An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle #1) (Billionaires' Brides of Convenience Book 3)

by Nadia Lee

  The emptiness between my legs throbs. I moan softly at the sweet ache. He rumbles against my mouth as though he knows exactly what I’m feeling. His thick, hard cock presses against my belly, and the syrupy heat intensifies in my core.

  “Fuck, you’re hot,” he whispers. “Why you would deny yourself this is beyond me.”

  Because you won’t even call me by my name.

  The small voice of sanity cuts through the sexual haze like a scalpel. I shove him away from me with all my strength. It isn’t really enough to make him back off, but he pulls away anyway.

  “No,” I say.

  He drops his gaze to my beaded nipples and raises it to my eyes. “That’s what women say when they aren’t wet.” The heated expression on his starkly handsome face says he knows I’m soaking right now.

  “Or when they’ve come to their senses.” I retreat and pick up my purse and put it between us like a shield. “If you really need to get laid, why don’t you get someone who’s interested?”

  A corner of his lips tilts as he stalks toward me. “I already have. Your mouth says no, but your body says yes.” He pulls me to him, purse and all.

  My heart beats frantically, blood roaring in my head. A finger glides along my slick folds, sending electric frissons of want through me.

  Elliot licks his wet finger. “Sweet. Just as I suspected.”

  I’m so hot I feel like I’m about to combust. I should be totally outraged, furious that he put a finger down there, but instead I want him to do it again. What is wrong with me? I haven’t even been drinking. I have no excuse.

  “You’re a smart girl,” he purrs in my ear. “You’ll figure out what you really need. Meanwhile, think about it…”

  Letting me go, he looks at my moist, tingling lips, and I can feel the need pulsing through the sensitive flesh. My legs are shaking so hard I don’t know how I’m standing upright.

  He pulls out a business card, folds it lengthwise in half, and sticks it into my bra. “Call me when you’ve thought enough.”

  Chapter Ten

  Annabelle

  “You’re really late,” says Nonny, looking up from a textbook when I finally get back home. She’s on her belly on the floor, ankles crossed in the air. Her hair’s damp from a shower. The oversized yellow nightshirt and blue cropped pants are relatively new—something I bought from Target before I got laid off. The sight of them makes me feel slightly better…even though they aren’t really proof that I’m doing a good job of taking care of my sister.

  “Sorry. Really bad traffic, and I made a wrong turn on top of that.” The lie slips out surprisingly easily. But what can I say? I can’t tell her the truth. “Did you eat dinner?”

  “Uh-huh. I had some of the leftovers.” She rolls over and sits up. “So how was it?”

  “How was what?”

  “Your first day at work. Duh.”

  “Oh. Yeah, it wasn’t too bad. Actually pretty easy. No irate diners to deal with,” I say, looking through the fridge for something to eat. Nonny left me a portion of casserole from yesterday, which I decide to nuke.

  “Really? Okay, well…cool.” She waits until I pull out my dinner before continuing, “I’m going to study hard and go to a kickass college and make lots of money.”

  I raise an eyebrow. What is this about?

  “Good for you,” I say finally. “But you should find something you’re really passionate about, not just something that can give you a lot of money.”

  “What I’m passionate about is a big paycheck.”

  I laugh through a tinge of apprehension. “Seriously?”

  “Totally. If we had money, we wouldn’t have to live like this, and you wouldn’t have to take janitor jobs.”

  A sudden lump fills my throat. I go over and give her an extra-tight hug. “Nonny, I’m so sorry.”

  She hugs me back. “You’re doing your share, so I have to do mine, right? I’m going to help you finish college.”

  “Don’t feel like you owe me.” I look at her. My lower jaw quivers, but I put on a smile. “I’m doing this because I love you. It’s you and me against the world now.”

  “But if you didn’t have me, you’d be happier. Like Caroline. You could go out and have fun and stuff.”

  “I’m happy exactly where I am. And if I lost you I don’t know what I’d do.”

  Nonny looks skeptical.

  I cock my head. “Did Caroline say something?”

  She doesn’t answer.

  God, that meddling bitch. I can’t believe this. “Don’t listen to her. She’s not worth it.” I put my hands around her arms. “Just worry about yourself. Not me.”

  My poor little sister. She’s growing up too fast, maturing too soon. When I was her age, my biggest worry was how I was going to get away with skipping school and sneaking into parties with the older kids.

  Nonny nods. As I pull away to go finish my dinner, her shirt slips, showing a bit of shoulder. She drags it back up fast, but not before I see something that looks suspiciously like a bruise.

  “What’s that?” I take the shirt and pull it over. I was wrong about the discoloration being a bruise. It’s a bite mark. “Did you get bitten?”

  Nonny’s voice is sharp, her motion jerky as she yanks the shirt out of my grasp. “It’s nothing.”

  “We have to go to the hospital and get it checked.”

  “It happened yesterday, and I’m fine. No need to waste the money.”

  “It happened yesterday?”

  She doesn’t look at me. “Just a stupid fight. It’s nothing.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because it’s not important! I yanked on her earrings, and she backed off. She’s dumb anyway.”

  “Is she from the Evil Squad?”

  “Yes, and she won’t do it again.” Nonny juts her chin out like a boxer before a match. A fierce light burns in her eyes, and I don’t know what’s happened to my sweet little sister.

  She grabs her textbook. “I need to get some sleep. Gotta be up early for morning rehearsal.” She starts toward our bedroom. “By the way, don’t worry about the trip. I told the band director I can’t go.”

  This hits me so hard I gasp. “Why?”

  “You know…” She shrugs and kind of looks around at our cheap place.

  “Tell her you made a mistake. You can go. I’ll make it happen.”

  She shakes her head. “Forget it, Anna. It’s just a stupid hobby.” She goes into the room and shuts the door.

  I stare at the closed door. My appetite’s gone. This is all my fault. I should’ve hidden my struggles from her better and warned Caroline to keep her big mouth shut.

  But maybe none of that would’ve mattered. Nonny’s a perceptive girl, and it’s impossible to hide how little money we have.

  I pull out Elliot’s card. It has his full name, plus a phone number, neatly written in black ink. Does he think this is how he’s going to get me? A kiss, a finger down there, a promise of some money and a card?

  Shaking my head, I stick it back into my bag and change into my old PJs. They’re nice—Mom bought them before everything tumbled down around us. Nonny doesn’t have anything similar since she grew out of them all.

  An hour later I crawl into bed next to Nonny and stare at the ceiling. Maybe Elliot is the answer to all my problems. It’s just sex, right? And only for a year. At least he’s open about what he wants and what he’s willing to give in return.

  Of course there’s the possibility he’s some kind of psycho. What’s up with his insistence on calling me Gigi? Some kind of fetish? Or does he want me to act like an unrequited love of his? Some old girlfriend?

  Probably not. I narrow my eyes. He’s too handsome and rich not to have everything he wants.

  I wish I could talk to someone, but there’s nobody for me. I sigh. I don’t even have Traci’s number anymore. I deleted it from my phone after Nonny and I practically fled Lincoln City.

  Closing my eyes, I will mys
elf to sleep. Tomorrow’s another long day and I need some rest.

  But when the sleep finally comes, I dream of Elliot…and his wicked finger.

  Chapter Eleven

  Annabelle

  Morning is a little awkward. Caroline, as usual, got home late, so she’s still asleep in her room. Nonny and I don’t really say anything to each other. I’m still stewing in my guilt and frustration over how little I can give her, and Nonny…well… I don’t know what she’s thinking as she splashes milk over her bowl of cereal.

  I don’t bother with breakfast. A part of me is still too upset to eat, and another part wants to stretch what we have as long as we can. Payday isn’t for another two weeks.

  Nonny’s clothes are old and frayed. And most of them are a size too small. It seems so unfair that I grew up with designer outfits and shoes while Nonny doesn’t get any of that. And she deserves them more than I ever did. She studies hard, rarely complains about anything, and she…

  “I’m sorry, Anna,” Nonny says. “I didn’t mean to get upset like that.”

  I sit in front of her and take her hand. “Me too. I should’ve handled it better. Now look, you tell your band director you’re going on that trip. I’ll make it happen, I promise.”

  “You don’t have to. I’ll just wait until I get a part time job and save some money. I should’ve thought about it before, you know?”

  No, you shouldn’t have thought about any of this. You’re still just a girl.

  At work, I think about my pay as I wipe down the marble counters. How much is going to go out in taxes and so on. How much is going to end up in my pocket. How much of it should be allocated for rent, groceries and other necessities.

  Once everything’s paid, I’ll be lucky to have twenty bucks left over, and that’s with the regular monthly deposit from Mr. Grayson. I could probably ask him for more money, but I’m terrified that he’ll think paying for trips specifically for Nonny gives him some kind of hold over her, too. I started out grateful for his help, but now… I can’t trust him anymore. He never told me what he really wanted. He led me to believe the money was coming from some kind of insurance policy Dad had.

  And I believed him when he first approached me at the diner in Vegas. Even though I thought it was odd that an insurance rep would track me down to give me money personally, I was too desperate to be wary. Nonny and I had to leave the shelter with that creep in charge. I’m certain he had designs on her, and I was the only one who stopped him.

  The part of me that wanted to be out told me I was crazy to doubt Mr. Grayson. He had my picture, my name, my birthday and social security number. How could he have all that if he wasn’t legit? A clean-cut man in a good suit couldn’t be a bad guy, could he?

  How wrong I was.

  After my lunch break, I finally reach the twentieth floor…which is where Elliot spotted me yesterday. My breath quickens. It’s ridiculous, of course. He isn’t going to come out and grab me again. He didn’t have one of those laminate employee tags hanging around his neck yesterday, and from what I can gather, he’s not in finance anyway.

  I keep thinking over my situation, Nonny’s circumstances…and Elliot’s proposition. I wish I had a friend I could talk to, but of course all of my old friends have turned their backs on me. They wouldn’t spit on me if I were on fire. And I haven’t made any new ones since I left home. It isn’t easy for me to open up to people now, knowing how easily they can turn, and my focus has been on surviving, not socializing and networking.

  Four more days pass, and finally it’s Saturday. I’m exhausted from not sleeping well. It’s impossible when I keep having dreams that leave me wet and frustrated. No wonder people used to believe in magic. It’s like Elliot’s cast a spell on me.

  Nonny’s at band practice, and I’m cleaning the apartment since it’s either that or go stir-crazy.

  Okay. I have three choices.

  One. Ask Mr. Grayson for the money I need for Nonny and become even more beholden to him. He thought nothing of telling me to strip and get Elliot’s attention. So who knows what he’ll demand if he thinks I owe him even more?

  Two. Accept Elliot’s offer. But how do I know he’s actually going to keep his end of the bargain after a year? Let’s just say that I have a serious trust issue with people who promise to give me a lot of money “later”. It was a hard and painful lesson, but it taught me a lot.

  Third. Just say the hell with both men. Leave L.A. Go someplace far, far away from here that’s cheaper to live in.

  The last option is so tempting. Nonny and I will be okay. We don’t need a lot, and I can get work somewhere. It’s not like a cleaning position is my dream job.

  When I put it that way, the choice seems so simple. At the same time…

  Los Angeles is the third city we’ve moved to in the last two years. Is it good to uproot Nonny and move again?

  And there’s the actual logistics of moving. It costs money to move. Even if we toss out everything we can’t fit into my car, there’s still the matter of the current lease and applying for a new apartment in a new city. The only reason I got this place is because Mr. Grayson cosigned for it. Landlords tend to shy away from prospective tenants without sufficient income or pristine credit.

  I put away the vacuum and check the time. “Shit!” I run to my room to grab my purse and keys. I was supposed to pick Nonny up from school half an hour ago!

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” I mutter as I rush down the stairs.

  A black Maserati is pulling in just as I reach the driveway. The car belongs in this neighborhood like caviar in a Halloween pumpkin.

  The fancy vehicle glides right into the empty parking spot, looking like something that just came out of a wind tunnel. The jet-sounding engine cuts off. The passenger door opens, rising like a batwing.

  My jaw drops. “Nonny?”

  My sister hops out of the car, a wide grin splitting her face. She waves at me, then reaches into the car for her piccolo case and backpack.

  “What are you doing in that car?” I ask, dumbfounded.

  “Getting a ride home, obviously!”

  Then the driver of the car climbs out.

  Elliot looks disgustingly good in a black button-down shirt and slacks. From the way his clothes mold to his body, I know each item costs more than I make in a month. A pair of dark sunglasses sits on his perfect face, and a sexy grin curves his mouth.

  All the blood drains from my head, making me faint for a moment. Then a sudden fiery heat suffuses my body until I’m nearly shaking with anger. “What are you doing with my sister?” I demand.

  “Like she said. Giving her a ride home…since you weren’t there,” he says mildly. “Surely you didn’t want her standing on the curb, waiting.”

  “It’s not a big deal you couldn’t come,” Nonny adds quickly. “I figured you were busy.”

  I turn to face her. “You should know better than to get into a car with a stranger! He could’ve been a serial killer!” My hand flings toward him.

  “But he isn’t!” Nonny’s smile loses a watt or two. “Come on. He knew things that only someone close to you would know.”

  My head swivels toward him. How much has he been digging into my background?

  “We should, um, invite him in,” she says.

  “No, we shouldn’t. The apartment’s a mess.”

  Nonny frowns. “But I thought you said you were going to clean—”

  “And he’s about to go home now. I’m sure he’s got better things to do than waste any more time on—”

  “I have nothing but time,” he interrupts me.

  “Okay.” I take a moment, pressing two fingers to my forehead. “Nonny, could you go in first? Elliot and I need to talk.”

  Her gaze darts between me and him, then she finally nods. “Sure.” She turns to Elliot, worship in her young eyes. “Thanks again.”

  He makes a pistol with his fingers and points it at her. “No problem.”

  Crossing my arms, I wa
it until she disappears into the building. “All right. What are you doing?”

  “You haven’t been sleeping well. Or are you working too hard?”

  I can feel his gaze probing me, and my body responds as though he is stroking me with his big, strong hands. That liquid heat starts going again, and it infuriates me as much as it turns me on. This man is an absolute menace. I can’t think clearly when he’s near me. I don’t even drink alcohol because of its effects, but he’s more potent than the beer bombs I used to have in high school.

  My shoulders rise until they almost touch my ears. “I’m going to ask again. What are you doing?”

  He tilts his head. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “You know she’s only fifteen, right?”

  Distaste twists his handsome face. “Jesus. I don’t like young girls.”

  “So…what are you doing?”

  “Giving. Your sister. A ride.”

  “Are you stalking me?” Flustered, I make a half-circle with my hand. “Us?”

  “Not particularly. But I got tired of waiting for an answer from you.”

  “Have you considered the possibility that no response means no?”

  “But that would be rude, and you’re too well-bred for that.”

  “What do you know about my breeding?”

  “Enough. And quite a bit else as well.”

  “Then you know I have a lot of baggage.”

  “You see me running?” Pulling the sunglasses off his face, he looks at me. His dark gaze ensnares my eyes, and I feel like I’m sinking into quicksand. The problem is I don’t want to get out. “I need an answer. Yes or no?”

  “I…uh…” I hug myself and look away.

  Everywhere around me is ugly graffiti and crushed beer cans on cracked sidewalks. One of them rolls slightly in the breeze, clinking. Underneath my left foot is a cigarette butt. Good god. I suck as a provider.

  It’s time I get real. I can’t let Nonny grow up in this hellhole.

  “I…have some conditions,” I say.

  “Let’s hear them.”

  I look around the driveway. There are people coming in and out, and Elliot’s attracting attention. “Not here. It’s too public.”