At the Billionaire's Pleasure 3: For Love or Lust? (BDSM Billionaire Series)

Opening my eyes I stared at my strange surroundings? Where the hell was I? Memories flooded back to me slowly, of the night before. The club and the beautiful red head. Richard and what he had done. And of course David. The way he had saved me. He had told Richard that he thought I was beautiful, that I belonged to him...

Carefully I turned in the bed but there was no sign of David. Infact it looked as though he had never come back to bed. A pang of sadness washed over me. Although this would make it easier to just get up and leave. Part of me it seemed had hoped that he would be asleep beside me.

Was I really so stupid and naive? It was sex, nothing more and nothing less. The simple fact that he had mentioned some type of business proposal last night proved that. Pushing back the covers I climbed out of the large bed. The remains of my clothes from the night before lay shredded on the floor.

As quietly as I could I opened his closet and rifled through it for something I could wear in order to return to my own apartment. The only thing that seemed in the least bit suitable was a large heavy raincoat. I dragged it from the hanger and wrapped it around my plump frame. I knew by looking at his shirts and trouser suits that none of them would fit me. I was curvy and my feminine figure was not something that would be easily restrained by such clothes.

Closing the buttons as quickly as my shaking fingers would allow I fastened the belt around my middle. At least no one would know I was naked underneath. If I got a cab I could be back at my own apartment in no time. It hit me then. I had no shoes. The shoes I had worn the night before were still in my own apartment.

Glancing down at David’s shoes I quickly dismissed them. No this was something I would have to do in my feet.

Making my way to the bedroom door I opened it and peeked outside. The room beyond appeared empty. It was my only chance. Without hesitation I dashed across the wide expanse of the lush room.

“What is it with you and always trying to sneak away?” The sound of his commanding voice halted me in my tracks. Fear trembled down my spine. Would he be mad that I had stolen his coat?

“Carrie, what are you wearing?” His voice had dropped several octaves as I turned to face him. Something simmered beneath the surface of his blue eyes. He was still wearing the robe from the night before and his hair was tousled. Clearly he had slept somewhere but it wasn’t with me.

“I-I borrowed your coat. I told you last night I have no clothes here...”

“So you thought you’d what? Slip away without me noticing? Did you not enjoy last night?” The tone of his voice changed. It sounded to my inexperienced ears as though insecurity had slipped into his voice. But that was impossible. David Ashcroft had nothing to be insecure about when it came to me. Here was a man who could have any woman he desired
.

“Last night was...” I stuttered unsure of what words could adequately describe what had happened. What we had shared had changed me. He made me feel special, desired, and beautiful. No other man had ever come remotely close to making me feel that. But it was wrong. He was my boss. What would happen once he grew bored of me? How could I possibly work with him when I felt...

The word almost popped into my head but I squashed it down. I didn’t love him. That was impossible. Lust perhaps. Infact lust was entirely plausible. The man was a walking advertisement for sex and debauchery. Knowing the pleasure he could give me, in his presence he made me want to strip off the coat and beg him to take me.

You could do that, chalk it up to one final fling with him before you walk away.
The little voice of temptation urged me on. Of course I could do it. But if I was honest with myself I didn’t have the guts. Deliberately stripping in front of a man like David, in front of any man, was beyond my capabilities. What if he rejected me? The intelligent part of my brain knew this was improbable. He had already seen me naked. He had been the one to cut my clothes off me. He had told me he wanted me naked. He wanted access to my body.

But the stupid insecure side of my head won as it always did. He would see how desperate I was, he would find me repulsive.

“Carrie, what happens to you? I watch you disappear off into your head. Your face fills with doubt. Is it something I’ve done?”

There it was again that note of insecurity. Was I imagining it?

“Did you enjoy last night?” His voice was stronger now. The commanding tone had returned and I was compelled to answer.

“Yes...” A blush spread across my cheeks.

He took a step closer to me. His masculine scent invaded my head. I wanted to reach out and pull him against my body. As though he read my mind he reached out to me. His hand closing around the end of the belt on his coat that I wore.

“I’ve never seen this coat look so appealing before...” His voice was husky.

My mouth had gone dry and all my words had fled. I had no defence against this man and I had a feeling the more time I spent in his arms the harder it would be when he pushed me away.

His fingers worked quickly, undoing the belt and opening the buttons. As each one popped open I felt his eyes hungrily devouring every inch of my naked skin.

“Why did you try and leave? Why sneak away?” His voice was threaded with authority. My body shook softly as he pushed the coat open and revealed my exposed flesh.

“I don’t know...”

“Not good enough.” He pinched my nipple hard. The sensitive bud sprang to life. A small sound escaped my lips, a combination of pleasure and pain.

“Now tell me. Why did you try and leave? What are you trying to escape?”

“I-I...” Words failed me. How could I tell him? He wouldn’t understand.

He pressed his body against mine,
manoeuvring
me backwards until my ass hit the kitchen counter. He lifted his hands and carefully cupped my face. His head dipped low. His tongue trailed a path of fire from my neck down to my chest.

He whispered
against my skin. “Why were you running from me? What are you afraid of?”

My eyes were closed and my head thrown back. The feel of his lips and hands on my body was too much. I couldn’t fight him and the words tumbled out of me before I could even think to stop them.

“I’m afraid of getting hurt.”

The words hung between us. David froze. His breath the only indication that he was still there, that he was alive. He pulled away from me. The look in his blue eyes made me cringe.

“You’re afraid of me? Afraid I’ll hurt you?”

“Yes.” I met his gaze with a searching one of my own.

“Carrie, I thought you were enjoying what we had? What we shared?”

His words stung. Although I knew that for him this was little more than sex; I was rapidly starting to realise for me it was a little more.

“I do. I mean I am... But...”

“But what?”

He moved away from me and pushed his hand back through his hair. He puffed out his cheeks and exhaled heavily.

“I’ve never done this sort of thing before. Its always been more than just sex.”

“So you’re telling me that you and Richard was more than just sex? It might have been more than that for you but for him it was definitely all about what he could get from you.”

I slowly began to close up the coat I was wearing. My stupid brain had once more gotten in the way. I could have had David. He made me feel special and beautiful and I could have had it for as long as I wanted. But no, I had to over think everything. I swallowed back my tears and pushed the hurt deep down inside myself. I wasn’t going to let him see how much it hurt.

“Where are you going?” He growled at me. The words trickling from between his lips. I could feel the anger rolling from his body in waves. “Carrie, I want you. I’ve already told you that. Why is that so hard for you to believe? I WANT YOU.”

He spoke the words loudly placing emphasis on each letter as though I was a child who couldn’t understand what he was saying. He moved back towards me and wrapped me in his arms. His hands slid inside the coat slowly, pressing in against my skin and dragging me in tight against his body.

When he kissed me, a frisson of desire passed between us. It surprised me and I moaned softly, my mouth opening to him. He nibbled along my lips before tangling his tongue with mine. I melted against him, my body limp in his arms.

I broke the kiss. My arms pushing against his chest.
The little voice of reason screamed at me. What was I doing? Was I crazy?

David looked at me with a surprised expression. “Carrie?”

“I have to go. I’m sorry I need time to think. After everything that’s happened with Richard and now you. I just need some time to get my head straight.”

David sighed and released me from his grip. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, as though I had just failed some sort of test. But I couldn’t help it. I did need time to think. I needed to get as far away from David as I possibly could and sort things out in my head.

“Fine. But I won’t wait very long for you. If you don’t come back by tomorrow morning then that is it. My offer is off the table.”

“Offer?” Was this the business proposal he had spoken of?

“When you return. If you return then I have a proposition for you. But not until you return. I need you to be sure, Carrie. I don’t want someone who will flake out on me at the last moment or when they’re a little unsure about something. I need someone who wants to be here. Who wants what I can give them. I thought that was you. But we’ll see.” He turned his back on me and moved away.

I had failed some sort of test and now here I was caught up in another one. How did I get myself into these predicaments?

Once more I closed my coat and headed for the door. His voice made me pause.

“
I’ll have my car bring you home.” His voice was cold and he never looked at me as he spoke. It was as though he was mentally withdrawing from me already. I turned and opened the door but he was there first. His hand closing over mine. He wrapped his arms around my body and lifted me from the floor.

“I haven’t forgotten that you have no shoes.” He carried me from his apartment and down to the elevator.

“David.”

He shot me a cold look before I could get the rest of my sentence out. I sealed my lips together and he held me in silence as the lift travelled down. Upon reaching the ground floor I expected to be shamed as people coming in and out of the apartment building saw me in my dishevelled state. But when the doors opened I was relieved to discover we were in the underground
car park
.

David carried me to the car. The engine was already idling and the driver didn’t seem fazed by David carrying me out of the building only hours before he had carried me in. The driver held the door and David slid me in across the seat.

I looked up into his eyes but he was completely shut down. I couldn’t see any flicker of emotion as he fixed the coat around my thighs. I was his secretary once again. No more and no less.

He closed the door and watched as the driver got in behind the wheel.

“I’m going to...”

“I know, ma’am.” The driver cut me off before I could share my address. Colour mounted my cheeks as I sat back against the cold leather. No doubt he thought I was some type of one night stand that David had picked up.

Well isn’t that what you are?
The little voice in my mind piped up. I couldn’t deny it. It was right. I was little more than a one night stand but it was my fault it had gone this way. If I had just kept my mouth shut. If I had crushed my doubts and fears down inside me then this wouldn’t be happening. I could have enjoyed what he was willing to offer me and been happy. For once in my life I could have had what I wanted and been happy. But my stupid insecurities had to get in the way.