A Billionaire's Game (Ellsworth Brothers #2)

by Cece Baker

  A Billionaire’s Game

  An Erotic Novella by Cece Baker

  © 2016 All rights reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without express written permission of the copyright holder.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN: 978-0-9972820-0-9

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  EPILOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  The clinking of glasses quickly silenced the room and a woman with shimmering, long chestnut brown hair and wearing a sleek black dress stood up from her seat. She cleared her throat, smoothed the front of her dress, tossed her hair behind her shoulder and raised her flute of champagne. "To my dear friend, Thea and her soon-to-be husband, Landen.” Jill turned slightly to look at the couple seated to her right.

  “First a confession: Landen, I have to admit that it took me awhile to learn your real name.” There were quiet titters among the guests to this admission. “For the first three months of your relationship, I called you the land, tree, dirt guy.” Laughter filled the room.

  “In my defense, I really thought you were a landscape architect. Since you are not, I wish to offer you my sincere apologies and I promise not to call you that anymore.” Jill paused, looking down at the scrap of paper she’d written notes on. “When I first saw you with my best friend, I knew something was different. She was happy—happier than I've ever seen her. Every time she spoke of you, her whole face lit up. Since I tend to be a skeptic, my mind went directly to ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’ So, I checked off my mental ‘Thea’s boyfriend’ list. Handsome. Check. Kind. Check. Funny. Check. Smart. Check. Employed. Check. Wait! Employed! That was something new for Thea—dating a guy with a job." At this the crowd laughed quietly.

  Jill paused again, drew in a breath and continued. "But seriously, thank you for being the person Thea was supposed to meet and fall in love with."

  Stopping to contain her growing emotions, Jill sighed. "And Thea, a confession for you: When I thought Landen was a landscaper, I was convinced that he was just another deadbeat that you are so good at attracting. By the end of summer he'd be out of a job and living off of you. Thankfully I was wrong. I've never seen you so happy and that makes me happy. You deserve only the best in life. With Landen I know you'll find that.

  “To you both, I wish much joy, laughter and love. May your sorrows be few, and may you be slow to anger. Trust in each other, treat each other with respect and you'll be just fine.” Turning to address the guests she continued, “Please raise your glasses to my dearest friend Thea and her gorgeous husband-to-be, Landen."

  Cheers of "Here, here” and “to Thea and Landen," rang through the private dining room as glasses of champagne were raised and clinked. "And, now for the best man. Drake, take it away." Jill moved to sit back down in her chair as silence filled the room.

  People began turning their heads and straining their necks searching for Landen's brother. There were sounds of random coughs and chairs scraping against the marble floor. One of Landen's buddies, Paul, stuck his head in the room and shook his head and mouthed the words "I can't find him," to Westin, the youngest of the three Ellsworth brothers. Immediately Westin stood and interjected into the uncomfortable silence.

  "Hi everyone. It seems my brother Drake is indisposed at the moment so if you'll allow me, I'd like to make a toast to my big brother and his beautiful bride."

  Westin stood buttoning the jacket on his navy designer suit and took a long sip from his water glass in an effort to give himself a moment to think of something to say.

  "Thea, uh, from the first time I met you I knew you were special.” He lifted his glass of Moet and continued with only a brief pause to gather his thoughts. “And from the first moment that Landen saw you I knew he was thinking the same thing. Actually, he was a goner.” Westin grinned at his eldest brother. “I also thought, ‘This woman has no idea what she was getting into.’ Thankfully, even after getting to know the Ellsworth clan you stayed and gave my brother a chance."

  Westin paused again, changed his stance and continued. "Landen, I am so happy that you have found this amazing woman to share your life with, and I'm only a little bit jealous." Quiet laughter rolled throughout the crowd

  "Truly I couldn't be happier for you both. Please raise a toast to my brother Landen and his beautiful bride." Again, glasses were raised and clinked and shouts of agreement were heard.

  The toasts continued on for at least another half hour. Thea's mom, Landen's dad, cousins and friends added to the well wishes for the happy couple.

  As the rehearsal dinner came to a close, Jill West greeted her friend, the soon-to-be Thea Ellsworth, with a tight squeeze. "So, your last night in your own place?"

  Sighing, Thea concurred, "Just me and Sinatra." Sinatra was Thea's two-year-old orange tabby.

  "Where is Sinatra going to stay while you're on your honeymoon?"

  "My mom will take him. He will be spoiled there, so he'll love it," Thea said ruefully.

  Jill murmured her agreement, then said, "Okay, if you don’t need anything else, I'm going to head out and I'll see you tomorrow at the Grand."

  Putting her hand on the woman’s upper arm Thea said, "Oh Jill. Thanks so much for everything you've done to help with, well…everything. I know how you hate all this fru-fru stuff."

  "You do know me so well,” crooned Jill. “For the record I am stating that you, Thea, are the only person I would put on a frilly gown for. And, you're welcome. It's worth it all just to see you so happy." The women hugged tightly and bid each other good night.

  CHAPTER 2

  Jill heard a knock at the front door. Puzzled, she glanced at the clock and saw it was just after midnight. “Who in the hell could that be?” she thought. She was leery of knocks on her door late at night because all guests had to be buzzed up. She put her eye to the peep hole and saw a tousled-looking Drake Ellsworth standing in the hallway. His shirt was unbuttoned almost to his navel, tie gone and his hair looked like he’d just had sex with a wild animal. “Maybe he did,” Jill thought, grimacing at the vision in her head. Drake knocked again. “Yes. Yes. Keep your pants on,” Jill muttered angrily. Then under her breath she added, "Or maybe take them off.” She slid open the safety chain, turned the key in the deadbolt and opened the door cautiously.

  There was a pause as they both stood looking at each other, taking in each other’s appearance. Jill was wearing a white tank top with plaid pajama pants and brown fuzzy moose slippers. Drake still wore his grey Hugo Boss suit pants and charcoal dress shirt. He’d tossed his suit jacket over his right shoulder and held it in place with his index finger.

  Drake Ellsworth, the second son of William and Caroline Ellsworth, was a tall, muscled, cocky Adonis. His custom tailored suit fit his chiseled frame perfectly. He exuded confidence and power.

  Jill took in the sight of the gorgeous man standing at her apartment door and was rendered speechless.

  Before she was able to get a word out, her body
was pulled roughly into a tight embrace and she felt Drake’s mouth on hers. She tried pushing him away, but his grip was too strong.

  There was nothing gentle about this kiss. It was hard and rough. Drake grabbed Jill’s hips and pulled them fiercely against his groin. He was hard.

  Jill’s hand went immediately to his chest in an attempt to push him away. Since he was stronger than she, their center of gravity shifted and they tumbled unceremoniously into the hallway, Jill on top of Drake. A loud “oof” came from Drake as he landed flat on his back, Jill on top and the air knocked out of him.

  “Oh my god! Are you okay?”

  Slurring Drake said, “Baby… where are you going? Things were just starting to get interesting.”

  “Really?! Mr. Creep-wad creepy face,” yelled Jill as she swatted him on his chest and crawled ungracefully off his body and stood.

  “Help me up, Babe.”

  “Keep calling me Babe and you’ll get nothing from me.”

  “Geez,” Drake mumbled. “Kick a guy when he’s down, why don’t you?” Jill raised an eyebrow in annoyance. Drake rolled to a sitting position, stretched out his hand for help and when none came, he slumped against the doorjamb and scooted his hard body upward until he was upright. Drake drew in two deep breaths like he’d just exerted a huge amount of energy in an effort to stand. “I’ll hold the wall up. ’K?” he slurred.

  Jill ignored his attempt to be funny, murmured, “Get in here,” and went to close and lock the apartment door. “What are you doing here anyway? How did you get in? How did you know where I live? Are you stalking me?”

  “Babe. Oops, I mean lady. Lady, one question at a time. You’re taxing my mental capacity,” Drake said as he stumbled to the couch and plopped down, half lying, half sitting, legs askew.

  “God. You stink,” she pronounced, her nose scrunched up in disgust.

  He smiled sheepishly.

  “What the hell happened to you at the rehearsal dinner tonight? Everyone was looking for you. You were supposed to make a toast since you are the best man.”

  “Hey, I had things to do, business to attend to….” He paused. “You know the drill.”

  “You’re a piece of work,” Jill replied dryly. “So, why are you here and how did you find out where I live?”

  “A good reporter never reveals his sources,” Drake responded drunkenly and then hiccupped.

  “You are three sheets to the wind, you jerk.”

  “That’s me, baby,” Drake crooned, dragging out the last syllable of the word baby as if it were a string of e’s. “Oops. I mean, lady,” again dragging out the last syllable.

  Jill rolled her eyes. “Fine. You can stay here until you sober up, but then you’re outta here. Got it?”

  With sad puppy dog eyes he looked up at Jill and grinned. “Thanks, gorgeous.”

  Jill let out scornful sigh. “But before you pass out, you’re taking a shower. You smell like you’ve been rolling in the gutter.”

  Standing, Drake looked hurt, but responded with a snarky, “Yeah, baby. You should try it sometime. Live a little. Oops. I mean lady.”

  Jill grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bathroom and instructed him to “remove his clothing.”

  “But, lady, I’m just too drunk. You’re going to have to help me.” Drake held his arms open wide as if beckoning her to come to him.

  Angrily she moved forward, put her hands on his narrow waist and unbuttoned the remaining few buttons on his shirt. “What happened to your tie?”

  “How the hell would I know. Isn’t that your job to keep track of things like that. You are the lady of honor after all.” Drake punctuated the thought with a hiccup.

  “Maid. I am the maid of honor. Now, do your pants thing. I mean, uh, you know, unbutton your pants.”

  Drake grinned lasciviously, popped the button on his fly and slowly unzipped his pants, his eyes locked with hers. He shoved his pants down along with his boxers. They bunched at his ankles. “Oops. I forgot to take off my shoes. Need your help, sweet pea.”

  Groaning, she bent down trying to ignore his semi-erection bobbing by her head. She untied the laces, slid his designer dress shoes off his feet and then helped him step out of his socks. Leaning backwards to avoid his glorious, now-full erection, she stood. Jill opened a cupboard, pulled out a clean towel and placed it on the edge of the sink. “Here’s a towel for you when you’re done.”

  “Umm, lady, can you turn the water on for me?” Drake asked like a petulant child.

  Jill gritted her teeth, stuck her head into the shower stall and switched on the water, testing the temperature. “You’re lucky I’m not turning on the cold water, you know?”

  Drake moved behind her, readying himself to step into the shower stall. She turned to exit and ran directly into a very hard, very muscled chest. Glancing upward she caught his eyes staring hungrily into hers. Before she knew what was happening they were kissing again— wet, hungry, passionate kisses. He moved her backwards, and the water streamed down on both of their heads. Jill protested for a moment before she slid her arms up his chest and around Drake’s neck and sunk into the embrace. He lifted her body, and she reflexively wrapped her legs around his waist. She could feel the evidence of his rock-hard erection against her sex.

  Drake slid his hands underneath her shirt and Jill slid down his body, arms in the air as he pulled the shirt up and off. Immediately he palmed her soft breasts and his thumbs rubbed her nipples. They were hard.

  Drake bent over, sucking her right breast into his mouth, his hands running underneath the waistband of her flannel pajama pants, now soaking wet, and grabbed her naked ass.

  “Wait. Stop. Drake, don’t.” Jill pulled her head away from his and wrenched herself out of his muscled arms.

  “What the fuck?” Drake exclaimed angrily.

  “I’m not having sex with you. I’ve been warned about you and told explicitly to ‘stay away from Drake.’”

  “I guess my reputation precedes me,” said Drake, slumping his body against the wall of the shower stall.

  Dripping wet, Jill grabbed a thin blue towel to cover her naked chest and very responsive nipples. “Traitor nipples,” she thought.

  Stepping out of the shower stall, she toed off her sopping moose slippers and glared at the wet, virile, naked man in her shower. “You,” she said pointing at Drake, “you need to…to…use soap. Lots and lots of soap,” Jill declared lamely.

  “Got it sunshine.”

  Turning to leave the bathroom she muttered, “Whatever.”

  Jill made it to her tiny bedroom, leaving a trail of water in her wake. Her flannel pajama pants were soaked. She peeled off the offending garments, dried her slender body and put on an ash grey tank and different flannel pajama pants, these sporting pink flying pigs with wings. Barefoot, she took her towel and wiped up the trail of water she’d left in her living room. She dropped the towel just outside the bathroom door that had been left ajar. The water was still running in the shower. “What was she supposed to do with a drunk best man who needed to be presentable the next day at his brother’s wedding? Coffee,” she thought. “Coffee would help." She pattered into the kitchenette and dug the coffee beans out of the cupboard. She scooped a couple spoonfuls of beans into the grinder and twisted the top to start the appliance. A high-pitched whine filled the room.

  “What the hell is that annoying noise!” shouted Drake above the din. Jill turned to look at the man and just about choked on her tongue. Standing before her was the ultimate specimen of man wearing only a bath towel draped low on his carved hips. Drake Ellsworth was all muscles and smooth skin, with just the right amount of hair on his chest and traveling downward to his groin. Jill had a momentary thought that she’d like to lick him.

  Shaking her head she replied, “I’m making coffee for you to drink. You need to sober up for the wedding tomorrow, or did you forget about that, too?” Jill asked accusingly.

  “How could I forget that,” he slurred. “The golden
boy shines again.”

  “Why do you call Landen a golden boy? It’s not like he’s had anything handed to him. He worked his way up in your dad’s business.”

  “I see you’ve drunk the Kool-Aid, too. My brother can do no wrong. Even going up against my father in a battle royale at Ellsworth Construction, and he still comes out smelling like daisies.”

  “Roses.”

  “What?”

  “Roses. He always comes out smelling like roses.”

  Shaking his head Drake spewed, “Whatever.” Abruptly changing the subject he asked, “So why wouldn’t you have sex with me? Am I too much man?”

  Jill looked down her nose at him even though Drake was a good foot taller than her, and replied, “Let’s just say I know you’ve made the rounds and don’t want you to share any of those skank germs.”

  Jill filled the glass carafe with water, poured it into the coffee maker and flipped the switch to on. The sound of a quiet release of steam and subsequent dribble of liquid filled the apartment.

  Faking offense, Drake replied, “You wound me,” and he stumbled to the living room and flopped onto the couch.

  “You gonna let me sleep in your bed, sweet pea?” Jill heard as she reached into a cupboard and grabbed a mug featuring the cartoon character Ziggy. She pulled the carafe, now half full, off of the burner and filled the mug.

  Walking into the living room, she said, “Sit up and drink your coffee.”

  “If I drink coffee I won’t be able to fall asleep,” Drake mused.

  Sighing, Jill said, “Just drink it. Sober and tired is better than drunk and well-rested.”

  Sitting up straight, Drake saluted her and accepted the steaming mug she offered. The towel around his hips parted to reveal the top of his left thigh. He caught Jill looking and chuckled. “Like what you see? I would be happy to show you more.”

  Jill stepped away and went in search of a blanket. She returned with a beige cotton one and tossed it over Drake’s lap. Then she went into the bathroom, picked up his pants and dress shirt and draped them over an easy chair just opposite the couch. “Here are your clothes. These will have to do tomorrow since they are all you have to wear. I’m going to sleep now and turning off the lights. Goodnight.” Jill flicked the light switch to the off position and the room became black.