BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE: The Unforgettable Southern Billionaires: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Young Adult Rich Alpha Male Billionaire Romance)

by Walker, Violet

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  Zeke. The man’s voice had plagued her dreams all night, saying the most sinfully delicious things to her and now, well now she couldn’t look at him without blushing and wanting to rip those clothes from his body and run her tongue over every inch of him. Zeke bathed in moonlight was just about the sexiest picture in the world. “My thoughts are worth more than that cowboy,” she tossed to him with a saucy smile.

  “Well I’m only offerin’ pennies tonight.”

  Her sigh was weighted and wistful all at once. “I was just thinking how beautiful it is here in Montana.” She swept her arms wide indicating the sky and the mountains, the cattle and horses silhouetted in the night. “It’s just so wonderful.”

  Zeke looked up at the sky and back to her, a stunning smile shining brightly across his face. “It really is a sight to behold.” He climbed the stairs and took the seat next to her on the glider.

  Ryleigh fought the urge to lean into the warmth of his arm resting behind her. She wanted to soak up his warmth and his scent and that’s exactly how she knew she shouldn’t. Zeke Reilly didn’t like her, barely tolerated her and falling for him would rank up there among the dumbest things she had ever done. She could—and would—enjoy the view he presented and she’d soak up all his masculinity and let him fuel her fantasies but in real life he was strictly hands off. She wasn’t in the mood for more heartbreak.

  Nope. Not at all.

  “So, gorgeous huh?” he inquired.

  She cringed and felt her face flush. “You know a gentleman wouldn’t bring that up.”

  Zeke leaned in until his lips were close enough to touch her ear, but didn’t. “Who said anything about being a gentleman? I’m a rancher.”

  I will not shiver, I will not shiver. The warmth of his breath and the way his words washed over her was intoxicating and though she tried not to react, he was a potent man and she shivered. “Well that’s good to know I guess.” She tried to maintain a cool façade but this man wreaked havoc on her equilibrium. “Besides I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true. You’re good looking as is,” she waved a hand up and down to indicate all of him, “but when you smile, holy hell, it’s enough to knock a girl on her fanny.”

  Well, damn. She sure knew how to lay down a compliment, he thought with a smile. “You’re good for my ego, Ry.”

  Don’t let it affect you. “Somehow I don’t think your ego needs any help from me.”

  He shrugged, his stare intense as he took in her signs of arousal. “Maybe not, but when a beautiful woman calls you gorgeous it has a way of makin’ a man feel good.”

  “Oh,” that one word was softly spoken, almost a whisper into the night. She couldn’t take her eyes from his even if she wanted to. They were dark blue, almost black, and searing right through her. Ryleigh knew he could see it all there, the attraction and the desire, the vulnerability. She wasn’t capable of hiding it and she didn’t see any point.

  Her eyes closed when one hand moved to cup her face and the other curled around her shoulder to bring her closer to him. He saw the desire brewing in her eyes but he also saw her reluctance and if her were a better man he’d let that reluctance deter him. He wasn’t though because right now he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. “Dammit Ryleigh this is a bad idea.”

  She nodded, “I know.”

  “But I don’t care.”

  She shook her head, “Me either.” Then his mouth was on hers, the kiss intense and hot, stealing her breath and turning her on. His mouth was soft, his stubble scraping across her in the most delicious way while his big callused hand gently stroked her face. His tongue was strong and persistent in its movements, twirling around her own and exploring every deep dark corner of her willing mouth. With one hand on his chest to push him away, to stop the madness, the hard muscles of his chest were too enticing to say no to. She heard a moan being swallowed and realized it was her. She should have felt embarrassed at such a wanton display but she felt too good to feel bad about it. Until Zeke pulled away.

  “You should go upstairs Ryleigh,” his whisper was gruff, almost harsh.

  Emerald eyes wide in surprise with a bit of hurt shimmering on the surface, Ryleigh stood with a curt nod. She said nothing as she turned and walked away. It was fine, she told herself, it wasn’t a rejection. Zeke had simply come to his senses faster than she had. Because you were too busy losing yourself to that smoking hot kiss, she shot back. Yes the kiss was hot, scorching in fact, but there were plenty of reasons they were a bad idea, the biggest reason of all that he seemed to dislike her and the fact that he wanted to stay in the dark about the real reason behind his father’s death. So really it was fine, he saved them both from making a big mistake.

  A big sexy, orgasm inducing mistake. “Ugh, whatever,” she sighed. She grabbed her oversized t-shirt and stripped down for bed. With an overheated body and a mind that wouldn’t shut down, Ryleigh had no choice but to replay that kiss over and over in her head until she tired herself out.

  Loud foot falls sounded up the stairs and stopped outside her door. A soft knock sounded and she knew it was Zeke. Probably coming to apologize for the best kiss she’d ever been given. She opened the door, “Yes?”

  Zeke said nothing, couldn’t say anything as long as she stood there wearing nothing a t-shirt and an exasperated expression. So against his better judgment he cupped her face and kissed the hell out of her, walking her back and closing them off in her room. “I shouldn’t do this but I can’t seem to help myself, Ry. If you don’t want this you’re gonna have to be the one to stop it, I want you too much.”

  How was a girl supposed to say no to a declaration like that? Ryleigh didn’t know much but she knew she was powerless against his sensual onslaught. She was probably half in love with the annoying man and his harshly whispered words and heated look in his blue eyes was all she needed and wanted. Just for tonight. “I want this,” she whispered against his mouth and let him take her mouth again.

  Zeke’s hands were all over her, roaming up her thighs and circling her waist, his thumbs teased the stiff peaks of her breasts and he cupped the weight of them in his large hands. “God, you feel so good,” he rasped and placed open mouth kisses all over her body. When his hands snaked up her legs again and he caught the scent of her arousal he pulled back for a look. “You’re not wearing panties.”

  “I told you I sleep naked,” she said as she arched her body so he could touch more of her. He growled and took her nipple in his mouth, making her cry out at his touch. She lost herself to the sensation of his tongue swirling around the tight bud and sucking it in softly and then harder and harder until her hips began to gyrate against him. “Zeke,” she pleaded.

  He ripped the shirt off her and took a long minute to take in her sexy body. She was fit as hell but with enough curves to send any man mad with passion. Her breasts were more than a handful, her stomach flat and well-muscled, pulsing against his soft caresses. She was neatly trimmed and glistening between her legs and he knew, he had to touch her. “You are so wet Ry. Is that for me?” She nodded and bit her lip when his strong fingers began to caress her sex, slowly stroking up and down until her body writhed beneath him.

  “Zeke,” she moaned, “I want to see you. All of you.” She stopped breathing as he stood and watched, rapt as he removed his clothes to reveal a body so bronzed and sculpted she thought he belonged in a museum. “You really are a sight to behold,” she whispered, her voice reverent. “Come,” she curved her finger to beckon him back to her waiting, needy body.

  He circled the bed and knelt on it, slowly climbing her body, peppering kisses all over. A kiss on this knee, on that thigh, a kiss to the hair covering her mound, the underside of her breast, her mouth. He reversed the path with soft kisses again, stopping to suck her swollen clit into his mouth before settling that intense gaze on her face. She was already pulsing with desire, anticipating what was to come. “No one has ever-,” she stopped her words, too e
mbarrassed to continue.

  Zeke caught her meaning and placed his mouth on her sex again, licking and sucking and softly biting until she squirmed and cried out, “Zeke!” He smiled against her and sucked her into his mouth until her body trembled on the verge of orgasm.

  “I can’t wait to taste you more, longer but now I need to be inside you. So deep inside you.” He opened her thighs wide and used her juices to drench the length of him. “You ready?” When she nodded he slid all the way in, groaning in pleasure. “Ry,” he grunted and waited so she could adjust to the size of him.

  “Go Zeke, please. Make love to me.” As soon as he began to move she felt her body go up in flames, a strange quiver taking over her body as he thrust and pounded in and out of her. Her sexual experience was limited to one time in college and she had never felt any of the things that coursed through her body right now. It was all foreign, delightful, strange. It was making her delirious. “Oh!” Her eyes widened when he hit a spot inside her that make every nerve ending in her sizzle and spark. That smug smile of his brought her even closer to the edge.

  “You feel so good Ryleigh. So. Damn. Good.”

  She broke apart at his words, feeling a strange warmth settle over her entire body and making her quake uncontrollably. It felt as though someone had lifted her up, up, up and then let her sway and fall gently back to the ground. “Oh, oh! Oh my, Zeke. Oh!” He continued to thrust into her, hitting that spot and prolonging her pleasure.

  The sound of her breathy whispers and pleas made Zeke feel ten feet tall and the way she continued to pulse around him felt better than anything had in a long time. “Ryleigh,” he grunted and picked up his pace. She was so tight and hot pulsating around him and he felt the stirrings of his own release. He felt the telltale tightening of his balls and growled, “Ryleigh!”

  “Zeke,” she moaned loudly as he pounded into her recklessly, lifting her up again. His thrusts came harder and harder, faster than anything she’d ever felt and her body tightened again. She felt her body squeeze him tight, heard him groan her name and stiffen as her body convulsed around him and their journey together came to an end. “Zeke, Zeke, Zeke,” she said over and over like a prayer as her body continued with small quakes. “Zeke,” she smiled up at him sleepily.

  “Ryleigh,” he smiled at her and leaned in for a quick, hot kiss.

  “You were amazing. That was…I’ve never felt…anything like that before.”

  He chuckled. “You are good for my ego, Ry.” Then he realized what she said. “You weren’t a virgin?”

  She shook her head, “No but I’ve only done that once before and it wasn’t anything like this.”

  That breathless voice was making him hard all over again. “Let me just,” he grabbed the base of him to pull out and stopped. “Shit Ryleigh, I’m sorry.” He saw her face fall in hurt and disappointment and grabbed her chin so she faced him. “I’m not sorry we made love. That was the craziest orgasm I’ve ever had. God woman your body fit mine perfectly,” he growled and kissed her once more.

  “Then why are you sorry? W-w-was I not good?”

  He laughed but it rang false to his own ears. “Apparently you were too good,” he pulled out with a rueful smile. “I forgot to protect us.”

  Shit. “Oh. Oh! Shit.” She looked up at him embarrassed, “I’m not on anything because, well I haven’t done this in years.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” he said pulling her body into his and covering them with a blanket. “Goodnight Ry.”

  She was already barreling towards sleep. “’Night,” she mumbled and tumbled into sleep.

  ~~~

  Zeke lay on his side, Ryleigh’s sated sleeping body nestled into his own, watching as the room grew ever lighter as the sun made its climb in the sky. He felt content, satisfied, hell he almost felt happy. Sure some of that was the sex last night and several more times throughout the night. It was more than he’d had in the past year yet it was different. It was more intense and it touched him in a place he thought long dead and worse, it made him think about the woman in his arms for longer than a night. Stupid.

  He inched his way off the bed, instantly feeling the icy cold morning as he separated from her heat. He allowed himself a moment to stare at her sleeping form, noting the uncovered dip of her waist and the womanly hips he’d held throughout the night. She was a beautiful woman and despite her inexperience, she made love with everything in her, she gave everything she had and damn she was so responsive. A guy could get used to a woman loving him like that.

  But he had to shake that thought off because Ryleigh wasn’t his and she probably would never be. Sure she’d grown up on a ranch but that was years ago. Now she was an important investigative journalist and her current interest was bringing down Track Peters. When that was done, would she move on to the next story and the next town? He stood and tiptoed to the bathroom, returning moments later to Ryleigh’s still sleeping form.

  His hip bumped a folder on the edge of the small wooden desk under the window and he bent to pick it up. Why is Pops’ name on this file? His big body lowered to the floor and he absorbed every single word contained within the file. Words popped out at him falsified autopsy and strychnine along with the original finding on the autopsy report of a heart attack. None of it made sense, it couldn’t be true. He laughed bitterly, no longer trying to keep quiet so Ryleigh could sleep. She was just like the others, trying to turn his family tragedy into drama. “Dammit,” he roared into the silent morning.

  Ryleigh stirred and turned to him, “What’s wrong Zeke?”

  His gaze found the perfect target for his simmering anger. “You Ryleigh, you’re what’s wrong,” he stood and flung the papers at her on the bed. “All this time you pretended like you wanted to help us, wanted to put Track Peters out of business and in prison but this is what you were after all along, wasn’t it? You wanted to prove that big bad Zed Reilly was really killed and sell tons of papers!”

  She hopped off the bed without regard to her naked form and scrambled to pick up the papers. “No! That’s not it at all Zeke and if you looked closely you’d see that.”

  “What I see is a woman of low morals willing to sink to any level to get a story. You make me sick,” he scoffed as he pulled his pants on. “Don’t think you’re getting any more information from me and my family. I want you out in the next ten minutes.”

  “But Zeke, wait,” she cried out as he buttoned his shirt. “Just listen to me for a damn minute!”

  “I want you out of my house. Now!”

  She shrank back at the ferocity and decibel of his words, tears streaming down her face. “But I thought…,” she didn’t finish because it didn’t matter what she thought. His words, his actions told her exactly how he felt about her. The same as everyone else. “Fine.”

  His heart twisted at the sadness in her voice but he hardened himself against it. With a curt nod he turned and exited her room, finding his mom, Zaria and Zach just outside the door. “I don’t wanna hear it,” he said and stomped off to his room.

  ~~~

  I won’t cry. Not until I get to my apartment. I will not cry. That was the vow Ryleigh repeated as she packed her small duffle bag and work bag inside the guest room at the Triple Z Ranch. Silent tears fell as she gathered her clothes but that couldn’t be helped while her heartbreak was so fresh. She would let them fall until she was ready to leave the room and then she would clean herself up, put on her best mask and say goodbye to the Reilly family. It was for the best, she told herself and she almost believed it.

  She knew she would be okay because she had no other choice. There were no family and no friends to lean on, it was just Ryleigh. She would go home and spend the day in bed crying and eating double fudge brownies from the diner and then she would write her story. She would tell the world what Track Peters was up to and then she would move on. Leave Beloved behind.

  Chapter Four

  “Oh my goodness!” Zaria shouted over the early morning noise cause
d by her excited son and a half dozen ranch hands. She read the Beloved Bugle with eyes as big as a newborn calf, hardly believing the words as she scanned every sentence. The words made her angry, they broke her heart and they made her proud. “You did it,” she whispered with a smile.

  “Who did it Mom,” Zach looked over her should with the question. “It’s Ryleigh!” He squealed and pointed at the small picture in the newspaper. “Mom it’s Ryleigh!”

  She hugged her son who had taken a shine to the beautiful journalist. It appeared Ryleigh had a way with the Reilly men. “It sure is honey.”

  “What about Ryleigh,” Annabelle asked when all the food was on the table and the cowboys were digging in.

  Zaria said nothing but just handed the paper to her mother with a knowing smile. Speaking her name lately had been met with growls, mumbled profanities and random outbursts of anger from her brother. When Ryleigh had left the ranch in tears a few weeks ago, Zaria had gotten some of the story from her and the rest from her brother. She didn’t want to believe her father had been killed but she also didn’t see Ryleigh as the opportunist Zeke wanted to believe. The story she just read proved that Zed Reilly probably had been killed even though there was no mention of Triple Z, just “another ranch located in Beloved, Montana.” She had mentioned the falsified autopsy report and original findings from the forensic lab in Bozeman. It was astonishing, really.

  “Oh my goodness gracious,” Annabelle shouted and all the activity at the tabled stopped. She looked to her daughter, eyes wide with shock. “Could this be?”

  “Could what be?” Zeke’s voice was still gruff and angry and he didn’t give a damn.

  Zach bounced in his chair, “Ryleigh’s photo is in the paper Uncle Zeke!”