His Beautiful Revenge: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  My head needs to be cleared. I’m going to take a run. That always helps. I’m sure he’s fine.

  He has to be fine!

  After changing into shorts and running shoes, I run down the stairs. “Going for a run, Mom.”

  “Don’t forget we have company coming, Alyssa,” my mother calls out after me. “Don’t be too long. He should be here soon.”

  The door closed behind me. I stretch before I take off. My parents have company coming, not me.

  What do I care about some kid of their old friends?

  My boyfriend and his family are missing. Down the steep drive I go, but then I stop. I should send Kyle a text. I grab my cell and tap out a quick one.

  -Missed you at school today. Anything wrong?-

  Okay, now that I’ve done all I can do to let him know I care about him and his whereabouts, I can run. The road in front of me has a few small hills. No flat roads around here.

  Where could he be?

  I shake my head to clear it. My heart’s pounding with worry. I’ve got to calm down.

  He’s fine!

  But what if he’s not? What if he had a wreck? What if he’s in a coma? Or worse? What if he’s dead?

  The loud sound of a horn makes me stop and look up. Something passes so close to me, the wind from it knocks me back.

  I’m falling!

  Oh, God! I’m falling!

  CHAPTER 8

  EDEN

  There it is. My mate’s house!

  This is where she’s grown up. So very different from where I did. So quaint, this tall, two-story, tan, brick home is. The whole town of Cloudcroft is quaint, like something out of a book.

  What must her life have been like?

  Playing in the pretty park in the snowy winters. I can see her dressed in a white jacket, laughing as she watches her younger brother slide down the slopes.

  Picnics must have been aplenty there in the summer. Perhaps she fished in the ponds which dot the area.

  How will she take to the humid air in New Orleans? Will she hate it there?

  The driveway is steep as I pull in. The mountain is gorgeous, as is the thick forest. So very different from the flat, swampy lands of Louisiana where I’ll be taking her to.

  Will she ever come to love it as I do?

  I wonder how she’ll take to living in a mansion.

  The sound of my engine must have alerted Toni to my arrival. She’s waving as she comes out the green front door. “Eden, I’m so happy to see you.”

  “Where is she?” I ask. Patience and politeness, it seems, have momentarily left me. “Sorry, how rude of me. How are you, Toni?”

  Toni leans in my window. “That’s okay. I’m sure your nerves are on edge. She went for a run down the street. She usually runs just to the edge of town, then turns back. Why don’t you drive down and surprise her? I told her that you were just about to get here. Your gorgeous car is bound to get her attention, along with your devastatingly handsome face, I might add.”

  Flattery. Yeah, it still gets to me. Pink has to be staining my cheeks.

  “Do you think she’ll get in the car with me?”

  How wonderful it will be if she sees me and instantly knows we have a connection, pre-destined to be one.

  She pinches my cheeks like she’s done every time she sees me. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but you can drive slowly next to her as she runs if she won’t. Kind of romantic, right?”

  I assume some think that might be romantic. To me, it should be love at first sight. Complete trust right from the beginning would be nice.

  A sudden knot forms in my stomach as I realize I’m minutes from seeing my mate, my Alyssa. “I’ll find her. This road here, right?”

  A nod of her head sends me on my way. After all this time, I’m within walking distance of her. My hands are shaking on the steering wheel. Sweat forms on my brow.

  A quick glance in the rear-view mirror shows glistening beads on my forehead. I reach for a handkerchief in the small compartment between the seats, dabbing at the droplets as I roll over one small hill after another. A small form moves on the road ahead of me.

  Her long black hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and it swishes with every step. Narrow shoulders swing back and forth as she moves down the street.

  I haven’t seen her face and already I know she’s beautiful. Her body sways elegantly with every movement she makes. She’s mesmerizing.

  It’s her. My mate!

  Everything is going in slow motion. I swear I can see every hair as it moves back and forth. The small ripples of sweat which trail down her thighs shine brightly in the evening sun.

  As crazy as this might sound, I can smell her from here, with my windows and top down on my car. A mixture of vanilla and cinnamon, some lavender, and her own distinct light, musky scent.

  What will she taste like?

  The pounding in my chest almost deafens me. I must control myself or I’ll surely frighten her with my passion for her. She’ll think me a letch, or worse yet, a stalker.

  Taking in a deep breath, I slow my car to a near stop, rolling only a bit. A dark shadow falls over me and I look up. Two giant black birds fly over my head. Both shriek at the same time. I have to cover my ears it’s so loud. They fly straight to my mate.

  They are magnificent!

  As my eyes follow their path just above my head another loud noise fills the air. A loud honking sound. Then I see where the birds are going and they’re nearly to her.

  There’s a truck! No! No! Please, don’t let it hit her!

  CHAPTER 9

  ALYSSA

  It’s dark. Something’s beeping. Who is that I hear talking?

  A smooth, velvety voice asks somebody, “Will she be all right?”

  A woman’s voice answers, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She should wake up anytime now. There was no bleeding on her brain, just a slight concussion.”

  Warmth fills me as someone touches my hand. “Alyssa, please wake up for me,” the same velvet voice says. That voice is beyond beautiful. French, perhaps, with a hint of something else. “Alyssa, baby, please wake up for me.”

  Baby?

  I have to see. To open my eyes proves harder than it should. What’s happened?

  Lips brush my ear. The velvet voice says, “Je t’aime, Alyssa.” The hand on mine squeezes.

  What the hell does that mean?

  What language is that? Why didn’t I take something other than Spanish classes?

  I must see who’s doing this. He’s too close. His mouth near enough to whisper in my ear is way to close. Okay, three, two, one. My eyes blink open.

  Damn, everything’s blurry.

  A tall shape hovers over me.

  “There are those beautiful blue eyes. Keep them open for me, Alyssa,” the velvet voice speaks again.

  In an attempt to rub my eyes, I pull a hand up, finding it hard, as there’s something attached to it. “What?”

  My voice sounds terrible.

  Something is held to my mouth and it touches my lips. A straw, maybe. I pop it into my mouth and pull on it. Water, thank you, God. I’m so thirsty.

  The dark shape in front of me asks, “Is that better, baby?”

  I nod, blinking more. Everything focuses. Dark brown hair is cropped close at the sides of his head and long on top. It’s gorgeous. His eyes are the color of emeralds. Dark, lush lashes surround them, making them even more beautiful. A perfect nose set between high cheek bones leads me to his full lips, the color of caramel. I wonder if they taste like that too.

  Oh, what’s wrong with me?

  “Who are you?” I ask as I gaze over his entire body, which is exquisite.

  He’s dressed like a freaking fashion model. A white shirt underneath a black jacket, with slacks to match. I’m no fashion guru, but if I checked the label, I bet it would have the word Armani on it.

  He has more muscles than I’ve ever seen in real life before.

  What’s wrong with me? I’m
with Kyle. It’s not right to look at this guy in this way.

  He holds my hand in his as he sits on the bed next to me.

  He’s my doctor, that’s who he is. Yeah, he has to be a doctor.

  “I’m Eden Fontaine, Alyssa.”

  “My name, how do you know it?”

  His hand leaves mine to reach into his pocket. He holds up my cell phone, placing it on the table next to the bed.

  “I saw what happened to you. I was coming down the road behind you when I saw you almost get hit by a truck. You fell backwards and knocked yourself out. Don’t worry. I called your parents and told them I was taking you to the hospital.”

  My parents!

  “Where are they?” I ask, trying to sit up, but he pushes my shoulders, making me lie back.

  “You can’t move fast like that, Alyssa. You have a concussion. It’s not the worst thing which could’ve happened to you, but it’s still something that will slow you down for a little while. Didn’t your parents tell you my name?”

  Huh?

  “Why? I mean, how? What?”

  The puzzled expression he gives me confuses me even further. “They told you about me, right?”

  I shake my head, only once, though, because that really hurt. “Why would they?”

  The frown on his totally handsome face is a sinful thing to see. Only happy expressions should show on that face. “I’m the son of their old friends.”

  He’s the kid who’s staying the week with us? Damn, damn, damn!

  He does not look like a kid. Not at all. He looks like a grown-ass man. A hot as hell grown-ass man.

  “Oh, that guy. They said you were coming today, but they never told me your name. Sorry. I went and knocked myself out. I’m okay now. Can you tell the doctor to come in and let me go home?”

  The shaking of his head makes the longer hair on top bounce a bit. It’s beautiful. Damn, I have to stop looking at him. He’s just so damn perfect. His muscles are bulky under the fabric that hides them from me. Mom could have mentioned that little fact to me.

  I hope Kyle won’t be threatened by this guy. I mean, he’s completely hot, but my heart belongs to my Kyle.

  “You have to stay the night. They want to keep you under observation for twenty-four hours before they’ll let you go home,” he informs me.

  Crap!

  “Are my parents on their way here?”

  “They told me to stay with you.” His words take the air out of my lungs.

  What the hell?

  “Do you mean until they get here?”

  My stomach clenches as he runs his fingers lightly along my collar bone to my shoulder. “The blue bruise on your shoulder must hurt. I hate to see that on your perfect ivory skin.” His voice sounds far away as he gazes at my shoulder.

  Perfect ivory what? Damn it! This guy is something else.

  “Umm, Mr. Fontaine, about my parents.”

  The jerk of his head as he looks back at me shows me the frown he’s wearing. “No, Mr. Fontaine, Alyssa. Call me Eden, I insist. About your parents, I’ve told you. They told me to stay with you. I’ll be with you until the doctor releases you.”

  He’ll be staying here? All night long? With me?

  I want my mommy!

  “That’s hard to believe. I need to call my mother. Can you hand me the phone?”

  My cell phone is picked up and placed back in his pocket as he says, “I had to turn it off. No cell phones allowed in here. I promise they’re completely aware of everything. They’ll be at home, waiting for you tomorrow.”

  This has to be some kind of joke, or a misunderstanding, or a completely fucked up situation. “My parents are incredibly over-protective. There’s no way they’d want a man spending the night with me anywhere.”

  Back by my side, he sits on the bed, brushing my hair back. “They trust me, as should you, Alyssa.”

  The way he talks is so formal. Normally, I’d think him stuffy and slightly arrogant. Somehow he pulls it off.

  He has an untamed look to him, though he speaks as if he’s been very well educated and refined. “Where’d you come from, Eden?”

  The way his lips turn up into a smile makes my heart rate increase, something we both observe as the beeps of the machine speed up.

  How embarrassing!

  “New Orleans.”

  “So that’s the accent, then?” It’s a mix of southern and French and its smooth and deep. Sexier than should be legal!

  My hair seems to fascinate him. His fingers twirl it. And though I should stop him, I don’t want to.

  “Some of it. My father’s French and he grew up there. When he met my mother, who’s from New Orleans, he moved to the United States. I’ve spent most summers in France. We have a home in Paris. We speak entirely in French when we’re there. Do you speak any other language?”

  Why does he peer so intensely into my eyes?

  “No,” I answer.

  Cupping the back of my neck, as if he’s about to pull me up and kiss me, he says, “We must remedy that.”

  I can’t let him do that, so I frown. “I’m not sure what you mean by that. My parents may not have let you in on the fact I have a boyfriend. It’s serious. I’m moving to Texas with him in about two weeks.”

  Something flashes in those deep green eyes as he moves his hand away from me.

  Was that anger?

  “They’ve told me.” His words are soft, unlike the look his eyes had for a split second. “By the way, where is he?”

  I wish I knew.

  “Busy, I guess.” My heart thumps hard against my chest. This is also brought to his attention as the machine’s beeps stagger a bit before they return to normal.

  Damn, I’m glad we don’t have to wear one of these things in our daily lives. Nothing would be left to the imagination.

  The hand he runs over my cheek makes my stomach clench and my heart race.

  Damn machine!

  “Alyssa, if you were mine, je ne ferais jamais vous laisser seul. It’s a fact that he hasn’t contacted you since yesterday. Is it not?”

  How is he aware of that? I’ve told no one but Laura.

  I pull his hand away from my cheek. It’s very distracting. “First thing, what did you say to me? The use of English is probably a much better idea if you’d like me to be able to hold a conversation with you. Although it sounds gorgeous, for all I know, you’ve just told me I look fat in this awful hospital gown. Next thing, how do you know how long it’s been since I talked to Kyle?”

  Standing abruptly, he turns away. “So that’s his name.”

  What the hell is it with this guy? He’s awfully dramatic. Is this how all the people from New Orleans act?

  “Yes, that’s my boyfriend’s name. So how about answering my questions?”

  Turning back to me, his eyes burn into mine. “What I said was that I would never leave you alone. The other thing you asked was told to me by the girl who came to see you while you were still unconscious. She said you must’ve been distracted by your boyfriend’s disappearance since you hadn’t talked to him since yesterday. I think she told me her name was Lauren. Your mother told her you were here.”

  “Laura, her name’s Laura. Is she still here?”

  “She had to leave. It got late,” he says as he takes a seat on my bed again. “It’s after midnight. You were out for a long time. I was very worried.”

  Really? I don’t see how.

  “Why? I mean, you don’t know me?”

  “Must you know a person to worry about their health?” His question makes me feel like an ass for asking him such a thing.

  In an attempt to be more cordial, I say, “Sorry. I’m crabby, I guess. You’re so nice and must be very compassionate. It’s rude of me to ask you such questions. So what has you visiting our tiny town?”

  Hesitant, he finally answers. “I’m on my way to Los Angeles and thought it would be nice to take some time here to visit your family. Our parents were very close. I’m curious about t
he people my parents care so much for.”

  The way his eyes move slowly around the room makes him appear distracted. “What are you going to Los Angeles for?”

  My voice gets his attention and he looks back at me. Trailing his fingers lightly over my arm, leaving it tingling, he says, “Just business. Nothing worth talking about.”

  I should make him stop touching me. Yet the words refuse to come out. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It’s as if electricity flows between us in a way I could’ve never imagined.

  Is it weird to feel like you know someone you’ve just met?

  CHAPTER 10

  EDEN

  Beautiful even in her sleep, my eyes refuse to leave her face. No sleep will find me on this night as I can at long last gaze upon her.

  The pictures I have of her do her no justice. Her voice is even more delightful than I imagined it would be. It’s the slightest bit high, while smooth as silk and completely intoxicating. She is perfection.

  I resist the urge to touch her. I don’t want to wake her. How I’ll be able to keep my hands off her, I don’t know. She clings to the idea of her love for that boy, yet I know she can sense our connection.

  The air between us fills with sparks of electricity. I’ve never had this sensation. She has to sense it as well. Even as she sleeps, she holds fast to my hand. I want to brush my lips to hers so much it fills me with a tension I knew nothing of before her. It’s as if nothing existed until now.

  How I was before, being only half of a whole. Now that I can breathe the same air she does I’m beginning to feel more myself. Odd to not have ever noticed it before. It’s certain once she falls in love with me, I’ll be a whole being for the first time in my life.

  How do I get her to fall in love with me?

  I have no idea how to do that. At the very least, I’m glad that boy hasn’t shown up here. Toni should’ve never told that girl of Alyssa’s accident. Now he could find out and show up.

  Everything would’ve been different if I had just kept Alyssa with me. I suppose it’s useless to be mad at myself for past mistakes, but it boils in my brain.

  My mother warned me and I blew her off. So smart, I thought I was. Now I look back and see that as extreme vanity.

  Since I can remember, I pictured the moment Alyssa first saw me. She would love me, no matter what or how many years passed. That didn’t happen. She didn’t know me at all.