Romance: Abducted for love ( Bad Boy BBW BWWM Romance) (16 page)

“What is it?” Maria asked, snuggling closer to him.

“It’s nothing,” he answered, kissing the top of her head.

“For the best lawyer in America,” she raised an eyebrow. “That wasn’t a very good lie.”

Daniel smiled down at her.

“Not my best work,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t matter.”

“Just tell me,” Maria pressed, and Daniel smiled, looking into her eyes.

“There’s just something different with you,” he said, gently running his fingertips over her face.

“I feel it too,” Maria admitted, her voice softer.

“I think I love you,” Daniel said, and Maria knew the words should terrify her, or unnerve her at least, but they did not. Instead, they resounded with her.

“I think I love you, too” Maria admitted, and Daniel smiled. “It’s too bad it will never work.”

“Never work?” Daniel frowned. “Why not?”

“You know,” she leaned up on her elbow. “The firm, the policy.”

Daniel scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“I’m serious,” Maria sighed. “You have power and prestige, but me? I’m just a recruit. If anyone finds out I’m in breach of the policy, I’m done. And once Elliot and Saunders has dismissed me, what firm in their right mind will have me?”

“I see what you mean,” Daniel said, and his jaw worked as he thought. “But what if the policy wasn’t in place? Then, what about you and me?”

Maria thought. She really did feel a connection with Daniel. He was smart, thoughtful, and had a rich history, and interests that were similar to hers. She really did feel like they had the potential to make it as a couple, if given the time to grow. At the end of the day, though, the policy was in place, and Maria did not want to kid herself.

“It doesn’t matter,” Maria sighed, shaking her head.

“Listen, what about this,” he said, holding up a finger. “I will move to displace the policy. It’s archaic, and people break the rule all the time anyway. We’ll still be the top firm in the country if our lawyers are sleeping with one another. This will take some time, but we could use that time to get to know each other. And, if all goes well, by the time the policy gets passed… I would like to ask you to marry me.”

Maria was somewhat shocked at his straightforwardness.

“I know it’s assuming a lot,” Daniel held up a hand in defense. “But I’ve been around the block a few times. I never married because I never hit it off with anyone the way I did with you. I felt a connection the first time you walked into my office. And now you’re here, and that doesn’t mean nothing.”

Maria chewed at her lip as her mind sorted through his logic.

“I know what I want,” Daniel gently cupped her face, making her look at him. “But I understand you may need some time.”

Maria nodded. This was all going way too fast. At the same time though, she felt the same way Daniel said he felt. Who knew where their relationship could end up if they kept this up?

“If our relationship grows…” Maria said hesitantly. “I may well agree to marry you. But if this policy isn’t removed…”

“If the policy isn’t removed,” Daniel stopped her. “I will leave, and start my own firm, where you will be welcome to join. And then, I will marry you. If you’ll have me.”

Maria blinked. He was determined, and she couldn’t help but be pulled to agree.

“Well?” he asked, his eyes hopeful.

“If all goes well, and we still feel this way after spending some time together…” Maria said slowly. “I will marry you.”

Daniel smiled, and placed a kiss on her face.

“I know we can’t be open about this for now,” Daniel said sadly, running his hand through her dark hair. “But I want you to know, that from now until you’ll no longer have me, I am entirely devoted you, Maria.”

“And I to you,” Maria said softly, placing a kiss on his lips.

Daniel smiled and pulled her closer, tucking her head under his chin. He reached over to the nightstand and turned off the lamp.

“Goodnight Maria,” he whispered.

“Goodnight Daniel,” she whispered, and wrapped her leg over his.

As she drifted to sleep, Maria couldn’t help but feel like she had just been through a whirlwind. This was a situation she had never imagined for herself, and yet now that she in it, she never felt more content. She knew that she needed to give the relationship time, and she would have to think about a lot of things before actually agreeing to marry him. Maria found herself hoping, though…that everything panned out so that she could spend every night like this, wrapped safely in the arms of the man she loved.

*****

THE END

BONUS STORY 3 ON NEXT PAGE

3. Rescued by a Billionaire

BWWM Billionaire Romance

The function hall bubbled with highly trained personnel, each of them with their own area of expertise. Ronny Goldberg was a grade A shooter. It was rumored that he could shoot any target with any firearm. As long as he had a gun in his hand and a trigger behind his finger, he was a force to be reckoned with.

This skill had served him well in the Special Operations. He was often called upon to fulfill dangerous missions, which often included goals that some might consider impossible. Nevertheless, he always came back successful, one way or another. This track record lent itself to his cocky, playboy attitude. As he walked around the banquet, celebrating the feats of the squad, he made sure to visit any and all females to give them a little Goldberg charm.

Most women found it endearing, especially since Ronny was a fine piece of eye candy. No one could really complain when he flashed a pearly white smile. Women often found themselves staring at him, getting lost in his pale blue eyes that knew exactly how to captivate an audience. Girls would be trapped under his gaze as he pulled his muscular body closer and closer until they were up against the wall and his warm breath caressing their necks.

His roguish charm was good enough to work on just about anyone. Or so he thought. As he looked around the banquet, looking for his next catch, his eyes fell on a beautiful African American woman, sitting alone at one of the far end tables.

She wore a stunning, midnight blue gown. She sipped her drink as she looked wholly uninterested in the entire affair. While everyone else was socializing and having their fill of free booze, she just sat there with a serious look on her face. Ronny studied her for a moment, trying to decipher her from afar. If she was at this event, then she must be working with the special ops, but he couldn’t tell for sure.

Intrigued, he made his way over to her, enjoying her good looks. Her skin was a perfect shade of chocolate. Her lips were pouty, jutting out just enough to make him want to kiss them. They reminded him of a delicate pink rose and he wondered if they would ever dance against his, like a flower in the wind. Her eyes, although gleaned over with a bored look, bore an untold amount of intelligence and mystery inside their depths that made Ronny yearn for her even more.

Finally, he reached her table, sitting down on the empty seat beside her. Reaching out a hand, he introduced himself with a dazzling smile, a dimple appearing on his left cheek. “I’m Ronny. You must be an angel right?” He asked, a smirk replacing his smile as he paid her the compliment, however cheesy.

“I think you are mistaken,” she said seriously, straightening herself out and placing her hands on her knees, before leaning forward. Her long, straight hair fell over her chest, nearly reaching her waist as her face got closer and closer to his. Ronny couldn’t help but look down ever so slightly, at the revealing cut of her dress. She had the best pair of breasts he had seen all day.

Confidently, she placed a well-manicured finger under his chin before pulling his face up, prying his gaze away from her cleavage. There was a serious look on her face as she looked at the man, something of disdain painted on her expression as she scanned his flawless skin. She had seen men like this before. People who thought they owned the world and believed they could charm anyone with a smile.

“Hmm?” Ronny finally answered as he looked into her eyes.

“I don’t think your name is Ronny at all. I think it is Arrogant, or Ego, or maybe even Conceited, Pompous, Presumptuous, Proud, Immodest… Shall I continue playboy?” The spew of insults flowed from her lips with ease, as she got up and walked away from the man. Ronny sat there thunderstruck. Had she just rejected him?

Never before had a woman walked away from him.  He felt betrayed by his own self-estimation.  No, this couldn’t be happening. There had to be some sort of a misunderstanding. He quickly got up and rushed after her, grabbing her arm. She acted quickly, turning around and pushing him away with one well-aimed kick. He fell back into a nearby dessert table, crushing it with the weight of his body.

He gawked up at her, getting a quick view up her skirt, before she moved forward, her high heels on either side of him. They were impossibly tall, at least five inches, keeping her calves constantly tense. “Don’t you ever touch me,” she growled as she squatted down, hovering over his body.  Everyone in the room was staring at them by this point, but Savanna did not care.

“What the hell did I do to you?” Ronny asked quickly. He couldn’t understand why this woman was acting this way. Had he done something to offend her?

“I don’t need men like you in my life, who think they can woo me with a smile. When you get serious and start respecting women enough not to drool all over them, give me a call.” Savanna’s voice was harsh as she whispered into Ronny’s ear. With that, she got up and walked away, her heels clicking against the floor.

Ronny watched her go in a daze.  What had just happened? Had he just gotten his butt kicked by a girl? Despite the humiliation he felt as he got up and brushed himself off, he was enraptured by the mysterious woman. She was a challenge and he liked that.

“You alright?” Someone asked. Ronny nodded, dismissing them with a wave of his hand as he made his way outside, hoping to catch her before she left. But of course, when he stepped out, she was already gone.

***

Ronny wasn’t able to find her. He wasn’t even able to stalk her out on the internet. She definitely knew how to keep herself off the grid. Ronny wondered what her job in the special ops was. She obviously had some sort of training and a smooth mouth. He was dying to know more about her, but nothing he did gave him any answers.

He tried to forget the whole ordeal as he made his way to work. As he entered headquarters in his lavish suit, he looked haphazard but that was normal for him. His hair was in a state of disarray, the top buttons of his dress shirt undone and his tie hung over his shoulders.  “Why must you always look like a slob?” A large man suddenly slapped Ronny on the back.

He looked up to see his good friend, Jamie, walking with him as they made their way to the break room to get themselves their first cup of coffee. “You know it is my trademark.” Ronny grinned as he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Right, right… but I heard you got burned last night at the banquet.” Jamie commented as they entered the break room. It was empty, affording them some privacy. Ronny’s cheeks turned red as he was forced to remember the previous evening. He still couldn’t believe what had transpired. “Rumor is, she kicked your butt.” Jamie chuckled at his friend’s plight.

“She did not.” Ronny huffed as he started to pour copious amounts of sugar in his coffee. At some point, he should start saying he’s having sugar with coffee, not the other way around.

“You are going to rot your teeth like that.” Jamie chided as he took his coffee black. Taking a sip, he sat down on one of the chairs, about to say something when the door swung open.

“Ah, Goldberg, I was hoping I would see you here.” The commanding officer of operations, Gerald Thompson, stuck his head into the break room, locking his eyes on Ronny.  Sighing, Ronny grabbed a lid for his coffee cup and followed his boss.

“What is this about? Do I have a new assignment already?”

“As a matter of fact, you do.” The man informed him as he rubbed the top of his baldhead, leading them toward the briefing room.

“So what am I doing this time? Who am I taking down?” Ronny asked. He looked disinterested as he sat down in a desk chair, spinning around, nearly spilling the coffee all over his lap.

“Ronny. For once in your life take something seriously.” His boss said. He was annoyed at his special agent. This man was the sharpest sniper in America, but acted like such a child.

“Pfft, has that ever helped me before? I’m a good shot and that’s all that matters.”