Showing results by narrator "Michael Cook" in All Categories

When I saw my escape, I took it. Now I'm in New York City and trying to get my life back on track. Despite the tracker in my ankle, Crow hasn't come for me. He hasn't even called me. I told him the depth of my feelings but he cruelly rejected them. Maybe he's forgotten about me. One day, I walk into my apartment and spot the pile of buttons on the counter. I never left them there, and there's only one explanation for their presence. Maybe Crow hasn't forgotten me after all.

I'm working off my buttons. But I'm also giving them away. The more I fall for Crow, the more I want him to do the things that I want. Dinners, dates, and evenings at the beach. Everything comes at a price, and quickly the hoard of buttons I worked hard to earn are depleted. Will this go back and forth forever? Or will someone run out of their buttons first?

Joseph Ingram made the mistake of stealing from me - four million dollars. He took my intelligence without paying for it. And thought he could get away with it. Think again. Now I’ll take something from him - something irreplaceable. His sister. Collateral. But even when Joseph doubles the amount of money he owes me, I don’t give her up. Nope. I have an image to maintain. So I keep her. And I’m not giving her up.

I owe him a debt. A big one. The payment can't be settled with money or favors. He only wants one thing. Me. Every action gets a reward. A button. Once I fill his jar with 365 buttons, he'll let me go. He'll let me walk away. But I have to earn every single one. By submitting to the darkest, cruelest, and most beautiful man I've ever known.

Tristan is one of my biggest clients. He always pays on time, and he always keeps his word. But this time, he's short on cash. He needs the shipment now, so he offers me collateral. He loans me his slave, Adelina. Now that Pearl and I are so close, I can't condone this type of exchange. It's wrong. Inhumane. But she wants me. I can tell. And I definitely want her.

I'm supposed to return her to Tristan to finish the deal. But now I'm dreading the day when I have to drop her off. Can I really do it? I'm not supposed to care about this woman. I'm not supposed to care about anyone, actually. But I care about Bellissimo.

I belong to him exclusively, to fulfill every order he gives, personally and professionally. I’m more than just his muse now. I’m his in every sense of the word. I live a life of luxury in his mansion, but he treats me like a servant. I can’t deny my attraction for him, but I despise the kind of man he is. I should be grateful that Knuckles is gone and I don't have to look over my shoulder anymore, but now I'm indebted to another man—one just as cruel, just in a different way. It’s something I can’t outrun—because you can’t outrun your heart.

All I have is 20 bucks in my pocket and the clothes on my back. Knuckles threatened to torture me if I ran. He's counting down the days until he'll claim me. But I'm not going to wait around. I'm running like hell to Milan. The greatest lingerie designer in the world is looking for new talent for Barsetti Lingerie. I'm not exactly model material, but maybe I can get a job doing something and get paid under the table. But when I meet the infamous Conway Barsetti, he has other plans for me. Did I just run away from one monster into the arms of another?

Conway threw me out like trash on the street—just because I had the balls to say I loved him. I return to New York and ask Andrew to give me the job I stupidly turned down. Thankfully, he’s not spiteful and vindictive like Conway and hires me. Now I have money in my pocket—and I’m not a prisoner to anyone. I buy myself an apartment and start a new life in an old place. Conway hasn’t called—and I suspect he never will.

When Sapphire became my muse, it was supposed to be a business transaction. We both got what we wanted—until she wanted something more. If I don’t give it to her, give her all of me, she’ll walk out of my life. My father already granted his approval—so he would be disappointed if I let her slip through my fingers.

I started a blood war. I've made a terrifying enemy. Over a single woman. It was a stupid decision, but I don't have any regrets. Because Bellissimo is finally mine.

I've never made a compromise before. But I made an exception for Diesel Hunt. Because he was all man. Because he was everything I needed. Because he would make it worth my while. Now, I'm calling the shots. I'm the one in control. No matter how much I hurt him, he asks for more. All I can think about is when my turns arrives. When I'm the one on my knees, wrists bound. Completely powerless to this man. Diesel Hunt...the most powerful man in the world.

The most powerful man in the world. I wasn’t used to hearing the word no. I wasn’t used to having a rival that possessed my same confidence, my same intelligence. I wasn’t used to someone else taking control of the situation. I was always in control. Her coldness only makes me hotter. Her indifference only makes me more interested. As she proves herself to be the most gifted entrepreneur of this city, she claims my respect - and then she claims my obsession.

Joseph Ingram made the mistake of stealing from me - four million dollars. He took my intelligence without paying for it. And thought he could get away with it. Now I'll take something from him - something irreplaceable. His sister. Collateral. But even when Joseph doubles the amount of money he owes me, I don't give her up. Nope. I have an image to maintain. So I keep her. And I'm not giving her up.

Muse told the world how she felt about me. Instead of feeling joy, I felt terror. This isn't what I want. This isn't how our relationship is supposed to be. I end things because I have no other choice. But I struggle to cope with my misery, to sleep in an empty bed without her beside me.

Conway Barsetti doesn't want me to be a model anymore. He wants to keep me all to himself. I inspire him in ways no one else does. Now I'm living with him in his beautiful mansion, and I don't feel like a prisoner anymore. I'm free to do what I want, with some limitations. But he treats me so coldly, seeing me as an object rather than a person. His family comes by for lunch and he tells me to stay in my room so they won't see me. But I have a better idea.

A man my mother considered her boyfriend during World War II was killed at point blank range escaping from Stalag Luft III. His name was Jack Francis Williams and he was shot by the Gestapo 12 days after participating in the Great Escape. This story examines the actual letters and cards he sent my mother, and with that, the building of an unexpected story.

London is a lot more useful than I anticipated. She gets me what I need like a pro. With her by my side, I feel like I can do anything. My need for revenge is dimmed. My anger is contained. But her brother is still a problem. She wants me to let him go. I'm not sure if I can.

I refuse to let this woman have any power over me. She's just my prisoner. But once my Muse is in trouble, I'll do anything to save her. Anything to protect her. She was supposed to inspire me, please me. She was never supposed to care about me. Or make me care about her.

I wasn't sure what changed my mind about giving London to Bones, but something did. Now London is officially mine. She's sassy, feisty, and she still tells me off when I have her under my thumb. I love it. Now I have a deal with the Barsetti brothers, Josephine is still pining for me, and revenge is heavy on my mind. I'm not sure what to do with London now that I'm not gonna kill her. But I'm certainly not going to fall in love with her.