was sold.

Who wouldn’t be? Malvagio sold itself to the right person.

“I want it.”

“Excellent taste. You won’t be disappointed.”

He scribbled the asking price onto a piece of paper and pushed it over to her. She read it and then pushed it back with a smile and a nod.

A mere formality, Sutton asked, “Shall I tell my cousins we have a deal?”

“Yes, of course.” She nodded and leaned forward. “Now how shall we celebrate?”

“Champagne, we carry the best, of course.” He signaled for Sapphire to bring the champagne and a heartbeat later Honey’s hand was on his cock. He remained calm, even managing a subtle grin as he pretended ignorance. “Did you have something else in mind?”

“I’ve heard about this cock of yours. Something else the Buchanan men have in common...big, fat cocks. I’d love to see for myself what all the hype is about.”

“And I thought you were firmly a fan of pussy,” he returned casually, as if intrigued and flattered, but in truth, he was desperately trying to find a way to respectfully turn her down.

“Darling, it’s true I love pussy but I’m willing to try new and exciting rides, especially when they come so highly recommended.”

Admittedly, Honey was a beautiful woman but he felt nothing.

Besides, he didn’t believe it prudent to fuck around with a potential buyer for a major deal like this one.

“Tempted,” he lied easily. “But not tonight. I must respectfully decline. However,” he said, when he saw Honey on the verge of being offended. “I would never leave you without something sweet.”

He motioned for Sapphire and she bounced over to him with an accommodating smile. “Yes, Mr. Buchanan?”

“Sapphire, do you think you could show Sweetpea a lovely time?”

“I would love to,” Sapphire purred, her eyes lighting up as she sank to her knees before Honey. “May I, mistress?”