The Billionaire's Bet

  If she ever knew how much power she held over me, I could be fucking screwed.

  My fingers dug into the soft flesh of her hips as I pounded into her, desperate to make her feel every inch of me. She met my thrusts, hands grasping the bedspread for leverage. I fisted her hair, using it to keep her exactly where I wanted while I plowed into her. Time stretched out, snapped back, and froze. Her moans reached a crescendo, ending with a throaty cry just as her pussy gripped my cock so tightly that I couldn't hold back anymore. I plunged in and came, curling my body over hers, shuddering with the force of my climax.

  We stayed like that for a moment, locked together. Breathing. Sweating. Trying to realign ourselves with the physical world. I kissed the back of her neck, tasting salt on my lips. Her skin was hot and slick with sweat, just like mine.

  When I rolled over onto my back, I took her with me on instinct. I didn't want to let her go just yet, and the fact that she curled into my side told me she wasn't ready to go either. She rested her cheek on my chest, and I kissed the top of her head.

  We'd have to lose this peace soon enough, but right now, I planned on enjoying it.

  20

  Briana

  When people said that Hawaii was paradise, I doubted they had in mind the particular brand of paradise I'd experienced on its sun-drenched shores. Days full of fun and laughter, and nights filled with pure, carnal delights. It was the kind of vacation that drained my batteries while also releasing every piece of pent up anxiety and stress inside of me. By Friday morning, I was feeling as relaxed as a wet noodle. And about as energetic as one too.

  Dorian and I took a car to the airport where he told me he'd chartered a plane back to the mainland for the two of us. I was glad, since Enzo had been more or less ignoring the two of us since the night I found out about the bet. I hoped it was because he was embarrassed enough that he wouldn't pull anything like it again. Either way, I was glad to spend more time alone with Dorian before it was back to the real world.

  “What do you want to drink?” Dorian asked as I settled into my seat.

  I shook my head. “Nothing for me. I've got a lot to do when we land.”

  “Suit yourself.” He grinned and poured himself a fifth of scotch. Then he sauntered back over to the seat across from me as the pilot started up the engine.

  “Does it ever get old?” I asked. “Having a private plane ferry you from place to place?” I smiled, looking around at the small but elegantly furnished space. “I think I'd get a complex if this was how I traveled everywhere.”

  “Doesn't everyone charter planes for private flights to Hawaii?” His eyes danced as he teased me.

  I liked relaxed Dorian.

  Probably too much.

  That came with its own set of problems, namely that I knew it was just sex for him. After all, having a guy tell you that he's “fond” of you isn't exactly the sort of declaration every girl wants to hear. And it wasn't like we made plans to spend more time together once we were back to real life. But I didn't want that to color what had been an overall amazing trip, despite the little bump. Good sex. Good company. And, most importantly, he respected me.

  “What do you want to do?” Dorian asked once we'd settled into our cruising altitude. “It's going to be a long flight.”

  I grinned and started unbuttoning my shirt. “Good.”

  I might not have him for much longer, but I planned on taking advantage of every second.

  Arriving back at the Las Vegas airport put things into perspective for me almost immediately.

  Dorian wasn't staying in the city, so I left the plane alone. He'd offered to see me all the way home, but I preferred to leave it this way. It helped demarcate between fantasy and real life. Once I left the plane, that would be it. No more. Then I could get back to my job and my life, and remember my week in Hawaii as nothing more than a fond memory.

  Hopefully.

  At the door, I smiled at him. “If you're ever back in Vegas, look me up. Even if you don't come back to the Rock Bay.” I winked. “Though I hope you will...even if you have to bring Enzo with you.”

  Dorian laughed and reached for my face with one hand, running his thumb along the curve of my jaw. It took everything in me not to lean into him.

  “I will,” he said. “And if you're ever in New York...”

  “Which I won't be.”

  “But if you are,” he pressed. “I would like to see you.”

  It was nice of him to say, even if I wasn't sure he meant it.

  I took one last, long look at him, committing his features to memory, trying to ignore the fact that I was terrified by the thought of never seeing him again. Especially because I knew I probably wouldn't.

  I didn't kiss him goodbye. I turned before he had a chance to take the initiative himself, instead walking away without so much as a glance over my shoulder.

  As I climbed into the car Dorian ordered for me, I cleared out a little corner of my mind for him. It was there that I stacked the memories of this week, that last image of his face, and the sensation of pure ecstasy that still clung to me like his scent from our sex-laden flight.

  And then I stacked a bunch of other things in front of that corner, hoping to block it from view. Because I needed to forget him, at least for now. In a few weeks, maybe a few months, it wouldn't hurt to think about him anymore. And when that time came, I could pull these thoughts to the front of my mind and relive my time with Dorian again. Until then, I had other priorities. My daughter. My job. My own sanity.

  And I couldn't be expected to focus on any of those if I acknowledged just how cracked my heart had become.

  I collapsed into bed the moment I got home, intent on staying there for the rest of the afternoon. Who was going to stop me? Mikala wasn't due back until tomorrow, and Earl had agreed to give me today through the weekend off to rest and recover since, technically, it'd been a work trip.

  A light knock on my door reminded me that I didn't live alone. “Briana?”

  Shit.

  “Come in,” I called out.

  Tiffany entered the room with a huge smile on her face. “I didn't hear you come in.”

  I laughed and patted the spot next to me on the bed. “I'm sorry. I totally forgot to come say hi. It's been...wow. Just wow.”

  “Bad wow?”

  She sank down onto the bed and rolled onto her side to look at me. I knew she meant well, but a part of me wished I could be alone. Forgetting my time with Dorian would only be possible if I was allowed to forget it. Tiffany wasn't going to let me get off that easily.

  “No, I had a great time,” I replied. “I'm just very tired.” I quickly changed the subject and hoped she'd roll with it. “How was your vacation from us? Did ya miss me?”

  “Not you, but I sure as hell missed Mikala.” She grinned. “I've had all this extra energy. Practically been buzzing around. I need her to come siphon it out of me so I can get some goddamn sleep.”

  I tilted my head back and laughed. I'd missed Tiffany. More so, I'd missed the simplicity of spending time with her. She was the one person in my life – besides Mikala – who didn't want anything out of me other than my company. I never worried about her having ulterior motives, which was a doubt that had plagued most of my relationships since Elroy.

  Something about having your boyfriend-then-husband pimp you out for drugs made it much harder to trust people. And allowing yourself to be pimped out made it much harder to trust yourself.

  “So, what did you get up to?” I asked.

  She snorted. “The same old shit, obviously. I wasn't the one in Hawaii with two sexy as hell billionaires, was I?” She reached down and poked my stomach. “Tell me all the details. Did you sleep with one of them?” Her eyes widened with delight. “Both of them?”

  I smacked her hand away. “You're like a dog with a bone.”

  She panted dramatically, then joined with my laughter with a long howl. I hoped another deflection would stop her from burrowing any deeper.

/>   “I got you a present!” I leaped off the bed and ran to my suitcase, rummaging around inside until I found the super tacky, super hilarious coconut bra I'd gotten just for her. I held it up in front of my chest and did a little shake of my hips for emphasis.

  “That is the best thing I've ever seen!” She curled into her side and laughed. “Do you think they'll let me wear it on stage?”

  “I hope so!” I said, tossing it to her.

  Tiffany was officially distracted. She immediately whipped off her shirt and tried on the ridiculous garment, strutting around the house like she was an island queen. By the time she started talking about incorporating hulu dancing into her routine, we were both laughing hard enough to make my stomach hurt.

  When she left for work that evening, I breathed a sigh of relief. No more questions. I could spend the rest of the night relaxing and unwinding from my trip without having to dodge pieces of conversation that would only lead to pain.

  Yet, despite my best efforts, I knew the pain would be hard to hold at bay.

  21

  Dorian

  I watched from the plane as she made her way up the tarmac to the car I'd ordered for her, craning my neck when she disappeared from view behind the wings. I didn't want her to go and wasn't afraid to admit it. I was more afraid of admitting the fact that I was tempted just to stay here with her, no matter the consequences. My family's business meant everything to me. My family meant everything to me. And yet I was tempted, if only for a moment, to leave it all behind.

  For her.

  “We're nearly finished refueling,” the captain said, drawing me back outside my own head.

  I turned and nodded to him. “Thanks. I'm ready whenever you are.”

  I looked out the window again even though I knew I couldn't see her anymore. She'd gone back to her life. And now it was time for me to go back to mine.

  I took my seat and waited for takeoff, going through a mental list of a dozen or so matters of business I had to take care of when I got back to New York. The vacation had been a welcome respite from the busy day-to-day dealings I was normally saddled with, but I knew most of my satisfaction could be attributed to spending time with Briana. I doubted I would've enjoyed it nearly as much if she hadn't been there. Still, there probably wouldn’t have been so much shit waiting for me if she hadn't been there. I'd eschewed my normal routine of sneaking in emails and conference calls between brunches and family activities for spending more time with the woman who'd set a spark alight in me, even though I'd known it would never be more than a fling.

  But did I regret it? Never.

  All I needed to do now was forget about her and move on with my life.

  If only it were that easy.

  “Have you had a chance to look over those figures?” Sandra asked as she leaned into my office. “They'd like a decision today, if possible.”

  “They would like, or they've demanded?” I asked.

  The curvy brunette didn't so much as flinch at my tone. She'd been my assistant since the very beginning and knew how to take my brusque manner. “Demanded, more or less,” she said. After a brief moment, she added, “Well, more.”

  “Thanks. I haven't gotten around to it, but tell Osmond that he'll get my decision when I'm good and ready. If he gives you any grief, remind him that last year he was late on his deliveries and nearly cost us a fortune.”

  She nodded, a faint smile on her lips, and strode from the office. I turned back to the very important business I was attending to on my computer. Namely, sorting through all my emails and files to find a reason to go back to Las Vegas.

  I wanted to forget about Briana. I tried to forget about her. Yesterday, I'd even called one of the escort services Enzo and I used, intending to have polite dinner conversation before going to a hotel for sex. But even though the woman sent over was beautiful, I couldn't help but notice all the ways she wasn't Briana. Her hair wasn't right. Her smile didn't contain the right mix of delight and attitude. Her eyelashes didn't flutter just so.

  In the end, I'd thanked her for her company at dinner, given her a bonus, and walked away. I hadn't even bothered to try anything else. What was the point?

  Why couldn't I get her out of my head?

  I had tried everything to distract myself over the past week, but none of it had been enough.

  So, I finally reasoned that the only way to deal with this was to go back and see her. Let the reality of the situation chase away any sort of romantic notions that were still lingering in my brain.

  But first I had to find a reason to go. I had a business to run, after all. I couldn't just take off on a whim. I wasn't irresponsible like that. I took my position seriously, and I couldn't fuck that up for some woman.

  But, then again, Briana wasn't just some woman. She was kind and smart and sassy as all hell, and I knew I wouldn't be getting any rest until I saw her again. I needed to get her out of my system. When our mother once caught Enzo and me trying out some cigarettes, she'd made us smoke one after the other until we'd thrown up. To this day, neither of us had ever had the desire to smoke again. Even the smell of tobacco was enough to make me sick. Why couldn't I do the same with my addiction to the sexy hostess?

  After much email skimming and another cup of coffee, I finally found it. A boutique chain just off the strip was looking to re-invigorate their hotel brand and wanted to open one of our restaurants. Normally, this kind of email would go to Enzo who'd take a look online to see if it was even worth our effort, but I'd check out the shitty hotel in person if it meant heading back to Vegas on a legitimate trip.

  I pressed the intercom button. “Sandra? Could you come in here for a moment.”

  Sandra was probably one of the few women outside of family who I trusted implicitly. She was a beautiful woman, but not one I'd ever tried to sleep with. Besides having sworn off relationships in favor of no-strings-attached sex provided by professionals, my relationship with Sandra had always been platonic. I'd even been to her wedding a couple years ago.

  “Do you need something?” she asked.

  “Yes.” I leaned back in my chair. “I need you to clear my schedule past the Fourth of July. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone.”

  She gave me an odd look. “I wasn't aware you had anything on the calendar so soon.”

  I didn't blame her curiosity. I normally wasn't an impulsive kind of guy, so my behavior was strange. And that was an understatement. What I was doing shocked the hell out of me.

  “I’m going to check out a potential business venture at one of the hotels in Las Vegas,” I said, working to keep my voice even. “I’ll work remotely while I’m there, but I won’t be conducting meetings or taking phone calls. Pass along the messages you receive, and I’ll decide who I’m calling back. If there's an emergency, call me, but only if it's something really important.”

  She nodded, though her brow was still furrowed. “Do you need me to do any research or anything on this hotel? Run any numbers?”

  “No, that’s fine.” I sat forward again, frowning at my screen like there was something interesting on it. “I'd like you to arrange the jet for me. No one else should be using it right now. I’d like to leave tomorrow.”

  “Anything else?”

  “No, thank you.”

  After she was gone, I sent a quick email out to the hotel's owner. He replied almost immediately, thrilled that I was coming all the way to Vegas just to check out his hotel personally. With any luck, I'd be able to spot a few issues that could let me decline the offer without seeming like an ass, and then I could focus on the Briana situation.

  The flight to Vegas felt like it took longer than before. I spent the whole ride tapping away at the armrest of my seat, watching the seconds tick by. It shouldn't have surprised me that I'd be antsy. I spent the whole damn week trying to deal with this pent-up energy, after all.

  I checked into the Rock Bay, just like I promised her I would, even though I usually liked to sample the best of the strip. Gett
ing treatment like I'd received at the Rock Bay hadn't really been that surprising. Every hotel I'd ever stayed in had tried to win me over somehow, but so far, the Rock Bay was the only one who had. Well, Briana had won me over, anyway. If it hadn't been for her, I'd have tried out one of the new chic boutique hotels or something along those lines. If I wasn't gambling – and I generally had my fill after a trip with Enzo – then what was the point of staying at a casino?

  But the Rock Bay would have my business for as long as Briana worked there. Or at least as long as she was comfortable seeing me after this thing between us had run its course. I wouldn't force my presence on her just because I didn't have problems moving on. And that was what I'd be doing once I left here again. I'd stay as long as it took to get her out of my system, and then it'd be done.

  I just hoped it wouldn't take too long. If my family found out I was back in Vegas and why, there'd be hell to pay, particularly from Enzo.

  After I got settled in, I had to figure out what my next move was. On Monday, I had a meeting with the owner of the Grapevine Hotel and Spa, but I had nothing else on the books. Except her.

  22

  Briana

  I rarely saw Earl leave his office during the work day. If he wasn't typing away at his computer, yelling at somebody on the phone, or napping on his couch, he was usually out grabbing food or schmoozing. But neither food nor schmooze was what brought him to my tiny office on Friday afternoon, only an hour before I was due to finish for the day. I could tell it wasn't the usual because he seemed to be in an extraordinarily good mood. His dark eyes were bright and full of glee as his head popped into my doorway, and his hands were noticeably free from food of any kind.