Boxed Set: The Billionaire’s Desire Complete Collection (Books 1-3 and Bonus Books 1 and 2) (Submitting to the Billionaire)

by Blake, Ashley

  Jake and Lauren weren't able to come to the girls’ recital because Lauren was due to give birth any day now. Jake and Lauren got married shortly after we all figured out that Vivienne had been lying about being pregnant with Jake’s baby. They had been trying to get pregnant for nearly 6 years. Lauren had suffered three miscarriages and she and Jake were both ecstatic that she was finally able to carry the baby to term. It killed Joshua and I to see Lauren and Jake go through so much heartache. I loved Lauren like a sister and I was so happy for them that they were finally going to have a baby. I remember the day she told me she was pregnant again. She told me that this one felt different to her. She couldn’t explain it but she just knew that this baby was going to be okay. I guess it was mother’s intuition because she had a fairly easy pregnancy and all of her tests showed that the baby was developing normally. She and Jake were really excited to be parents and Bunny was over the moon happy and couldn’t wait to meet her new grandchild.

  We had all just finished lunch and Bunny went upstairs to put the girls down for a nap. Joshua grabbed my hand, entwining his fingers in mine, and led me to the study. He closed the door and made drinks for us and then joined me on the couch. He put his arm around me and I laid my head on his shoulder, taking in a few moments of peace and quiet.

  “Abby and Claire did so well for their first recital, didn’t they?” I was beaming with pride as I thought about our girls.

  “They were perfect and they looked so beautiful, just as beautiful as their mom.”

  I looked up at him and gave him a quick wink. I noticed that he looked melancholy so I knew something was wrong. “What is it Joshua? I can tell that something is bothering you. What’s wrong?”

  “I have something to tell you and you’re not going to like it.”

  I sat up, feeling very concerned, and looked him squarely in the eye as I held his hand.

  “What is it honey?”

  “I have to go on another long business trip, this time to Paris.”

  “No! Joshua, do you have to go? You just returned from Japan two months ago!”

  “I know sweetie, but you know we’re trying to buy Lemlin Corporation and we have a huge presentation scheduled in Paris.”

  “When do you have to leave and how long will you be gone?”

  “Well, that’s another part that you won’t like. I leave next week and I will be gone for three weeks.” He playfully ducked when he said that last part, knowing that I would be even more upset.

  It took everything in me not to whine like a little girl, but I couldn’t fight back the sadness that overwhelmed me as I looked at the floor and my voice became very small. “I hate this, I hate when you leave.”

  Joshua put his arm around me and gently lifted my chin with his finger, my eyes meeting his.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah. You know I wouldn’t go if I didn’t have to.”

  He was right. There were several business trips that he had cancelled for me and for the girls. I would just have to suck it up and be understanding. I didn’t want to put any undue stress on him because I knew he had been fretting over acquiring this new company.

  “I know you wouldn’t. Okay, well the girls and I will just have to stay busy until you come home. Lauren will probably have her baby by then so I'm sure we'll be over at their place a lot."

  Joshua and I had made an agreement after the girls were born that I would stay home with the girls instead of travel on long business trips. We decided that it was best if Joshua went on the trips and I stayed home with the girls so that at least one of us was here with them at all times.

  "Paolo Santorini, from our Milan office, will be coming to work with Brad and Michael on developing strategies to increase our revenue in Italy. He'll be here for three weeks so if you could show him around and make sure that he has everything he needs that would be great. Also, can you make sure that the company takes him out to dinner at least twice a week while he's here?”

  "By the company I assume you mean me, Jake, Mike, Brad and a couple of others?" Mike and Brad were senior partners next in line beneath Jake. I gave him a tiny smirk knowing that this meant I was going to have long work days while Mr. Santorini was here. Thank goodness for our live-in nanny, Mara.

  "Well at least you, Jake, Mike and Brad. Make sure that someone is always with you when you are with Mr. Santorini because it will not look good if you are dining alone with a male colleague. The gossip columns will have a field day. The only person it is acceptable for you to dine alone with, aside from me, is Jake. I want Mr. Santorini to feel welcome while he's here, so it's important that we show him impeccable hospitality. It's also very important that he interacts with partners socially so that he will feel very comfortable with decisions that might be made. He is an extremely important asset to the company and we should make sure that he knows that we feel that way, but I want a clear line drawn that you are not to dine alone with him. You belong only to me. Understood?" The familiar fire flashed across Joshua’s eyes and it was as intense as the first time I saw it all those years ago.

  "Yes, understood. When will he be here?"

  "He will be arriving the day that I leave in one week."

  "Okay, I will let Mara know that I will be home late a couple of nights a week for about a month. I'm sure Bunny will love to have the extra time with the girls."

  Just then there was a light tapping on the door to the study.

  "You can come in mother."

  Bunny walked in looking worried that she may have interrupted an important conversation that we were having.

  "Mother, I have told you a million times that you do not have to knock when we are in the study. Usually all we are doing is relaxing and enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet."

  "Exactly. I didn't want to interrupt anything, especially if you are trying to have a few moments of peace."

  "You're not interrupting anything mother, what did you need?"

  "I just wanted to let you know that I was going to go home. My book club is meeting at my house this evening so I wanted to take a quick nap before everyone arrived."

  Bunny walked over and gave both of us a kiss goodbye and we told her that we would see her soon. I gathered our glasses to take them to the kitchen and Joshua settled in at the desk, shuffling folders.

  “Well, I have some paperwork to catch up on so I am going to be in here if you need me. Close the door behind you, will you?”

  “Okay sweetie.” I closed the door and went to the kitchen to put our glasses in the dishwasher. I was standing in the kitchen munching on a cookie when the phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “Sarah!” I recognized Jake’s frantic, hurried voice and I knew it was time.

  “Oh my gosh! Jake we will meet you guys at the hospital!”

  I ran upstairs to tell Mara that we were going to the hospital and to call us if she or the girls needed anything. I then ran back downstairs to the study, and flung open the doors, startling Joshua. "Honey! Lauren’s having the baby, we have to go! I'm going to call Bunny to let her know that our car will swing by and pick her up!"

  Joshua dropped everything, grabbed his jacket and wallet and we were out the door in less than five minutes. When we got to the hospital we didn't even have time to see Lauren and Jake because she was ready to have the baby minutes after they had arrived at the hospital. We were all a nervous wreck, but Bunny was the most nervous. She was pacing back and forth, unable to sit for more than a few seconds, silently praying that everything would be okay. I walked over to her and put my arm around her and reassured her that Lauren and the baby would be fine.

  "Everything will be okay Bunny, I just know it will be. That baby is so excited to meet us that it didn't want to wait inside Lauren any longer, it was ready to come out!”

  Joshua walked over to us and also put his arm around his mother. "Another grandchild mother, can you believe it? The girls are finally going to have a cousin to play with!"

  We were all standing there wi
th our arms around each other when Jake finally came out to see us. "It's a healthy little girl!"

  “Oh Jake!” Bunny threw her arms around her youngest son and started balling like a baby. It was so nice to see her showing so much love. Bunny composed herself while Joshua and I also hugged and congratulated Jake.

  “How is Lauren doing?” Bunny looked very concerned.

  “She is exhausted but she is okay, she’s dying to see all of you and I’m sure Emily wants to meet you too.”

  Bunny and I turned huge grins toward Jake and we spoke in unison. “Emily?”

  “Yes, Emily Rose Hunter.”

  “That is a beautiful name Jake.” I linked my arm through his as we walked to Lauren’s room.

  We gently opened the door and poor Lauren looked spent as the nurse was washing the baby on the other side of the room. “Hi Mommy, how are you feeling?” I reached down and gave her a big hug.

  She turned her weary eyes to me and smiled. “I’m feeling okay, just a bit sore and exhausted.”

  Bunny followed me and held Lauren’s face in her hands. “You did it! I am so happy for you both, well, all three of you!” She kissed her on the cheek as the tears rolled down Lauren’s face.

  “Thank you Bunny, it means so much to me that you are here.”

  “I wouldn’t miss this for the world dear. Now, when is your family coming?”

  “Their flight lands this evening so they should be here shortly after that.”

  All of Lauren’s family was back in Wisconsin so we were all the family she had in New York.

  “Is Amy coming?” I had met her best friend Amy a few times and I knew that there was no way she would not be here for Lauren.

  “She is, it turns out she has a pre-planned business trip to New York scheduled for tomorrow so she said she would come to the hospital tomorrow afternoon.”

  The nurse was finishing up with the baby so we all washed our hands so that we could touch her. She handed a freshly bathed Emily to Lauren and Bunny touched the baby’s cheek, and Lauren handed her to her. “Here’s your granddaughter.”

  “She is simply beautiful Lauren.” Bunny was cooing and looked to be so in love with her granddaughter. That was exactly the way she looked when our girls were born. I couldn’t have asked for a better grandmother for the girls.

  After a few minutes we all got to hold the baby and then we thought it best that we let Lauren get some sleep. I kissed Jake and the baby, and kissed Lauren and whispered in her ear. “I am so happy for you and Jake, I knew everything would be okay, and so did you. Remember to always follow your maternal instincts.”

  She smiled at me and nodded, understanding. Bunny gave her, Jake and the baby a kiss and so did Joshua and then we left, telling them we would see them when they got home.

  CHAPTER 2

  The week flew by in a blur as I helped Joshua pack for a three week trip. Between him and the girls’ piano lessons, dance classes and swimming lessons, I barely had a moment to think. The only good thing about being so busy is that I didn’t have time to dwell on the fact that my delicious husband was going to be gone for three weeks.

  It was Sunday evening, and Joshua was downstairs in the study gathering some last minute papers to take with him on the plane the next day while I was standing in his closet double-checking that he had packed all of the suits that he would need. I looked at his gorgeous Armani, Prada, Gucci and Hugo Boss suits and his shoe collection which rivaled mine, and noticed that he had packed only Hugo Boss suits this time. The girls were asleep and Mara had the night off. Whenever she had a night off, we asked that she be back home by 6:00 am the next morning if it was a weekday. I was looking through Joshua’s suits when I heard him come into the room. He came into the closet and stood behind me, and his arms snaked around my waist.

  “Did I forget anything?” He kissed the side of my head as he hugged me tight.

  “No, I think you have everything you need.”

  “Are you sure?” Suddenly I felt his hands lightly rubbing up my legs and I realized that he was on his knees. His deep, sexy, gravelly voice still gave me goose bumps. I felt the throbbing between my legs as my body responded to his voice and touch.

  “I think so.” My voice started to come in pants as he slowly trailed soft kisses up the back of my thighs. I was wearing athletic cotton shorts and a tank top and Joshua’s fingers lightly caressed my cheeks under my shorts and then pulled them down and I stepped out of them. His hands slowly made their way back up my legs to my panties, and his fingers hooked inside the waistband and pulled those down. I stepped out of my panties, my chore aching to be touched. His hands lightly rubbed over my cheeks, squeezing and kneading as he softly kissed each one.

  “Mmmm, Mrs. Hunter, you drive me crazy.” His voice was filled with lust as he lightly caressed my inner thighs. My legs felt wobbly as I reached out to the wall to steady myself. Joshua then stood up, pressing against me, pulling me close so that I could feel his hard length through his pants.

  “There is one more thing that I need.” I felt his soft breath in my ear as he ran his tongue along the edge of my ear, lightly flicking my earlobe.

  “What’s that?” I could barely get the words out as my body tingled from the light touch of his tongue.

  His hands had moved up, under my tank top to my breasts and he kneaded them softly, rolling the nipples between his thumb and forefingers. I could feel the wetness between my legs and I let out a soft moan as I leaned back into him, rubbing against his member that was straining against his pants.

  He spun me around. “I need you.” His lips crushed mine, his tongue sliding on top of mine probing, tasting. My arms crawled up around his neck, my fingers raking through his thick hair, pulling him close, pressing my body against his. He lifted my tank top off of me and I stood naked before him. I reached out and pulled his pajama pants down and he stepped out of them, his member now free, tapping his belly. I reached out to touch his member and he stopped me.

  “Not yet. Take off my t-shirt.”

  I pulled his t-shirt off over his head, and my naked, sexy husband made my core throb.

  “Down on your knees.”

  “In the closet?”

  He gave me a stern look for questioning an order.

  “On your knees Sarah.”

  I fell to my knees waiting for instruction.

  “I want to feel your mouth on my cock.”

  I wrapped my hand around his throbbing member and slowly licked the base up to the ridge where the tip met the shaft. I flicked the tip with my tongue before licking back down to the bottom of the base. I quickly removed my hand and, without warning, wrapped my mouth around the engorged head, sucking him in deep. He let out a loud groan, shuddering with pleasure as I began to slide him in and out of my mouth, my tongue flicking the sensitive tip. He dug his hands into my hair, pumping in and out of my mouth, groaning with pleasure. I grabbed his ass cheeks, opened my throat and took him in as far as I could. I heard him suck in a deep breath when the tip touched the back of my throat. I knew he liked that and I liked to throw it in when he least expected it. He pumped one more time and then quickly pulled out of my mouth. I let out a small whimper at the abrupt end to that part of foreplay. Joshua was panting heavily now, his eyes hungrily surveying my body.

  “Face down on the bed Sarah, ass in the air.”

  I got on the bed as he went to get a condom and lube from the drawer. I felt the bed give under his weight as he got behind me. His hands roughly kneaded my cheeks, as I heard a low groan escape from his lips. I felt his tongue slowly lick up one cheek and then the other before I felt him hold my cheeks apart with each hand. His tongue delved in between the crease, licking the sensitive skin. I could feel the wetness dripping down my inner thighs as my aching core pulsated, desperate to be filled. Joshua pressed himself slowly inside my backdoor, sensually stretching me as my body accommodated him, closing around his member. He grabbed my breasts, squeezing them as he began to slowly move in and out
of me. “Oh Sarah, you feel so good. It’s so tight back there.” He choked out the words, his breath heavy, and he grunted and reached around me to fondle my sensitive bud. His fingers slid in between the wet, swollen, tender skin, fondling my sensitive folds as he began to thrust in and out me faster and faster. He slipped two fingers inside of me, caressing my inner walls and I began to writhe against him uncontrollably. He then slowly pulled his fingers out of me and rubbed over my slippery bud, sliding back and forth and then quickly rubbed it around in a circle, over and over. I began to pant and moan uncontrollably and Joshua thrust hard into me one last time while rubbing my bud, and it sent me over the edge. My body quaked and jerked as my orgasm consumed me. Joshua quickly pulled out of me, ripped off the condom and flipped me over. I collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.