His eyes flash with a relief that takes my breath away. For all his words he feels so much more. This time I pull his lips to mine. This time I claim his lips in ownership, promising him my heart and soul.
We kiss like two lovers would. Now it means so much more and seals a promise that can’t be broken. I gave myself to Tyler in that Chapel and I meant every word I said.
The limo stops, interrupting the kiss and we pull apart in surprise. Tyler shakes his head and grins.
“Bad timing. Well, it appears we have reached our destination.”
He grins at the excitement on my face that refuses to stay hidden.
“Come on. Let’s go and eat like kings.”
He pulls me from the limo and I look around in surprise. He laughs at the shock on my face and raises his eyes. “Surprised?”
I shake my head slowly. “You could say that. This is impressive.”
As I look around I am blown away. We are standing on the edge of a canyon and the light has faded to dusk. There is nothing around us but nature and something else. Set up by the side of the most glorious view I have ever seen is a table set for two. A crisp white tablecloth covers it and two covered velvet chairs that resemble thrones are set before it. Candles burn everywhere and flowers line the route to the table. A lone violinist stands apart and plays a sweet haunting melody that sends shivers down my spine.
A man steps forward dressed as a waiter and smiles. “Welcome. May I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your marriage?”
Tyler nods and I smile shyly at the man who is looking at us happily.
Tyler extends his arm gallantly and I smile coyly as I link mine to his. He guides me to the table and pulls the chair out and whispers in my ear. “You are beautiful, Sydney. Have I ever told you that?”
I blush and roll my eyes. “You may have mentioned it a couple of times.”
He pushes in my seat and takes his seat opposite. The waiter appears and offers us Champagne and then fills our glass with the heady liquid. Tyler raises his glass and says huskily, “To new beginnings and redressing the balance.”
I clink my glass to his and look at him with interest.
“Redressing the balance, you say. How can that be possible?”
He grins wickedly. “We get to right some wrongs and have a lot of fun doing it.”
Before I can ask any more questions, the waiter sets a plate of food before us and I laugh softly.
“I should have known.” Tyler grins and offers me an oyster. “What else on our wedding night?”
He holds the shell to my lips, and the oyster slips down my throat. He takes one for himself and laughs at the expression on my face. “Not to your liking?”
I shiver. “Not really. I’m sorry though, you’ve gone to so much trouble. I should just be grateful.”
His eyes flash. “Never apologize, Sydney. You have nothing to apologize for. So, you don’t like oysters - big deal. At least you tried them. That says a lot about you.”
I lean my elbows on the table and stare into his eyes. “What does it tell you?”
He leans forward until his face is centimeters from mine. I don’t look away and stare back with a challenge in my eyes. He says huskily, “It shows me that you are willing to learn. You will take guidance but aren’t afraid to speak up for yourself. That you have steel running beneath the softest of packages and shows me a woman I would very much like to know.”
Pulling back, I laugh softly. “You read a lot into the simplest things, Tyler. Has anyone ever told you, you’re an enigma?”
He leans back and grins. “No, I can’t say I’ve ever been called that before, at least to my face. Then again, I don’t let anyone get close enough to try.”
I look at him with interest. “So, there is no girl waiting for you back home. No first love who broke your heart, or no broken relationship that stripped you bare.”
He laughs softly. “The answer to all of that is No. I don’t have a girlfriend and never wanted one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not averse to female company when necessary but I’ve never met anyone I wanted to discover more about.”
I don’t know why but his words make my soul dance inside. He looks at me carefully.
“What about you? How many men have broken your heart? Tell me their names and I’ll hunt them down.”
Grinning, I shake my head. “I’ve had the usual dates. Nobody serious though. Maybe it’s because of the company I keep in Little Ridge. The guys there are nothing like you.”
I take a sip of my drink and feel the bubbles rush to my head. I see the smirk on his face as he hears my words. He knows how I feel, it must be written all over my face.
I try to change the subject onto less intrusive subjects.
“So, tell me about your sister. It sounds as if you care for her a great deal.”
I watch as a shadow passes across his face and I think I hold my breath. His eyes soften briefly and he says quietly, “She’s the only person I love in the world. She is all I’ve had growing up in a prison made from gold. We have shared the darkest of times and faced an impossible future together. Despite everything, she is the sweetest, kindest, person I have ever met. So delicate and frail with a steel backbone that gets her through.”
I reach out and take his hand. He looks at me with surprise as I bring it to my lips. “You are lucky to have each other. At least you have someone. I never did, and it’s only when I met Lucy I realized how much I missed out on. When you grow up as an orphan you never fit in. Just passed from place to place until you are old enough to fend for yourself. I built a hard shell around my heart to protect it and make sure I survived. Maybe that’s why I’m so keen to see this through. I want to see where I came from. Even though I may not like what I see, it will paint a picture of my past. It may show me things I wish I had never seen, but it’s my past to claim.”
He looks worried and I laugh softly. “Don’t look so worried, Tyler. Whatever I discover can’t be any worse than what’s waiting for me back at Little Ridge. Even if my brother is worse than Michael Santobello, I won’t be facing him alone.”
Tyler’s eyes darken and I see the fury flashing inside. He growls. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, Sydney. You’re not on your own anymore, we’re a team and if we stick together we are unbreakable.”
The waiter brings the next course and interrupts the serious turn the conversation has taken. We both sit back and switch our minds back to the meal. There will be more than enough time to discuss what happens next. It’s what happens now that interests me way more than I ever thought it would.
19
Tyler
Sydney is confusing me in so many ways. I sought her out for a reason to achieve my own aims, yet now her feelings matter more. My feelings have surprised me - she has surprised me and with every minute that passes in her company, I find myself craving her more. She feels the same, I can see it in her eyes. One touch is all it would take and Sydney would be mine. I’m not being arrogant, I just know because I feel it too. She is the first woman in my life to affect me this way and now everything has changed. Now I have more to lose than I have to gain. If I see this through I may lose the most valuable thing to ever have walked into my life – her.
We finish the meal talking about subjects on safer ground. I ask her everything about herself. I need to know it all. Her favourite food, book, film pastime - everything. In return I speak frankly about my own likes and dislikes. The sound of her laughter lifts my weary spirit as we discover the person behind the attraction.
She is good company but as the evening draws to a close it’s the night ahead that interests me more. Tonight, I’m going to be a selfish bastard. I’m going to take what I want – her and to hell with the consequences. Sydney is my wife and I want all that goes with it. When I make her mine she will never want to leave. I will make it my life’s work to make her happy – if she ever forgives me that is.
The limo takes us back to the hotel and we sit close together ho
lding hands like any young couple in love. She snuggles next to me and I place my arm protectively around her. This feels so good and so right.
By the time we reach the elevator to our room the air is thick with expectation. We both know what’s about to happen, it’s written in our destinies.
As soon as the elevator doors open, I swing her into my arms and carry her over the threshold. She squeals and clings on, burying her face in my chest. My heart tightens as I hold her. I feel so protective of this woman and I have no idea why.
I carry her over to the large window overlooking the Vegas skyline. Vegas never sleeps and that is pretty evident right now. The lights flash beneath us and the cars speed by in a blur. We are on top of the world right now with the world at our feet. At least that’s what it feels like.
We stand hand in hand and look at Vegas. The air is silent and still and nothing can touch us from our vantage point. My conscience is screaming at me inside but I push it aside. It’s time.
I turn to Sydney and run my hand around her waist. Her eyes widen and I see the excitement sparkle from inside them. She runs her tongue across her lips and her pupils dilate. Reaching out, I lift that perfect mouth to mine and say huskily, “You know what happens now, don’t you, Sydney?”
She nods, her lip quivering and steps a little closer.
I say gently, “Tell me this isn’t what you want and I’ll stop.”
She shakes her head and says in a whisper. “Don’t you dare.”
I feel the fire flare inside my soul. The blood rushes to my head and I fight for control. Reaching behind her, I unzip the dress in one sharp movement. The dress falls to the floor and I allow my gaze to roam freely over the woman before me. Perfection. This woman was made for me, I just know it. She stands there beautiful and proud in nothing but her fuck me underwear and killer heels.
I loosen her hair from the top of her head and watch it spill down over her shoulders. She doesn’t appear to care that she’s standing by a huge window. She doesn’t know about the tinted glass. We can see out but nobody can see in. I hold her gaze with mine and rip off my tie and then shrug off my jacket as she stands trembling before me. I undress myself carefully and deliberately taking in every reaction and every inch of her beautiful face as she watches me. No words are spoken just the steady thump of our hearts providing the only sound in the room.
Soon there is nothing left of me to strip off. I remove the mask of indifference from my face and face her with everything I’ve got. She sees all of me and I wouldn’t want it any other way. She trembles as I reach for her and pull her lips to mine. I kiss her with a passion I can’t contain and a dominance that claims her as mine. Her lips part willingly and draw me inside, holding me prisoner and owning me forever.
Then I spin her around until she is pressed against the window and I move close behind. I remove her underwear slowly and carefully and press against her. She quivers under my touch as she faces Vegas beneath her. I continue exploring this gorgeous creature by kissing and tasting every part of her and her moans of pleasure cause my heart to sing and my pulse to race out of control. My balls ache and my cock objects at the delay, but I’m not rushing this. This is too important to me. I have waited a lifetime for this woman and if it takes me all night it is of no consequence.
I move up and down her body with my mouth. Licking, biting, tasting and kissing every perfect inch of her. She tastes so sweet and wholesome and I push away the part of me shouting that I don’t deserve such riches.
I spin her around until her back is against the glass and start my explorations again. Her neck, her shoulders, her perfect breasts, all feel my own particular brand. I am marking her. The animal in me wants everyone to know she is mine My scent will chain her to me forever. I love the way she gasps as I hit a particular spot. She shudders beneath my tongue and as I reach her sex she moans and fists my hair as I lick her most private place. I suck and taste and get drunk on desire as she starts to beg.
“Please, Tyler, let me touch you. I want to feel you so badly.”
I laugh softly and move up to claim her words with my mouth. She tastes herself on my tongue and groans with need. I love this. This is what I’ve missed out on all these years. This isn’t just sex, it’s everything.
Her gasps of pleasure excite me way more than I thought possible. It’s suddenly more important to me than air to bring this woman to her knees. I want to take her to the edge over and over again and watch her shatter beneath me.
Sweeping her into my arms, I carry her toward the master bedroom. I will not be rushed and this could take all night.
She clings onto me and my heart quickens. Everything I want is in my arms and it hits me hard. This is it – what I’ve been waiting to find. My revenge ceases to be of any importance while I hold the woman I love in my arms.
She runs her fingers through my hair and pulls my lips to hers. I kiss her softly but she needs more. She presses her lips to mine and takes my tongue in hers. I feel her quiver beneath my touch and feel the blood rush to every part of me that feels.
By the time we reach the bed I am no longer in control. Fuck taking it slow, I need to be inside her before I lose my mind. I lower her to the bed and position myself above her. Her lips part and her eyes challenge me. She grins wickedly and arches her body toward me saying seductively, “Show me what my husband feels like.”
I can’t stop the smile from taking hold and feel like a young buck on his first time. I growl, “Are you sure you want this, honey?”
I think I hold my breath as I wait for the green light to do what I’ve been aching for ever since I first met her. Her eyes flash and her lips pout sexily, “Do you want a written invitation? For fuck’s sake, Tyler, get on with it.”
She winks and I laugh softly, I knew I loved this girl. Her legs part and I need no further invitation. As I poise to enter the promised land I look down at the beauty before me and something shifts inside me. She is looking at me with so much need, want and something that is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth – trust. I hesitate for a second and she looks at me with questions in those beautiful eyes. I stroke her face gently and she smiles softly, “It’s ok, Tyler. I want this.”
Everything flashes through my mind at once. They say your life flashes before you just before you die - well, this is the same. My life is on rewind as every event that brought me to this moment rushes through my brain, connecting the dots and making sense of the puzzle. Revenge – the thought of that no longer holds the same intensity for me now. Feelings have gotten in the way and as I hesitate for that fraction of a second my mind is made up. I smile gently at the only woman who I’ve ever loved in this way and reach across to the nightstand and grin ruefully, “Just one second.”
She watches as I remove a condom from its package and roll it into place. She smiles softly and gently strokes my back saying huskily, “My husband.”
My heart beats even faster if that’s at all possible and I shake everything out of my mind and concentrate on this moment. Lowering my lips to hers, I kiss her with a passion laced with tenderness and feel my world right itself.
Then I move inside and her back arches to meet me. I thrust in deep and feel her moans of ecstasy as she takes me in and chains me to her forever.
Sweet bliss explodes in my whole body as I drive home where I belong. Nothing else matters but this. As I move inside this incredible woman, I want to explore it all. I need to set up home here and never leave. Sydney Emmerson is the woman for me despite what happens next. Just for one night my revenge can be put on hold. I am doing this for her but she doesn’t know it yet. When the shit hits the fan, I hope she remembers this moment. The moment I put her first.
20
Sydney
My mind is fucked as well as my body. Tyler not only claimed me physically but blew me away mentally. How is this possible? We’ve known each other for the briefest of times yet it feels as if I’ve always known him. He took me to a place I only read about and now th
ings are complicated. What started out as a business deal and a shared purpose has turned into the real deal—for me, anyway.
We lie still joined together, trembling in the aftermath of what I knew would be life-changing - him.
I still feel him inside me and his cock twitches reminding me. He kisses my neck slowly, lovingly and sexily and my body tingles and delights in the barest of touches.
My body holds him inside and I gasp as I feel his cock grow hard once again. He spins me around until I am on top of him. Then he holds my head in place and looks at me with an intensity that should scare me but excites me way more. Those eyes show a storm raging inside him. He looks as if he could conquer the world. A warrior who takes no prisoners and owns his destiny. He growls, “Another condom, now.”
Laughing softly, I reach across and grab another from the nightstand. I ease off of him and quickly change one for another. Then I lower my body to his and gasp as I feel him fill me once more. He lies there just watching me, staring, owning and claiming my soul as I rock on him like a cowgirl at a rodeo. He groans as I take his balls in one hand and squeeze them as I ride him into oblivion. My clit drags against his cock and I bite my lip to stop myself from caving into the pleasure that's waiting to take me to that place I never knew existed. Not yet, I want this to last all night. I want to show him how I feel. If he pulls out, it will be a void inside me that will only be happy when it’s filled by him. He groans, “Fuck, that feels so good.”
I smile victoriously as I see how I make him feel. I want to own this man and ruin him for anyone else. We may be married for all the wrong reasons but right here and now it’s for the right ones. This isn’t just about lust it’s about cementing our future. It’s up to me to convince him that his future’s with me.
The dawn breaks across the Vegas skyline and we never slept. We fucked all night long and nothing else mattered. The room reeks of sex and new beginnings. The bed sheets are stained and creased and our bodies floating in ecstasy.
The Billion Dollar Baby_A Billionaire Romance Page 9