Daddy Ever After Read online

  Contents

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  Beast

  Also by Measha Stone

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author Measha Stone is a lover of all things erotic and fun who writes kinky romantic suspense and dark romance novels. She won the 2018 Golden Flogger award in two categories, Best Advanced BDSM and Best Anthology. She’s hit #1 on Amazon in multiple categories in the U.S. and the U.K. When she’s not typing away on her computer, she can be found nestled up with a cup of tea and her kindle.

  https://meashastone.com

  Daddy Ever After

  A Girls of the Annex Novella

  Measha Stone

  1

  Candles burned in their sconces along the outer walls of the ball room. Jaelynn stood in the far corner, watching everyone. Her stomach had finally stopped twisting into intricate knots, but that probably had more to do with the two shots of amaretto she’d taken before leaving her room and coming down for the party.

  Drinking was forbidden for the girls of the Annex right before a party, but amaretto wasn’t really liquor, was it? Sure, it had some alcohol content, but it wasn’t tequila. Not that she would ever make an attempt at a shot of tequila. In fact, she was pretty sure amaretto wasn’t really a shot type liquor, but it had done the job, so she wouldn’t dwell on it.

  Ashland Titon, owner of the Annex, had already given his speech laying out the ground rules for the evening. Most of them were put in place to keep the girls safe. But she still wasn’t all that sure any woman would be safe around Ash, or any of the men milling around the room.

  Power flowed through the air. Then again, it could have just been her imagination. She had a way of doing that. Seeing things that weren’t there, feeling things that weren’t realistic. And she’d made a fool of herself one too many times. Some called it anxiety, she called it life.

  But it was the power she sought out at the moment. From one man in particular. If she could just find him, get close enough to him, she could get the job done and be rid of the Annex. But for the time being, until she could make her move, she’d have to keep playing submissive to the alpha assholes who came looking for a good time. At least they paid well.

  “Jaelynn, let’s go. You have to socialize.” Jeffrey, the man assigned to escort her through the room, jerked a thumb at the room.

  “Right.” She nodded and smoothed out the skirt of her dress, taking a deep breath. “Let’s do this.” With a nod she pushed herself to start mingling among the rich and powerful.

  Though catching the glance of a man looking more terrified than she felt, she wondered how powerful some of them might be.

  “You’re going to do fine. Just remember, anyone makes an offer, you direct them to me. Peter will have final say since this is your first party.” Jeffrey rambled on while she made her way across the room. What was she supposed to do exactly? She couldn’t just pace the room like a piece of pie in a rotating case at a diner.

  An older man, old enough to be her grandfather, licked his lips as she passed him. She lowered her gaze and picked up her pace. Hopefully he saw the gesture as her being a skittish submissive. If she were to insult one of the guests unprovoked she’d be meeting with Peter again. And she would rather not meet up with the disciplinarian again any time soon.

  Once she reached the opposite end of the room, she turned on her heel and started walking back to her original position. She’d make a round after that, she promised herself. Eventually, she would need to actually try to meet up with one of the men in the room, while searching out her prey.

  Taking on a man for the night or weekend wouldn’t be the worst thing. She had every confidence that Ashland wouldn’t allow anyone access to one of his parties without being thoroughly vetted and deemed safe. And she had been assured she had final say on what went into her contracts. If she said no sex, there wouldn’t be sex. Which worked well, since she wasn’t sure how easily she could fuck a stranger. Playing a little slap and tickle was one thing, and she even enjoyed it to a point, but having some man she didn’t even know huffing and puffing over her didn’t make the cut. She’d be checking no in that box.

  But if she was lucky, she’d find the man she was doing all this for. If she could get him to buy her for the night, she would be able to get close enough to sink her knife into his throat.

  If he showed up. It was a hit or miss situation with him and the catalogue parties. Being older now, he didn’t partake as often, but she knew he’d come. Eventually, he would, and she could get to him.

  Until then, she’d continue working in the Annex, biding her time.

  “Jaelynn, I need to get to the front door. There’s a problem. You are to stay right over here.” Jeffrey grabbed her arm and pulled her to the corner near the bar. “Stephan, I have to step out. Keep an eye out for her, okay?”

  The man behind the bar pouring a glass of wine nodded. “Sure thing. Jae, just hang here, okay? I can’t leave the bar right now.”

  “No problem, Stephan.” She leaned against the bar and let out a relaxing breath. Who knew putting yourself on a display rack would be so intense. It was like eyes were on her every time she moved.

  Specifically, at the moment, she could feel it, the warm stare of a man. Sweeping her gaze around the room, she didn’t see anyone ogling her from a distance. Most of the men were already mingling with the girls or engrossed in conversation with each other. Some of the girls had warned her that the guys usually just hang out for a while at first and don’t start picking any of them out until toward the end of the night.

  The sensation didn’t go away once she looked around. If anything, it grew more intense. A heat washed over her. She wasn’t just being watched, she was being hunted.

  Standing in the corner only made the feeling more intense. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Not that she should.

  Justice—her mantra, but it wasn’t working in that moment. Whoever had her locked in his sights was giving her a chill.

  “Stephan, I’m just going to walk over there,” she tried to tell him. But he was busy pouring drinks.

  “Jaelynn, no. Stay,” he said when she started to walk away. Stay. Like she was just going to obey him on command. He could still see her if he looked up from pouring, and if she was approached she’d bring the gentleman back toward the bar so Stephan would be in hearing range.

  Once she was in the open area again, her breathing came more naturally. The heated sensation of being stalked eased away.

  She checked the time on the delicate gold chain watch on her left wrist and sighed. Only another four hours before Ash would call the evening to a close. It wouldn’t be enough to entertain a few men with conversation throughout the night; she had to eventually find someone to play with. She couldn’t let Ash or Peter get the idea she wasn’t there for the work.

  Being distracted in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice a man step up beside her. Her body tensed when she got a whiff of his aftershave. Musk, a woodsy leathery scent. It was almost calming, until she brought her eyes up to meet his.

  Dark. Everything about this man screamed run. The severity of his stare, the tightness of his chiseled jaw. The black swirling tattoos that crept up from under his shirt collar and spread over his throat. Around his neck. He rubbed his chin while she continued to gawk at him; more tats. All over his hands. Did any inch of him not have ink?

  “I don’t think you’re supposed to be over here.” His deep voice cut through her mental observations.

  “What?” She blinked. Her mi
nd had blanked out on her. “Oh. Yes. No. It’s okay,” she assured him, taking a small step to the left. She couldn’t see Stephan with the way this stranger positioned himself between her and the bar.

  “Ash made it clear none of the women were to be unescorted. I don’t see your escort.” His dark eyes never left hers.

  “He had to see to something. It’s okay.”

  “Not a rule follower?” he asked with an arched brow. What was the right answer, what did he want to hear? If she said she was, maybe he would find her boring, but if she said she wasn’t, maybe he wouldn’t find her submissive enough.

  “I, I’m Jaelynn.” She threw her hand out toward him. Maybe if she drew the conversation back to the beginning she could get him to stop glowering at her.

  “Yes, I know.” He grabbed her hand, but not to shake it. Instead he cradled it, running the rough tips of his fingers across her palm. “We get a catalogue when we respond to the invitation for the party,” he explained when she kept silent.

  Yes. That’s right. Catalogue. Party. She was supposed to be finding him. Justice. Yes. It was all coming back to her now.

  “This is your first party,” he added. “You know, Ashland does a good job of vetting all of these men, but it doesn’t mean they are all safe. They won’t hurt you anymore than whatever terms they agree to, but they aren’t nice men.”

  If he was trying to warn her away from being at the party, it wouldn’t work. She was already there, and she already had her goal.

  “And you? Are you a nice man?” She threw on a soft smile, tilting her head a little. Maybe some playfulness would smooth out his edges.

  “No,” he answered bluntly.

  Her smile dropped. The chill that went up and down her spine earlier at the feeling of being watched returned with fervor. He’d been the one. He’d been watching her.

  “What’s your name?” she asked, still trying to see around him to Stephan. Why hadn’t he come to look for her? And where the hell was Jeffrey? He shouldn’t be away for this long. If Peter was going to take his belt to her ass for talking to this man without her handler, then Jeffrey better be right beside her.

  “Hunter,” he said, still not giving her any room to move. “I think we’ll stay here until Peter or your handler bothers to find you,” he said, his voice full of promise and danger.

  Her heart started to patter away. She needed to get around him, back to the open area. She couldn’t be blocked like this.

  “Why?” she asked softly.

  “Because I’m taking you home and I believe Peter will have the final signature since it’s your first party.”

  “You’re taking me home? I haven’t agreed.” She clenched her hands at her sides. How arrogant. Hot, maybe, but fucking arrogant as hell.

  “You will.”

  “Jaelynn.” Peter’s hard voice crawled over Hunter’s back to get to her. Hunter’s lips twisted up into a smile and he finally stepped aside to give her room to move.

  Peter’s fierce expression landed on her as soon as Hunter cleared the way. It might be better if Hunter went back to blocking her. Peter was pissed.

  “Peter, I—”

  He waved a hand for her to keep her mouth shut. “You were doing exactly what you aren’t supposed to be doing. Stephan called me, saying you disappeared into the party and he couldn’t see you.”

  “Jeffrey left—”

  “Jeffrey left you with Stephan and you were told to stay put.” Peter pressed forward. Giving her one harder glare, he turned to Hunter. “Hunter,” he said with some surprise to his tone. “I didn’t realize that was you.”

  Peter extended a hand as did Hunter, and they shook, exchanging greetings.

  “I saw her over here, and figured she was probably not supposed to be,” Hunter said, no longer looking at her at all. “But I was just starting to negotiate terms with her, so it’s probably better you’re here.”

  Peter glanced quickly down at Jaelynn, and she held his stare for a brief moment. What did that mean? Was he approving or not?

  “What terms?” Peter asked.

  “Whole weekend. Full time. Complete submission. Discipline when needed,” Hunter stated and Peter nodded along. Were they going to include her in any way?

  “Sex?” Peter asked.

  “Yes,” Hunter nodded.

  “No,” Jae said at the same time.

  Peter raised an eyebrow. “She does still have final say, even if she’s been disobedient this evening.”

  “Define sex.” Hunter posed the question to Jaelynn.

  “Excuse me?” If he didn’t know, maybe he was in the wrong place.

  “Define what sex means to you.” Hunter pushed again, his intense stare still winding up her body.

  “Sex. Penetration.” She started to say more but Hunter already turned back to Peter.

  “Okay, I’ll agree to no vaginal penetration unless she changes her mind.” She wasn’t sure the way he said that made it better. Unless she changed her mind? Not likely. Sex wasn’t something she was willing to give away to just anyone. Just because she was contracting her body out for other play didn’t mean she would open her legs for anyone.

  “Anal?” Peter asked Jae the question.

  “No,” she said, hard.

  “That’s fine. A weekend doesn’t really give me time to train her properly for it anyway,” Hunter agreed.

  Train her properly? Heat rose up her neck. She’d played this moment out before in her mind. A man negotiating what he could and couldn’t do to her body, but this wasn’t playing out right. They barely let her into the conversation.

  Once they had finished, Peter turned to her. “Anything you want to add? I have your hard lists already and he’s agreed to them.”

  “No. I guess not. What about pay?” she asked, getting to the heart of the matter. She should at least pretend the money was what brought her there.

  “Twenty-five hundred for the weekend,” Peter said.

  “Five thousand,” she countered. Twenty percent went to the Annex for a booking fee; no way she’d be low-balling herself. Not when she was giving up her chance to be there when her prey finally showed.

  Hunter sighed. “Fine.”

  “Okay, I’ll have this drawn up, and you can meet her for the signatures. I need to take her for a few minutes before you leave.” Peter waved over Jeffrey, who finally showed back up. “Here’s the details for the paperwork. Please escort Mr. Bianucci to have this drawn up and signed. I’m taking Jae to my office for a few minutes.”

  Jeffrey glanced at Jae and shook his head. Peter’s office meant she would be getting a few licks of his belt before she was sent off.

  “I’d rather not be delayed,” Hunter interjected.

  “She was unescorted when you spoke with her. It’s against the rules and she knew it. She was told to stay at the bar with Stephan while her handler was busy. If she isn’t dealt with, it sets a bad example,” Peter explained.

  “Like I said, I’d rather not be delayed. I am more than happy to see to her discipline when we get home.”

  A new tingling drove through her spine with the smooth and hard way he said those words.

  “Peter.” Jae stepped forward. “I only walked away for a minute. I just couldn’t stand over there, there was too many people. I did tell Stephan,” she explained.

  “And he told you to wait,” Peter countered.

  “I don’t want her marked,” Hunter stated bluntly.

  After a long pause, Peter relented. “Mr. Bianucci will see to your punishment.” Peter leaned closer to her, his dark smile increasing as he spoke. “But if you think you’re getting off lightly, you’re wrong. I’ve seen him punish his girls before. You’ll wish you’d let me handle it.”

  She swallowed.

  “Let’s get the papers done,” Peter said and dismissed Jeffrey.

  Hunter flattened his hand against her back and firmly led her to where she would sign away her freedom for the weekend.

  Two ful
l days of being completely Hunter’s.

  Why wasn’t she terrified?

  2

  The ride back to the house had been quiet. Hunter didn’t try to engage Jaelynn in conversation; there’d be time for that later. He took the time to get to understand her mannerisms. She fidgeted a lot in the seat until he flicked on the radio. It seemed to soothe her enough that she let herself become distracted with the scenery.

  Hunter’s house sat on a hill clear across town. As they drove up the winding road to the small estate overlooking the southern part of the city below, he glanced her way. The skirt of her dress had snuck up, exposing a small tattoo on her outer thigh. Two entangled hearts. Cute.

  He parked the car just before the front steps to the house. The security gates at the end of the long drive kept him sufficiently secluded from intruders.

  “You’ve been very quiet,” he stated once he turned off the car. The leather of her seat crunched when she shifted her position. “Are you nervous?”

  Her eyes lifted to his. Her chin raised. Maybe she was, just a bit, but the defiance in her intrigued him more.

  “I’m not scared,” she said, holding his gaze. Not many men would be so bold, but he doubted she knew that. He doubted she knew very much at all. The catalogue had described her as an innocent. From what he’d seen of her so far, he’d agree.

  Not that it would remain true for very long.

  “I didn’t ask if you were scared. You have no reason to be. I asked you if you’re nervous.” He flicked his gaze down to her hands. Her hackles may be raised, and she gave a good pretense of having a steel spine, but her hands were twisting in her lap.

  She shook out her fingers and sighed.

  “Are you nervous about your punishment?” he asked, noticing the front doors at top of the stairs opening.