The Billionaire Bull

by Romi Hart

  I ran into my father’s arms. “Dad, I’m sorry too. Thank God you came back.”

  He pulled away from me, gripping my shoulders with his hands. “Alex came to the house.”

  “He did?” Another rush of relief fell over me. I hadn’t lost Alex after all.

  “He made me see how foolish I’ve been. How selfish. For a young man, he’s wise. I’ve been so afraid of losing you and your brother.”

  “You won’t lose us, Dad.”

  “I see that now. Alex helped me realize that.” My dad looked at me thoughtfully. “He loves you. I can see that clearly. He loves you so much.”

  My shrunken heart began to rise and swell in my chest in joy. I took a deep breath. It was time to come clean with my dad. “Dad, I’ve been taking classes at UF. I’m majoring in Food Science.” Bracing myself for an explosive reaction, I squinted my eyes.

  Instead, my dad embraced me again. “Jasmine, I’m so proud of you!”

  “You are?” I asked hesitantly relieved.

  “Yes. You should have gone to school right away when you graduated from high school. You were valedictorian. I was selfish for not letting you go. This is wonderful news.”

  I felt myself opening up like a flower, petal by petal. “I’m learning so much, Dad. Things I can use to expand the business.” I’d never talked to my dad this freely since I was a little girl. “I’m taking Biochem, Intro to Food Science… And next semester, I want to take Animal Science Lab to learn about livestock.” Feeling more relaxed talking to my father, I decided to go for it. “I was actually hoping you could teach me about the oxen too.”

  My father smiled, a tear trickling down his face. “Yes. I’d love to teach you. I should have had you and your brother out there on the farm all this time.”

  I threw my arms around my father joyously. “This is great, Dad. I can’t wait.”

  “I want you to keep going to school. I’m going to hire a general manager to free up your time so you can focus on your studies and have an easier schedule like Nia’s.”

  I was shocked. A new general manager?

  “Are you sure, Dad? A new GM?” I searched my dad’s face. He nodded sadly. “Yes. It’s time. Our old GM is not coming back for her job, and it’s time for me to accept that.”

  I hugged my dad tightly with tears welling in my eyes. I realized then that I hadn’t completely accepted my mother wasn’t coming back either. I held onto the idea that once she was done getting her degrees, she’d come back, but she was already done with her Ph.D. and we hadn’t heard from yet.

  “Do you think Joseph wants to go to school?” my dad asked.

  I nodded. “He hasn’t talked about it, but I think he would love the opportunity. He was the reason I started going. He encouraged me.”

  “You’ve got a great little brother,” my dad said with pride. He looked up at the buey. “It’s settled then. There are going to be some changes around here. First one, Alex is welcome here anytime.”

  I squeezed my arms around my dad again. “Thank you, Dad.”

  “He earned my respect today. Thank him for me when you see him.”

  I smiled. “I will.”

  He gently pushed me to the door. “It’s okay. Go to him. He’s part of the family now.”

  I turned back to my father, hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Dad. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Jasmine.” He pulled away from me. “Now, get out of here. Alex is waiting for you.”

  Ecstatically happy, I drove to Alex’s apartment, trying not to speed. My knuckles rapped on his door swiftly. I couldn’t wait to see him. When Alex opened it, I kissed him on the lips before he had a chance to say anything.

  My happiness swirled around me. I couldn’t contain it. “My dad came back to the restaurant. He said you went to our house to talk to him.”

  He nodded and led me inside. “I did.”

  “I don’t know what you said, but you convinced him to stay. He even supports my decision to go to college.”

  “You told him about school?”

  I nodded. “Yes. And he’s proud of me for going. He also said he respects you for what you did today. We don’t have to sneak around anymore. You’re welcome anytime.” I beamed, words of joy flying out of my mouth.

  Alex picked me up and spun me around the living room. “I’m so happy, Jasmine!”

  As he lifted me up, I looked down at his grinning face. “I love you, Alex. I want to move in with you if you still want me to.”

  “Yes!” Alex put me down and kissed me. “Of course, I do. Nothing would make me happier than to have you here with me.” He scooped me up in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom. He laid me on the bed, brushing strands of hair out of my face. “I would love for you to move in here. You sure?”

  I smiled at him happily. “I’m sure.”

  Alex kissed me passionately, pulling off my clothes. When I was fully naked, he pulled away from me and took a long look at my body. He smiled admiringly. “You’re so beautiful, Jasmine.” The way he looked at me, I felt so beautiful. Alex made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

  I sat up to pull Alex’s shirt off. I ran my hands down his muscular arms and chest. “You’re beautiful, too.” Alex’s body was strong and perfectly sculpted.

  He laid me back down while swiftly yanking down his pants. I smoothed my hands down his strapping back to his toned ass. Alex kissed my neck sending a tingle down my spine. When he pushed a finger inside my cunt, I gasped in delight.

  He nestled his thumb on my clit, moving it in a circular motion. His mouth found mine. His tongue danced in my mouth, tasting me. Within moments, an orgasm shook through me. Moaning, I clenched Alex’s ass with my hands.

  When my shuddering stopped, all I wanted was Alex inside me. Quickly, I grabbed a condom lying next to us. Grabbing Alex's cock, I slipped the condom down on his shaft. With a determined hand, I shoved him inside me. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I squeezed my pussy tightly around his dick.

  Surprised by the rapidity and resolve in my actions, he gasped in pleasure. “Jasmine!” Rocking my hips back and forth against him, I watched as his face contorted in bliss. I loved seeing him enjoying himself. Alex pushed into me hard and deep. Grabbing onto his ass, I pulled him into me, plunging his dick deeper inside. With a few rocking motions of my hips, I felt my pussy shudder again forcefully. The orgasm erupted inside of me, leaving me breathless and dizzy.

  Alex’s groans grew strained as he thrust faster. I could feel his body tensing until he groaned loudly. Relaxing his body completely, he collapsed down on the bed next to me.

  We were both drenched in sweat and breathless. Alex put his arm around me. “I like when you take control.”

  I blushed. “I just couldn’t stop myself.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “With me, I don’t want you to ever feel restrained. I want you to feel at home here.” He squeezed me close to him. “Because this is our home now.”

  I kissed him on the cheek. “Our home.” Exhaling a long slow breath, I closed my eyes resting my head on Alex’s chest. I loved the sound of that: our home.

  At least for now, he and I had found our happy ending.

  Epilogue

  Alex

  6 months later:

  “Thanks for coming with me, Jas.” I ran my arm around her shoulders as we stepped onto the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. My cousin, Ryan had been sought after by scouts to attend the college for his mad baseball skills.

  Being a senior in high school, he was in need of a little brotherly advice. Since he had no brothers, I was called in by my aunt Carmen to help her son make a good choice when picking the college that would be best for him. For not only his baseball career but also for his academic one.

  Jasmine was the first to see my cousin as he made a B-line for us. “Hi, Ryan.” She waved at him.

  He hurried to us, looking nervous. “Hey, guys. Glad you could make it.” He sho
ok my hand then gave Jasmine a hug. “I’m a wreck.”

  “I know the feeling,” I agreed. “When I was checking colleges who were interested in me when I was a senior in high school, I had Dad to help me make a good decision. Unfortunately for you, your father isn’t around to do that. I’m happy to be of help, cousin.”

  His smile was broad as he nodded. “Well, he’s very busy back in Argentina. Since his father passed away last month, he’s been inundated with settling his estate. He and all the rest of his brood of siblings seem to squabble over every last thing my grandfather had.”

  “Which was a lot,” I added as we started heading to the coaches office for the meeting that had been scheduled earlier in the week. “Your grandfather was a wealthy man. Leaving no will behind and having fifteen children hasn’t left your father, the oldest of them all, an easy task. I’m happy to help you anyway.”

  Jasmine gushed over my cousin, “Ryan, you’re such a talented pitcher that any university will be lucky to get you. You have to keep that in mind when they pitch you their offer. I just wish UF would step up and take some interest in you. Then you’d be with us.”

  Ryan nodded. “Yeah, I know. But them winning the College World Series this year has them being picky as all get out. LSU is a great school for baseball players too. And maybe with my help, we could win next year’s title.”

  “If you’re going to dream, dream big, Cuz,” I said as I patted him on the back.

  After a great meeting with the coaching staff, Ryan and I both agreed the college in Baton Rouge would be ideal for him. Not only was he given a full scholarship, but he was given the rare opportunity to play for their team as a starter even as a freshman. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up. My cousin, Ryan Romero, would be pitching for the LSU Tigers next season.

  My aunt was overjoyed with the news that her oldest child and only son was going to be a Tiger for LSU’s baseball team. And my help with the rising star was greatly appreciated by my family.

  Jasmine was also highly impressed with me and later that night, after Ryan had left to head back to his home in Miami, she and I stayed in Baton Rouge for the night.

  I had something I wanted to ask her and I wanted it to be special.

  Her dark hair shone in the twinkling lights. Taking her to Roux 61 — a Baton Rouge legend — for what I hoped would be a special night she’d never forget, we were holding hands as we listened to the singer on stage. A guy I’d talked to in secret only moments before he took the stage.

  Beaux Atkins proved to be a pretty cool guy and was all types of happy to help me out with my special request. The song over, he gave me a nod and a smile. A thing that had Jasmine looking at me with wonder in her eyes. “You know him?”

  “Kinda,” I admitted.

  Beaux took the mic in his hand as he came toward us. Jasmine’s expression went from wonder to ‘what the fuck’ in an instant. “Alex? What’s happening?”

  “Hi there, Jasmine,” Beaux greeted her. “How was your dinner?”

  The spotlight that had followed him grew to include her in it. She went pale then blushed. “Good. Thank you.”

  “How’d you like my performance, Jasmine?” he asked her as I took the chance to move out of my seat as he had her full attention and the spotlight on her had it impossible for her to see what I was doing.

  Pulling the ring out of my pocket. I fought back the nerves that were brewing inside of me.

  Was I really about to do this?

  Jasmine’s voice wobbled as she answered the singer, “It was great. I loved it.”

  "Good, good," he said and handed the mic to me, and the spotlight grew to incorporate Jasmine and me, leaving him in the dark.

  Jasmine’s eyes went to me, and when she saw that I was on one knee in front of her, her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her eyes glistened.

  “Hi, Jas,” I said with a sly smile.

  “Hi, Alex,” she whispered behind her hands.

  “Mind if I ask you a question?” I teased her.

  She finally dropped her hands away from her mouth, and I saw one tear escape. “Okay.”

  “You know how I love you, right?” I beat around the bush.

  She nodded and gulped. “I do.”

  “You know how I love having you with me all the time, right?”

  She nodded. “I do.”

  I liked the way she was answering me and thought I’d love hearing her say those same words in the near future as a priest asked her a few questions.

  My heart was pounding, for reasons I was unsure of. I mean, I was pretty sure she'd say yes to my question, but still, there was that nagging doubt that asked me, ‘What if she turns you down, bro?'

  But I pushed that doubt to the side and showed her the engagement ring I’d hid from her for a solid week. “So with all that in mind, I’d like to ask you if you’d like to spend the rest of your life with me? As my wife?”

  She gasped and nodded as tears streamed down her reddened cheeks and she held out her left hand. I slid the one-karat diamond ring onto her slender finger as the rest of the restaurant’s patrons clapped and cheered for us.

  “Yes, Alex! Yes, I’ll marry you,” she cried out as she got up and I did too. We hugged then kissed as the cheering went on.

  I’d heard cheers most all of my life as I played soccer. And they had always made me feel excited and happy. But the cheers I was hearing then were incomparable to all those I’d heard before. I was nearly overwhelmed with emotion.

  These cheers were for Jasmine and me and the love we’d found for each other and would never let go of.

  Temptation

  Chapter 1

  "Look at this place. Not a man here I would give the time of day to,” Kylie Michaels complained, waving a dismissive hand at the crowd around the bar. Shaking her head, she sighed. “I can’t believe there are almost four million men in New York City, and these pieces of rubble are what we get to choose from tonight.”

  Theresa Brighton snorted and motioned for the bartender to bring her another drink. “Why do you even try? I gave up a long time ago.” And with good reason. At 28, she’d already gone through one nasty divorce after a hell of a relationship. She had no intention of seeking out another.

  Scoffing, Kylie shook her head. "One bad round doesn't count, especially if it's not your fault. Besides, you could do better." But her attention had already turned elsewhere, her eyes focused on the television to their right behind and above the bar. Reesa trained her gaze on it, and she sighed in exasperation.

  Marcus Winters, the Soccer Savior for the Seattle Sounders, dominated the screen. Sure, he was gorgeous, but he was as fake and phony as they came, she figured. "Come on, Kylie," she chided as she wrinkled her nose at the interview airing. "You see that smile? How crooked it is? And how he tilts his head ever so slightly so he looks completely cocky and self-absorbed? It's all an act."

  “How dare you say that to me?” Kylie asked in mock offense. Or maybe she really meant it. Reesa didn’t know anymore. She’d grown used to her friend’s celebrity crush on the famous center midfielder and striker. Yes, she’d even had to learn the jargon because of her best friend’s obsession. “That grin is as genuine as they come. See that dot in his cheek? You can’t fake dimples.”

  “Oh, I’m sure it’s as genuine as his perfectly golden tan,” Reesa laughed, blowing a kiss to the bartender as he handed her the drink. She really needed it, if they might end up talking sports all night. “Listen, Kylie, these guys are nothing like they seem on television. In real life, they’re human, and they don’t have good attitudes. I bet Marcus Winters is one of the most socially awkward people on this planet, and he would sit here at this bar, saying the same things about the women that we say about the men, just to avoid having to approach one of them on his friend’s insistence.”

  “You’re a hater,” Kylie pouted.

  Reesa just shrugged. “Oh, well. Speaking of which, you’re no longer allowed to avoid the stare of that han
dsome young man over there.” She pointed to a pretty blonde man who’d spent the last fifteen minutes ogling Kylie. “I know he’s no soccer superstar, but he’s a close second.” She gave her friend a shove and watched her weave her way to the other end of the bar. She didn’t turn away until she knew Kylie had joined in conversation and seemed okay.

  Then, she found her vision focused back on the television, her lips pursed as she read the subtitles now scrolling across the screen. It’s all about the fans, and if showing up to get my ass dunked for the Children’s Cancer Research Foundation makes the fans happy, it just fills my heart twice as much.

  What a crock of shit, Reesa thought. It was good publicity for him and the Sounders, that was all. And it was a way to entice more women, not that he needed any help with that. Most of the time, she figured, women threw their panties at him and begged to go to bed with him.

  The reporter spoke now. Winters has also agreed to donate two million dollars personally to the cause, the largest single donation to the new foundation so far.

  “Well, he can afford it,” Reesa mumbled to herself, staring down into her drink.

  “You think I should give more?” Reesa stiffened and nearly choked as she looked up into a ridiculously handsome face and realized it matched the one on the screen. Not possible, she told herself, blinking. This had to be an imposter. But her eyes traced the lines of his full lips, took in his broad shoulders, and felt the ripple of attraction she often denied course through her, however brief, as Marcus Winters pinned her with his emerald gaze.

  Recovering quickly, she shrugged, as if he was just some guy. “What does it matter? It’ll be a tax write-off anyway, right?”

  He inclined his head, that easy crooked grin curling his lips as he leaned one shoulder on the bar beside her. “I suppose. But I don’t do my own taxes. I don’t trust my judgment, so I don’t know.” He took a deep breath. “So, how much do you think I should donate? What do you think would be an appropriate hit to my pocketbook to make it a donation truly in the giving spirit?”