Billionaire's Blackmail Bride: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ridge's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (5 page)

And so she moved in for the kill. With a beguiling smile she slid onto
the seat beside him and reached for the glass of wine, not shielding her barely
covered body from his gaze. She’d never been a shy girl and she certainly
wasn’t going to be shy now, not tonight when she wanted to torture Ridge until
he begged for mercy.

So he thought she would be the one to come knocking, begging for
sex? She bet, after the eyeful she’d just given him, he wasn’t quite so cocky.
No, she wouldn’t be doing the begging. He was the one who would come knocking
at her door and her answer would be a big, fat no. She could hardly wait to pay
him back for that arrogant declaration he’d made.

Glass in hand, she settled back into the sofa and, still watching
him, took a slow sip, savoring the velvety liquid on her tongue. Sitting so
close she could feel the warmth of his arm that was almost touching hers, she
turned so their faces were mere inches apart.

“Is there anything you would like to ask me?” she whispered, knowing
that he understood exactly what she was talking about.

Instead of admitting defeat Ridge scowled back at her. “No,” he
muttered. “Nothing at all.”

Lani smiled and nodded, not at all surprised. He was trying to play
tough but not to worry. The night was still young and before it was gone she
intended to bring him to his knees.

There was nothing left to say but, let the games begin. 

***

What the bloody hell kind of game was Lani playing? The woman was
mad.

Sultry and sexy as a siren she'd come out of her bedroom dressed in
nothing but a G-string and God knew what that thing was she’d thrown over it.
She might as well have walked out stark naked. He could see everything. Her
body was covered in what looked like a red haze. There was no way he could call
that clothes. He was seeing right through the damn thing.

And what a view. Damn, she was gorgeous. Small, pert breasts with
red rubies at the tips, a taut torso that rivaled any model’s and those legs,
looking so long and lean in elegant high-heeled sandals. If she'd been trying
to get him all hot and bothered she’d done a hell of a job.

And she knew exactly what she was doing, the wicked little minx. The
naughty glint in her dark eyes and the impish curve of her lips told it all.
She’d come out here with plans to drive him crazy with want and, by God, it was
working. If the rigid rod in his pants was anything to go by he was in big
trouble.

Clearing his throat again, he shifted on the sofa and made to get
up. “Uhm, give me a sec, will you?”

Eyes sparkling with mischief, the devilish diva leaned in even
closer. “Leaving so soon?”

He wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. “Not leaving,” he said
tersely. “I just need something from the bedroom.” And before he let himself
down and reached for her he got up and took the quick steps that took him far
enough away where he could breathe again. Jesus, did she see the way she was
making him sweat? And he didn’t mean that in a figurative sense, either.

Her soft chuckle filling his ears, Ridge escaped to the bedroom and
closed the door. He needed a few seconds – no, more like a few minutes – to get
over the shock of this new Lani. It was like she’d transformed from serious
scientist to sensual siren, all in one day.

Now if this were a real marriage it wouldn’t be a problem but like a
fool he’d gone and made a promise that was backfiring big time. Why the blue
blazes had he made that big boast that he wouldn’t touch her?  Letting out a
frustrated sigh he heaved away from the door, his mind going helter skelter as
he thrashed around for a plan of his own. Counter attack – that was the best
course of action. But how?

Glancing around the room, his eyes fell on the robe he’d dropped on
top of the bed after his shower. That was it. She’d come out showing off her
body. Well, two could play that game.

Shedding the loose cotton pants and T-shirt he’d been wearing, he
slid into the robe, letting it fall open to show his boxer shorts. Okay, so his
robe made of white terry cloth wasn’t sexy like hers but it would have to do.

The boxer shorts, though… He put a finger to his chin as he thought
about it. No, too practical. He had to wear something else. There was one thing
he could draw for, one of the wedding presents Ryder had given him, a gift he
would not have expected from the serious, steady one.

“Thank you, Ryder,” he muttered and strode over to his suitcase
which he hadn’t even bothered to unpack. He dug around in the inner compartment
until he felt the silk fabric. When he pulled it out his face broke into a wide
grin. It was slick, it was smooth and it was in tiger print. A G-string of his
own.

Who was going to be sexy now? Quickly, Ridge stepped out of his
boxers and slid the G-string up his legs and over his butt cheeks. It wasn’t
too comfortable but if that was what it would take to get back at little Miss
Lani then he would do it. As if he hadn’t wanted her enough before, she’d come
out in all her glory and made him want her even more. Now it was her turn to
want him.

And he would make her want him, lust after him, and then he would
turn her down cold.

Satisfied with his plan, Ridge sucked in his stomach and flexed his
shoulder muscles. So he wasn’t Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock, but he worked out
and his body was in pretty good shape. If Lani was like the women who’d come
his way she would be all over him when he walked back into the living room.

And so, his confidence back, Ridge strolled into the living room,
ready to wow a wayward temptress.

When he stepped into the room Lani was still sitting on the sofa
where he’d left her. As he approached, she looked up and her brows rose in
surprise. And then she spoiled it with an amused grin. “Oh, my God. Are you
trying to turn me on?”

And then she laughed. And if he’d had any thought of playing sexy
stud that evening, she nipped that right in the bud. Talk about a buzzkill.

“No,” he mumbled. “Of course not.” And then as casually as he could
he pulled the robe shut.

“No, you were. You were trying to tempt me,” she said, insisting on
rubbing his face in the pile of embarrassment dumped on the floor. “You were
wearing a G-string. Oh, my God.”

That did it. Scowling, Ridge turned right around and went back the
way he’d come, slamming the door behind him.

Lani Donatelli knew exactly how to rub him the wrong way. She’d won
this first round but she’d better come good next time.

Because there would definitely be a next time and when it came he
would be more than ready.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Some more coffee, madam?”

Lani looked up as the server leaned down, coffee pot in hand.

“Oh, no, thank you. I’m fine.” Smiling, she shook her head and
watched as the colorfully clothed man gave her a polite bow then drew away.

She looked over at Ridge sitting across from her at the breakfast
table. “The service here is superb,” she said. “They give you no chance to need
a single thing.”

“That’s why I chose this hotel for our honeymoon,” he said and then
as if remembering that he was supposed to be there on honeymoon, he frowned. He
didn’t say anything further, though, probably because he was still embarrassed
about the events of the night before.

“Good choice,” she said as she reached for the snow-white napkin and
dabbed at her lips. Feeling a little guilty at how she’d behaved, today she was
trying her best to be nice. The night before she’d wanted to burst his bubble
of arrogance but she hadn’t intended to devastate him. He was a fellow human
being, after all.

The truth was, although she’d made a big show of laughing he’d
actually shocked her when he came out in his super skimpy underwear… and he’d
turned her on. She would never admit it, not to him anyway, but when she’d seen
his body, all muscle and brawn, her mouth had literally gone dry.

Ridge was a big man. That was no secret but seeing him with no
clothes on… wow. The man’s abs looked solid as rock and the fine hairs on his
torso only added to his ultra-masculine aura.

On seeing him like that Lani’s imagination went wild. She could just
imagine what it would be like to have his arms wrapped around her, crushing her
to the solid wall of his chest. What normal girl wouldn’t melt in the arms of a
man like that? She knew she’d be practically swooning in his embrace…if she
ever let him get close. She’d have to tread very carefully around this man
because it would be too easy to get lost in the feel of him, the smell of him,
the taste of him when she ran her tongue up…

“Ready to roll?”

Lani jumped, Ridge’s words shattering her fantasy world. “Are we
going somewhere?” she asked, more than willing to just go back to the suite and
vegetate. It had been hectic, getting ready for a wedding in two weeks, so she
would be happy to just chill and catch up on her sleep.

“I thought you’d like to explore the island,” Ridge said. “Have you
ever been to Halawa Valley Lookout or Kauleonanahoa?”

“Nope. This is my first visit to Hawaii.” She shrugged. “I’ve been
busy with my research. Who’s had time for vacations?” And then she realized
something. “Do you know, this is the first vacation I’ve had since I started
working at the lab?” She smiled. “I wonder how the guys are doing without me?”

“I’m sure they’re doing just fine. I hope you’re not one of those
workaholics who can’t leave the office behind.” Ridge gave her a sardonic grin.

“No way,” Lani assured him. “When it’s time for fun I can let my
hair down.” Then she chuckled. “Not that I have much to do it with.” She’d let
her hair grow a little longer for the wedding, skipping her regular appointment
for a cut, and it was still in the softly curled style the hairdresser had
given her for the special occasion. As soon as got back she was going to get
her regular cut, though. That was much more practical when you had to do
twelve-hour days and even weekends sometimes. With a schedule like that, who
had time to titivate?

“Well, come on, then.” Ridge said, hopping up from his chair and
coming around to help her with hers. “Let’s catch that island tour they’re
doing this morning. That’s got to be better than being stuck in a hotel room
all day.”

Lani shook her head but she got up and took his hand. Hotel room, he
called it. The bridal suite was twice as big as her condo apartment and, not to
mention, it was super-luxurious. She had absolutely no problem being stuck in a
place like that. But if a tour was what Ridge wanted then that was what she
would do. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about him coming up with
mischievous plots while they were out in public.

In the end Lani didn’t regret her decision to go. Halawa Valley was
exquisite in its beauty, with views of the two hundred and fifty foot Moa’ula
Falls and the even taller Hipuapua Falls. From the lookout above the valley
they could take in the landscape of grassy plains and craggy mountains with
lush flora climbing up to the falls and lazy rivers running into the deep blue
ocean.

From there they headed for Kauleonanahoa. Lani had the hardest time
pronouncing it. “What the heck does it mean, anyway?” she asked, finally giving
up on her attempt to say the word. “Maybe if I know the meaning I can come up
with a suitable abbreviation.”

Ridge gave her a crooked smile as he looked down at her from his way
taller than six-foot height. “You're sure you want to know?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

“Because it’s referring to the phallic stone of Moloka’i. The word
means ‘the penis of Nanahoa’.”

Surprised, Lani raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

Ridge nodded. “It’s a six-foot high symbol of fertility.” Then he
chuckled. “You never know. It may give you some ideas.”

“I doubt it.”

Later when she saw the rock she had to admit it was a sight to
behold. A naturally formed rock looking like that personal part of the male
anatomy. Imagine that. And although Ridge would never hear it from her lips,
the rock looked so like the real thing that it did give her some ideas, naughty
ones which would best be kept to herself.

And it was a good thing she did, too, because that night when they
got back to their suite Ridge looked like all that hiking and fresh air had
made him raunchy as a ram. He wasn’t making any unwanted moves on her – he was
probably too much of a gentleman to overstep his boundaries – but he was
restless as a three-year old, pacing back and forth in the living room until
she feared he would wear a path in the carpet. Then when he tired of that he
went out onto the balcony, flopped down onto the wicker sofa and propped his
feet on the balcony railing but within minutes he was back inside again, pacing
up and down until she had to throw him out.

When, almost an hour later, she went out onto the balcony and asked
if he wanted to go down to dinner he shook his head. “Let’s eat out here,” he
said. “Order room service. I’m not in the mood to mix and mingle tonight.”