Temporary

by Alexx Andria

  He responded with a sexy-ass smirk that sent ribbons of something ticklish down to my toes.

  “You weren’t born in New York, were you?” I surmised.

  “No.” His gaze met mine. “But neither were you.”

  “Stalker much?”

  Gage’s deep throaty laugh was sexy as fuck. “I guess I deserve that,” he conceded but didn’t apologize. God damn, everything about him was hot. Even when he was being a dick. “I don’t let people in very often and when I do, I have to be sure that they’re not going to become a problem later.”

  “Later, as in…”

  “When I turn them loose.”

  “I thought you said you’d never done this before,” I reminded him with a coy grin.

  “I’ve never brought anyone here,” he sidestepped my statement, balling up his trash and stuffing it into the bag. “This is my thinking place.”

  “You come to a public park at night to think?”

  Gage nodded, realizing that it sounded odd. “Yeah, there’s something about this place that calls to me. I come at night because that’s when it’s closed. I don’t want to deal with other people when I’m trying to think.”

  “Okay, I’m just going to come out and say it…you’re fucking rich…you can buy a park like this and go sit in it all you want. You don’t have to come to a public park at night to do the same thing.”

  “Somethings aren’t meant to be bought.”

  That was the strangest thing to come out of his mouth seeing as he’d essentially purchased me. “So people don’t rank as highly as a bunch of trees in your opinion?” I asked.

  “Not really.”

  I tried not to bristle. At least he was honest, right? “You’re an odd duck,” was all I trusted myself to say but I was learning quickly how intuitive he was. He reached, pulling me into his arms so we could lie and stare at the stars. I was already softening. “Tonight, the stars are the brightest,” he said.

  “That’s helpful, seeing as we’re surrounded by pitch black forest,” I said wryly. “Did you plan this night specifically for that reason?”

  “It did come into play,” he admitted with a somewhat shy grin and I softened even more. Why did he have to be so damn good-looking? I mean, like, poster boy for the hot, untamable bad boy billionaire? I didn’t even know that was a thing until Gage.

  “So here we are…two city transplants, in the dark, staring at the stars with full bellies and you’ve already stated you don’t do small talk. Now what?”

  Gage rose up on his elbow to stare down at me, his gaze taking in everything as if committing to memory my every detail. For the briefest of moments, I almost thought I sensed something familiar but it was gone in a heartbeat. “Take your shirt off,” he murmured his command. I swallowed and wriggled out of my blouse. He nodded with approval, his body tensing. “Now your bra.”

  I closed my eyes and released the clasp, freeing my breasts.

  The way he sucked in a sudden breath made me tingle all over. I knew without having to feel or see that he was hard already. I could tell by the way his stare glazed and the way his breath turned shallow that he was hard as rock.

  I waited, my own breath compromised. When his mouth closed over my nipple, I arched, a moan spilling from my lips. Gage suckled me like a baby but his hands touched me with the urgency of a man.

  “Gage,” I groaned as he moved from one breast to the other, sucking and teasing as his hand found my wet slit. He pushed my skirt above my hips and yanked my panties down. I didn’t have time to gasp before he was feasting on my clit, seeking out that tiny pleasure button with the diligence of a man on a mission. And, Holy fuck, I didn’t mind one bit.

  I was dangerously close to cumming and he knew it. The bastard was purposefully driving me to that destination but planned to punish me if I arrived. I tried to do what guys did — think of anything that was the opposite of sexy! — but just when I thought I had a handle on the situation, Gage switched up his efforts and pushed me harder.

  “Please!” I begged, barely able to get the word out, breathlessly crying out, “Oh my God, Gage, please let me cum!”

  “No,” he answered, pulling away, leaving me aching with need and practically bawling my eyes out for release. I squeezed my thighs together but he flipped me over onto my belly and delivered a sharp whack, hard enough to sting. “I said no.”

  I gulped back the yelp and nodded miserably but when I heard his fly pop, hope had me lifting my ass, desperate to feel him inside me again.

  I’d never been so cock hungry in my life.

  “Who’s pussy is this?” he asked with silky intention in his tone as he dragged the head of his cock against the cleft of my ass, pausing to nudge at my opening. “Who do you belong to, Mari?”

  I shivered. “I belong to you, Gage.”

  “Good girl.” His cock delved into pussy just enough to wet the tip with my juices. “What do you want, baby girl? Tell me, what you want.”

  “I want to cum,” I mewled, too desperate to care what I sounded like. I was already writhing, begging for his cock. I would do anything to feel him split me apart. “Please…”

  “You don’t like to beg, do you?”

  “No,” I answered, my cheeks heating instantly. I shot him a dark look from over my shoulder. “You’re a bastard for making me.”

  “I am a bastard. Best you remember that.”

  I thought for a horrifying moment that he was going to leave me unsatisfied but he shoved his cock inside me, taking my breath away. It was a brutal invasion and yet so incredibly pleasurable at the same time.

  Ripples of sweet sensation rocked my nerve endings as he rode me hard without mercy. My G-spot swelled with each thrust until I was dangerously close to cumming and squirting.

  But when Gage bit out between thrusts, “Cum for me, baby girl,” I groaned with relief as I gratefully gave in to the bone-melting pleasure controlling my every thought.

  And I came hard.

  So hard, in fact, it almost hurt.

  I clenched down, gripping his cock with my pussy and he came seconds later, filling me again with billionaire baby batter.

  Gage rolled away, gasping, and for a long moment, we lay there, side by side, the silence broken only by our harsh breath, and I thought to myself, Holy shit…this could become addictive.

  And the realization following…

  Who am I kidding? I’m already addicted.

  9

  We dressed and started walking, leaving the picnic stuff behind for the driver. Gage was right, it was peaceful at night, something I never would’ve imagined.

  Well, once you got over the fear of being chopped into tiny bits by a crazed lunatic, of course, because, who wandered a closed park at night unless they were up to no good?

  “What do you do, exactly?” I asked, even though I doubted he’d answer. “I mean, how does one become a billionaire who can do and say whatever he wants?”

  Gage chuckled, his hand finding mine. “Nothing terribly exciting. I buy and sell companies. It’s a lot of board meetings, paperwork, lawyers, and bullshit. I just happen to be good at it.”

  I sensed that was the most Gage had opened up about himself to anyone. Why was he so closed off? What had happened to him to make him so hard to reach? I guess it wasn’t my business but here, in the darkness, I felt close to him.

  Well, that and cumming so hard I nearly went blind and deaf in the process, had a way of bonding you to a person — if even temporarily.

  “Doesn’t sound like you enjoy it much,” I ventured.

  He shrugged, replying, “It is what it is,” before turning to me. “How about you? Cocktail waitressing at a dive bar doesn’t seem like a career choice.”

  “It’s not,” I grumbled, hating to share my sad, cliched story. “I was going to be an actress but as it turns out…I’m not very good. After too many failed auditions and no work to be found, my friend turned me onto the job at Jimmy’s and I didn’t have the cash to be pick
y.”

  “You going to quit?”

  “Uh, yeah,” I answered with a short laugh. “Especially after what we did in the VIP room and Manny watched every second.”

  Gage chuckled as if he agreed with my decision. “Good. You deserve better than that place.”

  I warmed at his statement, even if I was puzzled, too, which brought me back to my original question of why me? “Seriously, why did you pick me? Sasha has bigger tits and a better ass. Every guy drools over Sasha, not me.”

  “I’m not like every guy,” he answered simply.

  Ain’t that the truth.

  “I gotta be honest, Gage, you confuse me,” I admitted. “I mean, one minute you’re being this overbearing prick and the next you’re being somewhat normal and even cool. Who are you?”

  But Gage didn’t answer, instead, he just helped me onto a large rock and climbed up to sit beside me. He was like a kid in a man’s body.

  “Tell me about Landon.”

  I startled. “Landon? My ex?” Gage nodded and I didn’t know what to say. I would never get used to Gage just knowing my business. I drew a deep breath and let it out before answering. “Landon is a dick and he’s currently suing me for custody of my cat, which is just ridiculous because half the time, he never even remembered to feed her when I asked.”

  “A cat?”

  “Yeah, my cat.” I wiped at the sudden and embarrassing tears. “He’s just doing this to hurt me. I guess it wasn’t enough that he cleaned out our bank account, most of which was my money, after I walked in on him getting a blow job from another woman. Yeah, he’s a real peach.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  I looked at Gage, my brow furrowed. “You don’t have to do that. I can hire a lawyer now, thanks to your…um, payment.” I cringed, hating how I sounded like a prostitute. “But thanks. I got it.”

  But I could tell from the set of Gage’s jaw that he would do what he pleased and if it pleased him to flay Landon alive with the most vicious lawyers money could buy…he would do so.

  “Did you love him?”

  I wasn’t prepared for that question but I answered. “I thought I did.”

  “I’m sorry he hurt you,” Gage said with genuine concern. “He’s an idiot.”

  I smiled with a nod. “Agreed.”

  “What will you do now that you have some breathing room?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe go home? I haven’t really had time to think about it. Honestly, I’m just relieved I’ll be able to pay rent this month.”

  “Is there anyone waiting for you back home?”

  “Aside from my parents who warned me that leaving for New York City with nothing but hopes and dreams was a bad idea? No.” I sighed, adding, “But I guess I could regroup and try to figure out what I want to do with my life before it’s too late to start fresh.”

  Maybe it was the night air or the promise of privacy but I became wistful.

  “I used to love photography. I think I might’ve had a small bit of talent. Maybe I’ll go back to that, take some classes, learn the actual craft of photography.”

  “You don’t need classes. Everything you need to learn is on the Internet nowadays. Get a good camera and just start taking pictures. Listen to what your gut tells you. Photography is about capturing an emotion, a moment. There’s no class that can teach you how to do that.”

  I stared, that unsettling sense of familiarity returning but I couldn’t quite place why I felt this way. It was like trying to grab at the string on a balloon as it drifted just out of reach.

  “Gage…where are you from? Originally.”

  Gage jumped down and gestured for me to follow. He caught me easily as he gently helped me to the ground.

  “A small town.”

  “Me too.”

  He cast an enigmatic smile and slipped his hand back into mine, announcing, “We should go.”

  And what could I say? I was his property for the time being. If he didn’t want to answer questions, I had no right to press for them.

  He’d already made it quite clear that I was his plaything until he tired of me, which for all I knew, could be by morning’s end.

  What did it matter where he came from?

  I guess, it didn’t.

  But something scratched at my memory, something that wouldn’t let me go.

  10

  We packed up and left the Botanical Gardens behind and I wondered what happened next. I mean, was he going to take me to his place or were we going to hit up a hotel? What was the protocol for this kind of thing?

  “Are you taking me home?” I asked, trying to figure out how this relationship worked. “You’re not going to tie me to your bed or something right?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  I laughed at the brief show of humor. “No, not really.”

  “Then, no, I won’t tie you to my bed.”

  “Okay, good.” I nodded, then I realized he hadn’t actually answered my question. “So…am I going home?”

  “I haven’t decided.” My mouth formed a silent “O” and he pulled and tucked me under his arm. Normally, I wasn’t a cuddler, but it felt good to be right up against Gage, the scent of his skin wrapping me in a cocoon of warm, sexy memories of what we’d done together since sealing the deal. “Tell me about your hometown,” he said.

  I sighed. “What’s to tell…I grew up in a small California mountain town where the most exciting thing that happened was when the gas stations went to 24-hour pumps. Like I said, boring.”

  “Is that why you left?”

  “Well, yeah. I always thought I was meant for bigger and better things.” I paused for a moment, realizing how stupid I sounded given how things had turned out. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “I wouldn’t say that…you’re here with me,” he said, tipping my chin to brush a kiss across my lips. I shivered at the soft touch. His mouth moved across mine, possessive yet tender; I was already hooked. How pathetic. “Tell me something no one knows about you,” he murmured, looking into my eyes.

  His gaze was unnerving, as if he could see into my soul. I swallowed, momentarily lost in that stare. For a heartbeat, I thought I felt something shift between us, something that didn’t make sense but was real just the same. Like when you read about soulmates connecting and the universe all of sudden grinds to a halt just so they could have their moment. Maybe that’s why when I found my voice, I said this, “I…I….have a third nipple.”

  OMG! WHY DID THAT COME OUT OF MY MOUTH?

  Gage blinked in shock, then started guffawing so hard, I had to start laughing, too. He wiped at his eyes and said, “Um, well, I hadn’t noticed but it was dark.”

  I scowled with mock pique as I explained, “It’s not like I have a third boob, it’s just a small little inverted nub that is right underneath my left breast, in the crease. You’d never know it was there if I hadn’t said anything. Hence, the reason, no one knows.”

  Gage sobered as a smile tugged at the corners of his sensual mouth. “Then, it’s the perfect gift. Thank you.”

  I knew he wouldn’t reciprocate but the words danced on my tongue just the same. Before I could spit them out, the car slowed to a stop.

  “We’re here.”

  “And where is here?” I asked.

  He climbed from the car and held out his hand to help me out.

  We must’ve traveled away from the city because we had ended up on a country road, winding to a small cabin against the trees.

  Soft yellow light shone from the small window panes in welcome and I couldn’t help but be entranced by how romantic it seemed.

  Gage had obviously gone to a lot of trouble to set this night up. What if when he’d offered me the deal I’d said no? I turned to him, confused. “If we were dating, this would definitely win you some points.”

  He chuckled, and after, murmuring instructions to the driver, who then drove off, leaving us, he gestured for me to follow.

  “But what about our driver?” I prot
ested, wondering if it was safe to be left in the woods alone, without any way to escape if things went all Friday the 13th on us. “What if we’re attacked by some crazy person?”

  “You have an excessive fear of being attacked,” he teased, causing my cheeks to flare with heat but he put my fears to rest, saying, “We’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “Do you own this place?” I asked, stepping into the cabin, taking in the cozy, rustic decor. Everything was pretty ordinary, like the kind of stuff you would find in a hunting cabin. Very manly, but tasteful, too. I was just thankful there weren’t any carcasses hung on the wall as trophies.

  “I do.”

  “You probably own a lot of places,” I ventured a guess. “I mean, honestly, you could probably buy your own island or a castle.”

  “I could.”

  I cast him a sharp look with a raised brow. “Do you? Own an island or castle?”

  “Hell no. Castles are drafty and the upkeep is a drag. As for owning an island…I don’t see the point. I don’t need an entire island to myself.”

  “That’s a little disingenuous coming from the man who rented out an entire bar as well as gained access to a closed public park so he could have some privacy,” I reminded him with a cheeky grin.

  “Touché.” He locked the front door and then pulled me into his arms. “You like it?”

  “I do.”

  “Good.” He sealed his mouth to mine, drinking me in and I melted just a little more. Had I fallen down the rabbit hole with this enigmatic man? How was it that I started this night fretting about how to pay my rent and save my cat from that asshole Landon and now I was being romanced like something out of a fairy tale by a near stranger?

  It was late. My eyes were burning but I didn’t want the night to end.

  Gage led me to the bedroom. “Which side do you prefer?” he asked.

  We were going to sleep beside each other? A tiny flutter tickled my insides. “Right side,” I answered, watching as he undressed without preamble. The moonlight bathed his skin in a pale glow, the muscles flexing in shadow. Broad shoulders narrowed to trim hips, a tiny trail of dark hair traveled to his groin where his semi-soft cock bounced gently as strode across the room to double check the windows.