Read Tempted (The Dark Billionaire, #5) Online

Authors: L.N. Pearl

Tags: #contemporary romance, #romance, #erotica, #billionaire, #Alpha Male, #new adult, #office, #workplace, #sex, #sexy

Tempted (The Dark Billionaire, #5) (6 page)

“Hello?” Enzo snapped his fingers in front of her face and looked at her from under his eyelashes. “Are you okay? What are you thinking about? Missed me?”

Jennifer smiled and ignored his question. “Let’s eat something. First time in New York?”

“Yeah, first time.”

“What do you want to try?”

“Hot dogs and bagels.”

“Really?” Jennifer was surprised. It wasn’t the kind of food - junk food actually - that Bruce enjoyed eating, but it was a refreshing change. It was something she could relate to quite easily, something closer to her day-to-day life. It was life as a simple New Yorker.

“Yeah, really,” he said.

“You don’t want to try anything fancy?”

“Naw... I don’t care about that. I always eat in fancy places in Thailand for half the price. I want to eat like people in the movies, you know.”

Jennifer giggled and nodded. “Okay, I get it. Come on, this way.”

They started walking side by side and Enzo gently pushed her with his elbow, inviting her to hook her arm around it. She looked at his arm, looked up at his eyes, looked down again and smiled. Enzo wasn’t doing anything wrong and was a gentleman so far. Why not, she thought.

She hooked his elbow and said, “So what brings you to the big Apple?”

“Work. We’re working on a deal with a cosmetic company to promote their products in our hotels.”

“Cool. Which company?”

“Ashley Thompson. Heard about her?”

“Oh yeah, definitely; business woman of the year and fastest growing company with less than fifty million in assets.”

“How do you know that?”

“Magazines... I’m doing a lot of research...”

“For your boyfriend?”

Jennifer winced and unhooked her arm from his elbow. She didn’t want to talk about Bruce. “No. For myself.”

“Uh oh,” Enzo said. “Sensitive subject. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Jennifer said, walking faster.

Enzo grabbed her by the hand and turned her around. She felt the soft skin of his large and manly hand, squeezing against hers - a delicate touch that made her heart pump as if it was going to explode.

“Jennifer,” he said. “What’s going on?”

She looked away, fighting the tears rushing to her eyes. “Nothing.”

“Talk to me. I know there’s something.”

“It’s... it’s Bruce,” she finally said with a shaky voice.

“Did he hurt you?”

“Kind of. He doesn’t take care of me anymore. Jesus, I shouldn’t be talking to you about this. Let’s keep walking please,” she said, tears now rolling uncontrollably on her face.

“No. You’re not okay, I want to know,” he said, cupping her face with his hands. With his thumbs, he wiped her cheeks and tucked her hair behind her ears with his middle finger. His face was a few inches away from hers and she could feel the warmth of his breath. He was getting closer, dangerously closer but she couldn’t fight back. She didn’t have the will power or the intention to push him away, and slowly, the space between their lips narrowed.

“Enzo, please,” she said with a weak voice. “Don’t do this. It’s not going to help.”

“He doesn’t deserve you,” Enzo said in a husky voice. “I can’t stand seeing you hurt.”

“Get off me,” she whispered, more like an automated reaction than a real threat.

“No,” he said. “I’ve let you go once. I won’t do the same mistake again.”

He stepped forward and took Jennifer’s head between his hands, pulling her toward him, and their mouths met. The touch of his lips felt like an explosion of pleasure, tenderness and unreleased sexuality. They clearly had unfinished business together and Enzo was here to get things done. The passion of his kiss was undeniable... and irresistible. He was literally swallowing her lips and her tongue, probing her with intensity with a willingness to make her his captive.

Jennifer didn’t resist more than two seconds. She dropped the flowers on the floor and rose on her toes. She felt carried away by his eagerness to savor her lips, and threw her arms around his neck, running her hand on the back of his neck.

They kissed in the middle of the street and nothing mattered at all. Time stopped. Bruce disappeared from her thoughts and Jennifer felt a strange sensation of relief. She had been on the edge for way too long and her body was aching with desire. For a split second, the image of Enzo’s dick in her mouth flashed in her mind and a guilty rush of juices soaked her panties in an instant.

But then, the complete picture of her dream became clear again. In her dream, Bruce was also there, pounding her with his heavy cock and Jennifer suddenly pulled away. Bruce, she thought.

“What?” Enzo said, their foreheads still touching. “You think about him?”

“Yeah...”

“Jennifer... Please, think about it. This man doesn’t make you happy. He’s too much trouble.”

“It’s not always like that.”

“I don’t care, I always see you like that. You always come to me when you have a problem with him. It’s not the first time.”

“I didn’t come to you... I had a promise to keep...”

Enzo ignored her comment. “It can’t be a coincidence, Jennifer. I mean, us, our story. First time in Bangkok and now, New York. We’re still here. We kiss again and don’t tell me you didn’t want it.”

“I did want it,” she admitted.

“I keep thinking about us.”

“Don’t you have someone else? Back home?”

“I’ve tried; but nothing serious, nothing to help me forget about you.”

“Jesus... What are we going to do?”

“Come with me.”

“With you? To Thailand?”

“Yeah. You can live like a princess over there.”

“I can live like a princess in here too.”

“Yes, as long as you stay with him. But what if he’s not right for you?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

“Well, you should. Why are you here, in my arms? Think about it.”

“I think I’m lost... and I needed to talk. I needed someone to take care of me.”

“That’s what I’m offering. No conditions. Come with me.”

“It’s too sudden, Enzo. I can’t decide just like that. I need time.”

“Do you want to be happy?”

“Of course.”

“So stop seeing him. Be free again. His life is too complex for you. It’s not the same world. I’m not rich but I can make you happy. You know what they say; money doesn’t buy happiness. You two are the perfect example...”

Jennifer shook her head, fighting to stay in control. “It’s not always that bad. It’s just... now.”

Enzo didn’t insist. Their eyes were locked and Jennifer considered his last words: money doesn’t buy happiness. Bruce himself, a billionaire, wasn’t really happy. He was always fighting for something and it seemed like he could never rest; never take a break. Would she have to go through this roller-coaster of emotions forever? All these constant ups and downs if she accepted to become his wife?

Enzo kissed her one more time, his lips softly connecting with hers, and he caressed her hair. “I’m hungry,” he said. “Let’s enjoy the time we have together.” He bent forward and picked up the bunch of roses.

“I’m sorry,” she said as they walked. “I shouldn’t have let you see me weak.”

“I’m sorry there’s nothing I can do.”

Jennifer and Enzo spent the afternoon together. She showed him around, and made him try all sort of foods that he couldn’t find in Thailand. He took pictures of the city, pictures of himself and pictures of them together.

It took Jennifer a while to let go and feel really comfortable, but eventually, she relaxed and allowed herself to have fun. Enzo didn’t try to kiss her again. He didn’t mention about leaving the country with him anymore. He acted like a gentleman, like a friend and kept his distance, giving her the space she needed and the attention she was craving for.

Before she knew it, it was already night time. Her mind started to drift and her pulse accelerated. It was about to come to an end... but what kind of ending? Was it the very last time she was spending time with Enzo? Or was it the beginning of something new?

The night felt heavy, electrified with tension and anticipation. She had no idea how this would end. She thought about it; yes, she thought about following him to his hotel room and... Oh my God, she thought. Her heart skipped a bit. How could she? She shook her head. Was she really willing to go that far? She knew the answer: she wanted to know but she couldn’t.

Enzo was standing in front of her, looking at her with intensity. He was definitely thinking about the same thing. His face was now close to hers, and she could hear him breathing heavily, panting with excitement.

“What do you want to do?” he asked, whispering. The sound of his low voice gave her shivers and goose-bumps.

“I don’t know...”

“Of course, you know. You don’t want to take the lead, that’s it. You don’t want to be responsible for what happens next.”

“Maybe.”

“So let me take the lead. Let me be responsible for what happens between us...”

Jennifer felt the pressure getting heavier inside her chest. The tension was dangerously rising and she felt being pushed toward the edge. She bit her lips and turned around, unable to sustain Enzo’s burning eyes.

He didn’t let her escape that easily though, and walked around her to face her again. “Listen to me,” he said, holding her shoulders and slightly leaning forward. “I don’t want to force you to do anything you don’t
really
want to do. Tell me to get lost if that’s what you really want. Do it!”

She said nothing. She stared at her feet, her knees wobbling, her shoulders heaving up and down, and her heart screaming. She couldn’t accept his invitation to go further; but she couldn’t let him go either. She was trapped, tangled in a web of contradicting and conflicting feelings. Guilt, loyalty, commitment, lust, desire, temptation... everything swirled in her heart and she felt dizzy, as if the ground was crumbling under her feet.

The rational Jennifer was screaming: tell him to get lost!

But the lonely and sensitive Jennifer was begging: don’t let happiness slip between your fingers... it might be what you’ve always been looking for. An escape!

An escape. Jennifer thought about it for a second. It was true. She had been through so much since she’d started dating Bruce. Everything had revolved around him, his life, his past, his trauma, his business and now his financial recovery.

But what about... her?

What about what she wanted? What about her needs? Her dreams? Her hopes? Her time? Her... sexual impulses and her attraction to Enzo?

She deserved to be happy, to feel free and to do things for her own well-being. She was tired of always trying to fix things in other people’s lives. It was time to let the emancipated Jennifer express herself.

She took a deep breath and slowly raised her head. Enzo was looking at her with his deep stare. Their eyes locked for several minutes. They both kept silent, probing each other’s soul when she finally grabbed his hand.

“Okay,” she said. “Show me. Show me how to be happy...”

To Be Continued

Jennifer is at a turning point: Bruce is more and more distant, and Enzo is winning her heart. Will she make the right decision? Or make the biggest mistake of her life?

The answers are in the Dark Billionaire #6.

Note:
you can read about playboy/bad boy trader Enzo Fancelli and the glamorous Victoria De Lissieu in
The Kiss of the Don
. These two have their own story and if you like sexy stories between strong characters, you won’t be disappointed. Keep reading to find out more.