The Billionaire's Devotion: A Billionaire Romance (The Hampton Billionaires Book 3)

by Erika Rose

  “It’s good if you enjoy it. That’s all that matters.”

  A waiter set down their plates in front of them and refilled their glasses before moving away.

  “Do you enjoy investing?” Rose asked as she took a small bite of pizza with a knife and fork.

  “I do. Can I just say what you’re doing now is committing the biggest sin known to man. You don’t eat pizza with a knife and fork.”

  Rose laughed and put the knife and fork down. “I was trying to be civilized.”

  “You can be civilized about many things but not pizza.”

  As Rose took the slice in her hand Cole leaned over and pulled her hand towards his mouth. As their eyes met he slowly took a bite of pizza.

  Rose watched him without saying a word.

  “Tastes even better when you’re holding it.” Cole knew he was flirting out right, but couldn’t help himself. He wanted Rose; he could admit that much to himself. He’ll deal with the emotional part of it later; right now the physical part was driving him insane.

  “I bet you say that to all to all your neighbors.” Rose said as she took a bite herself.

  Cole couldn’t help but laugh. This was why she intrigued him, her witty words always came when he least expected it. “No, actually you’re the first.”

  As Cole stopped in his driveway later that night he felt anticipation course through him. Usually when he took a woman to dinner they both knew before hand where it would lead. There had been casual flirting most of the evening, but every now and then Rose seemed out of her depth. He knew she had been in a relationship, but that didn’t mean she had dated frequently before that. He didn’t feel comfortable enough yet to ask. She intrigued and confused him at the same time. It was a novelty for him not to know what was going to happen. He climbed out and walked around the car and opened Rose’s door. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”

  He didn’t want to push her by inviting her in, the decision was hers.

  Rose climbed out of the car and leaned against the door. “Really, that’s the line that gets you all the girls, they must be easy.” She laughed, a sultry sound travelling on the cool sea breeze.

  Cole could tell she was happy after an evening of wine and conversation, getting away from the horror of the past week. He placed his hands on both sides of her against the car, crowding her in. “That’s not the line I use, but I thought I’d give you a fair chance to walk away.”

  Rose bit her bottom lip before she lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Then give me the line…and I’ll decide.”

  He clenched his teeth, knowing this woman was going to drive him insane but gave her what she wanted. “I don’t want the evening to end.” He held her gaze. “In fact I want it to carry on until morning. I’d like to feel you move under me, hear you call my name as you fall apart and then I want to watch you fall asleep in my arms.” He waited a beat before moving even closer. “The first part I’ve used before, the rest of its new…like how I feel about you.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Rose felt her heart galloping in her chest. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to take a chance and have her first one night stand, but would she be able to face herself in the mirror in the morning? A one night stand with the right man is lots of fun. Emmaline’s words repeated themselves in her mind and Rose couldn’t help but think Cole was the perfect guy.

  Having never done this before, she hesitated before speaking. “I want that too.”

  The next moment she felt Cole’s body move flush against her own, she could feel his already eager manhood pressing into her belly as his mouth took hers.

  Desire strong and heavy flooded her system as she reached around and hooked her thumbs into his belt loops. She pulled him even harder against her, making sure he understood what she wanted.

  She heard a soft groan emanate from his throat and smiled knowing she had caused it. Cole’s fingers threaded into her hair angling her neck as he explored her mouth. As his one hand slid down the side of her body barely brushing the side of her breast, it was her turn to moan.

  Without speaking a word Cole stepped back and took her hand before leading her into his house.

  As the door closed behind them Rose left all her doubts outside along with the worry over a murderer stalking their neighborhood. She had Cole for one night; she was going to make sure it was a night she’ll never forget.

  Cole switched on the lights before turning to her, his lusty gaze heating her as much as his mouth had moments before. “I haven’t been here since last week, but the cleaning lady promised to come by during the week.”

  He set down his keys on the foyer table, took her hand and led her to his bedroom. “Good, she’s changed the linen.”

  Rose didn’t want to ask if he’d been with another woman the weekend before, but the possibility made her jealous.

  Reading her mind he pulled her towards the bed. “There hasn’t been another woman besides my mother in this house for more than a year.”

  Rose felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she moved towards him. “I didn’t ask.”

  “You didn’t have to.” He smiled as he moved towards her. Cole took her mouth with such urgency and expertise Rose felt need start to throb between her legs. A feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time. Even with Sam she had never been turned on like a light switch from a kiss.

  Wanting to touch him she pulled his shirt from his trousers and let her hands glide over the firm muscles of his abdomen before slipping around to his back.

  Cole’s hands were everywhere; at least that’s how it felt to her. One moment he was tugging her hair, the next sliding over her rear before moving to the front and pressing against the soft mound at the apex of her thighs.

  Rose couldn’t wait anymore, for a year she had experienced no desire to be touched by a man but the dam had been broken. A year’s build up of want and need made her bolder than she would normally be, maybe that and Emmaline’s words. Every woman has to have at least one one-night stand. Do you know how freeing it is? No explanations, expectations. You don’t have to worry what he thinks about your body, because he’s only seeing it once. You can be whoever you want to be and in the morning it’s only a distant memory because you never have to see him again.

  She stepped away from Cole and watched his eyes widen as she reached for the hem of her dress and pulled it over head. She felt his gaze absorb her lace bra and panties and mentally thanked herself for the Christmas gift she had bought the year prior and had never used before.

  Needing him to touch her, she took his hands and put them on her breasts. “Touch me.”

  Cole didn’t need a second invitation. His hands explored her curves, pushing the lace aside and rubbing his thumb over a pebbled nipple.

  As Rose moaned at the sensation she felt his warm hot mouth take her nipple, a cry followed. “Cole.”

  He lifted his head with a mischievous smile. “Yes Rose?” He reached around her back and unfastened her bra, letting it fall to the floor.

  Rose had never wanted a man more. She reached for his cock and grabbed it through his trousers. “Don’t stop.”

  “Who said I was going to?” Cole said before he moved to her other breast.

  Trying to focus on the task at hand Rose fumbled with his belt and undid his trousers before shoving them down, Cole all the while licking and suckling her breasts.

  She felt her knees weakening and moved back against the bed. Before she could sit down Cole scooped her up and placed her in the middle of the bed.

  He moved over her, eyes heavy with desire, hands eager to explore.

  Rose wanted to do some exploring herself but closed her eyes and absorbed every touch.

  She felt his breath cool against her lower belly before he started tugging down her panty.

  Sam had never kissed her there and suddenly embarrassment flooded her. “Cole don’t...”

  As he threw her panties aside he settled be
tween her thighs, a smug smile on his face. “Don’t what? Look how beautiful you are here.” His fingers softly slipped between the folds slicking the heat up and down. “Feel how wet you are for me?” He slowly lowered his head. “Or taste how good you taste?”

  Rose wanted to protest, to answer, but no coherent thoughts were being processed as Cole’s tongue softly flicked back and forth over the bundles of nerves that were throbbing for attention.

  Her hips bucked as the storm began to build deep inside her. Clouds rolled in, clogging her mind and her vision.

  As he slipped a finger in side her Rose could feel thunder start to roar with desire. She bucked her hips, fucking herself against his digits unable to resist any longer.

  Bolts of desire shot through her system like lightning, her body spasmsed. Release came fast and shook her to the core...

  “Cole. Cole.” She heard her own voice calling out his name but couldn’t remember speaking.

  Shudders racked her body over and over as her orgasm played out, but she wasn’t finished yet, she wanted him inside her.

  Tugging him by the shoulders she pulled him up and over her. His lips glinted with her arousal. Rose pressed her mouth against his, tasting herself on him, wanting him inside her. Rose didn’t notice him ridding himself of his shoved down pants and underwear but was grateful as she took his thick cock in her hands. Running her hand up and down along its length.

  “Rose, wait.” Cole said hoarsely. He leaned over her and reached into the bedside drawer for a condom. He quickly tore the foil and slid it on before settling between her thighs.

  Taking her hips in his hands, he pulled her down on the bed, closer to his cock.

  Rose had never felt more wanton or desired in her life.

  Cole teased her entrance for a moment before plunging into her - hard.

  Rose cried out, more from shock than pain. Nothing had ever felt that satisfying. He filled every inch of her, pressing against the bundle of nerves that had exploded moments before.

  “Did I hurt you?” Through the fog of desire Rose opened her eyes and found his green gaze concerned.

  “No.” She smiled seductively and licked her lips. “Do it again.”

  Cole smiled as he started to move inside her. For every slow stroke, he thrusted hard - twice. The combination was driving her wild.

  She felt the eye of the storm pass as clouds rolled in again, a hazy desire clogging her mind as thunder and lightning started to roar. She felt the lightning crack the same moment she felt Cole’s cock clench with release. Grabbing onto his muscled ass she rode him until he was dry.

  CHAPTER 13

  After they had showered and made love for the second time, Cole felt Rose doze off in his arms. The first time had been hard and fast, Cole couldn’t remember being that turned on before. The second time had been slower, and Cole had to admit sweeter than the first.

  He had never been sentimental about sex, but with Rose it seemed he was in for a bunch of firsts. First time thinking about a woman for a week, first time feeling concerned over a woman, first time he wanted her to sleep with him, first time he didn’t wonder how he was going to escape. The first time he didn’t want to.

  Sleep settled over him like a blanket, warm and cozy.

  Cole woke to an empty bed. Normally that would suit him perfectly, then why did he feel jilted?

  He pushed off the bed feeling used and cheated. After relieving himself in the bathroom he went in search of coffee. He could only hope Luisa had refilled the pantry when she had been in this week.

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee flooded the living room along with the scent of cinnamon.

  Rose was standing in the kitchen dancing to Bruce Springsteen whose voice softly flooded the kitchen from her phone, wearing one of his shirts.

  The cinnamon scent came from the pancakes she was expertly flipping in the pan as her hips moved along to Hungry Heart. Cole knew the sight should bother him, the fact that she had not only invaded his kitchen but his thoughts once again, but he couldn’t summon any irritation. He was glad to see she hadn’t left.

  “Good morning.” He said sitting down at the kitchen island.

  Rose flipped the pancake straight from the pan to the floor at his voice. “You gave me such a fright.” She said pressing a hand to her chest. “Good morning to you too.” She smiled at him before collecting the pancake and chucking it in the bin. She then turned, grabbing a cup and pouring him coffee. She set the coffee down in front of him and rested her elbows on the counter. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want me to leave or to stick around, so I decided to make breakfast. Actually to be honest I didn’t want to cross the road in the dark…”

  Cole smiled at her admission. “I’m glad you didn’t.” Taking a big gulp of coffee he moved around the counter and pulled her into his arms. Arousal stirred again as her soft floral scent drifted over him. “I really enjoyed last night.”

  Rose blushed. “Me too. And don’t worry I know it was a one night stand.” She said before pulling out of his arms and moving back to the stove. Pouring batter into the pan she carefully glanced at him over her shoulder.

  This was what Cole expected, so why did it feel wrong. He didn’t do anything else than one night stands. Rose knew that. He knew that. For the first time in his life he wondered what it would be like to have something more. Shoving the thought aside he moved around the kitchen island and sat down to drink his coffee and hoped he was successfully hiding the disappointment he felt.

  “Here you go.” Rose said as she set down a plate with cinnamon and blueberry pancakes in front of him.

  The hominess of the whole situation scratched at him. “Thanks.” Cole said not wanting to imagine what it would be like to wake up with her every day. With the warm cinnamon scent drifting up to him and her happy brown eyes looking at him, it looked pretty appealing from where he was sitting.

  He scooped a large portion of pancake onto his fork and bit in. The fluffy dough melted against the roof of as his mouth just as the cinnamon delivered a punch of taste.

  “Good right? It’s my grandma’s recipe.” Rose said as she started clearing up. “It’s my happy food.”

  “Happy food?” Cole asked furrowing his brow.

  “I like to make it when I’m happy. Ever since…let’s just say I haven’t made pancakes in a while.”

  Cole acknowledged the unsaid bad events of the past year. Sam’s betrayal, the ensuing break up and Emmaline’s murder.

  He cleared the plate within a few minutes, wondering if she was going to hang around and spend the day with him when she sat down next to him. “I’ve gotta go. Got a couple of things I need to do today and I’m sure you don’t do the hang out together thing.” She pecked him briefly on the cheek. “Thanks for last night.”

  With that she got up to fetch her things in his bedroom. The words stay left unsaid in his mind as she closed the front door behind her a few minutes later.

  “My God! What are you doing here?” Stefan Kelson said as he laid eyes on Cole. “We haven’t seen you since last fourth of July.”

  Cole sat back in a chair on Seth Northman’s back deck. Over the last few years Cole had lost many friends by always placing his business above friendships. But somehow Seth, Garrett, Stefan and Cayden seemed to stick around. And even if they hadn’t seen each other in a while they always managed to pick up where they left off. Cole and Stefan had been friends since school and for the past few years they had become good friends with Garret, Cayden and Seth. It felt good kicking back on a Sunday afternoon with his closest friends and a cold beer in his hand with the Atlantic gushing behind them; he hadn’t relaxed in a long time.

  “He actually brought a woman to Rosi’s last night; I’ve got a feeling she’s got something to do with the recent visits.” Cayden said as tossed Stefan a beer.

  Garret, recently married, leaned forward on his arms. “You mean he’s been seeing her for longer than twelve hours?” H
e teased.

  Cole laughed; even though his friends were teasing, nothing they were saying wasn’t true. “Well the girl I brought to dinner has a name and I’m not seeing her.”

  “She’s got a name.” Seth threw back his head and laughed. “Cole if you actually remember her name you’ve got a problem.”

  “No I don’t.” Cole said casually ignoring the warning lights that had been flashing ever since Rose had left that morning.

  “How’d you meet?” Stefan asked flipping a chair around and straddling it.

  “You know I came home for the family reunion?” Cole asked and everyone nodded. “Well we met that Friday. She actually lives across the street from me. Then last Saturday I got back solely to check on the house…”

  “Yeah right…” Stefan chirped.

  “As I was saying; anyway there were ambulances and police and I rushed over into my other neighbor’s house where Rose had just found her murdered.”

  “No Shit!” Seth said putting down his beer. “This happened on your street?”

  “Yes.”

  “You knew the woman who was murdered?” Cayden asked.

  “I knew the first one, not the one that was murdered two nights ago.”

  “That’s why you came back; you’re worried the lunatic in your neighborhood is going to get to her?” Garret asked as understanding dawned.

  “Not completely, but that’s part of it. The other part I don’t know what to do with.”

  “Come on, don’t stop blabbing now.” Seth encourages as he picked his beer up again.

  “I don’t know there’s just something about her. I actually like talking to her. We went to dinner last night and this morning she made me cinnamon pancakes.”