The Billionaire Bachelor (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 1) (17 page)

“Reese, God,” she moaned, her hand in his hair, and arched her back. “I’ve wanted you all day.”

“Same.” He unzipped her skirt and shoved it down her legs.

He’d never spent an entire day wanting to see someone. Flashes of her naked, the sound of her tender moans in his ear, had assaulted him during meetings, while on the phone, and while drafting e-mails.

There was a corner of his mind that she occupied, and with her back into his arms tonight, he could build on what he’d learned—give her more of what she’d enjoyed the most.

And try a few new things.

He dropped to his knees and stripped her panties next, holding his breath for the sight that was about to be his. Soft folds, completely bare save for a neatly trimmed patch of hair hiding those luscious lips between her thighs. He put his face there now and slicked his tongue inside. She fisted his hair and tugged, eliciting a sharp shout of satisfaction.

“No, not out here,” she said.

Yes, here. His hallway. His house. His wife.

He didn’t argue, but delivered blow after blow. Lick after lick. And when he found her clit, he sucked, to see what her reaction would be. She arched her back and pulled his hair, and he decided he’d make her come, right here against the wall.

He explored her with a finger, then two, stroking in time as he savored her with his tongue. She tasted heavenly—the kind of taste you sample and never, ever forget.

“Please, oh please,” she panted now, begging for release. Thrusting against his face, with one hand on the wall for leverage and the other on the back of his head as she guided him.

Greedy. Demanding.

He couldn’t get enough.

Slipping his fingers into her warm wetness again, he stroked her clit slowly.

“Come, beautiful,” he instructed. He sped up his strokes, repeating the smooth, slick motion until he watched her eyes pinch closed. Then he lowered his mouth to her again and on contact, her thighs locked.

Her shouts of ecstasy would have brought the entire house staff running had they been on the clock. Those shouts turned to whimpers as her tightened thigh muscles grew useless. She collapsed against the wall and began to slide.

Reese didn’t let her fall.

He stood, scooped her into his arms, and smiled down at the woman now holding on to his neck. Hooded eyes brimmed with satisfaction. Her smile was foxy and slightly embarrassed.

“I suppose you’re proud of yourself,” she grumbled as he carried her to the bedroom.

“Damn straight,” he said, then deposited her on the bed.

Naked, sated. Goddamn beautiful. And for tonight. His.

All his.

“No wonder the girls want you to call them back,” Merina said half to herself as she lay on the bed. Realizing Reese heard her, and that her comment was as nakedly honest as she was, she attempted to cover by adding, “Dinner was nice. What I ate of it, anyway.”

“Hmm.” He sent a gaze down her body and up. Chills rose on her skin in response. “I don’t know about dinner but dessert was five-star.”

When he reached for his tie, her breath snagged. His hand halted over the knot. “What is with you and getting me out of this tie?”

Merina pushed to her knees and tugged the length of striped silk, bringing his face to hers. “I like when you come undone, Crane.”

“Control freak.” His warm breath tickled her lips and she smothered his words with her mouth. He cupped her breasts, not the least bit shy about touching her. She made quick work of his tie, untucked his shirt, and shoved his hands away in the race to undo his belt.

“Turnabout is fair play,” she breathed, her hands shakily unzipping his pants. When she’d leaned over the table at dinner to whisper into his ear, she’d had one thing in mind.

Tasting him.

“I didn’t expect…” Whatever he’d been about to say was lost in a long, deep sigh when Merina closed her mouth over his bare cock. He was hard and getting harder under her attention, and he tasted heady and spicy.

One warm palm tracked down her back while she worked, stroking a sensual line over her spine, closing over her bottom and then up again. His movements slowed hers, taking her from racing to savoring, and rather than be in a hurry, she enjoyed every second.

When the fingers of his other hand speared her hair, it wasn’t to hold her mouth in place, but to gently touch the underside of her jaw, massage her scalp, and issue words of praise that tangled around her heart.

“Merina.” His voice broke on her name.

When he was close, he spoke her name again, gently pulling from her mouth. She allowed him to slip away, sitting up on her knees and cupping his backside—almost as steely as his front side.

And because she hadn’t had enough of feeling how hard he was everywhere, she let go of his ass and trailed her hands beneath the shirt hanging loosely from his shoulders. Rocky abs and concrete chest and rounded, thick shoulders. She pushed his shirt off his arms, running her hands over his warm muscles.

“I like you like this,” she told him. “Take your pants off.” She sat back on her heels and watched as he stomped out of his pants and discarded his shoes and socks.

He lowered over her and she pushed on his chest, forcing him to his back. “Oh no you don’t.”

“You want control tonight, Merina?” He cupped her hips in his large hands, making her want to take back those words, but then she remembered that most of her fantasies had included her on top, so the answer was yes.

She wanted control tonight.

Sliding one leg over his, she pushed her breasts out as she straddled him. When he raised his hand to touch her, it was to draw a line over her tattoo. His eyes locked on hers, filled to the brim with heat, and he lifted his head slightly off the pillow. She kissed him, a soft sigh tickling her throat as his hands moved to her breasts.

Reese took control from her, sliding his tongue along hers and slowing the pace. He turned her inside out with each thick, delicious, drugging kiss, and she found her hold loosening. Her body softening. Her mind melting.

Before she knew what happened, the world was rotating and she was on her back again. When she opened her eyes, Reese was rolling on a condom. Before she could complain that this was
not
his show to run, he was between her thighs and sliding home in one strong stroke.

Slow.

Then out again even slower.

“Yes.” Holding on to him, Merina uttered the name she’d avoided using as much as possible. “Reese.”

Reese returned from disposing of the condom and collapsed facedown next to Merina, who was lying on her back, arm over her eyes. She hummed and he heard the smile there. Then he lifted his head and saw it too. Propped on his arms, he leaned over and kissed the corner of that smile.

“You want to compliment me,” he pointed out, “but it goes against your code of ethics. Am I right?”

She lifted her arm and peeked out at him, a smudge of mascara under her eyes. He reached over with his thumb and swiped it away. It took a few gentle tugs, but eventually she was perfect again instead of raccoon-eyed. Although, raccoon-eyed, she was pretty damn perfect too.

“You need a compliment, Crane? Who knew you were so needy?”

“Back to Crane?” She’d called him by his name a moment ago, and not just once. He liked hearing his first name roll off her lips, especially since she snapped at him by using his last name so often. “I don’t need a compliment,” he said honestly. “I know how good I am in bed.”

“Whatever.” She snorted.

“Your mouth lies but your body doesn’t, Merina.”

Something fragile flickered in her eyes. Not hurt or anger, but vulnerability. It caused an answering thud in his chest and a simultaneous wave of panic.

When they’d agreed to marry for show, he didn’t expect to have sex with her, and he’d bet his fortune she wasn’t planning on having sex with him. That mystery unearthed, they were now stuck in the light with each other.

“You like sex,” he said. He was learning about her, having slept with her more than once. The prospect of sleeping with her again made him want to know more. What made her tick? What did she like done to her? What did she like to do?

“Who doesn’t?” She rolled to face him, goose bumps puckering her arms. He maneuvered off the comforter and tossed it over her. He stroked her blanket-covered arm, warming her from the room’s chilly air.

“Plenty of women think they like sex,” he answered, “but they’re timid about asking for what they want. Hell, you don’t even ask. You take it.”

“You’re referring to the blow job, I presume.” Her cheekbones dashed with color. Not used to talking dirty, he’d bet. Another intriguing fact about her he catalogued for later. “I’m sure you’ve had plenty of those.”

Belatedly, he realized his “plenty of women” comment had alluded to the women he’d slept with. Not the best topic to bring up in bed. “I won’t talk about the women I’ve been with in the past.”

“Like I’m jealous of those ridiculous women?”

“Ridiculous?” He felt his eyebrows lift.

“Silly. Vapid. Take your pick of adjectives.”

“Some of the women I dated have been decent,” he said in his own defense. “Kind, intelligent, and not at all interested in what I could give them.”

“I guess I sort of fit into that category now…” She winced.

“That’s different. We had a business agreement for the hotel, for CEO. This…” He again ran a hand over her arm. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”

“No.” Her eyes found his. “I guess not.”

“I’m not going to use it against you. You know that, don’t you?” He’d asked because he wasn’t sure she’d ever been able to give of herself freely without someone taking advantage.

His thought paired with a stab of regret. He’d done exactly that.

“I know.” Her voice was tiny, and she wouldn’t look at him. She wasn’t sure, but he was. She could trust him not to hold this over her head when things ended.

I’ll miss it, though,
came the wayward thought. A thought he shooed away with a subject change.

“Let’s talk about this, then.” He pulled the blanket away and kissed the arrow inked over her breast. “I should know what this means.”

“Oh, should you?” Feisty. Just the way he liked her.

“Given the amount of times I plan on kissing it and admiring it while we’re together, I should know what it means. Then I can concentrate on your pleasure rather than spending precious brain cells guessing.”

“You’re good.” Her laugh washed over him, making him smile.

“Thank you.”

“It’s…nothing. Something I wanted when I was younger.”

“What are you hiding?” He’d been trying to tease another laugh from her but the question made her guard go up.

“I think we should talk less.” She lifted the blanket and wrapped her hand around his cock, stroking him from base to tip.

His arm lashed around her, moving her closer. She stroked again, this time running her thumb over the head, which felt so much like her tongue, his body bucked.

“Why, yes,” she purred. “I believe part of you is ready.” With a wicked smile, she threw the blanket off and went down on him without an ounce of warning.

Unable to resist, his hips thrust forward. She cupped his balls and held his length, popping him out of her mouth and licking. Then she lifted her eyes to meet his briefly before taking him into her mouth again. Reese grasped the sheets, tearing them from the corners and knocking pillows to the ground. Every nerve ending in his body shot off like fireworks.

There was too much pleasure to contain. Merina’s mouth was hot and wet, and she knew exactly how much pressure to put on his balls. She knew how hard to suck him, gently jerking him off at the end while her tongue swirled the tip.

He lost his ability to hold on to control, bucking off the bed. She tore his orgasm from him. His hand fisted in her hair, he pumped into her mouth. She swallowed every drop, licking him from base to tip when he collapsed to his back.

His muscles gradually loosened, his world a series of hazy sensations. Blackness covered him, or maybe that was the blanket. A featherlight kiss landed on his lips.

“Your tattoo,” he mouthed, unsure where the unhinged thought had come from. At the end of the most amazing sex of his life, he realized he’d been manipulated. She hadn’t wanted to answer him and distracted him in the most effective way possible.

Clever girl.

The only answer that came was a
click
as the light shut off. For the first time in years, he slipped into a slumber that wasn’t alcohol- or exhaustion-induced.

S
hit.” Reese yanked the knot out of the bow tie and started over.

“You’re on edge tonight.” Merina appeared behind him in the doorway of his closet, balancing on one foot to pull on her other silver high heel. Her gown was blue and sparkly and short enough to display succulent thighs that made his mouth water.

“You’re in danger of being stripped bare.” Bow tie forgotten, he went to her, scooping her close and kissing her. A line had been crossed. One where he grabbed her up without hesitation, and one where she came to him, no questions asked.

“How the hell do you tie one of these things?” Her hands went to the tie and she frowned, perplexed.

“Very carefully.” He let go and resumed his battle with the strip of silk while Merina went to the mirror to straighten her skirt. Of all things, he thought back to Tag’s words of warning. Because life with Merina was suddenly very cozy. Once they divorced, he’d miss not only the sex, but the relaxing moments that followed. He didn’t anticipate this type of casual banter once he resumed his casual dating status.

At that thought, he nearly recoiled. Casual dating had never sounded so…off-putting. He wouldn’t do it right away, of course. He’d have to have a cooling period. And figure out a way to settle for less, considering sex had never been this good before Merina.

Whoa.

Probably that was his cock talking. It bobbed in the direction of the woman unknowingly torturing him in a very short dress.

“Easy, fella,” he murmured, succeeding at the knot and straightening the bow tie at his throat. “We can’t let her lead us around like that.”

“Hmm?” Merina said. “Did you say something?”

He left the closet, snagging his jacket on the way out. “Yeah. I said, beware the board. They have sharp, pointy teeth.” He made the two-fingered gesture and Merina rolled her eyes.

“Monty Python? Really?” She lifted a silver clutch off the bed and swayed out of the room. Like a puppy, Reese followed, mentally high-fiving himself because she knew Monty Python.

Okay, this was beyond nerve-wracking. Merina had been confident about the retirement dinner and her ability to look as if she belonged on Reese’s arm. Then she arrived and nearly every pair of eyes in the room zoomed in on them. She hadn’t anticipated this much attention. Not at a private function.

Now, she worried the entire room could see the sexual satisfaction painted on both their faces. As great as last night was, how were they not supposed to wake up and partake this morning? She’d stepped out of the shower, only to find Reese stalk in naked and ready. He’d pushed her back in, pressed her against the shower wall, and entered her again and again.

And when he’d kissed her while he was getting ready tonight, she could have easily gone for one more round. Hair and makeup be damned. If they weren’t already cutting it close, she may have taken him then and there.

The rigid businessman she’d seen before she moved in with him—the same man everyone else saw—wasn’t nearly so rigid or unyielding when they were alone together. It made her want to spend more time with him—both in bed and out.

Reese’s warm palm splayed over her dress and she was glad the dress had a back. She’d been charged with acting like she was madly in love with him, and she’d rather not everyone see the very real goose bumps he brought to the surface of her skin. Or the way her eyes fluttered closed when he kissed her neck. Sex had muddied what they had together, which she’d have to sort out when it came time to end things. For now, she’d use it to her advantage.

“Merina, I’d like you meet a few members of the board. I don’t believe you’ve had the honor yet,” Reese said in front of a group of men, one eyebrow raised, communicating,
Don’t you love how full of shit I am?

She offered a bland smile to say,
Impressive how full of it you are yet still smell like heaven.

She shook hands with one of the older men, feeling on display for his approval when he swept assessing eyes over her dress, then to Reese. She didn’t want to sell it too hard, so she wasn’t plastered to her husband, yet she didn’t want to merely drape her hand over his forearm because that seemed too formal.

While they watched with hawklike eyes, she turned and lifted her fingers to Reese’s hair and stroked a lock of it away from his forehead. He looked down at her, a flicker of awareness in his dark blue eyes.

“There. Now you’re perfect.” The air between them snapped, a palpable charge. Her smile shaky, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek, her voice going to a low murmur to say, “I only like you rumpled in one place, Crane.”

Reese didn’t let her sink to her heels immediately, cupping her waist and lowering his head to steal another kiss. “Thanks, baby,” he muttered against her parted lips.

He released her and Merina’s heart pattered. Endearments weren’t Reese’s style. As she recalled, he’d never once called her “sweetheart” or “honey” or “baby.”

She liked it way more than she should.

Like,
a lot
.

“Better leave these two alone.” One of the board members shoved his glass of scotch against another man’s arm. “Come, Barnes, a refill is in order.”

“And they’re off,” she said when the men shuffled away.

“How are you holding up? Only three or four more hours to go,” Reese said. “Champagne?”

“White wine is safer. Makes me less giggly.”

“You? Giggly? That I’ve got to see.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and Merina leaned into him. A moment later, his hand stiffened against her back. In fact, all of him went rigid. Arms, legs, head, neck. Merina searched the room, her eyes landing on a petite woman with strawberry-blond hair. Freckles dotted her tanned skin, and lips that looked as if they’d had some cosmetic plumping smiled as she sauntered in their direction. Merina heard a word come from Reese’s mouth she was pretty sure was profanity but couldn’t quite make it out.

“Reese,” the woman said, her plastic smile glued on. Her eyes—green—flicked to Merina before fixing on him again. “It’s been ages.”

“What are you doing here?” Reese asked, doing a terrible job of being courteous.

“Hayes is here too. You know we wouldn’t miss the chance to wish Alex well on his big day.” The animosity hung thick in the air. This redhead knew exactly what she was doing.

In Reese’s defense, Merina’s back went up.

“Merina Crane.” Rather than offer a hand, she held her clutch in both hands. “And you are?”

“Gwyneth. Sutton. Well, formerly Sutton, now Lerner.”

Gwyneth Sutton Lerner rang zero bells. Clearly this woman and Reese had a history. And she refused to let Gwyneth think that Merina was in the dark.

“My apologies for not recognizing you.” Merina slid a gaze down the woman’s lithe figure and back up to see Gwyneth’s mouth slide into a sneer. “Excuse us, we were just visiting the bar.”

Merina steered toward a wine cart, Reese’s arm under her hand as rigid as rebar.

“Care to share?” she asked as they strolled. Well, she strolled; Reese marched since he was too tense to stroll.

“No,” he answered.

“Well, if I’m going to help you out here, you need to give me something.”

“I said no, Merina.”

The air between them had gone from sizzling to frigid—like someone had opened the door on an industrial-sized freezer. Merina doubted the freak ice storm had been caused by a one-night stand gone wrong. No, this Gwyneth woman had been
more
. A thought that didn’t sit well with Merina at all.

Reese shifted away from her and ordered a glass of wine, delivering it instantly. “I’m going to grab a scotch.” He dipped his head at the other bar across the room where spirits were lined. Before she could protest, Reese walked away.

In full view of the board, what else could she do but sip and smile and pretend her husband wasn’t hiding something from her? And that was what bothered her the most. She’d never seen Reese hurt. Given his reaction—closing down when hurt crept in was his defense mechanism.

Across the room, Gwyneth locked arms with a bulky blond guy, his hair sharply cut, his facial features severe. He wasn’t unattractive, but his choice of arm candy made Merina dislike him instantly. Yes, there was a story there, and she intended to find out what it was. But for the moment, she was forced to mingle.

Reese hadn’t given her much choice.

Pull it together, Crane.

Reese, fists balled at his sides, stalked across the Crane Hotel ballroom. Not so much for whiskey but to escape his ex-girlfriend, who had ambushed his father’s retirement party. It’d been years since he’d seen her, since he’d punched Hayes in the face and demanded that Alex fire him.

It was the act of a desperate man. A younger man. A less in-control man. But Reese didn’t care how unfair it’d been to take Hayes’s job away from him. Reese’s former best friend took his girlfriend, so it seemed only fair. After years of not seeing either one of them, finding himself faced with one was enough. Hearing that the other one was around the corner was too much.

This was the problem with the unexpected. Reese
thought
he knew what to expect tonight. He knew his efforts and energy would be focused on Merina and the board and making sure his marriage appeared legit. Now he needed to regroup. It was obvious Merina knew something was up, but he wasn’t anywhere near ready to give her the short version.

“Scotch neat,” he ordered. “Actually, make it a double.”

The woman behind the bar poured what could be considered a triple. Reese jammed cash into the tip jar—could’ve been a five or a fifty, he had no idea—then lifted the scotch to his lips.

Before he took a drink, Tag appeared in front of him, grabbed the glass, and set it on the bar. “Hi.”

“Do you want to die?” Reese asked under his breath. The bartender cleared her throat and gave them some privacy. One of the benefits to being a Crane was that the staff tended to respect them.

“Do this.” An easy grin appeared on Tag’s face. “You want to look as if you don’t want to kill me since people are looking.”

“I don’t give a shit who’s looking.”

“I can see that.” Tag deposited the glass behind the bar and pointed across the room. “Over there is better. For a lot of reasons.”

He turned to walk away and Reese followed. Tag kept up conversation, talking about absolutely nothing as they cut through the crowd, pausing to say hello to a few people Reese hadn’t greeted yet. Once they were at a bar lined with taps, Tag ordered a few beers. From this part of the room, they could see the crowd, and no one was close enough to overhear.

“Let’s talk about why you abandoned your gorgeous new wife after she met your despicable ex-girlfriend.” Tag took a drink of his beer, filling his cheeks with the brew before he swallowed.

“Merina has questions I can’t answer right now.” Questions like who was Gwyneth to him, how long did they date, and what about her presence turned Reese into an overly starched shirt?

“And you think walking away is going keep her from asking? If anything, you’re making it worse. Merina knows Gwyneth has something on you, or was something to you. She’s going to want answers.” Tag lost his easy grin.

“You forget I have things under control.”

“You forget I know a hell of a lot more about women than you do. Your wife is by herself after you introduced her to your ex-girlfriend.” Tag spoke purposefully, making sure Reese heard every syllable. “I’m not the only one noticing, Reese.”

He glanced around the room. Merina was alone, drinking her wine and trying to look casual. Board members were dotted throughout the party, the one female board member standing in a huddle of other women whispering. Was she talking about Merina?

“I suggest you sweep Merina in your arms and start dancing. Better yet, take her into one of the side rooms and have sex with her up against a wall.”

Reese’s eyes snapped back to his brother.

“Thought that’d grab your attention.” Tag gave him a brief smile. “Anything is better than everyone witnessing you nursing your wounds after Gwyneth dive-bombed you.”

“Can’t we tell her to leave?” Reese growled.

“No, you cannot.” This came from their father. The man of the hour was wearing an all-black tuxedo, tuxedo shirt, and bow tie. The stark contrast against his white beard and white hair made him look that much more regal. “I saw her, son. And Hayes. They are not here to cause trouble.”

“Bullshit,” Reese said, turning to face his old man. He wouldn’t censor himself when it came to Hayes and Gwyneth. His father may have seen it as post–high school drama, but Reese knew better. It was the only time he’d ever been in love, had ever seen his future hovering ahead of him. The only time he saw potential for a family of his own. Marriage. A home. And then all of it was gone. In the blink of an eye.

Just like Mom.

“All due respect,” Reese told his father, “you don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to them and you never did.”

Alex’s cheeks mottled in anger.

“Reese.” Tag’s voice was a gentle reprimand. “Dad.”

Alex’s attention snapped from Reese to Tag.

“Eyes all around,” Tag muttered.

“I’m sick of the show,” Reese said. He’d prefer to drown his fury in scotch and crack the empty bottle over Hayes’s head. The asshole.

“You need to say hello to him, Reese. Tag is right. People are watching,” Alex said. He didn’t smile, but his face relaxed as if he was having a cordial conversation with his sons and nothing more. “Grow up.”

Reese ground his molars together.

“Watch him.” Alex told Tag, then strolled into the party, arms up to receive more congratulations.

“Breathe, Reese.”

“Fuck off, Tag.” Reese turned on his heel and went to the other bar, where the female bartender was about to empty his abandoned scotch down the drain. He snatched the glass from her and drank it down in three burning swallows. “Refill that, will you?”

At the same time, a cool hand slid over his tuxedo jacket. He turned his head to find a freckled hand resting on his forearm, a very big diamond ring on her finger.