by L. Nicole
“You’re staring,” she murmurs, her eyes fluttering open.
“I thought you were sleeping,” I laugh.
“I was until my man got out of my bed. It’s cold without you.”
I get back in bed with her and pull her warm body in to me, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I'll get the furnace fixed in the morning,” I promise. “As long as you don't tear it up anymore to get my attention,” I add, my lips stretching into a smile against her soft skin. I let my fingers drift through her hair, letting the waves curl around them.
“I’ll leave it alone. I have different ways to get your attention now,” she jokes.
“That you do,” I agree, bending down to kiss her gently. Brandi meets my lips eagerly, and a brief kiss turns into a deeper one that leaves us both breathless when it’s over.
“Why were you out of bed?” Brandi asks with a yawn. I smile at the sound, thinking I’ll be the luckiest man in the world if I have Brandi in my arms for the rest of my life.
“My back was cramping. I just needed to stretch it for a bit,” I confess, hating to tell her about my weaknesses but figuring there’s no point in trying to keep it from her now. “So I thought I’d make sure the door was locked.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Just from looking at the scars, I can tell it must have been really painful. Does it always hurt you?”
“The scars aren’t painful anymore, baby. They’re just ugly as hell.”
I feel her fingers press against the ridges on my back, the feeling dull because of the loss of feeling in the area, but for some reason her touch still feels heated.
“I don’t find them ugly. I find them beautiful because they are part of you,” she says, and fuck if I don’t believe her.
“Keep it up, Brandi, you’re going to make me fall in love with you,” I tell her, using her own words.
She moves so that she props her head on my chest to look up at me. She’s got a slight blush on her cheeks, and she looks absolutely beautiful to me.
“You’re a special woman, you know that?”
“If that’s true, why do I get the feeling you’re worrying about something?” she asks, proving that she’s definitely perceptive.
“I'm worried you're going to regret getting involved with me, maybe even regret the fact that you gave me your virginity.”
“Now you’re being crazy, Jack. I would never regret being with you.”
“I’m a lot older than you, and I’m not exactly a soft, romantic man, Brandi,” I tell her, giving her information that she already knows.
“You’re not romantic? I’m not so sure about that. Although, I can admit that there’s not one thing soft about you…” she replies, her voice dropping down into a breathy whisper that wraps around my cock—just like her hand. “Definitely not soft… Daddy,” she teases, stroking me.
“Fuck,” I groan, capturing her mouth and kissing her hungrily. She’s perfect…
And she’s mine.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
BRANDI
VALENTINE’S DAY starts off cold and very snowy. I got up early, but there’s no going into the store today. Colorado is in the midst of a snowy blizzard. It has been two weeks since Jack and I have been together, and it really has been nothing short of perfect.
We’ve spent almost every free moment together, and I’m living at Jack’s house now. It wasn’t an intentional thing. Jack explained that he liked to write at night, and his place was bigger. When I told him that I didn’t understand, he snapped, sounding extremely put out, and said he wasn’t going to bed without me. It made me giggle, but since I didn’t like the idea of sleeping without him either, I didn’t argue.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve learned so much about my man. For starters, I learned that he wasn’t a CIA operative or a hired assassin. What I did find out was that my man was a hero. He was in the military, and the firefight he was caught in not only caused his scars, but it also cost him several of his fellow soldiers. The surprises didn’t end there, however. It turns out that my man is a writer—and not just any writer. He is the author of my favorite criminal thriller series. He still worries about the differences in our ages, but with every day, I can physically see his worries lessening. We really are perfect for one another, and he’s slowly beginning to believe that. As for myself, I’m already convinced. Jack Clayton is my soulmate.
“Is that coffee I smell?” Jack asks, coming into the kitchen.
My heart stutters in my chest as I look at Jack. His hair is ruffled, he doesn’t have a shirt on, and the button on his faded jeans is undone. He’s barefoot, too, and for some reason that makes him even sexier.
“Piping hot and black, just the way you like it,” I tell him, handing him a cup.
“God you really are perfect,” he groans, giving me a quick kiss. He takes a drink and sits down in a seat across from me.
“Don’t you forget it,” I joke.
“Like that could ever happen,” he says with a wink.
“Do you know what today is?” I ask him.
“Thursday?” he responds, making me frown.
“Jack! It’s Valentine’s Day!”
“Is it?” he says, with fake innocence.
“You forgot? But it’s our first one together!” I practically whine.
“I take it Valentine’s Day is important to you?” he murmurs, studying me.
“Well, it is now that I know what love is,” I mutter.
“What is love, Brandi?” he asks.
“You, Jack. You’re love. I love you so much.”
“Come over here and tell me that like you mean it, baby.”
I walk around the bar and stop right in front of him.
“I love you, Jack. I’ll always love you,” I murmur.
“I’ve never got one before, baby, but I think that’s the best Valentine’s gift I will ever receive,” he says, kissing me.
When we break apart, I’ve somehow been pulled up onto Jack’s lap, and he’s holding me close.
“I don’t think today could get any better,” I tell him, my head resting against his chest.
“I don’t know about that. You haven’t got your gift yet,” he says smirking at me.
“You mean you didn’t forget?”
“Forget that it’s Valentine’s Day when I’ve finally found the woman I’m supposed to spend my life with? I’m not stupid, baby.”
I smile up at him shyly. “Do you mean it?”
“Open your gift, Brandi,” he murmurs, taking a small box out of his pocket and handing it to me.
I stare at the jeweler’s box in disbelief. Then, I open it slowly with shaking hands, revealing a beautiful princess cut diamond engagement ring.
“Jack?”
He takes the box and gets the ring out, sliding it onto my finger.
“I love you Brandi. Marry me and be my Valentine forever,” he murmurs, sliding the ring into place on my finger and kissing it while staring into my eyes.
Tears begin falling, completely happy ones, and I gasp.
“Jack,” I respond, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Is that a yes?” he says with a smile, and I know he is positive of my answer and he should be. I’m never letting him go. Yet, when I open my mouth to confirm that, that’s not what I say.
“But all I got you for Valentine’s Day is a naughty nurse outfit to wear tonight!” I blubber, unable to stop my tears.
Jack’s body goes solid against mine.
“Naughty nurse?” he asks, his voice stilted.
“Yeah,” I sniffle, trying to get control of myself. “I was going to surprise you.”
Jack looks at me for a minute as if my words don’t register. Then, he stands up, keeping me in his arms, and begins carrying me toward our bedroom.
“Wait! Where are you going?” I ask him, holding onto him because he’s speed walking.
“I want my Valentine’s gift now,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“Oh… Does that mean you
like it?”
“Oh yeah, and if you play the part really well, I’ll let you call me Daddy Doctor,” he says with a grin, making me giggle.
“I can do that,” I respond. “I might even let you show me your tongue depressor.”
Jack lets out a laugh. “How do you get me hard as a rock and make me laugh at the same time?”
“It’s a gift,” I murmur, kissing the side of his neck. “Hurry, Jack, I need you.”
“You’ll always have me, Brandi. Always,” he vows and my eyes close as a wave of happiness fills me completely.
My life changed the day I met Jack Clayton and every single day since then just keeps getting better, and as I look down at the diamond gleaming on my finger, I know that will always be the case.
“And I love you, Jack. Always.”
EPILOGUE
JACK
TWO YEARS Later
I watch from the doorway of the nursery as Brandi nurses our son, Jackson. Our daughter Amelia is sleeping in her room. This is a rare moment in the Clayton household. A lot has changed in the past two years. We got married and live on our ranch. I did buy some cattle and now I could probably give up writing and just be a cattleman, but I love it too much.
Brandi and I have two kids now and they keep us on our toes. My novels are still selling strong, and Brandi’s business has grown so much that she’s had to hire help. She wants to make sure she has time to spend with the kids and me. I don’t know how I got so blessed to have her, but there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful. We were so happy that Valentine’s Day two years ago, and we didn’t even know Brandi was pregnant then. It was too soon. Now? The happiness is indescribable. Every year with my beautiful wife just gets better and better.
I look as Brandi slides our sleeping son into his crib, leaning down to place a kiss on his forehead and touch him gently. She’s a born nurturer, a loving mother and wife. I can’t believe there was a time when I thought she was too young for me. The truth is that she is made for me. Until Brandi, I never believed in soulmates.
I was a fool.
I stretch out my hand and Brandi puts hers in it, as we quietly walk out of the nursery.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love,” I croon, kissing the top of her head.
Brandi leans into me, giving me her weight, her arms going around me.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she murmurs back. “We didn’t get our dinner out like we planned,” she yawns. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Pauline can watch the kids some other night. Honestly, my favorite thing in the world is being home with you and the babies,” I respond, and I can see the small upturn of her lips.
“Mine too.”
“You look tired. How about a little nap before Amelia wakes up?” I suggest. Our daughter rarely sleeps. She’s afraid she’ll miss something, so this is time that I’m not going to waste.
Brandi raises an eyebrow, pulling back to look up at me “A nap? Are you sure that’s what you have in mind?”
“Well,” I respond with a smirk, trying to look innocent—and failing. “Maybe? I mean, I’m not committing to any one thing.”
“I see. Does that mean other things are on the menu for tonight?”
I scoop her up in his arms. “I'll see what I can do, baby.”
Brandi’s soft laughter wraps around me, and in that moment, I don’t think it’s possible to be any happier than I am right this minute. A second later my wife proves me wrong.
“Hurry, Daddy,” she purrs.
I’ve said it a million times, but it’s true. Brandi is fucking perfect.
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Be My Dirty Billionaire
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Dedication
Blurb
1. Jack
2. Brandi
3. Jack
4. Brandi
5. Jack
6. Brandi
7. Jack
8. Jack
9. Brandi
10. Jack
11. Brandi
Epilogue
Afterword
Keep In Touch
Also by L Nicole