Polished

By Bianca Sommerland

Prison or a life of luxury? Let me think...

Reluctant thief Alec Tremaine would rather be behind bars than face his brothers after his first attempt at grand theft auto goes horribly wrong. Desperation had him agreeing to their crazy plan—better to be a criminal like the rest of the Tremaine clan than starve on the streets—but when they abandon him, he’s forced to face the most powerful man in the city.

And given the opportunity to climb out of the gutter.

Right into the bed of Xavier Ashburne.

There’s only one catch. Alec isn’t quite up to Xavier’s standards. Not yet.

His head of security, Luther Cross,the only man Xavier considers his equal, sees something in Alec worth more than anyone ever has. Bound by the rules of his unique relationship with the temperamental millionaire, Luther’s training could decide Alec’s entire future. But giving in to temptation could destroy it.

Alec’s value is in what he must become.

Sensual.

Submissive.

And...

Polished.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bianca Sommerland
• Release date: Sep 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781988323121

Book preview

Chapter One

The face in the reflection couldn’t be me. So pale, with deep shadows under my big blue eyes, lips almost the same shade. My damn hair, a golden shade that had my brothers calling me ‘pretty boy’ reached the collar of my faded blue T-shirt. I was a pathetic mess.

And my situation wasn’t getting better any time soon.

Do it, Alec! Hurry up!

Pressing my eyes shut, I inhaled sharply and smashed in the reflective window of the 1966 Chevelle LS3. The car was a beauty, modified with black windows that had to be illegal, its gleaming red paint job glowing even in the dim lighting of the parking garage. Too bad the owner was an idiot. Who left a car like this sitting around, with no alarm, in downtown Dallas?

You were asking for this, pal.

I stepped aside so my oldest brother, Erik, could climb in and hotwire the car. Christian, the second oldest, headed around to claim shotgun.

They stole cars all the time, so they looked completely relaxed, but I couldn’t stop shaking and searching the garage for any sign of security. No way were we gonna get away with this. I was gonna end up with the same criminal record every male in my family earned by the time they sprouted their first facial hair. Fine, I was a late bloomer, but when I’d hit nineteen and managed to stay out of trouble, I should have seen it coming.

And then I saw him coming.

His skin was so dark, I couldn’t make him out at first, but as he started running towards us there was no missing how freakin’ huge he was. The black suit didn’t hide his impressive build. And the dim light didn’t conceal the rage hardening his features as he cut across the parking deck.

Hey! Get the fuck away from that car!

Christian’s hand rammed into the center of my chest and I fell back, hitting the pavement hard. A sharp, burning pain spread over my palms, but I hardly felt it as I stared at the closed door. Then watched the car speed away.

They’d left me behind. Left me to take the fall.

A firm grip on my arm dragged me to my feet. The big black man’s huge hand wrapped around my wrist like a shackle as he glared at me, his brown eyes dark with rage.

Who are they, boy? He shook me hard when my lips parted, but not a word came out. Come on, they abandoned you. If you tell me, I’ll put in a good word for you with the cops.

Bowing my shoulders, I pressed my tongue into my bottom lip. Should I just tell him? I didn’t owe them anything. The only reason I’d agreed to steal the car in the first place was because I was fucking starving. And I’d run out of alleys to sleep in. All the good places had been cleared out by the police. If I could just find a real place, with an address to put on applications, maybe I could get off the street and build myself a life.

But I’d spent the last three years struggling to find enough to eat and steer clear of my brothers. Desperation led to me going back home.

And ended with me in this wonderful predicament.

They’re my brothers. I twisted my wrist, suddenly needing to get free. Look, Mister, I won’t rat them out. They might have screwed me over, but they’re still family. And if they find out, they’ll kill me. Just…just turn me in.

Prison might not be too bad. Erik and Christian had survived it a few times. I’d get food anyway. And a bed to sleep in. Damn luxury compared to what I’d had to look forward to before.

The money would’ve changed everything. You would’ve had enough to get an apartment. Maybe even get the hell out of Dallas and start fresh somewhere new.

Assuming they’d had any intention of giving me a cent.

I’d known the risks. Considered them for days as we scoped out the car, which was here every night until around midnight. I’d known it was wrong, but I did it anyway.

So I deserved to pay for my crime.

The big guy sighed and shook his head. Come on.

I nodded and let him lead me to the elevator at the far side of the garage. They all went up to the new high rises erected over the last few years. The lower levels were full of expensive cars, owned by executives of the fashion and media corporations that filled the high rises, but this level was for the underlings. During the day cheap cars surrounded the beautiful classic. There was no security, no cameras. Almost as though the Cheville was here just to tempt someone to take it.

Giving in to temptation has a price.

Standing beside the giant, who’d let go of my wrist once the elevator door closed, leaving me with no chance of escape, I watched him push a button. Then blinked as the elevator began to rise.

Aren’t you taking me to the lobby? The cops will probably be a lot happier if they don’t have to come fetch me. I chewed at my bottom lip when he glanced over at me as though I was a slightly irritating puppy performing a neat trick. Then I cleared my throat. You know, I could probably talk my brothers into bringing the car back. And…and I could work off the cost of the broken window.

He gave me his full attention, lips slanted in amusement. What happened to accepting your fate?

My fate of a prison term. Yeah, sounded like a good time, but if I could avoid it? I shrugged. Probably be easier to get a job without a criminal record.

Probably. He snorted, nudging me forward as the elevator slid open. I’ve decided to let Mr. Ashburne figure out what he wants to do with you.

The Mr. Ashburne? My mouth went dry and I dug the heels of my word sneakers into the charcoal colored carpet under my feet. How about we just let the cops deal with me?

How about you don’t piss me off, kid? It’s been a long day, I’m tired, and I want to get this over with. He took a key card from his pocket and swiped it down the reader by one of the many large, steel doors lining the hall. With his hand on my shoulder, he propelled me into the reception area of the Ashburne Style and Media Company.

The place was damn impressive. Everything was shining, from the crisp, white walls, the weird, black art deco chairs around a round table in the corner, to the black glass reception desk in the center of the room. The wall-to-wall carpet was thick, with circles of black, white, and steel grey.

I didn’t get much time to check out the rest of the room, because Mr. Manhandling-Giant was guiding me to a short hall past the desk. He stepped up to a pair of dark wood doors and rapped his knuckles on them.

No answer, but he opened the door anyway.

Mr. Ashburne, I’m sorry to bother you. The giant tugged me to his side, his attention on the man sitting behind a big, black desk. I thought you’d be interested to know your car has been stolen.

The man didn’t look up from whatever he was writing in the notepad set between a huge desktop screen to his left, and the laptop off to his right. Oh?

Yes. The giant sounded annoyed. I’ll have Jasper bring the limo, but—

Have him bring the town car if you must, but you know I hate the limo. Mr. Ashburne flipped the page and continued writing. Is that all?

I glanced up at the giant when he went quiet. He ground his teeth. No. I caught one of the thieves. I thought you’d like to meet him.

The pen in Mr. Ashburne’s hand was set softly down on top of the notepad. He sat up, lifting his head slowly, a bored smile on his lips as his eyes met mine.

Fuck me, this dude is scary. I swallowed as those piercing green eyes trapped me. Even from this distance, they were stunning, and frightening with their intensity. Not like emeralds, but more like a rainforest. Deep and wild, full of so much danger, but beautiful from a safe distance.

Which could describe every inch of him. He stood and I realized he was almost as big as the giant beside me. Or maybe I was just ridiculously small. I felt small as he stepped around the desk and came toward me. His expensive, dark blue suit was tailored perfectly to emphasize his broad shoulders and solid build. A five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw, making him look even more intimidating. Calling him handsome would have been an understatement. He probably made the men who modeled for his clothing line feel inferior.

The only thing that didn’t fit with his perfectly put together appearance was his hair, which was unconventionally long. Men like him usually had short, styled hair, but his was slicked back and tied low. It looked so soft, I had the strangest urge to reach out and touch it as he circled me.

Not being completely stupid, I kept my hands to myself.

He stopped at my left side, his gaze on my face as I stared straight ahead. Are you hungry?

I blinked. Am I what?

Why in the world would he ask me that?

Simple question. You will answer.

My stomach growled, answering for me. My cheeks heated as I folded my arms over my chest and ducked me head.

Luther, please bring us something to eat. Mr. Ashburne walked away from me, returning to his seat behind his desk. Take a seat, boy. What is your name?

Alec. I frowned at the giant, Luther, as he pressed his hand against my shoulder, pushing me toward one of the two metal and leather chairs in front of the desk. As I sat I heard the door open and close.

Elbows on the desk, fingers steepled, Mr. Ashburne studied me like I was a new specimen he’d discovered, and he was trying to decide what to call me. Alexander?

I nodded. Yes.

Last name?

Tremaine. Might as well tell him. The cops probably would once he filled out the police report. "Look, Mr. Ashburne, I’m sorry about your car. You have no reason not to call the cops, but like I told the giant—I mean,