London Brown Extracts

 

London Brown 1

Peter, the maitre d', smiled. "Ah, Ms. Brown, we're so happy to have you this afternoon. It's been a long while since we've had the pleasure." Of course, he didn't call me by alter ego's name, but for the purpose maintaining separation between London and Desniah I've inserted it.

A few of my clients preferred a more discrete location, but some wanted high-risk spots as the thrill of getting caught heightened their arousal. I can't say I didn't get off on it too.

The older man turned and held the door to the grand room. The palate of white and gold always dazzled me. It was one of my favorite rooms in the city. An empty space set the stage on which this man's flavor of depravity would play out. Not that I minded. I'd been educated about men and their true nature through the acts they asked me to perform.

"I haven't seen Mr. Carrington in a great many years either," Peter said.

I couldn't have heard him correctly. My step faltered for but a second. I swallowed. As my mind tried to make sense of the meaning of this, I took a deep breath. A sick cosmic joke on me. Caden Jacob Carrington, and he didn't mean the forth, but the fifth. Of course, I'd heard he had recently returned from Hong Kong, but why would he need the services of an escort? I should have turned around and left-ran as fast and as far as I could. But I didn't. What better way for him to see why there never could be a future between us?

 

London Brown 2

"So what's today's game, Hugh?" I asked the driver, buckled my seat belt, and covered my head with the drawstring bag made just for me. Some women liked diamonds. Not me.

He cleared his throat. "You've yet to guess what either of them does?"

"True." I'd affectionately nicknamed them the horsemen, given I'd heard steeds at their property. I suspect they'd hadn't made their fortunes in the horse racing business. Little things like the age difference between them and how Ivo deferred to Kees gave the impression he'd been powerful and wealthy when they'd met.

"So..."

"We've established that they are famous or in some other way in the public eye."

"That we have."

Why else wouldn't they want me to see them? So I couldn't identify them if I was ever arrested. The odds of getting caught were roughly the same as me falling in love and having a happy ending.

"Race car drivers?"

"Are you even trying?" Hugh read people well.

"Of course I am." I didn't want to know what they did, really. The illusions and this game were more fun than the truth which would probably be dull.

None of the others could withstand Kees and Ivo's brand of pleasure. I reveled in the mind numbing pain.

 

London Brown 3

"Caden." A heavy breath escaped her.

Not a good sign. Fresh blood lined the split in her lip. A pit of embers turned inside me. Could I come to terms with what I'd learn if I asked what had transpired when I was powerless to stop her?

She blocked the doorway. "What are you doing here?" Wedged in the gap, she examined the hallway.

A very bad sign. "Your father said you were under the weather and asked me to drop by, as I had an errand downtown." I lifted the brown paper bag. 
Evidently, she mustn't have wanted her father to see her condition, hence she'd cancelled their regular Tuesday lunch and told him she was unwell.

How many lies did she have to tell to conceal her illicit activities? 

 

London Brown 4

"Kiss me." She trembled.

If she didn't want the contact why had she requested it? I halted. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I planted a light peck on her cheek. The way we always did.

"A lover's kiss," she said.

Being referred to as her lover made me hard. I leaned in. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Her eyes widened, she took hold of my blazer and pulled me closer.

Slowing my movement toward her, I cupped her neck with my fingers, and used my thumb beneath her jaw to angle her head upward. She stared into my eyes, as though attempting to read me. As I lowered my mouth to hers, I wrapped my other arm behind her waist and drew her flush to me. 

She gasped.

 

London Brown 5

Our ride was nearing its end. That sounded final as though I'd lose Rhys when we got to my flat. A lot of friends had sex and things worked out between them. Rhys and I could be like that. We were important to each other.

Rhys pulled into my building's car park. "So--"

Jitters fluttered inside my stomach. My hands were clammy.

London would know what to say to get a man's attention. I wanted Rhys to be mine, not hers.

The past four and a half years had been a long road of self-discovery. Less than a year ago, I couldn't tell when she took over, I simply lost time. Over the last few months, if I didn't like something or wasn't comfortable I'd let her take over.

Despite knowing how many ways this train could derail, I wanted to explore what was developing physically between Rhys and me. I wasn't about to let my growing anxiety conjure her presence. So rather than fade away, I held on.

"I don't want you to go... yet." Why had I said it as though warning him that eventually I would want him to leave?

"Okay." Rhys turned off the car. "We should probably talk."

I nodded. I didn't really want to chat. I wanted more of his touch.

 

London Brown 6

The door shut behind me. "You are not very good at this. The same hotel twice, and creating situations where, together, we interact with staff. I'm getting the impression you want a scandal." 

Some, like Des for example, couldn't live with secrets. I hardly remembered a time when I wasn't hiding something from everyone.

"Your coat..." Caden held out his hand.

I smirked. Men amused me. I undid the buttons and belt, slid the sleeves off and placed the material in his hand. The location of our last such encounter had been much colder than this suite. And yet, my nipples hardened anyway.
Lavish colours and French furnishings brought the space to life.

"I thought we could have dinner." He motioned me to the adjacent room while he made his way to the closet. 

Wining and dining me was pointless. I always put out. "Am I on the menu?" Dutifully, I headed to the adjoining room.

"Dessert, of course." He entered.

 

London Brown 7

I entered my apartment building through the side door by the bushes and hustled to my door. Light shone from beneath the door. Though, I was certain I'd left none on. I inserted the key and unlocked. The door creaked open.

Shoulders back and square, not Desniah. She didn't stand this way. London paced between the kitchenette and my living room. Why was she here? 

I entered, closed and locked the door. 

She stopped and looked up at me. Head high, she held my gaze.

I rarely encountered the other side of Desniah and I was grateful for it. "What are you doing here, London?" 

"Des felt that she needed to come here." Leaning to one side, she crossed her arms. 

"That doesn't answer why you're here?" More so than with Des, London brought out the side of me that wanted to subjugate and dominate women. What she stirred in me made me want to keep my distance. 

"It doesn't strike you as strange that you can tell the difference on sight alone?" She raised both her eyebrows.

"No." The papers on my desk weren't in the order I'd left them. My computer had moved slightly from the spot I'd left it in. Desniah never would have touched my belongings. I wanted to punish London for thinking she had the right to snoop in my affairs. But my more immediate concern was how much did she know?

 

London Brown 8

With my fingers, I brushed back his hair. His eyes always shimmered when he looked at me.

"Am I a wreck?" He smiled.

"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever set eyes on." He kissed my forehead, got up, removed the mirror from behind the door, and set it next to the bed in front of me. "I want you to stand naked facing the mirror."

My reflection bounced into the dresser mirror on the other side of the bed. Not an image I saw often. Usually London admired herself. Not me. At least that was the impression I had of her.

A few feet away, Rhys watched me and leaned against the armoire past the foot of the bed.

I stood. The sheet snuggly wrapped around me, covering my nudity. I loosened the fabric, then gripped it tightly to me. Fearful eyes reflected my weakness back to me.

"Why the hesitation, Desniah?"

Good question. One I didn't have an answer to. I shrugged.

"What do you see?" he asked, a heavy note carried in the pitch of his voice.

 

London Brown 9

I escaped to the tiny kitchen.

Harsh footsteps followed. I knew why he'd come. Always in anger. It was the only way he could bring himself to take me.

Cade grabbed my wrist, pulled me so I faced him, and placed his other hand around my back to the nape of my neck.

Despite myself, I melted in his arms.

He backed me up, pinned me between him and the cupboards. Heat intensified the green of his eyes. He moved in slowly and kissed my neck gently. The warmth from his lips hardened my nipples. He unlatched the coat I wore, removed it, and tossed it to the hall.

"You wore this for him?" He accused.

The dress he'd provided me to wear in the hotel room. "What choice did I have? You put me in it. Des insisted we go to him."

Anger clouded the surface of his eyes.

 

Collection

Today's assignment:

Dear Ms. Brown:

Your presence is requested for afternoon tea, 3:30-6:00 pm at (hotel name). Wear only a trench coat and heels.

Sincerely,

Sven Bylander

They were usually signed by a dead historical figure. I hated thinking of the past, so history had never been my thing. Sometimes the names had been vaguely familiar so I Googled them. They have come up with some amusing ones, like Sir William Blackstone and John Frederick Wolfenden. Both influenced laws on sodomy.

Some of my regulars have particularities, so based on their request I can tell who is asking for me. I'd guess this was a new client. I'm the priciest, so unlike the other women I don't get many new requests. Any I do receive are referrals from existing johns.

A man's fantasy awaited me...

When I arrived at the hotel valet, I opened the door, stepped out into the dismal London fog and handed over the key. Before I entered, I tossed the assignment card in the trash bin as per The Agency's policy.

No one thought much of my coming and goings. 
Desniah is the daughter to one of country's most powerful men. Meeting with politicians, executives, the ridiculously wealthy and other powerbrokers seemed normal. My clients had as much to lose if our secret got out as I did.

Peter, the maitre d', smiled. "Ah, Ms. Brown, we're so happy to have you this afternoon. It's been a long while since we've had the pleasure." 
Of course, he didn't call me by alter ego's name, but for the purpose maintaining separation between London and Desniah I've inserted it.

A few of my clients preferred a more discrete location, but some wanted high-risk spots as the thrill of getting caught heightened their arousal. I can't say I didn't get off on it too.

The older man turned and held the door to the grand room. The palate of white and gold always dazzled me. It was one of my favorite rooms in the city. An empty space set the stage on which this man's flavor of depravity would play out. Not that I minded. I'd been educated about men and their true nature through the acts they asked me to perform.

"I haven't seen Mr. Carrington in a great many years either," Peter said.

I couldn't have heard him correctly. My step faltered for but a second. I swallowed. As my mind tried to make sense of the meaning of this, I took a deep breath. A sick cosmic joke on me. 

Caden Jacob Carrington, and he didn't mean the forth, but the fifth. Of course, I'd heard he had recently returned from Hong Kong, but why would he need the services of an escort? I should have turned around and left-ran as fast and as far as I could. But I didn't. What better way for him to see why there never could be a future between us?

Following the maitre d' I went down the stairs.

My eyes met his, and there I didn't find surprise.