A Commitment to Love, Book 3 (3 page)

Jasmine

T
he
crowd roared, when we finished the dance. One would’ve thought, with the extravagance of it all, that Chase was Prince Charming, and I, Cinderella.

Chase represented a true fairytale prince. The sweetest words left his full lips. And when he looked at me, I fell into those green eyes that boasted amber hues around the irises. His face showed no splotches or blemishes—just smooth tan skin over sculpted feathers. Midnight-black waves framed his face, and if that wasn’t enough, his body remained chiseled and fun to touch. Every part of him screamed money, from the designer clothes to those manicured nails.

He was my real-life Prince Charming.

But no one ever wondered why Cinderella really ran away from the castle, and even the prince.

Sure, there was a midnight deadline.

Sure, glass slippers sparkled, pumpkins transformed into gold carriages, and a fairy godmother granted a wish.

And about that wish from the dear old fairy godmother … that was crap. Why didn’t the woman wave her wand and help Cinderella better her situation? Why not transform the pumpkin into a plane and fly her away? Why not change the mice into marketable college degrees, and perhaps say some magic words to boost Cinderella’s résumé?

Maybe, she needed to consider her career versus taking her hopeful behind to the ball.

What am I doing here?

As usual, Chase had me dressed up like a doll.

I bet he played with Barbies when he was a kid. I bet he hid them in his room and forced them to get waxings and wear spiky heels.

“You look angry.” Chase guided me off the dancefloor. “And that’s saying a lot being that you’re wearing a mask that covers half of your face.”

“Angry is not the word I would use.”

“Pissed?”

“Yes, that’s a good one. Ready to murder you is an even better choice.”

“But then that’s not one word, it’s a phrase, and not a very nice one.” He placed his arm on the curve of my back. My skin sparked there, and I tried my best to ignore it. His pace slowed as we walked through the masked crowd.

“Everyone can now sit,” the master of ceremonies declared. “Go forth and enjoy the lovely delights on the table. Your queen has arrived.”

I cringed, while a chuckle fled from Chase’s lips.

“I know I shouldn’t ask, but I’m going to anyway,” Chase said. “Why do you want to murder me again? Do you not like your lovely ball?”

“My panties are wet. I’ve just orgasmed in front of three hundred people at least, and still this night isn’t over.”

“Sounds like a great beginning of a night to me. Additionally, I would very much like to have those panties.”

“Never. You’re already getting enough as it is.”

He continued to guide me past all of the elegantly decorated tables. The full orchestra played behind us. String instruments soared over pounding drums. Horns blared when the saxophones began their melody. Sadly, the music didn’t calm my nerves. Instead, they pushed me further on edge.

Beads of sweat rose under my mask. As soon as I could, I’d escape to a bathroom, take off the crazy get-up, clean myself, and breathe.

Just inhale and exhale for a few minutes.

I needed to breathe, take a break from it all. I’d been a regular college graduate that had typical days—coffee with job-searching in the morning, reading the most celebrated books during the week, working out with my friend Vivien, disrespecting my poor vibrator in the evening, and then back to reading a good book before bed with a bowl of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream.

Life had been easy. No difficulties came, besides being broke and helping out my family, which was just my cross to bear.

Months later, after meeting Chase, I’d not only dealt with murder and mystery, I’d fallen for a man that I still couldn’t even comprehend.

Like Prince Charming, Chase possessed charisma and money. But could he be loyal? Was Charming loyal? Did Cinderella ever catch the prince cheating with one of the step-sisters? And most important of all, did her fairy godmother change Charming into a pumpkin, once the adultery was discovered?

“Jasmine?” Chase’s voice brought me back to the ball. “What are you thinking about?”

“A fairy godmother changing a prince into a pumpkin.”

“Did she make a pie out of him afterwards?”

“Probably.”

“Was there any reason the prince was made into a pumpkin?”

“He cheated.”

“Awww.” Chase waved hello to a couple decorated in silver. “It sounds like the prince deserved to be made into pie. Real men don’t cheat. I’ve never cheated.”

“Really?”

“I’m Chase Stone. I don’t have to cheat. I simply ask and receive.”

“And what if you ask me for something I can’t give you?”

“Like what?”

“Other women.” I moved my hand away and stopped us right there on the path.

“You ask me this question once a week.”

“And you stumble around that question once a week.”

“Let’s deal with that, if it comes.”

“No.”

“Enjoy your celebration.” He gestured to everyone around him—guests stuffing their faces with gourmet dishes, women twirling around in their gowns, men ogling the beauties through their masks, and servants racing around to make sure everyone was okay.

“We can’t talk about this here.” He took my hand and pulled me forward. “Let’s go to our table. Since Vivian and Troy couldn’t come, due to watching over Lucy, I decided to not seat anyone else with us.”

“So you want to have this conversation at our table?”

He adjusted his necktie a little as if he needed more room to breathe. “We can talk about this with several glasses of wine, yes.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” He smirked.

I scanned the room and spotted a hallway to what I hoped would lead to a bathroom. “I’ll meet you at the table. I just have to go to—”

“I have a private bathroom for us set-up near our table.”

Shocked, I had to ask, “You put a port-a-potty right next to our table?”

“No.” He laughed. “I made sure our table was next to a private bathroom, and I made sure it was decorated and designed to your needs.”

“Will there be a staff of rose petal bearers, waiting by the bathroom to carry me into a stall and then wipe me up?”

“No, but that’s a good idea. I should’ve thought of that.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re spoiling me to the point where it’s getting to be a bit much.”

“I’m not sure if that is a compliment or complaint.”

“Me either,” I muttered.

“I’ll walk you to the bathroom.” Instead of keeping our path forward, we cut between two tables.

I pulled my hand away from his. “I can go on my own.”

“I don’t want you to be alone.”

I pointed to some of the people near us. “I’m never going to be alone tonight.”

He tugged at that neck tie again. “They don’t count.”

“Security is everywhere.”

“Benny Nix has proven time and time again that he can avoid my guys, and make a mockery of my security, whenever he wants to. I have some new guys on board, but I’d rather be around you as much as possible.”

“Benny has
also
shown that he won’t hurt me.” I stepped in closer and leaned his way. “It’s been a month since Dawn and Wendy’s deaths. Benny hasn’t tried to contact us. Everything is okay.”

“Those weren’t deaths. Those were murders of murderers.”

I opened my mouth, but didn’t say anything.

“I’m sorry, but I can never forget that. Those two women murdered others, and then Benny and I played a hand in their deaths. It’s just one of us didn’t play with a humane deck. Benny has no morality or sanity in that brain. I don’t want you bumping into him without me being around.”

A waiter passed by. Two women strolled by next. Their perfume lingered in the air after they left—some designer fragrance with strong hints of rose. The table on our right, whispered and gestured to Chase as if they understood our conversation, and wanted to add a few points of their own.

I forced a smile and landed a kiss on his cheek so everyone watching would know that the conversation wasn’t an argument. “I need to be alone.”

He placed a kiss on my chin. “I can walk you over.”

“No.”

He kissed my neck. “I’m the king of the day.”

“You’re something today, but king doesn’t come to mind.” I got on the tips of my toes and gave him a soft peck on his nose. “I feel like calling you the jack ass of the day.”

“Careful, tesoro.” He pulled out that remote control and dangled it between us.

I shut my mouth. Part of me wanted to snatch that thing out of his hand—he had too much control over my body as it was. Truth be told, he could make me come with just four right licks in the perfect spot.

A place he’d found on his own.

Four nasty long licks.

My body shuddered just from the thought. When he lapped at that spot, I had nothing to say. All I could do was lay there on his bed. His tongue caused me to re-think religion, had me numb and mumbling out that he was my lord.

His tongue was dangerous, and now he owned a vibrator that did all of those things in one click.

“Who am I?” Chase tapped the end of the remote control.

“You’re king of the day.” I frowned. “And you’re going to pay for this tomorrow.”

“I’m actually looking forward to you owning me again.” He licked his lips.

Heat pooled in my core. I’d just come only minutes earlier, and here I was ready to get some more. One part of me wanted him to throw that toy away. The other half yearned to disobey him, and feel that lush vibration zip through to my core.

It was so intense, I drowned in pleasure.

“What’s on your mind?” Chase bit his lip.

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“What were you thinking about, when you made me come in this ballroom tonight?”

He groaned like the perverted man that he was. “Let me show you what I was thinking about.”

I shook my head. “You’re mine tomorrow.”

“I’m yours now.”

“I’m going to the bathroom by myself, Chase.” When I walked around him, I stumbled in the heels.

He grabbed my waist before I could slip and fall. “Your king would like to escort you.”

An exasperated breath left my lips. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Benny Nix is a madman.”

I faced him and poked his chest. “You’re suffocating me. This ball is already too much.”

“You’re strong, Jasmine. You’ll endure, and eventually accept your position as my queen.” He chuckled a little at the last word.

“I’m not your queen.”

“You are.”

“You know what? Why did Cinderella run away from Prince Charming?”

“That’s easy, because she was scared shitless.”

I opened my mouth in shock. “What about the midnight deadline?”

“That’s something women added to the story long ago.”

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah. The capitalism part. Glass shoes and shiny baubles. You think Prince Charming even remembers the color of her dress? I don’t, and my mother made me watch that movie five times.”

“The dress was blue.”

“It doesn’t matter. Men don’t care about dresses and shoes. Cinderella was hot and she had a great body like all of the other women at the ball.”

“Wow. She was hot?”

“But that wasn’t what grabbed the prince. She had strength in her eyes, the sort that comes from life being so hard that a child can’t even blink away from it. Tragedy sticks to people and makes them stronger. That’s what she had.” He traced his finger along my jawline. “You have that. It’s why when you stand next to any other woman, you glow. You’re radiating just like you have some sort of fairy godmother waiting behind the curtains and making all of the special effects happen. You mystified me within seconds.”

A shiver of lust ran through me. “If Cinderella was strong, then why did she run away?”

“Cinderella ran out of that castle because she saw what was in Prince Charming’s eyes. It scared her.” He slipped his fingers down my neck and even farther to the swell of my cleavage.

Instantly, the masquerade ball disappeared. It was like a black cloud swarmed around and transported us somewhere else.

“What was in his eyes?” I asked.

“Hunger. He had more hunger in his eyes than the wolf out of the Little Red Riding Hood tale.” Chase shrugged. “So she ran, and he chased.”

I backed away from him before he could dip his fingers into my breasts or have me coming in front of more people. “Well, I think Cinderella ran away because she needed a minute to breathe.”

“Princesses don’t get to breathe.” He closed the distance between us. “They can moan or shudder, but there is no breathing room from their prince.”