Romance: What The Billionaire Wants (5 page)

Chapter 11

A long time afterwards I lay completely still next to Ted, afraid to move, afraid to speak.

I love him?

I don’t even know him, how can I love him?

It can’t be love.

His arm is wrapped warm and solid around me and his mouth is kissing a lazy trail across my back. I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else but here, in his arms, in his bed.

“Don’t leave,” his words are a whisper in my ear, barely audible.

“And what then?” I reply. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“That’s why I want you to stay. I want to know you,” he chuckles.

I laugh bitterly and roll away, finding my clothes. “Yeah, blah blah blah. You keep saying the words and I’ll get dressed. I have an early class tomorrow.”

“Hey!” He sits up, expression shifting from amusement to anger in a heartbeat. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? Is, ‘I want to get to know you,’ code for something else where you’re from?”

“Funny,” I shoot him a fake smile and shrug on my blouse. “They’re just words. You guys throw them around like they’re candy with no understanding of the meaning.”

“What are you talking about? I just asked you to stay the night. Why are you so angry?”

When I don’t answer, he lunges off the bed and marches towards me, still naked and beautiful. I turn away because I can’t focus with his naked body towering over me. I can’t focus with that huge cock just falling free.

“Talk to me,” he growls, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me to face him. “I get that we don’t know each other, not really. But you can’t deny that we have chemistry. What happened in that bed, less than thirty minutes ago, was mind-blowing sex.”

I shrug out of his hold and glare up at him. “And when you’re feeling horny again, feel free to show up at the bar with your hotel card.”

His mouth falls open. “Are you joking? You’re accusing me of using you for sex? You’re actually accusing me of treating you like an object,” he shakes his head, “You’re the one who’s always leaving in the early hours, making sure to be extra quiet so I don’t wake up.”

“Yes, and I’m leaving now.” I wave my arms around at the extravagant hotel room. “Don’t worry, you’re rich and perfect. You’ll find another fuck buddy who’ll melt at all your pretty lines. I heard if you drop the L-bomb, a girl will even make you breakfast.”

His hands grab my shoulders and shove me hard against the wall, giving me barely enough time to squeak before he closes in. His mouth hovers inches from mine and we’re both breathing hard.

“I don’t know who he was, the guy who messed with your head, but I’m not him and I’ll be damned if you’re going to put his sins on me.” For a long time we just stand there, breathing hard, staring at one another. “I like you. I think I could like you a lot more if you gave me a chance to get to know you.”

I grit my teeth, afraid to open my mouth because I know what I really want to say.

I want to close the distance, kiss him and make him forget every nasty thing I just said.

But I can’t.

I won’t be that girl ever again.

I won’t be the stupid girl believing she matters while her boyfriend bangs everything that moves, while her boyfriend looks at her like she’s the most pathetic piece of nothing.

Ted might mean what he says now, but he’ll get bored soon enough.

His lips brush mine and his hand loosens on my arm, drifting down to my hip.

He caresses the sensitive flesh at my waist then starts bunching the material of my skirt higher and higher.

I should stop him.

I won’t stay.

But his fingers press deftly between my thighs and dip into my panties.

“You want this,” he rasps against my lips. “We both know you want this.”

He lifts my thigh up out of the way, bends his knees and thrusts his rock hard erection all the way to the hilt.

“You feel what we are together…” He takes me in long slow strokes, letting me feel every ridge and pulse of his cock, enjoying every clench of my pussy. “This is more than sex. This is real.”

I shut my eyes, shutting him out, denying his words.

But there’s no shutting out the feel of his body against mine, his cock driving into me over and over, his hot breath against my cheek as his movements become more urgent.

Against my will, my fingers reach up and I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on with everything I have as he takes me over the edge yet again.

His name screams from my lips and I revel at hearing mine on his as he trembles, thrusts and stiffens, gripping me to him as he rocks through his own pleasure.

But all too soon reality, rushes back in.

Humiliated, I extricate myself, straighten my skirt and sprint from the room, slamming the door behind me.

There are already tears running down my face by the time the elevator doors slide closed.

Chapter 12

I walk through the next few days in a confused haze.

I feel so empty inside and as one day bleeds into the next I see my future, lonely and cold, yawn out in front of me like an endless chasm.

After work one day Gemma corners me, grabs a bottle of wine and two glasses, and sits me down in the empty bar.

“Talk,” she says, her expression stern.

“I broke it off with Ted,” I sniff and take a sip of my wine. “And I think I made a really big mistake.”

As we empty the first bottle and start on another, I tell her everything and she listens her eyes getting wider and wider.

“He did everything but rip his hair out trying to tell me how he feels and I just threw it all back in his face,” I say, wiping the tears that just won’t stop. “What’s wrong with me? He did everything right – under the circumstances and I still couldn’t see how he’s nothing like the other men in my life. And now he hates me and I’m never going to see him again.”

“Honey, he doesn’t hate you,” Gemma moves her chair next to mine and wraps an arm around me. “He’s probably pissed and confused as hell, but he doesn’t hate you.”

“The worst part,” I say, leaning my head on my best friend’s shoulder. “Is that I can’t even apologize. I don’t know who he is. His name is Ted and he’s rich.”

“How hard can it be to track down a hot rich guy in L.A.?” Gemma cracks and I giggle against her shoulder.

“Stop it,” I smack her arm. “I’m not supposed to be laughing. I’m supposed to feel bad.”

She gives me a squeeze and kisses the top of my head. “Maybe we could find him?”

“How? I wouldn’t even know where to start?”

“Maybe we could ask around here? Did he ever talk to anyone else when he was in here?”

“Never,” I shake my head. “He only ever talked to me.”

“What about the internet? Have you done a search for ‘Hot, rich guy named Ted’?”

I pull out my phone and conduct a quick search.

“Nothing but a few stories about mega-rich tycoons.”

“Hmm…” Gemma ponders her thoughts. “The hotel might at least give us his full name, if we ask really nicely.”

I peak up at her through my hair in hope. “Really?”

Chapter 13

The Four Seasons looks even more expensive and beautiful in the daylight. I halt at the doors and Gemma has to drag me inside.

“Come on, Hannah,” Gemma chides me. “This is your chance.”

“My chance to what? Make a fool of myself?”

She gives me a look only a best friend can and I relent, letting her drag me the rest of the way. The foyer is awash with gold and marble and we don’t make it three steps inside before a very well dressed man steps into our path.

He looks from me to Gemma and back to me.

“Can I help you with something?” He’s looking at us like we might turn into vampires at any second and Gemma and I exchange a look.

We’re not dressed in designer dresses but we’re not exactly crawling out of the gutter.

“I –um – need to make an enquiry,” I manage to say with a bright smile. “I was hoping someone at the front desk might be able to help me.”

“May I ask what your enquiry is regarding?”

I try not to let his tone grind at me. “Yes, I paid a visit to one of your guests, a couple of nights ago and there’s something I need to tell him but I don’t know how to get in contact with him. I was hoping someone could help me get in contact with him.”

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sorry, but the privacy of our guests is our priority. We won’t share personal details with anyone who walks in.”

“Well, I don’t need personal details. I was just looking for a phone number where I could contact him.”

“No. We won’t be able to do that for you. I’m very sorry.” He sounds anything but sorry and I notice two large security guards inching closer.

Rolling my eyes, I hold my hands up in surrender. “Sorry to bother you,” I say, making sure to sound equally unapologetic as I nudge Gemma back towards the door.

“We’ll be sure to pass on how polite you were to anyone we meet thinking of staying here,” Gemma shoots over her shoulder at him.

“You do that,” he replies, smiling serenely and I nearly turn back to tell him what he and his rent-a-cops can do with their fancy hotel, but it’s Gemma’s turn to nudge me towards the door and together we stumble out into the sunlight.

“What a prick!” Gemma says once we are back in the comfort of our car.

But I start with a giggle, then a chuckle, then an all-out, belly aching laugh.

“What are we doing?” I manage to gasp between laughs. “This is insane.”

“We were nearly thrown out of a hotel!” she giggles. “So, you want to round out the afternoon and rob a liquor store?”

We’re both chortling and laughing as Gemma drives us to the bar.

“Why don’t I make us some toasties and coffee before we open up?” I ask as we walk in through the back door.

“Thanks, babe,” she says, throwing me a wink as she grabs the paper and takes a seat at the bar. “Want me to open a bottle.”

“Are you kidding?” I say. “Last time we drank together, we actually got kicked out of a hotel.”

“Wow, that was so long ago I can barely remember it.”

We exchange a grin and I pull the bread and cheese out of the fridge.

This is why Gemma and I are best friends. No matter what’s happening, she always finds a way to make me feel better. Things are never as bad as they seem when we’re together.

I don’t mind that we didn’t find Ted.

Actually, I am kind of glad that we didn’t.

It means that I don’t have to take that gamble again.

I don’t have to risk my heart again.

And somehow, for some reason, that makes me feel sad…

“Oh no,” Gemma squeals, jumping to her feet.

I come around the bar to see what she’s so excited about but she’s laughing and hopping around so much I can’t see anything but blurred text.

Laughing, I grab her arms and hold her still.

“Gemma will you be still, this is like dancing with a jackrabbit.”

She jumps away, holding the paper to her chest then flips it over with a, “Ta da!”

I look at the page and have to blink a few times to make sure I haven’t lost my mind.

I’m looking at a picture of Ted.

His angular face and black hair are so familiar and that smile makes me smile.

It takes a few minutes for me to notice the headline.

Billionaire Donates $500 Million to Hospital

“You said he was rich, you didn’t mention anything about him being a frigging billionaire!” Gemma gushes.

My mouth drops open and I have to read the headline a few times.

“I didn’t know… It’s not like his bank balance conveniently fell out of his pocket when he opened his pants.”

“It gets better,” she then points at a chunk of text bringing it around for me to see.

“He’s giving a speech on childhood illness and the importance of supporting the family. Tomorrow night.”