Wicked Payback Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Wicked Payback

  ISBN # 1-4199-0614-3

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Wicked Payback Copyright© 2006 Daisy Dexter Dobbs

  Edited by Briana St. James.

  Cover art by Lissa Waitley.

  Electronic book Publication: May 2006

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Warning:

  The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. This story has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

  S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.

  E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.

  X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

  WICKED PAYBACK

  Daisy Dexter Dobbs

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Oscar: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Corporation

  Dumpster: Dempster Systems Inc.

  Prologue

  Uttering a tiny gasp of wonder, Meredith gazed at the shimmering lights of the city skyline. “Oh, Jack…have you ever seen anything quite so magnificent?”

  “Never.”

  At the husky sound of her new husband’s voice, she turned to find Jack’s gaze locked directly on her instead of the breathtaking expanse of Chicago’s lakefront. One glimpse of the hunger in his eyes brought a rush of warmth to her cheeks.

  “I meant the view from up here on the fortieth floor, silly.” She gestured at the massive floor-to-ceiling window and smiled.

  “Oh…that,” Jack said, as if the million-dollar view was nothing more than a shopping mall parking lot. “Yeah, that’s nice too.” Winking, he flashed a cavalier grin.

  Overflowing with love and brimming with the exhilaration, hopes and dreams of a new bride, Meredith hugged herself as she turned back to the window. “It’s like we’re on top of the world together, Jack. Just the two of us.”

  “This is what it’ll be like for us all the time in a few years, baby, you’ll see.” Jack wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Once we get on our feet financially, the sky’s the limit. All I need to do is to build a solid reputation as a motivational speaker and once those speaking engagements start rolling in we’ll be staying in hotels like this every weekend if you like.”

  “I hope for your sake that it does happen,” Meredith said, leaning back and brushing her cheek with his. “Because I know how happy it will make you. But I don’t really care all that much about being rich. I’d be just as happy if we stayed at home in our cozy little apartment and just lived happily ever after.” She breathed a contented sigh.

  Jack smoothed his hands up and down her arms, capturing the fingers of one hand and bringing them to his mouth to kiss them. “You deserve so much more than that, Meredith. I just wish to hell I could have afforded to take you somewhere really special for our honeymoon. Someplace exciting, romantic and exotic like Paris or Barcelona or maybe London. And for at least a week, instead of downtown Chicago for just one night.”

  “But, Jack, don’t you understand? This is special.” Turning to face him, Meredith cupped Jack’s face in her hands and smiled warmly. “As long as we’re together, my adorable bridegroom, it doesn’t matter to me if it’s forty floors up in a fancy hotel here on Michigan Avenue, or some rinky-dink little motel along the highway or in a tent on the Sahara desert. All I care about is being with the man I love. My husband,” she added with a bright smile.

  With two broken engagements behind them due to Jack’s dallying with a couple of coeds, there was a time when Meredith doubted she and Jack would ever make it to the altar. It wasn’t Jack’s fault. Not really. He had a roving eye and exuded the kind of magnetic charm that attracted women like dieters to fresh-baked bread. He couldn’t help it if women were always throwing themselves at him. And he felt terrible that he’d succumbed to temptation on those two different occasions and hurt Meredith. But that was in the past. Jack had assured her that it would never happen again and she believed him—because she knew he loved her. Meredith was certain of that. And as long as they loved each other they could surmount all odds. Together. So, no, she didn’t care about things that only money could buy. All she cared about was Jack and being with him forever.

  “You’re an angel,” Jack said, kissing her. “And I don’t deserve you. You’re too good for me.”

  “Hmm…well, it’s a little late for that admission, don’t you think?” Meredith laughed. “I honestly never expected to be staying anyplace as fancy as this honeymoon suite for our wedding night.” She gazed around the large, elaborate two-level suite and sighed. “Marble, silk, satin and gold and it’s even got a second level. Amazing.” She shook her head as she studied the ornately carved doors to the bedroom upstairs. “Like something out of a fairy tale. What a wonderful, thoughtful wedding gift. We’ll definitely have to invite the professor over for a thank-you dinner.”

  Jack nodded. “Professor Henkel said every person in the drama department contributed a little something. Guess it pays to be a professor’s assistant, huh?” Arching an eyebrow, he blew a puff of air across his fingernails and polished them against his lapel.

  “Well, I’m sure being his assistant didn’t hurt.” Meredith fingered his bow tie and shirt studs, thinking that Jack looked a whole hell of a lot like James Bond in his tux. “But I’d say it probably has a lot more to do with the fact that Professor Henkel and the rest of the university’s drama department thinks you’re destined to become the greatest orator since Winston Churchill.” She beamed a proud grin. “And I happen to agree with their assumption.”

  “Well, if that’s true,” Jack tipped Meredith’s chin up with his finger and brushed his lips across hers, “it’s all because of the sacrifice you’ve made, Meredith—working those two jobs to put me through school. I’ll never forget that. Ever. And I promise that one day I’ll make it all up to you.”

  “Oh, Jack, don’t talk that way.” Meredith tsked. “You don’t owe me anything.” She smiled and hugged him tight. “Except your love. If the situation were reversed, you’d be doing the same for me. That’s what people do when they love each other.”

  “I appreciate your selfless attitude, sweetheart,” Jack returned her affectionate squeeze, “but, like it or not, once I’ve made it to the big time, you’ll be living like a queen. Go ahead, just close your eyes for a moment and picture us twenty years from now when—”

  “Twenty years?” Mered
ith’s closed eyes popped open. “Jesus, Jack, I’ll be forty. That’s ancient—almost half a century. I can’t picture myself that far ahead.”

  “Okay…if forty sounds too old and decrepit let’s make it twenty-nine then. Better?” Meredith smiled and nodded. “So,” Jack continued, “envision us just nine short years from now… We’re nibbling Beluga caviar on toast points and washing it down with vintage champagne during one of our average weekend getaways at our villa on the French Riviera. We’re discussing our wedding night and how broke we were and we’re laughing because we can hardly believe it.”

  “Will I get to have a crew of hunky cabana boys at our villa?” Meredith asked with an all-too-innocent smile. “You know,” she shrugged, “in case I need to have someone peel a grape for me or something.”

  Jack arched an eyebrow, shooting her a warning glare. “I’m all the man you’ll ever need, sweetheart.” He yanked her close, grinding himself against her and sliding into a devilish laugh.

  “Well, gee, I don’t know.” Meredith tried to look concerned. “After all, Jack, in nine years you’ll be…” she counted on her fingers, “thirty-two. That’s practically over the hill.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  “Don’t worry, smarty pants.” He gave her a playful swat on the butt. “My virility, or lack thereof, is one problem you’ll never have to worry about. I guarantee it. So you can just forget about cabana boys, got that?” Meredith grinned and nodded in response. “Stick with me, sweetheart, and you’ll be traveling all over the world, first class all the way. I’ll have you swimming in lobster, caviar, the finest European chocolates, diamonds, furs and French champagne.”

  “Mmm, sounds like a deliciously soggy mess.” Meredith laughed. “Actually, I’ll be perfectly happy with a yearly vacation, free-flowing bubbly and an unlimited lifetime supply of chocolate. And you, of course.” After licking her lips, she squeezed him tight and laughed.

  “Speaking of chocolates and bubbly,” Jack said, gesturing toward the table, “you’ll note that we have an ample supply of both for the evening.”

  Meredith sauntered over to the gilt-edged table and popped a chocolate truffle into her mouth, closing her eyes and moaning her pleasure at the sweet creaminess and silky texture. “Scrumptious. Delicious. Divine. Are these from the drama department too?” she asked, placing another fancy chocolate candy on her tongue and sinking into the rapturous bliss of chocolate heaven yet again.

  “Nope. That was all my idea. I figured I couldn’t go wrong keeping you inebriated on champagne and drunk on chocolates. I love it when you get that look on your face, Meredith. It’s the same one you get when you’re in the midst of an orgasm.”

  “Mmmm…” she paused while finishing her third chocolate confection, this one filled with hazelnut nougat, “I’m not surprised,” she finished. “Seeing as how sexual pleasure comes in at a very close second to chocolate bliss.” She winked.

  “Ooh, baby.” Jack reveled in a hoarse laugh as he tugged Meredith hard against his arousal. “I’ve been itching to get my hands on your juicy body all day. Ever since I saw you walk down that aisle looking like Cinderella, Mrs. McKenna.” He curved his fingers over her wedding-gowned ass, nearly scorching her through the satiny fabric with his heat.

  “And when I saw you standing at the altar looking so incredibly handsome and impossibly sexy in your tux,” Meredith purred, “I felt my thighs quiver, longing to have you between them.” She looped her arm through Jack’s, indulging in a tuneful, satisfied sigh. “Oh, Jack, it was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it? Perfect.”

  “All except for the part where your maid of honor started wailing after you said I do.” Chuckling, Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head. “That was a little much, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah…Karyn did get a little carried away with the moment, didn’t she?” Meredith mused, cringing slightly at the memory of her best friend unexpectedly breaking into happy sobs. “Still,” she shrugged, “it was the happiest day of my life.”

  “Me too,” Jack whispered against her ear. “But the best part of the day—or should I say night—is yet to come.” He kissed the mound of pale flesh spilling over the décolletage of Meredith’s soft ivory-colored gown.

  “Mmmm,” Meredith purred against the tiny pleated folds of Jack’s dress shirt. “Who could ask for anything more than one sexy, private, delectable, perfect wedding night together at the top of the world?”

  “Driving each other wild,” Jack added, “as we tantalize each other between the sheets.”

  Her lip curling into a wicked smile, Meredith arched a brow. “We’re going to have a ball…doing all that balling.” She put her fingers to her lips and giggled. “Hmmm, I must admit that was rather clever.”

  Jack sighed in mock dismay. “Ah…it appears that this once naïve and innocent little virgin has become a wanton woman.” He skimmed his hands from her breasts to her thighs and back again. “A wickedly, wonderfully, lusty little vixen.”

  “It’s true.” Meredith hiked one shoulder in a shrug and laughed. “What can I say? But it’s your fault. You corrupted me, Jack McKenna. Turned me into a veritable sex addict who’s in a near-constant state of arousal. You have only yourself to blame, my darling, far-too-sexy husband.” She punctuated her statement by dropping her hands to his groin and firmly cupping his erection.

  Jack sucked in a deep breath. “I’m going to do my damnedest to keep you just one heartbeat away from expiring due to excess orgasm the entire night, babe.”

  “What a way to go.” Meredith gave a saucy laugh. Jack’s pledge sent a delicious jolt of heat straight to her pussy. Ever since she’d surrendered her virginity to him when they first became engaged, after contending with his endless reasoning, cajoling and tempting, Meredith felt like an entirely new woman. Why ever had she insisted on protecting that damned cherry for so long? Because she was a born and bred goody-two-shoes of course. Thank God she finally gave in and let Jack save her from herself and her puritan principles.

  Oh, God, how she loved the man. From his handsome face, thick espresso-brown hair and hazel eyes to his beautifully sculpted muscles, to his wit, limitless skills and talents, Jack McKenna was the ultimate man of Meredith’s dreams. The man who’d brought boundless love, laughter and magical hopes and dreams into her life. The man she would spend the rest of her life with, doing her best to make him as happy as he’d made her.

  And tonight, her wedding night, the somewhat nervous Meredith was eager to put her newly acquired carnal knowledge to good use, tempting, tantalizing and satisfying her new husband.

  “How about that champagne now,” Meredith said, deciding she could use an extra bit of courage.

  Jack made a sweeping bow. “Your wish is my command, my love.” Deftly opening the bottle of bubbly so that there was just a slight pop and no runover, Jack poured them each a glass and then held his flute aloft in a toast.

  “To my sweet, beautiful, sexy, good-hearted bride. May you always love me as much as you do this night.”

  “And to the man who’s vowed to keep me swimming in chocolate for eternity—and who will never renege on that promise if he wants my love to remain constant.” Beaming a smile, Meredith clinked her glass against Jack’s and they drank, intertwining their arms continental style.

  After enjoying a second glass of champagne, Meredith gifted Jack with a chaste kiss on the tip of his nose and a suggestive little wink. Then she took a few steps back from the table, a bit jittery and swallowing hard as she prepared to give him his wedding night gift of a sexy, mostly uninhibited bride. Turning her back to him, Meredith tugged at the zipper of her wedding gown as she slowly ascended the stairs. With a little shimmy, the gown slid down over one shoulder. One more sensual shake had it slipping off the other shoulder, dropping to her waist. And then with an energetic swirl of her hips and lively thrust of her pelvis, the entire bodice of the gown fell to her knees. Meredith glanced over her shoulder at Jack with a teasing smile and then stepped fully ou
t of the gown, leaving it to drape casually across the stairs. She turned to face him and licked her lips slowly as she modeled her sexy wedding night ensemble.

  He stared at her without saying a word, which made her a bit uneasy. She hoped she didn’t look ridiculous, especially considering the fact that she was far from being model-thin and never thought she’d have the guts to wear a blatantly sexy outfit like this. It was so distant from her goody-two-shoes sense of morality that just wearing it made her feel wicked, sinful. But if her mirror, and Karyn, hadn’t lied earlier, then she was reasonably certain she looked good. Damned alluring even.

  Meredith remembered shopping for the silky peaches-and-cream garments a few weeks before with Karyn—the less inhibited of the pair. They’d had a ball searching through a variety of sexy getups and erupting in bawdy giggles as they practiced come-hither looks and suggestive poses. They finally agreed on a strapless ivory-colored waist cincher that stopped just below Meredith’s breasts and laced up the front with peach satin ribbon. The bra, a lacy confection with nipple cut-outs in shades of ivory and soft peach, showed off her large breasts to their best advantage. The rest of her fantasy garb consisted of an ivory-lace garter belt with peach satin garters attached to sheer ivory stockings and a pair of peach-colored crotchless silk panties trimmed with ivory satin and lace.

  Karyn assured her that Jack’s eyes would pop, and now, much to Meredith’s relief, it looked as if she may have been right.

  After staring at his bride slack jawed and silent for a long moment, Jack finally seemed to regain his senses. He let out a throaty wolf whistle while devouring Meredith with a ravenous gaze. “Holy shit,” the future great orator uttered, and Meredith had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.