Billionaire's Secret: Exposing Jay: A Chicago Suits Romance (Loving Jay Book 2) (3 page)

“Maybe I’ve been sitting here all night knowing you weren’t wearing a bra or panties and now I want to take you home and rip that dress off you,” Jay said, his voice stern.

I burned red and stared down at the table, debating whether to crawl under it. How could he say that right in front of the waiter?

“I’ll get the check,” the waiter said.

“Hurry,” Jay said.

I raised my eyes to glance at him, still burning. But somehow I found the courage to say, “I’m going to pay tonight.”

He laughed. “No you’re not.”

“Yes, I insist. It’s to celebrate my first day, I want to get it.” I put as much confidence into my voice as I could muster.

“Don’t be ridiculous, this is a celebration, and you don’t pay for your own celebration.”

“Jay, I mean it, I want to pay.”

His lip curled. “No.”

“Half, at least let me pay for half.”

“Why do you want to pay so badly?” His voice was puzzled. He really didn’t get it.

“Because I don’t want you paying all the time just because you’re rich. I want to pay my own way in life. Not depend on a rich boyfriend.”

The waiter discreetly set the bill on the table. We both reached for it. Jay’s hand got there first, mine landed on top of his. I didn’t let go, I would not let him pay my way.

He pulled his hand away, taking the bill with it.

“I mean it,” I said, trying not to grit my teeth.

His eyes flicked over it, ignoring me. I stared at him, waiting for him to look up. He took his black American Express card out of his wallet and tucked it in the leather folder the bill had come in.

I kept staring at him, waiting for him to notice me. At last he looked over and laughed. I don’t think I have a very good steely look.

“You want to pay so bad?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Fine,” he slid the check across the table, chuckling. I picked it up, flicked my eyes to him then down to the bill. Fuck me. I swallowed. Two thousand bucks. How was that even possible? Over eight hundred dollars for each bottle of wine alone.

I cleared my throat, “Maybe I’ll just cover the tip.” I mentally calculated twenty percent. Four hundred dollars! Why didn’t I figure that out before I’d made the offer. And why aren’t I waitressing in a fancy restaurant?

He laughed. “I warned you.”

Annoyed, I held my ground when I probably shouldn’t have, but I didn’t like the way he’d laughed. “I insist, I’ll cover the tip. Is that good?”

“If it’ll make you happy, but you really don’t need to.”

I
nestled
up against Jay in the cab, relishing his closeness. His phone beeped, and he took it out of his inside suit pocket to look at it. My heart sank. There’d been so many times our plans were quashed after he’d looked at that phone that I wanted to smash it into a million pieces.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Fine.”

“You’re not going to rush off on me, are you?”

“No chance.”

“Promise?”

Jay laced his fingers through my hair and angled my face to his. He kissed me in a way that showed his lust before pulling my head away and sitting back in his seat.

Breathless from the kiss, I willed the cab driver to hurry. To put his foot down and make it through that yellow light.

We pulled up in front of my building. Not in front of the doors, Jay’s car was blocking them, but just behind the McLaren. Jay paid and we got out.

As we walked to the doors, I dug around in my purse for my keys. I pulled them out triumphantly and held them up for Jay to see. Except he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at his car.

Someone had keyed it. A big scratch all the way along from headlight to taillight. Guess that’s from the ninety-nine percent.

“Oh no,” I said.

“Don’t worry, let’s get upstairs.” He bundled me to the entrance.

* * *

W
e got in the elevator
. I’d expected him to grab me as soon as the elevator doors shut. But he stared straight ahead, a vacant look on his face, which unnerved me.

We arrived at my floor, and he followed along behind me to my door. Once inside my condo, I undid my trench coat and let it slide off my shoulders and down my arms, until it landed on the floor.

He looked at me but didn’t seem to be seeing me. I pulled my dress over my head and dropped it on the floor. Jay remained motionless. I suddenly felt exposed and doubted myself.

“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll make us some coffee?” I said.

“Why would I want coffee at time like this?” Lust returned to his eyes.

He reached for me, grazing my breasts with his fingertips before removing his suit jacket and hanging it on the doorknob. He loosened his silk tie, pulled it over his head and laid it over the suit jacket.

“Stop holding your arms in front of you,” he said.

I let go of my hands and put them at my sides. I don’t know why he still sometimes made me so nervous.

“Better,” he said.

I stepped toward him, intending to undo his shirt and reveal his perfect chest muscles underneath. Every time I saw them they took my breath away. But before I got to him, he had me up against the wall and kissed me. My lips, my cheeks, my hair. His hands gripped my ass while I worked at undoing his shirt.

“So you want to break in your areas?” he asked between kisses.

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Carrying on with his kisses, he guided me into the living area and backed me up against the dining table. I got his shirt undone, pulled it wide open and undid his pants.

“You made me sit there all night, looking across at you in that dress.”

His words set me on fire. To know that someone as gorgeous as him felt that way about me.

* * *

H
e sat on the chair
, his lips too far from mine. I opened my mouth to protest but he grabbed my legs and pulled me onto him, until I was straddling his lap.

“Do you know how hard it was for me not to pull you onto my lap in the restaurant?”

“If it was anywhere near as hard as it is now, I can imagine.”

I reached between us and wrestled his hard cock free of his boxers. He lifted me, and lowered me onto him, his cock sliding into my wet pussy.

He gripped my ass, and raised and lowered my body, faster and faster. His lips licked and nipped over my tits, his mouth becoming more frantic as my moans increased.

“Next time you wear a thong out in public, I will be fucking you, I don’t care where we are.”

At his words, an orgasm crashed through me, slackening my feet and leaving me unable to move myself.

Jay clamped his hands onto my waist and continued the earlier motion of moving me up and down on his shaft. His hands hooked up behind my back and held me onto him, releasing himself in me.

I think that was a speed record for us. But it is already after ten on a work night.

“I guess you need to get going home,” I said, playing with his hair.

“Unfortunately, I have a seven am meeting in the morning.”

“Stay with me.” I kissed his neck.

“I would, if I could. Come home with me. How will I get to sleep without you against me?”

My heart filled with his words. He made me feel better than I’d ever felt in my life. Certainly better than Matt ever had.

With Matt there was always a sense he wasn’t fully in the relationship. Which, of course, it turned out he wasn’t since he’d been living a double life and lying about who he was to con me out of as much of my money as possible.

With Jay, I only ever got the sense that he wanted me. Just me. And nothing else. Like I was the only women he’d ever been interested in in his life.

“I’ll miss you,” I said, meaning it. Maybe I should go back to his. But I hated the idea of leaving my condo, of abandoning it after killing myself to make the mortgage payments. I didn’t want to live off him, or anyone. I needed to pay my own way in life, and there’s no way I could financially contribute to his ridiculous mansion. I doubt I could even afford the electricity bill.

Jay lifted my body off of his and I stood beside the chair. He stood and hugged me tight before doing up his pants and shirt.

“I can stay a little longer.” He brushed his hand down my arm, the warmth filling me.

We cuddled together on the sofa, flicking through television channels without seeing any of them. My eyelids became harder and harder to keep open. It was so cozy in Jay’s arms, I couldn’t bear to tell him to leave so I could go to bed. Instead I worried how tired I’d be for my second day at my new job, but I’d get through it. It was all worth it to have more time with Jay.

He kissed my hair and said, “It’s late.”

I knew he was right. It was after midnight on a Monday. He had a seven am meeting, and he still had to drive to his house. Though by the looks of his McLaren sports car, I somehow doubted he’d stick to the speed limit and it wouldn’t take him long to get home.

“I guess you’d better get going,” I said.

" I’m not going anywhere.”

“Really?" I said, excited.

“If you won’t come home with me then I have no choice, I have to stay here.”

“Thank you.” I hugged him and kissed his cheek.

“How could I leave you?”

Cuddled up against him in my bed was the best feeling in the world. Happier than I'd ever been before, I drifted off to sleep.

I
hadn’t seen
my friends since the evening of the date rape drug at the night club. They’d been so supportive of me after the mess I was in when the sex photo of Jay and I became all the rage on the internet and I found out Jay Mickle was actually James McAllister, billionaire owner of the company I worked at.

I would not have made it through those weeks without their support. I owed them so much. Especially Marla, who worked all her headhunting contacts to find me another job. And Jenny and Sam for being with me, day and night, keeping me sane.

Jay had stayed at my place every night. Every area of my little condo had now been Christened with our relationship. He worked a lot. Usually he didn’t show up until eight or nine and was gone before my alarm went off in the morning. Going out with the girls would only mean two or so extra hours without him. I hope I could cope. And that he wouldn’t mind.

I waited anxiously for his response. It would be the first evening we’d chosen to spend apart since
the night club
. I wasn’t sure how he would react to the news. Except it’s normal for people in a relationship to do different things. But I don’t know, with him everything seemed much more intense.

I let out a sigh of relief. It would be great to see Jenny and Sam, but I couldn’t wait to get home and see him.

* * *

S
am and Jenny
were already at our usual Friday after work bar.

“Hey stranger,” Sam said, jumping up to hug me.

“I’ve missed you,” Jenny said squeezing me tight.

“How’s it going at CQ Francis?” Sam asked.

“It’s good, so far. No one has let on they’ve seen the photo anyway, which was my biggest worry.”

“Well that counts for something,” Jenny said.

“It’s the best I could hope for.”

“Who cares, you looked hot in the photo, and man are you one lucky girl to have a guy like him, he is ripped,” Sam said.

I blushed. Didn’t I know it. Somehow he looked even better naked than he did fully dressed, which seemed like an impossibility.

“I’ll get us drinks,” Jenny said.

“No! I’m getting them. I owe you both a whole lot of drinks to thank you for all you did for me.”

“Don’t be silly,” Jenny said.

“I mean it. I am getting the drinks. Is Marla coming?”

“She couldn’t make it. I think she’s found a new man too,” Jenny said

“Lucky her. Everyone is getting some but me,” Sam said.

“Jenny’s not,” I said.

“Oh yes she is! See what happens when you hole up with a man for two weeks?”

“No! Who?” I asked. Jenny’s my best friend. How did I not know she was seeing someone? Although she runs through men like water, it’s not all that surprising.

Jenny blushed.

“Collin,” Sam blurted.

“Of course, let me guess, you hooked up the night of the club.”

“Maybe,” Jenny said, “Or maybe it was a few weeks before and that’s why he comped it all.”

“A few weeks before? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you’d fallen apart after the email, how could I have told you then? Hey, I know your boyfriend turned out to be a liar but guess what, I have a great new one.” She was right. She couldn’t have said anything, I was a basket case for those weeks between the email and the night club.

“There’s more,” Sam said. My eyes flared at Jenny.

“It’s Collin.”

“What do you mean Collin? Oh my god, do you mean
Collin
Collin?”

Jenny nodded.

“Okay I need to hear this story. I’m getting all the drinks tonight,” I said and walked to the bar.

* * *

I
opted for Margaritas
. Normally we reserved them for special occasions, because the cocktails are overpriced in this bar, and every bar. But tonight I wanted to pay them back for their support.

“Whoa, Margaritas, what’s the occasion?” Sam asked.

I laughed. “Just a big thank you for everything you two did for me.”

“Stop it Abbie. You’re our friend, we’d do anything for you,” Jenny said.

“Okay, enough about paying people back, let’s drink,” Sam said, raising her glass.

“Cheers,” We all said chinking glasses.

“So what’s his house like?” Sam asked.

“Oh my god, it’s so big I get lost in it. And there’s a whole cinema where the curtains open and close and everything.”

“Nice,” Jenny said.

“I’m surprised you made it out of the bedroom,” Sam said laughing.

“So am I,” I said.

“Okay spill, what’s he like in bed?” Sam asked.

“What do you need to ask that for? The answer is all over the internet!” Jenny said.

I laughed. “All I’m saying is it’s better in real life.”

While we were sitting there, I realized I never did send Jay the crotch shot I’d taken on Monday and accidentally sent to Jenny. While Jenny and Sam were busy chatting, I took my phone out.

The second I hit send I started laughing. Giddy with the thought of what his face must look like right now. My phone beeped.

I cannot believe he responded like that. It’s good, and I’m not complaining, I thought he’d be too, um, professional.

“What’s on your phone? Is he texting you?” Jenny asked.

“Tell him to leave you alone, you’re out with your friends,” Sam said.

I turned red. I must have been grinning like a crazy lady at my screen. At the thought of him staring at his screen and wanting me right now.

Sam burst out laughing. “What nudie shot did you send him now?”

Busted. “The one from Monday, I realized I hadn’t sent it.”

“What, the one you sent me? I thought that was just between the two of us. I don’t feel so special anymore,” Jenny said.

“I’m getting more drinks.” I stood and made my way to the bar.

* * *

I
plunked
three more Margaritas on the table and sat down.

“Thanks honey,” Jenny said.

“It’s the least I can do,” I said.

“Stop being so hung up on keeping score. You don’t have to pay us back for what we did. We didn’t even do anything! Just gave you a shoulder to cry on,” Jenny said.

“I can’t help it. I hate owing people stuff,” I said.

“We’re your friends, you don’t owe us anything. Would we owe you if you let us cry on your shoulder?” Sam said, her head moving so much it caused her long curls to bounce around her.

“No, but that’s different,” I protested.

“How? You are being silly,” Jenny said.

“I can’t help it. I hate the feeling of being indebted to people. You should hear what happened at Dish.”

Sam rolled her eyes. “Here we go, what silly thing did you do a Dish?”

I told them the story. How it cost me four hundred bucks because I demanded to pay the tip.

“You’re a fool,” Sam said.

“Don’t be so stupid, that money is nothing to him. He doesn’t care. The only person who cares is you,” Jenny said.

Maybe they were right. But I couldn’t help it. After my parents were killed in the car accident when I was seventeen, it’s been so important for me to not feel indebted to anyone.

After the accident people treated me like a charity case, and I hated it. They wanted to do this and that for me, and I all wanted to do was put my head down and work hard to get on in life. Nothing more. I needed to achieve things for myself. I didn’t want handouts from anyone.

“Just because my boyfriend is rich doesn’t mean I’m not going to pay my fair share in the relationship. I’m not going to take advantage of him for his money.”

“There’s no way he cares!” Sam said, frustrated with me.

“If he cared about money, he wouldn’t be ordering eight hundred dollar bottles of wine. It’s a no brainer,” Jenny said.

“That doesn’t matter! I will not be a gold digger!”

“Abbie you need not to be so hung up on paying for things. People want to do things for you, you don’t owe them anything,” Jenny said, stroking my forearm.

I downed my drink, which was quite a feat given the amount of liquid still in my glass. “I’m getting more drinks.” I stood and left the table.

First I had to pee. I made my way to the washroom and sat on the toilet. I buried my face in my hands. I never asked to date a rich guy. I never sought him out. Would being with him always make me feel inadequate?

I suspect I know the answer. I will never be able to contribute to our relationship. My fingers went to the diamond around my neck. The diamonds he gave me on a whim because they were pocket change for him. How do I fit into that? Give him a box of Turtles for Christmas? And that’s somehow comparable?

* * *

W
e switched to wine
, the Margaritas were going straight to my head, and I needed to be able to walk in a straight line to get home.