“Wait!” Meagan says then seems to be thinking. “That was only a week ago. That would mean it was merely days before you two got married. Ha!”
My body goes tense with what the hell to say to that. Elizabeth’s hand moves over my leg. “Oh, she’s the one. I’m sorry, he never told me your name. You see, it was me who told him to sleep with one last woman. I wanted to make sure he had no more wild oats to sow.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “See, that’s why I was drinking so heavily that night, Meagan. And that’s why I apologized and told you it could never happen again.”
Meagan’s light blue eyes narrow at me. “Why wouldn’t you tell me about her?”
“To be honest, I wasn’t positive she would accept my proposal. I don’t like to spout off things. You know that.” I give Elizabeth a little squeeze and kiss her cheek again as I just love the way her soft skin feels on my lips.
And it makes me wonder how the rest of her skin will feel against my lips.
Chapter 7
ELIZABETH
With the alcohol buzz beginning to wear off, I become acutely aware of the woman staring at me. “So you aren’t mad that he and I made love only days before you married him?” she asks me. “You know you can have the marriage annulled, right?”
“Why would I do that?” I ask her as Zane’s fingers move back and forth over my bare shoulder. It sends little pulses of electricity through me and I find it more stimulating than any other touch I’ve ever had.
But he’s just using me to get this woman to leave him alone. She’s pretty, I don’t see why he wants rid of her but he certainly does want rid of her if he’s going to this extreme of telling her we’re married.
“Why?” she asks with a frown. “Because he made love to another woman while he was with you.”
His lips press against my other shoulder then they graze over the surface, making my stomach flip with the sensation. “I didn’t make love to her, Elizabeth. You know that’s something I’ve only done with you, my love.”
Looking into his eyes, I see a sparkle in them as he says the words that aren’t true but feel so oddly true as he looks at me. Running my hand along his broad shoulder, I pull his face close to mine. “Are you sure?”
“We did make love!” the other woman says, adamantly. “We did!”
Zane looks into my eyes as if he really cares that I know the truth. “It was sex, that’s all. Like I told you when I got back to you. I did what you said. I had sex with another woman but my heart still belonged only to you. My one and only, true love.”
My heart beats hard and I wonder if this is how actors feel when doing some love scene. It feels real even though I know it’s not.
Looking at the woman who’s sitting across from me, I say, “I believe him. He has no reason to lie to me.”
“He has every reason to lie to you. He doesn’t want you to have the marriage annulled. Let me tell you something, I’ve known this man for quite a few years.”
I interrupt her. “And yet he and you have only had sex once. That should tell you something, don’t you think? What is it you do?”
“I am a judge,” she says as she sits up a little straighter. “And he and I have had a long-standing relationship. I don’t see how he never mentioned me to you. I find it odd, don’t you?”
I turn back to look at Zane and catch him gazing at me as he plays with a tendril of my hair. “Your hair looks pretty. They did such a nice job. Our reservations for dinner are very soon. We should go up to our penthouse so I can change, baby.”
A tremor runs through me as I have no idea if he means for me to go up to his place or not. But I just nod my head and say, “Of course.” Looking back at the woman who says she’s a judge but exhibits no actions to prove she actually is one, I nod and slide out of the seat as Zane takes my hand and pulls me along with him.
“So that’s it?” she says as she gets up and follows us.
Zane’s hand goes to the small of my back just like he did when I was in his office and it makes my knees weak. The alcohol, the heels, along with his touch, have me leaning into him. I catch him smiling as his arm wraps around me. He looks over his shoulder at the woman trailing along behind us. “Yes, that’s it. So you understand things now, right?”
Her shrill voice stops me as she says, “No! I don’t understand a thing, Zane White. I’ll get to the bottom of this! Something isn’t right here and I’ll find out everything. Just you wait.”
Her threat pisses me off for some unknown reason and I spin around and find myself face to face with her. “Listen to me, lady, this is my husband now. No matter what the fuck you thought you two had, it’s over. Done! Got me?”
She looks a little afraid, but apparently not afraid enough as she narrows her eyes. “Have fun while you can, you little gold digger. I’ll make him see the light. You’re nothing and I’ll prove to him you only want him for his money.”
Drawing my hand back to slap the shit out of her, I find it being held and turn back to see Zane holding it. “She’s a judge, baby. You can’t hit her.”
Oh yeah!
“Thanks, babe,” I say and steady myself. I have no idea why I’m feeling so possessive of this man but I am for some odd reason.
I should never become an actress. I take the role way too seriously!
“She wouldn’t have done it, anyway,” the skinny bitch says.
“If you try to bother my man again, you’ll see,” I say and turn back to Zane.
He wraps his arm back around me and we go up to an elevator as the woman walks to the front doors. She looks back at us one last time and I can’t help but shoot her my sentiments. Zane looks at me and takes my hand that’s flipping her off and holds it. His lips touch the side of my head. “Down, girl.”
My blood is boiling and I know it has to be the alcohol. I don’t act like this!
We walk to an elevator where he uses a key for us to get into it and in we go. Just as the doors close, he looks at me and makes an animal-like growl. “You can be pissed at me for this later.”
I look at him in confusion then find his body pinning mine to the wall and his mouth takes mine in the most passionate kiss I’ve ever had. My arms run around him with an instinctive action I’ve never had before.
I wrap my legs around him as he picks me up and grinds into my core. Our tongues mingle like old friends and my body heats with how good his feels pressing against it.
This is sudden and so not right but, damn it feels better than anything I’ve ever felt. The sound of the elevator stopping on the top floor, his floor with his penthouse on it, the one where we’ll be all alone, has my insides quivering with a want they’ve never had before.
Pulling my mouth away and my legs off his waist, I look into his eyes which have gone dark with what I believe is lust. “Whoa, I guess the act got away from us, huh?”
“Who’s acting?” he says then his mouth is back on mine and taking me back to the place his kiss took me before, nearly to Heaven, I think.
Even though the doors of the elevator have opened, we’re still in it. Then he’s got me up in his arms, his hands around my ass, lifting me to wrap my legs around him again as he kisses me all the way to his door.
Placing me on the floor he stops the kiss and leans his forehead against mine. “I don’t want my maid to get the wrong idea about you. I know you’re not a tramp. I don’t want anyone to look at you like you’re one.”
His fingers move over my lips then his hands move around my ass, smoothing out the bottom of the short dress. “What the hell is happening here?” I ask.
“Not sure. But I’m about to tell my maid a huge lie. She’s not a good liar so we have to tell her we’re married too or she’ll never be able to speak to Meagan again,” he says. “Are you okay with this?”
His hands move over my shoulders as he looks at me with concern in his eyes. “What is this, Zane?”
“This is a huge lie. I’ll compensate you for it. Don’t worry.
”
Funny. That makes me mad, not worried!
Chapter 8
ZANE
“Compensate me?” Elizabeth says with a low voice, even toned with an edge of pissed to it.
“You seem mad,” I say as I wait to open the door to my penthouse. I can’t go inside and deliver this news if she’s not going to do this.
“I don’t want your money, Zane. I don’t know exactly what you’ve gotten yourself into with that woman but this isn’t a thing that can go on and on. You do realize that, don’t you?” Her eyes are twinkling with her angry edge and it’s crazy how much I like that look.
“We’ll figure that out as we go along. Don’t worry. And you said you’re just a waitress. You don’t have anything making it necessary for you to get back home, do you? A cat perhaps?” I ask as I search her eyes again.
“I didn’t come here to stay,” she says then her arms cross over her chest and I see the whole mood is blown.
“Look, we’ll hammer out the details later. We do have reservations and I need to change so just go along with me as I tell my maid the news.” Taking her hand, I open the door and pull her inside.
“Wow!” she murmurs. “This is even nicer than the suite I’m in. What’s it like to always live this way?”
“It’s life,” I say as I pull her along with me, making my way to the bedroom. “Lois?”
“Here I am, Mr. White,” she says as she bustles out of the kitchen. She stops as she sees Elizabeth. “Oh, hello, miss.”
“Missus,” I correct her.
She looks at our clasped hands and I let Elizabeth’s hand go and wrap my arm around her shoulders. Lois’s eyes go wide as I do and she says, “Missus what?”
“Mrs. White,” I say and watch her expression go from surprised to confused. Thoroughly, confused. “She and I were married in Vegas a couple of days ago. During your days off. She just came in from her hometown. This is my wife, Elizabeth.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lois,” Elizabeth says as she extends her hand.
Lois shakes it and looks back and forth at us then her face splits into a smile. “You’re joking! Is it April Fool’s.” She shakes her head. “No, it’s not April, it’s July. What are you doing, you silly man?”
“It’s real, Lois. I took your advice and got married. She and I met when I went to look at a property in Chesapeake City, Rhode Island a month ago. I didn’t tell anyone but we’ve been talking all this time and secretly meeting. I asked her to marry me and she accepted only a couple of days ago.”
She seems stunned and backs up to sit in the chair behind her. “I’m sorry, I feel like I don’t even know you.”
Elizabeth gives me a frown. “You should get changed, don’t you think?”
Taking her with me, I head toward the bedroom and find Elizabeth looking back at Lois over her shoulder. “I know she looks frazzled,” I say.
“No, not frazzled,” she says as she looks at me. “She looks upset. This isn’t a nice thing to do to her.”
Into my bedroom, I go and close the door behind us. Taking advantage of the closed door and her back near it, I press myself against her and take a loose curl and twirl it around my finger. “Don’t worry about her. So, where were we.”
Pressing my lips to hers, I feel the same strange feeling zip through my body. It’s an electric heat I’ve never felt before and I don’t know if I can stop kissing her.
Her hands move up my back and then she’s holding my shoulders, pulling me even closer to her. One foot runs up the back of my leg and I moan.
I’m not a moaner. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.
The way she’s kissing me back has me thinking she feels this too. I pull back and find her eyes closed and her breathing hard. “Tell me you feel this too, Elizabeth.”
Her eyes open and shimmer as she asks, “What is it you feel?”
“Liquid heat moving through me like lightning,” I say in a vague attempt to explain how she’s making me feel.
She nods. “Yes, pretty much the same thing. What is this?”
“The most attraction I’ve ever felt for anyone in my life,” I say and go to take her sweet mouth again.
Her finger to my lips stops me. “You should change and we should go eat. I had three drinks already and I think maybe I’m plastered and just don’t realize it yet.”
Letting her go, I turn away from her. Her thinking she’s only into me because she’s drunk pisses me off. “You aren’t plastered, Elizabeth. Damn!”
“Well, I can’t explain it any other way. This is happening too fast. Can’t you see that? I mean this whole thing is way too fast. I’m not even a woman you should be with. I’m a nobody and you’re stinking rich for Heaven’s sakes. I’m the one who’s going to get hurt here. You need to reign this in, Zane.”
“Me?” I ask as I pull my shirt off. Then I see her eyes on my body.
Her mouth hangs loose then she licks her lips and moves her hands up her body. She can’t stop looking at me and I’m loving it. “You work out, huh?”
“Yes, don’t you remember us talking about that earlier today?” I ask then laugh. “Would you like to feel them?” I flex my pecs then my abs and watch her lean back on the door.
“I shouldn’t,” she says then her eyes move to mine. “I’m not that kind of a woman. Not right away, anyway. Get dressed, you’re very distracting.”
Instead of putting on another shirt, I make my way to her. She stands still, mesmerized by my upper torso and if she’s this impressed with this part of my body the next section is going to really send her libido through the roof.
Taking one of her hands, I run it over my pecs. Her smooth palm flows over my skin, leaving a trail of heat in its path. “You have no idea how badly I want to skip dinner and take you straight to that bed over there, Elizabeth.”
I move her hand down, over my abs and she moans. “You feel amazing.” Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, she lets me take her hand all the way down to my waiting erection that’s been craving her touch.
Now it’s me who’s moaning and she looks up at me with that lip still between her teeth and I can’t help myself. Leaning in, I take her lower lip with my teeth and tug it gently. Her tongue darts out and runs over my top lip.
Our mouths mingle as I pull her up and carry her to my bed. I have no idea how I’m going to make it through an entire dinner until I have felt her body against mine.
Laying her on the bed, I gaze at her as she lies, propped up on my pillows. Then I make a confession to her. “I’ve never had a woman in here.”
“I don’t believe you,” she says as her eyes go wide. “You don’t have to lie to me.” Then she sits up and looks deeply into my eyes. “My God! Your nothing but lies, aren’t you?”
“What?” I ask as I feel as if she’s just punched me in the stomach. “I’m not a liar. This is just about the first lie I’ve ever told and I did it for my sanity. I’ve had little time for women in my life. So when I’ve had sex with one, I most often did that at their places so I could leave and not have to deal with them.”
“Wow!” she says as she moves to get off the bed. “What a jackass, you are!”
“You’ve called me a son of a bitch and a jackass, all in the matter of one day. People don’t speak to me that way. Not ever!” I say as she gets off the bed.
“Let’s go to dinner. Get dressed. I have things to think about and I need my wits about me. You do something to my brain I need to figure out how to stop.”
Why does this need to stop? I really like this, whatever it is.
Well, I like the parts where she’s not calling me names, anyway!
To be continued….
The Billionaire’s Lighthouse Series
A Billionaire, Bad Boy, Romance
Book 3
Her Vengeance
By Michelle Love
Description
Lust. Passion. Revenge.
With a weekend of pretending to me married with
none of the benefits, Zane’s lust for Elizabeth is growing by leaps and bounds but she’s not about to give into him until she’s sure about what she feels for him.
Zane’s decided to use their phony marriage to help him gain even more as he has wanted to buy out a toy making company that wouldn’t consider selling to him because of his bachelor status.
Things seem to be going his way with the owner of the toy company and Elizabeth until Meagan appears and tries to ruin everything.
Will her vengefulness be the end of any hope Zane had to acquire the toy company? Will he come clean about his lie or will he hold onto it so he can hold onto Elizabeth?
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 1
ELIZABETH
“Let’s go to dinner. Get dressed. I have things to think about and I need my wits about me. You do something to my brain I need to figure out how to stop.” I say to him as I walk to the bathroom attached to his bedroom to fix my makeup and hair, his pawing has surely messed up somewhat.
Looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror I see they used some stout products on both my hair and face as neither is messed up in the least. Then Zane’s hulking body moves in behind me, wearing only his underwear. “I need a quick shower. Care to give me a hand, honey?”
Looking at him through the mirror I shoot the finger at him and stick out my tongue. “You aren’t going to get to me, Zane White. I’m not that kind of a woman. I have to have real feelings for a man before I go that far with him. Sorry. Looks like you might have picked the wrong fake wife, darling.”
His fingers move inside the waistband of his dark blue underwear and I spin around to leave the bathroom before I see more than I’m ready for. Moving past him, he chuckles as I cover my eyes and flee from him and what I’m sure is one hell of a male appendage.
TORN: A Billionaire Romance Series (Contemporary Romance Novel) Page 131