ROMANCE: Bear Naked Passion (Billionaire Bear Trio Book 2) (12 page)

Chapter 3

“So what are you up to tonight?” I heard from my office doorway. I looked up from my computer monitor to find Taylor leering down at me. It was Wednesday now, and I was busy getting the last-minute details in order for Jonathan’s trip to Malibu. I didn’t have time to play games with this guy.

“Normal weeknight,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant and busy; the busy part wasn’t difficult, since that’s exactly where I was at the moment. “Nothing.”

He ran a hand through his cinnamon-colored curls. “Well, I was wondering if you would maybe be free for dinner—especially since the big boss is going away for a while,” he offered. If this were any other man, I might have been flattered. I would probably have accepted; it wasn’t as though I had men beating down my door. But Taylor gave me a bad feeling. He was slimy. It always felt as though he was buttering me up just to get closer to Jonathan. Like if we were dating I’d put in a good word or something. I felt distinctly uncomfortable.

“Oh, I don’t know…” I hedged. “Jonathan’s got a lot of meetings in Malibu that I have to get him ready for. Just because he’s not here doesn’t mean I have no work to do, you know.”

“Come on,” he said with what he probably thought was a charming smile. “One dinner won’t kill you. The boss never has to know.”

“Never has to know what?” we both heard from behind him, and he turned to find Jonathan standing there. There was a long moment of tense silence before the boss spoke up again.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, in a tone of voice that conveyed anything but regret. “But I’d like to spend some time with my assistant before I leave.”

“Absolutely,” Taylor said, stepping back to allow my boss into my office. “I’m sure you have a lot of work out before you leave for Malibu.”

“I do,” Jonathan said. “And so does Libby, since she’s coming with me.”

My eyes darted from one man to the other, unsure what to make of this plot twist. I couldn’t help noting the difference between the two of them; Taylor looked like a little boy pretending to be bigger and more important than he was. His clothes were obviously expensive, but they did nothing for him. He was good-looking but his personality made him unattractive.

Jonathan, on the other hand, exuded masculinity and confidence. His suit was custom tailored, his dark brown hair expertly cut and styled. He carried himself with an air of complete control. There was no denying him.

It was almost as though they were having a staring contest, and finally Taylor broke. He stepped back slightly. “I had no idea. Well, I’ll leave you to it,” Taylor said, backing from the room and scurrying down the hall. He literally scurried away like a rat.

I couldn’t help snorting a bit. “Thanks,” I murmured. “But now what do I do for the next week? Disappear?”

Jonathan looked down at me. “No, of course not. You’re coming to Malibu with me.”

I sputtered in shock. “But…I thought that was just a joke,” I said. “Something to get Taylor off my back. I didn’t think you were serious.”

That half-smile appeared on his face. “I have a rather important meeting to attend while I’m there, and I’d appreciate your companionship.”

I was flabbergasted. “I’m…I’m flattered,” I said. “Very flattered. But I’m also…without anything.” I had to laugh, feeling completely out at sea. “I have nothing packed, nothing arranged at home; my cats need to be cared for, my plants watered. I don’t even have anything nice enough to wear to an important meeting.” A million protests came to mind, but I could tell from the way his face never changed that everything I had to say was falling on deaf ears.

“Make a few phone calls,” he said. “One of my people will take care of your home while you’re away. My personal shopper in Malibu only needs your sizes; she’ll have a full closet ready for you by the time we get in.”

“Are you sure you need me there for an entire week?” I asked. I realized we’d be staying together; I was sure his house was more than large enough to afford us both privacy, but this was far more intimacy than we’d ever experienced before nonetheless.

“You could use a break, anyway,” he said. “I’d like to know that you’re comfortable and able to relax for the week. Away from certain other people,” he added. I heard a note of irritation in his voice, and reminded myself not to read too much into it. He didn’t like Taylor; it had nothing to do with me. His feelings for me didn’t extend beyond employer/employee. He wasn’t jealous.

Even though I very much wanted him to be.

He left me with no excuses. Sometimes I forgot what money could do. I could tell from his demeanor that it meant nothing to him to call a shopper and have a closet stocked.

“Well…okay,” I said, shrugging. “If that’s what you want.”

He smiled, fully this time. “It is,” he said. “It’s very much what I want.”

I felt a chill, and goosebumps rose on my arms. Something about the tone of his voice told me that there was more to this sudden change in plans than currently met the eye.

Chapter 4

The flight to Malibu was surreal to say the least. We didn’t exchange more than a few words throughout the three hours we were in the air; Jonathan spent most of his time with his head in his phone. He had asked if I was comfortable after we’d boarded and fastened our seatbelts. That was all.

Of course I was comfortable; the cabin was luxurious, warm and inviting. The seats were more like leather-covered loveseats, so dreamy I was afraid I’d fall asleep. There was a bottle of Cristal on ice, a bowl of strawberries so luscious I thought they might be fake. “Anything you want, it’s yours,” Jonathan said. “Please, enjoy some champagne. It will help you relax and unwind.” I took his suggestion and poured myself a glass, then ate a few strawberries. They were the most delicious I’d ever tasted.

While he was busy, I watched him from over the pages of my book. He was so handsome, sometimes I was afraid my heart might stop beating when I looked at him. His beautiful green eyes scanned the screen of his phone, his full mouth occasionally curving into a smile or a frown depending upon whether or not he liked what he read. His profile was like something you’d find on a Roman coin, his jawline sharp and well-defined. He was perfection.

It was so difficult, sometimes, keeping a professional attitude around him. I’d fallen hard for him that night in his office, when he confessed his secret to me; before that night I’d had a little crush on him, simply because he was so beautiful and charismatic. But in the years since I’d developed a real attachment to him. I felt protective of him. I wanted him to be happy and well.

I just wished he wanted to be happy and well with me.

He glanced up at me, as though he could hear my thoughts. I looked away, embarrassed. When I got the courage to look back over at him, his eyes were back on his phone. I saw a smile on his lips.

**********

I walked around what would be my room for the week; well, my suite of rooms, really. I had a sitting area that was stocked with tons of books; I could easily sit here and read for a week. Then there was the bedroom itself, complete with a four-poster bed and enormous flat-screen TV mounted above the fireplace. The private bathroom was home to a steam shower and whirlpool tub. Then there was the dressing room full of beautiful clothing, shoes and underwear—and just as promised, everything was in my size. I ran my hands over the silks, satins and laces. There was absolutely nothing there that I would ever have purchased for myself; it was all way beyond my price point, to put it mildly. But for my boss, of course, it was no problem.

Everything was decorated in shades of cream and white, and was more beautiful and luxurious than even the nicest hotel I’d ever stayed in. It was really more like an ultra-luxe resort than a home; then again, it sat right on a private beach. It practically
was
a resort.

I managed to avoid getting lost on my way to Jonathan’s office, where he told me I could find him if I needed him. On the way I passed the kitchen, which was roughly the size of a train station, and a games room with a pool table and bar. Finally, I reached the office; the windows along the back wall reminded me of the office at work, except instead of looking out over Manhattan, they revealed a view of a sparkling pool.

He was seated behind his desk. “Everything all right?” he asked, never looking up from his laptop.

“Oh, sure,” I said. “Absolutely perfect. Thank you. I especially love the books in the sitting room; I could spend a long time just reading.”

He looked up and smiled. “I made it a point to have them there for you,” he said. “There are even more in the library, actually. One room over.”

I felt a little fluttery rush in my chest. “That’s very thoughtful,” I pointed out.

“I know you love to read,” he said. “I wanted to be sure you’d have something to occupy yourself with while you’re here. You have full use of everything—TV, game room, library, pool, wine cellar, everything. It’s yours.”

I bit my lip, unsure what to do first. I was thinking that a glass of wine and a book in the tub sounded like a good idea.

Then I remembered something. “You have a lot of meetings this week,” I said. “Which is the one you wanted me to attend with you?”

“It’s Saturday night,” he said. He sat back in his chair as if just remembering this, and looked me up and down.

“You’ll need a trip to the salon in advance,” he said, and I felt my spirits sink. So he didn’t like the way I looked; well, that was no shock. Compared to the women with whom he normally spent his time, I was chopped liver.

He must have read the change in my feelings, as he was so good at doing. “It’s only important that you look your very best, is all,” he said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t look good now. But this meeting…there’s a lot riding on it, so to speak. I can’t overstate that.”

I felt intensely frustrated. Here I was, in this beautiful home—not complaining about that, of course—and I had no idea exactly why. Why had he brought me along? Why was this meeting of his so important, anyway?

He sensed it, of course. “Have a seat, Libby. I suppose it’s time for us to discuss the reason I brought you here.”

I sat opposite him, suddenly wary. I wondered why we hadn’t discussed this before. Maybe he wanted to be sure I wouldn’t say no.

He was dressed more casually now, but he looked no less handsome than ever. His tee shirt revealed more of his body than I was used to seeing; well, except for that night in his office, of course. His strong, broad shoulders and muscular arms were on display, as was his firm chest. It was a struggle to pay attention to him, honestly.

He must have noticed me sizing him up, of course, and a faint smile played over his lips. “The meeting we’re attending on Saturday night isn’t business-related. It’s a meeting for people like myself. Dragons.”

I gasped audibly. A meeting of dragons? A room full of them? Was I supposed to be dinner to these creatures? No—there was no way he had brought me here for that.

“There’s no reason to be afraid,” he said. “Believe me, it’s not what you’re thinking. This is a meeting which takes place once a year, during which time dragons who’ve reached the approved mating age present their prospective mates to the rest of the clan. I reached mating age a long time ago; 12 years ago, in fact. That’s not actually much different from normal human mating age, really. 18.”

I nodded, only half paying attention to his words now. I was piecing things together, reading between the lines. I had a strange sensation that I knew what he was driving at, and I felt as though I must be dreaming.

“Libby,” he said softly, bringing my consciousness back to him. He was looking at me in a way I’d never seen him look at me before. His eyes held a deeper warmth, along with something I couldn’t quite place a finger on. All I knew was that he was undoing me with those eyes.

“Don’t you see?” he asked, his voice quiet. “I brought you here to present you to the clan as my mate.”

Chapter 5

My head was spinning. His mate?

“Jonathan,” I whispered. “This is…unexpected.”

He nodded. “I realize that, and I apologize if I’ve shocked you. For the sake of our professional relationship, I’ve always felt it necessary to hold myself back. As I told you a long time ago, there’s no way I could ever find an assistant like you.” He chuckled, and I couldn’t help joining him. But I was still uneasy.

“I’ve always suspected that you were the one for me,” he said. “Starting from that first night, when you discovered my secret. You didn’t reject me, or run away screaming. You showed me the strength inside you. I had always known you were beautiful, but your inner beauty was what shown through.”

I snickered, and he noticed. “You are beautiful, Libby. Maybe it’s to my benefit that you don’t know how beautiful you are. Maybe you would be with some jackass like that Taylor nobody if you have an inkling of how desirable you are. It’s been torture, all these years, fighting the urge to ravage you.”

I trembled; I knew he meant it from the sound of his voice, the low growl that had crept into it. He wanted me. He already saw me as his. Just as I had always wanted to be.

“What’s stopped you?” I blurted out, and he laughed outright. His laugh was like music in my ears.

“Like I said,” he chuckled, “I didn’t want to ruin things in the office. But the fact is, the clock is ticking. I’m expected to find a mate; it’s what we do. Not only that but I need a mate. It’s in my blood. I can’t wait any longer for you, Elizabeth.”

It was as if he was making love to me, just by saying my name. I turned to jelly; had I been standing I might have hit the floor. I felt a warmth grow between my legs without my even intending it to as something inside of me responded to whatever it was about him that made him who he was.

“What if I say no?” I asked. I had to know.

He merely smiled, and rose from his chair to walk around the desk; he stopped in front of me. “I think you and I both know that you won’t,” he nearly growled. I looked up at him, my heart pounding through my chest.

He reached out and stroked my brown hair, all the way down to where it touched my shoulders. His fingertips skimmed my cheekbone, then my jaw. I was on fire, lit from within, all from the merest caress. Every one of my dreams were coming true.

He reached out for me, and I placed my hand in his. There was no mistaking the electric shock that went through me at his touch, or the fact that my nipples immediately hardened with excitement. We stood mere inches from each other, just a breath away from our mouths finally meeting. All of the passion I’d held back over the years was bubbling at the surface, ready to explode. I leaned toward him, my eyes closing, desperate to feel his mouth on mine…

He pulled away. “I’ll give you until Friday evening to think it over,” he said, and my eyes flew open in surprise. Then he turned away, walking back around to his chair behind the desk and sitting down. I was dizzy, my head spinning. I took a deep breath and excused myself from the room.

**********

I didn’t see much of Jonathan in the next two days. He was always out; of course I knew he’d be, since I had set and confirmed all of his appointments for him. There was no opportunity to discuss Saturday’s event.

I’d done a lot of thinking, now that the lust he’d sparked in me had died down somewhat. I swam in the pool, walked on the beach, even worked out in the exercise room downstairs. I’d had my every need catered to thanks to the staff of the house; it was definitely something I could get accustomed to.

On Friday evening, as expected, Jonathan came home around 8pm after having an early business dinner. I was seated in the library, enjoying a book and a glass of wine. It was nearly as though I felt him enter the house; the energy changed. The air was filled with electricity.

But I waited. I wanted him to come to me.

“Libby,” I finally heard as he entered the room. “I thought I might find you here.”

I had worn a very low-cut tank top and leggings, leaving as much of my figure on display for him as possible. He looked pleased, but didn’t say anything.

“Have you given any thought to our conversation?” he asked, taking a seat opposite me. He looked gorgeous, as always, the top two buttons of his tailored shirt undone and his sleeves rolled up. It was that sexy, casual look that slayed me.

“Do you really think you need to ask me that question?” I asked, a wry smile on my face. He laughed lightly.

“And?” he asked.

“And I have one request,” I told him. One eyebrow cocked up, expectantly. I continued, “I want to see you change. I want to see your full power, as your full self.”

“You’ve already seen me,” he protested, but I cut off any further argument when I stood, abruptly.

“It’s all I’m asking,” I said. “Just to see you as the dragon again. I should think you could do at least that for the woman you wish to be your mate.”

I could tell that he was intrigued by my attitude; I had never pushed back at him before, obviously. I didn’t want to lose my job. But this was different.

He stood, facing me. “Fair enough,” he finally said. “We’ll go out to the beach. There’s a reason this place is so secluded.” I realized what he meant; the section of beach on which the house sat was totally private, and impossible to see from anywhere else in the area. Now I knew why he had settled on this particular home.

My heart was pounding as we walked out through the French doors which led to the beach, then down the sand. “You’re sure you want this?” He was unbuttoning his shirt, then sliding it off his shoulders. I nodded, biting my lip in anticipation.

It was now or never.