Seduced by the American Millionaire (6 page)

Chapter Eight

When she opened the door at seven, the impact of his presence hit her. Two nights without him, and the attraction was mind-blowing. They stared at each other.

"Hi. " She felt almost shy. Why did she feel like that?

"Hi, yourself. I need to put this stuff down. " His hands were full. He had a duffel in one hand and a take out bag in the other. She opened the door wide and he walked through.

"Come back to the kitchen. "

He followed her through to the back of the house. She took the food from him and put it on the counter. He dropped his duffel by the table.

"Come here. " She turned to face him. He held out a hand and she reached out to take it. He didn't waste any time, and pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her.

His arms tightened and Jenny felt him bury his face in her hair. Surprise and pleasure slammed into her as she realized he was breathing in her scent. She stood in his beefy grasp and let him absorb her aroma.

"Did you miss me? " she teased him.

The truth of her words jarred him. The sudden realization of why he had been in a black mood all weekend disturbed him. He had known he resented being away from her because he couldn't have sex with her. It hadn't occurred to him that he missed her. "Mmm. " His answer was noncommittal.

She playfully hit him on the arm. "You so missed me. " She tried to wiggle away from him. His hold was unrelentingly tight. She stilled and attached her gaze to his chest.

"You're not going anywhere yet. " His arms were manacles.

"Why not? "

"Because you haven't given me my 'hello' kiss yet. "

She looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Hello. " Her voice was soft and low.

He looked into her eyes and felt the impact of her spell surround him. He lowered his head and claimed her lips for his own. She felt soft, smooth, and perfect for him. He felt weakened, captivated by her softness.

Shit. He had it bad for her.

That evening, Jenny moved around the house, getting ready for Monday. She washed two loads of laundry, and straightened up her office area. She did some quick filing and a little cleaning. But there was one big difference to her routine. Richard lounged in her living room, watching television, and watching her.

After the hello kiss, Jenny had expected him to pounce on her. He didn't. He just moved away, asked about her weekend with the boys, and started unpacking the food. They ate in the kitchen.

Since then, she was supremely aware of him watching her. He was quiet, and wasn't trying to keep her from her chores. But he was there. He didn't seem to be at ease. He was not paying attention to the television. His eyes followed her. He had an air of tension around him, as if he was trying to restrain himself.

That night, when they went to bed together in her bedroom for the first time, his lovemaking was prolonged, deliberate. He seemed intent on making her wait. Every time she was close, he changed the rhythm, or changed his tactics. He would stop touching her except to hold her face, and kiss her until she was breathless. He was trying to prove something. It was like a contest, and he was going to be the winner.

After the fourth time of bringing her to the cusp of orgasm, and then slowing down, she whispered, "Please. "

"Tell me you want me. " His voice was harsh. His breathing erratic.

"I want you. Please. " She lifted her hips.

"Tell me you need me in you. " He dropped his lips and sucked on her nipple.

"Please. I need you in me. " She continued to push against him.

"Tell me you missed me. " He rasped his teeth over her nipple.

"I missed you, Richard. I missed you so much. " At her words, the dam seemed to break, and he shoved into her body and drove his tongue in her mouth.

She hung in the maelstrom of his passion, and reveled in his possession. She screamed as her climax hit her hard and fast, and felt him take the last few strokes to his completion.

He groaned and fell on top of her. Their breathing slowed and they slept in each other's arms.

The next two days passed in the same undemanding pattern. She would work. He would come pick her up. They would get food and spend the night at his house. He always brought her home in the mornings.

Wednesday afternoon brought thunderstorms and higher winds than usual. Jenny was glad she had already put her hours in at the office, and could finish out her work week inside her home.

A nagging, persistent doubt plagued her all day. The affair she was embroiled in was captivating but disturbing. Her main concern was that she was flat out going to fall in love with someone totally unsuitable.

How did a man expect you to continue to have sex with him on an ongoing basis without falling in love? No words had been spoken about the time limit or any parameters being put on the affair. She was quickly coming to need more. She knew herself well, and knew she couldn't continue this indefinitely without some kind of commitment to the relationship. Relationship? She was even scared to use that word.

She watched the rain falling and debated what she should do. She wanted to test him, to push him in some way, but didn't know how or what to do. She smiled to herself when she realized she was plotting against him. Or was she plotting for him? Did she even want him?

She put the dilemma of his occupation aside for the moment.

Oh my God, yes. She did.

She debated her choices.

Jenny had never had a problem with her feminine side. She believed in equal rights, and equal pay for women, but no way was she a women's libber. She might never admit that out loud, but she was feminine to her bones. She loved him opening doors for her. She loved him paying for everything. She loved him picking her up every night and driving her wherever they went. She loved his assertive demands to get what he wanted.

An idea came to her that would push him just a little. He would never suspect that she had a purpose.

She picked up her phone to send him a text. They only texted each other to confirm plans. She keyed in the words that she knew would set him off. Did she really want to pull the tiger's tail?

'
need my car 2nite. Will meet u at ur place.
' She pressed the send button.

Her phone rang before she could set it down.

"Hello? "

"Why do you need your car, Jenny? " His voice was short, clipped.

She would do this casual. "Oh, I don't really need my car. I just want my car. "

"Why? "

"I don't know. I haven't given it much thought. A change of pace? I don't know. I just feel like driving. "

"It's supposed to rain all day, Jenny. I'll come pick you up. " It was a statement. A final statement.

She disputed it. "No. "

"No? Goddamnit, Jenny. It's raining. I'll drive you. "

"No. "

"Why the fuck not? "

"Because now you're just irritating me. I want to drive. " This was getting interesting.

There was a pause. His voice was short, pissed. Not something she cared to contest. "Listen, babe. That's a Goddamn flooding rain out there. You can pull this little stunt tomorrow night. I'm going to pick you up. I don't want to hear any shit about it. Be ready."

He disconnected.

Jenny shut the phone and smiled. Her car was on empty and she hadn't really wanted to pump gas in all that rain.

When Richard knocked on her door that night, the rain was gone. It had quit raining a few hours earlier, and what rain had backed up in the streets, had long since drained off.

Jenny opened the door and made a small production of looking at the sky and then stepping back and crossing her arms as he entered. He stepped in, slammed the door and immediately crowded her space. A thrill went through her. My God, it just kept getting better and better.

He pushed her against the wall. "Are you ready to come with me? Or do you still want to fight? " He pushed his torso into her. His hands slid up and grabbed her face. He lifted it.

She smiled tantalizingly at him. "I want to fight. "

Richard felt her witchery surround him. The force of their attraction was magnetic. He wanted her under him. The impulse to have her was not going away. She was becoming an obsession. He pulled her face up to his. He opened his mouth over hers. He took. She gave. He grabbed her hands and pinned them to the wall. He took her mouth again. She was casting a spell on him. He could feel the aggression in his blood. He wanted her captive. He lifted his mouth. "Then fight me. "

"You don't scare me. You won't hurt me. " Her tone was combative. She pushed against his hands and tested the strength of his grip.

He pushed back. He didn't relinquish his hold. "I don't want to scare you. I would never hurt you. All I want to do is make you feel good. " His voice was low and rough. He was hard against her. He needed to get it in. He wanted the feel of her surrounding him. Enclosing him. He reached down and unsnapped his jeans.

He watched as she assimilated the sound and her eyes went dark with passion. God, she was beautiful.

She was still belligerent, but her breathing was rapid, and he could smell the arousal on her skin. She pushed her pelvis toward him. "You think you can tell me what to do. You think this is a dictatorship. You think you're the dictator. "

He pushed his jeans down. "You think we should have a fucking democracy? " He lifted her skirt and shoved her panties down her legs. He slid his fingers through her folds and found her wet, slick, ready for him. He moved his thick length to her opening. "Then let's take a vote. My vote is that we fuck. " He shoved a tantalizing inch of his penis into her. He let go of one of her hands and lifted her face to his. "What's your vote, babe? "

Jenny felt the hunger and need slam through her body. She knew she had brought this on herself. She didn't care. It was so exciting with him. She tried to push down more on him. He stopped her. He was in total control of their movements. She knew he wanted confirmation. "Yes. "

She was rewarded immediately. He pushed his length all the way in one long stroke. The pleasure was incredible. For both of them. They let out simultaneous groans. He put his hands on her butt and lifted her into him. She clung to his neck.

As soon as he got it all the way in, the mating changed. The hostility left his body. He started stroking her in long, even movements that pushed her beyond all reason. His mouth gentled and his seduction became, soft, worshipping.

"Jenny. It's so good. " He groaned in her ear. "You're so fine. I can't get enough of you. " His words were enticing, They continued to move together in a union of mutual hunger and need. Jenny felt herself losing control as her climax gripped her. Her internal muscles milked him and pushed him over the edge and they came together in a rush of intense, jarring pleasure.

She hung in his arms. She lifted her head and their eyes clashed together with an impact that was stunning. "You're amazing. " His words were almost an accusation.

"Is that a bad thing? You sound almost mad about it," she teased him.

He smiled. "No. I'm not mad about it. But it's fucking with my head. You're fucking with my head. "

She laughed at that. "Ha. You're the one that's messing with me. "

"Messing with? Come, on babe. You just came for me. You can let go of a little f-bomb now and then. "

She laughed and pushed against him. "I don't have a problem saying that word. I say it when I'm mad. So, you better watch out, if you hear me say it. You'll know I'm mad. "

His grin disappeared and he grew serious. "You were mad earlier. You didn't say it then."

"I wasn't mad. I was just pointing a few things out to you. It's a fact. You're a dictator. And you think you own me. " Her voice was mild. Her tone even. She was just stating the facts as she saw them.

He looked shocked. "I don't think I own you. "

"That's good. Because you don't. " She left the room to go get her stuff.

He watched her go with a perturbed frown on his face.

Chapter Nine

Friday afternoon her phone rang. She was cleaning out her refrigerator because all the food was spoiling since she hadn't been there to eat it.

They had met two weeks ago today. They had spent most of those nights in the same bed.

"Hello? "

"Hey, Angel. " He went straight to the point. "It's Friday. I've got to work late at the bar tonight. I can either pick you up at three a.m. or some time tomorrow. Your choice. " She didn't respond. "I want to get you at three, but I'm probably being a selfish bastard to expect you to wake up in the middle of the night for me. "

A dart of pleasure went through her at his impatience. "Can't I come to the bar tonight? "

He hesitated. He would like to have her there. She was good company and it would relieve his boredom with the whole evening. He thought about all the men that would be watching her. He didn't like that. He'd have to handle it though, because now he wanted her there with him. "Sure. If you want to. I'll swing by and get you about six. We'll eat at the bar. Bring your stuff, and we'll just go back to my place after I close up. "

"Okay. I'll be ready. "

"And Jenny. Dress conservatively. I don't want the old fuckers thinking they have a chance with you. "

She laughed. "Hmmm, I don't know. I think I might dress like a slut. " Her voice was teasing.

"Conservative, Jenny. I mean it. "

He had the last word again.

Her skirt was short, her heels were high, and her make-up was impeccable. She looked hot and sexy, but there was nothing about the outfit that he could call slutty. She had chosen well. She looked at him and her expression dared him to complain. He didn't. He wanted to. But, he didn't.

He did, however, have a few things to say. As usual. "Jenny. I specifically remember talking about this. You were going to dress conservatively."

"Oh my God. This is conservative. This isn't slutty at all, Richard. No boobs, see? " She pushed her chest towards him. Her high, round little boobs were up in the air. Her shoulders were back.

"I can see boobs. But, okay. No bra showing. I get that. Good job there, sweetheart. But what about those legs? "

"Well, we can't leave them at home. They have to come with me. This skirt is not short. I wear this into the office. You are being ridiculous. Obstinate. And you are about to piss me off. Now, let's go. "

"Okay. But I'm warning you. Just one mother fucker looks at you the wrong way, and I'm locking you in my office. Got that? " Possessiveness was running through his veins. Irritation at the thought that he could be jealous. He had never been jealous in his life.

"Yes, oh mighty one. I've got that. " She sailed passed him to the car.

Jenny sat across from him in the booth. He had tried to slide her in first so that she would be between him and the wall. She had balked at that. The more she got to know him, the more amazed she was at his machinations. The man truly wanted to get his own way. Yet, as the night wore on, she was beginning to think that he mostly acted that way with her. The idea was intriguing.

There was no doubt that he was a little spoiled. But he was also kind and generous. The bar had gotten busy early that night. He was patient with the waiter when their food came out cold. He was patient with the bartender when their drinks came over wrong. But he had bitten her head off when she got up to excuse herself to the restroom. "Didn't you go before you left the house? "

He barked and grabbed her hand and held her beside the table. She frowned. "That was three hours ago. Let go, Richard. I have to go. " She pulled on her hand.

"Don't go to the women's room in the back. Use the bathroom in my office. " He released her.

"Oh, whatever. " She rolled her eyes at him and turned away.

Bringing her here had been a mistake. He was feeling the same gut-churning emotions as two weeks ago when he had seen her for the first time. Only now, it was multiplied by ten. Back then, the men stared at the new merchandise. Now, they were salivating over her beauty and intrigued because she was with him.

He thought about her accusation that he was a dictator. Well, Goddamn, what did she expect? Did she expect him just to let her run loose and get lost in Baton Rouge? Did she think he didn't care if she stalled out in high water? Did she expect him to sit back and watch some guy hit on her, in his own fucking bar?

Unease gripped him. He knew he wasn't acting rationally with her. He probably should just quit seeing her and all this bullshit would go away. He thought about giving up her wholesomeness, her beauty. He thought about her liquid heat enfolding him. Hell no, he wouldn't give her up yet. He wasn't ready to let her go, and he damn well wasn't going to. He refused to consider the reason why she made him so fucked up. He wasn't even going to go there. He acknowledged he was a spoiled-ass bastard. He wanted to keep her. So he would.

As she left his office, she glanced around. The bar was filling up quickly. She had been oblivious to it earlier as they sat in the booth. Her attention had been solely fixed on him. Even though he had been attentive to her the whole time, she knew he saw everything going on around them.

"Jenny, right? " She stopped and looked at the bartender smiling and calling her name. She walked over and stood next to the bar.

"That's right. How are you? "

"I'm fine. My name's Sabrina. So, you and Richard, huh? " She lifted her brows and grinned in female camaraderie.

Jenny had to laugh. "Yeah, I guess so. What do you think? " she asked. Sabrina looked about twenty-five, and she was pretty in an unassuming way. The girl was being friendly and curious and Jenny enjoyed talking to her.

"I think you're brave. I mean, he's hot and all, I mean, for an old guy-- "

Jenny laughed out loud. "Yeah. I think he's hot, too. And probably old for you, but just right for me. "

"Yep. You seem perfect for him. I hope he realizes that. I like you, so I'm going to warn you. He uses women. Mostly the barflies that troll this place. He has a good heart, but he can be a real ass. Don't let him hurt you. "

Jenny saw the sincerity and concern in Sabrina's eyes. She nodded her head in agreement.

"Don't look now, but one of them is circling him now. " Sabrina was looking past Jenny and in Richard's direction.

"Are you serious? " Her voice sounded distressed, even to herself.

"Yeah. Hold on a minute, I need to serve that guy. Just a sec. " She moved down the bar and Jenny watched the mirror behind the bar. She could see a tall blonde leaning on Richard's table. Irritation went through her. She was stunned when the blonde reached out and minutely adjusted his tie. The movement incensed her. She couldn't see Richard's face but he didn't seem to mind. He was still sitting there.

Sabrina sailed back over and put a drink down in front of her. "For you. From that guy down there. "

Jenny was preoccupied with the booth behind her, and wasn't paying much attention. She reached down and took a fortifying sip. She glanced down the bar where a man about her age was looking at her and smiling. He lifted his glass to toast her. She tried to smile her thanks.

She looked back at Sabrina and asked, "What should I do? " She felt helpless and awkward in the situation and didn't want to just walk back over there with the blonde hanging around.

Before she received an answer, she felt someone move to sit on the barstool beside where she was standing. The guy that bought her the drink was making his move.

She did not want to have to deal with this right now.

"Hey. You're new. I've never seen you in here before. I'm David. " He held out his hand.

She automatically put her hand in his. "Jenny. Thanks for the drink, David, but I don't think-- " The words stopped when she felt heavy hands drop to her shoulders from behind her. She was stunned that he could appear like that when just a second ago he was talking to someone else.

She felt Richard reach around her and push her drink toward David. "The lady doesn't want your drink. " Antagonism laced his words.

"You don't know that. She can decide for herself. " David sounded surly and inebriated.

"I do know that. She doesn't want it. " Jenny stood in shocked silence as the drama unfolded around her. She looked up and saw that Sabrina was just as engrossed in the interchange.

"Look, Bergeron, you can't just walk over here and-- "

"I can. She belongs to me. Now. You can walk over there and keep drinking and find someone else, or you can leave my bar. Your choice. But don't try it again with this one. Understand? "

Jenny saw the man look closely at Richard, then at her again. He answered. "Okay, man. I didn't know she was yours. No problem. " He picked up his drink and moved away.

Jenny remained frozen in silence. Anger at his arrogance pulsed through her. She was about to turn and complain when she saw the blonde walk up behind him. Oh, my God! This just kept getting better by the second.

She watched in the mirror as the blonde started pulling on one of his arms. Her words when she spoke were slurred. "Come on, Richard baby. I thought we were gonna have fun tonight. " She wobbled on her slutty shoes.

He let go of Jenny and reached out and steadied the woman. "Not tonight, Darlene. You're drunk. You need to go home. " He spoke gently to the woman. Then he turned to the bartender. "Sabrina, will you call a cab for Darlene, please? "

Rage like she had never known filled Jenny's mind. She felt like the top of her head was going to explode. She steeled herself and forced herself to speak in a moderate tone. "Yes, Sabrina, will you make that two cabs, please? I really need to get home, also. " The bartender turned away to use the phone down the bar.

Richard stiffened at her words. Darlene was still hanging on him. He turned and set her on a barstool and grabbed Jenny's hand and started pulling her toward his office. "I want to talk to you, " he barked.

Jenny wasn't going to cause a scene by falling to the floor and refusing to go with him. She knew he would literally drag her behind him if he had to. She called out to Sabrina. "Just knock on the door when my cab gets here, okay? " She barely heard the woman's agreement before being thrust into the room.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Jenny shook off his arm and walked across the room. She took a stabilizing breath and turned to face him. He was leaning negligently against the door.

"What's this all about, Jenny? " His voice was calm and soothing.

Jenny saw the tactics he was going to use to try to get his way. Her resolve hardened.

"I'm going home. "

"Why? "

"I'm not going to have a fight with you. I don't need to explain myself. You know what you've done. If you don't know, then I guess you've got all the time in the world to figure it out, now don't you? " Her voice was dripping sugar.

He straightened himself to his full height at her words. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you threatening me, babe? " He advanced toward her.

She held her ground. "Stay away from me, Richard. " Her voice was alarmed, angry. Hysteria was not far from the surface. She didn't know what she would do if he touched her. She might hit him. Or she might melt in his arms. She stiffened her spine and braced herself.

He heard the panic in her voice. He stopped. He could see she was really upset. He needed to calm her. "Okay. I won't touch you. But you don't need to leave, sweetheart. We can talk about this. "

"I don't want to talk about it. " Her voice was shaky. "Not right now. I can't. I want to go home. "

"No. I don't want you to go home, I-- "

She cut him off. "No. You can't always have it your way, Richard. I want to go home. I th-think this is probably o-over, anyway. "

"No. Bullshit. It's not over. You need to tell me what the fuck I did wrong. " His words were clipped. Pissed. He started toward her again and she scooted around to the back of his desk.

He followed her around the desk. He reached for her and she turned away and he saw her face crumple. She gulped a few times, trying to get a hold of herself. It didn't work. She broke into tears. He froze. She stumbled over to the couch and fell onto it with her back still facing him. She started sobbing. Her shoulders were shaking and she put her arms over her face. He stood and watched the sobs continue.

"Jenny. Sweetheart. Don't cry. I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry. " He broke off when a knock sounded on the door.

Sabrina's voice called out. "Jenny. Cab's here. "

Jenny stumbled to her feet. She wiped her eyes and straightened her skirt. She didn't look at him. As she walked past him, he reached out and grabbed her arm. "Stay here. " He gritted out.

She pulled on her arm. He didn't release her. "No. "

She kept pulling. "You're hurting me. "

He eased his hold but didn't let go. He put his other hand to her face and lifted it. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot, babe. " He took her mouth in a punishing kiss. She hung in his grasp as he devoured her with ruthless purpose. She hung there for several long moments as his tongue and teeth attacked her. She jerked back. He held her at arm's length. They stared at each other. She pulled from him and he released his grip.

She turned and fled.