The Billionaire's Forbidden Desire (31 page)

“He underestimated me. I’m a lot stronger than I look. All figure skaters are. So I smashed his head with a lamp.”

“Good. Is he dead?” Asked in a completely matter-of-fact tone.

“He’s not dead, but he won’t bother me again.”
Probably
.

“So that’s the real reason you had to leave Seattle.”

“Yes. I thought I was all alone. To know there was still somebody in my corner… I can’t even describe what a relief that is.” She sniffed. “I’m not alone.”

“Chad isn’t the only one you can rely on. I’m here for you.” Dane rested his forehead on hers. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Many people had told her the same thing. Her coaches. Her skating friends. Her parents, even. But she’d known they hadn’t really meant it. The real meaning was:
so long as the money keeps coming
,
so long as it’s convenient
and
so long as it doesn’t get in the way of my social calendar
.

But Dane’s promise didn’t come with an unspoken qualification. People thought he was cold because he was blunt and would never say anything nice just to sound nice. But there was a good side to his social tactlessness. When he said something, he meant it one hundred percent.

“I know.” She tilted her mouth up. “Kiss me.”

His lips brushed against hers, the touch feathery. He felt so warm, so sweet it made her chest ache. She pressed closer, deepening the kiss, and he fell slowly back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. She traced his lips with her tongue. She’d never taken the initiative, been so bold with him like this.

His mouth was surprisingly soft and full, his lower lip gently curved and plump. Somehow, she’d never noticed that before. He’d always seemed so unyielding and untouchable, like a frigid northern mountain.

When his tongue met hers, she moaned deeply in her throat. He kept his hands on the mattress, letting her control the depth and tempo of the kiss. Lying on him, the entire length of her body tingled with feral, elemental awareness. Hot blood pumped through her, her heart knocking hard against her ribs.

Almost without thinking she gripped his shoulder and put a hand behind his head. She felt like she was drowning in him, and she never wanted to come out of it. Desire pulsed in the slick emptiness between her thighs, and she deepened the kiss, pressing their bodies together until nothing separated them, and cradled his thick, hard length between her legs.

Her breasts felt pleasurably crushed against his chest, the nipples beading and aching for more. Their mouths still together, she rocked, determined to drive both of them insane with need.

He let out a low groan. His hot hands tunneled under her shirt, one roaming up along her back and the other going under the waistband of her skirt and panties to grab her ass. She gasped at how good it felt. How turned on she was.

“You’re sensitive all over,” he whispered into her ear. He licked and nibbled on her neck.

Shivers went through her. She clenched her inner muscles, the emptiness like a knife. His teeth nipped at her, and a sharp pleasure streaked from the spot on her collarbone all the way down to her dripping core.

“Please…”

He pushed her shirt out of the way, then her bra. Her breasts popped free, and he latched onto a nipple, pulling it into his mouth. His cheeks hollowed with the strength of his suction, and she tunneled her hands into his hair and arched her back, silently begging for more. She couldn’t speak, not with the white heat pulsing through her.

The hand that was under her skirt circled around to her front. He ran a finger along her swollen lips and then began to gently rub her clit. She cried out, and his mouth was back on hers, swallowing the rest of the sound. She clutched him harder against her and rocked. Stars and colors burst behind her eyes, and pleasure curled at the base of her spine.

Suddenly he plunged two fingers into her. And they were enough to push her over.

She shuddered as an intense orgasm crashed through her body. Dane held her through it all, then stripped them both, throwing their clothes on the floor in a careless heap.

His taut, heavy body lay next to her, and he pulled her on top of him until she sat astride. The lean muscles on his belly tightened as she rolled a condom down his erection and positioned herself.

Placing her palms on his chest, she sank onto him, filling herself with his thick cock. Sweat beaded on his skin as she moved up and down. It was different being on top, controlling the angle and depth of the penetration. She leaned forward and ground herself against him. She was so full, and her clit felt amazing against his hard pubic bone. One shockwave after another swept through her as she moved, her gaze locked with his.

“Dane…”

“Sophia.”

Sweet reverence shook his voice, and she clenched her teeth. She wanted to draw the moment out as long as possible, but she was so, so close. Pleasure as sharp as a blade seemed to split open her heart, and she suddenly knew that he’d always been meant for her, maybe from their time in Mexico. How else to explain this intense connection between them?

A low groan rumbled through his chest, and he put his feet flat on the mattress. He thrust into her, his powerful pelvis and ass flexing. She met him stroke for stroke. Air sawed in and out of her, the sound rough and uneven. His heart thundered underneath her palms, and she trembled on a precipice…

Another climax barreled through her, and she convulsed. “Dane…Dane…” She vaguely heard herself whimper as she fell from her peak.

He gripped her hips and plunged into her so hard she was surprised her bones didn’t rattle. A guttural shout tore from his corded neck as his entire body bowed from the force of his orgasm.

He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head in the crook of his neck, even as he fought to control his breathing.

They stayed like that, heart to heart, until she could barely hang onto consciousness. Her ear pressed against his chest, she relaxed, feeling safer than ever before.

* * *

Sophia felt almost boneless, but Dane knew she wasn’t quite asleep. She was most likely in that blissful in-between state.

It was beyond him even as he held her. He stared at the ceiling. It infuriated him she’d been so alone and helpless. At least he knew what he’d done to deserve all the shit in his life—being born when he shouldn’t have. What had she done?

She pressed her lips over his heart. “Thank you.”

“Mmm? For what?”

“For being generous.” She kissed the spot again. “And honest.”

Bitterness and self-incrimination spread like poison in his veins. She had no idea how wrong she was. If he’d been honest…

His hands clutched her.

If he’d been honest, he would’ve lost her. It didn’t matter what he’d done to make up for the past—if she found out, she would never forgive him.

“Remember what I said?” he said. “Don’t ever thank me.”

She snorted. “I can thank whoever I want, even if it’s you. You’ll just have to get used to people acknowledging you when you do something nice for them.”

Each one of her words cut into him like a shard of glass. “Then promise you won’t leave me.”

“Why would I want to do that?” A bemused smile curved her lips. “I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. Look how fate put us together again.”

Fate
. Maybe there was something to the idea. He hoped so. But their time together felt like that drawn out, ticking moment before a bomb exploded.

Sophia didn’t want to go shopping with Josephine Martinez, but Dane refused to budge on the matter. “If I let you go alone, you’re going to buy the cheapest things you can find off a clearance rack,” he said, scarfing down a big plate of breakfast eggs and bacon.

“What’s wrong with shopping at sales? Don’t you like saving money?”

“Penny pinching.” He shook his head. “It’s cruelty to copper, you know.”

“What?”

“Copper has feelings too. Just because it’s strong and silent…”

“Seriously?”

“…can’t blush, since it’s already red…”

She laughed. “Did you dump some rum in your coffee?”

“It’s for a good cause. Gives Josephine a job. Surely you don’t object to that.”

She sighed. This was a small battle not worth fighting over. The real one would be when she saw the fashion consultant and tried to set a strict budget.

“Don’t worry. She has a great taste,” Dane said.

“If by ‘great’ you mean ‘expensive,’ I agree. I’ve seen how Josephine dresses.”

“I’ll send you a driver at around ten.”

“Does he know where we’re supposed to meet?”

“She’s going to text him the address. Preferably someplace exceptionally tasteful,” Dane said, getting up to leave for work. “I’ll see you for lunch.”

Shaking her head, Sophia put on the simple sheath dress that Salazar had bought her for the wedding. Despite Dane’s insistence, she hadn’t gotten rid of it yet. She would’ve preferred to wear one of her old things, but she didn’t want to embarrass Josephine by being turned away at the door of some fancy boutique. No
Pretty Woman
moments if she could avoid them.

Right at ten, a uniformed driver arrived with a black limo. Sophia stared. It was much too extravagant, but she bit her tongue.
Not the chauffeur’s fault
.

It took a little less than an hour to reach their destination. Or…maybe not.

“Aren’t I meeting Josephine Martinez?” she asked, staring at the two-story residential building outside as the limo engine died.

She’d figured they’d meet at a mall or somewhere similar. But this place was something between a house and a mansion complete with a garden. Double columns framed the main door. An elaborate bronze lion-head knocker shone in the sun. She couldn’t imagine what kind of shopping could be done there.

“Yes, ma’am.” The driver opened her door. “This is the address.”

She got out and knocked.

A comfortably rounded middle-aged woman answered the door. She wore a white t-shirt and khaki shorts. If this was the kind of place you went to get a gown grand enough for the opening night at an opera, Sophia was the empress of China.

“Hello,” the other woman said with a friendly smile. “You must be Sophia Reed. Please come in. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Everyone?

The woman led Sophia down a long hall. A few interesting contemporary art pieces hung on the walls. The interior was bigger than it looked from the outside. At the end was a living room. Josephine was standing with her arms crossed. Just like at the grove, she was impeccable in a sea-green dress—the latest design from some famous brand undoubtedly. Sophia hadn’t seen the woman in anything other than the most fashionable clothing. Josephine’s thick dark hair hung loosely, a shaggy look that was emphasized by the way she was shaking her head.

“Absolutely not, Vanessa. That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.”

“Oh for god’s sake, I’m the client!”

“And I have a professional duty to stop you when you’re about to commit a fashion
faux pas
.” Suddenly she turned. “Hey, there you are.”

Vanessa swung her head so she could see Sophia over the back of her couch.

“Um… Hi.” Sophia waved.

“Tell her, Sophia. Tell her she needs to listen to me unless she wants her newborn to wear the most hideous outfit ever,” Josephine said.

“No, tell her the customer is always right.”

Oh boy. “You should listen to the professional,” Sophia said. “But at the same time”—she turned to Josephine—“you should select items that reflect the taste and sensibility of the client.”

Vanessa blinked, then snickered. “Do you have any legal training?”

Ginger came in from the other side, bare feet slapping the hardwood floor. Unlike at the wedding, she wore a comfy tank top and denim shorts. The gorgeous blonde rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “Are you guys finally finished arguing?”

“Sort of, with Sophia telling both of us to shut up and grow up.”

Sophia cleared her throat. “I believe I was more diplomatic than that.” She turned to Josephine. “So. Are you ready?”

Before the personal shopper and fashion consultant could respond, Vanessa said, “Not just yet. Please sit down. I asked her to bring you here because I wanted to check you out without Dane around.” She cocked her head and regarded Sophia thoughtfully. “You’re not dumb like the blondes he generally likes to date.”

Ginger flushed. “Do you have to be rude?”

“Apparently yes!” came a response from the kitchen. Jane waved. A cheery apple-colored apron wrapped around her yellow sundress. “Heya! I’m making sandwiches for lunch. Hope you like them.”

“I love sandwiches,” Sophia said.

“But first, serve the apple pie. Junior wants some,” Vanessa said. “Actually never mind. I won’t fit into any of my maternity clothes at this rate.”

“You’re fine.” Jane came back with a platter of warm, gooey apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and plates and silverware for everyone. She served Sophia first. “Vanessa wanted to talk, but then I decided that the least you deserve is some homemade pie and ice cream for us commandeering your time like this.” Her smile held a tinge of apology. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s all right,” Sophia said. It was impossible to stay upset with the sweet woman who served a slice of piping hot pie that smelled like heaven.

Jane then sent plates loaded with the pie and ice cream to everyone else.

Vanessa dug in and moaned. “This is amazing. Like, ‘almost makes me forget what I was supposed to be doing next’ amazing.”

“I’m a pro.” Jane beamed.

Sophia took a bite as well and joined the chorus of moans. Jane’s pie was to die for. “It’s probably the best pie I’ve ever had.”

“Thank you.”

“But I’m sure you didn’t ask me here”—Sophia glanced briefly at Josephine—“to share a pie.” She turned to Vanessa. Since this was her home, it seemed most logical that she was the one in charge. “Didn’t Justin already tell you what you wanted to know after he danced with me at the wedding?”

“He did, but I just can’t believe it. You like Dane? For real?”

“What’s so unbelievable about that?”