For His Taking (For His Pleasure, Book 2) (The Submission of Miss Masters, Domination, BDSM) by Kelly Favor Read Free Book Online Page A

and readied herself for the next chapter of this bizarre journey. Before going down to the lobby, she went to the bathroom to freshen up, and on the way out, her cell rang.
    She looked at the number. It was her parents’ home number.
    “Shit.” She debated answering or not answering, finally decided to take the call.
    She couldn’t hide from them forever.
    “Nicole?” her mother’s voice piped.
    Shit. If it at least could have been her father who was on the line—Nicole could deal with him.
    “Hi, mom. What’s up?”
    Her mother sounded like she was chewing something. Probably eating some healthy snack. “How are you?” she asked. “How are things?”
    “Fine, mom. Busy.”
    “I’m sure. Yes.”
    Long pause.
    “Everything okay?” Nicole said.
    “Your father and I have been talking about everything that’s happened since you moved to New York City. And especially, we talked about the party on Sunday and Red’s proposing to you.” More chewing, as her mother seemed to want to make this as drawn out and painful a conversation as possible.
    “Okay…” Nicole said, waiting for the inevitable shoe to drop.
    “We’re just concerned about how fast this is all moving. Have the two of you discussed a wedding date yet?”
    “Not just yet, mom. But I’ll let you know as soon as we’ve settled on something.”
    Chew. Chew. Chew. It was maddening.
    “Maybe you should make this a long engagement,” her mother said. “Put the wedding out two years.”
    Nicole laughed softly. “That’s a little too far off, mom.”
    “You two are still getting to know each other. He seems like a very nice man, but…complicated. Don’t you think?”
    “I love him and he loves me.”
    “I’m sure that’s how it feels right now. As if everything is so simple, cut and dry.
    But the fact is—“
    “The fact is, it’s my life and my decisions.”
    “No need to jump down my throat, Nicky. I’m being supportive.”
    “This is not being supportive,” Nicole said. “You’re trying to undermine my confidence with your little digs about our relationship.”
    “Now wait just a minute,” her mother said sharply. “I didn’t come on here and tell you all the comments we got from people around town, about the reporters who took pictures of our home and made fun of us. It hurt your father deeply to have our home laughed at and mocked in the news.”
    “The Rag is not a news site, mom. It’s tabloid crap. Nobody cares what they say on that website. It’s all vicious gossip.”
    “Maybe you don’t care. Maybe Red Jameson doesn’t care, because he courts the attention and publicity. But your father and I don’t want to be ridiculed for living a simple life.”
    “I’m sorry that it happened, mom. If I’d have known, we never would have come to the house.”
    “So now you’re with a man who you can’t even be seen with in public, without fear of what the news will print about you the next day. What kind of life is that, Nicole?
    Do you think you can be happy living this way?”
    “Mom, I need to go.”
    “Think about what I said. I love you, your father loves you—“
    “Love you too.” She hung up and dropped her cell back in her purse, wishing it would just burst into flames. That phone had caused her more than enough grief to last a lifetime already.
    As she made her way to the elevator and then the lobby, Nicole thought how amazing it was that her mom knew just what buttons to press to make her feel diminished and hopeless.
    Here she had finally met the man of her dreams, and her mother couldn’t celebrate and be happy for her. She had to stir up doubt and anxiety and make everything seem as though it were a nightmare.
    Wouldn’t most mothers be happy if their daughter ended up with a handsome billionaire who loved them to death?
    Red was waiting for her in the lobby, next to the door to the parking garage. As she met him and they kissed briefly, she knew that all eyes were upon them.
    I need to get