Bad King Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Back Cover

  Welcome to Club Prestige

  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

  Excerpt of Just One Thing

  Books by M. Malone

  About the Author

  Copyright

  BAD KING

  Thane Carter Kingsley IV lives for business. So when his parents threaten to turn over control of the Kingsley empire to his younger brother if he doesn't settle down, he decides to find the fiancée of his parents' nightmares.

  And where better to find a wife than a place like Club Prestige...

  Olivia Reyes is a proud business owner and finally almost out of debt. She hasn’t convinced her childhood sweetheart they belong together… yet. But she will.

  After she takes one last job.

  **Sign up to be notified of all new M. Malone books: HERE

  Here’s your key to an exclusive world.

  Your darkest desires await.

  Pain. Pleasure. Prestige.

  Check out all the Club Prestige books

  HERE

  - BAD KING by M. Malone

  - TEMPTING IN STILETTOS by Nana Malone

  - BE MY FANTASY by Alisha Rai

  - ENTHRALL by Victoria H. Smith

  - SHAKEN by Ursula Sinclair

  CHAPTER ONE

  Olivia Reyes shifted from foot to foot, trying not to lose her balance while balancing her cell phone between her shoulder and her ear. After listening to the phone ring, she immediately hung up and called back. Her best friend was notorious for disappearing into his work at all hours but it wasn't like him not to answer her texts.

  Just before she was about to hang up again, he answered with a distracted “Hello.”

  “Finally! I’ve been calling and calling. I was about to send out a search party.”

  “Oh, hey Boo.”

  She wrinkled her nose at the nickname. “How many years have to pass before you stop calling me that?”

  He chuckled as she knew he would. “It’s instinct now. I will forever associate peek-a-boo with my Olivia.”

  “Whatever. I’ve been trying to reach you. What’s up with you ignoring my texts?”

  “Sorry. I really meant to call you last night but I'm in the middle of testing the newest iteration of my soil. I started reading my notes from the last phase of testing.”

  “Of course. The last time we spoke you’d decided to alter the nitrogen levels again, right?”

  She smiled to herself as his voice became more and more animated as he explained the changes he was making. Bennett Alexander was probably the only person in the world who could wax poetic about the mineral levels in dirt. She could just picture him in his home lab, probably wearing jeans and one of those hideous sweaters with his glasses pushed up on top of his head. It was a sweet image that never failed to make her smile.

  Despite the fact that he was a genius and she was … not, he loved to tell her about his work. And she genuinely loved hearing about it. He was awkward, always had been, but after growing up together they had a unique way of communicating that probably didn’t make sense to anyone else. He always made her feel like he valued her opinion. Even if she never had any clue what he was talking about.

  “You sound really excited, Ben. I hope this new batch is the one.”

  He made a distracted noise. “It has to be. The changing weather patterns have really messed with our crops in recent years. We need soil that’s robust enough to gain us maximum yield this coming summer.”

  When he started mumbling to himself she figured she’d better get to the point of the call before she lost him again.

  “Bennett? Hey!”

  “Sorry. I’m still here.”

  “Your mom said you’ve been nominated for a Mentor Science award! That’s awesome.”

  After more mumbling and what sounded like a curse, he finally responded again.

  “Yes, I just got the invitation to the awards ceremony. Wait, you talked to my mom?”

  She smothered a laugh. “Well, you weren’t answering your phone as usual. So I figured Julia could at least make sure you were still breathing!”

  “Great. So that’s why she put the invitation out for me to see. I was wondering why she bothered. Social gatherings have never been my favorite thing.”

  “Um, well she did that because I asked her to. I was hoping that you’d take me as your date.”

  On the other end of the line, it got quiet. Too quiet.

  “I was just thinking that we don’t get to spend nearly enough time together these days, you know? And I can talk to everyone for you when you get nervous.”

  Olivia knew she was babbling but considering how easily Bennett got freaked out, it was better than letting the awful silence continue.

  “That’s true. I’m no good at this kind of stuff but you always cover for me.” Bennett sounded confused.

  Poor guy. She hadn’t hit on him since their disastrous first kiss the same summer he got his braces taken off. But after a few years of dating duds it was time for her to get serious. Bad boys were hot but they weren’t the type you made a family with. And that’s something she hadn’t had in a long time.

  “I don’t mind covering for you, you know that. So, it’s a date! I’ll call you later. Bye!”

  She hung up quickly before he had a chance to respond. No doubt he had no clue what had just happened. Bennett was brilliant in math and science but socially, not so much. She’d seen many times that any interaction with the opposite sex was enough to send him into a stammering, blushing frenzy.

  The only reason he could function around her was he’d known her so long that she didn’t think he really saw her as a woman. But she just knew that if they gave it a chance they could make it work. He was gorgeous, freakishly smart and he already loved her. What the hell more did she need?

  Passion. Excitement. Desire. Remember those things?

  The door to her office opened and Imogen stuck her head around the door. “Boss lady? The member and his guests have arrived. Dita and I have set up everything per the client profile.”

  “Thank you, Gen. I’ll be out in just a moment.”

  After the door shut behind her, the music stopped abruptly. Having a soundproof office was a blessing most days but perhaps if she could have heard the music she wouldn’t have wasted so much time daydreaming. Instead she’d been standing here for the past ten minutes lamenting the fact that she might never get laid again. At least, not with anyone she was really attracted to.

  She shook off the negative thoughts and quickly attached the last garter on the mid-thigh slip she wore. An elegant champagne lace with a deep plunge V-neck, it was the kind of thing a wife would wear when she wanted to seduce her husband. That was tonight’s member request, a boudoir theme.

  After shrugging into the matching satin robe, she picked up the information card she’d printed in advance of tonight’s bachelor party. When she saw the client code she groaned.

  It was King.

  Olivia treated all of the members of Club Prestige with polite detachment. They were paying exorbitant membership fees and by extension, financing an extremely comfortable life for her and her partners. But Thane Kingsley was the most infuriating, arrogant, high-handed man she’d ever met. It took all of her restraint sometimes to hold her tongue.

  And he definitely knew it. She’d swear the man only came back so often to drive her insane
.

  Well, whatever. All the girls who worked in her section of Club Prestige knew to review the member’s requests prior to setting up the room so she wasn’t worried. Imogen was a little rough around the edges but she was professional at least. His Royal Highness, as she referred to him behind his back, would have no reason to complain about the service. He’d had the nerve to complain about the way the room was set up during his first month of membership and while Olivia had been perfectly polite, she had no doubt she’d scared him a little with her icy cold response.

  She was getting fired up again just thinking about it. Who the hell did he think he was? The only reason the set up hadn’t been to his liking was because he hadn’t filled out his preference list completely. The Masquerade Room was the epitome of wish fulfillment and every detail was customized to the client’s preferences.

  Her dream had been a place where high profile people could find their fantasy without exposure or risk of being recognized. After moving in that world of the rich and wealthy once, she thought she understood their needs better than most.

  Her family hadn’t been anywhere near as wealthy as her friend Elizabeth, no yachts or chauffeurs, but as the only daughter of a successful Virginia horse rancher, she'd never wanted for anything. Their ranch adjoined the Alexander homestead on one side which was how she knew Bennett. It had been a good life before it all fell apart.

  She put a hand over her now flat belly. Things were going to be fine. After a few years of co-owning the club, she was almost financially independent at last and it wasn’t like she was going to do this forever. She’d move on, hopefully get married to Bennett and start having little Einstein babies who were just as amazing as their father. He never had to know about Club Prestige.

  If Bennett ever found out about her new career, how far she’d fallen, he'd be disappointed or even disgusted. But it'd be even worse if he ever guessed her most secret shame.

  That she loved every minute of it.

  “Okay, let’s do this.”

  She picked up the black satin eye mask on her desk and slid it firmly in place. It was time to show this bachelor party why Prestige was the most exclusive pleasure club on the East Coast. Thane Kingsley might be the bane of her existence but this party wasn’t for him, it was a bachelor party for a friend. The man of the hour might have crappy taste in friends but he still deserved a fantastic sendoff.

  When she opened the door leading to the main room, the deep, hypnotic throb of the music hit her like a wave. The bachelor party was already seated on the low-slung couches peppered around the room. Ten pairs of eyes swung her way, all of them assessing. Wanting. Instantly warmth curled in her belly. King’s eyes met hers and she squared her shoulders, ignoring the little throb in her lower belly.

  “Gentlemen, my name is Angel. Welcome to the Masquerade room.”

  King sat back on the surprisingly comfortable couch and watched as one of the top executives of his company enjoyed a lap dance.

  His best friend, James Hamilton III, leaned over, his voice raising to carry over the driving beat of the music.

  “It was good of you to host the bachelor party for Devin. I don’t think the poor bastard actually has any other friends.” The entire time, James’ eyes stayed on the dancer gyrating against Devin’s lap.

  “That’s because he’s in the office twenty hours out of the day. Just like the rest of us.” King tugged at the knot of his tie. They’d all come directly from the office in fact.

  James shrugged. “Still, it was nice of you. None of us have the connections to score a membership to Club Prestige. I heard they grant less than ten access keys per year.”

  King knew that to be accurate because he’d had to pay a hefty sum to get them to bend the rules and allow his membership. In the end he’d gotten what he wanted, as usual. There wasn’t much that the Kingsley name and money couldn’t buy.

  “Well, I figured it was the least I could do. After all, he’s already fucked. Poor bastard actually thinks he's in love.”

  James grunted. “On that note, Harris already started the divorce pool. My money is on the six-month mark.”

  “You actually think they’ll get that far?”

  “Have you seen his fiancée? I’m pretty sure he’ll put up with whatever crazy shit she does for a while just so he can continue to tap that on a regular basis.”

  King shook his head, completely bewildered by the idea of willingly shackling yourself to one woman. “I have no idea what is in the water lately but my executives are dropping like flies. Stanton got married last year, Stiles is up next and I just heard that Rollins is proposing to his girl soon.”

  “Face it, we’re getting old.” James smile was bright even in the dark room. Since King was a few years older, he figured the “getting old” quip was meant for him.

  “Thirty-one isn’t old. And I wouldn’t even be considering marriage if it wasn’t for my parents shoving every gold digger over the legal age at me every time I go home.”

  “Yeah, I know about that. The difference is, I’m not fighting it this time.”

  Uncomfortable, King looked around the room. James had defied his family a few years ago marrying his college girlfriend despite his parents’ disapproval. His wife hadn’t even waited until the ink was dry on the marriage certificate before she tried to empty his bank account. Ever since he seemed to have accepted that his fate was marriage by committee to someone his family deemed appropriate.

  “Sheila was a bitch, man. But that doesn’t mean you have to get married to a plastic mannequin just because your parents want you to.”

  James shrugged. “I’m not doing it until I’m ready. But I’m not fooling myself anymore. I eventually have to seal the deal with someone.”

  “Or you could stay single forever like me.”

  He was expecting his friend to laugh but an uncharacteristically somber expression crossed James’ face.

  “Don’t push too hard, King. I regret so many things now. Fuck.” He ran his hands through his dirty blond hair, disordering the slicked back strands. “If I had just listened when my father tried to warn me… whatever, it doesn’t even matter now. Just think about it, okay?”

  “I hear you but I can’t live like this. My father actually threatened to hand over the reigns of Kingsley International to Colin. Can you imagine?”

  “Not really. He hasn’t gotten up before noon since he was in school.”

  “Exactly. He’s still out partying every night and bringing home random chicks. I have worked too hard to lose it all now. I’ve given everything to this company.”

  “And that’s why you have to play the game. You have too much to lose now. Is pride really worth losing everything? Just marry someone they like, set her up with whatever she wants and then go have your fun on the side.”

  King rolled his eyes. “Interestingly enough, that is something my father would approve of whole-heartedly. But I don’t like playing games.”

  “It’s the American way.” James leaned forward suddenly. “Oh, look at her. Damn.”

  King stopped too, his eyes riveted on the young woman who had just entered the room. Angel. She was tall with a long fall of dark hair that spilled over her shoulders like a curtain. The cream colored slip of lace she was wearing highlighted the honey tone of her skin and the lush curves of her breasts and hips. Despite the deep cut of the garment there was something elegant about it. About her.

  What the outfit also concealed was that she was about as cuddly as a porcupine. He’d made the mistake of offering a few minor suggestions on the way this section of the club was decorated and she’d almost sliced him open with that sharp tongue of hers. Okay, he might have been a little overbearing in the beginning but was that any reason to take a guy’s head off? She was so… aggressive. That was totally not his type.

  Except, ever since he’d started coming here he’d been having these fantasies about her. He wasn’t even sure he liked her but damn if he didn’t want to see what else tha
t brash little mouth of hers could do. He could barely work in his home office anymore because he’d had so many fantasies about bending her over the surface. But that was a fantasy that could never come true. He might come out to Club Prestige to play but he could just imagine his father’s reaction if he was seen out with a stripper. The scandal would probably send him into an early grave.

  Or scare him enough to take his nose out of King’s business.

  “Maybe I should play along,” he murmured.

  “What? Play with what?” James didn’t take his eyes off Angel as she crossed the room, touching the shoulders of each of the men as she passed.

  “With my father’s games. If he wants me to get married so badly then I’ll find a bride. In fact, I think I know just the woman for the job.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Olivia watched as Imogen leaned down to hand the bachelor of the night a drink before planting herself in his lap. He stared up at her in awe and whispered something.

  Imogen slipped a finger under the knot in his tie and pulled it off slowly. “Just sit back, sugar. I’m going to take care of everything,” she crooned.

  The young man looked up at her with his mouth open, clearly in awe. Olivia had to admit that in full costume, Gen was a sight to behold. With her big blue eyes and dusky coloring, she had the kind of beauty that often made men forget their vows, their values and even their names. Little did they know that striking face hid a razor sharp intellect and instincts honed from a life on the street. Gen could probably take any man here in a bare knuckle brawl.

  Olivia smiled to herself. The men who came here had no idea what any of the dancers were really like. Prestige was all about fantasy, after all. It was the one thing she and the other partners drilled into their employees. Their members paid for an experience not skin. They could see girls in thongs anywhere. Here they got a full sensory experience in a safe, consensual environment.