Worth the Risk: (A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance)

by Weston Parker

  The men gathered there were unpacking equipment, long cords, a couple high-powered lights. What was going on?

  "Sit there," Alex said, pointing at a chair in the corner. Then he turned away, ignoring her while he talked to a tall man in an expensive suit.

  Lila sat down in a huff, thinking about immediately standing back up again. Who was he to order her around? She wasn't on his payroll anymore.

  Then Alex looked back at her over his shoulder and gave her a smile. A small smile, but his eyes were warm. She crossed her ankles and then her arms, deciding to find out what was so damned important that he'd kept her here an additional day.

  The furniture around them was rearranged so that two chairs sat in the cleared space. Alex took the seat in front of the stone fireplace and sat patiently while one of the men placed something on his shirt.

  A microphone. They were adjusting the small mic, testing its levels. Then Lila realized that a camera was being positioned right behind the second chair, which faced Alex's chair on a slight angle. Another camera was set up across from the first and aimed on the seat that was now being taken by the suited man.

  A journalist. Lila felt a sudden sense of panic. Alex was about to give an interview. One that was being filmed by not one, but two cameras. Of all the reasons she'd considered for his delaying her departure, this hadn't been one of them.

  "Let's have quiet," the journalist said after the final checks were made. Lila held her breath in the shadows while Alex was lit up like the sun. And then it began.

  "This is Steve Gossett, and I'm sitting here with Alex Drake, multi-millionaire entrepreneur and a man recently embroiled in scandal. He's welcomed us to his hometown and has revealed some interesting things about his upbringing."

  The tone of the journalist's voice changed, sounding less like a newscaster and more like an intimate friend. Well done, Lila thought.

  "Mr. Drake, you've built an empire and amassed a pile of money in the process. And yet you came from a town of less than three hundred people in rural Tennessee. Tell us about that journey."

  Alex gave his trademark devilish grin. "I wanted to see how I'd do in the world outside of Trouble Hollow. Pretty well, I think."

  Gossett laughed politely, and then Alex's expression became serious. "My family was very poor, and it was a struggle growing up. I did what I could to help the family, but we still had very little."

  "Is it true that you'd hunt small animals to bring in meat for the table?"

  Alex smiled and rubbed a hand over his chin. "They weren't all so small. I brought down my share of deer. But yeah, we'd eat just about anything. Rabbit. Raccoon. Squirrel. Whatever I could hit with my bow."

  "How do you go from eating squirrel to dining at the most expensive and exclusive restaurants in the world?"

  "You work hard, build an empire, and amass a pile of money, as you said."

  Lila watched the delicate dance Alex was putting forth. From glib comment to solemn revelation, he was slowly peeling back the layers for the viewing audience.

  "Seriously, it was hard work. I studied hard and managed a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. I worked nights, went to school during the day, and used every spare minute to start building my businesses. When I graduated college, I took the seed money I'd made and invested it, found more capital, bought a couple businesses, improved them, sold them, invested the profits, and kept moving forward. It was long hours and hard work."

  Lila was impressed. Nothing had ever been handed to Alex Drake, and she felt a wave of guilt at her own preconceptions of him. He'd once been in the same position as her, putting everything on the line for a dream.

  Only his had come true. Hers had crashed and burned.

  "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you about recent events, more specifically, your relationship with Alana Morgan. She gave an interview a few days ago in which she stated that you two had delayed your wedding plans while you went into treatment for sexual addiction. Can you tell us about that?"

  Alex frowned. "I'm aware of Miss Morgan's interview, but I had no prior notice that she was giving one. I broke off my engagement to Alana Morgan almost a month ago, and have had limited contact with her since. The wedding isn't delayed. It's never going to happen."

  Lila's stomach did a summersault. He wasn't engaged to Alana, hadn't been for weeks. She wondered suddenly what had prompted their breakup, and what role she'd played in it.

  "And her statement that you were in rehab for sex addiction?"

  Alex stared at the journalist, his jaw tightening. "Untrue. I'm not a sex addict."

  "This leads me to raise the question of the alleged sex tape. Websites had posted a picture of you with a woman who was not Miss Morgan, and rumors surfaced that the picture had been taken from a video with you and a Ms. Li--"

  "My lawyers have convinced the websites to take the pictures down, and no sex tape is going to be leaked. The whole situation was unfortunate. I wasn't happy in my relationship with Alana, but I didn't break it off with her when I met someone else and I should have. That was wrong of me, and I admit that now and hope that the people I've hurt can forgive me."

  "Of course." Steve Gossett seemed to know that he'd stumbled upon a sensitive topic, but at the same time he realized that this was what his audience really wanted to know. "You said you met someone else. Is that the person allegedly featured in the video?"

  Alex grimaced. "That's a delicate subject, and in this one aspect of my life I'd like to maintain a little privacy. I don't feel right talking about her without her permission."

  Lila blushed furiously, her heart in her throat. Now would Gossett take the hint?

  Not yet, it seemed. "And are you currently in a relationship with this person?"

  One side of Alex's mouth quirked up. "I'm tryin' to be."

  Lila missed the next portion of the interview, her mind roiling with the implication of his words, and of the interview itself. She tuned back in when Gossett asked the same question that was rolling around in her brain.

  "Why did you want to give this interview today?"

  "I wanted to set the record straight. I could have gone to my publicist, had him issue a press release, but I wanted the world to hear it from me. And it was more than that."

  Alex ran a hand through his dark hair. "It's so easy to forget our roots, to forget where we came from and to lose sight of what's really important in life. Success and money are their own rewards, but they can't outweigh family. Friends. Or love."

  Love. The word caused Lila to stifle a gasp. She felt uncomfortable, wished the interview was over, wished they were alone together so she could ask him some questions of her own. Even though she wanted to give in to her reckless urge to demand answers from him immediately, to share her own impetuous emotions, she sat silent. Waiting.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The interview wrapped up and Alex stood, waiting while someone took the mic from his chest. Steve Gossett rose and extended a hand, murmuring his thanks. Lila watched as Alex shook the journalist's hand, echoing the man's gratitude.

  Then he was coming toward her, his face unreadable. She stood, not sure what happened next.

  Gossett followed Alex with his gaze and looked her over. Lila saw the moment when recognition hit him. She didn't wonder that it took him a moment. The two photos of her that had circulated weren't easy to match to the woman who was standing in the sitting room now, no makeup, in a bulky sweatshirt and ripped jeans.

  He approached and extended a hand to Lila. He pressed his card into her palm, then motioned over his shoulder to his crew to pause in their putting away of the equipment. "Ms. Johnstone, would you like to talk about your relationship with Alex Drake and the circumstances that led to his breakup with Miss Morgan?"

  Lila's eyes widened. Drake looked at her, his expression neutral. It appeared that he'd let her talk, if she wanted to.

  She didn't. Lila passed the card back to Gossett and shook her head. "No comment."

  "I
f you change your mind--"

  "She won't," Alex said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "This one's stubborn as a mule."

  Lila let Alex draw her out of the sitting room. "Supper should be ready by now," he said, his voice low.

  She didn't know how she'd make it through dinner, but she sat at the dining room table and actually ate more of Mrs. Wheaton's delicious cooking than she thought she'd be able to. Lila said very little, keeping her eyes on her plate, concentrating on calming the maelstrom inside herself.

  It was a subdued affair. Her company kept up quiet and polite conversation until the last slices of apple pie were consumed. Tony and Jake offered to help Mrs. Wheaton with the dishes, and soon she was alone at the table with Alex Drake.

  He looked at her, his eyes cloudy like the winter sky. "I'm sorry for changing your flight without telling you."

  She wanted to be angry since he'd just deprived her of some of her righteous indignation. But she wasn't. Lila met his gaze and noticed that his eyes were wary.

  "I wanted you to be there for the interview."

  Lila gripped her braid in her hands, not noticing as her fingers toyed with her hair. "Why?" She swallowed. "I mean, why give the interview at all? I know what you told the reporter, but I'm not sure I understand."

  Alex placed his elbows on the table, then ran his hands over his face. "I'm tired of hiding." He raised his gaze to hers, and the stark emotion evident there twisted her insides in knots. "I'm tired of trying to fit in, to act a certain way to gain acceptance. I thought the easiest way to come out of hiding would be to show the world where I come from."

  "Go big or go home, huh?"

  He gave an airless laugh. "Yep. I knew I had to do something huge to get through to you."

  "So this was for my benefit?"

  "Not entirely." Alex blew out a breath, then stood, seemingly too agitated to remain seated. He moved closer to her, circled behind her chair and put his hands on her shoulders.

  Heat went through her at his touch. She held her breath, not saying anything.

  "But I did want to show you how serious I am. No more hiding. That means no marrying arm candy, and no giving up what I really want because I think I shouldn't have it."

  "What do you want?" she asked, craning her head up to look at him.

  "You." His hands tightened on her shoulders. "I want you, cupcake."

  Lila stood, amazed that her knees supported her. She turned to face him and asked the question that had haunted her since his first kiss. "Why me?"

  "Because you're beautiful, and talented, and funny. And stubborn and sassy and an incredible cook." His eyes were like smoke, telegraphing the fire smoldering inside him. His arms came around her, and he put a finger on her chin to tilt her face up to his.

  "And because I love you."

  His lips came down on hers, and his kiss told her exactly what he felt. It was rapturous, soft and yearning. This time she didn't let the tenderness overwhelm her. This time it felt right.

  He didn't seek to deepen the kiss, he just molded her lips to his own, suckled lightly then pulled away.

  "Lila, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, and there ain't a damn thing you can do to stop me."

  She laughed, even as joy bubbled inside of her, filling her eyes with tears. Alex kissed her cheek and she buried her head in his neck, enjoying the sensation of being enfolded in the arms of man that said he loved her.

  The kitchen door opened with a squeak of its hinges and she could hear quiet footsteps crossing the dining room but she didn't look up. Alex held her, brushing her hair back with a hand and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Then he drew her forward, out of the dining room and into the hall.

  At the bottom of the stairs, he gave a nod to Mrs. Wheaton, who was tidying the reception desk. "I think we'll be needing those rooms a little longer," he told her.

  "Stay as long as you like," she replied with a wave, not looking up from her cleaning.

  Alex led Lila up the stairs and down the hall to her room. The door was unlocked so he opened it and stepped inside. She stood there as he turned on the lamps that sat on either side of the antique brass bed.

  "Come here," he said, his voice an invitation to sin. She moved toward him, suddenly shy. He took a hand in his, rubbing his thumb over her palm until she shivered.

  "Tonight we're gonna sleep in a bed."

  Lila's lips quirked at his words. "Sleep?"

  He grinned. "Well, after we've exhausted ourselves." He bent to kiss her, and a happiness she'd never known surged inside her, swelling her chest until she thought she would burst. Their tongues tangled, and Alex groaned into her mouth. Then he pulled away.

  "We're not going to rush things tonight. Kitchen tables and stairs are all well and good, but tonight I'm going to savor this."

  Lila's skin flushed at his words. He wanted to savor her, like she was an exotic delicacy instead of the plain fare she was. His hands moved to pull off her sweatshirt, and unable to help herself, she crossed her arms over her bra.

  "Could we turn off the lights?" she asked. They'd never been fully naked with the leisure to explore one another, and she was now painfully shy of her body and what he would think when he saw her, really saw her. Would he reject her? A couple of quick bangs were much different from the slow dance they were now engaged in.

  "Not a chance in hell, cupcake." His smoky eyes ranged over her. "I wanna see every inch of you. Get you naked and taste every part of you."

  Lila shuddered. His words were keying up her anxiety at the same time they were sending electric pulses through her, where they seemed to gather between her legs and throb there. Then he began to unbutton his shirt, and Lila suddenly saw the advantage of the lights being on.

  She'd never seen Alex Drake fully nude. In fact, she'd seen very little of his body, except for one very intimate part. As she watched, he tugged off his plaid shirt and removed the t-shirt underneath.

  Lila gasped softly at the body he displayed for her. Broad shoulders that tapered down to narrow hips and waist, forming an inverted triangle. His ab muscles were defined, his chest sculpted, his arms toned and strong. He was a perfect specimen of masculinity, and he wanted her.

  "Don't be shy," he said with an amused grin as he started to unbutton his jeans. He cocked his head toward her, his gesture saying that she should imitate his actions. Lila kicked off her shoes, unzipped her worn jeans, and pushed them down shaky legs. She bent to remove her socks, then straightened to watch Alex doing the same thing.

  She stood there, in bra and panties, arms hanging loosely at her sides. Lila hesitated to remove her undergarments, instead watching as Alex fingered the waistband of his boxers.

  "Well," he said, coming nearer. "If you ain't gonna take 'em off," he pointed to her remaining clothing, "I'd be happy to do it for you." Alex slid his hand under her bra strap, smiling down into her face.

  "What about you?" she asked, slightly amazed at how hoarse she sounded.

  "Feel free," he said, letting go of her bra strap to step back, jutting his pelvis out a little.

  Lila ran a finger across his waistband and let it dip beneath it to slide across his stomach, the quick inhale he took filling her with a heady sense of power. She gripped the waistband at his hips, slipping her hands underneath so they could feel the heat of his skin. With her hands inside, she moved the boxers lower, slowly, so slowly that she felt his muscles begin to tense.

  Her hands moved back so that as the boxers lowered, she was able to stroke his buttocks, which felt as firm as the rest of him.

  "Little tease," he murmured, his breathing quickening.

  Lila smiled, kneeling before him as she pushed his boxers down his legs until they pooled at his feet. His legs were peppered with dark hairs that grew thicker at his groan, where his waiting erection was only inches away from her mouth.

  She couldn't resist the temptation and bent in to press a kiss to the head of his cock.

  He gasped. "Godd
ammit woman, you're not gonna distract me this time. I know how good your mouth feels, but it's the rest of you that needs my attention."

  Alex grasped her shoulders and pulled her back up so that she was standing before him. He walked around her and unfastened her bra, pushing it slowly off her shoulders, then her arms until it fell to the floor. Her panties soon followed, and she stepped out of them.

  "God, I love your ass." His hands were on her, cupping her cheeks, kneading gently. Then she felt the softness of his lips against her and realized he'd fallen to his knees behind her. "It's so round and full and..." he bit her gently, "...perfect. Absolutely perfect."

  Perfect. It was word she'd never use to describe herself, and it sent a thrill through her. His mouth against her was driving her insane, new sensations tumbling through her as he licked his way up to her hip and bit her, a little harder this time.

  Lila let out a moan and felt him stand, pressing his chest to her back. His arms circled her, fingers dragging up from her waist to skitter over her breasts. Then his hands were cupping her, his fingers brushing over her nipples until they were standing at attention.

  His breath was on her neck, then his mouth, and he sucked and licked his way higher until he was breathing in her ear.

  "I love having you pressed against me," he whispered, then moved to her other ear, nipping at the lobe. "You're so soft, so sexy."

  She knew the truth of his words when she felt his hardness pressed against her bottom. He thought she was sexy. Lila arched her back, moving her behind against him.

  Alex let out a groan. "Stop that, or I'll take you hard and fast again."

  That sounds perfect to me. She arched again, adding an extra wiggle, bending over slightly.

  "Lila," he growled, "I want this to be slow."

  She took a step away, putting her knees against the bed and bending at the waist. She looked back at him, over her shoulder, a lock of hair falling down to cover one eye. "It can be slow next time."