The Lottery (21 page)

“I doubt I will be here overly long. I was just curious about the
work you do here.” Moving to her left, she began to browse the stacks of
paintings that leaned against the studio walls. An eyebrow rose on occasion,
but other than that, the space filled with an eerily strained silence.

Walking to another corner, Ethan’s grandmother continued to look
in silence, the seconds ticking by loudly in Karlyn’s brain.

“These are very good. I almost hate to say it, but you are quite
talented, and I foresee you as a great success.”

A little breath of relief left Karlyn’s throat, but too soon.

“But as you are not a success quite yet, it amazes me that you
would be able to lead the lifestyle you are currently living. Or afford the
things you currently have.”

Karlyn searched her brain for a second, taken aback by the
comment, trying to figure out what she was talking about.
The ticket. She knows.
Trying to collect herself quickly, she hoped
her nervousness would not shine through.

“What are you talking about? All I have is my work. My life is hardly
wild and luxurious.”

Eyes boring into her, she felt like the older woman could see
right into her soul. Ethan’s grandmother just stood there, not answering. Uneasiness
continued to fill Karlyn, as she felt herself begin to squirm.

“Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink? I have club
soda, wine, or…”
Arsenic maybe? A little
paint thinner? Anything to get you to leave me alone.

“Changing the subject won’t divert my attentions, little girl.”

“So, why not spit it out?”

“Why, if I just spit it out, where would the fun be? Watching you
squirm is interesting. And at this point in my life, I need all the
entertainment I can get.”

“Just be over with it instead of playing this game. I have better
things to do with my time than to wonder about what you think of me or the life
I lead.”

Evangeline approached Karlyn with a forcefulness and aura of a
woman half her age. “I refuse to have my family name ran through the mud, and
this whole situation has the potential to do just that. What are you conspiring
when it comes to my grandson?”

“Conspiring?”

“Who are you in collaboration with?”

“I think you have this all wrong. I am not in collaboration or in
any type of conspiracy against your grandson.”

“I have done the research. I know you were not able to financially
pay for the ticket you won my grandson with. Yet, soon after you won, millions
of dollars funneled into your banking IP. And then a few days ago Ophelia Mack
was here, and another sixteen million was added to your account. She has
already ruined my grandson once; whatever she has planned for him this go
around is unnecessary.”

“It seems odd that you care so much about him given that you
practically threw him to the wolves when he was a young man. I am not in league
with Ophelia. I didn’t even know who she was when she came to the studio the
other day. I have already told Ethan about her visit.”

“Your opinion of my relationship with my grandson is none of my
concern. And your comment still does not answer the question of the ticket or
the money.”

“My financial history isn’t any of your business.”

“I am sure the lottery commission may not agree with that
comment.”

Fear raced through every nerve in Karlyn’s body. Even though it
had only been three months, she had grown attached to Ethan. “I sold a
commission for five large pieces within a couple of days of winning Ethan. We
are both going to the gala tonight where they will be presented as a gift to
the community center.”

“
Lakeland
Community Center
? So you
are the mystery artist Michelle commissioned.”

“Yes. And the day Ophelia came, she wanted to buy four pieces. I
threw an outrageous sum at her hoping she would leave because she gave me the
creeps. Crazily, she accepted the sum.”

“And the ticket?”

Karlyn looked down, afraid if she told the woman the truth about
the ticket swap, that she would incriminate herself and Sam. She was never a
good liar, though, so she ultimately decided that honesty was the best course,
and hoped that the woman would respect that.

“If I give you the answer you want, I will be incriminating
myself. But to be completely honest, it was a birthday present from my best
friend. She thought I was…lonely.” A blush swept through Karlyn’s face, adding
to her horror at having to divest herself of that knowledge.

“A birthday present? You seriously expect me to believe that
someone would spend that much money on a simple birthday present?”

“It is the truth. And as I stated before, implicates me in fraud.
I am not happy about the circumstances, but it was a gift I didn’t even want. I
tried to decline it, but my friend felt slighted that I would not accept it. Assuming
I would never win because my luck usually doesn’t go that well. But now I truly
see that I was as unlucky as ever.”

“And why is that?”

“I have a vicious ex-lover and the grandmother from hell
breathing down my back.”

Karlyn could have sworn she saw the woman smirk, but in a flash
it was gone.

“A-hem?” Karlyn looked over the loft’s railing down to the living
space below and saw a young man standing there. Shock shook her, as she
wondered how long he had been standing there, and how much he had heard.

“Sorry to intrude, but I am here to pick up an order of
paintings.”

Karlyn continued down the stairs as the guilty looking man continued
to speak.

“I knocked, but no one answered. The door was ajar, and I heard
voices. Sorry to just come in, I did not realize it was your home.”

“The paintings are wrapped and ready to go. Just behind you,
against the wall.” Dread filled Karlyn as the young man gave her a sly smile
and turned to grab the paintings. Walking towards the door, he grabbed the
bundled paintings and slid the metal open. Grasping the handle as he turned
outside in the entry, he smiled at her again, and she was chilled to the bone.

Turning back once she realized her worries were far from over,
she glanced at Ethan’s grandmother.

Shocked silence covered the older woman’s face.

“I suppose I should let you get ready for the gala tonight. I wasn’t
planning to attend, but after this conversation I don’t think I would miss it
for the world.”

Breezing past Karlyn and down the steps, she stalked to the door,
halting just as she grasped the handle. “And that large blue piece, the one
that looks like water. Send it to me. I expect delivery by three tomorrow.”

Chapter Seventeen

Water sluiced down her body as she showered in preparation for
the gala. The water was as hot as she could stand, hope in her heart that the
relaxing thrum against her body would beat some of the nervousness and
stiffness the afternoon had added to her body. No matter how long she stood
there, she could not relax. Closing her eyes, she wished for peace.

Fingers against her belly startled a squeal from her lips, but
she was quickly turned and pushed against the wall. An arm was put under each
knee as her lips were captured, swallowing any remnants of the yell that was
left in her lungs. A hot brand slid into her sex as Ethan’s tongue delved into
her mouth, mimicking the motions between her legs.

His swift penetration had washed all the fear and anxiety away
from her mind, and she slumped into his hold, allowing him to ride her body
hard against the wall. Her nipples were taut with excitement and the caress of
his chest against the hard buds made her climax build.

Biting into her neck, he grasped her buttocks in both hands, and
lifted her roughly; pushing himself into her with all the power he could
without hurting her. She rode a fine line between pleasure and pain, his rough
lovemaking was something she needed to erase the feelings that had taken her
mind hostage this past afternoon.

All thoughts of lotteries, ex-lovers, or the loss of Ethan
vanished. It was only the two of them in this world of hot pounding water and
even hotter pounding flesh. Scrapping her nails along his back, holding on for
all she was worth, he pumped himself into her with a need she had never sensed
before.

As quickly as he had entered her, he exited and placed her feet
back on the shower floor. Reaching around her to turn off the water, he then
grasped her under the legs and whisked her off her feet, stalking from the
bathroom. Depositing her on the bed, she sat on her knees as he stood at the
edge of the bed kissing her senseless.

Twisting her around, so her rear was perfectly aligned with his
engorged cock, she rested her hands before her in preparation for his assault. As
quickly as he had entered her before, he was equally slow. He began to torture
her pussy, pushing in ever so slowly, before exiting and rubbing his cock from
her clit to the puckered nether hole.

One hand roamed the globes of her ass, giving the occasional
slap, making her tingle and cry out for him. Wetness pooled and a stray drop
slid down the inside of her thigh. He watched the glistening liquid before
catching it with the plump head of his cock, smearing it into her sex.

Leaning forward, he grasped a cuff from the top of the bed and
placed one of her wrists in it before she had even realized what he was doing. Flinching
at the surprise, she pulled away and fought him for the other wrist. His
strength overpowered her in a way that made her entire body tremble, and he
wrapped her second wrist in the padded ankle cuff. Pulling back from the side
of the bed, he looked at her as she watched him from over her shoulder.

Her arms splayed out to either side while on her knees, her ass
high in the air ready for him to assault.. Taking himself in hand and pumping a
small amount of cum to the tip, he walked back up to her and spread his juice
all over the puckered flesh of her rear.

Fear had her pulling away, yet moments later need had her arching
back even further, pushing her ass into his hands and rubbing against his hot
cock. Ethan reached into her bedside drawer and lifted out a small bottle of
oil. The sound of the cap popping open reverberated through her entire body and
her hard nipples tightened even more. Cool oil was drizzled over her cheeks,
and was quickly followed by his hands spreading the oil and warming it into her
skin.

One slippery finger found the entrance to her rear and slowly
began to slide inside her. Pushing, Ethan slipped in a second finger while
using his other hand to drizzle more oil directly on his stabbing fingers. Karlyn
felt the oil slickening her and felt the two fingers enter her completely.

Feeling the pulse of his heartbeat in the cock pressing into her
thigh as she pushed back into those fingers, she sighed in delight at the
sensations he was wringing from her body. He slid his fingers almost all the
way out and pressed back inside her slowly. Picking up speed, he moved faster
as she relaxed into him, enjoying the warming stretch.

Pushing her forward on the bed, she felt the mattress dip as he
settled himself behind her. The crisp hair on his legs tickled the backs of
hers as he slowly moved the head of his cock around her pussy, wetting himself
in the oil there. Another handful of the liquid was spread along his shaft and
she finally felt the weight of his cock as he pushed the head against the
sensitive flesh.

He was much bigger than his fingers, and the pressure was
intense, but she knew he was holding back as much as he could. Patiently, he
worked his cock into her, pausing behind each half inch he slid in, allowing
her to accept his size and relax around it. Slight tremors of pain lanced
through her, but were immediately followed by arcs of pleasure as one hand
grasped her clit and stroked her there.

Pulling against the cuffs at her wrists, she was almost thankful
for the bonds. She was putty in his hands, allowing him to mold her body into
what she needed; to push her to where she needed to go.

Finally fully seated, he kissed the nape of her neck, and gently
bit her just below the hairline. Once she relaxed, and accept him inside her,
he slowly withdrew a few inches, sliding back home cautiously. The wonderful
friction of tight hot flesh with the lubrication of the sweetly scented oil was
almost too much for her to take. Each stroke withdrew further and further until
he was finally pumping into her ass.

He was gentler with her versus the scene in the shower, and he
kissed her all over her neck and shoulders, murmuring words of endearment into
her ear as he continued to manipulate her clit. She felt the tension spiraling
differently than it ever had when he was planted inside her sheath, as if the
taboo alone of his penetration was cause for her desire. The felt him pressing
into her as he drew circles on her clit and nibbled the column of her throat,
and screamed her release, exploding into bliss. A new satisfaction filled her,
so unlike the sensation she felt when they had coupled before, but not
unwelcomed. Seconds later, he followed behind her, his whole body trembling
around her as he shot deep jets of cum, and she felt the jerk of his cock in
her tightness.

Reaching out to unclasp her wrists, he pulled her limp body into
his and cuddled with her in the soft bed. Kissing her forehead, she nuzzled
into him and nearly fell asleep before she remembered they were supposed to be
getting ready for the gala.

With a jolt she jumped up and looked at the clock on the wall. “We
have thirty minutes to re-shower, dress, and get to the community center. You
are such a bad influence.”

“You looked tense when I glanced into the bathroom, so I wanted
to take away some of the nervousness for tonight. All night, you will feel
where I took you, feel the soreness, and be reminded I am there with you, to
take away your stress. Then you can be the belle of the ball and the smash of
the night.”