Billion Dollar Bad Boy (Big City Billionaires #1) (16 page)

Digging his fingers into his scalp, Silver bit out his next sentence. “I don't fucking care. I'm not turning around. I'll be back Monday, understand? Or do you want me to email that to you, too?” He shut his eyes, breathing out. “That's what I thought. Bye.”

I waited until he'd put the phone away, but his eyes were still closed. “Is everything okay?”

Silver blinked at me, like he'd forgotten I was there. “It's fine.” Circling me with his arm, he guided me into his lap. “It's even better, now.”

****

W
alking through LAX, I gazed at the giant airport in wonder. It was insanely busy, people shoving here and there while we headed towards the exit. As we were passing one of the millions of gift shops, I slowed down.

Hanging on racks were a few generic “I Heart LA” sweaters.

“Did you want a souvenir?” he asked.

“Oh, no, it's fine.”

He studied my face, then turned towards the woman behind the kiosk. “We'll take one of those.”

She nodded quickly, jumping up to grab for them. “Pink or blue?” she asked.

I'd gone silent, marveling at Silver's quick decision to buy me one of the sweaters. They both waited on me, so I cleared my throat. “Pink is fine.”

She handed it over, taking Silver's cash. It was soft and thick, better quality than I expected, considering it was an airport sweater. “Do you like it?” he asked.

Smiling, I hugged it tight. “Call me cheesy, but I kind of do.”

“Put it on.”

“What, right now?”

His eyes glinted, and I thought he couldn't have been more serious. Chewing the side of my mouth, I pulled it over my head, messing up my hair.

Tilting his head, he peered at me. “How do you look amazing in everything you put on?”

“Stop it,” I said, blushing hotter. I saw myself in a window, and I wondered what
he
was seeing, because I just looked like I'd flown for several hours and needed some caffeine.

His fingers slid into mine, holding tight. “Come on, let's get to my place.”

Sinking into the sensation of his touch, I followed at his side.

The taxi ride was smooth, and while I boggled out the window at the palm trees and buildings, Silver never let go of my hand. Once, he pulled me close, kissing me without a care that our driver was watching.

He held on all the way until we pulled up outside of a bright white condo, and it was only because he needed both hands to gather his suitcase and the shopping bag we'd brought from the lingerie store.

“This is gorgeous,” I said, once we'd arrived on his floor. I spun so I could see every angle; it was even bigger than the place he had in Portland. It also looked more modern, everything sort of minimized—the chairs, the glass tables, the ceramic bar.

“I'm glad you like it. I haven't been back for a month, it's good to see everything is still here.” His chuckle said he didn't really expect someone would rob him. And, considering the security in the lobby, why would he?

“Want a drink before we go out?”

“Just where are we going?” I asked, stopping to squint at him. “I didn't bring much to wear besides all that lingerie.”

I'd meant it as a joke, but his sharp smirk made me pause. “You
could
wear one of those outfits and get away with it. But I've got something on hand that will work.”

“'On hand?'” I repeated. Silver headed to one side of the giant room, crossing the wide window view of LA that some people would kill for. Kneeling by the suitcase he'd packed in his car, he dug inside.

In a flash of fabric, he yanked a black dress into view.

Covering my mouth, I swayed close enough to see the outfit. “Why do you have that?”

“It doesn't matter.” He stood, offering it to me.

In wonderment, I ran my fingers over the the dress, but I didn't take it. “It
does
matter. When did you pack this?”

He said, “When I decided last night that I'd convince you to come to LA with me.”

Amazed, I started to close my grip on the black dress's hem—then I stopped. “We're not going to a funeral, are we?”

Cracking a smile, he shrugged. “If we were, you'd look incredibly stunning.”

“I'm sure the grieving family would appreciate that,” I teased. Gently, I looped it over my arms. “Okay, so I've got a dress. What about—”

“Shoes?” He nodded downwards, and I followed his eyes to spot a pair of glossy heels in the bottom of the suitcase.

Just how far ahead had he planned our evening?

Is he planning beyond that?
I suddenly wondered.

Shaking myself, I grabbed the shoes and cradled everything in my arms. “I guess I'll get ready for... whatever you've got in mind.”

He smiled so hard that his eyes crinkled on the edges.

****

I
'd never seen anything like Hollywood at night.

It was everything I'd ever dreamed of.

“You're going to fall out the window,” Silver said, chuckling.

He was driving a convertible—another car he owned that stayed in LA—and I'd insisted the top stay down. My hair was tangling over my face, but with the taste of the wild night life on my tongue, I didn't care.

Silver pulled down an alley, parking on a quiet street. We were surrounded by graffiti and the air lost its exciting energy, replaced by garbage. Even so, I noticed many of the other cars in front of meters were as expensive as Silver's.

Taking my arm, he helped me down the sloped sidewalk. There was no line in front of the barely lit entrance. A man who looked weirdly like the man who'd checked my name off at the Red and Ripe sat in a rusted chair.

With a quick glance at Silver, he nodded for us to go inside. I'd expected him to ask our names, but maybe he didn't need to. Or maybe he knew who Silver was? Eyeing him, I was blinded by darkness as we passed through a hallway.

“Are you ready?” he asked, pulling up short in front of a black door.

Laughing, I looped my arm with his. “Do you honestly expect me to turn back now?”

Winking, he let me inside.

Hanging from the ceiling were giant cages. Gold and opal, they shimmered under the circles of lights overhead. That was majestic enough, but it was the contents of the cages that took my breath away.

Women. Real, actual live women. Flashes of color highlighted their nudity, white boots the only things they wore. Each of them swung and gyrated, and a few weren't alone behind their bars.

I had a clear shot of a man fucking one of the dancer's doggy-style.

“Well?” Silver asked, running his fingers up my spine. “Is this okay?”

My heart was rumbling, but I managed to meet his stare. “This is what you planned for tonight?”

There was no hint of shame in his face. “Last time, our fun was cut short.”

Anxiousness crept into my bones. It made a home there, refusing to be evicted no matter how I tried to calm myself.

Around us, club-goers danced and shouted. They wore everything from suits to barely-there jean shorts. I didn't know the name of this place, but it only seemed to care about one thing; being erotic.

Silver urged me further into the swaying bodies, his touch as firm as any chain. Turning me in a circle, he brought me close to one of the large, white cushions set around the outside of the club's dance floor. This was good, because my legs were wobbling on my heels; I needed to sit.

“Can I get you a drink?” he asked, looming over me when I settled.

“That'd be great.” Laughing uneasily, I grabbed his sleeve before he could leave. His eyebrows went up. “Look, I know I seem nervous. Okay, I
am
nervous. But it's okay, I'm not going to run away this time.”

Silver considered me carefully. There was a softness in his eyes, just beyond that ever-constant layer of mystery. “I believe you. So let me go get you that drink.”

My hand fell away. I set it in my lap once he'd slipped out of view among the throngs of people. Crossing my bare legs, I looked around and tried to act normal.
What's normal for a sex club?
Jeez, if Laralie knew I'd come to one of these places—twice, even—she'd lose her mind.

Silver broke back into my eyesight, two glasses in his hands. He was smiling, but right as he got close to me, his attention swept just over my shoulder... and his joy vanished.

“Hey! Kes!” Someone was waving an arm, heading our way with purpose. The man looked as if someone had poured a hundred pounds of nails into a smelter, then carved the hard metal into a multitude of swords.

I'd never seen someone with such fierce features. When he swung out a hand to shake Silver's, I nearly reached out to stop him, just in case he'd slice the other man's arm in two.

Kes, as in Keswick?
I knew that name from Silver's business card. A quick peek at him showed me the tension in his face. Was he wondering if I'd heard, or what I was thinking?

I played dumb, taking the drink from Silver. “Gerard,” he said, reaching out to join the handshake. “I haven't seen you in some time.”

“Over a year, at least,” the stranger laughed. Gerard glanced between us, his lips coiling on the corners. “And who is this lovely lady?”

Sipping my drink, I looked at the other man curiously. How did he know Silver? “I'm Alexis,” I said, waving briefly.

Gerard gave Silver a thoughtful look. I tried to read it, but I failed. “Well,” he said, gesturing around. “I never imagined I'd see you back in California. Didn't you move to Portland?”

“I still do some business here,” he said.

“Yeah?” Gerard cocked his head. “What about Florian, he here too? Man, everyone was upset when you guys bailed.”

“It's not bailing to take what you know and make something for yourself.”

Gerard was watching me from the corner of his eye. Silver was, too. “I remember you guys leaving even after I offered you a severe salary increase. Guess you were too good to work for anyone else, huh?” He flashed an insincere grin.

This is awkward.
I hadn't thought I'd get caught in a subtle war like this. My drink was half gone, I saw Silver hadn't touched his.

Gerard pointed his too-sharp chin at me. “Alexis, right?” He paused, his tongue running over his lips. “You been to this club before?”

“Oh, uh, no.” I smiled apologetically.

Next to me, Silver stiffened and said, “That's enough.”

He leaned close, watching Silver as he spoke to me. “You do know what happens here, though?”

“Gerard.”

“If not, I'm sure he can show you around,” the man went on. “He's been here a lot. Shown plenty of others what to expect, if you get me.”

He's pissing Silver off by making me uncomfortable.
Silver and Gerard had definitely parted on bad terms. He was trying to make me a casualty. I had other ideas.

Silver stepped forward, his knuckles tensing around his glass. Gerard was watching him with a delighted smirk. That meant he didn't see me when I stood tall, my arm pulling back.

“Hey!” Gerard gasped, jumping as the last of my drink soaked his face and shirt.

Setting the glass down, I hooked my arm on Silver's. “You're right,” I said, smiling sweetly. “He
can
show me how this place works. Thanks.” With a firm pull, I led Silver into the crowd.

I was acting calm, but my pulse was racing. Silver yanked me sideways, his fingers on my shoulders while he stared at my face. Amazingly, his look of shock erased my nerves—I started laughing.

He said, “You threw your drink on him.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I did. He was being an ass.”

Silver pulled me into a rough hug. Knowing that I'd made him happy was an aphrodisiac. It must have been for him, too, because he held me around my hips and guided me to a wall. His palms cupped my ass through my dress, mauling me as he breathed on my neck.

We were grinding together, the music only partially creating our tempo; we had a beat all our own. He hovered above me, his hands touching me all over like he had a million fingers. Tracing down the small of my back, he crossed over my hip—my thigh.

Silver froze, his eyes glinting in the blue club lights. Bending in, he spoke into my ear. “Are you wearing some of the lingerie?”

Pushing off my heels, I kissed the corner of his jaw. “Why don't you find out?”

His mouth twitched, his expression shifting. He was asking me a question with his silence.
Are you sure?
Silver was checking in to see if I was willing to play here.

When we'd first met, I'd been terrified of the concept. I'd seen the people having sex in public and I'd backed down instantly. I'd been so scared.

Now, I wasn't.

His hips thrust, pinning me to the wall. I felt eyes on us instantly, even if I was too busy kissing him to see. The world was a tornado of colors and sound, but it all centered here—right here—with this man.

Coiling his fist in my hair, he wrenched my head back. Teeth found my throat, my ear... and then they vanished. Panting, I gazed up at him with impatience. He held me steady, not letting me do much more than wriggle. Silver was so damn good at teasing me. “Please,” I hissed, willing him to go further with just my eyes.

And then I felt the shift in his mood.

Silver was breathing heavy, his teeth close to snarling. To anyone else, he was a creature on the verge of leaping forward to consume anything in his path. He'd stopped himself, but not because he was trying to drive me wild.

“What's wrong?” I asked, blinking up at him.

There was turmoil in his roiling stare. If I looked long enough, I thought I'd understand him better—who he was, what motivated him, everything.

Silver cupped my cheeks, then he grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the wall. “Not here,” he said over the din of music. “I—not here. I can't here, not anymore.”

Not anymore?

“Wait!” I said, pulling on him to slow his retreat. “I don't understand! Did I do something wrong? I'm okay with it! Really! I wasn't before, but now I—”

“
I'm
not okay with it!” He growled, whirling on me. Fuck, he looked so confused and angry. I must have flinched, because he pulled up short, clutching for my hands. “It's not you,” he said, strain in his voice. “It's—I just can't. For some fucking reason I can't handle the idea of anyone else... anyone
ever
seeing you like that. Just me.” His eyes went hot. “Only me.”