Billion Dollar Bad Boy (Big City Billionaires #1) (10 page)

Big.

That was a perfectly good word for it.

“Go change into your outfit.” He washed his hands in the nearby sink. “I'll wait for you by the front desk.”

The warm room had become smoldering. It was a relief when I escaped down the hall, my lungs able to take in a full breath finally.
Will he be like that every time? So hungry, so tempting?

I knew the answer.

As long as I resisted him, he'd keep pushing.

What would happen when I finally gave in?

Alexis

“Y
ou seem a little different,” he said.

Silver had driven us over to the restaurant, a fast trip from the spa. Before our escape, Sarina had spotted me in the hallway. Her eyes had met mine, curious but not cutting. She must have been thinking about what Silver and I had been up to.

After all, I still was.

Now, leaning into the booth, I sipped my cocktail too fast. “Different than what? The first time we met up, I wasn't exactly in my element.”

Considering my question, he lingered on it more than seemed right. Then he shook his head, mouth turning into a half frown. “In general. It's like your mind isn't fully here.”

He's right,
I thought sullenly. A sliver of my brain had been focused on my meeting with Detective Roose. He'd crept into my life like a black beast from an old nightmare. Everything had been going so great, I didn't want to dredge up my damn history from five years back.

I won't let that guy ruin my mood.
Forcing a smile, I gave Silver my most brash grin. “Maybe I'm just thinking about all the amazing things you've done for me.”

“You mean you've been enjoying my gifts.”

“Very much so.” I lifted a finger, brushing one of the mercury-folds of my gown pointedly.

“I'm glad,” he said softly. “But I wonder if you've enjoyed
all
of my gifts?”

It took me a second, but the wolfish edge to his mouth gave him away. I knew what he was referring to, and it made my knees push together. Oh yes, I'd 'enjoyed' the special vibrator he'd sent my way. Shit, was my whole face glowing red?

Winking, he sipped from his glass. “I'm proud of that toy. I spent a while designing it.”

“Is that what you do?” I asked, leaping at any info about him. “You design—ah, sex toys?” My blush was growing hotter.

“I do a lot of things, my hands are in a few companies. I like to stay busy.”

“You mean you run
multiple
businesses?” My eyes popped wide. “That sounds exhausting.” It also explained his obvious income.

Silver cocked his head. “I have a partner. He helps run things behind the scenes, the less exciting areas.”

That word, 'exciting.' It had me thinking about the vibrating purple dildo all over again. “I can't get over the fact that you sell...” I covered one side of my mouth. “Sex toys.”

He waved his hand in the air. “I don't sell
toys.
I design an interaction. An encounter. I want to make sure whoever uses them remembers the experience that
I
gave them.”

His eyes focused on me, catching fire as the chandelier glinted off of them.

I swallowed and mumbled, “That's kind of arrogant.”

His face fell, and I realized what I'd said. I winced, but he cut off my explanation with a loud laugh. Holding his forehead, he peeked at me through his fingers. His smile was raw, real. “That's more like it. I love that kind of honesty.”

Fidgeting, I finished my drink and willed another to appear from thin air. “What I meant was—”

“Don't apologize.” He lowered his voice. “It
is
arrogant. That's who I am. I know what I want, and usually... I can figure out what other people want.” His fingers crossed over, brushing mine. “Did you come while thinking about me?”

My brain sizzled, white hot energy stealing my thoughts.

“That good?” he asked. “Wait until you play with the real thing.”

I rocked on my chair, enjoying the pressure that came from scissoring my thighs. I was still buzzing from his sensual massage, but more than that, he was getting into my head.

Just like with his very first letter.

“Who are you?” I whispered.

He gripped my wrist, his sinful aura covering me. “I'm the man who's going to fuck you until you see stars. When I take you, it won't be with just my mouth. Or my hands. Or my cock. I'm going to make you mine down to your very soul. And then I'm going to go even deeper.”

It was a wonder that I could keep from gasping out loud. My nipples were tingling from how solid they were, rubbing at the gown's material. I felt like one big, pulsing vein, everything was connected to the shaking muscles in my lower belly.

I said, “I meant what kind of man are you. Who sends packages to a stranger, who takes someone to a sex club? This money, this attention... I don't understand you.”

“Of course you do.” His fingers trailed down my arm, but they never left. “You understand who I am because you're the same as me.”

That made my spine go stiff. “I'm nothing like you,” I laughed bitterly. “I'm plain, I'm boring. The most exciting part of my day used to be when a new show I could marathon dropped on Netflix.”

Silver breathed out, managing to bring his face ever closer to mine. I could see nothing but him. “You're exactly like me, Pet, otherwise you wouldn't be here. But if you doubt this side of you... the brave and curious part that would go to a sex club, or fantasize about someone while grinding on a vibrator he's sent her...”

Fuck, could I be any redder?

He said, “If you're confused, then maybe we should help you find out how far you're willing to go.” His teeth flashed, and I imagined them on my jaw. “Let me help you understand who you are.”

My voice sounded like a breeze through a corn field. “What do you mean?”

“You could have backed out of everything... if you really wanted to. But you didn't. I want to see where your desires truly lie, what darkness lives deep in your bones, what wickedness sleeps in your core.”

Silver wanted to prove to me that I was like him.

Was he right?

“Well?” he asked softly, his voice searing me. “Do you want to test your tastes in public or private?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw the waiter approaching. I had the uneasy sense that if he reached us, this moment would be gone. Not just gone, but erased from my memory—from my potential future. If I didn't answer now, I'd go back to my boring world.

I forced my voice to remain steady. “Private.”

He smiled, dropping a wad of cash onto the table.

The waiter froze, pulling up short. “Sir,” he asked, “Aren't you going to order dinner?”

“No,” Silver said, taking my hand and leading me to my shaking feet. “I've been saving my appetite for something else.”

I wondered if this man might actually eat me alive.

And if I would even stop him.

Alexis

T
he building we pulled up to was like a slab of golden granite in the middle of the city. It jutted up and away into the night's void. So much of it was glass that I wondered if anyone living here could have any privacy.

Silver parked his car out front, guiding me towards the entrance where a doorman waited in a black cap and gloves. The man didn't do much beyond glancing at us, then he waved us inside with a deep nod to Silver.

"You must be important," I said.

"Maybe." He tapped the elevator, sliding into the too-small pocket with me. In that space, I held my breath and waited.

What was I waiting for?

For him to touch me.

To kiss me.

To make good on his promise that he'd show me what it'd feel like to come for him, and not just his sex-toy-gift.

But Silver did nothing, he just leaned on the reflective walls and watched me as if he could read my mind. I didn't even see him blink.

Was he holding his breath like me?

I filled my lungs, catching some of his alluring scent just as the doors dinged open. Stumbling out, I felt his hand on my elbow, steadying me. It was electric, and I had to move away before my senses fried.

He smiled knowingly at me, but by then, I'd noticed my surroundings.

"The elevator goes right to your apartment?" I whispered, stunned by the cavernous penthouse.

"I own the whole building," he said casually. "But yes, that elevator brings me right here. Nice and close to my bed." His chuckle was velvet on my neck.

As late as it was, the city was a field of sparklers through the full circle of windows. Beyond, I glimpsed the telltale curve of the Fremont bridge.

"This is gorgeous," I said honestly.

"No." He hadn't stopped staring at me, not since dinner.

Not since he'd met me.

He said, "You're what's gorgeous."

Grabbing the edge of what had to be a pure crystal table, I stared at him. My heart had swung upwards, a pendulum that kept blocking my words. Finally, I laughed. "Don't tease me."

"I'm not." His single step forward was as loud as a gong. "But I can, if you'd like. Fuck, now all I can picture is spreading you out on my bed, making you beg me to lick that sweet pussy of yours."

He inhaled sharply, and I mimicked him. My hip bumped the table. "Could I have a drink?"
Before we go further
, was my unsaid thought.

Silver cracked a grin, sliding his tie looser around his neck. "Of course." The room was designed to be large and open, I could watch him sway all the way to the kitchen, his fingers snatching two glasses from a shelf.

I used the brief escape from his nearness to gather my strength. It was as if this man had his delicious hands wrapped right around my rib cage, squeezing without even touching me.

Silver came back, the lights along the wide windows creating patterns on his white shirt. His muscles strained, hidden like beasts below the ocean. I watched them writhe, imagined him holding me as his smirk brushed my mouth.

"Here," he said, handing me a glass full of topaz liquid. "Riesling. My favorite."

I didn't care what it was, I just took a deep swig. The acid-burn helped clear my throat, but it muddled my thoughts. "You really live here?"

"Do you think I broke into someone else's home?" He grinned, one arm straining his shirt as he pointed at the high ceilings. "Which part of me seems like a lie? My money, my perverse hobbies... or something else?"

Squinting at him, I bit the edge of my own lip. "Your name.”

Something dark rippled across his face. A drink from his glass smoothed it away. "Let me give you a tour, Pet."

My steps echoed on the hardwood floors. Soon, they were replaced by gorgeous white rugs. He showed me the gigantic dining area, the table set for five people, though I had trouble picturing anyone ever entering Silver's home.

I was still struggling with the fact
I
was here.

He let me peek into his private office, the desk strewn with sketches and notes, many which were clearly sex toys. Silver even gave me a tour of the roof.

The wind teased my hair from its loose bun. I went to fix it, but his hand on my elbow stopped me. "Wait," he whispered, his voice heating me in the cool night. "Leave it down. I like it messy."

I could see the blink of stars just beyond his ear. They were lost in a sky that was too black to be real. How funny was it that I found him more entrancing than those ancient lights?

His fingers linked with mine. "Follow me."

Deep down, I knew where we were going.

Silver pulled me back inside, into a room as wide as the living area. The walls were richly metallic and black, the king bed's blankets matching. The rug was so dense I had to make sure I wasn't walking on fuzzy pillows.

I'd never seen such a luxurious bedroom. One wall was cut in an arch, a black marble bathroom with a giant open shower waiting beyond. There were steps leading to a platform with a jacuzzi.

Fingers came down on my shoulders from behind. All at once, the tension in the air shifted. Silver took my wine glass, but I didn't see where he dropped it.

"I'm done holding back," he said.

Every hair on my body stood tight. He traced down my arms, his hips pressing into my ass. I was too aware of how thin the dress he'd given me was. It offered no protection, my nipples outlined through the fabric.

In the mirror across the way, I saw how pursed my lips were. I was gasping soundlessly, pink and excited. Silver's affect on me was clear as crystal.

His lips traced the jewel in my earlobe. "I love seeing you draped in my gifts."

Closing my eyes, I swayed. He didn't need to cut me open to steal my strength, he was forcing it out of me with every word.

Hot, wet lips came down on my neck. Instantly I groaned, bending at the knee as the sensation rocked me at my core. He made a similar sound, speaking against my skin as his hands gripped me against him. "Don't try and deny it. You're getting turned on, you've wanted to do this for some time with me. Haven't you, Pet?"

Swallowing, I said, "I wouldn't lie. I couldn't."

"No," he agreed, tracing down the front of my dress as I whimpered. "You couldn't."

Champagne-like bubbles fizzed through my thighs, honing in on my pussy. I pulled at his hands, spinning to face him. Down and up and everything else blurred so that there was only his mouth and mine.

Silver kissed me hard enough to push me down into the mattress. The plush cover cradled me, contrasting against his solid body. There was no escaping him, he was as immovable as a freight train.
I don't want him to move,
I thought through my murky haze.
I want him to keep kissing me until my face is too numb to feel it.

Teeth grazed my chin, my shoulder; the expensive gown exploded as he ripped the straps away. I
felt
his energy, and I felt how he didn't give a shit about the money he'd just thrown away.

This man cared only about
me.

“I've wanted to do this for so long,” he growled. His lips plucked over my collar bone, playing me like an instrument. “So long, you don't even know.”