The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1)

by KyAnn Waters

  Cassie groaned, her head falling to the side. Trent trailed kisses along her neck, traced the shell of her ear with his tongue then kissed her mouth again. Hot, wet and arousing. He swept the sensitive tissues of her mouth with his tongue.

  Heat surged through him. He softened his kiss, gently sucking her upper lip as she kissed his bottom. Inching his hand higher, he slipped his palm inside her dress.

  Her low moan further encouraged him. He cupped the velvety smooth flesh of her breast, rolling her nipple between his thumb and finger.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  Trent growled.

  “My fault,” she whispered. “I ordered wine.”

  Trent removed his hand from her dress and stepped back.

  Cassie opened the door. The waiter supported a silver tray bearing wine and two glasses on it in his hand.

  “I’ll just take it,” she told him.

  He extended the tray toward her.

  “Let me get it, Cassie.” Trent stepped forward and took the tray as she signed the bill.

  “Thanks,” she said, and the door clicked shut.

  She reached his side as he set the tray on the table near the window.

  “Do you want me to pour the wine?” she asked.

  “No.” He reached around her and turned off the lamp. “Are you sure, Cassie?”

  She trailed her fingers along his shoulder to his neck, then tugged his tie loose and slowly pulled it from around his neck. “You ask too many questions.” Standing on tiptoes, she kissed his lips while her fingers slipped his shirt buttons free of the button holes.

  Like a blind man, he explored her body with his hands and his mouth, trailing kisses along her neck as he slipped the dress straps from her shoulder. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he pulled the pins from her bun. With a gentle tug, her hair fell free, cascading around her shoulders.

  But it wasn’t her beauty that sent his heart racing and clenched his stomach. In a few days with her, he’d realized he needed more than a wife. He needed a love match like his parents and grandparents had. Lindsey might have been his partner, but it would have been more business arrangement than love. What irony. He had a business relationship with Cassie, but his emotions were now dictating the terms. He was falling in love, real love, for the first time in his life.

  With his shirt unbuttoned, he shrugged it from his shoulders and stripped it down his arms. The cuffs caught on his hands. Trent cursed under his breath and quickly freed the buttons. Cassie rested her slender hands on his bare chest, smoothing her palms over his torso. Trent closed his eyes as his cock swelled to near agonizing hardness.

  Warm kisses sifted over his pectoral. Then wet heat closed over his nipple. Her tongue rasped the tight nip. With a growl, Trent unhooked his belt, then opened the hook to his slacks and lowered the zipper. He slid his hand into his boxer briefs and adjusted his cock.

  Cassie rested her head against his chest and slipped her hand past the elastic waistband of his briefs. Trent sucked in a breath as her fingertips grazed the moist, sensitive crown. She traced the length against her palm and then curled her fingers around his girth.

  As Trent reveled in the pleasure of her touch, he lowered his head and claimed her lips. Delving in, he explored her teeth. She responded with hot swipes of her tongue along his. Dammit, if he wasn’t careful, he would come in her hand. He reached behind her and lowered the zipper of her dress. When the fabric parted, he slid his hand down and over the curve of her ass. Now loose, the dress fell, catching at her elbows. She took a step back and lowered her arms. The dress slipped off, pooling around her feet, leaving a mere scrap of black lace covering her sex.

  Trent swallowed. His fantasies hadn’t come close to the reality. Strong, feminine shoulders tapered to a flat stomach. Hips curved into trim thighs. Desire further hardened his cock. Her pink nipples marbled to absolute perfection on small, firm breasts. And her long, dark hair framed her face. God, he loved her hair. Desire had him by the balls. He swooped in, lifted her into his arms, carried her to the bed, and gently placed her on the mattress. She drew the covers back and wiggled between the sheets as he toed off his shoes. Trent pushed his trousers down and when he tucked his thumbs into his briefs, Cassie licked her lips, her gaze tracking his movements.

  He shoved his underwear down and, damn, if she didn’t gasp softly.

  Her eyes lifted to his face. “I stopped at the hotel gift shop.”

  He slid beneath the sheets beside her. “For souvenirs?”

  She scooted to the center of the bed. “For condoms. I didn’t have anything and wasn’t sure you would. I…I’m not sexually active. I mean, of course, I’m not a virgin, but I haven’t been in a relationship for more than a year. I’ve been so focused on my career. But I didn’t want to assume you’d carry condoms. Not that I think you’re out sleeping around, I don’t mean that. That’s not any of my business. I’m not on any type of birth control, so I’ll shut up now.”

  “Good, because I have other plans for your mouth.” He leaned in and kissed her. With their mouths and tongues entwined, Trent stretched out beside her and covered her breast with his hand and rasped his thumb over the tip. Her hands roamed over his back while she caressed his leg with a foot.

  Breath mingled in the darkened room. She arched into him, slightly widening her thighs. Trent shifted lower, trailing wet kissed across her décolletage then dipping to her breast. He sucked her sweet nipple into his mouth. A low moan rolled from her chest. God, she was responsive. He leaned over her, laving the other nipple. Cassie threaded her fingers through his hair, anchoring him to her breast.

  Lightning flashed outside the window. Thunder clashed as Lamont reached shore, but the real storm raged inside him. He needed her, wanted like hell to drive into her until they both fell into oblivion. But he had to go slow. Then would come oblivion.

  Trent slipped a hand into her panties. Oh god. He traced the seam of her wet slit then slid his finger inside her. After a few slow plunges, Cassie lifted her hips. Trent hooked her panties and slipped them down her thighs, then tossed them onto the floor. Both naked, he stretched out beside her. Face to face, he traced her slightly parted lips with his thumb. Her tongue poked out and touched it.

  Trent rolled on top of her. Her lush curves gave way beneath him. Pure heaven. Gently, he brushed his lips against hers.

  Cassie slid her arms around him clutching him tightly, flattening her breasts against his chest. His tongue plunged inside her mouth. Her silken mouth was so warm and wet, he envisioned the same erotic torture on his cock, sucking him—

  Trent broke the kiss. “Condom?” he asked.

  She reached toward the nightstand and he rolled off her as she grabbed a small box. Before he could take the package from her, she had a condom in hand and tore the wrapper. Trent rolled onto his side, propped up on an elbow. Her gaze met his as she held the ring of rubber. She worried her lip between her teeth.

  “Touch me,” he said.

  She sat up and scooted closer. As she reached toward him, his heart picked up speed and when she curled her fingers around his shaft, Trent closed his eyes. Her touch was sweet agony. His balls pulled up and tightened. Heat surged through his system, streaking along his spine and coursing into his cock. Gritting his teeth, he endured the excruciating pleasure of her fingers on his flesh as she inched the rubber down his length.

  The bed shifted, and he opened his eyes as Cassie reclined beside him. She bent her head and kissed his chest, then slid her mouth across to one nipple. He relaxed onto his back and drew in a deep breath. Her warm lips closed around his nipple. Then she nipped at his flesh, and slid her mouth to the other nipple and sucked.

  “Cassie,” he rasped.

  Trent speared his fingers through her hair, then rolled onto her. Her thighs spread and he settled between them. He grasped her calves and gently bent her knees until her feet were flat on the mattress. With a feather-light touch, Trent caressed her outer thigh as he probed her
entrance. Her hips rolled and he slid deep into her hot, silken passage. Her tight walls closed around him like a vice. Pleasure ripped through him.

  Trent braced on outstretched arms and slowly drove into her, pausing deep, drawing out the pleasure as he pulled back. Her whimper sent a message straight to his erection. With each plunge, he increased momentum. Cassie grasped a fistful of his hair and thrust her hips upward to meet his strokes. She drew a sharp breath.

  Lightning flashed. Rain pelted the window. Trent leveraged higher, thrusting harder. Wet head gloved his shaft tighter.

  “Trent.” His name came out as a pant.

  Rhythmic pulses through her core sent shards of pleasure through his cock and into his balls. Cassie gripped his arms. He thrust faster, barely keeping his release at bay. She hadn’t come yet, but she was close, she had to be close with the way she pumped her hips against his. He slid his hands between her and the mattress and crushed her to him. Her erotic, breathy exhales bathed his ear. Sweat trickled along his spine. Pressure intensified. Her thighs abruptly tightened around his hips and she whispered his name on a feminine groan.

  Each spasm milked his cock. He gripped her hips, thrust deep and erupted. The force of the contractions ripped through him. Muscles bunched and burned as he reveled in the intensity of his orgasm. He growled, fighting for breath, yet not caring about anything but the pleasure and the woman beneath him.

  She tightened a second time and cried out as Trent’s orgasm burst through him in one final breath-stealing spasm. Moving again, he thrust slowly, and she shivered beneath him. She released a stuttered breath while he drew a deep inhale then slowly exhaled. Her body relaxed and he reclaimed her mouth. Her arms twined around his back and her legs circled his hips as she kept him locked within her. She returned the kiss, drawing out the moment. Her fingers absently roamed his back and then her legs dropped to his side. Trent lingered a moment longer in the kiss, then shifted off her.

  “I’ll be right back.” He excused himself to the bathroom and disposed of the condom. When he returned, Cassie had righted the pillows. Trent slipped beneath the covers beside her. She turned to him and he folded her into his arms.

  “Do you want a glass of wine?” she asked.

  “Later.” Right now, he just wanted to hold her.

  She chuckled. “It’s now or never. If I lay here with you like this, I’m going to fall asleep.”

  “Good. I like you right where you are.”

  Thunder rumbled outside the window.

  “Trent?” she whispered.

  His eyes were closed, coasting towards sleep. “Yes.”

  “If we oversleep I’m going to toss you over my shoulder again.”

  He laughed. Reaching up, he snagged the phone’s handset and punched the button for the front desk. “Seven a.m. wakeup. Room 2025.” He hung up, snuggled into the pillow and pulled her flush against him. A few minutes later, he could tell she slept by the even rhythm of her breathing and the relaxed position of her body against his.

  Tonight was different. He knew that for the first time in his life, he’d just made love to a woman. What the fuck was he going to do now? He’d fallen in love with his wife.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The phone on the nightstand rang.

  “Thank you.” Trent’s sleepy voice wormed into Cassie’s dream. And then he was there, aligning his body with hers and placing sweet kisses along her neck and shoulder.

  She hummed and stretched. A delicious ache tingled between her legs as the previous night came rushing back in a flood of erotic memories.

  “Good morning.” She rolled over to face him.

  “Seven a.m.” His morning voice was as sexy as the stubble that shadowed his jaw.

  “Mmm. Good.”

  “What time do you have to be downstairs?” he asked.

  “In about an hour.” She draped her arm over her eyes. Today, she really would love to stay in bed, but the brunch started at ten and she still had a job to do.

  “Take your shower. I’ll order room service,” he said.

  “Just—”

  “Just coffee,” he said at the same time. “I know, but you should at least eat toast. After all, you did work late last night.”

  She sat up and slid her legs over the edge of the bed, but kept the sheet tucked around her breasts. “Caffeine and stress,” she murmured. “Perfect combination.”

  She smiled and glanced over her shoulder. Why was she nervous? He saw her naked last night. They’d had sex. God, they’d had incredible sex. Still, prancing around nude in front of a man wasn’t part of her usual morning ritual. Not seeing an alternative, she dropped the sheet.

  “I’ll just be a minute.” She scurried to the bathroom.

  Once in the bathroom, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her heart raced but her breasts tingled and warmth settled between her legs. She glanced in the mirror and groaned. Mascara smeared beneath her eyes and her hair was a nest of snarls. Turning on the shower, she stuck a hand beneath the water, waited until it warmed, then stepped beneath the sprays.

  Twenty minutes later, feeling clean and refreshed, Cassie wrapped a towel around her torso and exited the bathroom. Fresh coffee waited on the table. Trent had his back to her. While she’d showered, he’d slipped on his boxers. She discerned the tension in his shoulders and noticed the bend of his arm—the phone pressed to his ear. What was wrong? He spoke in tones too low to hear.

  “That bitch!” he growled.

  That she heard. Cassie quickly and quietly grabbed a pair of slacks and a silk cami.

  “No, of course I didn’t,” he snapped. “How the fuck am I supposed to fix this?”

  Cassie’s cell phone pealed out a loud ring tone. Trent spun. His mouth held a tight line and red crept up his neck. Their gazes locked. Was he angry with her?

  The cell phone rang again.

  Cassie clutched the clothes to her chest, grabbed her cell, and retreated to the bathroom.

  “Hello,” she said, and dumped her clothes onto the bathroom counter.

  “Oh my god, Cassie. What is going on?” Maryanne blurted. “My phone started ringing fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Why?” She pulled on panties and her slacks.

  Maryanne chuckled, but it sounded like incredulity. “Oh come now. Think really hard, Cassie.”

  Fear twisted through her. Since meeting Trent, she had told too many lies and accumulated too many secrets to even guess what Maryanne could be referencing.

  “I knew you were full of shit when you said there was nothing going on between you and Trent,” Maryanne said. “Now the world knows.”

  Cassie released a slow exhale. “I don’t think kissing on the dance floor is that big of a deal.” She pinched the phone between her shoulder and ear then slipped her arms into her bra and snapped the front closure.

  “Actually sweetie, it’s a huge deal when the man you’re kissing happens to be engaged to someone else.”

  “What?” She froze.

  “Ever heard of Lindsey Freemont?”

  “Of course.” Who hadn’t. The woman loved the press. Cassie wasn’t a big movie goer, but she had seen Lindsey’s last film with Zac Everest.

  “Well, your boyfriend knows her very well.”

  Cassie dropped the toilet cover and sat. “What do you mean?”

  “If Trent is still in your hotel room, he knows her as well as he knows you.”

  Nausea rolled through her belly. “Why do you assume he’s here?”

  “Cassie! He was all over you.”

  And then she had invited him to her room and into her bed.

  “But he’s not engaged to Lindsey.” He was married—to her.

  “Yeah, sweetie, he is. There are pictures of them together in Miami last month. Apparently they’ve been keeping their relationship private. But it’s not private any more. And you, my sweet Cassie, are now part of a bona fide love triangle.”

  Nothing Maryanne said made sense. If Trent was engaged, h
e wouldn’t have needed her. “There must be some mistake. I know he’s not involved with anyone.” As she said the words, she acknowledged she didn’t know much about Trent.

  “He’s involved with you…and he’s engaged to Lindsey Freemont. Look for yourself. It’s all over the internet. HollyRumor.com broke the story. Last night, the photographer wasn’t taking pictures of you and Trent because you were guests at the wedding. He must have recognized Trent. Apparently, last week at the party you arranged, he and Lindsey announced their engagement.”

  Cassie’s brows furrowed. “That’s impossible.” She was there, getting married to Trent!

  “Ah, no, it’s true. Lindsey made the announcement on Weekend Watch.” All the stars made appearances on the program, mostly to plug their upcoming and new release movies.

  Cassie’s head spun. “This isn’t possible.” Lindsey Fremont hadn’t been at James’ birthday party.

  “Cassie, there’s more. You’re the headline this morning. Trent isn’t coming off well either. Listen to this. A week after getting engaged, Lindsey Freemont has competition. Even for Hollywood, Trent Weston moves fast.” Maryanne took a deep breath. “There are pictures of you and Trent at last night’s party.”

  None of this made sense. “What else do they say?”

  “It’s mean and unflattering. Billionaire playboy loves to play with the help. They know your name and they’ve linked you to me. My phone has rung off the hook this morning.”

  “This isn’t happening.” Cassie leaned over and braced her forehead against her palm. “This wasn’t part of the plan.” The Weston party was supposed to land them on the event planner map from LA to New York. This was not what she and Maryanne had meant.

  “What plan?”

  “Nothing. I better go. The brunch.”

  “Okay, but call me if you need me. What are you going to say to Trent? Will you see him again?”

  She had to see him. He paced in the other room. Her insides twisted. How was James going to take all of this?