Alpha Billionaire

by Deborah Garland

  Laney Hathaway was a sweet girl-next-door type. Next-cabin-type. How did he get so lucky? She was a hidden gem. A rare find. His find. Mine.

  Not right now. You pushed her away.

  Growling, he scrolled desperately through the last Facebook group post to find out where the hell everyone was. With Laney, he thought nothing of slipping on an easy tee-shirt and comfortable shorts, but the alpha dressed to the nines. Sleek Prada pants and his best custom dress shirt. Feeling like someone else, he stalked down the passageway avoiding the stares his six-foot-four-inch frame drew. The more he felt like Tris, the easier this would be. With each step toward the private lounge several decks high, he grew more and more numb.

  Perfect.

  The devil horns sticker slapped on the room sign sent his heart soaring.

  Opening that glass and cherry door, he pushed away the evil pit in his stomach. He’d kept away from this crowd since the boat left New York. Every step further inside, every breath he took felt like toxic smoke got trapped in his lungs.

  Choking through the pain, he searched for a woman to grab and get it over with. Someone he could get on top of, look the other way, and take what he needed. Satisfy Tris and drive Tristan, who was hurting into oblivion at the same time.

  From the bar, he ordered his Balvenie and without sharing it with Laney, he stifled a roar at the price. The sip soothed him enough to take a deep breath and not double over in agony. He drained his glass and marched deeper into the room amidst gasps and flirty sighs.

  The color caught his eye first, then the billowing fabric of a woman’s dress. His alpha brain begged to see more, so his eyes feasted on the line of her body and those long muscular thighs. It pricked him to realize he was looking at way too much skin. The woman’s dress was goddamn sheer.

  Lady, you don’t have to walk around naked.

  She stood against the railing on the outdoor patio looking at the water, a glass of champagne in her hand. Her dress plunged to her hips, showing off a gorgeous back. Lots of skin. As he moved toward the patio, two men crept up next to her. Oh no, she’s mine. The woman delicately turned around to greet her suitors.

  If the boat hit an iceberg, Tristan may not have felt it with the violent shaking and pounding of his heart. Laney.

  What. The. Fuck?

  After a furious glance around, Tristan didn’t spot Jonathan. He certainly would have smelled the guy. His eyes returned to Laney. Had she? Did they?

  Was that pleasant easy grin of hers torturing him any indication?

  His biggest worry crashed through him, challenging him. Would he still want her if Jonathan had touched her? Could he look past Jon taking her, the way Tristan assumed he had?

  Could Tris take a woman after someone else? Sure thing. Taking turns was the game on the devil cruise. Could Tristan be with Laney, knowing a man he despised touched what he had come to adore and crave?

  Mine. Growling, Tristan stomped toward the patio ready to claim the woman he knew deep inside was truly his.

  The closer he got, the more his stomach twisted. Laney’s sheer dress gave everything away. The pathetic attempt at appliques along the plunging neckline didn’t exactly hide anything. Tristan saw everything. Every. Damn. Thing. So did the two men cozying up to her. The ocean breeze kicked the dress up. One huge gust and all her lady parts—his parts, the flesh he’d touched, kissed, and licked would be out on display.

  I don’t think so.

  “Whoa, Tris!” Cass stepped in his path. “Where did you go before?”

  “Not now,” he said through clenched teeth, hating that sleazy fucking nickname.

  “Have you gone blind, or lost your mind?”

  “Both.” He tried to step around her, except she grabbed his arm.

  “Her?” Cass glanced over her shoulder. “Again?”

  “I can do whatever I want.” He politely extricated his bicep from Cass’s fingers, keeping a watchful eye on those assholes chatting with Laney.

  One had already run off, presumably to get her another champagne. No. No. No. Hopefully, the Nikki drama taught her not to accept a drink from anyone she didn’t know.

  What in holy hell had this sorry-ass cruise come to?

  This was his last year for sure. Someone had dropped Laney in his path to wake him up. She’d been right. He’d been wasting his time all year waiting for Beth to visit then came here to forget about a woman who didn’t love him anymore by finding anyone willing. Yeah, he should worry about Laney accepting his behavior.

  How had Luke not held him down and punched him in the mouth? And let Grayson watch and laugh. Those two were always in cahoots, picking on the middle child. He really was the Jan Brady of the Hart clan.

  Laney didn’t make him feel grimy, though. She was genuine and kind. They’d connected on so many other levels besides sex. They could make a go of it off this damn ship. There would never be any secrets between them. She knew the worst version of him.

  The shit stopped right now.

  Tristan laid a look at Cass, who had not moved. Not given up. He appreciated how she wanted him, too, even just for this. But free will applied to him, too, damn it. “No, Cass. Not now. I said, no. No means no.”

  “Not for guys!” she scoffed. “I’ve watched you go off with a lot of women. I’m not watching this.” She put down her drink and charged out the door.

  With a steady breath and heavy footfalls, Tristan crossed the room and burst on the patio. Laney looked up at him, her smile quirking the sides of her mouth.

  He hated taking his eyes off her, but he sent that she’s mine sneer to her asshole suitors. Like puppies obeying the alpha, they dropped their heads and slinked away.

  “Wow,” Laney said, holding a fresh champagne.

  He took the glass and shot the golden liquid over the railing, not caring if it landed on someone’s head below. “Don’t take a drink from anyone.”

  “What about you?” She leaned back, letting the light catch her skin beneath the sheer dress.

  “How did you get in here?” he asked.

  “I showed up and someone let me in.”

  “I’m sure this dress had something to do with it. Wearing something like this, no man is going to tell you no.” He slid his fingers along the shimmering trimmed neckline, his heart stopping when he saw a fire pin. “Where did you get this?”

  “A woman gave it to me.” She leaned into him. “She said she was tired. Worn out. I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?”

  “I’ve not been with anyone else this week.” His hands wrapped around her hips. He took a breath to ask the question he dreaded. “What about you? Were you successful with Jonathan today?”

  “No, sensei.” She bowed to him. “He didn’t want me.”

  Three years she’d wanted the guy. Tristan had a barrel load of confidence, but he wasn’t sure he could handle that kind of rejection with the same amount of grace. “His loss.”

  She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m totally fine with it. I can stop—”

  “Torturing yourself?” He pressed his erection firmly against her.

  “Feels like you’re the one being tortured.” She salivated at his waist noticing the ridge of his cock rimming through his slacks. “You poor man, walking around with that all day.”

  “I’m quite rich.”

  “That you are.” She caressed his chest, her glorious-feeling hands slid across his pecks and stopped abruptly at his shirt pocket.

  “What?” he asked, glancing down.

  Distress crossed her face. “Plans for a big night?” Her fingers circled the condoms, plural, tucked in there.

  “I thought I could come here and get you off my mind.” He waited to see how she handled blunt truth.

  “Am I in your way?” she replied without flinching.

  “No.” He gripped her waist even harder. “I don’t want anyone else.”

  “Tell me...” She gazed around the room. “If I weren’t here, who would you have chosen to get me
off your mind?”

  Without looking he said, “Anyone. It doesn’t matter.” His reply drew a sharp gasp from her. “Do you want a fresh drink?”

  “No. I want you.”

  “Good.” He snagged her hand and led her off the patio. Barreling through the crowd, he wasn’t going to make it back to his cabin, or hers. Pushing her against the wall in a shadowed hallway leading to the restrooms, he said, “I have to have you. Now.”

  “Wait,” she said and from her wristlet, took out his ring.

  He snagged it from her and put it on her finger himself, their eyes locking at the raw moment that had a lot more meaning than he intended. With this ring... By the time it slid past the bump on her middle finger, the tip of his tongue brushed the inside of her mouth.

  So warm and moist, all for him. She was his.

  As he kissed her, the worst side of him ached to come out. The cruise monster begged to show Laney who he really was. The kind of man who’d take a woman against the wall while others watched. Show her the worst version of himself. If she could stomach the worst, then he’d be the best. From that moment forward.

  He locked his thumb against the neckline of her dress, tugging it down her shoulder, waiting for resistance. Getting none, his heart pounded until he exposed a supple breast. Her back arched. He didn’t care who saw her, because no one was getting near her.

  Every man there needed to know she was his. His soft angel. He cupped her breast then licked her nipple. Her sweet skin tasted like a drug. He roughly tugged down the dress’s other shoulder, leaving her topless. The dress hung off her hips which thank God were curvy and didn’t just slide the hell off.

  She also wasn’t wearing panties.

  Her nipples were so hard that the pink skin puffed out from her intense arousal. A tug between her legs confirmed it. Fuck, she was so wet.

  “Grab the condom,” he said, roughly kissing each nipple, licking them the way she’d attacked the damn ice cream cone. “Put it on me.”

  He stepped back and unzipped his pants. Her greedy hands were there, finding his cock before him. He pushed his trousers down just below his ass.

  His throat closed up when Laney dropped to her knees. She tried to blow him yesterday and he stopped her. Only an idiot stops a woman from giving him head twice.

  Don’t look down. Don’t look down, his brain screamed. But his cock cried out, Look at me! Laney swirled her tongue across the head, engorged and ready to burst. The shiny pink skin ached to explode. When she swallowed up the entire shaft, he almost lost it right there. He slammed his hand against the wall, so his head didn’t crash into the thing.

  Laney’s mouth on his cock gave him a sensation he’d never felt before. And he feared if he fucked this up with her, his next blow job would feel like acid poured on his skin.

  Laney

  LANEY SHOULD HAVE MINDED being topless and going down on a man in front of people. With a peripheral curious glance through the shadow around them, people milled around as if nothing was happening. Yeah, a live sex act meant little to this group.

  With Tristan, she would dangle completely naked over the side of the ship if he asked her because she trusted the man completely.

  His poor hard cock needed attention. Of course, she had to take care of him. His hard, but silky shaft sliding past her lips and the taste of his skin, brought her to a place of lust she’d never been. She needed his erection deep in her wet heat again.

  “Now. I’m ready.” She stood with the condom in her hand.

  Tristan bit it open with anxious teeth. “I hope this damn rubber slows me down.”

  His words made her even wetter. “I’m already close, Tristan.”

  “I love the way you say my name.” He groaned as she slid the condom on with an extra squeeze. “Put your arms around my neck. Hold on.”

  He lifted her up like she was a feather and leaned her back against the wall. The patterned texture of the wallcovering made her aware of her entire body and what she was doing.

  With the swollen knob of Tristan’s cock positioned perfectly at the entrance of her quivering slit, he said, “Beg me to fuck you.”

  “Take me. Please.”

  Tristan’s hips pushed forward, and she gave a groan that dripped with lust. He filled her so beautifully, so completely. “Man, that’s so good,” he said, balancing her with his strong arms. Tristan was all hard muscle, spicy scent, and heat.

  Tell me about it. Laney rested her chin against his shoulder as he thrust so eloquently in and out of her. The friction built a fire deep in her core. She felt every delicious inch of him. Her body went wild with every hard smack against her clit. “I can’t get over how big you are,” she moaned out.

  “You had something to do with that,” he teased, although his incredible size might also have something to do with his height. “Look at me, Laney.”

  She opened watery eyes and found a shimmering golden gaze burning with desire. “I need you, Tristan. I need this.”

  With a throaty sigh, he pushed harder and seated himself even deeper within her. They fit so perfectly. His touch sparked a fury she’d never known.

  Tristan braced himself with legs spread wide, thighs angled enough to circle his hips, letting his length hit and stroke her. They moved in an easy rhythm, scorching her from the inside out.

  With an arched back and her breasts thrust outward, Tristan took an aching nipple into his mouth. He bathed her flesh with a hot wet tongue.

  Laney gripped the chair rail for leverage to stay at that exact angle. “That’s it. Don’t...don’t you dare stop,” she moaned while Tristan unraveled her.

  He pulled her back against him. “Not a chance. Not until I’ve made you come.”

  The rush started in her toes and soared up her leg. The sensation headed straight for her chest. Her nipples tightened painfully as electricity sizzled all around her. The entire lower half of her body pulsed as she clenched around Tristan’s cock.

  “I’m coming, too,” he grunted. “You got me.” His words weakened her, sobs formed in the back of her throat wondering if she had him for good, forever.

  Even outside these exquisite naked moments, they were compatible. How could she have found the perfect man in the most imperfect place?

  With his face buried against her neck, he held her tight. Harsh breaths fanned her throat, the feel of him coming down the mountain excited her as much as watching the climb. “I want to go back to my cabin,” he whispered, hoarse and sounding emotionally wrung out. “Right now. For the whole night. Look at me, Laney.”

  Fighting tears, she met his eyes.

  “Do you want that, too?” he asked, softly.

  When she nodded heartily, his jaw trembled. Biting his lip, he roughly pulled her dress back into place, his fists holding the front even tighter.

  Something had shifted. A tide had turned. That moment when you just goddamn know you found the one. Then possession took over. She felt claimed and her body was now only his to see.

  “I have it.” She took the dress’s fabric from him and positioned the shoulders back in place.

  Tristan kissed her with a sense of urgency bringing another rush of heat to her face.

  Wiping his mouth, he said, “We can go slower in my cabin next time. I promise.”

  She lightly brushed the hair away from her face. “Don’t make me wait too long to come again.”

  “I’ll make sure you’re ready, Laney.”

  “Tristan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Kiss me again. Please.”

  He pressed his mouth gently against her needy lips. His tongue pushed in, softly enveloping her into a deep mind-bending kiss, filled with a stronger passion than any other kiss they’d shared.

  “Tristan...” Laney tore her lips away. Her body softened with a sense of relief and warmth, even though she was still tied up in knots of lust.

  “I know, Laney.” Their eyes lingered for a long moment, his breathing ragged and shaky. “Me, too. Come o
n,” he said, taking her hand.

  In Tristan’s bed, time had lost all meaning. His gold eyes never left her while he made love to her again and again. She had no idea how long they’d been there. The whole night. The next day. Had the ship returned to New York? Set sail again? Were they steaming to Portugal?

  Laney didn’t care where they were if Tristan tangled her up in his arms. Naked as the day she was born, her body completely belonging to him. He took her softly, then...not so softly. Punishing at times. She happily satisfied every version of him.

  She loved every version of him.

  Lost in that mind-blowing revelation, she lost track of his hands. They were everywhere. Up in her hair, cupping her sore breasts. Then a curious finger tapped a place no man had gone before.

  “Oh wow,” she said, flinching.

  “It’s okay Laney, it’s me. I won’t hurt you.” He licked his finger and after a gentle push, a mind-blowing rush of heat crawled up her neck.

  Biting her lip, she gave little moans, fighting the shame for liking this so much.

  “I love this, Laney. I’m good at it. I know what I’m doing.” He continued to tenderly push filling her body with idyllic tension. “I’ll be gentle if it’s your first time. I’ll make it so good for you. I promise.”

  Laney’s head spun in all different directions. Her eyes squinted to focus on anything in the room to get her bearings. She had no doubt every word Tristan said was true. The overload of the last few days hit her. Hard.

  “Maybe next time?” she squeaked out to say what was in her heart.

  Tristan rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. His mouth wrinkled into a frown like he was trying to form a response.

  There’ll be no next time, would there? Once this ship docked back in New York, she and Tristan were going their separate ways. The stabbing chest pains facing that reality left her breathless.

  Oh, good grief, she’d gone and fallen for a man she could never have. Not because she wasn’t worthy of him. His intention in life was to stay perpetually unavailable. That vision played out in her head, the moment he would walk away from her. His body getting smaller and smaller in the corridor. That damn near made her want to throw up.