His Billionaire: Series Bundle, Books 1-3

by Turner, CJ

  “No girlfriend?” said Alister.

  “No.”

  “And no boyfriend, either?”

  “How do you have the energy to be so nosy when you can barely breathe?”

  Alister shrugged. “It’s a talent.”

  Manu unlocked the front door and pushed it open. He flicked on the interior lights to reveal the sparse living area with an L-shaped couch that faced the big screen television over the river stone fireplace. Beyond that, a counter jutted from the wall that separated the small kitchen from the living room. On the left, a staircase rose to the loft where Manu slept.

  “The couch is on the right. Sit while I hunt up a few things. Jack, keep him company.”

  Manu traveled the hall that led past the bathroom on the right to the storeroom, where he kept supplies for his business. It had been the original owner’s pantry, but Manu had cabinets installed in the kitchen for storage. He foraged for the oxygen canister and wondered if he ran out. He found one and tested it. Empty. Manu rattled through the shelves once more and found a shipment he had forgotten under the red and black chevron afghan his grandmother crocheted. He tore open the plastic, pulled out a canister, and tore off the cellophane. As an afterthought, he draped the afghan on his arm. On the way back, Manu stopped at the kitchen and filled a glass with water from the tap.

  “Do you need any help?” said Alister.

  “No. Just sit.”

  He walked to the couch, and the twink looked up with a questioning look in his eye.

  “What?” said Manu.

  “Do you always order your guests around?”

  Manu chuckled. “Only the ones that deserve it.” He handed the water to Alister. “Drink this.”

  Alister cocked an eyebrow up. “Shades of Alice in Wonderland. Will this make me small?”

  Manu batted away several sarcastic but uncomplimentary replies.

  “It’s water, and you need it. Hydration is an issue in the mountains.”

  “Okay, I believe you.” Alister took the water with a huff but drank it while Manu kept his eyes trained on him. Then Manu held out the can. “Depress the button while sucking in the air. Take a deep breath.” Alister rolled his eyes but did as Manu told him.

  “Again,” Manu said.

  Alister shook his head but did it.

  “How’s your head?” said Manu.

  “Not as big as yours but better now though it still aches.”

  “I’ll get you more water.”

  “How about aspirin or acetaminophen or any pain freaking reliever that works?”

  “Sure.”

  After fetching both the aspirin and the water, Manu returned to find Alister fiddling with the television’s remote control.

  “I can’t get it to work,” he said. “Why must everything here be difficult?”

  “It’s not. You just need to learn the rules of the road. I don’t waste electricity, which is why I turn off the cable box and modem when I’m not using them.”

  “How does one not need to use the internet 24-7?”

  Manu shrugged and flipped them on. Then he took the red and black chevron afghan and laid it on Alister’s legs.

  “Why did you do that?” said Alister.

  “Because the cabin is chilly. I haven’t been here for three days and don’t run the heat when I’m gone. You’ll feel it when your heart rhythm returns to normal.”

  “I should call Sebastian. Can I borrow your phone? I left mine at his house.”

  Manu bristled but handed him his phone, then looked away. Why would that suggestion bother him? The twink should return to his friend. Hell, for all Manu knew, Sebastian was his lover.

  “Sure. Are you hungry? I have some frozen—” But Manu stopped when he heard Alister speaking.

  “Hey, I’m at this dude’s house. His name is Manu, and he lives by the lake. Do you know him? Anyway, I’m here, so whenever you want to pick me up because I don’t know where your house is in this godforsaken wilderness. I might forgive you then for leaving me behind.” Alister clicked off the call.

  Manu sighed. “He’s coming to get you? Because I can take you to his house.”

  “I have no freaking idea. And I do not have a key to Sebastian’s place if he’s not there. He didn’t answer, and I left a message. Now, what were you saying?”

  “Are you hungry?”

  Alister shook his head. “No. My stomach's upset. But don’t let me stop you.”

  “No. I’m good. What do you want to watch?”

  Alister scoffed. “I’m not into television. I’m more of a doer than a watcher.”

  “Well, until we hear from your friend, you should be resting, not doing. Hey, do you like wrestling?”

  “Wrestling?” said Alister with a doubtful tone in his voice.

  “Sure. Men in tights duking it out on the mats? It’s fun.”

  “The things that light up a man’s brain. Men in tights?”

  “Better than comic book heroes. You’re not a fan?”

  Alister shrugged.“I’m more of a Pride and Prejudice guy.”

  Manu cocked his head. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Rich men with a stick up their butts, and the women that haunt them. That’s fun.”

  “You’re into women?” said Manu with disappointment.

  “You’re not?”

  “Well.”

  “Women are some of my favorite people. But that’s because of my mom and my sister, Livvy. Otherwise, I’m out and proud.” Alister put his arms on the top of the couch and gave Manu a defiant glare.

  Chapter 5

  Alister

  The mountain man pinged all of Alister’s buttons, and even though he had helped Alister out, this Manu character worked Alister’s last nerve. Manu stood over Alister with his hulking frame as if he wanted to intimidate him. Alister would not have it. He wasn’t used to being treated like a child, nor did he appreciate Manu’s paternal attitude. Alister made peace with the fact that in terms of stature, Alister was shorter and didn’t have the muscle bulk of other men. Here, he took after his petite mother. But he took enough martial arts classes as a child and a young man to defend himself very well. As his martial arts teacher taught him, being a big man meant you hit the ground harder. So Manu acting like a black bear didn’t intimidate him in the least.

  Instead, it got him hot.

  This was highly inconvenient.

  “Hey, you’re preaching to the choir,” said Manu. “Now that we’ve gauged each other’s sexual orientation, do you want to measure dick, too? Because I’m sensing you’re trying to top me, and that won’t work.”

  “It won’t?” said Alister.

  Manu dropped onto the other portion of the L-shaped couch and reached across Alister for the remote. Which only made Alister’s stiffened cock twitch.

  “Nope. I’m the lord of this castle. And when you leave, I’ll still be the lord, so back down. It will make your stay more comfortable.”

  Alister closed his eyes to compose himself. The edge of command in his host’s voice made Alister’s stomach nervous with pleasurable anticipation. He swallowed and reached for the oxygen can again. But his hand shook, and Manu glanced toward him with an appraising eye, which only made Alister lose his shit more. The can fell from his grip and landed on his stiff cock.

  “Ouch,” Alister said.

  Manu gave him a cutting look. “What’s the problem?”

  “Nothing,” said Alister quickly.

  Manu looked to where the oxygen can hit and then rolled to the side because of the bulk inside Alister’s sweatpants. A wry smile spread across Manu’s face.

  “Sweats hide nothing. And what you got there is a ton of something. But we all have our body issues.” He snorted as if inordinately pleased with his joke.

  “You’re an ass,” spit Alister.

  This last statement made Manu snort then outright laugh.

  “What is so funny?” Alister’s indignation bubbled, and he got caught between his anger and hi
s arousal.

  “I don’t fucking know,” Manu said in between guffaws. “It’s the way you act so pompous and helpless at the same time. Talk about men with sticks up their asses.” A burst of laughter erupted from Manu then, and he gasped to regain control.

  Jack took that moment to bark warningly at Manu, which seemed to shock Manu from his mirth. He stared at the dog as if trying to figure out what upset him.

  “Upstairs,” Manu ordered. The dog gave him a baleful glance but trotted away and up the stairs to the loft above. But that didn’t stop Alister readying to go on offense.

  “Is that so?” he tossed out as a challenge.

  Manu wiped his eyes.“Buddy, I’ve never seen a guy try so hard to act cool, and it’s fucking ridiculous.”

  Alister’s eyes widened with his growing indignation. He opened his mouth to spit a retort, but his mind did the math of his hardened dick, and Manu sitting there like sex on a stick blew a circuit in his brain. Impulsively, he leaned over and planted his lips on Manu.

  In a second, the seriousness of what he’d done struck him, and he tried to pull away. But Manu wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer.

  Manu’s mouth covered his, hard and questing, enticing Alister to open his mouth and take Manu’s tongue. Recklessly, Alister took it, and their tongues danced against each other, fueling Alister’s lust. Manu cupped Alister’s cock, and Alister lost all sense of time and place. He crawled on top of Manu and felt the man’s excitement under him.

  Alister gripped the edge of the man’s T-shirt and pulled it up to reveal the man’s chest full of dark hair and his dusky brown nipples. He bent and sucked one nipple in his mouth, and Manu gasped. Good. He liked it when a man’s nipples were sensitive. He dropped that nipple and took the other between his lips, but lightly pinched and pulled the neglected one with his hand.

  Under him, Manu’s cocked swelled, promising more than Alister expected. Sometimes big men’s bodies overpromised what they could deliver, but not this burly mountain man. Alister feasted on Manu’s nipples and sucked on his neck. He didn’t seem to be able to get enough of him.

  Manu gripped Alister’s ass, pulling him closer, and they bucked against each other. Alister groaned as his mind raced ahead to his next move. So far, they had kissed, which didn’t carry as much risk. And he took the PrEP pills. Finding out that his last boyfriend was a player freaked Alister out, and he hiked it to the family doctor to get the medication.

  Manu now sucked on Alister’s neck, while his hand slipped between them to rub Alister’s cock through the thin fabric. There was no thinking after that. Alister moaned his appreciation for Manu’s attention. And without prelude, Manu tore Alister’s sweatpants down, and his cock sprang out, hard and dripping, and pointed towards Manu’s mouth.

  Manu shot a searing gaze filled with lust and opened his mouth.

  “Give it,” he ordered.

  The words alone almost made him shoot, but he wanted what Manu offered.

  “Okay,” he said. And he leaned forward.

  Unexpectedly, someone pounded on the door as if the police were about to break the door down. Jack ran down the stairs, barking furiously.

  “Fuck,” said Manu. “I guess I should get that.”

  Alister scrambled off Manu’s lap, disappointed at the interruption. He sat with a huff and pulled up his sweatpants. Manu stood and walked to the door.

  “Open up, damn it!”

  Manu pulled open the door cautiously.

  “Is there a problem?”

  “My friend, Alister, is here. I came to get him.”

  Manu opened the door but stood behind it for an outstanding reason, though sadly, that reason was fading fast. Alister pulled the afghan over his lap until he calmed down.

  “Where the hell have you been?” snapped Sebastian when his eyes lighted on Alister on the couch.

  “Excuse me? Who left me alone on a mountain while he chased after his dog?”

  Jack sniffed around Sebastian’s legs, probably picking up Sargeant Pupper’s scent. He circled Sebastian and huffed and walked away, to fall at Alister’s feet.

  “Why didn’t you follow?”

  “Improper footwear and the forces of gravity don’t mix well. If it weren’t for Manu, I’d still be sitting on that incline.”

  “I went back for you, and you had disappeared. I’ve been frantic looking for you.”

  “Why?”

  “You know why, Alister. And your parents would kill me.”

  “Don’t be silly. Neither has a murderous bone in their body.”

  “Let’s go,” said Sebastian. “And you, Martin, stay away from him.”

  Manu’s mouth twitched. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because your reputation is shit in this town, and you know it. Why you haven’t folded your tour business is beyond me. I don’t need my friend hurt because of your half-assed approach to safety.”

  Manu crossed his arms and glared at Sebastian, who was a half a head shorter than Manu. Alister had half a mind to tell Sebastian to take a hike, but the angry expression on Manu’s face telegraphed the party was over.

  “Let’s go, Sebastian, before I have to bail you out of jail. Thanks for helping me off the mountain, Manu. I do appreciate it.”

  Manu flicked his gaze to Alister, but shot him the same icy stare he rained on Sebastian.

  “Sure, anytime.”

  Sebastian turned and left Manu’s house. His feet clattered on the floorboards of the cottage’s porch without Sebastian speaking a word. Alister had never seen cool and collected Sebastian so pissed.

  Sebastian’s key fob chirped, and he strode with crisp steps on the driveway gravel to the driver’s side of his SUV. Alister peered over his shoulder to find Manu a half step out of his door. But when the mountain man caught Alister’s glance, he stepped back inside before Alister could raise his hand. The door shut with a slam.

  Alister sighed. It had been too damned long since he touched anyone, and he loved Manu’s responsiveness. Some men were “let’s get the main event” types, but Manu enjoyed Alister’s expanded menu of possibilities. Sebastian had the worst sense of timing.

  The passenger-side door popped open.

  “Are you getting in or what?” said Sebastian. He sounded irritated, and Alister almost understood that. Alister had arrived in the dead of night without notifying him, and at the first opportunity got lost on a mountain, making him worry. Then Alister made Sebastian his taxi service and retrieved him from a guy’s house who Sebastian clearly did not like. It was a shit show all the way around, and Alister might have sympathy for him if Sebastian hadn’t acted like a dick to Manu.

  Alister climbed on the leather seat of the SUV with his lips pursed in thought. He clipped the seat belt into its buckle and stared forward as Sebastian fired the engine and rolled down the driveway.

  “What’s your problem?” said Sebastian.

  “I’d rather not have this discussion.”

  “I don’t care,” said Sebastian. He swung out onto the two-lane highway at the end of the drive.

  “Do you want a fight? I’d rather not get into it with my host.”

  “No, I don’t,” said Sebastian tersely. “Look, I have a big deal pending, and I don’t need it blown by an out-of-town guest that doesn’t know what’s what around here. Manu Martin is poison around here, and it’s best if you stay away from him.”

  “What did he do that’s so terrible? Because short of murder, you have no right to act like such a big swinging dick with him.”

  “A man almost died because of his sloppiness. People don’t trust him for good reason. And he’s being sued.”

  “Oh, sued,” said Alister drawing out the word sarcastically. Living in the upper-income strata, it was the reason why Alister had his own lawyer since the age of four. Alister learned early that some people thought lawsuits were a pathway to instawealth. He had little sympathy for such people.

  Sebastian’s fingers tightened on the
wheel of the SUV, and his face grew grim.

  “I recommended Manu’s tour to the man and have heard no end of grief about it, okay? So do me a favor and stay away from Manu Martin.”

  Alister crossed his arms and stared out of the windshield, at war with his desire not to anger his forever friend and host and his lust for the mountain man. Alister was smart and knew the dangers of sticking his dick in the wrong places. But in his gut, he didn’t see Manu as the danger that Sebastian laid out. His inner voice told him something was “not right,” and Alister had learned to trust that voice.

  Still, Alister dropped the subject with Sebastian. He had no idea how long he’d stay at Mountain Shadow Lake and didn’t want to wear out his welcome too fast.

  When they reached the house up the long drive that could be its own mini-highway, they found a stack of packages at the garage door. Alister heard Sargeant Pupper barking furiously.

  “Wonderful,” said Sebastian sarcastically. “Whoever delivered the packages couldn’t wait or call? What if someone stole them?”

  “Chill. No one would come up here, especially with that beast of yours barking like a fiend.”

  Between the two men, they dragged in the assortment of packages to Alister’s room.

  “I’ll go see about something to eat. I’ll probably order something and pick it up. Is there anything you want?”

  “I’m not picky,” said Alister.

  “Since when?” replied Sebastian.

  “Since I decided to be the best guest ever. Whatever you want is fine with me.”

  Sebastian’s expression said he didn’t believe Alister, but Alister meant it. He was grateful for Sebastian taking him in, especially after his stunt of walking out on his family.

  “Fine,” said Sebastian.

  With Sebastian gone, Alister tore into the packages. It was like Christmas, but on a smaller scale, and he had paid for it all. But Daniel’s selections pleased him. The clothes were killer, and Daniel had sent not only a phone charger but a burner phone as well and a computer plus a new prescription for his PrEP pills. Alister also found a debit card, and he wondered about that until he read Daniel’s note that said he could only put ten grand on it, so use it with care. Alister frowned. Ten grand was a start but not anywhere near what he spent in a week. He’d have to make do.