THE BILLIONAIRE'S PLAY TOY

WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS AND IS NOT LIMITED TO:

- Violent subject matter.

- Mature Language.

- Discussions about things including self-harm, thoughts of suicide, and emotional, physical and sexual abuse. (Content warnings are always posted at the beginning of chapters containing sensitive subject matter, but please still be aware of this before choosing to read my story).

- Explicit sexual content: This book does contain various aspects of a BDSM relationship and is a reverse harem story. Sexual content may include, but is not limited to: spanking, bondage, blindfolding, impact play, oral sex, temperature play, humiliation, triple penetration, knife play, degradation, breath play, dacryphilia, foursomes, begging, sensory play, orgasm control, squirting, anal play, the use of various types of sex toys, role play, exhibitionism, consensual non-consent (CNC), and masturbation.

(Please note that all characters partaking in these acts are fully consenting adults).

_____

Monday mornings are the worst.

To be honest, I can't recall the last time I enjoyed a Monday.

At ten in the morning, I already have to suppress the temptation to jump from a bridge.

Alright, it makes sense. I know that seems theatrical, but I swear to god that the universe is against me right now.

Please understand that while I love my partner dearly, there are moments when I question how on earth he was accepted to college.

The moron decided it was OK to turn off my 8:00 am alarm this morning and set his own instead. Naturally, it was scheduled for one hour later than I need. What the heck was going through his mind, really? Let's not get too carried away. Nothing at all, I would venture to suppose.

His alarm was set to wake him up so he could go to the gym, but if I returned home later and found him in the same spot—on the couch—I wouldn't be the least bit shocked.

It's reasonable to say that our recent interactions have sometimes been tense. Once again, I have to remind myself that things will improve if I just give it a little more time. Aiden was lovely, and that's enough for me, even if our relationship was never one of those really romantic relationships you see in movies. Even after everyone else departed, he stayed put.

But in spite of all of this, his stupidity this morning caused me to miss a customer meeting. In addition, I tore my stockings off when I tripped over almost nothing due to my poor coordination. It was simply coffee I wanted. Is that asking for too much?

I go up to The Horizon, a little café close to my residence, and grasp the door handle. This is my one and only source of enjoyment right now. Soon after I moved to New York, I found it, and I've been going there every day ever since.

The aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee grinds fills the sleek decor as soon as I open the door.

A recognizable voice asks, "Cindy, is that you?" from the supply closet at the rear.

Not only is the owner, Jolene, the most generous person I have ever met, but she's also perhaps the scariest. I'm just glad I have her favor because, even at her advanced age, I think she's still capable of making the hardest-bitten men weep.

I go to where she is speaking and say, "Hey, Mrs. Sawyer." I notice her little frame peeking around the corner, facing me and standing with her arms folded.

She asks, "What did I tell you, dear?" in a tone that is not entirely cautionary.

I instantly corrected her, realizing what she meant, "Hey, Jolene." She insisted on being addressed by her first name for some reason, which I don't understand. I cannot exactly figure out why, but my remark made her grin. She got off the footstool she was standing on and jumped down, holding a new bag of coffee beans tightly in her arms.

Jolene asks me, "What brings you here at this time of day?" as I pick up the burlap bag and bring it to the counter.

I moan inwardly when I am reminded of what happened today.

"Aiden turned off my alarm, so I had to reschedule the meeting I had initially arranged for 9:00. I'm about to head home now to see him, but I am definitely going to need a coffee in me before that happens."

Jolene lets out a disgusted sigh, and before she even says anything, I already know what's going to come out of her lips.

"Why do you stay with that boy? We both know he has the IQ of a rock and it's not like he's giving you any good di-"

Jolene was going to say something, but I cut her off with, "Jolene." that's not necessary to say that, even if she's correct. It was just a reminder of how lacking in touch I am.

That's an additional aspect of Jolene. She is as direct as they come.

I begin, feeling compelled to stand up for him, but I'm interrupted, "He's ni-"

"Let me guess. He's nice to you?"

"Yes and he treats-"

"Treats you well? Sweetie, I hate to break it to you, but that's just another way of saying he's boring."

I quit resisting because I know she's right, but Aiden is all I've ever known. He's secure. I can rest easy knowing that he would have left me by now if he was going to, because everything that is messed up about me has already been made public. Regardless of the amount of baggage I may have, Aiden wasn't put off by it.

Most of them were.

I've had an extremely difficult year. My dad vanished over seven months ago, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since. After reviewing his file, the police responded very immediately, classifying the case as one involving a voluntarily missing person. Even though it wasn't unusual for men in the village where I grew up to suddenly disappear, I knew that my dad wouldn't go without a cause.

The majority of people believe that my father is a cold-blooded monster, and I have to confess that he was something of one, yet never once did I feel unsafe or mistreated growing up. In fact, just the reverse. As soon as I could walk, dad started teaching me how to defend myself.

I still clearly remember dad telling me on my seventh birthday that he wouldn't be here forever and that all I would have to depend on was myself once he was gone. He also showed me how to handle a pistol for the first time that day. That was his gift to me.

Does this reveal anything about my father's parenting style? It does, indeed, indeed. Though he's insane, he was also my closest buddy. I also understood that it would be very difficult to find out where he went because of this. Unless he wanted them to, no one discovered him. All I can do is hope he chooses to come out of hiding, or that he makes a mistake and exposes himself.

We've been attempting to find him for the past four months with my PI's assistance, but each dead end only makes me feel more and more frustrated.

I remain with Aiden for that reason. My life has been changing so much lately that I'm tired of it. Right now, he's the one thing that is constant, and I wasn't ready to lose that just yet.

Jolene goes on, without replying to her earlier statement.

"You're twenty three years old. You should be going out to clubs and meeting new people. Let yourself live a little. Before you know it, you'll be old like me, wishing you would have just loosened up more while you still could."

That made me grin a little. Although I would have liked to have disagreed with her, the fact is that I would be lying if I claimed to have a fulfilling social life. I used to hang out with my pals a lot, but I haven't had the opportunity to meet any new people since coming here. Aiden would much rather have me remain at home with him than go out much. I don't need the same things that happened before.

We used to live in Denver, and it was the last time I went out to a club without him. He told me off for dressed like a whore when I got home that night, and he wouldn't sleep in the same bed with me for more than a week after that. That night, I sobbed uncontrollably, but in the end, he realized his mistake and expressed regret.

I realize that what he stated doesn't make sense, but right now, I can't even recall what my life was like before he entered it. That's why I decided to let it go.

I decided it was about time to go home, so I got a takeaway cup and made a big pot of coffee for myself, figuring I would probably need it. Jolene gave me a look as I reached into my handbag to get some cash.

She whispers to me, "Don't even think about it."