A Kept Woman by Louise Bagshawe Read Free Book Online Page A

Jessie was ravenous in bed. She didn’t want a relationship and neither did he. He enjoyed her simply, clutching her back as he thrust into her, making her buck and wriggle, his hand gently trailing over her pussy, teasing her while he thrust. Michael liked his women responsive and took the time to make sure they were. In his opinion there were no frigid women, just lousy lovers. He grinned at his steamy reflection in the bathroom mirror. Most guys were weak and couldn’t hit it. That helped him. When women found a guy who could make them pant, they’d do anything for him.
    He loved women. The trouble was, he reflected, that he loved too many of them. Settling down with just one? Impossible. Maybe, someday in the future. But if Michael was honest, he sometimes doubted that day would ever arrive. He shrugged and towelled himself off. Romance wasn’t hi style. He had work to do.
    Outside his apartment it was very cold. New York’s snap into winter couldn’t be far away. A bitter gust whipped down from West Broadway and into his jacket. Shivering, Michael ducked into the subway. Whatever people said about the New York subway, it was warm.
    He arrived at the office to find Susan already there. Today she wore a smart, short red shirtdress that buttoned up atorg the front, with a fitted jacket over it. Jessica had concentrated his mind against her temptations, though. Michael nodded a brisk good morning to his assistant and asked for his schedule.
    ‘You have a ten thirty uptown, at the Blakely’s headquarters, with a lunch to follow. And that’s all today, Mr Cicero.’
    Michael had made it quite clear: in the office, it was Mr Cicero from the staff - which was Susan, at this
    point. Susan said to herself this was totally arrogant. ‘You’ve got my files?’ ‘Right here, sir.’
     
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    She felt a little tingle in her skin as she said that. Her nipples tightened sweetly. No wonder Leslie thought she was on fire in bed lately, she spent her whole day at work dreamily frustrated.
    ‘Wish me luck,’ Michael said, grinning at her.
    Oh, my. Susan steadied herself with one manicured
    hand. ‘Oh, I do, Mr Cicero, really, I wish you the very best of luck, there’s no way you’re not going to wow them—’
    ‘Thanks.’ He cut her off, absently. She could see his
    mind was already on the meeting. ‘I’ll get a cab on the
    street. Make sure Seth has the artwork he needs, OK?’ ‘OK, Mr Cicero.’ Susan sighed. He walked out.
     
    Damn, Michael thought. The chick this morning had made him forget he had this meeting. He was getting old. He walked hastily away from Zabanda’s, so the moussaka reek didn’t cling to his suit, and jumped in a cab on the corner of Madison. It was a pretty big morning this morning. He had pitched their latest list to a new group of buyers last week and got some good orders.., major bookstores, even an order placed by Amazon.com. It seemed that the clean, crisp, old-fashioned editions with his own special typeface and sweet illustrations were making waves.
    He’d expected some interest from the big houses, and he hadn’t been disappointed. Everybody was singing the same tune. Michael settled back into the black leather seat, and got ready to wince at the fare. If he took any one of these job offers, he wouldn’t have to watch cab fares ever again. They had different voices: the young, hip, book mogul, the old lady known as a killer editor, the crisp accounting type with the seductive figures. But the trip was the same. Give up Green Eggs and work for us. Commissioning editor, right off the bat. He co.uld pay
     
    4o
     
    off the student loan and stop dressing off the peg, Hell, he could buy his own apartment on the West Side someplace.
    Michael turned them all down flat, even the lady who cme to his office. Not interested. He didn’t branch out on his own so he could report to some other asshole. He liked being called sir. He hated calling other men the same thing. In fact, he