HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE (3 page)

Riley’s mouth went dry, as Dirk’s attention was so clearly focused only on her. His breath wafted across her cheek. His steely gaze never left hers. She wanted to blink, but thought that might mean he’d won.

What he won, she wasn’t sure. He’d made it clear that it wouldn’t be her heart. Her body for sure. At least,
he
was sure.

Riley had never kept emotion out of the equation. She’d always at least felt an affection for whomever she slept with. She picked up her glass then swallowed some wine. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

He shifted away from her. “Good. This is going to happen, Riley. We’re two adults, attracted to each other. Working closely day in and day out. It’s inevitable. You can resist and make this harder. Or you can give in and enjoy the ride. I promise. It’ll be worth it. I’m good at sex.”

Her mouth went dry so she sipped some more wine to slake her thirst. Somehow she didn’t think she was thirsty for wine. Maybe she was thirsty for him. She mused over what he said.

She wasn’t interested in falling in love. Too complicated. Sex would be simple. No strings. “We’d shake hands and walk away at the end of this?”

“You can keep the clothes. I get the apartment back. You can keep anything that I buy for you. And, yes, we walk away.”

She liked to own her sexuality. She liked men. She liked sex. A lot. This man was not hard to look at, and she bet he’d be even better to look at naked.

And he wanted her. There was a certain amount of power there, whether he would concede that or not. This might be fun.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“We can have sex,” she said. “No strings. No emotions. We walk away at the end.”

He held out his hand. “The only thing I ask is that you wear what I want you to wear.”

She glanced down at his hand. She wasn’t sure she’d hold up that end of the bargain. “Maybe.”

“If I don’t like the outfit, we don’t have sex.”

She laughed. “Holding out on me already?”

“Yes. I don’t like sweats or t-shirts on a woman. They are not flattering. I want to have some say over what I’m ripping off you with my teeth.”

The vision of him ripping off her underwear, let alone with his teeth, sent a shiver through her. “I reserve the right to veto an outfit if we’re alone.”

He grimaced, his hand still out in mid-air. “Okay.”

She shook his hand, soft from office work, but firm from something. Working out? His suit didn’t tell her. He let go of her hand, but didn’t try to kiss her. “When do we start?”

“Right now.”

He stood, and shrugged his suit jacket off of his shoulders. He was clearly a man who got down to business. No fussing. Her mouth went dry as he loosened his tie.

“Okay.”

He stopped what he was doing. “You see any reason to wait?” His daze dropped to her chest. “You seem ready.”

She gulped. Her nipples were standing at attention as if they were watching him undress. The outfit tonight did not afford her a bra, so she had gone without. He wasn’t wrong. She was aroused.

He held out a hand. “Here or in the bedroom?”

“The bedroom.”

This was going to happen. Her heart fluttered as he held her close and kissed her. It was the kiss of a man in love, not one who was going to hurt her. If she got hurt, it would be all her own fault.

With his tie discarded, she now had access to his shirt. So she ran her hand up his chest. There were firm muscles under there, and now she longed to see them. She began to unbutton his shirt, but he put a hand on hers.

“Wait.”

He led her to the bedroom. It was down a long hallway, and it sported a four-poster bed. She hadn’t expected that out of him. She stopped just inside the doorway, taking it all in. Feeling overwhelmed, she waited a moment, then took a deep breath, letting out slowly.

She could do this. She wanted this as much as he did, and he wasn’t judging her. Feeling more confident, she strode into the room and up to where he’d been waiting for her. She began unbuttoning his shirt, and he sported a small smile.

“Kiss, me, Riley.”

She did as she continued to undo his shirt. When she had the buttons all undone, she shoved it off of his shoulders. He had a white t-shirt underneath. She made quick work of that.

He stood in his trousers and shoes, letting her run her hands all over him. He was all man. Sinewy muscles and a smattering of dark hair.

“You’re beautiful,” she said.

Her eyes followed her hands as she traced a line down his stomach to where his hair formed a line. Like an arrow into his pants. Playground this way.

He allowed her to explore, and she became more and more aroused. He hadn’t even touched her yet. What would happen then? She might explode. Shatter into a million pieces.

She undid his belt and pants, shoving them down his legs. He had boxers on. The ducks on them made her smile. “A wild man underneath.”

“Just a bit of whimsy. You like?”

He still hadn’t moved. His hands rested at his sides as if women undressed him every day. Maybe they did, but for a few weeks, it would only be her.

“Yes, I do. Are all your boxers this fun?”

“Yes.”

She laughed. She’d never met a man so comfortable with himself that he could stand with his pants around his ankles and ducks on his underwear.

Then she saw that his penis was straining to get out from behind those ducks. She had to show it mercy. It was going to show her a good time.

She tugged his boxers down his legs. He stepped out of everything so he was only wearing socks. And a smile.

“My turn,” he said. He twirled his hand. “Turn around.”

***

As much as Dirk wanted to throw Riley on the bed and bury himself in her, he wanted this first time to be so good that she’d beg him for more. His cock reached out to her, it was so hard.

She gave him her back. The dress he’d chosen dipped low. He kissed her neck, then kissed each vertebrae down her spine. He had one hand on her stomach to hold her steady. He felt her jiggle a little and knew he was having an effect.

Her skin was soft and warm and tasted of peaches. Her hands fisted at her sides and her head fell back. He unzipped the dress, shifting off of her shoulders to pool at her feet. “Step out of it.”

Holding her hand, he helped her clear the dress. Now she was only in red panties. Lacey things that barely covered her. A smile tickled the ends of his mouth. “You are magnificent, Riley. I’ll never understand why you hide all of this under bad clothing.”

She didn’t answer, but let him stare. And he drank in a year’s worth. He knelt before her, his hand on her thighs as he took those panties in his teeth. And tore them off. There was nothing gentle about the action.

Riley groaned. Dirk could buy her new ones if he wanted, but he’d probably make sure they made their way into her purse. So she’d remember what he’d done when she went home tonight.

Now she stood in just her heels. One hand measured the weight of her breast while the other trailed a finger down her middle. Down to her very core. Which was wet for him. For him. He liked the power of making a woman drip for him. He liked the power of giving a woman an orgasm. That was next.

He could smell her arousal, and he reached out his tongue to lick her folds. She jumped, but didn’t move away.

“Spread your legs,” he said.

She did, her hands holding his head, probably for support. “Oh, Dirk.”

He couldn’t get the right angle on his knees with his tongue, so he used his fingers instead, thrusting into her with first one, then two fingers. Then a third, until her vagina clenched around him and she let out mewling noises.

Yes!

“That’s number one,” he said as he kissed up to her breasts.

Her lids looked heavy and her chest heaved, as if she’d run a marathon. He stood, tugging her close to him.

He sat on the bed and pulled her down next to him. “Now for number two.”

Dirk once again knelt on the floor, but now between her widespread legs, giving him full access to her. He smiled. She was beautiful with her pale skin next to his black satin comforter.

He braced his hands on her thighs, ready to dive in. If he could pitch a tent and bring some snacks, he’d spend the whole day in between her legs. With his thumbs he separated her lips and found the tender spot that might as well be the ignition button on a sports car.

“Oh.”

He smiled because he was just getting started. He loved how responsive she was, squirming and making all sorts of noises until she arched her back and came again.

He let the aftershocks recede, then climbed on top. “Number two.”

“You’re proud of that.”

“I am.”

He kissed her, and she shivered under him. He kissed every inch of her neck he could reach. Her hands dug into his hair as she kissed what she could reach. His dick was ready.

“Hold on.”

He snagged a condom out of his nightstand. He had a feeling he should invest in a condom company because he was going to use so many on Riley. He slipped the condom on then straddled her again.

“You ready, my dear?”

“Yes.”

It came out as a hiss, but there was no rancor behind it. He slid into her, making the pleasure of it last until she wrapped her legs around him to push him deeper into her. Her fingers dug into his back.

“Dirk. Dammit.”

“In a hurry?”

“I’m going to explode.”

He chuckled into her ear. “I’m counting on it.”

She was warm and active and clearly wanted to be there. He was going to have trouble holding on if she kept squirming. Her hips rose to meet his every stroke. And then he saw the finish line. He sped up. He couldn’t help it. Her body was wrapped around him and convulsing her into another orgasm.

He tried to think of baseball. Or the prospectus he’d gotten in the mail. No good. As she dug her fingers into his back, he followed her over the edge. Into sweet oblivion. He wasn’t sure how he kept thrusting until he was done.

And then silence. Only their breathing filled the room. Her arms had fallen limp to her sides. He had to get rid of the condom, but he didn’t want to move. “I’ll be back.”

He disposed of it. When he returned, Riley hadn’t moved. He slid onto the bed next to her, wrapping them in the comforter.

“Holy crap, Dirk.You are good at that.”

But so was she. He’d never had such an active participant in his bedroom. She was going to challenge his mind and his body. He’d think about that tomorrow. Another day. Right now, he wanted her snug up against him as he slept.

Slept? He knew he was supposed to send her home, but that could wait. Just a little while longer.

As his eyes fell closed, he laughed. “I know.”

Riley took a deep breath before she entered the building that housed Trent Investments. Located in the financial district of Manhattan, she could walk to Chelsea Pier if she wanted. Today she wanted to do that rather than face Dirk.

The night before had been wonderful, and she would have slept over, but she wanted to get home to her own bed. She’d roused him, and they’d made love again. The second time was even better than the first, and then his driver had taken her home.

The thought of that night had her body humming again. If Dirk looked at her the right way, she might drop her panties no matter where she was. She’d always enjoyed sex, but this had been better than she’d ever experienced. Maybe the lack of emotion was the key.

Her body thrummed at the thought of seeing him. With a deep fortifying breath, she yanked open the door. People traipsed in and out of the marble lobby. A bank of elevators sat to the left of the reception desk.

Dirk had told her to sign in and get a badge. Time to turn off her brain. She put a vapid smile on her face and walked up to the receptionist. He smiled back at her. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m here to see Dirk Trent?”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but I’m sure he’ll see me.”

The man’s smile dimmed a little. “I’ll call up to his secretary. Your name?”

She told him. He dialed a number as Riley looked around the lobby. The building wasn’t tall by Manhattan’s standards, but Dirk owned the whole thing. Not surprising. He owned several buildings here and in Los Angeles. And several houses, but then she’d stopped reading about him.

She knew he dated models almost exclusively, and she bet with her makeover, she fit the mold perfectly.

The man’s voice came brought her attention back to him. “Miss?”

“Yes?”

“You do have an appointment,” he said.

“Oh. I guess so then.”

She started to walk toward the elevator.

“Miss Adams?”

She spun around, almost causing herself to lose balance. “What?”

“You need to sign in, and then I have a badge for you.”

“Oh, okay.”

She walked back over to the desk and signed her name in the book the man proffered. “I have to take your picture for the badge.”

“Oh, okay.”

She primped her hair then smiled at the spot he indicated. A few moments later he handed her the badge.

“Just hold up the back of the badge to the black box in the elevator and it’ll take you up to Mr. Trent’s floor.”

“Thank you.”

She toddled away to the elevator. A few people waited with her. She might as well get the lay of the land while she was here, so she didn’t swipe the badge. Instead she punched the button for the top floor indicated.

Dirk had told her that his floor was on the bank of buttons because he didn’t let anyone unauthorized up there. Something about death threats years ago.

The other occupants disembarked on lower floors, so she was alone when the doors opened onto a plush office. Another receptionist with a headset on sat behind a large wooden desk.

“May I help you?”

Riley stepped out of the elevator with a trepidation she didn’t feel. She looked around. “I think I’m in the wrong place.”

“Who are you looking for?”

“Dirk.”

The receptionist stood. “I can help you get there.”

Damn. She wanted to walk around for few minutes, observing what went on here. She liked to get a feel for the company that she was helping. Maybe they’d use a stairwell on the other side of the floor.

No such luck. The receptionist pushed the button for the elevator. When the doors opened, she pointed to a black box. “Put your badge up against that and the elevator will take you to the proper floor.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Riley stepped into the car and did as the woman suggested. The doors closed, and the elevator whisked her up two more floors. These doors opened onto another plush office in hues of gray and taupe. Kind of sterile for Riley’s tastes.

A woman stood as if waiting for her. “Are you Riley?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Mr. Trent’s secretary. He’s been detained in a meeting. Would you like some coffee?”

She’d shank someone for some, as she’d overslept and hadn’t been able to stop for any before her meeting with Dirk. “Yes, please.”

The woman led her into a corner office that had to be Dirk’s. The décor had strong masculine lines. The large desk occupied a corner. Riley wondered where the several doors in the wall led to. Maybe a board room? Executive washroom?

“Have a seat. I’m Marcia.”

“Nice to meet you, Marcia.”

The woman, probably in her late forties, had short hair. She wore clothes that cost more than Riley made in a six-month period. Then again, so did Riley at this point. She settled on a buttery leather couch that cradled her. She might never want to get up.

“How do you take your coffee?”

“Just black is fine.”

The woman handed her a mug. “Mr. Trent will be in in a few minutes. If you need anything, let me know. I’m right outside.”

She left. Riley sipped the mug as she walked around. She wasn’t wasting this time sitting on an incredible couch. Instead she nosed around the place, getting a feel for Dirk.

One of the doors was a boardroom. Another a washroom. The third was a small bedroom. Riley wondered how many of his model girlfriends he’d fucked in that bed.

A door opened behind her and she heard Dirk say, “Please don’t bother us for at least a half an hour, Marcia.”

She spun around when he closed the door behind him. “What the hell does that mean?”

Dirk chuckled as he strode across the office. “It means, you can get on my computer for half an hour.”

That’s not what she’d thought he meant. He settled on his chair then looked at her.

“Oh.”

“Did you expect sex? Really, Riley. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

Her face warmed. He was sex on a stick, and she couldn’t help thinking about him naked. She shook herself to clear away those thoughts. “So I can get down to business?”

“As soon as I do my e-mails.”

***

Dirk wanted to laugh at the look on Riley’s face. He wasn’t above having sex at the office, but today he needed Riley to get to work. He finished his e-mails then gave her his chair.

“All yours.”

“Thank you.”

She sat down and toed off her shoes.

“You really do not like heels?”

“No, and I usually have at least one foot under me when I’m working.”

“What do you need from me?”

Her fingers flew over the keyboard.

“First, sit. I don’t like to work when someone’s hovering over me.”

He pulled a chair behind his desk and set it next to where she sat. “Okay?”

He was close enough to smell her peach scent. His dick woke up, probably remembering he’d been inside this woman last night. Down boy. This was business.

“Who set up your firewalls?”

“My brother, Chad.”

“Does he work for you?”

“No, he’s a consultant, but I should be able to trust family,” Dirk said.

“Okay.”

She turned back to the monitor and her fingers flew across the keyboard again. Dirk remembered those fingers on him last night. He had to stop thinking about her like that. Today was business. Tonight could be about sex.

Right now his bed in the office called to him, like a siren. He couldn’t heed it.

“He left himself a back door.”

“Is that unusual?”

“Not at all. A programmer will do that so they can get back in to change or fix things. The odd thing here is he left himself an e-mail address.”

“Is that odd?”

“Yes, it is. That means he wants to send stuff and make it seem as if someone in the company is sending e-mails.”

“So I may not have a leak?”

She shrugged. “You probably do, but your brother may be helping them.”

“I should confront him.”

“Not until I can prove it. Did he work on this himself?”

“Mostly. My sister works with him, so she may have been involved.”

“That’s at least two suspects we have now. Is your stuff on the network?”

“No, I keep most proprietary items off the network. No one works from home here. They have to be in the office to make any investments. I didn’t want private information hackable.”

“That was smart, but it seems someone has. That’s what was leaked, correct?”

“Yes, client information was given to a competitor.”

“Is that it?”

“That’s it? That’s my bread and butter. I use a system I developed to invest people’s money. If anyone were to get that and get my customers’ information, I’d be out of business.”

He took a deep breath as Riley’s eyes widened. He guessed his speech was more than she was expecting.

“Okay. Got it.”

She turned back to the computer and he sat back in his chair. He couldn’t help admiring her. She sucked in her lower lip as she worked. What he thought were lines of code streamed by her. Her eyes darted all over the screen, and after a few minutes, he bet she didn’t even remember he was in the room.

“Anything?”

She looked up at him in surprise. She had forgotten he was there. “Not yet. I’m going to have to put a program in here that will trace where the e-mails are going.”

“Can’t you just look at the address?”

“No. They are going to an anonymizer. A third party that then sends it to the proper person.”

“That’s legal?”

“Yes, it is, though they are used just as often for nefarious purposes.”

A light on his phone lit up briefly.

“Kiss me,” he said.

She looked at him, her forehead wrinkled in concern. “What?”

He grabbed her head, spun the chair around so it faced his, and then captured her lips in a kiss. It was a sweet, sensuous kiss. She’d been caught off guard, but she still responded. Oh yes. His office door opened.

“He asked not to be disturbed,” Marcia said.

Dirk ignored whoever was in his office doorway for a moment. Then he let go of Riley.

“Zeke?” he said.

“Sorry to bother you. I had something I wanted to go over with you, but it can wait.”

Zeke stood in the doorway, clearly not eager to leave.

“Zeke, this is Riley. Riley, this is Zeke.”

His friend’s smile was a little too predatory for him as he strode into the office. He shook Riley’s hand. She just smiled vacantly at Zeke.

“Nice to meet you, Riley.”

“I was just showing her some things,” Dirk said.

“I bet. I’ll come back after lunch,” Zeke said.

He left. Marcia closed the door.

“Charming,” Riley said.

“He’s my best friend.”

“He looked at me as if he wanted eat me whole.”

Dirk glanced at the door then back at Riley. He hadn’t liked how Zeke looked at her either. Zeke was supposedly happily married. That was an overt display of attraction if he’d ever seen one. “Not sure what that was about, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about. He’s married.”

She glanced at him in disbelief. “I get hit on in bars by married men all the time.”

“Oh, right. I guess I just wouldn’t do that.”

“Well, I doubt you’d get married.”

He nodded. “That’s probably true.”

She looked at him as if she wanted to say something, then shook her head while turning back to the monitor.