Billionaire's Bounty (Plus Size Loving) BBW Erotic Romance

by Adriana Hunter

  “I don’t need you judging me, okay?” she said with flashing eyes. “Last time I checked it was a free country. And besides...it never felt like I was selling myself or anything. Because I wanted it, Jeff. I wanted him.” Her eyes held his defiantly. “I think I always did. But I guess I needed that excuse of telling myself it was for the company – even though it was never about that.”

  “Oh my God,” her brother gasped in almost comical dismay. “You’ve fallen in love with him.”

  Miranda turned away, sighing deeply. He came up to where she stood, taking her shoulder and spinning her round to face him. “How could that happen? You know it’s not going to pan out, right? Jude Stone is...”

  “I know what he is.” But what Jude was had been different from what she’d expected. She hadn’t expected to enjoy being with him as much as she had – and she certainly hadn’t expected to miss him as much as she now did.

  “Then you’ll know it’s best to forget him,” her brother said, his voice gentling as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “You made a silly mistake, but let’s put it behind us if we can.”

  “How can I put it behind me if you refuse to consider taking hold of the company?” she asked, glaring up at him. “I know you said it didn’t matter, but...”

  “We’re not going to talk about this, okay? I’ve made up my mind. I’m sorry if it feels like you went through it all for nothing.”

  You have no idea, Miranda thought as she looked away, her eyes downcast. She couldn’t say it was completely accurate. She had come away with a lot more than she’d bargained for. With Jude, she’d felt real, fiery passion. And beneath the cold, hard facts of their agreement, there had been times when she’d seen a spark in his eye when he looked at her. And the way he’d made love to her...she could never, ever believe it had all just been part of the game. But it didn’t matter now. It was over. The only thing thing left to do – and this was the hardest part of all – was to try and forget he ever existed.

  ***

  Carly wasn’t sure which was worse: brooding Jude, or quick-tempered Jude. He hadn’t been the same ever since they returned from the eventful London trip. She’d missed the main event, by his account. Apparently, Miranda Quinn’s brother had shown up and rescued his sister from the vicinity like it was a hostage situation. Now, they’d just had a gruelling meeting with his board, and he’d more or less bitten the heads off most of the top-ranking members, over little or nothing. He was getting really tough to work with, and she was concerned for him. Not just as a boss or someone running a business, but as a friend.

  “How long are we going to go on like this?” she asked mildly, and saw him look up from his desk, cocking a quizzical brow at her.

  “What are you talking about this time, Carly?” he asked on a sigh of exasperation.

  She waved her hands expressively. “You’re just no fun to work with anymore. You drive everyone almost up the wall with your short fuse, and then when you’re not displaying monumental levels of fury and impatience, you tend to be unapproachable and difficult to get along with. I’m thinking maybe it’s time you called her.”

  “Who?” he growled, then sighed at the look on her face. “Why would I do something as dumb as that?”

  “It’s pretty simple, even for you, Jude,” she said, voice teasing. “You want her, go get her.”

  He chuckled humourlessly, swivelling his chair to the side and staring out of the picture window. “She’s not going to want me, Carly. Not the way I want her. It’s not like I have a carrot to dangle in front of her anymore, do I?

  Carly had to smile. “You’re Jude Stone. You don’t need carrots.” Her tone was teasing as she added, “What I mean is, she should be wise enough to sense that you have a lot more to offer her as a woman, not just your money, looks or everything else. And once she knows how you really feel...”

  Jude huffed, pushing up on his feet as he shoved his hands in his pockets before he began pacing the expansive office. “You think I should go over there, tell her I’m crazy about her? I’m not sure I relish the prospect of being laughed at.”

  “And who says she’s going to laugh?” Carly queried, throwing her hands in the air again.

  “Carly, the documents were returned, in shreds, inside an envelope. Does that sound like my romantic declarations would then be welcomed?”

  Carly paused thoughtfully, and then said with conviction, “Yes.” She saw him glance back at her with narrowed eyes, and she went on relentlessly, “Trust me, Jude; I’m a female and we sort of have some intuition when it comes to these things. I can almost guarantee you’ll get her.”

  Jude’s face seemed to brighten, but then he grimaced. “Too risky, Carly. If she says no, or if I end up making a fool of myself, I’m not sure how I’ll take it.”

  “Well, I can imagine your dilemma, since, let’s face it - no woman has ever said “no” to you before,” his PA said drily. “I’m afraid you’ve never had much practice at being refused, Mr Jude Stone. But now I think a little insecurity is actually going to do you good.”

  He was staring at her and shaking his head in wonder. “Why do you like to see me suffer?”

  “You’re my boss,” she said with a huge, spreading grin. “That’s my prerogative. So...are we doing this or not?”

  ***

  Miranda was looking forward to this appointment. After all these months of sending out feelers, trying to make designated links with a financial consultancy ready to handle their stock portfolio, she’d hit pay dirt.

  “The Bretton Group...these guys are the best there is,” Jeff told her approvingly. “Good work, Miranda; this is your baby, so you should handle the proposal. Think you’re up to it?”

  She inhaled deeply, taking in a bracing breath. It was true that she was the one who’d got them the deal, but it was cool of her brother to consider letting her do the pitch, even though this would technically be the first time she’d be making one.

  “I think so,” she said, shrugging. “I mean, I’ve done the research, worked out the ground plan. I’m definite I can make a commendable presentation.”

  Jeff nodded approvingly. “That’s the spirit,” he said, with a playful chuck to her chin.

  “So, what time do you need to be there?”

  “They’re sending me a car,” she said, glancing at her watch. “At noon. And it’s a few minutes till then.”

  “Well, let me leave to finish with preparations,” Jeff said, heading out the door of her office, glancing back with a small smile and a nod. “Once again, sis, great job.”

  ***

  Miranda looked out of the car window, turning to the driver in surprise. “Excuse me; I don’t think this is the way to the Bretton offices...”

  It was barely five minutes since she’d been picked up from her office, and she was only just realizing that they’d taken a wrong turn.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention it, ma’am, but I’m supposed to take you to the Marquis instead; there’ll be a lunch meeting instead.”

  “I see,” Miranda said, sitting back with a slight frown as she recognised the name of the high-end restaurant. But then she shrugged. One couldn’t really be surprised at these top-playing businessmen. It was best to just flow along with their whims. If she would have to give her presentation over the lunch table, then so be it.

  In barely ten minutes, she was at the restaurant. She walked into the elegant interior, and was met by the headwaiter who proceeded to lead her to her table. She had a courteous smile on her face, her hand gripping tighter on her case as she mentally schooled herself for what lay ahead. She reached the table, and saw a devastatingly familiar figure rising as she appeared.

  “Jude,” she gasped, standing stock still as her eyes locked with his calm gaze. “What’s going on?” And then realization dawned, making her jaw clench. “Don’t tell me...you’re the Bretton Group.”

  “I am now," he murmured. "Please, sit down. I want you to at least hear me out."

  "I do
n't think that's wise, do you?" She asked with dripping sarcasm. "Because the last time I did that, look what happened."

  "Miranda, please." He held her gaze with compelling warmth. "I promise, this time, no games, no tricks. I just want to talk."

  Reluctantly, she sank into a chair, and saw him signal for the waiter. Scowling, she told him, "Look, Jude, I'm five seconds from walking out of here, so..."

  "Okay, I'll make it quick," he said drily, holding up his hands. "I found out the Bretton Group were interested in handling your interests?” he said with a calm tone, indicating the chair across from him.

  “We both know what happened the last time I did that, now don’t we?” she said ironically, and felt his gaze hold hers compellingly.

  “This time, no games, Miranda. No tricks up my sleeve. I just want to talk.”

  She sighed angrily, sinking into the chair. “I just don’t understand. Why are you here? I was supposed to meet with the people from Bretton. Don’t tell me you own that too?”

  “As of oh...last week, I did,” he said mildly. “I found out you’d been angling for a deal with them. It was a simple matter to take over their subsidiaries.”

  She was staring at him in confusion. “You mean, you took over the company? Just to get to me?” She shook her head, amazed. “Will you stop at nothing? Do you think you can buy your way through everything? Even me?”

  “I’m only interested in helping, Miranda. You sent back the papers in shreds. I felt like I still had a promise to fulfil –”

  “Well, you’ve been officially freed from that promise,” she gritted out. “Damn you, Jude. Jeffrey was right; dignity is far more important. If you think I need your pity or charity...”

  “Not pity, Miranda, and certainly not charity,” he said his tone as light as ever. “You came here to make a presentation; Bretton were already interested in taking up your portfolio. So in essence, you’ll be doing the same thing: getting financed, working to get back on track – just that you’ll be doing it with me.”

  She stared at him with furious eyes. “Now why the hell would I want to do that?”

  “Because I’m the best at what I do. And because in less than six months, I can guarantee you’ll be able to legitimately take back control of your company.”

  “I feel like I’m having a bad case of déjà vu,” she said mockingly, her head on one side. “You offer to help me in some way, and then I have to ask what I need to do in return. Right?”

  His eyes held no expression, though she dearly wished she could guess what he was thinking. She just never seemed to be able to tell. “I told you, Miranda – no tricks. I just...I’m thinking this may be my chance to make amends.”

  “Amends?” she croaked, thrown by the sudden vulnerability that flashed across his face. Jude, vulnerable? She almost couldn’t credit her senses.

  “Yes,” he said, firmly, before reaching out a hand to cover hers. Just that touch from him, and Miranda felt projected back to the three nights they’d spent together. She could have sworn she was over that, had been so sure she’d put it all behind her. But then she’d walked in and seen him, as devastatingly gorgeous as ever – and then he had to touch her. His fingers tightened on hers and she was forced to look up into his piercing aqua eyes. And couldn’t seem to look away.

  “I went about things the wrong way,” he continued with a rueful shrug. “And found out to my self-disgust that I may just be as much the bastard as everyone says I am.”

  “I don’t think you’re bastard,” she heard herself say. “Well, not recently I haven’t.”

  “Thanks,” he said drily. “It took just one night with you – and I knew I’d played the wrong card. I shouldn’t have been gunning for a week – I should have been aiming for far, far more.”

  “Trust me, anything more than a week of sex and you’d have been sick of me,” she joked, deliberately misunderstanding him as she tried not to quail underneath his melting smile.

  “I honestly, truly doubt that,” he said, his thumb stroking over her knuckles caressingly. “So here’s the deal –”

  “I knew it! I just knew there was a catch somewhere,” she said half in irritation.

  “Will you shut up and listen?” he growled, eyes dancing. “There’s no catch, Miranda. I’m simply about to suggest that we start over. As friends. I know I’m your brother’s least favourite person in the world – and the same could go with your father – but I’m hoping that somehow, I can eventually get to warm up to me. In the meantime, we give ourselves time to get to know each other – without the intimacy this time.”

  “What?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “That’s right, Miranda, no sex. Just us working things out together, as a couple. I want to prove to you that it’s not all about the physical with me. I desire you as a woman, that’s a given, but I care about you as a person, too. And I want to prove that.”

  Miranda bit on her lip in consternation. “I’m not sure what you’re requiring of me here. Are you asking me to date you, Mr. Jude Stone?”

  His lips were wry. “Something like that. I know I’ve got a lousy track record in that department, but I’m thinking I’ve met someone who can finally change that.”

  Whoa, Miranda thought, staring at him in amazement and still wondering if this was all just a very bad, very horrible joke.

  “Well?” she heard him ask, and this time his smile was not so confident. “I’m dying here, Miranda. I need you to put me out of the misery I’ve been in since that morning your brother yanked you away from me. If you know how dearly I wanted to seize you right back -”

  “But you didn’t; you let me go,” she accused. “I felt like such an idiot when you told me it was right to listen to Jeffery. I felt like I’d been cheated, somehow.”

  Jude looked confused for a moment. “Cheated...? How...”

  For a reply, she leaned forward to pressed her lips to his in a moistly aggressive kiss. She felt him stiffen, and then seconds later he was pulling her close, grinding his mouth into hers and almost crushing her with passion.

  “You owe me three nights of abandoned, heedless sex, Mr Stone,” she said wickedly when she pulled back to look into his desire-hooded eyes. Both of them were oblivious of the fact that they were in the restaurant, drawing curious looks from the other diners,

  “And then you’re telling me we’re going to be dating platonically? Hell no.”

  “Well...some rules were made to be broken...,” he said musingly, and then shook his head firmly. “No. I – we need to be strong. We’ll have endless nights of passion ahead of us, but first...I want you to get to know the real me. My interests, what makes me tick – and I’m so interested in finding out the same about you. There’s the next several months to manoeuvre the deal for your company – and while we work together, we’ll always make time for play, too.”

  “Looks like you’ve mapped it all out,” she said drily. “I just can’t help wondering how you got so smart when it comes to women, Mr Stone.”

  “I’m not,” he said, grinning suddenly. “Not in your case, anyway. I’ve bungled things a lot since we met, Miranda. But this time, I got some outside help.”

  “Carly?” Miranda asked intuitively, and when he nodded, she added with a smile of her own, “Looks like me and that PA of yours are going to get on famously, Jude...”

  Six months later...

  The celebratory gala had gone well. Her father and brother had been all-smiles throughout the evening. The champagne flowed as smoothly as the many speeches, which all had the same theme: success. The return of the company, now legitimately theirs again. It had been a long, hard road, but from the looks on their faces, Miranda was sure it had all been worth it.

  Jude was standing next to her, a steady presence though in the backdrop – just like he’d been in the past few months. Playing a background role yet just as significant in the road up to where her family had reached. And best of all, he was still here, with her. They were still together.
Now that was one more thing she wished to celebrate...

  “Want to skip the rest of the party?” she leaned forward to whisper in his ear. He turned to her in surprise, saw her expression, and his eyes gleamed. It hadn’t been that long that they’d broken the pact of celibacy, and so far every moment they shared in each other’s arms was like the first time: mind-blowing, magical.

  “I’m sure we won’t be missed,” he replied quite mildly by way of agreement. “Though I need to be sure exactly what you have in mind?”

  “It’s got plenty to do with a certain leather paddle I had delivered just this morning,” she purred, downing the last of her wine and placing it on the nearby table. “And it definitely needs breaking in, or don’t you think?”

  “Absolutely,” Jude said, his voice rough with barely reined-in enthusiasm. “You’re more than overdue for some discipline, woman. I didn’t like the way you were flirting with your last dance partner. I promised myself I would teach you a lesson for that.”

  Miranda bit back a giggle, pleased with the unmistakable spark in his eye. “I know I shouldn’t love my punishment so much, but I do,” she confessed on a soft whisper, her lashes fluttering. Her hand slipped into the crook of his arm, as she added, “Alright, Mr Jude Stone...let’s go so you can show me what a bad, bad girl I’ve been.”

  “With pleasure,” he growled, as he led his mischievous woman out of the room as fast as their legs would carry them.

  About The Author:

  Adriana Hunter writes stories for those who live to dream. Her stories run the gamut, from romance, fantasy, paranormal to captivating stories of seductive medieval nights, and wild, adult fairytales. If you are fascinated by unique tales Adriana will deliver on her promise to create spellbinding stories that will tantalize your senses and provoke your imagination.

  Other Stories By Adriana:

  Billionaire’s Bribe – Erotica

  Learning Curve – BBW Romance

  The King’s Virgin – Historical Romance