Boxed Set: The Baker & the Billionaire

by Nikki Steele

  “Careful there,” I called out, opening the storm door a crack. “This is Chiefs country. Nobody wants to hear about the Broncos when they’re winning the Division!” The men burst out laughing as Jax held up his hands in mock surrender, then walked up the steps to join me.

  “How’s it going?” I asked in a whisper.

  “Great,” he said with a fond smile. “Your family’s real nice. It’s… well, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a family gathering, and it brings back good memories.”

  Seeing him out there with my family, blending right in and so happy himself… I wished this was the way we could always be. It wasn’t possible, I knew that, but-

  “There you two are,” Erica said, finding us as we stood together in the shadows of the front door. “Mom needs help in the kitchen,” she said, looking at me.

  “So why didn’t you help her?” I asked. Had she always been this insufferable?

  “I’m not the one with my head in the fridge all the time,” she said blithely. “Speaking of which, what’s with that dress you’re wearing?”

  I blinked at the sudden topic change. “What?”

  “That dress—are you sure that’s the best bet for your body type?” She shrugged, as if the question was no big deal, then turned to Jax. “So Stephen, how did you get dragged to Loserville, Nebraska? I mean, I’m related, but you’ve got no excuse.” She laughed, flicking her hair and then gathering it over one shoulder to stroke it. “Maybe later, if you’d like, I could show you around?”

  Shoulders back. Chest out. Eyelashes fluttering… she was making a play for my man!

  My fists clenched, but Stephen got in first. “I think Libby looks beautiful.”

  It was Erica’s turn to blink. “What?”

  “The dress—it accentuates the curves; brings out her figure,” he said. “I wish she’d wear things like that more often, truthfully.” He slid his arm around my waist. “As for your offer, that’s very kind but I don’t think I’ll have time for sightseeing.”

  He motioned to me. “Why don’t we go help your mother?” Then he looked pointedly at Erica. “Any time Libby spends in the kitchen is well worth it—you should know, right? Doesn’t she do all your cooking?”

  “Thank you,” I breathed as we walked out of earshot.

  “For what?”

  “For… being amazing,” I said, pulling him closer to me. “For sticking up for me and making me feel like royalty today. You’re incredible.” We were inches apart, and I was aching to kiss him.

  I had a sudden thought. “Come with me, and look casual,” I whispered, then took his hand and led him through the house. As I opened the door to the basement, I spoke just loud enough for anyone in earshot to hear “I want to show you my old yearbook.”

  “Why?” he asked as we descended the stairs. As soon as my feet were on the floor I attacked him. I pushed him up against the wall and, one hand on the back of his head, pulled him in for a kiss. After a moment’s hesitation he wrapped his arms around me and we frantically made out.

  “Whoa,” he whispered once the kiss finally broke. “What was that for?”

  “For being you,” I said, and led him to the sofa. “Sit down.” He sat and looked up at me; even in the dim light I could see how confused and excited he was. I straddled him, one leg on either side, and settled down on his lap.

  “I want you,” I whispered, then cut off any protest he could muster with another kiss. I heard a growl in the back of his throat and knew that he wanted me, too. The growing bulge in his pants confirmed my suspicions.

  “Here? Now?” he whispered, even as his hands worked their way up my dress. He planted kisses along my neck and chest.

  “Yes. Now. I need to be with you.”

  I felt his hands on the bare skin of my upper thighs, right above where my stockings ended, and I stifled a moan that threatened to give us away. His mouth travelled up the side of my neck until it tickled my earlobe. “You look so sexy today,” he whispered.

  I whimpered, and he squeezed my buttocks and then smacked them, hard.

  “Oh my god,” I whispered, every nerve ending on fire. It was so hot, making out like the naughty teenager I’d never been. I kissed him again, my fingers lost in the thick mess of his hair. The sounds of our heavy breathing filled the dark room.

  He let go of my buttocks just long enough to pull down the front of my dress, taking the cups of my bra with it. His mouth closed over a nipple and I bit the side of my fist to hold back a tiny cry as he sucked, hard. His hands had disappeared under my dress again; they were caressing my skin, stroking and fondling me.

  I rocked my hips, grinding myself into him. He groaned; the vibration of his mouth on my breast sending shockwaves through me. A hand reached between my legs and pressed against my wet panties; I rocked myself back and forth on it, desperate for release from a passion that was quickly reaching fever pitch. I closed my eyes, lost in sensation as my breathing got heavier.

  His mouth bit down, gently, on my nipple. The sting of pain met a flood of pleasure coming up from my thighs and multiplied it. I had to hold my hand over my mouth to muffle the groan. The rush was coming in waves now, getting faster and faster as I sped up against his hand. Wetness met his fingers and he curled them slightly, enjoying the look in my eyes.

  My movements began to falter. I was having trouble concentrating. Jax grinned, then pushed my wet panties aside. His fingers moved against me, then slid inside. It was all it took to shoot me into the stratosphere. My fingers dug into his strong shoulders and I struggled to keep from screaming as the force of my orgasm overtook me. When the wave had broken and I could think again, I found that I had stiffened upon him. I forced myself to relax—I was trembling from head to toe.

  He kissed me, gently, as I recovered. His mouth left long, slow trails along my breasts and up to my throat. But he had another thing coming if he thought we were finished.

  I leaned away from him and fumbled with his belt buckle. “Really?” he whispered.

  Instead of answering, I cupped the bulge in his pants and rubbed my palm over it. He bit his lip to hold in the moan.

  “Yes,” I whispered, “really.” I unzipped him, and he raised his hips far enough to slide the cords to his knees, then slid his butt to the end of the cushion.

  “Do you remember lesson five?” I whispered.

  He nodded. “Nothing feels as good as my cock.”

  I grinned. “When you taught that lesson, you only got it half right.” I reached down and pulled my panties out of the way. “What you should have said was, nothing feels as good as your cock… in me.”

  I lowered myself upon his member.

  “Oh, god!” he groaned softly.

  I whimpered with pleasure at the feeling of him. He was so hard, and when I settled upon him it felt like I’d suddenly been made whole. But I didn’t feel like taking it slow and sweet right now. Instead I began rocking back and forth, up and down, finding my rhythm quickly. He took me by the hips and held on as I pleasured us both.

  Jax had sparked something within me that first night—something dirty and wanton and sexy. He’d helped me discover a different side of me, and now it was time for his reward.

  I grasped the back of his head, covering his mouth with my own. I wanted to devour him, and be devoured by him. I rode him harder, faster. I heard him grunt with every thrust—every time our bodies came together. He pulled his mouth from mine and sucked my breasts again, his hands roaming my body. One of his hands drifted over my mouth and I took a finger within it. I sucked before biting down upon the tip.

  He threw his head back with clenched teeth, his hips now thrusting upward to meet my motion. Soon we were slamming our bodies together, breathing and moving in unison, each climbing higher and higher.

  We reached our peak at the same time. I buried my face in his neck, as he did the same to me, and we both cried out softly into each other’s skin in climax.

  For a minute all we could do was bre
athe. Our foreheads resting upon each other. I can’t believe we just did that. I giggled.

  “That was… wow,” he breathed.

  I leaned back, still connected, to find him smiling at me. “Wow as in wow, that was great? Or wow, that was unexpected?”

  “Wow as in… wow,” he said. “I loved the assertiveness!” He kissed me gently. I slid off him with a shiver, feeling triumphant and suddenly terribly proud. It had been a long time coming, but I’d finally gotten lucky in my parents’ rec room. And with a man from beyond my wildest dreams.

  We both quickly fixed ourselves up. “What do we do now?” he asked.

  I tilted my head up toward the low ceiling. I could hear the same laughter and chatter I’d been hearing all night; somebody was bound to have seen us come down here, and heaven forbid they saw us come back up. It wouldn’t take Einstein to put two and two together.

  “I know!” I said. I led him through the laundry room to the little door that opened up onto the backyard, and we walked around to the front of the house from there.

  “What are you two doing out here?” my cousin Rachel asked. She was on the sidewalk, having a cigarette. Rachel was the cousin I was closest with, in age and everything else.

  “I was just showing Jax, I mean Stephen, around the house. We wanted to get some air; it’s stuffy in there,” I said. Jax walked in front of me, up toward the front steps.

  Rachel grabbed my arm. “Tell him to zip his fly,” she whispered. I shot her a panicked look, but couldn’t help giggling when she winked.

  Chapter 8

  Outside of Rachel’s little discovery, it seemed as though we got away with our trip to the rec room. For the rest of the night, whenever our eyes met it was as if we had a naughty little secret. I loved the feeling that there was something special only the two of us knew about.

  Well, the two of us and my cousin.

  I cleaned up after dessert, emptying the tray of cookies that had sat on the living room table into a zippered freezer bag. I didn’t have the inclination to eat a single one.

  My mother was helping me. “Where were you when I needed you earlier?” she asked. “I told Erica to find you.”

  “Oh,” I said, feigning innocence. “I guess somebody else pulled her aside. I’m sorry.”

  “So you’re making sure she doesn’t overdo it out there, right?” Mom asked.

  I rolled my eyes. “Yes,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.”

  She smiled. “I’m so glad you could be here today,” she said, giving me one of her patented bear hugs. It was hard sometimes, hearing about Erica and how I had to look out for her. I don’t think Mom knew how much that hug meant to me.

  Then she stepped back, and raised an eyebrow. Her hands went to her hips. “And the next time we talk on the phone, I want to hear all about that cutie patootie you brought with you as well.”

  We both laughed.

  * * *

  “How do you want to do this?” Jax asked when the house began to empty. “I mean, do you want to stay here overnight? I could get a room somewhere and we could fly back tomorrow. Or we could go now. Or you could fly back with your sister and I’ll see you when I see you.”

  I was lost in indecision; while I wanted to spend time with him, I didn’t want to rock the boat too hard with Erica. It was all well and good to be snippy now and again, but I did still love her—I shouldn’t jeopardize things too much between us.

  Erica called from the dining room at that exact moment.

  “Be right there,” I called back.

  “Now, please,” she said. She had an edge to her voice that had Jax and I exchanging glances; I left him to talk with my dad, then went to see what she wanted.

  “You know, I’m not your personal servant,” I whispered. “When you talk to me that way in front of people it makes us both look-”

  My words faltered. Erica was holding the card from Jax’s floral arrangement in her hand. “Something you want to tell me?” she asked.

  She held up her hand as I opened my mouth. “Don’t. That man out there is Stephen Petersen.” Then she looked at me. “And he’s judging my competition when I get back.”

  . . . . .

  Book Four

  Frozen Heart

  “It’s time for your final lesson. But before we start, I need to tell you something…”

  Libby has been taught many things by her handsome billionaire lover—how to be confident, how to love herself, and how to love another. But when her sister discovers their forbidden romance and makes a play for the man herself, will she be strong enough to learn the hardest lesson of all—trust?

  Chapter 1

  The flight home was very different from the flight to my parent’s house, earlier that day.

  My sister had discovered who Jax was—Stephen Peterson, multibillionaire, resort owner and, more importantly, Olympic judge for my sister’s competition. I’d looked in her eyes and then fled—grabbing Jax and telling him we had to go, pulling him out the door as if chased—which I guess I had been, in a way. Chased by fears, and my own insecurities.

  I’d tried to keep our liaison secret from the public to protect Erica—if it had been discovered that the sister of an Olympic contender was sleeping with one of the judges, she might have been disqualified, or worse, banned from ever applying for the Olympic team again.

  I’d intended to keep my relationship with Jax a secret from Erica herself for a very different reason. And it was that reason now that had me sitting alone in the passenger cabin, staring out the window with worry.

  “You okay?” Jax murmured, crossing from the cockpit as soon as the plane had reached cruising altitude. “You just up and left as soon as we got in the air. I thought you’d want to sit beside me?”

  I forced a smile, wishing I could tell him what was on my mind. What was I going to say? My sister knows who you are and I’m scared she’ll try and steal you because of something that happened years ago? Even I thought that was weak, and I was the one thinking it. It didn’t make it any less real, though.

  He raised an eyebrow. “I know something’s wrong. You want to talk about it?”

  I shook my head. “It’s nothing, really. Just something my sister said.”

  He nodded. “Okay then—well I’m here if you need it.”

  I nodded, then my eyes narrowed at a thought and I sat bolt upright. “Hey, who’s flying this plane?”

  He laughed. “We have autopilot, remember? Though I really shouldn’t be away for too long. Why don’t you come keep me company?”

  I smiled and nodded, standing to follow him back into the cockpit. He was worried about me, and that made me feel better already.

  “So how did I do at the party?” he asked once we had both donned headsets. “I wasn’t a huge embarrassment? Your parents don’t hate me?”

  I shook my head, a smile creeping over my features. “Just the opposite, actually. Everyone loved you.” I looked at him. “But what about you? Did you enjoy yourself?”

  He nodded. “I did—more than you can imagine.”

  I sighed. I would have hated to find out that he was only pretending to get along with everybody there, especially since I could tell that my father loved him—that meant a lot, he wasn’t an easy character to please.

  “I never had a big, close family even at the best of times,” Jax continued. “And since my parents died… well, we don’t really do family events anymore.” He looked off into the clouds, almost talking to himself. “I’d forgotten how much fun they could be. Maybe I’ll get in touch with my brother some time, get him over for a beer.”

  I frowned. Here was a person who could snap his fingers and have virtually anything he wanted, except for the sort of family I already had. Maybe there were things that money couldn’t buy; I’d always heard the saying, but only now did I understand it.

  We shared stories from the day and laughed at the silly things we’d seen, Jax knowing by some sixth sense how to get me out of my bad mood. He told m
e about Uncle Joe, who had clearly drunk more than his fill of beer, and by the end I was wiping tears of mirth from my eyes.

  “I started wondering if it might not be better to just arm wrestle and get it over with, so he would stop asking,” he finished, and I dissolved into fits of laughter.

  “Rachel figured us out right away, you know,” I told him once I was calm enough to speak clearly. “When she saw us coming around the house. She knew.”

  It was his turn to chuckle. “I guess I didn’t hide the ‘just been shagged’ look on my face as well as I’d hoped,” he said, reaching over to squeeze my leg.

  “Eh, either that or the fact that your zipper was down,” I muttered. We both lost it, then, laughing until it hurt.

  “Thank you,” he murmured, looking at me sideways.

  “For what?”

  “For letting me be a part of this today,” he explained. “Your family invited me in and made me feel like I was a member of something bigger. That means a lot to me—I hadn’t realized how much I missed that feeling.”

  I smiled. “You’ll always be welcome. Everyone loved you.”

  “Thanks. They were all so wonderful to me—even your sister.”

  Just like that, my smile disappeared.

  * * *

  Erica returned via commercial flight the following morning; I was finishing my coffee when she came through the door.

  “Hi,” I said, suddenly tense. “How was the flight?”

  “I didn’t expect to find you here this morning,” she observed, rolling her bags into the living room. “Thought you’d have spent the night with your new boyfriend.”

  My fingers tightened around the coffee cup. So we were just going to get right to it. “How do you know I didn’t?” Jax’s phone had rung out last night, but that was none of her business.