Broken Truth
Broken Truth
By Beth Ashworth
Broken Truth
Copyright © 2013 Beth Ashworth
Cover design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and settings are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, names, locales, organisations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. With the exception of the original material written by the author, all songs, song titles, and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.
Contents
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty One
Twenty Two
Twenty Three
Twenty Four
Twenty Five
Twenty Six
Twenty Seven
Twenty Eight
Twenty Nine
Thirty
Thirty One
Thirty Two
Thirty Three
Thirty Four
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Beth Ashworth
Please enjoy an excerpt from
In The Firelight by
Sibylla Matilde at the end of this book.
Thank you to everyone that believed in me.
You helped me start my dream...
Prologue
Charlie used the front of her apron to wipe away the prickling moisture across the skin on her forehead. She always hated working the late shift on a Saturday night, but she knew that she didn’t have a choice. The dream apprenticeship she had landed almost two years ago in one of the upmarket boutiques in Manchester didn’t pay well, so the waitressing job was the only thing keeping her afloat and on top of her crippling credit card bills.
“Table thirteen, Charlie,” her boss called as he gestured towards a large circular booth where six well dressed gentlemen were seated. “They are expecting one more shortly, so go and get some drink orders would you?”
Charlie flicked her eyes towards the clock and sighed. She still had hours to go until tonight’s shift ended and she could finally get home. After already spending the day being worked to the bone at her apprenticeship, the last thing she needed was a long and painful shift at the restaurant.
“Think of the money,” she mumbled to herself as she picked up her order pad and pencil. She was hopeful that the long and arduous shifts at the restaurant would come to a close soon. Her boss at the boutique had been continuously dropping hints lately of her being offered a fully paid position. It was this little glimmer of hope that kept her going through the pain of waiting tables for minimum wage at the age of twenty six.
Approaching the table of gentlemen, Charlie plastered the false smile to her face that she had grown so accustom to using since working at the restaurant. “Good evening, my name is Charlie and I will be your server for this evening. Can I get you gentlemen any drinks?” she asked cocking an eyebrow at the six pairs of eyes that had turned to watch her.
“Thank you, but we are waiting for one more so we will wait until he has arrived,” one of the men replied curtly with a nod.
“No problem, I will come back shortl-” Charlie was cut off mid sentence when a gentleman seated on the far side of the booth stood and gestured towards the doorway with his hands.
“Finally, Ellis! What in the devil took you so long?” he laughed.
Charlie turned her head towards the door so that she could inspect the late comer to the party. “Oh my,” she mumbled as her grasp tightened painfully around the pencil in her hand.
Dressed formally in a light charcoal suit and black shirt, she watched as his impressive form strode casually towards the booth. Her pulse fluctuated in speed as she allowed her eyes to drink in every part of his impressive frame.
Putting him easily around the six foot three mark, she couldn’t help but notice how he had commanded the attention from every person within the confines of the restaurant. His onyx coloured hair was the perfect shade of black mixed with the slightest hint of silver, which complemented against the unusual shade of glacier blue she could see within his eyes. His look was striking and completely overwhelming.
“I’m sorry for my lateness, gentlemen. I had some important matters to take care of with my business partner,” he apologised as he stood beside her.
Charlie registered his discreet glance in her direction along with the cocky grin that touched his lips for a few seconds. Immediately she turned her attention back towards the waiting table as a flush of embarrassment crept over her cheeks.
“Are we ready to order drinks, gentlemen?” she asked trying to maintain the small sliver of cool she had remaining within her.
Returning back to her station, Charlie clutched at the various drink orders she had collected. As she passed the order to her colleague running the bar area for the night, she couldn’t help but risk a glance back at his table. There was something about him that had just captivated and enchanted her completely.
She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.
Spotting him in the centre of the booth, she watched him closely as he joked and conversed easily with the other men around him. His voice was loud and it had a smooth and sensual edginess to it that carried effortlessly around the room.
She heard him laugh at another joke before his eyes looked across to meet her stare. Her breath caught in the back of her throat as she realised she had been spotted. She should have turned away at that moment, but his stare continued to hold her captive and rooted in place. She could feel the muscles in her legs quivering as they fought to keep her body in an upright position.
“Charlie, your drinks are up.”
Snapping her gaze away from the table, she turned towards the tray of drinks on the bar. Taking a few deep breaths to steady her nerves, Charlie picked up the tray and headed over to the booth.
“Gentlemen,” she spoke softly as she placed the various drinks on the table. She tried to keep her visit as brief as possible and without making eye contact. She knew that she couldn’t look at him. His eyes had a beguiling power that held and consumed her.
“Miss?”
A pounding force ricocheted throughout the centre of her brain at the sound of his voice. “Y-Y-Yes?” she stammered, keeping her eyes trained firmly on the final glass she had to place down.
“That’s mine,” he replied.
She saw his hand reach across the table to take the glass from her, his fingertips gently brushing against her skin. She gasped at their sudden contact and lifted her head to look at him. His eyes were warm and glinting with a slight touch of humour.
“Right, Ellis, shall we get down to business then?” A voice from the opposite side of the table caught his attention. She saw an instant change in his expression as he turned towards them with a businesslike manner.
Charlie chose that moment to make herself scarce.
Heading into the back of the restaurant she quickly spoke with one
of the other girls working and asked if they would switch tables with her. She couldn’t continue waitressing for that particular group.
As Charlie continued to work her shift on the opposite side of the room, she made sure to keep her gaze away from the table of loud gentlemen who had noisily taken the centre of attention as the night grew to a close.
Standing behind the bar with thirty minutes left on her shift, Charlie continued to casually polish tomorrow night’s silverware. Virtually all of the customers had left for the night apart from the gentlemen in the booth.
As time ticked nearer to closing, she finally caught sight of them standing out of the corner of her eye. She watched on discreetly as the group made their way through the exit.
“I can cover up closing, Charlie. You can take off,” her boss said from behind. He took the polishing cloth from her hand and shooed her towards the door.
Stepping out into the evening air, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. It was another shift down and another step closer towards paying off her debts.
“Hey...”
Charlie froze immediately as she caught sight of the man from earlier leaning casually against a sleek black car.
“Ummm... Hi,” she replied.
She watched as he pushed off from the car and strode towards her. “So tell me,” he started. “Why is a beautiful girl such as yourself busting her arse waiting tables, hey?”
Charlie opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again with a shake of her head. She couldn’t understand why a clearly rich and attractive looking man such as him was giving her the time of day.
“I’m Callum,” he grinned, holding out his hand towards her.
She stared at his outstretched hand before accepting. “Charlie,” she mumbled, feeling her cheeks suddenly bloom with colour.
“Well, Charlie,” he replied, closing the remaining distance between their bodies. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you,” she whispered as he raised her hand to his lips. She gasped as he placed a sweet and gentle kiss against her knuckles.
“Apologies for being so forward, but would you care to have dinner with me tomorrow night?” he asked with a charming smile.
She blinked her eyes rapidly before she finally gave him her answer.
“Yes,” she replied.
One
Thirteen months later
The early morning sunshine streamed gloriously through the large floor to ceiling windows, illuminating almost everything within its path. Feeling the warming haze against her skin, Charlie’s eyes slowly fluttered open. Pausing for a few moments, she took her time in allowing her eyes to adjust from their sleep deprived state. As a yawn escaped her lips, her right hand reached out to fumble for her mobile phone on the bedside table.
Locating the device, Charlie pulled it close to her face and squinted at the small screen in confusion. After a couple of minutes perseverance, she finally succumbed and reached for her glasses. Pushing them onto her face, she watched as the fuzzy Manchester skyline began to focus before her eyes. Turning her attention back to her mobile phone, she cursed under her breath when she noticed the time. Having spent the best part of last night being royally fucked in every way imaginable, it was safe to say that Charlie was not in the mood for early wakeup calls today.
Pushing the covers away and rolling onto her side, she paused as her eyes caught sight of the fine piece of arse that lay in the bed beside her. With the blanket lying tangled across his waist, Charlie stared transfixed at his broad and toned chest that rose and fell peacefully as he slept. Unable to resist, she snaked her hand across the covers and began to trace lazy patterns across his taut abdomen.
Watching as his body twitched at the contact of her fingers, she cast her eyes up to his face. He was still sound asleep with his mouth slightly open and his breathing deep and even. Relishing moments like this, Charlie took the opportunity to just lie happily watching her man sleep.
“I know you’re watching me, Baby.” The groggy sound of his voice startled her somewhat.
Composing herself, Charlie smiled. “No, I’m not.”
He grinned sleepily before brilliant blue eyes opened and met her stare. “I think you are,” he murmured.
Her heart began to flutter repeatedly as their eyes continued to stare at one another. It was always like this between them, this playful yet sizzling chemistry that Charlie hoped they would never lose. “So what are you going to do about it then?” she challenged with a smirk.
Raising his eyebrows slightly, he gave her a look that practically melted her insides to a puddle of goo. Licking her lips seductively, Charlie continued tracing her fingers across his stomach, enjoying the feel of his skin blazing beneath her touch.
“Are you teasing me, Baby?” he asked with a hint of amusement. Lifting both of his arms to rest behind his head, Charlie watched as he tensed the muscles in his abdomen, defining the already ridged muscles further.
She knew he was playing dirty, but she also knew that she could play dirtier. It was definitely time for her to up her game she decided as she removed her hand from his body and placed it on her left thigh. Very gently, she ran her fingertips from the top of her leg to the bottom. His eyes widened as he watched her fingers pursue an unrelenting path over her soft skin until she stopped at the juncture of her thighs.
Closing her eyes and taking a large breath, Charlie slipped her fingertips over the cool satin material of her underwear and shuddered. She knew how much he loved to watch her touch herself. The thought spurred her onwards with encouragement.
Trailing her middle finger up and over her satin covered mound, Charlie felt her body buck with pleasure. Continuing with the onslaught, she could feel her panties slowly growing wetter as she continued to stroke faster and harder, climbing to the orgasm that was approaching.
Her mewing sounds of pleasure were his undoing. “Fuck,” he growled as he pushed the covers away from his naked lower half. Grabbing hold of Charlie’s body he pulled her astride him. “You’ve asked for it now, Baby,” he breathed as his hand tugged her underwear to the side.
The feel of the cool morning air against her sensitised flesh had her whimpering for his touch. “P-Please,” she begged with needy eyes.
“Are you going to tease me like that again?” Her body tensed and a sob escaped her lips as he ran a finger through her slick, swollen folds. “So, is that going to be a no?” He withdrew his fingers and cocked his head to the side. “Or do you want me to stop?”
“Don’t stop,” she practically begged. “I won’t. I won’t.”
Looking up at her flushed and aroused face he smiled with satisfaction. “I’m going to fuck you now, Baby. And you’d better be prepared for it,” he said as he positioned her over his throbbing cock. Holding on to Charlie’s hands, he took her weight as she slid deliciously down the length of him.
“Oh my God,” she cried as his full length entered her. “It feels so fucking good!”
He paused allowing her body to acclimatise before withdrawing and meeting her raised hips once more. The force of his thrust had Charlie’s head thrown back in pure ecstasy.
“Fuck, Baby! You always feel so fucking good around my cock,” she heard him mutter through gritted teeth.
Charlie continued to ride him as fast as she could, although her legs were beginning to tire, pushing her orgasm further and further away. Sensing her rapid exhaustion, she felt him manoeuvre their bodies so that he was positioned above her, his weight resting on her lower legs and hips. Quickly running the tip of his cock through her folds, he positioned himself at her entrance. “I love you,” he whispered as he slammed himself into her with earth shattering force.
Crying out from the aggressive intensity, Charlie gripped the bed sheets as her back bowed off the bed. With each thrust he gave, she could feel the familiar stirring of her orgasm approaching. His pace picked up as he pounded into her mercilessly. Sweat beaded his brow as he breathed heavily - She could tell he was close.
“Oh shit. I’m gonna come!” she panted as the first waves of her orgasm hit. Her inner walls contracted around him, sending wave after wave of uncontrollable pleasure through her body. Opening her eyes she saw him watching her intently. His eyes had glassed over and she knew that he could feel nothing but his imminent release.
On his final thrust, Charlie watched as he held his breath before releasing himself deep inside of her. They always had this connection with sex. There was no feeling better in the world than the moment their eyes connected as they both let go. She loved this man and there was no way there could be anyone else for her but him.
The sound of a Blackberry buzzing on the bedside table interrupted their steamy lovemaking session. Charlie sighed as he rolled off of her and pressed the phone to his ear. “Callum Ellis,” he snapped into the receiver as he walked gloriously naked out of the master suite towards the stairs.
It was clear that he was going to be more than a few minutes on this telephone call as she noticed he was making his way downstairs to his office.
Living in a triplex apartment, the layout was most unusual than that of your normal penthouse. Entering onto the middle floor of the apartment where the vast living room and kitchen were housed, two sweeping staircases stood in the centre as the main focal point. The upper floor contained two large bedrooms plus the master suite, whereas the lower ground floor held the fully equipped gym, cinema room and office.
Situated in the middle of Deansgate, Manchester; Skyline Plaza was an impressive skyscraper building spanning forty two magnificent floors. The lower twenty levels housed modern and efficient office space, whereas the upper twenty floors were filled with plush apartments and penthouses that overlooked the city. It was a residential playground for the rich and famous, which Callum had told her was his idea when he designed and built the building a few years ago.
Propping up the pillows behind her, Charlie leant back and pulled the blankets over herself. “Just one weekend,” she sulked. “Why can’t they leave him alone for just one fucking weekend?”