by Unknown
She still didn’t say anything, so he grabbed her hips and pulled her forward. Her legs had to part around his knees. He pressed his lips hard against hers.
When he finally drew back, he said, “Do you really think I’d pursue you like this if I didn’t find you very attractive?”
“I’ve been wondering why you were so interested. But then there’s no accounting for the taste of billionaires.”
He felt like growling. “Instead of assuming there’s something wrong with my taste, maybe you should consider there’s something wrong with your image of yourself.” That was enough of that. He’d have to work to get her to see herself as beautiful as he did, but it would take time.
Instead, he hauled her onto his lap, tucking her against him, his arms loosely around her. “You know, this is the first time I’ve been able to hold you like this when we haven’t been outside in the freezing cold.”
“It’s dangerous.”
He nuzzled her cheek. “Of course it’s dangerous. That’s part of the thrill.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but it feels so good.”
He felt the same way. He trailed his thumb—his naked thumb, not covered by a thick glove—across her cheek, feeling her skin for the first time. “It feels amazing.”
As they drove the hour to the restaurant, they chatted about this and that—their families, their work, their favorite movies. And while it was all mundane, Bastian loved every minute of it. He had a feeling he could get used to having Zoe around.
He needed to remember this was temporary.
***
Zoe had never been on a date quite like this. It wasn’t just the limo and the expensive restaurant and her billionaire date. She’d never liked a man as much as she liked Bastian. When it came down to it, that was why she’d agreed to go out with him in spite of everything–she liked him, a lot, and she wanted to spend what time with him she could.
She had expected the restaurant to be impressive but her imagination hadn’t done the place justice. She’d thought that after spending so much time working at the Diamond Hearts Resort, a place that catered to millionaires and billionaires, she had seen the height of opulence. But The Mystique was a restaurant like no other.
The maître d’ took them to a table for two on the edge of a fountain that had a waterfall that dropped from the second floor into the basin next to their table. Potted plants formed barriers between the tables so that even though she knew there were many other diners around them, it felt like they were alone.
She wasn’t too surprised when the maître d’ seated her and pushed in her chair, but when he picked up her napkin with a flourish and leaned down to settle it on her lap, she couldn’t help but jump. Was it normal for a maître d’ to get so close? He did the same to Bastian, though, so she figured it was expected in their world.
Then she had another surprise–their menus had no prices. She knew she shouldn’t worry about the cost; Bastian could pay it, no matter how high it was. But it had been ingrained in her to be polite and not spend too much on a date. How could she pick a modestly-priced entree when she didn’t know the prices? Worse, she had to assume The Mystique had no “modestly priced” entrees in the first place, else why would they hide the cost?
She chewed her lip as she looked over the choices.
“Something wrong?” Bastian said.
“Hmm?” The Cornish hen looked interesting. She tried not to think about how expensive it might be.
“You look worried. What’s the matter?”
Before thinking about it, she blurted out, “There aren’t any prices.”
He laughed. “There’s nothing on this menu I can’t afford. Get whatever you want.”
Must be nice to feel that way. She couldn’t remember ever looking at something and not having to calculate whether she had enough to cover it, and whether she’d have enough left over to pay her other expenses in the near future. What would it feel like to be able to say “there’s nothing I can’t afford?”
“Seriously,” he said. “The sky’s the limit.”
He probably didn’t realize he was just making it worse. She pushed the whole thing out of her mind and read through a few more choices. “Have you been here before?”
“A couple of times,” he said.
“What’s good?”
“Everything’s good.” He closed his menu and put it on the table. “But if you’re asking for recommendations, I can’t help. They change the menu often enough that the dishes I’ve had in the past aren’t on it anymore. The waiter can help us, though.” He raised his hand and made eye contact with someone behind her.
A moment later, the stiff-backed waiter stopped beside their table. “Can I help with something?”
“The lady is wondering what you’d recommend,” Bastian said.
The lady? She’d certainly moved into a different world from the one she was used to.
Chapter 6
The waiter made a couple of recommendations, one of them the Cornish hen, and she figured she’d just stop there. “Thank you so much.” She smiled at him.
After he left, Bastian said, “You’re very gracious.”
“Thank you. But I don’t know what you mean.”
“The way you thanked the waiter.”
“Why wouldn’t I thank him?” Did Bastian not think he needed to thank people?
“I’ve just–” He leaned forward. “I’ve been on a lot of dates with women who acted like the wait staff was beneath them. It’s nice to see you treating them well.”
Did he not realize she was one of them? Treat them well–she just treated them the way she hoped guests would treat her. And they didn’t always. Some of them did exactly what he described and treated her like the dirt under their feet. But most were better than that. “Thanks.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I’m serious. And before you start thinking I only date rich women who think servants are beneath them, it’s not that. There are women I’ve dated who were waitresses themselves yet as soon as they were on a date at a place like this they stepped all over the wait staff. Like putting other people down elevated them somehow. To me, it just made them look petty and insecure.”
“I’ve seen people like that. Worked for a few, too.”
He slid his hand over hers. “I’m sorry you had to put up with that.”
She didn’t get him. “Aren’t you a billionaire yourself? Why do you care whether your servants are treated well?”
“Ouch.” He pulled his hand back. “Just because I have money doesn’t automatically make me a jerk.”
“Maybe not, but sometimes it seems like that’s what happens.”
“My dad always says this quote, ‘From those to whom much is given, much is expected.’ He said our money meant we had to take care of the people around us as much as we could. Take care of them, not step on them.”
“He sounds like a good man.”
“He is.”
The waiter returned and they placed their order. The conversation turned to skiing, traveling, and hopes and dreams.
Zoe knew she was in trouble. The more she got to know Bastian, the more she liked him. Not just ‘like’ as in happy to have a fling, but ‘like’ as in she was falling for him. Hard.
And there was no future for them. There couldn’t be. They lived in different worlds, and she could no more enter his than he could stoop to hers. She liked him, she liked the things they talked about, but every time he mentioned traveling to some exotic place or making a million-dollar deal over lunch, she knew they didn’t belong together.
She also knew he was going to make a move on her, probably tonight. The town they were in had several hotels, and he had plenty of money. It’d be easy enough for him to get them a room so they could spend the night together.
She just wasn’t sure what she wanted to do if he did.
Dinner ended and Bastian paid the bill so discreetly she didn’t ev
en notice it, much less find out how much her meal cost. They bundled into their coats and headed outside but the limo wasn’t waiting for them.
Bastian put his hand on her back. “There’s a hotel across the street. I happen to know they’ve got some vacancies. Stay with me tonight?”
And there it was, and she still didn’t know what she wanted. She wanted to ask him where this was going, but she knew it was going nowhere. She wanted to know what she was supposed to do if she fell for him completely but she couldn’t ask him that.
Part of her wanted to protect herself and part of her wanted to grab onto what he offered with both hands and cherish it even though she knew it wouldn’t last long at all.
So she slipped her hand into his. “Do you have protection?”
“Of course.” His voice sounded husky.
“Then yes.”
He squeezed her hand as a smile spread across his face.
Fifteen minutes later, they’d checked in and Bastian had produced some basic toiletries. He’d planned this. She’d known that, but hadn’t guessed to what extent.
“I still have to get to work in the morning,” she said.
“I’ll get you home in time to shower and change and get there on time.” He pulled her into his arms. “The town car will be back for us in the early morning.”
“Town car?”
“The limo.”
“Oh.” Just another thing she hadn’t known. She’d heard of town cars but apparently couldn’t recognize one when she was sitting in it.
Bastian tightened his grip on her and leaned down for a kiss.
When he lifted his head, he said, “You know what I really want?”
“What’s that?”
“To hold you without multiple layers of coats between us.”
She laughed. They were about to get naked and all he wanted to take off was their coats? She stepped out of his arms and peeled her coat off, letting it fall down her arms to the floor. Then she unwrapped the scarf from around her neck and dropped it on top of the coat. “Better?”
“Better.” He stripped off his outerwear quickly and then grabbed her to him. “I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you.” He rubbed her back, up to her shoulders and then down to her butt.
“I don’t quite understand it,” she murmured.
He kissed down the side of her face, from the edge of her eyebrow to the corner of her lips. “You’re beautiful.”
He really seemed to believe that. When she looked in the mirror, the best she could say was that she could be pretty if she weren’t so chubby. But that wasn’t what he was saying.
Bastian squeezed her butt and Zoe tried not to think about how much fat he had in his hands.
Why was it she could go through her day and be competent at her job but as soon as she was with a man she couldn’t stop wondering why on earth he’d be with her when she looked the way she did? Why couldn’t she be confident then too?
Bastian gently nipped her earlobe, his hands massaging their way up her back. “You’re thinking too much.”
“How would you know that?”
“I can tell you’re in your head rather than here with me. I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but whatever it is, put it aside. It’ll keep. Right now, just turn off your brain and feel.” He kissed her, holding her tight.
Zoe let go. Being with him was enough. If he didn’t find her attractive, he wouldn’t be there. She had to trust that and stop second-guessing things. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back with everything she had, warm, tingling sensations spreading through her body.
Bastian’s hands slid under her shirt in the back to glide over her skin. Zoe just barely kept from moaning. When his fingers quickly flicked open her bra, she didn’t do more than squeak.
He was so quick, so sure. She’d never been with man like him before. Heck, she hadn’t been with very many men at all.
His hands rubbed her back and caused her shirt to ride up. He grabbed the bottom of it and pulled it over her head, her bra coming with it. All of a sudden, she stood before him, naked from the waist up.
Her fears hit her again, full-force. What would he think when he saw her like that?
Bastian put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them as he gazed at her. “You’re beautiful. Stunning.” He pressed his lips against hers. “I’m a very lucky man.”
He moved to pull her back into his embrace, but she stopped him. “You should be naked too.”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.” In a flash, he pulled his shirt off over his head without even unbuttoning it and dropped it on the floor. His heavy watch soon followed them with a clunk. “Now I’m as naked as you are.” He took hold of the waistband of her skirt and tugged her forward. “But we’re only half naked. Shall we go for broke?”
His fingers slid along the waistband to the back. As he fumbled with the hook, he laid kisses along her shoulder and neck. Zoe let her fingers run down his chiseled chest to his belt buckle. She stamped down the nervous feelings that rose up and undid his belt.
The hook and zipper at the back of her skirt loosened and the fabric slipped to the floor, leaving her in her underwear, stockings and high heels. He whistled as his gaze slid down her body.
“Stop.” She shifted her feet.
“Why should I stop? You’re gorgeous. And you’re about to be in my bed. I’ve got the right to take a good look at you.”
“I just think you might want to have your contact lens prescription checked.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “No contacts, sweetie. I’ve got 20/20 vision. And what I’m seeing is mouthwatering.” He kissed her. “One of these times we’re going to keep the heels on.”
“You’re serious? They’ve got snow and stuff on them.”
“Always so practical.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I’ll wipe all the snow off. They’re sexy as hell.” Bastian squeezed her tight. “But not this time. I can’t wait. Take them off.”
Zoe kicked her shoes off one after the other.
“Let’s get you out of those.” He peeled her stockings and panties off in one smooth move. As he stood, he skimmed his hands up the outside of her legs, over her generous hips and then forward to cup her breasts. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples before leaning forward to take one of them into his mouth.
Zoe cupped the back of his head, holding him in place. She didn’t know exactly what he was doing with his tongue, but the sensation was incredible and she didn’t want it to stop.
He moved to her other breast, his hands moving over her back and butt, kneading and stroking before pulling her hard against him. Then he raised his head to capture her lips with his own in a searing kiss that she felt all the way to her toes.
The fabric from his pants and the cold metal of his belt buckle imprinted itself on her belly. She’d been able to get his belt undone but hadn’t gotten any further before he’d been distracted by her heels. It was time to fix that.
She pushed him back a little and worked on the button at his waist. His hands came around hers and unzipped his pants before displacing hers to pop the button open. Then he pushed his pants and his boxer-briefs down his legs in one quick move, kicking them off while peeling his socks off at the same time.
It was Zoe’s turn to stare. If a man could be beautiful, Bastian fit the bill. From his strong feet to his muscled thighs to his broad shoulders, he looked like a statue carved in the Renaissance depicting some sort of Roman god. “Wow.”
He shifted his feet. “That’s not usually the response I get.” With his hands on her waist, he lifted her and backed her onto the bed.
“I wasn’t finished looking.”
He laid her down but stayed on his knees on the bed, gazing at her. “Ditto.” His hands rested on her ankles, his fingers rubbing, stroking, feeling. “How’d I get so lucky?”
“Stop.” She raised her hand toward him. “Come here.”
&nb
sp; As he settled on top of her, he said, “I thought I was in charge.”
“Oh, you did, did you?”
He chuckled. “You let me think that, huh?”
Zoe brushed a lock of hair off his cheek. “Of course you’re in charge.” She batted her eyes.
“Right.” He kissed her.
She forgot all about their banter, swept away in the feelings he evoked in her. Bastian kissed her for a while, then his kisses moved from her mouth down her neck and chest. She had a feeling she knew where he was headed. Her breathing sped up in anticipation.
Bastian pushed her thighs apart and wiggled his broad shoulders between them. When he put his mouth on her, engulfing her, Zoe tossed her head back and forgot everything. Nothing existed but Bastian and the amazing sensations curling through her belly.
Her breathing became ragged, soft cries she didn’t recognize coming from her throat until finally she crashed over the edge into a blue-black nirvana where she could only feel and feel and not even breathe.
Bastian continued until every shudder had left Zoe’s body, then he re-positioned himself so he could kiss her. “You’re so sweet.”
Pushing ineffectively at his chest, Zoe said, “Roll over. I should do the same for you.”
“Not this time, baby. We’ll save that for round two.” He rose to his knees, grabbed the condom from the bedside table and put it on.
“Round two?”
“We’ll go as many rounds as you’re up for.”
Holy moly. This so wasn’t like any of the other men she’d dated.
“But not now.” He lay back down and dropped his forehead to hers. “Now I need to be inside you.”
The raw want in his voice sent a little thrill through her.
They shifted, their bodies coming together like puzzle pieces until he pushed inside her. He went slowly, gently, watching her face the entire time.
“You okay?” he said.
“I’m good.” When he didn’t look convinced, she said, “I’m not fine-boned china. You don’t have to treat me so carefully.” She nudged him. “Move. Go.”
He moved, sliding in and out of her at an increasingly quick pace. His breathing grew short, rasping in her ear where he had buried his face in her neck. “So good.”