His Passion (Billionaire Blind Date Book 3)

by Jacinda Chance

  I couldn’t bear that, not again. So I closed my eyes and let his heartbeat lull me to sleep.

  Later, I woke with my head on my pillow and the covers pulled up to my shoulders. The lights were turned off, and the sun was just starting to lighten the sky.

  Grant was gone.

  ***

  After a shower and some scrambled eggs with cheese, I set to work on Hollis’ logo. It was difficult to concentrate. Heck, it had been hard to get out of bed at all once I rolled to where Grant had been and realized I could smell him faintly on the pillow and sheets. I could have curled up right there and stayed for hours.

  There was no point in that, though. The best I could hope for was that next time he called on me, I’d get to curl up against him for at least a little while.

  My fingers went to my neck often, touching the light line of bruises his kisses had left there.

  He didn’t call or text, and he’d left no note like one might for a lover about when they left or when they’d see them again. I didn’t expect any of it, but the part of me that liked the occasional romantic comedy kept wishing he had. I shut her up by lunchtime and hardened myself again to the fact that I had no say in this arrangement. You come when I call you.

  The only thing that had changed from the night before was that I had no doubt I would. I didn’t even pretend I might resist or defy him. I wanted him too much, so there was no point in telling myself lies.

  Around noon, I made a sandwich with the last of the turkey ham and cheese I had in the fridge. Couldn’t even remember how long I’d had the ham, but it smelled all right. I desperately needed to grocery shop.

  The phone rang, and my heart thumped with the hope that it was Grant.

  It was Aten Hollis. “Sophie! I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with Chris’ report. And I know you’re not finished with this project yet, but would you mind bringing what you have back to the office this afternoon? I know it’s Friday and spur of the moment, but I have some other people here who are interested in your skills.”

  “Thank you, Aten. I—certainly I can come, what time?”

  “How about 3 o’clock? Bring your logo design and your portfolio, all right? And be prepared to impress some incredibly powerful people.”

  I could hear the smile in his voice, and it almost made me tear up. This was something I’d dreamed of, and with one simple recommendation, it was happening.

  “Thank you so much, Aten. You don’t know how grateful I am for the opportunities you’ve given me.”

  Aten laughed. “Your talent will put you in demand, Sophie. All I did was make a call or two. I’ll see you at three.”

  I went to find the right business suit for the occasion. As I rifled through my closet, I remembered the promise I’d made. My hand went to my bottom and rubbed, the slight tenderness flaring up even through my soft sweatpants.

  I called Grant, but his phone went straight to voicemail. I left a message for him to call me. After an hour had passed, I texted him that I had a meeting at Holliscorp that afternoon at three. Grant didn’t reply to either.

  After I dressed, I looked at the emerald lying on my dresser and remembered the things Grant had said about my value. My worth.

  I put it on, but it looked out of place. It was a necklace for a party or something formal, not a business meeting. The thought of Grant’s eyes when he said those things, that made me feel good in ways I couldn’t explain. I wanted to carry that with me.

  I dropped the pendant into my shirt, hiding it from view.

  It wasn’t until I walked out of my building to head for the meeting that I realized Grant had never said what he thought of my logo.

  Ten

  Chris Hale met me halfway from reception to his office and took my hand in both of his in a warm greeting. “You must be excited, having Hollis show you off to some of his favorite tycoons today.”

  I laughed. “Oh my god, is that what this is?”

  “More or less. I think we’re in the conference room. I’ll show—”

  “Sweetheart!” Grant’s voice came from behind me. He and Aten Hollis approached. They both word dark gray suits of slightly different shades, pressed-to-perfection, with shiny black shoes. Hollis’ tie was black, but Grant’s was royal blue.

  “Grant.”

  Grant kissed me on the mouth as if we greeted each other that way every day, and then looked pointedly at Chris, who still held my hand.

  “Uh, Grant . . . this is Chris Hale. Chris, this is Grant.”

  Grant tilted his head. “Nice to meet you.”

  Chris let go of my hand to shake Grant’s. “Pleasure. I was just warning Sophie about the room of tycoons awaiting her.”

  Hollis patted my shoulder and laughed. “You’ll do fine.”

  “Of course she will,” Grant added. “She’s exceptional.” Grant kissed me again, but this time it wasn’t a peck or a greeting kiss. He took my face in his hands and kissed me, and then smiled directly at Chris.

  “Don’t you agree?”

  “Y-yes. Of course. She is.” Chris gave a nod and seemed to concentrate on our shoes for a moment.

  Hollis moved his hand on my shoulder to guide me toward the waiting group. “Let’s go impress some people, shall we?”

  Chris moved to come with us, but Hollis turned to him and shook his head. “We’ve got this, Chris. Why don’t you keep Grant company while he’s waiting for his fiancé?”

  “Of course,” he said quickly, but his voice gave away his disappointment. I glanced back at Grant who had a smirk on his face. He winked at me.

  I turned to face forward and braced myself for the meeting. I was terrified, but Aten seemed confident that things would go well. I let his confidence shore up mine, and I walked into the conference room with my head held high.

  ***

  The meeting went well. Amazingly well. Hollis must have really sung my praises to those people, because a few of them were ready to add me to their freelance pools the moment I walked in the door. Hollis only stayed long enough for introductions, but by then I had it—this wasn’t a hostile room. They may be tycoons, but they were already primed to see me in a good light.

  The toughest sell was the CEO of Laceford, Inc. She had been running the successful greeting card and novelty company since she was in her 20s and turned it from a home-based, family-owned business into a corporation. I think she might have been harder to impress because she was an artist who started out designing and painting cards by hand to custom order.

  She hadn’t offered a contract in the meeting like a few others, but she took my card—I was so glad I’d thought to have some made—and asked the kinds of questions that led me to believe she would eventually. And after all, how many CEOs deal with a freelance artist, anyway? None of them would have, I suppose, if not for their friendships or business relationships with Hollis.

  It felt a little like cheating, to be honest. Like I didn’t get any of this on my own merits. I had to remind myself that everybody’s entitled to a lucky break, all this was mine, and my merit is what would keep me working for these companies and gain me more referrals down the line.

  It was happening for me. Not just one freelance job. A string of them, probably ongoing, and all that work certainly could lead to an offer of permanent employment somewhere, eventually. My dream was starting to come true.

  When the meeting ended, I headed back to Chris’ office where I presume he and Grant would be waiting. I felt so happy and light I almost skipped there.

  Chris’ door was open. Chris sat at his desk with his elbows on the top, his face intense as he spoke. Grant obviously sat in one of the chairs opposite the desk, though all I could see was his hand hanging off the end of the armrest, and his legs crossed casually.

  I heard him laugh. “Come on, we both know better than that.”

  And then Chris saw me coming and stood, a smile breaking over his features. “How did it go?”

  Grant stood and turned to me. “Oh, need you
ask, Christopher? It went fantastically well, because her work is incredible. I’m sure they were eating out of her hand.” He sounded almost as if he were scolding Chris, and then he grabbed my shoulders and kissed me again.

  “I—yes, it went very well. A handful of offers, and a few who said they’ll be in touch.”

  “Congrat—”

  “Congratulations,” Grant said, cutting Chris off. “Let’s go and celebrate? Was lovely meeting you, Christopher.”

  Chris moved around the desk toward us, and though Grant seemed intent on pushing me out of the office, I freed an arm and took Chris’ hand. “Thanks, Chris. See you soon. Have a nice weekend.”

  “Congratulations, again,” Chris said, before Grant hurried me out of the office, through reception and down the hall.

  “What’s wrong with you? That was rude.”

  “Was it?” he asked. “Rude to be in a hurry to celebrate your triumph?”

  “Rude to him.”

  “I’ll apologize next time I see him,” Grant said, but he didn’t seem to be listening. His eyes swept the hallway, and he pulled me off the hall into a single-occupant bathroom. Grant locked the door and backed me up until my bottom hit the white porcelain sink.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What I said—celebrating.” Grant slid the strap of my messenger bag off my shoulder and let it drop to the floor, then pushed it out of the way with his foot. He cupped the back of my neck and kissed me, long and deep. A breath-stealing kiss that warmed me everywhere and set an ache between my legs that I knew only one thing could calm.

  “Congratulations,” he whispered against my lips.

  “Thank you,” I whispered back. “None of this would have happened without you.”

  He smirked and cocked his head. “True.”

  I laughed, and he caught my lips in another deep kiss. Then Grant spun me so that I faced the mirror. I braced my hands on the sides of the sink.

  “But eventually, you’d have gotten here on your own. I just sped things up for you.” He pulled my hair back on both sides and kissed my neck. “But I’ll happily accept any display of gratitude you care to make.”

  He nipped at the flesh of my neck, and then hmmed. I could see in the mirror how he looked at the bruises there. “No wonder you wore your hair down.”

  He pressed against me from behind, and I could feel his hard cock against my backside. “Let me see your tits.” His hands cupped my breasts, squeezing hard. I wore a silky, sleeveless blouse under my suit jacket, so he unbuttoned it and paused halfway down. He pulled the pendant out and cradled it in his hand.

  “You wore it,” he breathed.

  I didn’t know why he reacted with such surprise, and thought maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe it was just to be worn for him? I’d considered all that when I put it on.

  “Is that okay?”

  He blinked a few times before he let the pendant drop and hang between my breasts. He unbuttoned the blouse further down, then he pressed his lips against my ear.

  “The necklace is yours. Wear it whenever you wish.”

  He ground himself against me. He pulled the thin cups of my bra down to reveal my nipples, then pinched and twisted them enough to make me cry out softly.

  “Are you going to scream like you did in that parking lot, draw Aten’s security to check on the commotion?” He seemed delighted by the idea.

  I shook my head. Getting caught fucking in one of the bathrooms at Holliscorp probably wouldn’t elevate my standing, or Grant’s, with Aten or anyone who heard about it, including the powerful people I’d just had a meeting with. “No, I’ll be quiet.”

  He nipped my earlobe and yanked up my skirt. I could see the challenge in his dark eyes reflecting back at me in the mirror. He smiled, and it sent a pleasant shiver down my body.

  “What if I don’t want you to be quiet?”

  Eleven - Grant

  I wanted to make her forget herself and scream as she came, scream loud enough that Chris Hale heard it and came running to find my cock deep inside her. I recognized the looks he gave her. And I didn’t miss her business card—a card I’d never even seen before, which irritated me—right on his desk, in plain view.

  I knew what he was thinking about her.

  He wanted to be me, and who could blame him? I was the one curling my fingers under the hem of her skirt and yanking it up, making her gasp as I jerked her panties to the side and out of my way.

  I was the one who lined up and plunged deep inside her, my hands kneading her big, beautiful tits.

  The emerald glinted in the light, bouncing between her breasts as I fucked her. She’d worn that under her shirt. Not where anyone could see it, but where it lay against her skin, a secret just for her.

  Did it remind her of me? Is that why she’d—

  I growled and fucked her harder, trying to shake off those treacherous thoughts. This indulgence would be the last time I’d see her until the wedding next weekend. I had to stop now if I was going to be able to end this. The more I had of her, the more I wanted, and that couldn’t be.

  I’d fallen asleep in her bed, for god’s sake, with her pressed against me, her head on my chest, like we were lovers.

  And when I woke, after the surprise of it, I hadn’t wanted to move.

  I shouldn’t have even been there, but I felt so good after we’d fucked, and I’d had a long day. I’d almost laughed when she’d asked can I touch you?

  Can she touch me? Despite my efforts to keep it from happening . . . she already had.

  I put those thoughts aside and met Sophie’s eyes in the mirror. I fucked her hard, slammed into her ruthlessly, and she took every thrust with a tiny exhale. Her cheeks and her tits flushed with arousal. So I moved one hand around her hip to slide fingers in her slick crease and tease her clit.

  “If you trust me,” I growled, “don’t hold back.” What was I doing? What did it matter if she trusted me enough for this?

  She grunted as I slammed forward. “Grant, I—”

  “I want you to scream when I make you come. That’s what will please me.” I tapped her clit the way I knew she liked. “Trust me, or don’t, but don’t say another word.”

  I could see how badly she wanted to argue with me. But she didn’t. Instead, her mouth fell open as I played her body like a finely tuned instrument, a part of me desperate for her to obey no matter what her reservations were, another part of me hoping that she held back, took the safe road. Didn’t trust me enough.

  That would make it easier to let her go.

  My own orgasm built as I pounded into her, daring her to even try to be quiet. My fingers worked against her, and when I kicked the insides of her feet, spreading her legs further, she cried out louder than before.

  She gasped, shocked at her own behavior. It hadn’t been loud enough to draw attention, but if someone had been passing right by the door, they might have knocked to check on the person in the bathroom. She knew it. She knew she’d slipped.

  “Come for me, Sophie,” I growled into her ear. Her body tensed, and she drew in a sharp breath—the kind of breath you needed if you were about to scream.

  Our eyes met.

  And we both knew I’d won.

  *****

  Thank you for reading “His Passion!”

  Don’t miss “His Longing,” Billionaire Blind Date Book Four.

  Join Jacinda’s Billionaires and Bad Boys Club, a no-spam mailing list with new release announcements and special offers, so you don’t miss the next installment.

  And visit me at JacindaChance.com to see what’s coming soon!

 

 

 
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