The Billionaire's Longshot: Betting on You Series: Book Three (22 page)

Texting her back he asked, “Where are you?”

Unlike the message from her earlier that day, she replied with only one word. “Waiting.”

For what? For me to lose my fucking mind?
“WHERE ARE YOU?” Ross waited. Nothing.
What the hell?
Once again he called her cell phone, and it went to voice mail. He wasn’t good at deciphering her game, nor did he find the challenge to figure out what she wanted any fun.
There are more interesting ways to spend our night.
Since Jill held all the cards at the moment it left only one option, follow what few clues she was willing to offer him. Going back to the first message he was instantly drawn back to her smile.
Concentrate Ross, her smile won’t give you the answers you’re looking for.
Searching deeper he saw once again there was the ocean but much further in the distance. Jill was leaning against the front of a red Volkswagen Bug convertible with the top down. Why did that look familiar? He couldn’t remember any of their friends every having a Bug.
Think, Ross.
He recalled the look on Drew’s face when he was looking at this picture.
What did he see that I don’t?
Drew was always good at noticing what others missed, hence the number of bets he’d won over the years.
Not the ocean, not the clothes.
Whatever it was had caught his eye immediately, so what was it?
The car.
Why hadn’t he noticed it earlier? The answer was staring him in the face, a partial license plate. If it wasn’t for the fact he was so damn drawn to her stunning eyes and absolute beauty he would have seen it the first time. Jill’s luscious leg blocked the ending but when he enlarged the photo he could see the first three letters: Cal. Flipping to the second photo it was confirmed. The first picture had been taken during the morning, most likely sunrise. The second one it was clear the sun was setting over the ocean behind her.
That eliminated the East Coast.
Ross headed to his bedroom and pulled out his suitcase from the closet.
Game on, Jill.

“KJ, just one
more of me lying on the bed. That’s all,” Jill pleaded.

She shook her head. “No way. I had no problem taking the others for you. Even the last one on the boat’s deck with your top off and you cupping your bare breast in the moon light, but I’m not taking one of you naked on his bed in some sexy pose. Trust me, if that last picture you sent him tonight didn’t do it . . . well, I think you need to give up.”

Give up?
Not my style.
That was how she addressed business; maybe she should reconsider how to deal with personal intimate relationships.
No way. I know this is going to work.

She understood why KJ didn’t want to take the last picture. She’d promised the half-naked one on the deck would be the last picture. When he didn’t show up or even call she began to panic. Everything about KJ’s posture convinced her pleading any further would not get a different answer. KJ had survived boot camp, what chance would Jill have persuading her?
Absolutely none.

“You’re right, KJ. But I’m going to spend the night on the boat tonight, just in case he figures it out and shows up. What good would this have been if he gets here and I’ve already left?”

KJ agreed and left. “Good luck; call me if you need me.”

Alone on the deck in the dark, Jill was left with nothing to do but think about the last few days. They were so unlike her normal routine. Even though KJ was laid back and cool, it had to have been a bit awkward for her at times.
A girl has to do what a girl has to do
. Besides some of it had been fun.
Mostly thinking of Ross’s reactions.
Each picture she sent had the same result until the last one. Ross had texted her, “Where are you?” Then he followed up with his usual call, which she also had left unanswered. All she could do now was hope he’d put the clues together and was actually on his way.
Oh God. What if he doesn’t show up? What if he doesn’t want to work for it?

Doubt began to creep in. She couldn’t believe she was back on his boat, so why should he look for her here?
After our last encounter this probably is the last place he would look for me even with the pictures.
Pacing back and forth the doubt overwhelmed her.
Maybe I didn’t show enough of the deck; I could be anywhere. Why look here?
Damn, KJ was right. I didn’t plan this very well.

Earlier that night she had been so damn confident when she’d asked,
begged,
KJ to leave her there.
He’ll come, or call, or something. I’ll be okay
.

Deciding this wasn’t doing anything but getting her agitated, she headed below deck. Once there her stomach growled in neglect and she began to search for something, anything, to eat. The boat, which had been well stocked only a few weeks ago for their little excursion, suddenly was bare of anything resembling food. More proof they hadn’t
accidently
drifted off to sea. Jill hadn’t needed to see that proof, but seeing is believing.

With no food she looked for something else to occupy her long lonely night.
How does he travel the seas alone all the time? All this quiet is driving me crazy
. No television or anyone to talk to.
Boring. No wonder he tried to hold me captive—he had needed the distraction.
She could use his sweet touch right now. Though she had pretended to resist his advances, her body had responded, and he’d pursued her until he’d made her cry out for more. Though she wasn’t a very experienced lover, she’d enjoyed exploring new ways she could drive him equally crazy, making him growl as she licked and sucked his body.
Hmm.
Those thoughts were creating a new type of hunger, and that wasn’t helping her mood. The last thing she needed to do was add sexual frustration to her loneliness right now.

Going into the cabin she lay on the bed and closed her eyes. Maybe sleep would help pass the time. After fifteen minutes of tossing and turning, she turned on the light by the bed and searched for something to read. Then she remembered when an earlier search had turned up nothing, not even a dirty magazine.
What guy doesn’t have at least one of those?
She remembered the one thing in the cabin’s nightstand. Rolling over, she opened the drawer and pulled the journal out. Her fingers traced over the clasp, which held it closed.
I really shouldn’t.
This wasn’t why she had come; she didn’t want to snoop. Her intention was for him to come to her.
To want to be with me.
He would’ve been relaxed in
his
space, they’d talk, and he would open up to her with things he had never been able to share with another person.
That’s not happening.
Since he wasn’t going to give in willingly, did she have the right to open it? It’s possible it held all the answers she was looking for, or at least a few, but once she began to read it there would be no turning back. Was she ready for what might be written there? Jill knew what she hoped it contained, a hint of his true feelings for her; however what a man would actually write was beyond her.
What if the words that came out of his mouth were what he actually felt?

Jill was treading on dangerous ground. Someone’s personal thoughts were just that—personal. She might not keep a diary, but there were many things she thought over the years that would make her want to crawl under a rock and hide if they ever got out. Like how his eyes held hers as he took her and how he made her cry out in pleasure again and again.
Sorry, I can’t even share that with my best friends.
Lying back on the cool sheets, she closed her eyes.
I wonder what he’s written about me?
If it was anything like she would have written, it was going to be steamy.
Definitely not for public reading.
She laughed softly.

Pulling herself to sit upright, she hoped it would help clear her head. Still holding the journal, she debated what to do and the consequences if she read it. No one would support that decision, not even herself.
Just put it back, Jill.

Still indecisive, she reluctantly slipped the journal into her bag at the foot of the bed. If Ross didn’t show up, maybe she would read it. If he did come then she could return it tomorrow back in its place; there would be no reason for Ross or anyone to ever know.
My own dirty little secret.

Half the night had passed and still she couldn’t sleep. She was restless and filled with need that would not go away.
Why didn’t I go with my gut?
The pictures were meant to show him she was thinking of him, show her growing desire for him. She wasn’t sure what his reaction was to the last one, but it stirred something inside her that made her want to continue, do more, go further. This behavior was so unlike her, but yet she couldn’t stop. The thought of him looking at her pictures and getting hard excited her.
Maybe this is me, and I never knew it.
She never considered herself to be an overly confident woman, but when he reacted when she touched him, sucked him—she felt empowered. Just thinking of him caused the tingle between her thighs that ached to be satisfied.
Are you hurting as much as me, Ross?
Pulling off her bikini, she now sat on his bed utterly naked.

Her body was hot and ready for him, yet she was alone.
Let me show you what you do to me.
Lying naked across the bed on her stomach she held her cell phone out as far as she could and snapped the picture. Viewing it made her think back to how he kissed down her spine to her ankles and back again. A shiver of excitement ran through her. It was a good start, but she wanted more, needed more.
I need more than just your kisses.

Think sexy, Jill.
Then she remembered the one thing she had found in the refrigerator. Hopping off the bed she retrieved the bottle in the kitchenette and returned. She settled herself in the center of the bed, legs crossed in the lotus position, and laid the bottle of champagne against her inner thigh. Instinctively she jumped as the cold bottle touched her warm delicate folds. It was painfully cold, yet it sparked the heat spreading within her. Her nipples became taut and every nerve in her body sprang to life. She fought the urge to remove the bottle and use her fingers to release the ever-growing need.
I’m saving it for you, Ross.
She felt another twitch between her legs. She never knew desire could be so deep that it hurt. Picking up her cell phone again, she tipped her head slightly to one side, giving him access to kiss her neck. She arched her back, raising her breasts for his mouth to claim, and placed a hand on the bottle’s neck as though she was stroking him. Licking her lips hungrily, she snapped the picture. She wished she could see his face when he received this one. Would he see what she saw? Would he remember her moan as his nipped her breast or his soft growl as he entered her for the first time?
Sweet torture.
Taking a deep breath she typed one word,
waiting,
then she closed her eyes and hit send message.
You better hurry the hell up and get here, this is killing me.

‡

H
er little game
of chase became more interesting with each new picture. What he thought he hated, now appealed to him.
Does she know what she is doing to me?
He must have looked at her last picture a half dozen times on the flight.
God I can’t wait to feel her, taste her sweetness again
. His need for her was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Everything about her—her voice, her laughter, the pout on her sweet lips when she was angry, and even her scent—haunted his thoughts, day and night. She was able to stir something within him he had never known. It was more than just a sexual need.
But damn, the sex is amazing too.
His cock had been aching for her touch for days. The wait was almost over.
One definitely worth waiting for.

It was almost two a.m. when he finally boarded the boat. It was no surprise she wasn’t on the deck anxiously awaiting his arrival.
I know how I’ll wake her.
Ross had been mid-flight to California when he received the last picture of her standing on the deck in only her bikini bottoms, holding her naked breasts.
Damn. She’s hot.
He thought he would burst out of his jeans right then.
Time to play her game.
Resisting the urge to call her, he decided to just show up and help her remove those sexy bikini bottoms.
Game on.

Once below deck he noticed the light shining through the slats of the bottom of the bedroom door to his cabin.
Is she still awake? Can’t be.
His hand was about to turn the doorknob when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Ah shit.
He was so close and had only one thing in mind,—having Jill in his arms again. Reluctantly he pulled the phone out of his pocket. Whatever the issue was he wanted to resolve it quickly and be done with it. Once he entered that bedroom he wasn’t going to let anything distract them. The message nearly knocked him on his knees.
Is she trying to kill me?
The bulge in his pants was now uncomfortable. A smile from ear to ear.
Definitely a sweet way to go.

Jill was still sitting holding her phone when he opened the door and entered the cabin. She looked shocked as she grabbed the bottle of champagne, giving him full view of her most private parts. His cock throbbed to be released from the confines of clothes. Tossing his phone on the bed, he noticed it still displayed her erotic picture.
Never deleting that.