“I was hired for a new job yesterday with Sunstream Electronics. I have an excellent salary and very few expenses right now. I can contribute seventy percent of my earnings each month toward my mother’s care,” she answered proudly.
“That’s a step in the right direction, but still won’t be enough. The daily stay in the hospital adds up quickly. Your mother has already been here for two weeks now and her bill is…” he paused as he flipped through some papers. “… a little over fifteen thousand. With the surgery she needs, we’re looking at a final bill of well over two-hundred thousand dollars. Even if the hospital managed to contribute funds, you’d be expected to pay well over a hundred thousand of that. Do you have a way of obtaining a loan, or possibly selling some personal property?”
Ari’s throat closed. There was no way a bank would loan her that kind of money. She had nothing to back up the loan, no credit, and barely any work experience. Up until six months ago, she’d only been a college student. A financial institution would have to be crazy to give her the cash.
“I’ve filled out all the forms you gave me. I haven’t heard back from the businesses yet, but expect to at any time,” she squeaked past the tightness in her throat.
“I’m going to be honest with you, Ms. Harlow. This doesn’t look good. If we don’t have a solid plan within the next few days, we’re going to have to discharge your mother.”
“You can’t do that! You can’t just send her away, knowing that she’ll die,” Ari begged.
“As I told you, this is a business, Ms. Harlow. We don’t like denying treatment to anyone, but as I already told you, we can’t afford to offer surgeries to patients who can’t pay for them.”
Ari’s heart was breaking as she struggled with what to say next.
“Do you have another possible way of obtaining the funds – possibly a… friend who could loan you the money?”
Ari’s head whipped around as she recognized that voice. Her startled glance clashed with Rafe Palazzo, who was sitting at the far corner of the table. She’d had no idea he was a part of the hospital board. She should’ve known considering how wealthy he was. The man probably had his hand in just about everything in the city.
“I don’t know anyone like that,” she answered.
“Are you sure, Ms. Harlow? You can’t think of anyone who may be willing to help you out, maybe make a trade?”
Ari was stunned at his boldness. She knew exactly what he was talking about. She only hoped the other members were clueless of his game. As her gaze collided with his, she thought about it. Could she really turn down the money for her mother’s surgery? Was her integrity worth more than her mother’s life?
She wanted to tell him that yes, she would do it. But the words just wouldn’t come out. All she could think about beyond the panic and defeat was her mother telling her to not sacrifice herself. If she did this and her mom found out, she’d never forgive Ari.
She had to breathe deeply through the blackness wanting to overtake her.
“We’ll meet with you again in a few days, Ms. Harlow to find out if you’ve made any headway in the matter,” Mr. Coolidge said, saving her from having to answer Rafe.
“Thank you,” Ari mumbled as the members of the board began rising from their seats.
Ari sat still, knowing her legs weren’t strong enough to hold her yet. She didn’t meet any of their faces as they filed past her and walked from the room. When she was sure they were all gone, she finally looked up and found herself alone with Rafe. She should have fled with the rest of the board. She didn’t want to be alone with him.
“Well, Ms. Harlow, it seems you have a decision to make,” he said with a confident smile. “Will you be accepting my very generous offer?”
Ari prayed for the floor to open up and swallow her. She’d rather be anywhere but where she was right then.
Chapter Nine
Arianna tossed in her bed, restless, unable to get comfortable. Her body was burning up, heat scorching her from the inside out. An ache filled her core – pulsing, swollen, needing something – though she didn’t know what.
“Shh. You’ll enjoy this,” Rafe whispered.
His low soothing tone calmed her, though her body temperature rose a few more degrees. An erotic sensation lit her senses as she felt his hands on her stomach, his fingers burning her flesh. They glided up the flat plains of her abdomen and outlined the mounds of her na**d br**sts. Where had her shirt gone?
“Trust me,” he whispered, his mouth caressing her ear while his hands slid underneath her arms, his fingers stroking the sensitive skin as he lifted them higher. Clasping her wrists together, he swiftly tied a silk scarf to them.
Tight.
Before she had a chance to resist, she was locked firmly to the bed, unable to move her hands, unable to escape his touch. He kissed her wrists with feather soft pressure, his tongue gliding along her beating pulse, then moving down her arms and over the top of her collar bone.
“Do you like this, Ari? Do you want me to stop?”
“No… Please…” she pleaded with him. She wanted more. She opened her eyes, but only saw black and felt the gentle presence of a mask over her eyes, impairing her vision. Instead of fear, it only heightened her pleasure as his hands and mouth continued stroking her body.
His hands cupped her br**sts, his slightly callused fingers circling her sensitive peaks, but not touching her where she ached, needed to be touched.
“What do you want, Ari?”
“...You…”
“Mmm. And where do you want me?”
“I want your mouth on my… on my ni**les,” she cried, embarrassment washing through her, but knowing he wouldn’t touch her unless she begged him. Rewarding her, his thumbs brushed simultaneously across her peaked ni**les, making her cry out.
They were painfully hard as he circled the tight buds before pinching them and drawing another cry from her. She needed more. Her legs opened on the bed, her body begging him to touch her where she ached, end the torment she was feeling.
When she was ready to cry out again, she felt the wet slide of his tongue across her nipple at the same time he pinched the other side, making her back arch off the bed from the intense pleasure.
“More!” she cried out, yearning for his touch. She pulled against her restraints, wanting to touch him, needing to pull him closer. She shouldn’t be doing this, but she didn’t care. She ached all over, her body shaking with unfulfilled need that only he could quench.