BOOK ONE: ALL FOR YOU, DADDY.

William Jones is known as the Lord of the Manor.

He's in his forties, but he looks twenty-five. Has been our landlord for years now, and my family haven't been able to foster a stable relationship with him. Would you blame him? His position is at the top, and we're below.

When he serves us an eviction notice after days of Papa playing him, we're helpless. We have nothing to offer in exchange for ridiculous amount of rent we owe.

Nothing but me.

Passion is a very funny business, and neither of us expected the surge of adrenaline that engulfs us from the very first touch. But William harbors demons far stronger than my angelic light. Will I truly teach the Lord how to love again? Or will I be defeated in this cold battle?

----------------

1: Grace.

The sky is turning a hazy gray as I make my way back home from school. My steps are laggy and I feel faint, my belly empty. I would have gotten back home hours ago, but Professor Welsh needed my help with organizing the scores for the pop quiz we held in the morning.

I got a 90. No surprise there. I was the class smartass, albeit outcast too. The rumors that Professor Welsh and I are having something together would only intensify tomorrow, and I'm tired. Thankfully, senior year would be over by fall, and I would be out of this stupid town for good.

As I round the curve that leads to my house, I notice a black limousine parked by the other side of the road. Mother is on her knees, and Father seems to be arguing with someone. A huge man. One who strikes him hard across the face.

I don't think twice before rushing up. "Mother! Father! What's happening?"

The man swivels around to face me now, and I must be crazy because the moment our gazes collide, the air in my lungs are knocked out, and my palms turn sweaty.

Goddamn his face.

Standing before me has got to be the most beautiful man I've ever seen. His eyes are a deep cobalt-blue color, and they make my heart clang hard against my ribcage. I don't understand. I've never been affected by a man before.

Not in this way. And certainly not by those dumbass boys in my class.

As though he feels something too, he looks away, to my father again this time. "This is your last warning, Smith. I'll be back by the end of the week again. And you better have my money ready."

With that, he turns on his heel and swaggers off, his gait oozing manliness, and his strides confident. I don't know how long I stand there, watching as he enters his limousine and is driven away. I don't move as Mother takes our bags back inside, or hear as Father calls me to come in.

Mother taps my shoulder. "Are you alright? Why are you looking at him like that?"

Flushed, I shake my head, coming to y senses. "It's nothing. Did he hit you too? I didn't... I didn't know he was our landlord."

"That's because you haven't seen him before. He doesn't stay nearby. I hear his mansion is close to your school, though. I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Come on inside and eat. Your father and I will find ways to get him his money by Friday."

I nod, and follow her inside.

Later that evening, as I lay on my side, I can't stop thinking about our landlord. His huge, manly frame. Strong hands. Clean-shaven, stubbled chin. His electrifying, cobalt-blue eyes. I'll be nineteen in a few months, but my sexual hormones have been asleep, useless until this afternoon. Who would have thought that it would take just a look to get me heated?

I creep out of bed and stow away to my bathroom without making a sound. Sliding my pants down, I close my eyes and picture that face. Picture how big his cock is. How thick, how veiny, and how hard it'll be while slamming into me. I draw light circles around my clit, rubbing as I picture cobalt-blue eyes looking into mine as he fills me, pounding hard, my arms around his neck, my lips whispering low in his left ear, urging him to go faster, and faster...

“Grace!”

Mother's choked shout coincides with my orgasm, and I groan in shame, regret and ecstacy as I come hard, my fluid dripping down my thighs. I keep my head down, ashamed of myself. Mother stares at me for a few minutes, then closes the door, leaving me in the dark once again.

The shame multiples tenfold. I expect her to hit me. To tackle me down and ask me what kind of a daughter am I, but silence? I hate my mother's silence. It's more deadly than her sting.

The next morning, I get dressed for school, and try to stall coming out of my room. I overhear her praying for Father, wishing him a good time at work, and escorting him out. When I'm sure they're outside, I sneak out and gobble down my tea and the few slices of bread which I normally have for breakfast. I'm washing the cup and cleaning the plate when Mom enters the kitchen.

"Grace," she calls softly. My stomach drops. "I want to talk to you."

"Can it wait, Mom? I'm late for — "

She gives me that look. That look that makes me feel like a fool, and I follow her out to the sitting room, plopping down on the beige couch opposite from her.

"Firstly, Grace, I am not about to scold you. I know you like the landlord. It was obvious from the way you were looking at him yesterday. I am your mother, and you'll be nineteen two months from now. It's natural to feel drawn to a man. To be affected by men."

I flush a deep red color. I don't want men. I just want one man.

I want him.

"However," she continues, her expression turning grim now. "William Jones might be a hard man, but I saw the effect you had on him yesterday. Yes. He likes you too. And that may be the solution to our current predicament."

"What are you driving out, Mother?

"Believe me, it hurts me to ask you for this, my sweet girl," her eyes turn moist, and tears start falling. "But your father won't get paid at work until the end of the month, and we really need that money badly, else we'll be humiliated and thrown out on Friday. You're now an adult, and I know you've been getting advances from men. I want you to do something for me. I want you to seduce Williams Jones."

My jaw drops. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"We'll think of a way. I only want you to agree to it. Williams likes you a great deal, and if you manage to seduce him before Friday, he might be merciful enough to give us a month's grace. Once your father gets paid, we'll pay up all our previous months money and keep some for your schooling. I'm so sorry for asking this of you. For asking you to trade your virginity...but you have to understand. We're desperate, my sweet girl. If there were other options, heaven knows I wouldn't hesitate to take them up. But this is our only way out and he seems to like you."

I release a sigh, my brain already hard at work, trying to process what she's asking of me. What if we both misread what happened between Williams and I yesterday? What if I mistook disgust for lust? What if he figures out my plan, gets mad, and throws us out even before Friday?

"Mom, I don't know. I have my doubts. I mean look at me..." I gesture down to my shabby uniform, my small, pointy breasts, and the bones that jut out of my neck. "Williams Jones is the richest man in town. He's been with models, girls with prettier bodies and faces than me. Would he prefer a schoolgirl like me?"

"It's all under probability, but we're trying either way. Now, I want you to listen carefully. And do exactly as I tell you to do..."