The Billionaire's Gamble

by Penny Wylder

  “Just listening to you,” he says, his voice rough. “I’m hard enough that it hurts.”

  My breath catches in my throat, my body reacting to the sound of his voice, to the memory of exactly how hard he can be.

  “I’ve actually been hard all day. Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

  I slip my hand inside the pajama pants, shuddering as I slip a finger inside myself. With his voice in my ear it’s almost enough, I can almost pretend he’s here. “That sounds painful,” I say, more than a little breathless. “Wish there was something I could do.”

  “You can tell me if you’re wet,” he says.

  How does he know? “Yes.”

  There’s a sound on the other end of the line, like a stifled groan. “How wet?”

  “Enough to ruin the blankets,” I say, echoing his words from that night in the hotel. “I’m dripping for you.”

  “You’re full of surprises, Dani,” he says quietly.

  “I would hate to be boring.”

  He laughs again. “You could never be that. Listen, you have no idea how much I don’t want to, but I have to go. But now that I have your number, I’ll talk to you soon, all right?”

  “All right.”

  “Goodnight, Dani.” His voice is all silk and velvet and delicious promise, and it makes me shudder.

  “Goodnight, Nolan.”

  The line goes dead and I drop the phone, fumbling with my hand to get it into my pants. The thought of what Nolan might do to me if he were here right now is too vivid, too immediate for me to do anything else. Screw finding food, this is the only thing I’ll be doing tonight.

  9

  Dani

  There’s a banging on the door. Why on earth is there a banging on the door?

  Bright sunshine blinds me as I open my eyes, and I’m confused by the fact that I’m not in my own bed. Wait, I’m at Kelly’s house. Right. And someone is knocking?

  “Dani,” Kelly hisses outside. “Open up right now.”

  She sounds desperate. I stagger out of the bed, nearly falling when my feet are tangled in the bedsheets. I open the door to Kelly looking pale and stunned. “The door wasn’t locked,” I say. “What’s going on? What time is it?”

  “You have a…guest.”

  “A guest?” I ask, my not-fully-awake brain trying to wrap around the words that she’s saying. “Shit, is there a photographer here?”

  “No, no.” Kelly shakes her head quickly. “You just need to come downstairs.”

  I give her a look. “Okay, well at least let me get dressed first.”

  “No, now. Please. I wouldn’t say Jacob is happy about this person being here.”

  That ratchets my anxiety up a notch. Who is this? Kelly starts walking away and I follow her. I hear a couple of voices in the kitchen, both masculine. But nothing prepares me for the sight when I come around the corner: Nolan sitting at my sister’s kitchen table.

  “What the hell?” I say. I’m suddenly acutely aware of the fact that I’m in my sister’s pajamas with no make-up and no bra. Are you kidding? Kelly could have given me some kind of warning. Jacob is standing as far away from Nolan as possible, the expression on his face a cross between awe and anger.

  Nolan grins at me. “Hi.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  He stands up, straightening his suit. “I was in the neighborhood, thought I’d drop by.”

  “Uh-huh,” I say, “I totally believe that.”

  He glances at Jacob and Kelly. “Can we talk somewhere private?”

  “Sure.” I head back up the stairs because I don’t want wither Kelly or Jacob listening and I certainly don’t want to go outside in my pajamas. He follows me into the guest room and I shut the door. I’d forgotten just how…big he is. Tall and broad. He dominates the room—there’s just nowhere to look but at him. He’s still got that wry little smile on his face.

  “I’m surprised to see you,” I say.

  “Bad surprise or good surprise?”

  I run my hand through my hair, subtly trying to comb it, to make it look less like I literally rolled out of bed. “Can I be honest and tell you that I’m not sure?”

  He chuckles. “That’s fair.”

  “Why are you here?”

  Nolan doesn’t answer. He doesn’t answer because he’s looking at me…at my body, at the pajamas, at every little detail. I flush what I’m sure is a horrendous shade of red even as my body roars to life under his gaze. I never knew that it was possible for someone to make you feel sexy just by looking at you. Nolan is looking at me like I’m the best thing he’s ever seen, and there’s a stirring in my gut at the way that makes me feel. “How is it possible,” he says, taking a step towards me, “that you can be the hottest woman I’ve ever seen even while wearing something like that.”

  I can hear my heart beating in my ears. “You don’t like the pajamas?”

  “I like them,” he says, taking another step closer. “I’d like them even better if they were on the floor.”

  Our bodies are close now, and I feel the distance between us like it’s alive, pulling us towards one another. This stare that we’re sharing right now feels more intimate than everything we did together, and I know that the second he touches me I’m going to lose all mental clarity. And the way he’s looking at me, I know he’s going to touch me. “Nolan you have to tell me why you’re here.”

  He sighs, and for the moment the spell is broken. “I was worried about you.”

  “I said I was all right.”

  “I know.” He grabs the back of his neck, pulling against it like he’s trying to get rid of a knot. “I believed you. I just needed to see you. I wanted to see that you were okay because I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have happened. I know that this is all my fault.”

  “It’s not. What that guy did wasn’t your fault.”

  “Yeah, but it wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me,” he says, dropping his hands to his sides. “I wanted to see you, to tell you in person how sorry I am.”

  His words are so true that it almost hurts. I can see that he’s been tearing himself up about it since our call last night, even when he’s trying to flirt with me. I reach out and take his hand. “I accept your apology,” I say, knowing it will make him feel better, “but you’re not responsible. And I chose that night just as much as you did.”

  His fingers grip mine, fierce and tight. “There’s something else.”

  “Oh?”

  He pulls me to him quickly, and I’m off balance for only a moment before I’m between him and the wall. His fingers still tangle with mine, the other curving around the back of my neck, stroking my jaw with his thumb. “Even before I knew what happened, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I kept checking my phone, hoping you were going to call.”

  He presses his body against me and I can feel all of him. My head spins with the sheer sensation of being close to him again.

  “Did you think about me?” he asks, his lips pressed against my ear.

  “You know I did,” I say, grinning as he pulls back to look at me. I watch as his eyes go dark. “Many times and in many different ways. And my body still didn’t have enough.”

  Nolan’s lips are on mine before I finish speaking and it feels like I’ve been struck by lightning. Every nerve in me sizzles as he wraps his arms around me, gathering me up for what might be the kiss of the century. He groans into my mouth, pressing deeper, taking more, and I let him. I let this kiss consume me and any other thoughts that I have. It’s just him and me, locked together, stealing each other’s breath.

  His hands are on my skin under my shirt, roaming across my ribs and sneaking up to cup my bare breasts. His touch is intoxicating, and I know that nothing will ever feel quite like this. My tongue dances with his, exploring him more deeply than I did that night in the hotel. That was frenzy and this is fire. That was bright and beautiful while this is deep and warm
and is keeping me alive.

  We’re on the bed, his hands fumbling with the buttons on my pajamas while still kissing me. As he works to get the final button loose, something snaps into place, and I realize that I’m wearing my sister’s pajamas. I’m wearing my sister’s pajamas in my sister’s house and I absolutely cannot fuck Nolan in my sister’s house while she and Jacob are downstairs. I pull back from the kiss, startling us both. “We can’t do this,” I say, trying to catch my breath. “Not here.”

  I find satisfaction in the fact that Nolan is breathing just as hard as I am. “Yeah,” he says. We right ourselves on the bed and I button myself up again. “I have to be at my office in a few hours for a meeting. I’d love for you to come with me.”

  “To the meeting?”

  He laughs. “No, just home. I’m not ready to leave you yet.”

  And I’m not ready for him to go. Especially not after that. I wrack my brain, and there’s not a single reason I can think of not to go. I don’t have a job, my house is being stalked by crazed reporters, and Jacob doesn’t want me staying here. Besides, they say that change is good, right? Something like that? I mean, in the last day I’ve had enough change for a lifetime. But, another part of my mind says, why not? You have nothing to lose.

  But can I really just go with him? Can I really just leave everything and go off with some guy for a few days? Granted, this guy happens to be amazing so far, but still. Is this crazy? What if John changes his mind and my clients need me? What if something happens here and Kelly is in trouble?

  Nolan’s voice is softer this time, “Please, Dani. Come with me. It gives me a chance to make things right.”

  Something stirs in my chest, and even though I told him that it was fine, that it wasn’t his fault, I’m glad he wants to do this. I’m glad he wants me to come with him. And I want to go. My worries evaporate, and a surge of adrenaline races through me as I realize I’ve made my decision.

  “Okay,” I say. “I’ll go with you.” It brings an unexpected relief, and I find myself smiling wider than I have in a long time.

  “Thank you.” Nolan is smiling too, and he leans forward to kiss me again. “I promise I won’t get carried away,” he says, running his hand up my side as he presses his lips against mine. “Though the temptation is certainly there.”

  I laugh. “Let me get dressed. We could swing by my house on the way out of town so I can grab some more clothes.”

  “Don’t bother.” He waves a hand. “We don’t want to deal with anyone who’s still staking out your house. I’ll take care of it once we get to New York.”

  My jaw almost drops. “New York?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve never been. Always wanted to go.”

  He heads to the door. “I’ll make sure we hit all the tourist spots.”

  After he heads downstairs, I pick something hastily from Kelly’s closet—a blouse and skirt that’s not something I normally wear, but her style and mine are almost nothing alike. I throw my hair up into a bun and race through my make-up routine with the small supply I keep in my purse. Now that I know we’re going to New York I want to get out of here. It’s hard to believe that yesterday I was overwhelmed by the feeling of home. Now I just want to get out.

  I grab my briefcase and purse, and find everyone downstairs wrapped in an awkward silence. Nolan is standing near the door, waiting for me, Kelly is staring at Nolan with barely concealed awe, and Jacob is simmering with frustration. I try to hide a smile as I imagine how much it must irritate Jacob to have someone like Nolan—someone who is wealthy beyond belief and who likely doesn’t fit into Jacob’s standard of ‘a Southern Man’—in his house.

  “Ready to go?” Nolan asks.

  “Yeah. This all right?” I ask Kelly, gesturing to my clothes.

  She nods. “It’s perfect.”

  “I’ll get them back to you soon.”

  She hugs me, whispering in my ear, “Text me everything.”

  “I will,” I say, stifling a laugh.

  Nolan reaches out a hand to Jacob. “Thank you for your hospitality.” There’s no animosity in his words, but I see Jacob bristle at them. He takes Nolan’s hand and gives it a curt shake, not saying anything.

  There’s a sleek black sedan sitting by the curb, windows tinted black. It’s not a limo, but as might as well be in this neighborhood. It sticks out. “This is a nice neighborhood,” Nolan says. “Seems quiet.”

  “Yeah, too quiet,” I say bitterly.

  “What do you mean?”

  I try not to let my disdain for the situation seep into my voice too much. “Some company is trying to buy the neighborhood so they can turn it into yet another set of condos and corporate structures. The reason it’s quiet is because most of the people are gone. They’ve been bought off.” I look around the neighborhood, an eerie sense of foreboding in my stomach, like this is the last time I’ll see this place. It feels like a premonition. I hope it’s not.

  Nolan’s brow furrows, and he looks troubled for a moment, but then he’s opening the door for me into the fancy car and I forget all about it as I slide across the leather. He joins me, reaching over to take my hand on the seat. “Ready for an adventure?” he asks.

  10

  Nolan

  I knew that I had to see her again. What I didn’t know is how exhilarating it would be. There’s something about Dani that has reached inside me and won’t let go. Everything she says, she says with absolute conviction and passion and authenticity. In the world I live in, almost no one has that. Everyone has their own agenda whether it’s trying to haggle for a better stock price or trying to get a promotion or trying to negotiate a better deal. No one says what they mean.

  But Dani does. She doesn’t hide her emotions, and I love that they’re there for me to read. Plus, she drives me crazy. I would have taken her in that tiny guest room bed if she hadn’t reminded me where we were, in her sister’s house with the husband who looked at me like I was some kind of wild dog. I’ve seen that look before, and nothing good comes from it.

  Even with that, I didn’t want to stop. I want more of her, all of her, and I know that we’re not going to be able to do anything for hours. But when we do…

  I stop that thought in its tracks. I’m already fighting the fact that I’m hard whenever I look at her—I don’t need to think of all the things I’m going to do to her once I get her alone. Once I get her to scream my name again—

  Stop, Nolan.

  The plane is circling for a landing above New York now, and Dani is looking out the window at the skyline. I already have plans for what we’re going to do today. I want to show off my city in the best way I can, and hopefully she’ll fall in love with it. There’s nothing quite like sharing your favorite places with someone.

  The smile on her face is the best damn thing I’ve ever seen. She glances at me. “It looks exactly the way I thought it would. But not at all like it either. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfectly,” I say, laughing. “New York always has a way of doing that—being everything you expect and nothing you expect at the same time.”

  “That must be annoying.”

  I shrug. “It’s New York. If you live here you’re used to contradictions.”

  “What are you doing today?”

  For the first part of this short flight we ate breakfast, talked a little more about her sister and brother-in-law. This is the first time she’s asked me what we’re going to do. I’m tempted to spill the whole plan, but that would ruin the surprise and I want to see the look on her face. I want to see her pure reactions to every moment, so I decide to hold back on the details. “I have a meeting with some of our international managers in a couple of hours. That meeting will likely last until the end of business.”

  She makes a face. “Sorry.”

  “There are worse things in the world than being stuck in a meeting.”

  “That’s true.”

  I take a sip of what’s left of my coffee. “I’ll
take you to the office with me, but you won’t have to stay there. I’ve already called ahead.”

  “Oh?” She raises her eyebrow at me. “And what will I be doing while you’re in your meeting?”

  “Shopping.” I can’t keep the smirk off my face, especially when she nearly chokes on her own coffee.

  “What?”

  “My assistant is going to take you to get some clothes, since you don’t have any. After that, she’ll take you to my apartment, and I’ll meet you there for dinner.”

  Her face darkens, and I already know what her next question is going to be. “You’re wondering where you’re going to stay.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You can stay wherever you’d like. My apartment is three floors, and if you want to stay with me you can, there’s no pressure. If that makes you uncomfortable for any reason, I’ll find you a hotel room that’ll knock your socks off.”

  Her hands twist together, fidgeting, and for once I can’t tell what she’s thinking. “You have security?”

  I feel my expression go slack with surprise. I wasn’t expecting that question and I should have. After yesterday, her safety from the paparazzi will be at the front of her mind. “I do. The best. Any photographer would have to be a ninja to even get into my building, much less my apartment.”

  “Okay,” She says. “I’ll stay with you then. I don’t think I’m up for another surprise photographer outside my door.” Before I can continue, she adds, “Even if security weren’t an issue, you don’t have to get me a hotel room. I can pay for it.”

  “This is all on me, Dani. I’m the one that got you into this mess. I’m the one that invited you to New York. Please let me take care of everything.”

  “But—”

  “And before you say anything,” I interrupt, not wanting to cut her off but wanting to make my point, “I’m not trying to buy you off.”

  Her face sobers quickly. “I didn’t think that.”