The Billionaire's Past (His Submissive, Part Ten) (9 page)

As soon as my eyes fluttered closed, I
snapped them back open and he smiled his approval. He wanted to
look at me, peel back every layer until there was only me. And it
wasn't a one sided thing. As he rocked into me, he let me know him.
See things no one else got to see. The raw emotion that rippled
across his face. Wide open vulnerability. The truth that a man with
everything guarded but couldn’t hide when we were so close our
souls touched.

He plunged deeper, filling me to the
hilt.

“If I ever lost you...” He slowly drew out
and slammed back inside me, a moan ripping through his body. It was
raw emotion. Anguish. Need.

I brought my hands up, gripping the globes of
his ass. Digging my fingers in possessively. I didn’t want to ever
lose him either. I was his...and he was mine. “You won’t.
Ever
.”

He switched positions, taking my legs from
his hips and vaulting them to his chest. I was parallel, a foot on
each side of his head.

He moved back inside me, my body reaching for
him, clenching him as he filled every part of me. I looked up at
him, every perfect line of his face connected to me.

His lush lips formed a single word.
Together
.

I hoped it meant what I thought because when
I felt his release I let go, my body clamping, clenching, tingling
and alive with love for him. So much love I swear my heart would
explode.

We slumped onto the sheets, breathing still
labored, speech impossible. But we didn’t need words. He brought me
to his chest and I smiled as I listened to his racing heart,
closing my eyes.

Section Ten

I flipped up the collar of my jacket, the
night air crisp. Jacob’s arm rounded my shoulder, pulling me close
before I even shivered, his body warmth radiating over me. Perfect.
Not that we needed it. The night was already perfect. I was still
recovering from the aftershocks of what we’d done on the terrace.
Up against the wall. In the bed. And then the leg thing in the
shower.

And then there was this night. Stars blinking
in the sky. People zipping past, love, life bustling around every
corner. It was almost enough to make me forget that me and Jacob
weren’t just spending a night out, enjoying some post coital
tingles and winks over a cup of coffee.

“
You’re the one that told me I should be
open to her. That I should give her a chance to explain.”

“
Yeah, but--”

“
Five minutes. And the moment she says
anything offensive, which will probably be less than five minutes
in, it’s done.”

I’d let out a begrudging okay, wishing I
could take back my attempts at rebuilding bridges. After the night
we had, anything happening that could diminish the high I was on
made me want to kick and scream.

We stopped at the crosswalk in front of the
coffee shop. We were that much closer to the end of this buzz.

I perked up on my toes and pressed my lips
against his cheek. Lingering. Inhaling the warm, dry smell of
him.

He peered down at me with a smile. “What was
that for?”

Just because would have been romantic. The
truth was decidedly less so. “For courage.”

His smile faltered, but the hand wrapped
around mine tightened reassuringly. “It’ll be okay.”

The signal beeped for us to cross and I
exhaled as the world around me changed. The sounds that I’d loved
before were suddenly too loud and grating. Instead of ignoring the
people that seemed too close before, I glared at the backs of those
who hustled past, invading my personal space. When we stepped
inside the coffee shop, the usually welcome aroma of coffee beans
was overwhelming.

We scanned the room, seeing no one that
looked out of place. Just the usual coffee shop patrons.
Businessman on a blackberry. Young people in beanies, gripping
lattes.

“Why don’t you go and find us somewhere to
sit?” Jacob asked, watching me carefully.

I nodded and scoped out the unoccupied
spaces. There was a small two seater near the back. Near the
bathroom if I needed to put a wall between us. But that meant close
proximity to Alicia.

There was an L shaped couch with a
rectangular table near the middle, people sitting at the single
tables around it. More space and the fact people were a few feet
away would help Alicia keep things in perspective...and give us
witnesses if she tried anything.

I slumped down into the seat, bringing my
nails to my mouth as I stared at the door. Like he knew exactly
what I was doing, Jacob stepped into my line of sight, giving me a
steely look.

I rolled my eyes and cut my attention back to
the front, looking at some painfully abstract painting before going
back to biting my nails.

Jacob came over, ball cap barely shielding
his intense blue eyes. Not that anyone here was of the squealing,
picture snapping variety. His disguise was still hot. He wore a
heather gray tee and deep blue jeans that fit him perfectly. The
women perked as he walked by, eyes on his ass.

He held out my coffee. “I got you an extra
shot.”

“Thank god,” I murmured, cradling the cup
between my hands. I gave him a sidelong look. “And thank you.”

“No problem.” He lowered himself to the
cushion beside me, already sipping his drink. He was trying to seem
ambivalent but I knew he was more nervous than he let on. His foot
tapped out a staccato beat and he just couldn’t keep still.

“It’s gonna be alright,” I said, even though
I was already running through all the ways this meeting could go
wrong. None of them had to do with the inevitable jabs she’d make
about me. They were all about her little remarks about Jacob. About
his father. I couldn’t deal with that. Not after I learned about
his past. Which meant I might have to give up my pacifist ways and
take Alicia out.

He glanced at his Rolex. “Maybe she’ll stand
us up. See the address and decide it’s a little too middle class
for her taste.”

I gave him a chuckle even though I could hear
in his voice that wasn’t what he wanted at all. As much as he acted
like he couldn’t stand his mother, there was a part of him that
cared about her. That wanted her to do right by him.

I put my coffee on the table, putting a hand
on his knee. Steadying him. Maybe me and Alicia’s talk shook
something loose. Chiseled through the ice. Helped her find her
heart.

The door swung open.

We were about to find out.

I nearly spit out my coffee when I saw that
she was in an oversized white shirt and denim leggings. Her salt
and pepper hair was held back by a flowered hair scarf and
oversized Jackie O shades were over her eyes. I guess that was the
only thing remotely Alicia Whitmore-like about her get-up. Wearing
sunglasses at 10 at night.

She saw us and flashed a brief smile before
turning to the barista and giving him her order.

Jacob glanced at me, his expression glum.
“Here we go.”

I brought my coffee to my lips, taking a
hearty gulp and wishing I had some wine. A shot. An extra
something-something to prepare me.

She started in our direction and the closer
she got more waves of dread crashed into me until I sat there,
stomach knotted, water up to my chin.

“It’s so great to see you two.”

Up to my mouth. Choking because the BS was
too much. It was freaking unbearable. “Please don’t.”

She feigned innocence as she sat down in the
seat opposite us. “What? I can’t be cordial?”

I felt the anger stifling me. Jacob and I
could still be in bed, away from her toxicity. “Why don’t we try
something different? Something real maybe?”

Jacob put his hand over mine. “Calm down,
Leila.”

I bristled until I looked at him and saw the
strain. I wasn’t helping things. I was making things worse. The
eyes that were turned on us weren't looking at Alicia. They were
ogling me.

I leaned back, taking a few breaths and tried
to ignore the patronizing smirk on Alicia’s lips.

She got comfortable, bringing her cup to her
nose and inhaling before she looked at us. “This place is very--”
Poor? Unbearable. Beneath you? “--Quaint.”

I rolled my eyes and brought my cup to my
lips to snuff out the smart comment rising in my throat.

“Do you two come here often?”

I let out a disgusted sigh, dropping my
coffee on the table and crossing my arms.

“Is there a reason you asked us here?” The
tightness in Jacob’s voice was proof he was tired of this game
too.

Alicia put down her cup, her eyes looking
back and forth between the two of us. “I’m trying here.”

“Trying what?” Jacob asked gruffly.

“To be nice.”

Oh geez. I opened my mouth but the snort
Jacob let out was incredulous enough for the both of us. “Nice?
Since when?”

Her eyes glittered. “Is there no point in
trying? Is that what you’re saying, Jacob? Should I not even waste
my time?” Her voice was as chilly as her glare. “How about I talk
about how I don’t appreciate walking in this part of town after
dark? Or how I can’t stand this hole in the wall with its amateur
artwork, artsy fartsy music or the fact that we can’t have a
conversation without strangers catching the gist of it? Let’s talk
about why your own mother wasn’t allowed to come to your home.”

“You weren’t allowed in our home because the
last two times you walked through the door you insulted me and my
fiancé,” Jacob said without blinking. “Home is supposed to be a
safe place. Where family belongs...and you haven’t been my family
for a long time.”

I looked at him, stroking his knee, seeing
how riled up he was getting. Was she really so oblivious that she
couldn’t see the negative effect she was having on him?

“You don't mean that,” she said in a
huff.

“Why did you want to meet us here?” He spoke
every word distinctly, a warning in his tone.

Her patrician features were tight. Genuinely
taken aback. If I didn’t know her I’d almost feel bad. She walked
through the door legitimately expecting a warm reception. Like we’d
chat it up over coffee even though she’d done nothing but treat her
son like crap and tried to drive a wedge between the two of us.

Her mouth was slightly open, flabbergasted.
“I wanted to start over.”

“Just like that?” Jacob said acidly. “You
woke up and decided what, we’re supposed to act like nothing has
happened?
I’m
supposed to act like nothing happened?”

She sat back slightly, her cheeks reddening.
“No, I just...I’m...”

Holy crap. Was she really about to use the
‘s’ word? I leaned forward, not believing it. Needing to hear
it.

“I’m sorry.” She faced me. “You’ve been kind
to me, nicer than I’ve ever been to you. I had no right treat you
the way I have.” She slowly turned her attention to Jacob. “Son,
I--”

Her voice cracked and I felt Jacob’s muscles
tense. I cautioned a look at his face and he was struggling to act
like he could care less about whatever she was about to say, but he
cared. His chin trembled slightly before he tore his eyes away from
her and looked at me.

I looked into his eyes and saw the question.
If he could trust her. If she would hurt him again. I didn't have
an answer for him, but I gazed back and told him what I knew with
absolute certainty. That I loved him and I’d be there. No matter
what.

His chin stilled and he glanced back at her,
holding my hand and waiting for his mother to collect herself.

Alicia sniffled, her gray eyes wet with
tears. “I can’t change the past and the things I’ve done to you,
Jacob. I am truly sorry.”

The silence hung between us. She looked at
him hopefully, but he didn’t say a thing. Surely she didn't expect
to apologize and have him take her in his arms, all the terrible
things forgiven, just like that. Even if he loved her and wanted to
believe she meant it, it would take time.

She went to her purse, ruffling through the
contents. “You don’t have to say anything. Either of you.” She
pulled out a small square box.

I gasped, recognizing the size and shape.

A ring box.

Jacob’s voice was barely audible. “Is
that--?”

“Your grandmother’s ring,” she finished, a
tear weaving down her cheek. “She would have wanted you to have it.
And if she knew what I’d done--” She shivered, like she felt a
chill. If ghosts were a real thing, Jacob’s grandmother would have
haunted her ass relentlessly.

Alicia wiped away her tear with her free hand
and with the other, held out the box to Jacob. “It’s yours. It
should have always been yours.”

###

About the Author

Ava Claire is a sucker for Alpha males and
happily ever afters. When not putting pen to paper or glued to her
e-reader, Ava likes road tripping, karaoke, vintage fashion, and
searching for her own brooding billionaire.

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