My Billionaire Stranger

by Shae Black

  Oh yes, I had to do that. I helped him dress, and if that wasn’t torture, I can’t say what is. I helped him with that shirt, it was criminal covering his chest, and his abs should be on permanent display. His jeans were put on with equal regret as I watched him lift his hips making it easier for me to slide them over his hips; my hands trembled the entire time. He fucking loved every second of unnerving me. Mr. Black stands quietly now, directing everyone where to go and what to do while shooing the paramedics out. “Anything else Miss. Jefferson?”

  I’m surprised when he directs the question at me. I shake my head no. “Imani, please call me Imani.”

  “Yes, very well Imani, I’ll go check on dinner with Cook while you get Mr. Castillo settled. I’ll return in a while to give you a tour of the house.”

  “Thank you.”

  He turns to back out of the room pulling both doors shut. He does it with such formality and flare that he reminds me of a butler in an old movie. I turn to Marcus; he’s looking expectantly at me. Oh my, I am in Marcus’s bedroom with him alone and I am nervous as hell. “Can I do anything for you? Pain meds or water? Let’s get your things unpacked and the essentials within your reach.” I’m rambling and my heart is pounding in my chest. I’m on his territory now and he is very aware that he has the home field advantage. I really should have thought this through, but I can’t turn back now, I signed up for this and I need to find middle ground right off the bat. He’s smiling a face-splitting smile when I look up at him. Why oh why does he love making me sweat?

  “Come here.” Against my better judgment I do as he wishes and move closer but not too close. I stay at the foot of the bed where he can’t actually reach me. “You know you can’t stay out of my reach forever don’t you? I’m going to need some assistance, albeit minimal, I do like doing things for myself.”

  “I know…”

  He crooks his finger at me to come closer and without hesitation this time I do, the pull is too strong for me to resist. He takes my hand examines it, turning it over with both of his smoothing his fingers over my skin following the line of my arm to the soft spot where it bends and returning to my open palm.

  “You’re so soft,” he purrs, his touch lights my skin on fire, burning every inch as he continues to caress my arm. “You smell sweet, like cotton candy.” He closes his eyes and instructs me to do the same. “Close your eyes with me.” Puzzled and wary of loosing one of my senses I pause until he opens his eyes and repeats himself. “Close your eyes,” he says in a slightly lower tone, and I do but not before I peek to see that he has closed his again to. He guides my hand down the side of his smoothly shaven face to his neck, across his throat, and then he switches to the opposite side of his face repeating the motions. I hear him moan softly before he continues brushing my fingers across his forehead, gently encouraging me to explore every curve of his face on my own. “My favorite Aunt was blind. She was the only person who has ever really known me. She was also the only person who has ever loved me, and this is how she learned to read my emotions, my thoughts and expressions.”

  I inhale a quick breath as he gives me this gift of information about his past. Somehow I’m sure he doesn’t talk about his past with just anyone. I take the reigns and move my hand on my own now, exploring and memorizing his face, gliding over a dimple on one cheek that I remember so well from shaving his face. Seeing it in my mind with my eyes closed is so much more intimate. Instead of just seeing him I’m feeling him, connecting on a level I didn’t know existed. I raise my other hand and position one on either side of his face to caress his cheeks with my thumbs and feather my fingers over his ears and down his neck. My breathing comes in quick pants, as does his and he places his hands on my forearms to guide me into a tender kiss. His mouth gently covers mine as he softly traces my lips with his tongue. Kissing the tip of my nose and each cheek tenderly before returning his attention to my mouth where he deepens the kiss. His tongue glides exploring every part of my mouth. When his hands move to my hips, he eases me down onto the bed next to him but I boldly take it a step further, and climb on top of him, straddling his hips. I take care not to apply any of my weight to his leg. We have no bodily contact other than our mouths as I kneel over him and return to kissing. A low growl escapes his exploring lips and a whimper of my own fills the room. He thrusts his hips upward, forcing our bodies together I feel his thick cock against my core as he holds me firmly against his chest. I resist too worried about hurting his leg.

  “I am fine, don’t worry about my leg,” he breathes.

  “It’s my job to worry about your leg,” I pant between kisses, and he pulls his face from mine so that we’re nose to nose.

  “You are officially off the clock,” he says with that smirk on his face, oh my God, that smirk. Permission having been given I attack his mouth with more passion this time, winding my fingers through his soft, thick hair on both sides of his head urgently, as his hands explore my ass up my back and under my sweater, caressing and unhooking my bra with the skill of a player. He is undoing more than just my lingerie here, my own most critical rules are being broken. Don’t let your eyes linger and don’t let your heart feel, has been my mantra for a decade until Marcus. There is an exception to every rule and he is my exception. I sigh as he smooth’s his hands around my trembling rib cage to my free my breasts he cups them in his palms and teases my nipples into hard peaks. I lull my head back missing his mouth on mine but loving the feel of his scruffy five o'clock shadow against my breasts. Sucking in a sharp breath when he rocks his hips upward against my sex I melt in his arms. Hot lava replaces the blood in my veins, I’m so far gone that I’m completely unaware of my surroundings. It’s just Marcus and his sweet, wet mouth on me nibbling a trail back and forth between my neck and my breasts. Leaning away from me for a moment I instantly mourn the loss of his body heat. I watch him as he lifts my sweater up to reveal my breasts. “Fuuuck… you are so gorgeous. I knew you would be but seeing you here on top of me in the flesh, baring yourself willingly to me is dream come true. But in my dream I couldn’t see your silky caramel skin or taste your perfect breasts.” He has effectively drugged me with those words. I am now in the midst of an out of body experience, floating above two bodies looking down on a woman grinding her hips against Marcus in his bed. He is worshiping her with his mouth… oh my God that woman is me…. Fuck what am I doing? A hard rap on the door breaks the spell and I sit up, looking into his heavy-lidded, lust filled eyes briefly before I swing myself off the bed with quick agility. Marcus doesn’t have time to restrain me thankfully. I reach behind to hook my bra just as Mr. Black opens the door to realize he has interrupted something. My flushed cheeks and the fury in Marcus’s eyes are a dead give away. Mr. Black backs out closing the door before uttering so much as a word.

  “FUCK, if he had not been working for me for over 10 years he would be so fucking FIRED!!” he yells, loud enough for the entire island to hear. Startled by his sudden burst of rage I jump when he yells and move further from his bed simultaneously deciding now’s as good a time as any to make a run for it. I grab my purse on the way to the door, I need to get out of here and think about what the hell I’m doing, this is so unprofessional, this is supposed to be my job. “Imani, you are not leaving me.” his words are a statement spoken like a question that twists my heart. I turn around and back out of the room with one last look at his lovely, confused and angry face. “I need to get home, it’s late, I’ll be back in the morning at seven.”

  “You can not leave me, I need you. You’re my nurse.” Panic mode, shit, I can see it creep into his mind like smoke under a door on the opposite side of a fire.

  “You said I’m officially off the clock.” “I changed my mind. I need help with dinner and getting undressed for bed, you have meds to give me. You can not leave me Imani.” He has a point. I really can’t refuse him, it’s only eight o’clock and technically I’m scheduled until eleven according to our agreement. I set my purse down slowly and watch as h
e relaxes back onto the pillows behind him. “Ok…I’m going to find Mr. Black and get that tour of the house now, I’ll see about your dinner but no more of this,” I say, waving my finger in a circle between us.

  “All right…but what is wrong with this?” he says mimicking my gesture.

  “This is totally unprofessional and if you want me to do my job we can’t be doing this any more.” I say sweeping my finger between us in an exaggerated circle this time. Chuckling he grabs a remote from the bed and switches on a massive television that was hidden behind two sliding panels in the wall behind me.

  “I am not known as a patient man Imani, but for you I will try.” That’s it, apparently I’m dismissed, he gestures for me to step aside so he can watch the basketball game on the screen behind me. Well I’m glad he finds it so easy to turn all of this off, because I’m in serious post hot/wet panty mode with no relief in sight; having morals sucks! I have to know so I take a quick glance back and yep, he’s still hard as a rock inside of those soft jeans; guess he’ll have to handle that one on his own. I smile to myself and close the door.

  “Imani!” he calls, and I open the door a crack.

  “Yeess?” I draw out the word like a musical note. Good Lord, I thought we had this all settled. “Leave the doors open, I want to watch your hot ass walking away.” That smirk is spread across his face again and I’m convinced he is trying to kill me. I open both doors wide with exaggeration and purposely add extra effort into the sway of my hips. While I walk away the lyrics to Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie pop into my head and I giggle, this may be kind of fun after all.

  Chapter 13

  All wound up and no place to go, I wander through the living room checking out the surroundings more closely now that I’m alone. A large cream-colored sectional is positioned around a fireplace like none I’ve ever seen…ever. It’s a monstrosity; a full-grown adult could walk right into this fireplace. I’m not even sure that’s what you call it; you could cremate someone in there for God’s sake. It’s the centerpiece of the room claiming an entire wall. Five windows line the side of the room facing the ocean, one of which isn’t a window at all it’s a set of French doors made to match the other windows. An old world style claw foot couch covered with deep purple, grey and cream-colored throw pillows curves around in front of the fireplace. I’m no antique specialist but the pieces in this room look antique, expensive and well cared for. This guy owns restaurants, how the hell did he get to be so wealthy? I’m going to research this topic in more detail with my b/f Google later. There has to be something else bringing in this kind of money, but then again I don’t know shit about the restaurant business. Through another set of double doors off the living room is a formal dining room. As are all things in this home the table running down the center of the room table seats at least twelve comfortably. What is it with guy and size anyway, everything has to be so big! Smatterings of purple continue through this room as well. A breakfront covers the entire length of one wall and a mammoth plant that looks like it belongs in a jungle not the dining room of a billionaire on Mercer Island monopolizes the corner opposite me. I round the corner into the kitchen and find Maria and Mr. Black standing close to each other talking in hushed tones, they stop when they see me… Shit…this is embarrassing, “I’m so sorry about earlier Mr. Black, I don’t know what got into him, to us…” I figure I may as well just get to the point. He stiffens for a moment and I swear he glares at me, but before I can be sure a mask replaces it.

  “Are you ready for a tour now Ms. Jefferson?” He’s just going to ignore my apology? Or maybe he doesn’t want to address the fact that he walked in on something he shouldn’t have seen, something that shouldn’t have been happening. Ok well if that’s how he wants to play it I’m game, less shit for me to deal with.

  “Yes please, I’d appreciate that,” I reply, Maria is looking at the floor and Mr. Black fails to introduce us so I step forward and offer my hand “Nice to meet you…Maria isn’t it? I’m Imani.”

  She lifts her surprised gaze to me and shakes my hand gently. Without a word she turns her back on me and continues cooking something she had been stirring on the stove. Man… all the people around here are a little off, but then again, look who they’re working for. Oh God, what does that say about me?

  “Well as you can see this is the kitchen.” Mr. Black gestures to the impressive, obviously chef worthy kitchen, all of the appliances are oversized and probably commercial. The cabinetry is deep cherry wood with glass panes that you can see the contents through. Everything is intricately lined up and organized behind the glass arranged perfectly, maybe obsessively. I nod and Mr. Black begins to walk away without me. Hustling to catch up I follow him back through the dining room and the living room. He points at the doors in the foyer “Mr. Castillo’s office.” He’s not much for chitchat. We pass the office and make our way down a long hall peppered with lighted pieces of artwork. Some of them actually look familiar and I consider that they must be famous if I can recognize them; I know nothing about art. Mr. Black points along the way, educating me on what each area is used for; a study, sun room, library, and another living room type area, a little more casual with a large television instead of a mammoth fireplace for a focal point. Circling back to the foyer we climb the staircase and take a right at the top. This must be what is considered a “wing” of the house. Down a long hall there are several bedrooms, bathrooms, and a few spaces used for storage, one that was made completely of cedar, it smelled divine when Mr. Black opened the door. Why does one man need a house this large anyway? I follow him until we are at the back of the house looking out the windows down on an elaborate garden. A long stone path leads through the garden and branches off in different directions that all eventually lead to a dock lined with old-fashioned lap poles. Far out in the left corner of the property is a kidney shaped pool all winterized for the coming cold weather?

  We have circled around back to the stairs and passing them we make our way to the opposite wing. More bedrooms and studies along with Mr. Black and Cecelia’s quarters are included in this section of the house. Finally we end up back in the foyer under the chandelier again. “I should really get Marcus some dinner, it’s late and he hasn’t anything to eat since lunch,” I inform Mr. Black.

  “Maria is seeing to his meal,” he answers, in his cold monotone voice.

  “Ok then I’ll check on him and see if he needs pain medication.”

  “Ms. Jefferson wait, I know it’s not my place to say, but you should be careful around Mr. Castillo, he isn’t like most men…I’ll admit he seems different with you, but the man I have known all my life can be…challenging and demanding….to say the least.” I’m shocked. Yes, these people live under the same roof as Marcus and have known him for years and I have only known him for little over a week, but this comment really irritates me. I’m back in defense mode and this kitty is showing her claws. What the hell is he talking about anyway?

  “You’re right Mr. Black, it’s not your place, and I am here as his nurse, to care for him.” I answer sharply and take a step closer daring him to say more. He raises his eyebrows in response to my boldness.

  “Well don’t say I didn’t warn you, I’m just trying to…. protect you.”

  “I don’t need protecting!” I’m so angry my hands are clenched into little fists at my sides and my vision is blurry.

  “Well, alright then, suit yourself, let me show you to your room.”

  “I told you I wouldn’t be needing a room.” What’s with these people, do they not listen?

  “Mr. Castillo wanted it readied for you so it has been, I’ll show you were it is, just in in case,” he says, as if he knows something I don’t. He leads me back through the living room past the mammoth fireplace to a door in a nook behind the living room and right next to Marcus’s. I sigh and roll my eyes at his back. Opening the double doors he gestures for me to step inside. I appease him and poke my head in. It’s a lovely feminine bedroom decorated with
antique furniture. A large canopy bed dominates the center of the room with gauzy material draped between the posts. The en suite bathroom light is on, so I pad across the thick carpet and have look inside. This bathroom is as big as my bedroom at home! A gilded mirror hangs over a vast vanity and an enormous beautiful claw foot tub claims the middle of the room. So many candles I imagine it’s a fire hazard when they are all lit surround the tub. In the far corner I see a wooden door with a small window that peaks my curiosity.

  I cross the room and open the door to find that it’s a sauna, dry hot air pours out, I close it quickly and turn catching myself in the mirror. My mouth hangs open in shock when I see a very disheveled pale version of myself staring back at me. My usual dark skin is blanched of it’s color, shit, I look terrible. This day has been entirely too much to absorb. Mr. Black stands on the threshold of the room, waiting patiently.

  “Is that everything?” I ask.

  “Yes, I’ll leave you to him now- if you need anything Maria and I live in the west wing of the house, and there are intercoms throughout which are very easy to use. Just press the button and speak,” he instructs.

  “Thank you.” I pass Mr. Black and return to Marcus’s room to find him finishing his dinner. “Almost done?” I ask.

  “Yes, you need to eat.”

  “No time to eat, I’ve been getting the grand tour, takes forever to see it all.”

  “Oh, you didn’t see it all, there’s more, he didn’t take you downstairs. There’s a full gym, lap pool, and squash court.”

  “How did you know he didn’t take me there?”

  “I have a security system in the house, I followed along with you on your tour from here.” He points at the television screen that is separated into at least fifteen small square boxes. Each of them shows a room in the house for a few seconds before flashing to another room. The boxes remind me of the Brady Bunch show, and the security system reminds me of a movie I saw once about drug dealers.