Romance: Bad Boss: Billionaire Romance Boxed Set (2 page)

Chapter 3

I remember waking up on the opposite side of the bed from Lionel to the smell of eggs and toast. He’d ordered room service, and with half of a piece of toast hanging from his mouth, I saw him changing into some swim trunks.

“What are you doing?” I sat up and asked, my voice still raspy from sleep.

He shoved the remaining piece in his mouth and swallowed.

“A few of my buddies from college called me out to go parasailing. You are coming too, Fake Girlfriend.”

“I’ve never been parasailing,” I said.

“Well, you will today. Go change.”

I hesitated, but finally obliged and put on the first swimsuit I’d worn in years. I was so worried what his friends would think, what he would think.

I was afraid to face all of the skinny, tan California girls when I’d walk out, pale and fifty pounds heavier than them at least. It was enough anxiety to make me want to lock the door and refuse to come out all day, but I knew I had a job to do.

If humiliation struck, at least I’d get to go home still as a secretary.

I came out of the bathroom without making eye contact with Lionel. I rummaged through my bag for a towel and sun block and waited for him to say we were leaving.

“Let’s go,” he said and stuck his hand out for me to grab.

The California sun was warm on my bare legs as I’d never really allowed my legs to be exposed before, even back home in the summertime. We found his friends, a few of the same people we’d met the night before.

To my surprise, no one had anything to say about my weight or gave me any unwanted looks. Perhaps I could enjoy the morning free of worry after all.

“Maggie, do you want any help putting that sun block on?” Lionel asked as we set our towels down in the sand.

“Oh… sure.”

Lionel rubbed some of the liquid together in his hands and firmly rubbed down my entire back and arms as I looked on at his friends. They kept smiling and whistling at us, and I was secretly happy about the attention.

“Thank you,” I said as Lionel finished up.

“No problem, babe.” He kissed me and patted my hip.

“Alright, alright,” said one of his friends.

“Are we going parasailing or not?”

“Yes,” said Lionel. “Let’s go.”

We walked across the beach to meet the banana boats we’d have to take out through the water to the spot where we’d parasail. The sand was hot on my sensitive feet and I delicately stepped onto the boat behind Lionel.

“Hold on,” he said.

I grabbed his waist and clenched as the boat took off. We jostled around a bit over the waves, the cool water licking me, and I held tightly onto Lionel’s naked skin as to not fall off. I didn’t want to be the one plummeting into the water.

The banana boats took us to a motorboat that would pull our parachutes above the ocean. We got strapped in, Lionel next to me, one of his friends next to him, and waited. Lionel never once let go of my hand.

“Are you ready, Maggie? You’re going to have fun.”

I looked to my side and saw as his remaining three friends were secured and ready in another boat, and they waved at me.

I looked back over at Lionel and smiled. “Yes,” I said.

The boat lurched forward and we began lifting above the water, my feet dangling in the air. The ocean below us and the beach to our side, it was a beautiful view, and yet I couldn’t stop myself from looking over at Lionel.

He held my hand and smiled and laughed. I still couldn’t believe this was the same man who almost fired me.

As our parachute slowly began to drift back down to earth, he pulled my hand to his mouth to kiss it, and we gently splashed back into the ocean.

We rode the boats back to shore and I continued to insist how much fun it was and kissed Lionel’s cheek and tickled his side all for show.

With every sign of affection provided, I made sure to find reassurance by looking at each of his friends one by one. I wanted to make sure they were watching. I needed to know I was doing my job.

“I think we’re going to go get brunch,” one of them said.

“Care to join us?”

Lionel and I looked at each other, and I shrugged. I was just the pawn in his game.

“No, thank you,” said Lionel. “I think I want to take her somewhere special. But have fun.”

His friends departed the opposite way, and I dried off with my sunny towel.

“Nicely done,” Lionel said as he smacked my rear end gently.

“I think we had them convinced.”

“I thought the whole point was to convince Marla, but she’s not even here,” I said.

Lionel ran his towel over his wet hair.

“That red-headed guy we were with? Yeah, that’s Marla’s brother. It’s all a big part of the game, Maggie. It’s fun to mess with people.”

I didn’t fully understand. I never had the motivation to play with people’s minds. But there was a bit of humanness to his plan.

For someone as cocky as Lionel Warner, I sensed some insecurity. He still felt the need to prove himself to others from time to time, despite his money and ego. Maybe he wasn’t as evil as I’d thought after all.

Chapter 4

The whole “fake girlfriend” mask was getting quite a bit easier as the days progressed. I found myself genuinely giggling at his comments; they were no longer forced. His kisses were frequent and welcomed, and not one person was onto us.

I was, in my own mind, starting to forget the whole thing was fraudulent, and would have to shake the reality back into focus.

Marla and her husband-to-be wanted a candlelit night reception on the beach after their ceremony. Lionel and I shared sangrias in our room as we cleaned up for the event.

I was never much of a drinker, and the alcohol hit me hard and fast. My hair curled, lipstick applied, and my consciousness glazed, we left our room for the reception with my arm wrapped around Lionel’s elbow.

“Thank you again for coming with me,” he said.

“I really think we got under Marla’s skin. Nice job.”

Job. I almost kept forgetting it was just a job. And when I’d return home, I’d return to my secretarial job. Lionel was my boss, not my boyfriend.

He’d return to his atrocious ways of treating employees. Firing workers, whistling at female colleagues. The fantasy would be over in a few days. The sangria prevented me from collecting my thoughts enough to say anything.

The reception was full of expensive foods my mouth had never before experienced and imported wines and drinks. I decided to try a new wine, but it tasted strange to my unseasoned lips.

I stood by a table with my wine in my hand acting as an accessory, watching Lionel dance and enjoy his evening. I wanted to frame that moment.

At one point, he ran over and without a word, dragged me into the dance floor. I have never been much of a dancer, as my weight always caused me to be too self-conscious as the center of attention. But all that vanished, I spun and twirled with Lionel, following his feet and letting him lead the way.

He pulled me in for a passionate grab, his lips pressed deep into mine, and my head spun. I realized the absolute truth that could not be undone; I was truly falling quickly for Lionel.

He unexpectedly told me he wanted to leave. He was done for the evening as he was tired and wanted to sleep. We walked back to our room and he went and sat down on the bed with a glass of water, sipping it quietly and staring at the wall with a contemplative look.

“Thank you for a nice evening,” he finally said.

“Come sit down with me?”

I cautiously hesitated but eventually sat down on the bed next to Lionel. We’d been sharing the bed for days, but it always felt divided. We did not touch or communicate until each morning when we’d wake up to continue with our game.

This time on the bed felt different, we were sitting upright together, but I felt a fire. Something was about to happen.

“Maggie,” he said. “I have to say, you’ve surprised me this week.”

“How so?”

He continued. “I guess I just never really looked twice at you. I’m sorry for how I’ve always treated you at work. Maggie… I really enjoy your company. I like you.”

My jaw dropped. Lionel Warner really did have a heart. I wasn’t sure what to say. My thoughts clouded into a tornado as I tried to spit out my true feelings. But it was difficult, I was afraid this was still just a game to him, that perhaps he was lonely or playing with me.

I just sat there in silence, he reached over and touched my cheek, and I kissed him. It was the first kiss behind closed doors. We were not acting. It progressed into luminosity.

He picked up my hand and pulled it to his member, rubbing my palm against it. I’d never felt a man before.

He unzipped my dress and gently pushed me down to the pillows. This was it. I knew what was coming, and I wanted it so very badly, but I was scared.

He tried to kiss me again, and I pressed my palm against his chest.

“I’ve never done this before,” I whispered. I was so fearful I could hear my own heart beating.

“Don’t worry,” he said. He began unbuttoning his shirt.

“We will start slow. Is this okay?”

I knew how badly I wanted it, how badly I wanted him.

“Yes.”

He pulled his pants down and shifted my panties to the side. I was tense as he pushed inside me, it was so tight and I was wincing in the initial pain. He was slow and gentle, asking me if it hurt.

I shook my head as I wanted to pull through, and suddenly everything was okay. He was fully inside, and my body loosened as indulgence surrounded me.

“You feel amazing,” he said as he was thrusting on top of me. I felt my breathing progress, the muscles in his stomach and arms flexing and hardening, and I grabbed onto his back as we moved together.

We were one solid motion, his hands traveling around my breasts and neck, until I released with a cry and grabbed the light hairs in his chest as electricity left me. He slowed his movement as I calmed.

“Did you feel good, Maggie?” he asked.

“I want you to feel good.”

“Yes,” I said. “Please don’t stop.”

I was wet and free, letting all my inhibitions go. I could feel he was getting harder and pushed deeper as he was preparing to rupture. His tongue met mine and he lightly bit my lip as he built up his release. I could hear as he held back a primitive yell.

“Here it comes, Maggie.”

He finished with a relaxed face, and he breathed out and kissed me and asked if I was still okay. I nodded. I had given my purity to Lionel.

He pulled out and lay down next to me, holding my face in his hands. We stared at each other, and I somehow felt calm.

I remained in his arms the entire night until I fell asleep against his body, the first night we’d spent together not on opposite sides of the bed.