Heart of the Billionaire:

by J. S. Scott

  “You better get used to it. We’re getting married,” he grumbled. “And I’d much rather stay here and dominate you.”

  His husky, possessive voice sent a shiver down her spine. “I haven’t agreed to marry you because you never bothered to ask. You demanded. And speaking of being demanding, what are we doing about the car?”

  “What do you want to do?” he asked in a low, gentle voice. “I want you to have it. It was meant as a gift and I didn’t mean to be an ass. It’s big, it’s sturdy and it has every safety feature known to man. I’d like you to have it because I worry about you being safe. Nothing can happen to you, Sunshine.” He sighed heavily.

  Okay…that’s better. At least he isn’t being a cold, icy jerk.

  Maddie sighed softly. “Okay. I’ll drive it. See how easy that was? You ask kindly and I respond the way you want me to,” she told him with amusement.

  “Are you trying to train me, woman?” he snarled playfully.

  Maddie laughed lightly before replying. “Is that even possible?”

  “Nope. But I don’t want to hurt you either,” he rasped, his hands continuing to stroke her back and her curls lovingly, possessively.

  Lifting her head, she speared him with an amused glare. “So you’ll try not to be such a caveman?”

  “That’s what my mother said,” he said, disgruntled.

  Maddie lifted a brow. “She said you were a caveman?”

  “Yeah. Sort of. But it’s not true,” he replied indignantly.

  “Oh, Sam…it’s so true.” Maddie laughed so hard she snorted.

  “I was nice about the car,” he argued.

  “After we argued about it,” she reminded him, her eyebrows drawing together, daring him to deny it.

  “Then how in the hell am I supposed to get you to do what I want you to do?” he asked in a disgruntled voice.

  Maddie stirred, sliding off his body reluctantly and standing beside him. “Take me upstairs and convince me,” she offered, shooting him her best come-hither look. “You’ll find that method much more effective than trying to boss me around like I’m an employee.”

  He came to his feet quickly, grabbing a throw from the back of the couch and covering her before he swept her off her feet and into his arms. “I have no problem with that system. So anytime I want something I can just fuck you until you agree?”

  Oh, Lord. Maddie shook her head with a smile. Maybe that wasn’t such a good plan after all. He could probably get her to agree to just about anything. “Yeah,” she said reluctantly, knowing she’d probably regret it.

  Sam grinned, a wicked smile that made his handsome face so sexy that her pussy flooded again.

  “I want a lot from you, Sunshine. I want everything.” His naughty low voice was sinful and delicious. “I might work on convincing you for a while.”

  Her heart palpitated as she met his emerald gaze. “I suppose I can bear it.” Releasing a beleaguered breath, she smiled.

  “I’ll have you begging for it.” He shot her an arrogant, scorching look.

  Truth was, he probably would, and she would love every moment of it. She nipped at his earlobe and then soothed it with her tongue. “I’ll start begging right now if you want me too,” she whispered in a fuck-me voice beside his ear.

  “Goddammit, Maddie. My cock is already hard enough to cut diamonds,” he replied hoarsely. “You’re a damn tease.”

  He strode out of the room, and through the house, taking the steps so fast she was bouncing in his arms, laughing as he rocketed to his bedroom. “I’m not a tease if I plan to deliver,” she murmured.

  “Still a tease,” he grunted. He dropped her gently on the bed and started tearing at his clothes. “And you’re marrying me. Soon,” he demanded, popping the buttons on his shirt as he removed it.

  Maddie sighed dreamily as she watched Sam frantically removing his clothes, revealing every bit of his masculine perfection.

  Someday he’ll actually ask me to marry him.

  She already knew she would say yes. If she wasn’t sure, she wouldn’t be having unprotected sex with him. She had started on birth control, but things were still a little risky, just like the man coming toward her could be a little dangerous.

  Gloriously naked, he stalked her by crawling over the bed. He pulled the blanket from her body, uncovering her like he was unwrapping a present, a look of complete fascination on his gorgeous face.

  “Give me a date. We’re fucking getting married. You’re mine,” he growled, covering her body with his and pinning her hands over her head.

  Maddie melted as his scorching skin met hers, the relief of skin to skin contact making her ignore his comment. His icy behavior hurt her, but her alpha male drove her mad, his dominant behavior making her crazy to have him inside her.

  Knowing she would never tame Sam and that she didn’t really want to, she met his demanding mouth as it covered hers, losing herself to the man who owned her heart, body and soul…and always had.

  Chapter 12

  Two nights later, Maddie sat sipping champagne in one of the most elegant ballrooms in the city, trying desperately not to look bored. The only thing keeping her mind from going completely numb was watching Sam in his element, charming and urbane, smooth and sexy, and completely hot.

  Hiding her smile in an elegant flute glass, she stared at him unabashedly, still trying to accept the fact that he really wanted her, needed her. She had already known that Sam could do a tuxedo with style, but she couldn’t help but notice that he was completely comfortable in this elegant setting, a flashy charity function that he’d ask her attend with him.

  In her standard little black cocktail dress and high heels, she was feeling incredibly underdressed, like a fish out of water. She was pretty certain that every woman here had a custom gown with an expensive designer label, and that not one wore costume jewelry.

  But Sam was completely sincere when he said I looked absolutely gorgeous. He’s the only one that matters.

  She sighed as Sam flashed his charming smile at an elderly woman, a flirty and charismatic smile that had the poor woman blushing like a teenager. Yeah, Sam loved women of all ages, and Maddie could tell they were completely enchanted with him. Strangely enough, she wasn’t jealous. The man she was watching was only a very small part of the man she knew, the face of Hudson Corporation, the public Sam Hudson, elegant billionaire.

  But he’s so much…more.

  Maddie held that information close to her chest, loving the fact that she knew the real Sam Hudson, and he was a scorching hot alpha male with a tender side that melted her heart until she could do nothing but accept that she loved him. Always had. Always would.

  For her, there was only Sam. That basic and elemental connection had cemented when they had met, and she had never been able to release the bond. She accepted the fact that Sam was her one and only, that there had only ever been one man for her in this lifetime. Sure, it was frightening, but it was also exhilarating to find him again, to discover that he had been missing her as much as she had missed him all these years.

  I just wish I had known the truth earlier. I wish I had known how much he had suffered in his past.

  Maddie released a tremulous breath, grateful for second chances. How close she and Sam had come to never being together again! She was a woman of science, but she had to admit that sometimes fate and destiny couldn’t be completely denied.

  Sam’s eyes scanned the room, as though looking for her. Their gazes connected and locked, and he gave her a heated look, a glance that she knew was reserved only for her. Her breath hitched as he stared openly, possessively, his look telling her exactly what he was thinking. The silent communication flowed between them, the heat almost so unbearable that Maddie needed a cold shower.

  I was supposed to go to the ladies’ room. He wants to know why I’m standing here alone watching him.

  Actually, she had been on her way to the restroom, but she’d stopped to get a drink and then had gotten mesmerized by
watching her ultra-hot man lay on the charm with every person around him.

  Giving him a small smile, she raised her glass to him and turned to go up the long staircase to the restroom.

  “Need an escort?” A low, friendly voice sounded beside her ear.

  Maddie stopped on the first step. “Max,” she answered, happy to see his smiling face. Unable to stop herself, she hugged him lightly. “It’s good to see you.”

  He hugged her back and offered his arm with a delighted smile and Maddie took it graciously. God, he looked good. There wasn’t a single spark of chemistry between them, but there was something about him that tugged at her heart. Aesthetically, she could look at him and appreciate how handsome he was and how well he sported his own black tuxedo. He was such a gorgeous guy, and so incredibly sweet. Still, he didn’t appear to have a date. Maybe it was too soon for him.

  “Having fun?” Max asked her as he guided her up the stairs.

  “Not really,” she answered honestly. “I’m not sure how you and Sam do this all the time.”

  “Do what?” he asked curiously, stopping at the top of the staircase with Maddie on his arm, a quizzical expression on his face.

  She released him and stepped back. “This. All of this.” She gestured generally around the room. “I guess I’m not exactly a socialite,” she said softly. “The only good thing about it is seeing all the handsome men in tuxedos.” She winked at him cheekily.

  “One in particular,” he answered with amusement. “I saw the way you were looking at Sam. I doubt you knew there was another male in the room.” More seriously he added, “You look happy. Even if you are a little bored. You get used to it after a while.” He shrugged. “It’s pretty much an obligation that comes with the money. It’s a fair trade.”

  Maddie shrugged, supposing that what Max said was true. There were certain parts of being a doctor she didn’t like either, but she’d gotten used to dealing with it. For Sam, she was willing to do almost anything.

  “I’ll catch up with you later, Maddie. I need to talk to you about something,” Max mentioned casually as they parted.

  She gave Max a small wave, heading toward the right to the ladies’ room while he went left, probably heading toward the men’s facilities.

  Maddie quickly used the restroom and paused as she washed her hands, looking at herself in the mirror. She had tried to do a more elegant hairstyle, and her make-up was fine, but she was so…ordinary. And so incredibly different from all of the beautiful women present at this charity event. However, after talking to some of them, she didn’t feel terribly inadequate. She was a doctor and she could see plastic surgery from a mile away and some of the women looked downright anorexic. Although Maddie had tried to participate in the conversation, very few of the women could converse about anything other than social activities, fashion or other mind-numbing topics.

  Sam does need me. He needs a woman he can talk to at the end of the day. And he needs love. Desperately.

  She dried her hands with a small sigh, knowing Sam had probably always tried to surround himself with people to hide his emptiness. It wouldn’t work. She had tried that trick herself, working all the time until she was exhausted, filling every hour of the day with work. But the vacuum had still remained, hidden but present, a void that only Sam had ever filled.

  Pushing open the door, she stepped into the hall and walked toward the stairs. She heard the argument as she hit the first step, two angry male voices coming from the hall in the other direction.

  “I know you’ve been calling her. That you took her to dinner. I want you to leave her the fuck alone. She belongs with me. She always has. I need her, dammit,” Sam’s angry baritone was easy to recognize.

  “I want to be her friend,” Max argued, his voice firm.

  “You want to fuck her. You have a thing for her and I don’t blame you. But Maddie is mine. She was always meant to be mine. I can’t fucking live without her. So find yourself another woman,” Sam growled loudly.

  “I don’t want to fuck her,” Max replied, his voice coming nearer to the stairs, obviously walking away from Sam.

  Maddie could see them coming toward her, but they didn’t see her. The two men were in a stand-off, shooting each other irritated and downright hostile looks.

  “You want her in your bed and it isn’t happening,” Sam rumbled.

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Sam. Pull your head out of your ass for a minute and listen. I’m not into fucking incest.” Max’s jaw was clenched, his hands fisted as he added, “Maddie is my sister. My blood relative.”

  Sam appeared to be rendered speechless, because he didn’t reply. He just stared at Max in bewilderment.

  Maddie froze, the two men only about ten feet away from her, but they were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn’t noticed her.

  Max exhaled deeply and ran his hair through his auburn hair. “We were separated. I was adopted, she wasn’t. I didn’t even know about her until I saw her at the wedding. She’s the image of our real mother. And she and I have the same fucking eyes. After I looked more into my adoption records, I found out she was my sister. I was going to tell her. I just haven’t had a chance. I really wanted to tell her first.”

  Maddie tried to digest the information, her overwhelmed brain struggling to acknowledge the fact that she had a brother. But the notion was so surreal that she wasn’t sure how to react.

  Joy.

  Confusion.

  Denial.

  She had a brother, and she had never known it, a sibling she had never known existed.

  Max Hamilton is my brother. No wonder I feel so connected to him.

  She gasped loudly, the noise carrying through the cavernous area. Both men whipped their heads up to look at her. The intensity on their faces made her waver, her heel catching on the luxurious carpet on the stairs.

  Reaching toward the banister, she missed, unable to save herself from a fall she knew was coming, her body teetering and unstable. For one very brief instant, she caught Sam’s eyes, the fear in his gaze chilling.

  Everything happened in slow motion for her, a horrifying moment that she knew she would remember forever. She screamed as she saw Sam leap onto the railing that guarded a very long drop to the bottom floor, his expression determined as he vaulted toward her as she began to tumble, his massive body flying over a treacherous drop that would probably kill him, or at least cause massive injuries. Max’s body had been right in front of Sam and her brother hadn’t realized she was struggling, so Sam had taken the fastest route to her, the only way to get his body in front of hers. Momentum had them both plummeting down the staircase, but Sam had tucked her into him, his arms around her protectively, shielding her with his own body.

  The plummet to the bottom was a nightmare, and Maddie could do nothing but scream into Sam’s chest, his arm wrapped around her head, his body taking the damage during the punishing dive to the bottom of the steps as they fell at a frightening pace, rolling over and over until finally, their bodies stopped, Sam’s back hitting the wall at the bottom with a force brutal enough to bring them to a halt before he rolled forward, sprawled on top of her.

  “Sam! Sam!” Maddie’s voice was frantic and terrified as she screamed his name, panicked that he was injured.

  He wasn’t moving, and his weight lay inert and heavily on her body.

  Oh, God. What if he’s injured? I don’t want to move him. He could have spinal injuries. Please. Please. Let him be okay.

  “Maddie! Sam! Are you okay?” Maddie could hear Max’s muttered oaths as he crouched next to them.

  Max’s frightened voice broke through her panic attack. She had to do something. Her whole body was trembling and she was panting like she had just run a marathon as she answered, “I’m okay. I don’t know about Sam. He’s not moving. I’m scared to move him. I don’t know what kind of injuries he has.”

  She tried to think, to push aside the horrifying memories of him jumping that gulf and protecting her w
ith his own body. He hadn’t given a thought to his own safety, his only goal to reach her and save her from injury.

  “Oh, God. Sam, talk to me. Please,” she whispered, begging him to speak, her whole body tense with the agony of not knowing if he was going to be okay. “I love you. I love you so much. Please be okay. Please.”

  “Maybe I just like this position too much, sweetheart.” His voice was a husky rasp, barely audible, his warm breath caressing her ear, his mouth resting right next to her temple.

  Oh, Jesus, he’s alive.

  Maddie’s heart slammed against her chest wall, beating so rapidly she was lightheaded. “Don’t move. I’m not sure how badly you’re injured,” she whispered back.

  “Ambulance is on its way,” Max said urgently, trying to reassure her.

  “He’s alive,” she answered, her eyes meeting those of her newly-discovered brother, eyes so much like her own.

  Sam started to stir, groaning as he tried to move off her.

  “I said don’t move,” she demanded sternly.

  “God, sweetheart…I do love that bossy, sexy doctor thing you do,” he told her, his voice groggy. “I’m squashing you.”

  “I don’t care. Stay,” she pleaded. “Wait.”

  “Will you tell me you love again?” he asked, levering some of his weight from her with his forearms.

  Holding him in place by pulling her arms from her cocoon and wrapping them around his body, she exclaimed, “Yes. I love you. I love you. I love you, Sam. Now stay still until the ambulance comes.”

  “Sunshine, I’ll stay here forever just to hear that,” he murmured in her ear. “Marry me?”

  If she wasn’t so terrified, she would have smiled. Sam was definitely playing this situation to his advantage, but she didn’t give a shit. As long he was okay, she would do anything he wanted, give him anything he asked.

  “Yes,” she agreed breathlessly. “I always planned on saying yes.”

  “Knew you were a tease,” he mumbled, disgruntled.

  “I plan to deliver,” she informed him tenderly, her hand lightly stroking his hair, her relief in hearing him speak overwhelming.