Seduction and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Series) (14 page)

“Quinn…” She shook her head and laughed. “That’s really sweet of you, but I don’t think you get it.”

“How can you say that when I started with nothing? I know what it’s like to work your ass off, to try to build your business from the ground up. But if I can help—which I can—then why not let me? It doesn’t lessen your accomplishments—and it’ll give me what I want, which is more time with you.” He had to wonder if that was part of it. As if her success wouldn’t count unless she was constantly busting her ass.

“I can’t afford that sort of help—and before you offer, I can’t have you paying for it either. I don’t want your money.” She cupped his cheek and brushed his lips with a lingering kiss that stirred his need for her. “You’re a good man, though. A far cry from the bastard I’d first thought you to be.”

His eyes narrowed as he gave it all some thought—not the part where she’d thought him a bastard, which he could certainly be at times, but rather her lack of income. “Feel free to tell me it’s none of my business, but your restaurant’s successful, and you don’t exactly live an extravagant lifestyle, so I’d think you’d have it in your budget to get the help you need. Not that I wouldn’t pay for it in a heartbeat, if you’d let me.”

He hadn’t expected her eyes to tear up. “There are other circumstances that have made money difficult.”

It was killing him to see her hurting like this, and the fact that she wouldn’t let him help her was infuriating. “Emma…talk to me, love. For fuck’s sake, don’t shut me out.”

She looked away and squeezed her eyes shut, and for a moment, he thought she was going to grab her clothes and leave. Instead, she turned back to him and nestled against his shoulder. “It’s my brother. A drunk driver hit him and he nearly didn’t survive it. He’s had multiple surgeries and he’s in physical therapy, but the insurance company won’t pay for anything but the most basic care, and the guy who hit him was uninsured and out of state, so it’s been impossible to try to collect any money from that end. Whatever money I do make, I give to Nate for physical therapy, since he doesn’t make enough on his own to cover it all. The cost is exorbitant.”

No wonder she’d been so desperate to hold onto the lease—and why she’d been so hesitant to get on his bike. It all made sense now. And yet this was just one more thing he could help her with, if only she’d let him. He had to find a way to ease the weight of all she was carrying on her shoulders, whether she agreed to it or not.

“I’m sorry about your brother, but I can help you both. It’ll be okay, love.” He tightened his hold on her until she was nestled securely in his arms. “Though I think it’s time we struck another deal.”

“
Quinn
…” She all but groaned as she tried to pull away from him. Not that he was letting her go anywhere. “Your deals do nothing but infuriate me.”

“Well, if you weren’t so stubborn and would let me help you every now and then, then I wouldn’t be forced into bartering or blackmailing you into seeing reason.” The fire in her eyes left him wanting to fuck her yet again, even though he knew he’d only want her more, when all was said and done.

She may have turned him down before, but he knew she wouldn’t be able to walk away from the offer he was about to make her. “I’d like to pay for all your brother’s medical bills. I’ll find him the best doctors out there, and if there’s anything at all that can be done to help improve his condition, I’ll do it.”

He heard her breath catch as she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering as her tears threatened to spill over. “You’d do that for me—for Nate?”

Gently, he brushed her cheek and kissed her. “I would. You have my word.”

“So, what’s the catch? What’s it in exchange for?” He saw her hesitation, but he had to push that aside since he knew they were perfect for each other—more so since he’d gotten to know her better. He just had to help her see it.

“You’ll move in with me—and you’ll let me help you with the running of the restaurant by funding you as a silent partner.” He put his hand up to stifle her protests. “I already own the building, and this way, you’ll have use of the space rent-free, and I’ll also be able to give you the help you need to manage the place without running yourself ragged in the process.”

“I want nothing more than to help my brother, but how the hell can I agree to that? Your offer’s beyond generous, but having you as a partner in the restaurant…” She took a deep breath, letting it out in ragged bursts. “It won’t work. Not when your interest in the restaurant is tied to a relationship that you’ll eventually tire of.”

“That’s unfair, Emma. I’m not going to deny being with more than my share of women, but my feelings for you are completely different than the way I’ve felt for anyone else.” Didn’t she realize what she meant to him? And yet he’d never fully admitted his feelings for her, even to himself. “I’m falling for you, Emma. I know we haven’t known each other long—”

“
At all
, Quinn. We don’t know each other at all.” She cupped his cheek, and he couldn’t help but lean into her touch and kiss her palm, eliciting a sigh. “And you
can’t
be falling for me. This isn’t some fairy tale.”

“Time doesn’t matter when it comes to love—and I meant what I said, even if you’re not there yet.” He’d give her whatever time she needed, knowing that he’d do everything he could to make her fall in love with him. “I refuse to let you walk away from me—or my help—because you insist on being stubbornly independent, even if it’s to your detriment. Just say yes, Emma. If not for your own sake, then for your brother’s.”

It may be underhanded to guilt her into moving in with him, but he didn’t care. He’d use whatever was available to get his way—especially when it would be to her benefit.

“That’s a low blow. You know that, right?” She shot him a glare, but didn’t pull out of his arms, making him think that she might actually agree.

“We’re talking about the best care—even if I have to fly him around the globe. Are you really willing to put his health and happiness on the line?” He nuzzled her as his hands drifted down to her bare ass, pulling her to him and pressing his hard cock against her, searching her out. “I swear I’ll make you happy, Emma.”

“Quinn…” She took a deep breath that she let out in a weary sigh. “I need some time to think about it, especially since you want me to move in with you. And so you know, I’m not a good housemate. I hog the blanket, eat your leftovers, and I’m anal about keeping the kitchen mess-free.”

He had to laugh, and though she was deadly serious, he could already tell that he’d won this fight. “Sweetheart, I’ll have you to keep me warm, there are
never
any leftovers, and I promise to clean my messes.”

She scowled at him. “I bet you think you’re funny.”

“Tell you what—you’ve got the next few days off, right? How about we spend them together as a trial period? You can grab some of your stuff, and spend the next few days here, before you make your decision.” When she frowned and looked like she was running through a mental checklist, he knew she likely used her days off to take care of restaurant stuff. “In the meantime, you can send my accountant your files, and he’ll take care of payroll, your finances…whatever it is you need taken care of—and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“You’re a bully. You know that, right?”

He shrugged and kissed the tip of her nose, with a sly smile. “Call me what you want, sweetheart. As long as I get my way.”

“Quinn…” Her mood suddenly turned far more serious. Her brow furrowed and her hazel eyes darkened, making him want to keep the outside world at bay where nothing could bother them. “What the hell happened with Capaldi? I don’t like him, and I sure as hell don’t trust him to be reasonable.”

Recalling Capaldi’s words, Quinn’s anger flared, his body tense with adrenaline. “All you need to know is that I won’t let you come to harm, Emma. Not ever.”

***

Emma led the way up the stairs to her second-story apartment, the wood underfoot creaking with age. Despite the sunny day outside, the lone window in the stairwell and the dim bulb hanging overhead did little to push back the darkness, yet another reminder that this place wasn’t safe for her. Quinn had insisted on accompanying her to gather a bag of her things, though she’d surprised him by not giving him much of a fight over it.

He stood behind her, towering over her petite frame as she dug out her keys and started fumbling with the lock. “Actually, it’s probably a good thing you’ll be living with me, since my construction crew is scheduled to start renovations on this place first thing Monday morning.”

She glared at him over her shoulder, as she gave the handle a jiggle and then shoved her shoulder into the door with expert precision, so it swung open to allow them admittance. “Don’t even get me started on you buying this place. I swear, Quinn, I’ve never seen a person so determined to get his way.”

He couldn’t help but laugh as he followed her into her apartment. “You can’t hold it against me, kitten. It’s why I’ve been so successful.”

Quinn took a look around—not that it took him long, given the small size of the place. And yet, it was far more cheerful than he’d expected. “This is nice, Emma. Small, but nice.”

Everything but the bathroom was located in the one room, including a small kitchenette, and her bed. But a robin’s egg blue adorned the walls, while butter-yellow accents lent the space a French country charm, and there were several large windows that brightened the place. To make the most of the limited floor space available to her, she’d gone vertical towards the tall ceilings with shelves and bookcases, and from what he could tell, everything served a dual purpose or had hidden storage. Even her bed was a loft, so that she could squeeze a sofa underneath.

Emma went to her closet and quickly packed a bag of clothes and personals, while Quinn wandered over to where she’d set out some pictures on a shelf, arranged artfully in a variety of white frames. He spotted one of Emma and her brother with a beautiful older woman, who could only be their mother, given that Emma looked so much like her with her refined cheekbones and full lips. There were several more pictures of people he didn’t recognize, and some of Emma and Nate when they were younger. But there were also several pictures of her with Jake—pictures of them with her in his arms.

Even though Quinn didn’t know the extent of their relationship, he was sure it was all in the past. And that meant he’d have to do his damnedest to keep his jealousy in check.

When she slipped her arms around his waist, he knew he’d been caught—especially when she went up onto the tips of her toes to kiss his cheek. “We’re just friends.”

“But you’ve been more. That much is obvious.” He took another look at Emma smiling for the camera with her arms around Jake as he held her back. And damn, but the way Jake looked at
her
—
not
at the camera—left no doubt in his mind that Jake was in love with her.

“We’ve never hooked up, Quinn. I love him, but I don’t think of him that way. He’s my best friend, and we’ve been working together from the start, but that’s it.” She leaned into him and kissed him sweetly as she reached down to stroke his hard-on through his jeans. “You have no reason to be jealous, Quinn.”

“Well, it’s clear he’s always wanted more, Emma…and that hasn’t changed one bit. I can see it in the way he looks at you. And the thought of you in his arms…” He kissed her, his lips hard against hers, desperate to claim her as his own once more. He groaned against her lips when she grabbed his cock, stroking him as she distracted him from his jealousy. “Keep that up, sweetheart, and I’m going to have you on your knees with my cock in your mouth, in full view of any neighbors who might happen to look this way.”

“Fuck, Quinn…why the hell does that make me so wet?” She bit his neck and stroked him harder, grabbing his cock through the worn fabric of his jeans.

He had to laugh to keep from ravaging her. “I love it that you swear when you get turned on. Like you just can’t help yourself.”

“I know…it’s such a bad habit. But I’ve worked in a kitchen all my life, surrounded by men who swear a hell of a lot more than I do.” She undid the button on his jeans and then slipped the zipper down, still talking between kisses and bites that had him sucking in his breath. “And you make it so I can’t think straight.”

“Well, my language isn’t any better after years on construction sites.” When she freed his cock and slipped her fingers down his hard length, he could take little more, his words coming out strained as he tried to hold back. “On your knees, Emma. Now.”

The sight of her dropping before him, eager to suck him off, was more than he could bear. He sunk his fingers into her hair, fisting it, to hold her back, even as shifted forward to take him. “
Quinn
…
please
.”

“I’m the one in control, sweetheart. Are we clear?” And the fact that she seemed to enjoy it when he took charge had him going even harder. So hard he fucking ached for her.

She gave him a playful glare. “You’re such a pain in the ass, Quinn.”

“That can be arranged too, kitten.” He couldn’t help the mischievous grin that kicked up on his lips, loving how her eyes went just a little wide and a blush crept across her cheeks.

He loosened his hold just enough to let her take him as his hips slowly thrust past those pretty pink lips of hers. Her mouth was so warm and willing, he couldn’t help but quicken his pace just a little, especially when she flicked her tongue along his length and gently sucked him with a slow, purposeful rhythm.

It was impossible for him to look away from her as she took him, watching as his cock disappeared into that luscious little mouth of hers. And when she moaned with need, the vibrations of it against his cock nearly had him coming. Though his hand was still fisted in her hair, he was too far gone to do anything but let her set the pace as she worked her way up and down his cock.

“You’re gorgeous, Emma. Even more gorgeous with your lips stretched around my cock.” She was taking all of him…so deep…he couldn’t take much more. “Fuck, sweetheart…I’m going to come.”