A Kingpin Love Affair by J.L. Beck Read Free Book Online Page A

of what it did, and what it would cause the other women who were in the trades with me.
    “It was against my skin…” I paused briefly. “My butt.” I was startled at the sound of my own voice. Had I spoken that out loud?
    Recognition formed on Jared’s face as if he understood what I was getting at, outrage and dejection seeping into his features.
    “I would never, and I do mean never, force myself on you or any woman. Morning wood is something that is extremely common for men of all ages. It doesn’t mean that we’re attracted to you, and it doesn’t give us the right to take what we want.” He didn’t look at me as if I was an object for his pleasure. Instead, he watched me most likely wondering if I would have a mental breakdown right this second.
    What he didn’t realize was his words calmed me. He cared, even if he said he didn’t and even if I was afraid of what was forming between us I wanted to welcome it with open arms. I needed something good in my life. Something pure, something worth living for.
    “So you weren’t going to do anything?” I questioned just to make sure, encouraging myself to remember that Jared wasn’t any of those men I had spent time with while in the trades.
    I could tell he was upset by my question as he pushed from the bed. His body filled with aggression and tension. He stretched before me causing parts of my own body to react.
    “Of course, I wasn’t going to do anything. You were sleeping, for fuck’s sake. I don’t get off on taking advantage of women.” He stepped into my space, forcing my back against the wall. Fear filled my belly, but so did something else. The feeling of being loved and wanted.
    “If I wanted you, you would know it. And I most definitely wouldn’t have to take you unwillingly,” he said smugly, his eyes lingering on my lips. I was just about to say something when he took a step back and pushed past me to get out of the room. I stood there attempting to catch my labored breaths. Jared caused butterflies to form in my stomach, but he also caused me to feel the unknowingness of being with a man. The feeling was foreign but exhilarating all at the same time.
    I waited until I heard the slam of his bedroom door before I closed the door to my room and settled back into my bed. The walls would have to be enough of a barrier for now. I held myself together, my arms wrapped tightly around my midsection. My mind drifted back in time to that dream when I thought the end was near. I needed something, anything to keep my thoughts off the present, even if it meant I had to head back toward my past.
    Shifting into an upward position, I pulled my knees into my chest and pushed my hair over my shoulder so I could weave my fingers through it. I did this to stay calm. It had become a calming technique for me to keep my mind in the right place.
    “Secure all the girls and place them on the right side of the room. I need to take photos of them to send to the buyers.” I knew the voice like I knew what light against my skin felt like.
    A meaty hand clamped onto my arm, pulling me to my dirt covered feet. My clothes were tattered and worn, my shoes and all possessions gone. I had nothing but my thoughts here and some of us didn’t even have those.
    The man’s hand gripped me hard. His fingers dug into my dirty flesh until I knew there would be bruises. They always loved to rough us up and beat on us, making sure the injuries were far and few between and always out of sight.
    No one would buy you if you were damaged. Being bought was your one and only chance at freedom. You’d be a fool not to want that.
    “Her,” someone said to my right as I was slammed into the unforgiving ground, my knees giving way. It had been days since I last had food or clean water to drink. They were depriving all of us of the things we needed simply because one girl refused to willingly give her body to one of the guards.
    “Smile pretty for the camera, bitch.” I could smell his