The Billioniare's Bought Bride (Contemporary Romance) (12 page)

She licked her lip to moisten it. “How can I? You sold North Star. Your bidding war over that island cost my grandfather his life. It caused his heart attack!”

Dylan sighed. “He was old, Maddy. Do me a favor and talk to his doctor instead of just taking Ted’s word, for we both know how much that’s worth. And by the way, ask yourself, what would have happened had your grandfather had bought Star? Hmm?

“It would have been one more piece of property that your brother would have abused and let rot. As it was, Ted raided your personal trust and drained the one designed to pay the taxes and upkeep. My purchase of North Star saved it from Summerhaven ’s fate. And, for the record, I sold North Star to the people who own the Pershall Island. They plan to rent North Star as a honeymoon cottage for those who truly wish to escape.”

Maddy remembered Aunt Gail’s words about the big island being booked every summer. Still, “I didn’t think they could afford it.”

“I’m financing the note myself,” Dylan said coldly. “And I cut the price slightly considering that I didn’t sell the access strip.”

Maddy’s mouth dropped open. The access strip, the reason her grandfather had really wanted North Star Island. “You kept the strip?”

Dylan reached down and began organizing his briefcase. “No.”

Her stomach landed at her feet. “You sold the strip?”

“No, I gave it away. The owners of the big island already have mainland access and the strip is too far away to suit their purposes.”

He tossed a quitclaim deed toward her and stood up, the closed briefcase in hand. “Consider the access strip your wedding present. Early Christmas or birthday perhaps. Now if you excuse me, I need to get ready for tonight’s party.”

He shook his head violently, the back of his dark black hair brushing the collar of his crisp white shirt as he strode toward his bedroom.

Maddy leaned down and picked the document up off the floor. There the title was, all signed, sealed and delivered. All she had to do was file it.

He’d given her the access strip.

She’d given him nothing but grief.

He’d saved Summerhaven, restored it. He’d decided she was the only one he’d marry. At some of the parties they’d attended, she’d heard the gossip. No woman had ever been good enough for Dylan Blackwater. They’d all been cast aside, for the “one.”

She wanted him to love her again. This was his big gesture. She had to meet him halfway.

She tossed the document onto the table and raced after him. He wasn’t in his office, and she caught him as he began to shut the bathroom door.

“Wait.”

“I’m tired, and we promised to make an appearance,” he said.

“We’re newlyweds. We can call in sick.” She moved forward, quickly linking her arms around his neck. “I want to stay home.”

“Stop,” he said, but she ignored him and pulled his mouth to hers.

Despite their earlier lovemaking, for a moment it was like kissing a statue. Dylan had business connections to make tonight, and he had made a commitment.

Tonight, that commitment had to shift to her. Insight hit her that she loved him. She
had never stopped. She’d hated him, yes, but at the same time she’d loved. It was a dangerous tightrope between the two emotions, but she’d walk it until he loved her back. She had to. Their future depended on it.

She felt Dylan shake as his resolve faltered and he gave in to her kiss. “The party.”

“Is not important,” she insisted. Her arms slid inside the suit jacket and circled his waist. He trembled under her touch as she unbuttoned his shirt and moved it aside.
             
She planted a kiss on his smooth, muscular chest. He quivered. She kissed him again, grazing one of his nipples. “This is much more important than some silly party.”

Wordlessly, Dylan stepped toward the bed, taking her with him. They fell onto it together. He tossed her on her back and gently pinned her arms down to her sides. Then he took over.

Her clothing went flying. Dylan caressed her breasts, her belly, and between her legs. His mouth found new crevices, and she arched and bucked at his mastery of her body. 

Not ready to let her rest, he replaced his roving fingers with his mouth and buried his tongue inside her. She cried out as wave after wave washed over her as Dylan licked and lathed. He added his fingers, and she rode him to a release that left her begging for more. His lips moved up her body, over the peak of her breast as again he returned to her lips for another kiss.

She tasted their intimacies and then he stood over her, firm and hard. She reached for him, his length powerful yet silky beneath her fingers.

He grabbed her hands. “Hey.”

“My turn.” Her tone was forceful, and Dylan’s eyes darkened to that fathomless midnight black before he collapsed onto his back and let her have her way.

She stroked the man she loved with the palm of her hand. He groaned and she grew
bolder, stroking the tip and caressing the folds of skin. He moaned at that, and she smiled. There was more than chemistry here. More than convenience.

Her body was wet, ready, and willing. He cupped her breasts with her hands. She moved to all fours and poised herself over him.

“Take me.” His voice was a mere croak.

So she did. She slid down onto his length, controlling her descent. Her body stretched to accommodate him, and she quivered with pleasure as she sat fully on him.

Then she began to move. She set her own pace, her position of being on top allowing her to hit every pleasure spot. His eyes were wide open and she closed hers, lost in the ecstasy of the up and down motion. She was on fire. She soared, she crested, she peaked, and she repeated the process over and over again until she shattered. And then Dylan held her close, flipped her over, and started all over again. 

This was her prince, and she, his princess. What they were doing was right, good, no, more than that. It was….

“Dylan!” Her train of thought derailed and she shouted his name as she climaxed, her whole body riding the most powerful orgasm she’d had to date. Then his release joined hers, and knowing that they rode the wave together drove her further over the edge. Her eyes flew open so she could see him. His face reflected only profound pleasure as he spilled himself deep. 

She clenched her hands into his black hair and closed her eyes. She kissed him, her mouth molding to his as they both drifted into that wonderful magical aftermath where two lovers share being one.

She must have fallen asleep, for when she opened her eyes again she was alone in his bed.

“How are you?” he asked as he entered the room, a tray in his hand. “I made you some tea.”

“How long have I been asleep?” she asked.

“About an half hour. I called in our regrets.”

“Oh.” He wore only black karate pants, and the front bulged. She glanced down. The sheet had slipped.

He set the tea down on the nightstand and came over to the bed. “I just got up myself a few minutes ago. You didn’t sleep alone.”

The button placket of his pants twitched, indicating his growing arousal. Her gaze lowered and Dylan reached forward and cupped her breast.

“So beautiful,” he said as he bent over and lowered his mouth for a moment. Heat spread. “So very beautiful.”

His mouth moved to kiss hers. “Take me again.”

“Your wish is my command.” He straightened, dropped those black karate pants, and stood naked before her. She couldn’t resist, and she drew him to her waiting lips.

She heard him
groan,
as her mouth grew bolder, sucking and teasing as if she was devouring a giant
Popsicle
. She swirled her tongue until finally Dylan growled something indecipherable, yanked himself away, tossed the covers aside and straddled her.

Pleasuring him had made her ready, and Dylan’s rubbing himself against her folds made her entrance slick. He entered her with one well-placed stroke. She detonated on impact, her inner walls clenching him and riding him tightly as he slid in and out, taking her higher until they both came.

Afterwards he kissed her
lips;
he kissed her eyelids and her neck. She held him close, enjoying the sensation of him ebbing down inside her. She snuggled closer. He’d
chosen her over a party. That was a victory—she’d broken though one of Dylan’s barriers. There was work to be done to make her marriage real in every sense of the word. But as he cradled her close, she knew they’d turned a corner.

Chapter Eight

The other shoe dropped a week later and bad news arrived with a phone call. The shrill shattered the quiet apartment and Maddy jumped and reached for the cordless phone. “Hello?”

“Madison?” 

Somehow she knew the voice, and she racked her brain to make the connection. “Yes. Speaking.”

“This is Jonathan. Gail’s son.”

“Hi.” She tried to keep her voice light but already doom clouds descended. He had no reason to call her now, unless…

He cut to the chase. “Madison, my mother’s had a heart attack.”

At his cryptic words, Maddy’s knees gave out. “Is she going to be okay?” 

“No. She’s given up the fight, and we’ve moved her to a private room.” Jonathan’s voice cracked, and Madison’s throat constricted. Tears wet her eyes.

“She’s in and out of consciousness. Congestive heart failure with secondary complications.
Basically her lungs kept filling up with fluid.
Along with my dad’s name, she’s calling for you. Can you get here, to St. Louis?”

Maddy struggled to her feet, moving into the kitchen to retrieve the pad of paper Dylan kept the counter. “Tell me the name of the hospital. I’ll be on the next flight out.” She jotted down the information. “Tell her to hang on.”

The first airline had no flights out. She was on hold with the second airline when Dylan arrived home and found her, phone to ear, throwing clothes haphazardly onto the bed. 

“Maddy! What’s going on?” He took the phone from her fingers.

“I’ve got to get to St. Louis. Aunt Gail,” Maddy gulped out the words. “She’s dying. She’s at the hospital. I have to get a flight.”

She burst into tears, and he drew her into his arms. “Don’t you know I have a plane? Well, the company does.” She stared at him, suddenly hopeful. “I’ll get you there, Maddy. Finish packing.”

They landed in St. Louis about two hours later. She burst into tears before they’d gotten out of the chauffeured Town Car. Dylan drew her into his arms.

“I’m sorry. I’m just so scared. I don’t want to lose her.”

“Shh. Lean on me.”

She inhaled, trying to stop her sniffles. In his arms, she was safe and secure. His heart beat next to her ear, its rhythmic thump thump calming, soothing. He may not love her, but perhaps he could be the rock she could lean on during what she knew was about to be a rough time.

He ran his hands through her hair, his fingers lifting the golden strands. The movement allowed Maddy to regain some much-needed calm.

“Thanks,” she said. She straightened and accepted the handkerchief he offered her.

“You know I’m here for you,” he said.

Simple words, but to Madison they were much more. They held promise. Maybe someday he would love her. They stepped out for the depressing task ahead.

“She’s conscious again,” Jonathan told them as she and Dylan entered the waiting room where the family had gathered.

“You got here in time, Madison. Jake’s in there now.”  Jonathan’s stress was evident as he mentioned his older brother.  “Go on in, Mom’s waiting for you. They’re giving her morphine to ease the pain and it’s making her a little delusional.”

Madison reached out and touched Jonathan on the arm.  Then she and Dylan walked into the hospital room.

The hospital had done everything possible to follow Aunt Gail’s wishes and make her comfortable in her last hours. Maddy fought back more tears. Her aunt looked so small and so pale. She wasn’t hooked up to breathing tubes or IV feeding tubes. Only a heart monitor beeped quietly. An oxygen mask was by the bed, and, from the way it laid haphazardly, Aunt Gail must have taken it off. Trying to steady her erratic breathing, Maddy tightened her hold on Dylan. With his free hand, he patted their clenched fists. 

“Madison.” Jake stood, at this moment all of his sixty years. “Mom, Maddy’s here.”

“Maddy.”  Gail’s eyes opened and she tried to focus.  She was missing her glasses, Madison noticed, and instinctively she walked to the side of the bed and grabbed Gail’s hand. Gail’s gnarled fingers tightened on hers.

“Hi Aunt Gail.” The lump in her throat made speaking difficult.

“Maddy.”  Aunt Gail tried to nod, but the movement was noticeable only because of the amount of effort it took.  Gail gasped for air, but when Madison offered the oxygen
mask, Aunt Gail refused it. “I’m going home, Maddy.”

Maddy tried to blink back the tears that rained down. She couldn’t stop them. “I know, Aunt Gail.”