The Pleasure Principle Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Warning

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  More Romance from Etopia Press

  The Pleasure Principle

  Kimberly Adkins

  Etopia Press

  Copyright Warning

  EBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared, or given away. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is a crime punishable by law. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded to or downloaded from file sharing sites, or distributed in any other way via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/).

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Published By

  Etopia Press

  136 S. Illinois Ave. Suite 212

  Oak Ridge, TN 37830

  http://www.etopiapress.com

  The Pleasure Principle

  Copyright © 2015 by Kimberly Adkins

  ISBN: 978-1-941692-80-6

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Etopia Press electronic publication: May 2015

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Please, give me one more chance. I’m not ready for this to be over.”

  Alice heard the sound of high heels clicking on the polished hardwood floor leading away from the study and pressed herself into a nearby alcove. She knew the woman wearing the heels would be entering the foyer soon and that Dr. Cain would probably be right behind her. She hoped he wouldn’t notice her presence.

  She really had little hope he would ever notice her, even under the most normal circumstances. Still, it would be embarrassing for him if he realized his housekeeper was witnessing a personal matter. The agency trained her to be invisible to the clients she served, and her shy nature made it easy to blend into the background everywhere she went. And if that wasn’t enough, her plain uniform, bulky hair cap, and glasses made her want to stay out of sight.

  Her heart ached as she caught a glimpse of the doctor from her hiding place. His square jawline was set and his facial features calm, despite the actions of the woman who reached for his arm in a desperate attempt to keep him close. His piercing blue eyes were dark and gave nothing about his emotions away.

  Alice felt a longing pang in her heart for the handsome and aloof man. She knew she didn’t have a chance with someone like him. She’d seen a bevy of beauties come and go in the year she’d been assigned to him. Each one seemed more beautiful than the last—she could never compare to these stunning women he entertained and she knew it. She found it strange they never lasted longer than a month, even though he appeared totally committed to them when they were together.

  “Anderson, I thought we were beginning to mean something to each other. Something more than…” The woman made a sudden move forward and it looked to Alice as if she were going to kiss him. He froze before she made contact and even from her alcove, Alice could feel the wall that slammed up between the couple.

  “We had an agreement, Beverly.” His tone was quiet, but his lips were pressed into a thin, white line.

  “Fuck the agreement.” Her eyes were wild, distraught. “You can’t do all things you did to me and expect me to walk away. You are a heartless bastard.”

  What had he done to her? Alice was taken aback by the words. She knew Dr. Cain entertained many women, but this was the first time she’d seen any of them for longer than the few seconds it took to cross the hallway into his office. She began to inch away from the recess with her back pressed against the cold white wall as closely as she could get. This was bad…really bad, and she couldn’t get caught eavesdropping.

  It wasn’t as if she’d planned to listen, but she knew she should have left the moment she’d heard voices. If only Alice hadn’t been so enamored with the doctor, so envious of the women he brought home. They were perfect, glamorous, charismatic—everything she wished she could be.

  “I’ll have Johnson see you home.” Dr. Cain’s voice carried around the corner and Alice heard the front door open. She knew there was always a car waiting outside when he was in residence.

  “That’s it?” Beverly’s shriek echoed off the vaulted ceiling. “You’re just going to dump me off on your driver after everything we’ve been through?”

  The sudden crash of porcelain on tile splintered the air and Alice cringed. There was no leaving out the back door now. She’d have to stay and clean up the pretty blue vase in the hall. There was nothing left to do now but weather the storm.

  She couldn’t see them anymore, but she could hear crying and the feeling behind it was so disconsolate that her heart ached in sympathy for the woman. There was no doubt in her mind that Beverly was devastated.

  “I will take you myself, of course,” he responded in a very cool manner. “But if I may remind you of the terms of our agreement, there will be no touching.”

  No touching? Did Alice hear that correctly? The entire scene she’d just witnessed made no sense and her head was spinning.

  This is none of your business, girl. Keep your head down and do your job. It was advice she often gave herself, but this time it felt thin. She always kept her head down and stayed safe. What did it get her except a lonely life? When was the last time she felt like she was living?

  Her heart was pounding. She was afraid, yet intrigued. But who was she kidding? Even if she wanted to learn more, to be a part of Dr. Cain’s life, he’d never pick a wallflower like her out of the garden when there were so many other vibrant blossoms to choose from.

  “Mind the glass,” Dr. Cain said. High heels clicked again, unevenly, and Alice heard shards from the vase grind beneath Beverly’s shoes. The front door latched and the silence that filled the house was numbing.

  Alice hadn’t realized how tightly her shoulders were bunched up until she relaxed and her muscles ached. Her soft, non-slip soles didn’t make a sound as she crossed the room to pull her cleaning cart from the closet. She took her time with the dustpan and hand broom, just in case they hadn’t left the premises. The last thing she wanted was to be caught on her hands and knees in front of the door if they burst back through.

  She tiptoed carefully through the glass and cracked the heavy oak door to peer outside. The car was gone. Johnson must have walked around to the back after he had been dismissed and Dr. Cain took over. She knelt down and swept up a pan of glass with a sigh. At least it was over.

  Alice caught a glimpse of herself in the hall mirror as she walked back wit
h the shattered pieces. Her mousy brown hair was pulled up into a white cap that looked like a mushroom and her thick glasses made her eyes bulge like they were inside fishbowls. No one would ever glance at her twice unless it was in sympathy.

  She was a clever girl, though. Top of her class, though she had always been too timid for anyone to get to really know her. Too bad there weren’t any sexy brain contests to go along with the wet T-shirt competitions she’d witnessed at college.

  Then she saw it as she was turning away. The door to Dr. Cain’s study was ajar. Alice could barely believe it. In all the time she’d worked for him, the door was always locked and the study off limits. He must have been distracted by his dealings with Beverly and gone off without securing it.

  Her stomach churned in apprehension as she approached the forbidden area. Alice wanted to go inside more than she’d ever wanted anything else in the world, but she was afraid. It wasn’t the kind of thing she’d do, disobey the rules like that. But to glimpse his study would be a chance to see a part of him she’d been unfamiliar with, and she wanted to know more.

  She’d lose her job if anyone found out, but she needed to do this; just a few seconds in the room, and she wouldn’t touch anything. With a quick look over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, Alice slipped inside.

  A deep, musky scent greeted her in the dim study, and she took a moment to breathe it in before pulling the door closed without latching it. She didn’t know if it automatically locked and she didn’t want him coming home to find her trapped inside.

  Oh, this room smelled like Dr. Cain. Like expensive cigars, fine brandy, and supple leather. It gave her shivers and made her knees a little weak. She felt close to him, even if it was a fleeting illusion. Thick volumes lined the walls in bookcases that reached from the floor to the ceiling, and a cold fireplace with a large mantle dominated the far end of the room. Feeling a little guilty, she scanned the walls for any sign of his degree. After all this time in his employ, she wasn’t sure what type of doctor he was. There was nothing displayed, however, that could answer her questions.

  Alice was keenly aware he could be back at any moment. She had no way of knowing how far away Beverly lived and couldn’t get caught in the study. As she was turning to the door, she caught a glimpse of a manila folder on the corner of his desk.

  “Do not go over there and take a look. Are you crazy?” Wow, she was talking to herself now. Maybe she was crazy—for doing this.

  She strolled to the desk in a causal manner, though no one was watching her. Once she did this, there was no turning back. But what did she have to lose? A job cleaning houses? She could have done anything while she worked her way through grad school, but this job was the easiest to get. And she never had to be social with anyone.

  The label on the tab of the folder read Beverly Hines. This had to be the woman who had just left. Why would he have a file on her? That was bizarre, but Beverly hadn’t seemed to mind it. Alice knew she was going to open the folder before she picked it up. She’d thrown all caution out the window when she came into the room, and now she was guilty, no matter what she did from here on in. Why not go for the prize?

  Her hands were shaking as she gingerly picked up the folder and opened it to the stack of papers within. Alice gasped as she read, her free hand covering her mouth to smother the sound. What she found was so surprising, she nearly dropped the pages.

  * * *

  Anderson gripped the steering wheel of the car until his knuckles were white. He maintained a facade of cool detachment in the presence of Beverly, but inside his stomach clenched painfully.

  It was another failure and it brought back memories he’d fought long and hard to suppress. It seemed ages ago when he thought he’d given his wife everything she could have ever wanted. He’d furnished her with more money than she could possibly spend, decorated her with all the adornments she desired, and afforded her the space she required to pursue her dream to become an artist. In retrospect, he must have given her too much freedom, because she left him for her art instructor after a very public affair she hadn’t even had the decency to hide.

  All alone in his expensive house with his empire of logic built around him, Anderson began to doubt himself. In the end he decided he must lack passion. It was the only thing his wife could’ve gotten from the starving artist she’d left him for. If he were ever to attempt another relationship, he must improve, and the scientist inside him felt there was only one way to learn. Though Beverly had given him valuable insight into the many ways of pleasuring a woman, their contract was up, and he saw no reason for her extended attachment to their arrangement.

  He never did with any of the women.

  And he still hadn’t found what he was looking for.

  * * *

  Alice leaned against the desk. Her heart hammered in her chest as she scanned the pages inside the file. At first she thought Beverly must be a patient. Her medical records were listed in the forefront of the jacket. Then she saw the contract between Dr. Cain and Ms. Hines. She agreed to be available as a test subject for research purposes. It covered a term of one month without the possibility of extension.

  Oh God, he was experimenting on these women? What can he be doing to them that makes them want so desperately to stay? Her chest was tight as she imagined all the possibilities. Whatever it was, it didn’t appear to harm them or they wouldn’t try to hold on at the end.

  She wanted to close the folder and run out of the office, but her hand gripped the cover. One more page and then she would be gone. Just turn past the contract and see what’s there. Shaking fingers flipped through the agreement until she found a section of hand written notes:

  Initial contact information: Beverly Hines approached me at Damsels before midnight. She informed me at once that Brax had cleared her to meet with me. She appeared to be straightforward and assertive, so I allowed her an interview. My first impression finds her very attractive and intelligent. She answered all my questions with an assertive flirtation that denotes a sense of passion. I believe she could be qualified to assist me with further studies as I am without a test subject at the moment and fall behind schedule.

  A car door slammed outside the house. Alice felt the percussion all the way in the study and she jumped a foot in the air. She fumbled with the folder, trying to replace the pages exactly the way she’d found them. Now that she’d learned the things she had, Alice was even more terrified of being caught. She couldn’t allow herself to be exposed, now. Crazy ideas flew through her head as she walked across the polished hardwood floor, careful not to trip on the plush Oriental rug near the study door.

  Her fingers grasped the knob, and she experienced a sharp stab in her chest at the thought that Dr. Cain could be in the foyer by now, catching her in the act. Delaying wouldn’t help and she knew it. She burst through the door and closed it behind her. The latch echoed sharply through the main room when it clicked into place. She remembered she’d left the cleaning cart near the front door. Her client disliked it when the staff left their tools of the trade in plain sight. She had to get to the cart before he reached the entrance.

  A quick glance told her she was alone and she ran full speed across the open area. Misjudging the place where the wood ended and the tile began, Alice tripped and sprawled onto the black-and-white ceramic squares. She broke her fall with the palms of her hands and stray shards of blue glass cut into them. The cuts burned like fire, and the pain brought tears to her eyes. Damn, her blood was on the floor! If the client reported this, she’d be gone in a heartbeat.

  “Are you all right?” Dr. Cain’s deep voice came from behind her.

  Alice sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes wide beneath the thick glasses. He must have come in the back way. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard him coming. She struggled to find her voice, but nothing came out. Her shoulders were frozen so stiffly she couldn’t even turn to look at him.

  “Ah, yes. The vase. I apologize for that.” He walked in fron
t of her and knelt down to look her in the eyes. Alice was never very good at that and she struggled to meet his gaze. “I accidently bumped it as I left for my afternoon drive today.”

  “Oh? I didn’t hear it when it happened.” She lowered her head and mumbled the words. Please, she told herself, just look at him! For once in your life have the courage to look into those beautiful blue eyes.

  This was the first time Dr. Cain had ever spoken directly to her at such close range and she was trembling. She prayed he thought it was from the tumble and not a case of nerves. This was her one chance to interact with him the way she’d always fantasized, and she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  “Let’s make sure you don’t have any serious wounds.” He took her hands and turned them palms up. Oh God, he was going to be able to tell she was shaking now! “It’s a minor abrasion. I think you’ll live.”

  He held her hands compassionately, and she could hear the smile in his voice, even if she was too afraid to look. His skin was warm against hers, and she was beginning to feel light-headed. Oh, this was everything she’d ever wanted, but all she could think of was how to get away. He didn’t like emotional women, that much was obvious, and she was becoming overwhelmed.

  She pulled her palms back without ceremony and turned away from him as far as she could. “I need to go. I’m over time now.”

  Alice gritted her teeth. Over time? Was that all she could say to him? It wasn’t even true. She’d only been there four hours before the dustup, but it felt like forever.

  “I understand.” He stood and brushed his hands on his perfectly pressed, black slacks. “Just make sure you put something on that before you leave.”

  She nodded and proceeded to sweep up the remainder of the glass. He was still standing there and it sent shivers down her spine. What was he doing, watching her?

  “Well, have a good evening. I’ve got a lot of paperwork to do.” Dr. Cain walked away, and Alice could hear his shoes tap on the floor as he headed for the study. He was going to be able to tell she was in there, she was sure of it!