Filthy Rich (20 page)

“It's Nartan's.”

“No kidding,” her boss responded dryly. But he pegged her with a hard look. “And here I was thinking that your boss is a hell of a guy for giving you a bonus.”

“I'm okay, boss man.”

He nodded. “Let me know if that changes.”

“I will.”

A little tingle stroked her nape, but it had to be because Nartan had been right. Marcus was her crutch. She'd taken the job because she knew he would help keep her safe, and he was safe himself.

After class she sent a text to Nartan.

Need to pick up mail and more clothes.

A moment later he responded.

Get the mail, forget the clothes.

She laughed and drove toward her townhome. It looked silent and lonely. When she walked through the door, the feeling of welcome was missing.

You're absolutely insane, Celeste.

She'd known Nartan for only the better part of a month. But her feelings were real. She had no desire to stay in the townhome, and not because of the luxury waiting at Nartan's home. It was the fact that he was there. Her phone vibrated with an incoming text.

Stop at Angelino's.

She smiled, feeling giddy and excited. She raced up the stairs and showered. When she returned to the driveway, she had her mail in a bag and several more suits. She slid behind the wheel of the sleek sports car and swung out of the driveway without a second thought.

Traffic had eased, but in Southern California, the roads were never empty. She pulled up in front of Angelino's and grinned when the valet jumped. Another car pulled in behind her, but she didn't pay it any attention. She walked toward the entry doors and inside. Nartan was in his element, watching the half-full dining room as one of his senior staff members leaned close to him to ask a question.

What the man did for a suit should be outlawed.

Or patented and bottled.

Tonight it was a slate-black wool that complemented his dark hair. His tie was the same shade of ocean blue as his eyes. He caught sight of her, and his business face cracked with a smile. He held out his hand to her. Behind him, two women looked over to see what had gained his attention. Their makeup was perfect and their hair looked salon fresh. With ample, obviously enhanced cleavage and ultra slim thighs, they clearly spent their days ensuring that their assets were in prime condition.

The diamonds sparkling around their necks made it plain that they were also very good at getting top dollar for their efforts. They narrowed their eyes as she drew closer and it became evident that Nartan was waiting for her. She shot them a hard look that caught Nartan's attention. He turned his head and they instantly smiled at him.

Celeste slid her hand along his forearm and reclaimed his attention. He raised his eyebrows at her before escorting her across the restaurant toward the private section. The maître d' standing there opened one of the sliding sections of wall for them. Inside was a smaller number of guests, every one of them having paid well in excess of fifty grand for a membership. They were celebrities and high-profile business professionals. Nartan took her through to the most exclusive dining rooms his establishment had to offer, the private rooms that overlooked the Southern California coastline.

He pulled her into his embrace the moment they entered one of the private rooms. “Damned professional image,” he complained before sealing her mouth beneath a hard kiss. She indulged herself in the moment, stroking her hands beneath his tie. Her need for him never seemed to diminish. It peaked and flowed, as constant as the tide.

“I missed you,” she whispered before disengaging herself from his embrace. He pulled out a chair for her. “Are we actually going to make it through dinner?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don't bet on it.”

She drew her finger across her collarbone, and his gaze settled on the path she was tracing. “I think I might,” she purred. “Anticipation does sweeten the climax…”

He bared his teeth at her. “I'm not the one who has to get up early tomorrow.”

“You're up early every morning,” she replied as the door opened and a waiter entered to begin serving dinner. Nartan's eyes glittered, sparking an answering hunger in her. The meal was splendid, but her attention was focused on the man sitting across from her.

Tension tightened as the moments went by. She felt the intensity growing, the insatiable need beginning to block out everything else. The moment she finished her entrée, she wiped her lips with the napkin and tossed it onto the table.

Nartan's eyes narrowed, her challenge pleasing him. She had a moment to watch his pupils dilate before he was out of his chair and rounding the table to pull hers back. He clasped his hand around hers and pulled her through the private section of the restaurant and out into the night. His valet scrambled to bring the Lamborghini around.

Nartan took them down the private section of road far faster than she'd ever driven it. His hands locked on the wheel, controlling the precision automobile with a confidence that sent a jolt of excitement through her. The sensation was sharp and hard, and she liked it that way.

The civilized ceremony of dinner had tapped out her patience too.

She didn't wait for him to pull into the garage, but got out of the Lambo while the garage door was rising. Nartan pulled it inside as she followed him, feeling her hips swaying.

She pulled her dress off, enjoying the way his lips thinned at the sight of her garter belt and matching bra.

“They can't put that damned gate in soon enough… I want you stripping in the garage every night.”

The garage door slid shut as they connected. They actually lunged at each other, reaching for what they craved. He fisted a handful of her hair and turned her so she was backed against the smooth, sapphire blue of the Lamborghini. Her senses were overloaded, the feel of his hard body, the scent of his skin all combining to intoxicate her.

She reached for his belt and had it open before she unzipped his pants and pulled his erection free. It was hard and promising in her hand. But he caught her hands and pressed them back on the car.

“I want dessert,” he growled. He hovered over her mouth for a moment, teasing her with the softest of kisses while he stroked the swells of her breasts. He followed his fingers with his mouth, kissing the tops of her breasts and sending her arching up to offer them to him.

Clasping her hips, he held her in place with a grip that sent a twist of need through her sex. He licked and kissed his way to her navel as he lowered himself.

“This smells delicious…” he rasped as he found the short curls. Her clit was pulsing, pounding with the same tempo as her heart.

“I'm not sure…I can take that… Fuck me, Nartan. That's what I want.”

She tried to shift but he had her locked in place with his hands on her hips. He lifted her up, perching her on the edge of the car.

“Dessert first.” He pressed his head between her thighs.

She gasped, the feeling of his hair against her inner thighs a rush of sensation that she hadn't anticipated. She fell back and caught herself with her hands as he pulled her folds away from her clit and exposed it completely.

The first lap made her cry out. By the next one, the only sound she had left was a moan. It bounced around the garage as he licked and sucked on her clit. Her pussy contracted, desperate for his cock, but he was driving her insane with his tongue, sweeping across her clit again and again before returning to suck on it.

She was on the edge, straining toward him as an orgasm began to burst inside her. She locked him in place with a leg over his shoulder, raising her hips toward his mouth as he sucked her through the wrenching climax. It was hard and sharp and snapped like a whip.

And it wasn't enough. “More,” she demanded. “Fuck me.”

He teased her swollen clit with a soft lap before rising. His face was hard, his eyes reflecting how close to the edge he was. She reached out and fisted her hands in his shirt, popping one of the buttons free as she pulled him to her.

“Fuck me hard!”

He thrust forward, forcing a whimper out of her as her body stretched to accommodate him. But she was drenched from her climax, making it easy for him to penetrate her until his balls smacked against her bottom.

“Like that?” he demanded.

“Harder!”

He didn't disappoint. There was a savage glint in his eyes that pleased her greatly. Knowing that she'd driven him to the edge set fire to something deep inside her. He was breathing hard, thrusting into her with purpose while he held her in position for every hard penetration.

“More!” she sobbed, her eyes closing as everything centered on the hard pounding he was giving her. She fought his grip, wanting to meet him, but he kept her prisoner, using her and pleasing her as he satisfied his appetite.

His breath left him in hard grunts, a snarl warning her that he was losing control. She opened her eyes and watched the muscles in his neck cord. His lips curled back as he worked faster and slammed himself harder into her. He cried out, the sound savage as he began to come. She was already melting, but the first spurt of his cum was molten. She shuddered, clenching around him, and another burst of pleasure exploded inside her.

He slid his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace as they both panted. She had no sense of time, only a heightened awareness of him surrounding her with his strength. Euphoria engulfed her, keeping her warm when her heart had slowed enough for her to feel the night air.

“Come on…let's soak.”

He cradled her against him as he walked through the house and off to the left where an indoor Jacuzzi waited. He set her down and she wobbled before kicking off the heels she'd put on for dinner. After turning on the glass fireplace, he unlocked the sections of French doors and slid them open. The night air rushed in. He turned on the jets and the water began to bubble as Celeste unhooked her bra and garter belt before she got in.

She gave a little sigh as the water started to work on her sore muscles. She heard his clothing hitting the floor and opened her eyes to enjoy watching him bare himself.

“Like what you see?”

He pulled off his socks and dropped them.

“Hmmm…if stripping for you in your garage wasn't compliment enough, I guess I could resort to words.”

He joined her and pulled her in front of him. “Stripping works for me.”

“A man of action you are.”

“As often as you like,” he promised next to her ear. “But at this rate, we're going to end up with a nest full.”

“I'm taking birth control.” He locked her in his embrace and settled his chin on her shoulder.

“Nature has a way of making her own plans.”

“Like making you so irresistible?”

He chuckled and scooped up water to dump over her shoulders. “I could charge you with the same crime.” He stroked her breasts and lower until he was fingering her clit. “You've become an addiction.”

“Still not happy about it?” She rubbed her back against him, feeling his cock hardening as he rubbed her.

“Still want to run away from it?”

She turned around, climbing up to straddle him. “I like being here.”

Four little words. She had resisted him so much, but in the end, the words weren't that hard to say. She bit her lip as she lowered herself onto his length. He cupped her hips, holding her down on him as he angled his head and kissed her.

“I'm desperate to have you here, Celeste.”

They weren't flowery words, but they struck her as some of the most deeply felt she'd ever heard spoken. They reflected her own need for him, both sexually and emotionally. She couldn't separate the two hungers. At some point, they had merged into one craving.

Just one craving for him.

***

“I got his name.”

Caspian smiled as he sat back and crossed his legs. “It took you longer than I expected.”

“I double-check my facts before delivering.”

Caspian didn't care for the tone of the man's voice, but he wanted the information badly enough to overlook it. “Who is he?”

“Nartan Lupan, owner of Angelino's in Malibu. He's got a private house on the property.”

“She went there with him?”

“Got naked the minute they pulled into the garage. He doesn't have shit for security. No street lighting on the road. Piece of cake walking up on them. Got the photo evidence if you want it.”

“Send it.” Caspian tightened his hand into a fist. “Your fee will be transferred.”

He killed the line. For a moment, he sat still, staring at the picture of Celeste on his desk. He curled his fingers into a fist and slammed it down on the desk. His door opened a moment later as his bodyguard looked in on him. Caspian didn't give the man a single glance. He was a servant; his job was to perform.

Caspian contemplated the picture a while longer before standing up. He punched the intercom and opened a line to his assistant.

“Bring the car up. I have business.”

***

“Let's take the yacht out tomorrow night,” Nartan suggested.

Celeste stretched her toes out to where one of the jets was set into the side of the Jacuzzi. Nartan smoothed a hand over her bare shoulder as she leaned against him.

“Can't. I promised to referee a tournament in Oceanside,” she answered.

She ended up holding her breath, waiting to see what he'd do when faced with the fact that her life wasn't just fitting neatly into his.

He shifted, tracing her neck with his fingertips. “What's wrong, Celeste?”

“Nothing.”

He closed his arms around her when she tried to sit up. “You're as tight as a bowstring. Why? Worried I can't accept that you enjoy your martial arts because I need you to be focused on me a hundred percent?”

He placed a tender kiss on her neck and she quivered.

“I guess…maybe a little…”